No diaries are available for 1878, 79, & 80.  The next journal was written in 1881 and his penmanship and spelling had greatly improved by that time.  He had used a pencil in the previous journals, but the 1881 entries were made in purple ink which has not faded over the years.  His style of writing is the same; each day’s entry begins the same as in the previous journal:  “I helped to do the chores”, only now the word chores is spelled correctly, and his father is seldom referred to as pa.

 

Saturday, January 1, 1881 – I helped to do the chores and Ben McMillen glenroy father Levi & John & I helped cloash (?) to thrash oats & he broke or it got broke a rod of iron a little while before night and we ditten get quite though and we thrashed about 150 bushels of oats and it is a nice pleasent day but very cold 8 below zero and at night we all went down to glenroys & had a oyster supper and had a good time & mary jane came up with the girls and stayed all night.

Jan. 2 – I helped helped to do the chores and pa annie emma & I went to church we  herd a sermon by mr hood and his test was l Peter the 3 chapter & the 18 verse and orrie & mary Jane stayed at home and kep house and it is a pretty cloudy day some warmer but cold.

Jan. 3 -  I helped to do the chores and father took a load of oats out or up to Glens falls

82 bu at 35 cents a bu & in the forenoon glen Levi & I helped the thrashers to finish thrashing all but cleaning up & in the afternoon I went to school and the thrashed finished all up they was 315 bushels and it is a pretty cloudy day some warmer & at night Levi & High Burs cam up awhile.

Jan. 4 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and pa took a load of rye straw out to the fort 1750 lbs at $18 a ton and we loaded it up in the morning and it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & pretty cloudy pretty cold.

Jan. 5 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and pa took a load of straw out to fort edward he had on over 1800 and we loaded up a nother load at night and it is a nice pleasent day pretty cool it snowed after 2 inches very light & glen was up to uncle tom H & carrie came down here with him.

 Jan. 6 – I helped to do the chores and father took a load of straw out to the fort he had on over 1800 & it snowed a little most all day & some last night, about 3 inches in all & glenroy & I drawed down some oats that was his from the big barn.

Jan. 7 – I helped to do the chores & I went to school & father took a load of straw out to the fort he had on over 2100 and it s pretty cloudy day some cool & some windy at night & at night we all went over to singing school to the church and we had a good time and carrie went home.

Jan. 8 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and father took a load of straw out to fort edward he had on over 2100 and at night we loaded up a nother load & that takes it all and it is a nice pleasent day pretty cool very clear to.

Jan. 9 – I helped to do the chores and father orrie annie & I went to church and we herd a sermon by mr hood & his text was the 3 chapter of Hebrews the 7 & 8 verses & emma & Mary Jane stayed at home & kep house and it is a nice pleasent pretty cold some cloudy at night.

 

 

Jan. 10 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school & they was not only 9 scholars their & in the afternoon father & emma went over to grandfathers and last night it snowed about l foot big snow storm & in the forenoon it rained a lot & frooze at it came and it snowed some through the day.

Jan. 11 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and in the afternoon father went over to the church to a congregational meeting & went down to bedlam & got some Buckwheat ground & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & cool to.

Jan. 12 – I helped to do the chores & I went to school and father took a load of straw out to the fort & he had on over 2100 & it is the last load they was about 6 tons and it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & cool to.

Jan. 13 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and pa took a load of rye out to fort edward & he had on over 55 bushels at * cents a bushel and it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & cool and at night I went down to Bedlam to with harve McNeil nice moonlights nights now.

Jan. 14 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and father ditten do much of any thing all day and it rained in the morning & then it turned to snow & snowed most all day about 3 inches & it blowed & drifted and at night we ditten go over to singing school.

Jan. 15 – I helped to do the chores and we all went down to Bedlam to Uncle Alexanders a visiting and we had a good time and in the morning before we went I & father went over & brought the sheep & cattle over home to the barn and it is a very cold day 11 below zero and in the morning look out for freezing now and I got a new pair of rubber boots at Hays store.

Jan. 16 – (written on page for the 17th.) I helped to do the chores and pa orrie and emma went to church and they herd a sermon by mr wiley and his text was in the 19 chapter of John & annie & I stayed at home & kep house and it is a nice pleasent day some cool very clear this is for Sunday.

Jan. 17 - )written on page for the 16th.) I helped to do the chores and pa took a load of rye out to the fort and he had on about 59 bu of rye and I went to school and father got 85 cents a bu for the rye about 113 bu both loads & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & some warmer some cloudy in the morning. this is for monday made a mistake excuse.

Jan. 18 -  I went to school & I helped to do the chores and father & emma went down to argyle and at night we all went up to Benjamin McMillens a visiting and it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & some cold to.

Jan.. 19 -  I helped to do the chores and I went to school and father went over to granfathers to help him to kill his hog & bull calf and emma went to and it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & some cool to and at night I went down to singing school with Harvey McNeil & seherman and Norman went to and we had a good time.

Jan. 20 -  I helped to do the chores and I went to school and father took a grist down to Bedlam and he brought it back with him and it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & some or pretty cold and at night Harve McNeil & I went up to a party: & will Gibson went with us from Bedlam up to Shongnesseys and we had a good time we ditten get home till about 3 a clock pretty early.

 

*left blank, perhaps to put amount in later

 

Jan. 21 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and father went down to argyle and he cut some wood at the door & put it in the wood shed and it is a pretty cloudy day and in the afternoon it snowed some pretty hard at night another bad singing school nigh. sold again.

Jan. 22 -  I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we shoveled the snow of from the wagon house the shed & the barn and in the forenoon or afternoon we went over yonder & shoveled the snow from the Hay barn & shed and it is a pretty cloudy day & some cool & it commenced snowing at night.

Jan. 23 – I helped to do the chores and we all went to church and we herd a sermon by mr hood and his text was hewbrews the 10 chapter & the 34 verse and it is a nice pleasent day and not very cold to.

Jan. 24 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and it is a nice pleasent day pretty cold & clear & father chored around & shoveled some snow and at night we all went over to singing school to the church had a good time.

Jan. 25 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and father went out to fort edward & got a load of fence boards 170 in number & it is a pretty cloudy day some clear & pretty cool to and the McNeil Boys & I went over to the brick school house to a spelling school a foot had fun.

Jan. 26 – I went to school and I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father went over to the church and nailed up some boards on the shed and then went down to bedlam and emma went a visiting down to uncle alexs with glen & Joe and at night we all went down to bedlam to singing school and I went with Norman and it is a pretty cloudy day snowed a little and some clear.

Jan. 27 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and father greeced harness all day about & I washed to and at night emma & I went down to Bedlam to a party to isiac oatmens and they danced some of them and it is a nice pleasent day prettry clear and very cold below zero and pretty windy.

Jan. 28 – I went to school and I helped to do the chores and father washed & greaced harness about all day and it is a very cold day and very clear below zero and some windy, and it is good sleighing snow about two feet deep and signs of more.

Jan. 29 -  I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we drawed up some logs that was

down the road to the door & we cut some of it up and in the afternoon father went down to argyle & got the mail & and I went down to glenroys and at night we all went over to the church to singing school and it is a nice pleasent day pretty cold very cold 8 below 0.

Jan. 30 – I helped to do the chores and and father annie and I went to church and we herd a sermon by mr hood and his text was Hosea the 9 chapter the last clause of the 12 verse and emma & orrie stayed at home & kep house and it snowed all forenoon about 2 inches very light pretty cloudy and cold.

Jan. 31 – I went to school and I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father chored around & in the afternoon father & emma went over to granfathers and at night we all went over to singing school and had a good time and it is a pretty clear and cold day below zero.

 

 

Tuesday, February 1, 1881 – I went to school and I helped to do the chores and father chored around and in the afternoon he came down to school a while and at night Harve Qua & George McEachron cane up here a while and it is a very very cold day north wind 8 below in the morning and the same at night pretty cloudy all day.

Feb. 2 – I went to school and I helped to do the chores and father chored around and he cut up some wood at the door and it is a very cold day & clear it was 20 below in the morning and at night about 8 below below all day.  & Norman stayed all night we had a good time and that’s all--------.

Feb. 3 -  I helped to do the choirs and I went to school & Norman to. and in the forenoon father cut some wood and in the afternoon father & emma went down to argyle and at night orrie emma & I went down to Jay Barkleys to a party and we had a good time and they was quite a lot their and it is a nice pleasent day and very cold yet getting a little milder it was 16 below in the morning and yesterday & this morning is the coldest yet.

Feb. 4 – I went to school & I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father cut some wood at the door & in the afternoon he drawed 4 loads of wood for George Shepard he had a bee and it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy pretty cold below zero.

Feb. 5 – I helped to do the chores and we finished cutting up the wood at the door in the morning and Uncle Edwards folks but will came here a visiting & Mary Jane came up & glen & Joe did to and we had a good time and at night we all went over to singing school to the church and it is a nice pleasent day nice & pleasent warmer thawed a little on the south side of the house.

Feb. 6 – I helped to do the chores and father orrie annie & I went to church and we herd a sermon by mr hood and his text was in Isaiah the 48 chapter and the 22 verse and it is a nice pleasent day some warm & thawed a little on the south side of the house and emma stayed at home and kep house.

Feb. 7 -  I helped to do the chores and in the afternoon father & emma went down to Bedlam and a clock cleaner came here to fix the clock but ditten do it much good and at night we all went over to singing school and at night emmaretta came up and stayed all night and it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear. & warmer thawed quiet a lot and I went to school.

Feb. 8 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and father went out to fort edward and got a small load of fence boards and it is a pretty cloudy day warmer it ditten freeze any last night of any count warmest in a good while looks like rain.

Feb. 9 -  I helped to do the chores and uncle tom Hs folks all came over here a visiting but Charley and I came home from school and we had a good time and they had a good time they ditten go home till after dark and Norman & I went down to bedlam to a concert at night we had a good time and it is a nice warm pretty cloudy rained a little in the morning thawed all day.

Feb. 10 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and in the morning father went down to Bedlam after Mrs. Connor to make the girls or emma a dress and then he chored around and it rained most all day the snow has went off about half I gess thawing yet.

Feb. 11 – I helped to do the chores and I went to School and father went over after grandmother to come over & cut a dress out or something and grandfather came at night after her & at night I took Mrs Connor down to Bedlam & annie went down to and at night Joe lindsay & his wife (etta) came over and stayed till after midnight and it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & it thawed a lot and rained a little I think ditten freeze any.

Feb. 12 – I helped to do the chores and our folks all went a visiting but myself up to Alex williamsons and it rained most all forenoon a lot to.  And glen came up a while & uncle Dave to.  & in the afternoon I went down to glenroys and at night we all went over to singing school to the church but father & the teacher ditten come but we had singing school and it is a pretty cloudy day warm & thawed a lot.  water is high now.

Feb. 13 – I helped to do the chores and emma father & I went to church and we herd a sermon by mr hood and his text was Luke the 12 chapter and the 20 verse & orrie and annie stayed at home and kep house and it got colder last night & snowed a little and it is a pretty cloudy day colder & windy.

Feb. 14 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and Henry McEachron came here and stayed night & father took a grist down to Bedlam & brought it back & at night we all went over to singing school and it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & good rideing down hill & skateing.

Feb. 15 – I went to school & I helped to do the chores and father chored around and drawed over some corn & stalks and from the hay barn and at night we had a spelling school down to the school house we had a good time and it is a nice day some warm & cloudy to.

Feb. 16 – I went to school & I helped to do the chores and in the afternoon father & emma went down to Bedlam and it is a pretty cloudy day and warm almost a thawing cooler at night.  and at night Harve McNeil and I went down to Bedlam alittle further.

Feb. 17 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and father chored around and he drawed over some corn stalks from the hay barn and I at night went down to george McEachrons to a party and a little further and it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & windy.  nice night clear & light some cool.

Feb. 18 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and father chored around about all day and it snowed a little most all day a little it ditten snow more than 3 inches all day I gess not very cold and some windy.  And at night Willie McEachron his wife & * came down here and made a visit.  after 12 oclock when they went home.

Feb. 19 – I helped to do the chores and father & the girls went up to Johnney William- sons and came rite back again the little girls had the dyptheria and in the afternoon emma Mary Jane & I went down to argyle & they asked some to the party to glenroys and I got a lamp for glenroy & Joe a present and it is a nice pleasent day it snowed last night & some in the morning.

Feb. 20 – “I helped to do the chores and we all went to church and we herd no sermon mr hood had a cold & so they had prayer meeting and Sabbath school and it is a nice pleasent day clouding over some toward night.  it thawed a little.

Feb. 21 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and it snowed a little most all day but it ditten mount to much and it is pretty warm packed a little and father chjored around and at night Levi & glen came up & Levi cut my hair and harve McNeil came down to.

Feb. 22 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and father chored around & in the afternoon father and emma went down to bedlam &  got her dress and it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & thawed some and at night harve McNeil and I went over to spelling school and a little further.

 

*name unreadable

 

Feb. 23 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and father chored around and at night henry came up and took supper and then we all went down to spelling school but emma stayed at Shepards and it is a pretty cloudy day and it snowed all forenoon about 3 inches cleared of at night colder.…

Feb. 24 -  I helped to do the chores and I went to school and father took a grist down to Bedlam and left it and in the afternoon father and glen fixed a place for the horses and at night we all went down to glenroys to the party or tin wedding and I took a little ride after a girl up north and we all had a noble time it was after 5 oclock when I got home and it is a nice pleasant day pretty cold to but clear and it snowed when we was a going home and they was over 80 down to glenroy had a good time 2 over (?).

Feb. 25 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and father went down to Bedlam and got the grist and it snowed last night or in the morning and it is pretty cloudy and it cleared off and it is a pretty cold day and at night we all went to singing school over to the church.

Feb. 26 – I helped to do the chores and father went out to fort edward and when he came back to argyle he stoped for carcus * and levi came up a while & Norman came up in the afternoon.  And it is a nice pleasent day pretty cool some cloudy.

Feb. 27 – I helped to do the chores and father orrie and I went to church and we heard a sermon by mr hood and his text was in hebrews the 12 chapter and the last clause of the 17 verse and emma & annie stayed at home and kep house and it is a nice pleasent day & it is warmer it thawed quite a lot.

