Diary of Lucian B. Grout (1 Jan 1889 to 31 Mar 1889) of Aroostook Co, Maine Lucian Boneparte Grout's DIARY 1 Jan 1889 to 31 Mar 1889 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 CREDITS Joyce Rand Hall translated the diary and provided interpretation of spelling, writing, terms, expressions and sentence structure. Joyce is the daughter of Everett Rand, granddaughter of Ada Grout Rand, and great granddaughter of Lucian B. Grout. Alex Ha11 offered consultation on antiquated rural expressions and interpretation. Douglas A. Hall offered typing of the work and served as editor and publisher in consultation with Joyce and Alex Hall. COMMENTS No one in the credits went to diary translation school. We enjoyed reading the diary of Jennie Morrison, a Golden Ridge resident who kept a diary in 1892 when she was sixteen years old. This diary was transcribed in 1983 by Nina Caldwell Sawyer. Who are we writing for? We do not know. We believe it would be selfish to keep to ourselves the efforts of a man nearly on-- hundred years ago to record his daily routine. ++++++++++++++++++++ January 1, 1889, Tuesday: Did the chores and went to the falls with Joel Thornton. We went in wehre (where) Hagget used to live to see some hay that Gaffon(?) had of Hagget. Got home just at dark. Fred, Ada, and Katy have gone up to L. F. Rands to a sing. I have been in to Trues a while this evening. Fred is lame hurt his knee. He is quite lame. Cynthia fell and hurt her check (cheek?) last night. Kate is knitting draws to night. Carrie and Cynthia have gone to bed. It is 9 o'clock time to go to bed. Jan. 2, Wed.: Was at home in the morning. Geo Hamilton came here. I went to Mary Roberts with him. Came home just before dinner did(?) the chores and went up to Dollys. Got home about the time school was out. Elbridge Perkins was here this evening. Erl Rand has just come in. The folks are all at home. Fred knee is some better to night. Kate is knitting mittens. Ada and Katie are making a matts(?) for the organ. Carrie and Cynthia and Fred are in bed. Twenty minutes past 8 o'clock. Warm and pleasant. Jan. 3, Thurs.: Did the chores in the morning then True and I went to see G. and C.'s Lumber. Got home at noon. Mr. Merserve was here the afternoon. Paid him for the pasturing. I went to J.G. Dollys with him. Got home just dark. Nettie Cobern is here to night. Geo Hamilton is gone to Mary Roberts. Prof. Rowe brought Fred's snow shoes to night. Mr. Stinchfield was here when I come home from looking at the lumber. He wanted to buy a cow. Kate is knitting. Ada and Carrie is to work on Carries dress. Katy and Fred is doing examples M. Jan. 4, Fri.: Have been to L. Morgans and Elbridge Perkins to day with the mare and pung. Got home just after dark. Rose Young was in a visiting to day. Kate is knitting on drawers. Ada is sewing. Katy is at the organ. Cynthia and Carrie has gone to bed. It is quite warm to day. Fred has been up on the hill this evening to Morrisons and Rands. Bed time the folks all in to night. Jan. 5, Sat.: Fred and I saw(e)d wood in the forenoon. Ada and I went to the Mills in the afternoon. Got home just before dark. Moderate to day it is thawing a little. Kate is to work on Freds drawers. Ada is sewing on her skirt. Elbridge Perkins was here to day brought a quarter of beef weight 157 lbs. Rose Young was in to day. Katie is sufering(?) Cynthia and Carrie are a bed. Fred is going to bed. The hens laid 4 eggs to day. Have not heard from home yet. Quite warm and pleasant. January 6, 1889, Sunday: Was at home in the forenoon. Helped do the chores. Got some lunchan and Kate and I went to see Jud. Dr. Woodbury and Biglow was there to see him. Went in to True Sleepers to night. He has the head ache. I did the chores for him. Come home about 7 o'clock. Ada is going to sit up with Jud to night. Fred went downe with her. Carrie is not feeling very well to day. Mr. Hamilton and wife were here to night a few minutes. Erland Rand was here to(o). The girls are going to bed. January 7, Mon.: Carried the girls to school. Came home and did the chores. It has been raining all day. Ada and I went to Hamiltons and got some sweet apples in the morning. Kate is making me a shirt. Ada is fixing Katy blue dress. True was in this evening. The hens only layed 4 eggs. Carrie is all right to day. Kate gave me a Christian lecture to day. Fred has gone to bed and I must go. Erl Rand stayed with Fred last night. All well to night. Lucian let awfull poop this morning. (Is this Katy adding the last line to explain why Lucian received a Christian lecture from her?). January 8, 1889, Tues.: Went to Perkins in the forenoon to change oxen with him. Sleeper went with me. Got home about noon. Went to break the logging road to Cold Brook. Got home just dark. The oxen work better than they did before. Snowed some in the morning. Ada went down to Mr. Bryants to get some oil. Did not get any. Fred has gone down to stay with Jud to night. Carrie and Cynthia are blowing sope bubles (soap bubbles). Katie is going to wash the dishes. Quite warm and pleasant. Jan. 9, Wed.: That page is for Wed and this is for Thursday. Have been at home most of the day. Got some potatos before dinner. Cleaned(?) the hen house. then went to Ab Bryant's. Got some tea, sugar, molases, cassia soap and K oil. Quite moderate to day. Carrie went with me to day. Kate and Ada have been washing to day. Kate is ironing this evening. Fred has gone to Rands. Ada is sputtering. Guy is out of the woods. Jan. 10, Thurs.: Went with True to drawing logs. Went with two loads got home just dark. Eat my supper then went to the Mills to a camp fire. Ada and Katy went with me. I put the team up to F(or H) Caldwells. I had the paper made out Floyd D. Lewis. Made my declaration for Pension. It rained all the way home hard. Got home about twelve mid night. Kate was up and had a good fire. Fred had gone to bed. January 11, 1889, Friday: Went with the sow to Morgans in the morning when Fred went to school I led her. Got two letters from N.H. to the school house. One from Mary Spencer (his wife's sister) and the other from Emma and a few lines from Lucinda?(Linda?). Mr. Price, wife and girl was here to dinner to day. Carrie and Jennie(?)(Jannie?) went to slide did not get in untill we was most through eating. Kate and Katy are washing the dishes. Ada is not doing anything as usual. Erland has just come in. Warm and pleasant. Good night Dear Diary. (Ada might have written some of this). Jan. 12, Sat.: Went to L. Morgan's in the morning. He had gone to Geo Webbers. He brought the sow? home just before dinner time. Johnson Woodbury was here to dinner was getting signers for a steam saw mill. We all hands went to the Double (Doble?) School House to a time raise funds to pay the minister. Kate and I. Cynthia and Carrie went with Mr. Hamiltons team. Mr. Hamilton and wife, Odber?, Flora Dennett and Hugh Hurlbert. Got home about 11 p.m. Clear and cold and icey. Jan. 13, Sunday: Did the chores in the morning. Fred helped do them. Fred, Katy, Cynthia and I went to Meetting to the school house to meetting. Mr. Price and wife were to Meetting. Very pleasant but awfull icey. Ada is about sick with a bad cold. Guy Webber, Gene Chamberlain were in to day. True Sleeper and Erland Rand were in just night. Kate made some mince pies to day. Quite good. We heard last night that Uncle William Irish was did (dead/died?). The folks are reading and eating apples. Very pleasant to night. Jan. 14, Mon.: Went to L. Morgans in the morning he had gone to I Geo Webbers he brought the (???) Went to Patten to day drove up to Dolly's they wanted to send after the Dr. Gilman was sick last night. Dr. Bigalow did not come he is not well. I got my moccasins taped. I got home before dark. It is quite cold to day but very pleasant. Fred has gone up on the hill to carry Gilman's medisin (medicine). Have been to Joe Roberts. Jud is some better. Bed time. Jan. 15, Tues.: Have been at home most of the day. Fred went to the Red School House to school to day. I went after the chain we was drawing wood. True had the team to go to the Mills. Ada went with him. Got home before sun set. Think there will be a storm. Katy has been to Hamiltons. Odbar did not come home with here. 8 p.m. Fred has gone to bed and Cynthia. Kate is sewing. Ada is knitting. Carrie is playing. January 16, 1889, Wednesday: Have been drawing logs to day ha(u)led two loads. Warm and pleasant to day. Addie Rowe and Orrie? were here and Mrs. Levette, Mrs. Robinson and Mellie Sides visiting to day. Fred has gone up on the hill to night. Ada and Katie have gone down to Knowles to night. Cynthia and Carrie are knighting (knitting?) to night. Kate is sewing. School is keeping this week. Mrs. Cobern is sick. Georgh Hamilton is better. Have not heard from Myra Emerson to day. Half past six. It is a lovely evining. Our folks are all well to night. (Last part appears written by one of the children). Jan. 17, Thurs.: Kate took care of Mrs. Fenilson last night did not come home untill 3 p.m. It has rained all day hard commenced last night. The snow is most all gone in the fields only ice. True, Erland, Herman is to day. Kate has a bad cold is sewing to night and has a bad head ache. Ada is knitting. Katy has been washing dishes. Cynthia and Carrie are blowing soap bubbles. 7 p.m. and still raining. Guy Webber in to day. Perl Young has moved home to go to logging. Jan. 18, Fri.: Was at home in the forenoon. True and I went in the woods to the logs. Fred went to Ab Bryants. Polly (family horse) cut her leg. After dinner I went to see Oliver Graffam(?) bought his hay for $20. Called into Joe Roberts and rode up with Dr. Bigelow. Bessie is here to night. Fred is up on the hill Ada is up to L. F. Rands Kate is sewing. Joel Thornton is in. Mrs. Cobern died last night the funer(a)l Sunday. 7 p.m all well. January 19, 1889, Saturday: Cold and windy. Went to Patten to settle up with-Miss M.L. (?) True Got home at 7 o'clock. Herman Sleeper was here. Maimie Dolley and Bessie stayed all night. Lots of the young folks went into Mr. Emerson's camp(?) Ada went got home at one o'clock. Settled up with Mirnervia. True and Janine? and Avey were here. Avey stayed to supper. Kate is making Carrie a night dress to night. Carrie, Cynthia, Katie and Bessie have gone to bed and I must go. It is cold and the wind in blowing hard. January 20, 1889, Sunday: Quite pleasant to day, done the chores and Mrs. Hamilton came in a few minutes and I went down to see George Hamilton when she went home. George is better. Mrs. Cobern was buried to day. Mamie?, Bessie and Erland are here to day. Ira? Roberts came up a little while. Ada went down to see Mrs. Fenilson to day. Katie has gone up to stay with Bessie to night. Jud Roberts is better to day. Dellas? Glidden is here to night. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton did not come home to night are stop(p)ing with Nettie. School won't keep to morrow. It is pleasant to night. January 21, Monday: Have been at home all day have just done the chores and nothing more. It has snow(e)d and the wind has been blowing all day. School is not keeping to day. Nettie has not come in yet. I dont think that Joel Thornton has not? come home that I know off (of). True came in this morning before we was up and stayed untill about 1 p.m. C. Gerry came and took Mamie Dolley home this afternoon. Katy came home with him 7 p.m. and still snowing. Jan. 22, Tues.: Have been drawing logs to day. Had a load loaded for morning got in three loads. Drewe thretty three logs. Polley (the family horse) is still lame. School don't keep to day. The wind is blowing and the snow is flying. Fred and Mr. Hamilton went out to the Mill Leviett after some sleds. Mr. Thornton and wife and Nettie come in home this afternoon. Erland came in this evening. Fred and he went down to Trues in the evening. Kate and Ada are sewing. Katie is knitting. Carrie and Cynthia are blowing soap bubbles. The wind is still blowing. All well to night. January 23, Wed.: Still drawing logs by Thundar. Drew thirty one. 'Did not got home till after dark. It is quite pleasant to day and quite warm. The children went to school to day. Mrs. Young has been in this evening to have Ada go to the Mills to morrow with her. Cynthia and Katie went down to Mrs. Hurlberts to get some flower (flour) to night. Carrie has been blowing soap bubbles. Cynthia is gone to bed. Kate is cyfering (cyphering or figuring). Ada is playing with her dressing case. Fred is combing his hair. Kate is lazyey to night. I am tired. It is pleasant to night. January 24, 1889, Thursday: Drawing logs went with three loads. True had the head ache. I went with the last load. 2he oxen got frightened coming home. Ada has been to the Mills went with Mrs. Young. Got home half past three. Kate is making a frock. Ada is knitting. Fred and Katy is doing nothing as usual. It is snowing and blowing to night. Not very cold. Most 9 p.m. time to turn in. Cynthia and Carrie have gone to bed. Jan. 25, Fri.: Drawing logs to day. Halled (Hauled) 39 to day. It is very warm and pleasant. The young folks are here this evening. Marry Rand and Mable Rand, Jennie Morrison, Lyman Hurlbert, Eraland Rand have been singing some. Marry (Mary) says she is going to stay all night. Lucian has gone to bed so has Carrie and Cynthia. Katie and Marry R. are in the bedroom. Fred is lying on the bed asleep. Ada and Erland are seting by the stove and Kate is writing in this diary. All well to night. The wind is blowing. Sound like rain. Good night. Jan. 26, Sat.: This is for Monday. Have been hauling logs. Got in 12. Drew six pine to the yard that Reed left last spring. It snowed all last night. Came about six inches of snow 1ast night. Chas Fenilson carried the girls to school in the morning. Ada went and got them to night. The folks all home to night. Kate and Katy are washing dishes. Ada is knitting. Cynthia has gone to bed. Carrie is blowing soap bubbles. Jan. 27, Sunday: Went to Morgans with Ada and Katy to get a tooth pulled for Katy. Got home about three p.m. Guy Webber and Erland Rand was here. Very cold to day and windy. Geo Parker and Lizzie Perry just in. Six o'clock and the wind still blowing. Guy has gone to the woods to (also? too?). Perl Youngs was in to day so was Willard Cox. Kate is going to make some mince pies so I can have some for dinner Lo morrow. The folks are all well to night. The children are laughing and playing. This is for Saturday, Jan. 26: Jan. 28, Mon.: Went to the Falls in the forenoon got a bbl (barrel) of flour and some lard. The Emerson boys was not there at home sick with the measles. Got home half past two p.m. Fred is helping True haul logs. Got in forty one. Got home little past six. Very warm and pleasant to day. Kate and Ada are washing. Katy has the tooth ache. Amy? Sleeper was here to day to play with Carrie. I went to Sleepers in the evening. Ada went to Fenilsons. January 29, 1889, Tuesday: Drawing logs for Gardner and Coburn. Got in thiryt (thirty) to day. True and I with his son and mine. Late when we got home 7 p.m. Erland Rand and Lyman Hurlbert was in this evening. Fred has been to carry Nettie? Bryant home. She was here visitting to day. Come home with Ada. She went down there when she carried the children to school. Quite cold and windy to nigh(t). 9 p.m. time to turn in. Ada has gone to Martin Emersons to work. Jan. 30, Wed.: Hauling logs. got three loads 33 logs. Have one pile all in but one log. Quite cold to day but pleasant. Mr. Fenleson was in a little while this morning. Ada is at Emersons. The children went to school to day. Carrie and I were all alone to day. Granvill Morrison came home last night. The hens laid 5 eggs to day. Katie is washing the dishes. Cynthia is wiping them. Carrie is playing. Fred is whittling and Kate is sewing. All well to night. Cold but pleasant 7 o'clock. January 31, 1889, Thursday: Still hauling logs. Drew thirty three. John Gardiner and Hacket was in to day. Hacket is going to scale them (to measure them), It has been snowing most all day. Was very cold in the morning. Katy and Cynthia are stop(p)ing up to A.J. Morcisons to night. I got home about six o'clock. Kate went and got the teacher and carried her up to Thorntons. 8 p.m. and still snowing and blowing. Ada still at Emersons. All well to night. February 1, Friday: Drawing logs I got in thirty to day. Moderate in the woods but windy and rough in the opening to day. Ada came home from Emersons to day. The boys are all better of the mesels (meassles). Guy Webber come out of the woods. He is done for Perl Young. Fred carried Nettie to school in the morning and kept (or left) the team to A.J. Morrisons and brought the girls home to night. 8 p.m. must go to the barn and to bed. All well to night. Feb. 2, Sat.: Fred went with True to draw logs. Had the head ache and come'-home at noon. Only got in one load. Ada and Katy have gone to Hamiltons visitting in the afternoon. The dog bit her on the arm. Guy went after the girls with the team. Got home about 8 p.m. Quite pleasant to night. Iva McLaughlin and her sister was here visitting in the afternoon. Have saw(e)d some wood to day. Fixed about a cord and put it in the house. Cynthia hs a sore in ? her head. February 3, 1889, Sunday: Went to Perkins in the forenoon. Was going to Bryand Leavits to get some buckwheat but the road was bad and did not go. Stop(p)ed at Sabin Higgins did not go in the house. L. F. Rand and wife and Ella was in this evening. Geo Hamilton is here to night. Rands went home before 8 p.m. Snowing some this evening. Quite cold. Katy has gone to bed with Carrie and Cynthia. Guy is here. Bed time all better. Feb. 4, Mon.: Drawing logs got in thirty seven. Very cold to day. Ada and Guy went to the Mills with some oats. Got home about dark. Mrs. Mahala Sleeper was here visitting to day. Went home about dark. Geo Hamilton is here stay(e)d last night. Katy is stopping to L. F. Rands to night. Kate is doing the chores. Ada is standing by the stove jaying (jawing?). won't write any more to night. Feb. 5, Tues.: Drawing logs got in twenty three to day. Has been snowing most all day. Geo Hamilton was here from Patten. Carried Rose Young home and was here to dinner. The Dolly girls had Poll (probably Polly, the family riding horse) to go to the Mills to see Geo Sleeper. He is sick with pneumonia. 