[The map shows Johnson township of Scott County, Indiana, about 1890. Notice the Bovards' two tracts in the middle. For a larger version, click on www.capitalpublishingcompany.com/scottcountymap.]
JUNE 10, 1861
I hoe in the garden then go in the afternoon over to Mary Morrisons visiting--take Jimmie and the babe. Maria Jane and James goes to help me there. We first get our Daily Gazettes from Cincinnati. We take it for five weeks now. We will get all the war news in that.
JUNE 14, 1861
James goes to Austin--his turn for the Gazette.
JUNE 15, 1861
John Young stops awhile. I had a political talk with him. He got huffy and off he goes and leaves me to self reflection that is--I will take what I please and have my own views.
JUNE 16, 1861
What’s the war news? All the time more traitors every day. The rebels arc murdering our men while they go unpunished. They shoot, hang, murder our men who have left our homes to serve our government. How long this will be permitted--we cannot tell but not long we hope. Deby and Ethe are to mother’s but they are too fine to come to see me--poor slave or black Rep. or Abolitionists. I am a disgrace to them. Fine rich gents and ladies they look down on me because I am black, I can’t help my color but might I think as 1 am their sister.
JULY 1861
MONDAY, JULY 1, 1861
This is a fine morning. I go to the store, comes a hard rain about 1 o'clock, James, Marion, Isaac harvest--they get soaking wet. Mr. Hepworth comes and looks at the farm, has another man with him. I hurry home and get dinner. We have plenty of young potatoes and beans and some cucumbers. I get Maria Jane a new dress and now we sew at it. Mother comes awhile. The comet is here on a visit--very bright with a long tail--north west.
THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1861
Babe not much better. I do not get much work done. James goes with Andy Morrison to James Tobiases. Muster--gets home late, babe very sick. The boys plows corn, I do not feel well. I bind my fan and a hat, do some needle work. James joins the muster to day.
End of page 51
THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1861
I am still not able to work much, sew some and cook. Sick babe. I go to mother's a few minutes, she gave me a little mess of apples to bring home the first we have had this year. Mr. Hepworth is here to day a visiting all day. Catherine comes in the afternoon. Mother comes awhile, quite warm, looks like rain then clears away. James and Marion still works at their oats. We have visitors to day. This is the day of the battle of Bull Run.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1861
This is a very pretty morning. I take the children and go and pick a bucket of berries. Babe cross and sick. Jimmy’s sick. Mr. Smith goes by from Wilersons, stops awhile. James finish hauling wheat and then worked at his oats. Mother comes awhile. William stops awhile, says he is a Union Man.
THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1861
This is a very warm morning. Mr. Smith comes early to help me pick wool. Stays all day. We get right smart picked. I made some blackberry preserves. Some clouds does not rain. The blackberries was never so plenty at this season. What a call for men for war--going on all the time, what battles will we have pretty soon.
FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1861
We have to wash to day. I help the boys haul wood then commence washing. Marion went to Austin for the papers. No more fresh battles but getting ready for some. Mr. Griffith sent for me to come and spin sewing thread. I go in the afternoon, spin better than 2 cuts, babe and Jimmy are better, the children pick berries. The katy-dids are singing.
SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1861
Very, very warm. We bake loaf and iron. James cuts oats and then goes to his muster down to Uniontown. Thunders all day off and looks like rain--very sultry. The Peacocks comes to papa to stay all night, then goes to Williams and Ikes, they hates this nigger. Mother and I went to the carding machine but did not bring our rolls horne because we are for the union, they sure are very strong. John stopped last night. Received a letter from Nancy Petro. All are well.
SUNDAY, JULY 28, 1861
This is Sunday morning. We are tolerable well. James and Freeman goes to Gilead to Sunday School. Maria Jane and Marion goes to the school house to meeting. Tilda Foster comes home with Maria Jane, Catherine and Ethe comes awhile, we then goes to mother’s a afternoon. They all look at me as they would look at a thief because I am not a seceder.
End of page 52
AUGUST, 1861
SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 1861
This is a very warm day. James takes the wagon and goes to Carmel to a basket meeting--takes all the children. Comes a storm, we stop at Stephen Days till the wind and rain is over, does not rain much there but east of there the rain poured down.
MONDAY, AUGUST 5, l861
Very warm, yet looks like rain. Mother goes by to Catherine's. Mrs. Griffith still weaving. I spin at my flannel chain. I have good rolls this year but can not work much, not well and babe cross. So much fuss about the war and so many going to war and so many getting killed. How glad I would be if there was no war.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, l861
Oh, dear me, I am so weak as an old cat this morning. Oh how warm--we want some rain, we have to wash to day. James goes to Austin for the daily paper. Maria Jane goes for Olivia to help wash some quilts. Then we clean the house. Miller Morrison comes now. We have a good rain at 6 o’clock. How glad we are, thunders and lightnings and wind blows.
MONDAY AUGUST 12, 1861
Still very cloudy, thundering now, we have a shower. Marion gone to Mr. Trulocks for Jane to come and spin-they get there by ten o'clock. She spins 13 cuts. Maria Jane spins 10 cuts. I am rnaking pear preserves. I patch and cook and and mind babe. Now we hear the thunder--now we have a good rainy--James sows his turnips.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1861
Very cool this morning after so much rain. All up early. Made a fire to warm by. I have a very sore foot, pains me very much. Babe very cross, the peaches are ripening. James plows and hoes his potatoes. The girls spin. I write and patch and cook. Everybody talks of hard times--wheat--75c, butter--6c, eggs--3c, coffee--20c, tea 25c per quarter pound, pears $1 a bushel, potatoes--40c bushel, apples--40c, pork--3c pound, and sugar 10c lb. We are expecting every day to hear of a great and dreadful battle in Missouri. Great preparations are being made.
End of page 53
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1861
This is a fine day. I wash. Jane Trulock is too sick to spin, goes to bed, gets better in the evening. Maria Jane irons the clothes and I spin some sock yarn, double and twist it, then goes to mother’s a few minutes. Babe very cross.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1861
Cloudy. John and mother goes to town. Catherine and children comes to warm mother’s flannel. James not well, very hoarse, cannot hardly speak, plows all day. In the evening Janie and me goes to Mrs. Hoard’s a few minutes, then home. I fix plaster on his breast.
MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 1861
Rainy, cloudy all day. James goes to John Smith’s to see about threshing our wheat, then cleans the thrashing floor, The boys cuts wood. I feel tolerable well to day. I spin 8 cuts, bake loaf bread and patch.
FRIDAY. AUGUST 30, 1861
James and Marion goes to Hoards to help thrash but comes back then goes to Morrison's for the wheat fan then cleans wheat and oats. I tend the kiln all day. John T. Tobias comes to warn the hands on the roads next Monday and Tuesday. Beautiful day. This is James complaint of being tired and with pains in his breast.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1861
This is a beautiful Saturday. We hurry to get our work done. I go to mother’s then bake, patch, wash, starch, iron. Mary Morrison comes for peaches. Now we fix to go to John J. Tobias in the wagon with mother and all the children to get our likeness taken. There was a house full of folks getting their likeness taken. Mr. Gregory had a sweating time. We had 11 pictures taken on one plate for 25c--that was cheap enough. Get home late. James right sick. Cool evening. Marion stops at Cass.
SEPTEMBER 1861
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1861
We are off to town this morning. Cloudy day with hot sun, very warm day. We took peaches and wheat , feathers and eggs--got to town before night. 65c for wheat, 50c for peaches, 5c for eggs, and 25c for feathers. I get me and Maria Jane a new delane dress l2 1/2c per yard. Buy indigo, cotton, coffee and calico.
End of page 54
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1861
This is a cool morning. James stayed in the wagon, I stayed at Mrs. Claflins Tavern. We both took breakfast on fresh beef and sausage with warm coffee and biscuit. Trading done, start for home at noon. James right sick get home after dark-children all well. While we were in town I wished that old traitor Jeff Davis was dead, the market was stowed with peaches. Went to the courier office and signed for the paper--five month--paid 50c.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, l86l
Foggy this morning. I am not well cannot work much today, but I write some. Maria Jane irons the clothes, babe very cross--not well. James goes to Christians this afternoon to the frolic. Marion McKinley Bovard plows for wheat. F.G.M. hauls wood with their calves for the stove. Now I will sew some and finish Maria Jane’s dress. Mr. Smallwood comes.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1861
Now I feel like work this morning. I am some better but quite weak. I suds out some jeans fulling the wash with all my might. Maria Jane goes to Griffith’s for copporas. [Copperas is a dye fixative for textiles.] Here comes Knelly and Wilce Morrison says if I want to take a visit to Retreat to be at the school house at one. I go to Retreat in the buggy with the Morrison women. Hannah Phillips picked the sage, the horses cut a flurry and Freeman got hurt.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1861
I am at Retreat this morning, fine pleasant time for visiting. I have a good view of the cars. Now me and Mary comes home in the buggy by ourselves--have a good time, but when we come, here comes Griffith to tell us that our men had to go to war, how sad we feel at the news. James helped Torn Smith thrash yesterday and helps the Spearses to day.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1861
Cloudy yesterday. Oh how it stormed last night, thundered and lightening [sic]. We looked all night for James Captain to call him to camp but to our joy he did not come. This morning cool and cloudy. Here comes John for me to cut and make his pants. I cut and make at them. Here comes Mary Morrison to suds out her yarn. James goes to Crothersville to a speaking.
End of page 55
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1861
James got home alive yesterday evening. The search was about to devour him. There was a mistake about the soveren calling out the home guards and I am glad for one. Mother comes by going to meeting, stops long enough to wish old Lincoln dead. Here comes Mrs. Sampson and husband, stays all day, this is a fine cool day. Smith and Hall have a meeting at the school house.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1861
Old Mrs. Smith joined the Campbellite yesterday, will be emersed to morrow at the mill. I sew at John's pants, I color my jeans chain, get a good color. Catherine comes to tie jeans, Mother comes to get some flour. John stops awhile, takes dinner with us. I get a good color. The meeting still goes on.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1861
This is a pleasant day. Mrs. Smith emersed to day at the mill. A fight takes place at the school house, these sesch and one union man of course the union man retreated with sore bones--poor fellow he has three sons in the army. Fine day for baptising and fighting all three good Camolites or camel fights makes no difference, their preachers leaves them after that, got scared out. What will this world come to yet for fighting and lying. Lord have mercy.
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 26, 1861
I am tryingto spin, spin 8 cuts then sew at James pants. Catherine comes to tie jeans for me. She agrees to spin some flannel filling for rolls, so I must hurry and go to weaving. I have 35 yards of jeans to weave, 12 yards of check flannel and 25 yards of linsy. Cloudy, looks like rain. I get up at night to sew.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1861
This is a very cool cloudy day. Mists rain in the evening. Blows like winter. Mother comes awhile, I sew, finish James pants, I am thinking of going to muster to morrow to Mr. Letts. Maria and I washes the clothes, Knelly Morrison comes for soap. How my heart aches with trouble.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1861
This is a very cold morning, up early to go to the muster. Mr. Griffith comes. He says the seseches is getting very strong in Kentucky. The war is raging--getting worse. We take our dinners with us. Catherine goes with us, the children stay here. We have a fine time seeing the folks muster. Most too cold to be comfortable--Col Malock and Mr. Hill gave a short address to the soldiers which was good.
End of page 56
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8,1861
This is a pretty day. Here comes Caroline and Sabina Morrison for soap and ashes. Maria Jane washed to day. I spin 10 cuts of stocking. Jane then goes to Morrison’s to see about coloring blue. James and boys takes the colts out to Jones.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1861
This is a beautiful morning. I want to go to meeting, our new preacher comes to day. James walks and goes to meeting but I mount a butterfly and fly over to meeting. Get there before the preacher. James looks two ways for sure. Marion goes home with Tommy and Ana. Comes home in the morning by Frankfort br my madder to color my flannel. Pap and mother are sick but want to go. I write a letter to Nancy Petro.
MONDAY, OCTOBER l4, 1861
This is a pretty day. I weave a yard and half, then pick the geese. James helps me, he is not well, he can pick first rate. We have lived together l8 years and the first time he even picked geese. What won’t the wars cause to be done. Mother goes by the shop to get some shop work done. I set up Maria Jane's stockings for her to knit. James quills and reads the news at night.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1861
Up before daylight, get breakfast, then write some. Marion McKinley goes to Austin for the paper. Not much war news. Cloudy this morning, not quite so cold. I am some better, I am in hopes of getting well. Maria Jane comes. Here comes Marion with the papers. This is a pretty day, now it clouds up and looks like rain.
FRIDAY. OCTOBER l8, 1861
I weave this morning awhile, then I suds out yarn and color my red for my flannel. Mother goes by to Catherines, then her and Catherine comes to warp. Some clouds but clearing off. James grinds one kettle of cane juice this evening to boil to morrow.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1861
Marion boils his molasses this morning. Cool and cloudy. John W. Everhart comes with a jug for molasses. Maria Jane goes for grapes. Olivia Griffith comes and stays all night. I sew, make little Jimmy a new pair of breeches and wamis, then I patch some clothes, babe very cross. The boys goes to Griffith's, comes home late.
End of page 57
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1861
A big muster at Paris to day. James goes, Marion takes the wagon, takes me and Maria Jane to the burying of Joseph Daisly. Tommy Jones comes and brings a letter from George Bovard. I received a letter from Nancy Petro to day. I go to mother’s. We got news of a dreadful battle, Balls Bluff or Edward Ferry on the Potomac laat Monday and a wild cat battle in Kentucky the same day the federals whipped the rebels.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1861
This is a beautiful day. James takes the wagon, takes me and Maria Jane to Gilead to meeting. Marion walked and went to Gilead, the Campbellites are holding a meeting at the school house now. Getting cloudy. Frank, Ethe and Margy all comes to mother’s to day, they went home by Catherine’s to get their flannel.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1861
James and Marion goes to work at the cane to making lasses. I weave, cloudy, cool looks like rain. Morrisons still grind cane here on our mill. I am not well and never will be again, too slck to work but have to work too hard.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1861
Cool and cloudy, I weave in all my blue filling then cut out my blue jeans--19 1/2 yards. Mr. Stevens goes by, Mr. Griffith has a cabbage cutting tonight. Marion, Maria Jane and Freeman goes.
