No diaries have been
found for the years 1884 and 1885. The
following is from his 1886 diary, the year he turned 24 years old.
In the front of the
diary, written in lovely script, is “Harvey Williamson
(Wash. Co.) N.Y.”
Jan. 2 – In the forenoon we read out the Straw down in the lower place under the barn & chored around and in the afternoon the girls went down to Bedlam & I went down to Argyle and got my Rubber Boots taped and it is a nice pleasant day warm & muddy it freezes nights & at night I went down to South Argyle and made a visit with a gal.
Jan. 3 – We all went to church and we heard** a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron and his text was pslams the 31st. & the first clause of the 16 verse and it is a nice pleasant day warm & some cloudy and quite muddy to.
Jan. 4 – In the forenoon father drawed some rails up in the big field where the Hay Barn is & made a stack yard and I helped Jim McWhorter chop some down in the lower woods and in the afternoon father took a small grist down to Bedlam & I chored around and it is a pretty cloudy day and warm to and very muddy. At night the girls & I went over to the young People’s prayer meeting at the church and it rained most all night I should think.
Jan. 5 – In the forenoon I chored around went down to Andys. Father chored around and in the afternoon we rung (?) the pigs and chored around and it is a fine day warm & pleasant 50 very warm for time of year. Snow is all gone it rained most all night last night guess & very muddy and at night I went down to Bedlam and it got colder & snowed a little.
Jan. 6 – In the forenoon I chored around & father did to & in the afternoon we did about the same and we went over & drawed a load of Hay from the Hay barn to the stack yard in the same field & took the sheep down to the lower barn & brought the young cattle up to the Hay Barn & it is a pretty cold day & very rough going. At night I went down to Bedlam to singing school.
Jan.7 – I chored around all day went down to the school House & sawed some wood & kicked foot Ball some & cut Jim McWhorters Hair. Our folks all went down to Uncle Alex’s a visiting at Bedlam at night Jim & I went down to Andy’s awhile and it is a very cold & rough day or at night some warm through the day & some clear.
Jan. 8 – I went up & helped Jim McWhorter to thresh Oats all day. & father chored around all day & it is a nice pleasant day clear & cold. it was zero in the morning.
*was the Post Office
open on New Year’s Day?
**he now spells the
words ‘pleasant’ and ‘heard’ correctly.
In previous journals they were consistently misspelled.
Jan. 9 - I helped to do the chores and we didn’t do much all day after dinner we drove down to the lower place & got an old Sheep that had a lamb & brought her up & put her in the Horse Barn cellar and it snowed and blowed most all day. the snow was very light & it drifted it snowed 3 or 4 inches guess.
Jan. 10 – We all went to church & Ema rode with us and came back also and we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron and his text was Romans the 8 chapter & the 28 verse and it is a pleasant day but very cold & bad going quite a lot of Snow but no sleighing.
Jan. 11 – I chored around & went up to McWhorters. He killed two Beever I helped some and got my dinner up there we played dominoes father in the meantime went down to North Argyle with Jim Mahaffy to pay his taxes & it is a pleasant day clear and very cold. zero in the morning and at night Orrie & I went down to Bedlam to the Parsonage to the History class.
Jan. 12 – I helped to do the chores and I didn’t do much of
any thing father chored around and it is a very cold day but clear &
pleasant & still to. It was 20 below
zero in the morning, fearful cold. At
night I went up to Harford & made Etta a visit had a fine time got home
about
Jan. 13 – I helped to do the chores and I went out to
Jan. 14 – I helped to do the chores & Father chored around & I went down to Bedlam & visited the school and came back before night or about night and it is a nice pleasant day clear & very cold thawed a very little on South side and it was about 11 below zero in the morning & it is some warmer through the day.
Jan. 15 – In the forenoon we drawed out the rest of the Hay out of the Hay barn to the Stack yard in the big field. In the afternoon I went over to Granfathers & sawed some wood for him & father went down to Bedlam and it is a nice pleasant day below zero in the morning & it is some warmer through the day.
Jan. 16 – Father went out to
Jan. 17 – We all went to church and we heard a sermon by Willard McEachron and his text was Matthew the 28 chapter & the 19 and 20 verses and it is a nice day warm but rather cloudy it thawed some to. some cooler at night.
Jan. 18 – I went to school down to Bedlam just begun I drive down and father chored around & it is a nice pleasant day clear & not very cold and at night it clouded over & looks like Snow not very cold. I went in a wagon some sleighs going.
Jan. 19 – I went to school down to Bedlam took a Cutter and Father chored around and it snowed most all day & very hard part of the time it snowed already over 6 inches should think & still snowing looks like sleighing now.
* perhaps his sister
Emma got married. He spelled her name
‘Ema” in some of the older journals,
too.
Jan. 20 – I helped to do the chores & I went to school down to Bedlam didn’t come home at night went from singing school up & stayed all night with Geo. McEachron and our folks went down to Bedlam & took a grist and it is a nice pleasant day but rather cool enough sleighing now.
Jan. 21 – In the morning I went over to Geo. Bs & got Breakfast & went from there to school to Bedlam and it is a pretty cloudy day not very cold and it snowed some & rained some to it packed down some. And Martin Rogers & Kathrine was here a visiting & Ema came up and stayed all night.
Jan. 22 – I went to School down to Bedlam & our folks went over to Granfathers a visiting and it is a nice day but rather cloudy & snowed a little not much & at night I went up to Belcher and took a ride with a dame.
Jan. 23 – Father took 6 barrels of Apples out to
Jan. 24 – We all went to church and we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron and his text was 2 Kings the 7 chapter & the 9 verse and Willard went down to the lower church & preached for them in the afternoon & it is a pretty cloudy day snowed a little & quite cold to and in the morning it was about 10 below zero.
Jan. 25 – I went to school and Father chored around went down to Bedlam & got a grist and we measured up a load of rye and at night I took the girls down to Bedlam to the History class at the Parsonage and it is a nice pleasant day some cold. good sleighing.
Jan. 26 – I went to school down to Bedlam and father took a
load of
Jan. 27 – I went down to Geo. McEachron’s put my horse in
his barn & then he & I went out to
Jan. 28 - I went to school down to Bedlam and it is a pretty cloudy & warm day thawed a lot and the sleighing is getting quite thin no wagons yet and our folks was down to Bedlam.
Jan. 29 – I went down to Bedlam to school and when school was
out
Jan. 30 – I helped to do the chores and father & I drawed 4 loads of Hay from the Hay Barn to the big barn both on the lower place and 2 from the stack up on top of the hill in the meadow down to the big barn and it is a pretty cloudy day snowed some part of the day some warm & Ema came up.
Jan. 31 – I helped to do the chores and we all went to church & we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron and his text was Matthew the 9 chapter & the 12 verse and Ema rode down home with us & George went to church with us and it is a nice pleasant day warm it snowed about 3 inches last night good sleighing now.
Feb. 2 – I helped to do the chores and I went to school down to Bedlam and father drawed wood out to the road from the woods and it is a nice day cold in the morning it was 8 below zero. and I stayed down to Bedlam till after night.
Feb. 3 – I went to school down to Bedlam and at night I stayed down till after singing school and then came home and it is a nice day rather cool & good sleighing. Father drawed out wood from the woods along the road. 2 below zero in the morning.
Feb. 4 – I went to school down to Bedlam and it is a very very cold & windy 10 below zero in the morning & 14 below at night & at night Henrietta Willett came up home with me & Johnnie Williamson* & his folks were down here a visiting.
Feb. 5 – I went to school down to Bedlam and it is a nice clear day but very cold it was 20 below zero this morning and our folks went down to Geo. B.’s a visiting. & at night George Ema & us except father went down to * Boyds a calling or visiting George took his team.
Feb. 6 – I helped to do the chores & I went down to the school house & sawed the rest of the wood & then went down to Argyle with the Hebron boys to play a game of foot Ball we went in a load we come of victorious score Argyle 9 Hebron 13 and we got home about 7 o’clock & father chored around & ***M. Gibson came over here a visiting & at night the choir met here to practice & it is a nice pleasant day some warmer but 10 below zero in the morning.
Feb. 7 – I helped to do the chores & we all went to church & we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron and his text was Luke the 20 chapter & the 41 & 42 verses I think and Henrietta & *** Mary went home & it is a nice warm day cloudy & warmer.
Feb. 8 – Father Andy & I drawed ice from the mud lake all day we drawed 6 loads and it is a nice pleasant day thawed a little & at night I went down to Bedlam with Willett Gillis and father took the girls down to Bedlam to the parsonage and we packed the ice in the cellar.
Feb. 9 – I went to school down to Bedlam and went from school up to Granville I came back by Hartford & made Etta a short call and than came home & father chored around & put up a load of Rye & Oats and it is a nice pleasant day thawed a lot & the sleighing is getting thin some places.
Feb. 10 – I went to school down to Bedlam and father took a load of Rye & Oats & a few Apples and it is a nice pleasant day thawed quite a lot some cloudy the sleighing is
getting thin. I came up & got supper at Georges & then went back to singing school and then came home.
