MAY 1897
Sat. May 1st. Clear and quite cool early in morn and a cool W of N breeze most of day. Pa and Willie scraped cotton in Coon field all morn and Pa walked to Clara's in eve and Willie rode Joe to Tigner's. Mrs. Baker and Dixie rode Hattie to town in morn and returned at 4 1/2 in eve. I stuck all of pole and butter beans in garden in morn by 10 1/2 (I packed a turn of canes from Sims' field for butter beans) and I picked some dewberries (about 3 qts) in little patch just beyond big road at 10 1/2 to 11 1/2. I hoed my potatoe bed at SE corner of garden and packed and put up some wood in eve.
Sun. 2nd. Bright, nearly clear, quite cool early in morn, but a pleasant day. Mrs Baker here all day and Clara and her 2 smallest children here in eve and Wiley dined here and carried the sewing machine home in eve on his old buggy. Seymour and family and Gus and family here in eve and Helen and baby stayed all night and Gussie went home.
Mon. 3rd. Bright, nearly clear, and pleasant and getting dry again. Pa and Willie scraped cotton all day in Coon field and I rebedded 8 rows (for slips) on hilltop of H ridge early in morn and plowed corn in new SW corner balance of day next to wire fence. Nellie and Helen and baby drove Flirt to Pinson place to stay all night.
Tue. 4th. Bright, nearly clear, and dry from E of N. Pa and Willie finished scraping cotton in Coon field by dinner and Willie replanted some there in eve and Pa scraped potatoes on hilltop of H ridge in eve. I plowed corn in new SW corner all day in log ground part and I finished all on S side of drain and plowed little on N side of drain (with Hattie). Nellie and Helen and little Nellie came back from Pinson place in morn and Seymour took Helen home in eve. The locusts have been here for about 1 week and are getting thick and noisy.
Wed. 5th. Nearly clear and pleasant but dry from N. Pa scraped potatoes on hilltop of H ridge and Willie barred off cotton all day with Dick on H ridge and old Cane hollow cut. I barred off all of cotton in orchard (nearly 2 acres) with Hattie by 11 1/2 in morn and drove her to Cohen's in eve and returned before sunset. I had a headache all morn and took 2 Pierce's pills at 9 in morn and 1 at 1 1/2 and headache left me in eve. Oscar Whetstone came at dusk and stayed till 9 at night.
Thu. 6th. Bright but hazy, cloudy all day and pleasant but dry. Willie barred off cotton with Dick all day in old Cane hollow and in Cherry cut and Pa scraped in orchard all day. I plowed corn in new SW corner with Hattie all morn and I drove her to Chester Henderson's at 2 1/4 to 5 1/4 in eve and got a full blooded boar pig (Chester White) which they gave to us. I took the old pen to pieces and put it together again with new white oak posts and I brought the pig home in a box which Metzger gave me on yesterday and put it in plank pen here in yard.
Fri. 7th. Bright and dry but some clouds and warmer today and wind from S and dropped rain at dark. Pa scraped cotton all day in orchard and Willie barred off cotton all day with Dick in Cherry cut and new 2nd Cane hollow and I plowed corn all day with Hattie in new SW corner and got out of corner to top of hill by late in eve. Wiley brought Rena home in eve to stay till Sunday and he went back and Lucie McGraw came late in eve and stayed all night.
Sat. 8th. Bright but some rainy clouds and warm from SE all morn and we had a good hard rain with some little thunder at 2 to 3 in eve from SE and rained on slowly to nearly night. The rain wet ground thoroughly and was much needed for ground was very dry on top but not deep. Pa scraped cotton in orchard in morn and Willie finished barring off cotton in new 2nd Cane hollow (and last of our cotton) at 10 in morn with Dick. I plowed corn all morn in new SW corner and finished all that cut to old turnip ground part. Mrs Baker here all day and at night too and Lucy McGraw went home late in eve and Willie rode Hattie and went with her.
Sun. 9th. Bright but cloudy some all day with a pleasant S breeze and we had a little shower from SW at 3 to 4 in eve and bright late in eve. Mrs Baker went to Lewis' in morn at 9 1/2 and Pa at Clara's all day and Wiley came at 11 1/2 and he and Rena went home late in eve. B C here at 3 to 9 in eve and Willie rode Joe to Seymour's late in eve.
