Sarah Waldsmith Bovard, her personal journal.
Her Diary, a daily record of her personal activities, reflections, and feelings. The Civil War, and bearing 12 children in 20 years. Scott County, Indiana
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ABOUT
THE
DIARY
OF
SARAH
(YOUNG) BOVARD
Sarah
Bovard,
who
lived
on
the
frontier
in
Indiana,
wrote
this
diary.
She
was
born
Feb.
21,
1828
in
Indiana.
On
Feb.
28,
1844
she
married
James
Bovard.
You
will
read
how
they
grew
the
clothes
they
wore,
the
food
they
ate
and
how
a
small
community
survived,
by
helping
each
other.
Four of her sons were listed in the “Who’s who in American Methodism” by Carl Fowler Price, Published 1916. A later version printed in 1945 under title:“ Prominent personalities in American Methodism.” (details at Google Books on line. http://books.google.com/books ) The four sons are in bold print below.
Oliver William BOVARD
b: 9
Feb
1845
in
Alpha,
Scott
Co.,
IN
Marion Mckinley BOVARD
b:
11
Jan
1847
in
Alpha,
Scott
Co.,
IN
Maria Jane BOVARD
b: 4
Feb
1849
in
Alpha,
Scott
Co.,
IN,
Freeman Daily BOVARD b: 9 Jan 1851 in Alpha, Scott Co.,IN
Melville Young BOVARD
b: 6
Dec
1852
in
Alpha,
Scott
Co.,
IN
Abner Sinclair BOVARD
b:
13
Oct
1854
in
Alpha,
Scott
Co.,
IN
George Finley BOVARD b: 8 Aug 1856 in Alpha, Scott Co.,IN
James Carvossa BOVARD
b:
20
Jul
1858
in
Alpha,
Scott
Co.,IN
Charles Lincoln BOVARD b: 10 Oct 1860 in Alpha, Scott Co., IN
Morton Ellsworth BOVARD
b:
10
Jul
1862
in
Alpha,
Scott
Co.,
IN
William Sherman BOVARD b: 29 Aug 1864 in Alpha, Scott Co.,
IN
Ulysses Simpson Grant BOVARD
b:
19
Sep
1866,
Alpha,
Scott
Co.,
IN
One of her sons is remembered as the "founding president" of the University of Southern California and a second also was USC president. A third was president of another college.
(Sample section of page from Sarah's Almanac/Journal)
(Note: This excerpt from Sarah's comment on February 22, 1859: "When anyone looks at my writing and it does not please them, please pass it on without remarks, as I expect to tell the truth always and reader, you will find some course writing on this page for my pen is bad, the paper thin. When you find mistakes, please correct them if you can." )
Part 1, 1859 -
THE DIARY SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 1859 SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1859
MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 1859
SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 1859
Another beautiful Sabbath. Clear and cool. James and the baby and me goes to the reformers meeting at the school house. The house was crowded with hearers. We had some good singing, a sermon preached, part of it I liked very well. When he spoke of the death of our Savior and his sufferings, then the meeting was dismissed. We started for home. Stopped at Catherines. Stayed for dinner. We started for home. Mother stopped a few minutes to read the paper, then went home. James and Maria Jane have gone to meeting to night. MONDAY JANUARY 31, 1859 We are all well. I went to mother’s for a coat pattern, come home and cut Marion a coat and sewed some, then made preparations for going to meeting. I went and left the rest of my family at home. Heard a good sermon preached from "What shall we do to be saved." Part of which I liked and part I did not. The singing was very good, then I come home quite late. Found James nursing the baby by the fire. FEBRUARY 1859 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1859 Not very cold, looks like for snow. Catherine comes to help me sew on Marions coat. The reformers have their meeting to night--at Mr. Redmans. Three joins are to be baptised tomorrow at the Mayfield Mill at three o’clock. James did not go to their meeting-he has such a cold and does not feel well. I read and knit some, then go to bed with the head ache. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1859 I do not feel very ’well, my throat is sore--my neck and head aches. The clock strikes 10 and I am writing. The children are gone to school. James is hunting his sheep. The baby is asleep. The clouds are dark, now it rains. We feel thankful that we have a shelter from the storm and more thankful that God is our refuge and in time of trouble and shelter from all storms. James goes to the baptism, gets home late in the day. Baby is so sick-he does not go to the meeting. I wrote Nancy Petro a letter to-day. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1859 Cool and cloudy, looks like for snow. I sew all day, don’t feel very well. Aby is better, the rest of the family is well. James, Marion and K. goes to meeting to the school house. Three more joined, all to be emersed tomorrow. I cut Freeman a coat at night. Sewed some then cold and tired went to bed for that night. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1859 Snowing and blowing-very cold. I am thinking of going to the baptism but sewed all day and went to meeting at night. James and Maria Jane went to baptism and Marion too. The evening was quite cool, there was quite a stir. Some seemed well pleased. Ten confessed the Savior then they are ready for emersion on the morrow at the mills. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1859 Cold--very cold. James and I goes to the reformers meeting at 11 o’clock then go with the company to the baptism, had a cold rough walk, got home late in the evening,-tired and hungry. Supper over--James and Marion goes to Gilead to the Methodist meeting. I set up late. MONDAY FEBRUARY 7, 1859 Clear and cool. Commence washing. James cleans wheat. I hear of Elizabeth Watson’s baptism. She is sick. I quit washing and go to see her. Brother Miller baptized her. It was a solemn time to some. Then I come home, quite tired. Supper over then James, Marion and John went to meeting to Gilead to hear Brother Miller preach. I went to bed. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1859 James starts for town. Sells his wheat to Mr. Landon then he comes home in the evening. The rain falling fast. I finished my washing that was commenced--then supper over. I knit some then, the baby is very cross. The children are noisy. Mother comes awhile in the morning. Says pap is sick. He looks feeble and he works too hard. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1859 Cool and cloudy, ground frozen. Mother comes and I go with her to see Elizabeth Watson. James goes to meeting-comes and helps me home in the evening, then goes back to meeting. I stay at home and bake blackberry pies. Marion is at Catherines. Maria J. has gone to the meeting to night. We are all in tolerable good health. We took dinner with sister Maria Young. They are all well. Christian was not at home. He was gone to Frankfort. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1859 James and I went to meeting to Gilead, cold and cloudy. We took dinner at David Thompson’s, then went to night meeting. Snowed some in the evening. Left the children at home. We came home and found them all asleep and we was glad.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1859
Part 2, 1860 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 1860
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1860
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1860 End of page 30 TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1860 Very windy all day. I make some garden, set some raspberry bushes out. James sows the old garden in oats. The pet rabbit is here yet. Maria Jane finishes twisting carpet chain today-have 82 cuts. Cool today. We have 4 young chicks. I am very tired. James complains of his breast hurting. THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1860 I colored some with log wood--get good colors. Now my carpet is colored ready for weaving. Two Miss Morrison’s comes, go to mother’s then home. Maria Jane, Freeman and Marion goes to mother’s to a carpet sewing at night. FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1860 James is thirty seven years old to day--failing fast, getting old. Mother and Catherine comes to spool and warp carpet. James sows oats. I spool some at my carpet. Pleasant all day with cool wind. Looked like rain last night. MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1860 Now I commence warping my carpet--sixty yards of purple, red, blue, yellow, white, brown and black. Cold with snow-squalls all day. Isaac comes, helps James cut down the poplar tree. Marion plows for oats. Olivio Griffith comes awhile. Mother went to Catherine’s. Stopped awhile. TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1860 More pleasant this morning, the sun shining with wind. Get my carpet through against noon then go to the branch to wash. Mr. James Morrison comes--tales dinner with us. After done washing I wove 2 yards. James and Marion plows and cleans ground. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1860 Still pleasant to day. Now I weave 8 yards of carpet. Mother comes awhile. Cool air. Maria Jane goes to Catherines to sew carpet rags at night. Marion sprains his ankle. K. sticks the pitch fork in his foot. Unlucky day for them. FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1860 I weave 7 yards against noon, then to mothers. I have the headache. Lizy Spears was at mother’s--come by here. Some youngsters comes to stay with the children at night. SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1860 James comes home last night at one o’clock, bought a fish, 10 pounds of coffee, l0c worth of cheese, a plow pint [?] and land shovel. I was very glad he came home, Cloudy--looks like rain. Catherine comes by this morning-going to mothers for garden seeds. I go to the store with 5 doz. eggs--get a gallon of good molasses--55c per gallon. James comes and helps me home. Mother comes. End of page 31 APRIL 1860 TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 1860 Fine day--the sun shines warm--very smoky. I weave 10 yards. James sows his grass seed then takes out the potatoes, have 10 bushel-plenty to eat and for seed. The boys husks corn out of fodder then shell corn to go to mill. Looks like rain--does rain and blow at night. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1860 James goes to mill with corn and wheat, get home before noon. The wind raises, oh how the trees falls in every direction. I goes to Christians. Mother comes to see how I am weaving--finds me weaving fast as I can--have 8 yards to day. She wants us to go to town a Friday. THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 1860 Finishes 57 yards to day. SATURDAY APRIL 7, 1860 Cloudy all night, looks like rain. We sell our carpet 25c per yard. Stay at the tavern. Start home at 9--get home at 5. Found all well, but I was very tired, bought a bed stead and several things. SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 1860 Very warm. Easter Sunday--we have plenty of cooked eggs. Pap and mother comes awhile. James and Maria Jane goes to Gilead at two o’clook. Reuben Rice preached. Cass Young goes by to mother’s. Little Jimmy's weaned to day. I go barefooted. Quite pleasant--looks like rain. We are all well. MONDAY, APRIL 9, 1860 Still looks like rain. We plant some corn, beans, mellons and cucumbers. The trees are getting green very fast. I go to mother’s. Mr. Butt and wife was there grafting some fruit trees for them. Mr. Morrison comes here for oats. James plows some. Freeman Daily and Melville Young starts to school to day. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1860 Still misting rain. Isaac Sampson comes and helps James saw rail timber. We have turnips, greens, custard pies chicken pie, lots of nicknacks-good enough. Potatoes-plenty more a growing, the wheat looks fine, the apple trees are in bloom. We are all well but Georges leg--very sore. End of page 32 THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1860 James goes to the mill, then makes rails, too wet to plow. I commence soaping. I cut out Maria Jane's dress. Asbury Hoard comes and asks James to a log rolling to morrow at Ambrose Hoards. FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1860 I commence making soap to day. Mrs. Griffith comes to borrow my kettle but she does not get it. Marion plows. James goes to rolling. I go to Mrs. Griffith’s a few minutes. We are all well. SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1860 I take the children and go fishing--catch five fine fish. Get home, time to get dinner, then patch. James makes rails then builds fence. Marion plows, then hauls rails, then goes a fishing. The moles destroys my garden--the hens helps. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1860 Cloudy, James plows the potato patch. I help plant the taters. I went to mother’s this morning. Mother comes out awhile. I trim her bonnet. Maria Jane goes to the store, bought some whoops. Cool--looks like rain. Marion plows for corn. THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1860 Very cloudy. Now it rains. Mother and me was going to Margy’s to day but the rain hindered us. I wear some hoops over to finish planting potatoes. Mrs. Griffith comes and stays till after supper. Sprinkles rain. Mother rode out to Margy's. TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1860 Clear cool but windy. I have a notion going to Redmans but do not go. Olivio comes for me to come to a quilting this afternoon. I go--found the house full of visitors--felt cheap enough in company with quality but they soon left. Mother and Catherine and myself was the quilters. The quilt out--the supper over--home we come. Some cloudy. MAY 1860 TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1860 Beautiful morning. I feel quite well this morning. Scrub clean the house, dress in hoops--look for visitors. Tilda brings me a mess of fish. Oh how good. Mrs. Everhart and Mrs. Sampson comes. James and Marion furrows out for planting. End of page 33 FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1860 Very warm. I pick the geese. Mother goes by to the store but I am not ready till after dinner, then I go to the store, bought sorrie vinegar and rice and paid one dollar on what I owed. Come home-supper over, then went to mother’s for milk. The wool is dry, ready for picking. SUNDAY, MAY 6, 1860 Very cloudy. James and me walks to the Chapel to hear Mr. Hester preach old Mr. Hoard’s funeral, he preached a good sermon to a crowded congregration. Come home tired-stopped at mother’s for dinner. MONDAY, MAY 7, 1860 Quite warm. I wash clothes. James goes to mill in the afternoon. I go to Mr. Redman's with him in the wagon. He gets the flour and meal. I am fixing for a wool picking. Ask some pickers. Go to mother’s for milk. FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1860 John Peacock has a log rolling to day and wool picking. Mother goes but I cannot go to far. I patch some, get dinner then go to Mrs. Miller’s to see Catherine Miller. She is right sick. James comes to help me home with little Jimmy. He fixed the pump to day. SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1860 We finish planting our patch of all kinds of produce. Send to Mr. Green's for a bushel of potatoes. We have fish for dinner. Newton Phillips gave Marion one that weighed 7 pounds. James and I take a walk to look at the corn, then work in the garden, make ridges for potatoes. The boys go after the cow. Cass Young comes and stays all night. SUNDAY, MAY 20, 1860 We have three cows to milk now, feel in hopes of having some butter. I feel very lonesome to day. Caroline comes, goes with Maria Jane to Gilead to Sunday School, then to class meeting. James and Marion is gone to the meeting to Gilead. Getting cloudy, quite windy. MONDAY, MAY 21, 1860 Little Jimmy very sick last night, this morning--no better. Have a terrible storm at three o’clock--a tornado at many places--terrible destruction. James replants corn. Tilda Miller comes and asks me to a wool picking at Daniel Watson’s to morrow. End of page 34 WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1860 Still pleasant but too wet to replant corn. Baby better this morning. The garden grows fine. The two Mr. Griffiths comes to measure the loom. James goes to Mr. Tobias, takes dinner with them. SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1860 Little Jimmy very hoarse with the croup last night. I take him, go to mother’s. Marion and Freeman goes to the store. Mother received a letter from Moses Young--stating he is very sick. Little Jimmy’s getting very hoarse. I feel bad and troubled--troubled nearly sick. SUNDAY, MAY 27, 1860 We have a time with poor little Jimmy last night. He was so sick, not much better this morning. Sunday School commenced to day at the school house. Mother starts for Moses. To day Mrs. Hoard and Catherine is here. I went to mother’s a few minutes. Very varm. James stays at home. JUNE 1860 FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1860 A beautiful day, dinner over-but Mrs. Griffith does not come then I go to Mrs. Miller’s to see Catherine Miller. She is no better. James plows corn. Poor prospects for corn. Mother