Feb. 11 – I went to school down to Bedlam and in the afternoon father went over to Granfathers and helped him to draw wood & the girls went along & it is a rather cloudy & soft day thawing pretty fast the sleighing is getting thin it rained some at night.
*could this be
Georgiana’s family?
**can’t read first
name, perhaps it’s Willis
*** can’t read names
Feb. 12 – I went to school down to Bedlam and our folks went up to Alex Williamson’s a visiting & George & Ema went at night Ema stayed all night and at night Orrie & I went down to John Willetts to a Candy pull & had a good time & Orrie stayed all night and it is a pretty cloudy day rained last night & to night some I went to school in a sleigh & took a wagon at night. the sleighing is g-o-n-e.
Feb. 13 – I helped to do the chores and chored around most all day and in the afternoon Ema & Annie went over to Granfathers and it is a pretty cloudy day warm & rainy.
Feb. 14 – We went to church & we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron and his text was in the 5 chapter of Mark I think and Orrie came home with us & it is a pretty warm & cloudy day muddy & at night the girls & I went over to the church to Prayer meeting.
Feb. 15 – I went to school down to Bedlam and it is a pretty warm & cloudy day thawing the ground looks bare very muddy and father chored around & at night father & the girls went over to the church to Prayer meeting & I stayed at home & kept house.
Feb. 16 – I went to school down to Bedlam and I stayed down & went to the Oyster Supper at the Hall given by Mr. Wiley’s church folks, and our folks went over to prayer meeting @ our church and it is a nice day some warm & pretty rough & some windy.
Feb. 17 – I went to school down to Bedlam and at night I stayed down to Bedlam awhile & went to a * Party at McKnights & at night our folks went over to the church to Prayer meeting and it is a nice pleasant day clear & some cold & Father & the girls went down to Bedlam & Georges.
Feb. 18 – I went to school down to Bedlam and in the afternoon Igot excused & George McEachron & Sherman McNeil & I went down to Salem. we went up to the court house & a case tried & seen the Prisoners & Uncle Tom H’s folk came down here a visiting. Granfather & Granmother came over & Geo. & Ema came up and it is a nice warm day thawed some pretty good going.
Feb. 19 – I went to school down to Bedlam and our folks went
to church and they heard a sermon by Mr. McKenzie of
Feb. 20 – In the forenoon we went down to Jay Barkley’s saw mill & got a load of sawdust and in the afternoon we all went to church & we heard a sermon by Rev. Mr. McKenzie & his text was Revelation the l chapter & the last clause of the 5 verse and it is a pretty rough day it snowed quite a lot & got very cold at night & windy to.
Feb. 21 – I helped to do the chores and we all went to church and we heard a sermon by Rev. Mr., McKenzie and it was sacrament Sabbath and they was 13 joined the church & his text was l Peter the l chapter & the first clause of the 8 verse I think & it is a pretty cloudy & cold & windy day snowed some to.
Feb. 22 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon I chored around & father went down to Bedlam & in the afternoon I went down to Bedlam and at night I took the girls down to Bedlam and it is a nice pleasant day clear & warm some cool at night.
Feb. 23 – I went to school down to Bedlam & father went down to argyle & chored around and it is a nice pleasant day thawed some but rather cool and at night Charley McGeoch came up awhile.
*can’t read what kind
of party – looks like ‘Nut’
Feb. 24 – I went to school down to Bedlam and at night I stayed down till after Singing school and then came home & father chored around and it is a nice pleasant day some cool & some windy clear.
Feb. 25 – I went to school down to Bedlam and Annie went down with me she stoped to Georges at night and father chored around & it is a warm day but unpleasant it snowed some & then rained. pretty slippery.
Feb. 26 – I went to school down to Bedlam and it is a very
windy & rough day cold & growing colder all day fearful at night. father chored around & I at night started
for
Feb. 27 – I helped to do the chores & in the afternoon I
went down to Argyle to town Caucus and David Stott was nominated for Supervisor
James Harper to Town Clerk Andrew Reynolds for Road Com. Charley * for assessor
Alex Lester for Collector. And then Levi
McDougall & I went out to
Feb. 28 – I helped to do the chores and it is a pretty cold day but clear & pleasant where the wind didn’t blow and Orrie & I went to church & we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron & Annie came home with us we went in a wagon but they was some sleighs there. & Father stayed at home & kept house.
Mar. 2 – In the forenoon George McEachron & I went down to Argyle to Town Meeting I voted straight Rep. when we came back we got dinner. & then went down to Bedlam at night went to the Pie festival at Mr. Wiley’s and our folks went over to Grand fathers awhile & it is a pretty cold & windy day. I went to Bedlam in a sleigh. poor sleighing though.
Mar. 3 – I went down to Bedlam & the Argyle boys came
over & played us Bedlam boys a match game of foot Ball score Argyle 6
Bedlam 16. and at night I stayed down
for singing school and father went out to
Mar. 4- I went down to Bedlam & fooled around went in the Examination & practiced some for the Exhibition and brought Anna Gibson & Henrietta Willett home with me & at night they was a candy & Ice cream party here quite a lot here and had a good time guess and it is a nice pleasant day thawed some & some cloudy to.
Mar. 5 – I went down to Bedlam & took Anna Gibson down with me. & Annie went down to Ema’s & we practiced for the Exhibition and father & Orrie took Henrietta down home in the afternoon & it is a nice pleasant day some warm & thawed some. School wound up for good the Winter Term.
Mar. 6 – I chored around & in the afternoon I took Orrie down to Ema’s & stayed till after supper & then I took the girls down to Bedlam I practiced awhile & then we went up to Mr. Gibson’s the ** met up their and it is a nice pleasant day some cool thawed some & muddy. father chored around.
*can’t read last name
– looks like Rill or Rue
**can’t read word
Mar. 7 – I helped to do the chores & we all went to church & we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron & his text was Matthew the 16 chapter & the 24 verse and it is a nice pleasant day clear & some warm rather muddy.
Mar. 8 – I went down to Bedlam & practiced for the Exhibition and father chored around and it is a pretty cloudy day & snowed most all afternoon & snowed at night some.
Mar. 9 – In the forenoon we drawed 3 loads of hay from the Hay barn on the lower place to the big barn down there & brought up l load of straw up home and in the afternoon I went down to Bedlam to Practice & at night we had an Exhibition the Hall was cram full had a good time and it is a nice * cold day snowed some cool at night.
Mar. 10 – I helped to do the chores & in the morning I drawed up 3 small loads of wood to the house & then I sawed & split most all day & Father & Annie went & Orrie to down to Uncle John Cs a visiting and it is a nice pleasant day warm & muddy cold in the morning and at night George & Ema** came up.
Mar. 11 – In the forenoon I sawed & split wood at the door & Father chored around and in the afternoon I took a grist down to Bedlam got the saw filed & got a new axe and father took Emma & Orrie to Granfathers and he bought a Double Wagon of Andy Hannah for $65.
Mar. 12 – In the forenoon I drawed up a load of Wood on the wagon to the door & then sawed & split wood at the door & father went over & got the double-wagon he bought of Andy Hannah & in the afternoon I sawed some wood & shelled some corn & chored around & it snowed nearly all afternoon at night I went over to Granfathers after Ema & Orrie & it is a warm day cloudy.
Mar. 13 – I helped to do the chores and in the forenoon I sawed & split wood at the door & we drawed 2 small loads up to the house & father chored around & in the afternoon Mitchel & I cut wood in sleigh lengths down in the lower woods some of it was rail timber & Father drawed it out to the meadow in a sleigh they is snow in the woods & it is a pretty cloudy day some snowey & windy at night George B. came up & took the girls down to Bedlam.
Mar. 14 – I helped to do the chores and George & Ema
went home & we all went to church & we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard
McEachron & his text was Luke the 8 chapter & the 5 verse and it is a nice
pleasant day thawed some & very muddy too.
Mar. 15 – In the forenoon Mitchel & I cut rail timber down in the lower
woods & Father drawed it out in the field and in the afternoon I sawed
& split wood at the door & father drawed up some wood at the door &
it is a beautiful day it thawed a lot & very muddy clear & warm &
at night the girls went over to John R. McClellans with Fosters folks & I
went up to Belcher & took Belle out a rideing had a good time.
Mar. 16 – In the forenoon I sawed & split & cut wood at the door & in the afternoon we went down to where we drawed some out from the wood’s & I cut it up in cord wood & Father drawed it up to the house and it is a nice pleasant day some cloudy & cool rained some in the night last night very muddy.
*he wrote ‘pleasant
day’, then crossed it out
**looks more and more
like Emma married George, sometime in 1884 or 1885, the years that journals are missing.
**Additional note:
According to family records compiled by Lois McWhorter Kilmer, Emma married George Barkley on
Mar. 17 – In the forenoon I cut wood at the door & in the afternoon I cut some wood down in the little meadow in cord wood & Father drawed two small loads up to the house & then we both sawed & split wood about 6 o’clock I started for Frank Gourleys and we went up to see two girls at North Hartford & had a good time the girls went down to Bedlam & it is a nice pleasant day warm & very muddy.