NOVEMBER 1861
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1861
Oh, how sick last night I was. Could not sleep much, am not much better yet. Mother comes by going to Christians. Marion goes to Charley Byfield to hear from the killed boys but does not hear. We think it is untrue and hope it is, the war is raging, no signs of ending soon. Many getting killed.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1861
I am too sick for any use, but have to work. I am so light headed, most heart broken, know not what to do. I never will be well I am afraid. We are talking of going out to Nancy’s but I keep so sick that I won’t get to go. Mother was here to day, brought me some apple butter and had on her new flannel dress. They have a corn husking. to night at paps. James and boys have gone and Maria Jane but I am right sick to night. I write some in my almanac to night. George and Aby parches them some corn. James and boys dug potatoes, they have 25 bushel now. Marion worked on the roads until noon to day.
End of page 58
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 14, 1861
I am somebetter. I cut out some sewing, thinking of taking a visit out to Nancy Petro's next Saturday. Lloyd Griffith comes to bring us a piece of beef. I sew at James new pants. James goes to Jonathan Everhart's with Jimmy’s boots. Oh how it rains.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 19, 1861
Up early getting ready to start home. I begin to think of home quite often--afraid some of them are sick. I am right poorly this morning, cannot hardly ride in the wagon but get better. We have chicken and kraut pie, cake and lots of good things for breakfast. We bid them good-by then we started for home at sun rise. Cool air gets cloudy, looks like rain, does come a storm at night after we get home.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21, 1861
Yesterday was a day to be remembered. We went to Gilead to the Soldiers meeting but the sesech was too much for us. I took my blandet [blanket?], there was one more there but we brought it home with us again, the devil is loose there. Today, Mrs. Griffith comes to spool and warp her linen. I hem my flannel and take through what I can. Getting cloudy with cool air. I am not very well this evening.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1861
this is rainy Friday, for certain. How it storms. James starts for Austin but will have to turn back, so here he comes very wet, how the wind blows, the rain pours down. I start my flannel to weaving. I weave a yard, it weaves tolerable good, hut I have so much work to do I am most troubled to death.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1861
This is a cold raw day. I weave a yard and then help the boys bury the turnips and beets. James starts to look for the calves then hurrys home, goes to Frankfort to the election, comes home late, tired and cold. We do not hear of much news, but no battles for awhile.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 24, 1861
James goes to Gilead to meeting, class meeting. Very cold and disagreeable, bad, cloudy day. Mother comes, I am not well and never will be well anymore but some day I have some hopes of being better, but better than worse.
End of page 59
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1861
This is Thanksgiving Day. Maria Jane and mother goes to the Chapel to meeting hut I am rjght sick. Very cloudy. Mrs. Hoard comes and stays all day with me, James goes to the
Chapel, Eastman preaches. I am right sick, not well enough to work, but knit some and get dinner.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1861
Some cooler. I cut out, sewing 8 pairs of jeans pants and 5 jackets then begin to feel chilly, take the ague in my breast, have a chill at night, right sick. Robert Foster is married to day to Mrs. Cox a widow. How the snow pours down. Charley Byfield comes to get his note fixed. I am trying to sew some.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 186l
This is not so cold, but enough yet, but the sun shines bright. I am hurrying to get the flannel. I weave three and one half yesterday. Mary Morrison comes. I get the flannel out against 2 o’clock. I send Catherine the reed.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1861
We get up early this morning. I go to mother's, take my flannel to suds out in the rain water. I am right sick. Mrs. Griffith comes to warp her linsy. I get so sick I have to go to bed much pain in my head. Mother comes awhile. James digs some roots to make me some tea. Oh cloudy and warm. I am very sick.
SATURDAY DECEMBER 14, 1861
This is a pretty day. James goes to Wooster to mill to get our flour that has been there for a week. Marion goes to the scliool house to help fix it for school. The children goes to Jonathan Everharts to get their feet measured for shoes. I am not very well. I sew and darn stockings. Margy comes with James and Maria Jane to stay all night.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 15, 1861
Oh what a pretty Sunday. This clear warm sun shines. I stay home all day. Mother and Catherine comes by this evening. Maria Jane went to Morrison's. We received two letters yesterday from the war, one from George Bovard and one from Josiah Tobias--they are well.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1861
Oh how troubled and vexed all day, everything goes wrong. I commence washing ihen here comes Jones and Matilda. Catherine’s little girl is very sick she sends for me. Leave the dinner cooking and Matilda to tend it. No stove wood, oh how everything is upside down when I want to be smart. I go to Catherine's then hurry back to get dinner then Jones goes mill for his buckwheat flour.
End of page 60
[1862 is missing--we skip to 1863. Sarah has had no more babies but the family has moved nearby to a new house.]
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1863 [The 9th was a Friday.]
Snowing this morning, now the sun shines, the snow melts fast. We are all well but babe, he has a bad cold. I sew Freeman’s coat and jacket. Three weeks ago to day since we moved in our new house. James goes to Austin to day for the dai1y paper.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 1863
Some cloudy. I go to mother’s left babe home with James. Christian and Maria was there, William comes, John Butts, his mother, wife and children was there. Oh, how he spluttered speech, talk felt large as a bull trying to horn but his horns too short so he licked his tongue, being his teeth short.
TIIURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 1863
Mother was to have a turkey roast to day but _____ could not come so the roast was put off. The snow is two feet deep, still snowing, all day. I go to mother’s, sew for her at George’s shirt. James comes, helps me home. I wade knee deep. Oh the poor sheep and cattle--how cold. The creek shall be high.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1863
Cloudy and cool. We make our sausage and rendered our lard. Catherine comes, gets some meat, babe crying, right sick. James complains, not well. 1 complain too but that’s nothing new.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1863
I washed a large washing then scrub both houses. Babe right sick. I have a very sore throat. James husks corn awhile, goes to the wood chopping then comes home, hauls in what he had husked, Marion wants to go to the infair dinner at Alexander Mayfield’s but don’t go. Getting some warmer, rains at night.
MONDAY JANUARY 26, 1863
Rains all day to day. James cleans out the stables. I sew, all are well but babe, it is some better. Catherine goes by to mother’s, then they both come by and stop awhile. I cut out my bonnet. George Young is sick. Another sesech meeting at the school house. James does not go.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1863
Cloudy, cold windy day. Marion goes to help chop wood at Chris’. James makes an ax handle--he is some better. Mother was out here last night awhile. Here she comes going to Cris’. I cannot go--too cold to take out babe. I sew at James coat.
-
End of page 61
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1863
Not so cold to today, but cloudy. I finish James coat and make Jimmy a new pair of hreeches. Catherine comes by and I go with her to Mother's for milk. K. comes, stayed until after night. Marion vorked for Cris to day, he went with John to the sesech meeting last night, they think they are very smart.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1863
Very cold, the ground frozen hard. James and Marion gathers corn. Joseph Belch comes for James to go to Frankfort to a soldier burying to morrow. Mother comes awhile. James goes over to Morrisons. I go to Morrisons, stay until bed time. James and Andrew goes to the school house to a sesech meeting.
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 1863
We got home last night at 12 o'clock. Snowing very hard, quite cold this morning. James goes to Frankfort to the burying. Too cold to work. Maria Jane is sick. John comes awhile, mother went to ____ to see the dead soldier. Catherine comes for the spools.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4, 1863
Oh very cold. We are all tolerable well but Maria Jane. James and Marion tries to husk corn but too cold then they chop wood. Maria Jane went to school to day, then comes home sick at noon with her fever and sore throat. Cloudy looks like snow. This is Maria Jane’s birthday, she is 14. Terrible exciting times. Fighting, brawling, scowling, sneering, fearing and crying. War, war, war, war, war, war.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5, 1863
Oh come and see, oh to the window, get up boys, the snow is peppering down. Fix the sleigh--lets have a ride. 8 inches deep and more a failing, Hurrah!!! Come to a warm breakfast. Maria Jane some better. I knit some. James and. Marion cuts and hauls wood. John comes by and gets Marion to go to Jac. Tobias to a dance.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1863
This is Olivers birthday. He would have been 18 to day but he is not with us to share our troubles, but is at rest. Warm this morning. I go over to Mrs. Griffith’s a few minutes. Isaac goes by, mother and I warp her jeans for her. Catherine comes. James, Andy Miller comes, they have been coon hunting, catched one. Cloudy and muddy. Marion goes to work for William.
End of page 62
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1863
The ground frozen this morning. I do a very big washing of clothes, mother comes awhile. James goes, cuts a coon tree then builds me an ash hopper. I have to make soap. Very muddy, the sun shines then goes under a cloud. Mary and Andrew Morrison comes and stays till bed time. The children comes home from school. James goes to mother’s for milk. Maria Jane better.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1863
I commence making soap this morning. Aby right sick with sore throat and head ache. Maria Jane goes to school to day. Rainy and still raining at 12 o’clock. I am writing, babe crying, James singing, the soap boiling, and Jimmy and Charley playing top. Aby very sick. James goes after the children at school. Still raining.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1863
Raining very hard at daybreak this morning. James takes Maria Jane to school this morning. Two more lambs, now there is 5 lambs. I am boiling soap and writing. Very foggy and misty rain. James goes to Morrisons to make a flax break.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1863
I have the head ache this morning but I boil soap. Get a good kettle of soap. I spin tow. James goes back to Morrisons to finish the break. My throat is very sore. I have a chill and hot fever. George is sick.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1863
I am some better. What a beautiful Sabbath day. Mother goes by to Christian’s. Catherine comes, brings Maria Jane a valentine. My throat very sore, and getting worse.
MONDAY FEBRUARY 16, 1863
Maria Jane goes to sehool. I am right sick. Maria Jane goes by to Christian’s. Charly Griffith comes. I dry some flax by the fire, then James breaks some. I hackle it out. Very muddy, warm sun, cool wind. I am very sick. I have another chill.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1863
Cloudy and warm. I am some better, I set up all day and spin some tow. Marion and John goes by to mother’s to cut wood and eat roasted turkey. James goes to mill then cuts some wood. Marion and Kay goes to the Chapel to meeting. Oh how the wind blows at night. Maria Jane and Aby went to mother’s.
End of page 63
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1863
James had to go to mother’s for Aby and Maria Jane last night, then mended Jimmy’s boots this morning. He goes to cut wood for Ethe Peacock. Mother and Margy comes, stays all day, cool wind warm sun. Little Jimmy gets very sick has a fit at noon and one at night at 10 o’clock. James and I set most all night with him. I feel very tired this evening. Cherry has a young calf.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1863
This is another beautiful day. James swingles out the flax. 60 handfulls. I hackle it--5 and three of tow. I spin. Maria Jane washed then went to school. Getting cloudy this evening. The boys boils sugar water. Babe very cross, cried all the time.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 1863
Maria spins some flax, then goes to school. I stir off 17 pounds of sugar. James takes up the flax. He went to Jonathans this morning with corn--8 bushels--45c a bushel. Catherine comes to twist some thread. I am not well. Marion some better.
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1863
Cloudy, looks like snow. James and Freeman is husking corn. Marion has tugged off to school with Maria Jane. Here comes Mr. Terrill and boy, get a lamb to pet. Mr. Griffith comes this morning before we was up to get James to help gather corn. Oh how 1ate we sleep. The children cries so much at night and there is so much work to do. Babe so cross and sick. So much war trouble. I am writing then I am going to spin flax to day.
SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1863
This morning I try to get some work done but cannot get much done. Here comes mother, here comes Lucy and Johnny Ternill. Oh what trouble I do have. Here comes Andy and Ivan. James has gone to get some bark to bottom some chairs. I spin Marion and Maria Jane goes to William’s.
FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 1863
Mother comes to mind the babe until I wash. James breaks flax. We have 40 weight ready to hackel. Maria Jane better, babe very cross. I wash, then scrub. Am very tired at night. Not much war news of importance. The talk is more men to be drafted. Cotton yarn--55c per dozen. These are times to try mens souls and women too.
End of page 64
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1863
Cool pleasant morning. My little Charlie L. took sick last night, crazy hot fever. James goes to Lexington to pay his tax. Charly has a fit I send for Mary Morrison to come. Mother comes awhile, Catherine goes by, stops. Andy comes, Marion goes to mill then to chapel to meeting.
MONDAY, MARCH 16, 1863
This is another beautiful day. James and boys gather corn. I go to Mrs. Griffith's take home her wash board, see her toul [tulle?] lining. She was weaving. I come home and hackle flax and get dinner. Charly better, Maria Jane some better. James fixes for town tomorrow.
THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1863
Rains all day, thunders, mother comes awhile. Charly right sick, lame arm. Marion goes to Balsers to see if the doctor is there to come down here. I hackle flax, no war news of importance. The Butternuts is getting very saucy in Indiana and Ohio.
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1863
I finish hackling. Think of washing but do not. I have 16 pounds of hackled flax. We are looking for Aunt Julia Roseberry. Mother comes awhile. Still raining. James gone tonight. Charly verysick--hot fever.
SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1863
Cloudy, James goes to cutting wood. I go over to Mary Morrison for some garden seeds, get our cotton seeds. James goes to Wooster to a muster. I am out of humor. When I come home I scrub the floors. Clears off, warm sun, the birds are singing. Little Charly is very sick.
MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1863
Beautiful day. James and boys hauls wood. Charly is right sick. Maria Jane goes around with her school article. I go to Gilead at night to meeting. The moon shines bright. We had a good meeting. The boys found a bott1e. Ruth Young is sick with eyerciplas.
TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1863
Oh, dear what a blustery day. James goes to Frankfort for medicine then goes to Jones then to Austin for the paper. Mary Morrison comes awhile. The doctor calls to see Charly. Maria Jane went to meeting. Stayed all night with Morrison’s. James gets home late and cold. I spin some flax--can’t get any work done. So much trouble. Marion McKinley starts to work for James Spear. Four months--commence tomorrow.
End of page 65
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1863
This is a beautiful day, but right cold. Here comes Maria Jane. We have late breakfast, here comes the preacher, then here comes Catherine going to mother’s. I spin. Little Charly is very cross and sick. Ruth very sick. James goes over for the papers, stays until midnight. I drive a nail in the door latch last night but did not succeed. The thief got in at the window. Oh what a time.
THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1863
James plows the garden. Oh how cold the wind blows. Mother goes by to Crises. We plant some onions and the roots. Maria Jane goes around with the article to day. She has l0 1/2 signed. Cold and cloudy. Looks like for snow.
SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1863
This is a beautiful, morning. Maria Young comes for tow. Catherine comes with some thread. We put a skirt in to quilt for Maria Jane. Mother goes by to the speaking and James makes some garden then goes to the Butternut speaking. Dr. McClure speaks. Eliza Morrison comes to quilt. I make right smart of garden to day. Plant peas, beans, radishes, onions, beets, and rhubarb. What a pretty evening. Today we received a letter from George Bovard. He is in the 18 Ohio [Regiment].
SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 1863
Charly not much better. I go over to see Mr. Terrill, he is some better. This is a beautiful Sunday. This is Easter. We have lots of cooked eggs. James stays home with the children. The Gilead Sabbath School commenced to day, there was class meeting. Getting cloudy, looks like rain. Babe and Charly are very cross this evening.
MONDAY, APRIL 6, 1863
Cold this morning, very cold. James goes to the Election to Frankfort. We spin and work at our carpet rags. Charly very sick, his poor sore arm. He has a chill every day, hot fever at night. I cannot get much work done. We set a goose to day. Not much war news of importance.
TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1863
James goes to Wooster with my wheel, then to Austin for the paper, gets home late with my wheel, paid one dollar for to get it fixed. Mrs. Griffith comes awhile. I go this afternoon to see Ruth Young--she is no better. There was plenty of swearing, the Butternuts think they know it all. There was some fight at Austin yesterday.
End of page 66
THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1863
This a beautiful day. I commence boiling soap then go at mother’s. She is complaining, then I come home, build some fence and smoke the meat, only 10 joints to smoke. I spin some then write some. Maria Jane goes for milk to mother’s. The woods pasture is burning over. Ruth some better but William and two of the girls are sick. Little Charly very sick to day again. I write in my almanac.
FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1863
This is a beautifül day. There is a cool air stirring. James goes to paps to a log rolling. I spin and boil soap, then take babe and go to mother’s. Little Charly very cross and sick. Maria Jane quilts. Catherine and children goes by to mother’s. Charly’s arm is very sore, cough very bad.
TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 1863
Cloudy, sprinkles rain right smart. I go to mother’s, take the salk [sulky?] home get some vinegar. James goes to Phillips rolling. The Butternuts had a meeting last night at the Franklin School house and Isaac Mayfield had a Union one at McClain School house. Great times now days, the Union men have gained the Election. We commence taking the Daily again. Griffith pays part and goes part of the time. 75c for six weeks. We have plenty of war news. Charleston attacked but our men refused. Not much loss. What slow work we have. The rebels are very saucy.
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1863
Pleasant this morning. I commence washing, get done against noon. Then go and get bark to color. We boils soap and smoke meat. Char1y some better. I make some garden and am very tired this evening. Alice Tobias comes, stays all night. Mother and John comes awhile at night. I boiled the bark, ready for coloring. We cut and sew all the rags that we can. We have 40 weight ready. General Burnside has issued very important order. The traitors will have to look wild or they will find themselves over on Jeffrys side.
SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 1863
I find myself in the bed and under the bed this morning then I try to get up but have to work hard. Raining very hard. We have breakfast late. Griffith comes for the paper. Clears off, sun shining, more pleasant this afternoon. Mother goes by to William’s. I read and write some. Little Charly seems some better to day. The peach trees are loaded with blossoms. We are thankful for the blessings we receive.
End of page 67
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1863
James starts to Austin this morning for the paper. Cloudy but the sun shines some of the time. Mother comes awhile and James gets back at 2 o’clock brings me a letter from Euphemia Smith. We make James a new pair of pants then warp 45 yards of carpet. Dark when I get done warping. John goes by. We have lots of war news in Indiana, two Union men were killed in riot and rebel mobs in Brown county.
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1863
Now I go to weaving carpet, weave 5 yards, go to Quick Creek a fishing, get nine fish. The two Mrs. Everharts comes. I pay Sarah Ann $l.50 for schooling. Mrs. Griffith and Maria Young comes. The two doctors and wives comes out to fish. Mother goes. I go to the Mrs. Griffith’s to do some mending.
FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1863
What a beautiful morning. I gather a mess of greens then wash the wool. Warm sun, the wind is stirring briskly. Catherine comes. I get done washing the wool then we go over to Quick Creek a fishing. We caught 10 fish. James plows for corn. Little Charly most well.
SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1863
This is a beautiful morning. I go and plant the cotton seed. Mother comes by. James plows. I sow some cabbage seed and then go to mother’s. Maria Jane washes and irons the clothes. The wool is most dry ready to pick. We are all well as common. My work most troubles me to death.
TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1863
Too wet to plant. James goes to Austin for the paper, comes home, goes to mill. I weave 5 yards then go to Watson’s wool picking. Dan drunk as a crazy goose, he tries to get James to eat supper but cannot. There was one would be a lady had on a butternut. Very cool, cloudy, cool enough for frost, the fruit trees are loaded with fruit.
SUNDAY, MAY l0, 1863
O what a lovely morning. We are all well and thankful. Lloyd Griffith comes says Mr. Hoard is sick. James goes over to see him, get home too late for meeting. Catherine comes then her and me and Mrs. Griffith goes to see Mr. Hoard--he is better. Dark when we get home.
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1863
This is a beautiful day to go to town. Isaac drives the wagon paps horses and our wagon. Mother and I go, get to town by 2 o’clock. Very cool wind with hot sun. Babe seems to do well. We stay at Mrs. Claflins all night. We take supper and breakfast. Carpet dull sale. James plows for corn and I plants some peas.
End of page 68
SUNDAY, MAY 17, 1863
Oh how lovely this blessed Sabbath morning. We are all well. Maria Jane goes to Sunday School. John Young brought us some fish this morning. Tommy Jones comes. James is reading the Bible. I am writing in my almanac. Maria Jane gets home late. War oh miserable war death even when distress. Oh Lord forgive our many sins and save us all in heaven.
TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1863
This a beautiful day. Maria Jane irons the clothes. I finish spooling my linen. Mother goes by to Crisis, then on to a wool picking. Wilson Morrison comes and asks me and Maria Jane to a picking to Wilkersons this afternoon. We get dinner. James is plowing for corn, the ground is very hard, needs rain. Louisa Reed is teaching school, commenced yesterday.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1863
I warp my linen then beam it, get it through the gears. This is a beautiful day. My garden is full of weeds. Our flax and potatoes looks well. The Butternuts talk largely, wear them for a sign for old Jeff Devil.
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1863
Now I put my linen through the reed, commence weaving, it goes first rate then I go to mother’s, get the temples fixed, get a scolding from mame but I pick some wool and come home. James and I saw a light last a jack-o-lantern.
SUNDAY, MAY 24, 1863
What a beautiful day. Maria goes to Catherines. James and I stay at home all day reading the Bible, papers and books. Oh what trouble we do have. I long to see the day of rest. Marion is a disobedient boy he is off some place. Remember us Lord in our many troubles.
THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1863
I sew awhile at Maria Janes dress, then go to mother’s. I pick wool till three o’clock. We finish boiling soap today, have more than a barrel. Mary Smith and Catherine was at mother’s, cooked turkey. The men are warned to work on the road tomorrow and next day.
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1863
Still cloudy and rainy. I sew awhile then James and I go take a ride to meeting, get home at one o’clock. Sprinkles rain. Very cloudy and warm. Then James goes with Morrisons a sein fishing and get his breeches full. Now we have lots of bones and not much fish. Marion worked on road to day.
End of page 69
SUNDAY, MAY 31, 1863
Oh how the rain is falling. Maria and Tilda, poor things they wanted to show off fine but the rain hindered but they go. James and Marion walk. Now the sun shines but still cloudy. I stay with the children and cook fish. We have news that there has been fighting all last week at Vicksburg but not taken yet. We have lost 5000 men, oh terrible how many more we cannot tell. Lord, bring this war to a close.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1863
This is a beautiful day. I weave 2 1/2 yards on my linen, then take babe and go over to Mrs. Phillips. She is sick--some better. James helps me a piece of the way and comes and helps me home. Cool, clear evening. Mother comes out awhile.
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 1863
To day I finish my dress. Maria Jane irons the clothes. Tommy Jones comes and stays all night. Catherine goes by to mother's. The Butternuts are going toward the flats this evening with guns on their shoulders. Some devilment. I am fire mad. I am ready for gutting Old Jeff.
SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 1863
This is a beautiful Sabbath morning. Here we go to the Chapel to meeting. Never can go without double trouble. Joe Elinger is married there to day. We stopped at Thompsons for dinner then on to Gilead to meeting. Morton very cross, not well. We get home late.
MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1863
Tlice cool morning. I go to mother’s for some currants, then I go over to see Mrs. Miller, get home at two o'clock, bake light loaf bread. Looking for visitors tomorrow. We bake some pies. I cut a linen shirt for James and sew some at it. James moves the fence around the orchard.
THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1863
This morning we work in the garden, set out cabbage and tomato plants. I work till noon in the garden. I am trying to keep the boys at their books then sew at James linen shirt. I finish it. Catherine comes by. John Young goes by, brings us a letter from Nancy Petro.
FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1863
No rain, this is a beautiful day. I get the linen out against noon. Catherine comes to warp, then we go to see Mrs. Phillips, comes back and warps 20 yards of linen for pants. Getting cloudy, blows up cool. We are all tolerable well.
End of page 70
TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 1863
This is a pretty morning. I sent and get the saddle and go to Mrs. Belches for my thread. Very cloudy and warm. I get home before 5 o'clock. Maria Jane kept the babe. James and boys hoed the cane patch. Great excitment about volunteers.
THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1863
James goes to the carding machine and mill to Landors [Landon's?]--takes 11 bushels, 9 of wheat and 2 of corn. I get my yarn home and one bunch of rolls--28 pounds of yarn. Good James get home at 4 in the evening. Done several choring for the neighbors, such as bringing their rolls and taking wool.
SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 1863
Oh how thankful we feel this morning for the many blessings we receive at the hand of God. Help us to trust Thee at all times. James has gone to Gilead to class meeting. Maria J. has gone to Catherines, and Melville has gone to S. School. Been raining this morning but has quit. Babe some better.
TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 1863
We gather some cherries. We have plenty--the trees are red. I make Jelly and preserves. Maria J. washes the clothes and then goes to mothers awhile. I spin some flax thread for my linen. I have 20 cuts to spin. I go to Mrs. Griffiths a few minutes. Oh what pest these flies are. We have a fly trap. I kill a thousand and more and a million left to trouble us. And the rebels are alike--all need killing.
THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1863
Catherine comes to finish picking cherries. I spin and get done. James goes over to help Andy finish cutting wheat then sows his buckwheat. I boil out my thread and sew at George’s shirt. Oh, what a warm day. Lloyd Griffith comes for to see if Maria Jane will go to Retreat next Sunday, but she will not go, I know.
TUESDAY, JULY 7, 1863
This is a pleasant morning. James and I goes with the children to pulling flax. We finish pulling this evening. I am about give out. Maria Jane cooks chicken and spins 8 cuts. Sprinkles rain.
THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1863
We got news last night that Vicksburg is surrendered. The cannons fired all around. Miller comes and brings the paper. _________Morrison died this morning at Mt. Sterling. James plows then hauls some flax. Now the home guards is called and he leaves at 5 o’clock. Oh how lonesome we are this evening--James gone. I cut out the boys linen pants to day.
End of page 71
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1863
Misty foggy. Very warm last night, but some cooler this morning. I hoe awhile. The boys goes to plowing corn and mother comes and spins some thread. I go to Catherines and take the flour home then I go over to Mary Morrisons. The soldiers going by tell me James is in a fight by this time. Morgan raid is in Indiana, cutting up high, stealing horses and burning property and scaring people to death and some they shoot. They are reported at six thousand strong. Mostly cavalry, thieves and murderers.
SUNDAY, JULY 12, 1863
What a curious looking morning. Oh how smoky, looks like the world was on fire. Morgan thief has not got here yet, the babe is sick. Sal Morrison and Mrs. Griffith stayed here last night. Set up all night. The Rebels went through yesterday. Today the Union troops goes through on the hunt of them. 4000 of them.
MONDAY, JULY 13, 1863
Babe some better. I hoe in the garden then sew. Thunders and looks like rain. We hear cannons firing. The rebels reported coming to steal his portion. What a panic amoungst the women and children. Oh when will this wicked rebellion be put down, that peace will once more be restored, the union safe from trouble.
TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1863
Looks like rain. Maria J. and Lu Reed goes with Mrs. Griffith to Olivia Doughty. Mary Morrison comes now. How the rain pours down. The boys plows corn. Do not know
where James is hunting after Old Morgan, the thief. Babe better.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15 1863
Marion comes home last evening, is mowing this morning. I am very sick--take a chill go to bed and have a very hot fever. Lu Reed is here. Maria Jane washed the clothes, the doctor comes, leaves medicine. Mother and Cathy is here. I am crazy as a bug.
THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1863
I am a little better this morning, not able to sit up. The girls irons the clothes. Mrs. Reed and Mary Morrison comes and Mrs. Griffith and the boys plows corn. Marion goes to Paris to see Matilda Foster. John Young comes.
