Sarah Bovard, who lived on the frontier in Indiana, wrote this diary. She was born Feb. 21, 1828 in Indiana. On Feb. 28, 1844 she married James Bovard. One of her sons is remembered as the "founding president" of the University of Southern California and a second also was USC president. A third was president of another college.
Sarah mentioned in her diary that she was "black." This confuses many readers. She meant she favored the Black Republican wing of that party.
James Bovard had been born in 1823 in Ohio. His photo is at right.
Sarah and James had:
Oliver William in 1845. (died young)
Marion in 1847.
Maria J. in 1849.
Freeman in 1851.
Mellville in 1852.
Abner ("Abby" or "Aby") in 1854.
George in 1856.
James in 1858.
Charles Lincoln in 1860
Morton Ellsworth in 1862
Ulysses Grant in 1866
(See more detailed data at the bottom of this blog.)
Some other people mentioned in the diary:
"Mother"; Jane (Waldsmith) Young was born in Ohio in 1806.
"Paps"; Abner Young was born in Maine in 1799.
Christian "Chris" Young; he was born in 1825 in Ohio and was Sarah’s brother. He married
Maria Byfield. She'd been born about 1828 in Indiana
Margy was Sarah's sister Margaret, born in 1836. She married John Peacock.
Deborah was Sarah's sister. She was born in 1838 and married Dexter McClure.
Catherine was Sarah's sister. She was born in 1832 and married Isaac Sampson.
"Ethe"; she was Sarah’s sister Ethelina. She was born in 1842 and married Frank Peacock.
Emeline Phillips was born a Courtney/Coatney in 1825. Her husband was John Thomas Phillips. The various Phillips families were neighbors to the Bovards but generally not related.
Hannah Janes Phillips was born a Foster and was related to Sarah. The Catherine Foster who dies in the diary was her mother. Hannah Jane's husband was Newton Phillips, a cousin of John Thomas Phillips.
According to undocumented info circulating on the Internet, Phillip Switzer Petro married Nancy Bovard on July 23, 1857 in Bartholomew Co. Ind. According to that data, she lived April 12, 1838 until Aug. 24, 1864. She was James Bovard's sister.
(Note that the text below carries notations such as "End of page 6." These refer to the pages in the long-circulated typed transcription. In 2007, when copies of two of the actual diary pages surfaced, it became obvious that the transcription had omitted some of Sarah's notations. Those omitted notations--there were about half a dozen--have been inserted below and indexed appropriately.)
THE DIARY
SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 1859
John give me a turkey for dinner pap and Mother Catherine John George and K eat dinner with us a beautiful pleasant day received a letter from [the?] Palmers
SUNDAY, JANUARY 2, 1859
Quite pleasant. James went to see William Foster. Marion and Maria Jane went to meeting James went to meeting all this afternoon I am quite lonesome, getting tired staying home alone
MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1859
Still pleasant, sun shines--beautiful day. I sit by the fire knitting and rocking the cradle, thinking of many things and wonder if I will be here this time next year or not.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1859
Another beautiful morning. Caravosso quit sick the rest are tolerby well. My teeth aching now and I wrote a letter to cousins Semantha and Milton Roseberry. James is building him a grainery the children is at school.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1859
Cold and cloudy, looks like for snow. The babys throat is bad, swelled, and quite sick, James has gone to Mr. Hoards to stable raising. Catherine comes in the evening. Mother comes out to see the baby and George, found them some better. At night, James went to a debate, come home with new ideas.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1859
Up late, the rain falling fast. The children off to school. I £ind myself still at. the knitting and rocking and nursing. No time for play. James is cutting out his harness while it rains, George Finley and James Carvossa is better. Here comes the children from school. Wesley Spear is with them. Supper over now, then they have fun. Now we have prayers and all to bed.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1859
Turning quite cold, my tooth aches very bad, we are all tolerable well this morning. Trying to get some work done, but cannot. The children home allmost [sic] froze very cold and getting colder we suffer cold tonight don't sleep much my bones ache with cold. I wish I had a warm house and room to work in.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1859
Clear and cold. Not very well. We are trying to get warm. Marion and K. goes to John Peacocks to stay all night. I do not get much work done--the baby cries so much. I finished my new stockings. Not quite so cold. Say our prayers and go to bed.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 1859
Up late this morning, the old clock wont go. Some snow, looks like for more. James goes to meeting. I stay at home at my old post rocking the cradle. Mother has gone to see Ira Day’s wife who is very sick. Marion has come home. James gone back to meeting. I am still at home, don’t got to meetings once in six months on an average. Freeman's birthday.
MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1859
Cool pleasant sunshine. I went to see William Foster found him verry sick looks verry pale. Come home got dinner and knit the rest of the day. Their [sic] is some snow on the ground begins to look like thawing out. The baby verry [cross?]. George is better the rest of us is well.
TUESDAY JANUARY 11, 1859
Some clouds, looks like for snow. James goes to Mr. Morrisons for corn. I wash hard all day. Am quite tired in the evening. Carvossa is very sick with swelled throat, set up till bed time, and rocked the baby.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1859
Quite cloudy. Looks like for snow or rain in the morning in the afternoon clear. James is gone to Paris. I went to mothers. John Peacock was their [sic] for his new stove. We all eat dinner on chicken then I come home done the evenings work. James go to the debate.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1859
This morning is raining. Isaac comes for James to haul his corn from Mr. Jones--gets home at three oclock and still raining. I sew all day at James fine shirt, have the toothache, felt bad all day, quite ill natured.
End of page 1
FRIDAY JANUARY 14, 1859
Very cloudy and still raining. James goes to mill, stays all day to get his grinding. Comes home late in the evening. William Foster is worse--not expected to live until morning. The wind commences to blow in the evening--getting quite cold. We are all tolerable well. I set up quite late to sew. James is in bed.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, l859
Quite cool this morning. James goes to see William Foster. Finds him very sick, thinks he wont live long. Comes home--does up his work and goes back and stays all night with him. He does not talk much but says he is willing to die. He suffers a great deal. The ground freezing.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 1859
A beautiful day and cold. James comes home--says William Foster is dying. I go to see him, find him dying. The house crowded. I stay till one o’clock and he died at two o’clock--after I left. Quite cloudy--looks like for snow. We are all well as usual.
MONDAY, JANUARY 17, l859
Cold and cloudy. We go to the burying and leave the children at home. I did not go to the grave but hurried home, all most tired down and get supper aginst James and Marion gets home. Poor cousin William done with the troubles of this world.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1859
Not raining cold clear Sun Shine. James hauls foder I am sewing Maria Jane goes to William’s to stay all night, and gets dog bit. Catherine goes by to mother’s to celebrate her birthday. Her and mother comes to stay till bed time with me. James has gone to the Chapel meeting. The moon shines bright. We smell coal burning.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1859
Clear and not verry cold. Sunshine. James is gon[e] to work for Cris to day. I am busy sewing. Maria Jane comes home. Charls, Harriet [and] Eliza Rosebery comes to mothers to day. They bring the word that cousin Semantha is ded. She died cristmas [sic] day. I went to mothers to see them. They all go to meeting at night. They are coming to see me to morrow. James stays late to the debate tonight. We are all well.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, l859
Here they come and not all the morning work done. Looks quite much like for rain. Elizabeth Redman comes and Catherine, and mother, Harriet and Eliza Roseberry are here. Here comes Miller Morrison for a coat pattern. Now it rains some. Dinner over with, we had biled beef and turnips. The girls now goes to Aunt Caty Fosters. Maria Jane goes with them. James goes to Jonathan Everharts for my shoes, but does not get them.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, l859
Still cloudy, not very cold. Have a notion to wash, but didn’t. The baby is so cross and broke out with the chicken pox. Some cooler this evening. James is gone to the meeting to the Chapel. I sewed and knit some today--do not feel very well. I am writing by candle light tonight. Some of the children are in bed, but the baby is crying no more.
End of page 2
SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, l859
This morning clear and very cold. I am mending clothes and knitting and rocking and trying to keep warm. James is hauling wood. Marion has gone to the post office. We are all well as common and feel very thankful for the blessings we receive, and love God with all our hearts.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 23, l859
Very cold--the sky looks like bright diamonds. I go to the Chapel to meetings. James goes with me to the foot log then I go alone the rest of the way. (Five or six miles) Get there in time for preaching, hear a good sermon from Bro. Miller. Felt paid for my walk. The text was "Whosoever cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out."
MONDAY JANUARY 24, 1859
Not quit [sic] so cold looks some like for snow. I wash hard all day have beef and turnips for dinner. Mother goes by going to Catherines with her butter in the evening. James and Marion goes to meeting to the chapple [sic]. I sit up late and sew the vest in bed.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, l859
Very cloudy--the ground froze hard. I start for Ira Day’s to see his sick wife. I undertake to walk but James feels sorry for me--comes after me with the wagon, then I take a rough ride over the frozen ground. We find Mr. Day washing and Mrs. Day very sick. She wont live long. I comforted her all that I could.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, l859
Beautiful day. Looks like summer. I go to see Sister Catherine Sampson. Have quite a pleasant visit. She baked black berry pies. We had a good dinner. The dog run the sheep. James come and helped me home. I gave him his supper and a KISS--then he went to meeting again to the chapel. I was quite lonesome at home.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, l859
Very disagreeable, raining hard and quite muddy. I do not work much--it is so dark. James take the hide off the old cow. Isaac comes to grind the axe. I get dinner and bake some vinegar pies for variety. The children are gone to school. Mother has been gone a few days to see some of her girls. We are all well as common.
FRIDAY JANUARY 28, 1859
This is a beautifull morning. The rain has ceased. Looks like making sugar. We are well the children at school. James hunts his sheep then goes to mothers for milk. I get dinner then sew and knit untill evening then we took a viset [sic] over to Dr. David Thompsons to stay till bed time found them well. Had a pleasant viset. The Thompsons come home just at supper time.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, l859
Here is Saturday and we are here. Now we scrub and clean, bake loaves for the Sabbath. The Camelit meeting commences tonight. James and Marion have gone to meeting tonight. James went to Paris today, and bought him a coat. I received a letter from Nancy Petro. They are all well and I feel glad that we can say we are all well this evening. I have a tooth ache yet for company--sad company.
End of page 3
SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 1859
Another beautiful Sabbath. Clear and cool. James and the baby and me goes to the reformers meeting at the school house. The house was crowded with hearers. We had some good singing, a sermon preached, part of it I liked very well. When he spoke of the death of our Savior and his sufferings, then the meeting was dismissed. We started for home. Stopped at Catherines. Stayed for dinner. We started for home. Mother stopped a few minutes to read the paper, then went home. James and Maria Jane have gone to meeting to night.
MONDAY JANUARY 31, l859
We are all well. I went to mother’s for a coat pattern, come home and cut Marion a coat and sewed some, then made preparations for going to meeting. I went and left the rest of my family at home. Heard a good sermon preached from "What shall we do to be saved." Part of which I liked and part I did not. The singing was very good, then I come home quite late. Found James nursing the baby by the fire.
FEBRUARY l859
We are all well. I went to mother’s for a coat pattern, come home and cut Marion a coat and sewed some, then made preparations for going to meeting. I went and left the rest of my family at home. Heard a good sermon preached from "What shall we do to be saved." Part of which I liked and part I did not. The singing was very good, then I come home quite late. Found James nursing the baby by the fire.
FEBRUARY l859
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, l859
Not very cold, looks like for snow. Catherine comes to help me sew on Marions coat. The reformers have their meeting to night--at Mr. Redmans. Three joins are to be baptised tomorrow at the Mayfield Mill at three o’clock. James did not go to their meeting-he has such a cold and does not feel well. I read and knit some, then go to bed with the head ache.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, l859
I do not feel very well, my throat is sore--my neck and head aches. The clock strikes 10 and I am writing. The children are gone to school. James is hunting his sheep. The baby is asleep. The clouds are dark, now it rains. We feel thankful that we have a shelter from the storm and more thankful that God is our refuge and in time of trouble and shelter from all storms. James goes to the baptism, gets home late in the day. Baby is so sick--he does not go to the meeting. I wrote Nancy Petro a letter to-day.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1859
Cool and cloudy, looks like for snow. I sew all day, don’t feel very well. Aby is better, the rest of the family is well. James, Marion and K. goes to meeting to the school house. Three more joined, all to be emersed tomorrow. I cut Freeman a coat at night. Sewed some then cold and tired went to bed for that night.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1859
Snowing and blowing-very cold. I am thinking of going to the baptism but sewed all day and went to meeting at night. [End of page 4] James and Maria Jane went to baptism and Marion too. The evening was quite cool, there was quite a stir. Some seemed well pleased. Ten confessed the Savior then they are ready for emersion on the morrow at the mills.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, l859
Cold--very cold. James and I goes to the reformers meeting at 11 o’clock then go with the company to the baptism, had a cold rough walk, got home late in the evening,-tired and hungry. Supper over--James and Marion goes to Gilead to the Methodist meeting. I set up late.
