Sep 1 – Made a beginning at my Rotary engine patterns again to day. Mabel Ralphs last day sewing here this vacation.
Sep 2 – Took Hannah over to E. B. Underwoods this morning to sew. Went to the Burg this evening. Worked at patterns. Gertrude was down and did some stitching for herself.
Sep 3 – No one here to day and we staid at home all day only Lois and Dell drove over just at night.
Sep 4 – Worked at patterns what time I had to. Labor day celebration at Long Lake. Street fair began at Battle Creek to day. Wrote to W. R. Ritter.
Sep 5 – Worked at patterns. Schools began do day. Gertrude began working to day for the fall. Went to the Burg with C. Ford. Rained some this evening. Ina and Gertrude drove over just at night. Very warm.
Sep 6 – Took Hannah over to Underwoods this morning. Ma and I canned 17 qts of tomatoes this A.M. Worked at patterns a little this P.M. Gertrude sewed here. Lois and Gertrude Holmes went to Jackson to day.
Sep 7 – Worked at patterns. Took Hannah over to Underwoods this morning. Gertrude goes to Battle Creek to street fair this P.M. Very warm. “Hot”.
Sep 8 – Worked at pattern this P.M. Dug what potatoes there was left in the garden. Went to the Burg this morning.
Sep 9 – Worked at pattern. Went to the Burg this evening. Hannah went with me. Saw a Corn harvester work for the first time this P.M. over on the old Town farm. Was a McCormick.
Sep 10 – Took Hannah up to Edwin Flanders this morning. She and Mrs F- went to Vicksburg to hear O. A. Edgerly speak in grove. Went up to Edwins after this evening. Mrs Ralph and Gertrude, Mate Ford, Mr & Mrs Galusha called this P.M. and even’g.
Sep 11 – Worked at pattern some. Took Hannah over to Underwoods to sew. Gertrude sewed here. Libbie Taylor was here this P.M. Hannah stays at Underwoods to night.
Sep 12 – Worked at pattern. Went to the 6.17 P.M. train after Lou and Mildred. Hannah rode home with us from Underwoods.
Sep 13 – 33°. Worked at pattern. Hannah sewed at Underwoods her last making Florences wedding clothes. Hard frost last night froze water in dishes and tubs that stood out. Went to the Burg this evening.
Sep 14 – Worked at patterns. Gertrude sew here to day as Hannah is at home will sew right along. Cold so I set up the sitting room stove. Lois and Ina visited here to day.
Sep 15 – Worked at patterns. Hannah and I went to the Burg this evening. Recd letter from M. F. Lee with Photograph of himself.
Sep 16 – Worked at patterns. Went to the Burg this evening. Ma got medicine of a Dr that came along on trial one months treatment. Hannahs 44th birth day. Street Electric road graders got to Comstock to day. Recd letter from M. F. Lee with Photograph.
Sep 17 – Wrote to H. L. Keith. Mrs Jas Jackson was buried this P.M.[90] Claude Brown was here this A.M. Wrote to Henry L. Keith.
Sep 18 – Worked at patterns. 19 years ago to day I went over north by Mr Campbells with Henry just before he left for Cal-. Rained hard this morning.
Sep 19 – Worked at patterns. Went to the Burg this evening. Cool. Mrs Neumaier[91] and Edith called this P.M. First time Mrs N- was ever here.
Sep 20 – Worked at patterns. Wrote to Liquid Air & Automobile Co. Boston, Mass. 186 Devonshire St. 6 years to day Charley Towne died.[92]
Sep 21 – Worked at patterns this P.M. Took Pa, Ma, Lou, and LaVerne Mildred over to Lois’es for the day. I made four trips. Florence Underwood and Orra Bishop were married at 3 P.M.[93]
Sep 22 – Worked at patterns. Rainy.
Sep 23 – Worked at patterns. One year ago to day I began work on them, but have so much other work to [do] that I have not been able to finish them. Went to the Burg this evening and got Charley and Clara Clark.[94] Went to the Burg this A.M.
Sep 24 – Charley and Clara Clark over here to day. Geo Blake and wife drove in the yard a few minutes.
Sep 25 – Took Charley and Clara over to Loises this P.M. They go home on “Bob tail”.
Sep 26 – Worked at patterns. Admiral Dewey arrived at New York this morning on the Olympia from the Phillipians.
Sep 27 – Worked at patterns. Went to a show down by the mill this evening. Mr Pease and Mrs J. M. Neasmith came here this A.M. She will stay a day or two.
Sep 28 – Worked at patterns. Blustering and a little rain.
Sep 29 – Went to Kal- this A.M. Took Mrs Neasmith down to Mr Peas’es. Saw the grading for the new electric R.R. from the Burg to Comstock. Saw the new Electric R.R. bridge by Mr Peas’es. Paid Mrs Neasmiths and our insurance. Came home by Marts[95] and called. The Electric road graders had just got to Lake St in front of Fields house.
Sep 30 – Worked at patterns. Went to the Burg this evening. Hannah went with me. Hard frost last night.
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[90] Michigan death records and FindAGrave.com show that Amy (Bailey) Jackson died in Comstock on September 14, 1899 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan
[91] Valentina (Seifert) Neumaier, Edith “Eda” (Neumaier) Brown’s mother
[92] Hannah’s husband
[93] Michigan marriage records confirm that Orra Bishop and Florence Underwood were married September 21, 1899 in Galesburg, Michigan
[94] Ethan’s nephew, Charles Clark, and his wife, Clara (Youngs) Clark
[95] Martin Milham, the widower of Ethan’s cousin, Lucy (Lee) Milham (see footnote to May 16th entry)
Letters & Diary Entries From the 1860s through the 1890s 