MAY 1900
Tue. May 1st. Bright and pleasant and a breeze from NE. Pa hoed corn most of day in orchard and Rose hoed corn all day on H ridge. Willie barred off corn all day in new SW corner with Dan. I planted yams on hilltop of H ridge most of day and finished all of patch prepared on yesterday by 5 in eve. Cousin Mary and Nellie drove Bonnie to Lewis' buggy to Mrs James' in eve and Rena and baby stayed here at night.
Wed. 2nd. Bright and a little cool early in morn but sun shined warm after 9 in morn and a dry breeze from N. Pa hoed corn in orchard most of day and Susan and her 2 girls, Dawn and Net, and Rose and Freeman James hoed corn all day on H ridge and in old Cane hollow. Willie broke ground most of day in Luckett field with Dan and Salome. I hauled out 4 cart loads of cow manure and put on hilltop of H ridge and finished manuring all of potatoe patch there by 9 in morn and I rebedded last of it by 10 with Joe and cut some yams till 11 3/4 and I planted last of patch and finished it late in eve. I put 19 cart loads of cow manure on patch in all - about 250 bus. Cousin Mary and Nellie returned from Mrs James' late in eve. I had a dull headache most of day but it left me in eve.
Thu. 3rd. Bright and dry and pleasant from N. Pa finished hoeing corn in orchard in morn and walked to Clara's and back in eve to let them know that I have some yam seed for them. Willie broke ground in Luckett field most of day. He has been sick for several days and we think he has measles. The same five hands that hoed corn on yesterday hoed today. I barred off corn with Joe till 10 in morn - some in new SW corner and some in old whip pea ground and I picked out all of good seed yams in potatoe house, about 5 bus., for Wiley and Clara at 10 to 12 and I drove Joe to cart to Wiley's early after dinner and carried some cotton seed to Coon field and Wiley and I planted cotton there all eve. We began at gate.
Fri. 4th. Clear and cool early in morn and dry and pleasant from NW. Pa hoed sugarcane stubble most of day and finished orchard. Willie broke ground in Luckett field most of morn but didn't work in eve on account of being sick. 5 hands hoed corn in new SW corner today and Willie paid them up late in eve. Wiley and I planted cotton most of day in Coon field. Aunt Margaret washed for Nellie in morn. Willie had good deal of fever at night and didn't sleep much and kept Nellie up till 11 at night.
Sat. 5th. Bright and cool early in morn but wind from W of S and pleasant and some clouds in eve. Pa hoed sugarcane stubble in morn and walked to Clara's and back in eve. Wiley rode Joe and led Dan to Mrs James' in morn and brought Minnie home by 2 in eve. She had been out there since last Sat eve. Willie lay in bed all day with some fever (with measles). I walked in cow pasture early in morn and drove up Fanny mule to Wiley's lot and caught her and led her down in Coon field and got the cart. We left it there with cotton seed in it on yesterday and I put the seed in 3 sacks and left them there and brought a cart nearly full of wood and Wiley's breadcorn home by 8 1/2 and I shelled 3 1/2 bus of breadcorn and shucked some corn and cut up some wood and washed and changed my clothes by 12 and I drove Fanny to cart to Cohen's in eve and carried 5 doz eggs for Rena and got 2 yards of oil tablecloth and I got home before sunset (nearly 1 hour).
Sun. 6th. Bright and pleasant with a S wind most of day. I walked in cow pasture early in morn and tried to catch Joe, or drive him up, but couldn't and Wiley caught Dan at his lot and I rode Dan to town for Dr. Magruder at 12 1/2 to 3 in eve (for Willie, he was quite sick all day with fever and vomiting and purging) and the Dr. came at sunset. Dan here awhile in eve and Seymour and Buddy and Tigner D here at dark awhile. Willie was sick most of night with vomiting caused by the medicine which the Dr. left him, and we slept very little at night.
Mon. 7th. Bright, but cloudy some, and warm with a breeze from SW and appearance of rain today. Willie lay in bed all day, but had no fever today and seems to be better. Pa hoed in sugar cane stubble in morn and finished it and he hoed in his cotton on hollow in orchard in eve. I rode Joe to Wiley's early in morn and he and I planted cotton in Coon field all day and finished SW corner, and little middle cut, and some just N of there by creek. Bernice was sick some today and yesterday too.
