1894 DIARY OF CHARLES LUKE KEITH, JR.[1]
Jan 1 – I drawed in some corn. Floyd[2] helped me. Verry pleasant day. I went over to the burg[3] in the morning.
Jan 2 – Not do much to day. Doc McBetts[4] called in. Sarah[5] some better.
Jan 3 – Repaired wheel for Laverns[6] doll cab. Nice day. Will, Lois and Ina[7] went to Kalamazoo.
Jan 4 – Husked some. Not do much to day. Sarah sick.
Jan 5 – Not do much but chores.
Jan 6 – Lou and children[8] went home to day. Nancy[9] came up on the Evening train. Mr. Lyman D. Norris died this morning son of Mark Norris formaly Covington Genesee County N.Y.[10]
Jan 7 – At home all day. Lois and Del[11] drove over just at night.
Jan 8 – Nancy here to all day. Killed one of Hannahs[12] hens to take home when she goes.
Jan 9 – Took Nancy over to the 8.20 AM train she went home. Paid my tax $5.42 cts. Pleasant but cold.
Jan 10 – Mr Spinney brot his new horse. He wanted I should keep it for him to day. He was going to the train after Mr Miller. He came up to look over the stock farm. Mr Wm McLary buried to day.[13]
Jan 11 – Sarah some better dont gain her strength verry fast. She sits up some.
Jan 12 – Not verry well. Dont do much but chores and go to the burg. Verry nice pleasant weather no snow. Repairing violin. Mary Flanders here in Evening a while.
Jan 13 – Put the top on my violin. Mrs Julia Bradley and son drove into the yard to get their buggy oiled one of the wheels got noisey. Lois and Will came over to get pump spout made.
Jan 14 – At home. Mrs Sarah Struble & daughter called also Mr Wm Ralph. Put new strings on my violin.
Jan 15 – Not work much to day done some work in house. Sarah not get some better verry fast.
Jan 16 – Mrs Sherman Commings[14] came over to see Hannah about her work. Mrs I. D. L. Schram[15] called in awhile.
Jan 17 – Got in some corn and husked it out. Cloudy not verry cold no snow. Wheat and grass looks green, cattle doing well out. Mrs John Blake[16] called to get some work done.
Jan 18 – Worked some in house and done the chores at the barn.
Jan 19 – At home working round house, shop and barn. Nancy came home on 5 pm train Evening of cours. Rain some.
Jan 20 – Not do much to day. Went over to burg got soup bone, crackers. Mrs Elizabeth Powlison Died this morning wife of the late Isaac Powlison of Rippon.[17]
Jan 21 – At home all day Lois and Will came over just at night. Nice day.
Jan 22 – Nice day. Nancy went home on noon train. I drawed in the last of the corn this afternoon on the sleigh. No snow.
Jan 23 – Husked corn. Mrs R. G. Smith[18] here all day helping Hannah. Old Mr Hunt came over at noon to see if we wanted to buy a Horse. Two tramps called wanted dinner we gave it to them and they left. Snowed like fun.[19]
Jan 24 – Blustry day about 4 inch snow. Not work much. Mr Ralph called brot some thing for aunt Thurseys[20] dress. Coldest night of the month yet.
Jan 25 – Mercury 8 below zero this morning. Lois and Will came over this afternoon a while. Mary Clark Wilcox[21] called in a littl while. Cold day not cloudy.
Jan 26 – Cold day. Not husk but little. Sarah gane verry slow.
Jan 27 – Cold day. No work to day not verry well. Molly calved about six oclock this Evening had a Bull calf son.
Jan 28 – Mr Earl here to dinner. Mary Flanders and Mabel[22] called just at night. Will Clark here a while this Evening.
Jan 29 – Fine day. Husked corn. Henry Crawford[23] came here stayed all night. Had a good visit with him.
Jan 30 – Pleasant day. Took Henry over to the morning train he left for home.[24] Ina came over with me.
Jan 31 – Worked in barn fixed stall for Daizy so she could not get Bills[25] hay away from him.
Feb 1 – Husked corn part of the day. Ethan[26] went to Kalamazoo to see Mr Mays. Mrs Harvey Bush and her daughter Kit[27] called here in Evening to see Hannah. Charleys picture came to day.
Feb 2 – Husked corn some. Took Hannah over to Lois at noon. Ada Newton called to see Hannah.
Feb 3 – I husked some corn and done the chores. Ethan and Will went to Kalamazoo.
Feb 4 – At home all day. Lois and Will came over. Ethan and Will went down to Marts.[28]
Feb 5 – Worked in barn some. Put up some oats to take to mill. Jesse came down brot some papers.
Feb 6 – Husked corn some. Not verry cold. Went to mill took 4 bushels oats, 2 wheat. Ethan went to Kalamazoo to see Ritter[29] and sign the patent papers.
Feb 7 – Finished husking. Nice shiny day snow all gone.
Feb 8 – Not much work to day. Sarah not some better much.
Feb 9 – Worked in barn some. Molly not verry well. Nancy came home to day. Will Clark came over his Horse got skart jumed over the hitching post and broke the thills.[30]
Feb 10 – Not do much but chores. Bes[31] came up on Evening train.
Feb 11 – Edwin and Mary Flanders[32] called here. Mr Earl came down a while.
Feb 12 – The wind blowed the snow piled up in heaps verry blustrous. Lou telephoned for Nancy to come up on the noon train. Leone[33] was worse. She went over to the burg. The wind blew a pert gale.
Feb 13 – Worked in shop on Wills thills. Not verry good going roads verry rough. Bessie went home.
Feb 14 – Finished the thills put on one coat paint. Will came brot letter from Shelby.[34] Leone some better this morning.
Feb 15 – Worked in shop on buggy rech and head block to the old buggy.
Feb 16 – Worked on buggy. Mr Monger came with the horse. Ethan went with him to see how she would travel. Concluded to buy it paid $75. Ethan went over in Evening and got her.
