Thomas Rigmaiden's Diary 1859 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 1859 (Saturday) 1st A hard frost. We had a party to take dinner with us. 2 Rain before day, the day clear. Eliza went to Mrs. Jackson's. 3 & 4 Frost both days. Salomon took the oxen to Adolph's to bring up the cattle. Albert returned with him. Hy, Ed & Jackson hog hunting. 5 Partially cloudy. E. killed 5 barrows, myself 2 out of the potato patch. 6 Rain last night, the day clear; at night the wind turned to the North. 7 Freezing all day. Hauling wood. Very sick with the dysentery. 8 & 9 Hard frost both days. Jake sick, myself getting a little better. 10 Another frost. Opened a bank of potatoes, a great many rotten. Let Jackson have two barrels, he has had six in all. 11 Rain all day. Mitchel got 2 bl potatoes, he has had four in all. 12 Cloudy, with rain at night. Sol splitting rails. Adolph here. 13 A wet day. Adolph & E. hog hunting. Onizime came here. 14 Clear and cold. Sol hauling rails and wood. Cutting corn stalks. 15 Fine day. Mr. Foreman gave us night prayer. Meeting at Mr. Alston's. 16 Frost. Preacher here. 17. Sol hauling wood for Ed. Cutting corn stalks. 18 Frost. Commenced on the last stack of corn. Employed as yesterday. 19 A hard frost. Ed, Onizime & Sol looking for Adolph's hogs. 20 warm. Went in company with Onizime to Adolph's. 21 Some rain before day. Returned home. 22 Freezing all day. Sol took a little fodder to Adolph's. 23 Today as yesterday. Sol & Jack returned, brought a bbl of flour. 24 A hard freeze. Killed blk & blue barrows our of the Creek gang. 25 Cloudy all day. Haulg rails. Burned old house. 26 Cold & cloudy. Sol took Adolph's pork to the river. 27 Rain all day. 28. Cleared off. Hauled some wood. 29 Rain at night. Sol splitting stalks. 30th. Rain & cleared off. 31 Very fine day. Cutting corn stalks. Sol with Edward. February (Tuesday) 1 Rain. Eliza, C. and Leza went to Adolph's. Cut corn stalks. 2 Very fine day. Cutg corn stalks. Sol splitg rails at Edwards. 3 Fine day. Eliza returned. Madam Escubas with her. Received a letter from my Sister. Employed as yesterday. 4 Pleasant. Cut some wood. 5. Rain. H. went to Adolph's. 6 Fine cool day. Mary Ann & M. Escubas came here. 7 Frost & clouded up. Eacubas, his wife, M. A. & Henry returned. 8 Threatening rain. Sol haulg potatoes & c for Adolph. Cuttg stalks. 9 Fine cold day. Sol haulg rails at Ed's. could not get the flat to take Adolph's things down. Cooper had taken it. Cutg corn stalks. 10 Some frost. Haulg rails fm big pen to make pasture fence. Cutting stalks. 11th. Rain. Not much work done today. 12 A hard rain last night, the day clear. Making pasture fence. 13 A light frost, day pleasant. Hy Went With Jackson to Goos's. 14 Cloudy. Made some onion beds. Sowed tobacco seed. Henry returned. 15 Rain. Skinned a cow belonging to Hy, that died in the field. 16 Cloudy & drizzly. Planted out some onions. Working in old ground. 17 Much the same as yesterday. Albert went to Adolph's & back. 18 Cloudy. Ploughed the big pen. Other hands cutting corn stalks. 19 Still cloudy. Sol hauling potatoes & c for Adolph. Doing little jobs. 20 Fine day. E., Albert & Sol started in the flat to Adolph's. 21 Morng cold & clear, eveng cloudy & drizzly. Cut a few corn stalks. 22 Cloudy. Commenced a letter to my Sister dated 25th inst. 23. Warm & cloudy. Albert returned with Ned. Finished my letter. Cut a few corn stalks. 24 Cloudy with a little drizzle. Went to Adolph's with Eliza, took dinner at Onizimes. 25 Pleasant. Returned home. Eliza had the misfortune to be thrown off filley. 