Bio and Diary of William CROSS (b.1831 d.1922), Martin Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http:/www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: The Hoys Submitted: Apr 2002 ========================================================================= Bio of William Cross William Cross was born in Old Kilpatrick (near Glasgow), Scotland on Oct 6, 1831 and came to this country when he was 4 years old. He moved to Martin County in 1866 where he first built on the prairie, then later, due to his wife's insistence, purchased land on Rose Lake. Here he made a house out of black walnut logs, cut on the place. The log house remained the Cross home until 1913, when it burned. They soon rebuilt and William remained on this property until he died on Apr 22, 1922. He is buried at Lakeside Cemetery. He was married to Louisa Bankson and they had 5 children. Ada J. Cross, Rollins Perry Cross, Ralph Walter Cross, Anna F. Cross (married William Hay of Fairmont), and George Cross. ***The Diaries of William Cross*** As transcribed by Robbi Hoy Ggg granddaughter. Spelling corrections made to make reading easier. Also I added the commas because he did not use any punctuation. *Notes added by me to help the reader understand who is being spoken about The inside cover he lists: Jay Manyaska Rolling Green Fairmont Lake Fremont Lake Belt Tenhassen Silver Lake Lake Belt [*these, with the exception of 'Jay', are all names of surrounding towns] 1881 Jan 01/Sat-Warm and pleasant Jan 02/Sun-Stormy Blizzard Jan 03/Mon-Clear and pleasant Jan 04/Tue-Clear and pleasant Jan 05/Wed-Warm and snowing;struck water Jan 06/Thu-Frost blizzard Jan 07/Fri-Clear and cold Jan 10/Mon-Very cold a light flurry of snow all day Jan 11/Tue-Wind south, very cold, frxxx(?) plants in cellar Jan 12/Wed-Cold in the morning, pleasant afternoon, light flurry of snow at night Jan 13/Thu-Pleasant but cold;Styles [*This may be F.M. Stile listed in the 1880 Fairmont Census] and Ralph [*This is William's son] gone to Blue Earth with wheat Jan 14/Fri-Warm and pleasant;folks went to Imogene fishing; Rupert Jano and Jimmy Caston are here tonight. Jan 15/Sat-Snow storm, light blizzard;watered the cattle at Billy's [Is this William Hay-future husband of William's daughter Anna-in the 1880 Fairmont census he is living with William?] pump Jan 16/Sun-C-old south wind, drifted in the evening fearfully, snowed a little, getting warmer about 9 o'clock at night Jan 17/Mon-North west wind warm and pleasant Jan 18/Tue-South wind warm and pleasant;killed hog; Gream Burton came from Mains, stayed all night; played cards in the evening. Jan 19/Wed-South wind warm and pleasant; Bill Hodgeman [*He is listed in the 1880 Fairmont census as William Hodgeman with wife Ella and 1 year old son named William] got load of wood;cut down oak tree behind granary;Ada gone to Fairmont with Stile(?) Jan 20/Thu-Went to Fairmont with Will and Gream; wind south warm, slight thaw Jan 21/Fri-South wind warm and pleasant;played pea knuckle at Bill Groff's[*This was a neighbor of Williams in the 1880 Fairmont census] in evening;wind N.W.; came home 10 o'clock Jan 22/Sat-Wind N.W., snowing slightly but warm, snowed all day, keeps warm Jan 23/Sun-East wind warm;women gone to Mitchel's; Mrs. Hoffman dying Jan 24/Mon-Warm and cloudy;filed saw for bxxx(?); Hattie gone to Fairmont to work; Mrs Hoffman alive yet; Louisa went East Chain for groceries; Gream stayed at Fairmont Jan 25/Tue-Cloudy and cold;Main brought home farming mill; paid Stile two dollars; made hand sled; getting colder; Mrs. Martin came here Jan 26/Wed-West wind, frost, blizzard Jan 27/Thu-Wind N.W., pleasant;went to town with Billy; got thermometer' got 11/2 bushels of apples, 7 onions Jan 28/Fri-Wind S.E., cloudy and warm, snowstorm in afternoon; Ralph and Rupert came home;Katie Murry stopping here Jan 29/Sat-Wind S.E., warm and cloudy;Ralph and Rupert Katie and Anna gone to P.O(?);thawing this evening; looks like rain Jan 30/Mon-Cool and pleasant;boys got load of ice; women, Katie and Anna gone over to Stiles;all alone; bad headache and sore throat; Mrs. Hoffman died Jan 31/Tue-Wind S.E., storming, light snow afternoon, snowing like blazes 10D. above zero;sick all night Feb 01/Tue-Pleasant but cool;D. Sheriff came with subpoena; had to go to court in the Cole case; Hattie came home with us Feb 02/Wed-Great storm begins, wind S.E, drifting fearfully, not cold, drifted and blowed all day, still at it 9 o'clock, getting ready for bed Feb 03/Thu-Wind S.E, warm and cloudy, everything drifted up with snow, 13 above zero, drifted all night Feb 04/Fri-Wind S.E, drifting and snowing fearfully, the worst storm I ever saw from that quarter, 8 o'clock at night, still storming, everything covered up Feb 05/Sat-Storm still continues even worse, everything covered up, 20 above zero (10 o'clock), stormed all day up to 10 o'clock, warm Feb 06/Sun-Warm and pleasant but cloudy till noon, commenced snowing and blowing like fury, 10 at night blowing and drifting as bad as ever Feb 07/Mon-Wind S.E, cloudy and warm, 35 above zero Feb 08/Tue-Wind S.E, sunshine and thawing Feb 09/Wed-Wind S.E, warm and pleasant;Main, Gream and Wickham came here and stopped a while;fixed chair Feb 10/Thu-Wind S. E, warm and cloudy;Wickham brought a keg of whiskey on his back from Main Feb 11/Fri-Wind N.W, cloudy threatens to snow; Gream and Wickham came and stayed till 4 o'clock Feb 12/Sat-Wind N.W, frost, blizzard all day, 12 above zero all day; played cards part of day Feb 13/Sun-Sunshine warm and pleasant Feb 14/Mon-Cold but pleasant;boys drawed wood with ponies; snowed in evening;Ada came home from Older's [*This is the Older family-Francis Older is the father with children Seth-age 22 and Nettie-age 12 in the 1880 census there were other children as well] Feb 15/Tue-Still snowing lightly, getting warmer; Rupert, Louisa and Billy gone to town with ponies Feb 16/Wed-Clear and cold, 20 below zero at daylight; Louisa gone to Maetin(?), stayed all night Feb 17/Thu-Wind S.W and cloudy;going to town; got well buckets and rope;got home early; snowed a little Feb 18/Fri-Cold in the morning;went to bxwxdry(?) to get my order; filled Billy's barn with hay Feb 19/Sat-Wind south, cold but pleasant;Herman Miller was here in the evening and played cards Feb 20/Sun-Clear and pleasant;Ralph gone to Blue Earth with Rupert Feb 21/Mon-Sunshine and pleasant 32 above zero all day, thawed a little Feb 22/Tue-Cloudy but warm afternoon, Drifting and snowing, getting colder Feb 23/Wed-20 below zero at daylight, sunshine and pleasant; Louisa gone to Murrys visiting, stayed all might Feb 24/Thu-Wind S., Sunshine and pleasant Feb 25/Fri-Pleasant but cold;Gream came here in the evening and stayed Feb 26/Sat-Warm and pleasant, thawed all day, blowing in the evening; played cards at Groff's;Louisa came home Feb 27/Sun-Clear and cold;stayed at home all day Feb 28/Mon-14 below zero at sunrise, clear and pleasant, thawing slightly Mar 01/Tue-Cold S.E. wind;Bill Groff cleaned a load of wheat Mar 02/Wed-Wind N.E. cloudy, snowed part of the day, 4 o'clock stopped snowing, 14 above zero;cut down big oak back of granary Mar 03/Thu-Warm and cloudy, snowed a little and drifted all day; Ada gone to Murrys;Herman and Marion here all day Mar 04/Fri-Frost blizzard;reading all day Mar 05/Sat-Warm and pleasant;Herman and Bill Chaney and Gream played cards all afternoon Mar 06/Sun-Warm and pleasant;all the people on this street here; Provis(?) stayed all night;Charley stayed with Stiles Mar 07/Mon-Warm and thawing;Gream and Louisa went to town; Stiles sheep killed by wolves;sold load of corn; Billy gone to Winnebago Mar 08/Tue-Warm and pleasant;went to town with Chancey; Louisa came home with us;calf ran away; Gream stayed in town-Town meeting Mar 09/Wed-Warm and thawing;dug round apple tree; Bill Hodgman cut wood; Ralph and Charley found calf; Charley went home and Provis(?) came Mar 10/Thu-Cloudy but warm;bought 2 b. potatoes from Chauncy; women gone to Stiles;Hodgeman's afterward; last day of school;storm of snow;fearful blizzard, all drifted up Mar 11/Fri-Fearful snow blizzard lasted all day and all night;not cold Mar 12/Sat-Drifted and snowed all day;bed time warm but snowing yet; Provis here yet Mar 13/Sun-Sunshine and pleasant;Provis, Stiles and James here to supper;Provis started home got stuck and came back Mar 14/Mon-Provis gone home;cloudy and frosty; 10 below zero in morning commenced snowing at 8 o'clock; snowing and blizzard at bed time; sharp lightning in the evening Mar 15/Tue-Cloudy and warm, thawed a little, snowed in the night, 36 above zero part of the day Mar 16/Wed-cloudy and warm, threatened snow, got corn dug out and in granary Mar 17/Thu-cloudy and cool, went to town with Billy, Gream came home with us Mar 18/Fri-Cloudy and cool, husked corn, Ralph and Charley went to East Chain, Ralph went to town with Billy, got George's boots Mar 19/Sat-Cloudy and cold, sold Billy load of corn, played cards at night, went to bed at 12 o'clock Mar 20/Sun-Sunshine and warm, Provis, Charley, Stile and James here to supper, got some flow(?) from Chauncy Mar 21/Mon-Cloudy and warm, Billy and Gram gone to town, Gream stayed the night, Billy paid me 5 dollars Mar 22/Tue-Sunshine and warm, Bill and Chancy got to town, Bill took three sacks of wheat, went on wolf hunt, got nothing Mar 23/Wed-Warm and pleasant, filled Billy's barn, got 7 bushels of potatoes from Stile Mar 24/Thu-went to town, bought meat and Ralph's boots, Gream came home with us, warm and thawing Mar 25/Fri-cloudy and cold, Ralph went tp town with Style, Style and James here to supper Mar 26/Sat-Clear and cold, Gream took dinner with Groff, Louisa sick all day and all night, dug out apple trees Mar 27/Sun-South wind and thawing, Louisa still sick, Sherm Whitney here to supper, James too Mar 28/Mon-Warm and cloudy, 44 above zero, fenced hay stack, brought hog home from Billy's Mar 29/Tue-Cool but pleasant, Gream, Billy and I went to town, Gream stayed to go to Winnebago, Anna got her shoes, cold N.W. wind Mar 30/Wed-Cool and pleasant, didn't thaw much, hay press got here this afternoon, Kate Murry came here and stayed Mar 31/Thu-Cold and stormy, frost, blizzard, 13 above zero, getting colder at night, John went to Groff's to supper Apr 01/Fri-Morning 5 o'clock 10 below zero, commenced pressing hay, finished, warmer tonight Apr 02/Sat-Hay pressers left this morning, cloudy and warm, Ada and Katie gone to town with Chancy, Gream came home with them Apr 03/Sun-Cloudy and warm, slight snow, Mell Carelton and the folks gone to Murry's, Provis and Charley came and stayed the evening Apr 04/Mon-Clear and cold, stayed dry, Provis brought Ralph from town, got Buffalo fish, played pea knuckle in evening, 4 above zero Apr 05/Tue-Went to town with Stile, saw 3 wolves, Hay presser came and stayed all night, 11 above zero at bed time, Ralph gone home with Stile Apr 06/Wed-Hay pressers gone to Tenhassen, Mell came this afternoon and stayed all night, Ralph, Ada and Hattie gone to party at Fairmont Apr 07/Thu-warm and thawing, Styles and the folks went to Imaogene fishing, Mell