# 209735
Elam Bartholomew Diary
Amounts Recd. in
Cancellation at Rockport Postoffice Apr.1st 1895 to Aug. 31st 1905.
1895 =
$19.92
1896 =
45.10
1897 = 46.35
1898 = 51.12
1899 = 52.80
1900 = 49.53
1901 = 72.46
1902 = 86.40
1903 = 81 73
1904 = 71.67
1905 = 33.70
Total $610.78
January, 1877.
Mon. 1st Having a holiday and not
holding school, the day was spent in reading and writing.
In the
evening a genuine surprise party occurred at our house when about 30 of our
neighbors came in unheralded with baskets and buckets filled with New
Years' eatables so we all enjoyed a good supper and a general good time all
round in pleasant chat, games and amusements until one oclock at which time
our guests departed to their several homes.
Tues. 2, Wed. 3, Th. 4,
Fr. 5 In the school room each of these 4 days without variation.
On
the 4th brother Elias of Louisville Ks. made us a call and staid all night
with us on the 5th. He is here to comply with the homestead law so that his
claim near here may not be contested for abandonment.
Sat. 6 Spent the
day in knocking about at miscellaneous work. Brother Elias left today on
his return to Louisville.
Sun. 7 Spent the day in reading and rest.
Mon. 8 At school.
Tu. 9 At school.
Wed. 10 At school.
Th.
11 At school.
Fr. 12 At school.
Sat. 13 Worked in the a.m. at
hauling up wood and in the p.m. went down to Sam'l Hebrew's on an errand
and came home at 5:30 oclock.
Jan. 1877.
Sun. 14 A
counterpart of the 7th.
Mon. 15 A most terrific snow storm being the
order of the day I did not go to the school house but spent the day at home
in reading and trying to keep the house warm.
Tu. 16, Wed. 17 There
being no fuel at the school house each of these two days was spent at home
in reading & writing.
Th. 18 In the school room again.
Frid. 19
At school.
Sat. 20 At school.
Sun. 21 Another counterpart of the
7th.
Mon. 22 At school.
Tu. 23 At school.
Wed. 24 Went to
the school house in the morning and on the way there learned of the death,
yesterday, of our young friend and neighbor John Kling (whose name is
frequently mentioned in this diary) so I dismissed school and returned home
and in the afternoon at 2 oclock we attended the funeral at Samuel Hebrew's
(where the young man was boarding) which was conducted by a Rev. Mr.
Jerrold of Kirwin. The interment was made in a newly proposed cemetery on
the S. W. corner of Mr. Sam'l Hebrew's farm. Came home about 5:30 P.M. with
a saddened heart as this was the first funeral of one of my young men
friends that I have ever attended!
Th. 25 At school.
Fr. 26 At
school.
Sat. 27 At school.
Sun. 28 Still another part of the 7th
inst.
Mon. 29 At school.
Tu. 30 At school.
Wed. 31 At
school.
February, 1877.
Th. 1st At school.
Tu. 2 At school.
Sat. 3 Spent the day in knocking about at miscellaneous work.
Sun. 4 Spent the day in reading and rest.
Mon. 5 At school.
Tu.
6 At school.
Wed. 7 At school.
Th. 8 At school.
Fr. 9 At
school.
Sat. 10 Made a trip to Stockton to attend to some business
connected with my office of Clerk of the Dist. Court and while there
appointed Henry M. Hill to act as my deputy during my absence. Came home
about 5 oclock p.m.
Sun. 11 A counterpart of the 4th inst.
Mon.
12 At school.
Tu. 13 At school.
Wed. 14 At school.
Th. 15 At
school.
Fr. 16 At school.
Feb. & March, 1877
Sat. 17 A
counterpart of the 3d inst.
Sun. 18 Another counterpart of the 4th
inst.
Mon. 19 At school.
Tu. 20 At school.
Wed. 21 At
school.
Th. 22 At school.
Fr. 23 At school.
Sat. 24 Another
counterpart of the 3d inst.
Sun. 25 Still another counterpart of the
4th inst.
Mon. 26 At school.
Tu. 27 At school.
Wed. 28 At
school.
March, 1877.
Th. 1st At school.
Fr. 2 Last day of
school!
Sat. 3 The weather being very cold I spent the a.m. in reading
but the p.m. being more moderate I worked at hauling wood up from the
timber.
Sun. 4 Spent the day in reading and rest.
Mon. 5, Tues. 6
Spent each of these 2 days in knocking about at miscellaneous work.
Wed. 7 Spent the a.m. mostly in reading and in the p.m. with Rachel went
down to Mr. Foote's where we remained until evening when we all went to D.
A. Duff's to attend a social party,
after which we returned to Foote's
where we remained all night.
Th. 8 Came home at 9 a.m. and worked the
remainder of the day at chopping wood.
Fr. 9 Went up to Rockport after
the mail in the a.m. and knocked about a miscellaneous work in the p.m.
Sat. 10 Chopped wood all day.
Sun. 11 A counterpart of the 4th
inst.
Mon. 12 Exactly the same as last Friday.
Tu. 13, Wed. 14
Worked both of these days at making an excavation for a milk-house.
Th. 15 Finished the excavating in the a.m. and worked in the p.m. at
cutting logs for the part above ground and timber for the roof.
Fr. 16
Made a trip to Rockport after the mail and getting home at 11 a.m. spent
the remainder of the day mostly in reading.
Sat. 17 Went down to D. A.
Duffs in the morning on an errand where I spent the day in visiting and in
knocking about with Mr. Duff at his work. Home at 4:30 p.m.
Sun. 18
Spent the a.m. in reading and in the p.m. we went down to D. A. Duff's on a
short call and came home about 5 oclock.
Mon. 19 Went to Stockton to
attend to some Tp. trustee business & came home at 5 oclock p.m.
Mch. 1877
Tues. 20 As Tp. Trustee and overseer of the poor went to the home of
Jacob Shell and Mrs. Mary Messinger to make arrangements for their
maintenance by the county as they have applied to me for such aid. Came
home at noon and spent the p.m. in reading.
Wed. 21 Went down to D. A.
Duff's in the morning after some seed wheat but not being able to get all I
needed, came home and went at once to J. A. Bailey's where I secured the
remaining amount and came home at noon and having one of the neighbors do
the sowing I worked at harrowing the wheat in.
Th. 22 Having employed
one of the neighbors to finish my wheat harrowing I spent the a.m. in
knocking about at not much of anything and the p.m. in chopping wood.
Fr. 23 The weather being very cold with a snow storm going most of the
day the time was spent mostly in reading.
Sat. 24 Spent nearly the
whole day in writing.
Sun. 25 Another counterpart of the 4th inst.
Mon. 26 Spent most of the day in planting potatoes.
Tu. 27 Knocked
about at making garden and other miscellaneous work.
Wed. 28, Th. 29
Spent each of these two days in knocking about at little odd jobs of all
sorts but nothing in particular.
Mch. & April, 1877.
Fr. 30
Went up to Rockport after the mail in the a.m. and worked in the p.m. at
quarrying rock to wall a well.
Sat. 31 Worked all day at quarrying
rock as above.
April, 1877.
Sun. 1st Spent the day in reading and
rest
Mon. 2 Same as March 31st.
Tu. 3, Wed. 4 Went down to C.C.
Foote's where I worked each of these 2 days at making [pailing], railing
and posts for an enclosure to the grave of our late lamented friend John
Kling. Came home in the evening of both days.
Th. 5, Fr. 6 Spent each
of these 2 days in knocking about at little odd jobs of all sorts.
Sat. 7 Went down to Mr. Footes in the morning and with him went down to
the new cemetery where we put up the enclosure mentioned on the 3d and 4th
and getting back to Mr. Foote's at 2 p.m. worked the remainder of the day
for him at repairing a wagon. Home at 6 oclock.
Sun. 8 A counterpart
of the 1st inst.
Mon. 9 Went down to H. E. Williams after a wind-lass
to do well digging and getting home at noon spent the p.m. at work in the
well. Sam Shell assisted me.
April, 1877.
Tues. 10 With
help of Shell continued work all day on the well, about completing it.
Wed. 11 Miscellaneous work a little of everything.
Th. 12 Knocked
about at miscellaneous work in the a.m. and worked in the p.m. at hauling
up rock for walling the new well and for other purposes.
Fr. 13 Made a
trip to the postoffice in the a.m. and worked in the p.m. at laying up a
stone wall along the bank on the north side of the house.
Sat. 14
Finished the wall at 9 a.m. and worked the remainder of the day at sinking
the well deeper.
Sun. 15 Another counterpart of the 1st inst.
Mon. 16, Tu. 17 Continued work on the well in the a.m. of both these days
but the p.m. of each day being rainy did no work.
Wed. 18 Made a
business errand down to C. C. Footes in the a.m. and a trip to the P.O.
after the mail in the p.m. which occupied the day.
Th. 19 Spent the
time in hauling rock for the well and logs for the milk-house until 2 p.m.
and then went down to Mr. Foote's after a small load of lumber and came
home about 5 oclock.
Fr. 20 Went up to the postoffice in the a.m. and
getting home at noon spent the p.m. in work on the milk-house.
Sat. 21 Worked at the
well today finishing the walling thereof.
Sun. 22 A prairie fire from
the south being the order of the day until 1 p.m. the fighting the same,
with many others, about 2 miles east of here. Came home at 1 oclock and
spent the remainder of the day in rest.
Mon. 23 Went up to the post
office in the a.m. and getting back at noon spent the p.m. in knocking
about at a little of everything.
Tu. 24 Made a business trip to Kirwin
and returned about 6 oclock p.m.
Wed. 25 Miscellaneous work in the
a.m. and an errand to C. C. Foote's in the p.m. Home at 6 oclock.
Th.
26 It being rainy all day the time was spent in reading and writing.
Fr. 27 Cold and rainy all day with a disagreeable northwest wind. Spent
the day mostly in reading.