Feb. 28 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father glen & uncle Dave killed the red cow she dressed about 525 lbs and I went to school and in the afternoon father chored around and at night we all went over to the church to singing school and it rained hard when we came home and it is a pretty cloudy day rained a lot it lightened some.

 

Tuesday, March 1 – I went to school and I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father took Joe emma and orrie over to grandfathers to a quilting party and the came home about dark and it is town meeting day and it snowed most all day pretty pard some of the time and it snowed about 3 or 4 inches and at night Henry McNeil came down and Brought Helen & libbie McNeil had a good time they all stayed all night.

Mar. 2 – I went to school and I helped to do the chores and father took the beef out to fort he got 5 or 6 cents a lb & he took 3 quarters & he got 5 or 6 cts.  for the hide and at night we had a spelling school down to the school house and they spoke pieces & Dialogues and it snowed some all day but ditten mount to much.

Mar. 3 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school and it was the last day of school and father chored all day in the morning we went to Wille McEachrons after a boar to put with the pigs and at night we all went down to Ben McDougalls to a party & we had a good time and we got home a little after l oclock and it is a pretty cloudy day warm.

Mar. 4 – I helped to do the chores and I chored around all day and in the afternoon father emma & orrie went to church and they herd a sermon by mr wiley his test was in Luke and it is a pretty cloudy day & very windy east wind and it snowed some & thawed some & at night we ditten go over to singing school and glenroy has took a farm to work over on the ridge mr John Gilchrists.  on thirds.

 

*caucus

 

Mar. 5 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we chored around and in the afternoon father emma annie & I went to church and we herd a sermon by mr hood and his text was in Romans and orrie stayed at home and it is a pretty cloudy day very cloudy weather.

Mar. 6 – I helped to do the chores and father emma and I went to church and we herd a sermon by mr hood and his text was song of Solomon the 2 chapter and the 3 verse & it was sacrament day and orrie & annie stayed at home and kep house and it is a pretty cloudy day it thawed quiet a lot the sleighing is getting thin some places.

Mar. 7 – I helped to do the chores and glenroy Tom Denison & I cut wood up back on the hill by the meadow & father helped some in the forenoon and in the afternoon he drawed wood down to the house and it is a nice pleasent day and very clear & warm it thawed a lot the sleighing getting poor…some wagons going now first in a good while and at night we all went over to singing school to the church.

Mar. 8 – I helped to do the chores and tom & I cut wood all day about up in the same place very hard chopping and in the forenoon father drawed down wood to the house & in the afternoon he helped a little and granfather came over & got emma and it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm it thawed a lot some bear ground.

Mar. 9 – I helped to do the chores and glenroy tom Denison & I cut wood most all day up back on top of the hill in the forenoon father drawed cord wood down to the house from their & in the afternoon he helped us some and at night they was a party down to Shepards and I danced for the first time and we had a good time and it is a pretty cloudy day it rained & snowed some the sleighing is about gone in places.

Mar. 10 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we chored around and in the afternoon we commenced to cut up wood at the door we cut a little and emma went down to fet smarts (?) with Joe and glen a visiting and it rained & snowed quite a lot it is very soft weather.

Mar. 11 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we chored around and in the afternoon father went down to argyle and I chored around and it is a pretty cloudy day it snowed a little and at night I went down to bedlam to a concert and I had a good time to.  it snowed about 2 inches last night.

Mar. 12 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon glen & I chopped cord wood up on top of the hill in the woods & father drawed down wood to the house & uncle alex & aunt kate came up visiting in the afternoon we chored around & visited we have got done cutting wood in the woods for now and it is a nice pleasent day pretty cloudy it thawed some & uncle ead* was over this way he stoped & took dinner.

Mar. 13 – I helped to do the chores and we all went to church and we herd a sermon by mr hood and his text was Zechariah the 4 chapter and the first clause of the 10 verse and it is a pretty cloudy day but warm and it snowed about 2 inches last night it spit snow some through the day.

Mar. 14 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father drawed down wood from up in the woods & I chopped some and in the afternoon we finished drawing down wood and went down to uncle Daves and got 10 bushels of burbanks potatoes at 60 cts. a bu. and at night we all went over to singing school and it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy thawed a lot..went in a wagon. and uncle Dave bought glenroys’ place at $600.

 

*probably Uncle Ed

 

Mar. 15 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father took a grist down to Bedlam and brought it home again and I chored around & I helped Levi to saw his wood with the machine about 4 cords and at night I went over to a party over to mr Beatties & John Barklay & george McEachron went with me and it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & warm it thawed a lot.

Mar. 16 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we split & sawed wood and in the afternoon we all went down to uncle Daves a visiting and uncle tom H folks was over their to and we had a good time and it is a pretty cloudy day some clear & warm.

Mar. 17 – I helped to do the chores and george Shepard father & I cut sawed & split wood all day at the door and it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm & it thawed a lot and it is some cloudy and at night Hugh McNeil came down here and stayed awhile.

Mar. 18 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father george and I cut sawed & split wood and in the afternoon we did the same and at night emma orrie & I went down to argyle to a school exhibition and it is a very cloudy day it looked like rain all day but it ditten rain much of any a tall.

Mar. 19 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father george & I cut & sawed wood at the door and in the afternoon george & I did the same and father took a grist down to Bedlam and Brought it back again and it is a pretty cloudy day and it is warm it rained at night and it is very muddy.  they is a lot of snow on the ground in the field yet on the north side.

Mar. 20 – I helped to do the chores and they was no meeting over to our church and we ditten go to any other meeting so we all stayed at home & kep house and it is a very cloudy day but warm & White cow had a calf last night.

Mar. 21 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father drawed manure up on top the side hill 2 field above glenroys and I sawed & split some wood and in the afternoon we sawed & split wood and at night we all went down or over to the church or to singing school it was the last night and it is a pretty cloudy day warm though.

Mar. 22 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father drawed manure up on the side hill I helped to load & sawed & split some wood and in the afternoon father cut some wood & I took annie down to Bedlam & left her & I went to school down their and it is a pretty cloudy day warm it frooze a little last night.

Mar. 23 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father drove up to James fosters to see a man about another man coming into the house and then he went out to fort edward and got some grass seed and I sawed split & cut wood part of the day and it is a nice day pretty cloudy & some windy at night I went down to Bedlam with harve McNeil.

Mar. 24 – I helped to do the chores and in the morning father drove up to granville to see a man about coming into the house and he was gone about all day and I finished cutting wood at the door all that was drawed up and at night mr lily came up and stayed all night and at night I went down to Bedlam with harve McNeil to a show Negro Minstrels and it is a nice warm day pretty cloudy and shepards folks left for lansingburg.

Mar. 25 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we drawed dung from the calf stable up on the side hill & in the afternoon we drawed up the hay that father bought from mr lily & a load of straw from glenroys and then father went down to McEachrons a foot and at night we all went down to Bedlam to the school exhibition & brought annie home &  and it is a pretty cloudy day some clear & some cooler.

Mar. 26 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we drawed 3 loads of manure up on the side hill & went on up to the woods & got 3 loads of chips and in the afternoon father went down to argyle & he took the clock & got it fixed and I went down to glenroys awhile and it is a pretty cloudy day cooler & some windy.

Mar. 27 – I helped to do the chores and they was no meeting over to our church and we ditten go to any other and so we all stayed at home and kep house and it is a pretty cloudy day and very windy to pretty cool to.

Mar. 28 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we cut some rail timber and stacked it out in the meadow and in the afternoon father & orrie went down to Bedlam and took some eggs at 20 cts a Dox and I chored around and at night Dock & ella kinney came over and stayed awhile and the lambs commenced coming 3 came and it is a pretty windy and some clear & cloudy.

Mar. 29 – I helped to do the chores and in the morning we helped glen to load up the Dams (?) with stuff & we took a load for him & emma went to they was 6 teams or loads of us we had a good time and it is a place over in Durgeetown where he went and father stayed at home & kep house & orrie & annie to & he chored around & l more little lamb came & it is a nice pleasent day warm some cloudy the roads is pretty good.

Mar. 30 – I helped to do the chores and in the morning Uncle John C & Lucy Jane came up here and Uncle John C and father went out to fort edward & they got home about

4 oclock and Captain Orr moved 3 loads of his stuff up or down to the other house* and I taped 3 trees down in the swamp and 2 more little lambs came. twins. and it is a pretty cloudy day some warm looks like rain.

Mar. 31 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we sowed the grass seed up on the side hill above the house and Captain Orr and his family came up & went into the house and we helped him to fix the stove & some things and in the afternoon father sowed the grass seed on the follow and the captain & I went down to Bedlam after a load of stuff for him and it is a pretty cloudy day & it snowed about 3 inches last night & some through the day and it thawed quite a lot.

`

Friday, April 1, 1881 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father & Mary Jane went down to argyle & glenroy came over & took dinner and in the afternoon we went up back in the woods along the fence by the buck wheat field some chestnut timber and some under brush & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy warm to very muddy and at night emma & I went down to Dake McEachrons to a party had a good time danced we got home early in the morning and l more foals lamb came.

Apr. 2 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we drawed manure up on the side hill from inunder the horse barn and in the afternoon we cut some rail timber & small stough up in the woods by Willies and it is a pretty windy day & some cloudy to and

4 more little lambs came and 2 of them is twins & l of the turkeys commenced laying eggs about this time.

 

*apparently their tenant house

 

Apr. 3 – I helped to do the chores and father orrie annie & emma went to church and we herd a sermon by mr hood and I stayed at home & kep house and it is a very windy day west wind and it is some clear & some cloudy to and the red cow had a calf & 3 more little lambs came.

Apr. 4 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we went up in the woods by Willies and snaked out rail timber or chestnut.  in the afternoon went went up their and finished snakeing out rail timber and we cut some and it is a very windy day some clear & some cloudy pretty cold last night and l more lamb came.

(At the bottom of this page he wrote: This motto is sent, And sent by a miss

                                                            Who wished you sin, to send her a kiss.

                                                                                                Aurella

                                                                                                “Forget Me Not”)

Apr. 5 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we drawed manure up in the big field and in the afternoon emma annie & I went over to grandfathers & we took a lamb over and father tapped my boots and it is a pretty windy day and it is very windy weather some cloudy & quite cold and 7 more little lambs came.  2 pair of twins.

Apr. 6 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we drawed up some hay & straw from the the other house that father Bought from glenroy & one load of hay from the hay barn over yonder and in the afternoon father took a grist down to Bedlam & he took the old mare & got her shawd & annie went to & I chored around and it is a very windy & coold day pretty cloudy to it snowed a little last night & l more lamb came.

Apr. 7 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we drawed manure up on top or on the side hill & in the afternoon we went over to mr scribers to look at a colt and we drove it some & come in 10 dollars of buying it & the girls went over to granfathers & took over a nother lamb and it is a nice pleasent day pretty cloudy it is warmer.  & l more little lamb came.

Apr. 8 – I helped to do the chores and father went out to fort Edward and he got some grass seed to sow after the oats & I chored around & piled some wood & 3 more little lambs came l pair of twins I gess but l of them was found dead & at night emma Mary Jane & I went down to frank McAuleys to a party got home early in the morning and it is a nice pleasent day clear & warm good deal warmer.

Apr. 9 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon we picked stone of from the follow & in the afternoon we commenced in the follow father picked some stone & I plowed and l more little lamb came and it is a nice pleasent day clear & quite warm.

Apr. 10 – I helped to do the chores and we all went to church and we herd a sermon by mr mr hood and his text was 2 Peter the l chapter and the 5 verse & it is a nice pleasant day pretty clear & quite clear.  & 2 of the turkey hens commenced laying eggs & 4 more little lambs came l pair of twins. roads is some dusty. Good going. mistake about the 2 turkey hens commencing laying l of them layed for the first the other l commenced laying about a week ago.

Apr. 11 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon edd Loy plowed up in the follow and we drawed stone up their and in the afternoon edd plowed up in the follow & I piled some wood & father & annie went down to Bedlam & got some plow points and granmother came over and annie went over with her and it is a nice pleasent day some windy & l more little lamb came & edward Loy our hired man came on to work.

 

Apr. 12 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon edd plowed up in the follow & we piled or throwed in some wood in the wood-shed & I picked some stone up in the big field and in the afternoon we all piled some wood & edd plowed up in the follow and we piled wood and it is a pretty cloudy day about noon it snowed a while warm & l more little lamb came & I sat a hen with 11 eggs up in the horse barn.

Apr. 13 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon edd plowed up in the follow till it came on snow pretty hard & we drawed some manure on the garden & plowed it & in the afternoon edd & I piled some wood & shelled some corn & chored around and it is a pretty cloudy it snowed most all day it thawed most as fast as it came.  & l more little lamb came.

Apr. 14 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon edd plowed up in the follow & father trimed apple trees awhile and I piled some wood and in the afternoon edd finished plowing up on top of the follow & we up up along the long field & cut some rail timber in the woods and 3 more little lambs came and & l more turkey commenced laying eggs the third one & it snowed quite a lot last night but went off through the day cleared off some warm.

Apr. 15 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon edd commenced to plow in the orchard and ditten plow but a short time and then we throwed in wood & piled it up in the wood shed & in the afternoon we finished pileing wood and father went over to granfathers after annie and it snowed most all day pretty hard part of the time to but thawed most as fast as it came & 3 more little lambs came l pair of twins.

Apr. 16 -  I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father and I trimed apples trees & he marked out the garden spot and in the afternoon edd & I planted the garden spot with potatoes and I burned brush up in the orchard & father & emma went out to ft. edward  to get some paper and edd plowed most all day in the orchard and he went home at night and it is a nice pleasent day some warm & pretty clear to.

Apr. 17 – I helped to do the chores and we all went to church and we herd a sermon by mr Spear and his text was John the 15 chapter and the first clause of the 5 verse it was at 2 o’clock that meeting was.  and it is a pretty windy day some clear & some cloudy & warm to & 2 more little lambs came twins.

Apr. 18 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon edd finished plowing up in the orchard & commenced plowing down in the meadow and we picked stone up on the side hill or big field & in the afternoon edd dug around some of the apple trees & plowed down in the meadow & father dug around some of them air (?) trees & sowed the orchard with oats & I dragged it with one horse and it is a nice pleasent day some warm & I sat a hen with 9 turkey eggs.

Apr. 19 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father & I drawed stone up in the big field and edd plowed all day down in the meadow and in the afternoon father went down to bedlam and I chored around & grafted 2 trees over along the side hill of the meadow & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & warm the snow banks are beginning to look smaller.