End of page 72
FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1863
This is a pleasant morning, but I am not able to work, am not much better. Mother goes by to Catherines. James gets home at two o’clock. I am very sick. I have been puking. Oh how glad we are that he has got home.
SUNDAY, JULY 19, 1863
I am not so well to day. This is a beautiful morning. Marion goes to Paris with K. Young. Mary and Andrew Morrison comes with Maria Jane--she gets dinner then her and her pap goes to meeting and Mary stays with me. Mother coines awhile--I am very sick. Almost smothered to death. I drink a cup of tea. The old Morgans thief is reported to be in Ohio with thousands of troops after him. Marion comes and says Tilda is no better.
TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1863
Cool but still looks like rain. James cleans his gun. Marion complains of being sick. I am better after having such a sick spell last evening. I am trying to write some and sewing at the boys shirts. The flies bites. Part of Morgans thieves have been taken prisoners. The rest have gone to the mountains. Hawkins comes to summon James on the jury next week.
MONDAY, JULY 27, 1863
Last night the home guards was called out to guard the roads. The report is more rebels, sneaking about trying to get away. I go this morning to Mr. Wilson's store. James does not go to Lexington but mows grass for Andy Morrison. I go over in the evening to see the sick babe. Mrs. Griffith was here this morning. John stops in the evening. I bought me a pair of shoes some check and muslin. Freeman went with me. Cloudy with hot sun.
TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1863
I go to mother's for two jugs to fill with berries. Catherine comes. We pick berries then comes a hard rain. I fill one jug. I cut out a dress and two aprons and Maria Jane a sack. Marion very grunty lays in bed most all of the time.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1863
Oh, this morning I am out of heart, but I sent and get mother’s saddle to go to Deborah's. Now the drums are beating for volunteers. Now James and Marion goes to the school house. I get to Deborah’s at ten o’clock take dinner with her, then go to Ethe's. Here comes Marion, says Jimmy is worse. I hurry home.
End of page 73
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1863
Oh how warm. James is going to join the six month regiment. Mrs. Griffith comes to help me sew in the afternoon. We finished the boys linen pants now. Comes a storm of rain and wind. Ethe comes to mother’s. James joined the Vanpelt company. Now he will be gone six months.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 1863
This is quite a cool morning. Here goes James and I to town. Oh, what a beautiful day. We go right along, have no trouble get to town against 2 o’clock. We stay at Mrs. Claflins, get plenty to eat, Paid 60c for breakfast and bed. We took a keg of lard, got 9c a pound, 60c for our sheep pelt and 36c for feathers.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1863
Here we are in town, good markets, plenty of everything to sell. Money plenty--that is greenbacks. I buy several things then we get our likeness taken. Little Morton is so nice. James and mine looks well enough. We paid $1.75 for to get them. Cotton yarn is 44c per dog, coffee 35c lb., calico 18 to 20c a yard.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1863
Now I get in the loom determined to start my linen but what, Catherine goes by to mother’s. Here comes Mr. Jones, stays until after dinner, buys our Charly horse for $105.00. I have the tooth ache. James pulled my tooth then Catherine and I go to see Mrs. Angeline Peacock. She is better. Very cloudy.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1863
To day I start my linen, weave 2 yards. The boys picks apples at mother’s. James works the roads. Clear beautiful day with warm sunshine. James has to go to North Vernon Wednesday to a three day drill.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1863
To night we have a little apple cutting. I go to mother’s then go over to Mrs. Griffith’s a few minutes. Getting cloudy, thundering. Here comes Nancy Smith and mother to my apple cutting and Catherine. We have a good time, but by midnight we have a heavy storm and storms all night.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1863
Oh how stormy. Here goes James for Vernon right in the hard storm and thunder and lightning. Rains on until 10. Then clears away. I go to Mother’s a few minutes, then home. Go over to Mary Morrisons. I make some peach preserves.
End of page 74
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1863
Cool and cloudy. Now what a time have filling jars with peaches. Here comes James. Didn’t have to stay. Too rainy. I am glad he has come home. We take a walk over to the corn, get some potatoes.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1863
To day I scour out 14 dozen of yarn for flannel and jeans to day. Ethe’s property is praised. Mother goes out there. Cloudy looks like rain. I take babe and go to Catherines to see my linen towels she is weaving for me.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1863
Rainy this day. James reels yarn for me. I try to weave but too damp. I patch, then go to mother’s. Set a blue dye for her. Catherine comes, brings my piece of towels home. 12 yards, she gets 4 yards. Maria J. spins. Turning cooler, we don’t have much news now days, we don’t take the daily.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1863
James and I go to the Chapel to hear Frank Peacock’s funeral, hut the preacher did not come. He is sick. Cloudy, sprinkles rain.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1863
To day is a great battle. Cold enough to snow. Cloudy, heavy frost then clears off. I cook peaches and make quince preserves. Maria Jane spins. I am not very well. I go to Mrs. Griffith’s a few minutes. James takes the colts to Mr. Mitchell. Sold for $58.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1863
This is a beautiful day. I spool my blankets and warp them then get my blue dye and go to mother’s for the dye. I reel some. I have too much work to do. I am not very well. Mary Morrison comes in the evening.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1863
Now I have a good dye. I color my blue for my flannel, get a good color. Mrs. Griffith comes to warp her jeans. Mary Morrison comes for peaches. I sell her a bushel for 50c per bushel. I go to mother’s get some yarn.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1863
This is a beautiful day. Ethe is moving to mother’s. I color, finish my flannel. Maria Jane spins. Mother comes then I go to mother’s in the evening. Get her dye stuff. Set the dye for her. I go to Griffiths to help her with the jeans.
End of page 75
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1863
Here comes mother to finish coloring. I iron the clothes and make some quince preserves, and cut out some of my linen--l0 yards. I work so hard to day that I am very tired. James goes to muster. Freeman and Melville goes to Jones to stay all night. I set up and sew till 10 o’clock. Make a new linen sheet. O for more of the love of God in our hearts that we may sing praises with loud voice, trusting in God our Savior.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1863
Now we get up early at three o’clock. James off before daylight. I go to mother's to the pedlar with two chickens and one dozen and 9 eggs. Beautiful day. Caroline and Eliza comes awhile. I spin and color my green for my flannel. Marion and Freeman helps pap to thrash wheat. Mother comes and stays all night. I sew some for her.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1863
Raining this morning. I finish spinning my check flannel and then warp and hackel some flax. Rains all day. James has a rainy time, gets home at 8 A.M. Aby right sick--has a chill. Maria Jane missed her chill to day. She has been sick.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1863
Damp and cool. I wash a large washing of clothes then go to mother’s to read the daily paper. I hurry home. Aby right sick, another chill. Catherine goes by to mothers. Snow and cold.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1863
This cloudy cold sabbath morning, yes all day. Mother goes by to Crises. Marion puts off somewhere. The Copperheads meets in the woods up at Cat Wallow. M. Byfields tried to kill an abolitionist. Everhard all drunk. I stay home all day, read in the Bible. Looks like snow.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1863
Still cold. I weave 5 yards on linen to day. Catherine comes for some rhubarb. Marion commence to work for Chris Young this morning ror one month at $15.00. James and boys still cutting corn. I am hurrying to get some work done but get along slow.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6. 1863
Very cold. James goes to Frankfort for medicine for Aby, he has a chill every day. I weave 3 yards, get the linen out against noon. Then beam my flannel, take it through the gears then take mother’s flour home. James is sowing some wheat.
End of page 76
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1863
To day is damp and cloudy. I weave 4 yards. Ethe comes, Mother goes to Crises to make cider. We get a letter from Nancy Petro. I suds out 8 dozen of white flannel chain to night. James reads the paper. The butternuts meet at Chapel to night.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1863
Today I weave 2 yards, size my flannel yarn, 22 yards. Mother comes I am boiling bark for to color my jean chain. James is sowing wheat in the old field. D. Thompson and Wesley Spear was here this morning. I commence spooling my white flannel this evening. Clear and cold.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1863
Cold with white frost and freezing for the last month. James goes to Gilead to meeting. I stay at home and read and write. We are looking for stirring times this week. The election is to corne off on Tuesday next. Lord help us to trust to thee for all good things. Remember us in these our troubles.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1863
James goes to the election. I go to see Mrs. Phillips. She is better. I get home before night and I fell in the creek. We sew at the boys britches and knit. James don’t get home till night. Mother makes kraut to day.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1863
Now I wash clothes. James sti11 hurrying to sow wheat. Freeman goes to Austin for the papers. Have glorious news--the Union men of Ohio are 50,000 ahead or more. Good! Good! I do rejoice. Shoot our old guns!!!!
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1863
To day I weave until noon then I make my kraut. Mother gets very mad, won't eat dinner with us. We have chicken. She gets done making molasses. Getting cloudy. James is sowing wheat.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1863
Now this is a cold raw day. I weave out my check flannel. Eliza Morrison comes for flour, gets 10 pounds. Here comes Marion in a great hurry, going to Tea Creek. Maria J. wants to go too. Maria J. and Freeman goes over to Griffiths to stay all night.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1863
I commence my white flannel. Get it started--32 yards. Mrs. Hoard comes.
End of page 77
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1863
This is another good day for work. Still working at our lasses. I weave six yards to day. Mr. Terrill brings the rest of his yarn to color. I will color to morrow red and blue. I boil ashes and get the dye for to morrow. I go to mothers for the kettle.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1863
I color my jeans yarn blue. Maria Jane goes to paps minds the children for Ethe until she goes to Frankfort. She washed the clothes in there yesterday then irons to day. Does not get home, stays all night.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1863
I go out to Mr. Jones, found them all right. We get home late, found all well. Tilda Foster was here. McMahan preached at Gilead to day. Little Charly Lincoln puts on his new blue breeches for the first time. He is three years old, he is quite proud.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1863
We are all well. James and boys makes lasses. James whoops Griffith’ s kraut barrel. Mrs. Griffith comes to warp her linen, weave 5 yards. Cool and cloudy, looks like for rain.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1863
Rains all day. I weave then sew. James cuts wood and goes over after the paper. Maria Jane makes her new flannel dress. Oh how rainy. We have 65 bushels of potatoes in that patch--$1.00 a bushel.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 31, 1863
This is a very cold morning. I cook my preserves. Scrub both houses then finish picking my geese. Make Charly a new pair of pants. Maria goes over to Mrs. Terrills for one dozen yarn. Gets home late.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1863
I am not well this morning, pain in my breast. We bury our cabbage, apples and beets. I go to paps a few minutes to see if they are going to town. Catherine boils lasses to day. Mahala Smith comes helps me sew at my flannel dress. I am hurrying to go to town.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1863
Warm looks like rain. We are off to town early, get to town in good time, not quite dark. We stay at Mrs. Claflins, had to pay $1.20 for supper, breakfast and bed.
End of page 78
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7, 1863
Here is Saturday. What a full market. Hurrah for the boat. Now we hear the whistle. Here comes mother. Has been to Ohio three weeks nearly. I buy Maria Jane a shawl--pay $6.50. I am so hurried that I cannot buy anything. Mrs. Nicely and mother rides out of town with us after night. When we get home we stopped at Aunt Julia’s.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1863
Catherine and Maria Jane goes to mothers to hear the Ohio news. James goes to Morrisons. Sabine and Miller comes and Lloyd Griffith and Lela Tallman comes. We have chicken. Now this has been a beautiful day, but right cool. Now James and I go to mother’s a little while. We hear so much wickedness. Oh, that we could be good and religious.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1863
The boys starts to school this morning. I hurry, get the flannel out then color my red flannel for the boys shirts, two pounds of madder and sixteen yards of flannel. Catherine goes by to mothers. Aby misses his chills now.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1863
James and Marion off to town. Mrs. Griffith comes to warp Hannah Watson’s flannel. Catherine comes, brings my blankets home, gets 16 pounds of beef. James took the hind quarters and hide to town. We kept the 4 quarters. Griffith got 12 pounds. Getting very cloudy. Sabina comes home with me and stays all night.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1863
I take my jeans through the gears and reed. We have six bunches of rolls to spin yet, for stocking yarn. Very cold, too wet to make my pumpkin butter. Have to wait until Monday. Here comes James and Marion from town. It is seven o’clock. John Young goes by, and stops and eats supper with us.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1863
Now I cut out Marions red flannel shirts, sew and make some pumpkin butter. Mother comes and sets up the blue dye and colors her blue. James goes to Morrisons then home. Goes to Wooster and gets 12 apple trees.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1863
I weave all day. Ethe stays here all night. I go over to see Mary Morrison. Late when I get home. James does not come home to night. I am right sick with colick. Maria Jane washed the clothes then irons them at night.
End of page 79
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1863
Now I weave 4 yards, then cut out 2 1/2 for James a pair of pants. Maria Jane puts her skirt in the frames to quilt. Sabine Morrison comes to help her quilt. Here comes Lloyd Griffith and Marion.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1863
This is a cool frosty morning. Now James takes the wagon and we go to the Chapel to meeting. Asbury Hester presiding elder preaches the 11 o’clock sermon. We come to D. Thompsons then home. I am not well but thankful that we are no worse.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1863
Mother has roasted turkey for Margaret. Quite a celebration, for mothers birthday, don’t want anybody but sesech to help eat it, not fit for Abolition or Union people to eat. Catherine comes to warp her flannel. I get dinner. Mrs. Griffith comes at night,. to help quilt. James very sick. Most dies with colic. Great battle at Chattonuga [sic], Tennessee. Union men victorious. Good for our side. James is very sick at night.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1863
James some better. Maria Jane comes from school, at noon and then I fix to go to Gilead to the meeting. The preacher comes late and I did not get home until after dark, then went to mother’s for pills for James. He is worse. Mother comes awhile. We hear cannons firing as we come along. We knit some. The moon shines bright.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER l, 1863
Not quite so cold, but I am too sick, sneezing all the time--head ache and lame back. James quills for me and cuts wood. I weave one yard and a half, very tired. Mother goes by to Christian’s, he is very sick. Maria Jane tries to spin but she is too sick with bad cold and sore throat. Morton very cross and sick with cold. Charley has a bad cold.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1863
Up early this morning. Not in very good humor, but get in the loom and weave 1 1/2 yards. James hauls hay to Paris for Jimmy Morrison. Mother comes awhile for me to tell her how to color red. Marion goes to paps to help gather corn. Beautiful day.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1863
Still cloudy, looks like rain. I weave 2 yards to day. Very tedious. James goes to day with another load of corn, gets home at dark. Mother comes awhile. James is talking of going out to drive a team for the government but I guess he will not go.
