MAY 1903
Fri. May 1st. Bright, nearly clear, and quite cool from N. Willie broke new ground at back of our field with Joe most of day and I cleared off ground ahead of him most of day and Howard broke ground on hilltop of Luckett field and where Cap's house stood all day with Dan and mule.
Sat. 2nd. Bright, nearly clear, and a calm and pleasant day but too cool in shade all day. Howard harrowed ground for cotton on hilltop of Luckett field all morn - twice to row with Joe - and Willie broke ground with Dan and mule where Cap's house stood and some just at back of our field most of morn and finished breaking last of ground for cotton. I cleaned off ground ahead of Willie most of morn. Wiley hauled 2 locust posts from back of our field with Jim and cart to new school house (for gate posts) early in morn. Willie and Wiley drove Joe to buggy to town in eve and returned at 7 3/4. I put some ashes in garden and hoed some there in eve.
Sun. 3rd. Bright and cool and a beautiful and pleasant day. I walked in cow pasture and saw the cattle and horses at 8 to 9 and came by Wiley's and Bernice and Carmell came on home with me by 10. All of us walked down to new school house in eve and held Sunday School there and Dr. Hunnicutt preached there for us (first time).
Mon. 4th. Bright and cool early in morn but warm after 10 in morn and some clouds and looked like rain in eve. We planted corn in lower part of Luckett field till 9 1/2 in morn and finished last of our corn and Howard harrowed out where Cap's house stood and Willie opened some ground for cotton on hilltop of Luckett field till dinner and I came on home and shucked good deal of corn and drew water till 11 1/2 and we planted cotton all eve on hilltop of Luckett field and where Cap's house stood. Willie opened with mule and I sowed seed and Howard covered with Dan to harrow.
Tue. 5th. Cloudy but bright all morn and a slow thunder cloud came up from SW at 4 in eve and rained some here slowly at 4 1/4 to 5 1/4 and some little after dark - just enough to wet crust on ground and much needed too. Willie and Howard and I planted cotton in new ground at back of our field early in morn and finished it and last of our cotton by 8 3/4 in morn and Willie barred off boat corn in Sims' ground E of hayhouse at 9 1/4 in morn to 12 and again in eve till 4 1/4 and Howard hoed corn there till 4 1/4 and I hoed there too at 9 1/4 in morn till 12 and I made a poplar hoehandle and put in a hoe that Willie found (for Howard) at 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 and cut up some wood before rain.
Wed. 6th. Cloudy and warm and damp from SW and began to rain in little showers at 1 in eve and lasted most of eve and some in night. Willie barred off corn on H ridge and in old Cane hollow most of day till 3 1/2 in eve and Howard hoed corn E of hayhouse and I put a bean arbor in orchard by 11 1/2 in morn and I cut up wood and drew water and dug up 3 little seedling pear trees which I found near garden and set them out in garden and I set out some tomatoe plants there too late in eve. Seymour came late in eve and got some potatoe seed and some tomatoe plants.
Thu. 7th. It rained in slow showers before day and quit at daylight and a slow thunder cloud came up from SW at 8 in morn and rained slowly here at 8 to 10 and quit and bright balance of day but rained around some in thundershowers late in eve from W but none here. We had just about enough rain in all to wet ground well. We didn't work in morn on account of rain. Willie and Howard broke up some ground in SW corner of Luckett field and planted peas there for hay all eve. I cut up wood and shucked some corn in morn and I set out 101 hills of tomatoes in Sims' corner in eve and watered them and brought home a turn of cane bean poles in eve.