Apr. 20 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father sowed the flat of the meadow & I dragged it & edd plowed in the meadow all day and in the afternoon I chored around & father orrie & annie went down to Mrs. Irvins funeral  and it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & warm to.  (At the bottom of this page written in fancy script is the following: “Don’t forget “Kiss me quick and go.”)

Apr. 21 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon edd finished plowing the meadow & commenced plowing over in the big field in the corner.  & father sowed the side hill in the meadow & I dragged it and in the afternoon I dragged some over the second time on the flat & father sowed some grass seed & cut some rail timber up in the woods along the long field & edd plowed over yonder & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & warm.

Apr. 22 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon I dragged up in the follow & father cut & split rail timber up along the woods & edd plowed over in the big field all day he finished the corner and in the afternoon father sowed the corner over in the big field with oats & I dragged it with one horse & edd went home at night and it is a nice warm day pretty cloudy looks some like rain.

Apr. 23 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father plowed over in the big field and I dragged up in the follow & I got done and in the afternoon I plowed over yonder & father & annie went down to argyle and in the forenoon we took took the wagon & brought over a load of hay from the hay barn & it is a nice pleasent day clear & quite warm.

Apr. 24 – I helped to do the chores and orrie annie & I went to church & we herd a sermon by mr Galbreath and his text was l John the l chapter & the 9 verse and father & emma stayed at home & kep house & the largest red heifer had a calf & it is a very windy day – clear & dry & dusty & a fire got a running up in uncle Daves follow into the fence and I went down awhile.

Apr. 25 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father & I drawed stone down in the follow on the side hill and in the afternoon father sowed some over in the big field & I dragged some & edd plowed all day over there and it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & quite warm to.

Apr. 26 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father sowed some over in the big field & I dragged it & then we drawed stone of from the follow and Willie Williamson & his mother Mrs. Tilford came up to help to paper and put on Whitening and edd plowed all day over in the big field and in the afternoon we plowed with 2 teams and I plowed with one that willie brought up here and father chored around and it is a pretty cloudy day warm rained a little & I sat a turkey hen with 15 eggs.

Apr. 27 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father sowed some oats over in the big field & I dragged them in & in the dragged some over there & then I marked out in the follow & father chored around & edd plowed all day over in the big field & it is a nice pleasent day pretty cloudy to warm.  & the little turkey hen commenced laying eggs on the last turkey or 4.

Apr. 28 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon edd finished plowing over in the big field & I begun to plant potatoes up in the follow & father helped some & marked out some & in the afternoon edd begun to plow up in the field by the woods & father sowed the rest of the big field with oats & I dragged some & it is a pretty cloudy in the forenoon rained a little cleared off warm.

Apr. 29 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon I finished dragging over in the big field & then father marked out in the follow & I finished planting potatoes in the follow & Edd plowed all day up back by the woods & in the afternoon father & I marked out up in the follow & begun to plant corn & it is a nice cool day some cloudy very windy.

 

Apr. 30 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon edd finished plowing up in the field by the woods & I marked out up in the follow & father planted corn up their and in the afternoon father & I planted corn up in the follow & edd marked out up in the field by the woods and at night I took Mrs. Tilford & edd down home to argyle & it is a pretty cool & windy & cloudy day.

 

(Notice:  Eliza hasn’t been mentioned much lately and sometimes the name Mary Jane  has appeared as though she is part of the household.  However, Eliza is mentioned later, but only occasionally.  Perhaps the girls were now old enough to handle the household duties by themselves.)

 

Sunday, May 1, 1881 – I helped to do the chores and father emma & I went to church & we herd a sermon by mr hood his text was Isiaiah the 45 chapter & the 9 verse and orrie & annie stayed at home & kep house and glen came over to church & stoped here when stoped here when he came back & Joe came up from mrs. McDougalls & it is a nice pleasent day some windy very dusty & dry.

May 2 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & I finished planting corn up in the follow on top of the hill & I marked out some up in the field by the woods & in the afternoon father & I planted potatoes up in the field by the woods & father & orrie went down to bedlam & edd plowed all day up in the Buckwheat field.  & it is a nice pleasent day some windy.  school begun.

May 3 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father & I planted potatoes in the field by the woods & in the afternoon we planted up their & finished marking out & edd plowed all day up in the field by Willie McEachrons & it is a nice pleasent day some warm but cold in the morning & I set a hen with 11 turkey eggs.

May 4 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon edd plowed up in the back field & we loaded up a small load of potatoes & planted some up back by the woods & in the afternoon father took the load of potatoes out to the fort he had on about 50 bu at 75 cents a bu and he took some apples & some dried apples & edd & I planted potatoes up in the field by the woods & it is a nice pleasent day warm & clear & dry.

May 5 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father sowed oats up in the Buckwheat field & I dragged & in the afternoon father & orrie & emma went down to John haggards funeral & then he finished sowing oats up their & I dragged some & planted some potatoes & edd finished plowing up there & he dragged awhile at night & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & warm.

May 6 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon edd finished dragging the field up back & father & I sowed the grass seed on it & then we cut potatoes it rained quite a lot & in the afternoon we cut some potatoes and edd drawed some manure up on the side hill & I planted some potatoes up in the field by the woods and it is a pretty cloudy day warm rained & father chored around.  at night edd & I went down to mr. orrs.

May 7 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I finished planting potatoes up in the field by the woods & in the afternoon I chored around and helped to draw dung & edd drawed manure up on the side hill most all day & father dragged mos all day up in the Buckwheat field & at night I went over to the mud lake but ditten get no fish & eliza came along & stoped & it is a nice pleasent day clear & warm the white face heifer had a calf.

May 8 – I helped to do the chores and father orrie annie & I went to church & we herd a sermon by mr hood his text was Hosea the 6 chapter & the 3 verse and emma & eliza stayed at home and kep house & it is a nice pleasent day pretty hot & clear.

May 9 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I finished dragging up in the Buckwheat field & father helped to load manure & chored around & in the afternoon father plowed the garden & planted some & fixed some fence around the garden I helped some & to load dung & edd drawed manure up on the side hill all day & it is a nice pleasent day clear & quite warm at night I went down to Barkley lake a fishing we had good luck.

May 10 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I helped to load dung & clean out stables & father put up crow twine up on top of the hill on the corn in the follow & edd drawed manure upon the side hill & in the afternoon ed plowed down in the follow on the side hill & we picked some stone on the field cross from the barn & I dragged some down in the follow & Uncle Alex & aunt kate came up awhile & it is a nice pleasent day very warm at night we had a thunder shower rained quite a lot.

May 11 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & I drawed stone down in the follow & in the afternoon I dragged some down there & then we both drawed stone down in the same place & edd plowed all day down in the follow in or on the side hill &

I had a hen came off with 10 young turkeys & it is a nice pleasant day very hot & pretty clear.

May 12 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon edd finished plowing up in the follow on the side hill and I dragged some & marked out some down their & father marked out some & begun to plant corn & in the afternoon father went out to the fort & took a load of potatoes and 3 barrels of apples & edd & I plant corn & marked out down on the side hill in the follow & it is a very hot day clear & sultry.  & eliza went with father to argyle or someplace.

May 13 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I finished planting corn down in the follow & father marked it out & helped to load up manure & edd drawed dung up on the side hill & in the afternoon edd begun to plow up on the side hill & father & I spred some dung & cleaned out some of the cellar & at night edd went home & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & cooler to.

May 14 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I plowed up on the side hill & father spred some dung & chored around & in the afternoon we drawed out some hog manure up there & then I plowed up there & father begun to drag some up in the same place & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & some cool but warm.

May 15 – I helped to do the chores & father orrie annie & I went to church & we herd a sermon by mr hood & his text was Revelation the 16 chapter & the 15 verse and emma stayed at home & kep house and it is a nice pleasant day some cloudy it rained a lot last night.

May 16 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father dragged some & spred some manure up on the side hill & in the afternoon father & emma went down to Bedlam & then father dragged & spred some manure up in the big field & I plowed most all day up in the big field & it is a nice pleasent day pretty cloudy & some cool it rained quite a lot last night & some through the day & edd has’nt come back this week yet.

 

 

May 17 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I plowed up in the big field & father dragged & spred manure up in the field & in the afternoon we both spred some manure & it rained quite a lot it is a pretty cloudy day some cool to windy & we got word from edd he has hired out to george Rouse after supper father went up to James Beatties & Bought 2 bulls at $25 both.

May 18 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & I dragged plowed & spred some manure up in the big field & in the afternoon I plowed some & father spred some manure & chored around & it rained quite a lot it is a pretty cloudy day some cool to.

May 19 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I plowed up in the big field & father marked out up there & in the afternoon father put up some crow twine down in follow & I plowed a little & it rained pretty hard most all afternoon pretty cloudy & some warm fine growing time now.

May 20 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I plowed up in the big field & father marked out some up there & split some rails pretty moist & in the afternoon I finished plowing up in the big field we are all done for now & I finished dragging up there & father marked out some & I did some to & it is a nice pleasent day pretty cloudy.

rained a very little & glenroy came over after his old wagon.

May 21 – I helped to do the chores & we planted potatoes all day about up in the big field in the forenoon uncle Dave & norman helped us & in the afternoon the captain helped us & father marked out some with the marker & it is a pretty cloudy day some warm rained alittle.

May 22 – I helped to do the chores & father emma & I went to church & we herd a sermon by mr hood & his text was the pslams the 141 & the 3 verse & orrie & annie stayed at home & kep house and it is a pretty cloudy day & cool to at night it cleared off pretty cool rained alittle.

May 23 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon uncle Dave Norman father & I planted potatoes up in the big field & in the afternoon William Black Norman father & I planted corn up in the same place & father marked it out & we got through planting corn & potatoes for a while & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & warm & I sat 13 eggs under a thurkey.

May 24 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & I went up to James Beatties & got 2 bulls that he bought before at $25 Both.  & then William Black & I washed the sheep down to *  McAuleys & father reached them in & we left 5 by a mistake & glenroy & Joe came over a visiting & in the afternoon father took a load of patotoes at 40 cts a bu 36 bu. & he got 2 barrels of flour & I visited & it is a very warm day pleasent to.

May 25 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & I hoed out the garden spot & split some rails up along the long field & in the afternoon we fixed some fence & split some rails up there & after supper we had a thunder shower it rained a lot it is a very warm day some cloudy but pretty clear.

May 26 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & I split rails up along the woods & fixed some fence & in the afternoon we fixed fence up along the long field or woods till supper time & then picked stone in the field cross from the barn & father hired Jim Lindsay $48 for 2 months & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm some cloudy to.

 

*can’t read first name  -  M-something

 

May 27 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we fixed fence up along the woods & in the afternoon we picked stone in the field cross from the barn till supper time & then father annie & The Captain went down to Bedlam & got a barrel of oil & some lead 200 pounds at 8 cts a lb. oil at 59 cts. a gal. & I chored around and it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm.

May 28 – (a Saturday, but written for Sunday) – I helped to do the chores and father orrie annie & I went to church & we herd a sermon by mr harsha & his text was in 3 different places & emma stayed at home & kep house & it is a nice pleasent day very warm to.

May 29 – (a Sunday, written for Saturday) I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we put up some oats and put up some crow twine up in the big field & chored around & in the afternoon we took some oats & rye out to the fort about 57 bu of oats & 10 of rye & I got a duster a pair of shoes & a neck tie and it is a pretty cloudy day some warm & the girls went over the granfathers and took the lamb over.

May 30 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we fixed fence up along the woods in the buckwheat field & split some rails & in the afternoon we begun to hoe potatoes & corn up in the follow & we had some very heavy thunder but no rain of any account & it is a nice pleasent some cloudy & quite warm & the Captain begun painting the other house where he lives.

May 31 – I helped to do the chores & we worked on the roads & at night we picked off some stone down along the road in the follow and at night James Lindsay the hired man came on & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & warm & I had a hen came of with 9 young turkeys.

 

Wednesday, June 1, 1881 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all worked on the road & in the afternoon Jim & I worked on the road & dunk & Levi sheared at the sheep & father done up the wool & after supper emma & I went down to Bedlam & it is a pretty cloudy day rained some some warm.

June 2 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I hoed corn & potatoes up in the follow &  duncan & Levi finished shearing the sheep 35 in all  & father done up the wool & helped to hoe some & in the afternoon we all hoed up in the follow & cultivated & it is a nice pleasent day some warm.

June 3 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all hoed & cultivated corn & potatoes & in the afternoon Jim & I hoed up in the follow & father orrie & emma went to church & we herd a sermon by mr hood & it is a pretty cool & cloudy day cool air.

June 4 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all hoed corn down in the follow along the road or side hill & in the afternoon orrie annie & I went to church & we herd a sermon by mr wiley & father & Jim hoed down in the follow & we finished it & Jim went away & it is a pretty cool day some cloudy & windy.

June 5 – I helped to do the chores & we all went to church & we herd a sermon by mr hood & it was sacrament sabbath & it is a pretty cool day & pretty cloudy & it rained a little.  it is a pretty cool now & has been cool for about a week back most, & mr hood’s text was first John the 4 chapter & the 10 verse.

June 6 – I helped to do the chores & we all hoed potatoes up in the field by the woods we hoed the biggest side about & it is a nice pleasent day pretty cool all day & clear to & we had quite a frost last night white.

June 7 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all hoed potatoes up in the field by the woods & in the afternoon we got done up there & after supper we hoed & cultivated down in the captain’s garden and it is a very cold day for summer & cloudy to, & at night Jim & I went up to James Beatties & John Armstrongs & got 2 corn planters.

June 8 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I planted beans down in the follow on the side hill & father split some rails up in the woods by McEachrons & in the afternoon we all split rails up in the same place & got done & after supper we dug out a spring up in the field & at night Jim & I took the planters home & it is a pretty day some warmer.

June 9 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all fixed fence up along the follow on top of the hill & in the afternoon we all drawed stone over in the swail in the big field & drawed some dirt from behind the house & it is a pretty cloudy day pretty cool in the morning & very smokey  19 years old*.

June 10 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all split rails & fixed some fence up along the woods in the meadow & in the afternoon we moved over hay up in the horse barn & hilled the garden spot & hoed some in the garden & weeded some to & it is a pretty cloudy day some rain pretty cool to.  I had a turkey come off with 11 young ones.

