OCTOBER 1903
Thu. Oct. 1st. Bright and quite warm and dry and wind from SE and some dark clouds in eve but no rain here. Willie and I and Howard and Sonney picked peas most of day in water hole cut and in 2nd Cane hollow and hauled them with Joe and cart at 11 1/2 in morn and again late in eve. I lay in bed all night without drinking coffee and slept pretty well and coughed but little.
Fri. 2nd. Bright and warm and very dry and no rain in sight. Willie hauled our bale of Allen cotton to Cohen's gin in morn and got it ginned and returned at 11 1/2 in morn with the seed and he carried one bale of short staple to gin in eve and returned with seed at dusk. The Allen bale weighed 491 and Willie got Cohen to ship it and let Cohen have the short bale for rent. Howard and Sonney picked peas all day in 2nd Cane hollow and I picked there all morn and hauled peas at 11 1/2 and carried baskets and sacks and dinner and water to Howard and Sonney at 2 after we loaded wagon with cotton and I grabbled some potatoes and got wood and water and milked and fed in eve. I had some fever most of eve and night too but rested pretty well at night.
Sat. 3rd. Bright and warm and very dry. Howard and Sonney picked peas in 2nd Cane hollow all morn and Willie hauled them at 12 with mule and wagon. Wiley hauled in some of his cotton in morn with wagon and some of his peas late in eve. Willie hauled a load of split pine wood at 10 to 11 1/2 in morn. I drove Joe to buggy to town in morn and got some coffee and meat and plow rope and a box of loaded shells on credit from Metzger and Cohen and borrowed $10 for Willie and $5.50 for Wiley. I returned at 11 1/2 and walked to Wiley's at 1 to 1 1/2 and got hole digger and Willie and I put up 2 strands of wire on E side of our potatoe patch to keep calves out of potatoes in eve. I had a little fever late in eve but sweat it off in night and slept well all night. Nellie and Carmell at Wiley's all night.
Sun. 4th. Bright and warm and very dry but a rain cloud in sight in NE late in eve. Wiley went to his Pa's in morn and Nellie and Carmell and Rena and her 2 children here today. Cousin Gus and family came too at 10 3/4 in morn and all of us went to hear Dr. Hunnicutt preach at schoolhouse in eve. We got there too late for Sunday School. Gus and family went home late in eve. I rested well all night and had no fever.
Mon. 5th. Bright and warm and dry from SE and a rain cloud in sight in SE in eve. Willie James came at dusk last night for Mattie and they left here early this morn. Willie and Howard and Louis Payne and Lit Barber picked peas all day in Pine corner and I picked there too till 11 in morn. Dr. Hunnicutt came here from Lewis' at 11 1/2 and dined here and baptized little William Marion at 2 and I carried him to town in buggy with Joe at 3 to 6 in eve. I rested well at night.
Tue. 6th. Bright and warm all morn from S and rained around some in little showers most of eve and sprinkled here several times. Willie and Howard and Louis Paine and Lit Barber picked peas all day in SW corner and I picked there too most of morn. I hauled a cart load of peas with Joe at 10 1/4 in morn and another at 12 and Willie hauled 2 loads in eve. I didn't go to the field on account of rain in eve. I picked some pole bean seed in garden and grabbled some Queens and red potatoes in eve and got wood and water. Minnie and Rena and their 4 children drove old Jim mule to buggy to Dixie's in morn and returned late in eve. I rested well all night.
Wed. 7th. Bright and warm from S most of day. We had a sprinkle of rain just after daylight and another at 4 in eve from SW and another hard little shower at midnight from NW. Willie and Howard and Lit Barber and Sonney and Louie picked peas all day in SW corner and in Locust ground near it and I picked there too most of morn and some in eve. I hauled a cart load of peas with Joe at 9 3/4 in morn and another at 12 and another at 2 1/2 and Willie hauled another late in eve. I got wood and water and picked some peas for hogs late in eve. I rested well at night.
Thu. 8th. We had a hard little shower last night at midnight which about laid dust well for it was very dry and clear and cool from N today. Willie and Howard and Lit Barber and Sonney and Louie picked peas all day in SW corner and in Locust ground near it and I picked there too most of morn and some in eve. I hauled a cart load at 9 1/2 in morn and again at 12 and again at 2 1/2 in eve and Willie hauled last load late in eve. I got wood and water and grabbled some potatoes late in eve. I rested pretty well at night.
Fri. 9th. Clear and cool and dry from N. Willie and I and Howard and Lit Barber and Sonney and Louie and Charlie Paine picked peas in SW corner most of morn and I hauled a cart load at 9 1/2 in morn and another at 12 and we finished there and Charlie and Louie picked peas in old Cane hollow all eve and balance picked cotton in corner in Sims' corner and Willie hauled cotton and peas late in eve. I got wood and water and picked some peas for hogs late in eve.
