Thomas Rigmaiden's Diary 1851 Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana File submitted by Jan Craven and Connie Wise File prepared by Connie Wise NOTE: If you have information about any of the people mentioned in this diary, please contact Jan Craven at jcraven@usunwired.net ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ January, 1851 (Wednesday) 1 Frost. A. splitting rails. 2 Frost Ah splitting rails. E. & James returned. 3 Very hard frost. Mary Ann & Henry vent to Pental's. Splitting rails. 4 Another frost. Went to Pujo's, thence to Lambert's, not at home, thence to Arty's. 5 Thick fog & warm. Returned home. 6 Warm. Ah drove up speckled gang, 1 sow with 9 pigs. 7 Fine day. Adolph went to look for Nan's gang, did not fine them. 8 Some rain last night. Went to look for creek gang, not found. Adolph went to Austin's. 9 Very fine day. Look'g for hogs, found none. 10 Fine day Ah & Austin brot up creek gang. 11 Cloudy & Cold. Killed 3 large and one small barrow and one small sow out of the creek gang of hogs. 11 (?)Fine cold day. Cut up meat. Sukey here last night. Found nan's gang 1 sow and 5 pigs. 13 Frost. Looklg for nan's gang again, found the speckled sow with 5 pigs. Did not find the rest. 13 Frost, Adolph splitting rails. Hauling rails to the field fence. 14 A little frost. A. splitting rails. Hauling manure in the field. 15 Fine day. Finished hauling what manure I had in the field. Wrote a letter to my Sister Bess. 16 Warm wth hard S. Wind. Sent my letter to Jacob by Jake. 17 Cloudy cold day. Planted three beds of onions. Got up Nan's gang, no pigs with them. Our potatoes finished yesterday. 18 A hard freeze. Killed three barrows, let Adolph have the small crt. 19 Another freeze. Cut up meat. Elizabeth came here wh Jas. 20 Fine warm day. Adolph finished splitting 1000 rails for me. Planted out what onions I had. 20 Partially cloudy & warm. Ah and Onlezime went to Margan's. Hauling rails. 21 Appearance of rain. 22 A nice light rain. Hauled rails in the forenoon. Cutting logs. 23 Rain last night & this forenoon. Ah went to Austin's. Turned Fanny out. Found Nan's gang, no pigs. 24 Cleared off cool. 25 Fine day. E. came fm the lake & returned. Hauled two loads light wood. 26 Fine. Cutting & Burn'g logs. 27 Cloudy. Cutting logs in the field and hauling rails. 28 Some rain last night. Employed as yesterday. John Smart passed by here. 29 Rain yesterday eveng and the day cold. Trimming peach trees. The cart taken to Adolph's to haul manure. 30 A little frost. Trim'g trees. 31 Cold dry day. Cut mulberry tree down at the old house. Peas finished. FEBRUARY (Saturday) 1 Very find day. Hauled two loads light wood. Burning logs about home. 2&3 Rain these two days; and no sun. E. came from the lake on foot. 4 Cleared off at 12 m. Trimming peach trees. James and Filoneeze at Adolph's. 5 A hard frost. Employed as yesterday. 6 Frost. Went to Jacob's in company with Onlize. Deposited a letter to A. W. Makin for the $5.00 which entitles me to a Subscription for 4 years ending 3rd June, 1855. 7&8 Fine days. Returned home. Stopped last night at Wm. Smith's son. 9 A very hard rain. 10 Cold day. Jas. & F. at Adolph's. Made out Mr. Adam's account amounting to $28.76. (no 1lth day) 12 Threatening rain. Eliza, Adolph and Onlizime went to the prairy. Sent my accnt of $28.00 to Jacob ? order. 13 Rain most of the day. Hauled some rails. Clearing in the field. 14 Cloudy with some rain. FZE. hauling rails. Planted a few fig trees. Employed as yesterday. Filoneeze and Mary Ann wash'g. 15 Cleared off cold. Put a few log heaps together and set fire to them. E. killed a deer. 16 A smart freeze and very cold wind. At home reading. 17 A hard frost. Cut logs in the clearing, rolled them together, and set fire to them, assisted by Onlizime. 18 Cloudy. Adolph commenced fallowing old ground. Fixing fence. Hoed onions. Planted & few Irish Potatoes, beans and a few hills of Yellow corn. Made a burn. 19 Some rain with hard S. wind. Clean'g field. burn'g logs. Sukey warped a piece of cloth. 