8 p.m. it is still snowing fast. Kate is sewing on her dress. Ada is to work on her dress. Katy is doing up her bangs. Carrie is sewing. Cynthia to play with the slate. Feb. 6, Wed.: Went to drawing logs in the morning it rained and we came home at noon. Had to put the team all in one shed. There was a foot of damp snow come last night and yesterday. Geo Hamilton carried Katy to School in the morning. Cynthia is not going to day is not well. Mary Rand came home with Katy from school. Erland was here to supper. It has been raining-to day and quite warm. The girls are singing and Fred. Carrie is sedaping (cypering?) with a slate. Feb. 7, Thurs.: Have been drawing logs only got two loads to day. The roads are quite hard now only got 19 to day. Geo Hamilton is stop(p)ing here yet is not able to work he has been sick with rheumatism. Guy Webbers came here to day. Nettie Coubon (Coburn) came in to night. She is not feeling verry (very) well now. The children are singing. Carrie and Cynthia has gone to bed. Lucian is eating apples so is George. I finished my brown dress to day and my tobagan(?) Ada made here dress curt (coat?) to day. It is pleasant but cold. (Kate must have written this entry). February 8, 1889, Friday: Still hauling logs got in thirty one to day. Quite cold. The roads are getting quite good. Ada and Geo. Hamilton went to the Falls and got some cracked corn and pork. Went in the morning. Got home half past one. Ada and Katy and Fred have gone up to Rands this evening. Guy Webber is here staying. Carrie and Cynthia have gone to bed. Kate is sewing. Most 9 p.m. time to go to bed. The wind is blowing and it is quite cold. Feb. 9, Sat.: Been drawing logs to day. Have got in thirty one. Fred has been to the Falls with Bert Sleeper. Got home just dark. It has been quite moderate to day. Have got thirty eleven more to draw I load apeice(? a piece?). I got a hedg hog to day. I took off his pelt and brought him home. Geo Hamilton, Guy Webber is here to night. Kate and Katy are washing dishes. Carrie and Cynthia have gone to bed. Feb. 10, Sun.: Have been at home all day. Am not feeling well to day. Got some cold yesterday.got my feet wet on the stream. Had a hedg Hog supper to night. Kate and Cynthia and Carrie have gone down to Jo Roberts this evening. Half past seven and they have not come home yet. Geo Hamilton and Guy Webber are here yet. Bert Sleeper has got the pung to go to Ambrose. Quite warm and pleasant to day. Feb. 11, Mon.: Finished drawing the logs in the forenoon. Drew the sill that Reed had hewd. Got home at two p.m. Ate my dinner and went to Smalls to see if he would take his oxen and break in to the Haggets place. Got home from just dark. Was sick with the stomach ache, did not last long. Quite moderate. Bert Sleeper is here with his horse. Kate and Ada did the washin(g) to day. Got done half past one p.m. Feb. 12, Tues.: Have been at home all day am not feeling well. True Sleeper and Bert was in this morning and Ben? Young has been in. Snowing all day hard. Has come quite a pile of snow. Geo Hamilton is here yet and Guy. Kate is making a basque (bodice on woman's clothing). Ada is working an her flan(n)el dress. The children have all been to school but Carrie. 7 p.m. and still snowing. Katy and Fred are doing examples. Feb. 13, Wed.: Went up to the school house in the morning and went to J.G. Dollys. Came home and did the chores. Got my dinner and went to Ed Perrys to see if I could get his horse. He has not brought her home yet. Ada and Bert Sleeper has gone to Ab Bryants. Guy and George went and got some potatos took the oxen. Sleeper, Guy, George, and Erland Rand are in to night. Very pleasant. Kate and Kate are washing dishes. February 14, 1889, Thursday: I have been at home most of the time to day. Kate has been to Fenilsons to day. Mrs. F. is not well has a bad breast. I went to Fred Dennets to see if I could get a crotch chain (for hauling/dragging). He did (not?) have any. Found one at Jo Roberts. There is a surprise party at True Sleepers to night. Fred, Ada and Katy have gone. It has been quite cold and windy this afternoon. Geo Hamilton and Guy has gone to the party. Still cold and windy. Feb. 15, Fri.: Have been at home all day. The wind has blowed hard all day and it is drifting badly. Charles Gerry was going to get me a load of hay from Haggets. Bert Sleeper and I was going with another team. L. F. Rand and wife was here to dinner and Bert Sleeper. Ada went to school in the afternoon. Did not come home is staying at Rands. Katy and Fred came home with Polly. Nettie did not go home to night. The roads are bad. Pleasant to night. Feb. 16, Sat.: Have been at home to day. Broke out the road on the Cow Team Road and on the ridge. True took his oxen and Bert took his horse in the forenoon. And we had Fred Dennets oxen after noon. Ada is up on the hill staying. Katy went to Fenilsons in the afternoon. Very pleasant to day and quite warm. Bert Sleeper is here to dinner. Geo Hamilton still here. Looks like snow. Feb. 17, Sun.: Have been at home all day. It is raining most all day. Snowed some last night. Geo Parker was here to dinner and supper. Went away just dark. Ada has not come home yet. Guy Webber has not come back yet.' Fred has harnessed his colt and went up on the hill. Night and Kate is making bread. Katy is playing on the organ. I am writing. Still thawing. Feb. 18, Mon.: Broke the road in to the Haggett place. Bert Sleeper and Knowles went in with me. Had Mr . Knowles horse with Berts. Did not get any hay the road is so hard. Got home just dark. Am tiard (tired) to night. It is snowing and the wind is blowing to night. Bert Sleeper and Geo Hamilton are staying here to night. The children all at home to(o). Not very cold. Still snowing. 9 p.m. Bed time. Feb. 19, Tues.: Drawing hay from Haggets. Bert and I got one load to day. Got home before dark. Got a small load. The roads are very bed. The wind has been blowing hard most all day. Drawing with Knowles old mare and Bert Sleepers horse. Ada has been to Jo Roberts this evening with Rand. Had Polly to go with. Kate is at work on her flan(n)el dress. Katy is sewing. Cynthia has gone to bed. Carrie is up. Fred is 17 to day. March 3, 1889, Sunday: Fred and George have gone on the hill. Raged(?) up like two fiting? cocks about eleven o'clock. 7 p.m. will finnishing in my diary. Very pleasant and warm to day. The snow is quite soft in the roads. Herman was in about noon. The black and white cow had a calf to day. It is a heifer. Shall try and keep it. Katy has gone on the hill. Cynthia has been to Hurlberts. Geo Hamilton is not back yet. Erland is here. Mar. 4, Mon.: Have been at home all day doing the chores. Fred has ben chopping wood down on Geo Hamiltons. True and Bert are drawing wood. Geo and Guy have been sawing some wood. Sulvanus Huzzy (maybe Hussy) and Mattie Barker called in the forenoon to see if she could get Musick (music) scollars (scholars). Saw Ed Perry he is drawing 'nay from Mrs. Dennetts barn. Very warm and pleasant to day the snow melts quit(e) fast. Mar. 5, Tues.: Have been at home all day. Drawed wood in the forenoon. It rained in the afternoon. Dun (Done) the chores. Fred, Bert and Guy went to school. George went after Katy. Cynthia didn't go to day had a cold. Erland is in this evening doesn't come only every other night. Ada is making Cynthia a apron and Katy a dress waist. Ben(or Bun) Young, True and Knowles was in to day. Quite rainy to night the wind blows some. Katy has been doing Ex (examples?) 9 o'clock. My cold is better. Katy has gone to bed and I am going. Raining hard the wind is in the east. Mar. 6, Wed.: It has been raining all day hard. Katy had to walk to school could not go with a team has not come home to night. Bert, Guy and George are here. I am not feeling very well. My side pains me most of the time. Ada is getting along nicely with the work. True was in this fore noon putting a roll? on his sled. Went home at noon. Past 7 and still raining. The wind still in the east. Sign of clearning off. Mar. 7, Thurs.: Been at home all day. Have just done the chores. It has been raining all day quite hard. George Hamilton has gone down to Jo Roberts has not come home yet. 7 p.m and has not cleared off yet. Bert Sleeper and Guy are here to night. Ben? Young was here to day and cut Cynthia('s) hair. Fred is up on the hill. Wish Kate and Carrie was at home. Katy is going examples. Cynthia has gone to bed. Ada is sewing. March 13, 1889, Wednesday: Have been at home all day only went to Trues this morning and helped Herman load Berts wagon. He is going to carry it to the Mills to be painted. I have been swing wood part of the time. Rec'd a letter from Kate to night. She and Carrie are well but her father is failing very fast. Ada has been washing to day. Katy washed the floor. They got done at four o'clock. The wind blue (blew) so hard that they had a hard time to get the clothes out (on the line?). Cynthia went up to Mr. Morrisons this afternoon. Got home a(t) four o'clock. Ada and Fred have gone to carry Ella Rand home. Fred carried Mamie home this morning still blowing. March 14, Thurs.: At home all day was very windy in the forenoon only did the chores. Gordon the Peddlar was here to dinner. Geo Hamilton is here. Guy is doing Trues chores. We saw(e) some wood in the afternoon. Fred and the girls have gone to a party to Aaron Daggetts. Cynthia is down staying with Iva McLaugluan (McLaughlin?). 9 p.m. the folks not home yet. I am going to bed. Very clear and pleasant to night I wrote a letter to J.H. Haggett this evening he is in Texas, Somerset, Atacasa Co. (This was probably the Mr. Haggett of Hurricane Ridge in Island Falls not far from Golden Ridge who apparently moved to Somerset in Atascosa County, near San Antonio, Texas). March 15, Fri.: Have been at home all day. It is my birthday am 49 to day. The Penney Cow had a calf to day and the Black sheep has got a lamb. I helped George Hamilton saw some wood. We saw(e)d one log. Cynthia is staying with Iva to day. Ada and Katy went up on the hill on the crust. Mamie Dolley is in the bed room with Fred this evening. I have been to Joel Thorntons a little while this evening. Very mild and pleasant. Mar-16, Sat.: Been at home all day. Fred and George saw(e)d some wood. I did the chores. Mr. Corkins came about eleven o'clock. Stay(e)d to dinner and untill about 1 p.m. Ada and Katy have been to the Falls this afternoon. Got home about 5 p.m. Killed the calf and skinned it in the afternoon. Bessie Dolley came down in the afternoon to ask Fred and the girls to go up there to a party this evening. They have all gone. Flory Dolley came home with them. Stay(e)d all night. March 17, 1889, Saturday: Still at home got up about six in the morning and did the milking and chores. There was a Meetting (meeting) to the School house to day Mr. Price and Randall(?). Fred, Ada and Cynthia went. Katy stay(e)d to Dolleys last night. Came home after meetting. Ada stop(p)ed at Rands to supper. Erland brought her home with Bert Cox team. Has been raining all day a cold rain. The wind about east. 8 p.m. the folks a bed Cynthia went home with Iva Roberts. Mar. 18, Mon.: Went to Ed Perrys to see if he would draw wood to morrow. He said he would come if it did not storm. Herman S. (presume Sleeper) had the pung and Bert's horse to go to Silver Ridge. Got back half past four p.m. Asa Drew was here to day. Sold the sow pig for five dollars. It has been raining all day. Mr. Price was in this evening. Did not stop but a short time. It is snowing some to night. Mrs. William Emery is dead heard to day. Quite moderate this evening. Mar. 19, Tues.: Have been at home all day. Perry did not come to draw wood. Fred and George went down to cut some. Flora Dennett had the pung to go to Mrs. Wm. Emery's funeral. Has been snowing and misty all day. Fred went to the Post Office. Did not get a letter from Kate. Got one form J.H. Haggett. Half past eight. Ada is sewing on Katy's dress waist. Fred is reading. Katy has been playing on the organ. Cynthia is down to Jo Roberts. Quite warm to night. Mar. 20, Wed.: Have been drawing wood to day. Ed Perry is helping me. Got four loads. Stanchfield(?) was here to buy a cow but did not trade with him. Geo Hamilton is still here. Knowles was in to day and Guy Webber. Got a letter from Kate to day. She and Carrie are both quite well. Fred and the girls have gone up on the hill to L.A. Rands. They are having some kind of a time there this evening. Mar. 21, Thurs.: Have been to Rubin Durgin to day went in the morning and stay(e)d all the forenoon. Got home half past eleven o'clock. Got my pay to day three dollars the balance due on the steer that he bought of me last spring. Guy Webber paid me five dollars on his board bill. Fred and George are drawing wood. Guy is with them. Got four loads. Have Ed Perrys chub and Bert Sleepers horse. Quite warm and pleasant to day. Ada and Katy have been to the Mills in the afternoon. March 22, 1889, Friday: At home all day. Am about sick. Had the stomach ache last night. Have done chores part of time to day. Fred and the boys are drawing wood from Geo Hamiltons. Tom Irish was here today to buy a pig. Did not trade with him. Guess the price did not suit though(t?) the price to(o?) high. The snow is going quite fast. The old black cow was sick this morning but is all right to night. Am not feeling better. Flora Dolley is here to night. Mar. 23, Sat.: Been home all day have done part of the chores. Am feeling some better than I did yesterday but not very well. Fred and Guy and the boys are drawing wood. Got three loads and took Chub(name of Bert Sleeper's horse) home. Ada and Katy went to Bryants and Bess Dolley came home with them. Fisk (or Fish) is here to night. They have all gone up to Rands to some kind of a party. A man called here said he was going to patten called his name Hall-. The folks got home last night about 2. Mar. 24, Sun.: Am feeling some better to day but not well. Fisk (or Fish) went a way this forenoon about 9 o'clock. Guy did not come back last night. Hamilton is here Rand and Bert Sleeper and Sarah Ambrose. All in the bed room raising.(did Lucian not allow himself to write profanity?). Katy is writing to Kate. Shall be awful glad when Kate gets home. Fred has been at home all day. Willard Cox was in to night. It is quite warm. The snow is going every day will soon be bare ground. I want to draw dressing this week. Mar. 25, Mon.: Been to town Meetting (meeting) to day. Went with Berts and Trues horses. The select men are Charles Robinson, James B. Lewis and Wm Sawyer. Did not get a vote to give the right of way to the railroad. Got home just before dark. It is quite cold to night is going to freeze hard. Fred did not go to the Mills to day went out to the Post Office to day. Did not get any letter. Lyman Hurlbert and Lee Gilchrist are in this evening. Fred is gone some where 9 p.m. Bedtime. Mar. 26, Tues.: Was at home in the forenoon. Mr. Durgin was in the morning to get some scions (probably apple branches or what is grafted onto an apple tree to obtain a specific type of fruit). I went back to the woods to see about getting some rails. Don't think I will cut any. Went down to Jo Roberts in the afternoon. Came home before supper. Then went to get Fenilsons chain and got some Sprites (spirits) of turpintine (turpentine). In the evening all hands went in to Trues I came home half past 9. Very pleasant this evening Cynthia has gone down to Joe Roberts. March 27, 1889, Wednesday: Went to the Moss place in the morning to measure the fence so to see how many bunks (wooden blocks to connect a rail fence, most likely cedar with notches or holes for rails) I have got to have. Came home and Frank Powers was here. Wants to clear a peice (piece) of land on the Moss lot. Fred has been to Trues to a Bee to day and Ada. They are all down there this evening. Mrs. Hurlbert and Addie was here visitting (visiting) to day. 8 p.m. snowing to night not very cold. Mar. 28, Thurs.: Have been at home all day. Fred went to Ed Perrys to get the wood saw. Had to wait for it to be filed. Got home just noon. Ada has gone up on the hill Mabel Rand is here to day. Bert Cox and Erland was in just noon. It has been snowing most all day. Geo Hamilton has been gone most all day. Got home just before dark. got a letter from Kate and Carrie last night. All well. Mar. 29, Fri.: Was at home to day. Ab Bryant came and got some oats in the forenoon. Had 17 bags full. Dol Glidden came after two loads of granate (granite?) and brought the buck wheat 12 bushels. We saw(e)d some wood. Mr. Schofield was here to day with tea and coffee. Bought 2 lbs of each. Went to Trues to get some potatoes. Got home 9 p.m. The wind(?) blows like a storm. Mar. 30, Sat.: Been at home all day. We saw(e)d some wood but not much. The saw was out of order. It has been very cold and windy all day. Dol Glidden came to get a load of granate (granite?) in the morning. Hamilton has been to work for Fenilson to day sawing wood. Herman was in this afternoon. 9 p.m. The roan? cow has got a calf. Pleasant but cold. Ada and Katy have gone to bed. Am going to the barn and feed(bed?) Berts horse. March 31, 1889, Sunday: Have been at home all day. Quite pleasant to day. Katie went up to Mr. Rands stayed with the children while they went to the funeral stayed all day. Brun (or Bun) Young and Guy was in to day. Fred went up on the hill went to Mr. Rands. George went off to see Mrs. Hurlbert. Got home the next morning made quite a visit. Erland and Willard haven't got back from the Falls yet. Guess the horse has run away. Had maple honey for supper. The first we had wish Kate was at home. Bedtime Fred has gone. (This entry appears to be made by Ada). April 1, 1889, Monday: Pleasant to day. Have been down to Mr. Morgans. Went after dinner. Got home at half past five. Fred has been out to the Mills. Went out with a grist. Got a big lamp? for Kate cost a dollar. The girls washed and mopped. Katie went down to Flora Dennetts this afternoon. Got home at seven. Got a book to read down there. Levi May, Erland and Willard was in this afternoon. Erland and Willard was in this forenoon. Erland is making a short call. Killed the calf this morning. Fred carried out 12 doz and 9 eggs to the Mills. Got a barrel(l) of flour. (This entry also appears to be by Ada). Apr. 2, Tues.: This is for Thursday. Fred to the Mills in the forenoon to get a grist. Got home about noon. I got Thornton to help dig the grave for Moses Sleeper. did not get it done. Will take part of the forenoon to morrow. Warm and pleasant to day. The snow is meltting (melting) quite fast to day. Herman Sleeper, Erl Rand, Lyman Hurlbert and Odbar(?) Hamilton in to night. Katy is not home. Apr. 3, Wed.: Went to the Mill in the morning with Charles Rowe. Got him to fetch up the birch boards that was at the Mill. Went to see Martin Emerson he wants to swap waggons (wagons). Guess I won't trade. I went to Smalls and rode home with Nell? Leavitt. Got home about two p.m. Helped cord up some wood that True is splitting. Quite warm. Mary Roberts and Judson got home to night. Apr. 4, Thurs.: (But for Tuesday) Was at home all day. It has been snowing and the wind has been blowing all day. Fred is up on the hill most of the day. Knowles was in this afternoon. Geo Hamilton was (has?) been to Ab Bryants to get some things. True and the girls Fred and Agnes have gone upon the hill to Rands to some kind of time and Geo Hamilton. Amy Sleeper here with Cynthia to stay to night. Apr 5, Fri.; Did the chores in the morning and went to the Mills-with True Sleeper to Moses Sleepers funeral. Quite a lot of soldiers out. Most all came to the cemetary. Mr. Hayden and Stanchfield was here to dinner. Fred and Katy and Ada have gone to Gilman Youngs to a Bee and party in the evening. Got home a little past one a.m. Iva Roberts is here to night. I went down to Trues -in the evening. Very pleasant. April 6, 1889, Saturday: Went up to Rands in the morning to measure the line fence on the Moss place next to Rands. Porter helped me. Came home and went to sawing wood with Fred. Very warm and pleasant to day. The snow is melting very fast. Will take three or four days to finish the wood. Kate and Carrie has not got home yet. Wish they were here to day. Apr. 7, Sun.: Was at home in the forenoon. Did the chores and went