1870 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]
Jan 1 – At home all day. Cut up my hogs some. Carried Catharine[2] up to Wesleys.[3] Went down to M. O Streators[4] in evening.
Jan 2 – Went down to Jo Lees.[5] Took Nancy[6] down to see the Doctor.
Jan 3 – Went over to burg [Galesburg]. Brot shears home for Dick Blackburn. Mr Ralph paid for bed Bottom[7] $5.00. Bill[8] ran a way with me smashed up the sleigh some. Catharine came back with C. J. Lee.[9]
Jan 4 – Went over to burg. Carried over shears brot home by shears. Lois[10] came home to day. Bot this Diary 40 cts. Cold some snow.
Jan 5 – Went over to burg with Mark.[11] Carried Dicks shears over. Mr. Hawkins choped some wood. Cora Allen stayed here all night.
Jan 6 – Took A Browns[12] spoke irons of some of my sleigh. Not much work to day. Washing day. Cold not much snow.
Jan 7 – Went over to burg got my Boots tapt and Louesas[13] shoes. Some snow. Rode over with H. A. Taylor.
Jan 8 – Went down to M F Lees. Very blustrous. Lois stayed there. Had Jim.[14] Helped Mr Plank load one load hay in morning.
Jan 9 – Cold day. At home all day except I went down to A Browns with Jim horse.
Jan 10 – Cut up my hogs. Ida Clark[15] came here. Hank Brown[16] came home.
Jan 11 – Worked round choring some. Get Jims[17] Boots mended. Lois went to A. Kaywoods.
Jan 12 – Went over to burg with Jo Lee. He left his Bugy here to be repaired.
Jan 13 – Made axhelve for Isaac Schram. Mr Wisemans folks here in evening. Youngones went down to Catharines. No sleighing all ice.
Jan 14 – Put in Browns bugy pole. Hung ax for Schram.
Jan 15 – Very [i]cy. Hawkins choping some. Drawed 3 loads wood in fore noon. Deed coming from Washington.
Jan 16 – Went down to Catharines with Nancy. Had Jim. Rained in Evening.
Jan 17 – Went over to mill. Carried ___ bushels wheat. No work in shop.
Jan 18 – Cold ___ Abz.[18] Mark came up. Sarah[19] went to burg with him. Made _______________________.
Jan 19 – Worked on Browns Exes.
Jan 20 – Worked on Browns Exes.
Jan 21 – Finished Exes. Jo Lee came up here worked on his box put in ____. Ethan[20] went down to Catharines.
Jan 22 – Choped and drawed some wood. Went down to Mr Randalls in Evening. Rainy. Pixley & Grannis at the burg this Evening.
Jan 23 – At home all day. Not very well.
Jan 24 – Finished Jo Lees buggy. Put Browns Exes in. Worked some on moddle. T. Flanders[21] Died in the night.[22]
Jan 25 – Cold no snow. Saw Edwin Flanders[23] this morning. He cam from the County house. Worked on moddle.
Jan 26 – Worked on moddle some. Went over to the County house to T. Flanders Funeral. Snowey day. Sarah and Nancy went down to Catharines with Jo Lee. He got his buggy.
Jan 27 – Finished moddle. Hank Brown went to Marshall with it. Spliced stand leg. Put bottom on Bird cage. Isaac Schram bored hole in his mawl.
Jan 28 – Made wagon pole for M. O. Streator. Put Jims sheep on the trucks. Put hair in violin bow for King. Dick Lamkins here to tea. Moved sound post in his violin.
Jan 29 – Cut & drawed some wood. Went over to burg. Lois came home in Evening.
Jan 30 – At home all day. Mark & Henry Lee[24] here. Sarah came home.
Jan 31 – Worked on cupler most of the day. S. A. Brown[25] here to Tea had no Tea but cider. Ida Barber[26] came over.
Feb 1 – Cold 4 Abz in morning. Mrs Rogers & Sarah[27] here. Worked on wheel.
Feb 2 – Finished rounding felloes[28] on my wagon and painted them.
Feb 3 – Wm G. Springstead called here. Derias and Mary B_____ came here. Drawed in some corn. M. O. Streator got his wagon tong.
Feb 4 – Mary and Derias left for Burlington. Cold morning 19 Abz. Went down to Catharines stayed all night.
Feb 5 – Went to Kalamazoo with Mark and Lucy.[29] Took dinner with Ed Wilcutt.[30]
Feb 6 – At home. Charley Lee here.
Feb 7 – Cut grubs on the line btween my land and Catharines. Mr Hichhock buried to day. Prayer meeting at brother Randals for the benefit of this neighbor hood.
Feb 8 – Carried 3 bushels wheat to mill. Worked around house and barn.
Feb 9 – Went over to burg. Went up to station. Went to Charly Tousleys shop. Put up leach.[31] Willy Bestor[32] Died.
Feb 10 – [illegible]
Feb 11 – Will Bestor buried. Made soap. Nancy went down to Cates in Evening. Hank took her down. Paid S. A. Brown $45.00 Dollars to apply on order. Trimed some trees.
Feb 12 – Cold snowes some. Hank Brown went up to Armes[33] only he did not. Broke spoke out of wheel. I put in one. Fixed sheep shed.
Feb 13 – No snow. At home all day. No one here. Rained some in the night.
Feb 14 – Cloudy looks like rain. Went over to burg. Carried Dick Bottle Cider. Put up Hites[34] potatoes and apple cider &c.[35]
Feb 15 – Made axhelve for I. O. D. Schram. Carried Hites potatoes over to burg. No snow on ground. Mart Milham[36] came up with two horses on buggy.
Feb 16 – Drawed two loads straw from M O Streator. Rufus Taylor got my wagon to go over to Indian Lake fishing. Fine day.
Feb 17 – Choped some wood up in woods. Ethan sick. Snowey and blustering. Dug some sassafras for Ethan.
Feb 18 – Cut some wood and grubs in north west corner of woods.
Feb 19 – Hank Brown brot up 3 saws to file. Got letter from Higgins. Got the old clock cleaned 1.50. Snowey. John Earl and boy here brot violin to be repaired. Lois came home.
Feb 20 – At home all day. Cold at zero. All well as usual.