Mar. 18 – In the forenoon I cut the rest of the wood down in the little meadow & father drawed most of it up to the house & in the afternoon we drove the colt aways & then I cut & sawed wood at the door and it is a nice pleasant day some cooler but very muddy yet & Ema McNeil came over & stayed all night here.
Mar. 19 – In the forenoon we went down on the lower place & I cut down a tree by the woods & father drawed it up to the house & in the afternoon Father went down to Bedlam & got a beetle made and got the saw filed & I cut wood at the door till it snowed & the girls took Ema McNeil over home & stoped at Granfathers awhile and it is a pretty cloudy snowed about 3 or 4 inches in the afternoon.
Mar. 20 – In the forenoon I chored around & cut wood at the house & father chored around & George & Ema came up a visiting & it rained & in the afternoon I cut wood at the door & drawed up a load & it is a pretty cloudy day rained quite a lot and muddy to & at night I went down to Bedlam went around by Belcher & seen Belle for next Thursday night.
Mar. 21 – I helped to do the chores and Father Orrie & I went to church & we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron & his text was Matthew the 13 chapter & the 5-6 verses and Annie stayed at home & kept house and it is a pretty cloudy day rained some & it is very very muddy.
Mar. 22 – In the forenoon I cut a tree over in the big field & father drawed it up to the house. We made a few rails out of it & in the afternoon I sawed some wood at the door & it came on a snow storm & snowed most all afternoon quite hard part of the time cloudy day not very cold & it snowed about 2 inches last night.
Mar. 23 – In the forenoon I cut a tree down in the woods & we drawed it up to the house & Father went out to fort edward drove the colt & I cut wood & in the afternoon I took a load of dry wood over to * & then I drew up a load of cull wood down in the woods & then cut wood at the door. The girls went down to Bedlam & it is a pretty cool & cloudy day quite muddy & it got quite cold at night.
Mar. 24 – In the forenoon I took a load of dry wood over to * & father chored around & in the afternoon Father took over a nother load to make a cord or over & Mitchel & I went over & sawed & split at it & it is a nice pleasant day some cold last night & day time to, rough & at night Charles McGeoch & I went down to South Argyle to see two girls we had quite a large time.
Mar. 25 – In the forenoon I went over to Nuttles & sawed the rest of the wood & split it & Father chored around & trimed some apple trees & in the afternoon we both trimed some apple trees & it is a nice pleasant day warmer & very muddy. At night I went down to Bedlam to an Exhibition went to Belcher & got left.**
*name looks like
‘Tommy Nuttles’. (recent pages have
become very difficult to read, looks
like they were written in haste.)
**this is a Thursday,
the day he had reserved with Belle.
Perhaps she stood him up?
Mar. 26 – In the morning Father went down to Salem light & I trimmed apple trees & chored around & Geo. Barkley came up & got 8 sheep & it is a nice warm day rather cloudy & windy not very cold & at night Annie & I went over to Mr. George McKnights to a Maple Sugar Party had a good time roads are drying up a little in some places.
Mar. 27 – In the forenoon we drawed l load from the Hay Barn on the lower place down to the big barn & then sowed the grass seed on the rye long field & field cross from the barn 9 acres. & in the afternoon Father went down to Argyle & got paints & Oils to paint the Buildings with. I trimmed apple trees and it is a nice pleasant day some cloudy warm & muddy.
Mar. 28 – I helped to do the chores & we all went to church & we heard a sermon by Willard McEachron and his text was in the 13 chapter of Matthew & 7 verse and it is a nice pleasant day clear cool at night & morning and it is drying up some.
Mar. 29 – In the forenoon father drawed some manure over in the big field & Tommy
Nuttle (?) and Don Bain came here to paint the buildings & I helped them & in the afternoon father went off after a cow some place & it is a nice pleasant day warm and about night it clouded over & begun to rain and Uncle Tom H came over here awhile.
Mar. 30 – In the forenoon father drawed some manure over in big field & I helped to load up & then cut wood at the house & chored around rained some & in the afternoon Father went over to Granfathers & I split some wood & chored around & it rained most all the time very muddy & cloudy at night our folks went down to the Parsonage to the surprise party at bedlam. John McKernon came along & I went down with him pretty *.
Mar. 31 – In the forenoon I split some wood & trimmed apple trees & Father went down to Mrs. McEachron & then trimmed some apple trees & in the afternoon I trimmed apple trees & father went over to Lester Guthries & bought a cow at $36. & then went down to Bedlam & the girls went over to Gibsons & it is a pretty pretty cloudy & windy & warm day, fearful muddy.””
Thursday, April 1, 1886 – Father took a load of moving for Andy down to or toward South Argyle & in the forenoon I helped McWhorter folks to move down on the lower place and in the afternoon I got Will McWhorter & we went over to Lester Guthries & got the cow that father bought it is a nice day some windy & very bad roads & at night I went up to North Hartford to see Matt Townsend.
Apr. 2 – I painted nearly all day on the wagon house & Uncle Tom H came over & he & Father done some carpenter work all day one place & another & it is a nice day some cloudy, windy & cool to.
Apr. 3 – I helped Father to drive the sheep up from the lower place to the barn as McWhorter takes Possession of the lower place now & then I painted the rest of the day on the Horse Barn & Corn House and Father drawed some manure over in the big field and it is a nice pleasant day cool morning & night frooze some hard. At night I went down to Bedlam & it was cold and the snow banks are about all gone. Roads are getting pretty good some exceptions on by roads & back roads.
*looks like ‘dank’ or
‘dark’ mud. His handwriting is getting
worse instead of better.
Apr. 4 – I stayed at home & kept house and our folks went to church & they heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron & his text was Matthew the 13 chapter & the 8 verse and it is a nice pleasant day some or rather cloudy & some cool frooze pretty hard last night.
Apr. 5 – In the forenoon Father drawed some manure over in the back field I helped some and painted some to and in the afternoon Father & I drawed 3 small loads of Hay from the top of the hill from the stack and Tom Nuttle (?) & Don Bain painted all day & and I helped them & about night Father went down to Bedlam and it is a nice day warm & pretty clear & some cool.
Apr. 6 – It rained most all day pretty hard part of the time it was a North Easter to turned to snow at night and Tommy & Don painted the blinds & then went home till it come fair weather & Aunt Kate came over & helped the girls to clean House & I piled & threw wood in the wood shed most of the day & Father chored around & the sheep begin having lambs the last lot we had 4 come early.
Apr. 7 - I piled & threw wood in the wood shed some & in the afternoon we drawed Potatoes from the house cellar to the Horse Barn cellar and father took a grist down to Bedlam in the forenoon & left it and it is a pretty cloudy day & snowed quite a lot at night I went down to South Argyle & made a visit with a girl & it snowed 3 or 4 inches guess.
Apr. 8 – In the forenoon I took a nother grist down to Bedlam & brought back the one that Father left & he chored around & in the afternoon we drawed Potatoes from the House cellar to the Horse Barn cellar & at night we all went up to Mr. James Fosters & made a visit & it is a pretty cloudy cool day thawed some but a lot of snow on the ground rodes are very muddy.
Apr. 9 – In the forenoon I painted on the big Barn. & father chored around & trimed some apple tree brush & in the Afternoon I painted on the House & Father went down to Bedlam & got a grist that I left down & Aunt Kate came down & helped the girls clean House & at the night the Girls & I went up to James Fosters to a Party and had a good time and it is a nice pleasant day cool in the morning frooze quite hard.
Apr. 10 – I Painted on the House nearly all day and it is a
nice pleasant day warm & some windy the rodes are drying up some. In the forenoon Father drawed some manure
over in the back field & in the Afternoon he went out to
Apr. 11 – Grandfather & I went down to Argyle to church & we heard a sermon by Mr. Turnbull and his text was Hebrews 3 chapter the 7 & part of the 8 verse and Our folks all went to church & they heard a sermon by Mr. Wiley and it is a nice pleasant day clear but rather cool in the morning. I came home awhile before night.
Apr. 12 – In the forenoon we drawed the rest of the Hay from the stack up on top of the Hill down to the Barn then I piled wood & Father draw manure over in the big field & in the Afternoon he drawed manure over in the back field & I piled wood in the woodshed & I got done with that job and chored around & it is a nice warm day some cloudy & rained some but cleared off nice & warm. Annie is not very well she had a Fainting Spell.
Apr. 13 – We trimmed apple trees awhile & then it came on rain & we chored around & begun cutting Potatoes and in the afternoon we cut Potatoes trimmed some apple trees & drawed down some of the limbs and it is a pretty cloudy day & quite warm like dog days one shower after a nother sun would shine & at night I went up to Hartford & made Etta a visit had a good time.
Apr. 14 – In the forenoon we drawed stone over in the big field and in the afternoon I begun Plowing on the hill back of the house for the first and it is in pretty good shape rather moist in some places. and father trimmed apple trees & chored around & the girls went over to Gran Fathers awhile and it is a nice pleasant day quite warm & clear.