went to Tenhassen, Mitchell was over, sold Bill Groff tree, snowed in afternoon Apr 08/Fri-Warm and cloudy, warmest day we have had this spring, Billy's colt died Apr 09/Sat-Sick as blazes, Billy and Hattie went to town, Gream went to Mains and came back, sick yet Apr 10/Sun-Cloudy and warm, snowed part of the day, got a sheep of Stiles, Bill Hill took supper, stayed in evening, Style and James here, Hattie went to Martins(?) in morning, came back Apr 11/Mon-Snowing like blazes, Style traded pony for plough, John Tanner here after girl, Groff here in the evening Apr 12/Tue-Cold and wintery, 20 above zero in morning, Style traded for plough, Style and James here to supper Apr 13/Wed-Clear and pleasant, cut big basswood tree, Style and Ada went to town, wind changing around to the south Apr 14/Thu-Wind south, cold but pleasant, Jim Burton got home, he and Harry Searl took dinner here, Mill Carelton got here to supper and stayed all night Apr 15/Fri-Pleasant and sunshine, went to town with Billy and Gream, Jim came home with us, bought 20 lbs. Pork, Anna went to town and stayed, got home half past 4 Apr 16/Sat-Warmest day of the season, Gream, Billy and Jim took supper with Groff, George Jones and William Hill took supper here, sawed wood this afternoon, thawing yet, bedtime Apr 17/Sun-Warm and thawing, dog fight-Chunk and Rover Apr 18/Mon-Very warm, sawed and split wood all day, Marion Jones worked for me today, went to see waterfront(?), Ralph cut his finger, Gream sawed all day Apr 19/Tue-Cut oak tree and sawed wood, Ralph gone to Jackson with Mell Apr 20/Wed-Cut wood all day, Gream, Marion and I, Wallace and Caston got here and stayed all night, Anna came home from Fairmont Apr 21/Thu-Cut wood until noon, Caston and Wallace went home, shot at 2 geese with Jim's rifle Apr 22/Fri-Foggy and warm, Jim and Billy gone to town and stayed all night, Mill and Ralph got home from Jackson, Louisa and Ada went to see about P.O. Apr 23/Sat-Mill's horse sick, Gream and Billy gone to town, Gream stayed, horse no better, 75 above zero, snow mostly gone, Billy's gun went off-Busted Bureau Apr 24/Sun-Very warm, 80 above zero, lent Style 10 baskets of corn, Hattie and Jul(Julie?) gone to town, got P.O., thunder and rain Apr 25/Mon-Cool and cloudy, Billy and Jim went to Styles after his things, Gream and the two Warner boys were here to supper Apr 26/Tue-commenced dragging, Jim gone to town with Chancy, Provis and Charley were here to dinner Apr 27/Wed-commenced sowing wheat, sowed 8 bushels by hand, Mr. Nut came to see Mill's horse, Groff commenced sowing Apr 28/Thu-Sowing wheat, broke leader, sold 30 bushels of wheat to John Spencer and 10 to Channey Jones for 90 cts(?) per bushel, got Billy's boat out, Groff finished sowing Apr 29/Fri-Finished sowing wheat 10 o'clock, got Billy's team to drag, finished dragging, husked corn for Billy Apr 30/Sat-Went to town with Billy, Groff and Mell, rained a little, John Huston stayed all night May 01/Sun-drawed in three loads of corn for Billy, rained in forenoon some May 02/Mon-planted potatoes, Bessy came in, dragged corn stalks in afternoon, Gream got some clothes, Louisa went to town with Mell May 03/Tue-Helped Billy husk corn, burnt corn stalks, Gream and the two Warners were here to supper, Nelly had colt, Jim went to town, Groff sowed patch wheat May 04/Wed-Wind south, cold, looks like rain, Louisa went to the mill with Billy, Groff and John, Provis got fanning(?) mill, brought it home May 05/Thu-Sowed wheat for Billy, Louisa got bag of potatoes from Style, let Billy have 16 bushels seed wheat May 06/Fri-Took calves away from cows, Jim went to town, came home with Mell, Gream and Warner were here to see Murphy's horse May 07/Sat-went to town, rained all the way home, Hattie came home with Mell May 08/Sun-Gream and the Warners were here, bought Mell's horse, Style got some seed corn May 09/Mon-Dragged corn stalks with Topsy, light rain, cleaned seed oats, Jim went to town with Mell May 10/Tue-Plowed garden spot, sold 8 bushels of oats to Groff, sowed 4 bushels of oats, thunderstorm May 11/Wed-Sowed oats, Mell and Ralph cultivated them in, Big thunder storm, Mell and girls went to Murry's, came home at bed time, Topsy had a colt May 12/Thu-killed hog, went to town with Mell and Groff, bought lb salt, Groff took load of wheat, 78 cts per bushel, got Billy's clover seed May 13/Fri-Cut hog up, rained, Mell gone home, John Castion came here, children caught lots of fish, sowed timothy seed May 14/Sat-Dragged oats with Jim's team, took banking from house, Ada went to town with Chancy, Groff and John went to East Chain May 15/Sun-Marvin Davis was here, Louisa and Ada went to Mains with him, Billy and Jim went to Lennys, Mell and Katie Murry came from Huntly May 16/Mon-sent yearlings to herd, plowed all day, Mell plowed for Groff in forenoon, went to town with wheat in afternoon, Caston left in morning May 17/Tue-finished sowing oats, cleaned house, Billy finished plowing for oats, Mell went to town May 18/Wed-plowed all day, repaired wire fence, got postal card from Mike Miller, drizzly rain all day, Mell marked gruff corn land May 19/Thu-plowed all day, used mell's team, in afternoon lenny Burton and wife here, let Billy have 21 bushels seed oats May 20/Fri-Ralph finished corn land, went to town with Mell May 21/Sat-Marked corn land, planted some, Mitchell here, Mary Gordin here, Mell and Groff went to town, Hattie came home with Marion May 22/Sun-Planted some corn, Jim went to Blue Earth, Bry(?) came from town, Style and brother took supper here May 23/Mon-Finished planting corn, folks all went to town with Mell, got pictures taken, fixed fence, Gream, Searl(?) and Warner were here May 24/Tue-Looked school(?) section(?) over, burned grass, fixed fence at back of stable, set current bushes out, Groff gone to town to work May 25/Wed-Cleared briars off foot garden, Ralph and Mell gone to town with wheat, burned side of road, got 85 cts per bushel, had 5 lb bushels May 26/Thu-Got seed potatoes from supply, fixed cultivation, Ralph gone home with Mell, mail changed from daily to tri-weekly May 27/Fri-Planted potatoes, rain-thunder and lightning, very hot, planted one row of corn, Chancey got whiskers shaved off May 28/Sat-Cloudy and cool, went to town in afternoon, bought screen wire, John Huston rode home with us, got bread box May 29/Sun-Cool and pleasant, Ralph started west, Charley Wickham here, Mr. And Mrs. M.C. Cruden here in the evening with Style, rained hard May 30/Mon-Planted prolific potatoes sixth row, sold 7 bags of wheat to Rice, 90 cts, Mell gone to Vill(?) Millers, Billy commenced planting corn May 31/Cloudy and cool went to mill with wheat for rice, 37 bushels Jun 01/Wed-hoes potatoes, went to town, paid 2 taxes $30.35, Billy sold his black Maris to Lowe $25.01, thunder and rain with little hail Jun 02/Thu-Cloudy and very cool, cut weeds in oats and wheat Jun 03/Fri-Planted few hills of corn gophers took, bought cultivation, went to town in evening with Billy, got spokes for wheel Jun 04/Sat-Worked all day on cultivation, Louisa went to town, brought Mrs. Patxxx(?) home with her Jun 05/Sun-Cool and pleasant, Bill and Chauncy down to Billy, Petree(?) came down, Jim took them home with Billy's team, Hattie went to town Jun 06/Mon-Split 44 posts, commenced raining, nasty day, got 2.50 in change from Billy Jun 07/Tue-Went to town to Land Lake, Billy bought 40 acres of school section Jun 08/Wed-Made cultivation wheel, painted wheels, Louisa went to Murry's Jun 09/Thu-Went to mill corn and wheat, Jim went with me, Topsy took horse, Abe Manchester came here Jun 10/Fri-Cultivated corn, Louisa went to Doyls, Charley went for her, Jim and Billy went to Blue Earth, Style lost his colt Jun 11/Sat-Rained most all day, heavy wind in afternoon, started for town, came back, Abe went to town in morning Jun 12/Sun-Clear and pleasant, showers and thunder, Jim and Billy came home, Mell came here, had strawberries for dinner, Stile hasn't found his colt yet Jun 13/Mon-Went to town with george Jones, paid Wososton(?) $30d, came home and set posts for Billy Jun 14/Tue-Cultivated corn, finished, had strawberries for supper Jun 15/Wed-done nothing all day, went to Style in evening, very hot, Lester and Lile and Hekly stopped here for drinks Jun 16/Thu-Billy gone to town, went to town, took Ada and Hattie, got lumber for bee hive Jun 17/Fri-Cultivated potatoes, fixed boat and made bee hive, Hattie gone to town with Billy to go to Huntly to work Jun 18/Sat-Cold, rain storm, Billy stayed in town, heavy south east wind, got red birds, fixed boat, Anna gone to town with Fred Jones, Mell came with colts Jun 19/Sun-Thunder and rain all day, Mell stayed, Jim and I ate dinner with gruff, Charley Wickham gone home, Whitney got strawberries, had short cake Jun 20/Mon-Mell gone to Center C??, Billy and Jim gone to town Murphy stuck notice hay land, Mary picking berries, Jim came home on foot, Billy got Flax seed Jun 21/Tue-Cultivated corn, Billy and Jim went to town to show school, Marvin(?) stayed here over night, got letter from lawyer about Swick Jun 22/Wed-Cultivated corn, Mell came here to dinner and went home, Jim went to town on foot, Billy went in afternoon, stayed all night Jun 23/Thu-Hoed potatoes, Billy sowed flax, Nellie took horse, hoed pop corn, got letter from Ralph, thunder lightning rain and hail Jun 24/Fri-Provisand Charley here, went to town with Billy, brought team home, Billy went to Blue Earth with Vareau(?) Jun 25/Sat-Sharpened all my tools, made bee hives, George drawed wood, Jim went to town, stayed and Billy came home, 2 Stiles and James here in evening Jun 26/Sun-Cloudy and cool, went to Stiles, Gream and Warner and Pople (people?) were here, Kate Murry and Jake Tanner were here, Jim came home Jun 27/Mon-Rained last night, finished bee hive, very hot-92 above zero, 3 o'clock 96, the two Stiles and James here to supper Jun 28/Tue-Done nothing, to hot, 98 in the shade, Style got cultivator this morning Jun 29/Wed-Cultivated corn in forenoon, helped survey in afternoon awhile, tired, Hoffman [In a newspaper article dated 1938 it states that Wm Cross helped William Hoffman build his log cabin near his own.] stopped, coming from Fairmont a little tight Jun 30/Thu-Cloudy and hot, going to finish surveying this morning, went to town in afternoon, bought hat Jul 01/Fri-Jim and I cultivated corn in forenoon, land sales after dinner, Billy and Jim gone to town, Frank Rogers, Frank Rogers and Marion here in evening Jul 02/Sat-Cultivated corn in forernoon, finished in afternoon, very hot-90 degrees, President Garfield Shot(written very large) Jul 03/Sun-Hot, Charley here, Louisa and children gone to Sun school, shaved for first time in 8 years, settled with Billy, me $25 Jul 04/Mon-Went to town with Style, hot and dusty, came home in the afternoon, went back in the evening, got home 10 o'clock Jul 05/Tue-Very hot and cloudy, Jim and Billy aint home yet, went to town, got horses shod, report President can't live Jul 06/Wed-Rain in morning, light, mowed road to well, looks like rain, Jim came home from town, rained