Lucian Boneparte Grout's DIARY 1 Apr 1888 to 23 June 1888 Writted by Lucian Boneparte Grout of Golden Ridge, Maine Contributed by Joyce Hall and her son, Douglas A. Hall and David C. Young itigapa@aol.com Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Written by Lucian Boneparte Grout of Golden Ridge, Maine This was copied from David C. Young's Personal copy of Lucian Grout's Diary. Copy Number: 12 April 1. 1888, Sunday; Still at home did the chores in the morning. Milked and fed the calf before breakfast. Bert Sleeper stayed here last night remaining (removing?) before breakfast. Al Hamilton(possibly Alvah about 27, son of Richmond) came to get Polly (the horse that all the neigh ors used to take a trip) to go to Guy Webbers with Fred. Katy and I went to meeting. Wilber? Price preached. Very warm and pleasant. April 2, Monday: Have been at home doing chores in the forenoon. Went down to Hurlberts in the afternoon. Rubin Hamilton and Knowles was in there. Herman and Bert Sleeper had Polly (the very busy horse) to go to Patten to day. Got home just dark. It has been snowing all day. April 3, Tues.: Done the chores in the forenoon. Fred went after a load of wood. Then we went and some in the afternoon. Got home time to do the chores. Brot (Brought) home a load of wood. Very pleasant to day but cool. The Selectmen here to day. 'Assessment for 4; Wed.: Went to Patten to day to be examined by the Board of Surgeons for increase of pension. (Perhaps the Selectmen participated in this assessment the day before). Owen not present. Got home 5 p.m. and went to the Post Meetting (Meeting). Got home in the morning. Dolly went to Patten with me and to the Post Meetting. Very pleasant. April 5, Thurs.: Very pleasant. Have been at home most all day. Went down in the woods the lumber King is logging. Was gone about two hours. Got home in time for dinner. Katy and Cynthia and Bass Dolly have gone to Malornum Youngs. Got home just dark. Saw the first robbin to day. (Spring equals that robin). April 6, Fri.: 'Was at home in the forenoon did the chores, After dinner went to Geo Hamiltons and chop(p)ed a load of wood. Come home at supper time. Erl Rand came up from Hurberts with us.Was here to supper. Bess Dolly is here with Katy. Very warm and pleasant to day. Apr. 7, Sat.: Was at home in the forenoon. After dinner went to Ruben Durgins to see Grant's oxen- Come home about half past four. Cold and windy. Rubin Hamilton was in to day. Bess Dolly still here. She and Katy went to the Mills with Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton. Cynthia is 11 years old today. April 8, 1888, Sunday: Have been at home all day except a little while in the morning that Carrie and I went into Tues. Mary Rand and Flory Dolley was here to supper. Bess is here. Fred is on the hill to night. Cold for the time of year. The wind blows cold and rough. April 9, Monday: This for Tuesday. (Lucian made a mistake and put Tuesdays notes in Monday section of his diary). Martin Emerson and wife was here visitting to day. I went in the woods with Martin where Reed was logging. Agnes Sleeper was here to day with the children. Went to School Meetting four o'clock p.m. Quite warm to day. Guy Webber here to supper. Maybell Rand is here and Bessie. (It is unclear if April 8th Mary Rand was 41 year old Mary Arthena Young Sleeper Rand or her daughter 14 year old Mary Rand. Mrs. Martin Emerson was probably Belle Emerson. On April 9 Maybell is Mabel Rand, who was about 12 at the time. Bessie is Bessie Dolley who was about 14 years old at the time). April 10, Tues. This for Monday. (He mixed his days and this Tuesday report is really for Monday). Picked up potatos for H.G. Sleeper. Got 18 1/2 bushels. Got them picked up 11 o'clock a.m. Went up to Jim Dollys to see about some hay for Hurlbert. Went in the woods in the afternoon. C.E.