went to see Deborah to day. She has a young daughter. Fine clear day. SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1860 Cool, pleasant morning. I work in my garden. Maria Jane goes to the store and meeting. Mother goes by to meeting. Mr. Hartley preached. I iron and then write a letter to Nancy Petro, then go to mother’s a few minutes. Margaret is here. James plows for corn. Cool evening. MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1860 Cool and cloudy. James fixes for Madison. I am sick-not able to work. James and Marion plowed corn this forenoon. Christian Young comes to warn hands to work on the roads, Thursday and Friday. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1860 This morning--very cloudy. Louisa is spinning. Maria Jane sewing and minding little Jimmy. I hoe some in my garden. I have 25 goslings. They are much trouble, they eat my cabbage. The garden grows fine. I go to Mrs. Hoards a few minutes--found them all well. End of page 35 SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1860 Another fine clear day. I clean, scrub, wash dishes, churn, bake loaf bread and pies. Louisa goes home this evening. She has spun 7 dozen 8 cuts this week of flannel yarn. We are all well. I go to mother’s a few minutes. Marion goes to the store, gets some white fish. TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1860 Pleasant morning. I feel better. I commence washing. Artimecis Doughty comes and stays all day. I wash and bake loaf and cut out my new sack. Beautiful evening. How bad we need rain. Mrs. Hoard went by to mothers. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1860 Pap harvests this morning. Catherine comes by, and I go to mother’s with her. Marion and Freeman plows corn. Maria Jane gets dinner. Louisa spins. Cool air--fine day for harvesting. The colts shoulder is very sore. THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1860 Another pleasant morning. I hurry and get my work done. Leave Maria Jane to get dinner. She is sick too, but thinks she can do till I go to Mrs. Miller’s to see Catherine Miller. The preacher come here while I was gone, then come to Mrs. Miller’s and baptized Catherine Miller. We had a good time. SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 1860 Still clear. Pap and mother comes. James and children goes to Sunday School, but Maria Jane she stays with the little children. Mother and me goes to Spears to see her hurt hand. Mr. Terrill was married this morning to Molly Graves. Great rejoicing over there. No rain yet. No signs for any. TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1860 Pleasant day with cool air. Have harvest hands to day. Mother is here. Mrs. Griffith comes awhile. We have roasted chicken for dinner and plenty of beans and potatoes, good white loaf bread. JULY 1860 SUNDAY, JULY 1, 1860 Very pleasant after the rain last night, but warm enough to rain. Here comes mother and Ethe going to Catherine’s. Mr. Butler preached at the school house. Here comes mother, Catherine and Ethe on the way home. Maria Jane went to Redman’s to day. I read in the Bible, but not enough. James stays home to day. End of page 36 TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1860 Very warm day. All well. I sew at my dress, it lacked a yard. Maria Jane went to the store for another yard. We have apple dumplings for dinner. James sows his buckwheat then plows for corn-grows fine. K. and Marion goes this evening to Frank Peacock's. WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1860 This is celebration day for some but we are at home, but Marion--he is gone to Wooster Celebration. Catherine and children comes after dinner. I finish my new dress. James plows corn. Freeman plows. Very warm day. FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1860 Very warm. My head aches very bad, but I have to wash quite hard, then suds out yarn. Had some sprinkles of rain. I go to take mother’s tub home. Louisa, Maria Jane, Marion and K. goes to the school house to meeting at night. Little Jimmy has a swelled hip. TUFSDAY, JULY 10, 1860 Still very warm. Almost give--such hot times. Catherine goes by to mother's. I finish ironing then warp 24 yards of linsey then beam it on. We are all well. I am raw with the heat.
