FEBRUARY 1898
Tue. Feb. 1st. Clear and a freeze and frost in morn and a cold E of N wind all day and dry. Jack D and Hamp McGraw and Buddy and Wiley and Willie finished covering Wiley's house by 12 and weatherboarded some in eve and Jack and Hamp went home late in eve. Pa packed up some wood. I packed and cut up some in morn and packed some boards on Wiley's house and I rode Hattie to Cohen's in eve and carried 3 doz eggs and brought back a gal of coal oil in my hand all the way and got 10 lbs. of nails for Wiley on credit.
Wed. 2nd. Bright, nearly clear, and a slight freeze in morn and a cool dry W of N breeze all day. B C got old Hattie early in morn to haul timbers for his house and didn't bring her back at night. Willie began in morn and broke turf all day in Coon pasture by ditch with Joe and Dan. Wiley helped Willie to get started in morn and he worked at his house some. Pa packed up some wood today. I walked to Clara's at 9 in morn and helped Buddy to cut up and salt 2 hogs and I got home at 2. Pa and I packed out some rafters which Wiley cut for his kitchen - they cut the first ones too short (at 2 1/4 to 3 1/2 in eve).
Thu. 3rd. Clear and a hard freeze in morn and cold in shade all day but pleasant in sunshine after 10 in morn. Wiley and Rena drove Rachael to their buggy and Willie rode Joe to Aunt Mary's to Lucy and Vine's wedding at 9 1/4 in morn and Wiley and Rena returned at 4 3/4 in eve and Willie at dark. Pa and I packed up some wood in morn and some in eve and I cut 8 meat sticks in old road by H ridge just after dinner and Pa and I dressed them and I found 4 old ones that were good.
Fri. 4th. A hard freeze in morn but wind from SE and clouded up in eve from SW and turned warmer and rained good deal in night. Willie plowed Joe and Dan most of day in Coon pasture breaking ground (turf). Wiley and I hauled some pine rafters from Coon branch with Rachael and cart in morn and Wiley cut and dressed them by 11 1/4 and Pa helped him and I hauled a cart load of wood from near Wiley's house by 10 1/2 and another load of green oak from gap on NW side of orchard with Rachael by 12 1/4 and Wiley and I put up rafters on his kitchen in eve and Pa helped us. Salome's mare colt cut her legs on wire at cow pen at 12 1/4.
Sat. 5th. Cloudy and very wet and cool from N till 11 and clear and a cool N breeze all eve. Willie plowed Joe and Dan all day in Coon pasture breaking turf and I cut some briars there in morn. Wiley put lathing on his kitchen in morn and I helped him to cover on it in eve and we covered W side. Pa walked to Clara's in eve. Dixie here all day.
Sun. 6th. Clear and a frost and a slight freeze in morn but a beautiful and pleasant day after 9 in morn and calm. Wiley and Rena and baby drove Rachael to Jack Deloach's in morn to stay till tomorrow. I drove our young sow and 6 pigs from in woods NW of orchard and put them in calf pasture early in morn. Lewis here awhile in morn. Nellie and Willie walked to Lewis' and Joe Miller's awhile in eve. Clara and her 2 youngest children here most of eve.
Mon. 7th. Bright and frost in morn but a damp S breeze all day and cloudy and warmer in eve. Willie plowed Joe and Dan all day in turf in Coon pasture near creek. Pa cleared off ground there. I strung our meat early in morn and hung it on scaffold and smoked it most of day and I packed and cut up some wood and put up some bbls on W side of hen house and made hen nests in them and I sawed some of bottom off front gate. Wiley and Rena and baby returned from Jack's at 1 1/2 in eve and Wiley covered some on his kitchen late in eve.
Tue. 8th. Cloudy some but bright and pleasant with a damp SE breeze all day. Wiley worked on his kitchen most of day after helping me to hang out meat on scaffold. Willie plowed Joe and Dan all day in turf in Coon pasture. Pa walked to Clara's early in morn and on to Cohen's and returned at 2 1/4. I cut and hauled 2 cart loads of green (and some dry) wood from NW of orchard with Rachael and cut up some wood in morn and I drove Rachael to Wiley's buggy to Cohen's in eve and got some strap hinges and nails and screws for Wiley's house and 1 bu meal on credit and some other things which I paid for and returned at dusk.
Wed. 9th. Bright with a pleasant S breeze and some clouds but sun shined most of day. Willie plowed Joe and Dan all day in turf in Coon pasture between ditch and creek and Pa and I cleared off ground ahead of plowing - brush and briars and some logs around old pond - and burned some there in eve. I hung out meat to smoke early in morn and Pa and I took it in late in eve. Jack D came in morn and he and Wiley dressed flooring for Wiley's house part of morn and all eve. Willie rode Reuben to Clara's late in eve to carry a letter to Buddy.
