Diary of H H Walters - 1887 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 15, 1887 Saturday Walked from Fairport to Albany to pay my taxes and the interest due on my land. Came home the same day, riding the greater part of the way. Feb. 25 1887 Friday Closed my eighteenth term of school. Spent the night with Mr. John Pearson and rode with Mr. John B. Robinson to Maysville the next day. March 2, 1887 Wednesday Took my family to the depot at Maysville and sent them to Stanberry. We had been stopping at my mother's since the close of my school. March 26, 1887 Saturday Ed and I went up to Stanberry in a wagon, taking up some household goods that my family needed. We returned on the following Monday, having a cold trip through the snow. May 7, 1887 Saturday Rode up to Stanberry to visit my family going on horseback. Visited the Normal with Minnie on Monday, returning on Tuesday. May 16, 1887 Monday Left my mother's for a short trip in Kansas. Went to Brown County, prospecting for a school spending Monday night at Hamlin and Tuesday night at Wathena. Was at Hiawatha, Hamlin, Morrill, Willis and Robinson in Kansas and Amazonia, Missouri on Wednesday prospecting, but made no definite arrangements anywhere. Made the trip by rail. Visited the famous Jesse James house while in St. Joseph. Spent the greater part of Wednesday in St. Joseph. Arrived at home late on Wednesday evening. May 31, 1887 Tuesday Left Maysville for McFall going by rail by way of Gallatin. Spent the greater part of the day at Gallatin where I had to wait for the evening local on the Wabash. Arrived at McFall just before sundown. Saw some of the school board on business and walked out to Mr. Israel Christie's 3 1/2 miles south of town, and spent the night. Left McFall shortly after 6 A.M. the next morning on the train for Stanberry where I spent the day. Thursday morning I went to McFall again and saw all of the board. Left after dinner and walked to my mother's a distance of 26 miles, arriving late Thursday evening. June 2. July 2, 1887 Saturday Went to Stanberry on horseback to spend the 4th with my family. The celebration was held at the grove east of town. Remained for the fireworks at night returning home on Tuesday. Rained on my way home. Aug. 13, 1887 Saturday Edward took me to Stanberry in a spring wagon to attend the Institute the coming week at Albany. Went to Albany with Minnie on Monday, returning to Stanberry on Friday evening. Was not well during the Institute. Aug. 26, 1887 Friday Finishing up my examination at the Stanberry Normal the day before, I left Stanberry for Maysville, taking the morning freight for McFall. I found the town celebrating its seventh anniversary. After dinner, I left on foot for Weatherby, where I took the evening passenger for Maysville. Arrived at home, footsore and worn out. Sept. 12, 1887 Monday Took a wagonload of our household goods to Stanberry, taking Edward's team. Returned the next day. Oct. 14, 1887 Friday Left my mother's for McFall, going by way of Gallatin. Arrived at McFall on the evening local. Minnie and Dell came down from Stanberry on the evening passenger. Oct 17, 1887 Monday Commenced my nineteenth term of school with an attendance of 39 in my room. Mrs. Walters took charge of the Intermediate department with an attendance of 45. Taught the first term in the new building. Nov. 12, 1887 Saturday Spent the day at Stanberry. Left McFall the evening before, going as far as Darlington with the intention of attending the Institute at King City the next day. Changed my mind and went on to Stanberry the next morning. Returned to McFall in the evening. Nov. 16, Wednesday 1887 Left Mr. E. C. Shimin's(?) hotel where we had been boarding and moved into two rooms of Dr. T. H. Hunt's house. Began housekeeping on a small scale. Spent the following Saturday night at Mr. Israel Christie's returning Sunday evening. Dec. 10, 1887 Saturday Left on the morning train for Darlington. Walked up to Albany on the track and spent the day at the Institute. Returned in the evening by way of Darlington, making the whole trip by rail. Dec. 24, 1887 Saturday We went to Stanberry on the morning train to spend Christmas with Mr. Fisher's. Returned on Sunday evening. Had no vacation during the holiday. 1887 The winter was short but rather severe followed by a very early spring. Farmers planted considerable corn before the middle of April and this made the best corn crop. The season was very much like the preceding one being very dry. A severe drouth in the same localities that had suffered the preceding year caused much inconvenience to farmers in those parts. Crops in Missouri were fair. After closing my school at Fairport, I moved our household goods down to my mother's where I spent the summer . The house we had occupied took fire and burned down on the afternoon of March 4th. Cause, a defective flue. Mrs. Walters and the children spent the summer at Stanberry where she attended school until taken with the measles which proved rather severe to her and the children. Her eyesight was impaired for three months by reason of her sickness. I spent the summer working on the farm and doing some insurance work, making two trips in search of a situation for the coming school year. I secured one for myself and Mrs. Walters at McFall, MO. Being in Gentry county where we had both formerly taught, we could do better than we could have done at a distance, owing to the condition of her eyesight. We disposed of our land in the spring and at present have no real estate. Our intention is to follow teaching together for several years as such a course seems to be best suited to us. Her health has been completely restored. Dell was quite sick for a week just before Christmas, but is now well again. Our school has three departments this year and we have the upper and middle rooms. Jan 1, 1888