June 11 – I helped to do the chores & we all went over to glenroys a visiting & father orrie emma & I went on out to the fort & we took out some Butter & I got 2 pair of socks & a box of collars & I got my watch cleaned at argyle & we got home before sundown & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & pretty clear.  & Jim went off to Bedlam or some place.

June 12 – I helped to do the chores & orrie annie emma & I went to church & we herd a sermon by mr morris & his text was in first Peter the 4 chapter & they was one of the wheels got het or sat & we had to get a nother wagon we ditten get home till after 4 oclock & father started to meets us but ditten & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & warm.

June 13 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I hoed corn up in the big field and father went over to the church & got the wagon & in the afternoon we all hoed & cultivated up in the big field & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & warm to.

June 14 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all hoed & cultivated up in the big field & it came on rain about noon & in the afternoon we hoed & cultivated up in the same place most of the time & it rained most of the time for an hour or two some cool to.

June 15 – I helped to do the chores & we hoed & cultivated potatoes up in the big field till supper time & then father & Jim cut a tree or two up on the hill cross from the barn for rails & orrie emma & I went down to bedlam & at night Jim & healy went down to argyle.  & it is a pretty cool day some cloudy.

June 16 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father finished hoeing the potatoes up in the big field & split a few rails & Jim & I shoveled out corn & potatoes one way up in the follow & in the afternoon we all hilled corn & potatoes in the same place & father split some rails & it is a nice pleasent day pretty cool & windy.

 

*referring to his own birthday

 

June 17 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father took 2 calves down to No. argyle & Jim & I hilled corn & potatoes up in the follow & in the afternoon we all hilled corn & potatoes up in the follow & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & warm.

June 18 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father took the wool down to salem & brought Back some White lead & Jim & I finished hilling corn up on top of the follow & in the afternoon Jim & I shoveled out potatoes up in the field by the woods & father chored around at night Jim went down to Argyle & we all went over to granfathers awhile it is a pretty cloudy day & warm to.

June 19 – I helped to do the chores & father orrie & annie went to church and they herd a sermon by mr. hood and emma & I stayed at home and kep house and levi & healy was up awhile and it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & warm.  mr hood is a going to leave is the general talk now.

June 20 -  I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I shoveled out the rest of the potatoes up in the field by the woods and begun to hill potatoes up there & father put on some manure sheep on the corn up in the big field & in the afternoon Jim & I hilled up there & father put on some manure & hilled some & it is a pretty cloudy & cool day.   the captain painted the floor one cote.

June 21 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I hilled potatoes up in the field by the woods& father put some sheep manure on the corn & in the afternoon we all hilled potatoes up in the same place but I took emma over to granfathers & it is a pretty cloudy & cool day * & the captain painted the floor one more cote.

June 22 – I helped to do the chores and we all hilled potatoes up in the field by the woods & we got through at supper time & then Jim & I begun to plow out up in the big field & grandmother brought emma over home & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & warm.

June 23 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I plowed out one way up in the big field corn & potatoes & father sat a box in a spring up there & the captain begun to paint on the house he painted all day & in the afternoon I helped him to paint.  & father & Jim begun to hill the corn down in the follow on the side hill & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & warm.

June 24 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim hilled corn down in the follow & the captain & I painted on the house & father took out some Butter out to the fort & got some 2 by 4s & some oil & a bag of salt fine and in the afternoon Jim & I hilled corn down in the follow most of the time & the captain painted part of the time on the house & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm.

June 25 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & Jim finished hilling the corn down in the follow & in the afternoon Jim finished plowing out one way up in the big field & plowed out the captains garden on way & father chored around & at night he went down to Bedlam & Jim to argyle & the Captain & I painted on the house most all day & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm to.

June 26 – I helped to do the chores & we all went to church & we herd a sermon by mr hood & it rained some in the morning & it is a pretty cloudy day & pretty warm to some clear to.

 

*word unreadable

 

June 27 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim mowed with the machine in the field cross from the barn & father fixed  some & in the afternoon Jim mowed in the field cross from the barn & drawed a load or so of rails & father fixed fence & chored around & the captain & I painted all day on the house & it is a pretty cloudy day warm.  it begun to rain at night.

June 28 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all hilled the Captains garden & finished mowing the field cross from the barn by hand & in the afternoon the Captain painted on the house or piazza & I painted on the hog pen & Jim mowed the little meadow down by uncle Daves & the hill along the road in the lower follow & father mowed by hand in the same places & it rained a lot last night & begun at night again it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm & some cloudy to.

June 29 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & Jim begun to hill up in the big field potatoes & I painted on the hog pen & in the afternoon we all hilled up there till supper time & then we raked & cocked the hay in the field by the barn or cross & the Captain painted all day on the house & healy helped him some to & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm.  & it rained at night some.

June 30 – I helped to do the chores & father & Jim hilled potatoes up in the big field till supper time & I painted till that time & then we all went down in the little meadow & raked & cocked the hay & at night emma Jennie healy & I went down to Bedlam & got some paint & lead & Brought Mrs Connor the dress maker up & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy rained alittle the Captain painted all day on the wagon house.

 

 

Friday, July 1, 1881 – I went down to Saratoga Springs to a circus Barnum’s great show with some other Boys around here had a good time and had a ride on the cars for the first time liked it very much we started about sun rise from here & got home mid-night and father & Jim hilled potatoes up in the big field most all day and the captain painted on the house & stoup & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy.

July 2 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon Jim & I hilled potatoes up in the big field & Jim & father drawed in hay from the field cross from the barn & I finished hilling potatoes all but a part of a row & in the hay all of it from the field cross from the barn & the piece down in the lower follow along the road & part of the little meadow & I raked the tailings & the captain painted all day on the house & stoup & Jim went down to argyle at night.  & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & warm & warmer corn weather now.

July 3 – I helped to do the chores & we all went to church & we herd a sermon by mr hood & his text was the acts the 3 chapter & the 19 verse & it is a nice pleasent day and it is a quite a warm day pretty warm.  Just what we want.

July 4 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & I drawed up the rest of the hay from down in the little meadow l load & then we put on poison on the potatoes up in the follow & in the afternoon we all went down to argyle & the soldiers & band played & marched & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & warm to.

July 5 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & I put pairis green on the potatoes in the field by the woods & in the afternoon I begun to mow with the machine over in the meadow by the hay barn & father mowed some by hand & the Captain painted the tin roof & at (all) the blinds all day & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & pretty warm to.

July 6 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & Jim hilled corn up in the big field & I mowed with the machine over in the meadow by the hay barn.  & in the afternoon Jim finished mowing over in the meadow & I raked in the meadow & father mowed some by hand over there & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm some cloudy.

July 7 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all hilled corn awhile & then Jim mowed some over in the big field with the machine & father mowed some by hand over there & I helped to paint some & in the afternoon we raked finished mowing with machine over there & drawed 6 loads of hay started a stack over in the meadow & I cocked some on the big field & the Captain painted most all day some on house & wagon house & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy at night pretty  warm hot to.

July 8 – In the forenoon we hilled corn up in the big field & we got all done hilling & in the afternoon we drawed & raked hay over yonder & finished the stack & we got all done but one load and it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & hot and I helped to do the chores.

July 9 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I cradled rye up above the house & father taped our boots and in the afternoon we drawed in the rest of the hay from over yonder l load & then Jim & I cut rye & father bound some at night Jim went down to argyle & the girls & I went down to Bedlam & I got 2 rakes & l sythe & it is a nice pleasent day very warm.

July 10 – I helped to do the chores & orrie & I went to church and we herd a sermon by mr hood & father emma & annie stayed at home & kep house & it is a nice pleasent day very warm 90 in the shade it is pretty dry now & dusty.

July 11 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all cut & bound rye up on the side hill above the house & in the afternoon father bound & stouped up & Jim & I finished  cutting up on the big hill & then we helped to bind & it is a pretty cloudy day but very warm it rained a little.

July 12 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father finished binding rye up on the side hill & mowed some around the fence up on top of the hill in the meadow & Jim begun to cut rye down in the lower follow & in the afternoon father bound rye & Jim cradled down in the follow till supper time & then Jim raked hay up in the flat meadow & father mowed some around the fences & sat up some rye on the side hill & I mowed most all day with the machine up on top of the meadow & hill.  it is a nice pleaseant day pretty hot to clear.

July 13 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I finished mowing up in the meadow & Jim cut rye down in the lower follow & I helped some to & father bound down there & in the afternoon we raked & drawed hay from up in the meadow 7 loads & it is a pretty hot day it rained some in the morning some cloudy & windy to.

July 14 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I finished cradleing rye down in the lower follow all done & father bound rye in the same place & in the afternoon we raked & finished drawing in the hay up in the meadow on top of the hill & after supper Jim mowed the swail down in the meadow with machine I mowed some by hand & father sat up some rye & the girls went down to Bedlam & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy but hot.
July 15 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all raked & bound rye down in the lower follow a while & father finished binding it & Jim & I put on some pairis green on the potatoes up in the field by the woods & in the afternoon we raked & drawed in the hay in the swail down in the meadow 5 loads at night orrie annie & father went over to granfathers & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & hot.

July 16 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & Jim mowed the Captains piece & I finished putting on pairis green on the potatoes up in the field by the woods & in the afternoon we drawed in some rye & then it came up a shower & Jim cut some weeds down the road & at night Jim & I went down to argyle & it is a pretty warm day rained some in the afternoon & at night.

July 17 – I helped to do the chores and we all went to church & we herd a sermon by Mr Willard McEachron & his text was Romans the 5 chapter from the l verse & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & windy cooler after the rain.

July 18 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & Jim drawed in rye they drawed all of it up above the house & begun drawed at the rye down in the lower follow & in the afternoon father & Jim mowed some over in the big swail & I raked tailings of rye in the field above the house & I helped to onload the rye & it is a pretty cloudy day some rain & cooler.

July 19 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & Jim mowed over in the big swail & I finished rakeing the rye tailings up on the side hill above the house & then I spred hay over in the swail & in the afternoon we drawed rye from the lower follow & drawed the Captains hay 2 loads & it is a pretty cloudy day some warm & clear at night I went down & played Ball we go down about every night –fun.

 

July 20 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & Jim drawed in the rest of the rye & then Jim put on pairis green on the potatoes up in the big field & father chored around & I raked the rye tailings down in the follow & put on some poison & in the afternoon we drawed in the rye tailings 3 loads in both fields & the hay over in the big swail 2 loads & it is a nice pleasent day, some cloudy & warm.

July 21 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & Jim mowed the little meadow & tried to mow some with the machine & bent the knifes & cutter bar in bad shape I spred most of it and in the afternoon father chored around & went up & turned the hay & Jim & I  put on some poison up in the big field & thrashed tailings & Ashley came out after the Bull & speckle cow & took some lambs & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & warm to.

July 22 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & Jim mowed the swail over in the further end of the big field & I thrashed rye tailings & Jim helped some & in the afternoon Jim & I thrashed some & then we all drawed the hay that was up in the little meadow 2 loads & then we drawed l small load of that swail over yonder & cocked the rest of it up & it is a nice pleasent day pretty cloudy rained a little.

July 23 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I finished thrashing the rye tailings & begun to cradle oats in the orchard & father & annie went down to Bedlam & in the afternoon Jim & I finished cutting oats in the orchard & thrashed some rye

8 Dozens.  & father cut weeds around the fences & it is a nice pleasent day pretty hot & clear at night Jim went down to Argyle & I went down to Bedlam with harvey McNeil.

July 24 – I helped to do the chores and they was no meeting over to our church & father emma & annie went down to Argyle to church & they herd a sermon by mr Cain & orrie & I stayed at home & kep house & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & hot.

July 25 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I cradled oats down in the meadow & father took a load of straw out to the fort 2020 lbs at $15. a ton and in the afternoon Jim & I cut some oats & thrashed some rye & father cut some weeds & at night Norman & I went down to Bedlam to a show it rained hard & it is a nice warm day pretty cloudy & we had 4 or 5 thunder showers in the afternoon & at night a lot of sharp lightening.

July 26 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I thrashed rye & father cut some weeds around the fences & in the afternoon Jim went down to argyle & father & I thrashed some rye & cut some oats down in the meadow & chored around & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy.

July 27 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & I thrashed rye & loaded up a load of straw & in the afternoon father took the load of straw out to the fort & he had on 2050 lbs. at $15. a ton and Jim & I finished cutting the oats down in the meadow & put some poison on the potatoes up in the follow & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & pretty warm & Jim ditten come back till noon.

July 28 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I put pairis green on the potatoes up in the big field & father drawed up the water & then we drawed in l load of oats from down in the meadow & in the afternoon we all drawed in the oats that was in the orchard 4 loads & 3 loads from down in the meadow & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm at night Jim & I went over to the mud lake.

 

 

July 29 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I cut oats over in the big field in the corner & father chored around & Ashley came out & got a calf & in the afternoon we drawed in 2 loads of oats from down in the meadow & drawed the load of hay that was over in the swail in big field it rained Jim & I cut some in the afternoon in the big field after supper the girls went down to argyle & at night granfather & grandmother came over a while & it is a nice pleasent day very hot 90 & it rained some to.

July 30 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I cut oats over in the big field & father chored around & in the afternoon we drawed in the oats down in the meadow

5 loads & at night Jim went down to argyle & I went down to Bedlam & it is a nice pleasent day pretty hot & some clear. orrrie & Emmna went up to John Robisons.

July 31 – I helped to do the chores & we all went to church & we herd a sermon by mr hood & his test was Proverbs the 14 chapter & the 32 verse & glenroy & Everett came over to church & stoped for awhile & took dinner & Joe stoped down to Mrs McDougalls & it is a nice pleasent day pretty hot & clear.

 

Monday, August 1, 1881 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Levi & Jim cut oats over in the big field & I cut oats to & raked the rest of the tailings down in the meadow & father chored around & cut a few oats & in the afternoon we all drawed in the oats over in the corner of the big field 4 loads & then Jim levi & I finished cradling oats over in the big field & glenroy came over & got his cradle & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm.

Aug. 2 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim Levi & I begun cradleing up in the field by McEachrons & father chored around & in the afternoon we all drawed in oats over in the big field 5 loads till supper time & Jim Levi & I cut oats up in the back field by McE’s & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & pretty warm.

