Oct 1 – Pleasant. I wrote to Ethan. We got a letter from Mother. Hank commenced packing this morning.
Oct 2 – Pleasant. Hank finished packing at the galery to day and commenced packing a little at the house. Hank went to Ionia.
Oct 3 – Rainy this afternoon. We packed in good earnest to day, got most packed. Expect to start for home to morrow night.
Oct 4 – Rainy. Finished packing. Mr Philp took the goods to the depot. We left Muir five minutes after five, got to Lyons. The cars was behind time, waited seven hours. Got to Lansing about three left there about five.
Oct 5 – Pleasant. We got to Jackson about six this morning. Went to the American house got breakfast and I went to bed & Hank went to the depo. We went to a resturant this afternoon and got supper. Started for home at five this evening.
Oct 6 – Pleasant. We got to Pas at nine last evening all safe. We went down to Fathers this morning. Ma went over to Mrs Hoags to sit up with her.
Oct 7 – Pleasant. Our trunk came to day. Arthur Lilly stayed here last night. Hannah is here to day. She has got a fellon.[141] We came back to Pas to night.
Oct 8 – Pleasant. Hank & I washed the first time since I was married. We went to keeping house to the burg one year ago to day. It is a year this morning since Will Plank lost his hand.[142]
Oct 9 – Pleasant. Hank and I took Aunt A– down to Aunt Kates. We stayed till three, stoped to Loises a little while. I stoped to Fathers. Hank took Bill home and then came come back to Fathers.
Oct 10 – Pleasant. I am fixing Hanks shirts. Went down to Pas a little while. Lois was there. Ma had gone down to Aunt Kates with Mr and Mrs Harris. Ambrose Field and Carrie Holmes[143] was married this evening.
Oct 11 – Pleasant. Aunt Jule washed. Hank, Father and Will and Fred went to the Burg. I went down to Pa,s and stayed till they came back. Ethan went with them. Pa lanced Hannahs fellon this evening. Mrs Earl, Hattie & Libbie visited here to day.
Oct 12 – Pleasant. I finished Hanks shirts. Tip and Rass went up to Mr Chases. Ida and Mrs Barber called here to day.
Oct 13 – Pleasant. Hank and I went to the Burg this forenoon. I got Hannah a brown calico dress. Hank went to Chicago to night. Father, Mother and Will came up to Pas to night.
Oct 14 – Pleasant. I dont feel very well. I done my ironing to day. Hannahs fellon is a little better.
Oct 15 – Pleasant. Ma & I washed. I expected to get a letter from Hank but did not.
Oct 16 – Some rainy. I went down to Fathers to night (Pa took me, did not get any from Hank. Ma wrote to Uncle Hite.
Oct 17 – Rainy. Put my quilt on this morning. We quilted some to day. I got a letter from Hank. He has got a job for 1.75 or two dollars per day.
Oct 18 – Pleasant. We quilted till four then I came up to Pas. Ed Willcott[144] was here. Ethan went to the Burg, got me some sugar to make jelly.
Oct 19 – Pleasant. I wrote to Hank. Mr Hawleys folks went up to their fathers. Ethan, Hannah and Louesa went down to Aunt Kates.
Oct 20 – Pleasant. Ethan got me some grapes. Ma & I made jellie. I got jellie a letter from Hank.
Oct 21 – Snowed a little last night and this forenoon. Thawed most as fast as it fell. Ma, Hannah & I went down to Fathers to quilt on my Album quilt. I stayed.
Oct 22 – Cold and rainy. We finished my quilt this evening. Charley Clark[145] stoped here this morning. He came last night.
Oct 23 – Pleasant and cold. Jimmie brought me down some sewing this morning. I got a letter from Hank. Eva Bronson and Mr More were married to night.[146]
Oct 24 – Pleasant. I bought finished my drawers this forenoon and commenced my chemise. Mother and I sent a letter to Hank.
Oct 25 – Warm & Pleasant. Father and Mother went to Kalamazoo. Mother got me eight yards of cotton. Ma & Pa went down to Aunt Katies. Aunt Jule & I went a beach nutting. Father, Mother, Will & I went to the Phrenalogical[147] lecture. I came home to night. I finished my chemise. I went out to our little Babys grave tonight.
Oct 26 – Rainy. Charley came down here to day. Lois and Dell went up to Brady after Will last night. Mr & Mrs Hawley[148] have gone away to day. I wrote to Alice Crawford.[149] Pa & Ma got home to night.
Oct 27 – Rainy. Ma and Hannah have been to work on her brown calico dress. Jimmie went to the Burg. Ma got a letter from Grandma. She answered it this evening. I am not very well.
Oct 28 – Snow three inches deep this morning, the first we have had to amount to any thing. Charley is here to day. Willie did not come home. Jimmie went to the Burg. Mr Hawley started for Hastings this morn. He went with the horse and wagon. I got a letter from Hank and answered it this evening.
Oct 29 – Some rain and snow. Pa & Louesa went down to Aunt Kates. Pa got a pig of Mart. Sis did not come home. Mr Hawley got home to night.
Oct 30 – Snowed. Charley came down here. He and Jimmie went to the Burg. I sent Hank a Muir paper.
Oct 31 – Cold and blustering. I commenced ____ a chemise this evening.
Nov 1 – Snowed some. Ethan and Charley went to the Burg. Ethan got Charley a pair of Boots. I finished my chemise.
Nov 2 – Rainy. Lousesa came home to night. Ma went back with Mart. The Baby is not expected to live. Grandpa Keith[150] would 91 years old to day if he had lived.
Nov 3 – Warm and pleasant. Hannah and I finished Wolfe Dark to day. Sis worked on her black calico dress. Ethan went to the Burg and got a lamp chimney. He and Pa picked up the apels for cider.
Nov 4 – Pleasant. Pa & Ethan drew corn in to the barn. I got a letter from Hank. Hannah tried to sew on her brown dress but had to give it up. Sis went to the Burg to take some patterns to Mary Mason.
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[141] Felon – deep inflammation on a finger or toe
[142] From Luke Keith’s October 14, 1872 diary entry: Will Plank came home badly hurt had his hand took of smashed coupling cars
[143] Michigan marriage records at Ancestry.com show that they were married November 18, 1873 in Galesburg, Michigan
[144] Believe she is referring to her father’s first cousin, Edward G. Wolcott
[145] Her nephew, Charles Clark, the son of Lois (Keith) and her first husband, Byron Clark
[146] A search at Ancestry.com shows that Eva Bronson married Levi Moore in Galesburg, Michigan, on October 22, 1873
[147] Belief that mental characteristics and powers can be ascertained by measuring and studying the shape and protuberances of the skull
[148] Byron & Harriet (Abbott) Hawley
[149] Her maternal first cousin, who lived in Glen Haven, Wisconsin
[150] Charles Luke Keith Sr.
Letters & Diary Entries From the 1860s through the 1890s 