Feb 17 – Not do much to day. Hard cold, headache, some grip mixed in.
Feb 18 – At home not go somewhere. Will Clark came over. Mart and Mary[35] came up. George and Eva Blake came over a while just at night.
Feb 19 – Pleasant and cold. Ethan cleaned the harness. Jesse came down. Will Schuyler called here to see Ethan. Mr Wm Ralph[36] came down and Killed Bill horse.
Feb 20 – No work not verry well. Lois and Will went to Kalamazoo to see Sate.
Feb 21 – No work to day. Nice day plasant and cold. Will came over harnesed up Flory the first time.
Feb 22 – Not doing mutch. Hard cold. Lois came over stayed all day. Cold day. Sate Skinner Died to day.[37]
Feb 23 – Went up in the woods in forenoon. Painted thills in afternoon. Cold blustring day. Mrs Sumner here to have her dress fitted.
Feb 24 – Cold. Not work much, done chores.
Feb 25 – At home. Not go to church. Dell, Lois, Will and Ethan went to Kalamazoo to attend Sates funral. Del took the remains to Waterloo for burial.
Feb 26 – J. O. Keith[38] came just at night sayed all night.
Feb 27 – Oscar here all day. Fine day, no snow.
Feb 28 – Oscar left this morning. Went up to Sam Vanocken and Willard Bateys.[39] Ethan put the leathers on W Wills thills. Pleasant day.
Mar 1 – Will Clark got his thills this morning. Ella Bush came over with him. She brot her dress goods one for Every day use. Ethan drove Flora down to Alvin Lees.[40] She broke the buggy thills.
Mar 2 – Not verry well. Make out to do the chores. Not verry cold.
Mar 3 – Mr George Smith died to day in Chicago. He went there to have an operation performed. He died soon after.[41]
Mar 4 – Mr Smith was brot home to day. He lived in Kalamazoo.
Mar 5 – Mr Smith was buried to day in Oak Grove cemetry, Galesburg.
Mar 6 – At home. Not well cant do much but chores. Nice pleasant weather. Rads sum muddy.
Mar 7 – This was the day that the adevents said the world would be burned and there would be the greatest storm that was ever known but mised fir it was a verry pleasant day in Comstock.[42]
Mar 8 – Nice day. Will came over a while in afternoon. Fastened the handles on his buggy seat.
Mar 9 – No work but chores. Nice weather no snow.
Mar 10 – Ethan and Will Clark went to Kalamazoo. Drove Flora.
Mar 11 – A mis hap. Mr Smith was buried to day in Oak Grove cemetry Galesburg. Mrs Sam Hartwell died to day.[43]
Mar 12 – Ethan and I dug a hole for Bill this forenoon and put him in. Mr Elsie sowing clover. Mr Wheaton sowing clover for Mr Warren Aarron. Car taking up telegraph poles.
Mar 13 – Worked in shop some. Put handle in to Hannahs hammer. Mrs Sam Hartwell buried to day. Verry high wind. Hannah went up to Mrs Schrams.
Mar 14 – Not do much. Picked up some brush along the road west of the orchard. Mr Barber came over this forenoon. Roads quite dusty.
Mar 15 – Fine day. At home doing nothing but chores. Ethan cleaning the Piano.
Mar 16 – Ethan gone to Kalamazoo after Nancy. Mrs Mulenberg and Mrs Kingsley called.
Mar 17 – Nice pleasant day. Went around the square drove Flora.
Mar 18 – Le Milham[44] came up in afternoon. Had little sprinkle of rain. Nancy here.
Mar 19 – Nancy went home on morning train. nice day.
Mar 20 – Some rainy day. Not much work to day.
Mar 21 – Went to mill this morning. Nice morning. Took three bushels wheat. Mrs Mulen Burgh and Mate Ford[45] called in a while.
Mar 22 – At home. Worked in shop some and done the chores. Fine weather for March.
Mar 23 – Some cooler to day. Lou and children came home. All well.
Mar 24 – Workean shop. Got the helve out Charley Whitings ax put in a new helve. Mr. De France the forger went to Jackson state prison centence Eleven years.
Mar 25 – At home as usual on the sabbath day. Whiting got his ax this Evening be gorry.
Mar 26 – Not verry pleasant rather cool. Repaired my old padlock one I had had fifty one years.
Mar 27 – Ground coverd with snow this morning. Lou and children went home on noon train. Some winter to day.
Mar 28 – Not verry well now days. Doing chores. Ethan making patterns for Mr Knapps steam Boat wheel to put Mr Hawks Boat on Gull Lake.
Mar 29 – Not doing any thing but some chores. Some two inches snow. Lelah here.
Mar 30 – All right. Charley Ford[46] brot two loads wood. Jesse Earl[47] came in awhile in fore noon. Will Schuyler called in to see his churn.
Mar 31 – At home. Not doing much some grip. Lelah here found calf in the barn this morning. Daiseys first calf.
Apr 1 – Ethan, Will Clark and Lelah went to Kalamazoo.
Apr 2 – Went to town meeting. Verry nice day. Mr and Mrs Wm Pease called here. Mary and Ninah[48] came up with Mart.
Apr 3 – Verry much rainy day. Not do something. Mr Warren started two teams plowing in west lot for oats.
Apr 4 – At home. Not verry well. No work. Ollie Schram Swaddles girl born to day.[49] All doing well.
Apr 5 – Ethan and Will went to Kalamazoo on beisness. Not obituary but affectionary Married Miss Harriet Taylor and Mr Charles W. Merrill.[50]
Apr 6 – Ethan and Will went to Kalamazoo on more peesness to get what they left yesterday.
Apr 7 – At home attending to the grip as usual. Not do much but chores at barn, help some about the dinner.
Apr 8 – Ethan and Hannah went up to Edwin Flanders. Wil Clark came over and stayed the day. Jesse came down just at night. E Town[51] called just at night brot a package for Hannah.
Apr 9 – Cold and dry cold East wind.
Apr 10 – Not much work to day. Cold wind some rain.