Feb 21 – Cold 9 below zero. Drawed two loads wood on corn. Went up to H. A. Taylor after thill straps. Young ones all went down to Mrs Skinners in Evening.
Feb 22 – Cold 10 Abz. Some snow on ground. George and Marion[37] came. Catharine and Lucy came with them. Went up to Jo Flanders[38] in Evening.
Feb 23 – Not very cold. George gone up to Wesleys. Sarah, Marion and Lois Went up to Wesleys. I went up in Evening.
Feb 24 – George and Marion went to Brady. I went up to Wesleys. Lost my glasses. Went over to Burg got form for Deeds 50¢ stamp 25¢.
Feb 25 – Went to Kalamazoo to get Deeds $3.00.
Feb 26 – Cut and drawed some wood. Went over to burg. Extracted Tooth for Carry Plank.[39] Extracted two teeth for Hurby Earl 25¢. Mrs Streator, Nell and Harry here in Evening. Rainy Evening.
Feb 27 – Rains some, lots water on ground. Went over to R. G. Smiths to see about Deeds.
Feb 28 – Went over to burg. Sent letter to J. E. Higgins. Mark came after Lois.
Mar 1 – Some snow on ground. Put Eaph Earls[40] violin together. Some wind to day.
Mar 2 – Worked round house. Went over to burg. Got Deeds sent 3 to J Higgins. Got money for _____ purposes 110.21.
Mar 3 – Bent cane for Henry Lee. Eaph Earl got his violin paid 2.00. Party to M. O. Streators, youngones all went.
Mar 4 – Some snow on ground. School closes to day.
Mar 5 – Paid S. A. Brown 63 dollars 54 for last order 9 on the first. Went down to Catharines. Snowed in the night. S. A. Brown stayed here all night.
Mar 6 – Cold 2__ Abz _____. Harry Streator[41] joins the Brick Church to day.
Mar 7 – Went over to Mill. Carried 2 bushels wheat. Cut some wood.
Mar 8 – Went over after my grist. Extracted one tooth for Herb Earl. Filed saw for Spence Thomas. Brot my pole from burg. Henry Lee here to day. Louesa went home with them.
Mar 9 – Worked round house. S. A. Brown left for Chicago. Cut some wood.
Mar 10 – Lewis Planks[42] folks started for Iowa.[43] At home most of the day.
Mar 11 – Went over to Burg got step made for E. Lees[44] cane $.1.00. Bot shoes for Jim 1.75¢.
Mar 12 – Cold and blustrous 20 Abz all day. Snowed in night. Expect Suky left for Chicago.
Mar 13 – Cold 20 Abz lots snow on ground. Went down to Catharines hard going no tracks. Went over to Mrs Cross with Mark to see cow.
Mar 14 – Came home hard walking. Nancy came up with Wesley. Mr & Mrs Plank[45] here in Evening and Mr & Mrs Hawkins.
Mar 15 – Lots snow, snows and blows like fun.[46] Hank Brown and George Sutherland called here. Made plate and cut Dr E. Lees name on it for his cane.
Mar 16 – Cold lots snow 2 Abz. Worked on cupler. Cold. Ethan and Planks al hands went sleighride.
Mar 17 – Worked on cupler. Mark, Mart and Henry came up. Ethan went down to Catharines with them. Traded violin for rifle with Mark. Hank and Dell Skinner[47] went sleigh ride, had Flanders bobs.
Mar 18 – Pleasant morning. Went Down to Marks stayed all night. Mark and Henry started for Salt Lake in night. Charley[48] went to Chicago.
Mar 19 – Called on Charles Lees[49] folks. Very sloppy.
Mar 20 – At home picked up corn in road. Lots water. Nancy went down to Catharines.
Mar 21 – Went down to Catharines with Ethan. Cold. Mart went to Kalamazoo.
Mar 22 – Went over to burg got my boots mended. M O Streator brot wheel here to be mended. David Tomkins stayed all night.
Mar 23 – Pleasant morning. David left. Worked on Hank Browns Boat. Extracted tooth for O. D. Schram.[50] Select[?] party to Planks. Paid John Sherman 22. Dollars and fifty cents for shool wood 22.50.
Mar 24 – Heard first Robbin for the season. Worked on boat and wheel.
Mar 25 – Drove spokes in Streators wheel. Went down to Catharines in afternoon. Hannah[51] went down to Mr T. Fords with Mary Plank.[52]
Mar 26 – Cut out felloes for wheel. Rainy day. Cleaned sewing machine.
Mar 27 – Went down to Catharines. Got some warm shugar. Rainy day.
Mar 28 – Worked on boat some. Put tip on Skinners bugy pole.
Mar 29 – Worked on boat and Skinners whiffletrees.[53] George Sutherland and Hank brown here in Evening. Nancy came home. Jo Lee sick. Mrs Plank here in afternoon.
Mar 30 – Carried Sarah down to Jo Lees. Jo some better. Rained some.
Mar 31 – Worked on boat some. Rainy day. Put boat together.
Apr 1 – Worked on boat. Hank came up. Put boat up.
Apr 2 – Finished boat. Sarah went to burg in Evening.
Apr 3 – Went down to Catharines. Sap run some. Ethan and Mart boiling.
Apr 4 – Hank got his boat. Went over to town meeting. Traded rifle for Marts watch. Pleasant day.
Apr 5 – Carried 300 cucumbers over to burg. Sold to Mr Williams. Cut some wood.
Apr 6 – Made steps to doors and stoop. Cleaned up some round yard. Dance to A. Browns in Evening. Mended up old wheelbarrow.
Apr 7 – Worked round yard all day. Carry Wiseman[54] came home with Sis.[55]
Apr 8 – Worked around yard and shop. Raked up some.
Apr 9 – Work round house and yard. Went over to burg. Hannah went down to Skinners. Jo and Hellen[56] called here.
Apr 10 – Went down to Catharines. Rainy day. Heard from Mark.
Apr 11 – Went to burg in morning. Bot Sis shoes 1.60¢. Came back. Went down to schoolhouse. School commenced. Went over to burg with Mart. Got school money. Bot barrel salt $3.00. David Tomkins stayed here all night.
Apr 12 – Pleasant morning. Drawed corn and worked round yard.