Apr. 15 – I Plowed most of the day on the hill back of the house & Father drawed a few stone over in the back field and a fellow from Fort Edward came here & Killed the black cow we helped him & in the afternoon the girls went down to Ema’s & Father chored around & about night I drove the young team down after the girls & it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear.
Apr. 16 – Father to (took) the Beef out to Fort Edward it weighed over 150 to a quarter come to over 47 Dollars meat @ 7 cents a pound & I plowed nearly all day up on the hill back of the house & it is a nice pleasant day clear & warm fine weather now-a-days and at night Sherman McNeil came down & he & I went down to McWhorters & got our hair cut.
Apr. 17 – In the forenoon Father drawed some stone over in the big field & I plowed on the Hill back of the house & got done there & in the Afternoon I sowed the Hill back of the House to Oats & Father dragged till I got through sowing & then I dragged & Ema came up with the youngster* & it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear.
Apr. 18 – Father Ema Annie Sherman McNeil & I went to church & we heard a sermon by Willard McEachron & his text was the 48 Psalm the first clause of the 14 verse and we came home at intermission & George came up after Ema and it is a nice pleasant day quite warm 56 in the shade & Orrie stayed at home with the Baby** and Kept house.
Apr. 19 – In the forenoon I plowed down in the Follow & Father dragged the rest of the Oats in up on the big Hill & sowed the grass seed & afternoon I went down to Argyle & got 4 teeth pulled & l filled, had business & then I plowed down in the follow & Father burned some brush in the Orchard & chored around & it is a nice pleasant day warm & some cloudy. The school begun & the school teacher boards here Miss Erma*** Foster.
Apr. 20 – I Plowed all day down in the follow got the big
part plowed & Father Plowed the little Follow & chored around and it is
a nice pleasant day warm 86**** in the shade we had a little rain about
Apr. 21 – In the forenoon I marked out down in the Follow & Father sowed the little follow to Oats & dragged it to. In the afternoon he Plowed the Garden spot & I finished marking out one way down in the Follow & begun & marked out some with the marker. and it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear to.
*did Emma have a
baby? They never mentioned pregnancy or
childbirth in those days.
**Yep! Looks like Emma had a baby.
***or Emma. His handwriting is not improving at all!
****probably 56. His numbers 8 and 5 sometimes look alike
Apr. 22 – James McWhorter & I Planted Potatoes most all day down in the follow and I finished marking out both ways and it is a nice pleasant day quite warm & clear. Father drawed out some manure in the back field.
Apr. 23 – Jim Planted Potatoes all day down in the Follow and I Plowed over in the back Meadow all day & Father drawed some stone of a piece down in the Follow where he intends to Plow It is a nice pleasant day quite warm & clear some windy. at night us boys went down to Geo. McEachrons. He was’nt at home.
Apr. 24 – In the forenoon Jim finished Planting down in the follow a cross the creek & I plowed the piece along the road in the Follow & Father drawed some stone of a piece down there & in the afternoon Jim marked out the piece along the road and planted at it & I plowed over in the back meadow and Father & the girls went down to Bedlam & it is a nice cool day rather cloudy rained a little some windy cool at night.
Apr. 25 – We all went to church & we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron & his text was Revelation the l chapter & the 18 verse and it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear to. The leaves on trees are starting out.
Apr. 26 – I Plowed all day over in the back Meadow and in the forenoon Father Plowed a little piece down in the follow by the creek & in the afternoon he drawed some manure over in the big field and it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear.
Apr. 27 – In the forenoon I Plowed over in the back Meadow & Father drawed some manure over in the big field & in the afternoon I plowed over in the same field till it came on rain about 4½ o’clock & father drew some stone over in the big field & I put on some of the blinds on the Horse & at night Sherman McNeil & I went out to Fort Edward & had some fun & it is a pretty cloudy day warm rained some but not very hard or long.
Apr. 28 – In the forenoon I finished Plowing over in the back meadow & sowed two bags of Oats & dragged some & Father drawed some stone over in the big field & dragged some & in the afternoon I sowed the rest of the Meadow to Oats Father dragged till then, & then I finished dragging and it is a pretty cloudy day some cooler & we had a little shower about l o’clock.
Apr. 29 – I begun Plowing sod over in the big field & Plowed all day and Father drawed some manure over in the big field & it is a nice day rather cloudy & some cool it rained some but we kept to work through it.
Apr. 30 – I Plowed all day over in the big field and Father
went out to
Saturday, May 1, 1886 – I Plowed all day over in the big field & Father drawed some manure over there in the big field and chored around and it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear getting rather dry on top of the ground. At night the choir met here to Practice singing.
May 2 – Father, Orrie & I went to church and we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron and his text was l John the 5 chapter and the 6 verse & Annie went down as far as Ema’s & stayed while we were at church the Baby is sick.
*not sure about this
word – it looks very much like ‘light’, the same as when he wrote earlier he
went to “Salem light’. Perhaps it means
he went without a load.
May 3 – I Plowed all day over in the big field and Father drawed some manure over in the big field & fixed some fence & chored around and it is a nice pleasant day warm & getting a little dry for Ploughing someplaces.
May 4 – I Plowed all day over in the big field and Father
drawed some manure over in the same field & dragged awhile & chored
around. We cut Potatoes
May 5 – In the forenoon I finished Ploughing over in the big
field for Potatoes and dragged till
May 6 – I Marked out the rest of the piece over in the big
field one way and our folks & the school teacher went up to Mrs. Gilchrists
funeral @
May 7 – I Planted Potatoes all day over in the big field just begun over there & Rob McWhorter helped me I marked out some with the marker and Father drawed some Manure & stones over in the back field & at night he took Ema down home & he & Annie went down to Bedlam to See Aunt Kate. & it is a nice pleasant day warm & cloudyed over at night.
May 8 – Father & I cut Potatoes in the cellar nearly all forenoon & in the – we cut some & drawed some from the Home cellar to the Horse Barn cellar and it rained most all day fine rain at night George McEachron & I went up to Granville on special Business I came back & stayed all night at George Barkleys cloudy & some cool.
May 9 - John Barkley & I went to church up to Belcher & we heard a sermon by Mr. Vandusen his text was in Deuteronomy & Our folks went down to Bedlam to the Methodist & at night I went up to Belcher to Prayer meeting and then came home and it is a nice pleasant day some cool.
May 10 – I Planted Potatoes all day over in the big field and Father begun Ploughing over on the north side for corn & spread some manure & it is a nice day some cool clouded over about night & rained.
May 11 - I Planted Potatoes all day over in the big field & marked out some to. Father Ploughed over there for corn most of the day & it is a pretty cloudy day & cool rained last night & some this morning and little Kate* and Ema came here & stayed most all day guess.
May 12 – I Planted Potatoes all day over in the big field
and Father Ploughed in the forenoon over there for corn. In the afternoon he & Annie went out to
May 13 – I Planted Potatoes all day over in the big field and Father Ploughed most of the day over there for corn and it is pretty cloudy day warm. Annie went down to Ema’s. At night or after supper Ema F. & Orrie went down to Bedlam. Apple Trees are in full Blossom.
*looks like the baby
was a girl and they named her Kate!
May 14 – I Planted Potatoes all day about over in the big field on till I got done I finished Planting Potatoes & Father Ploughed most of the day over there for corn & it is a nice pleasant day warm. Annie came home.
May 15 – I Ploughed part of the day over in the big field I
finished & dragged some. In the
forenoon Father dragged over there At
May 16 – I helped to do the chores & we all went to church & we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron & his text was Luke the 20 chapter & I think the 35 & 36 verses and it is a nice day some cloudy it rained quite a lot after we came home from church.
May 17 – In the forenoon I Marked out the corn ground all one
way & part of it the other way & Father finished dragging & then we
loaded up a load of Potatoes, and in the afternoon I begun to Plant Corn over
in the big field & Father took the load of Potatoes down to
May 18 – In the forenoon I finished marking out the other
way over in the big field and then Planted Corn & Father Planted some &
Rob McWhorter helped to plant & at
May 19 – In the forenoon two fellows came here & killed
the steer & Father helped them & I finished Planting Corn over in the
big field & loaded or helped up a load of Potatoes & in the afternoon
Father took the load down to
May 20 – I Painted nearly all day on the house. In the forenoon Father took the beef out to
May 21 – I Painted nearly all day on the house and in the
forenoon Father Planted the Hog pasture to Potatoes all done now. In the afternoon he chored around at one
thing and a nother. and it is a nice
pleasant day warm. At night I went up to
May 22 – I Painted nearly all day on the house and Father fixed fence & chored around and in the Afternoon Granfather & Granmother came over here a visiting and Granfather went down & got Ema & her child and at night the girls took Ema home & went down to Bedlam & got the mail and I went up to Belcher & took a ride with a gal and it is a nice pleasant day warm we had a light Thunder shower.