Sat. 28 Helped Rachel with work about the
house until 3 p.m. and then made trip to the post office after the mail.
Many cattle perished from the severe storm of yesterday and day
before!
Sun. 29 Still another counterpart of the 1st inst.
Mon.
30 Made a business trip to Stockton horse-back and came home at 5 oclock
p.m.
May, 1877.
Tues. 1st With Mrs. Mary C. Jerby assisted by Mrs. Sarah
Privett and Mrs. Mary Messinger I was presented with a 10 lb. son and heir
at 5 oclock this morning and thus dawns another era in my life history.
Spent the day at chore work in and about the house.
Wed. 2, Th. 3
Worked both of these days at assessing the property of the residents of
this (Bow Creek) township. Came home each evening.
Fr. 4 Spent the day
in manufacturing a home made lounge.
Sat. 5 Knocked about at
miscellaneous carpentry jobs.
Sun. 6 Spent the day mostly in reading
and rest.
Mon. 7 Spent the day up the creek assessing about 15 miles,
stopping for the night with Co. Supt. Pub. Inst., Moses Adamson.
Tu. 8
Completed my assessing today and came home at 7 oclock p.m.
Wed. 9
Made a trip to Stockton to carry in my assessors returns and came home at
3:30 p.m.
Th. 10, Fr. 11, Sat. 12 Spent each of these three days in
and about the house acting as ?chief cook and bottle washer? in house
work!
Sun. 13 A counter part of last Sunday.
Mon. 14 Went up to Rockport after
the mail and returning at noon worked in the afternoon at making garden.
Tu. 15 Spent the a.m. in knocking about at a little of everything and the
p.m. in breaking prairie sod.
Wed. 16 A counterpart of yesterday.
Th. 17 Worked at planting corn and cane on sod breaking with hand
planter.
Fr. 18 It being rainy all day the time was spent mostly in
reading.
Sat. 19 Miscellaneous work a little of everything.
Sun.
20 A counterpart of the 6th inst.
Mon. 21, Tu. 22 Spent these 2 days
in knocking about at little odd jobs of all sorts.
Wed. 23 Spent the
a.m. in miscellaneous work and the p.m. in planting sod corn.
Th. 24
Planted corn as above, all day.
Fr. 25 A counterpart of the 18th.
Sat. 26 It still being very wet and disagreeable no outdoor work was
done.
Sun. 27 Same as the 6th inst. with the exception of about an
hour when we, Rachel, the new baby, George, and I went out for a walk over
the farm and to view the high water in Bow Creek from the hill a half mile
east of the house.
May, 1877.
Mon. 28 Went to Stockton early in the
morning to attend to my official duties as clerk at the May term of the
Dist. Court, which was called at 9 a.m. by the sheriff but his honor, the
Dist. Judge Joel Holt, not being present court adjourned until 9 a.m.
tomorrow. Spent most of the day in attending to official business and put
up for the night at the McNulty house.
Tu. 29 Judge Holt having come
in last night court convened at 9 a.m. and continued in session throughout
the day so I was kept busy in my official capacity. Past the night as last
night.
Wed. 30, Th. 31 Continued in court work each of these 2 days
without much variation.
June, 1877.
Frid. 1st Continued in the court room all
day and until 8 oclock in the evening at which time court adjourned for the
term. Spent the night at the McNulty house as heretofore.
Sat. 2 Came
home at noon and spent the p.m. in knocking about at not much of
anything.
Sun. 3 Spent the day in reading and rest.
Mon. 4 Made a
business trip to Stockton and while there was appointed by the county
commissioners as one of the Teacher's Examining Board. Came home at 8
oclock p.m.
Tu. 5, Wed. 6 Spent each of these days in knocking about
at all sorts of miscellaneous work.
Th. 7 Worked at hoeing in the
garden.
Fr. 8 Went to the postoffice after the mail in the a.m. and
the p.m. being cold and rainy the time was spent in reading.
Sat. 9
Birth Day: Age 25 years. Made business errands to C. C. Foote's and Wm
Wisehart's in the a.m. and spent the p.m. at hoeing potatoes.
Sun. 10
A counterpart of the 3d inst.
Mon. 11 Miscellany in the a.m. and
hoeing corn in the p.m.
Tu. 12 Worked for C. C. Foote at hoeing corn.
Came home at 5 oclock, p.m.
June, 1877.
Wed. 13 Worked at
hoeing potatoes until 9 a.m. and the remainder of the day at finishing the
milk-house mentioned under date of Apr. 19-20.
Th. 14 First Wedding
Anniversary! Having a goodly number of callers and visitors the entire day
was spent in helping to entertain our guests
Fr. 15 Knocked about at
miscellaneous matters.
Sat. 16 As one of the teacher's examining board
went to Stockton where I assisted in an examination. Came home at 7:30
p.m.
Sun. 17 W. E. Foster of Osborne City, a S. S. missionary for the
American Sunday School Union of Philadelphia Pa., came in last evening
after having canvassed the neighborhood somewhat and stopped with us for
the night. At 10 oclock a.m. he organized a Sab. School at our house to be
held at the same hour each Sab. I was chosen Supt. Spent the p.m. in
reading and rest.
Mon. 18 Worked at plastering the milk-house.
Tu. 19 Spent the entire day in the capacity of baby nurse, Rachel being
engaged at the wash-tub!
Wed. 20, Th. 21, Fr. 22 Spent each of these
days in knocking about at little odd jobs of all sorts
and not much
after all.
Sat. 23 Knocked about at miscellaneous work.
Sun. 24 Participated in
our Sab. School exercises at 10 a.m. and spent the remainder of the day in
reading and rest.
Mon. 25 Made a business trip to Kirwin and returned
at 7:30 p.m.
Tu. 26, Wed. 27 Worked both of these days for neighbor N.
Jerby at cradling, raking and binding rye. Mr. Jerby, J. A. Bailey, John
Hastings and I expect to exchange work through harvest, running three
cradles and sufficient additional force to rake, bind and shock the
grain.
Th. 28 The a.m. being rainy did not do much of anything but in
the p.m. worked for Mr. Jerby as above.
Fr. 29 Spent the a.m. in
knocking about at a little of this, that and the other but in the p.m.
worked for J. A. Bailey at cradling, raking and binding rye.
Sat. 30
Went to Stockton to assist in examining the county treasurers books for the
past quarter and to attend to business connected with the clerk of the
dist. court's office. Came home at 6 oclock p.m.
July, 1877.
Sun. 1st A
counterpart of June 24th.
Mon. 3 Worked for J. A. Bailey at cradling
and binding rye in the a.m. and finishing that part of his harvest at noon,
I came home and worked in the p.m. at cutting timber from which to build a
pig pen.
Tu. 3 Worked for John Hastings at cradling and binding
rye.
Wed. 4 Wife and I in company with Mr. & Mrs. J. A. Barker
attended the national celebration at Kirwin and came home at 11 oclock at
night.
Th. 5 Cradled and bound wheat for J. A. Bailey.
Fr. 6
Spent the day in knocking about at miscellaneous work.
Sat. 7 Worked
at cutting and hauling poles from which to construct a pig pen.
Sun. 8
Participated in our S. S. exercises at 10 a.m. and in the p.m. at 3 oclock
we attended the Sugar Loaf S. S., 5 miles west, and came home at 5:30 p.m.
We rode up with the Privett family.
Mon. 9 Spent the day in knocking
about at odd jobs of all sorts.
Tues. 10 Worked in the a.m. for J. A.
Bailey at raking and binding wheat after the cradle & for N. Jerby in the
p.m. at the same work.
Wed. 11 Worked for N. Jerby at cradling, raking, binding
and shocking wheat.
Thur. 12 Worked for J. A. Bailey today the same as
for Jerby yesterday
Frid. 13 With the Bailey Hastings and Jerby forces
worked at home today at helping to cut, bind and shock 5 acres of wheat.
Sat. 14 Worked in the wheat field today for John Hastings same as at home
yesterday.
Sun. 15 Participated in our S. S. at 10 a.m. and spent the
remainder of the day in reading, writing and rest.
Mon. 16 A
counterpart of the 11th inst.
Tues. 17 The a.m. being rainy did not do
much of anything but in the p.m. worked as above, for Mr. Jerby, in the
wheat field.
Wed. 18 Another counterpart of the 11th inst.
Th.
19, Fri. 20 Worked these two days for Mr. Hastings at raking, binding and
shocking wheat.
Sat. 21 Still another counterpart of the 11th inst.
Sun. 22 A counterpart of last Sunday.
Mon. 23 Spent the a.m. in
knocking about at miscellaneous work and the p.m. with wife in visiting at
C. C. Foote's.
Tu. 24 Went to Stockton on official business and came
home at 7 oclock p.m.
July, 1877.
Wed. 25 Light miscellaneous work.
Th.
26, Fr. 27, Sat. 28 Worked these three days at excavating for and hauling
up timber from which to build a stable.
Sun. 29 A counterpart of the
15th inst.
Mon. 30, Tues. 31 Spent these 2 days at work on
construction of the stable as indicated above.
August, 1877.
Wed.
1st, Thur. 2 Continued work each of these two days on construction of the
stable.
Fr. 3, Sat. 4 The weather being rainy and wet these 2 days
were spent mostly within doors reading and entertaining callers.
Sun.
5 Participated in our S. S. exercises at 10 a.m. and spent the remainder of
the day in reading and rest.
Mon. 6, Tues 7 Spent the forenoons of
both these days in knocking about at miscellaneous work and the afternoons
at work on the stable, as above.
Wed. 8 Continued work on the
stable.
Thur. 9 Worked for Mrs. S. A. Privett at quarrying rock.
Fr. 10 Went up to Rockport after the mail in the a.m. and worked in the
p.m. for Jacob Shell at stacking wheat.
Sat. 11 The weather being very hot
did not do much of anything all day. In the evening a number of the young
folks of the community met at our house for a social sing.
Sun. 12 A
counterpart of the 5th inst.