26 Rain at night. The boys got up with the flat. 27 & 28 Rain the first day. Hauled to Edward what was brought in the flat. March 1859 March (Tuesday) 1st Fine weather. Edward & Albert started the first day with Reese's flat for Adolph's goods. Commented laying off land to plant. 2 A little rain. Sol hauling rails for Jackson with Henry. 3 Cool pleasant. Bedded out a row of potatoes. Got some wood. 4 Pleasant. Sol helping Hy to haul rails for Jackson. Feloneeze delivered of a male child about 10 P. M. Eliza alone with her. 5 Warm: at night hard wind Y rain. Sol hauling rails at Jackson's. 6 Cleared off cold. 7. Cold. Haulg manure in the old land. 8 Fine pleasant day. Haulg manure. 9. Clouded up. Employed as yesterday. 10 Rain at night. Intended to commence ploughing, no horse to be found. 11 Pleasant. James came home. Hauled manure in house field. 12 Rain at night. Jim brought my plough home. Sol went to A-h's & returned. 13 A little rain. Eliza, Js & Henry went to Adolph's, the latter returned. 14 At about 1 or 2 A. M. a severe storm, with rain from the west. James commenced planting in the little clearing. 15 A hard frost. Eliza and Albert went to Adolph's. Planted turnip patch. 16 Cloudy & cold. Very sick. Laying off old ground. 17. Hard wind with hail, rain and thunder. Finished laying off old land fr planting. 18 Cold & clear. Ploughg for tobacco. Js & Jaked started yesterday in the skiff. 19 Frost. Planted peach orchard in pop corn. 20. A hard rain at night. 20 Fine day. 21 & 22nd quite warm. These two days looking for black. 23 Clear. Found black and harrowed turnip patch. 24. Fine day. Planted corn in the old land. Eliza came home with Henry. 25 Fine day. Went with Eliza to Adolph's. Employed as yesterday. 26 & 27 Cloudy. Returned home. Covered the corn that was planted. 28 & 29 Both fine days. Laying off ground in old potato patch, and part of the old land. Made some potato hills. Hoed onions. 30 Pleasant. Harrowing corn in the ground. Jake & Albert makg hills. 31 A little frost. Laying off big pen, and part of old ground. April (Thursday) 1 Rain. Commenced planting what was laid off. Hoed onions. 2 Pain. Finished plantg the above ground. Js came home. 3 Cloudy, with a little rain. Sol working young oxen. Eliza returned. Mary Ann delivered of a little girl on the 31st. 4 & 5 Both cold days. 6. A light frost. Eliza reced fifty dollars from S.V. Lenir Mercantell on account of a few wild, wild cattle. We to reserve two beeves out of the wild stock and two went to Wm (?). Commenced planting white corn. 7 Fine day. Finished planting. Quite unwell today. 8 Warm. Throwing another furrow to white corn. A little better. 9 Still warm. Eliza called to S. Jackson's late at night. Replanting turnip patch, and ploughing rice patch. 10 Fine day. Leza delivered of a little girl. A-h brot Tom and ? here. 11 Very warm. W.W.C. Gill here, bargained to sell him Taunton for $900.00. Wrote a few line to Adolph to receive from him $500.00 the balance to be paid in one year. 12 Very hard wind. The cattle hunters came in. 13. Cloudy. Mr. Lenon drove home eight heard of cattle. Planted potatoes. 14 Some rain. Eliza went with me as far as Austin's; stopped at Sukey's. 15 Got wet gong to the Lake. With $50.00 paid all my accounts here and postage to lst July, also $2.00 subscription to the press nd $ ? subscription to the Brother Jonathaon. Brot Taunton as far as Adolph's. 16 Fine day. Returned home. 17. Frost. ploughg ground for rice. 18 & 19 Pleasant. Sowed rice and corn on the other side at the old place. 20 & 21 Warm & partially cloudy. Albert & Sol went in a skiff to Adolph's. 22 Very hard wind all day from N.W. Went with Eliza to Jackson's. 23 A severe frost. Js went to Jake William's. A., Jake & Sol returned. 