Tue. 8th. Cloudy and warm early in morn and a thundercloud came up from W at 8 1/2 in morn and we had a good soaking rain with some little hail and wind at 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 and rained slowly till 12 and bright and warm in eve. We needed the rain very much. Wiley and I planted cotton in Coon field till 8 in morn and went to Wiley's by 8 1/4 and I stayed there till 11 1/4 and came on home. Bernice was sick again today - we don't know whether she has measles or chills and fever. I rode Joe in Luckett field just after dinner and brought Willie's plow and gears home - they have been there since last Fri. - and I brought some dewberries in a paper sack from Luckett field and I went back in our field and gathered a basket of dewberries and carried part of them to Rena late in eve.
Wed. 9th. Bright and pleasant from N. Pa hoed in his cotton in orchard most of day and I scraped potatoes on hilltop of H ridge all morn till 11 1/2 and finished all of those planted first time (about 1/3 of patch) and I barred off cotton in Gate cut with Joe most of eve. Nellie at Wiley's all day and at night too (Bernice is sick). Willie up all day and seems to be getting well fast.
Thu. 10th. Clear and pleasant from N. Pa hoed cotton in hollow in orchard all day. I barred off cotton and late corn (on old pea ground) all day with Joe. I finished Gate cut of cotton by 9 in morn and the corn by 2 1/2 in eve and finished all of old cotton on hilltop of Cherry and Persimmon cuts by late in eve. John Calloway (an agent) from Centreville here to dinner. Nellie came home from Wiley's at 1 in eve. Bernice seems better today. Freeman Jones and 2 girls scraped cotton all day in Gate cut.
Fri. 11th. Clear, and cool early in morn, but wind from S and a beautiful and pleasant day. Pa hoed in his cotton in hollow in orchard and Freeman Jones and 2 girls scraped cotton all day - they finished Gate cut at 11 in morn and scraped balance of day on hilltop of Persimmon and Cherry cuts. Willie scraped with them a little while in morn and again in eve some. I barred off cotton all day with Joe and finished all in Pine corner and in Persimmon cut and cut by front gate (Pa's cotton) by late in eve. I had a dull headache all of yesterday and last night and till noon today and it left me. Bernice is better today.
Sat. 12th. Cloudy some all day and warm from SW and rained a little shower SW of here just after sunrise, but none here and bright till late in eve and a thundershower came up from SW just before sunset but only dropped here. Pa hoed in his cotton in hollow in orchard in morn and walked to Clara's and back in eve. Willie scraped cotton part of morn on hilltop of Cherry cut and he rode Dan to town in eve to see John Fosselman about buying some cattle. I drove Joe to plow to Wiley's early in morn and helped him to bar off corn all morn in Coon field. Wiley looked all day for some hands to come hoe corn but they didn't. I plowed Irish potatoes and planted cotton in water furrows of patch and I plowed the 8 rows of planted cane too in NE corner of orchard in eve.
Sun. 13th. Bright and sun shined all day and a pleasant breeze from SE. Nellie walked to Wiley's in morn and brought Bernice back with her at 9 in morn and Nellie and Bernice and I walked in our field and got some dewberries and huckleberries at 9 to 10 1/2 and Nellie made a pie for dinner and sent some to Wiley and Rena - they are not well today. Nellie took Bernice home in eve and stayed at Wiley's at night. I salted all of cattle just beyond Wiley's late in eve.
Mon. 14th. Bright and pleasant in morn but warm in eve and some clouds. Pa scraped in his cotton in hollow in orchard in morn and finished there and he scraped by front gate in eve. I drove Joe to cart to Wiley's early in morn and got a load of cotton seed and carried them to Luckett field and Willie and I planted cotton there all morn in middle part and lower part. Robert James came at 11 in morn for Minnie (her Ma is very low) and Minnie and Ida drove Seymour's mare, Daisy, to Dixie's buggy and went there in eve. John Fosselman came at 1 and bought 2 red cows and 1 little heifer from me (at old Coon house). He paid me $27 for the 3 and he paid Wiley $7.50 for Kate's brown (Jersey) bull yearling. Willie rode Dan to town in eve to see about Buddy, he is sick at John Lowrey's and I rode Joe to Luckett field and brought the cart of seed home.
Tue. 15th. Bright and warm most of day but a pleasant breeze from S and thundered and rained in SW (in sight) late in eve. Pa scraped in his cotton by front gate most of day. Wiley and Willie and I planted cotton most of morn in Luckett field and finished and last of our cotton. Rena and baby here all day. Willie broke ground in Luckett field (on lower side) in eve with Dan and Salome and I harrowed all of corn and sugar cane middles in orchard with Joe twice to row.