Mon. 10th. Cloudy some but bright and warm from S all morn and ground was rather too wet to work all day and thundershowers passed around all eve from 1 to 6 from SW and dropped rain several times here in eve. Willie scraped cotton on hilltop of Cherry cut in morn and on H ridge in eve and Pa in orchard all day. I plowed corn all morn in turnip ground part of new SW corner and I sowed the large peas (which Pa brought from Tigner's) there and I harrowed corn middles all eve on upper side of Persimmon cut and old pea ground in Cherry cut once to row with Hattie. The slow rain stopped us at 5 1/2 in eve.
Tue. 11th. Bright but cloudy and warm and a damp S wind all morn and till 2 3/4 in eve and we had a hard little shower then from S. Willie scraped cotton in Cherry cut till 2 3/4 in eve and Pa in orchard till then. I plowed corn on hilltop of Persimmon cut till 11 1/4 in morn and I harrowed corn middles in Persimmon cut and on upper side of Pine corner (once to row) at 1 1/2 to 2 3/4 in eve and rain ran me home at 3 in eve (nearly wet). I shelled some "big" peas at 3 1/4 to 5 1/4 in eve in barn.
Wed. 12th. Cloudy and ground very wet and dropped and sprinkled rain at 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 in morn from SW and quit and cloudy and threatening all morn and rained again in eve at 1 1/2 to 4 very slowly. Willie and I marked our 9 white pigs (6 males and 3 females) early in morn and I drove Hattie to cart to Cohen's at 7 3/4 to 11 1/4 in morn and got a bbl flour on credit and some other things which I paid for. Pa scraped some cotton in orchard in morn and finished there and Willie scraped some in morn in field and we didn't work in eve on account of rain. I shelled some "big" peas in barn in eve at 2 to 4 and finished them.
Thu. 13th. Bright but some dark clouds all morn from W of N and sun shined warm most of day and no rain today and clear late in eve and at night from W of N. Willie scraped cotton most of day in 2nd new Cane hollow and Pa scraped there in eve. Pa cut weed in yard most of morn. I worked on calf pasture fence most of morn by new gate at NW corner. I took down about a doz panels (rail fence) and put it up again with stakes at corners (on hillside just E of gate) and finished it by 9 3/4 in morn and I grabbled a bucket of Irish potatoes in old cowpen corner and cut up some wood by 11. I plowed corn in Persimmon cut with Hattie all eve and the ground was rather too wet in yellow clay part but plowed well where there was any soil. Nellie and Dixie scoured and sunned everything today.
Fri. 14th. Bright and warm most of morn and rained around in thundershowers at 11 to 3 from N and cooler in eve after 3 and bright. It dropped rain here at 1 1/2 and again at 2 1/2 to 3. I arose with a headache and took 5 pills (Pierce's) through the day and headache was bad at 9 to 12 1/2 but went nearly off late in eve. Pa and Willie scraped cotton all day in new 2nd Cane hollow and finished there. I plowed corn all morn in Persimmon cut on NE corner and in old pea ground on NE corner of Cherry cut and I harrowed corn middles in Pine corner most of eve once to row and finished there and last of our corn middles. Brother Breland dined here and went to Lewis' (walked) and came back late in eve and stayed all night.
Sat. 15th. Clear and cool early in morn and pleasant all day from N. Brother Breland got a sack of potatoe sets (yams) early in morn and went by Lewis' and got a pig there and went on home. Pa scraped cotton all morn on H ridge and Willie in Cherry cut and Willie had 4 men hands scraping in water hole cut and fence row cuts and on W side of Cherry cut all eve. I plowed corn all day with Hattie in pine corner. I began in hollow there and sowed my big peas in hollow early in morn. Rena and Miss Bertie K came in morn and Dixie and Bertie walked to Estina in eve and went to Seymour's at night and Buddy and Willie went there to fiddle.
Sun. 16th. Bright and cool early in morn but a pleasant day. Wiley came early in morn and Wiley and Rena went in Lewis' old buggy and Willie and Bertie in Wiley's buggy and B C and Dixie in her buggy and all went to Chapel in morn and returned at 2. I rode Hattie down in cow pasture and salted cattle and rode over Coon field in eve at 2 1/2 to 3 1/2. Wiley and Rena and Bertie went home late in eve.
