October 1st 1856

A light fall of snow this morning. The weather looked quite wintry toward night it became clear
and pleasant rather cold. The snow disappeared before 10 o'clock in the evening. Settled with
L. Wilson. Thought he told a ---. I got pretty spunky, and said some not very smooth things
about him. After mature deliberation though, concluded to endorse them.

October 2nd

The weather clear and pleasant. Warm for the season. Mrs. Jackson called this morning. This
evening E. Vase was married to Julietta Cox by Mr. Smith. They condescended to send us some
wedding cake. I felt like sending it back. It was poor stuff, I have made better many a time.
Part of it was brought by his sisters from N. Y.

October 3rd

Clear and pleasant in the morning, but became cloudy before noon and rained quite hard
toward evening and continued till bed time.

October 4th

Very warm and pleasant day. After doing Saturday's work called  on Mrs. Border. Saw
Mrs. Growell and several ladies. In the evening L. Wolff and later J. V.. Wilson, Lady and
two children came to see me and stayed to sabbath evening.

October 5th

Weather still clear and pleasant and quite warm. S. J. M. A.C. Shaw, J. Johnson and daughter
and J. McLellan called on us and took dinner. After dinner all except J. Wilson and Lady took a
walk to the springs, after which our company all went away.

October 6th

Some appearance of rain this morning but cleared up before Noon.  Washed today. A. Johnson
was married to Mary A. Gilmore.

October 7th

Another warm pleasant day. I think this is our Indian summer.  Ironed today and commenced
spinning. Uncle Dawson traded his house for the old P.O. stand.

October 8th

Weather still continues fine. Nothing worthy of note occurred today. Been spinning. Discussion
on the divine origin of the Bible commenced last evening and still going on between Mc Kinney
and Denton. The latter, a free lover and spiritualist.

October 9th

A warm pleasant day. Nelson started this morning for Union, on the west line of the state. I have
to feed his horse while he is gone. This afternoon saddled the horse and took Artemesia as far as
the county line on her way home. We had a muly saddle she rode before. Toward the end of our
journey Barney trotted very  fast and we got to laughing and both of us like to have fallen off.

October 10th

Another pleasant day. Finished spinning white rolls. Feel tired enough to give up the ghost. Get
along very well as hustler. The debate closes this evening for the present.

October 11th Saturday

Weather still fine. Got up late this morning. Nelson came home this afternoon so I don't go to the
stable any more.

October 12th

Extremely warm for the season, roads very dusty. Went to hear Mr. Smith preach today's
sermon was very good indeed. This afternoon went up to fathers.

October 13th

Quite foggy this morning, rained same through the night. As the morning advanced it became very
smoky.  Supposed to arise from fires at a distance. This afternoon smoke increased till the air
became very dark. Objects a few rods distant were indistinct. Rained some about 3 o'clock. A
north and northeast wind prevailing the air became more clear toward sunset also much colder.
Went to hear W. P. Furay speak to night. Speech was good but the cause is gooder yet. Think
that the angry raging of old Boreas without, is but a presage of the tremendous action of the north
in the coming political contest, aye and of her victory too.

October 14th

Cloudy and very cold for the season. Wind has blown from the north, a perfect hurricane all day.
Election passed off peaceably. Washed today and had an old time hanging up clothes.

October 15 Wednesday

Cold and clear, northeast wind. Went to Springfield today. Suffered  a good deal with the cold
going up. Went by grandfather's returned same way, found out when we got back that far we had
left our cotton yarn. Took dinner at grandfathers and then Nelson went back after the yarn and I
walked home. Some cloudy this evening, feel pretty tired.

October 15th

More pleasant today and warmer than yesterday, mostly clear. Nelson went to his fathers and
has not returned. Ironed and commenced making Nelson's pants.

October 17th

Clear this morning soon became cloudy, rained slow most of  the afternoon and evening.
Finished the pants this evening.

October 18th

Rather pleasant for the season. Mostly clear. Done up Saturdays work and made soap.
Nothing worthy of note occurred today.

October 19th

Fine pleasant day not so warm as yesterday. M. & E. Arthur come to see us, and in the
afternoon Mr. Border and Sady. Mr. Crowell and Lady came and took to supper and
spent the evening.