20 Rain all day. SukeY went home. No work. 21 Cleared off, partially cloudy. Planted 4 hills boule gourd, a few live oak acorn seed. A-h plough'g. Repairing fence. 22 Warm in the even'g. A. plough'g in the forenoon. Cutting stalks. Putting up fence. 23 Rain. Commenced on the last row of corn. At home reading all day. 24 Very fine day. Plough'g with peacock and the oxen. Spare hands cutting corn stalks. 25 Fine day. ( ? ) Finished ploughing and cutting corn stalks in the clearing. 26 Cloudy, warm and some rain. Adolph went home. Antoine with him, also Jas. E. & Henry fixing cow pens: broke cart wheel hauling rails. 27 Very warm, with hard S. wind & some rain. At Adolph's burning brush; he and Jem plough'g. 28 A remarkable cold day, with rain, sleet & snow; cleared off at 1 P.M. No work today. March (Saturday) 1 Some frost last night. Cleaning about the old house. Jas. & Henry at Adolphs. 2 Hard frost. Fliza & Mary Ann went to Mrs. Alston's. At home reading. 3 Another frost. Planted a bed with onions got fm. Mr. Alston's. All hands at Adolph's. Engaged Antoine to work at $8.00 per month. 4 A hard frost. Adolph, James, Mr. Alston & Onlizime went to the prairy. I did not feel well enough to go. Antoine cutting blocks for pasture. 5 Some rain. Adolph returned. Antoine cutting blocks for pasture fence. 6 Cold rain all day. 7 Cloudy. Antoine and James went to the prairy. 8 Frost. Adolph rolled his logs in big field. 9 A light frost. Killed barrow out of speckled gang. 10 Very fine day. Eliza and M.A. went to Mrs. Alston's. J & A returned last night; the latter cutting blocks today. Cleaning and cutting corn stalks at the old house. 11 A pleasant day. Finished cutting corn stalks. A. ploughing for corn. Antoine splitting stakes. 12 Continues pleasant. Sowed tobacco seed. Adolph planting corn in little field. A-ne splitting stakes. E. went to Mr. Alston's. 13 A wet day, Adolph could not plant today. Antoine splitting stakes part of the day. Planted butter beans and some English peas. 14 Cleared off. A-h planting corn. Opened slip heap above cabil. Hoeing in the orchard. Antoine finished splitting stakes, and made two troughs. 15 A little rain in the mor'g & cleared off. Antoine went to Temples. Adolph finished planting his little field, then came here, ploughed cow pen, & sowed tobacco seed, in the even'g commenced planting at the old house. Hoed a little in the orchard. E. went a fish'g at night. 16 Fine day. Went to Mr. Alston's with the intention of going with him to town; he had started. 17-19 Fine days. At the court house. Adolph planting corn and potatoes in old and new ground. 20 Somewhat cloudy. Returned on my way home as far as Pantal's, thence home on the 21st. on which day Adolph finished planting my field. 22 Very fine day: a little rain last night. James planting cotton and pop corn, and harrowed corn behind the old house, Eugene and Elizabeth came here. 23&24 A little frost this morng (24). James harrowing. Adolph went to Austin's to plough. Got 1/2 of a 3 year old beef fm Onlezime. Antoine hauling rails this evening. 25&26 Fine days. At the prairy. Gave my note to Pujo for $110.00 Antoine hauling rails and putting up pasture fence. 27 Fine day. Antoine employed as yesterday. 28&29 Partially cloudy. Antoine went to John Cole's. Hands working at Adolph's. 30 Appearance of rain. Antoine went to take Laurinda home. 31 A fine rain last night. Edward & James went below to bring the flour etc. up. Planted guinea corn at the old house & hoed out english peas. E. & M. A. at Pantal's. April (Tuesday) 1 Fine day. Hilling up Irish potatoes. Eliza returned. Pantal very sick. H-y at Adolph's. 2 Some rain. The boys returned in Lambert's skiff. Hauled flour, coffee etc. home. Finished hilling Irish potatoes. 3 A very cold rain. Antoine finished pasture fence, planted some cabbage plants & lettuce. Jas. & Hy at Adolph's. 4 Cloudy. Replanted beans at old house. A. fixed rice patch fence. James went for the plough at Frank's. Commenced butchery by 0. 