heavy Jul 07/Thu-Very hot, went to mill, left grist(?), Jim went with me, Turner here, Topsy took horse, Frank Rogers got Peter(?) Jul 08/Fri-Hot and sultry, streaming rain, went to town, got load of lumber-518 feet, Jim and Billy went with me, Jim stayed Jul 09/Sat-Raining this morning, drawed and sharpened posts, laid down board and posts, Jim bought Edwards sheep, Style had little wagon to town, rained hard in night Jul 10/Sun-Cold and rainy, Charley here, Jim got his sheep and Whitney came home from Blue Earth Jul 11/Mon-Very hot, built board fence, Spicer(?) took supper here, sent by Rich for tobacco Jul 12/Tue-Billy and Jim went to town, fixed fence, sharpened posts, Billy paid me $20, owes me 4 dollars yet Jul 13/Wed-Louisa and Ada went to town, Chauncy brought lumber for me Jul 14/Thu-Jim and Louisa went to Whitney's, got puppy, brought Gessie home, built fence, got letter from Ralph Jul 15/Fri-Jim gone to Blue Earth with Provis, Mrs. White came and stayed and went berrying, made gate and hung it, stormed all night, thunder and lightning Jul 16/Sat-Cloudy and hot, the women went to the school section berrying, Charley and Searl here, built fence, thunder, lightning and rain Jul 17/Sun-Cool and pleasant, Petrie and S. Hill here to dinner and went berrying and boating, Gream here to dinner and the 2 Styles, Gessie went home, John here Jul 18/Mon-Went to town with Billy, bought well buckets and rope, bought 17 lbs of beef Jul 19/Tue-Billy, Jim and I worked on road. Cleared brush by cottonwoods, thunder and lightning and rain, sick all night Jul 20/Wed-Very hot, 94 below (above) zero, Chauncy here most of the day Jul 21/Thu-Cloudy with now and then a shower, split and sharpened posts, Gad Kindal berrying in the woods with women, Mrs. White here, Gessie and Ann here to supper Jul 22/Fri-Hot, built fence, Billy gone to party, Louisa and Ada gone to school house to picnic, set mower up Jul 23/Sat-Went to town with 22 bushels of wheat, 94 cts per lbs, got B?? salt for Jim, got home 10 o'clock, Kate Murry stayed all night Jul 24/Sun-Forenoon rainy, clear afternoon, set reaper up, Styles here in evening Jul 25/Mon-Commenced harvesting, Groff, Jim and Billy helped, Mell and Scott took dinner with me Jul 26/Tue-Harvesting, Groff, Jim and Billy helped, Mell got back at noon, worked in afternoon, Groff and Billy went to town in evening, Ralph got home Jul 27/Wed-Harvesting, Groff, Jim and Billy worked until 3 o'clock, Mell worked with team, commenced on Groffs, Louisa and Anna gone to town, tapped keg of beer Jul 28/Thu-Harvesting for Groff Ralph and I, Bill and Jim and Mell, George went to Carelton's for horse, Billy gone to town with girls Jul 29/Fri-Finished Groff's wheat, 9 o'clock went to Billy's, finished binding 4 o'clock, Ralph reaping 5 acre lot Jul 30/Sat-Ralph finished cating(?) of Billy, Mell and Groff cleaned grist, Groff, Mell and Billy and I went to town, Ralph went to mill Jul 31/Sun-Ralph and Mell went home, sent Mell $10, hung Styles oars, had swim in creek Aug 01/Mon-Cut oats, finished 4 o'clock, worked for Groff until night, Bill and Groff helped Aug 02/Tue-Rained in morning, went to town, Mell, Jim Chauncy and I finished Groffs oats 01/4/day Aug 03/Wed-Stacked wheat all day for me Groff Jim Billy and Mell, 96 above zero Aug 04/Thu-Awful hot, finished stacking my wheat, Commenced Groff's, Ralph and I worked afternoon with team Aug 05/Fri-Ralph and I stacked for Groff all forenoon, with team commenced Billy's, storm of wind and rain, Mell and George gone to town, Anna gone to Seth Older's, Mrs. White and Barns girls here Aug 06/Sat-Went to town with Groff, Chauncy and Mell, Brought Mell wagon home, got lumber for box Aug 07/Sun-Cool and pleasant, Ada gone to Whitney's with Style, Gream here, Billy gone to town Aug 08/Mon-Stacked for Billy in forenoon, for Groff in afternoon until 5'oclock, stacked for me until dark, Ralph sick, Jim took horse home Aug 09/Tue-Groff and I finished my stack and fixed Groff stack in forenoon, finished reeping my oats Aug 10/Wed-Rainy and cool, Groff gone to town Aug 11/Thu-Bound my oats and stacked them, Billy and Jim helped, Billy reaped his oats in afternoon, Jim helped stack Aug 12/Fri-Billy finished reaping his oats, Jim, Mell and Ada and I went to town with Nellie and oats Aug 13/Sat-Cool and pleasant, Mell gone home, fixed stacks, Ada and Mrs. Jones went to town, almost frost-cold night, made wagon box for Mell Aug 14/Sun-Cloudy and cool, Mary Groff and Louisa gone to grave yard horseback, Billy gone to town, Jim gone to Hodgeman's to buy sheep Aug 15/Mon-Stacked oats for Billy, Ralph and I fixed Chauncy's wagon wheels, Fred worked in my place while I fixed it Aug 16/Tue-Ralph and I stacked for Billy all day, Jim went to town, thunder lightning and rain in the night Aug 17/Wed-Windy and warm, cleaned out granary, Billy brought oats home, built part of Billy's fence Aug 18/Thu-Mowed the road, went to town in afternoon, got lumber for rack Aug 19/Fri-Built fence for Billy in forenoon, Ralph cocked hay, made wagon bolster Aug 20/Sat-Raining in morning, Billy and Jim went to town, Mell and his brother-in-law stayed here all night Aug 21/Sun-Pleasant and warm, Louisa went to Huntly with Mell, Hattie came home with Pat Murphy, Gream here with team, Billy got 8 chickens Aug 22/Mon-Made hay rack, commenced mowing Brok(?) Pitman went to town, Billy went with me Aug 23/Tue-Rained, Jim Billy and Ralph went to town, Gream was down here to supper, Jim got new buggy Aug 24/Wed-?eney and Sally were here, Jim went to town, Ralph mowed hay Aug 25/Thu-Ralph raked hay and we cocked it up, very hot, 96 below(above) zero Aug 26/Fri-drawed 4 loads of hay, awful hot, Billy commenced mowing, rained in afternoon Aug 27/Sat-rained part of day, commenced plowing, Ralph went hunting with Style, George and I plowed Aug 28/Sun-Cool and pleasant, Louisa came home, Gream here, Ralph went to Poverty Hall Aug 29/Mon-Ralph went to Thris???? For Seth, George and I stacked hay Aug 30/Tue-Ralph brought horses home, Jim and I went to Winnebago, stayed all night, Ralph plowed Aug 31/Wed-Ralph and Ada went to town, Jim and I came home from Winnebago Sep 01/Thu-Plowed with two teams in forenoon, mowed in afternoon with ine team, rained in the night Sep 02/Fri-Commenced raining in the morning, plowed a little, Mell came here, stayed all night Sep 03/Sat-Stacked hay all day, Billy and Jim went to town, Mell and Anna went to Huntly Sep 04/Sun-Billy, Jim, Ralph and I went hunting, got home 5 o'clock, found Gream here, Billy and Jim went to town, Mell came here Sep 05/Mon-Rained all forenoon, put spokes in wheel for Mell, rained again Sep 06/Tue-Mell went to town, rained all day, Topsy sick, swelled lag, Mell traded horses Sep 07/Wed-Rained all day, Ralph went to town for a doctor for Erma Groff [*She was only 2 in the 1880 census], Bill came home Sep 08/Thu-Filed wagon wheel for Mell, made honey box, Ralph mowed in the afternoon, Jim and Groff and George went hunting Sep 09/Fri-Ralph mowed all day, Mell came home Sep 10/Sat-Mell and Ralph plowed in the afternoon, set wagon tire Sep 11/Sun-Raked and cocked hay all day, Mell went home, Ada and Katie went to Fairmont, Nettie Older [*She is a child of Francis Older and is 12 years old in the 1880 census] came home with Ada Sep 12/Mon-Stacked hay, Jim and Billy commenced stacking hay, Seth came after Ralph to thresh for Frank Martin(?), Erma Groff better Sep 13/Tue-Ralph gone to thresh, George and I got one load of hay Sep 14/Wed-Stacked hay, very windy, Topsy getting better Sep 15/Thu-Very windy, Ralph mowed all day, Got one load of hay Sep 16/Fri-Cold and rainy, rained all night Sep 17/Sat-Ralph mowed in forenoon, broke sickle and went to town to get it fixed Sep 18/Sun-Raked and cocked hay, two Stiles here in evening Sep 19/Mon-Went to town with Jim, paid taxes 13 56/100 dolllars, bought some meat Sep 20/Tue-Stacked hay all day Sep 21/Wed-Ralph mowed a little, stacked two loads of hay for Billy, rained all rest of day Sep 22/Thu-Wet and windy, Ralph mowing, Style and James here, Gream came here to stay, heard the President was dead Sep 23/Fri-Thunder and rain, racked and cocked 75 cocks of hay, thunder and rain in evening Sep 24/Sat-Clear and pleasant, went to town, Jim went with me, got horses shod Sep 25/Sun-Stacked hay all day, Turners two girls here Sep 26/Mon-Stacked hay in forenoon, mowed and cocked hay in afternoon, Chauncy broke Billy's mower Sep 27/Tue-Mowed, raked and cocked hay all day, cows stayed out all night, white frost Sep 28/Wed-Stacked hay all day, Jim and Billy brought home 222(?) sheep from J. Smith's, rained in evening and all night Sep 29/Thu-Wet and rainy, rained, thundered and lightning all day and terrible storm, heard Milo was coming here on Sat, played pea knuckle, bed time all clear and starry Sep 30/Fri-Spread 200 cocks of hay and put them up again, helped Jim cock hay, nice day, Ralph cut for Jim in forenoon, broke pitman, Ada went to town and got it fixed Oct 01/Sat-Clear and windy, mowed until noon, broke pitman Oct 02/Sun-Misty and wet all day, brought home cattle from herd, raked a little hay Oct 03/Mon-Misty and damp, stacked hay all day, rained in evening, finished long stack Oct 04/Tue-Very windy, Billy went to town, got some lumber, Ralph went to town and brought Milo and wife home Oct 05/Wed-Stacked hay all day, Milo went to town, Billy and Jones boys stacked in afternoon, rained in evening, Milo's wife went to Lowes(?) Oct 06/Thu-Cold and rainy, Jim gone to town, young Wilkins brought wash over for Hattie, measured hay for Chauncy and Jim [*This is William's birthday] Oct 07/Fri-Finished stacking hay, commenced raining at 4 o'clock in afternoon, thunder and lightning Oct 08/Sat-Went to town with Jim and Billy, Chauncy got load of lumber Oct 09/Sun-Milo and wife came from Lowes, Turner's two girls were here Oct 10/Mon-Ada took Milo and wife to town with horses, cut down big oak tree for posts Oct 11/Tue-Rained all day Oct 12/Wed-Killed hog in forenoon, split posts in afternoon, Hodgman got some posts Oct 13/Thu-Dug potatoes all day, Billy got small load of lumber Oct 14/Fri-Cold and rainy this morning, took bad cold, sick all night Oct 15/Sat-Cold and rainy, Ralph and George cutting wood Oct 16/Sun-Cloudy and cold, misty rain afternoon and all night Oct 17/Mon-Cold and misty, Ralph gone hunting with Neley(?) Oct 18/Tue-Warm and pleasant, went to town, got lumber, roads very bad, left 500 fur(?) in town Oct 19/Wed-Ralph went to town and got lumber, Anna and Ada went to town and stayed to consort Oct 20/Thu-Commenced building horse barn, Ada and Anna came home with Chauncy, Ralph gone to Seth Older's Oct 21/Fri-Worked on barn, Ralph gone to Seth's to stack hay, rained all afternoon like the devil Oct 22/Sat-Worked on barn, rained all day, saw threshers-coming next Wed, rained all night, George gone to Halls Oct 23/Sun-Raining yet, Ralph, Anna and her mother went to Murry's visiting, Jim shot a goose, cloudy and misty yet at bed time Oct 24/Mon-Dry and pleasant, worked on barn Oct 25/Tue-Dry and pleasant, Louisa went to town, Mary Groff