Wed. 16th. Bright and warm (but cloudy some) all morn and till late in eve and a cloud came up at 6 1/4 in eve and rained a good hard shower with some little thunder at 6 1/4 to 7 1/2 in eve. Willie broke ground in Luckett field with Dan and Salome till 8 1/2 in morn and came home then with toothache. John Fosselman and his 2 yellow boys came at 10 and Willie and Wiley helped them to get the 4 head of cattle (bought on Mon.) out of pasture on creek and Willie sold old Kitty's red yearling on account of sucking his mother (she has a young calf) and they took him too. Bro. Crisler here to dinner and left at 2. Pa scraped in his cotton by front gate today. Freeman Jones and Caroline and Sidney J hoed corn here today and finished new SW corner and most of old pea ground. I harrowed corn middles all morn and till 5 3/4 in eve on H ridge and in old Cane hollow, twice to row with Joe and I milked cows in rain late in eve and got nearly wet with my overcoat on. Rena and baby came early in eve and stayed here all night on account of rain.
Thu. 17th. Bright early in morn but began to rain around in thunder showers at 8 and rained here at 10 1/2 to 2 in eve, a big rain in all. I fixed water gap early in morn and packed some wood and wrote a letter to Advocate (to send money in) and I packed and cut up some wood in eve. I had sick stomach and gripping pains in bowels all day and some fever late in eve and at night. Willie rode Salome to Mrs. James' in morn and returned at 9 at night. Wiley rode Goulden to town in morn and returned late in eve. Rena and baby here all day but went home in eve late. Pa is unwell today too.
Fri. 18th. Bright and some sun shined all day and a gentle breeze from W and no rain, but thundered far off all eve. Willie scraped cotton in Persimmon cut in eve and Freeman Jones too. I rode Joe by Clara's and carried our tax lists to Buddy, and I went on to Cohen's and sent 8 dollars to N.O. Advocate - which is my subscription to Jan. 1901 (and 3 years past too) and I got a new well rope and some other things and paid for all and returned at 11 1/4. I barred off cotton most of eve in Luckett field with Joe. Pa scraped some cotton by front gate in eve.
Sat. 19th. Bright, but dark rainy clouds most of day, and very warm all day and thundered around and rained in sight some in morn and some in eve and near here at 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 at night. Pa scraped some of his cotton by front gate in morn and some in eve. I barred off cotton in Luckett field all morn and till 5 1/2 in eve with Joe and finished all of first planted there, about 4 acres on upper side and Willie and Freeman and Caroline Jones scraped there in morn and Willie acraped part of eve in Persimmon cut.
Sun. 20th. Bright and pleasant from N but thundered and rained around some in eve far off. Pa walked to Clara's in morn and returned late in eve. Willie rode Dan to Mrs. James' early in morn and didn't return at night as we expected. S. Cumbo was murdered on yesterday eve and B C and Seymour and Wiley went to Ferguson's in morn and returned late in eve. I walked to Lewis' early in morn and carried some papers and I came by Wiley's and Rena and baby came back with me at 9 in morn and here till late in eve.
Mon. 21st. Cloudy some all day and thundered around some in eve but no rain here. Freeman and Caroline scraped cotton in Pine corner and some in Persimmon cut today. I barred off cotton in 3rd Cane hollow till 11 1/4 in morn and I plowed corn and cane in orchard all eve with Joe. Pa finished his cotton by front gate (scraping it) and hoed some in garden in morn and he thinned corn in orchard in eve. We looked all day for Willie to return from Mrs. James' but he didn't.
Tue. 22nd. Bright and warm in morn and cloudy and sultry in eve and looked very much like rain but didn't. I barred off cotton in 3rd Cane hollow till 9 in morn and finished there and I plowed corn and cane in orchard balance of day (with Joe). Pa hoed in garden in morn and thinned corn in eve. Willie and Minnie came home at 12 1/2. Mrs. Comfort died on Sunday night and was buried on yesterday eve.
Wed. 23rd. Bright and warm from NW and no rain. Pa thinned corn in old Cane hollow most of day. Sims came with a wagon early in morn and got 10 bu. of big peas. Willie drove Robert James' mare and buggy back to Mrs. James' in morn and returned on Dan at 2 in eve. I finished plowing corn in orchard by 8 in morn and I plowed corn on H ridge balance of day with Joe and the wire grass was thick and strong and the boat corn was small and it was bad plowing all day.