Mon. 13, Tues. 14, Wed. 15 Spent each of
these three days in reading and knocking about at
light miscellaneous
work.
Thur. 16 Quite sick all day with some sort of a bilious
attack.
Frid. 17 Somewhat better yet not able to be about much. Mrs.
J. A. Southard and daughter Ola and Mrs. C. C. Foote and daughter Kittie
visited us several hours today.
Sat. 18 Went to Stockton on business
and came home about 8 oclock p.m.
Sun. 19 Attended church services up
the creek 2 ? miles at the old squire Davis house and listened to a good
sermon by Rev. R. S. Osborne of Bull City. Took dinner at J. A. Bailey's
and then came home and participated in our S. S. exercises at 3 oclock
p.m.
Mon. 20 It being rainy spent the day mostly in reading and at
work within doors.
Tues. 21 Knocked about at miscellaneous work until
3 p.m. and the remainder of the day worked for Jacob Shell helping thresh
his wheat.
August, 1877.
Wed. 22 Finished threshing for Mr. Shell at noon and
spent the p.m. at home knocking about at miscellaneous work.
Th. 23
With wife and the baby went down to C. C. Foote's where we spent the day in
social visiting coming home in the evening about sunset.
Fr. 24, Sat.
25 Spent each of these two days in knocking about at little odd jobs of all
sorts.
Sun. 26 Another counterpart of the 5th inst.
Mon. 27,
Tues. 28 Each of these 2 days was spent same as the 24th and 25th.
Wed. 29 Worked for C. C. Foote at rebuilding and repairing a cattle
corral.
Th. 30 Knocked about at miscellaneous work.
Fr. 31 Worked
in the a.m. for Mrs. S. A. Privett at helping to put the large cottonwood
ridge logs on the new stone dugout. In the p.m. Mr & Mrs. H. E. Williams
and Miss Kittie Foote having called on us the time was spent in social
visiting.
September 1877.
Sat. 1st Light miscellaneous work.
Sun. 2
Participated in our S. S. exercises at 10 a.m. and spent the remainder of
the day in reading and rest.
Mon. 3 A counterpart of the 1st inst.
Tues. 4 Made a business trip to Stockton and came home at 7 oclock
p.m.
Wed. 5 Another counterpart of the 1st inst.
Th. 6 With wife
and little George attended a Sunday School picnic down the creek about 7
miles in Weaver & Warner's grove on the old Sayler place. Came home at 7
oclock pm.
First anniversary of ?Start for Kansas!?
Fr. 7 Worked
in the a.m. at broadcast wheat sowing on ground previously plowed and had
one of the neighbors, J. A. Bailey, harrow it in. Did not do much of
anything in the p.m.
Sat. 8 Not being well and it being rainy the day
was spent within doors.
Sun. 9 A counterpart of the 2nd inst.
Mon. 10 With wife and baby spent the day visiting at J. A. Bailey's.
Tu. 11 Resumed work on our stable, working thereat during the day.
Wed. 12 Made a business errand up west 3 ? miles to N. Jerby's & came
home at noon spending the p.m. in miscellaneous work.
Sept. 1877
Thur.
13 Worked nearly all day at digging potatoes.
Fr. 14, Sat. 15
Continued work each of these 2 days on our stable, nearly completing it.
Sun. 16 A counterpart of Aug. 19th except that I came home for dinner.
Mon. 17 Went up to Rockport after the mail in the a.m. and got home at
noon. Worked in the p.m. at completing our stable.
Tu. 18 With wife
and baby went down to C. C. Foote's where we visited until after dinner and
then went on down to D. A. Duff's where we remained until after supper when
I returned home but wife and baby went across the creek to J. A. Southard's
where they staid all night.
Wed. 19 Worked for neighbor J. A. Barker
at helping to roof his new stone dugout. In the evening went on down to Mr.
Foote's where I met wife and we came home about 9 oclock.
Th. 20, Fr.
21, Sat. 22 Spent each of these 3 days in knocking about at light
miscellaneous
work odd jobs of all sorts.
Sun. 23 Another
counterpart of the 2nd inst.
Mon. 24 Worked all day at mowing prairie
hay with scythe and raking and shocking the same!
Tu. 25 The County Supt. Pub.
Instruction, Moses Adamson, being here as a visitor nearly all day the time
was spent in social chat.
Wed. 26, Th. 27 Spent each of these 2 days
same as the 24th.
Fr. 28 Made a business errand up to J. A. Bailey's
in the morning, and came home at noon worked in the hay field again as
noted above.
Sat. 29 Went up to the Rockport postoffice at 10 a.m.
where I attended a caucus to send delegates to the Republican convention to
be held at Stockton Oct. 6 to nominate county officers. Acted as secretary
of the caucus and was chosen as one of the delegates to the convention.
From there went direct to Stockton with Co. Supt. Of Pub. Instruction,
Moses Adamson, where at 2 p.m. assisted in the examination of 9 school
teachers, I being one of the Board of county examiners. Came home at 9
oclock p.m.
Sab. 30 Participated in our Sab. School exercises at 10
a.m. closing the school for the season. Spent the p.m. in reading and
rest.
October, 1877.
Mon. 1st Made a trip to Stockton on official business
and returned at 7 p.m.
Tu. 2 Spent the day in knocking about at little
odd jobs of all sorts.
Wed. 3 Spent nearly all day at gathering in all
sorts of late garden truck preparatory to a prospective hard freeze
tonight. Cold n. west wind.
Th. 4 Worked the same as yesterday. Very
hard freeze last night killing all killable vegetation.
Fr. 5 Worked
up at neighbor J. A. Bailey's through the day, helping him do his grain
threshing wheat and rye.
Sat. 6 Went to Stockton as a delegate from
this (Bow Creek) township to the county nominating convention. Came home at
7 oclock p.m.
Sab. 7 At home all day. At 11 a.m. listened to a sermon
by Rev. Z. K. Allen, of Lowell, which was preached in our house.
Mon.
8 Did our wheat threshing today finishing at 3 p.m. and working the rest of
the day at husking corn.
Tu. 9, Wed. 10, Th. 11 Spent each of these
three days in knocking about at little odd jobs of all sorts nothing in
particular but everything about the farm in general.
Fr. 12 Went up to
Rockport after the mail in the a.m. and returning at noon spent the p.m. in
miscellaneous work.
Sat. 13 It being rainy nearly all day the time was
spent mostly in reading.
Sab. 14 Spent the day in reading and rest.
First anniversary of life in our own home!
Our living expenses for
the 12 months ending today have been as follows for the articles
enumerated, viz:
Flour, 630 lbs., $17.00; Cornmeal, 260 lbs., $4.00;
Potatoes, 12 bu. $4.00; Pork, 70 lbs., $4.70; Dried fruit, $5.55; Sugar, 30
lbs., $4.00; Lard, 10 lbs., $1.25' Coffee, 6 lbs., 1.50; Beans, 25 lbs.,
1.75; Salt, 1.00; Tea, 1.00; Coal oil, 5 gal., $2.25; Sundries $4.00;
making a total for the year of even $54.00 or about $1.04 per week!
Mon. 15 A counterpart of the 13th.
Tu. 16 Knocked about at
miscellaneous work, among other things making some mangers in the
stable.
Wed. 17 Worked in the a.m. for neighbor Jacob Shell at
stripping sorghum for molasses making and in the p.m. worked at clearing
sorghum and other rubbish from a piece of land to be sown to rye, yet this
fall.
Th. 18 Worked all day for Mr. Shell as noted above.
Oct. 1877.
Fr.
19 A continuous rain being the order of the whole day the time was spent in
reading and writing.
Sat. 20 It still being wet and very disagreeable
the day was spent as yesterday.
Sab. 21 Reading & rest in the a.m. and
in the p.m. took a Sabbath day stroll down to Friend C. C. Foote's and came
home at 5 oclock.
Mon. 22 Made a trip to Stockton early in the morning
to attend the October term of the District Court and officiate as clerk
thereof. Judge Joel Holt of Beloit presided.
The docket was very slim
so court adjourned for the term at 3 oclock p.m. Having considerable other
business to attend to I remained in town over night putting up at the home
of Sheriff John Russell.
Tu. 23 Remained in town all day attending to
business connected with the clerk of the Dist. Court's office and put up
for the night at the log Hotel owned by Joe McNulty.
Wed. 24 Finished
my business at noon and came home at 3 oclock p.m. spending the rest of the
day at miscellaneous work.
Th. 25 Spent the whole day in knocking
about at little odd jobs of all sorts.
Fr. 26 Went to Rockport after
the mail & getting home at 11 oclock spent the p.m. in miscellany.
Sat. 27
Knocking about at miscellaneous work and sowing several acres of rye. In
the evening with several of the neighbors went up south three miles to
fight prairie fires, returning home at one oclock at night.
Sab. 28
Spent the day at home in reading & rest.
Mon. 29 Spent the day in
knocking about at miscellaneous work.
Tu. 30 Worked for neighbor J. A.
Barker at helping him in the building of his new stable.
Wed. 31
Worked for Mr. Barker in the a.m. at husking corn and in the p.m. at his
stable again.
Nov. 1877.
Thur. 1st The a.m. being rainy the time was
spent within doors. In the p.m. worked for neighbor Barker at his
stable.
Fri. 2 Went up to Rockport after the mail in the a.m. and
worked again in the p.m. for Mr. Barker on his stable.
Sat. 3
Continued work for Mr. Barker in the a.m. on his stable and in the p.m. at
helping him haul in hay and out of the shock.
Sab. 4 Spent the day at
home as last Sab.
Mon. 5 Spent the day in knocking about at this, that
and the other and in holding interviews with several candidates for county
offices and others who seem to be very anxious about the election tomorrow.
A. L. Patchin candidate for Co. Attorney and H. L. Dunham for coroner, on
the Republican ticket and Tunis Bulis for the Democrats made calls.
Tues. 6 Attended the county election at the Rockport postoffice and acted
as one of the judges of election. Came home at 8 oclock p.m.