5 Some rain last night, day fine. Antoine went to Mr. Alston's in Edward's place. 6 Fine pleasant day. Antoine returned. James & Henry assisted Eugine to drive my young beeves & some of his cows to the prairy. Planted a ridge of small tobacco plants. 7 Cloudy with rain. Antoine, James & Henry at Adolph's; he commenced laying off his big field's plant. Replanting corn at the old house. 8 Cleared off pleasant. Antoine, James & Hy It Adolph's. Finished replantg & sowed pumpkins. 9 Fine pleasant day. All hand, at Adolph's replanting old ground. E. went to Mr. Alston's. 10 Fine day. All hands employed as yesterday. Replanting new ground. 11 Very pleasant. Antoine & Henry at Adolph's. Finished replanting. James went to Mr. Alston's to meet him with his cattle. 12 Some rain. Adolph finished plantg big field. Sowed pumpkin seed. 13 Very fine day. Antoine went to the prairy. At home reading. 14&15 Cool pleasant day. Cleaning rice patch. Hoeing & thinning cotton. Jas returned. 16 Fine pleasant day. Penned Mr. Alston's cattle in the rice patch. Hoeing at the old house. 17 Continues pleasant. Penned again at night. Edward's grey mare got away. 18&19 Both fine days. Turned cattle loose. E. & James looking for the mare. 20 A little rain. Killed a 3 year old beef got from Mr. Alston for the butchery yesterday. 21 A pleasant cool day. E. on ball looking for his mare. Hands hoeing at Adolph's. 22 A very cold rain all day. No work done. 23 A cool pleasant day. James Hy. & Filoneeze at Adolph's hoeing little field. Stuck butter beans & did some hoeing. 24 Partially cloudy. James & Henry at Adolph's. Hoeing & thinning corn by myself. 25 Some rain last night; the day fine. All hands employed as yesterday. 26 Fine day. Thinning & hoeing corn. Adolph & E. went with Mr. Alston a cow hunting. 27 A fine shower this evening. At home reading. Eugine & Elizabeth here. 28 Very warm day. All hands replanting corn in big field. Hoeg & thinning corn. 29 Another warm day. Ah- & James started with Labert's skiff. Employed as yesterday. 30 Fine day. Adolph returned. Hands and myself employed as yesterday. May (Thursday) 1 A cold day & pleasant. Adolph & James ploughg corn behind the old house. 2 Very pleasant day. A & J ploughing, thinning and hoeing corn in the clearing. Received a letter from my Sister Lucy by Adolph. 3 A very hard beating rain. Adolph & Henry went to Cole's for the butchery meat. They returned in the hardest of the rain. James went with Eugene, they took my black stud. No work. 4 A hard rain last right. The day pleasant. At home reading. 5 A pleasant day. James returned; he and Adolph ploughing in the clearing; other hands hoeing. Gave Antoine an order on Pujo for $2.00 - in all three. 6 Fine day. Hands ploughed as yesterday. Myself hoeing guinea corn & beans. 7 A little rain this morng. Adolph ploughed the rice patch & sowed a little rice. 8 A warm day. Ploughing cow pens. Hoeing potatoe hills. James took the plough to be sharpened. 9&10 Threatening rain. Finished hilling potatoes. Adolph at home. 13 Warm & dry. Adolph ploughed his little field. Finished hoeing tobacco. Eugene & Ed. came here. 14&15 Continues dry & warm. Went to the prairy in company with Ah & Onlezime, stopped at Pierre's. Ez went to Pujo's. 16 Fine day, but warm. Went to the prairy. Went to Pujo's thence to Moss's. Adolph & O-me went to the Lake in company with Alcendore. 17 A little shower. Adolph returned, only 21 head of mares & horses. 18-20 Very dry & warm, Adolph & Jas Ploughg in the big field. H. J & F-neeze hoeing. 21 Continues warm & dry. Hands employed as last two days. Elizabeth went home. 22&23 Both warm days. Adolph finished ploughing over his big field. H. & F. hoeing. Mr. Cole altered my little black on the 20th. Myself hoeing corn at home. 24 A little appearance of rain. All hands at Adolph's hoeing. Eugine came here. 25 Very dry & warm. Adolph killed a cow for the butchery. 