Apr 11 – Cold East wind. Ethan went over and brot Ida over. Mrs Eva Blake came over in afternoon.
Apr 12 – Worked around orchard and garden. Cold wind.
Apr 13 – Not much work to day. Wheat looks hard. So much cold wind.
Apr 14 – Drew dirt and sod. Filled up around the East door and horse block.
Apr 15 – At home. George Blake and wife came over. Nice shiny day. Miss Mary Nobles of Pavilion Genesee Co N.Y. Died to day at 12 oclock noon.[52]
Apr 16 – Drawed dirt in front of Barn. Rhoda Wilcox[53] called this morning. She was going over to the burg to mill. Alvin was sick could not go. Warm nice day.
Apr 17 – Dug out apple tree stumps in orchard. Nice warm weather some dry.
Apr 18 – Dug out two stumps to day. Ethan drawed corn stalks out of the barnyard. Had some thunder shower just at night.
Apr 19 – I cleaned up the yard west side of house and put some sod on around the steps. Hoed out the cumfey. Ethan drawed out the old cornstalks and sowed some raddish and letus. Rained some litle.
Apr 20 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo after Nancy.
Apr 21 – Nancy here doing the work. I worked in orchard and yard.
Apr 22 – Not go to church to day. Ethan and Hannah went up to Scots to Abe Powers.
Apr 23 – Nancy and I washed. Nice day. Lois came over stayed all night.
Apr 24 – Ethan took Nancy home. Fine day. I worked in shop some.
Apr 25 – Ethan and Jo Smith got out manure. Quite warm. I made knife handle. Filled up stump hole in orchard. Mrs Hattie Merrel and Libby Taylor Schram[54] called here a while.
Apr 26 – Nice morning. Mate and Mrs Ford[55] called. Ethan spreading manure. Rained in the night.
Apr 27 – Ethan working around garden. I not do much. Some thunder and rain in the night.
Apr 28 – Set hen to day. Ethan cut the potatoes to plant. Warm day. I not do much to day. Claud[56] came up to the burg on the bobtail.
Apr 29 – Claud came over this morning stayed all night. Nice day.
Apr 30 – Frank Farr plowed and draged the gardens. Fine weather. Senator F. B. Stockbridge died to day in Chicago.[57] Rained in night. Claud went home on the bobtail this morning.
May l – Marked potatoe ground and made some garden.
May 2 – Planted potatoes south of orchard.
May 3 – Ethan and Hannah went to Kalamazoo. Nice warm day. I sawed some wood.
May 4 – Lelah came up on noon train. Not do much but chores.
May 5 – Went over to burg in fore noon got some midlings for Flora and Daisey. Took 13 doz & ½ Eggs over to A. R. Skinner 10 cts for Doz.
May 6 – At home. Lelah here. Ethan and Hannah went down to Mr Peas. Rained just at night.
May 7 – Lelah went home on the 12.25 train PM. Not do much to day.
May 8 – Worked in garden and shop some.
May 9 – Ethan drafting drafting penny in slot machine for John Culver of Kalamazoo.
May 10 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo to see Culver. Rained so he could not come home. He stayed to Hanks. Mr Caywood and Mr Schuyler stopt in and stayed through the shower.
May 11 – Ethan came home this morning. Mr Wesley Merryman Brot Ella Bush over to see about the wedding dress.[58]
May 12 – Went to Kalamazoo stayed to Nancys.
May 13 – Nancy and I went up to Woods Lake in afternoon. There was a big croud cars loaded both ways.
May 14 – At Hanks. Warm day. Stayed untill noon took the 12.52 train for Shelbyville got to Lous about 1.35 pm. Found them all well.
May 15 – At the Harris house. Some cooler some rainy day.
May 16 – At Harris house. Some thunder shower in morning rained verry hard. Cleared of had a pleasant afternoon. Dexa and children[59] started for Onconta New York.
May 17 – Lou and I put down carpet in afternoon. Had a heavy thunder shower just at night rained all night.
May 18 – Rainy and cold north wind. Snowed like fun in afternoon.
May 19 – Snowd in forenoon rained just at night cold north wind. Mended Lous cloths bars. Stell here a while.
May 20 – Cold north wind. D. gone over to farm after eggs. Went over to Mr Merideths[60] just at night. Cold wind.
May 21 – Cold and rainy. Not much going on to day. Farmers cant do much no corn planted yet. Put cloths line from south door to the ice house.
May 22 – Cold and rainy north wind. Some work. D put cistern pump in pantry.
May 23 – Some rain in morning pleasant afternoon. Sawed out shelves for pantry. Put on my new pants.
May 24 – At Harris house. All right. Choring round some not doing much cleaning. Not so cold as usual.
May 25 – Magic lantern show[61] at the schoolhouse this Evening.
May 26 – Nice warm day. D is piling lumber. They are selling a large bill to Mr Monroe of Kalamazoo all oak. I put up screen door for Lou. Some are planting.
May 27 – Some cooler rain some in the morning. Laverne went to Mr Woods.
May 28 – At the Harris house. All right. Cold wind not much rain cloudy cool just at night had a big frost.
May 29 – At Shelby ville. Nice day. Farmers planting some to day.
May 30 – Cold west wind. D. and Jay[62] gone to Plainwel to play Ball. Mr Wait helping clean the hall and setting room. Mrs Merideths[63] carriage came this morning.
May 31 – At the Harris house. All right. Cold west wind. Mr John Peterson buried to day.
Jun l – Verry nice day. Had a poole raising at Shelby ville this afternoon. Raised the stars and stripes.
Jun 2 – At the Harris house. Not doing much. Feed the chickens and pigs.
Jun 3 – Warm and nice shiny day not much wind. D. gone over to the farm took the chickens over the last setting. Mr Wait making cheese.
Jun 4 – At Harris house. Choring, feed chickens and pigs and hog.
Jun 5 – Cool wind. Went up to Mr Woods found them all well.