Wed. 7
Worked at husking corn in the a.m. but the p.m. being rainy the time was
spent in reading.
Thur. 8 The weather being disagreeably cold the day
was spent in reading.
Frid. 9 Spent the entire day, with many others, at fighting
prairie fires and burning fire guards north of Bow Creek and over in the
south edge of Phillips Co.
Sat. 10 Miscellaneous work.
Sab. 11 At
home in the a.m. but in the p.m. with wife went up to neighbor J. A.
Bailey's to visit the two John Hastings sick children, who, with their
parents, are stopping at the Baileys for the present. Came home at 6
oclock.
Mon. 12 Knocked about at miscellaneous work.
Tu. 13
Worked all day at hauling up and stacking our prairie hay, finishing the
job
Wed. 14 Spent the day knocking about busily at burying potatoes,
beets, etc.
Th. 15, Fr. 16 Worked both of these days with wife at
papering the house 2 rooms.
Sat. 17 Worked for neighbor Jacob Shell
at helping to haul in and stack his prairie hay.
Sab. 18 Spent the day
in reading and rest.
Mon. 19 A dull rainy day. Knocked about at little
or nothing.
Tues. 20 A counterpart of yesterday. Did some interior
house repairing.
Nov. 1877.
Wed. 21 With a number of the other
neighbors went to the home of J. W. Hastings, five miles west, where we
proceeded to spend the day husking corn for him on account of long
continued sickness in his family. Came home at 6 oclock p.m.
Th. 22
Spent the day in reading and writing.
Fr. 23 Went to Rockport after
the mail in the a.m. and returning at noon worked in the p.m. at building a
stone front to our stable.
Sat. 24 Worked today for neighbor J. A.
Bailey at helping him to buil a cattle corral and a corn crib.
In the
evening attended the first meeting of the ?Bow Creek Literary Society at
the Saylor school house 6 miles down the creek. Was chosen as editor of the
society ?paper? which will be known as the ?Ink Slinger?. Came home at
11:30 oclock.
Sab. 25 A counterpart of the 18th inst.
Mon. 26
Worked at completing the stone work as noted on the 23d.
Tues. 27 Not
being well and the weather being very cold and disagreeable the time was
spent closely within doors.
Wed. 28 Spent the a.m. as yesterday but in
the p.m. got out and chopped and hauled up some fire-wood.
Th. 29 Thanksgiving
Day! Spent the day in reading. In the evening a neighborhood social singing
party was held at our house.
Fr. 30 A little of this, that and the
other and yet not much of anything. In the evening with wife attended our
literary society as noted last Friday. Home at 11 oclock.
December,
1877.
Sat. 1st Spent the day in reading & writing.
Sab. 2 Spent
the day at home in reading and rest.
Mon. 3, Tu. 4, Wed. 5 The weather
being cold and disagreeable, each of these three days was
spent with
little variation in reading and writing.
Th. 6 Made a trip to Stockton
to mill and returned home at 6:30 p.m.
Fr. 7 With wife went down to
the home of our good friend H. E. Williams where we spent the day in social
visiting. From there we attended our literary society and came home at
11:30 p.m.
Sat. 8 Knocked about at odd jobs.
Sab. 9 A counterpart
of the 2nd inst.
Dec. 1877.
Mon. 10 Worked at cutting firewood for
neighbor C. C. Foote.
Tu. 11 Worked at husking corn for neighbor Jacob
Shell.
In the evening attended the organization of the Rockport
Literary Society at the E. S. Stroup dugout 2 ? miles west. Home at 10:30
oclock. Was chosen secretary for the winter.
Wed. 12, Th. 13 Being
?under the weather? each of these two days the time was spent closely
within doors. Did a little reading.
Fr. 14 With wife went down to
neighbor D. A. Duff's where we spent the day in visiting. In the evening we
attended the literary at the Saylor school house and came home at 11 oclock
p.m.
Sat. 15 Knocked about at miscellaneous work. In the evening
preaching services were held at our house conducted by Rev. Z. K. Allen of
Lowell township
Sab. 16 Another counterpart of the 2nd inst.
Mon.
17 Knocking about at miscellaneous work.
Tu. 18 Worked in the a.m. at
chopping wood and in the p.m. at doing some repairs on the house.
Wed.
19, Th. 20, Fr. 21, Sat. 22 An unusual continuous rain storm being the
order of each of these 4 days the time was spent quite closely within doors
mostly in reading and writing.
Sab. 23 And yet another
counterpart of the 2nd inst.
Mon. 24 Went up to Rockport in the a.m.
after the mail and returning at noon spent the p.m. mostly in reading.
Tu. 25 With wife and baby went up to neighbor J. A. Bailey's where we had
a Christmas dinner and spent the time in social visiting and returned home
at 5:30 p.m. Still later we attended the Rockport literary society and came
home at midnight.
Wed. 26 With the help of Mr. Bailey spent the
greater part of the day in butchering two of our fat hogs.
Th. 27
Spent nearly all day with wife at finishing up the butchering business of
yesterday.
Fr. 28 A counterpart of the 24th.
In the evening
attended the Bow Creek literary society at Saylor, and came home at 11:30
oclock.
Sat. 29 Spent the day in reading and writing.
Sab. 30 And
still one more counterpart of the 2nd inst.
Mon. 31 Started to
Rockport after the mail & getting it at J. A. Baileys came home at noon
accompanied by friend Isaac Wilcoxson so the p.m. was spent in social chat
which ended the proceedings of yours truly for the year 1877.
Jan. 1878
Tu.
1st With wife went down to neighbor C. C. Foote's in the forenoon and
finding no one at home we returned as far as J. A. Barkers where we spent
the rest of the day in social visiting and came home at 8 oclock p.m.
Wed. 2 Made a business trip to Stockton and came home at 5:30 p.m. Later
I attended the Rockport Literary society, 2 ? miles west, and returned at
11 oclock p.m.
Th. 3 Spent the a.m. in reading and the p.m. in
gathering our last load of corn of the 1877 crop.
Fr. 4 With wife went
down, 3 miles east, to J. A. Southard's where we spent the day in social
visiting from whence, in the evening, we went over to the Saylor school
house to attend the Bow Creek literary Society. While wife went to pass the
night at the H. E. Williams home I returned alone at midnight.
Sat. 5
Spent the a.m. in reading and the p.m. at helping to cut and haul fire-wood
for neighbor Mrs. S. A. Privett.
Sab. 6 At home until noon and then
went down to Mr. Williams after wife and after remaining there some time we
came home at 5:30 p.m.
Mon. 7 Made an official business trip to
Stockton as Clerk of the Dist. Court and returned at 6 oclock p.m.
Tu. 8 Made
another official trip to Stockton as yesterday and returning at 5:30 oclock
later attended the Rockport literary and came home at 11 oclock.
Wed.
9 Had a little more corn to husk in addition to that mentioned on the 3d so
got it out in the a.m. and worked at chopping wood in the p.m.
Th. 10
Went to Stockton to mill & came home at 5:30 p.m.
Fr. 11 Spent the
time principally in reading until 2 p.m. at which time I made a trip up the
creek 4 miles to N. Jerby's to get some wheat which I had previously
purchased. Came home at 5 oclock and later attended the Bow Creek literary
Society & returned at 11:30 oclock.
Sat. 12 Spent almost the entire
day in reading.
Sab. 13 Spent the day at home in reading and rest
Mon. 14 Spent the day in making a trip to the postoffice and knocking
about at miscellaneous work.
Tu. 15 Made a business trip to Stockton
and returned at 5:30 p.m. In the evening attended the Rockport literary
society and came home at 11 oclock.
Jan. 1878.
Wed. 16 Worked at
chopping wood and knocking about at odd jobs.
In the evening we
attended a social neighborhood party at J. A. Barker's getting home at
11:30 oclock.
Th. 17 Mr. & Mrs. D. A. Duff, Mrs. Sam'l Hebrew and Mrs.
H. E. Williams, our best neighbors, paid us a visit so the day was spent in
social chat.
Fr. 18 Made a trip to the Rockport postoffice in the a.m.
and spent the p.m. in reading and writing.
Sat. 19 Knocked about at
miscellaneous work.
Sab. 20 A counterpart of the 13th inst.
Mon.
21 Spent the day at repair work on the interior of the house.
Tu. 22
Same as the 19th. In the evening attended the Rockport Literary returning
home at 11:15 oclock.
Wed. 23 Spent the day in reading.
Th. 24
Knocked about at miscellany in the a.m. and in the p.m. with wife and baby
George went down to neighbor D. A. Duff's where we attended a turkey supper
and came home at one oclock at night.
Fr. 25 Knocked about here and
there at miscellaneous work and in the evening attended the Bow Creek
literary society at the Saylor school house. Home at 11:30.
Sat. 26 Another
miscellaneous knock-about day including some reading.
Sab. 27 Another
counterpart of the 13th inst.
Mon. 28 Worked all day at chopping
wood.
Tu. 29 It being very cold spent the day closely within doors at
reading.
Wed. 30 In answer to a summons served last evening went to
Stockton today as a witness for the state, in Justice J. L. Benson's court
in the case of the State of Kansas against Wm. Wisehart. Put up for the
night at the McNulty Log Hotel.
Th. 31 The case of yesterday closed at
10 a.m. today. The remainder of the day was spent in official business.
Came home at 8 oclock p.m.
Feb. 1878.
Fr. 1st Mrs. & Mr.
C. C. Foote and Mrs. H. E. Williams called on us so the day was spent in
social visiting. In the evening attended the Bow Creek Literary Society at
Saylor school house and came home at 11:30 oclock.
Sat. 2 Worked for
C. C. Foote at chopping wood.
Sab. 3 Spent the day in reading and
rest.
Mon. 4 Made a trip to Stockton to mill and returned at 6 oclock
p.m.
Tu. 5 Worked all day at wood chopping.
Wed. 6 Worked at
hauling up wood from the timber.
Th. 7 Chopping and hauling up
wood.