(?) Robinson (,possibly Elmer C.?) was in this afternoon. Went to Hurlberts. Bert Sleeper and Guy Webber in to night. (it is unclear if C.E. Robinson or Lucian went to Hurlberts. It is assumed Lucian was not picking potatoes from the ground in April, but gathering them from a place of storage). April 11, Wed.: Was at home in the morning did the chores and went to chopping wood. Fred cut his foot in the forenoon and come to the house. It has snowed most all day. Knowles and Bert Sleeper was in this afternoon and Malarum(?) Young to see about some hay. 9 p.m. still snowing. Apr. 12, Thurs.: Went to get a load of wood in the morning. Got home at ten a. m. Hiram G. S1eeper come here after potatos. I got home about five in the afternoon. Chas Rowe, W. Cox, Erl Rand in this evening. Write(?) Alexander from Caraboo (Caribou, Maine). Cloudy and quite warm. Bess gone home. (It is believed Write was the first name of Alexander ... Wright? Is Lucian expressing some feelings with the departure of Bess?) April 13, 1888, Friday: Have been drawing manure. Knowles is helping me. Ed and Lizzie (assume Perry) was here this afternoon. Bert Cox come in just night. It has not thawed much today. Write stayed here last night went away after breakfast. Quite cool to night. 8 p.m. going to bed very tired. April 14, Sat.: Drawing manure to day. Knowles to work for me. I went to the mills after dinner. Got home four p.m. Brought in the window frames. It is quite warm to day. Charles Rowe come after the calf. Melissa? and Addie was with him. Rubin Durgin and wife was in to day. Sold him the yearling for $800. (Lucian did not always use periods or decimal points. We presume the calf went for $8.00 dollars). April 15, Sunday: Was at home till just night then went to Hurlberts to see if he had any wood cut. He had about a half cord. H.G. Sleepr come with oats about half past four o'clock. I took 40 bushels for 62 1/2 per bushel. (62 1/2 cents per bushel?). It is quite warm to day. Apr. 16, Monday; Went to the Hills in the morning got home elven O'clock a.m. Have been putting in windows in the afternoon. Have got in four two in the hen house and two in the house. Quite warm to day. No one in to day. Rubin went away to day. Apr. 17, Tues.: Changable to day. I have been drawing wood to day. B?? Young was here to dinner to day he has cut his foot. Fred's foot is getting well quite fast. Hurlbert drawed a load of wood to night was here for supper. Joseph Roberts came here a little while this morning. I drew 4 loads of wood to day. 8 p.m. quite warm and pleasant. Fred has gone to bed Carrie Cynthia. (I presume all three children went to bed). April 18, Wed.: Drawing wood to day got three loads two in the forenoon and one just night. Very warm to day. The snow is going quite fast. Nellie Knowles was here visiting to day and Myra Morrison come this afternoon. Stayed till suppertime. Looks like rain to night. Got a letter from Preston. (We presume Preston Blodgett, his son-in-law, who married Etta, Lucian's oldest child by his first wife). Pleasant. April 19, 1888, Thursday: Went up to Rands in the morning to see if could get a bbl flour. (To see if I or we could get a barrel of flour). He was not at home. Went to Jo Roberts to see him about some rails(?). He has got the jumper (A jumper is a rough sled or scoot) to haul some manure. Mrs. Sleeper was here to day visitting. Fred and Bun? have gone to Gil Youngs to day. April 20, Fri.; Went to Rands and bot a bbl of flour. Sawed and split some wood. Went to Hurlberts he has got my wood cut. Finished to day. Very warm and changable. Fred went to the Post Office did not get any mail. Knowles was in to supper. Katy went to Hurlberts a visitting this afternoon. April 21, Sat.: Snowing all (lay I have just done the chores. Guy Webber come in this afternoon is here- this to night. Mrs. Hurlbert was in this afternoon to get some flour. I took some boards out of the hen house. I empted (emptied?) the oats to day. Fred, Katie and Guy are playing Authors. Carrie, Cynthia have gone to bed. Kate is reading. April 22, Sun.: Have been at home all day. Had the sick headache all day am better at night. Erl Rand and Willard Cox in this evening. Quite cool and snowing some today. Lucian says he can't think of one thing to write so I will say Hallow(Hello?) to all. It is quite warm to night. (Apparently Kate or one or the children wrote this). April 23, Monday: Have been drawing wood to day got four loads. Have only one more cord that Hurlbert cut. Katy and Cynthia went with me for