1877 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH JR.[1]
Jan 1 – At Tomlinson House.[2] Very blustring. Frank[3] and I took a ride out East in afternoon. Mercury 14 Abz.[4]
Jan 2 – Snows some. George[5] gone over to Mount Morris after Nell.[6] Bot this Diary in Perry.[7] Nell came home about two oclock. Went over to Nobles in Evening, saw fountain.
Jan 3 – Snows and blows, snow piled up, Mercury 14 Abz. Mr Braughton and Lady here. Marion[8] and I went to see the Waubinoes performe.
Jan 4 – Cold morning. Left Perry one oclock P.M., went over to Gainesville, took the cars[9] for Buffalo, arrived about six P.M., left Buffalo half past one for Detroit.
Jan 5 – Got to Detroit about 12 noon, left Detroit half past six, got to Galesburg about twelve night, got home about one.
Jan 6 – At home all day. Not very well. Found the folks all well. Mercury 45 Abz.
Jan 7 – Went down to Katharines.[10] All well. Not very cold.
Jan 8 – Went up to Skinners. Del[11] over to burg[12] to attend a lawsuit. All well. Sent letter to Patty.[13]
Jan 9 – Cold, mercury 4 below zero. At home, no one here. Filed three saws for Ernest 60 cts. Browns folks[14] here in Evening. Mrs Calkins[15] here with them.
Jan 10 – Went over to burg, carried Jims[16] Boots over, paid 60 cts. Mrs Ralph[17] here.
Jan 11 – Not very well. Went over to burg, got Jims Boots. Snowed like fun.[18]
Jan 12 – Cold, 2 below zero. Filed my Bucksaw. Major[19] killed to day. Hog hunt here.
Jan 13 – Cold day, Mercury 8 Abz above zero. Went up in woods, cut down one tree, drawed two loads wood. Snow very deep in woods.
Jan 14 – Ed Childs and wife here. Went down to Katharines in Evening. Henry[20] here stayed all night.
Jan 15 – Went up to Mr Flanders[21] with Henry. Snowed and blowed like the mischief.
Jan 16 – Very pleasant day. Shelled 3 bushels corn.
Jan 17 – Earnest[22] killed my hogs. Went over to burg after grist, no get him. Mercury 30 Abz. Went down to Browns in Evening. Mr Morrison and wife there.
Jan 18 – Mercury 30 Abz, ledle some rain in morning.
Jan 19 – Mr Ives and George called here. Sarah[23] and Mrs Betts[24] went to burg. Went to Barbers[25] in Evening. Put hair in one End of bow.
Jan 20 – Cold and blustrous Mercury 16 Abz morning. At home. Mrs Emeline Bradley[26] died to day.
Jan 21 – At home all day. Ethan[27] and Henry went up to Foundry. Cold day Mercury 2 below.
Jan 22 – Mercury 18 Abz in morning.
Jan 23 – Went over to burg with Henry. Mart, Ansil and Lucy[28] here. I went down to M. O. Streators[29] to see if I could get some straw.
Jan 24 – Pleasant cold day. Made saw Buck for Earnest Whiting.
Jan 25 – At home all day. Not much done.
Jan 26 – Went down to Katharines. Mrs Betts and Sarah went down to Browns.
Jan 27 – Drawed Straw from M. O. Streators, two loads for Brown, one for my self. Went up to Nathan Lamkins in Evening with Browns folks. Mrs Betts went over to Burg.
Jan 28 – Fine pleasant day Mercury 34 Abz.
Jan 29 – Drawed some wood. Went over to burg in Evening after Mrs Betts. No find him.
Jan 30 – Drawed two loads Straw from Streators. Went over to burg in Evening after Mrs Betts. Got him this time. Mr and Mrs Streator[30] called here no stop long. Rained in night. Sleighing thin.
Jan 31 – Not very cold snow melting. Drawed two loads wood. Went over to burg. Received of Township Treasurer one hundred and four dollars. Lois[31] came down.
Feb 1 – Went to Foundry. Boys making Cider. Got mawl.
Feb 2 – Carried Hannah[32] up to Mr Ralphs.[33] Went up to Foundry. Boys making cider. Filed saw for A Brown[34] by golly. Hall sent timber for two ax helves.
Feb 3 – Went up to Foundry. Got three bushels wheat of H. A. Taylor[35] 1.35¢ pr bus, paid him 3.05¢. Carried it over to burg. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg. Carried Lois down to Browns.
Feb 4 – At home. Mrs Benjamin came down after Lois. Hannah went down with her. Not very cold. Went over to burg after Sarah and Mrs Betts.
Feb 5 – At home. Worked in shop some.
Feb 6 – Worked in shop on violin some.
Feb 7 – Worked in shop on violin. Charley called here to see about his violin. Fine day.
Feb 8 – Pleasant morning. Put Charley Gillis violin together. Ethan and Hannah went down to Mr Randal.[36] Ethan fixed their melodian.
Feb 9 – Cut wood, cut one tree. Ethan and Hannah went up to T. C. Fords[37] in Evening.
Feb 10 – Worked in woods cutting wood. Charley Gillis got his violin. He paid me two Dollars.
Feb 11 – At home all day. Put new finger board on my violin. Mrs Betts went to burg with Jacksons folks.
Feb 12 – Worked in woods cutting grubbs &c.[38] Fine day.
Feb 13 – Worked in woods. Ansil Lee called here. I cut his hair. Pleasant day. Two of Isaac Odels girls died to
Feb 14 – Pleasant day. Went up to woods, got one load wood. Filed saw for A. Brown. Ella and Minnie Randall, they stayed in Evening. Two of Isaac Odels girls Died to day.[39]
Feb 15 – Worked in woods some sawed some wood. Cut some grubbs. Odells girls buried to day. Pleasant day. Jim lost cold chisel. Ethan up to shop.
Feb 16 – Fine day no snow. Cut some grubs in after noon. Ethan up to shop.
Feb 17 – Ethan drawed wood. I shelled some corn and acarried corn and oats to mill. Carried Mrs Betts and Sarah over to burg. Fine day.
Feb 18 – Pleasant day mercury 27 Abz in morning. At home.
Feb 19 – Worked round shop some. At home.
Feb 20 – Worked in shop. Made cross head for Theodore Earl.[40] Fine day.
Feb 21 – Went up to Swaddles. Mrs Betts stayed up there. Warm day. Roads nice, dusty.
Feb 22 – Very smoky. Choped wood. Warm day. Cut some trees in in grove on hill South East of barn. Ebenezar Flanders died this morning.[41] Mercury 53 Abz.
Feb 23 – Went down to Catharines[42] to Auction sale. Bot ax and Iron mortar[?] of Ansil Lee. Went over to Henry Rogers[43] in Evening. Had a big time, lots there.
Feb 24 – Cloudy morning. Ethan drawing wood. Jule Allen[44] came up with Browns folks stayed the Evening. Ebenezer Flanders buried to day.
Feb 25 – At home all day. Jim went down to Katharines. Nice day. Rass[45] folks and Mrs Totty to Browns to day. Henry came here stayed all night.
Feb 26 – Fine pleasant morning Mercury 30 Abz in morning. Henry and Ethan gone up to shop.
Feb 27 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg. Got pole for Streators wagon. Fine day. Went down to Browns in Evening Whitcom Blake Forbush &c.
Feb 28 – Put in pole for Streator. He paid me one Dollar $1.00. Very nice day. A. R. Shere to dinner. Sent Lois ham bone, sent Ina[46] sum nuts.
Mar 1 – Pleasant morning mercury 23 Abz in morning. Worked in shop some on violins. Rained in night. ____ Rowland buried to day.[47] Hannah went up to Lois to sewing.