Frid. 8, Sat. 9 Owing to the inclemency of the weather spent
each of these two days strictly within doors at reading, writing and little
odd jobs of all sorts.
Sab. 10 A counterpart of the 3d inst.
Mon.
11 Worked all day at chopping and hauling up fire-wood.
Tu. 12 Same as
yesterday. In the evening with wife and the baby went down to neighbor
Sam'l Hebrew's where we attended a Necktie festival given for the benefit
of Revs. Holman & Seville. About 80 persons were present. We came home at
12:30 oclock.
Wed. 13 Took a grist of wheat to the mill at Stockton and
getting there rather late put up for the night at the McNulty Hotel.
Th. 14 Came over from Stockton at 3 p.m. and spent the remainder of the
day in reading.
Fr. 15 Spent the a.m. in reading & writing and in the
p.m. with wife went down to neighbor Sam'l Hebrew's on a visit and from
there attended the Bow Creek literary at Saylor and came home at 11
oclock.
Sat. 16 Spent the day in knocking about at this, that and the
other and still not much after all.
Sab. 17 Another counterpart of the
3d inst.
Mon. 18 With wife went up to neighbor J. A. Baileys where we
spent the day in social visiting, coming home at 5 oclock.
Tu. 19 Made
a trip to Stockton to mill and returned at 6 oclock p.m.
Wed. 20
Weather stormy. Spent the day mostly in reading
Th. 21 Rather on the
sick list so spent the day in trying to get well.
Fr. 22 Made a trip
up to the Rockport postoffice in the a.m. and returning at 11 oclock spent
the rest of the day in reading.
Feb. 1878.
Sat. 23 Worked for
neighbor C. C. Foote at chopping stove wood.
Sab. 24 Still another
counterpart of the 3d inst.
Mon. 25 Aside from going to the postoffice
for the mail spent the day in knocking about at miscellaneous work.
Tu. 26 Worked today at sowing spring wheat for neighbor Sam T. Shell.
Wed. 27 Knocked about at not much of anything all day.
Th. 28 Put in
the day at making several picture frames and framing pictures.
March 1878
Fr.
1st An exact counterpart of Feb. 22nd. More or less rainy all day.
Sat. 2 Weather still inclement. Spent the day almost entirely in
reading.
Sab. 3 Spent the day in reading and rest.
Mon. 4, Tu. 5
Spent each of these two days in knocking about at miscellaneous work.
Wed. 6 Went down the creek about a mile & a half in the forenoon where I
pulled up several hundred seedling cottonwood trees and returning at noon
spent the p.m. in setting them out in various places about the farm.
In the evening went down to neighbor C. C. Foote's where we organized a
singing class to meet at the various homes as circumstances would permit.
Came home at 10:30 oclock.
Th. 7 Spent the day as yesterday at tree
planting.
Fr. 8 Took quite sick with bilious attack last night and
remained in bed all day.
Sat. 9 Somewhat better today but not able to
do any work.
Sab. 10 A counterpart of the 3d inst.
Mon. 11 Worked
for C. C. Foote in assisting at an addition to his house, in the a.m. & got
500 more cottonwood trees on the nearby sandbars and came home at 6 p.m.
March,
1878.
Tu. 12 Went to Stockton to mill and returned at 6 oclock p.m.
Wed. 13 Worked in the a.m. until 9:30 oclock at sowing spring wheat and
then took wife down to neighbor Foote's to assist in the wedding
preparations for the event of tomorrow. Came home before noon and spent the
p.m. in knocking about at miscellaneous work.
Th. 14 Worked in the
a.m. at planting out trees as noted on the 6th and at 2 p.m. went down to
Mr. Foote's again and at 4:30 oclock witnessed the marriage of Jas. A.
Hebrew to Kittie Foote. Staid for the wedding supper & other festivities
and with wife and baby came home at 11:30. Ceremony performed by Rev. Baker
of N. Soloman.
Fr. 15 Knocked about at miscellaneous work in the a.m.
and at noon with wife went down to neighbor Sam'l Hebrew's to attend the
wedding infair dinner at 3 p.m. after which we spent the time in social
visiting and singing and again came home at 11:30 oclock.
Sat. 16
Worked at making garden.
Sab. 17 Another counterpart of the 3d
inst.
Mon. 18 A day of miscellaneous farm work.
Tu. 19 Spent the
a.m. making garden and in setting out cottonwood trees and in the p.m. at
building a small chicken house.
Wed. 20 Spent today in finishing
the chicken house.
Th. 21 Worked for neighbor J. A. Barker at chopping
stove wood. In the evening with wife went down to H. E. Williams to attend
a singing social. Came home at 12:30 oclock.
Fr. 22 After going to the
postoffice and returning at 10:30 oclock spent the rest of the day in
reading and writing.
In the evening, with wife, went down to the
Saylor school house where we took part in an exhibition given by our
literary society at the close of the winter session. We came home at 12
oclock.
Sat. 23 A counterpart of the 18th inst.
Sab. 24 And still
another counterpart of the 3d inst.
Mon. 25 A day of miscellaneous
knock-about.
Tu. 26 Our well having gone dry some time ago worked
today on the digging of a new one.
Wed. 27 It being rainy all day the
time was spent in reading and writing.
Th. 28 Continued work on the
new well.
Fr. 29 A rainstorm being the order of the day the time was
spent mostly in reading.
Sat. 30 Finished digging the well and partly
walled it up in the a.m. and worked
Mch & Apr. 1878
at planting
potatoes in the p.m.
Sab. 31 And yet a final counterpart for the month
of the 3d inst.
April
Mon. 1st Worked until 9 a.m. at planting
potatoes and the rest of the day at continuing the walling up of the
same.
Feb. 2 Continued the well walling in the a.m. and finished our
potato planting in the p.m.
Wed. 3 Spent the day in making garden,
completing the well wall and put a platform thereover.
Th. 4 Knocked
about at odd farm jobs.
Fr. 5 Miscellaneous work in the a.m. and after
dinner with wife went down to neighbor C. C. Foote's where we spent the
p.m. visiting and attended a singing social there in the evening, returning
home at 11:30 oclock.
Sat. 6 Worked for W. J. Hebrew, a half mile
south, at helping him dig a well. In the evening wife and I attended a Blue
Ribbon temperance meeting at the Rockport postoffice where we both signed
the pledge to abstain from alcoholic liquors as a beverage. Came home at
10:30 oclock.
Sab. 7 Spent the day at home in reading & rest.
Mon. 8
Knocked about at miscellaneous work.
Tu. 9 It being rainy spent the
day in reading and writing.
Wed. 10 Making garden and miscellaneous
work.
Th. 11 Another busy day of knock about.
Fr. 12 Same as
yesterday.
Sat. 13 Made a business trip to Stockton & returned at 7
oclock p.m.
Sab. 14 A counterpart of the 7th inst.
Mon. 15 Went
to Rockport after the mail and returning at 11 oclock spent the rest of the
day in reading.
Tu. 16, Wed. 17, Th. 18 Aside from the ordinary chore
duties spent each one of these three days
almost exclusively in
reading.
Fr. 19 Made a trip to the postoffice and return at 11 a.m. &
then spent the time in reading until 3 p.m. at which time with wife went
down to neighbor C. C. Foote's where we visited and took supper & later
participated in the singing social and came home at 11 oclock.
Sat. 20
Spent the day in garden making and wood chopping.
Sab. 21 Another
counterpart of the 7th inst.
April, 1878.
Mon. 22 Made
trip to the postoffice, 2 miles west, and returning at noon spent the p.m.
in reading.
Tu. 23 Worked all day at chopping wood and in the evening
with a company of the neighbors went over south three or four miles to
fight prairie fires and having succeeded in our work returned home at one
oclock!
Wed. 24 Being pretty well done up from the prairie fire of
last night spent the a.m. in rest and worked at wood chopping in the
p.m.
Th. 25 Miscellaneous work odd jobs.
Fr. 26 Went to the
postoffice in the morning and returning at 11 oclock spent the remainder of
the day in reading.
In the evening with Rachel went down to neighbor
C. C. Foote's to attend our singing social and while wife went home with
Mrs. H. E. Williams for the night and then to go with her to Kirwin for a 2
days visit. Came home at 11:15 oclock.
Sat. 27 Spent the day mostly in
reading. In the evening Rev. J. E. Young of Deer Creek, Phillips county
drove in and put up with me for the night, calculating to preach in the
neighborhood tomorrow.
Sab. 28 With Mr. Young went up to Rockport in
the morning to the Isaac Wilcoxson place in whose house, at 11 oclock,
Mr. Young
held services and preached us a good sermon. About 15 people were present.
After the services we proceeded to organize a Sab. School. I was chosen
supt. The school is to meet at the Wilcoxson place each Sabbath at 10
oclock a.m. Came home with the minister at 2 p.m. and while he soon left
for home I spent the remainder of the day in reading and rest.
Mon. 29
Went down to neighbor Foote's in the morning to meet wife but she not
having returned from Kirwin I came home at noon and spent the p.m. mostly
in reading.
In the evening wife returned, having come up from the
Williams with Ernest Thomas, Mrs. W's brother.
Tu. 30 Spent the day in
knocking about at miscellaneous work and in reading and writing.
May,
1878.
Wed. 1st Spent the day in reading and writing.
Th. 2 Made a
trip to Stockton on official and other business and returned at 5 oclock
p.m.
Fr. 3 Spent the day in garden making.
Sat. 4 Spent the time
mostly within doors at helping wife with her housework.
Sab. 5 We
attended Sab. School at 10 a.m. at the Wilcoxson place and returning as far
as Mrs. S. A. Privett's stopped there for dinner and came home at 4 oclock
p.m. In the evening attended services at the above mentioned place and
listened to a rather back-woods sermon by Rev. Enyart of the North Soloman.
Home at 10 oclock.
Mon. 6 Made a trip up to the postoffice and
returning at 10 oclock spent the remainder of the day in reading.
Tu.