October 20th

Clear warm and pleasant. Finished my black dress and dressed over my bonnet.

October 21st & 22nd

Weather continues the same. Was spinning both days. On the eve of the 22nd  T. Patton
came and sparked M. Wilson.

October 23

Partially cloudy not so pleasant as it has been, threatened rain but toward evening cleared
off cold with strong wind from the north and northwest. Packed up some of our goods to
send away.

October 24th

Weather much the same as last evening. Ironed today. Quite clear tonight.

October 25th

Cloudy this morning became clear towards noon. Baked 2 cakes for Marietta's(Wilson) wedding.
In the evening S. Epley, T. and S. Patton, R. Flohr, C. Nott, D. F. Wilson, M. and R. Arthur,
A. Elwell, R. Elwell, M. and A. Wilson, E. J. Brown and L. Wilson, came and held a party.  

October 26th Sabbath

Pleasant rather cool air. Two years today since we were married.

October 27th

Threatened rain this morning, cleared up before noon and in the afternoon we had a sale.
Vanzonia started with a load of our goods for U. C. (Union City).

October 28th

Clear and rather cold and windy. Finished packing our goods. Intend to be off early in the morning.

October 29th

Cold but pleasant. Started for Union this morning at 7 o'clock. Arrived in Hem's half past 7 o'clock
and had to wait there till 40 minutes past 2.00 P.M. Arrived in Dayton near 4 o'clock where we stayed
all night. Met with a colored girl in Hem's whom I had seen before. Did not sleep much in Dayton the
whistling of the engines kept me awake. Next morning had some fun at the expense of a drunken follow
at the table.

October 30th

Cold and cloudy, snowed some about daylight wind blew like a hurricane. Left Dayton for Union City
half past 7 o'clock, and arrived here about half past 11 o'clock. The wind blew and it was so cold I did
not look around much, but saw that it is a town in the woods.  We went to our house and began fixing up.
Father seemed as well as when we started.

October 31st

Very cold but more pleasant than yesterday. Worked very busy fixing up and taking care of father.
He seems comfortable today.

November 1st

Warmer today but very windy. Washed today

November 2nd

Rather warm today clear most of the day. Father has been getting worse all day and about 7 o'clock
this evening  he expired.  He was not rational for several days before he died. The neighbors came in and
seem very kind and friendly.

November 3rd

Rained very hard this morning and has been cloudy all day. This evening several of the young folks came in
and staid as watches.

November 4th

Weather quite cold again. Funeral took place at 10 o'clock. Rev. Mr. Blake a Methodist clergyman gave
an exhortation, after which the corpse of our aged father was deposited in the grave. The burying ground
is new and not cleared off or enclosed. The friends here have been very kind and attentive.

November 5th

Cold but more pleasant than yesterday. Washed today. Got the rest of our things today.

November 6th

Clear and cold. Nelson started for the Yellow Springs early this morning. I have been setting things to
rights which took all day. Suppose Marietta (Wilson) was married today.

November 7th

Warm but not as pleasant as yesterday, commenced raining about dark and rained all night. Ironed
today and finished my bonnet.

November 8th

Cold again, snowed a little this morning. Molded candles today and done various other things. Feel
quite lonesome.

November 9th Sunday

Clear and very cold and windy. Put in the time reading and sleeping.

November 10th

Another pleasant but cold. Sewed today.

November 11th

More pleasant than yesterday. Tied two comforts today and went to Indiana to the P.O.

November 12th

Very pleasant indeed today Tied one comfort and partly made it. Got a letter from Nelson
today and wrote an answer to it, Mrs. Dickey called today and Mrs. True yesterday. Like this
place very much.

November 13th

Still clear and pleasant. Went to Indiana P.O. again and then went to the sewing party at Mrs.
Galloway's. Had a very good time.

November 14th

Another pleasant day. Had a panic about our horse. He had the colic from eating too much corn
and fodder. Went to the stable 8 times and sent for some men to come and look at him. Repaired
Nelsons shirt today and cut out some work for myself.

November 15th

Rather cooler and not so pleasant as yesterday. Done Saturdays work, went to the P.O. and sewed
some. In the afternoon Mrs.Mc Millen and Mrs. Deerwester called to see me. In the evening I called
on Lydia Rays.