Mar 2 – Worked on violins. Rainy day, snowed some, not very cold.
Mar 3 – Cold morning mercury 27 Abz. Put tops on two violins Talsimers[?] and Keans. Snowed all day snow fell 8 inches.
Mar 4 – Pleasant morning mercury 18 Abz in morning, lots snow.
Mar 5 – Carried two bushels corn to mill. Lost my tie strap. Mart called here. Carried hams down to Browns. Browns folks came up here in Evening.
Mar 6 – Mercury 14 Abz, cold, some sleighing. Made Herbert Earls[48] Oars. Worked some on violins.
Mar 7 – Worked in shop on patterns for binder. Rained in night. Made Ina a wash board. Mrs Betts got mad because Sarah let her hand go but she felt better after it. Rested[?] first rate.
Mar 8 – Worked on patterns. Snowed and blowed all day Mercury 17 Abz. Verry good sleighing. Hannah up to Lois to work.
Mar 9 – Cold snowy blustrous day. Making patterns. Mercury 15 Abz. Filed _____ saw for Ernest _____ Whiting brot it down. Jim went to burg with him.
Mar 10 – Mercury 6 Abz in morning. Rather a fine day. Worked on patterns in fore noon. Went over to burg in afternoon. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over. They went to uncle peats. They stayed all night in burg. Bot Box in post office 25 for one year Box 86[?].
Mar 11 – Fine day. Ansel and Katharine came up here. Went over to burg after Mrs Betts and Sarah. Henry here.
Mar 12 – Warm morning Mercury 31 Abz. One foot snow on ground. Worked on patterns. Snows and blows very blustrous day. Henry and davis Stafford called here. They had been to cut tree for shaft ____ water wheel.
Mar 13 – Very pleasant morning Mercury 5 Abz, not very cold. Went up to Lois in Evening. 13 inches snow. Carried Ina her washboard. Snowed in night.
Mar 14 – Snows some, blustrous morning, 14 inches snow. Worked in shop some. Drawed some wood. Will Planks[49] Girl born to day.[50]
Mar 15 – Fine day. Went up to Marshall with Dell Skinner to see his farm. Stayed all night. Found them well.
Mar 16 – Sarah and Mrs Betts went down to Browns[?]. Snows like fun. Dell went and saw Mr Stage abut taking the Hull farm. Left for home not far from 12 noon. Snowed hard. Called at Luke Smith took dinner. Got to Skinners about seven Evening. Ethan came up after me. Got home about Eight oclock.
Mar 17 – Fine morning mercury 7 Abz in morning. Worked in shop on patterns.
Mar 18 – Snowed in morning like fun. Not very well hard cold. Mrs Oakly[51] buried to day. Lots snow on ground.
Mar 19 – Snowing Mercury18 Abz at ten oclock A.M.
Mar 20 – Worked on patterns some. Filed saw for Win. Mart called here. Snowed hard. Dell and Lois drove in here. Drawed two loads wood. Snow very deep. Thundered and lightened in afternoon.
Mar 21 – Pleasant, sun came out, lots snow on ground, nearly 2 feet. Worked in shop on patterns. Henry here to dinner. Dell and Lois called here. Not very cold. Extracted two teeth for Mrs Wolcots hired man Emmet Emmons. He paid 50¢.
Mar 22 – Worked on patterns. Thawed all day. Win got saw. Sarah and Browns folks went over to tabernacle in Evening. Mr Sherwood Died this morning.[52]
Mar 23 – Worked in shop on patterns. Henry came down stayed all night.
Mar 24 – Worked in shop. Drawed two loads wood. Lots snow in woods. Stormy day. Mr Sherwood buried to day. Carried Mrs Betts and Sarah over to burg. Sarah rode home with Brown. Sylvester Mead[53] died 7 AM to day.
Mar 25 – At home. Snowey day. Went down to Katharines in afternoon stayed all night.
Mar 26 – At Marts. Mart scalded sap bucketts. Jo York came after Adelpha.[54] Got home about two Pm. Dave Barton[55] brot load hay, wheelbarrow &c. Sylvester Mead buried to day.
Mar 27 – Worked in shop some on wagon neap.[56] Turned some acorns for I. D. L. Schram.[57] Fine day. Hannah came home with him. Ina came with her.
Mar 28 – Worked in shop some. Drawed two loads wood. Went up to H. A. Taylors. Got one bushel potatoes paid one Dollar. Bot 4 bushels wheat paid 4 Dollars. Jo Kean paid me one Dollar.
Mar 29 – Worked in shop made neap for A. R. Skinners wagon. George ives called and got Taloimers violin. He paid 2.25. Ina here.
Mar 30 – Went over to burg in morning. Hannah went bot table spread. Sent letter for seeds. Sawed out stuf for wheelbarrow. Rained all night.
Mar 31 – Worked on wheelbarrow some. Filed saw for E Whiting. Rained in morning. Will Clark[58] came with two horses. Dell and Lois called got Ina. They went down to Browns stayed all night. Ida Barber[59] came over stayed all night. Mrs Betts went to Burg.
Apr 1 – Rained some in morning. At home all day. Dell and Lois came up just at night.
Apr 2 – Went over to Town meeting. Dell and I went up to Blanchards.[60] Got load stalks, straw and hay. Went after Sarah and Mrs Betts at night.
Apr 3 – Worked in shop some. Put rockers on Hat Taylors chair. Dell went to Kalamazoo. Ethan, Lois and Hannah went down to Katharines.
Apr 4 – Went up to Blanchards with Lois. They left for Marshall. Ethan went with them. Rained in Evening. Paid Hat Taylor 1.60 one Dollar and sixty cents.
Apr 5 – Ethan and Will came back from Marshall. Made pick handle for Herb Earl. Fixed Browns handle.
Apr 6 – Fine morning. Jim and Will left for Marshall. Went down to Katharines. Sarah and Mrs Betts went to eat new shugar, got some.
Apr 7 – Worked in shop on patterns. Mrs Betts went over to burg to hear the gospel preached. Ethan and Bill went down to Katherines. Henry went a long. Fine day.
Apr 8 – Warm looks some like rain, considerable wind. Mrs Betts came home.
Apr 9 – Ethan went up to Foundry. Sarah went over to burg stayed all day. Old Mr King[61] Died this morning. I worked on Skinners wheel barrow. Fine day high wind.
Apr 10 – Ethan gone up to shop after chain wheel pattern. Repaired Skinners wheel barrow.
Apr 11 – Will Brown[62] commenced plowing. Worked round house. Fixed my stove boat. Old Mr King buried to day. Elder Gage called on Mrs Betts. Went over to burg in Evening. Sarah went to Hoags.[63] I waited bout a our and half in the road.
Apr 12 – Made soap. Painted Dells wheelbarrow, Jims slead. Uncle Daniels lost wagon tyre. Cleaned out cellar. Looked over apples &c. Mrs Betts put her ward robe in her room. Mr Brown plowing to day.
Apr 13 – Worked round house and yard. Dell came down to Harts.
Apr 14 – Worked in yard trimmed some trees. Went down to Katharines in Evening. Browns folks went. Mrs Betts went over to burg. Henry stayed all night. Bill sick. Skinner called here got his wheelbarrow.
Apr 15 – At home all day. Henry went up to Flanders.[64] Fine day very dry.
Apr 16 – Worked in shop on patterns. Sarah went over to Janes[65] Stayed all night.
Apr 17 – Went over to burg after Sarah. Went over after Alfleda.[66] Mrs Calkins came home with her. Had a rainy night. Mrs Hennika[67] Died to day.