7, Wed. 8, Th. 9 Spent each of these three days at miscellaneous work and
at assisting
wife in her housework.
Fr. 10 A day of miscellaneous
knocking about and reading.
Sat. 11 A counterpart of yesterday
Sab. 12 Weather being rainy we held no S. S. today but held preaching
services at 11 a.m., Rev. J. E. Young giving us another good sermon. Came
home at 1 p.m. Mr. Young coming with us to pass the night.
Mon. 13 made an
errand up to J. A. Bailey's in the morning and returning at 11 oclock spent
the remainder of the day in reading and garden making.
Tu. 14 Knocked
about at miscellaneous work.
Wed. 15 Owing to the inclemency (rain) of
the weather spent the day mostly in reading.
Th. 16 Made a business
and official trip to Stockton and returned at 7 oclock p.m.
Fr. 17
Rev. J. E. Young, Cong'l minister staid with us again last night and the
a.m. was spent in social chat and talking over church matters and in the
p.m. with him went down the creek four or five miles interviewing several
parties with reference to the organization of a Congregational church in
the community. We made calls on C. C. Foote, J. A. Southard, H. E. Williams
and Sam'l Hebrew, sr. but with little encouragement. We returned at 7
oclock, Mr. Young coming to pass the night with us.
Sat. 18 Knocked
about at not much of anything in the a.m. and worked in the p.m. with the
county surveyor and several others in laying out a county road on the
section line on the north of our farm. I acted as chain carrier. Finished
the job about 6 oclock.
May 1878.
Sab. 19 Attended S. S. at Wilcoxson's at 3
p.m. and at 4 listened to another sermon by Rev. Enyart as noted on the 5th
inst. Came home at 7 oclock.
Mon. 20 Made a trip to the postoffice in
the morning and returning at 11 oclock worked the rest of the day at
planting garden truck.
Tu. 21 Worked today at planting corn and
sorghum.
Wed. 22 Worked at hoeing in the garden.
Th. 23 Hoed
potatoes all day.
Fr. 24 Made several little neighborhood errands in
the a.m. and worked in the p.m. at planting sod corn.
Sat. 25 Spent
the day at planting corn, melons and squashes on newly broken sod
ground.
Sab. 26 At home all day. At 11 a.m. Rev. J. E. Young preached
a good sermon in our house which was crowded to its capacity. The weather
being oppressively hot we did not attend S. S. in the afternoon.
Mon.
27 Went to Stockton early in the morning to officiate as Clerk of the Dist.
Court, this being the regular spring term. The docket was light & all the
cases were disposed of by 3 p.m. at which time court adjourned. Home at
7.
Tu.
28 Spent the day in knocking about at miscellaneous work about the farm.
Wed. 29 Made an errand trip up to J. A. Bailey's in the morning and
returned at 10 oclock & from then until noon I spent with one J. M. Mellon
of Crete, Neb. in locating him on some unoccupied government land in the
near vicinity to the east and south.
Worked in the p.m. at planting
sod corn.
Th. 30, Fr. 31 Spent each of these two days with little
variation at working in the garden.
June 1878
Sat. 1st With wife
and little George went down to neighbor H. E. Williams where we spent the
day in social visiting. Wife and baby boy remained for the night but I came
home at 7 oclock p.m.
Sab. 2 Attended S. S. at Wilcoxson's at 10 a.m.
and returning at noon spent the p.m. in reading and writing.
Mon. 3
Made an official business trip to Stockton and returned at 7:30 p.m.
Tu. 4 Knocked about at odd jobs of all sorts.
Wed. 5 Worked at
hoeing potatoes.
Th. 6 Being quite sick did no work today.
Fr. 7
Made a trip up to the postoffice in the morning and returning at eleven
oclock spent the remainder of the day at work in the garden.
Sat. 8
Made a business and milling trip to Stockton and returned at 7:30 oclock
p.m.
Sab. 9 Birth Day Age 26!
Rev. J. E. Young again conducted
services at our house at 11 a.m. and after the sermon we had our little
13-months old boy, George, baptized, taking upon us the usual vows of the
church to rear him in the ways of righteousness. At 3 p.m. we attended Sab.
School at the
usual place and returned home at 4:30 oclock.
Mon. 10
Knocked about at miscellaneous work and hoeing potatoes.
Tu. 11 Worked
all day for neighbor J. A. Bailey at hoeing onions.
Wed. 12 Not
feeling very well spent the day mostly in reading.
Th. 13 It being
very wet and muddy spent the day within doors at reading and writing.
Fr. 14 2nd anniversary of our wedding day. Spent the day at working in
the garden and in reading.
Sat. 15 Was called to Stockton early this
morning on official business but not getting through therewith put up for
the night at the McNulty house.
Sab. 16 It being very rainy and not
being able to get home spent the day in town spending the time mostly in
reading putting up for the night as above.
Mon. 17 Remained in town
attending to official business until in the afternoon and returned home at
4 oclock.
Tu. 18 Returned to Stockton again on official business and
came home at 7:30 oclock p.m.
June 1878
Wed. 19 Spent the
day in reading, writing and working in the garden.
Th. 20 Worked all
day at hoeing in the garden.
Fr. 21 Went up to Rockport after the mail
and returning at noon spent the p.m. at work in the garden.
Sat. 22 A
counterpart of the 20th.
Sab. 23 At home all day. At 11 a.m.
participated in a devotional service conducted by Rev. J. E. Young at our
home. Our Sab. school has been discontinued through a lack of interest by
those who should be most interested.
Mon. 24 With the assistance of
several of our neighbors commenced the cutting of our winter wheat so the
day was spent with the other harvesters, alternately, at cradling, raking,
binding and shocking wheat.
Tues. 25, Wed. 26 Each of these two days
was a counterpart of the 24th.
Th. 27 Having a 2-acre patch of rye the
day was spent in working at helping in the cradling, raking, binding and
shocking of it.
Frid. 28, Sat. 29 Worked each of these two days for
neighbor J. A. Bailey at raking and binding rye after the cradle.
Sab. 30
With wife and little George went down to the Saylor school house where at
10:30 a.m. we attended the M.E. quarterly meeting. We took dinner at H. E.
Williams where we remained until toward evening and came home at 6
oclock.
July, 1878
Mon. 1st Made a trip to Stockton on official business
connected with Clerk of the District Court and came home at 7:30 p.m.
Tu. 2 Worked for neighbor J. A. Bailey at cradling, raking and binding
rye.
Wed. 3 Resumed work on the harvesting of our winter wheat working
through the day at cradling, raking, binding and shocking the same.
Thur. 4 With wife and baby George attended a good old Fourth celebration
at Stockton where a large and enthusiastic crowd had gathered from all
parts of the county. We came home at 7:30 p.m.
Fr. 5 Finished cutting
our wheat in the a.m. and worked in the p.m. for neighbor J. B. Privett at
cradling rye.
Sat. 6 Spent the a.m. in working for Privett at raking,
binding and shocking rye and the p.m. in chopping stove wood and knocking
about at odd jobs.
Sab. 7 Spent the day at home in reading and rest.
In the evening we had religious services at our home and a good sermon was
preached by Rev. Theo. Bracken of Phillipsburg.
Mon. 8 It being more
or less rainy all day the time was spent mostly in reading.
Tu. 9 With the help
of neighbor J. A. Bailey worked all day at cradling, raking and binding our
spring wheat.
Wed. 10 Worked all day as yesterday which finished our
small grain harvest for 1878.
Th. 11, Fri. 12, Sat. 13 Worked each of
these three days for neighbor J. A. Bailey at cradling,
raking,
binding and shocking wheat.
Sab. 14 Spent the day in reading and
rest.
Mon. 15 Cradled wheat all day for Mr. Bailey.
Tu. 16
Cradled, raked and bound wheat for Mr. Bailey.
Wed. 17 With Mr.
Bailey's assistance spent the day at work stacking our wheat.
Th. 18 A
counterpart of yesterday, finishing the job.
Frid. 19, Sat. 20 Worked
each of these two days for Mr. Bailey at stacking rye and wheat.
Sab.
21 Spent the a.m. at home & in the p.m. with wife and baby went down to
neighbors H. E. Williams for a call and returned home at 8 oclock.
Mon. 22 Knocked about at miscellaneous work.
Tu. 23 Made a business
trip to Stockton and returned at 7 oclock p.m.
July 1878
Wed. 24 Spent the
day in knocking about at miscellaneous work and digging potatoes.
Thur. 25 Worked in the a.m. at hoeing in the garden but spent the p.m.
mostly in reading.
Fri. 26 In the a.m. worked for W. J. Hebrew, on the
next quarter section south, at excavating for a residence dugout and worked
at garden hoeing in the p.m.
Sat. 27 Worked all day as yesterday
a.m.
Sab. 28 Spent the day at home in reading and rest.
Mon. 29
Finished the Hebrew dugout excavating in the a.m. and spent the p.m. in
knocking about at a little of everything including making observations on
the nearly total solar eclipse at 3 oclock.
Tues. 30 Worked for Mrs.
S. A. Privett, our near neighbor to the northwest, at helping to do their
wheat threshing.
Wed. 31 Worked in the a.m. at the Hebrew dugout in
getting it ready for the roof but not being well in the p.m. did little or
nothing.
August 1878.
Th. 1st Spent the day in quarrying rock for a small
granary.
Fr. 2 Made an errand down to neighbor C. C. Foote's in the
morning and returning at noon spent the p.m. mostly in reading.
Sat. 3
The weather being too excessively hot to do outdoor work the time was spend
principally in reading.
Sab. 4 At home all day. At 11 a.m. we had
church services and a sermon conducted by Rev. J. E. Young of Deer
Creek.
Mon. 5 Spent the a.m. mostly in reading and in the p.m. with
wife & baby went over to neighbor Jacob Shell's where we spent several
hours in social visiting and returned home at 7 oclock.