MONDAY FEBRUARY 7, 1859
Clear and cool. Commence washing. James cleans wheat. I hear of Elizabeth Watson’s baptism. She is sick. I quit washing and go to see her. Brother Miller baptized her. It was a solemn time to some. Then I come home, quite tired. Supper over then James, Marion and John went to meeting to Gilead to hear Brother Miller preach. I went to bed.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, l859
James starts for town. Sells his wheat to Mr. Landor [Landon?] then he comes home in the evening. The rain falling fast. I finished my washing that was commenced--then supper over. I knit some then, the baby is very cross. The children are noisy. Mother comes awhile in the morning. Says pap is sick. He looks feeble and he works too hard.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1859
Cool and cloudy, ground frozen. Mother comes and I go with her to see Elizabeth Watson. James goes to meeting-comes and helps me home in the evening, then goes back to meeting. I stay at home and bake blackberry pies. Marion is at Catherines. Maria J. has gone to the meeting to night. We are all in tolerable good health. We took dinner with sister Maria Young. They are all well. Christian was not at home. He was gone to Frankfort.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1859
James and I went to meeting to Gilead, cold and cloudy. We
took dinner at David Tompson’s, then went to night meeting.
Snowed some in the evening. Left the children at home.
We came home and found them all asleep and we was glad.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1859
Quite cool-still looks like snow. I try to clean the
house and bake some more blackberry pies. James hauls wood,
Marion, Maria J. and Freeman goes to meeting, then at night.
Mother and I goes to meeting. Come home quite late.
Tired--we are all.
End of page 5
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1859
A beautiful morning. The sun shines bright. It makes me feel happy to see and feel the Goodness of God to such ungrateful people as we are. His love warms my soul as the sun does the earth. James, Marion, and Maria Jane went to Gilead to meeting. I. stayed with the children.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1859
Warm and looks like for rain. James goes to Ira Day’s. Marion goes to help K. and George cut stocks. Commences raining. I sew some and knit and nurse the baby. We are tolerable well. James gets to Jonathan Everharts in the evening.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1859
Still warm and raining. We are all tolerable well. James makes halters. I patch and mend clothes and work at my carpet rags. Very cloudy.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1859
Very rainy. I make some hominy. James is right sick with bad cold. Still works at his bridles. I am patching and mending. We are thankful for the blessings we receive, this world has troubles.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1859
Still cloudy and rainy and warm. I wash all day--am quite tired this evening. Marion goes with George and K. to the school house to meeting. James is better. I knit some and dry and starch some clothes by the fire.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1859
A beautiful morning. I am 31 years old to day. We have roasted goose and blackberry pies for dinner. Mother is here. James cmes in time for dinner. Isaac raised his stable to day. The sun shines bright.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1859
Another beautiful morning. I go to mother's with the children to take dinner on goose. George's birthday. James stays at home and husks corn. We are all well. The sun shines bright. The Methodists and Reformers are holding meetings at Frankfort. John goes to Lexington. When anyone looks at my writing and it does not please them please pass it on with out remarks as I expect to tell the truth always and reader, you will find some course writing on this page for my pen is bad, the paper thin. When you find mistakes, please correct them if you can.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1859
A beautiful day. Mrs. Thompson comes and we had roasted chicken for dinner. James finishes hauling. I sewed some at night. We had a house full of little folks at night.
End of page 6
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, l859
Cloudy, looks like rain. James finishes cleaning his wheat
Our "Julia" mare is very sick, comes nigh dying. Mother
comes by. Mr. Everhart stops awhile. I sew and knit.some.
MARCH 1859
THURSDAY MARCH 3, l859
A curious smoky morning, the wind blows like blowing everything away. Mr. Wiggins comes and gets some wheat. James builds at our house. Mrs. T and M. comes. I go with them to mothers for onion sets. Cool.
FRIDAY MARCH 4, 1859
The wind still is blowing hard. We are all complaining of sore throat. Marion has the mumps. Mother goes to Christians and I work at my rags.. James builds at our house.
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1859
What a beautiful spring time, the sun shines warm, the skies are clear as diamonds. I went to Mothers a few minutes, then come home and done a hard days work. The babe cries all the time, is quite sick..James hauls straw then goes to meeting at night.
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 1859
A beautiful day. Mother, Margaret, John Peacock and James goes to meeting at the school house. The babe is too sick for me to go. Looks like for rain this evening. James goes to meeting at night.I stay at home with the children, tell them some interesting stories and read in the Pilgrim’s Progress.
MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1859
A nice spring morning. I go to work in the garden until noon. The two mrs. Sweets comes for meeting house money, they stay for dinner, then it commences to rain at noon. I go to meeting at night with mother and K. and heard a powerful sermon not to be forgotten soon.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1859
Another beautiful day. Mother and Maria Jane goes to meeting in the fore noon. James goes to mill in the afternoon. I go with him to see Mr. Isaac Mayfield emerced--quite a congregation assembled at his house, then marched down to the water with singing. Mr. Balser had the ministers coat on and the minister had Mr. Balser's coat on. All went off pleasantly. Mr. Redman looked through the fence. Betsy H. rode home behind old man Griffith. I sowed some lettuce.
End of page 7
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1859
A beautiful morning. I am crazy with the tooth ache. The reformers meeting is still on the move. Mother comes by, going to Williams, then to meeting at 2 o’clock. Grandmother Blaser joins to day-quite a rejoicing. Mother comes by in the evening. Begins to look like rain. My throat is very sore. The rest of my family is well. I am quite ill natured with the tooth ache. Mr. Parsons house burnt last night.
FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1859
Not very well. Here comes pap and mother in the wagon going to mill and mother to meeting. Looks very much like rain. Grandmother Balser is to be emerced to day. I hope she will grow better as she grows older. I do not work very hard. I am not very well. We move.
SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 1859
The Lord has still shared our lives to see another Sabbath mornin: for which we are thankful. We have many temptations to encounter hut the Lord is our help. If we ask, we shall not be denied. Mother, Isaac, Catherine and the children come in the evening to stay awhile. Some stray horses comes here to day. Old Selim is with them.
MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1859
Warm and raining. We are a1l enjoying tolerable good health at noon begins to look like clear weather. James goes to mothers with me for fruit trees and garden roots. Mrs. Harris was there for onions. We come home. Mr. Morris comes for his horses in the evening.
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, l859
Some cooler and quite cloudy. I work hard at my carpet rags all day. James goes to Christians to help raise them. On to John Jays to hè1p roll logs then home. Mother comes out awhile in the evening, sends some cotton yarn to Catherine with Marion and Freeman. I am not very well.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1859
A delightful day. I commence cleaning the house. Sister Hoard comes. We fill our straw beds. James thrashed out his oats. I am all out of humor and will be while the black flour lasts for we have a barrel of it. In the evening gather the things in the house for it begins to look like for rain.
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1859
Looks like rain. I commence washing, wash hard all day. Then go to Catherines in the evening. The rain falling fast. [End of page 8] James finishes his oats. We all feel tolerable well, considering the hard times and having to eat black bread. We try to be cheerful as we can.
FRIDAY, MARCH l8, l859
In the morning it thundered and rained hard. Turned cold at two o’clock, commenced snowing, snowing thick and fast. The peach trees are all most out in bloom, the rose bushes and some other young bushes are putting out leaves. They look sad, loaded with snow, bending almost ready to break. We are in tolerable health.
SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1859
Dreary and cold and cloudy, but towards noon the clouds begin to break away. The sun begins to show its brightness. The plants are almost frozen with snow, but the snow leaves us fast. The water is streaming off the houses, so it is when the Lord hides his brightness from our poor souls-we seem almost froze then comes his brightness, warms our souls, makes us feel happy, then the snow heart begins to melt, the tears begin to flow, then our hearts rejoice.
SUNI)AY, MARCH 20, 1859
I feel to rejoice this blessed Sabbath morning for the goodness the Lord has bestowed on us through another week, but before noon I am tempted to think my lot a hard one. Cannot go to meeting. James goes to the reformers meeting then to class meeting--comes home just as if he had been at a feast of fat things there. I must get dinner for it is 2 o'clock. James and I take a walk in the evening up to J.S. and W.H.-found the folks well, come home.
MONDAY, MARCH 2l, l859
We are all well, Mother comes by. I hang my clothes to dry then scrub my house then go over to Mr. Hoards. He is quite sick. James sows oats then comes over in the evening to help me home with the babe and a load of the cherry trees. I am baking some black bread.
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1859
Quite pleasant this morning. I take some hasty steps over to see Aunt Catherine Foster. She is very sick. I do for her what I can-comfort her then come home-quite tired. Mother comes out a few minutes. I make a mouth wash for aunty Foster, send it over with Maria Jane and Marion in the evening. I sew some and wash and cook-looking for visitors tomorrow.
End of page 9
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1859
This is lovey’s birthday--36 years have gone. He was a
cross little pet. - Today he must have SOme chicken cooked to
please him. He is building fence. Of course, we will try to please him. It is a beautiful day. Dinner most ready. Here comes the company I am looking for Mrs. Tobias and Mrs. Maria Young and mother. We have a good time-only the babies are very cross. We try to nurse them.
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1859
Now I am going visiting this beautiful morning. James, what says you to that. Oh, don’t go to day Sarah, stay at home with me. No Sir-e-e-e-go I must and you must go with me to the creek if you can spare a few minutes time off. I go to Mrs. Phillips to day--found them tolerable well. We had a pleasant conversation about the meetings at Mt. Carmel. The wind blows hard all day. We had a smoky time. A pedlar comes by and Mrs. P. buys some oil cloth. James comes and helps me home.
FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1859
Cold, looks like for snow. Up quite late, the rats disturbed
our rest last night. Mother comes by early in the morning going to Catherines to start the carpet to weaving. I feel like work some of the times then at other times I do not.. I sew all dav in the evening three [?] Mrs. Morrisons comes to see Maria Jane. I find her with quite a swelled throat, but the visit passed off pleasantly. Supper over then they bid good night and off they go. The peach trees are in bloom, the grass growing fast, oh how thankful we should be for all the blessings we receive. Lord help thy beleiving children.
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1859
Quite cool. Mr. Tompson calls to see Mr. Bovard. He is gone to see Mr. Morrisons. I go to mothers for sone cherry trees. NC and M.J. goes with me to carry them home. We get 1 doz. of trees. Come James at home. I get dinner then take my knitting and start over to Mrs. Griffiths to get some garden seeds. Mr. Balser did not get any farther. Come home, I baked some black loaves of bread. James builds fence. Maria Jane and Freeman throat is quite sore. The little colt is here this morning.
SUNDAY MARCH 27, 1859
Here is another lovely Sabbath morning. We do not get up early as we should do for which I feel ashamed. Looks like.for rain. James goes to the Chapel to meeting. I stay at home thinking to go to Gilead in the afternoon but not so. Baby too sick to take so I have to stay. Truly my lot is a hard one. Mr. John P. was here for dinner then went to Gilead to meeting with James and Marion.
End page 10
I do not feel that degree of comfort in my soul that I have in days past and gone, I am sorry.
MONDAY, MARCH 28, l859
This Monday morning finds us well. Warm south winds--look like rain. Do not get much work done. James goes to Isaac Sampsons for sweet potatoes. We take out our Meshannic potatoes and fix our garden plowing. At night it rains and storms. James goes to Gilead in the evening. I sew and hook lace. The baby is cross. Freeman is sick.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1859
I commence washing, altogether out of humor, scolding every few minutes. Nothing seems to be right but I find I am too impatient. I cannot turn the world so I wash on trying to be content with [what] I have. James plows the garden. Catherine comes in the afternoon. I fix supper--last of the black flour.
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, l859
Last night James helped a widow, Deputy, doctor her cow that was down for want of food. I set up until they came-1 o’clock at night. Wesley Spear and Billy Reed and Marion Mc. B.. helped. Mrs. hoard comes by I go with them to mothers. We had a good visit. James goes to Mr. Redmans to a rolling of logs. In the evening we send for some pine trees to Christians Youngs. Freemsn is better-almost well. The rest are tolerable well. When you read this-mind your stops and read slow and sure.
SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 1859
Home--yes, home--yes, home--yes! Here is another Sabbath and finds us all well. We still have to complain of late rising and late breakfast. We have loaf bread, beef, and blackberry pies änd pound cake to day. James puts on his best suit, looks in the glass-thinks he’s fine looking, and off he goes and I have to stay at home as usual-minding the children.
MONDAY, APRIL 4, l859
Cloudy and cool, looks like for snow. I wash and starch clothes. Mother goes by to Catherines then to see Martha R. emerced. James goes to election at Frankfort. We are all well as usual. I went to the reformers meeting last night. Two joined the church.
TUESDAYS APRIL 5, l859
This morning it looks like snowing. We are all well. We iron the clothes. The cloud darkens--oh how it snows now--the fruit will all be killed. James hauls his board timber over. The cattle suffers with hunger and cold. We look for better times
End of page 11
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, l859
More moderate this morning. Curious that I must visit so much. I go to Williams-find a house full of sick folks. Mr. Parsons family is there sick with the scarlet fever. They have a house full of company. I come home in the evening. James hauls lumber from Mr. Belches mill.
THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1859
Cool, quite windy. James sows oats and I go to Mrs. Spears to the pedlar. Get some sugar and coffee. Get home at 12 o'clock. Mother has sent for me to come-she has the Mrs. Redman for company. I get dinner over then Maria Jane bakes loaf and gets supper before I get home. I put my time in pretty well.
FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1859.
Cannot stay at home to day--too fine looking and the fever on for visiting. I take sewing and knitting and two children and go to see sister C.S. for she has the pouts because I do not make a call at her house. We had a good dinner then to top off things I have an hour of extreme tooth ache then I am not company for a dog. I am so ill natured.
FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1859
Quite cool. Here comes mother on her way to Madison to trade her carpet. We commence sheering sheep hut the air is too cool for that business. Here comes Martha Jane for me to come quick. Johnny and Edy is eat some roots and are poisoned sure enough. We had a time with them. They come nigh dying. Dr. Griffith was very attentive. Dr. McLure was sent for but.did not come.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1859
Very warm. I am in a great hurry to shear sheep. James is plowing for corn.. Sprinles rain in the morning. The sheep is sheared. This evening-the thunder and clouds threatens rain.
FRIDAY, APRIL 22, l859
Very cool, still raining. Surely the sheep will all die. James works at the room then hunts the sheep and pens them. Isaac comes and says John Hoard was killed today at ten o'clock by falling off the old stable. We felt sad to think of it. Gloomy day.
SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1859
The rain has ceased, the air is quite cool. We go over to
Mr. Hoards awhile in the morning, then look for our sheep.
They are all alive. James finishs the roof on my room. A
beautiful evening.
-End of page 12
SUNDAY, APRIL 24, l859
Another beautiful Sabbath. James goes to Sabbath School.
Me and Marion goes to Gilead in the afternoon to meeting.
Bro. Rueben Rice preached a very good sermon. James stayed
home with the children.
TUESDAY APRIL 26, l859
Rained last night and raining this morning. James goes to the rolling. Mother comes out awhile-says aunt Foster (Kay Foster) is very sick. She stayed with her last night. Oh it storms and lightnings. Children I wish your pap would come home. Shut the door--the storm is here.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1859
Very cloudy. Farmers begins to look down in the mouth, too wet to plow. James works at my room. I wash wool. My tooth aches very bad. I go to sister Catherines in the evening a few minutes. James comes home last night. There is another hail storm.
FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1859
I do a large washing against noon, then go over to see Aunty, found her worse and failing fast. She must go, but does not seem resigned to leave the world of trouble. What a trial it is to see her in such a distress of mind. The friends tried to talk with her but seem to scare her. The rain is falling fast. I stay all night.
SATURDAY, APRIL 30, l859
A lovely morning. I come home feeling sad. Breakfast over. James goes to mill. I start over to mothers, but the word comes that Aunt Catherine is dying and wants to see me. I go as fast as I can and found it true. She took me by the hand. "Sarah, I am going, my troubles are most over. I cannot talk much more now but you have been so good to me. I wanted the doctor to come but it is too late, now I must go. Oh, how my heart aches, I tried to Pray." She had prayed that morning for the Lord to look with a pitying eye on her, a sinner. I hope the Lord took her to rest, she said her trust was in the Lord. Oh he is good, he doeth all things well.
MAY 1859
THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1859
A pretty day, planting corn yet this morning. We have chicken pie for dinner. Catherine cones down in the afternoon. We finish planting one field to day. I sew what I
can but feel so lonesome thinking of troubles.
End of page 13
FRIDAY MAY 6, 1859
Very pleasant this morning. James commences plowing in the Morrison field. I finish washing wool to day. Hannah Jane Phillips comes in the morning a few minutes. We talk about her mothers sickness and death. It makes me feel sad and lonesome. Our dying day will soon come and I want to be ready.
SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1859
Here is another pleasant morning. I hardly know what to do. There seems so much work to be done but I wash all day--bed clothes and clothes and am quite tired in the evening. I go and take James a drink and a piece of bread for he is tired, and hungry. The drum is beating there is a muster at the school house to day.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, l859
Clear and pleasant. I went to mother’s for a mess of mustard for greens to cook for dinner. We plant corn this afternoon. Pap and George and Isaac helps. Mother comes out awhile. I sew what I can and mind the cross children. The trees are green--the cows lies out, I don’t make much butter--hard times.
FRIDAY MAY 13, 1859
Maria Jane come home. I sew all day. We are all well.
Make Marion a pair of blue pants and part of his fine shirt.
Cannot work half as much as would like to.
SUNDAY, MAY 15, 1859
A beautiful day. We go to Gilead. to hear a funeral of Mrs. Peregrin by a Presbyterian preacher. My shoes nearly crippled me. Mr. Hoard comes home with us for dinner. A swarm of bees went over our house in the afternoon.
TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1859
A nice clear morning. Marg. Foster comes we help her kill a large snake. Mrs. Catherine Hoard comes. Looks like rain in the evening. Mother is sick with the chills.
SUNDAY, MAY 22, 1859
Another Sabbath Day has come. We are all well. I go to Catherines and stay all day for company. She has a young daughter to day. James goes to Gilead and school house to meeting. We do not have much to eat here.
MONDAY, MAY 23, 1859
A very warm day. Time we begin to think of hard times. The
snow takes the corn, not one cloud to be seen today. I
do not feel very well. We plant our sugar cane to day. I
go to Catherines a few minutes this eve. She is right smart.
End of page 14
THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1859
Rained last night, fine growing.weather. We are quite happy to hear the rain, good time for hoeing in the garden. Here comes mother, Debby and Margy to help pick wool. I get dinner--we have chicken pie. My throat gets very sore in the evening. Margy stays all night.
SUNDAY, MAY 29, 1859
Sabbath morning and Oh how happy we should be all the time.
Giving thanks to our Creator for his goodness. James takes
sister Debby home this morning. I go with them. We go to
Mr. Jones--found them tolerable well. Quite cloudy.
TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1859
We had a very pleasant shower of rain last night, for which we feel thankful for. A nice time for setting out plants. I work some in the gartlen--do not feel well--have a cough. Mother goes by to get plants, has been cloudy all day. James daubs my room today and we eat the last of our meat.
JUNE 1859
TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 1859
A beautiful morning--not very cold. Here cornes the wool pickers. The house is £ull--30 in number. The wind blows very hard. John Peacock comes for mother--says Margy is very sick. They finish wool picking.
TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1859.
A beautiful day. I sew at fly green dress--feel weak. James helps me hoe my cabbage. My garden looks well, the corn grows some now. The wheat is beginning to ripen most all cheat.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE l5, 1859
Beginning to get cloudy, looks like rain. James and Marion plows corn. Catherine comes--stays all day. Lewis Byfield comes and asks me to a sewing to Mrs. Tobias next Saturday, and Mrs. Balser has a wool picking tomorrow. I have an invitation. Now it is thundering--now it rains hard.
MONDAY, JUNE 20, 1859
Very anxious to try spinning this morning. Still cloudy thunders, now it rains. I sent to Mrs. Spears to get a reel but do not get it. Then I send to Mrs. Hoards, get a reel, spin 4 cuts--good rolls. James and Marion plows corn. We have green beans and young potatoes.
THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1859
Clear in the morning. We wash, scrub, scald, clean the house, starch, iron, get dinner, then spin 4 cuts, get supper, quite tired. Sleep late these mornings. Cool and cloudy in the evening.
End of page 15
SUNDAY JUNE 26, 1859
Some cloudy this morning, then clears away. I go to Gilead
to class meeting. James stays at home with the children.
Late getting home. Very tired.
JULY 1859
MONDAY, JULY 4,1859
Set up last night with Abby. Very cool. Almost frost. The drums and cannons are sounding all around. Clear all day--very cool. James cuts at his wheat. The doctor comes. Mother and Catherine comes awhile. I sew what I can then get supper. The black berry pies are getting plenty.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1859
Getting very warm. I spin 14 cuts today then hoed in the garden. Some cloudy this afternoon. Abby can sit up this morning. James sold 19 sheep to day. $1.25 per head to a gentleman from Kentucky. Mother comes out and brings the money.
FRIDAY, JULY 8 1859
Cloudy, looks like rain. I go to pick berries, then come home and get dinner then spin 4 1/2 cuts. James and Marion plows corn, the ground is very dry, the corn looks sick looking,
THURSDAY JULY 28, 1859 [Note that this is out of order on my copy of the transcript.]
Beautiful morning. Babe no better. I commence washing. Lizzie Trulock comes by. I feel some better this morning. I stop washing. I have a house full of visitors. Mrs. Tobias, Mrs. Ruth Young, Miss Martha Redman. Dinner over then sew and nurse my sick baby.
TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1859
Sultry, some red clouds this morning. Sign of rain, but then clears away. Oh how glad we are. Poor little George is very sick. No better--has a hot fever. James helps me hoe the sweet potatoes.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1859
Little George is no better. James goes to the doctor for medicine., Very warm. Some cloudy. I do not get much work done--the flies are so bad. James works at his oats. The children picks some berries. Marion takes some feathers to Frankfort to get some jugs but could not get any--all gone. Gets the money for feathers then comes home. George is no better--has a hot fever--we still give medicine.
End of page 16
SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1859
James goes to mill, me and Marion, Freeman and Melville all go to the old field to pick berries. George is some better. Pleasant air--hot sun. Christian and Maria come by in the evening. They have been cutting hay. I fill some jugs with berries. The earth is dry and parched for want of rain.
SATURDAY, JULY 23, 1859
Some cloudy. James goes to help thrash at Marion Peregrines. I patch some then take Jimmy and go to Gatherines in the evening. He is right sick. Looks like for rain.
AUGUST 1859
TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1859
James goes to mill--gets home late with a load of black flour--not fit for hogs to eat but we poor children have to eat it. We have nothing much to eat. Times are hard and worse coming. Nothing to sell. I spin all day and sing as much as I can. Babe some better. (This is Landons Mill.)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 1859
Here we go to the infair dinner to Mr. Honlery. Pap, mother, Jim, K., George, Marion, Babe and myself. We have a fine time, and a first rate dinner, but I did not wear hoops like some of them. A beautiful day.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 1859
A pleasant morning. I go to Catherines a few minutes. Mother goes to Frankfort to the reformers meeting. Pap goes to Wooster Mill. I wash. Catherine comes, we make James a black luster coat. The children destroys the watermelon patch. We whip them well for it. James is to Wooster meeting.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 1859
Very pleasant, no clouds. James, Isaac, Catherine, and myself goes to Wooster to the Quarterly Meeting. Mr. Hiblin preached, his text was "Cast not away your confidence." We took dinner with Brother Monroe, then went to the Sacrament meeting at three o’clock, then home through Frankfort.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1859
Looks like rain. East wind, very cloudy and warm. James goes to help Christian Young thrash and I have to patch and make some preserves. Little Jimmy very cross and cannot get much spinning done.
End of page 17
SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 1859
Beautiful morning. James takes the wagon to the Chapel to meeting. Mother goes with us. Brother Miller preached. We went to Mr. Belches for dinner. Very warm--some cloudy.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1859
A pretty day. I sew some, fixing for camp meeting. Mother comes by from the pedlar, brought Maria Jane a basket. Catherine has the chills. I have the headache.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 1859
A beautiful day. We wash, starch, iron, sew some, getting ready for camp meeting. A pretty day, all tolerable well. Times looks some better. We have plenty of rain.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 1859
Little Jimmy had a chill and a fit last night. We go to camp meeting this morning. Looks some like rain. Baby has another fit. We hurry home with him and go for medicine. Mother stays us all night.
MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 1859
Clear and cool. We finish our course gray rolls. Mrs. Griffith comes for stocking yarn. Last night the skies was light as day with red streaks called the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. Article in Almanac--Looking Nice--A term invented to keep boys off the grass, and make girls consumptive. In our opinion, dirt is one of the very elements of health, and no boys should be denied his legitimate share thereof. C1ean children are always "pale and interesting." [Did she mean "uninteresting"?]
SEPTEMBER 1859
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1859
A beautiful day. Catherine comes. James goes to Redmans to see the sick. I spin all day at my blankets filling. A heap of sickness.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1859
Mr. Greens little boy died last night. James had to go over then to Frankfort. Another light night. I am troubled nearly sick, so much trouble here below.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1859
Cool, some clouds. James and children goes to meeting. Mother and pap comes by, they received a letter from Aunt Liza. Granny P. and Frank P was here for dinner. Then James kept the children and I went to meeting the afternoon, the reformers meeting.