Aug. 3 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim Levi & I finished cradleing oats up in the back field all done cutting for now & father chored around & in the afternoon we all drawed in oats over in the big field 7 loads & it is a nice pleasent day very clear & very hot offle hot.

Aug. 4 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father Jim & levi drawed oats over in the big field 4 loads & they got all done there & I raked the tailings & raked some oats by hand & in the afternoon we all drawed oats up in the back field by McE’s 3 loads they are very light.  & it is a pretty clear day & very hot over 90 in shade & Jim’s time is up or out.

Aug. 5 -  I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Levi father & I drawed oats up in the back field by McE’s 3 loads & we got done all done harvesting for now & in the afternoon orrie Emma & I went down to Bains to  libbie McDougalls funeral & then we went to argyle & it is a nice clear day very hot over 90 in shade & Jim went away in the morning for awhile & Maybe for good.

Aug. 6 – I helped to do the chores & in the morning I went over to Granfathers & helped him most of the day to draw in oats & in the forenoon father drawed rails from up Back to up along the orchard to make new fence & in the afternoon they all came over there a visiting & I came home with them & it is a pretty clear & very hot day pretty hot now at night we had a heavy thunder shower it rained a lot.

Aug. 7 – I helped to do the chores & it rained very hard till noon are (all) afternoon awhile & we all stayed at home & kep house & it rained a lot some cooler it cleared of about in the afternoon.

Aug. 8 -  …”I went over to granfathers & helped him to cut the rest of his oats & we drawed in 2 loads & father drawed rails from different places to make fence up along the orchard & he built most of it…

Aug. 9 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we finished the fence up along the orchard & then we drawed manure over back in the big meadow by the Hay barn rest of the day.  & in the afternoon Mary Jane, orrie & emma went down to Bedlam & it is a pretty cloudy day some warm.

Aug. 10 – I helped to do the chores & we drawed manure most all day over yonder in the big field or meadow & after supper I went down the road & ditten do much Norman was up in the forenoon awhile & glenroy & Everett was along & stoped after-noon awhile & took a lunch & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy and cool.

Aug. 11 -  I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we drawed the dung over in under the shed at the hay barn on the meadow & then we cleaned up the tailings of oats & the peas & in the afternoon I played Ball with the rest of the boys around here down to the school house & father chored around & tore & red up the fence around the house to plow and scrape.  & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm.

Aug. 12 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we plowed & scraped between the house & hog-pen & leveled up & in the afternoon we did the same till supper time then Levi & I went down to argyle & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & warm some windy.

Aug. 13 – I helped to do the chores & in the morning we leveled up some back of the house end to.  then they all went down to Bedlam to uncle Alexs a visiting & ditten get back till night & in the afternoon the Bedlam Boys came up & played us Boys a game of  Ball & I played - score Bedlam 26 & Goose Island 11 & it is a nice day pretty cloudy.

Aug. 14 – I helped to do the chores & we all went to church & we herd a sermon by mr hood & his text was Phillipines the l chapter & the 27 verse & it is his last sermon here he is agoing to leave & it is a nice cool day pretty cloudy some windy.

Aug. 15 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I begun plowing for rye over in the big field in the corner & father chored around and in the afternoon I plowed over there till supper time & father cut brush & it is a nice pleasent day pretty cloudy some windy & cool to.

Aug. 16 – I helped to do the chores & I plowed till supper time & then the girls Jennie & I went over to glenroys & in the forenoon father cut brush & in the afternoon he sowed the corner with rye over in the big field & dragged at it with the old mare & it is a pretty cloudy day some warm & cool nights.

Aug. 17 – I helped to do the chores & Willie McEachron came here to thrash oats with the machine over in the hay barn & levi & Norman helped us & we thrashed about

175 bu & it is a nice pleasent day pretty cloudy some warm.

Aug. 18 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all thrashed oats over to the little hay barn & we got done Just about 314 bu all together & in Levi father & I put the straw back in the barn & brought one load over to the house & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy pretty warm to.

Aug. 19 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I plowed over in the big field for rye & father dragged over in the corner & sowed the grass seed & in the afternoon I went down to school it was the last day of school us boys played ball the school teacher her sister & Jennie Madison stoped & took supper & father dragged over in the corner & after supper I plowed & it is a pretty cloudy day warm & rained some.

Aug. 20 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I plowed over in the big field for rye & father fixed fence up along the little meadow & in the afternoon father plowed over in the big field & the girls went over to granfathers  & got some long black berries & us boys played a match game of Base Ball with the north argyle Boys down to the school house & the score was N.A.24  G.I. 8. & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm & some cloudy.

Aug. 21 – I helped to do the chores & they was no meeting over to our church & we ditten go to any other meeting & so we all stayed at home & kep house & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm it rained some last night or in the morning but it cleared off.

Aug. 22 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I plowed over in the big field for rye & uncle tom H came over & made a wagon box & father finished dragging over in the corner & chored around & in the afternoon father went down to Bedlam & got some nails & then I plowed over in the big field & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & warm & at night uncle tom H & I went over to Andrew Reynolds.

Aug. 23 – I helped to do the chores & I plowed most all day over in the big field & father & uncle tom H worked at one thing & a nother all day & at night uncle Tom H went home & the Captain painted all day on the horse barn & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm with cool nights & some cloudy.

Aug. 24 – I helped to do the chores & I plowed most all day over in the big field & the Captain painted all day on the horse barn & in the forenoon father & emma drove one horse out to the fort & took some Butter at 22 cts a lb & in the afternoon he chored around.  & it is a nice pleasent day some cool & clear.

Aug. 25 – I helped to do the chores & we all went down to argyle to the soldiers reunion had a good time & they was a lot there & the Captain painted awhile & fell of a ladder & got hurt pretty bad & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & warm & very dusty to.

Aug. 26 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I plowed over in the big field & father cut * around & in the afternoon father plowed till supper time & I painted some on the horse barn & then I plowed over in the big field & got done & it is a very clear & warm dry day.

Aug. 27 – I helped to do the chores & glenroy & Joe came overf here & father the girls & Joe & glen all went over to uncle edd. Rogers a visiting & they ditten get back till night & it is a nice pleasant day pretty clear warm & dusty & in the forenoon I chored around & in the afternoon us boys went down to Bedlam & played a match game of Base ball with the West Hebron boys score was W.H. 44   G.I. 14.  heat again & I am not very well.

Aug. 28 – I helped to do the chores & father orrie & emma went down to North Argyle to church & they herd a sermon by mr Hemming & annie & I stayed at home & kep house & it is a nice pleasent day very clear & warm & very dry & dusty & I am not very well.

 

*word unreadable

 

Aug. 29 – In the forenoon Billy McCane & father plowed & scraped in front of the house to make a wall & father drawed stone & I am sick & the doctor was going by & he stopped & gave me some powder & it is a nice pleasent day very clear & warm.  In the forenoon father went over to Joe Lindsays & hired Jim for about $20. a month.*

Aug. 30 – I am not so well to day father went down after the doctor in the afternoon & he came up about five o’clock. & Jim Lindsay came on to work & Billy laid wall all day & father & Jim drawed stone.  & they got done & leveled up some in front of the house.  & father ain’t very well & it is a nice clear day, very warm & dusty.

Aug. 31 – I am not much better the doctor was up this morning & called again at night & in the forenoon father & Jim went down to uncle David’s & got some rye straw & Jim began to cut corn over in the follow on top of the hill & Mamie & Willie Rogers came over & stayed most all day & in the afternoon father went over after grandmother & brought her over & she stayed all night.  & Jim cut corn in the follow.  & it is a nice pleasant day warm clear & awful dusty.

 

Thursday, September 1, 1881 – **I’m a little better to day the doctor was up in the afternoon & in the forenoon in the morning grandfather came over to see me & grandmother went back with him he ‘aint very well & Jim cut corn in the follow & father is some better & in the afternoon father & Jim worked on the road until supper time, & then Jim cut corn in the follow & Orrie & Emma went down to West Hebron & got some crackers fore me & it is a very hot day 98 in the shade fearful smokey & at night Joe & Glen came over to see me.

Sept. 2 – I am getting some better now I sat up some the doctor was’nt here & father Jim & Levi cleaned over the oats that was in the barn on the floor about 300 bushel & they got through about supper time & it rained most all forenoon & it rained hard part of the night & at night Emma & Annie went over to grandfathers to see how he was he is no better, & stayed all night the weather is some cooler.

Sept. 3 - ***I am getting Better now slowly the Doctor was along & stoped & in the forenoon father went up to Belcher & got some wine for me & the girls came over home & Jim thrashed rye & in the afternoon Jim went over home & ditten work & father chored around & it is a pretty cloudy day looks like rain some cooler at night emma went down to uncle Daves & sat up.  Norm & Cara is sick.

Sept. 4 – I am getting Better & in the forenoon father orrie & annie went over to Mrs. Kinneys funeral & Joe & glen was over there & they came over here & stayed awhile & they was no meeting over to our church I guess & it is a pretty cloudy day some cool to.

Sept. 5 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim thrashed rye & father helped him some & I am getting Better & in the afternoon father & Jim cut corn up in the follow I cut a very little & chored around alittle & after supper emma & I went down to argyle I got the mail & it is a pretty cloudy day rained a lot in the morning & last night it cleared of at night some warmer.

 

*this day’s entry and the next 2 were obviously written by one of his sisters while he was sick.  The script is very graceful and feminine.

**for the next 2 days the handwriting is again different, perhaps a younger sister since the writing is not as fancy as the 2 days before

***now in his own handwriting

 

Sept. 6 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father sowed part of the rye over in the big field & he dragged till he got what rye sowed that he had out & Jim cut corn up on top of the hill in the follow he got done just about & in the afternoon Jim finished dragging the rye in & father sowed the rest of the rye & sowed the grass seed over in the big piece we only sowed about 7 acres left about 2.  I am not quite so well.  it is a warm day cloudy the sky looked very yellow & smokey.

Sept. 7 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & Jim dug the early Beautys that was up in the follow they was about  * bu & I helped to part of the time & in the afternoon we husked corn up in the follow begun & I am about well & feel pretty well & it is a nice pleasent day very warm over 90 in the shade pretty smokey to, & at night Jim went over home.

Sept. 8 – I helped to do the chores & we all went out to the County fair between fort Edward & sandy Hill we started about 7 o clock & got home about 7 & we had a good time & emma went with Charles McGeoch & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm some cloudy & cool to in the morning.

Sept. 9 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all husked corn up in the follow & it came on rain about ll o’clock & quit about 2 o’clock & we measured up the rye & bored a pair of bar posts & then in the afternoon we all husked corn up in the follow & it is a pretty warm & cloudy day clear; some.

Sept. 10 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father took a load of rye & potatoes out to the fort he hard on 35 bu of rye at 92 cts a bu. & 17 bu of potatoes at 55 cts a bu & Jim & I husked corn up in the follow & in the afternoon Jim & I cut corn on the side hill down in the follow & it is a pretty cloudy day rained a little & it is pretty warm to at night Jim went down to argyle.

Sept. 11 – I helped to do the chores & father orrie & annie went to church & wear they herd a sermon by Willard McEachron & his text was in Luke the 2 chapter & the 10 & 11 verses & emma & I stayed at home & kep house & it is a pretty cloudy day, some warm & it rained a little.

Sept.  12 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all husked corn up in the follow & in the afternoon Jim & I cut corn on the side hill in the follow & father drawed a small load of pumpkins & 2 loads of old wood & bark to the hog pen & it is a nice pleasent day some cool & pretty clear to at night abot 8 ½ & 9 o’clock we had a large streek of light across the sky or seen it.

Sept. 13 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I husked corn up in the follow & father annie & emma went out to the fort & took some butter at 25 cts. a lb. & got a barrel of flour at $8.25 & in the afternoon Jim & I finished cutting corn on the side hill in the follow & then father & us husked up in the follow & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear cool nights & hot days.

Sept. 14 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I husked corn up in the follow & father sowed some grass seed & we all drawed l load of husked corn from the follow & in the afternoon Jim & I drawed 3 loads of husked corn & the poor & father husked some & helped us load up there & at night Jim went down to argyle & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm & they was 160 bu of corn about.

 

*probably left this blank to fill in the number later

 

Sept. 15 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & I went down to Bedlam to the fair & father came back & took the girls down to Bedlam to the fair & I stay all of the time & they was a lot there & we had a good time & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & dusty to.

Sept. 16 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we chored around & drawed a load of pumpkins from up in the follow & in the afternoon we all went down to Bedlam to the Fair & we had a good time & I stayed awhile at night & came home with harve McNeil & it is a nice pleasent day very clear & some warm.

Sept.  17 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we husked corn up on top of the hill in the follow & drawed in what husked corn that they was up there l load & in the afternoon we dug about 16 bu of potatoes sixes over back in the follow & then father chored around & I went down to the meadow & seen the boys play a game of ball with Belcher boys  the score was B. 8 & G.I. 15.  beat once*.  & it is a nice pleasent day very clear & warm.

 Sept. 18 – I helped to do the chores and we all went to church & we herd a sermon by Willard McEachron & his text was the Romans 8 chapter & the last clause of the 9 verse & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & warm to & dry or dusty & Jim came back at night.

Sept. 19 – (at the top of the page is written in beautifully scripted capital letters: 

“Com. E. S.  After Dark”) – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all dug potatoes up in the follow about 40 bu & in the afternoon we drawed in the rest of the corn in the stalk that was up on top of the hill in the follow 2 loads & then we cut corn up in the big field & it is a nice day pretty cloudy & warm to.

 

 (And at the bottom of the page in large printed letters “Harvey Williamson”.  It must have indicated a special something happened that day).

 

 

Sept. 20 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all dug sixes potatoes up in the follow & they was about 45 bu & it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear & warm & smokey & in the afternoon father & annie went down to Bedlam & got a potatoe hook & I got one the other night and then they went up to the church to a meeting they made out a call for Willard McEachron**  & Jim & I cut corn up in the big field & Jim is not very well.

Sept. 21 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we dug potatoes up in the follow & we got done up there & they was about 35 bu. & in the afternoon Jim & I cut corn up the big field & father cut some & Ashley came out & got the heifer at $30.  & it is a nice pleasent day some cooler & granfather came over awhile.