November 16th

Went to Radical meeting today, Heard a good sermon. Quite Cold and cloudy, snowed this afternoon.
Wrote and read this evening.

November 17th

Clear and cold, became, pleasant though about the middle of the day. Sewed all day.

November 18th

Sewed in forenoon and after dinner went to the sewing party at Mrs. Randalls. Only three of us there.
Had quite a lively time though. Clear and pleasant.

November 19th

Quite a pleasant day. Called on Mrs. Johnson and Went to the P.O. sewed all the afternoon.

November 20th

Weather continues fine and warm. Washed today. In the evening curried Barney being the first lime
I ever curried a horse.

November 21st

Weather cloudy but warm, rained some during the night. Called on Mrs. Clark who was sick and on
Mrs. Johnson who had a sick child. Went to the P.O. and got a letter from Nelson. Toward
evening it rained very hard and the wind blew a perfect hurricane and continued to blow wildly all night
 - evening. Mrs. Galloway and family went away on a visit today and it seems quite lonely tonight.
The wind shakes rudely every, door and window in the house. Wrote a letter to Nelson this evening.

November 22rd

Clear and pleasant, quite calm after the storm of last evening. Went to the office again this morning and
called on Mrs. Clark, found her much better. Made some purchases at the store as I came back. Done
Saturdays work and sewed the rest of the time.

November 23rd

Not as fair as yesterday. Went Indiana to Radical Meeting in the morning end in the afternoon Sarah Maas
and I took a ride, borrowed Mrs. Johnson's saddle. Went about a mile. I rode before going and Sarah
coming back. In the evening went to Presbyterian meeting in the schoolhouse.

November 24th

Cool but pleasant most of the day. Been sewing most of the day. Called on Mrs. Randall and Mrs, Dickey
and Mrs True this afternoon.

November 25th

Cloudy, rained some, rather warm. Been sewing today.

November 26th Wednesday

Cloudy and cool. Went to the P.O. Sewed all day, in the evening called an Mrs. McMillen.

November 27th

Cool and pleasant. Sewed in the forenoon and after dinner went with Mrs True to visit Mrs. Burnet.
Got a letter from  Nelson today.

November 28th

Cloudy and some appearance of snow. Been sewing. Raining quite hard this evening. Lydia and
Sarah Maas came here, and dressed Olive's doll.

November 29th

Cloudy with some wind. Sewed most of the time. Nelson came home today. One somebody if not more
than one was glad.

November 30th

Clear today, rather a cool air. Mr. Maas and Mrs True called here today. I went to S. school in the morning.
Spent the evening in reading.

December 1st

Very pleasant and warm. Commenced making shoes. In the afternoon Sarah Maas and I rode out.

December 2nd

Rained hard most of the day. Called on Mrs. Clark this morning. Making shoes yet.

December 3rd

Cloudy snowed some today, wind blows hard very inclement out of doors. Soled a pair of shoes today.

December 4th

Clear most of the day but cold. Toward evening became quite moderate. Soled my shoes today.

December 5th

Clear and cold.  Washed today. A man arrested for passing counterfeit money. Mrs. Dickey spent
the evening here.

December 6th Saturday

Cold and clear. Ironed and baked today. Lydia Maas fooled me completely by relating a horrid
accident to Olive's doll.

December 7th Sabbath

Cold and cloudy. Went to church today and slept soundly under the sermon. In the afternoon
Mr. Maas called on us. Mr. and Mrs. Dickey supper with us.

December 8th

Partially clear and very cold. Did a little of everything today. Mrs. Galloway returned today.

December 9th

Cold and mostly clear. Went to Mrs. Tritts today and helped her quilt. In the evening worked
on my dress. Mrs. Maas spent the evening with us.

December 10th

Pleasant much warmer today, been sewing, Nelson commenced cutting wood. Commenced raining
about dark rained hard all night.

December 11th

Cloudy in the forenoon cleared up about noon, wind blow very hard. Been sewing. We engaged this
evening to commence school next Monday.

December 12th

Very pleasant today. Called on Lydia Maas this morning, had a good chat. Finished my dress today.
Mr. Johnson and Lady spent the evening with us.

