Diary of H H Walters - 1885 Donated by and transcibed by Lori Craynor ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, 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. ************************************************************************ Jan 17, 1885 Saturday Hellman's bakery in Stanberry took fire about 2 A.M. and burned down. No other buildings were burned as the snow prevented the spread of the flames. April 17 1885 Friday Last day of my seventeenth term of school. As many of my larger pupils did not attend during the last month, the exercises for the last day did not vary much from the regular order. May 18, 1885 Monday I took the train for Darlington prospecting for a school during the next winter. I found that the school-board were not prepared to make any engagements and so I did not make any defnite arrangement. May 29, 1885 Friday I took the 7 P.M. train for Valparaiso, Indiana. Arrived at the Gallatin crossing shortly before 9 P.M. and at 10. P.M. took the night express for Chicago on the Rock Island road. Reached Chicago at 2-30. P.M. next day. Took the 4. P.M. train on the Grand Trunk(?) for Valparaiso, arriving at 5-30 P.M. July 4, 1885 Saturday Spent the greater part of the forenoon in the museum department of the school with some friends. Enjoyed myself very much. In the afternoon, went over to Sager's Pond. (note: Flint Lake is written first and crossed out.) +++++++++++++ Transcribers Note: The next few pages of the diary tell of his trip to Indiana. +++++++++++++ 1885 Another very severe winter succeeded the two previous ones, and made the memory of mild winters less vivid than formerly. For two months, the weather was very cold, running as low as 25 and 30 degrees below zero times. I boarded at home all winter though my school was 3 1/2 miles north of Stanberry, where I lived. I walked over 1100 miles back and forth during the eight months of my term of school. The last two months of my school was taught without an assistant. About the sixth of March, I chanced to receive a circular from the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute and, on looking over it, found that an old classmate of mine, O. P. Kinsey, was Associate Principal. After corresponding with him, I determined to attend with the view of completing a course of study. After closing my school, I made some improvements on my farm, planted 2 1/2 acres of potatoes and made arrangements for attending school. My family was to remain at Stanberry with my wife's relatives, while I was gone. I left Stanberry, May 29, and arrived at Valparaiso the next evening. Finding my friend Kinsey at his office, I spent two days with him until I had secured lodgings. I had not seen him since we had attended school together at Harlem Springs, Ohio eighteen years before. I took board at East Hall, which was under the management of Mr. Kinsey; and secured rooms at Mrs. Dowdell's. I concluded to take the Scientific Course and remain until August 1886. During the two weeks of vacation in August, Mr. Kinsey went East and left me in charge of East Hall. After his return, I made arrangements with him to deliver coal to his roomers during the coming year. as a consideration for my board. I engaged rooms at Heritage Hall for the entire year, having H. W. Graham as a room mate. My health has been excellent since coming to Valparaiso. I find that I can study fully as well now, as at any time in the past. I am confident that my coming here will prove a great benefit in preparing me to take better positions in the school room. and thus enable me to better provide for my family. I rented my farm to M. C. Martin, who took possession March 1st. He cultivated my potatoes and left for Nebraska about Sept. 1st. His son-in-law, French Sherry took his place and at present is living at the farm. Crops throughout the country were good; the corn crop being the largest ever known. But it was light in Northwest Missouri; owing to excessive wet weather in June and dry weather in July and August in that locality. My potato crop fell short of 200 bushels, but as the crop east of the Mississippi was badly damaged by wet weather in August, I may realize a fair profit. Farm products are dull, and business has not been brisk during the year, but the indications promise better times. I only ask for a continuance of the good health that has been granted me in the past, in order to successfully fight the battles of life in the future. ++++++++++++