Apr 13 – Finished drawing corn. Trimmed appletrees. Mrs Hawkins here to dinner.
Apr 14 – Burnt apple brush. Cleaned up round yard. Mr Schram called here with a man to look at my place.
Apr 15 – Went down after Ethan. Rainy. Brot home shugar.
Apr 16 – Husked some corn. Went down to school house, moved seats. Stormy day. Got Mr Schrams saw. Snowed like fun.
Apr 17 – Quite pleasant. Snow all gone. At home all day.
Apr 18 – Moved stove in to the kitchen. Sawed some wood in afternoon. Received letter from M. F. Lee.[57] Miss _____ came to night, new teacher came to board.
Apr 19 – Rainy morning. Finished husking corn. Sawed some wood. Coly Durgy and stranger here looking for a farm.
Apr 20 – Made churn dash for Mrs Hawkins. Sawed some wood. Rainy afternoon. Party over to Mr Planks this Evening.
Apr 21 – Sawed wood some, split some.
Apr 22 – Finished sawing up trees. Hat and Elizabeth Taylor here to day. Mrs Plank came over. Lucy came up. Fran calved to day I think.
Apr 23 – Went to Kalamazoo to see Ed. He was gone to Battlecreek. Mr Butler stayed all night. Lois came home. Went up in woods. Got Fran and her calf down in morning. Mr Butler and boy came here.
Apr 24 – Mr Butler here at home all day.
Apr 25 – Mr Butler here, boy sick. Tightened box in one of his wheels.
Apr 26 – Mr Butler left. I went to Kalamazoo. Sarah went to Catharines.
Apr 27 – Spaded up onion bed. Made pitman for A. Caywood in afternoon. Had a shower in Evening. Byron Allen & Hank Childs called here while it rained.
Apr 28 – Cool morning. Filed saw for Mr Sherman. Repaired door at barn yard.
Apr 29 – Ethan went to mill. Henry Lee came here, left bottle painkiller. Cleared out old shop. Pleasant day. Mart called here.
Apr 30 – Chored round. Mr Plank drawed over some hay.
May 1 – Went down to Catharines. Harrison Sprague came here.
May 2 – Went over to Climax and to Dry Prairie with Harrison to find place to start a hardware store. Stayed all night. Ethan commenced plowing.
May 3 – Left Dry Prairie this morning all right. Called on Jesse Turner.[58] Took Dinner. Got home about six.
May 4 – Put out some onions. Plowed some. Commenced plowing on hill.
May 5 – Got Schrams buggy. Went to Kalamazoo to see Ed Wolcot. Del Smith[59] Killed. Warner boy shot him.
May 6 – Took Schrams buggy home. Some rain. Planted corn in west garden. Got potatoes out of cellar.
May 7 – Planted potatoes in west garden. Mrs Wiseman and Carry Ella[60] and Cornells girl over here. Ida barber came over. Uncle Jason[61] Died to day.
May 8 – Pleasant day. Ida Barber here. Not very well.
May 9 – Work round house and garden. Ethan plowing.
May 10 – Ethan plowing. I work hoing garden some.
May 11 – Ethan dragging corn ground. I am sick, no work. Worked some on potatoes markers. Sarah went down to Catharines.
May 12 – Ethan marked out corn ground. Worked some in shop on marker.
May 13 – Got half bushel seed corn of A. Brown. Commenced planting corn. Fine day. Finished planting corn on hill.
May 14 – Planted potatoes in East garden. Sowed beet seed. Ethan & Hannah went up to Jesse Earls[62] woods on river to A picknick in afternoon. Lois came home.
May 15 – At home all day. Fine day. Hannah went down to see Nancy with Harry Streator.
May 16 – Planted potatoes and sowed some corn.
May 17 – Finished sowing corn and sowed buckwheat. Catharine came up. Ethan helped Hank Brown plant corn.
May 18 – Went over to Wakeshma to Jesse Turners. Got there about noon.
May 19 – Started for home after noon. Went to Ed Childs, stayed all night. Had a shower.
May 20 – Started about two PM for home. Ed came down. Got my potato marker to plant his potatoes. Got home about four. Rained in night.
May 21 – Pleasant morning. Set out 88 cabbage plants. Planted beans & coffee peas.
May 22 – At home all day. Not very well.
May 23 – Rainy. Jesse & Sally[63] called here. Set a few cabbage plants.
May 24 – Pleasant. Bill got into planks lot. Got small load hay of M. O. Streator. Not much work done to day. Mrs Butterfield Buried to day.
May 25 – Circus and caravan to Kalamazoo 4. Paws. Went over to Burg.
May 26 – Hoed corn and potatoes in west garden. Mrs Barber[64] and Ida came over here.
May 27 – Cool 52 Abz in morning. Cut up some wood brot down some chips. Jesse Turner and Miss Roberts came here. Catharine, Mart and Lucy went to Wakeshma. Ethan went down to Catharines.
May 28 – Made clout bars in forenoon. Got load chips. Went over to burg sold Jan Hoag 10¾ butter $2.00. Bot Hannah sum shoes $2.00.
May 29 – Fine morning birds singing. Young ones farting and a general time any way.
May 30 – Worked in shop on Mr Shermans wheel. Hot and dry. Ethan plastered corn.
May 31 – Working on road on hill.
Jun 1 – Worked on road finished at noon. Went over to mill in afternoon. Carried 3 bushels wheat. One of the young sheep had a lamb.
Jun 2 – Took tire of my wheels and trimed spokes. A. Brown washed his sheep. Old sheep came down with lamb.
Jun 3 – Jo, Lois and Julia Lee[65] came up. Took my wheels over van set tire. Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Bot charts for school $22.50¢.
Jun 4 – Hoeing some in garden. Carry Wiseman here. Mr and Mrs Wiseman cleaned schoolhouse. Ethan cultivated corn East of barn. Will Clark[66] came home. Had a shower.
Jun 5 – At home all day. Had a shower in morning. Warm day. Harry Streator here to tea.
Jun 6 – Went up to Dick Lamkins and burg.
Jun 7 – Hoed in garden some. Sawed out felloes for Shermans wheel.
Jun 8 – Put rim on Shermans wheel. Finished wheel. Had a fine shower.