24 Fine day. 25. Cloudy with a little rain. Eliza went to Barne's Creek with Valentine Vincent. Replanting little clearing. 26 & 27 Very warm. Ploughing, sowing & replanting corn in the turnip patch. 28 A little showet. Wrote to my Sister dated 29th. Replanting white corn. 29 A hard rain last night, day clear. Ploughg with shirt tail in the little clearing. Jake sowg peas. Albert replaning corn at Edward's. 30 Some rain. Went to Adolph's; stopped there at night. May (Sunday) 1 Cloudy. Took dinner with Adolph Der(os)ier ? with him owing me $2.25c from thence went to Mr. Moss's, he went with me to Pujo's. I paid $490.00 he objected to a draft I gave him on the 3rd Nov. 1849. On this same day I left with Adolph ? and W Lenon day he left $20.00 to be paid to me. 2 & 3 Same rain. Let W. Lenon have the $50.00 brought by Henry. Let W. Lenon have the $50.00 brought by Henry. W. Lenon got three head of cattle in all. Do not know if $50.00 was left with Adolph. 4, 5 & 6 Cloudy with a little rain. Hands hoeing. 8 & 7 A hard rain. Had a visit from Mr. Woodman, he promised to be here before the 1st June to take a school. 9 to 12 Pleasant weather. Ploughing, harrowing and hoeing. Reced a letter from my Sister. 13 & 14 Both fine days. Finished harrowing; all hand hoeing. 15 Very warm. Eliza came home yesterday and returned this morning. 16 Fine day. Ploughing white corn and hoeing old ground the last planted. 17 Warm and clear. Finished ploughing white corn, hoed a little in it. 18 Partially cloudy. Ploughing in the turnip patch, hands hoeing. 19 Very warm. Ploughed little clearing. Mr. Alston started with a drove of beeves sold to Ewel Cole. Mr. Lenon got two more head of cattle. 20 & 21 Clear & warm. Hoeing white corn. Albert ploughing at Edward's. 22 A fine shower this afternoon. Edward started to bring in Adolph's goods. 23 Clear & warm. Hoeing white corn. Albert ploughing at Edward's. 24, 25 & 26 All warm clear days. Finished hoeing white corn this last day. 27 Partially cloudy. Hoeing in the turnip patch. Edward returned yesterday. 28 Fine pleasant day. Finished hoeing in the turnip patch. 29 Last night & morng cool. Henry brought me 2 hoes fm Adolph's. 30 Very warm. Could not find black. Hoeing potato hills. 31 Dry and warm. Found black and ploughed rice patch. Albert & Sol hoeing. June (Wednesday) 1 Continues dry & warm. Eliza came home. Albert took ploughs to be sharpened. 2 Fine day. Hoeing rice. 3. A little shower at 1 A.M. The day clear and pleasant. Ploughing in the forenoon on the other side. 4 Pleasant. Eliza and myself went to Adolph's, thence to the Lake on the 4th. 5 & 6 Nights & mornings cold. Returned as far as Adolph's, thence home the last date. 7 Quite warm. Got a quarter of a four year beef from Mitchel. 8 Still warm and dry. Wrote to the British Consul of Bogota, New Genada dated 10th inst. Ploughing and sowing peas in the little clearing. 9 A little shower. Eugine & John smith here. Ploughing in the old ground. 10 Threatening rain. Ploughg corn on the other side. Jake Harman came for A-s horse. 11 & 12 Very warm. Hy went to Adolph's. Harman found Adolph's horse. 13 A very hard rain while Eliza, Mr. Harman and myself were on our way to Adolph's. Ploughing and planting peas in the old ground. 14 to 19 Rain the two first days. Returned home on the 19th. James came home yesterday. Sowed peas in little clearing, turnip patch & big pen. 20 & 21 First day warm, last rain the the eveng. Finished sowg peas in the pen. 22 & 23 Both pleasant days. Ploughing over the creek and in the potato patch. Killed a gentle cow; paid Mr. Mitchel a 1/4 & let Jackson have a 1/4. 