OCTOBER 1897
Fri. Oct. 1st. Bright, but some clouds and pleasant but very dry and wind from E and SE. Cohen sent 2 wagons early in morn and got 2 loads of cotton from new barn and left about 300 in there. Pa picked cotton most of day on H ridge and Willie and I picked in Cherry cut at 8 1/4 to 12 and Willie there all eve. I rode Hattie to Cohen's in eve and finished ginning my cotton by 3 and brought the seed back on 1 wagon and they hauled and weighed the 2 bales (445 and 500) late in eve and I sold to Charlie at 5 1/4 cts. on account and got home at dusk. Dixie drove up Rose cow with a red heifer calf from cow pasture late in eve.
Sat. 2nd. Bright, nearly clear, and dry and pleasant from E. Pa picked cotton all morn on H ridge and Willie and I all morn on W side of Cherry cut (fence row part). Nellie drove Hattie to Pinson place early to stay till tomorrow evening. Mrs. Baker was to go with her but "declined" and didn't. Pa walked to Clara's in eve. I packed some corn from old pea ground in eve and grabbled some potatoes on H ridge and cut up wood and drew water.
Sun. 3rd. Clear and cool early in morn, but a pleasant day and very dry - wind from SE. I gathered the Persian and Japan walnuts (about 80) just outside of front gate early in morn. I read most of morn and walked in cow pasture and salted horses and cattle at 1 to 2 1/2. B C and William McGraw came at 3 1/4 and Nellie returned from Wiley's at 5 1/4. William and wife left at sunset and B C at 8 1/2 at night.
Mon. 4th. Bright, nearly clear, and very dry and warm in eve. Pa and Willie picked cotton in Coon field all day and Nellie carried their dinner to them. I took Hattie and cart there early in morn and picked till 11 3/4 and brought all of our cotton home by 12 1/4 (weighed it in field) and I took cart in Pine corner and hauled about 3/4 of a full load of "nubbins" at 1 to 2 3/4 and took cart to Coon field and picked cotton till late and brought all of cotton home just before sunset.
Tue. 5th. Foggy till 9 in morn and bright and dry balance of day. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton in Coon field all day. I brought the cotton home just at 11 3/4 and carried dinner to Pa and Willie on cart and brought the cotton home again in eve with Hattie and cart. I had a dull headache in morn but better in eve and left me late in eve. Nellie picked some peas by front gate late in eve (and on yesterday eve too) for our chester boars.
Wed. 6th. Foggy and wet till 9 in morn and clear but smoky some and dry balance of day. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton all day in Coon field. I brought cotton home at 11 3/4 on cart and carried dinner to Pa and Willie before 1 and picked till late in eve.
Thu. 7th. Clear and cool and dry from NW. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton all day in Coon field. I brought cotton home at 11 3/4 on cart and carried dinner to Pa and Willie.
Fri. 8th. Bright, but cloudy some all day - quite cool early in morn but calm and warm after 11 in morn. Pa and Willie picked cotton in Coon field all day and I picked all morn till 11 1/4 and Wiley came out there then - he brought a load (15 bbls) of his corn from Pinson place and Rena came with him in buggy to stay a few days. I cleaned out our old barn and put his corn in there at 12 1/2 to 1 1/2 and Wiley went back. I hauled a full cartload of corn from lower part of Pine corner to feed on at 1 1/2 to 3 3/4 and hauled cotton from Coon field late in eve. Lewis ate supper here - he came to see me about Wyoming negroes disturbing the neighborhood.
Sat. 9th. Cloudy and foggy till 10 in morn and bright and warm from S in eve and thunder shower passed around late in eve but none here. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton in Coon field all morn. Jim brought a load of corn (13 bbls) for Wiley and put in old barn at 12 to 1 1/2. Pa walked to Clara's in eve and I drove Hattie to Cohen's in eve at 2 to 5. Mrs. Baker here all day. Willie rode Joe off at 2 in eve and didn't return till 3 in night. Wiley came at 7 1/2 at night and here all night.
Sun. 10th. Bright most of day but thundered and showered W of here at 11 1/2 to 1 but only dropped here at 1 - wind damp and from S and a thunder cloud came up in night and we had a good hard shower and much needed for it was very dry and dusty. Pa walked to Alice's in morn and carried her a red rooster. Wiley and Nellie drove Hattie to Jack Deloach's early and returned at dark and Wiley and Rena both here at night. I grabbled some yams on H ridge early in morn. Lewis and West here awhile in morn and Clara and her 2 little children here most of day. Willie and I walked to Lewis' in eve and had a prayer and song service (our Sunday School books didn't come).