End of page 80
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1863
More pleasant this morning. I cut out pants, and coats and jackets. James and Marion commences to taking off the flax seed. Cloudy morning. Now I sew and make Melvi1le a jacket. Here comes mother, going to Catherines. Here comes James in a splutter.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1863
Cloudy, looks like snow. I weave 3 1/2 yards to day trying to get my jeans out of the loom. Very cold, ground frozen hard. James and I go over to Morrisons at night. We come home, don’t stay late.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1863
Dark and cloudy, looking very much like rain for some time. It commenced to night [right?] about midnight. I weave 2 1/2 yards to day. James goes to David Tobias’ takes dinner with soldiers. Gets in great way for going to war--says he is going to volunteer in Jennings county.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1863
Now I get in the loom, determined to weave, but here comes Tom Miller for James to volunteer. He is gone to Tunis Carlocks but here he comes to put his name on his paper. We have to get dinner for them. I don’t get but 2 yards wove. What troubles I do have. I do not want him to volunteer.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1863
Catherine comes, and mother comes. John is here, takes dinner with us. We are tolerable well but I feel troubled.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1863
Here comes the children from school and Maria Jane from mother’s. [On this day, neighbor William Spear, 23, crossed into Jennings Co. and got a bounty by enlisting in the 120th Indiana Regiment.]
1864
FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 1864
This is the coldest day that I think has ever been since we lived. What will we do. We are most freezing-out of wood. James and Marion has to cut and haul wood. Here comes Andrew Morrison. Oh we have green beech wood. It is so hard to burn. I knit some and get a bite to eat. Poor cows and sheep and geese are almost frozen.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2. 1864
Not quite so cold. James goes over to Mr. Hoard’s then home. And him and Andy goes to James Tobias to see when they will have to go to camp and see if they can get the bounty in
Jennings Co. If they can’t they won’t go.
End of page 81
SUNDAY, JANUARY 3 , 1864
Looks like snow. James goes to Charley Byfields, he is sick but some better. I write now. The snow is falling fast, most like rain. Not so cold but cold enough. My heart aches all the time. I am not very well. The rest are well.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1864
Oh very cold. This morning the snow is very deep. Snowed most of the night. James and K. goes to town. I wash the clothes. [Two sons of Mrs. Emeline Phillips, James and William, were inducted into the 120th Indiana Regiment. Each received a $220 bounty with another $80 due on discharge.]
WBDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1864
Still very cold. I am not very well but I knit some and sit close by the fire thinking of James. He will most freeze to day.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1864
James got home last evening, quite cold and hungry. Brought 2 pair of shoes $1.90 a pair. Mine are too small brought me some mackeral and tea. Snows all day to day and night at night [sic]. Capt. Tobias comes and stays all night. Wants James to go to camp Saturday.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1864
Very cold and frosty. James and Capt. Jim Tohias goes to Andrew Morrisons for him to go to camp tomorrow, but he is going away to Madison, moving Louisa McCaslin. James comes home says maybe he will go tomorrow if I don’t care.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 1864
Here comes Mary Morrison to see if James is going, he cuts some wood, then fixes to start for Crothersville for the cars to go to camp but we all make such a fuss he can’t get off so he gives up a bit.
SUNI)AY, JANUARY 10, 1864
We are all well this morning. James takes me and Ethe to Gilead to meeting in the sled. Good sleighing but very cold then James and Andrew, Mary and myself all went to Retreat at night. They have taken a notion to go to camp but the cars [train] won't stop, so we are glad for we don’t want them to.
MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 1864
Here we are at Mrs. Miller’s this morning, but no cars comes. We all come home. I left Morton at home. I am in a hurry to get home. Ethelina stayed with the children. We get home at two o’clock, very tired and very cold. I most froze last night going to Retreat. Oh what troubles.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1864
This morning--some pleasanter. We go to Matilda's in the sled, but thawing all day. Our mare is sick. We stopped at Days, mother, Catherine and Ethe all went to Debys in the sled to day. Maria Jane went to Paris to day with Morrisons to Preacher Morrison.
End of page 82
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 1864
James starts for Paris this morning at daylight to cut wood two days. I clean and scrub the house, cook cabbage, beets and potatoes. Hurry to get work done but don't get much done. . . . . .
End of short page 83
The diary skips forward to 1871. Before resuming, here are some of the happenings during the missing interval:
James Bovard and Andy Morrison were among those leaving in mid-March 1864 to report to the 120th Indiana.
Little Jimmy--James Carvossa Bovard--died June 20, 1864.
On Nov. 30, 1868, Maria Jane Bovard married neighbor Lloyd Griffith; they soon began a family.
"Pap"--Abner Young--apparently died.
Sarah takes to calling husband James "Pa."
Nancy Petro died.
1871
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1871
I feel lonesome this morning. Right cool, clouds up, looks like snow. Freeman starts in the wagon for Crothersville on his way to Grecncastle. Can't get to Crothersville, the creek too high, go to Deputy now. Mother comes, we kill four hogs. Isaac helps, Maria Jane comes. I am very tired this evening. Grant and Willie has the mumps right bad.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1871
Right cool, but pretty day. We are cutting up meat and making sausage and rendering lard. Oh how greasy. James helps me, he has a bad cough. Grant is very sick and cross. Maria Jane goes home. A singing at the school house.
SUNDAY, FEBUARY 12, 187l
Sunday, Oh how cold, frozen, sleeting. James and boys goes to Gilead to meeting. I stay at home and read the Bible to the children. Feel quite lonesome.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 187l
Pa cut down the poplar and cormmences making rails. Abner and George helps him. The sun shines.
SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1871
The boys cuts wood. Morty gets sick today. This is a nice morning. Maria Jane better. I scrub both houses then iron the clothes, then make a pot pie and brown coffee, get dinner then darn 3 pairs of socks then go over to see how sis is. Found her bettor, helped her do her work. Pa goes to mill then home and goes to the store with six dozen eggs and buys me a new black calico dress.
MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1871
This is a beautiful day. The wind blowed last night and sprinklod rain. Lewis Byficld comes this morning to ask them to his stable raising tomorrow. They bring the hogs from the bottom and then work on the other farm making and hauling rails. I make make at my new dress--black calico.
FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 187l
Oh what a nice day. I go to see Criss. He is right sick. I get home get dinner. I work in the garden some and sow some lettuce. The doves is cooing, the frogs is singing. Pa goes to night and stays all night till one o'clock with Cris, he is no better, has the lung fever.
End of page 84
SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 1871
Saturday morning up late. Six o’clock commenced raining, rains all day. We hear Cris is no better. Pa goes to Kellys and gets his boots mended, I patch some. My shoulder hurts so bad. Abner goes to the Postoffice. I write some this evening. I am looking for Melville--His school is out.
MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1871
Pa goes home this morning almost give out. Cris no better. Maria Jane goes to see him, then I go to stay all day. Rains in the evening. Lloyd goes to Austin. Mr. Hester comes and stays all nignt.
TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 187l
Cloudy this morning. I go to see Sabina. She is no better, then I go to see Cris this afternoon and stay until midnight, then walk home. Margy and John Peacock comes to day for potatoes. I sold her some chickens and carpet rags, I took ten dozen eggs up to the store.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1871
Pa comes home this morning, eats his breakfast and goes to bed. Cris no better, not much hopes now of his getting well. I must write Marion a letter but I feel so little like work. My head aches. We hear of so many being sick.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1871
Melville got home last night. Cris died yesterday at three ö’clock. We went, got there about 20 minutes before he died. Was buried at Coffee Creek today. Rained all night. Creeks up high. We go to the rail road with the wagon then walk over. There were wagons ready to go to the grave. Oh how it rained. We got riglit wet.
FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 187l
This is a nice morning. I wash a large washing. Pa goes to the store then makes me an ash hopper. Catherine and Olivia comes in the evening. Now I write a letter to Marion and Freeman and write some in my day book. I am tired tonight. Pa sets by me, the childrcn are noisy. We all well this evening.
TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 187l
This has been a very windy day. I boil soap then go to the store. Stop at Barbara Earhart and write our obituary for her. Stop at Maria Janes arid stop at Catherines, buy half pound of tea for 80 cents. James and the boys finish the oats to day. I bought some check muslin and caxidles. Pa is most sick to night with cold.
End of page 85
FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1871
Maria Jane and Lloyd and children stay all night. I have been right sick all night and this morning I take a chill and am very sick. Abner goes for the doctor, but gets medicine. Oh how sick I am. George is sick in bed. Ethe comes and stays all night.
SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 187l
George some better, I am not much better. Such a bad cough. The Dr. and Debby comes. Pa goes for Vinnie Landon. She comes and stays till Sunday noon. Ethe and Catherine goes to Williams. Maria Jane goes to Lexington.
FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1871
I am some better. Pa goes for Maria Jane to get dinner. Mother comes awhile. Cool and cloudy. Elnora goes to K. Youngs. They have a daughter there. Pa and boys has to do the work.
TUESDAY APRIL 4, 1871
Now I f eel some better. I make at another shirt and make a kettle of soap, Catherine comes, then Maria Jane comes awhile. Freeman and Abner goes tonight to temperance meeting. I write Melville a letter. My head aches.
THURSDAY, APRiL 7, 1871
Pa makes garden all day. Maria Jane comes and makes some garden. I help a little, then et supper and go to mothers. Stop at Alice Youngs to see the babe. Dark when I get home.
SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1871
I make a kettle of soap. I iron the clothes and make a pair of window curtains for Gilcad. Catherine comes for garden seeds and brings me some. Oh how tired I am. Pa and boys marks the sheep; and calves. Abner goes to mill then fishing.
MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1871
Now I feel rested some. The boys and Pa goes to the island to commence their plowing, took a wagon load of plows. I make another kettle of soap and make my black calico bonnet. Pa and Freeman goes to the bottoms this afternoon and cuts stocks. Cloudy and windy, look like rain. Catherine goes by to help cook, the hands are covering the barn at mothers this week.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1871
This is a beautiful day. I don't feel very well but I can have Dolly to ride and I so go to Williams, have a nice visit. Pa got to Lexington, pays his taxes--l9 dollars. There is a meeting at the school house to night. Dr. Spencer preaches and organizes a Sabbath School.
End of page 86
TIIURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1871
Nice cool day. I boil soup and patch pants for the boys, they finish mothers barn today. Mother comes awhile this evening. Have plenty of good soap. No trouble to make.
SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1871
I boil soap, get a nice kettle full done then go to Maria Janes in the afternoon. Clean the yard and sew some. Mrs. Griffith is there, oh such a nice day. Lloyd comes for potatoes to plant.
SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 1871
I go to mothers. Pa, Freeman, Abner and George goes to Sunday School. Charlie, Willie, Morton and Grant don’t go--no shoes. Oh for pity sakes. Mother comes home with me awhile. Pa and I goes to see the cattle to the bottom.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1871
Oh how cloudy and windy. We hurry to get started from town, don’t get Grant’s photo. He cries. We bought flour and salt, flour--$6.90 per bushel, salt $2.25. Rains all day. We get to Aunt Julia’s by two o’clock, stop for dinner, get home by dark.
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1871
Pa and Freeman gocs to the Agriculture Society at the school house. I make garden until noon then went to Hannah Fhillips then home. Took a catfish for supper. Oh how tired I am tonight. We have good flour.
SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 1871
Oh what a frost--kills most of the fruit. We go to Gilead to meeting at two o’clock. Mr. Bovard and big boys goes to Sunday School. Mrs. Bovard and small boys stays at home--not in the best of humor--but it happens always.
TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1871
Freeman makes his garden. Sprinkles rain this morning. I make some garden, boil soap and make Abners check shirt. Catherine goes by to mothers to make soap. Pa and the boys commences planting this afternoon. Maria Jane has visitors--Barbara and Viola Phillips. Lloyd goes by a fishing.
MONDAY, MAY 1, 1871
Cloudy, but we shear our sheep and Maria Jane comes and cooks dinner and supper. Lloyd and Freemen chops stove wood for Wilkerson. George harrows the orchard. Our school commenced today. Miss Amanda Lowry, teacher. Morty and Willie goes to school. Maria Jane goes to the lodge tonight.
WEDNESDAY MAY 3, 1871
I sew and get dinner and boil soap. Pa and boys comes, rains so hard that they cant plant. Freeman and Abner goes to Gilead to clean the house. Mother comes awhile and Maria Young comes a few minutes in the evening. We plant cane and cucumbcrs and watermelons.
Charley has a chill and sore throat. Right sick.
End of page 87
MONDAY MAY 8, 1871
Young calf this morning. This is a right pretty morning. Maria Jane comes for me to do some sewing and Marion goes to mothers. We cook a chicken and have pot pie. Still planting at the island.
SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1871
This is a nice norning. Mother, Catherine and I go to the creek to fish and wash wool-have a nice time. Threatens rain. Get home by 4 o’clock, don’t get many fish. George plows for Isaac. Abner is sick. Morty and Willie goes to school.
TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1871
Mr. Hester come and stayed all night last night. Pa takes him to the cars this morning in the wagon, takes his bees for him. Got home by noon, bought a barrel of f1our--$7.25. Bought some mackeral and tin bucket and new calico dress.
SATURDAY, MAY 27, 187l
Freeman starts for Madison this morning, with Mahlan Belser for the S.S. books. Gets back at dark. Boys and Pa works at home in evening.
End of page 88 and end of my copy of the diary transcript.