Apr 18 – Carried Mrs Calkins over to burg. Rained. Carried Hannah down to Browns. Rained hard. Filed saw for Erve Hall[68] 20¢. Man called here canvasing for Diary.
Apr 19 – Worked in shop on patterns. Charley Town[69] called in.
Apr 20 – Worked on patterns. Carried Hannah over to Barbers. Bot midlings[?] over to mill[?] 50¢. Bot one Bushel potatoes, one Dollar to be paid in work. Manne Hennikas[70] wife buried to day.
Apr 21 – Worked in shop on patterns. Mrs Betts went over to burg.
Apr 22 – At home all day. No one here.
Apr 23 – Worked in garden pulled grubbs. Hot day. Brown sowed oats. Carried Hannah over to aunt Peets. Sarah went over to Janes stayed all night.
Apr 24 – Went over to burg in morning after Sarah. Put fellow[71] in one wheel. Split some wood in afternoon. McNaughten boy[72] buried to day.
Apr 25 – Worked round. Got out manure. George Barber[73] helped all day.
Apr 26 – Got out two loads manure. Chored round. Spread manure on East garden. Cyrus Streator and Laura called here just at night.
Apr 27 – Carried some corn over to mill 2½ bushels. Spread manure on west garden. Earnest Whiting plowed garden. Rained just at night. Henry came down. Jo Kean paid 50¢ cts.
Apr 28 – Rained in morning. Not much done. Went over to burg in Evening after hannah. Got my meal.
Apr 29 – At home all day. Rainy day. Henry came down stayed all night. Snowed in night. Hailed in afternoon.
Apr 30 – Ethan and Henry gone up to shop. Hannah went over to Mr Johnsons.
May 1 – Cool day snowed and blowed some. Split some wood. Will Ridler[74] commenced plowing. Hannah came home. Got some lumber of Theodore.
May 2 – Commenced hen yard. Ethan went up to shop. Fine day froze ice.
May 3 – Cool, ice this morning. Put the cow in Browns lot to day. Ethan gone up to shop.
May 4 – Worked on hen yard. Fine day. Ridler plowing. Went up to Jim Spires[75] to raise Barn, big Barn.
May 5 – Worked on hen yard. Very pleasant day. Will Ridler finished plowing. Mrs Betts went over to burg to hear the gospel preached in the Babtist Church.
May 6 – At home all day. No one here.
May 7 – Trimed trees south side road. Sarah went over to burg. Mrs Betts came home.
May 8 – Worked round hen yard and house. Frost this morning.
May 9 – Went up to Foundry. Got chissel made for Binder. Got my grubb ax repaired. Mr daniels lost tire of one wheel. Fine day, cool wind, frost this morning.
May 10 – Frost this morning. Worked on hen yard some.
May 11 – Worked round yard and in garden.
May 12 – Worked on got two bushels potatoes of H A Taylor. Got some lumber up to mill 5 boards 14 feet long. Not very good. Went up to foundry after Ethan. Jim came home. Mrs Betts went to burg.
May 13 – Went down to Katharines. Jo Darling[76] maried to day. John Darling[77] was there. Fine day.
May 14 – Worked on hen yard. Will Ridler planted corn in south west lot. Herbert Earl helped him. Mrs Betts came home.
May 15 – Worked on hen yard put the gate up. Ernest plowed in afternoon. Jim went back to Marshall. Brown planting. Considerable wind.
May 16 – Rained in morning. Brown planting. I trimed some trees. Warm day. Brown put Snap and buggy in Barn.
May 17 – Went up to shop in morning with Ethan. Mr Ford and M O Streator came down and made out release on Mortgage. I went up to Streators. Got seed corn some potatoes of Brown.
May 18 – Mercury 90 in shade. Went up to shop in morning. Ground gr____ Ax. Hot day. Draged some of my corn ground. Jesse Earl[78] planting.
May 19 – Hot day. Carried Ethan up to shop. Finished draging corn ground. Jesse Earl planting. Ernest plowing his corn ground. Burnt brush East of Barn. Barber came over and started the plow.
May 20 – Very hot day Mercury 85 in shade. At home. No one here.
May 21 – Made corn Markers. Marked ground one way. Rained in afternoon. Paid Minnie Randall twenty Dollars.
May 22 – Rainy day. Barber came over. Plowed some moved old cornstalks. Went up to shop after Ethan at night.
May 23 – Carried Ethan up to shop. Barber plowing. Berban Jacobs and Brother called here a while in forenoon. Commenced planting corn East of house. Fine day cold East wind.
May 24 – Cold North East wind. Went up to Foundry. Mercury 50 Abz. Planted corn.
May 25 – Finished planting. Old Mrs Youngs buried to day. Henry Earl died this morning.[79]
May 26 – Went up to shop in morning with Ethan. Worked on hen yard some. Hoed in garden. Went up after Ethan at night. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg stayed all night.
May 27 – Fine morning. Sun came out nice.
May 28 – Worked round garden. Went over to burg. Went up to Ridlers to see him about road work.
May 29 – Went up to shop in morning. Hoed some in garden. Went up to shop in afternoon. Hannah and Ida Barber went. Elward Agent called on the boys to see Binder.
May 30 – Working on road. Hot day. Went up to Foundry.
May 31 – Worked round garden. Worked on road.
Jun 1 – Hoed in garden. Mrs Betts went over to Mr Wi___ans to strawberry festival. Barber put on plaster in front room. Conk Smith here stayed all night.
Jun 2 – Hoed corn, beans and potatoes. Cultivated cabbage ground. Went up to Foundry after Ethan. He had gone by the burg have rode with Ed Flanders.[80]
Jun 3 – Some cloudy, no rain yet, very dry. Ethan and Hannah went down to Catharines. Hannah stayed. Little Dutch man stayed here all night.
Jun 4 – Went up to Foundry in morning. Marked out potatoe ground. Barber planted in some corn. Rained in night. Conk Smith stayed here all night.
Jun 5 – Cloudy some mist. Ethan set out some plants.
Jun 6 – Planted in corn. Mrs Betts went to Dowagiac.[81] Sarah went over to burg. Theodore put in bridge. Ethans patent papers came or a part of them.
Jun 7 – Finished planting corn. Put handle on Mr Taylors hoe. Hoed in garden some. Water wheel busted. Mrs Brown and Jule here in afternoon.
Jun 8 – Ethan and Henry at work on patterns. Plowed out potatoes. Rained in afternoon. Barber brot over some more ashes for corn.
Jun 9 – Cloudy morning, rainy day. Not much done. Cow out. Filed saw for Whiting.
Jun 10 – Cool wind Mercury 53 in morning. Went down to Katharines. Mrs Gaffing there.
Jun 11 – Put ashes on corn. Rainy afternoon. Ridler came down to work in corn.
Jun 12 – Cool morning Mercury 62. Went down to Katharines. Expected to go to Kalamazoo but no go. Came home and finished ashing my corn. Ezekiel Lee Died to day.[82]
Jun 13 – Hoed in garden some. Barber commenced plowing for Buckwheat. Ethan finished patterns. Cow out to night. Rainy night. Brown and I went to find Cattle no find him.
Jun 14 – Rainy morning. Found Cattle over by Rail Road. Had been in Whitbecks wheat. Worked in garden some. H. A. Taylor brot his buggy down to paint.
Jun 15 – Worked on Barbers cultivator. A. Browns folks came up in Evening. Mrs Semer came with them. Had a heavy shower rained all the Evening. They went home in the rain.
Jun 16 – Went up to Foundry. Henry went up to Battle Creek with patterns.
Jun 17 – At home all day. Mr Henry Rogers and wife[83] and Mrs Wilson here. Ethan carried Hannah down to Katharines. Dell came stayed all night.
