Saturday, August 15, 2009

August 15 thru August 18, 1886

As always, click on the picture to enlarge for easier reading of original. Feel free to contact me with corrections, additional information, or comments. Additional information can be checked out with the links to the right.

Sunday ---- Henry notes at the top of the page - above the date - giving W.E.Weld 25 cents. Again in the body of the day's entry, Henry notes the 25 cents - saying that this "makes us even again". He also notes on June 6th that he borrowed 25 cents from W.E. Weld, and paid it back. It looks like Henry, who keeps careful track of money transactions, even keeps track of who has loaned him money, and that he has returned the favor..... separate from actually paying in back. They attend church as always on Sunday - Elder Lawton preaches to an overflowing house. They go to visit the Charles Conley family after church along with George and Bell Pulver, and Matt and Julia (Sarah's sister?). They all go back to evening meeting!

Monday --- They rake and bind oats in the morning - Henry notes that the oats have dried a bit too much on the ground, and are more difficult to bind into bundles for stacking. The bundles of oats are tied together with a few strands of oats.... if too dry, the grass like strands probably break easily making the tying difficult. It rains in the afternoon, ending the harvesting process. Omar works on the north wall of the barn, and Henry writes a letter to his brother Robert in Mansfield, PA. Henry seems pleased by the rain, but it makes for extra work on Tuesday.

Tuesday --- they have to reset up the oat sheaves which are very wet from the rain. Omar empties the privy vat - undoubtedly a not too pleasant job. Omar and Mills draw stones off a field, and Omar starts plowing. Henry gets 4 new shoes on Molly at the blacksmith in Ingleside. Sarah is making a dress, and Susie and Welly Conley visit in the evening.

Wednesday --- Omar continues plowing. Sarah and Henry go to Naples for several errands. They buy a pick and shovel at Jordan Brothers, and two large baskets - one 37 quart size, and one 40 quart size. They also take one of Omar's boots to the cobbler for repair - 50 cents. Omar and Henry rake and bind oats in the afternoon. Cora Shultz and Grace Weld come by in the evening and stay overnight.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

August 11 thru August 14, 1886

As always, click on the picture to enlarge for easier reading of original. Feel free to contact me with corrections, additional information, or comments. Click on the map link to the right of this entry to see more about where places are. Other information can be checked out with the links to the right. My most recent added information is a link to the financial ledger entries in the back of the diary - links to the right of this. Some of the information just confirms diary entries, but sometimes additional information can be gleaned.

Wednesday ---- Henry churns some butter.... this is the first time he has mentioned churning butter. They have sold/bartered at lot of butter, but no previous mention of making it. Henry works in the oat field after churning, and Omar and Mills work in the berries. Aunt Dence is still there ( this probably means she is not Henry's sister Prudence because they saw Prudence and Fowler over the weekend? She was sick over night, but seems to be better today. Omar, Mills, and Henry finish drawing in the oats in the afternoon. Henry and Sarah visit the Terneys at suppertime.

Thursday --- Omar helps Richard Smith with threshing --- removing the grain from the chaff. Henry starts cutting the oats he planted earlier in the year on the 6 acres he rented from the Terneys. He gets about an acre cut with the cradle in the morning. He changes the scythe (blade) on the cradle, and it works much better after that. Sarah goes to Bloods to get sugar.

Friday --- Omar, Mills, and Henry cut, bind, and set up more oats on the Terney place. Sarah has to go back to Bloods to get something she forgot yesterday, and she returns the pail that the sugar came in. Their world was a lot more ecological in those days, and they probably didn't even think about it.

Saturday --- Omar and Mills work in the oats, and Sarah takes Aunt Dence back home. Henry works on repairs on the Democrat waggon and on the buggy. He takes dinner (noon) to the boys working on the Terney place. Sarah visits Jane Terney. Henry and Sarah attend a baptism in the afternoon.... Eber and Ellen Weld are baptized.