went with her Oct 26/Wed-Ralph went to mill, didn't get his grist Oct 27/Thu-Ralph went to mill and got the grist, had trouble with Jim about sheep, fixed all my bags, commenced raining, rained all night Oct 28/Fri-Noon, raining yet Oct 29/Sat-Mell came here and stayed all night, Hattie came with Bowdry Oct 30/Sun-John Huston and Gream were here, Mell staid all day Oct 31/Mon-Mell husked corn in forenoon, went home after dinner, husked 4 loads Nov 01/Tue-Husked corn all day, husked four loads, Ralph went to Mitchells threshing Nov 02/Wed-Husked corn all day, husked four loads, Ralph came home ????? afternoon Nov 03/Thu-Husked corn all day, husked 4 loads, Fred Leigh [*He is listed as Fredrick Leigh age 26 in the 1880 Fairmont census-his wife was Jane-age 22] here to supper Nov 04/Fri-Husked 8 loads of corn, rained and snowed all afternoon, first snow of the season Nov 05/Sat-Finished husking corn, went to the town with Billy, Kate Murry came home with us Nov 06/Sun-Cloudy and cold, folks went to Murry's Nov 07/Mon-Banked house in morning, rained all day and part of night Nov 08/Tue-Mackins came here, went to town with Jim to election, paid Lowensbury(?) $30, Gream came home to stay all th??, folks went to dance at Poverty Hall Nov 09/Wed-Sunshine and pleasant, Louisa and Kate gone to town, George went too Nov 10/Thu-Thrashed for Billy Hay came to my place Nov 11/Fri-195 bushels, threshed my oats in forenoon, snowed most all day, Mell came and stayed all night, snowed all night, got stitch in back Nov 12/Sat-Cold nasty blustery day, Bessy got hurt, Mell stitched it up, Wright was here and helped, Mell stayed all night, back no better, Dible went to East Chain Nov 13/Sun-Very nasty, under foot cleared up in afternoon, Gream gone to Groff's to dinner, Ralph took Katie home with cutter [*or is it Cutter?] Nov 14/Mon-Emerson(?) came early Mon morning, fixed machine, cold, nasty day Nov 15/Tue-Thrashed my wheat, 174 bushels, wind blew fearfully Nov 16/Wed-Thrashed for Chauncy, 135 bushels of oats, 41 of wheat, thawed a little, moved to Groff's Nov 17/Thu-Thrashed for Groff, Ralph and team, 80 bushels of oats, 131 of wheat, cold as blazes, fixed fence Nov 18/Fri-Fixed yard fence, Ralph helped Style thresh Nov 19/Sat-Jim went to Edward's for buck Nov 20/Sun-Boys skating on lake, Ada and Kate went with Murphy to see Sarah, Styles here in evening, George Hall here, Mell here for load of corn, broke his wagon Nov 21/Mon-Went to town with Jim, bought Ada and George skates, out on the lake at night, 2 Styles here in the evening, got medicine for Louisa Nov 22/Tue-Fine day, billy went to town Nov 23/Wed-went to mill, cold and windy, didn't get my grist Nov 24/Thu-Ralph went to mill, got grist load, Fairmont boys down hunting, Hattie came here, stayed Nov 25/Fri-fixed my stable, Mell came and stayed, all hands on the lake skating, Mary Groff and Tine here visiting, Chauncy went to mill Nov 26/Sat-Gream, Jim and Billy went to town, Ralph and I sawed wood, drawed old posts up Nov 27/Sun-A lovely day, lake covered with skaters all day, Lill and Loly here, old James here in evening George, Bob, Claud and Brown here Nov 28/Mon-Warm and pleasant, Topsy sick, Jim got his cow, Dan Page and Minner here Nov 29/Tue-Windy and cold, fixed hen house, Stiles here at night Nov 30/Wed-Snowing this morning, cleared up, splendid weather, repaired old barn, Jim and Billy went to town, sent for tobacco and tea Dec 01/Thu-Warm and pleasant, Seth and Lile here in evening, all on the lake skating, went to Billy's to see Jim about Hay Dec 02/Fri-Went to Chauncy's for lime, Bill and Chauncy gone to East Chain, George Scot passed here, Louisa gone to Chauncy's visiting, warm, bed time snowing heavy Dec 03/Sat-Cloudy and warm Louisa and Gream went to town, got barrel of apples, little bit of sleighing Dec 04/Sun-Milo and wife came here and stayed, warm and pleasant, the whole neighborhood here in evening, had some music Dec 05/Mon-Milo and wife here yet, warm and thawing, snow almost gone, Groff and folks and Jones boys here in evening, Chauncy bought buggy Dec 06/Tue-High winds but pleasant, settled with Billy and Jim, paid Jim 55 dollars for land, folks went to party at Poverty Hall, Billy cleaned grist Dec 07/Wed-Ralph gone to town to get horses shod, Milo and wife and Hattie gone home with him, commenced plastering, got horses shod Dec 08/Thu-Not feeling well, pleasant day, done nothing, Billy here a little while, went to Lee corner stake, Gream's dog 'Sailor' disappeared Dec 09/Fri-Went to town, Gream went with me, bought ax and helve, got 50 lbs. Salt Dec 10/Sat-Sawed wood on the lake, went on lake with team, snowed a little in evening Dec 11/Sun-Dull and cloudy, about one inch of snow on ground, Lenny Burton here and stayed all night, rode white pony Dec 12/Mon-Milo came last night, is here yet, killed hog, Chauncy helped me butcher, Milo here yet, played cards at Groff's Dec 13/Tue-Lenny Burton gone home, cut hog up, clear and cold Dec 14/Wed-Cleaned 4 bags of wheat, went to town, sold for 106 cents, bought 100 lbs. of flower, got ax gumped(?), wagon rod fixed, Groff went with me and stayed, Milo went home Dec 15/Thu-Cut and drawed 2 loads of wood, got at helve timber Dec 16/Fri-Made two ax helves, hung two axes, fixed fork in handle, Groff got load of wood from Billy's with my team, Marion played cards with children Dec 17/Sat-Fine day, Louisa and all the children went to Lake Imogene fishing, Ralph went to town to the show Dec 18/Sun-All hands went to Imogene fishing, Milo was here, Gream and I alone all day Dec 19/Mon-Went to town with Style, Groff and Chauncy took pile driver to town, Billy and Jim in town, got papers for land made out Dec 20/Tue-Nice day, Mitchel and Minner here part of day, Marion here in evening, Ada gone to Whitney's with S???, Louisa was over to Stiles to bake bread Dec 21/Wed-Raining all forenoon and freezing a little, put in glass, Ralph and Marion gone to Whitney's to a dance, rained all night Dec 22/Thu-Nice day, 34 degrees above zero, Ralph got home at 10 o'clock, Fred and Henry here, Mr. Murphy here in evening, got flower, took supper, set corner stake Dec 23/Fri-Cut load wood, had toothache, young Lord came to Billy's, Ralph, Anna and George went to Martin's to dance Dec 24/Sat-Fine morning, Ralph got load wood, Gream paid $10 for board, Ralph , Ada, and Anna going to town Dec 25/Sun-"X-Mus", Thawing and Muddy, Jones' folks and the 2 Styles here all day, Milo here and Hattie, lots of fun, had oysters for supper, danced a little Dec 26/Mon-Went to town with garret Doyle, bought pants and overalls, pleasant day, changed Anna's shoes Dec 27/Tue-Pleasant, but windy, Harry Searl down to Billy's, Gram [*notice that he is now spelling 'Gream' as 'Gram'] gone to town to stay with harry Searl, folk all gone to stale(?) tonight Dec 28/Wed-Louisa and Hattie gone to Murphy's to wash, got pig, fletcher hill got fanning mill, Mrs. Jones here, Billy Dible got wagon Dec 29/Thu-Wind N.W. cold and frosty, pig got out and went home, made pig pen, 10 degrees at bed time, getting colder Dec 30/Fri-4 above zero, cold N.W. wind, Ralph gone to town, all hand and Stiles and george Jones went to east Chain to a dance, very cold, came home on foot at 4 o'clock in morning Dec 31/Sat-Very sleepy all day, Milo went home this morning, Ralph and Milo played last night, got 8 dollars, cold as blazes, Billy here this evening, cold 1882 Jan 01/Sun-Cold but pleasant, took supper at Chauncy Jones, Rupert Gano here with horse and pheator(?) Jan 02/Mon-Pleasant, Louisa went to mill, helped Billy load hogs, Ralph and Hattie gone to party at Lake Nutters, 2 Stiles here Jan 03/Tue-Warm and pleasant, Hattie and Ada gone to Murry's with Katie to stay all night, looks like snow, 28 above zero at bed time Jan 04/Wed-Pleasant day, done nothing, got little wood, Louisa and I sawed two blocks of oak for big stove Jan 05/Thu-Went to town on foot, came home with Chauncy, got wagon bolt made, got Ralph pair overalls, 28 above zero at bedtime, Arthur Lord came Jan 06/Fri-Very warm and pleasant, 48 above zero at noon, 38 at bedtime, Louisa and Ada went to town, Ada had 2 teeth pulled, Whitney here Jan 07/Sat-Misty all day, Mr. Doyle here all day, All hands went to Imogene fishing, Henry Still went with his team, Marion here in evening, getting colder, 20 above zero Jan 08/Sun-Pleasant day, Henry still here, folks skating all day Jan 09/Mon-Went to town with Style, Gream came home with us, Louisa went to Poverty Hall, got soap, grease and chairs, cut big oak Jan 10/Tue-snowed nearly all day, quite[sic] sleighing, got bad cold, almost sick Jan 11/Wed-Ralph and Gream sawed some wood, drawed 2 loads, Billy got bobsleighs to get load of corn from Kishers(?), deaf and dumb man here Jan 12/Thu-Chilly south winds, Garret Doyle got 15 bushels of wheat for $1 ??? per bushel, Katie here with him, Louisa went to Pixly's for groceries Jan 13/Fri-Cold day, Gream and Billy went to town spelling school at our school house, 2 degrees above at bed time Jan 14/Sat-4 degrees below zero at daylight, pleasant day, Ralph went to town, Style and James here in evening, sung songs, Groff paper came Jan 15/Sun-Pleasant day, snowed a little in afternoon, snowball had calf, Stile and girls had sleigh ride, Groff and Marion and Billy here in evening, vaccinated the children Jan 16/Mon-6 below zero at daylight (7), Gream went to town with Style to stay, Marion and his mother and 2 Styles here in evening, Elvis here to see cattle, 9 degrees below zero at bed time Jan 17/Tue-10 degrees below zero at daylight, Roly here to invite to party, Louisa and Hattie gone to town, Louisa to stay until Fri Jan 18/Wed-Great Ball, 13 below zero at daylight, cold south wind, Ralph went to debating school, Flora Groff stayed with Anna, 2 Styles here in evening Jan 19/Thu-Cold south wind, 2 above zero, in morning went with Style to see Provis, a sorry looking home, Ralph gone to Bowedrey(?) to party Jan 20/Fri-Went to town with Style, Louisa and Hattie came home with us, warm and pleasant, Styles and John and Marion here in evening Jan 21/Sat-Cold north west wind, Ada gone to Older's to stay a week, Ralph gone to town to stay all night, Henry Style here in evening, warmer and still Jan 22/Sun-Warm and pleasant, Milo and Nels Blines came here and Rupert and Ralph stayed all night Jan 23/Mon-Milo and I sawed wood, storming Jan 24/Tue-Ralph and I sawed wood, warm south wind, Styles boys and Marion here in evening Jan 25/Wed-Went to town with Style, stayed all night, tended court-Hall vs. Miller Jan 26/Thu-Snowed hard in forenoon, clear in afternoon, came home with Chauncy Jan 27/Fri-Pleasant day, party here in evening, E.C. folks here, Luke Nuter here, very cold Jan 28/Sat-10 below zero in morning, wind N.W., Milo went home with Style, Ralph and Henry gone to Poverty Hall Jan 29/Sun-Cold and windy, getting warmer, Style and James here, gave James pipe Jan 30/Mon-Went to town with Henry, called for ?????? for Murphy, wrote to Potter(?), got fiddle strings, saw the ponies, don't like them Jan 31/Tue-Went to town as witness, pleasant