Tu. 6 Attended
the Township Republican caucus at the Rockport postoffice at 10 a.m. and
acted as secretary of the same. Was elected a delegate to the County
convention to be held at Stockton on the 10th inst. Came home at noon and
in the p.m. went over southeast 2 miles to engage O.P. Coy to do some
plowing for me. Came home at 6:30 oclock.
Wed. 7 Neighbors Mr. & Mrs.
D. A. Duff and Mrs. H. E. Williams being with us for an all day visit the
time was spent in social chat.
Aug., 1878.
Th. 8, Fri. 9
Spent each of these two days in knocking about at a little of everything
but not much of anything.
Sat. 10 Went to Stockton where I attended as
a delegate, the Republican county convention to nominate candidates for the
November election.
Came home at 7:30 p.m.
Sab. 11 Spent the day
in reading and rest until 3 p.m. & then went up to the Wilcoxson house, 2
miles west, where I attended church services conducted by Rev. Enyart of
the North Soloman river. Came home at 6:30 oclock.
Mon. 12 Spent the
day in knocking about at miscellaneous farm work.
Tu. 13 Spent the day
at public road work.
Wed. 14, Th. 15 Spent each of these two days same
as the 12th.
Fr. 16 Knocked about at miscellaneous work until 3 p.m.
and having previously gotten my ground ready, by proxy, spent the rest of
the day at broad-cast wheat sowing.
Sat. 17 Sowed wheat and rye until
2 p.m. and worked the remainder of the day at harrowing in wheat.
Sab.
18 Went up to the Wilcoxson place at 10 a.m. to try to get our Sab. school
in running order again but so few were out that we quit short off. Came
home at noon & spent the p.m. in reading and rest.
Mon. 19 Knocked about
at miscellaneous work until 10 a.m. but spent the reminder of the day at
mowing ? of acre of millet, with the scythe.
Tu. 20 Worked in the a.m.
at cutting weeds out of the corn and in the p.m. at shocking up the millet
cut yesterday.
Wed. 21 Went to Stockton to attend, as clerk, a special
session of the Dist. Court., Judge Joel Holt presiding. Remaining in town
past the night at the Dane's House.
Th. 22 Spent the day in court
attending to official business until 3 p.m. when the session adjourned.
Past the night at the home of my friend, County Attorney A. L. Patchin.
Fr. 23 Came home at 9:30 a.m. and spent the remainder of the day mostly
in reading and writing.
Sat. 24 Made an official and other business
trip to Stockton and returned at 6:30 oclock p.m.
Sab. 25 spent the
day at home in reading and rest.
Mon. 26 Spent the day at
miscellaneous and garden work gathering in some ripened products.
Tu.
27 Acted in the capacity of chain carrier in assisting Co. Surveyor S. S.
Boggs in resurveying Sec. 8, Town 6, Range 18.
Aug., 1878.
Wed. 28 Finished
section 8 at noon and spent the p.m. chaining on section 5, same town and
range.
Th. 29 Knocked about at miscellaneous work in the a.m., but in
the p.m. assisted in the surveying of Sec. 10, Town 6 Range 18 acting as
marker, setting corners.
Fr. 30 Finished marking on section 10 about 2
oclock p.m. and then went to chain carrying on Section 9 continuing the
rest of the day.
Sat. 31 Finished chaining on Section 9 at 11 a.m. and
then coming home spent the remainder of the day mostly in reading and
writing.
Sept. 1878
Sab 1st Spent the day at home. Participated in church
services at 11 a.m. at our house, conducted by Rev. J. E. Young. Milo A.
Wilson, a young school teacher of Kankakee Ill., who is looking for a
homestead location, took up his abode with us today untill such time as he
may satisfactorily locate himself.
Mon. 2 With Mr. Wilson spent the
a.m. in measuring off some recently broken prairie sod and some other land
on the farm and in the p.m. we took a tramp over south west about 4 miles
to look at some homestead land and returned at 6:30 oclock.
Tu. 3 Made
a business trip to Stockton and returning at 1 oclock p.m. spent the
remainder of the day mostly in reading.
Wed. 4 Commenced work for
neighbor J. A. Hebrew on the building of his new stone house.
Th. 5
Worked in the a.m. as yesterday but the p.m. being rainy no work was
done.
Fr. 6 It being rainy all day the time was spent mostly in
reading.
Sat. 7 A counterpart of the 4th inst.
Sab. 8 Spent the
day at home in reading and rest.
Mon. 9 Mr. Wilson, as noted on the
1st inst., having homesteaded, last week, the quarter section of land
adjoining us on
Sept. 1878
the west, the same having been squatted on
previously by one J. B. Privett, a minor, a bumble bee's nest was stirred
up among that class of nearby citizens of anarchistic views who feel that
might always precedes right, who met at the residence of the boy's mother,
Mrs. S. A. Privett, and called Mr. Wilson onto the carpet for the purpose
of forcing him to relinquish his claim to the land. With Mr. Wilson I went
to the Privett place and after a long and somewhat acrimonious wrangle Mr.
Wilson agreed to transfer his papers to other land, no threats of positive
violence being made and thus the disgraceful fiasco ended. This occupied
most of the forenoon. Spent the p.m. at work for Hebrew on the new stone
house.
Tu. 10 Worked in the a.m. for Hebrew, as above and at noon Mr.
Wilson coming down to where we w
ere at work he and I went up south
and southwest several miles to look at more government land but finding
none to suit we came home at 6:30 oclock.
Wed. 11, Th. 12 Worked each
of these two days as on the 4th inst.
Frid. 13 With Mr. Wilson went
over N.E. about 7 miles, into Phillips Co. to see a piece of land he has
homesteaded returning home at 4 p.m. which ended the business of the
day.
Sat. 14 Milo A. Wilson left us early this morning on his return to his
home at Kankakee, Ill., expecting to return here next spring.
Worked
today at hauling up rock for the building of a small stone granary,
completing the job.
Sab. 15 A counterpart of the 8th inst.
Mon.
16 Spent the a.m. in hauling up sand and native lime for my granary and in
the p.m. made a business trip to Stockton and returned at 7:30 oclock.
Tu. 17 Worked in the a.m. for neighbor J. A. Barker at helping do his
fall threshing of small grain and in the p.m. worked for neighbor Jacob
Shell at the same business.
Wed. 18 Finished threshing at Shell's at
10 a.m. and having crushed one of my fingers quite badly while laying up
some stone blocks at the Shell granary, I came home and spent the rest of
the day from 10 oclock principally in reading.
Th. 19 My finger being
too much out of whack for work the day was spent mostly in reading.
Fr. 20 Worked at mowing with scythe, prairie grass, for hay until 3 p.m.
and the remainder of the day worked at stripping sorghum for Syrup
manufacture.
Sat. 21 Spent the day in knocking about at little odd
jobs of all sorts.
Sept., 1878.
Sab. 22 At home all day. At 11 a.m.
participated in church services conducted by Rev. Theo. Bracken at our
home. A good sermon!
Mon. 23 A counterpart of the 21st inst.
Tues. 24 Knocked about at miscellaneous work in the a.m. and in the p.m.
commenced the building of my little stone granary.
Wed. 25 Worked in
the a.m. at stripping sorghum as on the 20th but spent the p.m. mostly in
reading.
Th. 26 Worked all day at laying up stone on the
granary.
Fr. 27 Made a business trip to Stockton and returned about
7:30 p.m.
Sat. 28 Miscellaneous work and a trip to the postoffice
after the mail.
Sab. 29 Another counterpart of the 8th inst.
Mon.
30 A counterpart of the 26th inst.
Oct., 1878.
Tu. 1st Finished
the stone work on the granary in the a.m. and worked at husking corn in the
p.m.
Wed. 2 An exact counterpart of Sept. 27th.
Th. 3, Fr. 4
Spent each of these two days in knocking about at all sorts of farm work,
but very little of any one thing in particular.
Sat. 5 Worked at
hauling up some prairie hay and in taking up potatoes.
Sab. 6 Spent
the day at home in reading and rest.
Mon. 7 Made a trip to Stockton on
official business and returned at 7 p.m. Grand stampede of settlers today
and last night from the frontier counties caused by a reported Indian raid
from the Indian Territory. All reports lacked positive confirmation.
However, a militia company was formed and sworn in with Co. Clerk L. C.
Smith for captain. It fell my lot to be one of the volunteers.
Tu. 8,
Wed. 9 Spent each of these two days exactly as the 3d and 4th were
spent.
Th. 10, Fr. 11 And again each of these two days was spent as
the 3d and 4th insts.
Sat. 12 Made preparations to do our wheat and
rye threshing today but an exceedingly high wind being the order of the day
did little or no work all day.
Oct. 1878
Sab. 13 Made a trip
up to neighbor Bailey's after the mail in the morning and returning at 11
oclock spent the remainder of the day in reading and rest.
Mon. 14 Got
ready again this morning to commence our small grain threshing when a
rather fierce prairie fire came in from the northwest so we all were
compelled to let the threshing stand and go fight fire which we did until
noon when we got it under control. In the p.m. started the threshing
machine but broke a tumbling shaft knuckle about 3 oclock which put us out
of business for the rest of the day.
Tu. 15 Finished our threshing at
noon and worked in the p.m. at repairing and fixing up our stable.
Wed. 16, Th. 17 Worked each of these two days for neighbor J. A. Hebrew
at excavating for a stable.
Fr. 18 A big day indeed, for both self and
wife! At 8 a.m. became heir to an 11 ? lb. boy. At 11 went down to neighbor
C. C. Foote's with Dr. H. F. Albright of Smith Center and Rev. Theo.
Bracken of Phillipsburg who had called to see why I had failed to attend a
duly called meeting at the Foote home for the purpose of organizing a
Presbyterian church. When they learned of the circumstances causing my
failure to show up I was duly excused. We then went on with the services
and
proceeded to organize the Bow Creek Presbyterian church with five charter
members, as follows: Mr. Sam'l Hebrew, sr. Mrs. Jane Hebrew, Mrs. Kittie E.