Fri. 8th. Cloudy some but bright and warm till 2 and a thunder cloud came up from NW then and we had a little shower and bright balance of eve from NW. Howard broke ground in Luckett field with Dan and mule all morn and part of eve and Wiley helped him with his team and Willie sowed and harrowed in peas behind him. Nellie and Rena and little Wiley and Carmell drove Jim mule to town in morn and returned at 1 1/2 and brought some ice and we had ice cream at 2 to 3 and Gussie and Viola here then and left after 3. I packed some stable manure and ashes and manured my beans in orchard and hoed them and stuck part of them by 11 1/2 in morn. I packed a big turn of cane bean sticks from Sims' corner at 4 to 5 in eve. May (our Guernsey cow) gave birth to a fine bull calf in cow pen about sunrise in morn (from her own little bull).
Sat. 9th. Cloudy all day and cool and calm but little breeze from N or NE and no sunshine. Howard broke ground in Luckett field all day with Dan and mule for peas and finished there late in eve and Willie sowed and harrowed there in peas in morn and rode Joe to town in eve and returned at 8 1/2 at night. Nellie and Rena and her 2 children drove old Jim to Wyoming in morn to stay till tomorrow. I finished sticking my beans in orchard and hilled up the 6 rows of Irish potatoes and 3 of okra in old cow pen corner by 9 3/4 in morn and hoed over all of garden by 5 in eve and got wood and water and milked Jersey cow and fed everything.
Sun. 10th. Cloudy some but bright and cool early in morn and cloudy and warm late in eve and at night. I walked to Wiley's early in morn and back and Wiley went to his Pa's. Buddy and Gordon dined here and West and Chunk here awhile in morn and Willie and Minnie and her 2 children and Gordon and I walked to new school house to Sunday School in eve and Seymour was sick and none of his folks were at Sunday School. Nellie and Rena and her 2 children returned from Wyoming late in eve.
Mon. 11th. Cloudy and very little sunshine and looked like rain all day and did sprinkle several times at 5 to 7 in eve. Howard drove Ella and Jim to wagon and Willie rode Joe and carried 30 bus of peas to town in morn and Buddy carried 20 bus and they sold the 50 bus to John Cox at $1.25 per bu and Willie and Howard returned at 12 1/2 and Willie barred off cotton in old Cane hollow with mule in eve and Howard and Rose hoed corn and Rose hoed in morn too. I scraped 6 3/4 rows of yams just on E side of hayhouse at 8 1/2 to 11 1/2 in morn and little Henderson came at 1 1/2 and he and I shelled some seed corn and he got 1 1/2 bus and left at 3 1/4.
Tue. 12th. Bright and sun shined most of day and a pleasant breeze from NW and no rain. Willie barred off corn with Ella all day in home field and Howard and Rose hoed corn. I scraped yams all day in patch on E side of hayhouse.
Wed. 13th. Bright and pleasant from NW till 4 in eve and a slow thundercloud came up at 4 3/4 and we had a good slow rain here at 5 to 6 1/2. Willie barred off corn till 6 in eve in home field with Ella and Howard and Rose hoed corn all day till 5. I scraped Queens and red potatoes in patch on E side of hayhouse till 4 3/4 in eve and got wood and water in a slow rain. Nellie and Carmell at Wiley's till 4 in eve and Rena and children came back with her and left in a slow rain at 6 1/4. Clara and Effie here too in eve.
Thu. 14th. Bright and pleasant from NW after 6 in morn. It rained a little shower just before day. Willie barred off corn all day in home field with Ella and finished this field and all of our oldest corn. Howard hoed corn all day. I scraped red potatoes in patch E of hayhouse till 11 1/4 in morn and finished that patch and I scraped the 7 rows of red ones in NE corner of orchard in eve and got wood and water and fed.
Fri. 15th. Bright and pleasant from N but cool early in morn and no rain. Willie harrowed middles in cane patch in 2nd Cane hollow and all of cane middles in orchard and corn middles in all E of hayhouse and H ridge (boat corn) with Ella to Shawnee harrow. Howard hoed corn today in SW corner. I hoed butter and pole beans and okra in orchard by 9 1/2 in morn and I hoed cane there in N part of orchard balance of day.