Mon. 11th. Bright most of morn and a damp S breeze and clouded up at 11 1/2 and began to rain from SW with rolling thunder at 12 1/4 and lasted till 2 - a pretty good rain and quit and bright balance of eve but thundered in W and NW all eve and till 8 at night and came up from N then and we had a big rain at 8 to 9 with rolling thunder and I think wet the ground well and was much needed. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton in Coon field all morn and I brought cotton home with Hattie and cart at 11 3/4 and carried dinner back to Pa and Willie at 12 1/4 and rain began then and we came home through rain and got wet some. We picked cotton on H ridge after 3 1/2 in eve. Wiley and Rena went home in morn on our old buggy.
Tue. 12th. Bright and pleasant from SW and no rain. Pa and Willie packed and cut up some wood at 6 1/2 to 7 early in morn and I picked some peas for hogs by front gate then. We went to Coon field at 7 in morn and there all day picking cotton. I brought cotton home with Hattie and cart at 11 3/4 and carried dinner to Pa and Willie at 12 1/2.
Wed. 13th. Bright and warm from S all day and rained a little shower in night some time. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton in Coon field all day. I hauled a cartload (not quite full) of corn from new SW corner by wire fence at 1 to 3 in eve. I hauled the cotton from Coon field at 11 3/4 and again late in eve and Dixie carried dinner to Pa and Willie at 12. I had a dull headache all morn and pretty bad all eve till late in eve and it got better after sunset but lasted all night but I rested pretty well. I took 3 pills (Pierce's) at 12 and 1 at 3 in eve.
Thu. 14th. Bright and warm with a S of E breeze all day. My headache lasted till 12 and left me. I took 2 more pills early in morn. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton all day in Coon field. I brought our cotton home on cart at 11 3/4 and carried dinner to Pa and Willie at 12 1/2 and brought cotton again late in eve on cart.
Fri. 15th. Bright and warm from SE. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton in Coon field all day. I brought our cotton home with Hattie and cart at 11 1/4 and carried dinner to Pa and Willie at 12 1/2 and brought cotton home again late in eve.
Sat. 16th. Clear and pleasant from NE. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton in Coon field all morn. Pa walked to Clara's in eve. Willie and I hauled a cartload of corn from new SW corner by wire fence at 1 to 2 1/2 in eve and I grabbled about 3 pecks of yams on H ridge (hilltop) and cut up wood and picked some peas by front gate for chester boar pig in eve.
Sun. 17th. Bright but some clouds and pleasant wind from S of E. Nellie and Mrs. Baker drove Hattie to Pinson place in morn and returned at dusk. I got some pecans off the tree by SE corner of garden early in morn and sent some cane and pecans to Rena. Willie rode Joe to chapel in morn and returned at night. Dixie and I walked to Lewis' in eve at 3 to 5 1/4 and had Sunday School there. Sims here late in eve and B C here till 8 1/4 at night and Mrs. Baker stayed all night.
Mon. 18th. Bright till 10 in morn and clouded up from E and rained around in slow showers at 11 1/2 to 12 and most of eve but only sprinkled a little here several times and had a little hard one just before sunset. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton in Coon field all day. I brought cotton home with Hattie and cart at 11 3/4 and carried dinner to Pa and Willie at 12 1/4 and got home with cotton on cart just before the rain late in eve.
Tue. 19th. Cloudy all day and a little breeze from SE early in morn and warm and grass wet all morn and a gentle breeze from W of N in eve and bright and cooler late in eve. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton in Coon field all day. I hauled cotton at 11 3/4 and carried dinner to Pa and Willie at 12 1/4. I came home with cotton a little earlier than usual and picked some peas by front gate for chester boar and cut up some wood. Nellie and Mrs. Baker drove Bonney to Cohen's in morn and returned at 1. Bro. Breland and wife came to Lewis' late on yesterday eve to stay a few days and Sister Breland spent the eve here and walked back to Lewis' late in eve.
Wed. 20th. Bright and cool from N. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton all day in Coon field. Willie and I finished the SW corner by 11 3/4 in morn and we picked in NW corner in eve. Pa is picking in middle cut of the field. All of us but Pa walked to Lewis' at 7 to 9 at night and Bro. Breland preached there.
Thu. 21st. Bright and quite cool early in morn, but wind from SE and warmer in eve and some dark spots of clouds. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton all day in Coon field. I hauled the cotton at 12 and carried dinner to Pa and Willie and hauled it again late in eve. Mrs. Baker here all day and night too. Bro. Breland and wife came at dusk from Woodville and ate supper here and all of us but Pa and Mrs. Baker went to Lewis' at 7 to 9 1/4 and had a sermon on sanctification. I had a dull headache all day and all night too and was sick at my stomach at night but didn't vomit any. I took 2 pills early in morn and 2 more at 12.