December 13th

Cloudy and quite moderate. Very busy doing Saturdays work. Had headache all day. Got 1 ½ cords
of  wood today. Commenced raining about dark and rained and snowed all night.

December 14th

Much colder than yesterday and very windy, been blowing and Snowing all day, and but a little snow at last,
not enough to whiten the ground. Mr. Maas called on us today. Mrs Trew came here this morning before we
were up to get Nelson to go for the Doctor for her husband. This evening the air is very cold, wind rather brisk.

December 15th

Cold and cloudy. Commenced School today. Have a horrible house and lots of scholars. Got along very well
though. Had 57 scholars today. Sarah Maas called this evening.

December 16th

 Cloudy and extremely cold.  Got along in school very well. Had over 70 scholars.

December 17th

Still cloudy, been snowing nearly all day. Not quite so cold as yesterday. No. of scholars 74.
 Had a little more order than before. Baked cakes this evening.

December 18th

Cold and cloudy. Got along in school about as usual. More moderate toward evening. Been baking
pies this evening, fixing for the in fair next week.

December 19th

Still cloudy but warmer than yesterday. Commenced raining toward night, the morning turned cold,
baked pies this evening.

December 20th

Cold and blustery. Been baking wedding cake all day. Made 4 for Lydia Maas and 3 for our little affair.
This evening baked pies and ginger cake. Really tired and wish the weddings were over with.


December 21st

Very cold and windy. Went to church today and no preacher came. In the afternoon went to a turkey
dinner at Mr. Galloways, and in the evening wrote a letter to R. Jones.

December 22nd

Exceedingly cold this morning, Sun shone part of the day. All we could to to keep the children comfortable.
Not as large a school as usual.

December 23rd

Still cold as Greenland. Clear most of the day. Things went off in school very well. Went to the wedding
this evening at the Maas. Mr. Blake united Lydia Maas and John Galloway in the holy bonds of matrimony.
Had a good supper, a good time generally and lots of fun. Some of the guests got hold of the preacher's
bundle of cake and substituted bread in the place of the cake, but put the cake taken out of the bundle on
a plate with some more of the same sort, and gave to him. Guess he looked wild when he untied his
handkerchief. But the cake on the plate compensated for that little joke. After the table was cleared and
the dishes washed we came home.

DECEMBER 24th

More moderate than yesterday. Tolerably pleasant. Got a letter from S. Mc Lellan this morning informing us
he would not be here on Christmas ... to take dinner with us. We feel disappointed and a little mad after fixing
so much all for nothing. Well I won't fix for him again I'll bet. This afternoon J. McLellan came to see us on
his way to Indiana. Dressed my turkey this evening.

December 25th, 1856

Cold this morning but clear ant very pleasant. Our dinner party passed off very pleasantly  despite the
disappointment of Galloway and Lady.  Mr. Dickey and Lady, Mr.Maas and Son, and Mrs. Burnet
took dinner with us. Sarah Maas called over while we were clearing off the table and we had lots of fun.
Mrs. Dickey, Mrs. Galloway, Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Jessup spent the evening with us. Mr. Maas was here
awhile, after he went home Sarah came over and she and I romped around good.

December 26

Cloudy and warmer than for several days before. Scholars have not got over Christmas.
Been so sleepy all day I could hardly keep my eyes open. School went off sorter slow, was
not sorry when evening came.

December 27th

Warm and cloudy, some foggy this morning. Commenced. raining Soon after daylight, and mizzled on
till about noon and then set in to raining good. Been ironing and baking today. Covered Nelson's cravat
this evening. Mr. Maas spent part of the evening with us.

December 28th

Clear and, pleasant attended. Mrs. Bennets  funeral at her Father’s (John Knife today.
Heard Dunkard preaching for the first time. Dry stuff at best I thought. Very muddy walking
to the grave. Three of the family have died within two years. Mrs. Bennet had been married
but a few months. Her husband took her death very hard. Her father and sister grieved very much.

December 29th

Clear and rather pleasant, been cloudy toward evening, and colder. Got along very well
in school, today. Sewed in the evening.


December 30th

Clear and quite cold, thawed but little in the sun. Had a very good time in school, whaled 5 or 6
for breaking the rules of school.

December 31st

Very pleasant today but cold. School rather large, and quite noisy.