three loads. Not very warm to day. Getting quite a lot of bare ground. (Reference is probably to snow melting rather than his wood cutting). it is quite cold to night is going to freeze quite hard. Pleasant. April 24, Tues.: Went and got the last of the wood that Hurlbert cut. Sledding quite poor. Took Trues drag home. Levi May was in to day with a (probably a bay as in a horse, but perhaps a boy to assist him in moving horses) about noon. Nelson Roberts was in to look at some steers did not buy any. Quite stormy to day. Snowing a part of the time. Kate washed to day. Not very warm. April 25, Wed.: Went to H.G. Sleepers to pay him for oats that he got for me to Houlton. got home about 10 a.m. Did the chores before dinner. Have been splitting wood in the afternoon. Kate and Carrie have been visitting at Thorntons since dinner. Pleasant to day. April 26, 1888, Thursday: Went 0 Youngs Mills in the morning come back and done the chores. After dinner went to chopping wood. I mean splitting. Bot the Tom Irish oxen of (off?) Martin Emerson. Geo Hamilton come home to day. Granvill Morisson was in to day. Kate and Carrie down to Youngs. Pleasant. April 27, Friday: Was at home in the morning takes me most of the time to do the chores. Morgan was here to dinner. Went to Tom Irishs in the afternoon to borrow his ox yoke. Got home at six o'clock. Kate has gone to C?(or G?) Hamiltons a visitting. Very warm and the snow is going fast. Geo Hamilton is here. Apr. 28, Sat.: Have been at home most of the day doing chores. Geo Hamilton is here. Dolly and Rubin Hamilton was here to dinner. In -the afternoon went -and got Rowes Cow? Am going too haveGeages? other one. Very warm to day and the snow is going very fast. Apr. 29, Sun.: Was at home until noon then went to meetting (church services meeting). Got home at four p.m. then had the chores to do. Ed Warren, Erl Rand and Guy Webber was here to day. ? Young and True Sleeper was here while I was at meetting. Very warm today but some cloudy. Looks like rain. April 30, Mon.: Have been at home all day. Had the sick headache. It is cloudy to day and raining some. Have not done any thing but put up the pung and washed it. Geo Hamilton is here to day. Burt Sleeper was in to day. Herman (presume Sleeper, brother to Herbert--Burt) was in this morning after some milk for True's folks. May 1, 1888, Tuesday: Snowing all day. Did the chores in the forenoon. After dinner went down to Rich? Hamilton come home and did the chores. Fred went to the Mills after dinner. Erl Rand went with him was here to supper. Fred went home with him and stay(e)d all night. may 2, Wed: Went on the hill in the morning to Dolly. (When Fred earlier went to the hill was he going to the Dolly homestead?). Did not stay a short time. Come home and done the chores. Got ten dollar(s) of Herman for Fred to go to Blanchard. Lots of the boys in to night. Some warmer. Very pleasant this evening. May 3, 1888, Thursday: Fred started for Blanchard this morning. Ed Warren and Bert Sleeper went with him. Have been up to Rands in the afternoon. Got home about seven p.m. Had the chores to do. Kate has been to Jo Roberts visitting to day. 8 p.m. very pleasant. May 4, Fri.: Went to Rands in the forenoon to get some shingles. Got home about eleven in the forenoon. Mrs. P. Young and Mary Roberts was here to day. Geo Hamilton and Guy Webber are here to night. Very pleasant to day. May 5, Sat.: Have been at home all day. Dolley was in most all day. Lon Morrison was here to get the fence auger. Geo Hamilton went off with him. Ernest Drew was in this afternoon Erl- Rand in this evening. Cloudy to day. Looks like rain not very warm. May 6, Sunday; At home all day Have done the chores. Herman Sleeper was in this evening. Geo Hamilton come here about noon. Has gone to night. Quite cloudy looks like rain. 