Sat. 16th. Bright and cool early in morn but a breeze from SE and warm in eve and some clouds. Willie and Minnie and Carmell and Marion drove Joe to Mrs. James' in morn. Howard scraped off planted cane (2nd time) in 2nd Cane hollow in morn and didn't work in eve. I hoed my watermelon and tomato patches in Sims' corner today and finished them at 4 in eve and got wood and water and milked cows (3) and fed late in eve. Rena and Bernice and little Wiley stayed here all night.
Sun. 17th. Bright and pleasant from SE but some clouds and warm in eve and looked like rain. Bernice and I grabbled some Irish potatoes in garden and walked in our field and got a little bucket of dewberries for dinner by 10 in morn. Buddy here most of day. Wiley went to Wyoming in morn to see Seymour - he has been in bed for nearly a week but was up some today. Willie and Minnie and children returned from Mrs. James' at 12 3/4. Nellie and Wiley and Bernice and I walked down to Sunday School in eve and Bro. Ferguson - the Campbellite preacher - preached there for us (the first time) at 4 to 5 in eve.
Mon. 18th. Bright but cloudy some all day and warm and a damp breeze from S and appearance of rain but none today. Willie ran harrow twice between rows of late corn in Luckett field all day with Ella instead of barring it off. Howard hoed corn in home field all day and Rose hoed with him in eve. Wiley finished planting last of his cotton in Luckett field on branch in morn. I hoed sugar cane stubble in orchard all day and finished all but a little in corner near cow pen.
Tue. 19th. Bright but some clouds and a breeze from S and warm all eve and night too. Willie harrowed between corn rows in Luckett field all day with Ella to Shawnee harrow and finished late corn there late in eve. Howard and Rose and Net hoed corn all day. They finished home field at 11 in morn and hoed in late corn in Luckett field balance of day. I harrowed corn middles most of day with Joe to our old locust harrow and I harrowed bottom or SE corner of H ridge and all of old Cane hollow running twice to row. Gussie here late in eve hunting cotton seed to plant his crop over.
Wed. 20th. Bright but some clouds and warm from S. Willie barred off cotton all day on hilltop of H ridge and in Gate cut and in Cherry cut with Ella. Howard and Rose and Net hoed corn in Luckett field today. I harrowed corn middles with Joe in 2nd Cane hollow and water hole cut and some in Pine corner today. Gussie and Doug came with a wagon at 11 1/2 in morn and left at 2 1/4 with some cotton seed to plane his crop over.
Thu. 21st. Bright and warm and dry from S. Willie barred off cotton today with Ella in Cherry cut and Howard and Charlie Banford hoed late corn in Luckett field and finished there late in eve and scraped some cotton on hilltop of H ridge late in eve. I harrowed corn middles with Joe today in SW corner and in locust ground near it.
Fri. 22nd. Bright and warm and dry from S but a pleasant S breeze. Willie barred off cotton with Ella all day in Persimmon cut and Pine corner and in 3rd Cane hollow and Howard scraped cotton all day on hilltop of H ridge and in Gate cut. Charlie Banford didn't come today as he promised. I harrowed corn middles with Joe in locust ground and in SW corner till 8 3/4 in morn and finished last of our old corn and I hoed Willie's watermelon patch in little circling hollow in 3rd Cane hollow at 9 to 11 1/4 in morn and I hoed stubble cane near cow pen most of eve and finished last of it.
Sat. 23rd. Bright and warm and dry from S and some clouds late in eve. Willie barred off cotton with Ella in 3rd Cane hollow and in 1st Sims' corner in morn and Howard and Charlie Banford scraped cotton in morn in Gate cut. I drove Joe to buggy to town in morn and got some things for us and for Wiley too and I got 50 lbs of ice and returned at 12 1/4 and we had ice cream at 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 in eve and Ray and Rose were here and Howard and Charlie B too and Wiley and family and Gordon and Henry Reynolds too - he came at 1 1/2 for peas - and we had plenty of cream for all.