24 Morng cool. Makg potato ridges. Eliza went to Ike's. Eugine here. 25 A hard rain at Adolph's while Eliza, Ike, Jas & myself were there to attend a family meeting, but Spence did not come. In the evening returnad home, found Liza & Feloneze had gone to Ike's 26 & 27 Rain both days, the latter made potato ridges & planted vines. 28 & 29 Hard rain the first, not so much the second. Planted vines. 30 Warm and no rain. James and Albert at Edward's making potato hills and planting vines. July (Friday) 1 Fine day. Boys making potato ridges at Edward's. 2 Very hard rain. Edward, Liza, Albert and Feloneze went to Adolph's. Js & Sol at Edward's. Got a brl. of flour from A-h's, via Lenon's cart. 3 Another very hard rain. The party returned, except Feloneze. 4 Some rain. Little work done today, being too wet to plough. 5 Clear, not a cloud all day. Hauling rails to make a cow pen. 6 & 7 Fine days. Made a few potato ridges. Hy went to the prairy, Js to Wm's. 8 Very clear & warm. Ploughing rice and making potato ridges. 9 Very warm day. Got a quarter of meat fm Jackson. 10. Rain. Reading. 11 & 12 Rain both days. Planted some potato vines. Clar sick (1lth). 13 No rain today. Making potato ridges. Mrs. Jackson sick, Eliza there. 14 A very hard rain. Feloneze came home, Eliza returned with Thornton. Got 1/2 brl corn from Jackson. Mrs. Lee here. Making potato ridges. 15 Another hard rain. Henry came home sick. Planted some vines. 16 Some rain. Eliza returned from ? . Henry very sick. 17 More rain. 18. No rain, sent for the Doctor. Ed started cow hunting. 19 Warm with a little rain. Albert returned. No Doctor at the Lake. 20, 21 & 22 Fine days. Hy still very sick. Cow hunters returned. Js came home. 23 Very warm. James & Jackson went to Adolph's. Hy a little better. 24 Quite warm. Henry better. Mr. Alston sorted ? beeves for Quidry. 25 Warm and dry. Pulled fodder in little clearing. Mr. Alston started with his beeves. 26 & 27 Both fine days. Pulled and tied up fodder in the old ground. Eliza went to Onezime's. (27th). A gang of hogs came up. Albert's sow has three pigs.. 28 Very warm, with some appearance of rain. Finished pulling fodder in old ground and commenced pulling in the big pen. Put 118 bundles in the loft. 29 A little rain. The fodder pulled in the morning took it. Put 105 bundles in 2nd stack in the loft. Killed 3 yr old beef, ed took 1/2 & Jackson a 1/4. 30 Some appearance of rain. Tied up all the fodder and brought it in. 31 Continues warm. Albert went to Adolph's, returned with a letter from my Sister. August 1859 August (Monday) 1 Rain. Pulled fodder, and got it in without getting wet. 2 Some rain. Brought in what fodder was pulled. Henry sick again. 3 Rain. Sol & Jack pulling fodder in big pen, myself pulled a little in turnip patch. James and Albert pulling fodder at Edward's. Stacked 138 bundles of fodder in back row of crib loft. Planted some potato vines. 4 Rain. Gave Henry a dose of Ipecac. Pulled fodder and brought in. 5 Showery. Pulled fodder, took it in & put out again to dry. Eliza came home. 6 A hard rain at night. Tied p what fodder was dry. 7 Fine day. Took Albert and Jacob to school. 8 No rain. From Adolph's to Onezime's. Finished pulling fodder. 9 Fine day. Returned home. Got all my fodder in safe. 10 & 11 Both days very warm. James went to raft logs for Mr. Goss. 12 & 13 Dry. Not well. 14. Warm. Eliza want to Onezime Roya's. 15 Appearance of rain. 16. Rain in the morning & rain and thunder at night. 17 Rain at night. 18. Fine day. Creek very high. Hy redt(?) from Ike's. 19 & 20 Both fine days. Albert and Jake came home. Hauling potato house logs. Cut some of Albert's tobacco. Js & Henry went to Adolph's. 21 A little rain. Albert & Jake returned; took a barrel of corn for Adolph. 