May 23 – We all went to church and we heard a sermon by
Willard McEachron and his text was
May 24 – In the forenoon I Painted on the house and Father put up some crow twine on the corn & fixed some fence and In the afternoon We went out most to the Fort & brought home a yearling Bull that Father bought last week @ $35 & it is a nice pleasant day warm some dusty.
May 25 – In the forenoon I Painted under the stoup lattice to the woodshed & Father cleaned out the cellar and in the afternoon he chored around & it rained most all day nice rain but rather cool and Sherman McNeil & I went down to Bedlam. We went into the school.
May 26 – In the forenoon I Painted the Pizazza floor & steps and Father fixed fence & chored around & in the afternoon I Painted kitchen floor and Father drawed some apple tree limbs to the door & chored around at night I went over to North Argyle went on a little further & took a school Marm out a rideing and it is a (*) cold day but cold & cloudy & windy. cold for time of the year.
May 27 – In the forenoon I Painted the tin roof & some lattice work under the stoup & Father hoed some Potatoes in the garden & chored around and in the afternoon we finished hoeing the Potatoes in the garden and pitched over the straw & most of the Hay over at up in the Horse Barn & cleaned out the Horse Barn & I washed of my wagon. & it is a pretty cloudy & cool day rained most all afternoon.
May 28 – I Painted nearly all day and Father fixed fence and chored around and in the afternoon Father went down to Bedlam and Ema came up with him & it is a nice pleasant day warm and at night Sherman & I went down to Geo. McEachrons awhile.
May 29 – In the forenoon I Painted one place and another and Father fixed fence & chored around & in the afternoon John McWhorter & I washed our sheep. Father helped to drive down. & I played Ball awhile & then I went up to Hartford & took Etta out a rideing we had a good time and came back & stayed all night with Glenroy. & it is a nice pleasant day warm.
May 30 – Glenroy & I went to church & we heard a sermon by Willard McEachron & his text was the 9 chapter of Matthew & the 27 & 29 verses. and Father Annie & Ema went t church & it is a nice pleasant day warm. at night I went to Belcher to church or Prayer
meeting & then came home.
May 31 – In the Morning James McWhorter & I went up to
Granville to Decaration had a fair time and Father went out to
June 2 – We worked on the Roads and in the Morning & at night I Painted on the Hog Pen. and at night Father took Ema down home and it is a nice day clear & warm but quite windy.
June 3 – In the forenoon it rained some. & then faired off & I Painted some and Father fixed his boots & chored around and in the afternoon I finished Painting for awhile and Father fixed some fence & chored around at night I went up to Belcher & got a gal & went down to the Lake & it is pretty cool & windy to cleared off cold.
*he wrote ‘nice
pleasant’, then crossed it out
June 4 – I begun cultivating Potatoes & hoed some to down in the follow worked at it all day and Father chored around all day & in the afternoon the girls went down to Bedlam & Anna Mary Gibson came home with them & it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear.
June 5 – In the forenoon Rob & John McWhorter & I hoed Potatoes down in the Follow & Father split some rails and in the afternoon we went down to North Argyle & Played a match game of Ball score stood * G.I. 45 Runs & N.A. 41 Runs and our folks went to church and it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear.
June 6 – We all went to church & heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron & his text was Matthew the 19 chapter & the last clause of the 30 verse and it was sacrament day and it is a nice pleasant day warm.
June 7 – James McWhorter & I hoed Potatoes all day down in the Follow and Father split some rails & went down to Bedlam and it is a nice day warm at night we had a light Thunder shower.
June 8 – In the forenoon I helped Robert McWhorter bury a dead horse & then Jim & I hoed Potatoes the rest of the day in the Follow & Rob helped some. and Levi & Duncan McDougall sheared our sheep 40 in all & Father done up the wool and it is a nice pleasant day pretty warm.
June 9 – (his birthday) In the forenoon Jim & I hoed Potatoes in the Follow and in the afternoon Jim hoed Potatoes in the Follow & he got done and I begun Cultivating Potatoes over in the big field & Father split some rails & went down to Bedlam and it is a nice pleasant day & some windy. I am 24 years old.
June 10 – Jim & I cultivated Potatoes all day over in the big field but after supper I hoed some & Uncle Tom H came over & patched the barn & shed etc. & Father helped him we had a light shower and it is a nice warm day.
June 11 – (notation at top of page – “C. (00) S.” ) – I
cultivated Potatoes nearly all day over in the big field & hoed a few and
Father finished splitting rails and put on some hen manure on the corn and it
is a nice pleasant day warm. At night I
went up to
June 12 – I went over to Granfathers & Painted for him on the barn and Father hilled the Potatoes in the garden & don’t know any further. & it is a nice pleasant day quite warm when I came home I went down to Bedlam & got a Pair of Shoes.**
June 13 – Orrie, Annie & I went to church & Sherman McNeil rode with us and we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron & his text was Gallation the 6 chapter and the 10 verse & Father stayed at home & kept house and it is a pretty cloudy day & rained most all day to warm.
June 14 – I went over to Granfathers in the morning & Painted for him nearly all day & I finished the barn and at night I came home and Father cultivated at his corn over in the big field and it is a pretty cloudy & cool day rained a little.
June 15 – In the forenoon we chored around put up some Oats. & James McWhorter came up & I cut his hair and in the afternoon Father & I hoed at his corn over in the big field till supper time & Mitchell helped us & after supper I took Mitchell out to Fort Edward & it is a pretty cloudy day warm and it rained in the morning & most all last night I guess.
*can’t read word,
looks like ‘viz:’, and G.I. stands for
**Bedlam is where the
store is, that’s why they make so many trips down there
June 16 – I hoed Corn all day for Father over in the big field & he took the wool down to Salem 40 fleeces 165 lbs. @ 26 cts a lb. and when he came back he hoed corn and we planted in some and it is a nice pleasant day some warm & cloudy.
June 17 – Jim & I hoed corn for Father over in the big
field & Father hoed to till it came on rain about
June 18 – In the forenoon Father & I hoed corn over in
the big field for him & we got done and in the afternoon Father hoed the
Potatoes in the Hog Pasture all done hoeing first time now. The girls & I went down to the big
June 19 – Father took a small load of Oats out to the Fort 48 bu. @ 43 cts a bu. and I shoveled out the Potatoes one way in the Follow and it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear.
June 20 – We all went to church & we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron & his text was Matthew the 7 chapter & the 21 verse. and it is a nice pleasant day clear & warm.
June 21 – Jim & I hilled Potatoes down in the Follow in the forenoon & After supper. The rest of the time we put on Paris Green on the Potatoes in the follow and Father chored around & fixed some fence at night Father & the girls went down to Bedlam & it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear.
June 22 – Jim & I Hilled Potatoes all day down in the Follow and Father helped us a little in the forenoon & in the afternoon he went away some place Argyle I guess & at night Jim went over to the mud lake a fishing with a couple of other fellows & Ema came up & stayed all night. & it is a nice pleasant day warm & some cloudy.
June 23 – Jim & I hilled Potatoes nearly all day down in the Follow & in the afternoon Father helped us some & we got done there and in the forenoon Father drawed some rails & fixed some fence and it is a pretty cloudy day & rained some now & then the girls all went over to Granfathers awhile.
June 24 – Jim & I Ploughed out one way Potatoes one way over in the big field & begun hilling some and Father chored around and it is a very cloudy day and some cool but did’nt rain any.
June 25 – Jim & I Hilled Potatoes till 5 o’clock over in the big field and then we had a Thunder Shower and in the forenoon Father took Ema down home& went down to Bedlam & in the afternoon Father & Geo. Barkley went a hunting after some Pigs George got some but Father did’nt. and it is a pretty cloudy rained some.
June 26 - In the forenoon Jim & I Hilled Potatoes over
in the big field and in the afternoon we hilled a few rows & then went down
to Bedlam to play a game of Ball & then we went up to Granville from there
& then home. Father chored around
and went down to
showers or squirts every once & awhile.
June 27 – We all went to church & we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron & his text was the 103 Psalm & the l verse and it is a nice pleasant day cool after the rain & some windy.
*probably
June 28 – Jim & I Hilled Potatoes all day over in the big field in the forenoon, Father begun cultivating his corn again over in the big field and in the afternoon he went off some place. and it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear some wind from the North.
June 29 – Jim & I Hilled Potatoes most all day over in the big field & Father cultivated corn over in the same field and about supper time I had to quit work awhile I was sick and it is a nice pleasant day warm some windy. cool at night.
June 30 – Jim & I Hilled Potatoes over in the big field
and Father went out to
July 2 – Father took a load of Oats out to
July 3 – In the morning I went up to Hartford and got Etta & we went out to Fort Edward & took the cars up to Lake George when we got up there we got on the Steamer “Horican” & rode the whole length of the lake we had a good day & a fine time I got home about midnight & our folks went up to Uncle Tom H’s a visiting & it is a nice pleasant day clear & hot. over 90 in shade.