Sun. 24th. Bright and warm and dry all day from S and dropped rain at dusk. Willie and Nellie and Carmell and I walked to Wiley's early in morn and Wiley went to his Pa's and Rena and 2 children and Luella came back with us and they and Leggett dined here. All of us went to Sunday School in eve.
Mon. 25th. Bright but some clouds and warm and dry from S but no rain today. Willie barred off cotton in first Sims' corner with Ella all day. Howard scraped cotton in Gate cut today and I rode Joe to Luckett field early in morn and brought home an "A" plow and I plowed all of stubble cane and 7 rows of red potatoes in orchard by late in eve with Joe and I got wet with sweat in eve for it was quite warm.
Tue. 26th. Bright and warm and dry from S and no rain in sight. Howard scraped cotton in Gate cut and in 1st Sims' corner today and Willie finished barring off last of our oldest cotton in Sims' corner by 9 1/2 in morn and he plowed corn balance of day on roadside E of hayhouse. I plowed all of our potatoes (planted ones) on E side of hayhouse with 4 furrows by throwing dirt to them without barring off and finished them at 10 1/4 in morn and helped Willie to plow corn there balance of day with Joe and we finished there at 5 1/2 in eve.
Wed. 27th. Bright but cloudy all day and warm and dry. Howard scraped cotton most of day in Sims' corner. He sowed some peas for us in eve. Willie and I plowed corn with Ella and Joe most of day. We finished H ridge at 10 3/4 in morn and plowed balance of day in old Cane hollow. Willie rode Joe to Surgett's and Belleview at 12 3/4 to 2 to get some hands to come on next Friday to scrape cotton. Willie got full of pea mites in morn sowing peas and he got Howard to sow some in eve.
Thu. 28th. Cloudy and dropped rain some early in morn and rained around in thunder showers in sight at 12 to 2 (midday) and bright and warm in eve. Willie and I plowed corn most of day with Joe and Ella. We finished old Cane hollow at 10 1/2 in morn and plowed balance of day in 2nd Cane hollow and in water hole cut. Willie sowed the peas in morn and got full of mites and he made Howard sow them in eve. Howard scraped cotton in Sims' corner most of day. Charlie Anderson came by (canvassing) in morn. Misses May Fugler and Mary James came at 12 and left late in eve.
Fri. 29th. Bright and warm and dry but rained around in thunder showers far off, but in sight, in eve. Prince Hampton and 3 of his family scraped cotton for us in Sims' corner and Howard scraped with them most of day. He sowed peas for us awhile in morn and again in eve. Willie and I plowed corn most of day, as on yesterday, in 2nd Cane hollow and in water hole cut and in lower part of Pine corner. I was sick today with a sick gripping pain in my stomach and bowels and lay down awhile at 10 1/2 in morn till 11 1/4 and was feverish late in eve.
Sat. 30th. Bright and warm from SW but a pleasant breeze from there till 2 in eve and began to rain around in thunder showers then and a heavy cloud came up from NW and W at 5 and we had a big rain with a hard wind and some thunder at 5 1/4 to 5 3/4 and slowly till in night and the rain was very much needed for the ground was very dry on top. Willie and I plowed corn in locust ground till 10 3/4 in morn and finished that cut and got home at 11 and Howard sowed the peas for us and scraped cotton in hollow in Sims' corner balance of morn. We didn't work in eve. Willie had a bad toothache at 1 1/2 to 3. Dan here at 2 to 4 1/2 and Nellie and Carmell at Wiley's at 3 1/2 to 6 3/4 in eve.
Sun. 31st. Bright but cloudy some all day and pleasant with a breeze from S of W most of day and cool late in eve from NW and no rain today. I packed some wood and cut it up and picked up some apples and pears which wind blew down on yesterday eve and got some Irish potatoes and beans and beets in garden early in morn. Wiley and Rena and 2 children and Miss Ellen Deloach here most of day and Willie and Wiley and Bernice and I walked to Sunday School in eve.