Jun 9 – Rained some this morning. _____ _____ buggy spoke put it in all right. Boy stopted here with race horse from three rivers, the Sea Gull. Ethan went down to A Browns after some cabbage plants.
Jun 10 – Put worked on cupler some.
Jun 11 – Worked on cupler. Hoed some in garden.
Jun 12 – Went down to Cates. Fine day. Cate had 10 pigs.
Jun 13 – Rainy day. Finished cupling. Stepen Wilcut and wife[67] came here. Rained all night.
Jun 14 – Rainy morning, rainy day. Stephen and I went up to Uncle Warrens old place.[68]
Jun 15 – Went to Kalamazoo with Stephen. Stayed to Catharines all night.
Jun 16 – [illegible] Ethan cultivated corn. I went over to burg with my cupling.
Jun 17 – Stephen and Cory came here to dinner. They started for home. I went to burg in after noon. Very hot. Went up to Hartwells with Corys shawl.
Jun 18 – Ethan cultivated corn on hill. I hoed in garden. Mr Miner sheared one sheep. Went to burg in Evening. Carried my cupling over. Very hot day.
Jun 19 – Went down to Catharines. Nancy came home. Hannah went down to Catey. Went in swimming.
Jun 20 – Mr Miner sheared my sheep. Hot day.
Jun 21 – Hoed in garden out by the barn and corn west of House. The old hen commenced sitting on 15 Eggs.
Jun 22 – Made calf pen. Made soap and hoed in garden some. Drawed load wood for Hawkins. Dick Lamkins called here. Mr Plank commenced cutting hay.
Jun 23 – Set some tomatoe plants out by hogpen. Dick Lamkins cut grass. Very hot.
Jun 24 – [illegible]
Jun 25 – Finished drawing in hay. Went over to burg. Paid Wiseman 4.00 for cleaning school house.
Jun 26 – At home. Very hot. Jesse Turner and wife[69] here, going to Kalamazoo. Very hot 112 Abz in sun.
Jun 27 – Ethan cultivated potatoes. I hoed some in garden. Very hot. Some showers round in sight, no rain here.
Jun 28 – Ethan cultivated corn some. Had some rain. 118 in sun.
Jun 29 – Chored round. Went over to burg in afternoon.
Jun 30 – Rained some. Ed Childs here to dinner. Ethan went down to Catharines after Hannah. Mrs Covil struck with lightning in Charleston.
Jul 1 – Rainy. Sowed _____ cut and hoed some in garden.
Jul 2 – Went over to burg to mill. Got last of my corn ground. Sold calf to George Whiting. Saw John Winchy[?]. Went down to Catharines. $6.00 for calf.
Jul 3 – Went over to East lake with Mart. Got no fish. Came home in Evening.
Jul 4 – Extracted tooth for Carry plank. Went over to burg. Went over in Evening with Marts team.
Jul 5 – Went over to burg in morning to see the show come in, 4 Paws show in burg. Got pay for calf.
Jul 6 – Cut some wheat.
Jul 7 – Brown here in forenoon with machine. Cut south part. Cradled some.
Jul 8 – Cradled some wheat. Ethan worked for Brown in forenoon. At home in afternoon. Jennie Upjohn[70] Died this morning.
Jul 9 – Finished cutting my wheat. Went to mill in afternoon. Mrs Wiseman rode over with me.
Jul 10 – Pleasant, some wind. Jennie Upjohn buried to day. Went up to Covils with Mart Milham.
Jul 11 – George turner[71] came up here. Went up to Augusta with Mart. Stayed judgment for Milham in favor of P. S. Carmen.
Jul 12 – Sarah went over to Wisemans. Sold my wool to Wm Blass 65 lbs 40 cts pr pound 26.00. twenty six Dollars. Bot poke for Bill.
Jul 13 – Sick all day, no work. Sent cupler to Utica. Some rain.
Jul 14 – Rainy morning. Went over to burg. Took old cow down to Catharines. Got some _____ of Mrs Wiseman. Took old cow down to Catharaines. Not well.
Jul 15 – Rainy morning. Lots wheat out. Mr Plank got two pigs 2.00 Each $4.00.
Jul 16 – Mr Miner got one pig 2.00. Set out wheat, drawed in some wheat.
Jul 17 – Very hot day. Got in all my wheat. Had a heavy shower just at night.
Jul 18 – Not much done to day. Went over to burg. Paid for poke 2.00.
Jul 19 – Went down to Cates. A very hot day. Mart stacked wheat for Mr Carleton.
Jul 20 – Worked some on Charles Lees crutches.[72]
Jul 21 – Worked on crutches. Ethan helped Hank move fence. James Jelley called here. Bot Box pills 25.
Jul 22 – Worked on crutches for C. Lee.
Jul 23 – Went over to burg to mill. Went down to Catharines. Sent after Dr Finch for Hannah.
Jul 24 – Had a fine shower this morning, some hail. Jo and Lois Lee came up here.
Jul 25 – Warm morning. Dr Finch came here to see Hannah. I paid him $5.00.
Jul 26 – Sick, no work. Catharine came up here. Ethan carried Lois down to Catharines. Wesley here to tea.
Jul 27 – Very hot. Andrew Turner[73] and Mary Babcock called here. B. Hartwell called here.
Jul 28 – Mr Riley Bennet called here in morning. Went over to burg in afternoon. Heard from cupling. Jo Lee came up, left his buggy. Del Skinner paid 50. Ethan went Holleberying.
Jul 29 – Jo came up, got his buggy. Ethan went home with him. Doc Finche came up.
Jul 30 – Went to Kalamazoo for B. Hartwell. Expected _____ to have a suit with A. McLary. Adjourned to Aug 29th Monday.
Jul 31 – Fine day. Went up to Schrams. Mr and Mrs Schram went up to [illegible].
Aug 1 – Repaired wheel for Mr Randall. Went down to Jo Lees stayed all night.
Aug 2 – Went down to Charles Lees there to dinner. Had a shower. Came home. Mr Allen thrashed. Ethan helped him.
Aug 3 – Rainy morning. Went over to burg. Not much done.
Aug 4 – Sick all day. Mrs Ralph here. Charles Harris came over here to see Ethan about the Band.[74] Took their first lesson.