Mon. 17th. Clear and cool and pleasant from N. Pa scraped cotton all day on SE part of H ridge and Willie on old Cane hollow. I plowed corn all day in Pine corner and on SE corner of Persimmon cut and finished all there but 5 rows. Ronaldson, an insurance agent, dined here and left at 2 1/2 and Mary Miller came here in eve from Lewis's and stayed all night.
Tue. 18th. Bright, nearly clear and cool in morn but warmer in eve and ground getting dry (just on top). Pa scraped cotton all day on H ridge and Willie on old Cane hollow and I plowed corn in Persimmon cut (5 rows there) and about 1/2 of old pea ground on poor NE part of Cherry cut and finished all of our corn (laying by) by 9 in morn and I barred off all of our potatoe patch on hilltop of H ridge and rebedded slip ground there and threw the dirt back to potatoes there (which I barred off) with 4 furrows and finished most of patch by late in eve. Dr. Therrel here at 1 to 2 1/2 and examined me for insurance company. Mary Miller went back to Lewis' in morn.
Wed. 19th. Bright and cool early in morn but some little clouds and warm in eve. Pa scraped cotton on H ridge all day and Willie in old Cane hollow all morn and part of eve and I finished plowing potatoes on H ridge in 1 1/2 hours early in morn and I plowed out all of sugar cane (first plowing) in NE corner of orchard with 4 furrows, both stubble and planted cane, by 11 in morn and I harrowed all of cotton middles in orchard (nearly 2 acres) once to row in eve. Rena and Miss Bertie K. came at 9 1/4 in morn and left at 4 1/4 in eve. Mrs. Katie Ogden and Beckie here most of day and Buford and Lucy McGraw came at 1 1/2 and left late in eve.
Thu. 20th. Bright and nearly clear all morn and little cool in morn but sun shined warm in eve and some little clouds and ground getting dry on top. I harrowed cotton middles twice to row in Coon field till 11 in morn and Willie plowed Dick there all day, molding cotton and breaking out middles 4 furrows to row. I drove Hattie to Dixie's buggy in eve and carried Nellie to Chester Henderson's and I went on to Cohen's and got 2 bu. meal and 5 lbs. coffee on credit and came back by Chester's and got Nellie and we got home at sunset or just before. Adah and Hattie W came at 1 1/2 from town. Pa scraped cotton all day in old Cane hollow.
Fri. 21st. Bright, nearly clear, and dry from N - a little cool in morn but warm in eve. I harrowed cotton middles in Coon field all day with Hattie, twice to row, and Willie plowed cotton there with 4 furrows with Dick and we cut our wire fence by field gate there and drove Lewis' bull out of his pasture into ours late in eve. Pa scraped cotton all day in old Cane hollow.
Sat. 22nd. Bright, nearly clear, and cool in morn and some clouds and warm in eve and getting dry. Willie plowed cotton all day in Coon field with Dick (4 furrows) and I harrowed cotton middles there all day with Hattie, twice to row, and finished late in eve. Pa scraped cotton all morn in old Cane hollow and finished last of our cotton and he walked to Clara's in eve and he walked to Sims' late in eve and brought a gal. of coal oil and got some papers.
Sun. 23rd. Bright but some dark clouds most of day and pleasant from SW but dry. B C came at 9 in morn and drove Miller to Dixie's buggy and carried her to Pinson place in eve and B C brought buggy back in night and left Dixie to stay a few days with Rena, Joe and Sallie and baby came at 10 1/2 and here till late in eve. Willie rode Joe to Clara's in morn and to Seymour's in eve and stayed till in night. I fixed seat of Dixie's buggy in morn with screws and tacks - it was all loose.
Mon. 24th. Bright and warm and dry but some dark clouds and signs of rain. Willie and I plowed cotton in Coon field with 4 furrows with Hattie and Dick all day. We found one of Lewis' cows in field there just after dinner and drove her out into Lewis' pasture (she broke in through wire). Pa went over cut of corn by front gate (both sides) and Gate cut too with hoe today. Mary Miller came here from Lewis' today and stayed all night.