to the School House to meetting (meeting). Ada, Cynthia and I. Got home about three p.m. Very warm and pleasant. The snow is going fast. Ernest Drew and Willard Cox was in after meetting (meeting). Mary Dolley came home with Fred and Bessie came with Ada. Leon came after the girls. Went home about 9 p.m. Geo Hamilton in this evening. Has just gone is bedtime am going to turn (probably meant to turn in to bed). Apr. 8, Mon.: Have been sawing wood to day. I went to Fenilsons to get the saw set but the set was out of fix. (This was probably a two man cross cut and to set it meant to flare the teeth of the blade to avoid binding the saw in the wood). Fred went to Ab Bryants with the colt in the morning to get some soap. Whitman(?) Hurlbert was in this forenoon. Got some eggs and a bottle of milk. Mary Rand is here this afternoon. Ada has gone down to Parker Youngs with her. Twenty minutes of 7 must go and milk. Apr. 9, Tues.: Went up to Mr. Dolleys to a bee a little while to day. Katie came home this morning. Ada and Cynthia have gone up to Rands a visiting. Katie went down to Mr. Hamilton this afternoon. Got home at 6 o'clock. Fred went to the bee. Mary Rand went home this morning. Ada rollared (rolled into a ball?) some yarn. Charlie Rowe was here to get 2 doz of eggs paid all but $2. True was in this morning. Ada hasn't got home yet. (This looks like Ada's handwriting). Apr. 10, Wed.: Have been at home most of the day. Went to mr. Hamilton's in the afternoon. Geo and Geo Hamilton and Charles Rowe are sawing for him. Fred and I saw(e)d one log and split some. Ada came home from Rands this morning. Herman Sleeper was here to day. Levi May is staying here to night. Geo Hamilton is in this evening. Quite cold but very pleasant. April 11, 1889, Thursday: Was at home all day. Have been sawing some wood. May had my wagon to go to the Mills. He came back just before dark. His horse was sick with the colic. Forest Bryant was here most of the afternoon. Stay(e)d in the evening. Levi mare died half past twelve. Rand was in to make a short call. Went home with Bryant. Katy and Cynthia went to bed in fair season. Apr. 12, Fri.: Helped Levi draw his mare to the woods the first thing in the morning with the oxen. I went down to the woods to see if I could find my bow pin that I lost last winter. (A bow pin holds the bows in a yoke). Went to School Meetting (meeting) in the afternoon. Got home before sun set. Cow had a calf while I was away. Fred, Ada and Katy have gone to A.J. Morrisons to a party to night. Apr. 13, Sat.: Been drawing wood for Geo, Hamilton to day. Not very warm. Kate and Carrie came home last night. They were well. The girls and Fred are up to Morrisons to a party when they came home. Ada and Katy have been to Ab Bryants went a foot. Fred has been at home all day just done the chores. I got home about dark was very tired. Katy has a bad cold. Was working for Mr. Fenilson to day. Apr. 14, Sun.: Have been at home all day. Am very lame with Rheumatism. Got cold at Geo Hamiltons drawing wood yesterday. Fred has been on the hill came home about six. Erl came home with him. Bun (or Ben) Young was in this evening. Ella Rand came in just before sun set. Kate and the girls are all at home this evening. Has been colder to day but pleasant. Apr. 15, Mon.: Pleasant to day. Went down to Edd Perry after the saw. Sawed up two logs. Fred helped True. Ada washed and Kate washed the floors. Katie has a bad cold and coff (cough) layd (laid) a bed in the forenoon. Fred went down-to Mr. Leavetts to the seranade (serenade). Had a splendid time. Got home about half past 9. Erland, Guy, Lyman and Len and Mr. Hurlbert was in this evening. Was going down to Leavetts. Kate is mending Freds overhalls to night. Katie is working on her apron. Ada is working a flower in her hankchief (hankerchief). Cad and Cynthia have gone to bed. It is ten o clock. Bedtime and I must retire. Glad Kate is at home. (Looks like Ada's writing, who may have called Carrie, Cad) . April 16, 1889, Tuesday: Pleasant to day. Have been at home all day. John F. Law? was here to day came about 10 and stayed untill 3. Bun? Young was in this morning. Mr. Corkins and Mr. Farmer was here to dinner. Put in about 200 grafts. Kate didn't like it. Ada stole some bees wax out of there box. Mrs. Hurlbert was in to night after some milk. Cynthia has gone to bed and Cad is going. Ada has gone up to Rands, Erland came down after her. Katie has been working on that apron of hers. Kate is mending. She finished Cynthia's apron to day. Fred has gone to bed. (We believe Ada wrote this entry). April 17, Wed.: Quite warm to day. Sawed wood. True Sleeper helped me. Fred went down to Mr. Youngs and got the saw filed. Katie, Carrie and Cynthia went down to Trues after some potatoes and got Kates dalyer (dahlia?) root. Carrie went down to see Amy this afternoon. Got home at six. Ada and Erland came down this evening. Ada went back with him. Jamie? Sleeper was in this afternoon. Kate is mending to day. Katie is working on her apron. Cad and Cynthia have gone to bed. Fred went up on the hill. Went to Rands and Dolleys. Ada went over to Dolleys this afternoon. Bed time. (Part of this entry may have been by Ada). Apr. 18, Thurs.: Have been at home all day finished sawing up the wood pile. True and Mr. Hurlbert helped me. Kate washed out some things to day. Mr. Durgin was here in the forenoon. Elery Leavett was here conversing (canvasing as in sales) for apple and plum trees. Didn't sign for any. George Hamilton was in to night was going down to Roberts. Wanted to get some butter. Kate is mending Cynthia's apron. Fred has gone to bed. Carrie is a sleeping in her chair. Am awful tired to night. Apr. 19, Fri.: Been splitting wood and fiting all day. Whitman Hurlbert is helping to day. Have got most done. Have only 13 more blocks to split. Ada came home in the forenoon. Rose Young and Melvina Crosby came with her. Was here all day. Stay(e)d all night. It is very warm and the snow is most all gone in the fields. Mr. R. Hamilton has shear(e)d his sheep. Apr. 20, Sat.: Fred finished splitting the wood in the forenoon. After dinner went to Ab Bryants with some eggs. I went to Tom 1rishes to see about building fence. Got home about five p.m. Tom was at A.J. Lufkins. He died this morning about 9 o'clock. Very warm and pleasant. Ada is to Parker Youngs visitting (visiting). Came home just dark. Have another lamb. April 21, 1889, Sunday: I heard a toad to night. Very warm this morning. Saw the first swallow this morning. Went to the woods and found the bow pin that we lost when we got the cedar for kindling. I did not find the bow pin Carrie found it so there! I have been up to Gim Dolleys in the afternoon to see if he was going to use the buck board to morrow. Adams Perry was in this afternoon and Ernest Drew and Lorenze Morgan, Herman Sleeper, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton. (Part of this entry is in another handwriting in the middle). Apr. 22, Mon.: Went to L. Morgan to get some bunks. Got home about noon. Kate, Ada and Fred went to Mr. Lufkins funeral with Mr. Hamilton and wife. Got home about four p.m. It is very cold and windy to day. Ada has been and gone to Patten with George Hamilton to work untill Sunday. Went after dark. Hamilton is going to Oregon in a day or two. Apr. 23, Tues.: Have been splitting stakes most of the day. Have them all split and some sharpened. Sold the cedar to Len Porter for one dollar and fifty cts. that was in the pastures There was a man here to day from Chapman by the name of McClowd (McCloud?) that was in the army. Fred has been up on the hill this evening. Rowe and wife were in to night. Quite cold. Have set three hens to day. Apr. 24, Wed.: Went to the Moss place to bore some bunks. Tom and I set some stakes on the line. Came home 1 p.m. Fred is sick with the head ache. Mamie Dolley and Bess are here this afternoon and Hulda Hamilton. Have been sharpening stakes after I did the chores. Bert Sleeper is in this evening. Looks like a storm quite cool. Apr. 25, Thurs.: Was at home in the forenoon. Morgan came and we killed one of the pigs and he is selling it in the afternoon Fred bored bunks in the forenoon and I did this afternoon. (We are not sure where Lucian intended to end this sentance). Went up to Jim Emerys to file the augar (auger for boring those holes). Geo Hamilton came and got Kate to go to Patten. Ada is sick with heart trouble. Very windy to day. April 26, 1889, Friday: Have been at home all day sharpening stakes. Sold one of the pigs to Mr. Dennett. He took the smallest one. Fred washed the wagon to day. Bessie Dolley is here staying to day. Quite windy to day but not very cold. I went to Hurlberts to day noon there is a man here to night to stay all night. Fred has gone to Ab Bryants. April 27, Sat.: Rained all the fournoon (forenoon). Sharpened stakes in the afternoon. Put the pigs outdoors this morning. The old hog bit one of the pigs tails off as he was going through the fence. A man stayed here last night. His name was Ira(?) King did not pay for staying. Fred went up to Patten to day with Erland. Erland is here this evening just come. Fred has gone down to Trues. Katie is knit(t)ing. Carrie is sewing. Cynthia has gone to bed. (Kate, Lucian's wife, may have written some of this). Still looks like rain. Cloudy and misty. Sold Hurlbert some meat to day. April 28, Sunday: Rainy have been at home all day. Erland stayed here last night. He went up after Ada to day. George Hamilton brot (brought) Kate home to day. They got here about 1 o'clock. Ada and Erland got here at 5. Willie Young is in this morning. Katie went down to Hamiltons to night. Earl had Trues old mare to go to Patten with. Kate is reading. Ada has gone to bed. The rest of the folks are talking to beat anything. Bed time. Still raining Ada is some better to night. Kate is tired so am I and must go to bed 8 o'clock. April 29, Mon.: Still raining I went over to the Falls to day and stop(p)ed to see Mr. Graffour (Grafform or probably Grafram). Said he would wait untill next week. James Emery was here to day to get some oats. Mrs. Hurlbert and Charl(e)s Rowe was here to day so was Burt Sleeper. Fred made stakes to day. Stop(p)ed at Mr. Smalls to day. He is building a new house. John Retso is to work for him. Called at Mr. Drews. Mr. Dolley had the oxen to day to worke (work). Leon Dolley is sick with bilious feaver (fever) but is some better to day. Ada and Fred a bed so I must go. April 30, 1889, Tuesday: Went in the morning to bore bunks. Split the augar (auger) handle and went and got Jos (Jas for James?) Emery to make a new one. Came home at noon and Fred went in the afternoon and worked till supper and finished them. Kate and I went to see Jud Roberts. Called to see True Sleepers. Colt is very sick. May 1, 1889, Wednesday: Quite pleasant to day. Have been at home all day. Kate washed to day. Bert and Fred have gone to the Mills to the camp fire went this afternoon. Willie Young was in and Mrs. Hurlbert came and got some K (kerosene) oil. Mrs. Hamilton was up after her rubber that she left here last night. Have boored (bored) bunks all day. Am tired to night. Die the chores after supper. Trues colt is dead . Katie went down to Fenlasons with some milk this morning. Sleepers colt died to day at noon. May 2, 1889, Thursday: Pleasant, hauled bunks in the forenoon. Katie went down to Mr. Hamiltons this morning and got a(n) ox bow. Mr. Dolley was here to dinner. He went over to Mr. Youngs. Fred and Bert got home at noon to day. Kate and Mrs. Hurlbert have been down to Bryants. K. (his wife?) got some garden seeds. Bessie went with them. Guy was in this afternoon. We hauled a load of rails from Morgans and Fred cut the elm tree that was near the line. Got home about six p.m. (Although Lucian uses the book as an account book to track what he does for others and what they do for him, he also records what his family is doing. The family members appear to participate in some of the writing. We believe we recognize Ada's writing and suspect that when it is another's handwriting that it is Kate who has contributed). (on Lucian's April 29 trip to Island Falls to the north of his home, we suspect he visited Oliver 0. Grafham, Asa B. Drew and Charles E. Small who lived on the way in Island Falls). (Oliver 0. Grafham was about 75 year old at this time, probably living alone. He was a farmer and a shingle shaver who hauled his shingles on a hand sled. He was once a sailor who was shanghied in Bangor. See the History of Island Falls by Nina Caldwell Sawyer. Did Lucian owe him money?) May 3, 1889, Friday: Showery to day. Drawing rails and building fence. Got four loads of rails from Morgans and tow (two) from home. Fred and Tom Irish were building fence. James Emery got 12 bushells of oats to night. Mary Rand and Erland are here to night. True and Burt were in this evening. Kate got a letter from May Spencer to night. Said that farther (father) was dead. Died the 30th of April was burried this afternoon. Carrie is a sleep on the bench. Ada is on the bed. She is not feeling verry well. Kate, .Fred and Erland are singing. Cynthia is sit(t)ing at the table. Lucian jam(m)ed his finger this afternoon real bad. (Kate wrote this). (New Hampshire death certificate: Robert Read Jr. (He was Reed in census) notes that he died March 30, 1889, in Columbia, N.H. (near Colebrook) at age 82 years of cancer of lip. He was farmer and born in Firmish, Ireland. (Census data says he was born in Canada). His father was Robert Read and his mother was Ann Smith, both born in Ireland. Samuel J. Bailey Jr., Town Clerk, in Columbia, N.H. recorded this.) May 4, Saturday: Building fence on the Moss place. I went in the forenoon and Fred came with the oxen and wagon and the balance of the stakes. The sow had 12 pigs. they are all smart and well. There was a party to Rands last night to sing Fred and Katy went. Ada is not well. Porter and wife was here a visitting yesterday. Charles brought the rocking chair home to day. May 5, Sun.: Fred set up with Leon Dolley or Mamie last night or both. Ada is up to Rands to day. Fred has been over to Ab Bryants to day. I went over to Mr. Durgans to day to get some seed wheat. Did not get any. Katie went over to Hurlberts to night to get a staple for the yoke. Brooke (broke) one Saturday. Kate has stayed at home all day so has Cynthia and Carrie. The pigs are all smart. Ernest Drew came here to day to get me to take some cattle to pasture. Willie Young come in to night. All well and most of them in bed. May 6, Mon.: Have been building fence all day on the Moss place. I went a lone left Fred to harrow. Want to finish to morrow. Erl, Geo Hamilton, Bert Sleeper and Mrs. Hamilton was in this evening. Joel and L. Morgan called to day inquiring for Levi May. 9 p.m. Fred is out. Ada has gone to bed with Carrie. Kate has washed to day. Katy washed the floor. May 7, 1889, Tuesday. Been building fence at the Moss place. Have got most all that I have got to build till we get in our crops. Killed the first snake of the season. Rowe sheard part of my sheep to day. Bert Sleeper has been harrowing for me with his and True's mare to day. True in the afternoon. Pleasant but very windy to day. May 8, Wed.: Went and got some barley to Granville Morrison's. Got six bushels. In the afternoon went and finished building fence. Burt Sleeper harrowed for me to day. Fred worked for True. Kate went to Patten to day with -Mrs. Hamilton. Katie is up on the hill to night han(g)ing May Basketts. Cynthia and Carrie are a bed. Burt is here this evening. Amy Sleeper was here to day. Charles Rowe finished sheering (shearing) the sheep to day. Settled with Burt Sleeper to night for keeping his horse. 9 o'clock all well. May 9, Thurs.: Been sowing oats and Barley. Morgan helped. got the barley harrowed and most all the oats sow'd. Had company. Mary and Jud Roberts, Mrs. Thornton and her children. Ada and Katie went down to Mrs. Hamiltons to night. Ada lost her rubber went and found it. Fred has gone to bed. Cynthia and Carrie are a sleep. Ada is going to bed. Katie is washing her feet. Kate is darning stockings. Half past 9 o'clock. All well. Good night old Dirg (diary?). May 10, Fri.: Got up at 4 and went to harrowing. (oxen worked best in cool weather and one rarely worked them in hot weather). Rained a little this morning and thundered. Ada went down to Mr. Roberts. Jud came after her. Katy went up and swept the school house. Went when Fred and I drove the black cow and calf over to pasture. Ernest and Rena (Drew) brot (brought) over there (their) yerlings (yearlings). Rena was here to suppper. Fred harrowed in the evening. Rosy staid her(e) to night. Cynthia burnt Katies gareet (garnet?) skirt. Set the lamp under it. Katy put in some flower seeds and Kate worked in the garden. Put in some onion seeds. (Ada may have written this). May 11, Sat.: Helped Kate in the garden in the forenoon. Sow'd onions and parsnips and cucumbers and planted peas and stuck bushes in the afternoon. I sowd grain and grass seed. Len Gould was in to see about some oats. Frd has been harrowing till supper time. Quite cool to day. Was at work for Mr. Hamilton. Ada is up to Rands to stay to night. May 12, 1889, Sunday: Was at home all day. The rest I of them went to the school house to organize the Sabbath School. Mr. Bumpus and Mr. Price were both there. Cynthia and Carrie stay(e)d at home with me. Herman Sleeper was in this afternoon. Katy stay(e)d up to Dolleys till 9 p.m. Mable Rand came home with her. Quite warm and windy to day. May 13, Mon.: Got up in the morning and sowd grass seed for R.H. Hamilton untill breckfast time. Came home and went to harrowing finished the peice after dark. Mrs. H. was here to get me to sow some grain in the morning. Have planted some potatoes in afternoon. Jen and Minne(?) Morrison was -here to day. Kate has done the washing to day. Windy and cool. May 14, Tues.: Have been at home all day. I don't mean this. I went and sowd oats for R.H. Hamilton in the forenoon. Sow'd 14 bushels and some grass seed for Grant. Mahala Sleeper was here visiting in the afternoon. Kate and Ada have been making Katie a dress to day. Erland stayed here all night last night went up in the forenoon. Katies sho(u)lder is lame. (Last part written by Kate). May 15, Wed. Kate has wote (wrote) this. (This is written above the date). Lucian has been having one of his sick spells to day. Had one in the forenoon and one in the afternoon. Was quite sick this afternoon. Ed Crockett harrowed for Lucian to day. Fred has been planting potatoes. Sam Gould was here after oats so was Bryant Leavitt got 10 bushells. Same got 20 bushells. Kate and the girls went up to the school house to day. Set out some trees and fixt up the yard. Polley has got a little colt to night. It is a neat one. The girls are out haning May basketts. Lon Morrison was here to night so was Willard Cox. Lucian is some better. May 16, Thurs.: At home am not feeling well. Haveing a time with my stomach. Have hardly been out of the house. Ed Crockett is here to work hauling dressing with his horses. Joel Thornton is helping me to day. Not very warm. It has rained to day. Thornton did not worke in the afternoon. It rained but Fred and Ed worked. Kate and I have got 38 chickens. They are all smart. It is quite cold to day. All well