Thu. 10th. Warm and cloudy some but bright and S wind all morn and till 4 1/2 in eve and dark clouds came up from SW then and rained a hard rain with some thunder and wind at 5 to 5 1/2 and slowly most of night. Willie plowed Joe and Dan all morn in turf between ditch and creek and he rode Rachael to Cohen's in eve to see Charlie about renting some land on Estina branch and returned at dusk. Wiley and his Pa dressed and laid flooring in Wiley's house all day and Wiley stuck a nail in his foot in eve. Pa and I burned brush and logs all day near creek till 4 1/2 in eve.
Fri. 11th. Quit raining just after sunrise and cool and bright from W of N and nearly clear in eve. Willie plowed Joe and Dan in turf in Coon field between ditch and creek all morn and he rode Joe to Clara's in eve and Neyland met him there and they looked at land on this side of Estina branch. Pa and I cut and piled brush in Coon pasture in morn and I put irons on 2 singletrees (which had irons broken off them) in eve and Pa and I packed some wood from beyond garden and cut it up late in eve. Jack D went home in morn and Wiley stayed about house in morn with his sore foot and he laid some flooring in his house in eve. I had a dull headache all day but it left me late in eve.
Sat. 12th. Bright, nearly clear, and cool from NE. Willie plowed Joe and Dan all day in turf in Coon pasture between ditch and creek and Pa piled brush there in morn and walked to Clara's in eve. Wiley rode Rachael to town in morn to try to sell his black sow and shoat but he didn't and he worked at his house a while in eve. I put out meat to smoke early in morn and attended to it all day and I packed and cut up a good deal of wood in morn and some in eve. Buddy ate supper here and he and Wiley and Willie went to Joe Miller's and fiddled at night.
Sun. 13th. Bright and cool and calm and sun shined most of day. I walked to Sims' in morn and Buddy came back with me and here till late in eve and Cousin Sallie and Joe and baby here most of day and Joe and I walked into woods NW of orchard and saw the young sow which I gave Joe - she will very soon have pigs.
Mon. 14th. Bright, nearly clear, and quite cool early in morn but a beautiful and pleasant day with a gentle W breeze. Willie plowed Joe and Dan in turf in Coon pasture on E side of ditch. Jack D came in morn and he and Wiley worked on shutters all day. Pa cleaned off ground in hollow in Coon pasture all day and I burned brush near creek all day after hanging out meat in morn. Mary Miller here most of day from Lewis'.
Tue. 15th. Clear and cool and dry from N. Willie at Estina all day helping to cover B C house and Jack D and Wiley worked all day on shutters to Wiley's house. Pa cleaned up ground in hollow in Coon pasture all day. I cut and packed some green oak wood from E of fig orchard to smoke meat and packed some dry wood too and cut up good deal of wood in morn and I drove Rachael to Wiley's buggy to Cohen's in eve and returned just before sunset.
Wed. 16th. Bright but some clouds all day and dark cloudy late in eve and rained some late in eve from SE. Willie plowed Joe and Dan all day in turf in Coon pasture. Jack D and Wiley worked all day at Wiley's house. Pa threshed cotton stalks all day in orchard. I cut and rolled and fired logs in Coon pasture near creek in morn after putting out meat to smoke and I mended up log heap just after dinner and cut up wood in eve. Nellie and Rena drove Rachael to see Dixie's new house in eve.
Thu. 17th. It rained and blew from S of E till 9 1/2 in morn and quit and bright and cloudy some from S balance of day. Jack and Wiley and Willie worked on Wiley's house all day. I mended (or patched) 2 old horse collars by 10 in morn and Pa and I packed some beech wood from calf pasture and cut it up at 10 to 12. Pa threshed cotton stalks in orchard all eve. I found 2 hen's nests and cut a locust post and 2 railings in old road and packed them to front gate to repair 2 panels of pickets in eve and I packed and cut up some wood.
Fri. 18th. Cloudy and warm from S all morn and bright, nearly clear and pleasant in eve. Jack D and Wiley worked at Wiley's house all day and Willie plowed Joe and Dan all day in turf in Coon pasture and Pa threshed cotton stalks all day - he finished orchard at 9 in morn and threshed on H ridge balance of day. I set a new locust post and put up 2 new railings and repaired the 2 panels of broken pickets by front gate by 10 in morn and I cut and packed and cut locust and sumac stakes from old road and repaired part of line of rail fence between spring gate and big gate balance of day.
Sat. 19th. A dark thundercloud came up from NW early in morn and we had a heavy rain with some thunder and hard wind from NW at 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 in morn and bright, nearly clear and warm after 10 1/2 in morn. Willie, Wiley and I roped Salome's colt (the 1st time) and drove her out in field and back at 9 to 10 in morn and Pa and I found our old bob-tail sow with pigs just N of orchard at 10 1/2 in morn and the buzzards killed 3 out of 8 leaving only 5 and Joe Miller's little sow had 7 pigs today just NW of orchard and 2 of them were dead leaving her only 5. I watched for buzzards and packed wood and cut up some at 10 1/2 to 12 and all eve. Buddy here to dinner. Jack D worked on Wiley's house at 10 to 12 and he went home in eve. Wiley and Willie cut down 4 trees near Wiley's house in eve.