Tue. 25th. Clear and a cool dry N breeze and no signs of rain. Pa went over corn in new SW corner with hoe all day. Willie and I finished plowing cotton (first time) in Coon field by 10 3/4 in morn and we plowed cotton on E side of orchard in eve and finished that side. Nellie and Mary Miller cooked today for a party to be given at Pinson place on next Wed night (Willie's birthday).
Wed. 26th. Clear and cool early in morn but sun shined warm and getting too dry. Willie and I plowed cotton on W side of orchard and finished there at 9 in morn and Willie didn't work anymore today (he is complaining). I harrowed cotton middles on H ridge twice to row at 9 to 11 in morn and again all eve and finished that cut. Pa went over all of corn in Pine corner and Persimmon cut and old pea ground in Cherry cut and finished last of our corn by 4 in eve and he walked to Clara's late in eve to stay all night. Buddy went to party at Pinson place and Willie drove Joe and carried Maxie Fugler to party late in eve. Mary Miller here all day and night again.
Thu. 27th. Clear and cool in morn (early) but sun shined quite warm at 11 in morn till 4 in eve and getting too dry. Pa came back from Clara's early in morn and he picked grass out of potatoe patch early in morn and he hoed some cotton in orchard in eve. Willie got home from party at Pinson place at 7 in morn and he and I drove Hattie and Joe to Lewis' wagon to Cohen's at 8 to 11 3/4 in morn and got 1000 lbs. of cotton seed meal (10 sacks) and horses wouldn't pull load up hill where our road goes into big road and we left wagon there and hauled the 10 sacks at one load on cart at 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 in eve to house and we hauled 20 more sacks from Cohen's in eve and put it out on roadside by H ridge and carried wagon to Lewis' and got home 1 hour by sun. Clara here most of day and Mary Miller still here. I rode Hattie down in cow pasture just after breakfast in morn and drove Neat cow home with a pale red heifer calf and fed her and left her in pen till just after dinner.
Fri. 28th. Bright, nearly clear, and cool early in morn but sun shined quite warm at 10 to 4 in eve but a pleasant S of W breeze and some clouds in eve and very dry. I led Hattie to cart out to road and got the 10 sacks of cotton seed meal (or rather got 6 sacks of it and left 6 there to put on H ridge cotton) and Willie drove Dick ahead of me to plow and Dick frightened at the sacks and ran home with the plow and on to cow pen and stopped but he broke the plow to pieces and cut both heels. Willie went in cow pasture and got Joe and Willie put out the "meal" and I molded cotton and Willie plowed out middles with Joe on H ridge balance of day after 8 1/2 in morn. Pa hilled cotton in orchard all day. Oscar Whetstone and Lucy McGraw came at 11 in morn and Oscar left in eve and Lucy stayed all night.
Sat. 29th. Bright and warm and dry but some rainy clouds and thunder in SW at 11 to 12 in morn and lightened in W and N at night. Willie and I put out "meal" and plowed cotton all morn with 4 furrows with Joe and Hattie. We finished H ridge at 8 1/2 in morn and plowed on hilltop of Cherry cut till 11. Pa hilled cotton in orchard in morn. I had a dull headache all day and night too and took 4 Pierce's pills through the day. Dixie and Rena came from Pinson place at 4 in eve. We didn't work in eve. Cousin Tom and Lucy came to Lewis' in morn and Tom stayed here all night. Mrs. Baker here all night.
Sun. 30th. Bright most of morn and a thunder cloud came up from S at 2 and we had a little shower at 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 and another thunder cloud came up at 6 and we had a good hard shower and enough to wet ground pretty well and much needed. Mrs. Baker and Seymour and Maxie F dined here. I rode Hattie and went as far as Neal hill with Rena at 4 to 5 1/2 in eve and met Wiley there on way home from his Pa's and he and Rena went on home in buggy together and led mule.
Mon. 31st. Bright and warm from N and no rain. Willie and I harrowed cotton middles once to row and Willie put out cotton seed meal and we plowed cotton with 4 furrows (first time) in Cherry cut all day with Hattie and Joe. Pa hilled cotton in orchard all day.