Dec 24 – Mercury 23. Worked on well in afternoon. Took Sarah over to Hoags. Old Mrs Brigham died to day.[102] Dec 25 – Mercury 20. Worked on well. Cold day. Finished well room. No snow on ground. Dec 26 – Mercury 9 Abz. Went to Mrs Brighams funeral in forenoon. Went over to Burg… Continue reading Luke Keith’s diary entries of December 24-31, 1885

Dec 15 – Mercury 23. Made axhelve for mesilf _____ finished Jims log jack. Dec 16 – Mercury 24. Finished Walts Axhelve. Went down to Marts afternoon. Not very cold. Dec 17 – Mercury 29 in morning. ____ set saw. Sawed some wood. Went over to burg forenoon. Mercury 35 at night. Put front pannel… Continue reading Luke Keith’s diary entries of December 15-23, 1885

Dec 1 – Took Sarah over to Lois. Oscar and Mary[98] came here. Hannah came home. Cool damp day. Dec 2 – Mercury 34. Oscars folks went up to Mrs Bateys.[99] Lois came over. No snow. Dec 3 – Mercury 30. Sawed out door stops for Mrs Browns doors. Oscar called here. Mrs Brown came… Continue reading Luke Keith’s diary entries for December 1-14, 1885

Nov 9 – Mercury 44. Went down to river after prickley ash[94] no find him. Churned most of the day. Nov 10 – Mercury 48. Went over to burg in morning after pattern timber. Sawed out stuff for Jims log jack. Nov 11 – Mercury 61. Chored round in forenoon. Went down to M. O.… Continue reading Luke Keith’s diary entries of November 9-30, 1885

Nov 1 – First snow 2 inches this morning. Went down to Mrs Browns had a seance.[90] Quin Streator[91] there. Mr Wood & wife there. Nov 2 – Mercury 36. Dug out west end of stable. This is Fathers[92] 104th Birth day. We have had sunshine, snow & rain a number of times to day.… Continue reading Luke Keith’s diary entries of November 1-8, 1885

Oct 16 – Work round most Evry thing. Put apples in cellar. Went over to the Rink in Evening first time. Lou sent Neck tie. Sylvester sisters. Oct 17 – Mercury 70. Wm Ralph picke the apples. Took them to cider mill. Very nice day. Mr Raneys team run a way. Oct 18 – Very… Continue reading Luke Keith’s diary entries of October 16-31, 1885

Oct 1 – Finished binding cornfodder. Rained some ledle mide. Oct 2 – Took Sarah over to Hoags.[85] Went up to mill no see bub. Rained in night. Oct 3 – Rainy morning. Went up to mill got some barposts. Went to the woods got some posts. Oct 4 – At home. Some rainy. Jim… Continue reading Luke Keith’s diary entries for October 1-15, 1885

Sep 1 – Very pleasant morning. No work. Not well. Sep 2 – Sick. No work but chores. Lois and Ina came over. Sep 3 – Lois and Ina here. Not much work. Lois and Ina went home. Sep 4 – Not much done. Jim took load hay over to Cap Rowland. Sep 5 –… Continue reading Luke Keith’s diary entries for September 1885

Aug 18 – At Harris House. Went over to the mill. Saw them saw. Mr Dunning Died.[77] Aug 19 – At Harris House as usual. They finished sawing cut all their Logs. Aug 20 – At Harris House some. Not very well. Rather dull not mutch trade. Aug 21 – At Harris House. Set some… Continue reading Luke Keith’s diary entries of August 18-31, 1885

Aug 7 – Went over to burg in morning. Got paper. Took Sarah to Kalamazoo. She went to Shelby. Went to Katharines took dinner. Aug 8 – Not very well. No work in particular. Had a heavy thunder shower in night. U. S. Grant Buried. Aug 9 – Mercury 87. Ethan, Dell and Jim went… Continue reading Luke Keith’s diary entries of August 7-17, 1885