Jun 6 – At Harris house. Not feeling first rate. Fifty seven years to day I sarted for Michigan.
Jun 7 – At Shelbyville. All right. D. is getting a fair trade now. D. and Meridith are sending lots of wood and lumber to Kalamazoo now days.
Jun 8 – At Lous helping do the house work. Sweep some, fetch up some wood, water the chickens.
Jun 9 – At Ds visiting and looking over the town. They are repairing the church steeple.
Jun 10 – We all went over to the farm to day. Very warm. We killed a big black snake 4½ feet long.
Jun 11 – At Harris house doing chores as usual. Hot as ever getting verry dry.
Jun 12 – At Shelby ville helping Lou get breakfast and dinner, feed the chickens, pigs and hog and do some setting around.
Jun 13 – At Harris house wating for rain same as the rest round here. Lots ball playing. Street full Every Evening. D sells quite a good many goods every day.
Jun 14 – Verry hot. The farmers are cutting some hay. Wheat is coming on quite fast for the weather. Wheat is selling for 50 cts pr bus, wool 10 cts pr pound.
Jun 15 – D sent a lot of cheese to day. He went to the rappids to day. Verry hot. Not feeling verry well.
Jun 16 – At Harris House choring around some.
Jun 17 – At Lous all day. Mrs Meridith and Mrs Johnson[64] came over a while. D went over to the farm Extracted Honey. Had a nice rain.
Jun 18 – Some rainy day. Not much playing ball to day. Helped Lou wash.
Jun 19 – At Harris house choring round helping Lou. Hot.
Jun 20 – At Harris Shelbyville. Verry hot and dry. Making cheese six a day.
Jun 21 – Verry hot night and day hard matter to keep cool. D down to the farm some cultivating.
Jun 22 – Hot. Cant hardly get around. Mercury up in the ninetys.
Jun 23 – At Lou. Not do much but sweat. Had a heavy rain just at night lots thunder and lightning.
Jun 24 – At Harris House. Some cooler some clowdy. A young man got drowned over East in some small lake.
Jun 25 – Helped Lou wash in forenoon. Verry hot day. Fred Nobles building kitchen for Stella Bush. Had a heavy rain thunder and lightning in night.
Jun 26 – Not do much. Verry nice day cool and cloudy. Saw Wakeman.
Jun 27 – Hot morning. Mr Meridith commenced haying to day. Wakeman is working for him. They cut 20 acres grass and got wet.
Jun 28 – At Harris house. Had a heavy wind and rain storm abut four oclock AM some hevy thunder.
Jun 29 – Plasant and hot. D. has gone to the Rappids.
Jun 30 – Left Shelbyville about six AM for Galesburg. Got home about 4 PM all right. Verry hot day.
Jul 1 – At home all day. Will Clark came over. Paid Will Clark ten Dollars.
Jul 2 – Took Dasie up to Crossfields to get a calf.[65] George and Marion[66] came.
Jul 3 – Worked in garden all day. Rather warm. Hoeing. Ethan plowed out the potatoes and corn in garden.
Jul 4 – Ethan, Hannah, George and Marion went to Kalamazoo. Ethan, Hannah an Lou went up to Wm Ralphs to an ice cream celebration. George and Marion stayed to Nancy’s.
Jul 5 – George and Marion came up on the six oclock train this Evening.
Jul 6 – George went to Battle Creek to see the mills. Mr Freman cut the wheat to day.
Jul 7 – George and Marion started for home on the morning train. They are going to Colon[67] and call on Wm Tomlinson.[68]
Jul 8 – At home all day. Will Clark and Ina came over a while.
Jul 9 – Hoed in garden some. Verry much hot day. Went over to burg took the cloths over.
Jul 10 – Hoing some. Mr Ralph drew in wheat. Hot day. Lou and children went up to John Ralphs.[69] I took Lou and children over to Skinners.
Jul 11 – Lou and children came home. Fixed fence, hoed corn. Mr Hiram Hamilton Died to day.[70]
Jul 12 – At home working in garden some. Repaired pump at the house.
Jul 13 – Hoed corn and beans. Verry hot. Lou and Hannah went up to Em Schuylers.
Jul 14 – I took Lou and children up to the cemetry. Lou left for home. Will Clark went with them. They go to H. A. Browns and stay to night.
Jul 15 – At home all day. Verry hot and dry.
Jul 16 – Not work much. Newman Deyo and wife and Isaac Schram called here a while in the afternoon.
Jul 17 – Hoed in garden some. Thermometer 96[?] in shade. Verry dry. Harvesting about through.
Jul 18 – Hoing some. Hot and not much wind. Mercury 108 in shade 127 in the sun.
Jul 19 – Not doing something. Had a nice shower just at night.
Jul 20 – Not doing much. Rainy day nice rain. Had green corn this morning the first of the season.
Jul 21 – At home choring, hoeing some.
Jul 22 – At home. Ethan and Hannah went up to Gull Prarie to Leon Keiths.[71]
Jul 23 – Not doing any thing. Had a dizzy spell this morning. Ethan working up to the bridge by Jesse Earls.
Jul 24 – Sick. Do nothing but hoe some in garden.
Jul 25 – Hannah went to the picknic at Yorkville.
Jul 26 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo west and culver.
Jul 27 – Ethan and Nancy came home this evening all right. Mr Earl and I went down to the cresent stock farm and got some roots for Wm Whitcoms cancer.
Jul 28 – Ethan went to the Burg got the pump rod and bucket repaired. Put the pump in all right.
Jul 29 – At home. Nancy here. Verry warm.
Jul 30 – All right. Nancy here. Quite warm. Not do much.
Jul 31 – Hannah went to Shelbyville to day.
Aug 1 – Ethan painted the new pump. It goes all right.
Aug 2 – Mr Wm H. Knap and Ethan went to Gull Lake. Fine day for fun.
Aug 3 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo. Took Nancy home.
Aug 4 – Hot and dry. Hoed some in garden.