26 Continues dry & warm. All hands hoeing at Adolph's. Commenced a letter to my Sister Lucy, dated 9th inst. 27 Still warm & dry. Finished my letter. Finished hoeing in the big field. 28 Hard rain at Mr 'Alston's, none here. Sent my letter to the office by Adolph & Austin. 29&30 Dry & very warm. Adolph returned brot me a barrel of pork & 4 bushels of corn. 31 Continues dry. Eugine & Elizabeth came to reside again in the pine woods, stopped their cart at Jacob's yesterday. Let Mr. Alston have half my brl pork weighg 186 1/2 lbs his share 93.14 lbs. Henry & Filoneeze went to the Prairey 20 lbs soap. June (Sunday) 1 Very warm & dry. H & F returned. Eugine brought up his cattle. Got some meat from Mr. Alston. 2 Still dry & warm. Adolph & Eugine lookg for his blue horse. H & Jas at Eugine's. Flies very bad. 3&4 Continues dry & very warm. Made two cow pens. Got butchery meat from Austins. 5 A little drizzle. Hoeing in the turning rows in the clearing. Corn twisting. 6& 7 Still dry & very warm. These two days hoeing in the new ground. HJ F-ze went to Pantal's. 8 A very fine rain in the evening. H J returned. At home reading. E. down at Pantal's. 9 A hard wind end rain at 2 A.M. hoed my tobacco. E. killed a large deer. Adolph and Eugene looking for the horses to plough, did not find them. Planted some tobacco. 10 St. Madar (?) failed sending us rain today. Planted peas & ploughing. W. Thilling brought me my newspapers. 11 Dry & Warm. Finished planting tobacco. Ploughg & sowing peas at the old house. 12 A little sprinkle, the day warm. Finished sowg peas in the old ground & commenced in the new. 13&14 Continues dry., Ploughing & sowing peas in the new ground. Killed a 3 yr old beef in the butchery exchanged with Adolph last year. 15 Very warm and dry. At home reading. 16 Appearance of rain. Finished planting peas in the new ground. Hoed a few rows of rice. Tedious work. Got my two horse and two mares over from Onlezime's. Sowg peas in big field. Hoeing rice. 17 Some rain. James & Adolph ploughg & sowg peas in the big field. Hoeing rice. 18 A little shower. J & etc. employed as yesterday. Made some potato hills. Hoeg rice. 19 Very warm day. Finished hoeing rice. James ploughg at Adolph's. 20&21 Continues dry. Hoeg cotton. Made more potato hills. Adolph got hurt by Fanny. Onlezime killed the last beef in the 2nd round of the butcher. Perro got my dun horse to break. 22 Still dry and warm. At home reading. 23 Dry & warm. Hoeing & plantg peas in cotton. 24 This day passed without rain & very warm. James & A plantg & sowg peas. Hoeg cotton. 25 Two nice showers. Finished hoeing cotton; sowed some peas with it. planted out a few hills tobacco. Lano brought my dun horse home. Adolph & jas employed as yesterday. 26&27 Both dry days. Adolph finished planting peas. Much want of rain. Beckey & Jacob paid us a visit. Cut about a dozen hills of tobacco for the first, not very ripe. 28 Two fine showers yesterday, the day warm. Did no work today. Beckey returned. 29&30 Both days dry. Adolph & myself took a 1/4 of meat between us. John Cole killed. July (Tuesday) 1 This month commenced very warm & dry. E. & Adolph went a racoon huntg. Killed two. 2&3 Both very warm dry days. Cleaned out the well. Mary Ann & E. went to Austin's. 4 Continues dry. Austin L. Marcilette here. 5 Warm and dry. Received several head of cattle from Onlezime, being balance due on the mare. Pulled bottom leaves of tobacco. 6 Some appearance of rain. E. sold his mares to John Williams @ $7.00 per head. 7 Threatening rain. Cut some tobacco. 8 Some rain yesterday. Hung up tobacco. 9 Warm and dry. Uncle Jemmy here. Catharine's heifer died of the murrain, skinned it. 10 Still dry. A very hard rain with wind. Planted potato vines in the evening. 11 Rain. Finished planting rice patch in the slips & planted about 300 hills in old cow pan. 12 Hard rain. At home reading. Austin killed yesterday for the butchery. 13 No rain. Making potato hills, and planted vines in the evening. 14 Very warm & dry. Planted some vines in the morning. Cut some tobacco. 