Sun. 20th. Clear and a cold W of N wind all day but sun shined warm. Lewis and West and "Chunk" here awhile in morn. I watched buzzards away from sows and pigs N of orchard all through the day and I packed and cut up some wood and I fixed water gap in morn (early). August M and John Fosselman came in morn to see old "Stag" but didn't see him.
Mon. 21st. Clear and cold - a freeze in morn and a cold W of N breeze all day but sun shined and warm after 10 in morn. Willie plowed Joe and Dan in turf in Coon pasture. Pa threshed cotton stalks on H ridge and in Cherry cut in morn and part of eve. Wiley cut (and dragged with Rachael) 4 mulberry posts for his chimney in morn and I cut down a tall dead bay on NE side of orchard and packed and cut up wood all morn and Pa and Wiley and I killed and dressed Wiley's old black sow and black shoat at 1 to 2 in eve to trade for corn, or sell, on tomorrow. Helen and John Deloach came on horseback at 11 1/2 in morn and here all night.
Tue. 22nd. Clear and a hard freeze and very white frost in morn but sun shined warm after 10 in morn and a gentle breeze from S of W. Pa threshed cotton stalks in Cherry cut all day and Willie plowed Joe and Dan in turf in Coon pasture most of day. Jonas Minor came in morn and Willie gave him the 500 stalks of cane owing him for corn which we got Dec last. Wiley worked on the frame of his chimney today. Helen and John left today. I drove Rachael to cart and carried out Wiley's sow and shoat and traded for corn at Surgett's and Elmwood and Hill place. I sold out all but 1 ham and got 17 1/2 bbls of corn and $1.15 in money and got home at 4 in eve. I didn't bring any of corn home.
Wed. 23rd. Bright and little frost in morn but cloudy some and warmer in eve. Willie plowed Joe and Dan all day in turf in Coon pasture and Wiley worked on frame of his chimney and Gordon here all day and helped him. I drove Rachael to Wiley's buggy to Cohen's in morn and borrowed $15 for Dixie and I got 1 bu meal, 1 bu Irish potatoes and 1/2 bu. lime and 10 lbs nail and 3 laprings on credit and 2 3/4 lbs coffee for eggs and I got home at 12 and I packed and cut up wood most of eve and I set 2 hens.
Thu. 24th. Clear and cool early in morn but a pleasant day and wind from NE in morn and SE in eve. Willie plowed Joe and Dan all day in turf in Coon pasture and Pa threshed cotton stalks in field all morn. Wiley and I worked on his chimney most of day and Pa helped us in eve and we finished frame and put up some of funnel today.
Fri. 25th. Cloudy and rained in slow showers, some in morn and some in eve, from W. Willie plowed Joe and Dan most of day in turf in Coon pasture and Pa cleaned up ground there. Wiley and I drove Rachael and Seymour's gray horse to Seymour's wagon to Hill place and Elmwood and Surgett's in morn and collected 17 1/2 bbls of corn which I traded Wiley's hogs for on last Tue. We were in all of the rain that fell but had an umbrella and overcoat and didn't get wet much. We got home at 2 1/2 in eve and I packed and cut up some wood late in eve. Leroy D came on Laura late in eve and stayed all night.
Sat. 26th. Bright and pleasant from SW all day and began to thunder in NW just at dark and a cloud came up from there at 1 1/2 in night and we had a hard rain with some wind and hail and thunder at 1 3/4 to 2 1/2. Willie plowed Joe and Dan in turf in Coon pasture in morn and rode Joe to Cohen's in eve. Pa and Wiley and Leroy and I cut and rolled a beech log in hollow in Coon pasture in morn and packed out some brush. Wiley drove Rachael and Laura to sawmill in morn and Leroy rode Dan to town in eve and met Wiley in town and exchanged Dan for Laura and Wiley got back just before sunset. Joe Miller came in eve and he and I drove the sow which I gave him and 5 pigs to his house by dusk.
Sun. 27th. It rained slowly from 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 in morn from W and again at 9 in morn from NW and cloudy and cool balance of day from N and it cleared up at dark. Willie and I drove the "Sims' cow" from Sims' (the one which had her womb turned inside out) early in morn and put here into cow pasture. Willie rode Dan and I rode Joe and we went back with Wiley to back of Sims' field to hunt his cow Ocean and heifer but didn't find them. Dixie and B C here most of day and Seymour here awhile in eve. I packed and cut up some wood in eve.
Mon. 28th. Clear and a little frost in morn but sun shined warm and a pleasant day after 10 in morn. Willie plowed Joe and Dan all day in turf in Coon pasture and Pa threshed cotton stalks in field all day. Wiley and I gathered some moss early in morn for Wiley's chimney and we began to put on mud at 9 1/2 in morn and Jack D and Hamp McGraw came at 10 1/2 and helped us balance of day to build chimney. Hamp drove his black mare home to Wiley's buggy late in eve and Jack here all night.