Aug 5 – Mr Earl came down just at night.
Aug 6 – Mr Ralph thrashed the wheat. Nice hot day. Pots thrashed.
Aug 7 – 106 in shade. Not very well to day not do. Hannah went up to Shelbyville.
Aug 8 – At home. Very hot and dry.
Aug 9 – Not do much. To hot.
Aug 10 – Hoed some. Verry dry. Hannah came home from Lous.
Aug 11 – Choring as usual. Ho some in garden, watch the hens.
Aug 12 – At home not go to church. Jesse came down.
Aug 13 – Worked around yard and garden.
Aug 14 – Ethan and I went to Kalamazoo to see the Barnum show. Nice day not verry hot rained some not much rained some in the night.
Aug 15 – Rained some this morning about four Oclock. Hannah went down Ed Galusha in afternoon.
Aug 16 – At home. Worke in shop some. Verry dry no signs of rain.
Aug 17 – Nell Hill brot wheelbarrow wheel to be repaired.
Aug 18 – Made hub for wheel. Ethan took Hannah out to Vicksburg. Will brot Ina over.
Aug 19 – Will Brown and Lizzie[72] called here a while in afternoon or about noon.
Aug 20 – Worked in shop some. Nice day but verry dry.
Aug 21 – Lizzie Brown and Lelah came up. I worked in shop on wheel made the spokes and drove them. Old Mrs Batey Died to day.[73]
Aug 22 – Put rim on wheel. Paper agent called. Jesse came down.
Aug 23 – Mrs Batey buried to day. Oscar, Mary and Herbert[74] here to tea. Verry dry.
Aug 24 – Nell Hill got the wheel. Worked in shop some Vinny on and Levys table and wheel. Bes came up on the six oclock train. Verry smoky.
Aug 25 – Nell paid for making the wheel.
Aug 26 – At home. No one here but Bes H. Hannah at Vicksburg yet.
Aug 27 – Not working much to day. Hot and smokey. Hard plowing. Ethan making patterns for his carpet streatcher. Leone verry sick yet.
Aug 28 – Hot as ever and verry smoky. Bes here yet. Not doing any thing but chores and hardly that.
Aug 29 – Went over to the burg after the oil I left yesterday. Mr Mills moved over to the burg to day. He bot the Starring House on Battle Creek st. Lelah came up to the burg on the six PM train.
Aug 30 – Lelah came this morning. Bes went home. Lots folks went to Kalamazoo to the great Sundy school rally. The Honorable H. D. Streator[75] officiated as grand marshallll sor[?].
Aug 31 – Went over to burg after Lelah. Nice morning. Verry hevy dew.
Sep 1 – At home. Not work much. Verry hot and smoky. Lelah here.
Sep 2 – Hot and dry gardens all dried up. Smoke verry dence. To dry to plow no seeding yet.
Sep 3 – Jim and Cory[76] came to day. They drove down had Mrs Meridiths Horse and carriage. Had a nice rain in the night.
Sep 4 – Nice day cloudy not so verry hot. Mr Harvey Warren threshing to day.
Sep 5 – Jim and Cory here. Not do much work. Mr Warren finished thrashing.
Sep 6 – All at home. Jim and Cory went up to scots.[77] Altha Bell Struble and J. Herbert Keith married to day.[78]
Sep 7 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo to take Lelah home. Nice day. I not do much.
Sep 8 – Hot day. Jim and Cory went to Kalamazoo stay with Nancy to night. Mr John Van Blake Vleck buried to day.[79]
Sep 9 – At home all day. Etta Tompkins here.
Sep 10 – Not do much to day chored around. Hannah and Etta washed. Etta went up to Culls[80] in afternoon. Nice weather have had a nice rain.
Sep 11 – All at home. Etta here helping Hannah make her dresses she is having two made.
Sep 12 – I not doing much. Ethan dug some potatoes. Nice day.
Sep 13 – Mr Mac Lewis came over and whitewashed two rooms. Nice day. Mr Wm Batts Died to day at Augusta.[81]
Sep 14 – Ethan dug potatoes. I done not much. Etta and Hannah put down carpets and done various other chores, worked on dresses.
Sep 15 – Etta went down to Mr Caywoods. I took two wagon poles over to Wm Lee.
Sep 16 – Ethan and Hannah went up to Herb Gilsons. Verry fine day. Etta came back just at night.
Sep 17 – At home. Drying apples and peaches. Etta went home on the Eight oclock am train.
Sep 18 – Pairing apples and peaches. Claud came on the noon train. Ethan digging potatoes.
Sep 19 – Working at the apples and peaches. Verry nice weather. Mr Myers and Mr Stoner pulling beans. Claud went up to Richland to see his best girl. He drove Flora. Etta went to the Asylum to day.
Sep 20 – Mr Myers pulling beans. He drawed one load home in the afternoon. Claud went over to Skinners stayed all night. Dell and Lois went to Shelbyville to day.
Sep 21 – Workeat at peaches and other chores about the house. Nice weather. Claud here.
Sep 22 – Claud went home on the Eight oclock am train. Ethan took Hannah up to Rass Towns[82] this morning.
Sep 23 – At home all day. Quite a high cool wind all day. George Blake and wife came over just at night.
Sep 24 – Went over to burg in morning after shugar, cinnamon, mustud and celery seed fo to put in de preserves.
Sep 25 – At home. Working at peaches and apples. Verry nice weather.
Sep 26 – Hannah went to Kalamazoo to day. Peeling peaches as usual.
Sep 27 – Ethan went to Kalamazoo after Nancy she not come. Claud went to Chicago. Cora no go. Winnifred[83] sick.
Sep 28 – Winnifred better. Cora went home to day. Will Clark was there when she got home. Nancy came up on noon train.
Sep 29 – I went over to burg got one tyre set on buggy 40 cts. Will Clark came home. Nellie McBeth married to day to Frank Mills, Ephraim Mills son.[84]
Sep 30 – At home all day. No one here but our own famlee. Not verry cold.