15&16 Dry. Planted & watered some vines. E. killed a soft shelled turtle. 17 Threatening rain. Cut some tobacco. Sukey & Arty Moss here. 18&19 Dry warm days. E.'s stud got away. Mr. Stephen Cole here. 20 Continues warm & dry. Mr. Cole altered my little stud. E. found his horse. 21 Very warm. Commenced pulling fodder. Tied up what we pulled in the morng. 22 Still dry & warm. Adolph killed for the butchery. Pulling fodder. 23 A little shower. Pulled fodder, took in what we could before it came wet. Adolph and James went with Mr. Alston a cow hunting. 24 Very wrm. Pulled some fodder & tied it up. Adolphy returned from Mr. Alston's. 25 A fine rain. Planted what potato hills were made. James came home. Eliza washg. 26 Several little showers. Ploughed the two pens. Made some hills and planted them. 27 Some rain. At home reading. 28 No rain. Finished making potato hills. 29 Very warm. Uncle Jemmy came yesterday to make a cart wheel. Vines uplanted. 30 Still warm & dry. Made a cow pen. Uncle Jemmy finished the wheel, pd him $3.00. 31 Warm & no appearance of rain. Pulling fodder. August (Friday) 1 Some appearance of rain. No fodder pulled. Pantal here. Cut some tobacco. 2 No rain & very warm. Onlizime killed for the butchery. 3 Warm. At home reading. 4 Threatening rain. Pulled some fodder. Eugene brought my Mare & colt home got fm James. 5 A little shower. Jas. & Hy pulling fodder for Adolph. Eliza & Feloneeze pulled eight rows. 6 Another shower. Pulled some fodder. James & Henry pulling fodder at Adolph's. 7 Shower, bit to do no good. Finished pulling fodder got about 430 bundles. J & H at Adolph's. 8 A very warm day. Wash day. 9 A fine rain. Eliza & Mary Ann at Mrs. Alston's quilting. Turned my mare & colt out with out gang. 10 Two nice showers. Adolph went with Mr. Alston to Reeve's. At home reading. 11 Warm & no rain. John Cole killed at the butchery. Fanny got killed in throwing her down. 12 A very warm day. Feloneeze sick. Sukey came to see her. Heard of Nat's being sick a little. 13 A warm day. Elizabeth delivered of a little girl, attended by Sukey. Eliza went there. 14 A fine shower. Eliza & Mrs. Alston with Elizabeth. My horse Mr. Cole altered died. 15 A remarkable hot day. Elizabeth very sick. Sent for Doctor Sale, he relieved her. 16 Continues warm. Came home. Elizabeth getting better. Dr. Sale returned. 17 Very warm. Cut some tobacco. Elizabeth on the mend. Mrs. Alston went down there. 18 Still warm with rain in the morning. 19 A very hard rain. Eliza came home and was called to Onlizime's. Christeen very sick. Adolph went for the Doctor. 20 No rain. Mrs. Alston & Eliza attending on Christeen. 21 Very warm. Christeen delivered of a still born infant. 22 Continues warm. Cut some tobacco. Edward & James went to Mr. Alston's to gather cattle. 23 A little rain last night, the day warm. Austin killed in the butchery. Hung tobacco. 24 Continues warm. At home reading. 25 Some rain. 26 No rain. Put E's sow in a pen. 27 Very hard rain. Cut tobacco. Went to Eugen's the baby getting better. Sukey there. 28 Rain. Sent a letter to Jacob by Sukey enclosing Wood's. Eliza at home today. 29 A little drizzle. Leno took Edward's & my horse Prince to ride. Eliza started to the lake. 30 A hard rain. 31 Very fine day. Elizabeth came here. Edward's sow had eight pigs. Three days ago. Fed speckled gang on my way to Mr. Alston's. September (Monday) 1 A very fine day. Cut some tobacco. Church comes here, brought only one paper. 2 Warm & dry. Killed a fat gentle cow got from James for the butchery. 3 A fine day. The boys breaking corn in Adolph's little field. 4. Dry & warm. Engine went with E to the wild cow ....Finished breakg corn got two cart loads. 5 Warm & dry. Cut some tobacco. My beeves got into the field. Elizabeth went home. 6 Threatened rain this morng, cleared off warm. 7 Warm & dry. At home reading. 8 Threatening rain. Commenced breaking corn in the clearing. Eliza got as far as Austin's. 9 A severe storm last night with hard rain. Eliza came home. Rain today. 