July 4 – We all went to church & we heard a sermon by Willard McEachron & his text was Deuteronomy the 32 chapter & the last clause of the 4 verse and it is a nice pleasant day very warm & clear over 90 in shade.
July 5 – I begun mowing grass with machine down in the Meadow below the House & mowed nearly all day finished except swail Father mowed around the fences & raked the flat in winrows and it is a nice pleasant day but very Hot over 100 in shade.
July 6 – I Mowed up in the big field with machine & the swail in the long field most of the time till supper time & Father mowed some around the fences & raked the rest of the Hay down in the meadow & cocked it up I helped some and after supper we raked & cocked Hay up in the big field & it is a nice pleasant day warm over 90 in shade little cooler than yesterday. at night the teacher & girls went down to Bedlam.
July 7 – John McWhorter & I drawed in Hay nearly all day 8 loads from the meadow below the house and 2 from the swail up in the long field and 3 from the big field 13 Loads in all & Father helped to mow back & raked & it is a nice pleasant day very warm 97 in shade and the wind blew hard.
July 8 – I mowed the rest of the big field & begun & mowed in the Meadow up on top of the hill and we drawed 2 loads of Hay from the big field & Father mowed around the fences & raked some up in the big field & it is a nice pleasant day clear & some cooler about 85 in shade wind is in the North.
July 9 – I finished Mowing up in the meadow on top of the Hill & Father raked & cocked Hay & mowed around the fences & I cocked Hay & we drawed 3 loads. & it is a nice pleasant day warm. At night the girls & I went over to a Birthday Party to George McEachron’s on the Hill had a good time.
July 10 – I chored around & in the afternoon I went down to Bedlam with Father and after supper I went over & put on some Poison on the Potatoes in the big field & it rained some pretty cloudy day Bad Hay Weather. At night I went down to South Argyle to see Andrew Denison.
July 11 – We all went to church & we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron & his text was in the l chapter of Romans and it is a nice pleasant day cool & some cloudy last night or most morning we had a Thunder Shower.
July 12 – In the forenoon John & I begun cutting rye up in the long field & in the afternoon we all drawed Hay up on top of the Hill in the meadow & big field we drawed 8 loads put 5 in a stack & it is a nice pleasant day cooler than last week.
July 13 - In the forenoon John & I finished cutting rye up in the long field & then Father helped us to bind & got it all bound & some sat up & in the afternoon we drawed the rest of the hay up in the Meadow & big field and sat up the rest of the rye up in the long field & after supper John & I cut rye down on the lower place & it is a nice pleasant day warm.
July 14 – In the forenoon John & I cut rye down on the lower place Father chored around & then we all went down & bound rye in the same field till supper time & after supper John & I cut rye in the field cross from the barn & it is a pretty cloudy day some warm & windy.
July 15 – Father took a load of Oats out to
July 16 – (notation at top of page – “E.* (sertain as
life.)” – In the forenoon it was wet John & I went down to Bedlam Father
chored around & in the afternoon John & I cut rye & bound some till
supper time down on the lower place it came on rain then & it is a pretty
cloudy day warm. Father bound some rye
in the field cross from the barn. At
night I went up to
July 17 – John & I bound rye down on the lower place & Father helped us some & we got done & sat up some & then after dinner John & I cut rye till supper time in the field cross from the barn & then bound & sat it up in the same field & them went down & sat up the rest of the rye on the lower place and in the afternoon Father bound & sat up some rye in the field cross from the barn & it is a nice pleasant day warm 94 in the shade At night the girls went down to Bedlam.
July 18 – We all went to church & we heard a sermon by Willard McEachron & his text was Joushua the 23 chapter & the 11 verse. While we were at church we had a heavy Thunder Shower and it is a nice warm day some cloudy & rained quite a lot.
July 19 – John & I cut the rest of the rye in the field cross from the barn & then Father helped us to bind it up & then John & I sat it up and after supper we all went up & mowed nearly all the little Meadow. I mowed with Machine & Father & John mowed by hand & it s a nice cool day rather cloudy. We got the rye all up they was about 340 Dozens in all.
* could the “E” stand
for Etta??
July 20 – I mowed with the machine down in the little meadow got done & after dinner I mowed the swail down below the House & mowed some up in the sheep Pasture in the field by the woods and Father mowed around by hand & shook out some Hay. & after supper we went up in the little meadow & raked & cocked it up. It is a rather poor day day rather cloudy some clear & rather cool.
July 21 – John & I drawed in the rye from the long field 5 loads 63 Doz. & drawed the hay from the little Meadow 2 loads Father helped & then we raked & drawed the Hay from down in the little meadow all but a little 3 loads and Father raked the Hay down in the swail below the house & it is a nice pleasant day some cloudy & cool. Not very good hay weather in the forenoon.
July 22 – We drawed nearly all the Hay 4 loads & drawed rye the rest of the day from down on the lower place & the field cross from the barn & Father helped to on load and it is a nice pleasant day warm & cool nights at night the school teacher (Ema Foster) & I took a ride down to the Lake. The girls went a nother way.
July 23 – We drawed rye all day & got done Father raked the rye stubble up in the long field & we drawed it in he helped to onload we put 5 loads down in McWhorters barn & it is a nice pleasant day good hay day.
July 24 – In the forenoon I raked the rye stubble down on lower place & mixed up some Paris Green in Plaster and Father chored around & in the afternoon we drawed in those rye tailings & then Father & Mitchel drawed 2 loads of Hay from the swail over in the big field that Mitchel mowed on shared & I begun cradleing Oats above the house for the first and about night Father went down to Bedlam. & I went off & took a short ride with one & it is a nice pleasant day pretty warm & clear to.
July 25 – We all went to church & we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron & his text was Proverbs the l chapter & the 29 verse and it is a nice pleasant day warm & rather cloudy & quite windy dusty a* like rain.
July 26 – In the forenoon I threshed rye tailings Father helped me awhile & in the afternoon I cut Oats above the House till supper time & Father went down to Bedlam & after supper I threshed rye tailings Father raked part of the rye stubble in the field cross from the Barn and it is a very cloudy day no rain to amount to anything but quite warm though.
July 27 – Father took a load of Oats out to the Fort. In the forenoon I cut Oats and threshed some
rye tailings and at
July 28 – In the forenoon I put on some Paris Green on the Potatoes over in the big field & then cut Oats above the House on the side Hill Father raked the rest of the rye stubble in the field cross from the barn & in the afternoon Father mowed some over in the swail in the big field & the girls & I went to a Picnic from Argyle over to Tinkeys Lake & it is a rather coudy day some clear & sunshine raind a very little.
July 29 – In the forenoon I cut Oats on the side Hill above the house and Father mowed some over in the swail in the big field and in the afternoon we drawed in the rye tailings in the field cross from the barn & then I threshed rye most all afternoon but cut Oats on the big Hill awhile & Father chored around & it is a nice day rather cloudy & warm to.
*can’t read word.
July 30 – In the forenoon I finished cutting Oats on the big
Hill and finished threshing rye tailings & Father mowed some over in the
swail in the big field & in the Afternoon we cleaned up the rye tailings
they was 17 bu. in all. & then we
drawed in 2 loads of Oats from the hill back of the house & then we went
over in the big swail & got a load of Hay that Father mowed & it is a
nice pleasant day very warm. At night I
went up to
July 31 – In the forenoon we drawed a load of Hay from the big swail & we put part of a load on the stack up on top of the Hill & chored around & in the Afternoon we drawed in Oats from the Hill back of the House 4 loads & at night the girls & I went down to Bedlam to Choir meeting and it is a nice pleasant day very warm weather.
Aug. 2 - I threshed rye till supper time & cleaned it up they was 10 bu. from 12 Dozen and Father mowed some over in the swail in the big field and after supper we drawed in l load of Oats from the big Hill & it is a nice cool day Windy to.
Aug. 3 – In the forenoon I cut the Oats down in the little Follow & then begun cutting over in the back Meadow & cut till supper time about. and Father mowed by hand over in the swail in the big field and at night I went up to Uncle Tom H’s & got a gal & went down to Bedlam to a Show and it is a pretty cloudy day rained every once & awhile all day & cool to.
Aug. 4 – In the forenoon John McWhorter & I cut Oats over in the back Meadow & Father mowed some over in the swail in the Meadow & after dinner we all drawed the rest of the Oats of from the big Hill 3 loads & then John & I cut Oats over in the back Meadow and it is a nice Pleasant day rather clear not very hot good time to work.
Aug. 5 – In the Morning John & I finished cutting Oats over in the back Meadow all done now and then I chored around & John went home & Father mowed the rest of the swail over in the back meadow and chored around he is about sick & in the afternoon I took the team down to Robert’s & helped him draw in Oats and it is a nice pleasant day warm not hot though some cloudy to.
Aug. 6 – In the forenoon I went down & drawed in a load of Oats for Robert & then one of the boys came up & helped me draw in the Oats in the little Follow 2 small loads and first Father & I drawed the Hay from the big swail 3 jags & in the afternoon I went over to the school Picnic at Norm Mahaffys Rob & I came back a cross & raked a load of Oats or more & it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear Father is sick.