but myself. I am some better then I was yesterday. May 17, 1889, Friday: Drawing dressing Ed Crockett helped in the forenoon. Got some hay and oats then went home. Thornton helped Fred all day. Katie and Carrie went up to Gilman Dolleys. Kate stop(p)ed and sweept the School house when she came home. Ada has gone over to Drews. Mrs. Hamilton came to get the buck board to go the Mills. I am feeling some better to day. Polley has got a good coalt (colt did he judge that in part by the coat and mingled the two?). It is quite warm to day but the wind blows quite hard. Huldea Hamilton was here this afternoon. All well but myself. May 18, Sat.: It is very warm to day. Fred is drawing dressing alone to day. Ada is at Drews. Kate has gone down to Hamiltons to get some money. Mr. Car was here after oats. Clarence Douglas was here this afternoon. He is canvessing for apple trees. Katy and I went to the Falls last night to get a bbl (barrel) of flour and some other things. We got home just past 10. Fred, Ada and Erland have gone to East Ridge to Good Templers Lodge. Very warm to day. (See Nina Caldwell Sawyer's History of Island Falls: International Order of Good Templars was a pioneer lodge organized in 1867. It had a temperance theme. It soon died out and the temperance work was later carried on by the Women's Christian Temperance Union organized in 1893). May 19, Sunday: 94 (is written on top of the page). Have been at home all day. Ada got hurt coming home from the Lodge last night. The pole yoke broke and the colt ran away and threw them all out. Will Cox, Ella, Ada and Erland. Put Ada's shoulder out of joint and fractured one of her ribs. Ben Collins brought her home from Tom Ashers. Very warm. May 20, Mon.: Put the sheep away to pasture soon as we got breckfast then went to planting potatoes. Fred finished hauling the manure. Got done about dinner time. Geo H. (Hamilton) helped us plant untill supper then left. Fred went on the drive to the Falls in Sly Brooks Cedar and Sleepers. Have got 47 chickens and set more hen to day. Cool and cloudy. May 21, Tues.: Planting potatoes in the forenoon. Willard Cox is helping me and Erl Rand. Erl is harrowing to get in the dressing. It rained in the afternoon. Cox and Rand went to the Falls to go on the drive. I finished the harrowing in the afternoon but it rained. So I could not bush it to night. Still raining. Ada is about the same. (Is the drive a log drive? Most likely.) May 22, 1889, Wednesday: Dull in the morning but clear(e)d up before noon. I went to planting potatoes. Mr. Oliver came with the Maps for the school to day. Was here to dinner. Mrs. Hamilton was here after dinner. Jud Roberts was here all day. Bessie Dolley came down home with Katie and Cynthia. Stay(e)d all night. Ada is feeling some better. Fred is still on the drive. Thornton went after the Doctor from Patten for Genstison? He is sick. Doctor Woodbery is coming in the morning. May 23, Thurs.: Pleasant to day. Went over to Haggets place with Mr. Dolley. Went in the morning. Willbert Porter worked here planting potatoes. Katy and Aggie went to the Mills with the buckboard and Bess. Took out some oats and couldn't sell them. Katie got her a new hat. Fred and the boys got off the drive to day. Bert and Willie are in this evening. Mr. and Mrs. Rand, Mrs. Young, Addie Rowe was in after supper. (Ada wrote this by the handwriting). May 24, Fri.: Planting potatoes all day. Katy is dropping and Carrie is helping her. Am is sing? Phosphate. Mrs. Parker Young, Rand and wife, Melinde (Helinde?) Porter was in just night. Can't finish to day. Fred has gone to the Templars Lodge. Bert Cox, Erland and Bill Young. (Went with Fred?) Cold looks like a frost. May 25, Sat.: Fixed the corn ground the first thing in the morning then planted the corn and beans. Erl Rand is helping us to day. Willard Cox helped in the afternoon untill supper time. Fred went to Joseph Gilchrists to get some beans got 20 lbs. Did not quite finish planting potatoes. May 26, Sun.: Porter came after the buck board to go to the Mills. Katy has gone with them. Bert Sleeper is here and Sarah Ambrose. Quite cool to day. The wind is blowing some. Mel Leavitt was in with Geo Gould. He wants some oats. Geo Hamilton was in to day said he is going to the Falls to hire on the Drive. Did not hire. Katy has been to the Mills. May 27, Mon.: Have planted potatoes by the House and some beans. Have seven more rows to plant in the field. Kate has done the washing to day. Did not have enough potatoes to finish the peice. True has gone to Mr. Ambrose to get some to plant and is to get me some. Very cold and windy to night. Have got the mare and colt in the barn. May 28, Tuesday, 1889: Granville Morrison came in the morning and we went fishing on Cold Brook did not have very good luck only caught about forty. (Is this a sense of humor or reality for the era?). Got home about 6 p.m. Mrs. Geo Hamilton from Patten was here and Mrs. Thornton. Was raining in the morning but clear(e)d off. Fred and Erland helped True plant potatos in the afternoon. Not very warm. Kate is fixing the girls some dresses for Memorial Day. May 29, Wed.: I cut potatoes for True in the forenoon. We finished planting in the afternoon. Kate and I went to the Falls with Mrs. Morrison and Lon went and put the flowers on the Soldiers graves. We got home before sunset. quite cold to night. Bert Sleeper has got the wagon to go to the Mills. May 30, Thurs.: Have been to the Mills to the Memorial Services. All went but Fred and Ada. Got home about six p.m. Quite cool comeing home from the Mills. Bert Sleeper has the wagon to day. Will Young went out with him. B.L. Smythe of Patten delivered the ad(d)ress to day. Was very good. The Town Hall was crowded to hear the ad(d)ress. Went with True old mare and buck board. Very pleasant. May 31, Fri.: Went over to the pasture. Kate and Fred went up and cleaned the school house. Katie helped them in the afternoon. Ada went down to Erners? Carrie and Cynthia went to Trues. Fred has gone out hanging May baskets. Mr. Thornton got his pig to night. Mr. Tole got his to day. Bert brot home the wagon to night. He has got him a new carridge. Erland is here. (Ada's writing). June 1, 1889, Saturday: Have been in the garden to work to day. hoed the peas and dug the rest of the garden all over. Fred has gone to the Mills with Mike. Katy went to put up the curtains to night at the school house. Got home just after dark. Mary Roberts and Jud was here this afternoon. Ada has gone up to Rands to night. Very warm to day but windy. Thor(n)ton was in to day. June 2, 1889, Sun.: Have been at home all day. The rest of the folks went to Sabbath School. That Old McCloud came here in the morning before breckfast and stay(e)d all night. It rained all night last night. Ada came home from Rands just before dark. Still. Cloudy and dull and raining some. Erl Rand is here staying. Will Young was in this evening., Half past 9. Bed time all young to bed. (Erland and Ada will wed in about a month. Do the Grouts anticipate this?). June 4, 1889, Tuesday: Went to the Moss place to work to day Thornton, Fred and me. Commenced to rain soon as we got there. The yearlings was out and I had to fix the fence. Dolly took his steer home to day. I went and fixed the hedge some. Did not get done. Got home about 2 p.m. I have been down to Knowl(e)s place to see if there was any ashes. There is tow bbls. Still raining. June 5, Wed.: Was at home in the forenoon . Set out cabbage plants and went to Hurlberts to see if he would help me fall trees. After dinner I went to the Moss place to mow bushes. Have got most done and the trees most all fell. There was two men here selling fruit trees and s(h)rubs to day. Kate bot some goosberries and currants. Still dull and rainey. L. Porter was here to night to see about some pigs. June 6, Thurs.: Went to the Moss Lot in the forenoon to mow bushes. It rained most all day. I came home at noon. Funando (Fernando?) Smith of Silver Ridge came and got a pig. There is only 2 left. Rand came and got some bunks and stakes. Hurlbert and Thornton was here to grind there sythes I mean axes. Joseph Roberts came and got some cabbage plants so did Bes;ie (Pessie?) Thornton. K. ironed this afternoon and this evening she is darning stockings. All gone to bed but Kate and myself. June 7, Fri.: Am not feeling very well to day. Did not work in the forenoon. Went to the Moss place after dinner to mowing bushes. Quite cool to day. Rand is building his line fence. Sold him two pigs the one I was going to keep and the last of the litter. Ella and Mary in just night. (Rand's?). Kate is making me a pair of overhalls. The children all at home. I went to True Sleepers just dusk. He is harrowing his buck wheat. June 8, Sat.: Have been to the Moss lot to build some fence. Drews boys came and got their cattle to day. I finished the banking to night (removing it from the house?). The boys are pitching horse shoes. Bert Sleeper is here this evening. It rained in the morning but clear(e)d up and did not rain any more untill night. Bed time and still raining. Ella Rand is here to night. She and Ada have been to the Mills to day went with Rands horse and our wagon. June 9, Sun.: I have been at home all day. Has been rainey and nasty. Fred, Ada and Katy went to meetting. Mr. Price preached to day. Bill and Bun was in to day. Bert Sleeper and B. Cox in coming from meetting. Took off ten more chicks this morning. June 10, 1889, Monday: On the Moss place cutting bushes and trees to day. Hurlbert is helping us. Very warm and showery. Fred came home and went to Ab Bryants and got me some shoes. The girls all went to school. Joel (Thornton?) was over to get the cows but the Irish boys had got them. 9 p.m. all at home time to turn in. Very warm. June 11, Tues.: Have been at work on the Moss Lot falling trees. Hurlbert is helping us. I have mow(e)d the bushes think I have them half cut. Very warm to day. June 12, Wed.: Still cutting trees Fred and Hurlbert. I am cutting the scyth bushes. (I am cutting the bushes with a scythe?). Tis very warm to day. June 13, Thurs.: Have been pileing to day. Hurlbert is helping. (Piling bush?). Erl and Chas Emery is helping. Joel Thornton, Fred and Hurlbert are to work on the peice. Have got True Sleepers oxen to help us. It is very warm to day. Hamilton a pair of steers in my pasture at home. June 14, Fri.: pileing in the forenoon. Joel, Hurlbert, Fred and I got the logs all piled in the forenoon. (Piling more than bush?). Joel and I worked in the afternoon picking up the small stuff. Did not get done not quite so warm to day. June 15, Sat.: Have been falling trees to day. Hurlbert and Len Porter is helping chop to day. Kate, Cynthia and Carrie came down with the dinner. Had fish and potatoes. A Missionary was here to day selling Bibles. (Ada apparently wrote the rest of this day's activity). Ada came over after dinner. It rained and they came home. Fred got lazy this afternoon and came home. Katy tried to take a lesson on the organ to day but didn't make out very well. Raining to night. Quite warm. Good night. June 16, Sun.: Have been to Sabbath School to day. All of us went. Came home and I went out to see D. Lewis about my pension. Got home about 9 p.m. Quite cool this evening. The children have all gone over to the Doble school house to meeting. There is a missionary man that is going to preach to night. Kate, Cynthia and Carrie stayed at home. The coalt (colt) did not act good. She came back home three times. Hurlbert and Mr. Daman? were in to night. The children have got home. Had a good meeting. Pleasant to night. June 17, 1889, Monday: Have been on the Moss Lot to day mowing bushes. Fred has chop(p)ed some. Thornton and Fenilson have been plowing on the peice as? we piled. C.A. Sleeper was here to day. Kate paid him? thirty four dollars. Quite cold to night. Guy Webber is here to night. Kate has been washing to day. Fred Durgin bought a sow here to day and left her. June 18, Tues.: Fred is mowing bushes. I got True's mare and started for Houlton 9 a.m. Went to Eben Townsends and got dinner. Staid about an hour and a half then went on got to Houlton about 7 p.m. got supper and went to the Salvetion (Salvation) Army Meetting in Musich (Music) Hall. There was quite a frost last night. Killed some beans and blacked potatoes. June 19, Wed.: In Houlton after breckfast I went to the Woolen Mill and got some yarn for Mary Roberts. Went to Dr. Williams office before the time for the bord (board) to meet. Saw Dr. Williams and had a talk with him. got through with the Examination and got my dinner and started for home. Got supper to Townsends in Dier (Dyer) Brook. Got home about 9 p.m. Quite cool to night. (Lucian needs to document his continuing need for a pension for his military disability). June 20, Thurs.: Have been on the road to work to day are on the Cow Team Road. Took out the rock down on Fred Dennetts. A.J. Morrison cut some bushes. Fred has gone to the Mills to some kind of show. Erl Rand and Ada have gone. Kate has gone up on the Hill to the Circle. Came home with me. Quite warm to day and dry. June 21, Fri.; Have been hoeing potatos in the forenoon. Fred has been on the bed most of the forenoon. True helped me to cultivate in the afternoon. Got the peice more than half cultivated. Will Irish was here to dinner. Same Gould and Wess Emery called to see about buying the buck board. Very warm to day. June 22, Sat.: It has been raining all day. Erl and Ada have been to Patten had Trues mare and the buggy broke one of the springs. Bert and Herman and Will Young and Joseph Roberts have been in to day. Fred has been on the gad most all day. June 23, 1889, Sunday: We have all been to Sabbath School and Meetting. Mr. Bumpas and wife were in. He preached what he called (the) Childrens Sermon. There was quite a goodly company present. Chas Emery was here to supper. Katy and Ada have gone down the road to night. Guess they have gone to Trues. Kate, Carry and I have been in the orchard and on the hill to the garden and barley. Quite cool to night. June 24, Mon. Have been to the Mills and got a bbl of flour and bot 4 bbls. (One barrel of flour and four barrels for storage?). I got home half past three in the afternoon and went to carry some lunchen. I milked the cows. It is cloudy and looks like rain. Kate has done the washing to day. Bert Sleeper is in this evening. J.G. Dolley was in the pasture to night. Not very warm. June 25, Tues.: Have been cutting bushes. True and Bert are helping to day and Joel Thornton finished mowing the bushes just night. Alton Irish was in the wood quite a spell. I got Chas Emery ax and cut some. Tom Irish was in the wood quite a spell. Kate, Ada and Mrs. Thornton brought the dinner with Polly and the buckboard. Quite warm. June 26, Wed.: I have been hoeing beans and potatoes here by the house. Wilbert? (?) Porter is helping Fred cop (chop?) to day. Joseph Roberts came and I went to Collins with him to get the shoes set on his horse. Got home past five. School is not keeping this week. The children have most all got the whooping cough. Looks like rain to night. The folks all home. June 27, Thurs.: Falling trees. Have got Hurlbert, Wilbert Porter (or Wilbert, Porter) helping me to day. Think we can finish in one more day. It rained in the afternoon. Quite a shower. Very warm-just night. Kate and Carrie have been to the Circle to Dolleys this afternoon. June 28, Fri.: Falling trees. Hurlbert, Wilbert Porter have been helping me. We finished just before sun set. Hurlbert broke his ax and went to Tom Irishes to grind. Very warm to day. Chas Emery finished Erls peice (Erland Rand's piece of land?) in the forenoon. Took the buggy to the Mills to have new springs put on. June 29, 1889, Saturday: Fred finished cultivating and hoed some of the corn and beans. It is very warm to day. Fred, Ada and Erl went to the Lodge on East Ridge to night. June 30, Sun.: All at home. They all went to Sunday School but Cynthia, Carrie and I. Very warm. Jennie and Minnie (Morrison girls) came home with the girls. Was going on the bog? but Jennie was sick and rode home with Nelson Roberts. I rode to Crocketts with him and went to L. Morgans. July 1, 1889, Monday: Fred is at work on the road. I have been hoeing corn and beans. Not quite so warm as it has been for a few days. Kate has been washing to day. Fred and the girls have gone to the Mills to some kind of a time. July 2, Tues.: Cultivated potato(e)s in the forenoon and hoed in the afternoon. Ada is sick to day. Ella Rand and Charlie Emery was here to day. Earl went home with Collins horse and Fred took the jersey (cow) over to the Moss pasture and brought the colt home. Kate don't feal (feel) very well to(o) so Katy has all the work to do alone. Worked on the girls white dresses and helped Ell (Ella?) on Mary's hate. Ada trimed it after supper. (Ada's handwriting, it is believed). July 3, Wed.: Went to Morgans in the forenoon. Earl went with me and went to Collins after the horse and he had let Wilbert P. have it to go to Houlton with. Mary Rand went with him. Ada and Earl went to the Mills in the afternoon. (Is this Lucian's greatest understatement?). Charles Emery was here to day and Willard Cox stayed all day. Will Young helped Fred horse hoe (covering potatoe plants and their weeds which allows for weeds to die and potatoes to grow) at home in the forenoon and-up here in the afternoon. (Ada wrote this, so it was Ada's understatement). (June 28, Ada Grout and Earland Rand took out intentions to marry. On July 3, they were married by Rev. Bumpus. Lucian was writing shorter sections in his diary, but no other indication. Had Ada and Earl not married, the translators of this diary might not be here). (Ada wrote doing this time. Was Lucian too busy, too tired or was he upset by his second daughter's marriage? Did Earl move in? Lucian did not use his diary to keep track of his feelings). July 4, 1889, Thursday: Stay(e)d at home in the forenoon. After dinner Eddie Rand came down and said that the colts were out and I went and fixed the fence and Earl went after the colts into Asa Browns? Ada and Kate went up to Rands and stayed while he was after the colts. All at home but Fred he and Will went to Patten. Ada and Earl stayed at home. Rainy all day. (Ada is believe to have entered this). July 5, Fri.: Went over and built the line fence between Tom Irish and myself. Thornton and Earl helped all day. Fred was sick and came home after dinner. Got the fence all built got home just after sun set. I am about played out have worked to(o) hard. Tom and Lige (Lee) Glidden (Linwood Glidden?) in the forenoon and Les Daggett in the afternoon. Not very warm to day. July 6, Sat.: Finished cultivating potato(e)s and horse hoed them. I drew a bbl of water in the morning and went to hoeing corn. After dinner I worked for True and Bert helped horse hoe. There was a serenade here to night. Quite a big crowd but all civil. (A belated wedding reception?). Went home about 11 p.m. I had a chill and was feeling quite-poorly. The papers I sent to Floyd came back last nigh was a mistake in the address. July 7, Sun.: Have all been to Sabbath School to day. Mr. Price preached to day. Got home about two p.m. Had supper. No one here to supper but Kate and myself. Katie and Cynthia and Carrie, Ada and Erland stayed up to