10 Rain. Onlizime killed the last beef in 2nd round of the butchery. Planted two beds with onions and sowed one in seed. Dug up a place to sow turnips. 11 More rain. Planted turnip seed and sowed another bed with onion seed. 12&13 Fine days. Hauled a load of corn out of new ground. Makg 2/3 loads. 14 Warm. At home reading. My seven choat sow came up with seven pigs. 15 Still warm and dry. Hauled the last load of corn out of my field. 16 Dry & warm. Very sick in my bowels. All hands went to haul Arty Meeze's things to Ana. 17 Another warm day. Arrived with the cart to Adolph's. Some what better today. 18 Some appearance of rain. Jam & Henry at Adolph's. Breakg corn, did not haul it in. 19 Fine pleasant day. Boys employed as yesterday. Stacked corn in pea? house. 20 Very fine day. Eliza went with Mr. Alston to Houston's. 21 Fine. E. returned. 22 Morng. cool. Cut some tobacco. Got a 1/4 meat fm Mr. Alston. Boys at Adolph's. 23 A little appearance of rain. Fed my speckled sow's pigs. in the woods. 24&25 Both pleasant days. Cot 1/2 a cart load of corn from Adolph's. 26 Morning cool, day pleasant. Got a load of yellow corn fm Adolph's. 27 Very dry. Huntg Nan's gang, found black sow on the other side of the creek. 28 Cold night & morng. Cut some tobacco. Lookg for Nan's gang, found a sow & got two pigs. 29 Approaching frost. Ed found three other pigs of the sow we caught yesterday. 30 Continues pleasant. Onlezime spayed two sows out of Nan's gang. October (Wednesday) 1 Pleasant day. Commenced picking peas. Had a visit from Butler and Wm Perkins. E. & Hy. went to the prairy with Mr. Alston. 2 Warm & dry. Pickg peas. Eliza's sow had four pigs in the pen. E. returned. 3&4 Both warm days. Picking what peas are ripe. Shelled a brl Corn. 5 Very warm day. The mosquitoes very bad. Had a visit fm ? Harman and his lady: engaged to take the stray beef running here for seven dollars. Put ball and black in the field morning & evening. 6 Very pleasant day. Picked some peas. Cut the last of my tobacco. E. & Jam hunting. 7 Fine day. Pickg peas. Got two quarters of a yearling from Onlezime. 8 Hard rain. Spayed five sows of the speckled gang. Picked some peas. 9 Showers. Pickg peas. 10 Some rain in the eveng. Eliza & two boys pickg peas at Adolph's. 11 Rain this afternoon. Ed & Jem went to look for the creek gang, found them but could not drive them, their dogs left them. Boys picked a few peas at Adolph's. 12 Cleared off cool. E. & James drove up 5 sows of the creek gang. At home reading. 13 Very pleasant. All hands picking peas at Adolph's. 14 Continues dry & pleasant. Hauled the peas home & swapped my oxen to W. T. Cole. 15&16 Both cool days. E. & Eugine killed another wild choat out of creek gang. 17 Still cool & dry. Got my black sow up that I turned out a few days ago. 18 Very pleasant. Commenced a letter to my Brother Jem of this date. Ah went to the Prairie. 19 Dry & pleasant. My black sow had pigs last night. Adolph returned. 20 Something warm. Exchanged young buck & bright (horses?) for the old pair with W. Simmons. Killed a yearling; pd Onlezime two quarters. Cut rice. Filoneeze sick. 21 Some appearance of rain. Sukey came here. 22 A hard rain last night; cleared off cold. Filoneeze still sick. Turned my black sow out of the pen with 7 pigs. 23 Fine cold day. Sukey returned. Tied up rice. Got two piles of manure put up. 24 Cool and pleasant. Eugene & James went to Jacob's, sent my letters. Eliza had a quilting. 25 Some rain. Eugine & James returned. 26&27 Fine days. Spayed two of mine and two of Eugine's sows out of the bob tail gang. Hauled some wood. 28 Cool. 29 A hard wind and rain last night. Mosquitoes very troublesome. 30 Warm day. Eugine commenced a move. Got Ball fm Adolph to feed. 31 Warm & some appearance of rain. Engine finished moving to Mill seat. November (Saturday) 1 Rain. Eugine & James hauled Edward's corn from Adolph's. 2 Fine day. Went to the prairie to an election of Parish officers & ca took dinner at Mr. Moss's, thence to the store, and Lambert's. 3 Cool pleasant day. Attended the election and returned to Lambert's. 4 Still cool. Went to the store, thence home. Creek . 