day Feb 1 1882/Wed-Went to town, pleasant day Feb 02/Thu-Went to town, pleasant day Feb 03/Fri-Stayed at home, pleasant day, party at Styles, good time Feb 04/Sat-Stayed at home, pleasant day, Milo went home with Billy, Ada and Hattie went to town with Style Feb 05/Sun-Warm day, all the folks to Lake Imogene fishing with Style, didn't get any, Katie Doyle here Feb 06/Mon-Very warm, cut down big oak tree back of stable, drawed 2 loads of wood, Hattie went home with Henry, Chauncy commenced on bridge Feb 07/Tue-Sick all day, beautiful weather Feb 08/Wed-Worked on bridge, Pleasant day Feb 09/Thu-Warm day, raised bridge Feb 10/Fri-Went to town with Style, warm day, folks went fishing to East Chain Feb 11/Sat-Very warm, 50 above zero Feb 12/Sun-Warm and pleasant Feb 13/Mon-Warm and pleasant Feb 14/Tue-Went to town, paid for pony, warm and pleasant Feb 15/Wed-Ralph took steers to town, helped to move town(?) Lowe house (Vick came in) Feb 16/Thu-Got cold as blazes, Mells baby had croup, still cold Feb 17/Fri-Went to town, Milo and wife went home, Louisa went with us, Dick Martin came home, snowed a little Feb 18/Sat-Rain and sleet all day, Dick Martin here and stayed all night, Groff got lumber for well Feb 19/Sun-4 degrees below zero in morning, sunshine and pleasant, Gream and a lot more at Billy's, cold all day Feb 20/Mon-Zero in morning, wind N.E. snowed all afternoon and all night, more snow fell than fell all winter before Feb 21/Tue-Blustery and snowing, 4 above zero, drifted all day, Marion and James boys played pea knuckle Feb 22/Wed-12 degrees below zero in morning, sunshine and pleasant, Ralph gone to town, Milo Hattie and Dick Martin came home with him, party in evening, Huntly folks up Feb 23/Thu-Beautiful day, took Ed Murphy down to Doyle's, Louisa sa??led with Murphy, slept up stairs Feb 24/Fri-High south wind, sunshine, quite warm, Snowball took bull, still thawing at night Feb 25/Sat-Warm and thawing, Ralph and Miner martin and Chauncy went to Blue Earth Feb 26/Sun-Warm and cloudy, Ralph and Miner came home from Blue Earth, Milo and wife came and stayed all night Feb 27/Mon-Sawed wood part of day, very sloppy, bed time still thawing Feb 28/Tue-Sawed and drawed wood up from the lake, warm and sloppy Mar 01/Wed-Warm and sloppy, Groff and I split some posts, Debating Club at night, Billy Hay got my light wagon to go to town with sheep skins, Style boys here in evening Mar 02/Thu-Very warm, Ada and Hattie gone to Bowdry visiting Mar 03/Fri-Cold, threatens to storm, party in the evening, 2 loads ???? Huntly here Mar 04/Sat-Rain and sleet all day, Huntly ???? went home at ??? Fairmont La??? 5 o'clock, Ada went ??? [*can not read as page covered with flap] Mar 05/Sun-Blowing a gale, very disagreeable, Milo and Ralph went to Martin's, Jim Burton and Shirm Whiting here in evening and Groff Mar 06/Mon-Milo went home, Shirm went to school, Ralph and I sawed wood, Sherm came and stayed all night Mar 07/Tue-Shirm went home, sent by Baley for groceries, Ralph went to Poverty Hall, Miner came and stayed all night, Martins people left for Iowa, tried to snow all day Mar 08/Wed-Miner and Ralph gone to town, Louisa sick Mar 09/Thu-Ralph went to town, helped Milo move, Hattie washed Mar 10/Fri-All hands went to East Chain to exhibition, Herman ???? and mother here visiting Mar 11/Sat-Herman and Ralph and I went to town, snowed all day slightly, Ada came home from Huntly Mar 12/Sun-Herman and his mother went home, pleasant day Mar 13/Mon-Sawed wood Ralph and I, Groff made fish basket, warm and pleasant Mar 14/Tue-Town meeting, went to town, rained and hailed all day Mar 15/Wed-Warm and cloudy, cut some wood, Milo came here in evening Mar 16/Thu-Miner and Ralph and I sawed wood, killed hog, rainy and nasty, hailed in the night Mar 17/Fri-Milo went home this morning, rained a little all day, Ralph and Minner gone to C. Bowdrys horse back, got 17 lbs. salt from Billy Hay Mar 18/Sat-Cloudy and nasty, Ralph Hattie and Ada went to town, Hattie stayed, got shoes from shop, cut elm tree Mar 19/Sun-Very nasty under foot, Provist went passed here with machine, Billy and Arthur gone to town, stayed all night, Groff went to East Chain to draw wheat for seed, George Hattie and Claud here Mar 20/Mon-Rained and hailed all night, Ralph fed pony and cow for Jim Mar 21/Tue-Fearful wind from N.W., done nothing Mar 22/Wed-Sawed wood all day, went to farmers club, Milo came home with me, lent Billy 4 lbs. oats Mar 23/Thu-Milo helped cut wood in the afternoon, 8 above zero in morning Mar 24/Fri-Zero in the morning, drawed some wood, Louisa gone to Murry Mar 25/Sat-Ralph and I went to town, saw Hoffman Mar 26/Sun-Rained all day, Provist here Mar 27/Mon-fixed stove, John and wife here, Ralph sick Mar 28/Tue-Ada gone to Halls, rained in the afternoon, John here yet, Mell came here Mar 29/Wed-??cked Flora, heavy wind from N.W., John went home Mar 30/Thu-Ralph sick, set wagon tire, fixed saw, Hattie came here, Mell went to Center Chain with Billy Mar 31/Fri-Pleasant day Apr 01/Sat-Went to town with Chauncy, Mell came back from Center Chain, got Ralph pair of boots Apr 02/Sun-Warm and Pleasant Apr 03/Mon-Pleasant day, made quarterly returns, stormed at night Apr 04/Tue-Pleasant, Anna came home, Billy got load of hay, Arthur took supper here, Ralph came home from Huntly, got powder flask from Jim, rained in night Apr 05/Wed-Cold, rain in this morning Apr 06/Thu-Windy and cold, went to town with Chauncy Apr 07/Fri-Pleasant day, cut wood and drawed it Apr 08/Sat-Cold and wet all day, Milo came here and stayed all night Apr 09/Sun-Rained like blazed all day, horrible day Apr 10/Mon-Cold east wind, measured land for corn, Milo came after Louisa, Hattie very sick, cold night, froze solid Apr 11/Tue-Clear and cold in morning Apr 12/Wed-Pleasant day, fixed fence, split posts Apr 13/Thu-Louisa came home, pleasant day Apr 14/Fri-Cold windy, went to town with Jim, sick all day, chill at night Apr 15/Sat-Ralph cleared corn stalks, sick all day, Billy went to town Apr 16/Sun-Pleasant day, Mell sick got ?????, the whole neighborhood here at night Apr 17/Mon-Commenced sowing wheat, sowed 18 bushels, Mell brought his colt here Apr 18/Tue-Finished sowing wheat, 22 bushels, dragged over half, rained fearfully Apr 19/Wed-Everything afloat, Ralph and Mell went to mill, Ralph gone to town to show, ???? gray now Apr 20/Thu-Scowered plow in the forenoon, plowed for oats in afternoon, Louisa at Murphy's stayed all night, Jim took his sheep home in wagons Apr 21/Fri-Jim moved to his place, cold south wind, plowing, Murphy gone to town for Mrs. Martin, Louisa came home from Murphy's Apr 22/Sat-Cold and wet all day, Mell and women folks went to Pixlys Apr 23/Sun-Cold but pleasant Apr 24/Mon-Cold and cloudy, finished plowing corn stubble, Jim got 3 bushels of corn, Groff sowed wheat Apr 25/Tue-Cold and Cloudy Apr 26/Wed-Sowed 5 acres of oats, 14 bushels seed, Jim got 15 bushels of corn, Billy got 5 bushels of oats Apr 27/Thu-Ralph, Mell and I went to town, Ralph came home sick, got nails for Groff's fence, Hattie came home with us, windy and cold Apr 28/Fri-Plowing for oats, Billy got Mells mare to plow with, Kate Hall gone home Apr 29/Sat-Got crowbar, sharpened posts for fence Apr 30/Sun-Pleasant, wind N.W. May 01/Mon-Plowed for oats, dug ditch May 02/Tue-Finished sowing oats, burned stubble May 03/Wed-Sawed 2 mud holis(?), Mell and Billy gone to town, warm May 04/Thu-Worked for Doyle on house, Mell plowed with Sulky's plow, Katie Murry here, warm May 05/Fri-Warm and cloudy with showers, Mell gone home with nelly and Betty May 06/Sat-Plowed in forenoon, went to town in afternoon, brought Groff home May 07/Sun-Cloudy and rained, cows crossed the lake May 08/Mon-Built leach, Ralph plowed, thunderstorm and hail in the afternoon May 09/Tue-Plowed in forenoon, went to mill in afternoon, hot and thundery, Scot Carelton came and stayed all night May 10/Wed-Billy and Ralph plowed all day, finished plowing and warm May 11/Thu-Went to town with Billy, rained all day and cold May 12/Fri-Killed hog, Ralph dragged some, Billy went to town and got cultivator May 13/Sat-Ralph gone to Winnebago with colts, got 18 lbs salt from Billy, finished dragging corn ground May 14/Sun-Pleasant day, home from Winnebago May 15/Mon-Marked and planted 5 acres of corn, warm May 16/Tue-Finished planting corn, Bill Groff built fence, Billy gave me pipe, Billy marked some, Louisa went to town, got pair of shoes, Milo came home with her May 17/Wed-Planted corn for Billy, plowed mud hole, Milo went to Doyle's to work May 18/Thu-Plowed little for Billy, rained most all day, children most well from measles May 19/Fri-Ralph worked for Billy, built Groff's fence on lime, old man Carelton here May 20/Sat-Went to town, Mr. Carelton went home, Fred Style got fence wire May 21/Sun-Jim and Gream here to dinner, Mell and Groff went to Center Chain May 22/Mon-hard frost, planted potatoes in forenoon, let Style have 6 bags of damaged corn, sent George after Nellie, doctored Groff's cow May 23/Tue-Hard frost this morning, froze water May 24/Wed-Drove post, Ralph planted for Billy in afternoon May 25/Thu-Went to town to land sale, Gream here, stayed all night, Old Mr. Carelton here, traded horses with Stodard May 26/Fri-Built fence with Style, Mell took his father to town May 27/Sat-Built fence until noon May 28/Sun-Scot Carelton here with stallion, Lenny Burton and wife here May 29/Mon-Billy took load of wheat to town for me May 30/Tue-Went to town, sold wheat, paid interest, got boat lumber, went to Doyle's to party May 31/Wed-Didn't do anything, Scot went home, Topsy had colt in the night, Ralph went to show Jun 01/Thu-Made boat, Louisa Ada and Ralph went to show (new book) Fri Jun 2nd 1882/worked on boat Sat 03/went to town, brought Groff home Sun 04/Gream and fiddler to Billy's, Jim here in evening, Nice music Mon 05/Drove posts on line Tue 06/Ralph worked on road with team, sharpened 60 posts, painted and cultivated, launched boat, Louisa went to Murry's Wed 07/Ralph worked on road, ??sisor here, Louisa came home, cleaned oats, shelled corn Thu 08/Built fence in Lake, repaired light wagon Fri 09/Drove 52 posts, Billy got wire, commenced building, rained fearfully, Louisa Marge and Mrs. Jones went to Murry's with team Sat 10/Built fence in forenoon, Ralph went to town in afternoon, got more wire Sun 11/Ada and Ralph went to Lenny's folks not at home, two Pixlys and Katie Murry here, Nelly sick Mon 12/finished line fence, Ralph commenced cultivating corn, Ada gone to Jackson, Billy shearing sheep, Jim gone to mill, Nelly some better, Topsy took horse Tue 13/George herded for Style, heavy rain storm in evening Wed 14/Done nothing Thu 15/Went to town, Chauncy went with me Fri 16/Cultivated corn Sat 17/Ada came from Jackson, Ralph went to town and Billy came home in rain Sun 18/Had strawberries for dinner, Scot Carelton here Mon 19/Mell here, went to Winnebago with Billy and Coalt Tue 20/Mell came back, Nutter, Mell and Billy took dinner here Wed 21/(nothing written for this day) Thu 22/Very hot, Mrs. Martin here, Dos Nutter here Fri 