'Not very cold. May 7, Mon.: Went to Tom Irishs in the morning to get an ox yoke. Come home and went to 'Rands after shingles for Jo Roberts. Did the chores before dinner. Have been laying stone this afternoon. Heard frogs the first time to night. Very pleasant but windy. Past 8 time to turn in. May 8, Tues.: Went to Bryant Leavitts in the morning to see if he wanted to buy a cow. He was not at home. Mis Gifford was here look (looking) for a cow and a man from Benadicta. H.G. Sleeper was here selling grass seed. Did not buy any. Got a pasture of Meserve. pleasant. May 9, Wed.: Layd stone 'in the forenoon. Kate went to Ab some things got home about eleve o'clock. went and got some Beach sticks (beech wood) for glad sticks (good sticks?, glad sticks?)- Worked around the house some. Very warm and pleasent. McLongblin was in. (McLaughlin? McLellanage?). May 10, Thurs.: Have been to Merserves making hedge (probably some type of fence ...possibly dropping trees or bushes on a stone wall to increase its heighth) to day. He did not help me was sick with cold. Got home 4 p. m. Rows wife here a visitting. Gen Morrison and Min here to day. Katy has gone to Asa Drews to day. Very warm. May 11, 1888, Friday: Drew stone in the forenoon. Got them all off about eleven o'clock. Went up to A.J.(?) Morrisons to work in the chopping. Come home about six pm had the chores to do. Katy and Cynthia have gone to Dollys visitting. Cloudy and cooler. May 12, 1888, Sat.: Have been to work at A.J. Morrisons piling got the brands (possibly talking about burnt branches most all picked up. Could not get True Sleeper to help me. He had cramps in his stomach. 8 p.m. it is raining some to night. Quite cool. Kate has been to Dunbars today . May 13, Sunday: Went after the-, Dr. for Thorntons last night. Got home half past twelve. Rained all the way going and comeing. Have washed the dirt of (off) the wagon. Did the chores. Geo Hamilton was in to day. Was here to dinner. Cloudy and raining. May 14, Monday: Has been raining all day. Did the chores in the forenoon. Went in to see Thornton in the morning. He is some better. Knowles was here to dinner. I went to see Rowes aifter four p.m. He said he would help me to morrow. (Blanchard is near Monson, south of Greenville. It is at least 75 miles as a crow flies from Golden Ridge and may well have been a hundred mile trip) (Who or what was in Blanchard for Ada to spend an extended period of time there? It is seculation Ada may have gone to visit her older half sister, Etta, who by this time had married Preston B1odgett and had two daughters under the age of four years. This is speculation based upon the January 31 entry noting a letter from Ada and some things from Ada and Etta had a daughter, Jennie Blodgett, who at age three might have sent a drawing or something to Carrie). May 15, 1888, Tuesday: Have finished the hedge to Merserves in the forenoon. C. Rowe helped me. After dinner went up to A.J. Morrisons to saw the wood that Crocket left and mowed the bushes. Finished. Got home five p.m. Did the chores and went to Thorntons and Sleepers. May 16, Wed.: Comenced to break up (plow land) today. Herman is helping me with True's oxen. Kate and Mrs. Hamilton has been to the Mills. Got home about five p.m. Quite pleasant. Drew the stone to the brook at noon. May 17, Thurs.: Finished breaking up today. Herman Sleeper helped me with True's oxen. Quite late when we got done. It has been hailing in the afternoon and very cool. Hugh Hurlbert was in the field this afternoon. May 18, Fri.: Commenced harrowing on the potato ground. Katy and I drove the yearlings to pasture over to Merserves. Got home about 3 p.m. I went to harrowing again. Guy Webber was here when I come home. Quite cool and windy to day but warmer to night pleasant. May 19, Sat.: Have been drawing stone and harrowing to day. Sowed 9 bush(els) of oats to day and Katy harrowed some in the afternoon. I sowed True Sleepers wheat in the forenoon. Herman drew stone for me while I was doing it. Dull and cloudy. May 20, Sun.: Went to Dunbars to get some things. Kate went with me drove went to Tom Irishes and Granville Morrisons. Got home half past six. Had the chores to do. Went in to Thorntons just night. Knowles is in this evening. Cool but pleasant. May 21, Mon.: Have been harrowing with Knowles horse and Polly most of the day. Went up to Morrisons after dinner untill 3 p.m. Hugh Hurlbert is helping me this week. The ground is wet over back. Cold but pleasant. Mrs. Hurlbert in to night. May 22, Tues.: Have been harrowing in the