INDEX
The type below in this on-line version was obtained by using a scanner's text-bridge program. Perhaps, though, I should use an art-type program to reproduce the original index. This would eliminate the errors that scanners cause, although it would render the type uneditable. For the present, we'll try the scanner version. I hope anyone spotting errors will let me know.
By necessity, I've indexed names, not people. Obviously some families who lived near Sarah had fathers and sons of the same name. Even Sarah had two Jameses in her home. We can only trust Sarah to have differentiated between such people in her diary.
Moreover, we simply can’t be sure that when Sarah wrote about, for example, "Mrs. Spear," she meant neighbor James Spear’s wife, not his mother. So I have indexed the names as Sarah wrote them, mixing in many alternate references to help readers. For instance, when Sarah identified someone merely as "Barbara," I indexed to Barbara, Barbara Earhart and Barbara Phillips, just to be safe. But almost certainly Barbara, Barbara Earhart and Barbara Phillips were not one and the same. If Sarah mentioned a Mrs. James Smith, I indexed to James Smith. But if Sarah mentioned only a "Mrs. Smith," I had to index it that way.
Somewhat incongruously, Sarah leaves us wondering about the identities of a few persons who obviously were among her closest friends and relatives; often she referred to them only by their given names or nicknames. Readers don’t find out until well along in the book that "Chris" was Chris Young, and never do find out for sure that he was Sarah’s brother. Likewise, we are left to surmise that "Ethe" was Sarah’s sister. Conversely, Sarah was more specific in identifying people whom she didn’t see too often. For instance, she very precisely identified Mrs. Emeline Phillips, who lived a bit further away than did Mrs. Newton Phillips.
I didn't index Sarah, James and their children because they're mentioned so many times. Nor did I index "mother," for the same reason.
INDEX TO NAMES
"Abby," 16, 20 (probably son Abner), 22
Ana (see Ann Stevens), 57 (and Tommy)
Andy, 64 (see Andy Morrison and Andrew Miller), 71
"Aunt Catherine" (see Catherine, Catherine Foster), 13 ("dying")
"Aunt Julie’ (lived on way to town; see Julia Roseberry), 79
"Aunt Liza," 18
"B., Delilah," 21
"B., Margaret" (see Margaret) 21 -
Balser (see Belser, Blaser), 65 -
Balser, Mr., 7, 10
Balser, Mrs. 15
Barbara (see Barbara Earhart, Barbara Phillips), 87
Belch, Mr., 12, 18, 19, 50
Belch, Mrs., 71
Belch, Asbury, 20 (and Isaac?)
Belch, Joseph, 62
Belser, Mahlan (see Balser), 88
Bingham, Mr., 37 (Republican speaker)
Blaser, Grandmother (see Balser), 8
"Brown, the notorious Mr.," (hanged in Virginia St.), 24
Bovard, George, 58 (apparently lived in Ohio), 60, 66
Burnside, General Ambrose, 67
Butler, Mr., 36 (preached)
Butt, Mr. 32
Butts, Mrs., 43, 61
Butts, John (see note below), 61 (interesting comment; also see Mr. Butt)
Byfield, Albert
Byfield, Charley, 58, 60, 82
Byfield, Lewis, 15, 85
Byfield, M., 76 (tried to kill Abolishionist)
Byfield, Maria (see Mario/Maria), 25
Byrd, Mrs. (lived "in town," apparently on the river), 24
Carlock, Tunis, 81
Caroline (see Caroline Morrison, Caroline McLain), 34, 76
Catherine (possibly Sarah’s sister; see Catherine Foster, Catherine Hoard, Catherine Miller, Catherine Sampson; also see notes on Green family below for a Catherine Green), 1, 3, 4, 5,8, 10, 11, 13, 14-20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 31, 33, 35-41, 43-46, 49, 52, 56-58, 60-76, 78, 79, 81, 85-88
Cemantha, see Semantha Roseberry
Charls, 2
Claflin, Mrs. (owned tavern Madison, which is on Ohio River) 55, 68, 74, 78
Cox, Mrs., 60 (widow who married Robert Foster) Cris, Crise, Criss (see Christian Young)
Daisly, Joseph (burial), 58
Davis, Mr., 20 (owned store with Mr. Stokes)
Davis, Jefferson, 55, 67 (Jeffry), 69, 70
Day, 82
Day, Ira, 1, 3, 6
Day, Stephen, 52
Debby (see Deborah, see Deborah Morrison, see Deborah McClure; possibly she was Sarah’s sister; it seems likely she was Deborah McClure, wife of Doctor McClure), 15, 20, 22, 40, 51 (opposed Sarah’s views), 82, 86
Deborah (see Debby), 24, 35, 37, 43, 73
Deputy, widow, 11
Doughty, Mr., 29
Doughty, Artimecia (see note below), 36
Doughty, Exra, 38
Doughty, Olivia (see Olivio/Olivia), 72
Earhart, Barbara, 43, 85 (obituary written "for her"; see note below)
Eastman (preached at Gilead), 45, 60
£linger, Joe, 70
Eliza (see Eliza Morrison, Eliza Roseberry, Aunt Liza), 76
Elnora, 86
Ethe, 22 (See Ethe Peacock, Ethelina), 28, 36, 38, 51 (opposes Sarah’s views), 52, 58, 73, 75 (house appraised, moves to mother’s), 78, 79, 82, 86
Ethelina (see Ethe, Ethe Peacock), 82
Everhart, 76 (drunk)
Everhart, Mrs. (see Sarah Ann), 33, 68 ("the two Mrs. Everharts")
Everhart, John W., 57
Everhart, Jonathan (shoemaker; see Jonathan), 2, 6, 7, 44, 59, 60
Florelle Agnes (daughter of Margaret; see Margaret), 44
Foster, Mr., 19, 21
Foster, Catherine (Caty, Kay; apparently there was more than one; see Aunt Catherine, Catherine), 2, 9,13 (one was "dying")
Foster, John, 46
Foster, "Marg." (see Margaret), 14
Foster, Matilda (see Matilda, Tilda), 21, 43, 47, 52, 72 (lived in Paris, Jefferson Co.), 78
Foster, R., 28
Foster, Robert (see note below, see R. Foster), 60 (married widow Cox)
Foster, William (see note below), 1, 2 (died)
Frank (see Frank Peacock), 28, 58 (mentioned with Ethe both times
"G. Mrs.," 49
George, 1
Graves, Molly (married Mr. Terrill), 36
Green, Thomas B. (see note below), 18 (his baby dies), 19, (child dies), 34
Gregory, Mr. (took photos), 54
Griffith, 30, 55, 57, 67, 75, 76, 78, 79
Griffith, Mr. 26 (apparently Dr. Griffith), 27, ("the two Mr. Griffiths") 35, 45, 52, 56, 58, 64
Griffith, Mrs., 10, 18, 20, 26, 28, 29, 33, 35, 36, 38, 45, 46, 52, 59, 60, 62, 65, 66, 68, 71-75, 78, 79, 80, 86
Griffith, Charles, 28, 42, 63
Griffith, Dr., 12, 68?
Griffith, Lloyd (see Lloyd), 59, 68, 71, 79, 80
Griffith, "Old Man," 7
Griffith, Olivia (see Olivio/Olivia), 31, 57
"H., Betsy," 7
Hall, 56 (Smith and Hall)
Hall, Mr., 37 (preached), 40 (apparently preached at Camolite meeting)
Harriet, 2
Harris, Mrs., 8, (died) 38
Hartley, Mr. (preacher), 35
Hawkins, 73
Henly, Mr., 30
Hepworth, Mr., 51, 52
Hester, Mr. 34, 85, 88
Hester, Asbury, 80
Hiblin (or Hibbin), Mr. (preacher), 17, 50 (preached)
Hill, Mr. 56 (addressed home guard)
Hoard, 54
Hoard, Mr., 1, 9, 34 ("Old Mr. Hoard"), 39, 68, 81
Hoard, Mrs., 11, 15, 35, 36, 39, 54, 60, 77
Hoard, Ambrose, 33
Hoard, Asbury, 33
Hoard, Catherine, 14
Hoard, John, (killed) 12
Hoard, Julia, 29
Hoard, Sister, 8
Hoard, Sarah, 43
Honlery, Mrs. 17
Hubanks, Mr. 19
Isaac (see Isaac Belch, Isaac Sampson, Isaac Mayfield), 3, 6, 12. 14, 17, 20 (Isaac Belch?), 21, 24, 29, 31, 37, 42, 44, 52 ("Ike"), 62, 68, 84, 88
Ivan, 45, 64 (possibly surnamed Morrison)
Jay, John, 8
John (see John Young; lived at home of Sarah’s mother; perhaps Sarah’s younger brother), 1, 40, 42, 47, 55, 56, 62, 63, 67, 68, 73
Jonathan (see Jonathan Everhart), 64
Jones, 57, 60
Jones, Mr., 1, 15, 19, 40, 43, 74, 78
Jones, Aunt Tilda (see Matilda, Tilda), 37 (erroneous story of death)
Jones, Tommy, 69, 70
"Julie, Aunt" (lived on way to town; see Julia Roseberry), 79
"K.," Kay (see Kay Young), 1, 49, 61, 63
Keath (Keith?), Mr., 39
Kelly, 85
Landon, Vinnie, 86
Landor, Mr., 5
Lett, Mr., 56
Lincoln, Abraham, 42, 43, 47, 50, 56
"Liza, Aunt," 18
Lloyd, 85, 86 (eventually married Maria Jane Bovard; see Lloyd Grifflths), 87
Louisa (see Louisa McCaslin, Louisa Reed), 35,36,37
Lowry, Miss Amanda (teacher), 87
Lucy, 64 (see Lucy Terrill)
"M., F.G.," 55
Malock, Col. (addressed home guard), 56
Margaret (see Margy, Margaret B., Marg Foster, Margy Peacock), 28, 35, 38, 44 (has daughter Florelle Agnes), 80
"Margy" (had son or husband John; see Margy Peacock; see John Peacock; see Margaret?), 15, 19, 21, 33, 58, 60, 85
Mario (Maria? see Maria McCaslin, Maria Reed, Maria Young, Maria Byfield), 70
Martha (see "Martha Jane," Martha R., Martha Redman), 39
"Martha Jane," 12 (she apparently had sons Johnny and Edy)
Matilda (see Tilda, Matilda Foster, Matilda Miller, Aunt Tilda Jones), 60, 82
Mayfield, 23
Mayfield, Alexander, 61
Mayfleld, Isaac (see note below; see Isaac), 7, 67 (holds Union meeting)
"McB., Marion," 11 (perhaps Sarah meant son Marion McKinley Bovard)
McCaslin, Louisa (see Louisa), 82 (moving to or from Madison)
McClure, Dr. (see note at bottom), 12, 66 (speaks at Butternut meeting)
McClure, Deborah (see note at bottom), 20, 30
McLain, Caroline (see Caroline), 24
McMahan, 78 (preached)
Miller, 71
Miller, Mrs. 24, 34 (not same as Catherine Miller), 35, 36, 70, 82
Miller, Andrew, 62, 63
Miller, Barney (see note below), 46
Miller, Brother (preacher; see John Miller), 3, 5, 18, 20, 30, 43, 46 (preached at Gilead), 50
Miller, Catherine, 34, 35, 36 (funeral) 39 John, 42 (see Brother Miller; apparently he was "Brother Miller" on 43)
Miller, Matilda (see Matilda, Tilda), 34, 41, 42
Miller, Tommy, 41, 81 (tried to get James to volunteer)
Mitchell, Mr., 75
Monroe, Brother, 17
Morgan, General John Hunt, 72, 73
Morris, Mr., 8
Morrison (see Eliza), 14, 39, 42, 46, 54, 57, 58, 60, 62, 63, 65, 69, 71 (dies), 79, 81, 82
Morrison, Miss ("the two Miss Morrisons") 31
Morrison, Mr., 1, 10, 26, 32
Morrison, Mrs., 10
Morrison, Andy, 51, 62 (went to sesech meeting), 64, 65, 73, 81 (considered joining Union army; see note below), 82
Morrison, Caroline (see Caroline), 57
Morrison, Eliza (see Aunt Liza), 66, 77
Morrison, James, 31
Morrison, Jimmy, 80
Morrison, Knelly, 55, 56
Morrison, Mary, 43, 51, 54, 55, 60, 65, 72-75, 79, 82
Morrison, Miller (miller?), 2, 53, 79
Morrison, Nelly (see Knelly)
Morrison, "Preacher" (lived in Paris, Jefferson Co.)