Sept. 22 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all*** dug potatoes up in the big field & in the afternoon we finished cutting corn up in the big field & then we dug potatoes up there till night & they was about 48 bu. sixes & it is a nice pleasent day & some cloudy & at night we had a thunder shower but hasent rained much at the present writeing.

 

*this probably means they won one game

**this probably means that he was called to be their pastor

***perhaps he means the girls, too, because when the men do a job he usually mentions them all by name; work that the girls do is seldom mentioned.

 

Sept. 23 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all dug potatoes sixes up in the big field about 20 bu very light crop & in the afternoon we had a thunder shower then we husked corn in the barn.  then we went up in the back field & begun digging potatoes then we had a nother thunder shower.  then we husked some in the barn & orrie & annie went over to granfathers & stayed all night & it is a pretty warm day some cloudy & rained a lot it rained most all last night I guess & at night Jim went over to his Brother Johns.

Sept. 24 –  I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all dug potatoes up in the back field till it came on rain we got about 32 bu. & then we husked corn in the barn & they got done I helped some & I am not very well & it is a pretty cloudy day rained some & cleared off about night.  at night Jim went down to argyle.

Sept. 25 – I am not much Better I layed around most of the day.  they was no meeting over to our church & we ditten go to any other meeting & so we all stayed at home & kep house & it is a pretty cloudy day & warm to.

Sept. 26 - * I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we red out the barn & pulled at the beans in the follow on the side hill & in the afternoon we finished pulling beans down there.  Then we dug sixes potatoes up in the big field about 12 bu. & it is a nice pleasant day very warm.  & I was feeling better until night I was taken worse a severe pain in the bowels.

Sept. 27 – I am pretty sick.  I put in a hard night last night a pain in the bowels about all night.  Jim went after the doctor about midnight he calls it information** of the bowels

And father did’ent do much all day he is’ent feeling very well and Jim dug potatoes up in the big field most all day about 24 bu and at night he went home and in the afternoon Orrie went over after Granmother and she came and stayed all night and I am a little better and the doctor came at night pretty cloudy rained some but dreadful warm.

Sept. 28 – I am not much better and Grandfather came over in the morning to see me and took Grandmother home and the doctor came up about 10 o’clock and in the forenoon father went up to Belcher (and got some wine and then down to bedlam and got some ice and lemons. and groceries and in the afternoon he drawed a load of pumpkins and choired around and he is some better & it is a nice pleasant day we had a shower in the afternoon it rained quite a lot) & at night Mary Jane came down & set up with me & Jim came home at night.

Sept. 29 – I am not much better  The doctor came up in the forenoon & grandfather came over to see how I was.  And in the forenoon father & Jim dug sixes potatoes up in the big field about 24 bu & in the afternoo they both dug potatoes in the same field about 22 bu & it is a pretty cloudy day rained part of the afternoon.

 

 

 

*this day’s entry and the writings for the rest of September were written by one of the girls who wrote when he was sick the last time.

**inflammation

( ) within these brackets the writing was different, more child-like

 

 

Sept. 30 – I am about the same, little better the doctor came up in the forenoon & grandmother came over & Orrie went over & stayed in her place & in the forenoon father & Jim finished digging sixes potatoes up in the big field about 20 bu & in the afternoon they dug up in the upper field about 25 bu & it is a nice pleasant day very warm.

 

Notice; there is no longer any mention of anyone else living at the home as care-giver or house-keeper.  Apparently the girls are now tending to all the household duties.  We should remember that they had no modern conveniences – not even electricity or running water.  Remember also that in 1881, the oldest girl Emma was only 18 years old.

 

Saturday, October 1, 1881 – I am getting some better I sat up part of the day & the Doctor came up to see me in the forenoon & father & Jim dug sixes potatoes up in the back field about 26 bu & in the afternoon they dug up in the same place about 24 bu & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & warm.

Oct. 2 – I am getting Better the Doctor came up to see me.  I sat up part of the day and Joe & glenroy came over to see me.  & uncle Alex came up to see me.  & uncle Tom H & Carrie came over to see me they stayed for dinner.  & father annie emma & a nother girl started to go over to our church to meeting & they was’nt any so they went up to Belcher meeting & it is a pretty cloudy day rained some & some cooler.  & in the morning granfather came over to see me.

Oct. 3 – I am getting Better was up around. all day was out around a little ditten feel quite so well at night & in the forenoon father & Jim dug potatoes up in the back field & in the afternoon they picked them up & dug some more up there & they was about 40 bu & it is a pretty cloudy day some cool to rained a little in the morning. some clear.

Oct. 4 – I helped to do the chores & I am getting pretty well but don’t do hardly anything & in the forenoon father & Jim dug potatoes up in the back field about 28 bu & in the afternoon they begun to pick apples in the orchard about 10 Barrels & annie emma & I went down to Bedlam & it is a nice day some cloudy & windy & got pretty cold at night.

Oct. 5 –  (Notation at the top of the page “First frost Hard to)  I helped to do the chores &

I am getting pretty well & in the forenoon father & Jim drawed the stalks up in the follow & stacked them up on top of the hill west of the follow & drawed l load of corn in the stalk from the side hill down in the follow I ditten do much.  & in the afternoon they dug potatoes up in the back field about 50 bu pretty good & chored around & it is a pretty cold day for the time of year some cloudy & very windy we had a frost last night it frooze  quite a little.

Oct. 6 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & Jim drawed in the corn down in the follow on the side hill all but one load & I helped some & in the afternoon father picked apples up in the orchard and they drawed in the load of corn & Jim dug potatoes up in the back field 26 bu & I helped him some & chored around & I am about well again & it is a nice cool day pretty cloudy & it froze last quite alittle & a white frost.

Oct.  7 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon Jim & I dug potatoes up in the back field about 27 bu & father picked apples & in the afternoon Jim & I dug potatoes up in the back field about 27 bu & father picked apples he picked up a load of wind falls at night they loaded them up and it is a nice pleasent day & warmer to.

 

 

Oct. 8 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father took a load of apples wind-

falls he got about $1 a barrel for them & Jim & I dug potatoes up in the back field about 28 bu.  & in the afternoon Jim husked corn in the barn & I took out some pumpkin seeds chored around & helped to husk some & at night Jim went down to argyle & it is a pretty cloudy day rained some pretty warm.

Oct. 9 – I helped to do the chores & father emma & orrie went down to argyle & they herd a sermon by mr Cain & annie & I stayed at home & kep house & they was no meeting over to our church.  & it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & pretty warm to.

Oct. 10 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim went down to uncle Daves to help him to kill his pigs & father picked apples & I helped some & took out some pumpkin seeds & in the afternoon we all dug potatoes sixes up in the upper field about

42 bushels & it is a pretty cloudy day and cool to in the afternoon windy to.

Oct. 11 – I helped to do the chores & we all dug potatoes up in the back field all day we got about 100 bushels pretty good & father & Jim husked some corn in the morning & at night we went down to school meeting Wm. McEachron Trustee & Willis Boyd collector and it is a nice pleasent day clear & some warm but pretty cool in the morning froze Some.

Oct. 12 – I  helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we or Jim & I dug potatoes up in the back field & father picked some apples & Brought up the wagon & we all picked up a load & in the afternoon we finished digging up there about 75 bu & then father & Jim husked some & I took out some seeds but we all picked the cider apples about 14 bu & it is a pretty cloudy day rained a little & it is very windy.

Oct. 13 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all husked corn in the barn most of the time & in the afternoon we begun to dig potatoes up in the big field burbanks about 26 bu & emma & orrie drove the old mare down to Hugh Lants.  and it is a pretty cloudy day rained some quite a shower at night. warmer.

Oct. 14 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all dug potatoes burbanks up in the big field about 35 bu & in the afternoon father took a load out to the fort about 43 bu & Jim & I dug up in the big field about 23 bu & it is a nice pleasent day some cool but cold air frooze some in the morning he got 80 cents a bu.

Oct. 15 -  I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all husked corn in the barn it rained most all of the time & in the afternoon father took the cider apples & a grist down to Bedlam & he got the cider home. 1 barrel full.  & it is a pretty cloudy day rained a lot at night Jim went down to argyle & Jim & I husked corn in the barn.

Oct. 16 – I helped to do the chores & we all went to church & we herd a sermon by a man by the name of mr Steward from off.  & his text was Luke the 23 chapter & the 42 & 43 verses & it is a nice pleasent day warmer.

Oct. 17 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we dug potatoes up in the big field & father drawed a load of pumpkins and we dug about 40 bu & in the afternoon father took a load of potatoes out to the fort 46 bu at 81 cents a bu & Jim & I dug up in the same place & we got about 18 bu & we took out some seeds & it is a nice warm day but very cloudy.

 

Oct. 18 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we husked corn in the barn most of the time & in the afternoon we carried the corn down in the corn house & stacked the stalks & finished husking the corn in the barn granfather came over & got 2 pigs at 4 dollars a piece & it rained hard most of the day not so much in the afternoon cloudy warm to.

Oct. 19 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father took a load of potatoes (burbanks) & he had on about 53 bu at 81 cts a bu & Jim & I dug up in the big field and we got done they was about 80 bu we are all done now & in the afternoon we all drawed some pumpkins from down in the follow & 2 loads of corn from up in the big field in the barn & it is a nice pleasent day some cool.

Oct. 20 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father took a load of potatoes out to the fort 52 bu at 76 cents a bu for sixes & Jim & I husked corn in the barn & in the afternoon we all drawed the rest of the pumpkins down in the follow & 2 loads of corn up in the big field to the barn & emma went out part way to the fort with father & eliza* came home with them & it is a nice pleasent day warm & some cloudy.  at night Jim & I went down to Bedlam. 

Oct. 21 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father took a load of sixes out to the fort about 53 bu & Jim & I husked corn in the barn & in the afternoon Jim & I husked corn awhile & then we all drawed the corn over to the house & stacked the stalks & the Captain & frank Marvin painted all day on the out buildings & it is a nice plasent day warm & clear to.

Oct. 22 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father & annie went out to the fort with a load of potatoes about 54 bu & it is a nice pleasent day warm nice weather now & Jim & I husked corn & in the afternoon Jim went away & I took out some seeds & then father & I drawed 22 loads of corn in the barn from up in the big field & the captain & frank marvin painted all day on the out buildings.

Oct. 23 – I helped to do the chores & father eliza annie & I went to church & we herd a sermon by mr Steward & his text was the 2 timothy the 3 chapter & the 16 verse & it is a nice pleasent day nice & warm some cloudy & emma & orrie stayed at home & kep house & glenroy came over to church & stoped & took dinner when he came back.

Oct. 24 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we or father & I husked some corn & loaded up a load of apples & in the afternoon father took a load of apples out to the fort at 2 Dollars a Barrel & I chored around & it is a pretty cloudy day rained some in the morning warm to.  & Jim has not come back yet.

Oct. 25 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father took a load of apples out to the fort 11 barrels & I husked some corn & in the afternoon I took out some seeds & husked corn & at night Jim got around & he went down to Bedlam & it is a nice warm day pretty cloudy to rained a little.

Oct. 26 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we all husked corn awhile & then we red out the barn drawed the corn over in the wagon house & stacked the stalks & drawed 2 loads of pumpkins from up in the big field & in the afternoon we finished drawing the pumpkins up their & drawed 3 loads of corn from up there into the barn & it is a nice pleasent day clear some windy & pretty cool, colder now.

 

 

*Is Eliza back, or just visiting?

 

Oct. 27 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we finished drawing in the corn up in the big field 2 small loads & then we load up a load of potatoes & I took them out to the fort 52 bu & emma & orrie went with me part way they went over to glenroys to stay till Saturday & I got a pair of Boots at $3.50 a cap, shirts, drawers, gloves etc.  & in the afternoon father & Jim cut wood up in the woods by McEachrons & the Captain painted & it is a nice pleasent day some warm cold in the morning frooze pretty hard last night.

Oct. 28 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I choped up in the woods by McEachrons & father went around collecting the Salary money & in the afternoon Jim choped up in the same place & father & I chored around & I went up & choped awhile & father put on part of a load of potatoes & we finished them out at night a load & at night I went down to Bedlam drove Jims horse & Norman went to.  & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm & clear.

Oct. 29 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon Jim & I got up to the woods but ditten chop much it came on rain & we husked corn in the barn & father took out a load of potatoes out to the fort & he had on about 52 bu. & in the afternoon Jim & I husked corn & it is a pretty cloudy day it rained a little most all day pretty hard part of the time to & Jim got done working here today.

Oct. 30 – I helped to do the chores & father annie & I went to church & we herd a sermon by mr Steward his text was John the 20 chapter & the 27 verse & as we was going to church going down a hill the foolstrap broke & the team came pretty near getting away & eliza* stayed at home & Everett brought orrie & emma home & he stayed awhile & it is a nice warm day some cloudy & some clear.

Oct. 31 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we loaded up a load of potatoes & I took a load out to the fort about 50 bu at 71 cts a bu. & father husked some & in the afternoon father went up in the woods & split & piled some wood & at night we loaded up part of a load & it is a pretty cloudy day.  rained quite a lot in the morning.

 

Tuesday, November 1, 1881 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I took a load of potatoes out to the fort about 51 bu & father split & piled wood up in the woods & uncle John C came along & stoped for dinner & in the afternoon father split & piled some wood up in the woods & I took out some seeds & put on a kettle of feed & chored around & it is a nice pleasent day warm as summer at night we put up a load of oats.

Nov. 2 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we scraped the manure in the barn yard & drawed it over yonder in the back meadow & in the afternoon we did the same got done but about a load & we drawed some from under the horse-barn & at night orrie & I went up to Gaylord Pollocks to a party & had a good time & emma went with Willis Boyd & at night a Dry Goods Peddler came along & stayed all night.

Nov. 3 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we husked & chored around & loaded up the oats & in the afternoon father took took the load out to the fort. about 80 bu at 50 cts a bu. & I husked some corn & chored around & he brought home a buck bought him at $ ** and it is a pretty cloudy day warm it rained quite a lot in the forenoon & at night some to.

 

 

*looks like Eliza is back with the family again

**left amount blank

 

Nov. 4 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we husked corn most of the time & in the afternoon we drawed the Husked corn over in the wagon house &  drawed up a load of old wood & loaded up a load of potatoes & it is a pretty cloudy day rained quite a lot a spited snow a little for the first some colder.