Aug 5 – Made wagon Ex for Mr Randall. Ethan helped Mr Randall thrash.
Aug 6 – Thrashed my wheat. Had 40 bushels. Paid $5.25.
Aug 7 – Brother Randal had my wagon to go to church.
Aug 8 – Mr Randal got his wagon. Ethan helped Mr Taylor thrash.
Aug 9 – Went to Kalamazoo. Carried George to see his mother. Mr Schram got felloes and thills[75] for his buggy. Mr Ash Paid one Dollar ____ back yet.
Aug 10 – Charles Lee brot his crutches up. I put ferrels[76] on bottom. Bot box ointment 10¢.
Aug 11 – Worked round shop some. Not much done.
Aug 12 – Put Schrams thills together. Went to mill. Had a hard chill after I got home.
Aug 13 – Sick all day, did not sit up much. George turner came up. He paid 15.00.
Aug 14 – At home all day. Jesse Lee and wife[77] here. George went home with them. I am sick.
Aug 15 – Sick, no work to day. Ethan cut some corn fodder.
Aug 16 – No work to day. Ethan, Hank went over to burg to make out papers for patent.[78]
Aug 17 – Sick, no work.
Aug 18 – Sick, no work.
Aug 19 – Went up to B Hartwells to take a level of river Between bridge and dam.
Aug 20 – No work to day. Ethan and Hank work on jack.
Aug 21 – At home all day. Went up to Jesse Earls in Evening.
Aug 22 – Went to Kalamazoo for Hartwell. No witnesses sworn in the case. Bot cotton cloth 32 yds — pr yard, one whip 35¢, one mule bit 35¢.
Aug 23 – Went over to burg got some medicine of Lou Beckwith, some sage of Mrs Wiseman. David Tomkins came over here bot some thill straps 35¢.
Aug 24 – Sick, no work.
Aug 25 – Sick, no work. Ethan and Hank went to Kalamazoo.
Aug 26 – Went over to burg. Carried Schroders saw over. Went over to Ben Hartwells to see if he could make some cider.
Aug 27 – No work to day. George Turner came up stayed all night. Uncle Pat Hamilton[79] died to day.
Aug 28 – Went down to Catharines with George.
Aug 29 – Went up to Mr Schrams got a few peaches. They were digging a well.
Aug 30 – Went up to Schrams. Not much work.
Aug 31 – Took rims of Schrams wheels. Went over to burg in Evening. George Turner came up.
Sep 1 – Went over to burg in morning. Went down to Catharines. Mart commenced his cider mill. Had a shower.
Sep 2 – Not much don at home all day. Went over to burg.
Sep 3 – Made 31 galens cider. Went over to burg to caucus.
Sep 4 – Went up to Mr Taylors spring. Eberly and Nate called here. Jim sick. Warm day.
Sep 5 – Worked in shop some on wheels. Oscar Keith[80] came here.
Sep 6 – Went over to burg to mill. Went down to Catharines. Oscar started for home. Becky Plank[81] sick in night.
Sep 7 – Worked some in shop. Went up to Mr Kirbys in after noon. Carried some cider up to Schrams. Very hot 94 in shade.
Sep 8 – Work on spokes for Schrams wheel. Ethan cuting up corn. 94 in shade half past ten. Jim sick.
Sep 9 – Worked on wheels some. Cows in Browns lot all day.
Sep 10 – Went down to see Wm Lee.[82] Warm day.
Sep 11 – Went down to Charles Lees, Joes and Catharines. Got 30. Dollars of Wm Lee for six months.
Sep 12 – Worked on wheels some. Mr Plank commenced to thrash. Had Ague[83] some.
Sep 13 – Worked on Schrams wheels some.
Sep 14 – Had ague in afternoon.
Sep 15 – Not much done. Ethan sick to day. Mr Ralphs horses run away with load pumpkins. Mr Schram stoped them just East of My House. Had a nice shower.
Sep 16 – Went over to burg. Had Ague, no work to day. Ethan had a chill.
Sep 17 – Went down and got the old cow. Mr Flanders came home with ten head young cattle.
Sep 18 – Went down to Catharines with George Turner.
Sep 19 – No work to day. Ethan got ague.
Sep 20 – Went over to burg. Old Mrs Signor died 2 oclock this morning. Mrs Signor buried. Cow in Browns lot all day.
Sep 21 – Went over to burg in morning. Band went to Picknick. S. Strubles girl[84] died this morning.
Sep 22 – Sick, no work round house.
Sep 23 – Worked some. Cut some Buckwheat. Worked on wheels some.
Sep 24 – Finished Schrams wheels. Ethan went down to Catharines. Rained some.
Sep 25 – At home. George and I striped some husks for Young Turners bed.
Sep 26 – Set up buckwheat. Went over to burg in Evening.
Sep 27 – Finished cutting and puting up Buckwheat. Fine day. George got ague.
Sep 28 – Ethan cultivated some on hill. I drawed in two loads corn. Mr Schram got his wheels. Mr Elias Sherman[85] Died half past nine this morning.
Sep 29 – Mr Sherman Buried to day. Mr Day preach. Warm and pleasant as June.
Sep 30 – Worked round, husked some corn. Not very well. Ethan gone to the fair.
Oct 1 – Drawed in some corn. Ethan cultivated some. Went over to burg after Louesa in morning. The boys patent papers came to day.
Oct 2 – At home all day. George Turner here all day.
Oct 3 – Round home, not very well. Husked some corn.
Oct 4 – Went to mill. Had a shower. Husked some corn. Drawed in two loads corn.
Oct 5 – Husked corn some. Plowed on hill. dra
Oct 6 – Plowing on hill. Husked some, drawed one load corn. Commenced sowing wheat. Fine day.
Oct 7 – Husked some corn. Finished sowing wheat. Ethan cultivated. Nice day.
Oct 8 – Finished cultivating wheat in fore noon. Husked some corn. Very pleasant day. Jo an Hellen came here.
Oct 9 – Fine day. Joes folks went home. Had oysters for supper. George Turner here.
Oct 10 – Drawed in some corn. Fine day. Drove hogs up to the woods 5 times. Rained in night.
Oct 11 – Rained some this morning. Thrashers went to Browns. Sarah Turner[86] and sister came up. I went over to burg after them.
