Luke Keith’s diary entries for March 1886

Mar 1 – Choring round as usual. Went over to Burg at noon. Got some medicin for Edna. Got Harness oil of Semour Miner.

Mar 2 – At home. Jim had Bill[40] to draw straw.

Mar 3 – Mercury 26. Cut some wood drawed some wood.

Mar 4 – Went to Kalamazoo. Went to Hanks. Bot Diary 75 cts.

Mar 5 – Mercury. Mended Kettle. Chored round. Very pleasant day.

Mar 6 – Cut and Drew two loads wood. Very nice day.

Mar 7 – Nice day. O. M. came up. Doc McBeth came over to see Edna. I went over in Evening after McBeth.

Mar 8 – Snows like fun. Doc came over in morning. Ethan sick.

Mar 9 – Mercury 32. A. R. Skinner cut wood part of the day. Fine day snowed some not very cold.

Mar 10 – Mercury 38. Went over after Lois in morning. Put clasp on Mrs Bradshaws album. Cow sick.

Mar 11 – Went over to burg bot medicine for cow. Drawed some wood and some corn. Cow sick.

Mar 12 – Mercury 38. Ben Smith Died shelby ville.[41] Snowed like Blazez. Went over after Del he came over to see cow. Charley Corey taking down the old Brick on corner.

Mar 13 – 30 Abz. Not very well. Went over to Burg got oil. Cow some better not much.

Mar 14 – At home all day. Mrs Hubberd Lewis marred to day.[42] Mr Benj Smith of Shelby Ville Buried to day.

Mar 15 – Went up to Mr Ridlers to by some wood. He Brot one cord wood $1.75.

Mar 16 – Cow sick. Went over to burg after Hanks things at Galery. Put handle in Spade.

Mar 17 – Went up to Jesse Earls[43] got vice of Theodore. Went to burg got some medicine for cow of Munger $1.00.

Mar 18 – Went down to Mrs Brown & got some potatoes. Glued Mrs Rogers chair. Mrs Bradshaw got her Album 25 cts.

Mar 19 – Mercury 70. Cut some wood. Filed saw for A. Kaywood. Put up iron vice. Clara Milham[44] here.

Mar 20 – At home. Cut some wood.

Mar 21 – At home. Filed saw for Dell Skinner.

Mar 22 – Went down to Mrs Browns got some potatoes. Snowed some cold March wind. Hannah came home from Shelby Ville.[45]

Mar 23 – Went over to burg after Cora Meridith.[46] She came stayed all night.

Mar 24 – Worked on Hat & Libs[47] cupboard. Cora went up to Jim Milhams.[48] Ethan took Hannah down to Smith Carletons.[49] Very nice day.

Mar 25 – Worked on cupboard. Fine day. Ina[50] came over stayed all night.

Mar 26 – Went over to burd [burg] in morning after Lumber to finish cupboard.

Mar 27 – Mercury 32. Worked on cupboard. Very nice day. Charley Town[51] finished fence on north side road. Hannah came home from Carletons.

Mar 28 – Went to Katharines. Cold East wind.

Mar 29 – Changed corn with W^m Rogers. They moved three Loads goods.

Mar 30 – Rainy day. Finished the cupboard. Mended spade for Jim. Jim bot Horse of Taylor Girls.[52]

Mar 31 – Mercury 41. Rainy fore noon. Davis Stafford and Mr Brown came down to see the Binder. I took the girls cupboard up to them. Mr W^m Rogers took the last load goods to day.

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[40] His horse

[41] According to FindAGrave.com, Benjamin Smith died March 11, 1886 and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Wayland, Michigan

[42] Michigan marriage records show that Adeliza (Hubbard) Lewis, the widow of Franklin Lewis, married Charles Rimmey in Galesburg, Michigan on March 14, 1886

[43] Neighbor, and father of Theodore (see January 7^th entry) and Herbert Earl (see January 18^th entry)

[44] His great-niece, the daughter of Martin & Lucy (Lee) Milham

[45] Shelbyville, Michigan, where his daughter Louese lived

[46] Cora Meredith, his future daughter-in-law; she would marry his son Jim in June 1891

[47] Harriet Taylor and her sister, Flora Elizabeth “Libby” (Taylor) Schram. Libby had been married to Isaac Schram, however by 1880 they were divorced and Hattie and Libby were living together

[48] Neighbor, James Milham, who was the half-brother of Martin Milham (see footnote to January 23^rd entry)

[49] Neighbor, Smith Carlton, son of Albert Carlton (see February 1^st entry)

[50] His granddaughter, Ina Skinner

[51] His neighbor, Charles Towne

[52] Hat and Lib Taylor