Jun 18 – Dell went to Kalamazoo, had Bill.[84] Dell and Henry stayed all night. Finished Barbers Cultivator. George put ashes on corn. Painted cultivator. I painted Taylors buggy boddy.
Jun 19 – Painted Taylors buggy. Hoed in garden some.
Jun 20 – Rainy day. Not much done.
Jun 21 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Ansil, Catharine and Hellen[85] came up here. Ansil and I went up after Ethan.
Jun 22 – Fine morning. Henry came down to have pattern alterd some.
Jun 23 – Carried Ethan up to shop. I cultivated turnip ground. Barber Cultivated corn one way. Brown plowed Buckwheat ground. Henry got Castings. Lois came home in Evening. Went down to Browns in Evening. Alfleda down to Browns.
Jun 24 – At home. Mr Daniels called here a while. He went down to Browns. Ethan went down to Katharines carried some things to Hannah. Lois went with him. Had a heavy shower.
Jun 25 – Went up to shop. Very hot. Hoed in garden some.
Jun 26 – Went over to burg. Got wire for hen yard. Bot one Barrel plaster paid one Dollar for it.
Jun 27 – Put wire round Hen yard. Hot day. Sarah went down to Browns. Carried Hannah up to Mr Flanders. Ina here.
Jun 28 – Barber sowed Buckwheat. Hoed some in garden. Dell and Lois went home took Ina.
Jun 29 – Went up to shop with Ethan. Brown sowed Buckwheat. Hot day. I hoed potatoes. Got ½ bushel potatoes of H. A. Taylor. Ridler plowed out corn in south west lot. Mrs Benagar Dean[86] died.
Jun 30 – Carried Ethan up to shop. Sarah went to burg. I plowed potatoes and corn. Very high wind all day.
Jul 1 – Wind continues to blow. Mrs Dean buried to day also Mr Enoch Nap[87] of Comstock. Mart and Lucy came up here. I had a chill.
Jul 2 – Not very well to day. Went over to burg. Got dress for Hannah. Put new bridge on new violin. Rained a little in afternoon.
Jul 3 – Worked some in shop and garden.
Jul 4 – At home all day. Sarah went over to burg. Ethan and Hannah went over in Evening to see fireworks.
Jul 5 – Varnished Taylors buggy and turned some pins for _____. Had a hard blow in afternoon, blowed down our Locust tree in front yard.
Jul 6 – Finished Taylors buggy. Turned 6 pins for Jim Millham.[88] Hoed corn in afternoon some. Went over to burg after Sarah.
Jul 7 – Pleasant morning. Went up to shop. Took Mr Taylors buggy home. Hoed corn some. Hank and Nancy came home.
Jul 8 – Hank and Nancy* here. Ethan took Hannah down to Katharines. Hank and Nancy went down to Mr Browns.
Jul 9 – Worked in corn some.
Jul 10 – Plowed and hoed corn. Mrs Betts came home to day.
Jul 11 – Hoed corn. Brown cut wheat in west lot. Mr Barber commenced cutting wheat.
Jul 12 – Carried Ethan up to Foundry. Plowed and hoed corn.
Jul 13 – Finished hoing corn. Brown drawed one load wheat.
Jul 14 – Cleaned out Barn. Worked in potatoes some. Put paris green on them. Hot day Mercury 91 Abz.
Jul 15 – Very hot. Ethan took Mrs Betts over to burg. Ethan went after Mrs Betts at night.
Jul 16 – Went to Kalamazoo after Louese. Had Ernest buggy. Cows got in Whitbecks lot. Sold calf to Whitbecks for 4.00. Bot set Spokes $3.00 pr _____.
Jul 17 – Chored round house and garden. Run after cows and fixed fence.
Jul 18 – Made wheelbarrow for Claud K. Brown Esqr of Chicago.[89]
Jul 19 – Went Kalamazoo with Hank. He went to Chicago. Bot coat and pants $3.00. Dell and Lois came here. Mart and Lucy called here. Hannah went to Caywoods. Sis[90] went up to Milhams.
Jul 20 – Carried Ethan up to shop. Corked barn floor in forenoon.
Jul 21 – Hoed[?] corn some. Barton[?] thrashed some. Mrs Betts went over to burg.
Jul 22 – At home all day. Lois came back. Dell went home. Mr Clark called in a while.
Jul 23 – Barton[91] thrashed some. I plowed corn. Very hot. Ridler plowed corn. Finished plowing.
Jul 24 – Hot day. Plowed corn. Emma Allen[92] here. Twelve here to dinner.
Jul 25 – Rainy morning. Headache. Hoed some potatoes. Tamer Ford[93] here. Barber plowed some corn. Lois went up to Jo Flanders.
Jul 26 – Some cooler this morning. Spect had rain somewhere. Finished plowing corn. Mr Flanders came down got all the whimmen[94] took them up to their house. Had a heavy shower, rained and blowed hard. Mr Flanders had to drive in _____.
Jul 27 – Cloudy morning. Laid up fence in forenoon. Carried all the wimmin down to A. Browns in afternoon. Went over to burg. Received of Township Treasurer 36 Dollars. Rained hard in night. Adda Ralph here to day.
Jul 28 – Sun came out in morning, fine day, rained some in afternoon. Cow went to Bull. Mrs Betts went to burg.
Jul 29 – Hot day. Went down to Katharines. All well. Mrs Gaffing there.
Jul 30 – Made Ex for Skinners Democrat[?]. Jim came home. Sarah went over to burg. Mrs Betts came home. Mrs G____ preached at burg this Evening.
Jul 31 – At home. Worked worked in shop some.
Aug 1 – Worked on spokes some. Mrs Brown and Jule here in afternoon.
Aug 2 – Worked on spokes. Repaired Huntings guitar. Lois went home.
Aug 3 – Worked in corn some. Drove some spokes in afternoon.
Aug 4 – Drove some spokes in morning. Catharine and Mrs Gaffing came up. Mrs G. went up to Jim Milhams. Estella came down stayed all night. Hoed corn in afternoon.
Aug 5 – Katharine here. Hank and Nancy came up. Warm day.
Aug 6 – Hank moved his things over. Hoed corn. Sarah and Katharine went up to Jim Milhams. Hannah went down to A. Browns. Rained a very little towards night.
Aug 7 – Cloudy morning looks like rain. Finished hoing corn and potatoes. Katharine went home. Mrs Betts went to burg. Dr Upham came here stayed all night from Elkhart, Ia. Hot and dry.
Aug 8 – Cut weeds in yard hoed some. Sarah went to burg to meeting. Ethan came home in morning. Hot day. Babtist Association at Burg.
Aug 9 – Chored round. Belas calf got in corn lot. Went round woods put up some fence. Hoed some. Will Clark came. Ethan sick in night. Mrs Betts came home. A____ closed to day.
Aug 10 – Fine morning. Went up in woods. Plowed out the potatoes. Cut some grubbs in cornfield side road. Will Clark here.
Aug 11 – Hunt preaches in D K Rogers Saloon this morning. He paid five Dollars for the room. Drawed one load wood. Not feeling very well. Jim and Will went up to Henrys.
Aug 12 – Fine morning some cloudy. At home all day. Mrs Betts went burg on her own hook I guess some mad spose.[95] Peer Whitcomb brot her home. Hank and Nancy came up stayed all night.
Aug 13 – Some cloudy. Will Clark went home. I cultivated my corn one way. Had a good shower in afternoon rained hard. Nancy and Claud here all day. A. Browns folks went to Kalamazoo to Seance at Wagners.
Aug 14 – Killed 3 fowls, one white Rooster, old Speckled hen, one yellow hen. Nice morning. Went down to Katharines got 25 lbs flour. Had a heavy shower, rainy afternoon, rained all night.