Oct 12 – Went over to burg. Saw Mr Gillet. Let him have my cupler. The Boys let him have their jack.
Oct 13 – Rainy morning. Went over to burg with Ethan and Hank. They went to play for the _____ fair.
Oct 14 – Rained in morning. Ethan gone to the fair. I drawed lot wood. Pleasant after noon. Sarah here yet.
Oct 15 – Fine day. Sarah Turner went home on the two oclock train. My Birth day 57. Nancy went down to Mr Simmons to stay with Lois.
Oct 16 – Warm and pleasant as summer. Jim Holden and Dan Jacobs called here to see cow. Dr Lamburn came here, stayed all night.
Oct 17 – Lamburn left. Rainy day. Made bottom for A. Browns wagon box. Cut Mary Planks hair. Nancy cut _____ hair.
Oct 18 – Pleasant day. Sarah and Mrs Plank went down to Skinners.
Oct 19 – Finished Browns bottom to his wagon. Commenced raining about noon. Had a wet afternoon. No work.
Oct 20 – Not much done. Carried in my buckwheat.
Oct 21 – Thrashed buckwheat. Ethan picked up apples.
Oct 22 – Finished drawing buckwheat. Thrashed some.
Oct 23 – George came over. Made gocart for George. He went down to Catharines in afternoon. Jo and Hellen there. Pleasant day.
Oct 24 – Pleasant day. Finished thrashing buckwheat. Had about 15 bushels.
Oct 25 – Drawed in corn fodder and popcorn. Husked out popcorn.
Oct 26 – Made bin in cornhouse. Ethan traded horns with Geo Chase. George Turner and and Mr Shafer came over here.
Oct 27 – Moved my bench into old shop. Ethan dug potatoes in East garden.
Oct 28 – Went over to burg. Got mortar at new schoolhouse. Got some sand on hill. George and one of the Masons came over in Evening and put it on Mr Shafer.
Oct 29 – Buried some morter and moved some things. Made Evener for Mr Allens buggy. Went down to Catharines, stayed all night. Had a heavy shower in the night.
Oct 30 – At Catharines. Rainy day. Just saw Mr Withey. Got home after dark.
Oct 31 – Set out six peachtrees and two pear trees. St. Jo[87] man brot them. Paid $3.30 cts.
Nov 1 – Husked corn. Fine day. Drawed in one load. Ethan went over to Mr Chases in Evening.
Nov 2 – Pleasant day. Husked corn. Hank Brown saw Eight wild turkeys.
Nov 3 – Husked corn. Fine day. Drawed in corn and fodder.
Nov 4 – Husked corn on hill. Pleasant day.
Nov 5 – Went to mill and drawed some wood.
Nov 6 – At home all day. Ethan went down to Catharines with Delphia.[88] Mended my gloves.
Nov 7 – Cleared out shop. Ethan carried Lois and Will down to Catharines. Fine day.
Nov 8 – Went to burg to Election. Rainy in fore noon.
Nov 9 – Went over to mill. Carried Mr Hawkins stove over. Got Jims cap. Sharpened two pair shears for R. Blackburn.
Nov 10 – Husked corn some. Fine day. S. Bristol called here.
Nov 11 – Husking corn. Fine day, good weather. Seaman Bristol called here. Went down to A. Browns in Evening.
Nov 12 – Husked corn all day. Sarah went over to burg.
Nov 13 – Sarah and I went over to S Bristols. Pleasant but cool.
Nov 14 – Went over to S Bristols. Pleasant and cool. Drawed in some corn. Snowed in night very little.
Nov 15 – Husked corn part of the day. George Turner came here to supper. Commenced boarding.
Nov 16 – Drawed in corn and cornfodder. Cleared the bot. Snowed like fun.[89] Not very cold.
Nov 17 – Went over to schoolhouse. Got 3 barrels of shavings for Geo Turner.
Nov 18 – Put down floor on back stoop. Seaman S. Bristol called here. Went down to Catharines. Skinners folks here in Evening.
Nov 19 – Went over to Bristols in morning. Georges stoves and lumber came about 2 oclock P.M. Ethan and Nancy went down to Catarines.
Nov 20 – Catharine came up with Ethan. At home all day.
Nov 21 – Catharine went home. I work on partition.
Nov 22 – Working on partition. Pleasant day. Galesburg Band went to Augusta.
Nov 23 – Work on partition. Sarah papered some. Galesburg Band went up to Augusta in Evening. Nice day no snow. Isaac Schram moved his house. Hank and Ethan went to Kalamazoo.
Nov 24 – Pleasant. Ethan and Hank Brown went to Kalamazoo after Turners things. Sarah Turner came here. Had oysters for supper.
Nov 25 – Hung door to closset. Harry Streator here to dinner.
Nov 26 – Put on door casing to pantry door &c.
Nov 27 – At home all day. Pleasant as June mercury 64 Abz. Jo and Lois Lee here. Hat Mead came over. Turner and Hat went up to Earls mill.
Nov 28 – Went up to Bristol place. Fine day. Went over to burg.
Nov 29 – Worked round. Dug out well. Fine day. Band Boys here in Evening. Schram paid $5..10.
Nov 30 – Warm day, pleasant morning. Made platform to Barn well. Went over to Burg with Mr Wright to see Uncle Peat Johnson.[90] Schram and Libby Taylor married,[91] I spec so sum.
Dec 1 – Finished platform. Went over to Burg. Bot Boots 4.75. Fine day, pleasant as June, fine weather.
Dec 2 – Fine day. One oclock mercury 50 Abz. Sarah sold old cow to Johnny Tyson for 40.00 Dollars.
Dec 3 – Made spout for to carry water to barn yard. Pleasant as summer.
Dec 4 – Very pleasant morning, mercury 52 Abz at 9 AM. Had but very little frost yet. 57 at 2 P.M. Ethan and Hannah went down to Catharines. Killed Robert Rooster.
Dec 5 – Husked corn some. Rainy day, warm as April.
Dec 6 – Went over to Burg. Bot Boots for Jim 2.75, one pair for Ethan 5.75, pair shoes for sis.
Dec 7 – Snows some this morning.