Oct 1 – Choring as usual. Not do much. Paired some peaches.
Oct 2 – Mr Stoner came and put shingles on the barn. Rained some.
Oct 3 – Working around house and barn. Iva Knapp commenced work for Hannah.
Oct 4 – Working in barn and around house some. Not feeling first rate.
Oct 5 – Saw some wood and done chores and eat breakfast, dinner and supper.
Oct 6 – Worked all day. Charley and Clara Clark[85] came to day. Jesse Earl and Alvin Holmes came down a while.
Oct 7 – Clark family here all day. Lois and Will came just at night.
Oct 8 – Charleys folks went home on the Eight oclock AM train. Ethan made quilt frames for Mr Wheatons folks.
Oct 9 – Rather cool. Not do much. Went up to the woods saw two ground hogs holes and one rabbit.
Oct 10 – At home. Working in house and doing chores as usual. Cory Ridler and Ivy Knapp sewing for Hannah.
Oct 11 – Mrs Chesebrow died this Evening.[86] Not work much to day.
Oct 12 – Went up to Bert Elcies after my hlter I lot in the road. Elsie found it ner Jesse Earls. Had a thunder shower in the night rained hard very heavy thunder.
Oct 13 – Some rainy day. Repaired the cistern pump. Ethan and Hannah went up to Ras Townes in Evening. Hannah stayed all night. Mrs Chesebrow buried to day.
Oct 14 – At home. Ethan went down to Marts. Young Mr Wakefield there to see Mary.
Oct 15 – Made Evener for Mr Caywoods Democrat wagon. I am Eighty one years old to day and verry well. A verry nice day. Ethan went after Hannah this morning.
Oct 16 – Cutting the sassafras along the road fence west of the house.
Oct 17 – Cutting grubs west on the road. Fine weather for October.
Oct 18 – Grubbing to day. Went down to Mrs Streators[87] with Will Clark. They took up Mr M. O. Streators[88] remains and put them in the new cemetry at Galesburg.[89] Clarra and Mary[90] came up to day.
Oct 19 – Cutting grubs as usual. Rained some not verry cold sun came quite warm in the middle of the day.
Oct 20 – Cut brush in the road west of the house. Mr Right moved old Mrs Rawsons[91] and Calvin Streators[92] remains to the Oak Grove cemetry at Galesburg to day.
Oct 21 – Verry nice warm day sun shown all day. Ina came over. Rained in the night quite hard. A young man hurt East of the burg. He was on his wheels ran into or onto a horse and carriage run one of the thills into his bowels.
Oct 22 – Lelah[93] went home on the Eight oclock this morning. I went to mill tok 3 bushels wheat.
Oct 23 – Cut grubs west of the house. Nice day with sunshine and rain mixed in.
Oct 24 – Chored around worked some in barn. Ethan worked on the road down by the river.
Oct 25 – Trimed some grubs for wood. Lois came over stayed all day. Ethan turned some knobs for Mr Stoner.
Oct 26 – Trimed grubs for wood and cut some weeds. Not verry well.
Oct 27 – Drawed three loads poles in afternoon. Nice day.
Oct 28 – At home all day. George and Evva Blake came over a while in afternoon. Fine day.
Oct 29 – Went up to the woods after hitching posts. Quin Streator[94] called in a while just at night. Ras and Eunice[95] came down. Rained quite hard a while.
No entries for October 30 or 31
Nov 1 – Went to Kalamazoo with Will Clark. Stayed to Nancys all night.
Nov 2 – Ethan and his mother[96] came down to Nancys to day. Ethan went home just at night. Had a hevy shower.
Nov 3 – I went up to Shelbyville on noon train. Found them all well. Ogden Tomlinson[97] soke at Shelbyville school house this Evening.
Nov 4 – At the Harris house all day. Not verry well.
No entries for November 5-8
Nov 9 – Snowed all day like blazes not verry cold. Mr Wait making cheese now. He made two fifty pound cheese to day and piled a lot of wood. One of the boys swollowed a big tack.
Nov 10 – Left Shelbyville for home on the morning train. Lou an the children came with me. Ethan went to Kalamazoo after his mother.
Nov 11 – All at home today. Mr Earl came down a while.
Nov 12 – At home choring as usual. All well.
Nov 13 – Working around house and yard.
Nov 14 – Morice Clapp buried to day.[98]
Nov 15 – Ethan working in shop. Lou and children here.
Nov 16 – Lou and children went to Kalamazoo on the morning train.
Nov 17 – Banked up the cellar windows to day.
Nov 18 – At home. Not go to church today.
Nov 19 – Working around as usual. Rather cool. Roads rough.
Nov 20 – Not do much to day. No feel so shmart. Charley Ford drawing wood.
Nov 21 – C. Ford drawind wood. I cut some old apple trees for wood. Mr Wick wire and sister wer shot this Evening by some unknown man.[99]
Nov 22 – A verry nice day. We drawed two loads saw dust from the mill. Will Clark came over and got his buggy spoke fixt.
Nov 23 – At home doing what I have to do, chores and other work.
Nov 24 – Working around barn and house. Saw some wood, work in shop some.
Nov 25 – At home. Fiddle some, whittle some. Nice weather.
Nov 26 – Nancy came up this morning. Had her cloak metamefosed[?].
Nov 27 – Nancy went home this Evening.
Nov 28 – At home. All right. Doing not much.
Nov 29 – At home. Not verry well now days. Verry nice weather.
Nov 30 – All right. No snow. Good wheeling. Fine weather.
Dec 1 – Ethan making pattern for Will Schuylers churn dasher. Hannah and Bess went to Kalamazoo this Evening. George and Eva Blake came over just at night.
Dec 2 – At home. Not go to church to day. Verry shiny day. Lots folks went to church.
Dec 3 – Doing house work to day. Hannah came home this morning on the Eight oclock train.
Dec 4 – Choring around and saw some wood. Verry nice weather. Ethan working on the churn pattern he cast the mittle pattern.