End of page 18
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1859
James sows wheat. I double and twist coverlid yarn. We are all well. Cool and some clouds. In great hurry to get some work done.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1859
Cool and pleasant. Fine time for work. I twist yarn till noon, then go to Catherines to the ped1ar but he does not come. What a trouble I have.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1859
James goes over to Mr. Green’s this morning. Their child died last night. Cool and cloudy, rained some last night. We go to Gilead to meeting in the wagon. We get our children baptised.--M.A., G., and James Carvossa. (Melville, Abner and George.)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1859
Cool. James goes to Paris and gets my indigo and madder to color my cover lids. I twist 21 cuts. Mr. Belch and Mr. Hubanks comes. The children goes for hazelnuts. I go to Catherines late in the evening, she is not at home.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1859
Some cloudy, cool, fall weather. James commences sowing wheat at Mr. Morrisons. I twist 16 cuts of coverlid yarn and send some to Catherine to twist. Mother comes a few minutes.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1859
A beautiful morning. We go to Hr. Jones with all the children. The quarterly meeting is at Wooster. Very warm, threatens rain. Get home late. I stopped at Margy’s, her and John is sick. I stopped at Mrs. Phillip's. She is better.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1859
A pleasant, morning. Some clouds, rained last night. We spin at our flannel filling. I go to mothers and fix her bonnet. She is going on a visit. I come home, set a blue dye, then go to Catherine’s almost run down, James complains of being sick.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1859
Here we go, James and I to Mr. Foster to the house raising. Cool cloudy. We have a fine time. I come home at noon, then go to Catherines to the pedlar, he does not come, then home--very tired. Mother has gone on her visit to Shelby Co.
End of page 19
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1859
A beautiful morning. We sleep late. We are all well. James goes to Chapel to meeting, then comes home, gets dinner then we both go to Gilead meeting. We go mare back instead. How fine we rode. I am pretty near proud. We hear a good sermon from Mr. Miller. (Margin) Brother Miller’s last sermon for this year.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1859
Late breakfast. I go to Mrs. Griffiths a few minutes, then home. Sew and bake black berry pies. Mother returns from her visit late this evening. Found her folds all well and found things doing well enough at home. We are fixing for Canton to get our coverlids wove. Cloudy all day, threatens rain.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1859
James goes to Wooster Mill. I take the three least children and go with him to sister Deborah McLures. Oh how the rain pours down as we come home. Found them all well. Debby and I took our babies and walked to Mr. Davis' and Mr. Stokes stores, get home late. Marion goes with George and K. to Mr. Tobiases to an apple cutting. Rains quite so hard at night.
OCTOBER 1859
SATURDAY OCTOBER 1, 1859
Here is Saturday, very pleasant. I patch some. James hauls wood, kills a mutton in the evening. Isaac and Ashberry Belch comes to stay all night. I receive a letter from Nancy Petro. Maria Jane and Aby both sick with bad colds. Have to work too hard.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2 , 1859
Lovely morning. Feel thankful that all is as well with us as what it is. Children better. I stay at home all day. James goes to Gilead to meeting. Catherine comes awhile and I send for pap to come out and eat dinner. Mother has gone to Margy Peacocks. Such a pretty clear cool pleasant day.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1859
Clear and cool till noon then cloudy. I went to mothers in the forenoon. We have a notion to go to the fair to Vernon tomorrow. James commences cutting corn this morning. I spin, starch and iron and bake some pumpkin pies. Mother and George comes out to stay all night, ready for the fair. Melville is sick. James goes to Gilead at night.
End of page 20
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1859
Cold--very cold. Melville better. Now we start for the fair before daylight. Leave the children in bed. We get very cold. Heavy frost. Arrived at the fair--safe. Saw a many nice things but thinking of the children at home I did not see much pleasure. My head ached and I felt sick and wanted home. The roads are good. The moon shone bright. We arrived home at half past eight at night, found the children in bed. All well, then I wished I had took my time easier. Mother and George went on home, tired and hungry.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 9, 1859
Some clouds then clears away. We have a good mess of beans and corn for dinner. I feel well but the rest are all sick with sore throats. Maria Jane goes to Mr. Foster’s. Very cool.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1859
Pleasant morning. I commence spinning. My tooth aches. I finish spinning--spun my dozen. Oh how I suffer with tooth ache. The Roseberry girls are here. James cuts corn. Clear all day. Heavy frost.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1859
Cool--some clouds. Margaret B. comes to color. I colored to day and finished twisting stocking yarn. Mother and Tilda Foster is here. I scoured out some yarn to day.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1859
I start to the pedlar but do not go all the way--he did not have no cotton yarn. Marget come to day and colored her yarn. Cloudy, looks like rain. I go with Margy to mother’s. We fill some jugs with tomatoes. I still have the tooth ache. Abner Sinclairs birthday.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 1859
Nice pleasant morning. I went to mother’s awhile--left the children with James. Maria J., Delilah B., Ann Stevens went by to mothers this morning. Very cloudy.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1859
Sleeves rolled up. All in a hurry--now the coloring is to be done. Here goes Christian Young and Isaac S. I color red and green--dip the blue for Margy P. Mother and Catherine comes. I boil the cotton for the jeans. James cuts and hauls wood. Isaac goes by--he is going to town tomorrow. James is sick. Cloudy this morning.
End of page 21
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1859
I go to mother’s to warp my blankets. Spooled them last night. The rest in bed. K. come for the kettle to make preserves. James digs potatoes and I color blue, work at my weaving, pick beans and a thousand other things. My hands are so chafed I cannot work with ease. Mother comes a minute or two. James writes notes for the meeting house. Babe cries.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1859
Blessed Sabbath morning. Debby and Ethe goes by to the post office, taking a ride for their health. James and myself goes to Gilead to meeting to hear Mr. Potts preach.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1859
I finished weaving my blankets to day, spool some at my carpet chain. Cold and cloudy--looks like rain. Moses and family comes to paps to night. Mother has the tooth ache. I am not very well.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1859
Now I hurry my flannel to see how it will look. I scald some too, boil bark to color jeans chain, but here comes brother Moses and wife and children and pap and mother and Catherine, and children comes. Not well.
SATURDAY OCTOBER. 29, 1859
Cloudy and co1d. Abby is sick. I commence weaving my flannel. Oh how beautiful it is. Mother goes by to Catherines. We bury our cabbage, beets, squashes and color jeans cotton and carpet rags, render tallow, make some candles, and sew on my blankets.
NOVEMBER l859
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1859
I commence early to boil syrup, boil all day. Catherine and children comes-stays a1l day--warm and pleasant. Go in the afternoon to grind cane. Mother comes in the evening.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1859
Pleasant morning. I boil syrup cane juice till noon, then wash and warp my jeans at night. James helps me. Pap and mother went to Paris to day. Mother bought a fine shawl---$6.30. Clear day but very windy and smoky. Dry time--we wish it would rain.
End of page 22
SUNDAY, N0VEMBER 6, 1859
Very smoky. Sleep late. My throat is sore--bad cold. Brother Moses and family goes home to day. James goes with me to Gilead to meeting. Mr. Potts preaches--his text was "Enoch walking with God 300 years and then was not for God took him." Come home late. All well, we left little Jimmy home with the rest of the children. I write at night. The children reads their books and make noise enough.
WEDNESDAY, N0VEMBER 9, 1859
Pleasant and warm. We beam our 40 yards of jeans--takes us one hour to beam it--put it through the gears and reed. Mother comes with some filling. James still works at fixing our house-the doors and windows. We begin to want rain very bad--the corn is turning yellow for want of rain.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1859
Up early this morning--commence washing with frozen water. The children goes to school. I wash hard. Get done against 2 o’clock. Norwood Tobias is here for dinner. Mother goes by to Catherines. James goes to mill with corn to Mayfields then hauls wood. I weave at my jeans. We are all well.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1859
Rained all day--commenced before daylight. James commenced his sled--went to paps for an auger--took their salt home. I wove all day. James quilted some. We are glad to see it rain. Jimmy went barefooted. He is a good boy--I do not get to nurse him much. I do not get to read my Bible enough--too much work to do.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1859
Cloudy, make a kettle of pumpkin butter--very good. I weave some. Mother comes out awhile. I fill quills. Maria Jane irons, James finishes his sled. Marion went to the [post] office. Freeman and Melville and Aby and George all disobedient children. I hope they will get better.
SUNDAY, N0VEMBER 20, 1859
Blessed Sabbath morning. We are all well as common. Up late this morning. James and I went to Gilead to meeting. Brother Potts preached. His text was, "Ye are my friends as long as you do whatsoever I command you."--l5 chapter and 14th verse of St. John.
End of page 23
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 23, 1859
Up early this morning. James goes to husk corn for Mrs. Miller, then hauls corn in the afternoon. I weave hard afternoon and mind the children, cook dinner, sweep, wash in the forenoon, sew at night thinking how much work I have to do and how to get it done.
THURSDAY, N0VEMBER 24, 1859
This is Thanksgiving Day. I feel thankful that all is as well with us as what it is. Pap and mother have gone to Deborah’s to day. Cool, and cloudy. James hauls rails for his fence--then is very sick at night. I weave all day--almost out of heart. So much to do here. Here comes Mary Ann Tobias with Ruth’s jeans. My thoughts don’t get much rest.
TUESDAY N0VEMBER 29, 1859
Up early and off to town. Beautiful day, warm sun--some streaked white clouds--cool air--white frost. The children goes to stay with Catherine. Isaac goes to town [obviously Madison]. We get to town before sun down. James stays at the tavern and I stay at Mrs. Byrds. I seen and heard many things, but with very little satisfaction arid poor encouragement. This is a very wicked world, but I do not see much of it. I did not sleep much. The boats made such a noise and I was uneasy about home and children.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1859
Leave town at half past 9--sick and tired. Not enough money to buy what I need. James buys 5c worth of cake and l0c worth of cheese. We get home just dusk--the roads very good. We stopped at Julia Roseberry’s a few minutes. A beautiful warn day--begins to look like rain in the evening. The children all well--done well. Marion and Maria Jane goes to a spelling to night. I slept very sound last night was very tired. Little Jimmy was such a good babe at town--never cried to trouble me any. I bought Maria Jane a shawl for $l.25. Caroline McLain come home with Maria Jane from spelling.
DECEMBER 1859
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1859
Still raining. High water-rains all day--commenced sleeting in the evening. No school--the children come home at noon. I spooled Ruth’s jeans. The notorious Mr. Brown was hanged to day in Virginia St. [She meant "Virginia state." Abolitionist John Brown was hanged at Harper's Ferry, a town in that part of Virginia that has become West Virginia.]
End of page 24
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1859
I stay home with the children--keep Catherines babe and she goes to meeting. James, Maria Jane all went to Chapel to meeting. Slippery walking--sleet and snow frozen mist rain-thaws. I write some at night. I went to help feed the sheep.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1859
We was cold last night. The coldest time I ever seen, do not get much work done. I sew all day and tell scripture stories to the children-hear them say lessons. James cuts wood and does the feeding. Oh how my tooth aches. Sad company. All well.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1859
Some moderate this morning. I commence weaving this morning. But have to quit and wash the clothes. I fry some crills. Sew and nurse the babe. Hurry--try to get some work done--too much to do to get along with our troubles. James went to mill with some buckwheat in the sled-hauled wood.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1859
James helps pap kill hogs to day. I weave. James comes home at noon then goes to Maria Byfield's to saw timber. The children goes to school. Little Jimmy is beginning to walk around. Frozen some--snow on the ground. Plenty to eat--not much work--these days are so short.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1859
Up early--James off to town. Mary Foster comes home with Maria Jane from school to stay all night with us. Marion goes to husking of corn to Christian Young’s. I wove to day. Catherine come to day. I sew at night. Little James Carvossa waik all over the place now.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1859
James cuts wood yesterday. I went to hunt him in the evening--thought a tree had fallen on him--found him still cutting wood. I waded through the snow. I weave till noon then wash. Mr. Belch comes, takes dinner with us. Takes till dark to wash the clothes. Very tired. William went by from mother’s.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1859
Now I have a cold time. A hard day’s work to render. Up late, done all my work to day. Plenty of meat and lard this year. Pretty good sleighing now--but I have no time to spare.
End of page 25
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1S59
Here it Christmas morning. We looked for visitors last night but did not come. Begins to thaw, the snow is melting fast. James took me to the meeting in the sled then to Mr. Thornpsons--then home in the evening. Mother is here, She had company to day. We are all well. We have crulls and corn bread and sausage and sause to eat.
ARTICLE IN ALMANAC--Donati’s Cornet of 1858
The splendid appearance made in the heavens by this cornet in October will long be remembered by those who have had the pleasure of beholding it. On some favorable evenings its tail extended across the firmament for the distance of forty-five degrees. When nearly setting behind the western horizon, its tail streamed up halfway to the zenith. Centuries may pass away before another sight of such surpassing magnificence shall be seen. [Note of 2007: It's unclear if Sarah entered this by, copying from a publication, or if a later typist entered it.]
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 1860
Saucy, noisy children.
MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 1860
Little James Carvossa takes a fit, lasts three hours. I am troubled most to death about him. He is very sick. Mother pap and John, Mr. arid Mrs. Griffith comes and does all they can for him. John goes for the doctor and James. Oh the mud mud mud!
SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1860
All midling well this rnorning. James Carvossa running strong. My head aches. James goes to Mr. Morrison’s for meeting house money. Marion goes to the post office. Very muddy and sloppy--mists rain all day. I wash sowe then go to Mr. Griffith’s for some salve for Georges leg--it is so sore. Left Jimmy asleep. We have good buckwheat cakes to eat plenty of meat, cakes, pies and cabbage. Oh how thankful.
End of page 26
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 1860
Dear Sabbath morning. We are all alive and well this morning. How glad we are for the blessings we try to say, The Lord’s will be done, but our faith so weak, but do anything for our salvation, reconcile us to thy will, help us to put out trust in Thee, O Lord then all will be well with us forever. Do not let us forget Thee, no, never, never, never.
MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 1860
James fills some quills for me.XXX
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1860
All well this morning. Now I weave with all my might to get the blankets done--get done against one o'clock--17 yds. Take the loom out. Oh how glad I am. Beautiful day, I knit. Susan Redman and Cass Young comes home with the children to stay all night. James takes the blankets home, brings me $.75 in hard cash.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, l860
xxx Mr. Terril was here with baskets.xxx
SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 1860
James stays home and minds little James Carvossa.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1860
Warm and windy. I make soap to day, patch and knit, nurse and scold. Oh how warm, now I have plenty of good soap. We are all well at present.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1860
Clear cold morning. Windy all day. James went to Paris, bought 15 yards of muslin, some paper pens and tacks. Thawing--very muddy. We clean the house--sweep, scrub, and bake pies. and cake. Marion has sore throat. Mr. Griffith’s children come for turnips at night.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 1860
The Austin Methodist Church is dedicated to day.
MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 1860
I cut six pairs of pants then sewed some at Marions.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1860
Mother comes--we have fine times making capsxxxx. Snows all day, not enough for sleigh ride.
End of page 27
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1860
Quite cold this morning. Miss Martha Redman comes stays all day--visiting. B. Foster, I. Sampson, pap, mother--all come out to help kill a beef. Mr. Foster paid me $1.40 for weaving. Now I have money enough to get my coverlids. GOOD!! Mrs. Griffith’s children comes to spell awhile.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1860
I sewed hard last night and yesterday at little Jimmy’s new yellow suit of flannel that James bought for him in town. The sun shines bright. Not very cold. Do not go to meeting. I have a sore shoulder and neck. I sew hard all day. James works in his clearing.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1860
Oh what a beautiful morning this is. Oh how I would like to go to meeting this morning but am too tired to walk. James goes. I cook a chicken against he came home. He is complaining of pain in his breast. The sugar drops fast to day. James goes at night to meeting. Marion went to spelling at the school house. Charley Griffith come over for some lard. The children are so noisy. My coverlids are done today.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1860.
This morning--snowing fast, fast. James splutters, hurrys to get his corn in that is down on the ground. Little Jimmy is quite sick. I twist some carpet chain, cut some rags, patch some. Sun shines in the afternoon. Ethe and Frank comes to mother’s. This is the last day of school. Oh how glad we are.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1860
Still cloudy, not very cold. I commence spooling cotton for carpet. Maria Jane twists then her and Marion goes to Margarets to a quilting. Cool--sleeting, this evening. James goes to mill for the buckwheat flour. What a good James! Now we have cakes for supper but I’m kinder sick.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1860
I go to mother’s a little while. Cloudy and cold. I hurry home, get dinner. Mr. Albert Byfield comes, buys some sheep--7 for $l0.00--pays 5. Here comes mother. Now we go to Mrs. Griffiths a visiting, find them all well and making soap. We stayed for supper. She cooked chicken had a good supper. James gathered corn, then meet me to help me home. Raining.
End of page 28
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY l8, 1860
We sit reading till ten o’clock. We have plenty of papers to read now.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1860
A beautiful morning--frozen ground--but a fine sugar day. The sun shines. James opens our camp. We are going to make some sugar. Julia Hoard comes a visiting. I show her how to hook edging. Mother comes awhile. Maria Jane goes to the pedlar but he does not come.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1860
32 years old to day--sixteen years married. 8 children--7 boys and 1 girl, but Oliver W. is gone home. Marion McKinley, Maria Jane, Freeman Daily, Melville Young, Abner Sinclaire, George Finley, James Carvossa. A notable day for me. James gone to Mr. Doughty’s house, raising the children at dawn. I'm writing in my book. The wind is moaning in the trees, the hens are cackling.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1860
Commenced raining yesterday evening--rained and blowed last night. This morning it looks like clearing away. I go to mother’s to a carpet cutting and roasted turkey. The wind commenced blowing, oh how the trees fell in all directions. Some clouds--I hurry home. James and Marion boils sugar water. We are tolerable well. Not very cold.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1860
I think the prettiest ever was. Not quite much air stirring. Sun shines bright. James goes to the Chapel to meeting, but I have always to stay at home. No way to get to meeting without dragging my life out. Our horses are so fat they cannot get their breath. A sin to ride ponies to meeting. Best stay at home, most too muddy to go to meeting. Vexed enough to cry--no pleasures in the old world of sin.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1860
This another fine day, the sun shines bright--looks like making garden. Mother comes in the afternoon. I cut a sack and help her sew some. The two Mrs. Tobias’ is come to get a school. We boil sugar water. James husks corn. All well.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1860
Here is our wedding day. Sixteen years to day, since we started out on this broad world for a living. Raining this morning. Mother, Mrs. Griffith come, and Catherine Sampson come and helps me quilt my woolen quilt--get done--how nice it is. George’s leg very sore, the rest tolerable well. We have blackberry pies. Isaac comes in the evening to help Catherine and children home. [Catherine and Isaac Sampson apparently were husband and wife.]
End of page 29
FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 1860
Warm, sprinkling rain--very cloudy. The quarterly meeting commences to day at 11 o’clock. James goes. I am sick to work with cold in my breast. The Mr. Rice’s comes home with James from meeting. I am quite out of humor at nothing.
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1860
Warm and rainy. James hauls some corn, gets very wet. Maria Jane went to mother's for milk, gets very wet. John goes by. Begins to clear away. The wheat and grass grows fast. I sew some, am better but very weak. We are hurrying to get our carpet wove to sell.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1860
xxx James makes rails.XXX
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1860
Clear and warm. James hauls corn and fodder and wood. Talks of starting for our coverlids in the morning. I finish doubling cotton for carpet.
FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1860
Clear and cool. Up at 4 o’clock and get breakfast, then James starts at 5 for Canton. Clear till noon then cloudy mists some snow, very windy and cold. Mr. Henly comes for meeting house money. I pay him $31.75--get a receipt. Mother and K goes by to the store. Pap sick.
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1860
James arrived safe--half past seven last evening with our coverlids. Very nice. Oh how glad I am they are good. Gave 5 dollars for the weaving of them. Here comes mother to help make them. We are all well as common. I go to mothers. Clearing off--cool.
SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 1860
A beautiful mornirig. Clear all day--no wind blowing. James takes mother and me to Frankfort to meeting. Brother Miller preached Woodney Wiggin’s funeral to a very large congregation. We took dinner with Deborah McClure, then home. "Blessed be the name of our Lord Jesus who hath begotten us again unto a lively hope."--the text.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1860
Very pleasant. I go to the branch to wash. James thrashed oats. I get done washing and go over to Griffith’s a minute or two, then come home, fill the straw beds. I am tired. All well but George's leg.
End of page 30
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1860
Very windy all day. I make some garden, set some raspberry bushes out. James sows the old garden in oats. The pet rabbit is here yet. Maria Jane finishes twisting carpet chain today--have 82 cuts. Cool today. We have 4 young chicks. I am very tired. James complains of his breast hurting.
THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1860
I colored some with log wood--get good colors. Now my carpet is colored ready for weaving. Two Miss Morrison’s comes, go to mother’s then home. Maria Jane, Freeman and Marion goes to mother’s to a carpet sewing at night.
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1860
James is thirty seven years old to day--failing fast, getting old. Mother and Catherine comes to spool and warp carpet. James sows oats. I spool some at my carpet. Pleasant all day with cool wind. Looked like rain last night.
MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1860
Now I commence warping my carpet--sixty yards of purple, red, blue, yellow, white, brown and black. Cold with snow-squalls all day. Isaac comes, helps James cut down the poplar tree. Marion plows for oats. Olivio Griffith comes awhile. Mother went to Catherine’s. Stopped awhile.
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1860
More pleasant this morning, the sun shining with wind. Get my carpet through against noon then go to the branch to wash. Mr. James Morrison comes--tales dinner with us. After done washing I wove 2 yards. James and Marion plows and cleans ground.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1860
Still pleasant to day. Now I weave 8 yards of carpet. Mother comes awhile. Cool air. Maria Jane goes to Catherines to sew carpet rags at night. Marion sprains his ankle. K. sticks the pitch fork in his foot. Unlucky day for them.
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1860
I weave 7 yards against noon, then to mothers. I have the headache. Lizy Spears was at mother’s--come by here. Some youngsters comes to stay with the children at night.
SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1860
James comes home last night at one o’clock, bought a fish, 10 pounds of coffee, l0c worth of cheese, a plow pint [?] and land shovel. I was very glad he came home, Cloudy--looks like rain. Catherine comes by this morning--going to mothers for garden seeds. I go to the store with 5 doz. eggs--get a gallon of good molasses--55c per gallon. James comes and helps me home. Mother comes.
End of page 31
APRIL 1860
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 1860
Fine day--the sun shines warm--very smoky. I weave 10 yards. James sows his grass seed then takes out the potatoes, have 10 bushel--plenty to eat and for seed. The boys husks corn out of fodder then shell corn to go to mill. Looks like rain--does rain and blow at night.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1860
James goes to mill with corn and wheat, get home before noon. The wind raises, oh how the trees falls in every direction. I goes to Christians. Mother comes to see how I am weaving--finds me weaving fast as I can--have 8 yards to day. She wants us to go to town a Friday.
THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 1860
Finishes 57 yards to day.
SATURDAY APRIL 7, 1860
Cloudy all night, looks like rain. We sell our carpet 25c per yard. Stay at the tavern. Start home at 9--get home at 5. Found all well, but I was very tired, bought a bed stead and several things.
SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 1860
Very warm. Easter Sunday--we have plenty of cooked eggs. Pap and mother comes awhile. James and Maria Jane goes to Gilead at two o’clook. Reuben Rice preached. Cass Young goes by to mother’s. Little Jimmy's weaned to day. I go barefooted. Quite pleasant--looks like rain. We are all well.
MONDAY, APRIL 9, 1860
Still looks like rain. We plant some corn, beans, mellons and cucumbers. The trees are getting green very fast. I go to mother’s. Mr. Butt and wife was there grafting some fruit trees for them. Mr. Morrison comes here for oats. James plows some. Freeman Daily and Melville Young starts to school to day.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1860
Still misting rain. Isaac Sampson comes and helps James saw rail timber. We have turnips, greens, custard pies chicken pie, lots of nicknacks-good enough. Potatoes-plenty more a growing, the wheat looks fine, the apple trees are in bloom. We are all well but Georges leg--very sore.
End of page 32
THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1860
James goes to the mill, then makes rails, too wet to plow.
I commence soaping. I cut out Maria Jane's dress. Asbury
Hoard comes and asks James to a log rolling to morrow at
Ambrose Hoards.
FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1860
I commence making soap to day. Mrs. Griffith comes to borrow my kettle but she does not get it. Marion plows. James goes to rolling. I go to Mrs. Griffith’s a few minutes. We are all well.
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1860
I take the children and go fishing--catch five fine fish. Get home, time to get dinner, then patch. James makes rails then builds fence. Marion plows, then hauls rails, then goes a fishing. The moles destroys my garden--the hens helps.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1860
Cloudy, James plows the potato patch. I help plant the taters. I went to mother’s this morning. Mother comes out awhile. I trim her bonnet. Maria Jane goes to the store, bought some whoops. Cool--looks like rain. Marion plows for corn.
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1860
Very cloudy. Now it rains. Mother and me was going to Margy’s to day but the rain hindered us. I wear some hoops over to finish planting potatoes. Mrs. Griffith comes and stays till after supper. Sprinkles rain. Mother rode out to Margy's.
TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1860
Clear cool but windy. I have a notion going to Redmans but do not go. Olivio comes for me to come to a quilting this afternoon. I go--found the house full of visitors--felt cheap enough in company with quality but they soon left. Mother and Catherine and myself was the quilters. The quilt out--the supper over--home we come. Some cloudy.
MAY 1860
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1860
Beautiful morning. I feel quite well this morning. Scrub clean the house, dress in hoops--look for visitors. Tilda brings me a mess of fish. Oh how good. Mrs. Everhart and Mrs. Sampson comes. James and Marion furrows out for planting.
End of page 33
FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1860
Very warm. I pick the geese. Mother goes by to the store but I am not ready till after dinner, then I go to the store, bought sorrie vinegar and rice and paid one dollar on what I owed. Come home--supper over, then went to mother’s for milk. The wool is dry, ready for picking.