Sat. 10th. Clear and cool and dry from N. Howard and Lit Barber and Sonney and Louie and Charlie Paine picked peas in old Cane hollow and Willie and I picked in hollow on SE corner of H ridge all morn and Willie and I hauled peas at 9 1/2 in morn and again at 12 and Willie paid up hands. Willie was sick all day and at night too. I shelled some pole bean seed just after dinner and gathered a few pecans and got wood and water and picked some peas for hogs. I rested well at night.
Sun. 11th. Clear and cool and dry from N. I cut up some wood and drew some water just after breakfast and walked to Wiley's and Bernice and little Wiley came back with me and Nellie and I and children walked in field and got a few Persimmons by 10. Willie rode Joe to Clara's and back in morn. Wiley and Rena and children dined here and all of us walked to Sunday School in eve. I rested well at night.
Mon. 12th. Bright and quite cool early in morn and wind from S and some clouds today and warmer in eve. Nellie and Bernice walked to Dixie's in morn and returned late in eve. Willie and I picked cotton most of day on hilltop of H ridge and in Gate cut. Howard is sick at McDonald's and Hannah came in eve and got a dose of Calomel for him and an order for a Dr. if he is not better by tomorrow. I rested well all night. Willie rode Joe to B C's late in eve and got a pig which B C gave him.
Tue. 13th. Warm and cloudy and a damp S breeze all morn and rained around in little thundershowers from W in eve but only dropped a little here. Willie and I picked cotton most of day in Gate cut and we got a sack of boat corn and picked some peas for hogs on H ridge late in eve. I rested well at night. Sonney came late in eve and got a chicken and some sugar cane for Howard.
Wed. 14th. Bright and dry and no rain in sight. Willie and I picked cotton all day in Gate cut and packed it home. Howard still at McDonald's. I rested well all night.
Thu. 15th. Bright and warm and dry till late in eve and clouded up then from W and a thunder cloud came up at dark from W and we had a good hard rain at 6 1/2 to 8 and another thunder cloud came up from W at 1 1/2 in night and we had a good soaking rain and much needed for ground was very dry. Willie and I picked cotton all morn and till 2 1/2 in eve in Gate cut and finished that cut at 2 1/2 and picked balance of eve in hollow in Sims' corner. Sonney and Louie came at dark to get some milk and cane for Howard. He is still sick at Suku's. I rested well all night.
Fri. 16th. We had a good rain last night and rained on slowly till 9 in morn and cloudy all day but bright and calm. I patched my cotton sack by 9 1/2 in morn and grabbled some potatoes and got some wood and gathered a few pecans by 12. Willie rode Joe to Cohen's in morn and got money for the bale of Allen cotton shipped some time ago. It sold for 13 cts. in New Orleans. We threshed 3 pecan trees and gathered the pecans in eve. I walked to Wiley's just after dinner and brought Bernice and little Wiley back with me. I rested well at night.
Sat. 17th. A thunder cloud passed around W of here from NW at 5 to 6 1/2 in morn but only sprinkled here and wind from N and cool and bright after 9 in morn and clear in eve and cool from W of N. Willie and I and Jim Barber and Sonney and Louie picked peas all morn in old Cane hollow and in Luckett field in eve and I hauled them with Joe and cart. I picked some for hogs on H ridge late in eve. Gordon here in eve. Nellie and Carmell went to Wiley's late in eve and staid all night. I rested well at night.
Sun. 18th. Clear and quite cool from W of N and no sign of rain. Willie and Minnie and their 2 children drove Joe to Clara's early in morn and returned late in eve. Rena and her 2 children here most of day. Lewis here in morn awhile. I cut up some wood and drew water and gathered a few pecans in morn and I walked to Sunday School in eve. I rested well at night.
Mon. 19th. Bright, nearly clear, and cold enough for a little frost in morn and a beautiful and pleasant day. Willie rode Joe by Nolan Veal's to hire cotton and pea pickers and on to town and returned at 11 3/4. I got wood and water for Nellie and Minnie to wash early after breakfast and I washed out our well by 9 1/2 and I picked peas enough to feed hogs 2 evenings in old Cane hollow by 11 1/2 and I cut up some wood by 12. Willie and I picked cotton all eve in hollow in Sims' corner. I rested well at night.
Tue. 20th. Bright, nearly clear, and cold enough for a little frost in morn but warmer in eve and some clouds. Willie and I packed and cut up some wood just after breakfast and we picked cotton most of day in hollow in Sims' corner and Lit Barber picked too all eve. I hauled our cotton at 12 and again at sunset with Joe and cart. I rested well at night.
Wed. 21st. Cloudy some all day and calm and a very heavy dew in morn and damp like all day. Lit Barber and Sonney and Louie came in morn and they and Willie and I picked cotton in Sims' corner till 9 1/2 in morn and they went on to Luckett field and picked peas there balance of day and Willie and I brought our cotton home at 9 3/4 and we grabbled about 1 bu of potatoes by 11 1/4 and gathered a few pecans by 12 and Willie and I picked peas in Luckett field in eve and I hauled in 2 cart loads with Joe. I rested well at night.