23/Louisa, Mrs. Martin and Ralph went to Poverty Hall Sat 24/All hands went to town, big storm in morning Sun 25/Milo, Mell, Scot and Henry here, had strawberries for dinner Mon 26/Nutter here to dinner, made door and window frame for Billy Tue 27/Ralph cultivated corn, I hoed potatoes, Billy went to town Wed 28/Louisa, Ralph and Mary gone to town with berries Thu 29/Cultivated corn, rained almost all day, fearful lightning in evening Fri 30/Warm and pleasant, fixed tow? poldles and breaking plow, GEA??T?? HANGED [this is Guiteau, Charles (1841-1882) the man who shot President James A. Garfield] Jul Sat 01/Ralph and Ada went to town, took 6 bushels of wheat, didn't sell Sun 02/Mell, Jim, Gream and Style Boys here, Ralph and Fred went to camp meeting at Winnebago, rained in night Mon 03/Mill and I went to town Tue 04/All hands went to town, I and Louisa went in evening, had good time Wed 05/Done nothing Thu 06/Went to town, got plow sharpened, Whitney and Milo came and stayed all night Fri 07/Got colts home from pasture, Whitney here, Ralph took him to East Chain, Billy went to Blue Earth with wool Sat 08/Ada gone to town with Henry Style, Ralph broke all day, finished hoeing potatoes, Chauncy and Groff gone to Blue Earth, Milo gone home with Billy, Henry left Billy this morning Sun 09/Pleasant day, Style here Mon 10/Cleared wheat, finished breaking, Mrs. Whitney and Lo?? Stayed all night Tue 11/Went to town, sold 22 01/2 bushels of wheat, got ??? salt, got wh???tres fixed Wed 12/Cultivated corn, rained some, women went berrying, got wet Thu 13/Finished cultivating corn, went berrying again, showering, sowed rutabagas Fri 14/(nothing written) Sat 15/Ralph and Hattie went to town Sun 16/Louisa and Lucy Hall went berrying, Gream here Mon 17/Went to town, rained all day Tue 18/Ralph and I drawed manure all day Wed 19/Cut Timothy hay Thu 20/Cut wild hay and raked Timothy, Louisa went to town, Mell came here Fri 21/Mell and I went to town, Ralph raked and cocked hay Sat 22/drew 6 loads of hay, ?rade Bowdry's boat, Herman Miller here, Bill Groff lost his horse Sun 23/Herman went home Mon 24/drawed 4 loads of hay, made pair of oars for my boat and pitched it, Mell, Ralph and Ada went to town, got home at midnight, 92 above zero Tue 25/Thunder in morning, mowed all day, rained at Fairmont, Mell and I went to town, bought pitchfork, rained almost all night, blew hard, very warm Wed 26/Mowed in forenoon, Mell went horse trading, Hay to green to put up, raked a little, 93 above zero, looks like rain Thu 27/Mowed a little in forenoon, raked and cocked all up in afternoon Fri 28/Stacked for Billy in forenoon, stacked 9 loads for me in afternoon Sat 29/Stacked for Billy in afternoon, went to town in evening with mell, rained most of the night Sun 30/rain and sleet all day Mon 31/Set reaper up, fixed rakes and cradle, Mell and Louisa went to town ?ine went Tue Aug 1st/Cloudy and wet, Mell, Ralph and girls gone to town Wed 02/Stacked hay Thu 03/Went to town, Mell traded horse with ???? Fri 04/Made boat for Provis Wickham, Mell went to Winnebago Sat 05/Mell came home, went to town in afternoon, Groff came home with Billy, showery all day Sun 06/Cloudy and warm, played croquet in forenoon Mon 07/commenced harvesting, cut in forenoon, rain in afternoon, awful hot Tue 08/Cut and bound all day Wed 09/Finished cutting wheat at 9 o'clock, went to town, Chauncy cut in afternoon Thu 10/Chauncy finished cutting, Ralph and Mell bound, I took Ed Murphy to town, Carry went home with me Fri 11/Bound Chauncy's oats, cut and bound 5 acres for me, Mell gone to Folets, Louisa gone with him to see Ann Sat 12/Stacked one stack of wheat, very hot, Louisa came home Sun 13/All hands went to Jim's, Jim here in evening Mon 14/Very hot, 94 above zero, bound oats, Mell went to town, heavy wind in the night Tue 15/Finished cutting and binding oats, stacked one stack of oats Wed 16/Stacked wheat in forenoon, Mell and Ralph went to East Chain Thu 17/Finished stacking, went to town in the afternoon Fri 18/Helped Billy stack oats, Mell and Arthur went to Winnebago, got new harness Sat 19/Done nothing all day, Ralph and Mell gone to town, Ada and Louisa gone to Poverty Hall horseback, Billy and Arthur gone to town, 96 above zero Sun 20/Very hot, played croquet most all day Mon 21/Waited for machine, done nothing all day, very hot Tue 22/Threshed oats for Billy, broke down, didn't finish, Billy and Carlo? Went to town Wed 23/Finished for Billy and went to Chauncy's, awful hot Thu 24/Finished Chauncy's and threshed 30 bushels of wheat for me, went to Bowdry's in afternoon Fri 25/Mowed hay, racked and cocked in afternoon, very hot Sat 26/Stacked hay, Ralph cut hay, racked and cocked in afternoon, very hot, E?rnly Warner here to dinner Sun 27/Very hot, cocked some hay in afternoon Mon 28/Sacked hay all day, 6 loads, Billy and Arthur gone to town Tue 29/Rained all day, cut some hay to top stacks, played croquet and pea knuckle Wed 30/Still cloudy and warm, Ralph mowed hay, Billy took hog to town Thu 31/Stacked hay, 6 loads, Billy mowed, Mell gone to town Fri Sep 1 1882/Done nothing, music man here, Billy mowed in forenoon, Ralph mowed in evening, Mell gone to town Sat 02/Stacked for Billy in forenoon, cocked Groff's hay in afternoon, rained a little Sun 03/Boys went to Iowa hunting Mon 04/Stacked Groff's hay, Ralph and Ada went to town, Ada went with John and stayed Tue 05/Ralph mowed all forenoon, raked and cocked in evening, Herm Miller and wife here Wed 06/Stacked hay, Arthur helped, Arthur went to town in evening, horses ran away, broke buggy all to smash, Bill Searl here all night Thu 07/Went to town, took Billy's buggy up to get fixed, Groff came home Fri 08/All the children gone to circus Sat 09/Finished stacking hay, Arthur and Groff went to town Sun 10/Louisa and Ralph went to Murry's, Mell and Scot came and stayed all night Mon 11/Ralph gone to work for Edwards, I went to town, sold 6 bushels of wheat, 75 cents per bush Tue 12/mowed the road, Katie Murry here, Billy and Arthur here to dinner, one pig died last night Wed 13/Mowed weeds on field, fixed oat stack Thu 14/Style threshed in afternoon Fri 15/Thrashed for Style in afternoon, Mell left for Iowa Sat 16/went to town, Billy, Arthur, Chauncy, Louisa and Murry Sun 17/Jim Burton here to dinner Mon 18/Took out 14 loads of manure Tue 19/drawed 16 loads of manure, first cool day, frost Wed 20/took out 16 loads of manure Thu 21/14 loads of manure Fri 22/20 loads of manure, Ralph went to Mitchell's, stayed all night and went next day to Blue Earth to fair Sat 23/Went to town with 12 bushels of wheat, got 85 cents, got good shingles, drove Topsy and Nelly Sun 24/Cold and cloudy, threatens rain, Hattie came here Mon 25/Billy and I shingles, Ralph drew manure Tue 26/Shingled in forenoon, went to town in afternoon, Gream came home with me Wed 27/drawed manure all day Thu 28/Threshed in afternoon, 318 bushels of oats Fri 29/Threshed in forenoon, 228 bushels of wheat Sat 30/Ralph helped Doyle thresh, Billy went to town, got beer, Louisa went to Murry's Sun 1 of Oct/Went down to Billy's played cards, came home played crouay, rained all day, Louisa came home, Ada stayed Mon 02/Hattie went home, rained a little Tue 03/Ada came home, Jim and Marion here to dinner Wed 04/Ralph and Henry and Mell went to Iowa hunting Thu 05/Rained hard, Boys came home from Iowa Fri 06/Fair, Ralph plowed all day, went to town in evening Sat 07/Mell and Louisa went to town (took P.O.) up, Hattie and S??sa came home with them, Fair Sun 08/Had turkey for dinner, all hands here to dinner Mon 09/Ralph took Susa and Gream to town, plowed in afternoon, Mills came here in evening Tue 10/Dug potatoes, Mell went thrashing in afternoon, Murphy came after children in evening Wed 11/Awful high wind and rain, Billy, Henry and Arthur went hunting, Murphy came after children Thu 12/Rained, Louisa went to Pixley's, Mill came home Fri 13/Louisa went to Chauncy's visiting, finished digging potatoes Sat 14/Went to town with 12 bushels of wheat, got 400 feet of lumber, Mill came home Sun 15/Hattie and Henry here, Louisa came home from Murry's, rained in afternoon Mon 16/Took old flower up, Milo came in afternoon, Liza and Miss Matson here, Louisa got Gal??? Of Sorguhm Tue 17/Milo, Ralph, Billy and Arthur worked all day on cellar, Anna came home from Murry's Wed 18/Milo, Ralph and I laid floor, George plowed Thu 19/Ralph went to town with 6 bushels wheat, got lumber, Milo went home Fri 20/George plowed, Ralph and Henry went hunting, Groff built stairway, Billy, Arthur and Harry came in evening Sat 21/Ralph plowed went to town with Billy got lime and lumber Sun 22/Ralph, George Jones and Ada went to East Chain horseback, C. Leet came after Ralph to work for him Mon 23/Two of my pigs sick, Myres' girls and Mary Murphy here visiting, Minnie Myres stayed, George plowed all day, Arthur Lo?? Gone to Lea Mars Tue 24/Drawed in my potatoes Wed 25/Got my potatoes in Thu 26/Ada and Minnie gone to Murrys Fri 27/Girls came home from Murrys party in evening, 25 numbers Sat 28/Went to town with Billy in evening, Ada and hattie went to town with H???y, Groff built his barn Sun 29/Vill Miller and wife here, Gream came with Jones, took dinner here, had oysters Mon 30/Fixed cellar door, sick in night Tue 31/Done nothing all day, sick Wed 1 Nov/Finished plowing Thu 02/Went to town with 8 01/2 bushels wheat, 82 cents, got lumber for stable, 250 feet, Ralph came home sick Fri 03/Plastered house partly Sat 04/Rained all day and all night, high wind, Anna and Mell gone to town, Anna stayed all night Sun 05/Wet and gloomy Mon 06/Finished plastering house, Hattie and Scot went home, George Hall here Tue 07/Went to election Wed 08/Commenced husking corn, Louisa went to mill, Ada went to town Thu 09/Husked corn all day, Billy went for grist Fri 10/Husked corn in forenoon, had party, 23 number, rained all night, lightning and thunder Sat 11/Rained all day, Ralph went to town, froze up solid Sun 12/Ada went to Rubles to work, Hattie went home Mon 13/Ralph, Mell and I husked corn Tue 14/Husked corn Wed 15/Finished husking corn at noon, Mell, Louisa and Ralph went to town Thu 16/Husked corn for Billy Fri 17/Mell and I sawed some wood, Ralph husked for Style, Hoffman got 20 baskets of corn, Mell killed lame pig, Ralph and Mell gone to Luke Nutters to party Sat 18/Went to town with turkey Sun 19/Doc Foster wife and child here, Sam Jones and wife here and two of Whitings girls Mon 20/Commenced colt stable, killed hog, Billy came home and went back to town, got lumber Tue 21/Finished stable, Mell and Ralph husked corn for Style Wed 22/Finished plastering house, covered stable first, snow storm from N.E Thu 23/Covered stable and banked house, Mell and Ralph gone to town, Stewart the globe man stayed here Fri 24/Louisa, Ada and Anna went to Fairmont to party Sat 25/Cut wood, Ada went to Rubles, Ralph brought Mrs. Petrie home, Mr. Petrie came at night Sun 26/All hands took dinner at Groff's Mon 27/Mell and Petrie went to town early in morning, Ralph took Mrs. Petrie home Tue 28/Louisa and Claude Turners set traps Wed 