5&6 Both pleasant days. The bag of wool I got from George weight 17 lbs. 7 A smart frost, the first this season. Killed a stray beef branded ?. 8 Another frost. Threshed out rice, did not get a barrel. 9 Very warm. E. James, Henry, C(?) & Bell went to the prairie. 10 Somewhat cloudy. The boys returned, bringing me a letter from my Sister Bess with the accot of my Sister Lucy's death. 11&12 Both wet days. Dug potatoes in rice path, got one bank. Edward took the cart over to the creek to aul for Pantal, got it broke. 13 Rain most of the day. Covered potato heap. 14 Rain all morning, cleared off cold at 2 P.M. No work done today. 15 A hard frost. Commenced digging potatoes at the house, put up one bank. 16 A light frost. Fed my black with seven pigs towards the bridge gully. 17 Cold and pleasant. Dug potatoes, put up two banks. Adolph hauling for Pantal. Edward went a bear hunting with Onlezime. 18 Rain most of the day. Covered potatoes. Eliza went to Pantal's. E. returned. 19 Fine day. Too wet to dig potatoes. E. went a bear hunting with Mr. Alston. 20 Cold & pleasant. Dug one & a half bank of potatoes. Eugine hauled his corn from Austin's. 21 A hard frost. Finished digging potatoes, did not quite finish the bank. 22 A smart frost & rain at night. 23 Cleared off cold. Mr. Smith took dinner with us. 24 Cold with some sleet. E. & Onlezime went a bear hunting, they killed nothing. 25 A hard frost with ice; E. & Onlezime went to Shoepeak woods, returned at night. 26 Some frost. Clouded up & rained. E. & Jacob Landry went to the wedding at Mr. Williams. 27-29 Rain these three days. E. returned; the wedding did not take place. 30 Some frost. Commenced letter to my Sister Elizabeth, dated 5th Dec. December (Monday) 1 A hard frost. Finished my letter. E. came from bear hunting, killed nothing. 2 Fine day. Got a young black up. Wrote a letter to Mary Ann dated 5th, inst; also one for Mr. Alston to WA.T. Williamson, New York. 3 Some frost. Went to Jacobs, let our horses at Wm Smith's. Deposited my letters and paid my postage to the end of the year, & 80¢ for my postage on papers for '52. 4 A little frost. Got as far as Austin's on our return home. Had a most comfortable sleep. 5 Another little frost. Left Austins and got home at 5 P.M. 6&7 Partially cloudy. Edward & Onlezime went a bear hunting. E. took Ball. 8 Pleasant day. Wrote a few line to Mr. Lee. Ed & Onlezime returned, they killed a large bear, and got Vulcan and watch killed. 9 Threatening rain. E. went to look for Pluto. 10&11 Rain both these days. 12 Some rain. 13 No rain. Opened a potato heap at the house. 14 Rain. 15 Fine day. Adolph splitting rails. E. & Hy went to the Prairie for Church. 16 Cold & a little rain. E. returned at night. Adolph splitting rails. 17 Frost & sleet last night. Commenced pulling down house floor. 18 A hard freeze. Employed as yesterday. 19 A hard frost. Finished house. 20 Frost & clouded up. Pujo here, gave him order on Jacob for $120.00. Laying gallery floor. Ki1led a barrow out of Nan's gang. 21 Rain last night & most of the day. Finished gallery floor. 22 Cold disagreeable day. Cleaning up house & yard & laying hearth. 23 Fine day All hands busy makeing preparations for Christmas. 24 Cloudy. Killed two choats out of bob-tail gang. Jacob Elender married yesterday. 25 Cloudy. The boy gave a dinner and ball, which passed very agreeably. 26 Warm with some rain. Dr. Sanders & Mr. Pugh came here. 27 Warm, disagreeable day with a little rain. Dr. Sanders left for home. 28 Still warm and cloudy weather. Adolph & Mary Ann went to Mr. Alston's. 29 Drizzly and warm. Opened another potato heap. Planted nectarine seed. 30 Rain last night and hard wind & rain this morg, then cleared off. 31 Cold pleasant day. E. & James went to lobk for bob-tail gang, did not get them.