forenoon. Sowed the seed on the potato ground. Finished bushing (dragging bushes to cover seed) and picking stone. Kate and Myra Morrison to see Demaris Merriman. Very pleasant and quite warm to day. Mrs. H.G. Sleeper here. May 23, 1888, Wednesday: Went in the morning and finished the piling up to Morrisons. Got through by ten a.m. Come home and commenced to harrow on the oat ground. Went to Post Meetting after supper. Myra Morrison went out to the Mills with me. Got home 11 p.m. May 24, Thurs.: Harrowed some in the morning. Helped True Sleeper sow oats in the afternoon. Finished his oats. I got 8 bush(els). Come home and harrowed until 11 p.m. Very warm to day. Kate has been to the Circle. Got home just before dark. May 25, Fri.: Sowed four acres of oats. Harrowed untill past midnight. Very warm to day so that is to(o) hot to work oxen. Hugh Hurlbert is to work for me today. Have to work in the nigh(t) to use the team. May 26, Sat.: Got up half past four and Hugh went to harrowing before breckfast (breakfast). Finished harrowing the furrows in the oat ground. Kate and Mrs. Hamilton have gone to the Mills. I am going to harrow this evening. May 27, Sun.: Went to the Mills to hear Mr. Bumpas in the forenoon he preached the Memorial sermon was very good. Dul(l) and raining some. Not so warm as last week. True Sleeper was in after I come home. Herman and Geo Hamilton was in (barn?). May 28, Mon.: Have finished sowing oats to day. Jim Gould harrowed for me with their team. Finished harrowing just night. The man was here setting grafts had the hundred set (apple trees grafted). Had True harrow after supper. Quite cold to day. Sold the cow. May 29, Tues.: Bessie is hear (here) to night. Have been to the Mills to day helping decorate the Town Hall for Memorial Services to morrow. Rainy and nasty to day. Mrs. Hamilton went out with Kate and I. Got home four o'clock. Still misty and rainey. Bessie Dolley come home with the girls to night. May 30, Wed.: Went to the Mills in the forenoon. Got there about 9 a.m. Went to the road to decorate the graves there. Come back (to) the Mills. Got dinner then went to the Cemetary then back and listened to some poems and an ad(d)ress from D. Lewis. (They may have visited two cemeteries). May 31, 1888, Thursday: Fish(or Fisk) the organ agent stay(e)d here last night. Went away this forenoon. I have been sowing chaff and grass seed this day. Knowles has been helping me did not finish. Have about two acres to sow in the morning and the peice (piece) to bush. Pleasant and quite warm. June 1, 1888, Friday: Have been bushing oats today. did not quite finish. Knowles helped me in the afternoon. it has been showery today not very warm. Kate has been to Joe Roberts sewing got home just dark. Herman has got Polly to day. 9 p. m. he has not got home. June 2, 1888, Sat.: Finished bushing the oats in the morning. Then got Hamiltons wagon and went to drawing dressing (manure). The musick (music) Teather (teacher) was here to day. Rose Young was here to take her lesson. Kate has gone to the Mills. Mary Roberts (is or was) with her. June 3, Sun.: Have been to Meetting and Sabbath School today. They have organized to day. Choos(en were) Mr. Hamilton Superantendent and Rand? assistant. Mr. Price preached. Herman and Bert had Polly to go to the Mills to the Reform Club. Got home about seven. Quite cool. June 4, Mon.: Have been drawing dressing to day had Hamiltons wagon. Hugh Hurlbert helped me in the afternoon. Drove the steers away to pasture to Tom Irishes. Herman helped me. We went before breckfast (breakfast). A frost last night. Cool. June 5, Tues.: Have been drawing manure all day got out 13 loads. Have got the peice (piece) some over half manured. Kate has been to Mills to get some flour. Got home about noon. Quite warm to day. Kate has been up to Dolleys to change the waggon. June 6, Wed.: Have been drawing dressing today. Hurlbert helped me and G. Dolley come in the morning and harrowed some with the disk harrow. Very warm to day. Have the dressing most out. Bed time am going to bed. June 7, Thurs.: Finished drawing dressing in the forenoon. Then went to harrowing. Hurlbert helped me to day was planting beens (beans) in the afternoon. Finished harrowing the potato ground after dinner. Very cool to day. Rained some. Kate has been to Circle to day to Hurlberts. June 8, 1888, Friday: Have been planting beens (beans) to day finished my beans. Hugh Hurlbert helped me. Have finished marking for potatoe. Thornton helped me with his harl? finished just night. Quite warm to day. Mary Roberts was in to night and Herman. June 9, Sat.: Planted my potato(e)s to day. Joe Roberts, True Sleeper and Hugh Hurlbert was helping me. Fixed a peice (piece) for corn. Quite warm. Katy has been taking a Musick (music) lesson. Kate come and drop(p)ed some pumpkin seed after supper. Herman went to Patten by Cushmans. June 10, Sunday: Have been to Sabbath School all hands. After supper Kate and Carrie and I went over to Mart?(Martin?) Emersons to get some seed corn. 8 p.m. have just got home. Must do the milking and chores. June 11, Mon.: Planted some corn in the morning got done about ten in the forenoon. After dinner went to harrowing the Buck Wheat ground. Had quite a shower in the afternoon. Drew the rails away from the house. Bun (or Ben) was in to night (probably Mr. Young) quite cool and windy. June 12, Tues.; Helping True pile to day. Fenilson was to work there and Lime (probably Lyman) Hurlbert got home just as the sun was going down. Robinson and wife was here just night. Quite cool and windy. Mary Roberts and Iva? was here and Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton. June 13, Wed.; Piling for True he has quite a crew. Knowles, Fenilson, Lime Hurlbert, Herman and myself. Kate went to Patten with the waggon. Then I went to Post Meetting (GAR Post Meeting). Dolly went with me. Got home about 11 o'clock. June 14, Thurs.: Made a mistake, to day is the day that Knowles is helping True. I have been helping him to day. Kate has been to Patten with the waggon. Am going to have it painted and varnished and upholsterd. C. Fish (or Fisk) has just come. June 15, Fri.: Went fishing to day Granville and Bert went with me. True has got Polly to go to Patten come home about half past seven. Cloudy and not very warm. The children at school when I got home with Iva. June 16, 1888, Saturday: Have been at home to day. Showery in the morning. Went to Trues in the Morning. The Musick Teacher was here to day. I sowed my buckwheat to day. Harrowed untill dark. Very warm. Folks all at home but them that are away. June 17, 1888, Sun.: Did not go to Sabbath School stay(e)d at home with Cynthia. She was sick. K. and K. and Carrie went. After supper went to Merserves to see the yearlings. All hands through the woods. Very warm to day. June 18, Mon.: Very warm to day. I have worked at Trues to day piling. After supper bushed the buckwheat peice. Went to the brook to get Kate some water to wash with. George Hamilton come in to night and Huldy come but she is cross. All George come to see if I had some wool to sell. Very warm to night. June 19, Tues.: Went to the road with Geo Hamilton got home 1 p.m. Took the banking away from the house. There was a man here to see the steers. Did not trade with him. There is a horse doctor here to night. Quite warm. June 20, Wed.: Have been at home all day. Put a bandage on the colt for rupture. Have been fussing around all day. Have not done much but just took some banking away from the house on the back side. Not very warm. True has got the oxen (this) afternoon. June 21, Thurs.: Was at home in the forenoon had sick headache. In the afternoon helping True plow. Dolley helped him. The sewing circle was here to day, Mrs. Nason, Mrs. P. Young and Rose, Mrs. W. Gilchrist, Mrs. Hurlbert and Add and Mary Roberts, Mrs. Fenilson and Mrs. Thornton. Lots of others. June 22, Fri.: Was at home most the day. John Hammond(?) was here to see my steers. did not sell them. They are looking well. Had a bad spell with my stomach. Just night quit(e) sick about half an hour. Rained a little to day. June 23, Sat.: Have been laying shingles for Joe Roberts. Hurlbert and Smalll was there to work. Very warm to day. Am not feeling very well. True Sleeper was in this evening and Eimer Robinson, Whatma? (probably Whitman) Hurlbert. 11 p.m. they have just gone home.