Nov. 5 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I took a load of potatoes out to the fort about 52 bu and I brought back about 1500 lbs of coal and father cut some wood.  & in the afternoon father went up in the woods & cut & piled some wood & I chored around after I came back and it is some cooler & pretty cloudy but some clear to.

Nov. 6 – I helped to do the chores & we all went to church & we herd a sermon by mr Steward his text was Daniel the 5 chapter & the 30 verse he is a young man & a good preacher & it is a nice day some cloud & windy not very cold.  warm for the time of year.

Nov. 7 – I helped to do the chores & inn the forenoon father went over to the church & helped to clean it & stayed most all day & I plowed most all day up on top of the hill in the meadow Just begun and it is a pretty nice day some cloudy & warm at night it rained some & they was a school meeting & I went down & Goose Island school commenced.

Nov. 8 - I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I plowed some up in the meadow & father husked corn & in the afternoon father plowed some up there & husked some & I husked some to & we got all done husking for this year & I took out some seeds I am not very well & it is a very cloudy day & it rained quite a lot to but warm.

Nov. 9 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I plowed up in the meadow on top of the hill & father cut some wood up in the woods & in the afternoon father plowed some up in the meadow & cut some wood up in the woods & I plowed some to & chored around & it is a pretty cloudy day warm rained some to it cleared off at night.

Nov. 10 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I plowed up on top of the hill in the meadow and father cut some wood up in the woods.  & in the afternoon we drawed some pumpkins from the cellar over to the hog-pen & then father plowed some up on top of the hill& cut some wood up in the woods & I took out some seeds & plowed some & orrie & emma went over to granfathers a foot & it is a pretty cloudy day some windy & cooler.

Nov. 11 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I plowed up on top of the hill & father cut some wood up in the woods & in the afternoon father cut some wood up in the same place & orrie & I went down to argyle & I got a jack knife & it is a nice pleasent day very clear some cool though.

Nov. 12 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father plowed some up in the meadow & I plowed some to & chored around he cut some wood up in the woods it came on rain about 10.30 o’clock & in the afternoon we put up a load of oats I took out some seeds & we chored around most of the time it is a pretty cloudy day it rained most of the day from it begun cold rain we had a little flerry of snow last night for the first this fall.  it all went off through the day.

Nov. 13 – I helped to do the chores & we all went to church & we herd a sermon by Willard McEachron I think his text was Romans the 10 chapter & the 1 verse and it is a pretty cloudy day but pretty warm warm weather for the time of year.

Nov. 14 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I finished plowing up in the meadow & father cut some wood up in the woods & in the afternoon father took a grist down to Bedlam & got 10 bushels of late Beauties for $10. & it is a nice warm day pretty cloudy though & I chored around.

 

Nov. 15 – I helped to do the chores & in the morning father took a load of oats out to the fort 82 ½ bu at 50 cents a bu and I chored around most all day & took out some seeds & it is a pretty cloudy day some cool to we had a nother snow flerry last night but it most all went off.

Nov. 16 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon uncle Dave & us killed the Bull he dressed about 400 pounds & in the afternoon we drawed 2 loads of manure & some old wood & chored around the Captain had one quarter & Duncan McDougall had a nother quarter at 5 ½ & 6 ½ cts a lb & it is a nice warm day pretty cloudy to.

Nov. 17 – I helped to do the chores & father took a load of potatoes out to the fort at 71 cents a bu and Orrie went out to & I painted at the corn house part of the day & finished takeing out pumpkin seeds & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm to some cloudy warm weather for the time of year when father came home we loaded up a nother load.

Nov. 18 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon I chored around & father taped his Boots & chored around & in the afternoon emma & I went down to Bedlam & I played ball some down there & father cut some old wood & chored around & it s a pretty cloudy day warm as summer most & it rained a lot.

Nov. 19 – I helped to do the chores & in the morning father took a load of potatoes out to the fort 51 bu. about & brought back some coal & in the forenoon I made some penals* for board fence & chored around & in the afternoon I went down to the school house & played ball & some of the Bedlam Boys came over & we had some fun & it is a pretty cloudy day rained some & froze at it came.

Nov. 20 – I helped to do the chores & we all went to church & we herd a sermon by Willard McEachron & his text was John the 7 chapter & the 46 verse.  & it is some cloudy & windy cleared off colder in the night.

Nov. 21 – I helped to do the chores & I begun a going down to Bedlam to School**

& father took a load of potatoes out to fort edward 50 bu at 76 cts a bu and it is a pretty cloudy day some warmer frooze pretty hard last night & eliza came back.

Nov. 22 – I helped to do the chores & in the morning father took a load of potatoes out to the fort about 52 bu at 77 cts a bu and I went down to Bedlam to school and had a good time and it is a nice pleasent day pretty clear but pretty cold though.

Nov. 23 – I helped to do the chores & father took a load of potatoes out to the fort about 50 bu & brought Back part of a load of coal & I went to school down to Bedlam & it is a pretty cool day, some cloudy & at night it begun to snow.

Nov. 24 – I helped to do the chores & glenroy & Joe came over a visiting & uncle Daves folks came up to & in the morning we cleaned up & thrashed the beans about 5 or 6 bu and about night annie & I went down to Bedlam & I ordered a suit of clothes to be made & Mrs Connor came up with us to make dresses for the girls and it snowed about 2inches last night & it is a pretty cloudy day & cool to getting colder.

Nov. 25 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we thrashed 6 Doz. of rye 5 bushels & put up a grist & in the afternoon father took a grist down to Bedlam & I put up the pumpkin seeds & cut some old wood & it is a pretty cool day some cloudy.

 

 

*panels ?

**perhaps this was a high school, since the Goose Island school only went to 8th. grade.

 

 

Nov. 26 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we drawed 3 loads of Straw from the little hay barn over to the big barn & granfather & grandmother came over a visiting & in the afternoon we drawed l load of Straw over & it is a pretty cloudy day & cool to at night emma & I went down to Bedlam & took Mrs. Connor.

Nov. 27 – I helped to do the chores & father orrie & emma & I went to church & we herd a sermon by willard McEachron & his text was Isaiah the 1 chapter & the 18 verse and eliza & annie stayed at home & kep house & it is a pretty cloudy day thawing some looks some like rain.

Nov. 28 – I helped to do the chores & I went to school down to Bedlam and in the forenoon father went down to uncle Daves & helped to kill a beef.  & in the afternoon he took the pumpkin seeds and got * a barrel & then drove down to bedlam after Mrs. Connor & I rode up with them and it is a nice pleasent day pretty cold to.

Nov. 29 – I helped to do the to do the chores & and I went down to Bedlam to school and father went down to Argyle & drawed up some old wood and it is a nice pleasent day warmer to the snow is most all gone and it is thawing.

Nov. 30 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father went over to the church to fix up the shed and I went down to Bedlam to school and in the afternoon father chored around and it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm for the time of year & it is some muddy to I hoof it yet.

 

Thursday, December 1, 1881 – I helped to do the chores & I went down to bedlam to school and in the forenoon father drawed some old wood up to the door & in the afternoon emma took Mrs. Connor down to Bedlam & I rode up home with her.  & it rained most all forenoon very hard part of the and it is a very cloudy day some warm muddy.

Dec. 2 – I helped to do the chores & I went to school down to Bedlam & and in the forenoon father drawed some old wood up to the door & in the afternoon he went to a vendue over to Gilchrists by bedlam & I rode home from school and at night I went up to Gibsons above bedlam to a literary Society.  & took a Female.  and it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & warm.

Dec. 3 – I helped to do the chores & in the morning we went up on the hill & fenced the corn stalks and chored around & then we went over to the Auction to Lindsays and father drove down to argyle & got the mail and it is a pretty cloudy day warm but chilly snowed or spit some.  us boys had a game of Ball over the Auction, very muddy.

Dec. 4 – I helped to do the chores & father orrie eliza annie & I went to church & we herd a sermon by mr wiley & his text was the 39 pslam & the 4 verse and emma stayed at home & kep house and it is a pretty cloudy day snowed some last night and it snowed a little most all day but wasted about as fast as it came.

Dec. 5 – I went to school down to Bedlam and I helped to do the chores and father went out to the fort and seen something about killing the hogs & it is a nice warm day very cloudy & it is very mudy & soft weather now.

 

 

*amount left blank

 

Dec. 6 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon father took a small grist down to bedlam & I rode down to school there and in the afternoon & my books came & and it is a pretty warm & very muddy snow is most gone.

Dec. 7 – I helped to do the chores & & I went to school down to bedlam and at night everett came up here & stayed all night & I rode up with him from school and & father chored around & cut some wood & it is a nice day pretty cloudy & very muddy to.

Dec. 8 – I helped to do the chores & I went to to school & I rode down to Bedlam with everett and at night Levi george & I went down M. Lants to a party a while & father drawed the water for butchering to morrow & father has got a bile or carbuncle on his wrist.  And it is a nice pleasent day some colder & some windy to.

Dec. 9 – I helped to do the chores & in the forenoon we killed the hogs & pigs & uncle Dave brought up his hog & helped or killed it here and Duncan & levi McDougall & Wm. D. McDougall helped us to kill them we got done before 1 o clock & I helped to rip the guts and then I took some hay down to Bedlam to feed the horse when I drive down to school there and it is a nice pleasent day warm & pretty clear nice day to butcher.

Dec. 10 – I helped to do the chores & father & I took the pork out to the fort they all weighed 1921 lbs at $8 a cwt., and the roads are very rough and we got home before sundown & I got a new watch chain gold plate at $4.50 and left my watch to get fixed and it is a nice pleasent day clear but pretty cold.

Dec. 11 – I helped to do the chores & orrie emma annie & I went to church & we herd a sermon by Willard McEachron & his text was 2 different places I have forgotton & father & eliza stayed at home and kep house his boil is no better and it is a nice pleasent day clear & pretty cold.

Dec. 12 – I helped to do the chores & I went to school down to Bedlam & in the morning father took emma & orrie down to argyle to school* they begun for the first and they board at Mrs Tilfords and in the afternoon father levi uncle Dave killed the heifer and it is a pretty cloudy & windy day getting warmer & it rained at night.

Dec. 13 – I helped to do the chores & I went to to school down to Bedlam & father took the turkeys up to martin Rogers & I rode up that far & they was 23 weighed 220 lbs. at

10 cts. a lb and in the afternoon father took the beef down to argyle it weighed about 575 hide & all at 6c a lb. and it is a pretty cloudy day rained quite a lot muddy as ever about.

Dec. 14 – I helped to do the chores & I went to school down to Bedlam & I drove a horse for the first and put it in mr. Ashleys barn and father chored around and it is a pretty cloudy day rained a lot and very muddy water getting higher begun to snow at night or after dark.  pretty warm though.

Dec. 15 – I helped to do the chores & I went to school down to Bedlam & I drove a horse and it is a pretty cloudy day some clear and it snowed about 2 inches last night and it is getting colder and father chored around & cut some wood at the door.  at night we killed 12 chickens & Dressed them.

Dec. 16 – I helped to do the chores & I went to school down to Bedlam & father took the chickens & 4 bushels of Beans out to the fort and he got 2 Dollars a bu for the beans & he brought the girls up from school when he came home and it is a nice pleasent day but cold very rough now.

 

 

*perhaps the Argyle Academy

 

Dec. 17 – I helped to do the chores & we all went up to uncle John S. Williamson’s

a visiting but eliza she stayed at home & kep house and we got home before sun Down and it is a nice pleasent day some cool to.

Dec. 18 – I helped to do the chores and father eliza Annie & I went to church & we herd a sermon by Willard McEachron & his text was the Hebrews 3 chapter & the l verse and emma & orrie stayed at home and kep house & Mary Jane came up awhile & it is a nice pleasent day pretty warm muddy again the snow is most off.

Dec. 19 – I helped to do the chores & I went down to school to Bedlam and in the morning father took the girls down to Argyle to school and then he chored around and it is a nice pleasent day warm thawed some & some muddy to.

Dec. 20 – I went to school down to bedlam & drove a horse & I helped to do the chores and father chored around & cut some wood at the door and Mary Jane came up from argyle & stayed all night here and in the morning we drawed a load of oat straw from the hay barn over to the house and it is a nice pleasent day warm & thawing pretty muddy to.

Dec. 21 – I helped to do the chores & I went to school down to Bedlam & drove a horse and father is making a pair of boots for himself and he chored around to.  and it is a nice pleasent day some cloudy & thawing some to.  warm muddy to.

Dec. 22 – (Thursday) I helped to do the chores and I went to school and I drove a horse down and it is a very stormy day it rained hard most all night & begun to snow before noon & snowed about an inch and turned off pretty cold at night and father went down to argyle after the girls bad going this days writing is for Friday.

Dec. 23 – (Friday) – I helped to do the chores and I went to school down to Bedlam to school & drove down & father shoemaked most of the day he is making a new pair of Boots and he chored around & it is a pretty cloudy day & warm & rained most all day pretty hard part of the day this days writeing is for Thursday.

Dec. 24 – I helped to do the chores & in the morning we drawed a load of straw from the hay barn over to the house & then we all but eliza went over to granfathers a visiting & I helped him to drive a pig a way & at night emma & I went down to Bedlam to a Christmas tree & it is a nice pleasent day pretty cold though.

Dec. 25 – I helped to do the chores & we all but eliza went to church & we herd a sermon by Willard McEachron & his text was St. luke the 2 chapter & the 15 verse and eliza kep house & it is a nice pleasent day warmer thawing some.* 

Dec. 26 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon father took a small grist down to bedlam & I went down to G. I. school**  awhile and in the afternoon we went down to North argyle after the rye thrasher and it is a pretty cloudy day and begun to rain about night pretty warm for the time of year and they is no school down to bedlam it is week of vacation.

Dec. 27 – I helped to do the chores and father emma orrie & I went to church or to the ordination & installment of the minster and eliza stayed at home & kep house and it rained most all day pretty hard to most of the time and at night I went down to Bedlam to a concert and had a good time & I brought James McWhorter home with me to help to thrash with the machine.

 

*no mention that it is Christmas Day

**Goose Island – apparently that school did not close for Christmas vacation

 

Dec. 28 – I helped to do the chores & Willie McEachron came here with machine to thrash the rye & Jim Cloash & James McWhorter Levi & us & Willie thrashed rye & cleaned it up at night they was about 54 bu. and it is a very cloudy day warm most as summer very muddy now.