Dec 8 – Went down to Catharines after Catharine. She did not come.
Dec 9 – Got in my cabbage. Pleasant 42 Abz at 2 PM. Got some straw over to Planks.
Dec 10 – Pleasant, no snow. Mr Plank went to Kalamazoo with load potatoes for Lyman Gates. Mercury 60 in sun, 45 in shade at 2 PM.
Dec 11 – Went over to burg after Doc Wightman. Snowed some, high wind. Jim sick. Catharine came up here. Snowed like fun.
Dec 12 – Mercury 32 Abz, snow about 2½ inches deep. Jim some better.
Dec 13 – Work round house. Snows some. Ethan went to Augusta in Evening.
Dec 14 – Sarah Turner went back to Kalamazoo. Georgy went with her. Nancy went down to stay a few days. Catharine went up to Wesleys. Jesse Turner 71 years old to day.[92]
Dec 15 – Not very cold, some snow on ground. J. Jackson called here.
Dec 16 – At home all day. Not very cold. Wesleys folks here in Evening.
Dec 17 – Carried Catharine home. Nancy came home. Lois came home with me. Mrs Jacobs Died to day.[93] Very little snow on ground.
Dec 18 – Not very cold. Sarah went over to Mr Jacobs.
Dec 19 – Mrs Jacobs buried to day, funeral 2 oclock. Lois went over to Joes. Snowed some.
Dec 20 – Snows some, snowed all day, snow fell 6 inches.
Dec 21 – Cold 4 Abz. George Turner sent his things back to Kalamazoo. Rufus Taylor carried them. I traded my Rifle to George for his stove.
Dec 22 – Put my bench in house this morning. Snowed ½ inch. Mr Streator got his saw. Joel James[94] came here, stayed all night. Mercury 4 Below zero.
Dec 23 – Mercury 10 Below zero. Joel left. I went over to Burg with him. Cold and some wind.
Dec 24 – Cold 3 below zero. Drawed three loads of wood. Paid N. L. Randal 30 thirty Dollars out of school fund. Paid my Tax 12.18. Snow fell 2 inches in night.
Dec 25 – Cold, one Degree Below zero, snowed some, blusterous day, snow fell, snowed in night.
Dec 26 – Snowd about two inches. Tincured in shop. Moved stove and my chest. Cold and blustring, 2 inches snow. Potter Eldred buried to day.[95]
Dec 27 – 10 Abz. Alfred Signor came over and got my iron carriage for Engine lathe.
Dec 28 – 20 Abz. Worked in pantry. Put up some shelves and base shelf.
Dec 29 – Cold 13 Below zero. Worke in shop some.
Dec 30 – 24 Abz. _____ went to Kalamazoo with A. Brown. Bot stuff for cutter 2.25. Went and saw George Turner.
Dec 31 – Went over to Burg. Got money of town treasurer, paid Miss Lovel 45.00 Dollars out of mill tax. Wesley called here in Evening. Mrs Potter Eldred died this morning.[96]
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[1] Known better, and referred to, as Luke
[2] His sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee
[3] His brother, John Wesley Keith, who, according to the family Bible, was adopted
[4] A neighbor, Marius O. Streator
[5] Joseph W. Lee, his paternal first cousin, the son of Charles and Rhoda (Keith) Lee, and the brother of Charles Lee
[6] His daughter, Nancy Catherine Keith
[7] Luke sold “bed bottoms,” a form of rubberized bedsprings, and was quite often gone for months at a time
[8] His horse
[9] Charles Jedediah Lee, the son of Luke’s cousin, Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee
[10] Lois (Keith) Clark, his daughter by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith
[11] His cousin, Marquis de Lafayette Lee, the oldest son of Dr. Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Strong) Lee. The Lees were Mormons and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and eventually to the Salt Lake Valley in 1850. Mark stayed behind to run his father’s farm and was living with his aunt, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee
[12] A neighbor, Ambrose Brown, whose son Henry would become the husband of Luke’s daughter Nancy
[13] His daughter, Louese Keith
[14] Another one of his horses
[15] The niece of Lois’ late husband, Byron Clark. She was the daughter of Loren & Amanda (Taylor) Clark
[16] Henry Brown, the son of Ambrose Brown
[17] His son, James Keith
[18] Above zero
[19] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith
[20] His son, Ethan Bradley Keith
[21] A neighbor, Thomas Flanders
[22] A search of FindAGrave.com shows Thomas W. Flanders died December 26, 1869 and is buried in Kalamazoo County Poor Farm Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. While the date does not agree with Luke’s entries, his mention of the “County house” would seem to confirm that this is the same Thomas W. Flanders
[23] Thomas Flanders’ nephew
[24] Believe he is referring to his cousin, William Henry Lee
[25] Believed to be Susie A. Brown, sometimes referred to as Suky Brown and/or Decatur Susie Brown. The September 6, 1869 entry shows that she was the school teacher
[26] A neighbor
[27] Neighbors, Eliza (Beadle) Rogers, and her sister, Sarah Beadle
[28] A felloe, or felly, is the rim of a wheel supported by spokes
[29] His niece, Lucy Irene Lee, the daughter of his sister Catharine
[30] Edward G. Wolcott, his first cousin
[31] Wood ashes through which water is passed to carry away soluble portions
[32] A search of Ancestry.com shows that Willie B. Bester, age 14, the son of Horatio & Sarah Bester, died of scarlet fever on February 9, 1870
[33] Hank’s aunt and uncle, Cynthia (Brown) & William Arms
[34] His brother-in-law, Hiram Crawford Jr.