SUNDAY, MAY 6, 1860
Very cloudy. James and me walks to the Chapel to hear Mr. Hester preach old Mr. Hoard’s funeral, he preached a good sermon to a crowded congregration. Come home tired--stopped at mother’s for dinner.
MONDAY, MAY 7, 1860
Quite warm. I wash clothes. James goes to mill in the afternoon. I go to Mr. Redman's with him in the wagon. He gets the flour and meal. I am fixing for a wool picking. Ask some pickers. Go to mother’s for milk.
FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1860
John Peacock has a log rolling to day and wool picking. Mother goes but I cannot go to far. I patch some, get dinner then go to Mrs. Miller’s to see Catherine Miller. She is right sick. James comes to help me home with little Jimmy. He fixed the pump to day.
SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1860
We finish planting our patch of all kinds of produce. Send to Mr. Green's for a bushel of potatoes. We have fish for dinner. Newton Phillips gave Marion one that weighed 7 pounds. James and I take a walk to look at the corn, then work in the garden, make ridges for potatoes. The boys go after the cow. Cass Young comes and stays all night.
SUNDAY, MAY 20, 1860
We have three cows to milk now, feel in hopes of having some butter. I feel very lonesome to day. Caroline comes, goes with Maria Jane to Gilead to Sunday School, then to class meeting. James and Marion is gone to the meeting to Gilead. Getting cloudy, quite windy.
MONDAY, MAY 21, 1860
Little Jimmy very sick last night, this morning--no better. Have a terrible storm at three o’clock--a tornado at many places--terrible destruction. James replants corn. Tilda Miller comes and asks me to a wool picking at Daniel Watson’s to morrow.
End of page 34
WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1860
Still pleasant but too wet to replant corn. Baby better this morning. The garden grows fine. The two Mr. Griffiths comes to measure the loom. James goes to Mr. Tobias, takes dinner with them.
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1860
Little Jimmy very hoarse with the croup last night. I take him, go to mother’s. Marion and Freeman goes to the store. Mother received a letter from Moses Young--stating he is very sick. Little Jimmy’s getting very hoarse. I feel bad and troubled--troubled nearly sick.
SUNDAY, MAY 27, 1860
We have a time with poor little Jimmy last night. He was so sick, not much better this morning. Sunday School commenced to day at the school house. Mother starts for Moses. To day Mrs. Hoard and Catherine is here. I went to mother’s a few minutes. Very warm. James stays at home.
JUNE l860
FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1860
A beautiful day, dinner over--but Mrs. Griffith does not come then I go to Mrs. Miller’s to see Catherine Miller. She is no better. James plows corn. Poor prospects for corn. Mother went to see Deborah to day. She has a young daughter. Fine clear day.
SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1860
Cool, pleasant morning. I work in my garden. Maria Jane goes to the store and meeting. Mother goes by to meeting. Mr. Hartley preached. I iron and then write a letter to Nancy Petro, then go to mother’s a few minutes. Margaret is here. James plows for corn. Cool evening.
MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1860
Cool and cloudy. James fixes for Madison. I am sick--not able to work. James and Maricn plowed corn this forenoon. Christian Young comes to warn hands to work on the roads, Thursday and Friday.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1860
This morning--very cloudy. Louisa is spinning. Maria Jane sewing and minding little Jimmy. I hoe some in my garden. I have 25 goslings. They are much trouble, they eat my cabbage. The garden grows fine. I go to Mrs. Hoards a few minutes--found them all well.
End of page 35
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1860
Another fine clear day. I clean, scrub, wash dishes, churn, bake loaf bread and pies. Louisa goes home this evening. She has spun 7 dozen 8 cuts this week of flannel yarn. We are all well. I go to mother’s a few minutes. Marion goes to the store, gets some white fish.
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1860
Pleasant morning. I feel better. I commence washing. Artimecis Doughty comes and stays all day. I wash and bake loaf and cut out my new sack. Beautiful evening. How bad we need rain. Mrs. Hoard went by to mothers.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1860
Pap harvests this morning. Catherine comes by, and I go to mother’s with her. Marion and Freeman plows corn. Maria Jane gets dinner. Louisa spins. Cool air--fine day for harvesting. The colts shoulder is very sore.
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1860
Another pleasant morning. I hurry and get my work done. Leave Maria Jane to get dinner. She is sick too, but thinks she can do till I go to Mrs. Miller’s to see Catherine Miller. The preacher come here while I was gone, then come to Mrs. Miller’s and baptised Catherine Miller. We had a good time.
SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 1860
Still clear. Pap and mother comes. James and children goes to Sunday School, but Maria Jane she stays with the little children. Mother and me goes to Spears to see her hurt hand. Mr. Terrill was married this morning to Molly Graves. Great rejoicing over there. No rain yet. No signs for any.
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1860
Pleasant day with cool air. Have harvest hands to day. Mother is here. Mrs. Griffith comes awhile. We have roasted chicken for dinner and plenty of beans and potatoes, good white loaf bread.
JULY l860
SUNDAY, JULY 1, 1860
Very pleasant after the rain last night, but warm enough to rain. Here comes mother and Ethe going to Catherine’s. Mr. Butler preached at the school house. Here comes mother, Catherine and Ethe on the way home. Maria Jane went to Redman’s to day. I read in the Bible, but not enough. James stays home to day.
End of page 36
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1860
Very warm day. All well. I sew at my dress, it lacked a yard. Maria Jane went to the store for another yard. We have apple dumplings for dinner. James sows his buckwheat then plows for corn--grows fine. K. and Marion goes this evening to Frank Peacock's.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1860
This is celebration day for some but we are at home, but Marion--he is gone to Wooster Celebration. Catherine and children comes after dinner. I finish my new dress. James plows corn. Freeman plows. Very warm day.
FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1860
Very warm. My head aches very bad, but I have to wash quite hard, then suds out yarn. Had some sprinkles of rain. I go to take mother’s tub home. Louisa, Maria Jane, Marion and K. goes to the school house to meeting at night. Little Jimmy has a swelled hip.
TUFSDAY, JULY 10, 1860
Still very warm. Almost give--such hot times. Catherine goes by to mother's. I finish ironing then warp 24 yards of linsey then beam it on. We are all well. I am raw with the heat.
FRIDAY JULY 20, 1860
I send Marion to the store to get indigo with 5 pounds of butter, gets 5 ounces of indigo. Comes home in a hurry and says Aunt Tilda Jones is dead. James, mother and myself goes out in the wagon but it was a mistake. We came home by Deborah’s. Terrible hot day. Comes a storm, we stop at Smith's.
SUNDAY, JULY 22, 1860
Still very warn. Looking like rain. All gone to Sunday School. Isaac comes. Mr. Hall preached. We have corn and beans for dinner. Now what a dreadful thunder and lightning. Oh how it rains. Marion goes home with K. to stay all night. A singing at the school house last night.
MONDAY, JULY 23, 1860
Fine morning for work. I finish coloring blue to day then weave till two o’clock then go to mother’s to quilt. James and boys goes to a republican speaking at the school house. Mr. Bingham--speaker. Some cloudy but cool--good time for work. All well.
TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1860
I get in the loom this morning to weave. The boys get back. I color my brown yarn for jeans. Mother comes awhile. Maria Jane goes for apples. James commenced his haying to day.
quite cool to day. Clear ti1l evening.
End of page 37
THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1860
Pleasant morning. Here comes James from town at 11 o’clock. 96c for wheat--took 18 bushels. Martha weaves 6 yards today. James bought me a nice trunk in town. I went to mother’s a
few minutes. Mr. Keath was here. We sold ten sheep.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1860
We have quite rain [sic] this morning. I patch, mother goes by to Catherine’s then go to John T. Tobias’ a visiting. Gets home late. Martha weaves 8 yards to day. Little Jimmy most well.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 1860
James and Marion and Maria Jane goes to Sunday School. I stay home as usual--minding children. Here they come and Mrs. Hoard with them. Mother comes now--they send for Mr. Hoard. She has company. She gets home after dinner. Mother stays till evening. Maria Jane and Marion went to a singing at two at the school house.
MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 1860
Cool air. James goes to Landon Mills with 14 bushel of wheat, gets six ground. Sold 8 for 92c per bushel. Gets home before night.
FRIDAY AUGUST 31, 1860
Rev. Potts preaches Catherine Miller’s funeral at Gilead.
SEPTEMBER 1860
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1860
James goes to Gilead to meeting. I have to stay in bed. I am so sick. So much work.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1860
Cloudy, looks like rain. I go to mother’s a little while. Get a basket. of apples. The children goes to gather apples to dry. I sew at Marions fine shirt.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1860
The children are all helping to dry apples at mother’s. James complains of being sick.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1860
We have a bushel of apples to our shear, dryed--good ones too at that.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1860
Mother sick this morning and pap sick. James goes to sow some wheat for pap then goes to Mr. Morrison's for the wheat fan. Maria Jane went to Redmans then home, then to mother’s--do her work. She is sick.
End of page 39
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1860
Very pleasant morning. Here comes Maria Jane. Says mother is better. We cook a pumpkin, bake 12 pumpkin pies. James still cleaning wheat. Here comes mother and Catherine and children, they have come to warp their flannel. They get done against supper. I am not very well but have a great deal of work to do, sewing and patching, knitting, cooking. I make some candles. We begun to set up to work at night.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1860
Oh what a fine day. I go to mother’s but not any one there but John and him sick. Then home--have the tooth ache all day bad--makes me sick. James went to mill this morning with another load of wheat then round by Paris. Home after dark. Sister Deborah comes at noon with Christian’s in his buggy stayed here till evening. Then went to mother’s to stay all night.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1860
Fine cool morning. Maria Jane commences ironing. We have a large ironing to do. I go to Catherine's a few minutes to see the flannel then home. Get dinner then go to mother's for a basket of apples. Knit there and while I stayed. We do not get done ironing. I turn the beds and sweep and clean the house, put the curtains up. William Spear comes for a hoe to dig some roots to make some medicine for the chills. Mr. Jones comes to buy some hogs but do not find them.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1860
Oh how cold it is this morning. We double and twist some stocking yarn. John Young is sick. James goes and opens his sores. Mother goes by to Catherines. I go to mother’s and get some flax to make thread, then home and sew at my white curtains, trying to get them done. Maria Jane complains of being sick, and James complains of being sick.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1860
Oh very pleasant morning. James, Marion, Maria Jane goes to Sabbath school. Mother goes by to meeting. Hall preaches at the school house, a camolite meeting.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1860
Rained last night. Misting rain this morning. James goes and gets mother’s little wheel for me to spin thread. I cut six pair of jeans pants then spin 3 1/2 cuts of sewing thread.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 1860
I double my thread then twist and color it. Mother comes, says Mr. Tobias is there fixing their cistern. James and Marion sows wheat then goes to Quick Creek to a political speaking at 1 o’clock. Mahala Smith comes awhile this morning. John Young went by to Christian’s.
End of page 40
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1860
The cannons are firing on some account or other.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1860
We feel thankful for the blessings we receive from our Father in Heaven. His mercy endureth for ever and ever.
OCTOBER 1860
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1860
Here is election day. James cuts buckwheat then off he goes to vote the black republican ticket. Get a licking if he doesn’t. Catherine and children comes to reel yarn. I am not well this evening. Here comes James from the election.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1860
Fine pleasant day. Another young son visits us to day. Now seven boys--makes some noise and a great deal of work. In the evening it gets very warm. Looks like rain. Catherine stays all night with us.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1860
High wind--quite cooi. Tilda Miller washes the clothes. William Young comes to work at the sugar mill. Sun shines some in the afternoon, I am tolerable well, but have the toothache.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1860
Still cloudy. James works at his sugar mill then goes to a school meeting at night. The babe is quite good--does not cry, very fat, large boy, looks hearty but has no name yet. I have great pains in my jaw and teeth. James complains of not being well to day. Abner Sinclair’s birthday. Six years old.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1860
Mother comes, makes me a present of a butter plate. I sent two pounds of feathers with her, bought a broom, some thread and buttons, two combs. Cool and cloudy, misting like rain. Tilda washed. James thrashes buckwheat. Emily Tobias comes this evening.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1860
We are some better this morning. Tommy Miller comes for Tilda Miller with a horse. Mother comes, stays till after dinner. James goes to Gilead to meeting. Catherine comes awhile. I get dinner. I am very tired.
End of page 41
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1860
Some cloudy. Matilda Miller comes to wash. I get dinner and cry with the tooth ache. Tilda’s charge is one dollar and 75c for her work. She leaves for home at 3 o’clock. James digs sweet potatoes. I am most crazy with the tooth ache.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1860
Beautiful warm day. James goes to paps to help kill the beef. The children grind cane. My tooth some better--not much. The babe two weeks old to day. Here comes James with some beef.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1860
Another fine day. My tooth is very painful. Mrs. Emaline Phi1lips comes a visiting to day. Mother comes awhile. Euphemia Smith comes this afternoon--stays till after supper. Cannot have much comfort for the tooth ache. It pains me so bad. Warm fine sunshiny day. James still works at the lasses. John and Isaac goes by.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1860
I almost died last night with my tooth, the pain was so severe. Some easier to day. James goes to Landon’s Mills to day, gets home late with good flour. The children finished the sugar cane molasses to day--have 40 gallons--to guess it off. Some of it is in sugar. I feel quite feeble to day.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1860
Still fine sun shiny and warm. James and Marion digs potatoes. I sew and write, get dinner and nurse the babe. It weighs 12 1/2 pounds--pretty much babe, I think, don’t you? Hurrah for Lincoln. Maria Jane washed the clothes to day. The children goes to mother’s for crab apples. Charles Griffith comes to bring my kettle home. I bought of William--3 bushels of apples.