Aug. 7 – We drawed in Oats from the back Meadow 9 loads. McWhorters helped me Andy Dennison came a visiting & he helped some & we drawed 2 small loads with the second team Andys and Roberts together James & John B. came & got my horse to go of. Father is no better. we up sat l load of Oats in the corn* and it is a pretty cloudy day warm & no rain.
*probably this means
the load tipped over
Aug. 8 – I helped to do the chores Father stayed at home & Kept house and the rest of us went to church & we heard a sermon by Willard McEachron & his text was Jeremiah
the ll chapter & the last clause of the 4 verse and it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear. Ema McNeil went to church with us. It was about 90 in shade.
Aug. 9 – Rob & Will McWhorter helped me & we drawed in the rest of the Oats over in the back Meadow 5 loads & a small load of Hay that was in the swail all done Harvesting for 1886 and Father did not do anything he drove down to Bedlam and it is a nice pleasant day Hot & clear about 90 in the shade.
Aug. 10 – In the forenoon I was almost sick & did’nt do much & in the afternoon I drove down to Bedlam & stayed around awhile & came up to George B.s & got my supper & then came home Father is not able to do anything & at night I went out aways and it is a nice Pleasant day very warm & clear 90 in shade and at night Uncle Tom H. came down & stayed all night.
Aug. 11 – I threshed rye part of the day of & on Father is not able to do anything & and Duncan Gilchrist came up a visiting and Martin & Kate came down in the afternoon & made a visit and Harrington the Butcher from Fort Edward came and got 7 lambs & it is a nice Pleasant day warm about 90 in shade.
Aug. 12 – In the forenoon I threshed rye part of the time and Glen & Joe came down a visiting and in the afternoon us boys from G.I. Played a game of B. Ball with the Diamonds of Argyle down in our meadow below the house. we came of victorious Diamonds 6 Runs G.I. 22 Rns. George & Ema came up. and it is a nice pleasant day some warm & cloudy. at night John & Rob McW. helped me to load up a load of Rye Straw.
Aug. 13 – I took a load of
Aug. 14 – I threshed rye part of the day it is a pretty cool day rained in the morning & cleared off cool and in the afternoon our folks went over to Granfathers a visiting & about 5 o’clock I went down to Geo. Barkleys & stayed all night some clear & warm.
Aug. 15 – Ema & Ema Mahaffy & I went down to the Covenenters to church & heard a sermon by Mr. Spear & his text was in Matthew and our folks stayed at home they was no meeting at our church & it is a nice pleasant day warm & cool at night. H. Barkley came along & rode down to Hugh Lants with him & then we went up to Belcher to Prayer meeting.
Aug. 16 – In the forenoon George his man & I went after berries up back in his follow I got a 10 quart pail full of Black Berries & in the afternoon I threshed rye & loaded up a load of Rye straw & cleaned up some rye Father helped me some & it is a pretty cloudy day warm rained from 5 o’clock & cooler to.
Aug. 17 – In the forenoon I worked on the road and in the
afternoon I threshed some rye and Father don’t do much he is about down sick
and at night I went up to
Aug. 18 – In the forenoon I took a load of rye straw out to
Aug. 19 – I begun Ploughing for rye and Ploughed in the forenoon & after supper over in the back Meadow and the rest of the time I threshed rye and it is a nice pleasant day warm. Father is some better he cut some brush & chored around.
Aug. 20 – I took a load of rye Straw out to Fort Edward for Robert McWhorter John went with me we had on over 2500 I let him have my mare to put in with his Horse and when we got back I ploughed over in the back meadow and Uncle Dave’s folks but Norm came down a visiting and it is a nice pleasant day clear & warm.
Aug. 21 – In the forenoon I Ploughed over in the back meadow
and in the afternoon I went down to Bedlam & saw the Bedlam Boys play a
match game of Ball with the Slab City Boys Bedlam got beat one run and at night
Jim McWhorter & I went up to Granville.
Father went out to
Aug. 22 – They was no meeting at our church so the girls & I went down to the Methodist church at Bedlam and heard a sermon by Mr. Van.Dusen and Father stayed at home & Kept house and it is a nice pleasant day very warm & clear & Dusty. At night I went down to Bedlam to Prayer meeting.
Aug. 23 – I Ploughed over in the back meadow in the forenoon & after supper. the rest of the time I threshed rye & layed around and it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear about 90 in shade and Father chored around & went down to Bedlam I guess.
Aug. 24 – In the forenoon & after supper I Ploughed over in the back Meadow the rest of the time I threshed & cleaned up rye Father helped & chored around and it is a nice pleasant day some cloudy rained a little about night & at night I went down the road aways.
Aug. 25 – In the morning we loaded up a load of
Aug. 26 – In the forenoon I finished Ploughing for rye over in the back meadow and Father cut some brush & chored around & it is a nice pleasant day very warm foggy & cloudy in the forenoon & in the afternoon 2 fellows came here from Fort Edward & Killed the Bull & 4 lambs Bull weighed 525 lbs. & Hide weighed 88 making in all over 600 lbs.
Aug. 27 - In the forenoon Father took the Bull and lambs out to the Fort. & us went down to lashers to the big lake* to our Sabbath School Picnic had a good time Father came down when he got Home and it is a nice pleasant day clear & very warm over 90 in the shade at night Sherman McNeil & I went from the Picnic over to Bedlam to the Band Concert.
*Lasher’s was at
Aug. 28 – In the forenoon I sowed the back Meadow to rye & Father dragged till I got it sowed & then I dragged & in the afternoon I layed around till about 4 o’clock & went over & finished dragging in the back meadow and the rest of the folks went up to Martin Rogers a visiting and it is a very hot day 98 in shade & clear & smokey to very dusty.
Aug. 29 – Orrie Annie & I went to church & we heard a sermon by Willard McEachron and his text was Mark the 6 chapter & the 12 verse and Father stayed at home & Kept house and it is a very Hot day clear & very smokey over 90 in shade very dusty.
Aug. 30 – I helped to do the chores & John McWhorter
& I threshed rye all day down in their barn, that we drawed in down
there. 2 Doz. & Father drawed out
manure up in the field by the woods.
& it is a nice pleasant day some windy & cloudy it rained a
little shower about
Aug. 31 – John McWhorter & I threshed rye nearly all day
25 Doz. in the morning we cleaned up 22 bu. and then threshed down in the lower
barn till
Wednesday, September 1, 1886 - I begun Painting on the lower House & painted all day and Father drawed out some manure up in the field by the woods and it is a nice pleasant day not quite so warm as it has been and at night I went down to Bedlam & took a ride with a gal.
Sept. 2 – In the morning Father & I went down to the lower barn & loaded up a load of rye straw & Father took it out to the Fort 2400 @ $9 a ton & I Painted on the lower House most of the day & the girls went down to Lauderdale Fair with Fellows and at night I went up to Hartford & got left* Folks was out to Fort Edward & it is a nice pleasant day warm but cool in the morning Frost in the morning some places.
Sept. 3 – I Painted on the lower House all day. & on the blinds and Father drawed out some manure up on the Hill above the House and it is a nice pleasant day warmer & very clear to.
Sept. 4 – I Painted all day down to the lower House finished
the blinds & painted on the House and our Folks went over to Chamberlin’s
Mills to Uncle Edd. Roger’s a visiting & it is a nice pleasant day warm
& clear. At night Sherman & I
went out to
Sept. 5 - Father stayed at home & kept house he has got a sore Hand. & the rest of us went to church & we heard a sermon by a young Student by the name of Skinner from Princeton College his text was the 22 chapter of Matthew & a part of a clause of the 22 verse & it is a nice pleasant day pretty warm & clear gertting dusty now.
Sept. 6 – In the forenoon Elmer Ploughed on the Hill back of
the House for rye. & I Painted on
the lower house and in the afternoon we went down to McWhorters & threshed
rye and Father went down to Bedlam & on to
*does this mean he
was stood up again, or does it have another meaning?
Sept. 7 – In the forenoon Elmer Ploughed up on the Hill back of the house and I finished Painting on the lower house & washed & Paointed part of Fathers buggy and in the afternoon we went down to McWhorters & finished threshing rye down there & cleaned it up. And Harrington & a nother fellow came out & Killed a steer & 5 lambs & it is a very warm & clear day & at night I took a short ride over West.
Sept. 8 – In the forenoon Father took the Beef & lambs
out to
Sept. 9- In the forenoon I took a load of rye Straw out to the Fort over 2500 @ $9 a ton I started before daylight & got home about ll o’clock. and in the afternoon I went down to Bedlam Fair. Our folks went to. & Aunt Kate died about the time I got down. & it is a nice pleasant day clear, dry warm & very dusty.
Sept. 10 – In the forenoon I went to Argyle & got the rough coffin for Aunt Kate & took it over to the graveyard at the lake @ Lashers. And in the afternoon I went down to Bedlam to the Fair & at night I went from there up to Hartford to see Etta & made her a visit had a good time it rained just a little a Thunder Shower went around & it is a nice pleasant day warm dry & dusty. some cloudy.