Mr. Rands to supper so did Fred. Willie Irish and Charlie Emery are here this evening. Kate has down (gone?) to carry down Juds treet (treat?) to him. The folks are singing. Erl is playing the organ. True-Sleeper went and got his colt to day. Rained some to night. All well at home. July 8, Mon.; Crocket com(m)enced to mow in the afternoon with his team. Willard helped to hoe some we got 10 rows done. Wm. Leavitt was here and I sold him the grass on the Webber and Graffans place on Hurricane Ridge for $40.00. I He ? Willard and Fred to work for him. Ed Crockett went home to night. Quite cool for the time of year. All at home. The girls have been to school to day. July 9, Tues.: Haying finished the peice above the barn mowing and raked it. The boys hoed some potatos in the forenoon. Cloudy and not a very good hay day. The Sherriff came from Houlton and too Damons horse. Perkins and Dol (Del) Glidden was here to dinner. July 10, 1889, Wednesday: Got in four load of hay in the forenoon. Crocket(t) mow(e)d after dinner untill (Lucian always uses an extra 1 in until) supper time then got tow more loads of hay. Still cloudy and cool. Kate and I finished weeding in the garden to day. Granvill (Morrison) was here to get a bag of oats. Grace was with him. Night and still cloudy. July 11, Thurs.: Have been hoeing potatos in the forenoon then worked on hay. Crocket mowd most of the time untill supper time. Then we got in two loads. Not very good hay weather. Cool and cloudy most of the time. The folks all at home. Carrie is not feeling very well to day. Did not go to school. Ada went up to Mr. Rand to the Circle in the afternoon. Kate did not go Carrie was sick. Katey went after supper. July 12, Fri.: Finished the hoeing in the forenoon. Ed is mowing on the new ceded (seeded?) peice below the wall. Raked hay afternoon. Still cool and cloudy. Poor hay weather. Kate is ironing to day. Carrie is still sick. Ada and Erl went to the Mills. Went up to Mr. Verrills to dinner. Got home at supper time. I went over to the pasture. Fred and Willard went over to Mr. Bryant to night. The weather looks better to night. (Kate may have written this). July 13, Sat.: It is real warm and pleasant to day. A good hay day. We got in six loads. Ed mowed untill noon. Fred racked (raked?) in the afternoon. Anna Sleeper and her mother were here this afternoon. Katey took a lesson on the organ. Kate ironed 4 shirts to night. Rained like guns. Fred was sick in the forenoon. Did not work this forenoon. Got our hay all racked and put in. Carrie is some better to day. Quite warm to night. (Kate may have written this). July 14, Sun.: Quite cool to night. Ada, Erland and Katie went to Sunday School. Fred and Willard went to the Mills and over to Mr. Coxes to day. Got home about six o'clock. Jennie and Minnie (Morrison) and Marry and Mabeall, Eddie and Albra (Rand) came down and we we (nt) over on the bog (Bay?) to night. (Picking berries in the bog, e.g. Thousand Acre Bog?). Eral (Earl) went over to Mr. Perkins. Fred is going to go on a ride with ite? to night. It is real cool but pleasant to night. Carrie is real smart to night. Charlie Emery was here to night. All well to night. (Kate may have written this also). July 15, 1889, Monday: Ed (Crockett) mowed in the forenoon. Ed and I hauled a barrel(l) of water at noon for the folks to finish with. Went with S ?? to the brook. Carrie did not go to school to day. (Ada apparently wrote this). (Apparently hauling water from someplace other than their routine water supply. Note: When Kate washes clothes, Katie usually washes the floor. The practise was probably to use the left over clothes water for the floor). July 16, Tues.: Ed mowed in the forenooon got in hay in the afternoon. Mrs. Crocket(t) came over hear (here) in the morning a visiting. Stayed untill after 4 o'clock. Finished haying at home to day. Shall go over on the other place to morrow. (Ada's writing). July 17, Wed.: Went over on the Morse Place to work to day. Fred and Will went. Ed did not help to day. Got the grass all mowed. Kate came and brought the dinner over. Ada stayed up to Rands. Kate went a berrying got about two I quarts. Carrie did not go to school after recess. She has a stomach ache. Kate got home about 5 o'clock. (Ada wrote this. Her spelling is a little better than her father's. The Morse Lot vs. the Moss Lot offers new insight on the near by land acquired by Lucian). July 18, Thursday: Finished haying to day. Got two loads on the Moss (Morse?) place and at home beside the road. Edwin Crocket(t) helped in the afternoon with his team. Got done just sun set. The boys came home to dinner. I raked the hay in the cemetary by hand. (Presumably the Golden Ridge Cemetary at the top of the hill beyond the Rand place). Is a nice hay day. Ella Rand was here to day and Agnes Sleeper was here to day visitting. (July, 1986, some ninety-seven years after this time period, Joyce and Douglas made seperate excursions to Golden Ridge to get a feel for the area. Lucian was to be buried in the cemetary that he cut the hay in within the next five years, but his body was later reburied in Auburn, Maine). July 19, 1889, Friday: Cut the bushes around the road in the forenoon and saw(e)d some limbs out of the apple tree. Burned the chopping to day. Got a good burn and did not do any damage. Kate and Carrie went over (to?) the barn on Fred Dennett place to watch the fire. Tom Irish and the boys came and helped us set the peice. Warm and windy. July 20, Sat.: Have been building fence and hedge on the Moss place to day. Hurlbert Burt Sleeper and Erl Rand helped me to day. It rained all the forenoon hard and some in the afternoon. True went to the Mills and brought in two bbls of flour for me. Got home just night. Still raining. July 21, Sun.: Katy and Fred went to Sabbath School Meetting. I stayed at home with Carrie. She is not feeling well. After I went to the chopping with True Sleeper and to Gim Dolleys to get his wagon that he left yesterday when he went to the Mills. Fred has gone to Wm. Leavite to work this week. Quite cool and windy to day but pleasant. July 22, Mon.: Have been to work for Granville Morrison cutting hay on Sam Goulds for Ed Perry. It was showery in the afternoon. Hay did not make much. Ada came after me but I had come home with Perry. Kate has been to work cleaning house. We got in three loads of hay for Granvill. Very warm. Did not mow any for Ed to day. July 23, Tues.: Have been haying for Ed Perry on Sam Gould's. Granvill was helping him. Got in one load. it was showery in the afternoon. Mow'd the rest of the time. I came home with the team by Ab Bryants. Rained a very little comeing home. Ada went to the Post office. Erl and Joat? Perry was out to night. Started from here about ten p.m. Very dark. July 24, Wed.: Haying for Ed. Quite a good hay day. Rained a very little nothing to amount to anything. Mowd quite a peice to day. Granvill is helping him. Smith came in just night to see about some grass(?). Ed is about done cutting. Have been a fair hay day though quite cloudy. Came home on the load of hay with Ray(?). Quite cool to night . July 25, Thurs.: Haying for Granvill Morrison. Have got his grass most all done. Wilbert Porter was helping him. The Circle met here to day. There was about thirty here to day and to supper. A very good hay day got in four loads in the afternoon. Gilman brought Emily down in the morning. She was here all day we had a good time. Mr. Hamilton was here, Carline Dennett and Mamine(?) Chambline. So was aunt(?) Mehalie. (Last part may have been written by a child). July 26, 1889, Friday: Hoed in the garden in the forenoon and helping Granvill in the afternoon. It is a nice day. Mrs. Hamilton was here in the afternoon. Ada is up to Mrs. Thornton a visiting to day. Carrie is to school to day. Mrs. Rand is sick to day got a bad cold. Had new potatos for supper. Kate is making her a new dress to day. She fit(t)ed a basque for Mrs. Hamilton this afternoon. It is real pleasant to night. All well but Carrie she has got a bad cold. July 27, Sat.: In the forenoon went to get the mare shod to Collins. He was going to Patten and could not do it. Was talking with ??al (Val?, Noal?) about pileing the chopping. Afternoon I went and measured the peice. There is about 5 and a half acres in the peice. Put on some niggers on the big elms. (Spotting trees to mark a line?). July 28, Sun.: We all went to Sabbath School and Meetting. Mr. Bumpas was in and Kate and I went over to Mr. Dolleys to supper. Bessie came down with the girls. Lizzie and Ed Perrys was there. Mr. Rand is some better to night. Carrie is not feeling verry well to night. Katie has gone a peice with Bess (walking her part of the way home?). Kate is frying fritters for supper. It looks like rain to night. Quite cool to night. (Did they have two suppers that night, one at Dolleys and one at home? Was Mr. or Mrs. Rand ill and then feeling better?). July 29, Mon.: Dull to day. I went down to Mr. Collins in the morning. Got Polly shod. Fred and Erland went over to Mr. Bryants to day in the afternoon. I went down to Trues at supper time I went and set the pile of logs afire down to the brook. Willard and Lizzie Perry have been to the Mills and got lots of mail. The folks are all going to bed but me and I am tired and must go. It is raining hard to night. Carrie is feeling some better to night. July 30, Tues.: Ernest Drew came in the morning and said that Mr. Higgins was lost in the woods. Most all the folks on the hill went to find him. But he came out down on Fish Stream. Got home about 11 a.m. We all came home got home about noon. Cloudy and very warm. Finished thin(n)ing the beets and hoeing in the garden. July 31, Wed.: Went to the Moss place in the forenoon and to Ed Crockets and Granvill Morrisons to see if they wanted to yard some wood. Kate and Carrie went to Hamiltons visitting. I went to supper. They are drawing stones the horses are bockay. Very warm to day. Ada went to the Mills to day and Fred to the Falls. The Dolley girls in to nigh and Lee Gilchrist. August 1, 1889, Thursday: Went (to?) Emersons in the morning before breckfast. Came home and did the chores untill dinner time then went to pileing on the Moss place. Kate and Katy came after supper to pick raspberries but it rained and they did not pick many. Fred is away don't know where he is. 8 p.m. and still raining but very warm. Erl has just got home. (Lucian's home is Erl's home after the marriage). Kate and Ada washed to day and mop(p)ed the flowes (floors). Ella Rand came down and sewe(d) some on the machine. Aug. 2, Fri.: Have been pileing on the Moss lot. Hand piling no one to help me. Fred is loafing. Very warm. Toms boys are cutting bushes above where we fell the chopping. Ada came and brot our dinner with Poll (Polly the horse) and the colt. Came home supper time. Mrs. P? (Parker?) Young was here when I got home. Still very warm and sultry. Aug. 3, Sat.: Went to see Bryant Leavitt and Dol Glidden in the forenoon. Joad Perry was here to dinner. Is very warm to day but windy. Lee Gilchrist, Will Cox was in this evening. Had quite a shower just before dark. We picked a mess of peas just night. The folks are all at home. Kate is making Mrs. Hamilton a waist. Did not quite finish it. - Aug. 4, Sun.: Len Porter was here just before we got up to see if he could get some oats. Will Cox came from Joseph Dolleys I mean Roberts. We all went to Sabbath School and Meeting. Mr. Price was at the school house and held a meetting. Bert Sleeper and Sarah Ambrose was here in the evening. They are all going to the Lake to morrow. Quite cool and windy to day. Aug. 5, Mon.: The boys and Ada have gone to the Lake with a party of the young folks. I have been fixing the hedge most of the day. Kate went to Dunbars in the forenoon. Jackman was here with beef in the afternoon. It has been raining most all the afternoon. Half past 8 p.m. time to go to bed. Katy is blabbing as usual. (When a stone wall has sunk so low as to not contain animals, some would cut brush or bend trees over just enough to permit further growth onto the wall. This might be the hedge or hedge fence that Lucian was working on, although it is not clear). August 6, 1889, Tuesday: Was at home in the afternoon. Went into Trues. Jos Roberts was in came for an ox bow and R.H. Hamilton was selling his steers. Got dinner and Kate and Carrie and I went to Patten. I saw John Hammon about selling my lambs. Was in to Minerva True's. She is feeling quite good. A very nice day. Cool and a nice breeze. Got home about 6 p.m. All well. August 7, Wednesday: Went to see Dunbar in the forenoon and paid him $700. (Expect this was $7.00 with the decimal point missing). Got Collins (the blacksmith) to make a nub to put on th e bulls horn. Saw Orrin Neal and let him the job to clear the chopping. Give him the black cow and buck and five dollars cash. It has been showery most all day. Was going to the Camp fire at the Mills but it was so rainey that we did not go. Joel Thornton was in just night. Jen Morrison is here to night. Still raining at 9 p.m. August 8, Thursday: The folks still at the Lake. I went to the Mills in the morning to see about the Pension claim. Eat (Ate) dinner to Mr. Lewis. Got home about 4 p.m. Kate is at the Circle to Morrisons. Joseph Roberts came and we went to the pasture just at night. August 9, Friday: Was at home in the forenoon. Cleaned out the Back House and worked in the barn yard and in the afternoon we went to Sabin? Higgins visitting. Got home just before dark. Looks like rain. August 10, Saturday: Have been at home all day. It commenced to rain in the-forenoon. Dr. Owen and Ed was here to day. Mr. Schofield was here to day with his wife selling tea and coffee. The folks got home from the Lake about dark. Fred jambed his toe of and took the nail off. The wagon ran over it. Rained most all day. (Is the lake presumed to be Mattawamkeag Lake in Island Falls? Probably.). August 11, 1889, Sunday: Was at home till after Sabbath School and Meetting. Got supper. I went up to Trues and he and I went to the pasture to see the sheep. Kate went (to?) Wm Leavitts he was not home. Got home about 5 p.m. L.F. Rand and Chas Emery was in this evening. Quite cool and windy to night. Have just had luncheon and it is bed time. Half past 8 p.m. All well. Aug. 12, Mon.: Commenced mowing barley to day. Joel -Thornton is helping me. Did not get the peice done. Very slow mowing. Fred and Erl went to Ab Bryants in the forenoon. It has been showery to day but did not rain. Much cooler. Kate and Ada have washed to day. Aug. 13, Tues.: Finished the barley half past ten a.m. Then went to mowing oats. They are quite rusty but stout. Mary Chamberlain and her cousin was here to supper. Kate has gone up to Rands to stay to night. Quite cool and not very cloudy. Katy is staying with Bess Dolley to night. Aug. 14, Wed.: Mowing oats all day. Joel Thornton is helping me have got them half done. I went to the pasture after supper. Ada went to Ab Bryants and got some sugar. Fred is not doing any thing with his foot. Aug. 15, Thurs.: Was at home in the forenoon. It has been raining all day. I went to see if I could find all the sheep. Went to G? a ? Browns to see Gim Dolleys sheep. Did not find any. Got home about five p.m. Kate is peiceing up squares for the Circle quilt. All at home to night. Aug. 16, Fri.: Joseph Roberts was here in the morning. I went down to Trues in the morning with Joseph this morning then True and Bert went over to the pasture to find the sheep. Found them in Mr. Rands pasture. It is dull to day. In the afternoon I went and cut the Basswood logs on the Moss place. Got home at 6 o'clock. Ada is down to Mr. Roberts to day a visiting. Katie went down to see Flora Denett this evening. Fred's toe is getting better. All well to night. Aug. 17, Sat.: It is pleasant this morning. Mowed oats in the forenoon. In the afternoon I fixt (fixed) the hen nert?(nest). Anna Sleeper came to day. Kate took a lesson. Ada went up on the hill with Anna when she went home. Mrs. Hamilton was in this evening. It rained real hard this afternoon. Charles Rowe was here to supper to night. Ada, and Erl have got home. Fred ('s) toe is better. It is quite cool to night. All well at home. August 18, 1889, Sunday: Was at home all the forenoon. Kate and the girls have gone to Sabbath School. Katy and Ada(.?) Carrie and Cynthia stay(e)d at home and Fred. I went to Jim Emerys after supper. Got home in time to do the chores. It looks like rain to night. 