Aug 15 – Rainy morning. Picknic at South Haven. Jim gone.
Aug 16 – Put rims on wheels. Ethan worked up to shop. Charles Lees[96] folks here came up with they new buggy. Mrs Betts, Nancy and Mrs Brown and Jule went up to Mr Ralphs.
Aug 17 – Work round, cut some wood, chored round. Mr Barber plowed corn. Sate Skinner[97] went up to Flanders. Henry came down in Evening.
Aug 18 – Pleasant morning. Cut some wood. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to Burg to stay all night.
Aug 19 – At home all day. Very hot Mercury 92 in shade. Alvin, Ida and Henrys _____ _____ _____ ____ and Louese went over to Burg after Sarah and Mrs Betts.
Aug 20 – Not very well. Drawed one load wood. Nancy and Claud went down to Ambrose and Matildas to attend to business &c.
Aug 21 – Worked round garden pulled weeds in Strawberry patch. Rained in night.
Aug 22 – Went up to sawmill in morning. Some rainy. Worked round house and shop. Rainy afternoon and night. Ethan & Louese calculated to went down to Katharines but no go, to much rain.
Aug 23 – Rainy. Jim went over to Barbers after umbrella. Carried Ethan up to shop. Got Whitings buggy. Wedged two axes for E Whiting and mended pruning shears. Rainy day and night.
Aug 24 – Rainy morning. Mrs Skinner[98] and Sate came here stayed all night. Henry came down in Evening. Fixed Whitings buggy wheels.
Aug 25 – Went over to burg. Bot sack flour 90 cts. Bot oil, cheese, paper, Envelopes. Mrs Skinner and Sate went home. Henry here. Wm Gleason[99] died this morning. Went down to Katharines stayed all night.
Aug 26 – Went to Kalamazoo, took the cars. Went to Schoolcraft. Attended a Spiritual meeting. Left my horse to Jesse Turners.[100] Came back. Went up to Katharines stayed all night. Alfleda went down to Charles Lees. Mr Wm Gleason buried to day.
Aug 27 – Rained some. Came home at noon. Hank here to work. Not much done in the work line.
Aug 28 – Some misty. Not very well. Not much work don to day. Rained hard in night.
Aug 29 – Worked in shop some on cross head. Mart and Lucy, Delpha come up. Louese went home with them. I went over to burg in morning. Received of township treasurer $3.70 cts.
Aug 30 – Finished cross head. Went up to saw mill. Hannah went down to Browns. Mr Brown thrashed his wheat. Saw Mr Dilenbeck from Yorkstate. Martin Turner and wife[101] called here just at night. Brown thrashed.
Aug 31 – Hot morning Mercury 83 Abz. Carried Hannah down to Katharines. Louese came back with me. Rained some. Stoped to Browns.
Sep 1 – Cool morning. Town[e] thrashing. Chored round, drawed two loads wood. Louese and Stella went up to Sherwoods in afternoon. Rained some in night. Cool days.
Sep 2 – Henry came down in morning. Rainy.
Sep 3 – Chored round. Went up to Mr Flanders. Bot one bushel corn 60. Claud went with me. Jim helping Streator thrash.
Sep 4 – Went to Comstock to mill, carried 4 bushels wheat, one corn. Mrs Betts and Mrs Keith went over to burg on a visit.
Sep 5 – Chored round. Split some wood. Cool day. Ethan carried patterns up to shop. Rained some in afternoon. Commenced (indecipherable). Extracted two teeth for Herbert Earl.
Sep 6 – Pleasant morning but hot. Pioneer Picknick at Augusta. Drawed one load wood. Mr Browns folks and Mr Wagner here in Evening had a Circle. The Old Preach came Che Che would not let him talk.[102]
Sep 7 – Henry and Louese gone up to Marshall. Had Bill. Worked in shop some. Cut out sides for wheelbarrow. Ethan worked up to shop.
Sep 8 – Stript some corn. Nancy here. Ridler commenced cutting corn.
Sep 9 – All well at home. Hank and Nancy here.
Sep 10 – _____ worked in shop on mold pattern. Mart and Lucy came up. Rainy. Mart went to burg with Sewing Machine.
Sep 11 – Finished mold pattern. Rained in afternoon. Barber came up and cut some corn. I went down to Browns to tea. Hank and Will topping corn.
Sep 12 – Worked in corn. Mrs Betts and Nancy came back. Homes girl died.[103] Henry got home with Bill. Ridler cutting corn.
Sep 13 – Lottie Holmes buried to day. Ethan and Henry went up to shop. I toped corn all day. Ridler finished cutting. Barber cutting. Sarah, Mrs Betts and Nancy went up to Hanibals in afternoon. Boys made some cider.
Sep 14 – Pleasant morning. Finished cutting corn in fore noon. Set up cornfodder in afternoon. Hot day. Ancil got back from Salt Lakecity.
Sep 15 – Nice morning. Browns folks gone to Plainwell. Will came up to ___s after Louese. Ethan gone up to shop.
Sep 16 – At home all day. Ethan down to Browns. Mrs Betts went to burg. Louese came home from Marshall. Ancil and Lucy came up here in afternoon. Rainy night.
Sep 17 – Rainy morning. Sarah went over to burg in morning. Took old buggy to pieces. Went after Sarah and Mrs Betts. Mrs Betts (indecipherable) Eat to much Honey. Dell called here.
Sep 18 – Pleasant morning. Chored round. Made fire under Kettle[?]. Sarah colored lot cloth for Louese. Took the old buggy wheels to pieces. _____ up hubbs to get the _____ out. Ethan went up to shop. Sent my patterns _____.
Sep 19 – Made rack[?] for Cart to draw corn _____ on. Drawed some _____. Louese went up to _____ stayed all night. _____ stayed here with Jim.
Sep 20 – Sprinkled some. Took Ethan over to burg. He went to Jackson to State fair. Drawed two loads wood in forenoon. Went over Ethan in Evening.
Sep 21 – Hank and Will cut the Buckwheat. I made Claud a husking ____. Worked on wringer.
Sep 22 – Fine morning. Hank, Jim, Jule and Nancy gone to Skinners. Ethan gone up to shop. Mrs Betts gone to burg. Sarah and I went down to Katharines. Stayed all night.
Sep 23 – Went Came home in Evening all right.
Sep 24 – Worked round shop, cleaned out old shop. Barber husked little corn. Hank and all hands got home. Mrs Betts came home from burg.
Sep 25 – Ethan went shop. I husked some corn in forenoon. Sawed out felloes for Barbers wheel. Mr Orrin Case called here at noon to see about Sam Chichester stealing[?] hogs of Father.
Sep 26 – Finished Barbers wheel at noon. Ethan went up to shop. I worked round, picked apples up at the corner then went down to Jacksons. Stayed all night.
Sep 27 – Pleasant morning. Ethan went up to shop. I stript some corn leaves in forenoon. Mercury 88 at one oclock, very hot. Mrs Betts went over to burg Ethan took her over to hear the gospel preached once more in her life. Rained hard up to _____.
Sep 28 – Henry and Ethan went up to shop. Cloudy morning. Worked on wheel some. Asel left for home Titusville Pennsylvania.
Sep 29 – Worked on wheel finished one wheel. Husked some corn. Mr and Mrs Ira Clark[104] here to Dinner. Fine day. Claud went up to Rass Towns with Mr Brown, got some peaches.
Sep 30 – At home. Hank and Nancy here, Henry here. I went down to Katharines just at night after tea and butter.
Oct 1 – Sarah went over to burg in morning with Ethan. I put bottom in three peck basket. Picked lot corn. Hot day. Mercury 94 at one PM in shade. Husked some corn.
