Nancy’s handwriting is extremely hard to read, especially names.
May 1 – Bessie & Hannah came on 10 a.m. train. Hank opened gallery in Chicago.[47]
May 2 – Hannah gone to Mary Cousins to sew. Porter Olmstead died last night 11 p.m.[48] H.A. wrote for Bessie to come to Chicago Wednesday.
May 3 – Hannah gone home to day. I got her cloth for cape took to train. Saw Ida Allen.
May 4 – Bessie went to Chicago on 2-18 train to help in penny gallery.[49] Porter Olmstead buried this p.m. Lous Jay 15 to day.[50]
May 5 – D. 39 to day. Card from Claude said met Bess O.K. I went to Dr McK– this eve. She is going to try Mrs McKee.
May 6 – (no entry)
May 7 – Long letter from Bess with plan of house & gallery.
May 8 – Mrs McKee here this p.m. Lela, Emma Harris & Gertie Cay went riding on their wheels.
May 9 – I got letter from Claude. Wrote last weeks receipts were 85.00.
May 10 – I cleaned the Barn this a.m. Got a letter from H.A. with 30.00 check. Mildred sick a little guess its measles.
May 11 – I sewed this a.m. Mrs McKinney called has taken three treatments, is better. Mrs Quale over this p.m.
May 12 – Lou had a hard stomach spell. Mrs McKee helped her. Mr Snyder here. I paid telephone bill.
May 13 – Dr came to see Mildred. Lou telephoned to D. that I would meet Floyd tomorrow morning. Mr Abbey called.
May 14 – I met Floyd this a.m.
May 15 – Lela & Floyd went to Burg on wheels. Rained last night.
May 16 – Lela & Floyd got home 5.45 a.m. Floyd gone home this noon. D sent home eggs & butter. Long letter from Bess with pictures of Jim[51] & Will[52] folks.
May 17 – Mildred all broken out is real sick. D- came here to night stayed all night.
May 18 – Mildred a little better. Lela brought home 1 pint Ice cream. Hard thunder storm to night hail & some wind.
May 19 – Mildred very restless all night and to day. Lou all used up. Telephoned for Laverne. Gertrude Holmes 1 year old to day.[53] Major Abbey left this a.m.
May 20 – Mr Jessie Earl[54] & Wm H Gladstone died the 19th. Mildred better to day. I cleaned cellar.
May 21 – I got ready to go home. Street car only went to show ground so I got left.
May 22 – Lou, Mildred, Mrs McKee and I went street car riding.
May 23 – I went to Burg. Ethan came over about 11. I went home with him. The first I had seen the new paper it is red. Came home on 10 p.m. train.
May 24 – Laverne went home on 12-20 train. Got letter from Hank & Bess with $65.00 money order. Lela to Essies to supper.
May 25 – Family bought & moving in the McEntye house. Dr & Mrs McK– here to dinner. We had ham & greens.
May 26 – Claude surprised us by coming home this p.m.
May 27 – Fumigated for measles to day. Mrs McKee came after we had gone to bed.
May 28 – Paid for last 3 weeks. Lou & Mildred went home on 6-40 train. Lela went with them, took Mrs C. Kodak. 3 months to day since Lou came.
May 29 – Mother & I alone all day, very lonesome. Claude to West Lake.
May 30 – Lela came home this a.m. Claude & Eddie[55] went to Ball Park. Lela had to work so could not go. I began cleaning chamber.
May 31 – Mr Packard shot him self this a.m.[56] Mrs Kelley helped me clean this p.m. Mr Jackson called. Ed Atkins[57] also. Brought neg of house. Claude went up to Burg.
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[47] A letter from Henry shows that the address was 1141 Western Avenue
[48] Michigan death records confirm that Porter Olmsted died May 1, 1898 in Kalamazoo, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo
[49] Henry’s photograph business
[50] Her sister Louese Harris’ oldest son, who would have been 15 years old; he died February 12, 1887
[51] Nancy’s brother and his family, James, Cora (Meredith), Winifred and Walter Keith
[52] Henry’s brother and his family, Willis, Elizabeth (Ogden), Ray, Perry and Ruth Brown
[53] Her half-sister Lois’ granddaughter, the daughter of William & Ina (Skinner) Holmes
[54] Michigan death records show that Jesse Earl died May 18, 1898 in Comstock, Michigan and FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[55] Believe this is “Edie”. (See footnote to March 4th entry)
[56] Cullin Channing Packard. He is also mentioned in the February 25th and April 25th entries and it would appear he worked with Henry in some capacity in the photography business. Henry also wrote a letter to Nancy on May 1, 1898 comparing his new place to Packard’s (click here to read). Michigan death records show that he died May 31, 1898 in Kalamazoo, Michigan as a result of shooting himself because of despondency. FindAGrave.com shows he is buried in the Riverside Cemetery, also in Kalamazoo
[57] Edgar Atkins was her husband Henry’s cousin
Letters & Diary Entries From the 1860s through the 1890s 