22 & 23 Fine days. Ike & Sol made cart body, and went to haul corn at Ike's. 24 Pleasant. Eliza came home. 25. Fine day. Eliza went to Edward's. 26 Warm. Wrote to my Sister of this date. Ike & Sol brought fodder for Henry. 27 Very warm. Onezime came for Eliza last night. Mary delivered of a little boy before she got there. Ike cutting logs for James. 28 Warm and dry. Eliza, James & Delphine came home. 29 Partially cloudy. Liza put up a ps of cloth. 30 Clear and pleasant. Ike and James went to Adolph's, took a barrel of corn. September (Thursday) 1 & 2 Cool & pleasant. Henry hauling corn from Morgan's. 3 Rain with hard thunder. Mr. Woodman and Sol went to Adolph's. 4 Severe thunder storm. Mrs. Alston and Cooly caught in it. 5 No rain. Mrs. Woodman commenced school. Jake went. 6 & 7 Fine weather. Commenced pulling corn, got in ? loads & stacked. 8 Threatening rain. Finished pulling corn in the old ground. 9 Rain in the afternoon. Pulling corn in the turnip patch & big pen. 10 No rain. Hauled in what corn was gathered yesterday. Js returned. 11 & 12 Fine days. Hauled a load of corn out of the big pen. 13 & 14 Excessive warm days. Finished pulling corn. Stacking corn. Adolph came here yesterday & returned. Mrs. Duncan died (14). 15 More pleasant. Mrs. Duncan buried. Killed a four year old beef. 16 Dry and pleasant. Hauling board fm the other side. Stacking corn. 17 Quite warm. Finished stacking corn. Eliza went to Steve Perkins'. 18 A very hard rain. Henry went to Adolph's and returned. 19 Cleared off pleasant. Henry & James working at James' corn crib. 20 Pleasant. Mr. Ritchie came to dig a Well. Sol helping Ed to gather his corn. 21 Cool & pleasant. Hy & Jim at Edward's. Mr. Ritchie & Sol splitting boards. 22 A little warmer. Ike finished covering crib; helping him these two days. Finished cutting and hauling boards. Commenced digging well. 23 Fine day. Mr. Alston, Bell and myself went to Adolph's; got a sack of coffee weighing 160 lbs, 50 lbs for Edward. Mr. Ritchey digging a well. 24 Still dry. Escubas and his wife paid us a visit. 25 Pleasant. Albert went to the store and returned at night. 26 Rain. Mr. R. finished digging my well. Eliza returned with Escubas. 27 Still warm. Got a quarter of meat from Jackson. Commenced picking peas. 2B A little rain. 29. Fine day. Picking peas. 30. A very hard rain. Let Ritchey have six barrels of corn; cart wheel broke hauling it down. October (Saturday) 1 Cleared off pleasant. Eliza returned. Gathered in the white corn. 2 Quite pleasant. John Reeves came for Eliza to go to Jacob's. 3 & 4 Both pleasant days. Picking & threshing peas. 5 & 6 Fine days. Cutting rice. Stacked nubbins in the little crib. 7 Warm. Picked some peas for the horses. Mr. Haskel came here. 8 Pleasant. Js & Cooly took corn from Ed's to Adolph's. I picked some peas. 9 to 14 Nothing of occurence took place, only a fight between Ham and Mathews. 15. Cloudy. Albert went to Ah's. Repairing cart. 16 Hard rain yesterday and most of today. Spent a lonesome day. 17 A little rain. Repaired hearth & chimney. Creek very high. 18 Hard rain last night, day cloudy. Repaired kitchen chimney. 19 Fine cool day. Killed a beef got from Mr. Alston. Albert returned. 20 Quite cool. Thornton firing pump for the well. Hy went for Eliza. 21 Partially cloudy. Eliza returned after an absence of upwards 2 weeks. 22 Fine pleasant day. Discontinued digging the well deeper. 23 Pleasant. Went to Adolph's; pd for a ps of domestic, and sack of salt. 24 Cool. Returned home, found Eliza gone to Joe Lyon's. 25 & 26 Quite cool. Eliza returned. 