29/Worked for Hoffman on barn Thu 30/Worked on Hoffman's barn, Miss Foster here Fri 1 Dec/All hands went to party at Fairmont, Del Foster [this must be Adeline Foster found in the 1920 Fairmont census as being age 69 with a son who is age 33. She would have been 32 when this diary was written] went home, cold as blazes Sat 02/went to town for doc for Henry Stryes [is this Styles], brought Mell, Ralph and Mrs. Martin home Sun 03/Mell and Ralph went to Sagers for traps, Style better and gone home, Snowball had calf Mon 04/Ralph commenced school, Mell helped Groff on well, traps found Tue 05/built fence around hay stacks, Ralph went to town, ? came home with him Wed 06/Cold, light blizzard in the afternoon, 14 degrees below zero at bed time Thu 07/24 degrees below zero at daylight, Ralph, Mell and Milo gone to town, Chauncy gone to town with my sleigh Fri 08/All hands gone to town to dance, Ada stayed Sat 09/Ralph and Mell gone to town, Ralph and Milo gone to Huntly, Mell came home with Billy Sun 10/Milo brought one load of goods to Billy's stayed all night Mon 11/Ralph and Billy gone to town to move Milo, Mell helped Groff fix well Tue 12/Ralph and Louisa went to town, sold fur, Mell worked for Groff, snowed in afternoon Wed 13/Mell went to Winnebago, took some wheat, cut wood Thu 14/Clear and cold, Billy sold his hogs, went to Milo's in evening, 6 deg below zero Fri 15/Clear and cold, 16 deg below zero in morning, Mell came from Winnebago Sat 16/I, Mell and Groff went to town, Chauncy walked, rode home with Henry Sun 17/All hands went to Murry's, Ruble and wife came here Mon 18/Got ice, Ruble came for Groff and I to work on mill Tue 19/Groff and I went to the mill to work Wed 20/Ralph went to town, got buggy fixed, snowed all day, worked on mill Thu 21/Henry brought Hattie home, worked on mill Fri 22/Ralph, Mell and ? went to town, gruff and I came home, got new blankets Sat 23/I and gruff and wife went to town, Fosters and wife here all day, cut down big oak tree Sun 24/Billy and Hall here, got some ice Mon 25/Doc here got some presents, all hands went to Fairmont to Ball Tue 26/Doc here and went to Murry's Wed 27/Went to mill to work, got there at 10 o'clock Thu 28/Worked on mill Fri 29/Worked on mill Sat 30/Worked on mill Sun 31/George, Anna and mother went to Murry's, Ada came home 1883 Mon Jan 01/Went to work on mill, folks went to Whitney's to party Tue 02/Worked on mill, very cold Wed 03/Came home sick, Mell went to Winnebago, took grist Thu 04/Cold, snowed most all day, Mell came home, got grist, brought plow and sleighs Fri 05/Cold and pleasant, club dance a fi?al Sat 06/Went to East Chain, got onions, Henry went with us, Groff came home with us, Dela Foster came home with the boys Sun 07/Still cold Mon 08/?oe Foster came to ??ury, Dela went home, made ax helve, ground axes and tools Tue 09/40 above zero, snowed, got load of wood, worked on sleigh Wed 10/Stormy drifted some, getting colder, 10 below zero at bed time Thu 11/Ralph went to town, windy and cold Fri 12/Ralph, Mell, Milo and Chauncy, went to town, got lost coming home in a blizzard, Anna went to Wilk?? To party, stayed all night Sat 13/Drifted and stormed all day, Groff came home from mill, cold Sun 14/Ralph went to Murry's, folks went to East Chain, got little dog, cold Mon 15/Ralph and Milo went to town, worked on sleigh, warm Tue 16/Worked on sleigh, Foster and wife here, busted big log, warm Wed 17/Ralph and Mell cut wood all day, Chauncy and Bill here, card party Thu 18/Boys worked on big log all day, commenced snowing, light blizzard all night Fri 19/Stormy and cold, 19 below zero in morning, blizzard all day, 4 o'clock 12 below zero, card party, bed time 16 below zero Sat 20/22 below zero in morning, 8 at bedtime, boys started to town and came back, roads drifted full Sun 21/22 below zero in morning, air full of frost, from 16 to 20 all day Mon 22/30 below zero at daylight, cold all day, boys went to town, Dell Foster and P?t Myris came here, 16 degrees at bedtime Tue 23/26 below zero at daylight, light snow, warmer at night, Mell took load of hay to town Wed 24/Cut oak tree in yard, Mell and girls went to Murry's, finished one bobsled, 10 degrees above zero, snowed little Thu 25/24 degrees below zero, sunshine and pleasant, Mell and I went to town, Groff went to mill Fri 26/Foggy, looks like snow, 6 above zero, snowed all day, party A fi?le[could be a z or j or g same as Fri the 5th], warmer at night Sat 27/Sunshine and pleasant, worked on bobsled, Mell and Ralph went to town, Del went home, Rupert ?an? [this could be Gano] here, Anna and George went to East Chain, 20 degrees above zero all day, Groff came home from mill, got some fish Sun 28/Very pleasant day Mon 29/Went to East Chain, got feed ground, cold south wind, snowing at bed time, got some fish Tue 30/Blizzard all day, took children to school and went after them, not cold Wed 31/Cold and drifting, 10 degrees below zero at bed time Thu Feb 01/26 below zero in morning, Mell and Ralph went to town, worked on bobsled, looks like snow Fri 02/Got some wood, stormed and drifted all day Sat 03/Cold S.E. wind, 26 below zero in morning, played cards part of the day Sun 04/32 below zero in morning, Ralph, Ada and Louisa gone to town, Ada commenced work for Colten Mon 05/22 below zero morning, pleasant day, getting warmer, 31 above zero at 5 o'clock, finished bobsled, boys got log of wood Tue 06/4 below zero in morning, 18 above in afternoon, very pleasant, Ralph gone to C. Leet's, Chauncy and gruff gone to town Wed 07/Mell and I went to town, Ralph got his pay from Leet Thu 08/Mary Tine and Mrs. Jones, Ralph went to town, pleasant Fri 09/Ralph and Foster here, Ralph went back with Foster, George went to Murry's with medicine, pleasant Sat 10/Mell, Milo and I went to town, brought home sleigh, pleasant Sun 11/Louisa went to Murry's, Mell went to mill, I went to Jim Burton's, pleasant Mon 12/Mell went to town, got box lumber for box, 34 above Tue 13/Warm and cloudy, made sleigh box, Mell and Louisa went to Pixley and Murry got pig weighed-90 lbs, rained almost all night, Vick had calf in night, 38 above zero Wed 14/Snowing this morning;Louisa washed Thu 15/52 above zero, cloudy and warm; Mell and Jimmy went to town for coal;rained all afternoon Fri 16/Blizzard this morning, 4 above zero at sun rise, stormed all day until 3 o'clock in the morning Sat 17/Sunshine and pleasant, 10 below zero in morning; Mell went to town;Ada came home with him Sun 18/Pleasant day;Ralph and Della Foster came here, stayed all day; Ada went home with them Mon 19/Cut big oak tree in front of woods;cold N.W. wind; Rouse horse sick Tue 20/Cut and drawed top of tree to house; Groff and two Jones boys here in evening Wed 21/Took Louisa and Milo's wife to Wilkins visiting; went to mill;Ralph here;Topsy got swelled leg; snowing like blazes Thu 22/Pleasant and warm;Mell took corn to Jimmy M???[could be Murry], five sacks;put Topsy in big stall Fri 23/Blizzard from S.E., drifted all day, rained part of night Sat 24/Snowed and drifted from N.W. all day, not cold Sun 25/Sunshine and pleasant Mon 26/Mell and I went to town;Gream gave me dairy; sold four bushels of wheat, 93 cents per bushel Tue 27/Warm and pleasant;mowed all day;Topsy died in evening Wed 28/Took snow off stable;buried Topsy;Mell and Anna gone to Murry's; sold C. Bowdry 2 bushels of wheat Thu Mar 01/Cloudy and warm, snowed a little Fri 02/Mell took Louisa to Murry's;brought Anna home Sat 03/Mell went to town; brought Ada and Mrs. Petrie home and Petrie stayed all night Sun 04/Mell took Ada and Petrie home;Ralph and Dell Foster here; went home after dark Mon 05/Took Louisa to Murry's;Ralph and Claud Turner came home; snowed a little Tue 06/Louisa came home from Murry's;Scot Carlton came here;colder Wed 07/10 degrees below zero in morning;boys gone after boat with sleigh; Mrs. Murry died 8 o'clock Thu 08/Mrs. Murry buried today;Scot and Ralph gone to town;Jim Lasby died; Jim Burton here in evening Fri 09/West wind and thawing;Mell gone to Murry's with corn for Jimmy Sat 10/Mell, Ralph and Louisa gone to Lasby's funeral Sun 11/Pleasant day and warm Mon 12/Mell and Ralph drawed wood;Pleasant day Tue 13/All hands went to town meeting;Claud went with us Wed 14/Mell went to East Chain and got some flour Thu 15/Fixed wagon wheel for Mell;Boys sawed some wood; Mell went to Pixley's Fri 16/Made plow beam for Jim Burton;? went to Pixley's; children went to East Chain to expedition Sat 17/Louisa went fishing;sawed wood all afternoon Sun 18/Anna and George went to Huston's for papers;cold N.W. wind Mon 19/4 degrees below zero in morning;sawed wood all day; Groff cut his head with an ax Tue 20/Sawed wood in forenoon;Mell went to Iowa; cut down red elm tree in afternoon; Ralph and Anna went to singing school Wed 21/Ralph, Milo and I cut wood all day;cold N.W. wind Thu 22/Ralph and I sawed wood in forenoon; Ralph went to town in afternoon Fri 23/Worked on Milo's house;Ralph got home, warmer Sat 24/Cloudy and warm, south wind;done nothing; George went to Pixley's for sugar; Ralph helping Milo on house;Mell came home Sun 25/Kate Murry here;warm, snowed in afternoon; Mell took Kate home Mon 26/Worked on Milo's house;cold as blazes;boys sawed wood Tue 27/Mell and I went to town;court commenced; Louisa and Ralph went to East Chain Wed 28/Mell gone to town;Ralph and I sawed wood; Ralph went to Burnt Out Lake to dance Thu 29/Worked on Milo's house;Ralph went to town Fri 30/Worked on Milo's house Sat 31/Sawed wood;Rubles brought girls home Sun Apr 01/Rupert Ganoe here;stayed all night Mon 02/Cut wood a little while;Ralph and Ropert went to Blue Earth; Mell and girls went to town Tue 03/Mell went to town;helped Milo move into his new house Wed 04/Thunder and misty weather;commenced dragging;Ralph came home Thu 05/Ackleys folks here visiting;all hands dragged some Fri 06/Misty, looks like rain;dance in evening;Scot Carlton here Sat 07/Ralph took Ada to town;she came home to stay;Ralph gone for seeder Sun 08/Pleasant day;nothing going on;dull day;Ralph got home with seeder Mon 09/Commenced sowing wheat; afternoon sowed 91/2 bushels and drawed it in;rained in night Tue 10/Rained and snowed all day, fearful day, white heifer had calf Wed 11/Billy moved home;beautiful morning;sowed wheat in afternoon Apr 12/Thu/Finished seeding on Jim's place; wet and raining in afternoon;Ralph gone to Fairmont Apr 13/Fri/86 above zero;dragged in forenoon;seeded in afternoon; Ralph gone to town to go to Minneapolis, him and Fred Jones; rained all night Apr 14/Sat/Mell and I went to town;roads awful, blowing; Great Guns Lake all open Apr 15/Sun/Windy and cold;Dan Wilkins here in morning; yearling bull came here Apr 16/Mon/Finished sowing wheat except breaking; Bessie had calf Apr 17/Tue/Sowed breaking in forenoon; Mell gone to town to clean his seed oats;looks like rain; big prairie fire;Prentice house burnt [This would be Orin Prentice-William's neighbor. It is remarked in a newspaper article dated 1938 that William Cross helped Orin Prentice build his log home] Apr 18/Wed/Commenced plowing corn stubble;Mell gone horse