9 p.m. time for bed. All well at this time. Aug. 19, Mon.: Commenced on the barley in the forenoon. Got it turned then went at the oats, turned some and got in four loads. Not very dry. Kate raked with the horse rake. -Joel is helping me. Cloudy and not settled weather. Kate has gone to Dolleys. The baby is sick stay(e)d all night. Aug. 20, Tues.: Turned more oats then went to drawing barley. Got in 5 loads. Very warm to day. Kate raked with the horse rake. Have three more loads of barley to draw. Kate stayed with Mrs. Rand all night. She is sick. Aug. 21, Wed.: Finished the barley and got in four of barley oats. (Four loads?) Kate is raking with the horse rake. Still very warm to day. Aug. 22, Thurs.: Drawing oats got in five loads to day. Have no one helping but Joel. Fred can't do much with his sore toe. The Circle is at Parkers. Ada has gone. Kate is helping on the oats. Still very warm. Aug. 23, Fri.: Finished mowing oats in the forenoon. Joel helping in the afternoon. We got 5 loads all but what we mowed today. Kate has raked the scatterings with the horse rake. Ada is up to Rands. (When working hard, the diary entries appear shorter). Aug. 24, Sat.: Fred and I went to Patten in the forenoon. Got home about two p.m. Anna Sleeper was here to give Katy her musick (music) lesson. Bessie Dolley is here to take her les(s)on and a cousin of Anna. I went and paid the Irish boys for falling the bushes. All at home and well. Not quite so warm to day. Kate is going up to set up with Evelin Dolley to night. Leon came after her. Aug. 25, Sun.: Went to Ab Bryants in the morning. Called at Dolleys and Kate went with Carrie and I. They did not have any vinegar and we went to Dunbars. got some molases.' He had not any vinegar. Kate did not go to Sabbath School. I went down to Malamun Youngs Mill and went by Spearing Say? Iccack (Isaac) Smith over to Spearings. (?) Not quite so warm to day. August 26, 1889, Monday: Have finished getting in the oats to day. Joel is helping me. Fred has done the raking to day. Got in four loads of oats to day. Went up to see if Porter would come and do the thrashing. He is coming to morrow. Fred, Katy and Cynthia have gone to Mary, Joes ' (Roberts?) to a parring Bee. All well to night. Aug. 27, Tues.: Have been at work thrashing with Porters machine to day. Have thrashed 33 bushels of oats and 97 1/2 of Barley. Two of Lysander's men worked for me. Did not get done untill after dark. Fred('s) foot is so he helped some. Quite warm but a cool breeze most of the time. All well. Ada went up on the hill in the morning. Aug-,28, Wed.: Have been fixing up around the barn to day. Went to E. Crockets and got the black cow and calf and jersey heifer. They got out of the pasture. Kate is at Rands they have another girl born to day. (Mary Arthena Young Sleeper Rand had her last child, named Arthena, nicknamed Tina, who was a great aunt to Joyce and great great aunt to Douglas). Very warm. Went to H. Hagget farm with L.F. Rand. Did not get home untill after dark. Got some nice apples to eat. The folks all at home and well. Aug. 29, Thurs.: Pulled part of the beans to day what grew here by the house and in the corn. Kate helped me. After supper I went to J.G. Dolleys just after dinner and to Rands. Sold the apples on the Hagget place to Rand for 10 (looks like ten) dollars, 5 cash, 3 grain and two days work. Fred is to work for Rand part of the day thrashing. Very warm to day. All well. Aug. 30, Fri.: Have been at home all day. Stacked some of the beans and pulled some. Fred went on the Haggett place with Rands folke (folks) to get the apples that I sold him. I went to the Moss lot to get some wickrippe. (A bush used for what?). Mrs. Sleeper was here visitting to day and Nellie Roberts. Erl and Ada have gone up on the hill to Rands. Kate is fixing a dress for herself. All well to night. Bert Sleeper in. Aug. 31, Sat.: Have been at home all day. Finished pulling the beans and stacking them. Fred to work for Rand in the afternoon. Gilman Dolley is very sick and Kate has gone up there to stay to night. The folks have come home from reunion. Willard Cox was in just at night has gone to Patten after the Dr. for Mr. Dolley. Still warm and dry. I September 1, 1889, Sunday: Got breckfast and went to Dolleys and stay(e)d untill three p.m. Then came home and got supper. Mary Dolley was here to supper. Kate went up to Mr. Dolleys and I went to Orrin Neals and she came after me. Guy Webber is here to night and is going to stay untill morning. Looks some like rain. Still warm. d Lysander Sept. 2, Mon.: Great riot on the hill. Porter an had a set to. (Leonard Porter was married to Lysander 'Rand's oldest daughter, Mellie). I stay(e)d at home in the forenoon and dug some potato(e)s and got a bbl of water from the brook. After dinner I went to the Moss Lot and stay'd till about dark. Fred has not come home yet from Rands. Half past eight time to go to bed. Still very dry and warm. Sept. 3, Tues.: Was at home in the forenoon choreing round (doing chores around the place). Fixed a place to boil potatos for the hogs. After dinner I went to fix a place so the sheep could drink. Kate and Ada went to Agnes Sleeper. Came home to get supper. Mrs. Fenilson came home with them. Fred is helping Rand thrash. Very warm. Kate and mrs. F. have gone to Dunbars. Sept. 4, Wed.: Went to work on the church to day. Have been laying shingles. Mr. Price helped me in the afternoon. Kate and Fred went to the Mills. Kate brought my dinner and Fred went out with Bert Sleeper he went with his colt. Fred came after me with Kite (or Hite, the colt's name?). Very warm to day. Orrin Neal is pileing has got a pair of oxen and three men. Sept. 5, Thurs.: Have been on the Moss, yarding Basswood, went with the oxen. Got them all on the peice that Neal is pileing. Got 13 in the forenoon and cut 6 in the Afternoon where Rand is pileing. Kate and Ad(a) have gone to the Circle. Fred and Erl have gone to night with Rand's colts. Katy went with them. School finished to day. Very warm and dry. Sept. 6, Fri.: Went to L. Morgans in the forenoon after doing the chores. Did not get home untill after dinner time. Got my dinner and went to the Moss place to work. Staid untill dark. Neal is pileing has got Wilton Stubbs (another great uncle of Joyce) and the oxen and a nother (another in two words) man helping him. Took the Billey to night looks like rain. (Billey?, a name of an ox?). Very warm. The folks are all at home. September 7, 1889, Saturday: It has been dull and rained some in the night and has been showery through the day. I have been choreing round most of the time. Fred went to the Mills in the afternoon. Anna Sleeper came and gave Katy and musick lesson. Have commenced to dry apples are fixing the ones that come from the Haggett place. Still quite warm. Sept. 8, Sun.: Went to Jim Emerys, to get my hair cut. Fred went with me came home and carried Kate and Carrie to the -School House to Sabbath School. Mr. Bumpus and wife was in to day and had a Meetting. Kate went to Rands and dressed the baby. Herman Sleeper and Willard Cox and Lime Hurlbert was in this afternoon. Charles Rowe and wife was in just night. Quite warm to night. The folks all at home. Sept. 9, Mon.: Wednesday (is written on the top of the page): Have been digging potato(e)s all day. True and Bert are helping Us. We put one load in the Webber Sellar (cellar). Mr. Randal was here to dinner to day came just dinner time. Cynthia has been picking this afternoon. Fenilson cme home last night. The girls have gone to Jo Roberts to a parring Bee to night. Very warm. Sept. 10, Tues.; It has been very warm to day. Finished the garden fence in the morning. Kate and Ada washed dug potatoes in the afternoon. True and Bert helped me. Got a barrel of water this morning. Katie went down to Trues. Ada and Fred have gone up to Mr. Rands. Erland came home with them. Katie has been playing on the organ. Ada is simpling again. (?) Mrs. Hamilton was in this afternoon. (Kate may have written this. Simpling means? smiling, cyphering? simpering? sampling??). Sept. 11, Wed. (With mistake this is for Monday): Have been at home all day been fencing the garden. Took most all day. I pulled the peas in the potato(e)s. Got a pumpkin for pies. Kate and Ada fixt (fixed) apples in the foor noon (forenoon). Ada and Kate went down to Mr. Bryants in the afternoon. Got home just at dark. All well at home to night. Ada got some cucumbers up to Mr. Morrison. Fred went down to Joseph Roberts and got some apples. Got 5 bushells. Lucian is reading to night. Kate is knit(t)ing. Good night all(?). (Kate is believed to have written this). September 12, 1889, Thurs.: Have been digging potato(e)s. True and Bert helping us. Kate went to the Mills in the afternoon. Got back just before dark. Drew the beans in to day just night. There is a ped(d)ler stop(p)ing here to night. Very warm and smaafx (smoky?) (smart?). The folks all at home and all well. Sept. 13, Fri.: Digging potato(e)s. True and Bert helping us. Katy bot a pair of shoes of John W. Barker from Houlton. (The overnight peddlar?). Fred went with a load of potato(e)s. Got home at noon. Have put two loads in the cellar at Thorntons. Have in about 50 bushels. The folks (sometimes looks like folke) all home and all well. Sept. 14, Sat.: Dug potatos in the forenoon. Did not get them all picked. Took untill three p.m. then went and got the sheep and True got a load of buckwheat for Joel Thornton. Fo(u)nd all the sheep but one and that was at Rands. Bert Sleeper and I went and got that. Did not get home till after dark. All well. Sept. 15, Sun.: Have been at home most all day. Only went to Sabbath School. Got home about 2 p.m. Got some lunch and went to the corn. Mary and Bess came down and Kate has gone up to Dolleys. Willard Cox, Lee Gilchrist in to night. 8 p.m. All well. Sept. 16, Mon.: Fred, True and Bert have been digging potatos. I had a bad spell with my stomach last night and have not done any thing to day. The girls have gone down to Geo Durgins to party to night. Kate stay(e)d- to Dolleys last night. Looks like rain. Sept. 17, Tues.: Has been raining all day have not done any thing to day. Dr. Bigalow called to see me to day. Am feeling some better to day. I did not go to see Neal to(o) stormy. Martin Emerson, Hurlbert and Fred Parker, Beecher Sleeper called to day. The folks are all well at this time. Kate is spin(n)ing yarn for drawers. Sept. 18, Wed.: I went to see Orrin Neal to day and we went on the chopping I sold him the wood that Powers Cut on the Moss lot and the apples. Mary Dolley was here to day making Gim a shirt. Katy has been up to Dolleys. I went to DunbarB just night with some hens. Got home half past B. , Rand is here to night. Kate is knitting drawers for Guy Webber. All well to nigh(t). Still raining. September 19, 1889, Thursday: Rained most all day. Fred went to get the mares shoes set in the forenoon. Got home dinner time. I have husked some corn. Went and fell some hedge just night to keep the horses in the field. (Reinforces the hedge fence theory of keeping animals within low walls by using bushes, trees growing along the fence). Picked the tomatos at night. Ada and Erl went to Rands to stay to night. The wind blows quite hard. Kate is knitting for Guy Webber mittens and drawers. Sept. 20, Fri.: Have been digging potatos and picking apples for Neal all I picked 25 bushels for Neal. His wife and Lucy Bryant was with him. Fred went to the starch factory with a load of potatos got home at noon. Kate and Ada have been washing some. The folks picked some apples and we brought them in to night. True and Bert helped us to day. 9 p.m. time to turn in. All well. Sept. 21, Sat.: Fred went with a load of potatoes to the starch factory. I went to digging dug two rows and it commenced to rain. Rained all the time untill noon. Have not done any thing but the chores. Anna was in to give Katy a musick leson (music lesson) this afternoon. I road (rode) up to Rands with Anna and went over to see Dolley. Fred took Kite (Mite, his horse?) and went to Dunbars. Leon came after Kate to sit up there (Dolleys) to night. 8 p.m. and raining. Sept. 22, Sunday: Have been at home all day. The rest all went to Sabbath School and Meetting. Bert Cox and Willard Cox was here to supper and helped us pick the squash and pumpkins. Got them all in the barn. Kate set up to Gilman Dolleys last night. All at home and all well. Quite cold to night. Sept. 23, Mon.: Finished digging potatos about 3 p.m. Put some in the barn floor and I piled them up. Fred picked some apples to pair (pare?, pile?). There was a pairing Bee here to night. There was about 25 here to the Bee. They stay(e)d untill half past 10. Paired and fixed 7 1/2 bushels. Quite cool to night. True and Bert helped us finish. Sept. 24, Tues.: Have began digging potatos for True to day. Fred went with our last load in the morning. Dug in the afternoon. Mr. Stanchfield was here to day and paid 10 dollars on the note that he gave me on the cow he bot in the spring. The folks are all at home and all well. I September 25, 1889, Wednesday: Have been to Patten to Mill and to the Fair. Went with Polly and True Is mare. Did not get the girst. they did not run the Mill to day. Not much a crowd to the Fair and not many cattle quite a lot of horses - Fred and Bert dug potatos I took up some sweet apples and got Freds watch to Huntleys. Sept. 26, Thurs.: I helped True dig potatoes to day. Got them picked and put in the barn. 5 p.m. then it rained hard all the evening. Fred and Katy went to Patten to the Fair. Did not get home till half past eight. Rained untill bed time hard. I husked corn untill Fred and Katy came. Ada and Erl went to Patten with Sam Gould. Got home before dark. Sept. 27, Fri.: Digging potatos for True Sleeper. Bert did not get back from Patten untill night. We dug all day. Very hard digging. Can't think of anything to write today. The folks are all well at this time. Sept. 28, Sat.: Digging potatos all day for True Sleeper. Fred went to the Mill in the afternoon with a load of potatos for True. Kate has gone to J.G. Dolleys to take care of the baby. The rest of the folks are all well. It is very cold to night think there will be a hard frost to night. Erl has gone a hunting with W. and Bert Cox and their cousin from Auburn, Maine. Sept. 29, Sun.: Have been at home all day untill four p.m. Then went to see Del Glidden to get some money (or honey) he was not at home is away to Bangor. Guy Webber is here to night to stay. Ada is stopping to Dolleys to take care of the baby to night. Erl has got back from hunting and is here to night. Carrie is not feeling very well has a bad cold. Sept. 30, 1889, Monday: Have been digging potatos for True Sleeper to day. Fred went to Patten to get the grist that we took up Fair Day. did not get home till 4 p.m. Guy went up with him. Willard Cox and his cousin are here to night. He is from Auburn, Maine. Mary and Ella are here to(o). It looks like rain to night. Kate and Carrie did the chores, washed the dishes and c (??). 9 p . m. time to go to bed. (Cox and Rand families lived in Poland, Minot and Auburn prior to got to Aroostook). October 1, 1889, Tuesday: Finished husking the corn in the forenoon. Erl Rand and his cousin helped us in the forenoon. Finished before dinner. True came to get the spade and the old handle. It has rained all day and most of last night. Wilbert Porter came after Kate. Say that Mrs. Dolley is sick and the baby is worse. Have sent for the Dr. There is a party to Rands this evening and Fred, Ada and Katy have gone. Still raining. Oct. 2, Wed.: Has been raining most all the time to day. Willard Cox and Lester Rand (Lester was to later marry Lucian's daughter, Katie) was here in the forenoon. Ab Bryant and Jo Roberts and Chas Merserve came to trade oxen. I went home and swap(p)ed with him and got his off oxen. Got home three p.m. and went to help True with the oxen. Fred was down there to work for him. Kate has not got home from Dolleys I yet. It is quarter past 7. Mary Dolley is here to nigh(t). Still cloudy. Oct. 3, Thurs.: Have been digging potato(e)s for True all day. Orin Neal and Fred killed the bull in the afternoon. Had quite a time to haveg (hang?) him up. I had to help pick up the potato(e)s and it took till most dark. It looks like rain to night. The folks all at home and all well. Oct. 4, Fri.: Fred helped dig in the forenoon I was choreing round till most noon helping Neal about the beef and doing the chores. Gil Dolley was here in the forenoon but went home before dinner. Martin Emerson was here. I paid him ten dollars. Kate has done the washing to day. We finished True's potatos and Fred and True went to the Mills. Kate has gone to take care of the Baby to night to Dolleys. Oct. 5, Sat.: Katy and I went to the Haggett place on Hurricane Ridge to see Emerson about the hay. Sold him what was in the Webber barn for twenty dollars. Went to see Mr. Carr he paid me the balance on the oats. I sold him in the spring. One dollar. Got two bushels of buckwheat from Small to pay the bull bill. I went to see Spearing. He was not at home. Fred helped True in the afternoon. Oct. 6, Sun.: Have been at home all day have not been of f the farm. Kate did not go to Sabbath School and Meetting. I cut up a quarter of beef in the afternoon just before chore time. Ada, Fred and Katy went to Meetting. Mr. Bumpus preached to day. Quite cool and cloudy. The folks all at home and all well to night. Willard Cox and Mable Rand in just night. October 7, 1889, Monday: It has been raining all day. I went to Emersons in the morning to get a pork bbl. Got home half past ten and salted the beef. Mrs. Hurlbert came and got fifty pounds of beef. Herman and Bert was in to day. I put the team wagon up to Thorntons. I tried to shell corn. It is not dry enough. Kate is sewing on the machine. The girls are knitting. Still raining at 7 p.m. Oct. 8, Tues.: Kate and Ada have washed to day. Katy and I went to Dunbars in the forenoon. Got back half past eleven. In the afternoon went with a petition. Got a good number of names. Got home about 7. Kate went up to set up with Dolleys baby to night. Went down to Trues in the evening. True and Aggie? signed the paper. Bessie is hear (here) going to stay all night. Herman is in this evening. Nine 0'clock. (Ada wrote this entry). Oct. 9. Wed.: Hauling rocks untill 3 p.m. then commenced to plow on the stubble ground. Plowing with the oxen. Kate has gone to set up to Dolleys with the baby. Oct. 10, Thurs.: Gilman Dolleys baby died this morning between four and five. Leon came after Kate just before 4 in the morning. Flo came to have me go to Patten to get the casket and I got home about 5 p.m. Got the casket of(f) Mr. Frye. Fred has been plowing and drawing stone. Quite cool to night. Oct. 11, Fri.: Plowing in the forenoon. Got dinner and we went to the funeral to Mr. Dolleys. I got home at three and the rest of the folks later. Ada and Katy went to Dunbars. Bessie came home with them. I picked apples,after I came home. Guy Webber is stopping here to night. Quite cool and cloudy. Oct. 12, Sat.: Have been picking apples all day. Guy Webber is helping us. We picked about 60 bushels. Did not get them all picked. Ada had a quilt tacked in the afternoon. Had some of the girls to help her, Dene Morrison, Bessie Dolley, Mary and Ella Rand and Charles Gerry and Leon Dolley. May Spencer (Kate's sister from New Hampshire) came in the Kingman Stage last night. Quite cool to night and clear. Oct. 13, Sun.: Father won't write so I have got to so here goes. Been quite cool to day but pleasant. Fred and May went down to Mr. Bryants this morning. Fred got him some boots. Marvis (or Mamie) Dolley, Herman and Willard was in to day. Mavis? stayed all day. Fred went in the wood to ' work started to night. May is writing. Kate talking. Ada has gone to bed. Father went up to Mr. Dolley this afternoon. Won't write any more a lie about a(n) apple. (Unclear who wrote this, but not Lucian.). October 14, 1889, Monday: Have been plowing all day. Have got Mr. Dolleys horses. Leon came and drove them part of the afternoon. Gilman has got Polly to go to Dr. Owens. Did not come home to night. Boiled some squash for May in the big kettle. Pulled the cabbage just night. Kate helped me. Herman is in this evening. Not very cold. Fred is in the woods for Martin Emerson. Oct. 15, Tues.: May and Kty are not feeling very well have eat to(o) much squash. I boiled the big kettle full. I was plowing with Dolley's horses. Leon and Willie helped me. -Katy and May and I went to the Mills and carried D. Lewis some apples. I pulled the beets in the afternoon and the rest of the garden. Very pleasant. (Written upside down, apparently by Kate on this entry was:) This is what one gets by kindness. Was obliged to swean (swear?) for him to day. Oct. 16, Wed.: I feel lost for Kate has not jawed any to day but perhaps she will forer (before?) she goes to bed. I have been thrashing to day for Mr. Dolley to day. Ada carried me up in the morning and Katy came after me. Pleasant but cold. Lee Gilchrist and Will Gallison are with the machine. (The remainder of this entry appears to be by Kate). L. B . G. (Lucian Boneparte Grout) does not feel very well to night. Warm buscuit (biscuit) and full cup of tea does not set very well is obliged to sit up all night on account of greediness too bad protem. Oct. 17, Thurs.: Have been to work for J. G. Dolley thrashing. Went to see if I could get Rowe to carry some barley to Patten to mill. Could not get him has gone to sell cider. There was a Circle at A.J. Morrisons to day. Kate and M. (and) I went in the afternoon and Cynthia, Carrie. Pleasant but cool Ada and Katy went in the evening. May and Cynthia came home real early and Kate stayed a while in the evening. All well to night. Oct. 18, Fri.: (At the top of the page written by Kate): Lucian eat (ate) two peices of mince pie for his supper. (Followed by Lucian's entry): Still thrashing at Dolleys finished in the afternoon. Got home at three o'clock. May and Cynthia and Carrie went out to the Post Office after the mail in the morning. May and Carrie and myself went up to Mrs. Dolleys