Oct 2 – Picked sixteen rows corn. Earnest brot Hogs head down in morning. Sarah, Mrs Betts and all the girls went up to Jesse Earls. I set tire on Barbers wheel. Very hot and dry.
Oct 3 – Warm and dry, 89 in shade. Repaired rake wheel for Jesse Earl in morning. Cut popcorn in west garden in fore noon. Jim and George Barber gone down to Jacksons to gather butternuts. Went down to Jackson after walnuts. Rained in night.
Oct 4 – Some rainy and very high wind. Picked some corn and husked some. Barber finished cutting Buckwheat.
Oct 5 – Carried Ethan up to Henrys. They went to Marshall, had Whitings buggy. I picked and husked some corn, drawed one load wood.
Oct 6 – Jim and I husked corn. Sarah and Mrs Betts went down to A. Browns. Mrs Betts was so lame she could not stay at home. She had been housed up for for four days, had not been visiting in four days. She thought it would do her good.
Oct 7 – At home all day. Not much rain.
Oct 8 – Worked round done chores &c. Went over to burg at noon. Sarah went over to get pattern for Hannah. We went down to Katharines stayed all night. Rained most all night.
Oct 9 – Went to Kalamazoo. Sarah Expected to go to Chicago.[105] There was no Excursion Train going so she no go. Came home in forenoon. Dell here to dinner. He went to Kalamazoo Sis went with him. Ethan came home.
Oct 10 – Rainy day. Husked some corn carried it in to corn house. Dell and Ethan went to burg in forenoon.
Oct 11 – Husked some corn. Ethan worked on patterns. Hank and Nancy moved over to burg. I carried over two loads.
Oct 12 – Hank cleaned out gallery. Worked round house and barn.
Oct 13 – Hank carried one load over to gallery. I finished husking my ____ corn. Ridler and Barber husking. Mrs Betts went over to burg. Ethan went up to Foundry.
Oct 14 – Hannah and I went around the Squair. Saw Bronsons, Burgess and Peet Milhams houses for the first time. Henry Rogers and wife and Mrs Wilson came over here.
Oct 15 – Cleared out corn house and sorted corn. Sarah went over to burg in morning. Barber husked some. I am Sixty four years old to day.
Oct 16 – Sorted corn some. Barber put in some. Nancy and Claud here to day. Ethan and girls went over to Nancys in Evening.
Oct 17 – Sorted corn. Ridler brot one load. Barber thrashed Buckwheat. Rained in afternoon. Brown Drawed his Buckwheat. Ridler finished drawing my corn.
Oct 18 – Sorted corn. Ridler took one load home the last. Minnie Randall here in Evening. Mrs Corkins came from Battle Creek. Rainy night.
Oct 19 – Rainy day. Sorted corn. Took Mrs Corkins over to burg at noon she went home on the 12.55 train. Mart and Jay Barton[106] thrashed wheat.
Oct 20 – Worked in corn some sorted some corn.
Oct 21 – Went down to Katharines after some butter.
Oct 22 – Chored round house and barn.
Oct 23 – Fixed up bin in cornhouse. Sorted some corn. Went over to burg. Got potato hook mended.
Oct 24 – Mr Chapin Died[107] to day. Took Hannah up to Jesse Earls and Ethan up to shop. Went down to M. O. Streators. Dug potatoes. Barber thrashed Buckwheat. I get three bushels B.wheat. To Browns to buy eleven bushels potatoes.
Oct 25 – Went down dug 3 bushels. Mr Streator raised his Hog pen and corn house. Floral[?] Hall burnt on the Galesburg Fair ground in Evening.
Oct 26 – Went over to burg in morning after Louese. Rained some. Barber came over and shelled some corn.
Oct 27 – Dug my potatoes up at the corner and put them in the cellar. Ethan, Hannah and Louese went down to Katharines stayed all night.
Oct 28 – Pleasant, nice day, some wind, Mercury 70 Abz at noon in shade.
Oct 29 – Husked corn some. Fine day. Husked about fifteen baskets and put it in corn house.
Oct 30 – Finished husking. Louese started for Chicago.[108] Sorted corn.
Oct 31 – Worked round house and barn. ____ some all day. Went up to shop with Ethan.
Nov 1 – Went up to mill got load _____ for fence got some steaks for fence.
Nov 2 – Went up to shop with Ethan. Rainy day. Brot sewing machine home from Earls. Carried it over to burg. Sarah went over bot warp for Katharines carpet.
Nov 3 – Carried Sarah down to Katharines. Clarra came home with me. Carried Mrs Betts over to burg. Made fence around the Strawberries. Susan Giddings[109] here to day. Whiting brot his cutter down.
Nov 4 – Carried Hannah and Clarra down to Katharines. Sarah came home. Rained quite hard when we came home.
Nov 5 – At home. Snowey day. Not much done but move stoves. Put stove in shop and in middle room. Cold night. Ethan and Jim went over to burg. Jim got boots. Mrs Betts came home.
Nov 6 – Not very well hard cold. Mercury 3 Abz in morning. No work to day.
Nov 7 – Mercury 10 Abz in morning. Husked popcorn &c. Rather disagreable day. Ethan went up to shop. Rained all night. Jim went up to Milhams stayed the night.
Nov 8 – Rainy. No work to day hard cold. Eugene Powlisons wife died.[110] Elva Earl Married[111] to day spec so maby some.
Nov 9 – Cut and drawed two loads wood. Hank and Nancy came over stayed all night. Walter Barton died to day.[112]
Nov 10 – Nancy gone down to Mr Browns. Fine morning. Put handle and heads in my mawl. Mrs Powlison buried to day. Fine pleasant day. Not much done, hard cold.
Nov 11 – Nice day. At home all day, not very well. Walter Barton buried to day.
Nov 12 – Went down to Katharines after tea and Hannahs cloths. Mrs Gaffing started for Tennessee.
Nov 13 – Pried up well room in forenoon. Worked on road in afternoon. Picked stone on the hill. Fine day.
Nov 14 – Patched the roof some. Chored round. Banked house some. Mr Mitchel called here. Dell and Lois drove in did not get out of the carriage. Rained some in after noon. Mr R Ransom died this morning.[113]
Nov 15 – Some rainy. Ethan went over got Nancy. I put up shelf on back roof to put iron ware on. Shelled some corn. Ethan made water spout.
Nov 16 – Went to Comstock to Mill got Buckwheat and corn ground.
Nov 17 – Went over to Burg. Sarah and Mrs Betts went over to burg. Sarah started for South bend.[114]
Nov 18 – Went over to burg after Hank and Nancy. Henry came down. Herbert Clark and Jimmy Millham[115] came down here. Very nice day. All well as usual.
Nov 19 – Fine day. Worked on Skinners buggy. Mr Barton and David thrashed. Lois and Hannah went down to Mr Browns. Ross Ingersoll died to day.[116]
Nov 20 – Nice morning. Lois and Hannah went over to Nancys. Mrs Betts came home to get ready to go over to Galesburg. Finished Skinners buggy.
Nov 21 – Repaired my wagon wheel in forenoon. Carried Alfleda down to Katharines. Rainy afternoon, rained in night.
Nov 22 – Cloudy morning, Ross Ingersoll buried to day.
Nov 23 – Lois and Will went home. I went up to James Ralphs. Took up two bushels Buckwheat, got almost three bushels and a half potatoes. Henry came down. Ethan went up to shop in Evening. Bot stove pipe. Old Mrs __oo___ died.
Nov 24 – Warm morning. Went up in woods got load wood. Went over to burg after Nancy. Mrs Betts went over with me. Extracted tooth for Jenny Giddings.[117] Had head ache in afternoon.