Thu. 24th. Bright and cool early in morn but sun shined warm all day and a pleasant breeze from NW and no signs of rain. Pa hoed in his cotton in hollow in orchard and Willie broke ground in Luckett field in morn with Dan and Salome and again in eve awhile and the horses ran off with plow and broke one of handles off and some of irons off doubletree and one of singletrees and Willie fixed plow and took Dan and finished breaking ground there in eve. I plowed corn with Joe most of day on H ridge and finished there and plowed a little in old Cane hollow late in eve. Nellie lay in bed sick all morn but up in eve. Rena and baby here all of yesterday and today too.
Fri. 25th. Bright and cool early in morn but sun shined warm most of day and dry and calm. I drove Joe to cart to Luckett field early in morn and carried harrow and jug of water and some seed corn and Willie and I planted corn there on lower side till 4 1/2 in eve and finished (about 3 acres). Willie opened with Dan and I sowed part of corn and Willie some and I covered with Joe to harrow. Willie barred off cotton awhile late in eve there and I came home and shelled some breadcorn (about 1 1/2 bu) late in eve.
Sat. 26th. Bright and cool early in morn but warm in eve and dry. Willie barred off cotton in Luckett field part of morn and molded cotton in Gate cut balance of day with Dan. I rode Joe in cow pasture early in morn and drove up Neat (cow) with a red heifer calf and fed and milked her and I shelled 2 1/2 bu of seed corn, making 4 bu with what I shelled on yesterday eve, and I packed and cut up some wood and walked to Wiley's and got Fanny mule and his corn by 11 1/2 and I drove Fanny to cart to Cohen's in eve and carried the corn and got meal for it at store and got 50 lbs. of sugar for us on credit and some other things which I paid for and got home 1/2 hour by sun.
Sun. 27th. Bright and warm and dry, but a pleasant breeze from SE and thundered in NE late in eve. Wiley rode Fanny to his Pa's early in morn and returned late in eve. I grabbled a few Irish potatoes in NE corner of orchard early in morn and I walked to Wiley's and Rena and baby came back with me and here till late in eve. West here most of day and we had some cakes for dinner (Willie's birthday) and Dan and Buddy and Gordon here in eve and ate some of cake late in eve.
Mon. 28th. Bright and quite warm all morn and till 3 in eve and rained around in thunder showers at 3 to 6 in eve and we had a little one at 5. Pa hoed in his cotton in hollow in orchard today and Willie molded cotton with Dan and he finished Gate cut and hilltop of Cherry cut and Persimmon cut and I plowed corn most of day in old Cane hollow with Joe - the rain ran us home at 4 3/4 in eve but Willie went back after rain and I packed and cut up some wood and helped Rena to milk.
Tue. 29th. Bright, but some dark clouds all morn and till 1 1/2 in eve (and very warm) and a thundercloud came up from E of S at 2 and we had a good rain with some thunder and wind from E of S at 2 to 2 3/4 (and much needed too). Nellie and Rena drove Fanny mule to Lewis' buggy to town early in morn and returned late in eve. Pa hoed in his cotton in hollow in orchard in morn and cut down some weeds in yard in eve. Willie molded cotton with Dan all morn in Persimmon cut and Pine corner and he scraped cotton in 3rd new Cane hollow part of eve. I plowed corn in old Cane hollow with Joe in morn and I fixed water gap in eve and scraped planted potatoes on hilltop of H ridge at 3 to 6 in eve and milked all of cows (6) late in eve.
Wed. 30th. Bright and warm, but some dark clouds all morn, and a thunder shower came up from SW and rained a little shower here at 11 3/4 to 2 (slowly) and a cloud came up from SW at 4 3/4 in eve and we had a heavy shower at 5 to 5 3/4. Willie plowed corn with Dan in 2nd Cane hollow most of morn and I plowed 3rd Cane hollow part of eve and I scraped potatoes on hilltop of H ridge till 4 3/4. Wiley drove Joe to Chester Henderson's buggy (which Nellie and Rena and baby came home in on yesterday) and carried the buggy home and got Lewis' buggy and went on to town and got a new set of harness and stuff to fill one buggy wheel and returned at dark.
Thu. 31st. Cloudy and rained in little showers till 10 in morn and bright till 3 and showers passed around at 3 to 5 in eve but only sprinkled here. I scraped potatoes on hilltop of H ridge little while early in morn but rain ran me home at 8 and I worked on a new set of lowells cart harness balance of morn and I scraped potatoes all eve. Willie scraped cotton in 3rd Cane hollow at 2 to 4 1/2 in eve and rode Joe to Cohen's at 5 to 7 1/4 and got some samples of wallpaper and some other little things. I had a dull headache all of yesterday and part of day before too.