after a grist(?) just at night. Fred came home to night. Has got his foot hurt to day. Hallie(?) Emerson brought him home. His ancle (ankle) is swollen real bad. Herman Sleeper came in this evening. Fred Denette came up after one of the la(r)ge books to night. The folks are all well to night and gone to bed but my (probably self, although Kate probably wrote this). October 19, 1889, Saturday: Ple(a)sant to day Mr. Rand is helping me plow to day. Doctor Owen came in to see Fred('s) foot and ancle (ankle). He said it was hurt very bad. It is swollen very bad. Mrs. Hamilton was here to day. We went up to the school hourse to the lodge. Katie and wife and myself got home 10 minutes past 10. Mamie Dolley and Jote Perry were here while we were at the lodge. Ada and Eraland have gone over to Mrs. Coxs to stay to night. Lester is doing home to morrow morning. All well at home. (Is Lester Rand the cousin of the Rand and Cox boys from Auburn?). Oct. 20, Sun.: Did not get up untill 8 o'clock untill the forenoon (Lucian's two until words). Got breckfast and went to see Mackman (Hackman?) in Stacyville. Got home 4 p.m. Killed 2 chickens had them for supper. The folks are all well ??? to(?) (sad to?) have Fred is laid up with lame leg. It is quite windy to night. May has wrote all day. Ada is weighting (writing) to Lucinda to night. (Lucinda is another sister to Kate and May). Lucian is reading. Kate and May writing in their albumns. All are well to night. (Kate is believed to have written this). Oct. 21, Mon.: Went to get some one to help me plow. Went to Neals and Thomas Irishs but did not get any one. Came home and got Jim Sleeper. Hammond and Davis got the lambs and sheep to day. Corkins was here about grafting business. There was 205 scions liveing. (Grafting scions on trees, probably apples.) Has been a fine day. The folks did their washing. Ada is not feeling well to night. The rest all well. May J. is here yet. Pleasant. Oct. 22, Tues.: Have been plowing all da Jim Sleeper is helping me. Have got most done about 2 1/2. acres more to plow has been very pleasant. Chas Rowe has been to the Mill with some barley. Did not get it ground. Kate and Cynthia have been up to A.J. Morrisons. Got home after dark. Erl is here to night. Herman has just come in. Oct. 23, Wed.: Plowed all day Jim helped all day. Kate and May went out to the Mills in the afternoon and stayed to the Campfire in the evening. got home a little past twelve. Fred, Erland and myself shelled corn in the evening. Carrie is making her a crazy cushion for her doll. (Ada wrote this). October 24, 1889, Thursday: Plowed all day. Jim helped. Mamie Dolley and Bessie and Addie Rowe came in the forenoon to the Circle. There was quite a lots here. May had the sick head ache in the afternoon. Could not eat any supper. Had a good supper. Eat two peices of pie for my supper. Kate has gone up to stay with Bes and Mamie is going to stay here all night. May feels better to night. (Ada wrote this). Oct. 25, Fri.: Carried Dolleys plow home in the morning and went and got the mare shod to Collins. Got home before dinner time. Went to the Moss lot and picked stuff in the afternoon on the peice. Sowd with buckwheat. Got home just before sun set. Oct. 26, Sat.: Finished plowing in the forenoon. I helped True with the oxen and Herman plowd with Polly and Trues. I went to carry Tom Irishes yoke(?) home in the afternoon. Got home about 4 p.m. Raining some. Katy and I went to the good Templers Lodge in the evening. Oct. 27, Sun.: Been cloudy and dark to day. Rained a little. They went to the Sunday School and Meetting. Katie and May went over to Mr. Emerson (?) to night after the hay knife got back just at dark. Erland went out to the Mills to thrash. Bun was in this morning and got Guy's drawers and mittens. True is in this evening. Went up after Kate and Carrie after Meeting. Ada and May have gone to bed. Kate has got a bad cold. Fred is reading. Kate is eating apples. Carrie is making a great noise. (Did Ada, Kate or Katy write this, it was not Lucian). Oct. 28, Mon.: Rained all day not very cold. 'Thrashed all the beans. Went down to Hamiltons after the fail in the fournoon. The folks are not any of them fealing (feeling) very well to day. Got bad colds. They are knitting. May has finished her mittens and one of the Circle stockings. Katie is not fealing well to night has gone a bad cold. Fred is pop(p)ing corn it pops very good, good night. (Ada wrote this). Oct. 29, Tues.: It is snowing this morning and some colder. Kate is not feeling any better. Had a chill last night am not doing much to day. Shelling some corn. True and Herman was in this forenoon. Did not get up untill eight o'clock this morning and only had two meals to day. Had a boiled dinner for super. It was quite good. Can't think of anything more. Good night. (Ada wrote this). I October 30, 1889, Wednesday: Snowing this morning. Got up at 4 o'clock in the morning. Had breckfast at six and then we waited for the stage. May went this morning. It has been quite warm to day. Herman helped me to put apples in the cellar. Then he had Polly and took some apples out to Maberys? to make cider. I put the cabbage and turnips and beets and pumpkins and squash in the cellar. Then in the afternoon I went over to Tom Irish got home in reason to do the chores we have got a bad cold most of us. Warm to night. Oct. 31, Thurs.: Thrashing at Mr. Hamiltons to day it is quite warm. Kate washed and then she and Katy went up to Mrs. Dolley to the Circle. Came home in season (reason? as in within reason) to do the chores. True and Herman were in this evening. Kate cold is some better but Katie cough is not any better. Ada is not very well to day. Am real tired to night. It is very warm for this time of the year. The snow is all gone to night. Len and Erl came up to play cards to night. (In less than four months, Ada will give birth to her first child, a daughter). November 1, 1889, Friday: (Written at the top of the page): The sowe has 12 pigs to night. (Then): Thrashed at Mr. Hamilton till 9 o'clock in the forenoon then the machine came up to our barn. We thrashed in the afternoon. Thrashed 60 bushells and thrashed the peas and cleaned the beans. It is very warm to day. Kate and Carrie and Cynthia went over to Mr. Bryants to day. Mamie Dolley came down here to day to see Fred guess she thinks he is sick for she takes lots of care of him. Hope he will be better soon. His ancle (ankle) is some better. All well. (Sometimes Lucian offers a hint of sarcasm in his journal or a hint of some feelings, but not too often). November 2, 1889, Saturday: Thrashing at home to day. Thrashed one hundred 1.11 and eleven bushels in the forenoon and in the afternoon they brook (broke) the machine and had to go to the Mills to get it mended. They did not thrash much in the afternoon. Fred and Ada went down to Mr. Bryants to get some oil and molasess. Grace Gilchrist died this morning at 5 o'clock in the morning. We went up to the Loge (Lodge) to night. Lea? and Mamie came down to night and we took his team and went to the Loge (Lodge). Carrie is not very well to night. Nov. 3, Sunday: It is rainey to day. Grace Gilchrist was buried to day. We did not go to the furnell (funeral) it was so rainey. Bert Sleeper came home with Poley (Polly, the horse) at 4 o'clock. True and Herman and Guy Webber, Willard and Bert Cox were here to day. Fred ('s) foot is some better but not so as to walk on it. Katie, Carrie, Fred, Ada, Erl are abed. Cynthia is washing her feet. Lucian is eating apples. The pigs are smart. We got a affadivid from Joseph Reed to day about my feneria? afairs. (This was probably an affidivit regarding Kate's father's affairs. Joseph Reed is believed to be her older brother in New Hampshire. This was probably Kate's entry). The folks have all got colds and are not feeling very well. Nov. 4, Mon.: Finished thrashing in the forenoon and went to Barker Ridge to see Walker about swapping colts. Will trade with him for 75 dollars. Did not get home untill dark. Kate had the chores all most all done. True came in and made us a call. It is quite cold to night but not stormy. The moon is shining and the stars are out. We went to bed quite early and all are well to night. Nov. 5, Tues.: Have been on the Moss place plowing. Ed Crocket helped me with his horses. Kate came and brought our dinner and came after me at night. Mary Rand and Mabell are here to night. Erland and Len got done thrashing down to Ed Perrys to night and have moved to Percy Dennetts. Erland is going to stay at home to night. Good night. One of the pigs are gone. (Ada wrote this entry). Nov. 6, Wed.: In the forenoon I did the chores and went up to Mr. Rands and got Edie (Ed or Eddie) to help me finish plowing the Moss place. Got done a bout 8 o'clock then I done the chores. Charles Rowe and True came in this evening. Fred shelled corn this forenoon. Erland came home siad that Dunbar could no(t) thrash. He is going to kill pottery (poultry?) wants us to take ours down Friday night. We are all well to night. It is cold and pleasant to night. November 7, 1889, Thursday: In the morning I went and got some potato(e)s and beets, turnip and cabbage and Charles Rowe is doing to Patten to carrie (carry) them up to Merniva L. True and some apples and milk. Ada and Katie went to get some one to come and kill one of the pigs. Oren Neal came after dinner. Got through at 3 o'clock. Katie and Ada are up to Mr. Rand to the Circle. Fred went up to supper. Mable Rand came home with her. Stay(e)d all night. Ada is going to stay up on the hill all night. All well. Nov. 8, Fri.: In the forenoon I went over to see Dell Glidden. Got home at noon. Guy Webber was here. He is not feeling very well to day. In the afternoon I set stakes in the grave yard. The thrashers moved to Mr. Thorntons in the afternoon. Fred and Guy went to the Falls. Got home at dark. Kate and I went down to Dunbars with the hens and then we went over to Thomas Irish and got some pul(l)ets got 6. Got home at half past 9 o'clock. All well. Nov. 9, Sat.: Fred and Guy have gone down to Mrs. Stanchfield (Stinchfield?) and Mrs. John Leens (?) to day. Fred got home at 4 o'clock. In the forenoon he. I did the chores and then Mr. Scofield came and I got some tea of him. In the afternoon I set stakes in the grave yard and Katie and I went up to the Loge (Lodge). Got home at fifteen minutes of 9. Ada and Erland came home to night. The folks are all a bed but Kate when we got home. It is quite warm and pleasant to night. The folks are all well to night. Nov. 10, Sun.: Have been at home all day. Rand and wife was here to day. Len Porter and Wilbert have got the buck board to go in to Chambers Camp. Herman Sleeper called here just night. Guy went back into the woods to night. Fred and Erland are eating a little lunch. They are making a little coffee to soup(?). Joel came up to night and borrowed part of the harness to move(?) with to morrow. All well to night. Good night. (Ada wrote the last half of this entry). Nov. 11, Mon.: In the morning did the chores and started for Houlton with our own team. Drove to Symerny (Smyrna) Mills and got dinner. I stay(e)d at Bradberys all night. Did not get there untill dark. The roads are very mud(d)y. Ada washed to day. Kate made sope (soap?). Ella Rand came down in the afternoon. Mr. Hamilton and wife came up in the evening to go to Surnade Walter and Rose(?) (probably a serenade for a recent wedding) but they had gone home. November 12, 1889, Tuesday: Went to Houlton in the morning. got in about half past 8. Stay'd untill after dinner and started for home. Put up at Clarks. Did not get to Townsends till after dark. Put up and stayd untill morning. Looks like a storm. the roads are very muddy. Kate washed and done the chores at the barn. It is very warm for this time of the year. All well at home to night. Nov. 13, Wed.: I got home to day about eleven o'clock. It is quite dull this morning. Got dinner and in the afternoon we moved to the Webber house. (This casual comment does not suggest that there was much stress involved in relocating from one's home. Prior to this time, the Grout's were probably not living too far from the Webber place). It rained in the afternoon some. True helped me move the stoves. Guy Webber came out of the woods this morning. We are tired to night. Got supper and I did the chores and we went to bed. Erland came home to night. He has got done thrashing for this fall. We are well to night. Nov. 14, Thurs.: We finished moving this morning and we done the -chores down home. Then Mr. White and wife from Oakfield came and got some apples. Got three bushells. True and Herman were in to day. I went down to the chopping this afternoon. It is raining to day. Mary Roberts went to the Circle to Mr. Crocketts to day. Kate did not go she is tired and not feeling very well, just now. The boys are making a bed room up stairs to day. The storm is all done. Nov. 15, Fri.: The wind has been blowing all day hard. Kate went in the morning and got the clothes that was on the line down home and I did the chores. Have not got anything done to day. The wind has blow'd so hard. Mrs.? Sleeper was in to day and True and Herman. Nov. 16, Sat.: Still cold and windy. True has gone to the Mills with Poll and the buckboard. Carried some barley for me and got it ground. Got home before dark. There was a woman here selling books in the morning. Kate bought one. Nov. 17, Sun.: Have been at home all day. Del (Dal?) Glidden was here this evening. Stay'd untill after 9 p.m. Guy has gone to Leavitts to help thresh. Erland came after him. Very pleasant to night and warmer. Mary Rand was here to supper. All gone to bed but Kate and I. November 18, 1889, Monday: Pleasant to day. Went to the Mills got home in season to do the chores. Got some things for the school house. Got a barrel of flour. Kate and Cynthia went down and got a load of wood. Ada washed in the fournoon. Katie, Cynthia and I(?) washed the chairs. Kate finished the Circle stockings. Minnie came down and got them. True and Charlie rowe was in. True killed his hogs. Parker helped him. Kate is reading. Katie is knitting. Ada has gone to bed. Fred is washing him. (?) Erland went in the wood(s) to work or cook this morning. (Kate may have written this). Nov. 19, Tues.: Was going to Butcher this morning (a butcher or a person?) but Edna Leavitt came after me to go and help them thrash and I went. Ada and Carrie went down to Neals and Dunbars. Got back 20 past 11. Had a good ride. Katy is washing to day. Fred and True went down to Abb Bryants in the afternoon. Went with Nancy (horse?) and the buggy. Got home a little before dark. Fred done the chores. Guy came up with me to night from Leavitts. (Ada wrote this). Nov. 20, Wed.: Rained all day Neal came and killed the hogs. Guy is hear (here) to day is not feeling very well to day has got a bad cold. I am not feeling very well to day myself have got a bad cold. Guy went down to get a load of wood but I did not let him get it for I did not want the oxen out in the rain. Cynthia went down and watered the horses for me. Len Porter was in a few minutes to night. Spit in the stove. (Kate or Ada wrote at least some of this). Nov. 21, Thurs.: Rained some to day. Done the chores and then set down and read Kupret (Kufet?) Goodwin a few minutes. Then Fred and Guy and myself went down and got a load of wood. Katy and Ada and Carrie went to the Circle. They worked on Ada a rapper (a wrapper/dress?) in the forenoon. Got it done so she wore it to the Circle. Em and Abbie called when they went to the Circle. Mrs. Hurlbert came in and went with the folks here. All well to night. (Ada appears to have written this). Nov. 22, Fri.: It is rainey to day. I have done the chores and laid on the Lounge the rest of the time. the women folks are fritering around the house. Kate has done the cooking and put the clare (clothes?) out on the line in the orchard. Ada is finishing her dress. Katie and Fred are practicing peices (pieces) to sing. Guy Webber is here. The folks are all well at home to day. Erl is in the woods to worke. Fred's foot is gaining some. November 23, 1889, Saturday: Did the chores in the morning then I went down to look at the cedar on the Trewastey (Truworthy?) Place. Went over to James Cudders (Scudder?). Got home at noon. Put some glass in the windows in the stable. Then went up to the school house and fixt (fixed) one of the school house windows. Then we done the chores and went up to the school house to the baskett time.(a social involving basketts?). Got home at 15 minutes of eleven. It is still dull the folks all went up on the hill.to night. Erl came home to night. Nov. 24, Sun.: Have been at home all day. Dolley is here laying with Fred all the afternoon. Bert and Herman was in to day. Herman took Hamiltons old mare home. Guy Webber has gone to the Mills. I think Ada and Katy went to the school house to meetting. Mr. Price preached to day. Don't think it is going to freeze. Nov. 25, Mon.: Ada did her washing in the forenoon and Kate washed and got done before dark. I was sick all day with sick headache and layd a bed all day. Fred carried Chubby (horse) home in the forenoon. It is quite warm to day. Nov. 26, Tues.: Am feeling better to day. Have been in to Emersons. Came with Charles Rowe got buro (bureau or burro??) from Emersons. Nov. 27, Wed.: Doing chores in the forenoon and fussing till noon. Erl and I went to the Moss place and cut wood till night and piled it in piles. Quite moderate and looks like a storm. The folks are all at home. Nov. 28, Thurs.: It is storming all day hard and the wind is blowing hard. To day is thanksgiving day and cold and snowing. The folks are all at home to day. We are having a little thanksgiving dinner. Bed time and still snowing and blowing. Nov. 29, Fri.: Just doing the chores. I went to the school house and put in some glass. Went to Jim Emerys to get a glass cutter. Did not get any it was not at home. Kate and Ada went to wash the school house in the afternoon. Polly run home from the School House. did not do any damage. Nov. 30, Sat.: Went in to Grants camp with profs?