Dec. 29 – I helped to do the chores & we all thrashed the rest of the rye & cleaned it up they was about 106 bu all together and then Willie went up home & got the oat thresher and begun to threst oats & they was about 24 bu & it is a nice warm day very cloudy & rained most all day very wet & muddy now.

Dec. 30 – I helped to do the chores and we all thrashed oats all day and we got about 250 bu and levi Jim McWhorter Willie & Jim cloash helped us and it is a pretty cloudy day pretty cool getting colder & clearing up.

Dec. 31 – I helped to do the chores & Willie thrashed oats all day and we got done all but redding up the floore and duncan & levi Jim McWhorter & us helped.  and at night they was a new years tree down to the school house & we all went down but eliza the house was full lot there & it is a nice pleasent day pretty cool very rough now.  we have come to the close of a nother year 1881, past forever.

 

 

 

Accountings in the back pages of the book:

 

1881 – loads of straw; at $18. a ton:

Jan. 4, -  l load     $15.75

Jan. 5  - 2 loads   $17.00

Jan. 6 – 3 loads     17.10

Jan. 7 – 4 loads     19.05

Jan. 8 – 5 loads     19.25

Jan. 12 – 6 loads   19.15

July 25 – l load     15.15

 

July 27 – 2 loads  15.35

 

Planting:

 

Planted 9 ½ acres of corn and 12 acres of potatoes

             27 acres of oats.  not very good

             ll acres of rye.  pretty good

             sowed 9 ½ acres of rye in the fall

             had about 160 bu of rye

             had about 575 bu of corn in  ear

             had about 750 bu of oats

             had about 1050 bu of potatoes        

 

Loads of hay:

field cross from barn         6

down in little meadow      4

piece down in the follow   2

meadow over yonder       10

piece over in big field        4

meadow on top of hill      11

swail down in meadow       5

swail over in big field         2

small swail over big field   1

up in the hittle meadow     2

all together                       47

 

Rye Dozens                                               Oats  Loads               (Acres)

hill above the house     88                           The Orchard     .2.        4

down in lower follow   95                             “   Meadow    .5.       11

all together                  183                            “   Big field     .12.     20

                                                                     Field by McEs  .8.        6

                                                                     All together                 41 L

 

 

 

Cash Account

 

                   Recd            Paid

January                           5.22

February                         3.05

March                             2.72

April           4.50               .70

May                                3.55

June                                2.10

July           10.00            4.90

August        2.50            2.50

September   3.00            2.98

October     71.00           14.88

November 87.40           13.80

December  23.00           11.10

201.40                      67.50

 

 Balance on hand  $133.90

 

Potatoes sold  (separate accountings each day)

 812 bushels       $609.83

                             158.40

                             451.43

 

Bushels of potatoes, mine on share:

702 bu   3= 234 M. at home

 

 

Other notes:

 

January:

1 & 3 – threshers thrashed the oats 315 bushels

4 – father commenced drawing straw at $18. a ton

12 – father finished drawing straw 6 loads

13 – father took a load of rye out to the fort he had on about 53 bu at 85 cts a bushel

15 – I got a new pair of rubber gum boots

17 – father took a load of rye out to the fort – 59 bu. at 85 cts. 

 

February:

8 – father got a load of fence boards 100 at 5 cts. a piece

 

March:

7 – commenced chopping & getting up wood

12 – we finished chopping wood in the woods

14 – finished drawing up wood about 11 cords I gess

20 – white cow had a calf last night

21 – we commenced to draw out some dung

24 – I finished cutting wood at the door

28 – the lambs commenced coming

29 – glenroy moved over to Durgeetown, annies cow had a calf bull

31 - we sowed the grass seed on the hill above the house and the follow & captain & his folks came up for good

 

April:

3 – the red cow had a calf bull

9 – we commenced plowing in the follow

10 – the turkey hens commenced second layings

11 – edward Loy come on & commenced work

12 – I sat a hen with 11 turkey eggs

2 - it was about this time that the first turkey hen commenced laying eggs

14 – the third turkey hen commenced laying eggs

16 – we planted the garden spot with potatoes

18 – I sat a hen with 9 turkey eggs. & father sowed the orchard with oats

20 & 21 – father sowed the meadow with oats

22 – father sowed the corner over in the big field with oats

24 – the largest red heifer had a calf

25 – the last snowbank went off that is in sight

26 – I sat 15 turkey eggs under a turkey

27 – the last turkey or little one begun laying

28 – the spotted cow had a calf & I sat 9 more turkey eggs under a hen

29 – we begin to plant corn in the follow

25 & 27 & 29 father sowed oats over in the big field.

 

May:

3 – I sat a hen with 11 turkey eggs

5 – we finished sowing oats  27 acres

4 – father took about 30 bu of potatoes out to the fort at 75 cents a bu & took some apples & dried applies

6 – we commenced eating supper at 5 o clock

7 – the white face heifer had a calf

9 – edd & I went a fishing down to Barkleys lake had a good luck

11 – I had a hen come off with 10 turkeys

11 – I sat a turkey with 15 turkey eggs

12 – father took about 37 bu of potatoes & barrels of apples out to the fort potatoes 65 a bu & apples 1.00 a bbl.

16 – I sat 10 turkey eggs under a hen

16 – I had 8 young turkeys come off

20 – we got done plowing for awhile

23 – we finished planting corn & potatoes & I sat a turkey with 13 eggs

24 – we washed the sheep & father took a load of potatoes out to the fort 36 bu. at 40 cts. a bu. & got 2 bbls. of flour

25 – we begin to hoe & a turkey came of with 8

28 – we took out some oats & rye to the fort 10 bu of rye at 90 cts a bu & 57 bu of oats at 50 cents a bu.

31 – I had a hen came off with 9 young turkeys

30 – we begin to hoe corn & potatoes in the follow

 

June:

1 and May 31 – we worked on the roads

1 & 2 – Levi & Dunk sheared the sheep 35

6 – we begin to hoe up in the field by the woods

10 – we begin to first hill potatoes in the garden

11 – we all went over to glenroys a visiting

11 – I got my watch cleaned

12 – the white heifer had a calf heifer

13 – we begin to hoe up in the big field

16 – we finished hoeing & began to hill in the follow

17 – father took 2 calves down to north argyle weight 385 lbs. at 5 cts. a pound

18 – father took the wool down to salem 35 fleeces 142 lbs at 32 cts. a pound

20 – we begin to hill potatoes in the field by woods

23 – the Captain began to paint on the house

27 – we begin to mow grass

29 – we commenced to hill up in the big field

30 – l of the sows had 18 pigs (or both sows)

 

 

 

 

 

July:

1 – I went down to Saratoga Springs on the cars with some other Boys had a good time

2 – we finished hilling potatoes just about

8 – we finished hilling corn at last

9 – we begin cradleing rye  bad cutting]

14 – we finished cradleing rye.

15 – we finished --- rye

21 – Ashley came out after the Bull & speckle cow & took some lambs bull $45

 cows $40

22 – we finished mowing everything

22 – we finished haying all but a small load & that is cocked up

23 – we begun to cradle oats in the orchard the first

25 – father took a load of straw rye out to the fort 2020 lbs at $15. a ton

27 – father took a load of rye straw out to fort edward 2050 at $15. a ton.

 

August:

3 – we finished cradleing oats all done

5 – we got done drawing in oats or all done harvesting for 1881

15 – we begin plowing for rye

17 & 18 – Willie McEachron thrashed 314 bu of oats over in the hay barn with machine

16 – father sowed the corner over in the big field with rye

23 – the Captain began painting again

31 – we begin to cut corn up in the follow first

30 – Jim Lindsay came on to work again & he gets $20. a month

 

September:

6 – Mr. Ashley got the last of the lambs

6 – we sowed 7 acres of the big piece over yonder with rye

7 – we begin husking corn in follow

10 – father took 35 bu of rye out to the fort at 92 cts a bu & 17 bu of early Beautys potatoes at 55 cts. a bu   1/3 mine

13 – father took some butter out to the fort at 25 cts. a lb. & got a barrel of flour at $18.50

22 – we finished cutting corn at last.

 

October:

4 – they begin to pick apples at first

8 – father took a load of apples out to the fort at l.00 a bbl about

12 – we finished digging potatoes up in the back field

19 – we finished digging potatoes for 1881

24 – father took a load of apples out to the fort 11 bbls at $2. a barrel $22.

25 – same entry as above

 

November:

3 – father took a load of oats out to the fort 80 bu at 50 cents a bu & he bought a buck the other day & Brought him home.

4 – we put the Buck with the sheep.

7 – we begin to plow up in the meadow on top of the hill

8 – we finished husking corn for 1881

12 – we had the first little flerry of snow

14 – I finished plowing up in the meadow

16 – we killed the little bull he dressed about 400 pounds

 

December:

9 – we killed the pork 4 old ones & 4 pigs

10 – we took the pork out to the fort

    weight

    l old hog     439 lbs.

    2 old hog     421  “

    l old sow     376  “

    2  “   “         365  “

    1 pig            168  “

    2  “              152

  

    1921 x $8. =  $153.68

 

12 – father levi & uncle Dave killed the heifer

16 – father took some chickens and 4 bu of beans out to the fort at $2. a bu.

28, 29, 30 & 31 – we thrashed the rye & oats. Willie McEachron thrasher Jim Cloash James McWhorter levi helped us  Dunk helped the 31st. in cloash’s place they was about

106 bu of rye & about – of oats.

 

 

 

Money:          

Receivable:

Apr. 2 – inst. Money on $75.        $4.00

Apr. 19 – rem of inst money             .50

July 25 – 1/3 of straw rye load        5.00

July 27 – 1/3 of stray rye                5.00

Aug. 8 – for helping granfather       2.50

Sept. 10 – for early potatoes           3.00

Oct. 27 – for load of potatoes       35.50

Oct. 31 – for a load of potatoes    35.50

Nov. 1 – for a load of potatoes     36.20

Nov. 5 – for a load of potatoes     36.20

Nov. 23 – for 20 bu of potatoes    15.00

Dec. 13 – for the turkeys               22.00

Dec. 24 – for h.G.--?                        l.00

 

Payed out:

Jan. 7 – for a paper                           l.00

Jan. 13 – for candy & cider                .20

Jan. 15 – for a pair of rubber boots  3.50

Jan. 15 – for a pair of insoles             .12

Jan. 19 – for candy & treat                .30

Jan. 26 – for candy                            .10

Feb. 7 – for a psalter                          .60

Feb. 9 – for a concert Bedlam            .25

Feb. 9 or 10 – lost                             .10

Feb. 16 – for licorice root                  .05

Feb. 16 – for candy                            .25

Feb. 19 – for candy & peanuts      page torn

Feb. 19 – for skate plates                   “

Feb. 19 – for a lamp for joe & glen   “

Feb. 22 – for dime Dialogue              “

Mar. 1 – for songs                             .10

Mar. 5 – to church                             .05

Mar. 9 – for dancing                          .35

Mar. 11 – for a concert W.H.            .25

Mar. 11 – maple S & cm buds           .22

Mar. 15 – for Music of songs            .55

Mar. 15 – for treat                             .15

Mar. 18 – for exhibition school         .40

Mar. 18 – for peanuts                       .10

Mar. 22 – for candy                          .10

Mar. 25 – for exhibition                    .20

Mar. 24 – for a show W.H.               .25

 

 

Apr. 1 – for dancing D. McEachrom .30

Apr. 8 – for dancing F.McAuleys     .40

May 28 – for chester coat                1.25

May 28 – for pair of shoes               1.50

May 28 – for a book                          .25

May 28 – for a neck tie                     .50

May 28 – for peanuts                        .05

June 4 – to church                             .10

June 11 – cleaning watch                 1.00

June 11 for dead ball                     page torn

July 1 for circus at Saratoga Sp       “     “

July 4 for treat                                 “     “

July 9 for soda water                       “     “

July 16 for treat                                  .15

July 30 – for a pair of pants              1.50

July 30 – for treat & licorice               .20

Aug. 12 for Baseball pants                1.05

Aug. 12 – for treat & peanuts             .20

Aug. 13 for Base ball club                  .25

Aug. 16 – for fair catchers & gloves 1.00

Sep. 5 for candy & crackers                .10

Sep. 8 to County Fair                          .80

Sep. 15 – to Hebron fair                      .83

Sept. 16 to Hebron Fair                      l.25

Oct. 20 for treat                                   .15

Oct. 27  for a pair of shirts                3.00

“      “    for a pair of drawers            2.50

“      “    for a cap                                .75

“     “     for a pair of gloves               1.25

Oct. 27 for Handerchief                     1.00

“     “    for toll on potatoes                  .20

“    “     for a pair of Boots                  3.50

“    “     for some crackers                page torn

Oct. 28 send of 2 Books                      “   “

Oct. 31 for toll & crackers                   “   “

  “     “  for candy                                 “   “

Nov. 1 for candy & crackers               “   “

Nov. 5 for socks & tie                          .75

Nov. 5 for crackers licorice & toll        .30

Nov. 9 for perfumery & hair oil            .50

Nov. 11 for a Jack knife                        .75

Nov. 11 for peanuts                              .05

Nov. 12 orrie for care of Turkey        4.50

Nov. 18 for book keeping                   2.00

Nov. 18 for Bottle of ink                      .05

Nov. 22 for Bottle of ink                      .05

Nov. 23 pair of mittens                     1.25

Nov. 26 for Batteries                         1.13

Nov. 28 for Books                             2.10

Nov. 29 for 2B ink                               .16

Dec. 1 for treat                                     .10

Dec. 8 for part of paper                        .75

Dec. 9 for Crackers                               .12

Dec. 10 for watch chain                      4.50

Dec. 10 for Cain for emma                 4.50

Dec. 10 Jews harp                                .12

Dec. 12 for watch chain                        .20

Dec. 13 for peanuts & licorice              .10

Dec. 15 for mending harness                .15

Dec. 20 for Book keeping Book           .25

Dec. 24 for gun (or gum) ticked for C  .20

 

 

Last page entry:

1881 June 18 father got 5 pounds of pairis green at Stevensons & Cos Salem at 25 cts. a pound

apples                      10 bbl at $1.00 -$2. = $8.00

                                 11 bbl. at $2.         = 22.00

                                 11 bbl. at $2          = 22.00

 

Yours Truly,

H. Williamson