Dec 5 – Ethans cast casting came out all right. Mr Lewis K. Townsend buried to day.[100] A verry pleasant day.
Dec 6 – Went to mill. Not work much. Not verry well. Nice day pleasant October weather. Ethan finishing up dash pattern.
Dec 7 – Working round house some. Cool wind no rain.
Dec 8 – Not do much work but chores. Nice weather for winter no snow.
Dec 9 – At home. Hannah and Mate Ford went up to Nick Hass.
Dec 10 – Worked in shop some and done chores around house.
Dec 11 – Worked on Guitar an violin. Nice day. Ethan went to Kalamazoo see West[101] and Ritter[102] about selling the hay loader and cocker. Charles Brown died to night.[103]
Dec 12 – Worked some on Guitar. Stormy day. Not verry well.
Dec 13 – Put bottom on Guitar. Nice day warm and dry October weather. Ethan working on wheel pattern. Jesse Turner 95 years old to day.[104]
Dec 14 – Worked on Guitar and violin. Mr Charles Brown buried to day. Nice day.
Dec 15 – Worked in shop some and out door some, in the house some.
Dec 16 – At home no one here to day. Old Mrs Joy buried to day.[105]
Dec 17 – Worked in shop some done some house work too. Fine weather. Mr Warrens team plowing for corn.
Dec 18 – Worked on violin and done the chores. Went over to the burg just at night. Paid my tax $5.28 cts.
Dec 19 – Verry nice day sun shown all day dry fall weather good wheeling.
Dec 20 – At home. Worke in shop and doing chores. Verry nice shiny weather.
Dec 21 – At home. All well. Ethan work on Mr Knaps wheel pattern.
Dec 22 – Ethan varnished the pattern over once. Ras and Eunice came down just at night. Etta Tomkins came the Evening train. Fine day.
Dec 23 – Etta her all day. Mr Earl came in a while. Hannah and Etta went up Mr Ralphs a while to get some pointers on dress making.
No further entries
——-
[1] Known better, and referred to, as Luke
[2] His grandson, Floyd Harris
[3] Galesburg, Michigan
[4] Believe he is referring to Dr. William McBeth, who was also a neighbor
[5] His wife, Sarah (Crawford) Keith
[6] His granddaughter, LaVerne Harris
[7] His daughter, Lois (Keith) Clark Skinner, and her children, Will Clark and Ina Skinner
[8] His daughter, Louese (Keith) Harris, and her children, LaVerne, Floyd and Leone Harris
[9] His daughter, Nancy (Keith) Brown
[10] Michigan death records show that Lyman Norris of Grand Rapids, Michigan, died there on January 6, 1894 and FindAGrave.com shows that he is buried in Highland Cemetery, Ypsilanti, Michigan
[11] Lois’ second husband, Adelbert Skinner
[12] His daughter, Hannah Keith
[13] Michigan death records show that William McClary died January 7, 1894 in Charleston, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[14] Neighbor, Cornelia (Daniels) Comings
[15] Neighbor, Olive (Atkinson) Schram
[16] Neighbor, Frances (Thomas) Blake
[17] FindAGrave.com shows that Sarah Elizabeth (Allen) Powlison died in Wheatland, North Dakota on January 21, 1894 and is buried in the Wheatland Cemetery there. She and her late Husband, Isaac Powlison, had previously been neighbors with the Keith family back in the 1880’s
[18] Neighbor, Hannah (Flint) Smith, the wife of Russel G. Smith
[19] Luke uses this phrase quite often. The Oxford Dictionary gives its meaning as “vigorously or quickly”
[20] Unknown who this is referring to; research continues
[21] Neighbor, Mary (Clark) Wilcox
[22] Neighbors, Mary (Smith) Flanders and her daughter, Mabel Flanders
[23] Brother of his wife Sarah
[24] South Bend, Indiana
[25] His horse
[26] His son, Ethan Keith
[27] Neighbors, Laura (Burdick) Bush and her adult daughter, Catharina Bush
[28] Martin Milham, son-in-law of Luke’s late sister, Catharine (Keith) Bradley Lee
[29] On February 10, Ethan applied for a patent of his hay cocker invention which was granted on July 31, 1894 and contained the following designation: Ethan B. Keith, of Galesburg, Assignor of One-Half to William R. Ritter, of Dowagiac, Michigan
[30] The two poles between which a horse is hitched to a wagon
[31] His granddaughter, Bess Brown
[32] Neighbors, Edwin & Mary (Smith) Flanders
[33] His granddaughter, Leone Harris
[34] Shelbyville, Michigan, where Lou and her family lived
[35] Martin Milham and his daughter, Mary Milham
[36] The uncle of Luke’s son-in-law, D. Harris
[37] Michigan death records confirm that Sarah “Sate” Skinner died February 22, 1894 and FindAGrave.com reveals she is buried in the Quaker Cemetery in Waterloo, New York. Sate was Adelbert Skinner’s sister
[38] Luke’s nephew, James “Oscar” Keith
[39] The brother of Oscar Keith’s wife, Mary Ann (Batey) Keith
[40] Alvin Lee was the son of Luke’s first cousin, Charles Lee, & Juliana Davis
[41] FindAGrave.com confirms that George Smith died in Chicago, Illinois on March 3, 1894 and that he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[42] Family story has it that the family ate their dinner and then went up to the top of a hill behind the house to watch the destruction, and when it didn’t happen they were disappointed that they had to come back to a sink full of dirty dishes
[43] FindAGrave.com shows that Kate Hartwell died in Galesburg, Michigan on March 10, 1894 and was buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery
[44] Ansel “Lee” Milham, the son of Luke’s late niece, Lucy (Lee), & Martin Milham
[45] Neighbor, Mary Ann “Mate” (Thompson) Ford
[46] Neighbor, Charles Ford; husband of Mate (see footnote to March 21st entry)
[47] Neighbor and “shirttail relative”
[48] Ninah Bell Milham
[49] Michigan birth records show that Erma Adeline Swaddle was born in Charleston, Michigan on April 4, 1894 to Edward & Olive (Schram) Swaddle
[50] Michigan marriage records confirm that Harriet Taylor and Charles Merrell were married on April 5, 1894 in Galesburg, Michigan
[51] Erasmus Towne, neighbor, and Charley Towne’s brother