(Prof?) Rowe did not see Fly. He was at Kingman. Got home about 4 o'clock. The folks are all well to day. Ada is making Harry Knowles a shirt. Kate and Katie and myself went to Lodg to night. Had one new member it is Bun Young. Erland came out to night. Fred got a book from May is was (it was?) a singing book. (Several writers contributed to this). December 1, 1889, Sunday: Well I did not get up untill eight o'clock. Then had some breckfast and done the chores. Iva and Cora was in this morning to get Kate to do up some stockings done up to send to Jud. Mary came up after dinner. Fred went out after. Fred got home after dark. Erland started for the woods just at dark. The boys had to have their supper when they got here. Katie, Cynthia and Carrie have gone to car(r)y Harry Knowles shirt and rubbers. (Two or more contributed to this entry). Dec. 2, Mon.: Drove the oxen to the Mills in the morning to Geo Fryes. Kate went with the team. We got home 2 p.m. Quite pleasant. Kate bot a stove of Lewis Jackman and I went to see if the York boys had any bed steads. They did not have any made. Ada did her washing and was all done when we came home. School began to day. Fred Parker Teacher. I Dec. 3, Tues.: Did the chores and went to see Chas Rowe in the forenoon. He was not at home. I peeled some pumpkin and chored a round till time for the children to come home from school. Quite cold to day. Met Rowe he is going to draw logs to morrow from the Moss place. The folks all at home and well. Dec. 4, Wed.: Real pleasant to day but quite cold. Carrie did not go to school to day. She did not feal (feel) very well. She went down and stay(e)d with Amy? in the fournoon and then Amy came home with her. Ada went down to Ben Collins to get Pollie (Polly, the horse) shod but he couldn't shew (shoe) here. Charles Rowes horse balked on him and wouldn't go. I sold Ned to Bert Sleeper and swap(p)ed a cow for a heifer. Fred and Fred have gone to the Mills to the time. (?) Kate is spinning. Good night. (Someone other than Lucian wrote this). Dec. 5, Thurs.: Pleasant but cold. I was sick to day did not get up untill 8 o'clock. Didn't feal (feel) just rite. I didn't go out untill evening went to the back house. The children went to school. Cad didn't go has got a bad cold. Fred is writing in his bookkeeping. Katie is studying her History lesson. Ada is knitting. Kate is fixing Katie skirt. (Maybe Ada wrote this). Dec. 6, Fri.: Snowing but not very cold. I went down to Ben Collins this morning and got Pollie shod. Carryed the girls to school. Got home about 1 o'clock. Stoped at Mr. Rands and got that grain. Neal came up and we killed the heifer. Ada and Carrie have been down to Mr. Youngs a visiting. Kate after the girls and went down after Ada and Cad. Frd went out home. Kate washed and washed the flours (floors). Fred and Cynthia have gone to bed. (Lucian did not write this). December 7, Saturday, 1889: In the morning Fred went out to Mr. Mayberys to draw out some of the cider. I did the chores in the forenoon. It snowed in the afternoon. Ada and I went over to Charlie Merverner (Merservey?) to see Mr. Stairs but he was not in the woods. Went up to Mr. Garnetts. Stay(e)d untill Erland came home. The folks are all well but Carrie she has got a bad cold. We did not go to the loge (lodge) to night. It was stormy but quite light. Dec. 8, Sun.: Pleasant to day. Snowed a little in the afternoon. Bun Young was in and True and Bert. Bert got the pung and robes to go to Mr. Denetts. Had a boiled dinner quite good. Fred took the team and went up on the hill. Erland went back in the woods. Mr. Gordes? come and got two pigs paid two dollars. Fred came in to night got here about 8 o'clock. Katie went down to Mr. Roberts after some vinager. Got some at Mr. Youngs. 9 o'clock bed time so much retire. (Maybe Ada wrote this). Dec. 9, Mon.: It has been raining all day. I carried the children to school in the forenoon and went and got them at night. The sleighing is getting poor. I drove over to see J. G. Dolley he was not at home. Chas Rowe was up to see me just night. Kate is spinning this evening and Ada is knitting. Fred and Katy are studeting (studying) book keepping. Warm to night. Dec. 10, Tues.: Went to Orrin Neals in the morning. He was not at home. Is to work for Sabine Higgins drawing wood. I went in to Grants Camp. Mr. Fly was in the woods to day. I brought a Sleeper ax it was two doll and fifty cts. Rode with one of the Dagget boys to Durgins and came a cross. Knowles is in this evening. Looks like a storm. Not very cold. Dec. 11, Wed.: Went to the Moss place to yard the bass logs in the morning. Got Rnd to help me with his oxen. Got home about 2 p.m. Got some dinner and did the chores and went to the Mills to a Post Meetting. Got home half past 10. It rained all the evening but did not rain as much here as it did to the Mills. Very warm to night. The folks all at home. Dec. 12, Thurs.: Soony is sick to night does not want any apples to eat. I am sorry for soony Oh: Dear. (Ada's writing about a pig, calf, horse???). The young folks are down to sing to night. They were playing and Fred and Maybell Rand brook (broke) a pain (pane) of glass in the front room. Forest Bryant was here to day. I hired him to worke for me. Dene and Minnie were here to supper. It is very windy to night. The folks are all gone to bed but the tow (two) Fred and Kate. She is writing and hes brook.(book) keeping. (A young person wrote this). December 13, 1889, Friday: Snowing and windy to day. I done the chores and yarded the logs on the Moss place. Got done at 2 p.m. Then I came home and done the chores and Fred did not get home till after dark. Sam Gould and Gilman Dolley were here to supper. Then Gould and Dolley went down to Trues. It is very cold and windy to night. The folks are all well. Kate has been spinning some yard for Erl some stocking. Ada is knitting Oscar some mittens and Kate is spinning. Dec. 14, Sat.: Was at home in the forenoon. Granvill Morrison and Ab Bryant came with hay after dinner and I went to Granvill and bought a cow and took home. Fred has gone to the Mills with some oats for Lewis Jackman. Got home just dark. Erl drew some wood in the afternoon. It is quite cool to day. The folks are all well to night. Not any one here but our own folks. Dec. 15, Sun.: Have been in to Barney's and Emerson's Camp to day. True went with his colt. Mr. Perry has not fixed my axes yet. Said he would fix them to morrow. Martin was not in the camp. Ada is up to Rands. Erl has gone back to Charles Meserves to work. Katy has gone to the Mills to night. Quite cold and the wind begins to blow. Twenty minutes of 9 and Fred Parker is not in yet. (Is the teacher, Fred Parker, boarding there)? Dec. 16, Mon.: Have been putting up oats in the forenoon and helped Nelson R (Roberts?) load a load of hay. In the afternoon I went down to Mr. Stanchfield got home at 8 o'clock. The wind is blowing to night. Katie, Fred and Fred Parker have been up to Mr. Dolleys to sing some peices (pieces) for Christmas night. Ada has been up to Mr. Rands to day. She came home at 4 o'clock this afternoon. She is sick got a bad cold. Fred Grout and Fred Parker are writing the folks. Must all go to bed. (Could be writing. and the folks must all go to bed?). Dec. 17, Tues.: Kate is washing to day. Nelson Roberts brought in our cider to day. I helped him load hav in the forenoon. Mary Roberts was in to day. Mr. Hamilton was here begging for Mr. Price. It is quite pleasant to day. The children are all at school. Have no news to write. Good nite. (Begging for Mr. Price might be seeking funds to pay the minister). December 18, 1889, Wednesday: Went to the Moss place in the morning to help Neal load logs. He had gone to the Mill with a load. I cut some wood in the second growth. Forest Bryant began work to day to make sleepers. (Ties probably for the railroad). Granvill drew oats to day to feed his colts while here. Herman Sleeper was here with him. I went to Rowe and got the chain. Got home just dark. Dec. 19, Thurs.: Carried the girls to school in the morning. It has rained all day hard. Forest mde sleepers in the forenoon. so wet he went home to get his pevey (peavey to move wood). Fred Stubs (Stubbs) came and got 2 pigs to day. The two Freds and Katy have gone to Rands to a sing to night. Kate and Ada wasting thair (their) time makeing aprons. 8 p.m. and still raining. Dec. 20, Fri.: Have been makeing sleepers in the forenoon but did not go in the woods after dinner. Mr. Leavitt called and paid the Haggett note. Mr. Dolley was in to day. Kate and Carrie went to the Post Office did not get any mail. Paid Edwin Crocket the balance for haying. Got home just dark. Very warm to day and to night. Thawing some all day. Dec. 21, Sat.: Foust and Fred made sleepers in the swamp all day. I went in the afternoon I cam out to do the chores. It is very slipery and icy. Erl came home at night. Not very cold. Kate and Fred and I went to the Lodg(e). Got home half past 9 p.m. Bert Sleeper has got the pung to go to see his wife down to Ambroses. (Sarah and Bert had wed October 14, 1889). Dec. 22, Sun.: Have been at home most all day went to Meetting. Mr. Price held the Meetting, Katy has a bad cold and did not go to Meetting. Fred Parker came in to night. Beecher Sleeper brought him in and stay'd a spell in the evening. Forest came back to night. It is snowing fast to night. Not very cold. The folks all at home. Dec. 23, Mon.: Worked in the woods all day makeing sleepers. Forest Bryant and I. Some of the girls came in to sing in the evening. Dene, Mamie Dolley, Bessie Jennie, and Minnie. Went home 9 p.m. Quite cold and windy to night. Percy Dennett and Lyman Hurlbert came in this evening. Fred Parker has gone home to night. December 24, 1889, Tuesday: Makeing sleepers to day. I have been in the woods all day. Kate and Fred have been to Patten to get somethings. Got home 4 p.m. There was a Christmas tree to the School House to night. We all went. Bert Sleepers wife rode up to the Schol House with our folks. Katy and Fred had gone up. Dec. 25, Wed.: Was at home all day. It is stormy rains and snows and the wind blows. Erl is here to day. Fred carried him to Chas Meserves and Ada went up to Rands. Got home about 10 p.m. We had plain dough nuts and mince pie and tea for supper and nothing else. Quite moderate to day. The folks are all well. Dec. 26, Thurs.: The children went to school. I brought a bbl of water and went to the Mills. Went to Levi Caldwells and got dinner then went to see D. Lewis. Bot 4 bbls flour of Geo M. Frye fo(r) $26 brought home 1 bbl and came home by Mr. Caldwells did not get home untill about 7 p.m. it snows and blows very bad not very cold. The folks are all well. Dec. 27, Fri.: Mrs. G. is making me a shirt. (Mrs. G being his wife?). I am going in the woods Monday. I carried the children to school and went and got them to night. The roads are drifted quite bad up on the hill. Forest has been makeing sleepers to day. I went in the woods till it was time to go after the schollars. The folks are well. Dec. 28, Sat.: Have been in the woods to work in the forenoon. Sawing sleepers. True and Jim was in a short time. After dinner I went to Cold Brook to cut a landing for cedar and sleepers. Fred and Forest have gone to the lodge. The roads are bad and it is quite cold to night. The folks are all well at this time. Dec. 29, Sun.: Went to see Orren Neal in the forenoon. Got home about half past three p.m. Chas Rowe and his brother was here to see about hay. Granvill is here to night. We are going to start for Chamberlain Farm in the morning. It is snowing some to night. Don't think it will snow much. The folks are all well. Dec. 30, Mon.: Quite warm and raining some. Forest carried Lucian and Granvill up to Shin Pond to day. Got home just at dark. Ada and I washed to day but did not hang out the cloaths (clothes). Ab Bryant came her(e) to see Forrest to get him to go and drive 4 oxen for Mr. Lean (or McLean). It grew colder at noon and the wind hs blown hard all day. The folks are all well. Fred Parker did not come in untill morning. Forest is reading. Ada knitting. Fred Grout and Katie are writing. Cold. Dene Morison is here to night. December 31, 1889, Tuesday: Colde this morning I carried the girls to and then I came back home and got Dene and Ada we went down to Ab Bryants. Got home in reason to get dinner. Forest made sleepers in the forenoon and in the afternoon. He went home to go to Patten with the oxen. It is some warmer this afternoon. I expect Lucian is most up to Grout Brook Farm (means Trout Brook Farm???). Mamie Dolley is her(e) to night. The folks are all well. Kate and Fred are writing. Ada is sewing and I have been doing the chores after supper. It is still colde. Good by old year. (Lucian apparently left his diary home when he went off, presumably to sell or trade whatever he was selling, e.g. flour? and Kate kept the end of the year entries full). Following the last of the calendar entries is a section called: Memoranda Entries include: April 10th, 1889 Levi May Dr to supper and lodging breckfast with tow (two) horses. 1.25. Ditto or l1th supper lodging 1.00. Oct. 10 to 1 bush oats 40. To troubble with dead horse 200. To balan(ce) old acct. 120. 1890 Jan 14 Dinner and Oats for Horse .45 cents. Paid Bert Sleeper 25. Oct. 17 1890 Levia (Levi) Mays Dr. to L. G. Grout for dinners for 5 men and 3 horses bating had six quarts of oats apeice for each horse. Jan. 8, 1892, Levia (Levi) May Dr. to L. B. Grout for dinner and 4 horses 20 quarts oats for horses. Apr 10 Levin M 16 Oct. 10, 1890 Edwin Crocket Dr. to 4 bushel oats $200. Jan 14 Dinner and Oats for Horse .45 cents. Paid Bert (Lucian does not always use decimal points). (At the end of Lucian's diary is a section entitled Cash Account and allows two pages for each month. It is blank until the month of May. Paid and Rec'd Payment in Full are sometimes written across the entries making them hard to read). April 2 Whitman C. Hurlbert Dr for 8 lbs Ham 13 Pork (looks like ham was) 80 ( and pork was ) 8104. Rec'd Payment in Full (is written across it). Len Porter Dr to Cedar in Pasture 1.50 Cr by 1 days work 100. May 4 Jas Emery Dr to 12 bushels oats 50 cents per bushell. Cr by cash 2.00 6.00. Bryant Leavitt Dr to 8 bushle oats. May 15 Bryant Leavitt Dr. to ? bushells oats $5.00 (and apparently) $4.00 (from above for) $9.00. Rec"c in full. May 15 Sam Gould Dr to 26 bushells oats $13.00 . 24 bushell $12-00. Rec'd payment in full. May 15 Tom Irish Dr. to 6 bushells oats Credit by 6 1/4 (or 1 1/4) bush 3.00 Buckwheat 62. May 18 Mr. Car? got 4 bushell of oats Cr by cash 1.00 2.00. Geo Hamilton to 45 bushel oats (may be 4) 2.00 balance for board 2.50. (Total) 4.50. Paid. (June is blank). July has: Orin Neal D to Hay 10.00 Aples 615 (probably Apples 6.15) Pig 250 (probably 2.50) Flour 1865 (18.65. (Some computation is below suggesting 9.25 was paid or bartered leaving 8.40. Cr by 15? bs Hay or 15 lbs. Honey 3.75. 3.00 work, 1.00 cash, totaled up to 7.75. Bag corn added for 1. to tota 9.25. August is blank. September has 24 Bryant Leavitt to L. B. Grout for 3 bush apples. The rest are numbers apparently in additon? For October, Lucian had: May, 1891 L. B. Grout Dr to L. F. Rand to Bay (or Boy) and Oxen 3 1/2 days 7.00. L.F. Rand repairing fence 1 half day 1.00. For November: Dr. Ryan Apples 1.25, 2 pairs stocking 1.00 and 1.25, sider (cider) 1.00 to total 3.25. The next section is Bills Payable: For February: October 22, 1890 Ed Crockett helped head up the apples and potato(e)s and drawed them to Kingman and he carried one bag of sweet apples and a sugar barrll? full of appls and solde all (or at) Kingman and he took 75 cents of the money to buy oats with. For March: Dec. 4 Katie B. Grout .01. For May: Tea of Scofield 9.20. For June: L. B. Grout M. L. True Patten Maine L.B.G. For July: Edwin Crocket to Dr. 1/2 bushel oats 25. Some addition and possibly multiplication then takes place that may not be related. For August: L. B. Grout Dr. to Schofield for tea and coffee 1.65 or 7.65 crossed out as paid. Mr. Scoffield 9.90 Mrs. L. B. Grout. For September: Orrin neal Dr. to 3 1/2 c (cords?) wood 1.75, apples 1.00, apples 10 1/2 bush 5.25.also apples, apples 14 1/2 bush 3.63. Credit given by half bush .90. the rose is sweet and so are you the pink (drink?) is sweet and so are you. from a friend Avon if my name you wish to see turn to page one hundred and three Adine Lucian B. Grout Sherman, Maine. For October: In acct with Crocket 18.90 Edwin Crocket Dr May lst to 1 cow 14.50 1/2 bushel potatoes .25 Hay 80. Feb (or tel) poles For November: Cr by 3 days work of horses 1 1/3 days 3.00 work 1.34 For December: L. B. Grout Dr to True D. Sleeper for the horse to Hamilton half day cultivating Paid Parker for board 75.00 or .75 amd 22.50. Paid for cravns? .20. Back to Memoranda on the next paid, which Lucian entitled: School Acct Paid Rand for wood 6.00 Maps 2.80 Paid Differ H 1.09 Cleaning School House 2.50 60.00 (Adds up to): 72.39. To sundries 1.73. Dne to York .50. For building fire .25 per week 3.75. Some adding. (Did Lucian charge 78.37 for his school work for the year?). May 19 A J. Moer? is an fint (joint?) his colt in the pasture and True Sleeper. June 18 L. Porter put in 3 colts. To balance on Orrin Neal acc 2.65. To 80 lbs. beef 3 .20. 4 ct 1.60 4 bushel oats 40 total 7.45. Cr for killing .50 Beef Bal Due 6.95. The next section is addresses: Lucian B. Grout (for street number orinted section is written) it hasn't any no, Golden Ridge. Mary J. Spencer, 31? Park, Colebrook, N.H. (Katy's sister). Orrin Neal Dr for buckboard 1.50. Lucian B. Grout J.W. Barker (crossed out) for fine gabe cloth 100 equals 12 (all crossed out). Wm Carrling Dinner 2 men and 2 horses 75. (Computations) Mittens 35 shirt 25. Forrest Bryant worked for L. B. Grout first week 3 1/2 days, second wek 4 1/2 days, third week 1 1/2 days whole amount of days .10. Ada M. Grout, 178, New York (Probably a wish address). Father is mad at the pens to night. June 26. Katy B. Grout, 188, Chicago (one chargo is crossed out followed by) got it. John McCloud, Chapman, Me. Mr. King, Frederickton, N.B. One page for addresses has content as follows: Jan 25 the young folks are here having a sing to night. It looks like a thaw to night had a jastat(?) (jostal) card from Lucinda to day the (it) said Father was about the same. Lucian had one from Andrue (Andrew) Floyed (Floyd?). Lucian (or Lucinda) is a bed and a sleep so is Carrie and Cynthia. Fred is on the bed aslepe and I must go to bed it is half past 10 o'clock. Burt Cox came out of the woods to day has cut his foot. Nettie Courban (Coburn) has gone home to night. The folks are all well to night. Good night Old Diary will write again soon fare well old Friend you are giht here every day so am I and all the rest Hallo. Lucian B. Grout 96 Golden Ridge Katy B. Grout 156 Kate B. Grout Crocket (Computations) Last two pages are computations but what can be read is: Roy Perry Oats one peck, ditto half bushel, ditto 12 quts. . Mr. Dolley 16 lbs. of beef. Knowls took the S down to Durgan 28 of Jam. mr. Grose had one pig Morgan said he would pay for it last (? resource, survivor?) The inside cover notes that: Lucian B. Grout A Christmas Present from Ada There are pre-printed tables in the front of the diary: A calendar of 1889. Weights and Measures. Interest Tables. Rates of Postage Presidents (up to Grover Cleveland). Help in case of accidents and antidotes for poisons. Weather signals Interest laws Value of gold and silver. Business law in daily use. Tide tables and cycle of the moon. This is the last of Lucian's known diaries. It is not known if he had others that have been lost. We have tried to keep a flavor of the original document while offering the reader some help is reading and understanding the content. We got used to Lucian's breckfast, his untill, his Meettings and his stayd or stay'd. We sometimes started a new sentence where Lucian may not have, but we believe we got the essence. This diary offered Lucian nearly twice the space to write in over his 1886 and 1888 diaries, but he frequently chose not to use it all. When he was tired or ill, his wife or Ada would contribute to it and perhaps his daughter, Kate, added to it also. We suspect that he may have kept other diaries that have since been lost, but we will keep our eyes open for more. We have renewed interests in other diaries kept at the time in that area of southern Aroostook County. August, 1986 Joyce Hall and her son, Douglas A. Hall