Nov 25 – Mercury 51 Abz nice warm morning. Mr Brown called in. Claud went home with him. Hank came over. Will and Jule came up here. Claud went down home with Jule stayed all night.
Nov 26 – Warm, mercury 49 Abz rainy morning. Cow gone, found her down on Randals. Dressed out cutter Knees. Rainy day. Claud went home this morning.
Nov 27 – Mercury 38 Abz in morning. Rained some in morning. Ethan went over to burg.
Nov 28 – Mercury 28 Abz in morning. Fixed up hatch way in forenoon. Snowey and blowey. Fixed up high chair in afternoon. Allen Simmons called here to get buggy boddy made. Cold day.
Nov 29 – Mercury 15 Abz in morning, cold and Blustrous, no snow. Filed buck saw for Whiting.
Nov 30 – Worked in shop on cross Head. Stormy.
Dec 1 – Finished cross Head in forenoon. Sawed out cutter Beams in afternoon. Mrs Betts went over to burg with A. Brown.
Dec 2 – Pleasant, Mercury 17 Abz. At home all day. Claud stayed here all night.
Dec 3 – Pleasant, sun out all day, warm. Carried Claud home. Mrs Betts came home. Drawed two logs down from the corner on sleigh.
Dec 4 – Rainy morning, not very cold, some snow. Worked in shop some on wheel barrow.
Dec 5 – Went up to mill in the morning. Worked on road some. Windy, not very cold. Jesse Earl and Burgess and Ed Schram worked. Drawed some dirt.
Dec 6 – Worked on road in forenoon. Snowey day. Went over after Sarah, she no come.
Dec 7 – Worked in woods in fore noon. Cut maple tree. Went over after Sarah, she come. Drawed some wood.
Dec 8 – Snowey. Jim and I cut some wood. Went over to burg in Evening after Hank and Nancy. Ethan carried Hannah down to Caywoods. She came home at night. Ambrose and Matilda here in Evening.
Dec 9 – At home. Hank and Nancy here. Fine day. Mart brot Alfleda home. Katharine came with them.
Dec 10 – Worked on bob patterns some. Barber came over shelled some corn.
Dec 11 – Took the carpet rags over to Mrs Semer. Katharine and Sarah went to Nancys. Mrs Betts went over to Mr Burdicks. Barber came over. I hung ax for him. He cut stub down for _____. I went over (indecipherable). Bot Horse Blankets.
Dec 12 – Fine day, mercury ____ Abz. Went up in woods cut some wood. Katharine, Sarah and Alfleda went up to Nichols. Byron Allen and wife, Cora, Ida and Emma[118] here in Evening. Henry took Claud home.
Dec 13 – Drawed three loads wood in fore noon. Went down to Marts. Katharine and Hannah went home. No snow, cold wind.
Dec 14 – Pleasant morning. Worked in woods, cut wood.
Dec 15 – Cut wood in forenoon, drawed some. Went over to burg carried Mrs Betts over. Sarah went down to Kalamazoo with Nancy to get stove and furniture. Jim went over got his over coat.
Dec 16 – Pleasant day. At home all day.
Dec 17 – Repaired guitar for Harry Streator.[119] Bot _____ of Whiting 8½ lbs 5 cts pr pound. Went over to burg after Mrs Betts. Warm day.
Dec 18 – Rainy morning. Worked in shop. Commenced Simmons buggy boddy. Browns folks and Sarah went over to Hanks in Evening. Rained in Evening.
Dec 19 – Cloudy, mercury 55 Abz in morning. Not much done to day. Worked in shop some.
Dec 20 – Sick, no work. Mercury 66 Abz.
Dec 21 – Fine day. Worked in shop in afternoon. Ernest brot shank. Plained board for Ernest.
Dec 22 – Not any work to day. Ethan carried Mrs Betts over to burg.
Dec 23 – At home. Not very well. Went down to Katharines. Took Hannahs things down, got tea. Lost Martingale ring. Warm day, rained in Evening.
Dec 24 – Worked some in shop on sills. Went over to burg with N. L. Randall. Received of Township Treasurer 40 forty Dollars. Paid Minnie Randall 40 forty Dollars.
Dec 25 – Rainy morning, not very cold, Mercury 46[?] Abz in morning. Went down to Browns in Evening. Ed Phelps got hurt, gun burst, blowed britch pin into his head.
Dec 26 – Worked in shop some. Carried Nancy home. Alfleda went over. Mrs Betts came home. Old cow out, found her at Blakes barn in galesburg. Filed saw for Erve Hall 15.
Dec 27 – Worked in shop some. Not very cold, 20.
Dec 28 – Filed saw for Erve Hall 20. Put in cross bar in Rand___ saw frame and filed saw 20. No frost, Mercury 50 Abz.
Dec 29 – Worked in shop some. Went over to burg in Evening. Mrs Betts went over with me. Hank and Nancy came over.
Dec 30 – Henry came down. Carried Hank and Nancy home in Evening. Mrs Betts came home.
Dec 31 – Worked in shop in forenoon. Mart came up with Hannah. Went over to burg, paid my tax 7.69 cts. Ed Phelps Died this morning.[120] Hannah stayed over to Nancys.
——-
[1] Known better, and referred to, as Luke
[2] Luke had taken a trip back to New York and was presently staying with his niece and her husband, Marion (Sprague) & George Tomlinson
[3] George & Marion’s son, Frank John Tomlinson
[4] Above zero
[5] George Tomlinson
[6] George & Marion’s daughter, Nellie Tomlinson
[7] Perry, New York, where the Tomlinsons lived
[8] His niece, Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson
[9] Train
[10] His sister, Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee
[11] His son-in-law, Adelbert Skinner
[12] Galesburg, Michigan
[13] His sister, Martha “Patty” (Keith) Sprague
[14] Neighbors, and his daughter Nancy’s in-laws, Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown
[15] Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister, Mary (Allen) Calkins
[16] His youngest son, James Clinton Keith
[17] Neighbor, Emaline (Stone) Ralph
[18] Luke uses this phrase quite often. The Oxford Dictionary gives its meaning as “vigorously or quickly”
[19] Believe this is one of his farm animals
[20] Henry Lindsey Keith, his son by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith
[21] Neighbor, Joseph Flanders. After his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith died, Joseph and Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders cared for his son, Henry, for a period of time. The Flanders raised Henry even after Luke married his third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith. They wanted to adopt Henry but Luke said no; however, it looks like Henry lived with them throughout his youth. This seems to be corroborated by the 1860 census showing “Henry L Flanders,” age 16, (who it is actually believed to be Henry L. Keith), living with Joseph & Amanda
[22] Neighbor, Earnest Whiting
[23] His third wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith
[24] His mother-in-law, Nancy (Comfort) Crawford Betts
[25] Neighbors, Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber
[26] FindAGrave.com shows that Emeline (Bigelow) Bradley is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Pavilion, New York
[27] His son, Ethan Keith
[28] Luke’s niece, Lucy (Lee) Milham, her husband, Martin Milham, and her uncle, Ansel Lee
[29] Neighbor, Marius O. Streator
[30] Marius O. & Laura Ann (Rawson) Streator
[31] Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner, his daughter by his first wife, Minerva (Payson) Keith
[32] His daughter, Hannah Keith
[33] Neighbor, William Ralph
[34] Ambrose Brown
[35] Neighbor, Hannibal “Hat” A. Taylor
[36] Neighbor, Nathan L. Randall
[37] Neighbor, Thomas Clark Ford
[38] Etc.