Fri. 22nd. Bright and pleasant from W of N. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton in Coon field all day. I hauled our cotton at 11 3/4 and carried dinner to Pa and Willie and hauled cotton again late in eve. My headache left me at noon.
Sat. 23rd. Bright, nearly clear, and quite cool early in morn but a pleasant and dry day from N. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton in Coon field all morn. Pa walked to Clara's in eve and Willie rode Joe to town to see John Fosselman about buying old Gipsy and Cherry and the old bull (stag) and Willie returned at dusk. I hauled in a full cartload of corn from old turnip ground part of new SW corner with Hattie and grabbled some yams on H ridge in eve.
Sun. 24th. Clear and quite cool early in morn but a beautiful and pleasant day and getting very dry again. I picked some peas by front gate for Chester boar and shucked corn and cut up some wood early in morn and rode Hattie to Pinson place at 8 1/2 to 10 in morn and returned just before sunset. Willie rode Joe to Union church in morn and B C and Dixie drove Miller to her buggy and went and Tom Morris came back with them and dined here and all of them went to Lewis' in eve and had Sunday School.
Mon. 25th. Clear and dry and quite cool early in morn but a pleasant day after 10 in morn. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton in Coon field most of day. John Fosselman came there in pasture at 10 1/2 to 11 1/2 and we sold old Gipsy and Cherry and Rena's little "palsied " muley heifer to him for $21 (cash). I drove Hattie and cart to Lewis' late in eve and brought Mrs Baker's 2 trunks here.
Tue. 26th. Bright but some clouds after 10 in morn and quite cool early in morn but wind from SE and warmer in eve. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton in Coon field all day in NW corner. I hauled our cotton at 11 3/4 with Hattie and cart and carried dinner to Pa and Willie by 12 1/2.
Wed. 27th. Dark, cloudy most of morn and bright and pleasant in eve and thundered in W late in eve and at night. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton in NW corner of Coon field all day. I picked there all morn and brought our cotton home on cart at 12 and rode Hattie to Cohen's at 1 1/2 to 4 and carried 2 letters to Office for Mrs Baker (1 to Joe Johnson and 1 to Fred Leak about a school). I picked some peas by front gate late in eve for hogs. Nellie walked to Clara's in morn and there all day.
Thu. 28th. Cloudy and damp atmosphere and calm all morn and wind came up gently from N all eve and dropped rain some in morn and some in eve and cool late in eve and brighter. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton all day in Coon field. I picked there all morn and brought cotton home at 12 and carried dinner to Pa and Willie on Hattie at 12 1/2 to 1 1/4 and I hauled a full cart load of corn from new SW corner and grabbled some yams on hilltop of H ridge in eve.
Fri. 29th. Cloudy and quite cool early in morn and bright and nearly clear and pleasant from N after 10 in morn and dry. Pa, Willie and I picked cotton in Coon field in NW corner all morn and finished there, 1st picking over, all but 3 or 4 short rows and I brought our cotton home with Hattie and cart at 12. Mrs Baker and Dixie drove Hattie to town in eve and Mrs Baker secured "The Pioneer School" from Joe Johnson. Pa, Willie and I began to pick peas in eve. We picked all eve in bottom of Pine corner (big peas) and threshed out all picked - nearly a half bbl of seed ones.
Sat. 30th. Bright and quite cool early in morn but cloudy and wind from SE in eve and sun didn't shine much in eve and wind blew high from E at midnight and again just before daylight and rained some slowly through the night. Pa, Willie and I picked "big peas" in hollow in Pine corner till 11 in morn and I cut up some wood and picked some peas by front gate for Chester boar by 12. Pa walked to Clara's in eve and Willie drove Joe to Dixie's buggy to town in eve and got a new buggy harness for Dixie. I drove Hattie to cart to Pine corner at 1 in eve to thresh out all of the peas which we picked in morn (and left there to dry) but B C and Dickie C came there after me just as I began threshing and I brought the peas home in hull, in oat sacks, and rode Hattie on to Sims' and he and I went to Mr. Dick Chambers' and on to Womack's and settled a difficulty between Bob F and John C and I got home at dusk. I had a dull headache most of day (in left side) and it seemed better late in eve but lasted all night and I slept but little.
Sun. 31st. It rained slowly all morn (from before day) from SE and till 2 in eve and quit and wind changed to NW at 3 and dropped rain from there balance of eve and through the night and turned cooler. Pa and I picked up nearly a peck of pecans through the day (blown off by the hard wind last night). I kindled a fire in Pa's room at 10 in morn - the 1st time since last spring, and cut up some wood then. Willie drove Hattie to Pinson place at 2 1/4 to 7 in eve and carried Nellie there to stay awhile. Phil Mc Whorter came at 3 1/2 in eve to tell Pa that Alice is sick. Lewis and Tigner D here awhile late in eve at 4 to 5.