Morrison, Sabina, 46, 57, 79, 80, 85
Morrison, Sal, 72
Morrison, Wilce, 55
Morrison, Wilson, 69
Morton, 70 (son Morton Bovard)
Moses (possibly Sarah’s brother; see Moses Young), 22, 23
Nicely, Mrs., 79
"Old Selim" (a horse?), 8
Olivia/Olivio (see Olivia Doughty; Olivia Griffith), 33,53, 85
"P., Granny," 18
"P., Frank (see Frank Peacock)," 18
Palmers, the, 1
Peacock, 52 (family opposes Sarah’s politics)
Parsons, Mr. (house burns), 8, 11
Peacock, Mrs. Angeline (see note below), 74
Peacock, Ethe (see "Ethe"), 64
Peacock, Frank (see Frank), 37, 75 (funeral)
Peacock, John (wife’s name likely Margy), 1, 2, 7, 15, 34, 49, 85
Peacock, Margy, 20 (see "Margy"), 21, 854
Peregrin, Mrs. (funeral), 14
Peregrine, Marion, 17
Petro, Nancy (lived out of area), 3, 4, 20, 35, 52, 57,58, 59 ("out to Nancy’s"), 70, 77
Phillips, 67 (a "rolling")
Phillips, Mrs. (likely Newton’s wife), 10, 19, 70(2), 77
Phillips, Barbara (?) (see Barbara), 87
Phillips, Mrs. Emeline (nee Courtney in 1825, wife of John T. Phillips), 42
Phillips, Hannah Jane (see note below; Mrs. Newton Phillips), 14, 55, 87
Phillips, Newton, 34, 38
Phillips, Viola (possibly the former Viola Harrod, wife of James Harvey Phillips, who was the son of John T. and Emeline Phillips, but see note below), 87
"P., Mr. John" (see John Phillips; John Peacock), 10
Potts, Mr. (preacher), 22, 23, 39 (preached at Gilead
"R., Martha" (see Martha Redman), 11
Redman, 18, 33, 36
Redman, Mr., 4, 7, 11, 34, 39
Redman, Mrs., 12
Redman, Elizabeth (see Aunt Liza), 2
Redman, Miss Martha (see Martha), 16, 28, 38
Redman, Susan, 27
Reed, Billy, 11
Reed, Louisa (see Louisa), 69 (teaching school)
Reed, Lu, 72
Rice, Mr., 29
Rice, Reuben (preacher at Gilead; see note below) 13, 32, 37
Roseberry girls, 21
Roseberry, Eliza (see Eliza, Aunt Eliza), 2
Roseberry (see Aunt Julia), Aunt Julia, 24, 65, 79, 87
Roseberry, Milton, 1
Roseberry, Semantha, 1. 2 ("Cousin Semantha")
Ruth, 24 (see Ruth Young)
S., Isaac (see Isaac Sampson; Isaac), 21
Sabina (see Sabina Morrison), 85
Samantha ("cousin Semantha"), 1, 2
Sampson, Mr., 56
Sampson, Mrs. 33, 56
Sampson, Catherine (see Catherine), 3 (possibly "Sister
C.S.," page 12), 29
Sampson, Isaac (see Isaac, Isaac S.), 11, 28, 32, 38
Sarah Ann, 68 (see Sarah Ann Everhart)
Sinclair, Abner, 21
Smallwood, Mr., 55
Smith, 37, 51, 56 (and Hall)
Smith, "Old Mrs.," 56
Smith, Euphemia, 42, 68 (out of area)
Smith, John, 54
Smith, Mahala, 40, 78
Smith, Mary, 69
Smith, Nancy, 74
Smith, Tom, 55
Spear, 36 (to see "hurt hand"), 55 (James Bovard helped them thresh)
Spear, James, 65 (older brother of Wesley and William; see note below)
Spear (see note below), Lizy, 31
Spear, Mrs. (see note below), 12, 15
Spear, Wesley (see note below), 1, 11, 77
Spear, William (see William; see note below), 40
Spencer, Dr., 86 (preaches)
Stevens, Mr., 58
Stevens, Ann (see Ana), 21
Stokes, Mr., 20 (owned store with Davis)
Sweets, Mrs. (‘the two"), 7
Tallman, Lela, 79
Terrill, Mr., 27, 36 (married Molly Graves), 64, 66, 78
Terrill, Mrs., 78
Terrill, Johnny, 64 (Whitsitt family Bible records show a
John Terrell b. July 3, 1819)
Terrill, (?), Lucy, 64
Thompson, 70
Thompson, Mr., 10, 26
Thompson, Mrs. 6
Thompson, D., 77, 80
Thompson, David, 3 ("Dr."), 5
Tilda (see Matilda, Matilda Foster, Matilda Miller, Aunt Tilda Jones), 33, 70, 73
Tobias, Mr., 20, 35, 40
Tobias, Mrs., 10, 15, 16, 29 ("the two Mrs. Tobias")
Tobias, Alice, 67
Tobias, David (see note below), 81
Tobias, Emily, 41
Tobias, Jac.(?), 62
Tobias, Captain James (see note below), 51, 81, 82
Tobias, John J., 54
Tobias, John T., 39, 54
Tobias, Josiah (lived out of area), 60
Tobias, Mary Ann, 24
Tobias, Norwood, 23
Tommy, 57 (and Ana; see Tommy Jones, Tommy Miller, Tom Smith)
Trulock, Mr., 53
Trulock, Jane, 53, 54)
Trulock, Lizzie, 16
Trulock, Mary, 43
Vanpelt (James joined Legion company), 74
Vest, 49
Watson, 68
Watson, Daniel, 34, 68
Watson, Elizabeth (see Aunt Liza), 5
Watson, Hannah, 79
Wiggins, Mr. 7
Wiggins, John, 38 (takes census)
Wiggins, Woodney, (funeral) 30
Wilerson (see Wilkerson), 51
Wilkerson, 69, 87
William, 8, 11, 42, 45 (see Williams, William Young; William Spear), 2, 52, 61, 62, 64, 66, 67, 86
Wilson, Mr. (his store), 73
Young, Alice, 86
Young, Cass, 27, 32, 34, 43, 54
Young, Christian (see Chriss and see notes below), 5, 7, 8, 11, 16, 17 (Sarah’s brother and Maria’s husband), 21, 25, 32, 35, 40, 44, 50, 55, 58, 61, 62, 66, 69, 76, 77, 80, 84, 85 (died)
Young, George, 61
Young, John (see John), 40, 45, 46, 51 (political argument), 69, 70, 72, 89
Young, K. (see Kay), 46, 73, 86
Young, Maria (see Mario/Maria), 5, 10, 16 (born Maria Byfield, she was Christian’s wife and apparently Sarah’s sister-in-law), 21, 61, 66, 68
Young, Moses, (see Moses; lived out of area) 35
Young, Mrs. Ruth, 16, 38 (see Ruth), 65-67
Young, William, 41, 43
Localities Mentioned
Austin (village southwest of Alpha), 51, 52, 53, 57, 59, 61, 65, 66 (brawl), 68, 77, 85
Austin Methodist Church (dedicated), 27
Brown County (riot in), 68
Canton (near Salem in Washington Co.), 20,30
Cannel, 52
Cat Wallow, 76 (Copperhead meeting)
Charleston, S.C. (attacked), 67
Chattanooga (battle of), 80
Cincinnati Daily Gazette, 51 (jñcked up in Austin)
Coffee Creek (Methodist Church in Jennings Co.; unidentified baby buried 12/28/60), 85 (Chris Young’s burial)
Crothersville (west of Alpha in Jackson Co.), 55, 82, 84
Deputy (east of Alpha, just into Jefferson Co.), 84
Fort Sumter, 48
Frankfort (due south of Alpha in Scott Co., Ind., near Woostertown), 6, 11, 16, 17, 18, 30, 49, 50, 57, 59 (election), 62 (soldier’s funeral), 65, 66 (election), 76, 78
Franklin School, 67
Gilead, 5, 10, 11, 14 (Presbyterian funeral), 16, 19, 20, 23, 32, 34, 38, 39, 41, 43, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 58, 59, 65, 66 (Sabbath School started), 70, 71, 78, 80, 82, 85-87
Greencastle (far up in Putnam Co.), 84
Jennings Co. Ind., 81
Jones, 65
Landons Mill (Landers), 17 39, 42, 71
Lexington, 44, 65 (James went to pay tax in each instance; Lexington was county seat then), 73 (apparently jury duty), 86 (James paid $19 tax)
Mayfield Mill, 4, 5
Madison (then major river city in Jefferson Co.), 12, 35, 82, 88
McClain School, 66
Mount Cannel, 10
Mount Sterling (see note below), 71
North Vernon, 74 (James goes to drill in Jennings Co.)
Paris (east of Alpha), 3, 19, 22, 27, 40, 58, 72, 73, 80, 82, 83
Potomac River, 58
Quick Creek (usually called Quick’s Creek; a stream near Alpha named for an Indian), 40, 68
Retreat (village in Jackson Co., Ind.) 55, 70, 82
Shelby Co., 19 (probably the Indiana county)
Tea Creek, 77
Uniontown (muster in; village north of Crothersville in Jackson Co.), 52
Vernon (county seat of Jennings Co., Ind.), 74
Vicksburg, Miss., 70, 71 (surrender of)
Wooster Mill, 17, 20
Wooster (apparently Woostertown, south of Alpha), 17, 19, 37, 60, 65 (for muster), 66, 79
Some Subjects Mentioned
Aboishionists, 76, 80 (Sarah argues again with mother)
Agricultural Society (meets at school), 87
"Bad boys turn teacher out of school," 46
Balls Bluff, battle of, 58
Bounty, 81
Bull Run, battle of, 52
Butternuts (see Sesech), 65-70, 77
Camolite, Campbellite, Camelot (religious sect), 3, 40, 56, 58
Copperheads (see Sesech, Butternuts), 76
Courier newspaper (in Madison?), 55
Democrats, 47
Draft, 64
Edward Ferry, battle, 58
Home Guards, 55, 56, 71 (called out), 73 (called out)
Island, 86, 88
Lodge, 87
Methodists, 6
Mrs. Claflins Tavern ("in town"; Madison), 55
Muster, 51 (James first goes), 52, 56 (at Mr. Lett’s?), 58, 65, 76
Photos taken, 54
Political meeting, 40, 59
Post-office, 85
Rebels, 67, 71, 72, 73
Reformers, 4, 6, 9, 17, 18
Republicans, 37, 41 ("Black Republicans"), 47, 49, 51
("Blacks," Abolishionists)
Riot in Brown County, 68
Sesech meeting, 61, 62 (see Butternuts)
Union meeting, 67
Volunteers, 71
NOTES ON SPECIFIC FAMILIES
BUTT: John B. Butt Sr. is buried in Wesley Chapel Cemetery. According to his inscription, he died 7/29/1886 at age 94.
CLAFLIN: Sarah never tells us just where Mrs. Claflin operated her tavern but it was in Madison. Sarah tells us that she arrived in "town" Sept. 3, 1861 and went to the Courier office the next day. Madison’s newspaper was (and is) the Courier.
DOUGHTY: Alpha Cemetery records: Artimecia Doughty, born 9/12/35, died 9/12/75 (it would have been her 40th birthday, if correct). The village of Alpha is gone and Alpha Cemetery is abandoned. About half a mile north of the cemetery, on the South Fork of the Muscatatuck River, was Doughty’s Mill, which was built in 1849 on the site of a much earlier mill known as Bolser’s mill. Doughty’s mill and dam were carried away in a flood in 1906.
EARHART: On page 85, Sarah mentions stopped at Barbara Earhart’s "to write our obituary for her." At first I had assumed that Barbara had died, but, after studying the confusion about the "Barbara and Viola Phillips" reference on page 87, I noted that Chris Young had died six days before Sarah went to Barbara’s house. Perhaps Barbara had not died; perhaps she collected the news from the Alpha area for one of the county newspapers and Sarah gave her an obit on Chris.
FOSTER: Alpha Cemetery records: Catherine Foster, w. of Robert, died 4/30/ 18— (stone broken). On April 30, 1859, Sarah noted in her diary that "Aunt Catherine is dying... I hope the Lord took her to rest. . . "Sarah came only slightly short of saying that Catherine had died and did not make another entry until May 5. (See Robert Foster, who apparently married Widow Ccx.) William Foster is buried in Alpha Cemetery. His stone says he was son of R. & C., and died 1/17/59 at age 24-9-2. Sarah recorded that day that "Poor Cousin William done with the troubles of this world." In previous days, she had indicated that William Foster was ill. So apparently William was the son of Catherine and Robert. A Robert Foster of Company K of 120th Indiana Infantry, which was James Bovard’s company, died in Chattanooga Aug. 6, 1864. (James Spear’s brother Samuel, who also served in the Union Army, also died there.)
GREEN: Sarah recorded on pages 18 and 19 that children had died. A lot can be learned about this family by matching these dates with Wesley Cemetery records and the family Bible of Alfred Jerome Green of Sylvia, Kansas. The cemetery records state that: William Green, son of T.B. and C., died 9/1/59 at age 3 years 4 months and 14 days; and that Thomas Green, son of T.B. and C., died 9/10/59 at 5 years, 7 months and 23 days. Both dates of death correspond with Sarah’s diary and Jerome Green’s Bible. Among other Greens in the burial plot: Thomas B., born 7/26/20, died 8/7/80, and Catherine, wife of Thomas B., died 1/16/74 at age 49 years 10 months 27 days. Thus we are certain that the "Mr. Green" in Sarah’s diary was Thomas B. Green. The Bible verifies the dates of birth and death of Thomas B. and Catherine, and also reveals: that their son Alfred Jerome Green was born April 18, 1856 in Scott eounty; that Jerome married Mary Elmetta Phillips on Dec. 1, 1875; that Catherine’s maiden name was Bernhardt; that she had been born in Virginia, and that Thomas B. was born in Cincinnati. Mary Elmetta Phillips, incidentally, exemplifies the confusing interrelationships of Scott Countians. She was a niece, not of John Phillips, but of his;wife Emeline (Courtney) Phillips. Mary’s mother, Ellen (Courtney) Phillips was Emeline’s sister. Ellen Courtney, like her sister, married a man named John Phillips but the relationship between the two men is unknown.
MALOCK: Sarah probably was referring to the Rev. Washington Malick, who was a Methodist preacher born in Tennessee. He died March 25, 1882 at the age of 74 years, six months and 11 days. He is buried in Hopewell Cemetery in Jennings County.,
MAYFIELD: The Civil War pension records of James Harvey Phillips, son of Emeline and John T., show that Isaac Mayfield became a hospital steward in Company K of the 120th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was James Bovard’s company, and in 1896 was living in Randolph (Riley County), Kansas, at age 83. Brothers Harvey and Riley Phillips and William T. Spear were among others in Company K, commanded by Captain James Tobias until his death in early 1865.
McCLURE: In his Scott County Cemetery Records, Dr. Carl Bogardus noted that Dr. Dexter McClure was the first doctor in New Frankfort, then moved to Austin, where he also was first doctor. His wife was Deborah Young, Dr. Bogardus said. From the dates of the McClure children, the parents probably were born about 182 5-37. Dr. McClure died 2/24/7 9, Dr. Bogardus said. A Dr. David McClure appears in Spear probate records.
