Dec 1 – Took Plymoth Rock Rooster over to Fanny Town and one Wyandot Rooster over for Erastus Town.[108] Charley and Mate Ford[109] here in Evening.
Dec 2 – Got Ethans watch. I cut of Fred Franklins gun stock. He paid 50¢. Went over to Burg at noon took letters over. Rainy day. Robert Emmet played at the Rink to night. Saw Jim Holden.
Dec 3 – Rainy day. Hannah went to Gus Gates to work. Jim cut some wood. I drew two loads wood.
Dec 4 – 54 Abz some sprinkly. Warm for December. Old Mrs Forbush Died this morning.[110] Emily McCausey Died this morning.[111]
Dec 5 – Tim Whitcomb brot 1970 lbs Hay. Nice day for Gustavus Gates.
Dec 6 – Very fine day. I paid Mr Gus Gates $11.75 cts for Hay delivered yesterday. Got Charleys Mill and cleaned up wheat. Mrs Em McCausey Buried to Day.
Dec 7 – Went to Mill took 4 bushels wheat. Bot midlings 75¢. Went to Mrs Forbush funeral in afternoon. Very nice day.
Dec 8 – Oat Hill and Jim chopping. Cut big oak tree. Nice day.
Dec 9 – Jim cut some wood I drew three loads. Nice day. Took Sarah down to Mrs Streators in afternoon. Mrs Hubbard Lewis Died.[112]
Dec 10 – Very stormy rained all day. Jim helped Will Brown Butcher. Mrs H Lewis Buried to day. Snowed in night. Galesburg Bank Burglarised. One man shot. Charley Cory shot one fo [sic] the gang.
Dec 11 – 34 snows some. At home all day. Big times at the burg to day.
Dec 12 – At home choring some. Ethan took Rooster down to Mrs Browns.
Dec 13 – Oat and Jim chopping. Fine weather. Shaved out helve for Fred. Mart called here in Evening Et supper.
Dec 14 – Oat and Jim chopping. Nice day. Went down to Mrs Browns took Hanks cask down to put his Beef in.
Dec 15 – Took [S]arah over to Lois. Ethan and Jim went to Kalamazoo. Ethans Knife came from Toledo.
Dec 16 – Jim Huling wood for Will Brown. Will Brown brot quater Beef this Evening. Jim Lawrence the Bank Robber that Charley Cory shot in the Burg Died to day.
Dec 17 – Drawed two loads wood. Jim worked for Arthur Armes.[113] The man that Cory shot went Anarbor on the night Express.
Dec 18 – Jim went to Augusta. Ethan went over to Lois.
Dec 19 – Drawed, worked round, worked round barn and house. The Burglar went to Anarbor to day.
Dec 20 – Went over to Burg took over Butter 4½ lbs 18¢ pr lb 1.91 cts for Butter and cream.
Dec 21 – B. Vosburg Died to day.[114] Went over to Burg in morning after Lois. Nice windy day very much cold. Hannah came home Mr H Gilson brot her.
Dec 22 – Cold snowey Blustring day. Dodings but chores to day. Charley Town got Peater to day. Peter had a calf to day.
Dec 23 – Cold blustrous day. Not much done to day.
Dec 24 – Took Hannah up to Mr Flanders this morning. Drawed two loads wood in afternoon. Barnard Vosburg Buried to day.
Dec 25 – At home all day. Not very cold.
Dec 26 – Worked on Theodores cross head. Bess came up here. Mary Ann and Inez[115] came. Charley Town paid $30 Dollars for Pete.
Dec 27 – 33. Took Mary up to Mrs Bateys[116] in morning. Went over to burg in afternoon. Snowed like fun.[117] Got sack Graham flour 25 ____ ____. Arthur Arms Killed Ring to day.
Dec 28 – 10 Abz very Blustrous day snows and blows snow flies. Drew two loads wood. Very cold day. Very few teams moving. Bes came up stayed all night.
Dec 29 – Lizzie came up after Bes. Went over to Burg Bot btl salt $1.00 Bot 88 Diary 25¢. Paid my Tax $7.71 cts.
Dec 30 – At home. Worked in shop some and chored round.
Dec 31 – Put cutter thills on. Went down after Bes. Mr Caywoods Brother road with me as far as Mrs Browns. Rainy afternoon.
MEMORANDA
Sir William Keith 3d Vol 186 Page
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[108] Erasmus was the brother of Fanny and Charley, who were all children of Albert Towne
[109] Neighbors, Charles & Mary Ann (Thompson) Ford
[110] Michigan death records show that Almira (Dane) Forbush died in Galesburg, Michigan on December 4, 1887 and FindAGrave.com shows she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg
[111] No death record was found for Emily McCausey; however, the notes at FindAGrave.com for her husband, Charles McCausey, show he married Emily Wheaton in May of 1865. Her date of death was listed as December 4, 1884, but believe this to be a typo
[112] Michigan death records show that Mrs. A. M. Lewis, a widow, died of Typhoid Malaria on December 9, 1887 in Galesburg, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows that Adeliza (Hubbard) Lewis is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg. However, Luke noted in his diary on March 14, 1886 that “Mrs Hubberd Lewis marred to day” to Charles Rimmey in Galesburg. It is unknown why she was referred to as Mrs. Lewis rather than Mrs. Rimmey; research continues
[113] Arthur Arms, paternal first cousin of Hank Brown
[114] Michigan death records show that Barnard Vosburg died in Comstock, Michigan on December 21, 1887 and FindAGrave.com reveals he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan
[115] Mary Ann (Batey) Keith and her granddaughter, Inez Randall. Mary Ann was the wife of Luke’s nephew, James “Oscar” Keith
[116] Eliza “Betsey” (Olds) Batey, Mary Ann’s mother
[117] Luke uses this phrase quite often. The Oxford Dictionary gives its meaning as “vigorously or quickly”
Letters & Diary Entries From the 1860s through the 1890s 