[35] Et cetera
[36] Martin Milham, the husband of his niece, Lucy Irene (Lee) Milham
[37] George and Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson lived; Marion was Luke’s niece
[38] Joseph Flanders, a neighbor; brother of Thomas Flanders (see January 24 entry)
[39] Caroline G. Plank, the daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank
[40] Believe he is referring to a neighbor, Ephraim Earl
[41] Son of Marius O. Streator (see January 1 entry)
[42] The brother of William Plank (see March 14 entry)
[43] The 1870 Census shows Lewis and family living in Waterloo, Iowa
[44] Ezekiel Lee, Mark’s father, and Luke’s first cousin
[45] Believed to be William & Harriet (Groat) Plank, and parents of Mary (see March 25 entry) and Carrie (see February 26 entry)
[46] Luke uses this phrase quite often. The Oxford Dictionary gives its meaning as “vigorously or quickly”
[47] Adelbert Skinner, Luke’s future son-in-law; he married Lois November 18, 1871
[48] Charles Jedediah Lee, the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee
[49] Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee; Charles Lee (1797-1878) was the son of Charles & Rhoda (Keith) Lee, the brother of Joseph W. Lee and the father of Charles Jedediah Lee
[50] A neighbor, Oran D. Schram
[51] His daughter, Hannah Keith
[52] The daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank
[53] The pivoted horizontal crossbar to which the harness traces of a draft animal are attached and which is in turn attached to a vehicle or an implement
[54] The daughter of his neighbors, Joseph & Caroline Wiseman, who was 16 years old
[55] His youngest daughter, Louese Keith, who was 9 years old
[56] Joseph & Helen (Bradley) York; Helen was Luke’s niece, the daughter of his sister Catherine by her first husband, Ethan Bradley
[57] Believe he is referring to Mark Lee, who was visiting his family in Salt Lake City, Utah
[58] His maternal first cousin
[59] A search of Ancestry.com shows Adelbert Smith was killed by gunshot on May 25, 1870; however, on May 5, 1870, Nilson Smith, age 22, the son of William & Harriet Smith, was also killed by gunshot. The 1870 Census Mortality Schedule shows Nelson Smith was murdered on May 5, 1870. Nothing further was found. It would appear that Luke mistakenly wrote Del Smith instead of Nilson/Nelson Smith
[60] Neighbors, Caroline Wiseman, and her daughter, Ella, age 14
[61] Jason Beal Wolcott
[62] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”
[63] Jesse & Sarah “Sally” (Davis) Turner
[64] Mary (Knowles) Barber
[65] Luke’s paternal first cousin, Joseph & Lois (French) Lee, and Mark Lee’s wife, Julia Ann Lee
[66] His grandson, William Byron Clark
[67] His maternal first cousin, Stephen Hoxie & Coralin (Underhill) Wolcott
[68] Warren Wolcott, who had lived in Comstock, Michigan, from about 1834 until sometime in the 1850s when he moved to Almena, Michigan
[69] Sarah “Sally” (Davis) Turner
[70] A search at Ancestry.com shows that Virginia Upjohn, the daughter of Uriah & Maria (Mills) Upjohn, died July 9, 1870 from “congestion of the brain.” She was 25 and worked as a teacher and is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan
[71] His cousin; the son of Jesse & Sally (Davis) Turner
[72] The March 3rd entry mentions working on Henry Lee’s cane, and the March 11th & 15th entries refer to Dr. Ezekiel’s cane. In a letter from William Henry Lee to his son, Ezekiel Lee, who lived in Idaho, was the following: “…very glad to hear from you once more and to learn of your welfare, but very sorry of hear of Orrin’s [his youngest brother] mis-fortune. It seems that mother’s boys are all to be cripples in their old age. Father [Dr. Ezekiel Lee] was a cripple when he died and a good many years before. Mark [his brother] and now Orrin will very likely be a cripple the rest of his days….” (Courtesy of Margaret Williams, 3rd great-grandfather of William Henry Lee)
[73] His cousin; the son of Jesse & Sally (Davis) Turner
[74] According to the History of Kalamazoo County, Michigan (1880), the Galesburg Cornet Band was organized August 4, 1870. Charles Harris was the leader and he played the E-flat cornet. Ethan played the 2d E-flat cornet
[75] The long shafts between which an animal is fastened when pulling a wagon
[76] A ferrule is a ring or cap usually of metal put around a slender shaft (such as a cane or a tool handle) to strengthen it or prevent splitting
[77] Jesse & Julia (Toupence) Lee; Jesse was Luke’s cousin and the son of Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee
[78] Ethan and Hank were granted a patent for their Improvement in Coupling-Jacks on September 27, 1870. According to the patent, they “have invented certain Improvements in the Mode of Transmitting Motion to Shafts, adjustable to any desired angle with the leading shaft, which invention we call ‘A Universal Coupling-Jack.’”
[79] The term “uncle” was often used for older relatives, especially in-laws of various relatives. Patrick Hamilton was the father of Mary (Hamilton) Crawford, who was the widow of Edwin Crawford, who was the brother of Luke’s wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith
[80] His nephew James “Oscar” Keith
[81] Rebecca W. Plank, the daughter of William & Harriet (Groat) Plank
[82] The son of Luke’s cousin, Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee
[83] A form of malaria characterized by stages of chills, fever, and sweating
[84] A search of Ancestry.com revealed that Alice Struble, age 14, died September 20, 1870; she was the daughter of Selim & Cynthia Struble
[85] A search of Ancestry.com revealed that Elias Sherman, age 75, died September 28, 1870
[86] Sarah Frances (Roberts) Turner, the wife of Luke’s cousin, George Turner
[87] St. Joseph, Michigan
[88] Marion Adelpha York, the daughter of Joseph & Helen (Bradley) York
[89] Quickly, or vigorously
[90] A neighbor, Peter Johnson; does not appear to be any relation to Luke
[91] A search of Ancestry.com reveals that Isaac D. L. Scram married F. Elizabeth Taylor in Galesburg, Michigan, on November 30, 1870
[92] FindAGrave.com shows his birthdate as November 13, 1799; also Luke’s 1894 entry for November 13 states “Jesse Turner 95 years old to day”
[93] A search of FindAGrave.com shows that Julia A. Jacobs, age 38, wife of B. Jacobs, died December 17, 1870, and is buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[94] His maternal first cousin
[95] A search of Ancestry.com shows that Potter Eldred of Charleston, Michigan, died December 24, 1870, of Typhoid Pneumonia, at the age of 78; FindAGrave.com reveals that he is buried in Roof Cemetery, Climax, Michigan
[96] Ancestry.com reveals that Hannah (Cook) Eldred died just four days after her husband, on December 29, 1870, also of Typhoid Pneumonia, at the age of 70; she is also buried in Roof Cemetery, which shows her date of death as December 30, 1870
The Diaries of Charles Luke Keith Jr 