[39] Michigan Death Records confirm that both Jane Ann (Odell) Olin, age 30, and her sister Ellen Odell, age 25, died of consumption on February 13, 1877, and FindAGrave.com shows they are both buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[40] Luke’s cousin
[41] FindAGrave.com confirms that Ebenezer Flanders died February 22, 1877 and is buried in Roof Cemetery, Climax, Michigan
[42] In all his previous diaries up until 1875, Luke has spelled his sister’s name as Catharine. Since then he sometimes spells it starting with a K, as can be seen in previous entries for January, and other times starting with a C
[43] Neighbor, Henry D. Rogers
[44] Matilda (Allen) Brown’s sister, Julia Allen. She lived with Ambrose and Matilda
[45] Neighbor, Erasmus Towne
[46] His granddaughter, Ina Mary Skinner, the daughter of Lois & Del Skinner
[47] Michigan Death Records reveal that Harry M. Rowland, age 14, the son of Henry C. & Delilah Rowland, died February 27, 1877, and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[48] Luke’s cousin, and brother of Theodore Earl
[49] The Plank family had been Luke Keith’s neighbors in Comstock, Michigan, but on April 3, 1873, Luke noted in his diary that they had left for Grand Rapids, Michigan
[50] A search of the Michigan, Births, 1867-1902 index and images on Family Search listed a Gertie Plank born in 1877 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to William Plank and Mary Plank. The 1880 Census does not show Gertie so it is assumed that she had died
[51] FindAGrave.com records show that Emma (Scofield) Oakley, wife of Walter E. Oakley, died March 16, 1877 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[52] FindAGrave.com reveals that Cyrus Gould Sherwood died March 22, 1877 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[53] Michigan Death Records confirm that Sylvester Mead died March 24, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Schoolcraft Township Cemetery in Schoolcraft, Michigan
[54] Joseph and Marion Adelpha York, the husband and daughter of Luke’s niece, Helen (Bradley) York
[55] Neighbor, the son of Samuel & Catherine (Knecht) Barton
[56] The pole or tongue of a cart or wagon drawn by two animals side by side
[57] Neighbor, Isaac D. L. Schram
[58] His grandson, William Byron Clark, the son of Lois and her first husband, Byron Clark
[59] Neighbor, the daughter of Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber
[60] Samuel & Lucretia (Judson) Blanchard
[61] Michigan Death Records reveal that Samuel A. King, age 72, died April 9, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[62] The son of Ambrose & Matilda (Allen) Brown
[63] Neighbors, Abel & Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag
[64] Neighbors, Joseph & Amanda (Hobbs) Flanders
[65] Neighbor, Sarah Jane (Mason) Hoag
[66] Alfleda (Starr) Keith, the widow of his brother Harvey Keith
[67] Michigan Death Records confirm that Elwilda Henika, age 21, died April 17, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows that she is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan
[68] Believe this to be his neighbor, Irwin I. Hall
[69] Neighbor, Charles Towne. In 1891 Charles married Luke’s daughter Hannah
[70] Manuel Henika, the husband of Elwilda (see April 17 entry)
[71] Felloe or felly – rim, or segment of the rim, of a spoked wheel
[72] Michigan Death Records show that Lafayette P. McNaughton, the 14-year-old son of Peter & Flora McNaughton, died on April 22, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows that he was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[73] The son of neighbors, Richard & Mary (Knowles) Barber
[74] Neighbor, William Ridler
[75] Neighbor, James Spier
[76] Census and FindAGrave.com records show that Joseph Darling was married to Anna, however no marriage record was found
[77] Joseph Darling’s father
[78] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”
[79] FindAGrave.com shows that Henry L. Earl died May 24, 1877 and is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan. Henry was the nephew of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl
[80] Neighbor, Edwin Flanders
[81] Dowagiac, Michigan, where she had once lived and where her late son Edwin Crawford’s family lived
[82] His paternal first cousin
[83] Neighbors, Henry & Lucy (Harris) Rogers
[84] His horse
[85] His niece, and sister Catharine’s daughter, Helen (Bradley) York
[86] Michigan Death Records show that Angeline (Murray) Dean, the wife of Benajah Dean, died June 29, 1877 in Pavilion, Michigan with FindAGrave.com showing she is buried in Cook Cemetery, Pavilion, Michigan
[87] FindAGrave.com reveals that Enoch S. Knapp died June 29, 1877 and is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan
[88] Neighbor; James was the half-brother of Martin Milham (see footnote for January 23 entry)
* His son-in-law and daughter, Henry & Nancy (Keith) Brown
[89] His 2-year-old grandson, Claude Keith Brown, Nancy & Hank Brown’s son
[90] Nickname for his daughter Louese
[91] His neighbor, Samuel Barton
[92] The daughter of neighbors, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen
[93] Mary Tamer Ford, the daughter of neighbors Thomas & Adelia (Tompkins) Ford
[94] Women
[95] Some mad I suppose
[96] The family of his cousin, Charles & Juliana (Davis) Lee
[97] His daughter Lois’ sister-in-law, Sarah “Sate” Skinner
[98] His daughter Lois’ mother-in-law, Sarah (Knight) Skinner
[99] Michigan Death Records show that William Gleason died August 25, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Comstock Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan
[100] His maternal first cousin, Jesse W. Turner
[101] His maternal first cousin (and Jesse Turner’s brother) and wife, Clarissa (Whitcomb) Turner
[102] Both the Brown and Keith families were believers in Spiritualism and participated in seances, or “circles.” Don’t know who the “Old Preach” was, but Chee Chee was Ambrose Brown’s Indian Spirit Guide
[103] Michigan Death Records reveal that Charlotte Holmes, the 16-year-old daughter of Hamlin & Jane (Abbott) Holmes, died September 11, 1877 from Typhoid Fever in Comstock, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[104] Believe this to be Ira & Angeline Clark, the parents of Lois’ first husband, Byron Clark
[105] Sarah’s brother, Hiram Crawford Jr., and his family lived in Chicago so perhaps she was going to visit them
[106] Neighbor, the son of Samuel & Catherine (Knecht) Barton
[107] Michigan Death Records reveal that Henry Chapin died October 23, 1877 in Battle Creek, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Battle Creek, Michigan
[108] Louese was attending school in Chicago and staying with her uncle and aunt, Hiram & Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford Jr.
[109] Neighbor, Susan (Ford) Giddings, the widow of Augustus Giddings
[110] Michigan Death Records show that Sarah (Wheeler) Powlison, age 27, died November 8, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows she was buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[111] Michigan Marriage Records shows that Elva Earl married Frank Crossfield on November 8, 1877 in Galesburg, Michigan. Elva was the daughter of Jesse & Mary (Clapp) Earl
[112] Neighbor, the son of Samuel & Catherine (Knecht) Barton. Michigan Death Records confirm that Walter died November 9, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan, at the age of 21
[113] Michigan Death Records reveal that Roswell Ransom died November 13, 1877 and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[114] Sarah’s brother, Henry Clay Crawford, and his family lived in South Bend, Indiana
[115] Believe this to be neighbor, James Edgar Milham, the son of James & Ellen (Adams) Milham
[116] Michigan Death Records confirm that Ross A. Ingersoll, age 29, died November 19, 1877 in Comstock, Michigan, and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan
[117] Neighbor, the daughter of Augustus & Susan (Ford) Giddings
[118] Byron (& his wife, Ida Chittenden), Cora, Ida and Emma Allen, were the children of neighbors, John S. & Amanda Louise (Worden) Allen
[119] Neighbor, and the son of Marius O. & Laura (Rawson) Streator
[120] Michigan Death Records confirm that Edward Payson Phelps, age 19, died December 31, 1877 from explosion of gun (see December 25th entry) and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Comstock City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
The Diaries of Charles Luke Keith Jr 