Hebrew, Mrs. Rachel I. Bartholomew, the latter joining by letter from the
Farmington, Ill., Presbyterian church, and myself. To complete the
organization I was duly elected, ordained and installed ruling elder! Came
home at 2 oclock p.m. and spent the remainder of the day mostly in
attending to matters about the house.
Confirmatory reports of the
Indian raid which was done by a large band of the northern Cheyennes who
had been removed to the Indian Territory, have been recieved and show that
in the last days of Sept. and first days of October much damage to property
and the killing of many settlers was the result especially in the counties
of Sheridan, Decatur and Rawlins. In Decatur the murders and scalpings are
said to aggregate about 18. (See Oct. 7)
Sat. 19 Spent the day at
hauling up some firewood and in taking two loads of sorghum over to the
Jacob Shell cane mill.
Sab. 20 At 11 a.m. attended the first Sabbath
meeting of our new church at the home of neighbor C. C. Foote where
services will be held for the present. Heard a good sermon by Mr. Bracken
and returned home at 1 p.m. spending the rest of the day principally in
reading.
Oct., 1878.
Mon. 21 Continued work for J. A. Hebrew at excavating
for his stable, finishing the job. J. M. Mellon whom I located on
government land in this community the 29th of last May drove in this
evening to remain a week or two to put up a dug-out house & then to return
to Neb. to bring out his family in the near future.
Tu. 22 Made a trip
to Stockton on official and other business and returned at 7:30 p.m.
Wed. 23 Worked for J. A. Hebrew at helping on the walling up of his
stable.
Th.24, Fr. 25 Worked each of these days for Hebrew at the
stone work on his new house.
Sat. 26 Went to Stockton as a delegate to
the Republican nominating county convention and came home at 7:30 p.m.
Sab. 27 Spent the day in reading and rest,
Mon. 28, Tu. 29, Wed. 30
Went to Stockton and spent each of these three days acting as clerk of the
Dist. Court for the October term. Put up each night at the Stockton
Hotel.
Th. 31 Court adjourned in the forenoon but having considerable
unfinished official business to do I did not come home until 8 p.m.
Nov.
1878.
Fr. 1st With neighbor J. M. Mellon went down N.E. 3 ? miles to
the Isaac Pearce place to get a ridge pole for his new dug-out house and
returning home at 3 p.m. spent the rest of the day in knocking about at
miscellaneous work.
Sat. 2 Worked for neighbor J. A. Hebrew at helping
to build on his stone house. In the evening attended a political meeting at
the Rockport postoffice and heard speeches by Laf. C. Smith, candidate for
Representative, O.C.R. Randall for Co. Atty. and W.B. Lecompte for Clerk of
the Dist. Court. Home at 10:30 oclock.
Sab. 3 Attended church at C. C.
Foote's at 11 a.m. and heard a sermon by Rev. Bracken. Came home at 1:30
p.m. and spent the remainder of the day in reading and rest.
Mon. 4
Worked in the a.m. for J. A. Hebrew at helping to dig a well and in the
p.m. made a business trip to Stockton and returned at 7 oclock.
Tues.
5 Our township, Bow Creek, which was 6 x 21 miles in extent, having
recently been divided into a 6 x 12 mile territory and named Farmington for
Farmington, Ill. our old home town, and the place of holding the elections
having been transferred from Rockport to the residence of A. G. Muir 5 ?
miles southeast of here, I went over there early in the morning
Nov.,
1878.
I attended the election and sat as one of the judges on the
election board. Came home at 9 oclock p.m.
Wed. 6 Worked in the a.m.
for J. A. Hebrew at cutting down some trees and cutting poles therefrom.
Spent the p.m. at home mostly in taking up and caring for garden truck.
Th. 7 Wife and the children not being well spent nearly the whole day
about the house attending to little odd jobs of all sorts.
Fr. 8
Having quite a severe attack of the neuralgia spent the day almost entirely
within doors.
Sat. 9 A rain storm being the order of the entire day
the time was spent almost exclusively in reading.
Sab. 10 Went down to
C. C. Foote's in the a.m. to attend our church Sab. school which is to be
held every two weeks but the weather being cold and sleety no school was
held. Came home at noon and spent the p.m. in reading.
Mon. 11 Knocked
about at odd jobs principally in fixing things up for cold weather.
Tu. 12 Did miscellaneous work in the a.m. but in the p.m. made a business
trip to Stockton and returned
at 6 oclock. Received today a
certificate of election to the office of Trustee for this, Farmington
township as a result of the election last week.
Wed. 13, Th. 14, Fr.
15, Sat. 16 Worked each of these four days with little variation for J. A.
Hebrew on the stone work of his new house.
Sab. 17 Attended church as
usual at the Foote home and heard a good sermon at 11 a.m. by Rev. Bracken
who came home with me for dinner and remained for the afternoon, going down
to Sam'l Hebrew sr's for the night.
Mon. 18, Tu. 19, Wed. 20, Th. 21,
Fr. 22 Again spent each of these five days at stone work for J. A. Hebrew
on his new house and also we did a little stone work on a new milk house
which he is putting up.
Sat. 23 Knocked about at miscellaneous work in
the a.m. and in the p.m. made an official and other business trip to
Stockton and returned at 6 oclock.
Sab. 24 Attended Sab. School at
Foote's at 10:30 a.m. and came home at 1:30 p.m., Mr. & Mrs. H. E. Williams
coming with me and remaining until evening.
Mon. 25 Spent the day in
knocking about at a little of everything working hard but not being able
to see much done.
Nov., 1878.
Tues. 26, Wed. 27, Th. 28 Worked each of
these three days for J. A. Hebrew at doing stone work on his new milk
house. Thursday morning wife and our two little boys, George and Elbert,
went down with me to C. C. Foote's where they remained for the day and also
for the night.
Fr. 29 In the a.m. went up west 4 miles to neighbor
Nicholas Jerby's to get a calf he has been herding for me the past summer.
Came home at noon and spent the p.m. in knocking about at miscellaneous
work.
Sat. 30 Worked in the a.m. for neighbor J. M. Mellon at helping
to get his dugout ready for occupancy soon as possible. After dinner made a
trip to the postoffice & returning at 2:30 oclock spent the remainder of
the day mostly in reading.
Dec., 1878.
Sab. 1st Attended
church services at Foote's at 11 a.m. and heard a good sermon by Rev.
Bracken. Took dinner with the Foote's and with wife and the boys who have
been visiting in that neighborhood since last Thursday came home about 5
oclock p.m.
Mon. 2, Tu. 3 Worked each of these two days for J. A.
Hebrew as on Nov. 26, 27 & 28.
Wed. 4 Worked today for J. M. Mellon at
finishing the excavating for his dugout house.
Th. 5, Fr. 6 Worked
these two days at plastering, with mortar made from native lime and sand,
the Mellon dugout but did not complete the job.
Sat. 7 Miscellaneous
work in the a.m. and in the p.m. put a willow and sod roof on the dugout
built last summer for W. J. Hebrew. See July 29th.
Sab. 8 Owing to the
inclemency of the weather spent the day at home in reading and rest.
Mon. 9, Tu. 10, Wed. 11 Worked each of these three days for neighbor J.
M. Mellon at quarrying rock about 1 ? miles southeast of here on a tract of
rough unclaimed government land in Section 11.
Th. 12 Worked today at
finishing the job noted on the 5th and 6th insts.
Dec. 1878.
Frid. 13 A severe
snow storm being the order of the entire day the time was spent assisting
Rachel at papering a portion of the house.
Sat. 14 Spent the day as
yesterday. About 4:30 p.m. neighbor D. A. Duff of down the creek three
miles drove in and requested that we all bundle up and go down with him to
pass the night with his folks so we were soon in his big sled and away we
went for the night.
Sab. 15 We went with the Duffs to the Foote place
to attend church services but Mr. Bracken failed to come on account of bad
roads I suppose, we turned the meeting into a Sabbath school after which we
went back to Duffs and remained there until evening when Mr. Duff brought
us home in his sled at 5:30 oclock.
Mon. 16 Made a trip up to the
Rockport postoffice after the mail and returning at noon spent the p.m. in
reading.
Tu. 17, Wed. 18 Spent each of these two days almost entirely
in reading.
Th. 19 A good counterpart of the 16th.
Fri. 20 Spent
the day principally in reading and writing.
Sat. 21 Made a trip to Stockton on
official business and other matters and returned at 5:30 p.m.
Sab. 22
Went down to the Foote place to attend S. S. at 10:30 a.m. but there being
only four persons present no school was held. Came home at 12:30 oclock and
spent the p.m. in reading and rest.
Mon. 23 Made an errand down to
neighbor C. C. Footes in the forenoon where I took dinner and returned home
at 2:30 oclock. Our good neighbors, Mr. & Mrs. H. E. Williams called at
this time so the rest of the day was spent in social visiting with them.
Tu. 24 Spent the day in reading and knocking about at little odd jobs of
all sorts
Wed. 25 Spent the a.m. in reading and in the p.m. made
social calls and errands at the homes of neighbors D. A. Duff and Sam'l
Hebrew, sr., the latter being ill. In the evening with wife and the babies
went down to C. C. Foote's where we enjoyed a good Christmas supper and
returned home shortly after midnight.
Th. 26 Reading, chopping wood
and miscellaneous knocking about.
Fr. 27 Made an official business
trip to Stockton and returned at 5 oclock p.m.
Dec., 1878.
Sat. 28 Spent the
day in reading and chopping wood.
Sab. 29 Went down to the Foote place
to attend Sab. school at 10:30 a.m. but no one coming out I went on down to
neighbor Sam'l Hebrew, sr's to call on him in his continued sickness.
Remained about an hour and came home at 1:30 oclock spent the remainder of
the day in reading & rest.
Mon. 30 Spent the day in reading, writing
and study.
Tu. 31 Made a trip up to Rockport after the mail and
returning at noon spent the p.m. in reading.
And thus endeth the more
or less momentous year of our Lord 1878.
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/209107/text