NOVEMBER 1860
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1860
Cold--very cold and cloudy. James and Marion builds the Morrison fence. My tooth aches very bad. I sew and knit what I can and nurse the babe and cook. Almost out of heart. Mother comes awhile. I make some apple butter. Our cows are most dry--don’t get much butter.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1860
Still cloudy and with cold air stirring. James digs potatoes. The preacher, John Miller comes and stays all night with us. I bake loaf bread and sew and am very tired. The babe does
not cry much. All tolerable well.
End of page 42
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1860
Very pleasant morning--finds us all well. James goes with Brother Miller to the Chapel to meeting then home, gets his dinner then goes to Gilead to meeting. I stay home rocking the cradle. Cass Young and Sarah Hoard and mother comes awhile then Maria Jane and mother goes to meeting. William Young comes by. We have an argument.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1860
Cold, cloudy. James takes a load of potatoes--10 bushel to Mr. Jones. I go with him to Deborah’s, get three teeth taken out. This is election day for ths president of the U.S.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1860
We are all well as common but complains a great deal of hard times.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1860
Beautiful day. I commence washing. Mary Morrison comes then Mary Trulock, then Barbara Earhart, then Catherine comes to warp her jeans. I quit washing for the day. Warm sun shines. I have the head ache-feel quite tired. Babe cried. Cannot get much work done. First day of school.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 13, 1860
Beautiful morning, with white frost. James off to town to day. We finish washing then cut pumpkin to day and make pumpkin butter. Matilda Foster comes to get a coat cut. Warm sun shines. Mrs. Butts visits mother to day.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1860
Very warm. James goes to hunt his filly, found her at the mound. Marion asks sewers to day. I am going to have a sewing a Saturday. James sets out his trees. I cut out sewing to day.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1860
The sewers come--10 of them--get right smart done. I am very tired in the evening. Great ta1k of war now days as Mr. Lincoln is elected president.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1860
Some cooler with clouds. We are all well as usual. James takes me to meeting in the wagon. Brother Miller preached. I have not been to meeting for six months before. Babe behaved very well--did not cry. Catherine come by.
End of page 43
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1860
James names the babe this morning the 19th, calls him--Charles Lincoln Bovard.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1860
Marion starts for school this morning. Five from here goes to school--4 boys and one girl. James shells corn, then goes to mill. I sew and write and nurse.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 24, 1860
We all almost froze last night and still freezing cold to day. Mother comes. K. goes by shooting rabbits. James hauls wood and gathers corn. Marion and K. goes to the post office. The papers are all sesession news.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 26, 1860
James goes to the blacksmith shop then to Mr. Everharts to see about getting me some shoes. Says they will be ready in two weeks.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1860
Not very cold. Mother, Catherine comes--this is Thanksgiving Day. Oh, how thankful we feel for the blessings we receive. James gathers corn.
DECEMBER 1860
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1860
Mothcr goes on to the store, then goes to Christians--he is sick. I sew and knit and nurse, cook, scold--trying to get some work done. James goes to paps--gets money for his taxes. Cloudy, snowed some. Mother goes by from Crises--says he is some better.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 5, 1860
James off early to Lexington to pay his and pap’s taxes. Pap’s taxes--$27.00. James taxes $l2.00. Catherine comes. We make mother some new caps to day. I make two--Catherine one. James gets home at 3 o’clock. The children goes to school. Isaac comes for Catherine to he1p her home.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1860
Margaret has a young daughter this morning. She calls her Florelle Agnes. Cloudy last night. James comes for me with the wagon. We get home at 3 o’clock. Quite cool. James goes to Everharts for my shoes.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 12, 1860
James still cutting and hauling wood, goes this morning--gets my shoes. Hang them to the joist--I'1l send them back in the morning. They must have been the pair that Noah forgot to take in the ark. Mother comes to see if James is going to town to day.
End of page 44
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1860
Here goes James with the said canoes or shoes as the case may be. Pap comes, I go to pap’s for mother to mind the babe till I can pick the geese. Pap helped James gather corn, getting colder all the time. I dress some chickens. Maria Jane goes to Catherine’s to stay all night.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1860
James comes home at 7 o’clock last night, safe and sound. We are all well this morning. James, Marion, Maria Jane goes to Gilead to meeting. Eastman preached at Gilead.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1860
Rains all day. James makes door latches, fixes the doors. There is no school to day. The children at home all day--what a noise they keep. I sew hard all day. Marion goes for my new shoes. The creek up. The babe not well--very cross. I have bad cold and sore throat all the time.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1860
Clearning [clearing?] off. Mother goes by to the office. We salt up six fine fat hogs. James helps me do the work, finished the sausage and lard against night. Mother come by from the office--brings the paper. Get a letter from Maine.
MONDAY DECEMBER 24, 1860
James cuts and hauls wood. I go to Mrs. Griffith's a few minutes, then home. Fry some crulls. John Young comes by--gives me a candy apple for a Christmas present. James went with me to Mr. Griffith’s at night to stay till bed time. Him and Ivan went to debate then come home.
TUESDAY DECEMBER 25, 1860
Here is Christmas again. Oh how thankful ye are for the blessings we have received this last year. James fixes the old sled, takes me a sleigh riding to Williams. Mother goes to Cris’s to eat roast goose. James goes on to mill, gets our flour, then to home.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1860
Quite cold. I stayed all night. They have a young daughter but it is dead. It will he buried at Coffee Creek this afternoon. James comes after me, then hauls corn, then goes and carried the little babe to the grave. Catherine is here to day. I am very tired and sleepy. The children at school to day.
End of page 45
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1860
Marion and Freeman goes to the shoe shop to get shoes mended Old Mr. Barney Miller comes for day. James hauls wood. We scrub, and clean the house then James takes me to mother’s on the sled to fix a can for her. Marion goes to the office. The papers are filled with war news and secession. I feel bad--do not work much.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1860
I do not feel like walking to Gilead to meeting. James goes. Brother Miller preached. John Young and John Foster come by going to meeting, and K. Young is with them. All gone--now I read all day. Catherine goes by to mother’s. Mother is sick. Maria Jane goes with her--gets a mess of kraut.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1860
The old year is most out. I do a large washing. Beautiful day for the last day of the year. James gathers corn in the Morrison field. Maria Jane goes home with Morrison children from school. Marion and K. Young goes at night, they have lots of fun. James does not go to the debate tonight. I do not get much work done.
JANUARY 1861
TUESDAY JANUARY 1, 1861
We enter the New Year all well and thankful. Beautiful, beautiful morning. May this prove to be our happiest year of our lives and our happiest increase as long as we live on this earth. Mrs. Griffith sends my stocking home--gets some meat and lard. The bad boys turned the teacher out of school. Teacher takes him to the mill and ducks him.
JANUARY 4, 1861
Mrs. Griffith’s comes and doubles and twists stocking yarn. James gathers corn. I get dinner then knit. Sabina Morrison comes for missionary money. Some clouds to day. Thaws some--getting quite cold this evening.
JANUARY 5, 1861
Looks like snow. Cloudy all around. James and Marion hauls corn. I go to mother’s for the candle moulds--then home--darn stockings.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 186l
Cold and looks like snow. Sabina Morrison comes and warps for me. I pay her 25c. There is a spelling to night. The boys goes.
End of page 46
FEBRUARY 1861
FEBRUARY 2, 1861
Our new advocate comes to day--fine indeed--double sheeted.
FEBRUARY 9, 1861
Marion and Melville go to school--the last day of school as it happened by poverty. Eggs--7c, butter--10c, pork--6c per ham. We have plenty to eat now days.
FEBRUARY 10, 1861
We have plenty of sassafras.
FEBRUARY 11, 1861
The children boiled sugar water.
FEBRUARY 13, 1861
Sew on Marions pink shirt then fix mother a cap and make some syrup for coughs.
FEBRUARY 28, 1861
Abraham Lincoln takes his seat in the white house next Monday the 4th of March. That's all right I am sure. Right sick but knit some. Snow falls thick and fast like feathers falling. Mother comes and neighbors comes to help James make rails. The babe is so cross. I have to take pills and salts and bitter all the time. I will never be well again--better some days then worse and not able to work.
[NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING THREE ARE OUT OF CHRONO ORDER IN MY ORIGINAL COPY]
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1860
Rained last night. Misting rain this morning. James goes and gets mother’s little wheel for me to spin thread. I cut six pair of jeans pants then spin 3 1/2 cuts of sewing thread.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 1860
I double my thread then twist and color it. Mother comes, says Mr. Tobias is there fixing their cistern. James and Marion sows wheat then goes to Quick Creek to a political speaking at 1 o’clock. Mahala Smith comes awhile this morning. John Young went by to Christian’s.
End of page 40
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1860
The cannons are firing on some account or other.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1860
We feel thankful for the blessings we receive from our Father in Heaven. His mercy endureth for ever and ever.
OCTOBER 1860
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1860
Here is election day. James cuts buckwheat then off he goes to vote the black republican ticket. Get a licking if he doesn’t. Catherine and children comes to reel yarn. I am not well this evening. Here comes James from the election.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1860
Fine pleasant day. Another young son visits us to day. Now seven boys--makes some noise and a great deal of work. In the evening it gets very warm. Looks like rain. Catherine stays all night with us.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1860
High wind--quite cooi. Tilda Miller washes the clothes. William Young comes to work at the sugar mill. Sun shines some in the afternoon, I am tolerable well, but have the toothache.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1860
Still cloudy. James works at his sugar mill then goes to a school meeting at night. The babe is quite good--does not cry, very fat, large boy, looks hearty but has no name yet. I have great pains in my jaw and teeth. James complains of not being well to day. Abner Sinclair’s birthday. Six years old.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1860
Mother comes, makes me a present of a butter plate. I sent two pounds of feathers with her, bought a broom, some thread and buttons, two combs. Cool and cloudy, misting like rain. Tilda washed. James thrashes buckwheat. Emily Tobias comes this evening.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1860
We are some better this morning. Tommy Miller comes for Tilda Miller with a horse. Mother comes, stays till after dinner. James goes to Gilead to meeting. Catherine comes awhile. I get dinner. I am very tired.
End of page 41
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1860
Some cloudy. Matilda Miller comes to wash. I get dinner and cry with the tooth ache. Tilda’s charge is one dollar and 75c for her work. She leaves for home at 3 o’clock. James digs sweet potatoes. I am most crazy with the tooth ache.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1860
Beautiful warm day. James goes to paps to help kill the beef. The children grind cane. My tooth some better--not much. The babe two weeks old to day. Here comes James with some beef.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1860
Another fine day. My tooth is very painful. Mrs. Emaline Phi1lips comes a visiting to day. Mother comes awhile. Euphemia Smith comes this afternoon--stays till after supper. Cannot have much comfort for the tooth ache. It pains me so bad. Warm fine sunshiny day. James still works at the lasses. John and Isaac goes by.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1860
I almost died last night with my tooth, the pain was so severe. Some easier to day. James goes to Landon’s Mills to day, gets home late with good flour. The children finished the sugar cane molasses to day--have 40 gallons--to guess it off. Some of it is in sugar. I feel quite feeble to day.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1860
Still fine sun shiny and warm. James and Marion digs potatoes. I sew and write, get dinner and nurse the babe. It weighs 12 1/2 pounds--pretty much babe, I think, don’t you? Hurrah for Lincoln. Maria Jane washed the clothes to day. The children goes to mother’s for crab apples. Charles Griffith comes to bring my kettle home. I bought of William--3 bushels of apples.
NOVEMBER 1860
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1860
Cold--very cold and cloudy. James and Marion builds the Morrison fence. My tooth aches very bad. I sew and knit what I can and nurse the babe and cook. Almost out of heart. Mother comes awhile. I make some apple butter. Our cows are most dry--don’t get much butter.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1860
Still cloudy and with cold air stirring. James digs potatoes. The preacher, John Miller comes and stays all night with us. I bake loaf bread and sew and am very tired. The babe does
not cry much. All tolerable well.