[52] Mary Nobles was the first cousin of Luke’s second wife, Jerusha (Crittenden) Keith. Mary was the daughter of John & Mary “Polly” (Sprague) Nobles. She is buried in Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion, New York
[53] Rhoda (Lee) Wilcox, Luke’s cousin and Alvin Lee’s sister
[54] Sisters, Hattie & Libby Taylor. Hattie had recently married (see April 5th entry). Flora Elizabeth “Libby” Taylor had been married to Isaac Schram, however by 1880 they were divorced and Hattie and Libby were living together
[55] Presume this is Mate’s mother-in-law, Adelia (Tompkins) Ford
[56] His grandson, Claude Brown
[57] FindAGrave.com reveals that Francis Brown Stockbridge died April 30, 1894 in Chicago, Illinois and that he served as the Republican Senator from Michigan from 1887 until his death in office in 1894. He is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan
[58] Michigan marriage records show that Wesley Merriman and Ella Bush were married on May 16, 1894 in Galesburg, Michigan
[59] Wife and children of Jay Harris (see footnote to May 30th entry), Dexa (Strait) and Starr and Isabelle Harris
[60] Walter “Burton” Meredith, the father of Cora Meredith, the wife of Luke’s son, Jim Keith
[61] Hand painted glass slides were enhanced by the “Showman’s” performance as he narrated and wove stories with the stunning original images from the 1800’s. Go to https://youtu.be/x1auoWwB1Cc to see a Magic Lantern show
[62] D. Harris’ brother. Jay supposedly played with the Detroit Tigers; however, a search of the Detroit Tigers All-Time Roster (Wikipedia), a list of players who appeared in at least one game, failed to show a listing for Jay Harris
[63] Malvina (Johnson) Meredith, mother of Cora Meredith, the wife of Luke’s son Jim Keith
[64] Malvina Meredith and her mother, Charlana (Adams) Johnson
[65] In other words, taking his cow to the bull
[66] George & Marion (Sprague) Tomlinson. Marion was Luke’s niece
[67] Colon, Michigan
[68] The relationship between George Tomlinson and William Tomlinson is unknown at this time
[69] The brother of William Ralph (see footnote to February 19th entry)
[70] Michigan death records confirm that Hiram Hamilton died on July 11, 1894 in Pavilion, Michigan. No burial information was found
[71] His grand-nephew, James Leon Keith, the son of James “Oscar” Keith
[72] Willis & Elizabeth (Ogden) Brown. Will was Hank Brown’s brother
[73] Mary Ann (Batey) Keith’s mother, Eliza (Olds) Batey. Michigan death records confirm that she died August 21, 1894 in Pavilion, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[74] James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith and their son, John Herbert Keith
[75] Neighbor, Henry “Harry” D. Streator
[76] His son and daughter-in-law, James & Cora (Meredith) Keith
[77] Scotts, Michigan
[78] Michigan marriage records confirm that they were married in Kalamazoo, Michigan on September 6, 1894. John Herbert Keith was the son of James “Oscar” and Mary Ann (Batey) Keith
[79] FindAGrave.com shows that John VanVleck died September 8, 1894 and that he is buried in the Augusta Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan. No death record was found for him
[80] Neighbor, Cullen Towne; Charley Towne’s brother
[81] FindAGrave.com shows that William Batt died September 13, 1894 and is buried in the Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. No death record was found for him
[82] Neighbor, Erasmus Towne; Charley and Cullen Towne’s brother
[83] His granddaughter, Winifred Keith; Jim and Cora’s two-year old daughter
[84] Michigan marriage records show that Nellie McBeth married Frank Mills on September 29, 1894 in Galesburg, Michigan
[85] His grandson, Charles Clark, and Charles’ wife, Clara (Youngs) Clark
[86] According to FindAGrave.com, Sarah (Hand) Chesebrough died October 11, 1894 and is buried in North Athens Cemetery, Athens, Michigan. No death record has been found
[87] Neighbor, Laura (Rawson) Streator
[88] Laura’s late husband, Marius O. Streator
[89] Oak Grove Cemetery
[90] Most likely Clara and Mary Milham, daughters of Martin Milham, Luke’s grandnieces
[91] Mary (Flynn) Rawson, Laura (Rawson) Streator’s mother
[92] The son of Marius & Laura (Rawson) Streator
[93] His granddaughter, Lela Brown
[94] Believe this is referring to John Quincy Streator, the son of Marius & Laura (Rawson) Streator
[95] Erasmus & Eunice (Wood) Towne
[96] Don’t know why he refers to his wife in this way
[97] Ogden was the half-brother of George Tomlinson (see footnote to July 2nd entry)
[98] FindAGrave.com shows that Edwin M. Clapp Jr. died November 12, 1894 and was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. He was the son of Edwin & Mary (Stedman) Clapp, and Luke’s neighbor
[99] From an article in the 11-22-1894 Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph: William Wickwire and his sister, Maria Wickwire, were shot; William three times and Maria once; both survived
[100] Michigan death records show that he died December 2, 1894 in Comstock and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[101] Lucius West, patent attorney
[102] See footnote for February 6th entry
[103] Michigan death records show that Charles Brown, age 23, died December 12, 1894 in Charleston, Michigan and lists his cause of death as Tonsillitis. FindAGrave.com shows he was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Michigan death records show that Charles’ younger brother Howard, age 10, died of Tonsillitis also on December 4, 1894
[104] His maternal first cousin
[105] Cynthia (Kingsley) Joy. Michigan death records show that she died in Comstock on December 14, 1894 and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
The Diaries of Charles Luke Keith Jr 