Sept. 11 - In the
forenoon Elmer & I dug Potatoes down in the Follow about 35 bu. and Father
went over to Jim McClellan’s & got some Oats. @ 32 cts a bu. & in the
afternoon Elmer Ploughed on the Hill back of the house. & we all went down to Aunt Kate’s funeral
& I went from there over to Argyle.
& played a game of
Sept. 12 – We all went to church & we heard a sermon by Willard McEachron & his text was John the 6 chapter & the last clause of the 37 verse and it is a pretty cloudy day & some cooler. It rained quite a rain after we came home from church rained till in the night.
Sept. 13 – In the forenoon I Ploughed on the Hill back of the House and Father went out to the Fort & took some Apples & Butter and in the afternoon John McW. & I dug Potatoes down in the Follow 30 bu. & Hunted a man that took Geo. McEachron’s Watch & Money in the woods. We found the man watch & money and it is a pretty cool some cloudy sprinkled by times a little.
Sept. 14 – John McWhorter & I dug Potatoes all day down in the Follow and Father picked the cull’s & in the afternoon Harrington came out & Killed a steer & 5 lambs and it is a nice pleasant day warm and cloudy not very hot some windy tol At night I went over in the woods & had a visit with Ida.
Sept. 15 – In the forenoon Father took the Steer & 5 lambs out to the Fort and I finished Ploughing on the Hill back of the House and in the afternoon I sowed it to rye & dragged at it & went down in the Follow & got a pile of Potatoes about a load and Father chored around & went down to Bedlam & seen Uncle Alex he has got the fever & is in a bad way. It is a nice pleasant day warm & clear.
Sept. 16 – In the morning I chored around & then Hitched up & went out to the County Fair between Fort Edward & Sandy Hill* & stayed all night & it rained now & then all day nasty day left my horse down to Fort Edward. had a big time at night.
Sept. 17 – Our folks came out to the Fair & they was an offle crowd there I was on the ground’s nearly all day at night some of us boys went up to Glens Falls to a Theatre or Opera and came back & stayed all night and had quite a time & it is a nice pleasant day very warm.
Sept. 18 – Got up in the morning feeling rather old but having a good time and they was a good trot (?) in the forenoon some of us boys stayed down to the Fort & came up at noon on the grounds and at night I came home John Barkley & Sherman came Home with me & it is a nice pleasant day some cooler but warm & clear enough and Father finished dragging the rye on the Hill back of the House & went down to Bedlam & seen Uncle Alex He is some better.
Sept. 19 – It rained part of the day and so we all stayed at home and Kept house and it cleared off but kept cloudy and it was very windy.
Sept. 20 – Billy Miller helped me to dig Potatoes so we dug down in the Follow all day and Father cut some corn over in the big field & picked small Potatoes and we dug about 75 bu. and it is a pretty cloudy & windy day rather cool to.
Sept. 21 – Will Randles begun working for me. & in the forenoon Will Billy Miller & I dug Potatoes down in the Follow 55 bu. about. & Father picked some culls & cut a little corn. & in the afternoon Will, Billy & I cut corn for Father over in the big field & Harrington came out from Fort Edward & Killed a beef & 5 lambs & it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear cool morning & night.
Sept. 22 – In the forenoon Father took the lambs & Beef out to the Fort and Billy M. Will & I cut corn for Father over in the big field & in the afternoon we all dug Potatoes down in the Follow and it is a nice pleasant day warm & at night I went over west & stayed awhile.
Sept. 23 – In the forenoon Will & I threshed rye & in the afternoon we dug Potatoes down in the Follow and Father chored around & picked up the cull Potatoes it rained quite a lot cleared off rather warm at night Will & I took a short ride.
Sept. 24 – In the forenoon Will & I finished cutting
corn for Father over in the big field & in the afternoon we dug Potatoes
down in the Follow Father chored around & picked the culls & it is a
nice pleasant day warm. at night Will
went away & I went up to
Sept. 25 – Will & I finished digging Potatoes down in the Follow about 500 bu. in all & Father picked the culls and then it rained some & Will & I threshed some rye & cleaned it up 25 bu. and it is a cool & cloudy day rained a little.
Sept. 26 – We all went to church & we heard a sermon by Willard McEachron and his text was in the 24 chapter of Joshua and it is a pretty cloudy & windy day rained a little not much.
Sept. 27 – In the morning we loaded up a load of rye Straw & Father took it out to the Fort over 2500 @ $9 a ton. & Will & I begun digging Potatoes down or over in the big field & dug all day we got two loads & it is a nice pleasant day warm to.
*
Sept. 28 – Will & I dug Potatoes down in the big field
awhile & then it came on rain & then we threshed rye till after
Sept. 29 – In the forenoon Father took the Beef out to
Sept. 30 – (Notation at the top of the page: “first frost I have seen very light to.) – Will & I dug Potatoes all day over in the big field and got part of 3 loads & in the afternoon Father went off some place and it is a nice pleasant day warm little frost in the morning and Father picked some apples.
Oct. 2 – In the forenoon we all picked Apples & in the afternoon Will & I dug Potatoes over in the big field and Father & the girls went to church and heard a sermon by Mr. Haney and at night Will & I went down to Argyle and it is a pretty windy & cloudy & cool day.
Oct. 3 – We all went to church & Will went with us and we heard a sermon by Mr. Haney and it was Communion Sabbath or Sacrament and it is a nice pleasant day but cool & some windy & cloudy.
Oct. 4 – In the forenoon Will dug Potatoes down in the big field & Father & I picked Apples & in the afternoon Will & I dug Potatoes Father picked the culls and it is a nice pleasant day cool & Frosty in the morning clear & some windy in the afternoon.
Oct. 5 – In the forenoon Will dug Potatoes down in the big
field & Father & I picked Apples in the afternoon Will & I dug
Potatoes and Father picked the culls and it is a nice pleasant day & warm
some cloudy & cool in the morning.
at night Will took a ride over West.*
Oct. 6 – In the forenoon Will dug Potatoes down in the big field and Father & I picked Apples and in the afternoon Will & I dug Potatoes & Father picked the culls & it is a nice pleasant day clear & warm very foggy part of the forenoon.
Oct. 7 – In the forenoon Will dug Potatoes down in the big field & Father & I picked Apples & George Barkley helped most of the day & in the afternoon Will & I dug Potatoes & Geo. B. & Father picked Apples & cull Potatoes and it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear to.
Oct. 8 - In the forenoon Will dug Potatoes over in the big field & Father & I picked Apples and in the afternoon Will & I dug Potatoes & Father picked culls & it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear.
Oct. 9 – Will & I dug Potatoes all day over in the big field and in the forenoon Father went out to the Fort light and in the afternoon he Picked culls & at night Will & I went down to Argyle & came back & stayed all night with Will & it is a nice pleasant day very clear & warm.
*something or
somebody “west” must have been very exciting
Oct. 10 – Will, George McE. & I went down to Argyle to church from Mr. Randles & heard a sermon by Mr. Turnbull and about night Will & I went up to Belcher & from there down to Bedlam & then came home & it is a nice pleasant day warm quite warm for the time of year and Our folks went to church & heard a sermon by Willard McEachron.
Oct. 11 – Will & I dug Potatoes all day over in the big field & Father picked some Apples & cull Potatoes & it is a nice pleasant day warm & clear. The Potatoes are a very good crop & very good quality I think.
Oct. 12 – Will & I dug Potatoes till it came on rain
over in the big field about
Oct. 13 –Will & I dug Potatoes all day over in the big field and Father helped or picked the culls & picked some apples & Uncle Edd Rogers came over & helped him to pick and it is a nice day some cloudy nearly all day & at night Will & I went down to Bedlam to an Oyster Supper.
Oct. 14 – Will & I dug Potatoes all day over in the big field & Father picked some culls & Apples to. & Uncle Edd came over & helped him to pick & got 6 Barrels. and it is a pretty cloudy & some windy to rained at night.
Oct. 15 - (Notation at top of page: “l Year from date I do so de clare.)* Will & I dug Potatoes all day over in the
big field & Father picked up some culls & Apples and it is a pretty
cloudy & windy & cool & at night I went up to
Oct. 16 – Will & I dug Potatoes all day over in the big field & we finished digging all done now. About 1800 bushels in all. and Father picked some culls & Apples. and it frooze some last night very cold all day and frooze at night clear.
Oct. 17 – We all went to church & we heard a sermon by Mr. Willard McEachron and his text was Matthew the 21 chapter & the 15 verse and it is a cold raw day frooze quite hard last night still freeze it spit snow some at night cloudy day looks like snow.
Oct. 18 – In the forenoon Will & I threshed 12 doz. of rye & cleaned up the floor & then loaded up a load of rye Straw & in the afternoon Will & I begun Husking corn over in the big field and Father took the load out to Fort Edward 2520 @ $10 a ton and it is a nice day warmer & cloudy cleared off about night.