End of page 42
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1860
Very pleasant morning--finds us all well. James goes with Brother Miller to the Chapel to meeting then home, gets his dinner then goes to Gilead to meeting. I stay home rocking the cradle. Cass Young and Sarah Hoard and mother comes awhile then Maria Jane and mother goes to meeting. William Young comes by. We have an argument.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1860
Cold, cloudy. James takes a load of potatoes--10 bushel to Mr. Jones. I go with him to Deborah’s, get three teeth taken out. This is election day for ths president of the U.S.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1860
We are all well as common but complains a great deal of hard times.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1860
Beautiful day. I commence washing. Mary Morrison comes then Mary Trulock, then Barbara Earhart, then Catherine comes to warp her jeans. I quit washing for the day. Warm sun shines. I have the head ache-feel quite tired. Babe cried. Cannot get much work done. First day of school.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 13, 1860
Beautiful morning, with white frost. James off to town to day. We finish washing then cut pumpkin to day and make pumpkin butter. Matilda Foster comes to get a coat cut. Warm sun shines. Mrs. Butts visits mother to day.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1860
Very warm. James goes to hunt his filly, found her at the mound. Marion asks sewers to day. I am going to have a sewing a Saturday. James sets out his trees. I cut out sewing to day.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1860
The sewers come--10 of them--get right smart done. I am very tired in the evening. Great ta1k of war now days as Mr. Lincoln is elected president.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1860
Some cooler with clouds. We are all well as usual. James takes me to meeting in the wagon. Brother Miller preached. I have not been to meeting for six months before. Babe behaved very well--did not cry. Catherine come by.
End of page 43
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1860
James names the babe this morning the 19th, calls him--Charles Lincoln Bovard.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1860
Marion starts for school this morning. Five from here goes to school--4 boys and one girl. James shells corn, then goes to mill. I sew and write and nurse.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 24, 1860
We all almost froze last night and still freezing cold to day. Mother comes. K. goes by shooting rabbits. James hauls wood and gathers corn. Marion and K. goes to the post office. The papers are all sesession news.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 26, 1860
James goes to the blacksmith shop then to Mr. Everharts to see about getting me some shoes. Says they will be ready in two weeks.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1860
Not very cold. Mother, Catherine comes--this is Thanksgiving Day. Oh, how thankful we feel for the blessings we receive. James gathers corn.
DECEMBER 1860
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1860
Mothcr goes on to the store, then goes to Christians--he is sick. I sew and knit and nurse, cook, scold--trying to get some work done. James goes to paps--gets money for his taxes. Cloudy, snowed some. Mother goes by from Crises--says he is some better.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 5, 1860
James off early to Lexington to pay his and pap’s taxes. Pap’s taxes--$27.00. James taxes $l2.00. Catherine comes. We make mother some new caps to day. I make two--Catherine one. James gets home at 3 o’clock. The children goes to school. Isaac comes for Catherine to he1p her home.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1860
Margaret has a young daughter this morning. She calls her Florelle Agnes. Cloudy last night. James comes for me with the wagon. We get home at 3 o’clock. Quite cool. James goes to Everharts for my shoes.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 12, 1860
James still cutting and hauling wood, goes this morning--gets my shoes. Hang them to the joist--I'1l send them back in the morning. They must have been the pair that Noah forgot to take in the ark. Mother comes to see if James is going to town to day.
End of page 44
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1860
Here goes James with the said canoes or shoes as the case may be. Pap comes, I go to pap’s for mother to mind the babe till I can pick the geese. Pap helped James gather corn, getting colder all the time. I dress some chickens. Maria Jane goes to Catherine’s to stay all night.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1860
James comes home at 7 o’clock last night, safe and sound. We are all well this morning. James, Marion, Maria Jane goes to Gilead to meeting. Eastman preached at Gilead.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1860
Rains all day. James makes door latches, fixes the doors. There is no school to day. The children at home all day--what a noise they keep. I sew hard all day. Marion goes for my new shoes. The creek up. The babe not well--very cross. I have bad cold and sore throat all the time.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1860
Clearning [clearing?] off. Mother goes by to the office. We salt up six fine fat hogs. James helps me do the work, finished the sausage and lard against night. Mother come by from the office--brings the paper. Get a letter from Maine.
MONDAY DECEMBER 24, 1860
James cuts and hauls wood. I go to Mrs. Griffith's a few minutes, then home. Fry some crulls. John Young comes by--gives me a candy apple for a Christmas present. James went with me to Mr. Griffith’s at night to stay till bed time. Him and Ivan went to debate then come home.
TUESDAY DECEMBER 25, 1860
Here is Christmas again. Oh how thankful ye are for the blessings we have received this last year. James fixes the old sled, takes me a sleigh riding to Williams. Mother goes to Cris’s to eat roast goose. James goes on to mill, gets our flour, then to home.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1860
Quite cold. I stayed all night. They have a young daughter but it is dead. It will he buried at Coffee Creek this afternoon. James comes after me, then hauls corn, then goes and carried the little babe to the grave. Catherine is here to day. I am very tired and sleepy. The children at school to day.
End of page 45
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1860
Marion and Freeman goes to the shoe shop to get shoes mended Old Mr. Barney Miller comes for day. James hauls wood. We scrub, and clean the house then James takes me to mother’s on the sled to fix a can for her. Marion goes to the office. The papers are filled with war news and secession. I feel bad--do not work much.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1860
I do not feel like walking to Gilead to meeting. James goes. Brother Miller preached. John Young and John Foster come by going to meeting, and K. Young is with them. All gone--now I read all day. Catherine goes by to mother’s. Mother is sick. Maria Jane goes with her--gets a mess of kraut.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1860
The old year is most out. I do a large washing. Beautiful day for the last day of the year. James gathers corn in the Morrison field. Maria Jane goes home with Morrison children from school. Marion and K. Young goes at night, they have lots of fun. James does not go to the debate tonight. I do not get much work done.
JANUARY 1861
TUESDAY JANUARY 1, 1861
We enter the New Year all well and thankful. Beautiful, beautiful morning. May this prove to be our happiest year of our lives and our happiest increase as long as we live on this earth. Mrs. Griffith sends my stocking home--gets some meat and lard. The bad boys turned the teacher out of school. Teacher takes him to the mill and ducks him.
JANUARY 4, 1861
Mrs. Griffith’s comes and doubles and twists stocking yarn. James gathers corn. I get dinner then knit. Sabina Morrison comes for missionary money. Some clouds to day. Thaws some--getting quite cold this evening.
JANUARY 5, 1861
Looks like snow. Cloudy all around. James and Marion hauls corn. I go to mother’s for the candle moulds--then home--darn stockings.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 186l
Cold and looks like snow. Sabina Morrison comes and warps for me. I pay her 25c. There is a spelling to night. The boys goes.
End of page 46
FEBRUARY 1861
FEBRUARY 2, 1861
Our new advocate comes to day--fine indeed--double sheeted.
FEBRUARY 9, 1861
Marion and Melville go to school--the last day of school as it happened by poverty. Eggs--7c, butter--10c, pork--6c per ham. We have plenty to eat now days.
FEBRUARY 10, 1861
We have plenty of sassafras.
FEBRUARY 11, 1861
The children boiled sugar water.
FEBRUARY 13, 1861
Sew on Marions pink shirt then fix mother a cap and make some syrup for coughs.
FEBRUARY 28, 1861
Abraham Lincoln takes his seat in the white house next Monday the 4th of March. That's all right I am sure. Right sick but knit some. Snow falls thick and fast like feathers falling. Mother comes and neighbors comes to help James make rails. The babe is so cross. I have to take pills and salts and bitter all the time. I will never be well again--better some days then worse and not able to work.
[NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING THREE ARE OUT OF CHRONO ORDER IN MY ORIGINAL COPY]
FEBRUARY 8, 1861
The world is full of war. The Democrats and Republicans bite and devour. 1 think the Dem. bite the most and Rep. devour the most, don’t you? War?!War!! news all the time. What we will come to I don’t know.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1861 [Sunday apparently wasn't the 7th.]
Pleasant morning. Still snowing. I love to see the snow although I am not able to go to meeting--Mother, John, Marion, Maria J., Mary and Tilda Foster and James all go to the meeting. I stay at home at my old trade minding children if it kills me. I have that sort of work to tend to. Cook and read the news view the clouds, listen to the hens cackling--my mind in prison walls. No more any good to do.
End of page 47
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1861
Six weeks since I have been anywhere. We have chicken for dinner. James takes me to mother’s on the sled. I am 33 to day. Yes--nine children--here are their names. Oliver Wm.--gone to rest from troubles. I long to be there too but I must suffer on till my Deliverer comes to take me home.
Marion McKinley Abner Sinclair
Maria Jane George Finley
Freeman Dailey James Carvossa
Melvil1e Young Charles Lincoln
MARCH 1861
James and self sick most of the time--up one day and down the next. Mother and neighbors help with the quilting.
SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1861 [March 23 was a Saturday]
James birthday--this is the day to have chicken. James is 38 years old to day and just as good as honey. I am sick and worse than sick.
SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 1861
I have to stay in bed. James minds the baby.
MARCH 29, 1861
James makes me an ash hopper and puts up the ashes to make soap.
MARCH 30, 1861
The papsrs are filled with war news but we are glad that traitors are few as they are. There is no need of any. God will help the right and that right soon.
MARCH 31, 1861
War, war! in every direction, Thats the news-terrible news. What we are all coming to is more than I can tell. The devil is sure of his portion. Lord remember us all.
APRIL l861
APRIL 7, 1861
A beautiful morning. I am some better and feel like singing
but not well enough to go to meeting. James goes to Sunday School and class meeting at Gilead.
APRIL 13, 1861
Ft. Sumpter was taken to day by the rebels or devils--the latter sounds the best. Every one talks of war. Indiana begins to wake up. Quits snowing.
End of page 48
APRIL 25, l86l
A log rolling and a barnraising at John Peacock’s. Help make flag. James and I go but wishes I had stayed at home because some crusty words fell.
APRIL 26, l86l
I am in tolerable good humor considering it is a washday.
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1861
Nothing but war news all the time. People fussing and grouching everywhere. The papers are filled with war news but we are glad that traitors are as few as they are. There is no need of any.
MAY 1861
MAY 21, 1861
This is a fine morning. Planted some corn and beans and worked in my garden. Mrs. G. finished coloring against noon. Mother was here this morning to see about coloring. K goes to Frankfort for dye stuff. I send to Vests for indigo. I take the children and go to mother’s but do not stay long. She abused the Republicans--called them thieves, liars and everything bad. I thought I would come home and see what James had stolen from them--my feelings hurt.
MAY 22, 1861
Here comes mother and who is more welcome that she is--but I am not allowed the privelege [sic] of speaking my sentiments as the rest of her children are but who of them are more ready to do & good turn for than I am.
TUESDAY MAY 28, 1861
Now we wash fit to kill for tomorrow in the afternoon we have a wool picking and log rolling--we bake bread.
MAY 29, 1861
This is another beautiful morning for which we are thankful. Now comes the wool pickers and log rollers. Do not get quite done picking wool but get done rolling. The ladies had a quite warm talk on politics which benefited no one. What days of sorrow and affliction we are passing through. God defend the right and give us patience to endure our trials.
MAY 31, 1861
It is not so cool this morning. I go to the clearing and work some for James, for he is right sick and feeble--a pain in his breast. Then I get dinner over and go to Catherines and take the babe--the rains pours down for a few minutes. The children comes from school most drownded. James comes to carry the babe home.
End of page 49
JUNE 186l
JUNE 1, 1861
The war is commenced. What will be the end--the good Lord knows. Thou are a mighty God--pour out thy blessings on the President, set his heart aright, give wisdom to our rulers as thou didst to Solomon. Give them strength as thou didst David and Sampson that slew thousands that they might put down treason and rebellion.
JUNE 2, 1861
This is the Sabbath morning and war. All alive and as well as usual but the baby is right sick. James goes to Gilead. Maria Jane and Marion goes to Sunday School and stays for class meeting. Then in the evening comes a storm. The rain comes down in torrents--with wind and thunder. I stay home all day reading papers and some in the Bible but not enough.
JUNE 4, 1861
This is some cooler to day. My poor babe right sick--cried most all night. It rained last night. James and Marion fixed fences, the creek is very high. The fence is down, the cattle in the wheat--too wet to plow. We will not get done planting this year. There is so much wet weather. Cris has his sheep--all but six drowned.
JUNE 5, 1861
Now I must sew all my night to get ready for the quarterly meeting next Saturday and Sunday.
JUNE 7, 1861
This is a warm morning. I cut out my bonnet and make it.
JUNE 8, 1861
James and I went to the quarterly meeting at the Chapel. Maria Jane kept the babe. We were most late. So much bad roads to go through. Marion goes to the store with the eggs--gets Lincoln a new dress. I have to make it and tuck his clothes. He is such a smart child--he has four teeth and two more almost through. He will soon be eight months old. Our papers are full of war news. A pole raising at Frankfort.
JUNE 9,1861
This is a lovely morning. We go to the quarterly meeting to the Chapel in the wagon. Mother and Mary Foster goes with us. We hear two sermons--one from Hibbon and the other from Miller. There was a large congregration. We went to the grove for services. We felt benefitted for going but do not go enough. We went to Mr. Belches for dinner--they had a lot of company.
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The posting turned all the dashes into hyphens; I'm restoring them as I see them. Careful, the scanner also turned a lot of "Ind."s to "Md"s.