27 & 28. Cool. Hy & Sol lookg for a beef. 29 Very cold. Killed a beef, one of the two running at Bill Gowan's. 30 The first frost. Boy started with our cart to the new place. 31 Frost. Digging potatoes; myself cutting wood. November 1859 November (Tuesday) 1 No frost last night. Digging potatoes, and cutting wood. 2 & 3 Pleasant. Went to the Lake. Stopped at Jacob's, engaged timber for a house. Reced a letter from my Sister, dated 22nd Sept. Returned home in company of Mr. Alston and Bell. 4 & 5 Cool and pleasant. Henry came home. No work done. 6 Quite pleasant. Mr. Woodman went to the Lake. 7 & 8 Warm. Eliza went to Mr. Alston's. James came at 10 P. M. to inform us of Adolph's sickness. Eliza started back with him. 9 Cloudy. Woodman returned. 10. Cloudy. Js returned, reported A-h a little better. 11 Warm. Edward ear marked some of his choats; too dry to hay. 12 Morning warm, eveng very cold wind from the N. Eliza returned with Henry. 13 A very, very severe freeze. Went with the family to meeting at Jackson's. 14 & 15 Both mornings frost, with thick ice. Feloneze & Jacob diggins potatoes. 16 Warm, with hard S. wind. Wrote to Mr. Henry A. Judd, Petersburg, Lavaca County, Texas of tomorrows date. forwarding also his Brother Tom's prayer book, and a bundle of letters. 17 Cloudy & warm. Went to the big wood, deposited the above with David Lyons, paying 75 cents for the whole sack. Dinner at Ben Lyons, thence to Adolph's about 4 P.M. 18 Rain last night. Returned home. Eliza at S. Perkins'. 19 & 20 Cloudy. Albert and Solomon came home last night. 21 & 22 Cloudy. The boys started back taking provisions. 23 Warm and dry. Js, Hy and Bell went to work at the new place. 24 Threatening rain. 25. Cloudy and warm. James came home. 26 Cloudy and warm. Mary Ann & Mrs. Isham Reeves here. Sol brought the cart home with salt, Henry and Jacob with him. 27 Cloudy with a little rain. Mrs. A. and Mrs. R. left. 28. Pleasant. Sol, Js & Jake returned with the cart, took corn and provisions. 29 Cloudy and cooler. 30. Warm. Onezime here. Hy went to Adolph's. December (Thursday) 1 Cloudy, warm & drizzly. Wrote a letter to my Sister of this date. 2 Weather changed very suddenly to cold rain. Mr. Dyson here. 3 Cold rain last night & forenoon. James & Hy came home Dyson left. 4 Cloudy & cold. Eliza, Henry & Albert went to Adolph's. Sent my letter. 5 A very wet day. Confined to the house stringing tobacco. 6 Rain all night, with heavy thunder and lightning at l A.M. At 9 A. M. wind shifted to N. still raining; in the evening heavy sleet. 7 Heavy sleet all night, and freezing all day. Cut some wood. 8 A hard freeze. Henry & Solomon brought the oxen home. 9 The hardest freeze. 10. Another freeze. H. bear hunting, no luck. 11 A white frost. 12. Frost. Jake & Sol started with the oxen to Adolph's for the cart. Onizime and Thornton came here. 13. A hard frost. Onizime & James went a hog hunting on little river. 14. Another freeze. Thornton firing pump in the well. 15 A little frost. Thornton finished putting sand box & pump in well. 16 A light frost. Went to Adolph's, thence to Onezime Roya's. 17 No frost. Slow drizzle. Reced $5.00 fm Valentine Vincent. Gave it Escubas. 18 A smart frost. Sent $10.00 by Henry to be given to Escubas. 19 Rain all last night, the day cold and cloudy. 20 & 21 Both nights a hard freeze. Got the saw up from Jackson's. 22 A very hard freeze. Got about three barrels potatoes fm Ike's. 23 The hardest freeze yet. 24. Another hard freeze. Doing several jobs. 25 Fine day. Took eggnog at Jackson's, afterwards we had a party here. 26 & 27 Rain both days. Reading and very lonesome. 28 & 29 Drizzly. Henry came home. 30. Cold disagreeable day. All alone. 31 Heavy sleet last night, the day very cold and disagreeable.