trading Apr 19/Thu/Mell gone to town;Scot came here with sick horse; stayed all night;let Billy have 28 bushels of oats for seed Apr 20/Fri/Let Chauncy have 10 bushels of oats for Groff; Ada and mother gone to Leet's visiting;Mell gone to town, took corn plow Apr 21/Sat/Fearful wind;Fred Style home Apr 22/Sun/Gessy [Could this be Jessy?] Folet and girls here; had music;Fred Style here in evening Apr 23/Mon/Mell and Ada and Kate went to Murry's; Mell, Scot and I went to town Apr 24/Tue/Ruble came for Ada;John Gorman here;white washed house; Mr. Nut came for steer Apr 25/Wed/Milo and I sowed oats for Mell;28 acres;George cultivated Apr 26/Thu/Sowed my oats;Billy helped me in the afternoon Apr 27/Fri/Dragged my oats;took 16 bushels of wheat to mill; let Hoffman have six bushels of ears of corn Apr 28/Sat/Anna went to town;Hattie came home with her Apr 29/Sun/Ruble brought Ada home;Leet's folks here;Scot here; Fred Style here Apr 30/Mon/Jim Burton here for trees;commenced plowing for corn May 01/Tue/Drawed manure;10 loads, rained in afternoon May 02/Wed/Cloudy and rainy;got grist from E.C.; Billy shut Murphy's cattle up and went to town; Mell and Chauncy gone to town;cold May 03/Thu/Rainy and cold in morning; justice of the peace here and fined Murphy May 04/Fri/All hands went to party at Pixley's; Anna, Milo and Luke played May 05/Sat/Went to town with Chauncy;Mell, Ada and Katie went to Ann Folets May 06/Sun/Ela Matson here visiting May 07/Mon/George plowed all day;Mell gone over to the lake to work May 08/Tue/Drawed manure all day;Milo helped me; thunder and rain all night May 09/Wed/Cloudy, threatens rain;George plowing;Scot came here; rained fearfully in afternoon May 10/Thu/Milo and George drawed all day and I made pair of whifeltrees [this is his exact spelling, I am not sure what this is]; Billy went to town May 11/Fri/George plowed all day;Mell came home at night; Milo helped Billy May 12/Sat/Cattle went to Lard;George finished plowing in forenoon; Mell and I drawed manure;Louisa, Ada and Anna went to town in afternoon; Mell went to East Chain;Groff came home with women May 13/Sun/Rained and blowed fearfully all day, still continues at bedtime; Louisa and Anna went to grave yard;George went to Nut's for corn; Italian beggar here, gave him one dollar; Scot came here and stayed;Mell lost hind part of his wagon in outlet; Currier's cattle here again, girl came after them May 14/Mon/Rained most all day;salted colts;Scot left;played cards; John Huston here;Currier here looking for his cattle; 10 o'clock cloudy and warm;moon shines little May 15/Tue/Mell and I plowed Bill Groff's corn land;pleasant day; let Hoffman have 3 bushels ears of corn May 16/Wed/Mell took snowball and calf to town;dragged my corn land; school teacher here;Kate Murry here May 17/Thu/Rained all day;started to E.C.;stayed all day to Billy's May 18/Fri/Went to East Chain;got plows fixed;rained and blowed some May 19/Sat/Got 2 pigs from Style;went to town with Billy;rained some; paid post office draft to bullia?d May 20/Sun/Groff, Mill and I went to Billy's part of day;rainy May 21/Mon/Marked corn ground;Milo planted Groff's corn and potatoes May 22/Tue/Planted corn all day alone;Louisa planted sorghum; warm all day May 23/Wed/Finished planting corn;went to town with Billy;PS May 24/Thu/Cloudy and rainy;Billy marked his corn ground; helped Billy plant in afternoon May 25/Fri/Scot here;planted my potatoes;George came home; Billy finished planting corn May 26/Sat/Got oats from Jim;went to town with Billy; Billy bought pony from Marston [this could be Maston]; Jim paid me $20 May 27/Sun/Cold and light rain;Louisa, Ada and Anna gone to Jim Wilson's May 28/Mon/Helped Billy build a fence May 29/Tue/Got Billy shod;went to mill with grist, Mell went to Iowa; papered kitchen May 30/Wed/Went to town and paid taxes and interest;paid Woleston $10; got my watch;got Anna pair of shoes May 31/Thu/Went to mill;got grist;Louisa went to Doyle's visiting; got $1.15 for wheat balance due Jun 01/Fri/Hot and windy;took potatoes out of cellar;painted bobsleds; dance at Pixley's Jun 02/Sat/Mell and I went to town;rained all day Jun 03/Sun/All hands here;played croquet all day Jun 04/Mon/Fixed Styles granary; Mr. Carelton and wife cane and stayed all night, Dan Wilkins and wife here Jun 05/Tue/Mr. and Mrs. Carelton left;painted some Jun 06/Wed/Louisa took Carry home to Fairmont Jun 07/Thu/Louisa got little lamb;warm day;John Huston here; finished painting wagon Jun 08/Fri/Rained most all day;children didn't tend school Jun 09/Sat/Louisa went to Hill's visiting;went to town; Groff came home with me;Whitney here;got potatoes; Ada went to Blue Earth Jun 10/Sun/Pleasant day;Louisa and Anna went to Pixley's; played croquet some;Ada came home from Blue Earth Jun 11/Mon/Mell went to town;Billy took posts to East Chain; commenced cultivating corn;painted light wagon; Mell traded pony for Old Bill Jun 12/Tue/Finished cultivating one way;fixed cellar;cool and windy Jun 13/Wed/Sowed timothy for Billy;Mrs. Ruble and Jones here visiting; all hands went to Bowdrey's in afternoon; Louisa got glass dishes from Pixley's; Lenny and Gream here to dinner Jun 14/Thu/Hoed potatoes in garden;Mr. Ball came and stayed all night Jun 15/Fri/Plowed for turnips;cut weeds on wheat;84 degrees of heat; artist took sketch of place Jun 16/Sat/School picnic;fixed cultivator;very hot Jun 17/Sun/House full to dinner;warm day Jun 18/Mon/Commenced cultivating;rained little; Ada took Milo and wife to town to go to Wisconsin Jun 19/Tue/George cultivated corn;I mowed and pulled weeds Jun 20/Wed/Worked on road with team;rained little; all hands went to Ackley's to party Jun 21/Thu/George cultivated;I worked on road;very warm Jun 22/Fri/Very hot;cultivated potatoes;hoed cane; Mell cultivated for Groff, Billy went to East Chain Jun 23/Sat/Went to town in afternoon;Milo came home with me; brought ham Jun 24/Sun/Had strawberries for dinner;Gream and Jim here; Louisa took Gream, Milo and Ada to town;sent Ralph's fiddle to him Jun 25/Mon/Sowed rutabagas and grass seed;finished hoeing cane; Frank Rogers and Fred here;Billy and Mell cultivated Mell's corn Jun 26/Tue/Anna helping Margaret;?ine Jones and mother here visiting Jun 27/Wed/Went to East Chain in morning to get cultivator fixed; cultivated rest of day;Luke Nuter and boys here in evening;had music Jun 28/Thu/Cultivated corn;very hot, 90 degrees, Mr. Ball went away, spliced plow beam for Billy Jun 29/Fri/Finished cultivating 3rd time;hoed some corn Jun 30/Sat/Billy finished breaking;Anna, Flora and Billy went to town; let Style have 19 baskets of corn;Ada came home with Billy Jul 01/Sun/Jed Stewart and mother, Kate Murry and Rosprid?, Petrie and wife all here;very hot, 100 above zero Jul 02/Mon/Cultivated little;very hot, 99 above zero; done nothing in afternoon Jul 03/Tue/Went to town;George got clothes;98 above zero; Mell and Hattie came home with me, J???? Miller came rained in night Jul 04/Wed/Went to East Chain, came home and went again in evening; cool and pleasant;Anna and Milo played Jul 05/Thu/Took Hattie and Milo to town Jul 06/Fri/[nothing written] Jul 07/Sat [nothing written] Jul 08/Sun [nothing written] Jul 09/Mon/Hoed cane;very warm, 88 above zero Jul 10/Tue/Finished hoeing cane;88 above zero Jul 11/Wed/Commenced cultivating corn 5th time,;very warm; rain, thunder and lightning in evening;school teacher here Jul 12/Thu/Cultivated corn;very warm;thunder and lightning all day; rain in evening;fixed fence in lake Jul 13/Fri/Very warm in morning;cloudy and cooler at noon; finished cultivating corn Jul 14/Sat/Mell and I went to town; Louisa, Anna, and Ada went Strawberrying to Orin's Jul 15/Sun/Played croquet all day Jul 16/Mon/Billy and Louisa, Anna and George went hunting crane Jul 17/Tue/Hoed some corn;very hot Jul 18/Wed/All hands went to Ackley's visiting Jul 19/Thu/Billy and I went to Millers for oats, got 26 bushels, Mell went to Winnebago for rake for mower Jul 20/Fri/Very hot, 95 above zero;done nothing;Mell got home Jul 21/Sat/Went to town in evening;94 above zero;fixed hay rake;got oil Jul 22/Sun/Rained all day, thunder and lightning in evening Jul 23/Mon/Rained all day Jul 24/Tue/Cut my Timothy hay Jul 25/Wed/Mell went for his machine Jul 26/Thu/Raked my hay;went to town with Billy in afternoon, Ada went Jul 27/Fri/Sick all day;Louisa and Anna went berrying Jul 28/Sat/All hands went to the Siren's;Ada and I went in evening Jul 29/Sun/Cool and rainy;Dan Wilkens here;played croquet; Milo came here Jul 30/Mon/Commenced cultivating wheat;Mell and Milo helped me; Billy helped in afternoon, Mell gone to town Jul 31/Tue/Cut wheat, Milo, Mell, and Billy helped all day; John Huston in afternoon;took white cow to Style's; Scot came at night Aug 1/Wed/Cut oats on Jim's and wheat at home;Milo worked all day; John, Scot, Billy and Mell-each one half day;little shower Aug 2/Thu/Cut wheat all day; Milo, John, Scot, and Mell and Billy worked all day; Mell and John went to town Aug 3/Fri/Finished cutting wheat;bound oats on Jim's; Scot and Milo worked all day;Mell and John 01/2 day; cut 4 times round Billy's Timothy hay Aug 4/Sat/Cut Billy's Timothy hay;went to town in afternoon; Hattie came home with us Aug 5/Sun/Ada took Hattie home;Nelly hurt her knee Aug 6/Mon/Worked on machine Aug 7/Tue/Rained all day Aug 8/Wed/Cloudy and wet;worked on machine Aug 9/Thu/Commenced cutting oats;worked 2 hours;to green yet Aug 10/Fri/Bound Billy's oats in afternoon; Chauncy cut his oats on Bill's Aug 11/Sat/Cut oats 01/2 day;rained rest of day Aug 12/Sun/Dan Wilkins and a lot more played croquet Aug 13/Mon/Finished my oats in forenoon;cut for Billy in afternoon Aug 14/Tue/Cut for Billy 2 hours;rained;Billy and Milo went to town Aug 15/Wed/Cut oats for Billy Aug 16/Thu/Finished cutting Billy's oats 3 o'clock in afternoon; very hot;Billy went to town Aug 17/Fri/Cut Groff's road;party in evening;Scot helped Mell Aug 18/Sat/Put up our hay;I, Billy, and Milo went to town Aug 19/Sun/Mell fixed his horse po??;Dan Wilkins here Aug 20/Mon/Stacked 10 acres of my wheat Aug 21/Tue/Mell commenced threshing for Bowdry; high winds and little hail;very warm Aug 22/Wed/Commenced threshing at noon Aug 23/Thu/Finished threshing at noon; 167 bushels of oats, 196 of wheat;stacked wheat afternoon Aug 24/Fri/Threshed for Wilkins all day Aug 25/Sat/Stacked my oats Index of names Ackley Ball, Mr. Billy Bowdry, C. Burton, Gream Burton, Jim Carelton, Mr. And wife Carelton, Scot Caston, Jimmy Chaney, Bill Chauncy Cole Currier Doyle Folets, Ann Folet, Gessy Foster, Adelia Ganoe, Robert Gorman, John Gream Groff, Bill Hattie Hodgeman, Bill Hoffman, Mrs Hoffman, William Huston, John Jano, Rupert Jim Jimmy Jones, Fred Jones (2 Jones boys) Lasby, Jim Leet Main Marston Martin, Mrs. Maston Matson, Ela Mell Miller, Herman Miller, J (could have been Johnny or Jimmy) Milo Mitchel Murphy Murry, Kate (also talks about Mrs. Murry) Nut Nuter, Luke Older Petrie Pixley Prentice, Orin Rogers, Frank Rouse Ruble Stewart, Jed Style, Fred (talks about the 2 Style boys) Turner, Claud Wickham Wilkins, Dan and wife Wilson, Jim Woleston