Thu. 22nd. Bright and pleasant and dry and calm. Willie and I and Lit Barber and Sonney and Louie picked peas most of day in Luckett field and I hauled 1 cart load at 12 and 2 in eve with Joe. Howard picked cotton most of day in Sims' corner - the first work that he has done since Sat. Oct. 10th. Wiley hauled a load of cotton to Cohen's today with Ella and Jack and returned late in eve with the seed. I rested well all night.
Fri. 23rd. Bright, nearly clear, and a cool and dry wind from W of N all day and quite cool all night. Willie and I and Lit Barber and Sonney and Louie picked peas most of day in Luckett field and finished all but a little. I hauled a cart load at 10 in morn and one at 12 1/4 and one late in eve with Joe. We got about 110 bu of peas in all. Howard picked cotton in Sims' corner most of day. I rested well at night.
Sat. 24th. Clear and frost enough to scorch tender vegetation in morn and a cold and dry wind from N all day but pleasant in sunshine after 10 in morn. Willie and I and Howard and Sonney picked cotton in Sims' corner all morn and hauled it with Joe and cart at 12 1/4. Willie drove Joe to buggy to town in eve and returned just before sunset. I got wood and water and picked some red pepper in garden and gathered about 1/2 bu of big pecans toward big road in eve. Nellie and Carmell went to Wiley's late in eve and staid all night. I rested well all night.
Sun. 25th. Clear and a white frost in morn and killed tender vegetation good deal and a cold and dry breeze from N most of day - but warm in sunshine after 10 in morn. Willie and I got some wood early in morn and I walked to Wiley's at 9 to 10 and all came back with me and dined here and Buddy and Gordon too. Willie and Minnie and Carmell and Wiley and Bernice and I and Gordon walked to Sunday School in eve. I rested well all night.
Mon. 26th. Bright, nearly clear, and some frost in morn and dry from N but pleasant in sunshine after 10 in morn and some clouds late in eve. Willie and Howard and Sonney and Louie and I picked cotton in Sims' corner till 2 1/2 in eve and finished there then and we picked in short staple cotton on hilltop of Persimmon cut balance of eve. Lewis drove Jim and Ella to our wagon to town in morn and got some ceiling for schoolhouse. Wiley and Nellie and Bernice drove Joe to town in morn and returned at 12 1/2 and I hauled 2 cart loads of cotton in eve. I rested well at night.
Tue. 27th. Bright, nearly clear, and cool and very dry from N but some clouds late in eve. Willie and I and Howard and Sonney and Louie picked cotton most of day in Cherry cut and hauled one cart load at 12 1/4 and another late in eve with Joe. John Fosselman and Charlie Chisholm (col.) came at 10 1/2 in morn and Willie sold them 2 red heifers which we could not wean from their mothers. Carmell has cold and fever and Willie rode Joe to Ogden's store at 1 to 2 and got some Quinine for her.
Wed. 28th. Bright and cool and dry all morn and cloudy and damp like all eve and calm and thundered in SW at 7 to 8 at night. Howard sick today and didn't work. Willie and I picked cotton most of day - we finished Cherry cut on W side by 12 and picked on hilltop of Persimmon cut all eve. Sonney and Louie picked with us part of day. I hauled cotton at 12 1/4 and again late in eve with Joe and cart. I rested well at night.
Thu. 29th. It rained slowly at 4 to 6 in morn - enough to lay dust - and bright and pleasant after 8 in morn and wind from E. Willie and I and Howard and Jim Barber and Louie picked cotton most of day in new ground just back of our field and I hauled it at 12 1/4 and again late in eve with Joe and cart. Rena and her 2 children here most of day and Wiley dined here too. I rested well at night.
Fri. 30th. Foggy and wet till 9 1/2 in morn and bright and pleasant day - wind from E. I got wood and water early in morn for Nellie and Minnie to wash. Lewis got Ella mule early in morn to haul wood and cane (to grind). Willie and I and Lit Barber and Louie and 2 of his sisters and 1 brother and Henry Wilson and wife and Hannah picked cotton in 3rd Cane hollow and in bottom of Pine corner most of day and we hauled a cart load at 12 and another after sunset and left 3 sacks in field. I rested well at night.
Sat. 31st. Foggy till 8 in morn and cloudy and pleasant balance of day with wind from SE and thundered around some late in eve but no rain here. Willie and I and Howard and all of the hands that we had on yesterday (and one more) picked cotton in 3rd Cane hollow and in Pine corner till 9 1/2 in morn and finished our field then and we picked in Cap cut and on hilltop of Luckett field till 2 1/2 in eve and quit then and left a little there. Willie and I hauled a cart load of cotton at 10 in morn and another at 11 3/4 and another at 2 3/4 in eve and Willie paid up hands. Willie and I and Howard threshed and gathered a little over 1 bu of pecans off the big tree toward road at 3 to 5 in eve. Nellie and Carmell went to Wiley's late in eve and staid all night. I rested well at night.