MILLER: The preacher named John Miller likely was kin to the Whitsitt and Phillips families, if only by marriage. Allie Phillips, sister of Brannock Phillips, married Ralph Whitsitt. Their daughter Mary (called "Polly") married John Miller in 1823. They had a son John, . . Barney Miller is buried in New Providence Cemetery, "3/4 mile east on Hwy. 56 to Slab Road and about two miles north of 56." He was born 3/8/35, served in Co. D, 1st (?) md. Volunteers, and died 12/24/1924. (State historical society material says that the number 1 was not used for Civil War regiments in Indiana. The state’s 1st Regiment had fought only in the Mexican War, for which Barney seems to have been too young.)
MORRISON: Andy chose the Union side. Andrew H. Morrison served in Company K of the 120 Indiana with James Bovard, William T. Spear, etc.
PEACOCK: I indexed most of the book thinking "Ethe" was short for Ethen. But with hindsight, I think it likely that Ethe was Frank Peacock’s wife, the "Ethelina" mentioned once, and probably was Sarah’s sister. Strangely, Sarah’s diary made no specific mention of Frank’s death... Mrs. Angeline (Fitzsimmons) Peacock was born Dec. 28, 1830 and died May 31, 1905, according to her marker in Wesley Chapel Cemetery. In 1877 she married James W. Spear.
PETRO: Nancy Bovard and Phillip Switzer Petro married July 23, 1857 in Bartholomew Co. Indiana. She lived April 12, 1838 until Aug. 24, 1864. The family lived in Van Buren township of Brown County, Indiana, in 1860. That year’s census shows: Philip S. Petro, 30, farmer; Nancy, 21; Susan, 10; Sabra, 9; Sandy M. (a male), 6. All had been born in Indiana. Brown County is west of where Sarah lived, so her "out there" description of where Nancy lived would have been appropriate. Sarah apparently visited Nancy in mid-November 1861; judging by Sarah’s brief notations on pages 59, Brown County would seem a likely spot. But note that Nancy soon died.
PHILLIPS: Sarah recorded on page 89 that "Barbara and Viola Phillips" visited Maria Jane Bovard. I’m not aware of a Barbara Phillips; the name doesn’t appear in my Phillips records. Perhaps Sarah, who didn’t realize she was writing for posterity, didn’t intend to say that Barbara’s last name was Phillips. Perhaps Sarah was referring to Barbara Earhart (but see note under Earhart). Perhaps Sarah’s diary note could be interpreted: "Viola Phillips and Barbara." Viola probably was the former Viola Harrod, who married James Harvey Phillips in 1866. Harvey’s wife would have been about 23, a reasonable age for one of Maria Jane’s friends. Maria Jane was 21 then. . . Hannah Jane Phillips was born Hannah Jane Foster, and the Catherine Foster who died was her mother. Hannah lived 1835 to Aug. 2, 1881. Her husband, Newton Phillips, was born in 1835, died in 1923 and is well-remembered by older residents of Scott County today. He was in the 161st Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War and is buried in Wesley Chapel Cemetery... I spelled Emeline Phillips’ first name that way only because that is the way is is spelled on her tombstone. See the Green family above for more information on Emeline and niece Mary.
SPEAR: Ephraim Spear married Mary "Polly" Mathew (or Matthew) and died of typhoid in 1857. Their children included James W. in 1830, Lizy, George Wesley and William, whom Sarah mentions. (Lizy likely was Phebe Elizabeth Spear.) James Spear married Armilda Newkirk in 1857. She died in 1866, so "Mrs. Spear" probably refers to her, not to Mary Spear, his widowed mother. James married Angeline (Fitzsimmons) Peacock in 1877; she appears in Sarah’s diary as Angeline Peacock. Angeline died in 1905 and is buried in Wesley Chapel Cemetery. On page 36, Sarah mentions "going to Spears to see her hurt hand." Obviously, as we are dealing with a transcript of a diary, not the original diary, we cannot tell if the word transcribed as "her" might have been "his." James Spear is known to have lost a thumb in a firearms accident, rendering him unfit for service in the Civil War. . . Charles Wesley Spear was in most of the western battles of the Civil War, returned home healthy after his discharge, but died October 2, 1865 at age 21 years, 7 months and 19 days. He is buried in Wesley Chapel Cemetery, as are most Spears.
THOMAS: Evan Thomas is buried in Hopewell Cemetery in Jennings County. His grave is in the same row as Mr. and Mrs. John Stagg. Mrs. Stagg was the former Martha (Pitts) Phillips, mother of the John Phillips whom Sarah mentions. Thomas’ epitaph: "Feb. 22, 1757 to March 15, 1840, aged 82 yrs, 23 days. The old revolutioner was born in Maryland. When a boy the Indians killed all but him and by hiding he got away. On 10 Dec. 1778 was married to H. Nixson. Jan. 29, 1789 was married to S. Booth. Dec. 25, 1810 was married to M. Everton." The editor of the Hoosier Journal noted further that a government marker on the grave gives the date of death as Feb. 1, 1840 and states that he was a,private in Col. Grisham’ Virginia Regiment.
TOBIAS: A David Tobias is buried in McClain Cemetery. His tombstone gives his dates as 4/10/04 and 7/16/1881. A James Tobias, 27, farmer, appears in the 1860 census of Jennings County. Captain James Tobias commanded Company K of the l20th Indiana Volunteer Infantry until he took ill and died in camp in early 1865. His company had been in the Atlanta campaign under Sherman, but, rather than march to the sea, had been sent back to Tennessee, where it fought in major battles at Franklin and Nashville. The company was then part of the divisions sent to Goldsboro, N.C., to rendezvous with Sherman in March 1865. James’ military service records don’t reveal where he is buried.
WILSON: Sarah mentions Wilson’s store in Deputy. Foster C. Wilson is known to have operated one there. His mother was born Polly Courtney, apparently a sister of Emeline and Ellen Courtney. But Foster was born in 1840, so perhaps it was his father Jesse who was operating the store when Sarah mentioned it.
YOUNG: Christian Young married Maria Byfield in Scott County on Oct. 1, 1846. Sarah’s diary tells us that Chris was buried in Coffey Creek Cemetery. This cemetery is just west of Paris Crossing in Jennings County. Among tombstone inscriptions there: Christian Young, consort of Maria, died March 15, 1871, aged 46 years, three months and 25 days; Harriet Young, daughter of M&C, born and died Aug. 2, 1847; William C. Young, son of C&M, died March 11, 1853, aged two years and three months; Olive C. Young, daughter of C&M, died Sept. 20, 1857, aged two years and 30 days; Minerva J. Young, daughter of C&M, died Sept. 29, 1857; infant daughter of CH&MA, born and died Dec. 28, 1860 (Sarah mentions this); Jefferson Young, son of C&M, died May 11, 1863, aged one year, five months and 29 days. There is no record of Maria in the published cemetery records.
MOUNT STERLING: A village above Vevay, a good ways east of Alpha in Switzerland County, Ind. Many people of the Alpha area came from Mount Sterling, Ky., but, judging from Sarah’s reference on page 71, it seems unlikely she was referring to that town that far away. It’s even surprising that Sarah heard about the Morrison death in Indiana that same day.
RANDOM NOTES
• On Feb. 28, 1860, Sarah noted it was her 16th wedding anniversary.
• On Feb. 21, 1860, Sarah listed her children, noting that Oliver William had "gone home." On Oct. 10, 1860, she recorded that she had had a baby and on Nov. 19 she and James named him Charles Lincoln. Sons Grant and Willie, who were born during the time Sarah kept the diary, first appear on page 84.
Sarah's diary showed how much Hoosiers valued good sermons. She mentioned the following preachers: Rice, Butler, Eastman, Hall, Hartley, Hiblin, McMahan, Miller, Morrison and Potts. "Eastman" probably was Buell Eastman, who lived in Jennings County. There were at least two preachers named Hicklin known to have been in the Jennings area somewhat earlier, which may account for the "Hiblin." The 1850 census of nearby Graham township in Jefferson Counry lists a Methodist preacher named John Miller, 48, from Kentucky. Perhaps he was the John Miller who married Polly Whitesides in Jefferson County in 1824.
On page 96 of Morgan’s Raid by Allen Keller, published in 1961 by Bobbs Merrill, is a story about Reuben Rice, a Methodist preacher and noted Abolishionist in Graham Township of Jefferson County. Keller wrote that the raiders made Rice kneel and pray for Jeff Davis and the Confederacy.
• Sarah noted she turned 31 on Feb. 21, 1859.
• Sarah’s first mention of real political problems was made Nov. 17, 1860.
• Sarah quoted prices on pages 47, 53, 54, 74, 87.
• When Sarah mentioned a battle in Missouri on page 53, she probably was referring to the one at Wilson’s Creek.
• Sarah mentioned a brawl between sesch and union men on page 56.
• On page 67 Sarah mentioned subscribing to a newspaper for 75 cents for six weeks.
• Sarah heard cannon firing July 9, 1863, celebrating the surrender of Vicksburg, Miss., July 4. When she heard firing July 13, 1863, it heralded the arrival of General John Hunt Morgan and his Confederate cavalry; beginning that day, she recorded her impressions of that famous raid.
• Sarah mentioned on page 74 that James joined Vanpelt’s Company and went to North Vernon to drill. This apparently was a six-month-enlistment regiment of the regular army but James seems never to have served in it.
• When Sarah mentioned being "black," she meant that she favored the Black Republican wing of the party. Sarah was not Negro.
• Sarah’s opinion of the weather Jan. 1, 1864 was shared by James W. Spear’s cousin, the Rev. W.E. Spear, who lived a few miles north of Sarah. Rev. Spear published a Spear family history in 1906. On page 117, he wrote: "On the historic cold night, the first day of 1864, I was in a meeting, in an old dilapidated log house, near the Pilot knob. It was cold enough to freeze the horns off a muley ox."
Sarah locked James out April 1, 1863.
MISCELLANEOUS
Letter to the Vernon Banner published Oct. 18, 1860: Vernon, Indiana, Oct. 3. Will you please observe the rule for correctly spelling the name of the stream around Vernon? It is M U S C U K U T U K — soft Indian sound, and in English means, "Mud River". This I learned from John Conner, deceased, late of Connersville, Ind. who was with the Indians many years, and was one of the government Indian agents of Indiana for many years. Do spell the name always in future as above, so as to give the Indians pronunciation. [signed] John Vawter. [Editor’s note:
Vawter was one of the area’s first settlers.]
When Sarah mentioned "camelite" or "camelot" meetings, she likely was referring to religious meetings espousing Campbellism. William Phillips, brother of Brannock Phillips, was a circuit rider in Kentucky and an editor and writer with the Western Christian Advocate. In 1837 the Methodist Church collected his polemic writings and published them in a book entitled Campbellism Exposed: Strictures on the Peculiar Tenets of Alexander Campbell.
Notations of Nov. 21, 1861: Bob Haefner points out that Sarah likely took the blanket to sell but that she brought it home, meaning nobody bought it.
On Sept. 19, 1861, Sarah mentioned copperas, a green vitriol, a form of ferrous sulphate. It's extracted from iron pyrite--rich nodules, which was used extensively in the textile and metallurgical industries and for a number of other purposes. In metallurgy it was a key ingredient in the production of nitric acid (aqua fortis) and sulphuric acid (oil of vitriol) from which chlorine was produced. Chlorine was used as a bleaching agent in the 17th and 18th century textile industry while copperas itself was used as a dye fixative for woollens. Additional uses of copperas included printers ink, a tanning agent for leather and in the manufacture of gunpowder.
EPILOGUE
James Bovard served in Company K, 120th Indiana Infantry March 12, 1864 to July 10, 1865. He never rose above private. He was in the Atlanta campaign, but his regiment did not march to the sea with General Sherman. Instead, the 120th fought at Franklin and Nashville, Tenn., then was transported east by steamboat and railroad to rendezvous with Sherman’s armies in North Carolina. After Sarah died, James married her widowed sister-in-law, Maria (Byfield) Young. James died Oct. 19, 1889.
Sarah Bovard died Oct. 31, 1888. She and James are buried in Wesley Chapel Cemetery three miles east of Crothersville, as were many of their friends, such as Newton Phillips, Emeline Phillips, James Spear, Wesley Spear and William Spear.
Oliver William Bovard died Nov. 11, 1857 at 12 years, 8 months and 6 days old. He is buried in Wesley Chapel Cemetery.
Marion McKinley Bovard is remembered as the "founding president" of the University of Southern California. He served from 1880 until he died in 1891.
Maria Jane Bovard married Lloyd Griffith.
Abner Sinclair Bovard lived in St. Joseph, Mo., where he died Aug. 16, 1922.
George Finley Bovard was fourth president of the University of Southern California, serving 1903-21. His son Warren was USC’s controller and in 1927 became a school vice-president.
James Carvossa Bovard, the often-ill youngster whom Sarah fretted so about, died July 20, 1864. He is buried in Wesley Chapel Cemetery.
Morton Ellsworth Bovard beame a farmer and died Oct. 16, 1945. He is buried in Abingdon, Ill.
Ulysses Simpson Grant Bovard became a state bank examiner, died Jan. 25, 1940 and is buried in Dupont, Ind.
William Sherman Bovard graduated from the University of Southern California and Boston University. He was a minister and is said to have become a vice president of the University of Chattanooga, then president of Moores Hill College. He died Sept. 16, 1936 in Sierra Madre, Calif.
The Bovards are well-remembered at USC, where the Bovard building is the administration building. In 1912 the baseball field was named Bovard Field. Nowadays, though, it is usually called Dedeaux Field in honor of the school’s longtime baseball coach. Tom Seaver and Fred Lynn are just two of the many major leaguers who played regularly on Bovard Field during their college days at USC.
some spacing troubles. some figure 1's scanned as letter l's. This blog font won't hold paragraph indents.
need a list of horse-drawn conveyances.
GAPS: There is nothing from 1862. There is nothing from Feb. 1864 until Feb. 1871. Readers are asked to check their versions to see if they have material I don't.
No comments:
Post a Comment