SUNDAY, JULY 22, 1860 Oh very pleasant morning. James, Marion, Maria Jane goes to Sabbath school. Mother goes by to meeting. Hall preaches at the school house, a camolite meeting. (Campbellite Meeting)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1860 Rained last night. Misting rain this morning. James goes and gets mother’s little wheel for me to spin thread. I cut six pair of jeans pants then spin 3 1/2 cuts of sewing thread. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 1860 I double my thread then twist and color it. Mother comes, says Mr. Tobias is there fixing their cistern. James and Marion sows wheat then goes to Quick Creek to a political speaking at 1 o’clock. Mahala Smith. comes awhile this morning. John Young went by to Christian’s. End of page 40 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1860 The cannons are firing on some account or other. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1860 We feel thankful for the blessings we receive from our Father in Heaven. His mercy endureth for ever and ever. OCTOBER 1860 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1860 Here is election day. James cuts buckwheat then off he goes to vote the black republican ticket. Get a licking if he doesn’t. Catherine and children comes to reel yarn. I am not well this evening. Here comes James from the election. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1860 Fine pleasant day. Another young son visits us to day. Now seven boys--makes some noise and a great deal of work. In the evening it gets very warm. Looks like rain. Catherine stays all night with us. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1860 High wind--quite cool. Tilda Miller washes the clothes. William Young comes to work at the sugar mill. Sun shines some in the afternoon, I am tolerable well, but have the toothache. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1860 Still cloudy. James works at his sugar mill then goes to a school meeting at night. The babe is quite good--does not cry, very fat, large boy, looks hearty but has no name yet. I have great pains in my jaw and teeth. James complains of not being well to day. Abner; Sinclair’s birthday. Six years old. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1860 Mother comes, makes me a present of a butter plate. I sent two pounds of feathers with her, bought a broom, some thread and buttons, two combs. Cool and cloudy, misting like rain. Tilda washed. James thrashes buckwheat. Emily Tobias comes this evening. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1860 We are some better this morning. Tommy Miller comes for Tilda Miller with a horse. Mother comes, stays till after dinner. James goes to Gilead to meeting. Catherine comes awhile. I get dinner. I am very tired. End of page 41 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1860 Some cloudy. Matilda Miller comes to wash. I get dinner and cry with the tooth ache. Tilda’s charge is one dollar and 75c for her work. She leaves for home at 3 o’clock. James digs sweet potatoes. I am most crazy with the tooth ache. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1860 Beautiful warm day. James goes to paps to help kill the beef. The children grind cane. My tooth some better--not much. The babe two weeks old to day. Here comes James with some beef. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1860 Another fine day. My tooth is very painful. Mrs. Emaline Phi1lips comes a visiting to day. Mother comes awhile. Euphemia Smith comes this afternoon--stays till after supper. Cannot have much comfort for the tooth ache. It pains me so bad. Warm fine sunshiny day. James still works at the lasses. John and Isaac goes by. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1860 I almost died last night with my tooth, the pain was so severe. Some easier to day. James goes to Landon’s Mills to day, gets home late with good flour. The children finished the sugar cane molasses to day--have 40 gallons--to guess it off. Some of it is in sugar. I feel quite feeble to day. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1860 Still fine sun shiny and warm. James and Marion digs potatoes. I sew arid write, get dinner and nurse the babe. It weighs 12 1/2 pounds--pretty much babe, I think, don’t you? Hurrah for Lincoln. Maria Jane washed the clothes to day. The children goes to mother’s for crab apples. Charles Griffith comes to bring my kettle home. I bought of William--3 bushels of apples. NOVEMBER 1860 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1860 Cold-very cold and cloudy. James and Marion builds the Morrison fence. My tooth aches very bad. I sew and knit what I can and nurse the babe and cook. Almost out of heart. Mother comes awhile. I make some apple butter. Our cows are most dry--don’t get much butter. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1860 Still cloudy and with cold air stirring. James digs potatoes. The preacher, John Miller comes and stays all night with us. I bake loaf bread and sew and am very tired. The babe does not cry much. All tolerable well. End of page 42 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1860 Very pleasant morning--finds us all well. James goes with Brother Miller to the Chapel to meeting then home, gets his dinner then goes to Gilead to meeting. I stay home rocking the cradle. Cass Young and Sarah Hoard and mother comes awhile then Maria Jane and mother goes to meeting. William Young comes by. We have an argument. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1860 Cold, cloudy. James takes a load of potatoes--10 bushel to Mr. Jones. I go with him to Deborah’s, get three teeth taken out. This is election day for ths president of the U.S. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1860 We are all well as common but complains a great deal of hard times. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1860 Beautiful day. I commence washing. Mary Morrison comes then Mary Trulock, then Barbara Earhart, then Catherine comes to warp her jeans. I quit washing for the day. Warm sun shines. I have the head ache-feel quite tired. Babe cried. Cannot get much work done. First day of school. TUESDAY NOVEMBER 13, 1860 Beautiful morning, with white frost. James off to town to day. We finish washing then cut pumpkin to day and make pumpkin butter. Matilda Foster comes to get a coat cut. Warm sun shines. Mrs. Butts visits mother to day. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1860 Very warm. James goes to hunt his filly, found her at the mound. Marion asks sewers to day. I am going to have a sewing a Saturday. James sets out his trees. I cut out sewing to day. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1860 The sewers come--10 of them--get right smart done. I am very tired in the evening. Great talk of war now days as Mr. Lincoln is elected president. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1860 Some cooler with clouds. We are all well as usual. James takes me to meeting in the wagon. Brother Miller preached. I have not been to meeting for six months before. Babe behaved very well-did not cry. Catherine come by. End of page 43 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1860 James names the babe this morning the 19th, calls him--Charles Lincoln Bovard. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1860 Marion starts for school this morning. Five from here goes to school--4 boys and one girl. James shells corn, then goes to mill. I sew and write and nurse. SATURDAY NOVEMBER 24, 1860 We all almost froze last night and still freezing cold to day. Mother comes. K. goes by shooting rabbits. James hauls wood and gathers corn. Marion and K. goes to the post office. The papers are all sesession (sic) news. MONDAY NOVEMBER 26, 1860 James goes to the blacksmith shop then to Mr. Everharts to see about getting me some shoes. Says they will be ready in two weeks. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1860 Not very cold. Mother, Catherine comes--this is Thanksgiving Day. Oh, how thankful we feel for the blessings we receive. James gathers corn. DECEMBER 1860 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1860 Mothcr goes on to the store, then goes to Christians--he is sick. I sew and knit and nurse, cook, scold-trying to get some work done. James goes to paps--gets money for his taxes. Cloudy, snowed some. Mother goes by from Crises--says he is some better. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 5, 1860 James off early to Lexington to pay his and pap’s taxes. Pap’s taxes-$27.00. James taxes $12.00. Catherine comes. We make mother some new caps to day. I make two--Catherine one. James gets home at 3 o’clock. The children goes to school. Isaac comes for Catherine to he1p her home. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1860 Margaret has a young daughter this morning. She calls her Florelle Agnes. Cloudy last night. James comes for me with the wagon. We get home at 3 o’clock. Quite cool. James goes to Everharts for my shoes. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 12, 1860 James still cutting and hauling wood, goes this morning--gets my shoes. Hang them to the joist--I'1l send them back in the morning. They must have been the pair that Noah forgot to take in the ark. Mother comes to see if James is going to town to day. End of page 44 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1860 Here goes James with the said canoes or shoes as the case may be. Pap comes, I go to pap’s for mother to mind the babe till I can pick the geese. Pap helped James gather corn, getting colder all the time. I dress some chickens. Maria Jane goes to Catherine’s to stay all night. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1860 James comes home at 7 o’clock last night, safe and sound. We are all well this morning. James, Marion, Maria Jane goes to Gilead to meeting. Eastman preached at Gilead. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1860 Rains all day. James makes door latches, fixes the doors. There is no school to day. The children at home all day--what a noise they keep. I sew hard all day. Marion goes for my new shoes. The creek up. The babe not well--very cross. I have bad cold and sore throat all the time. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1860 Clearning [clearing?] off. Mother goes by to the office. We salt up six fine fat hogs. James helps me do the work, finished the sausage and lard against night. Mother come by from the office--brings the paper. Get a letter from Maine. MONDAY DECEMBER 24, 1860 James cuts and hauls wood. I go to Mrs. Griffith's a few minutes, then home. Fry some crulls. John Young comes by--gives me a candy apple for a Christmas present. James went with me to Mr. Griffith’s at night to stay till bed time. Him and Ivan went to debate then come home. TUESDAY DECEMBER 25, 1860 Here is Christmas again. Oh how thankful ye are for the blessings we have received this last year. James fixes the old sled, takes me a sleigh riding to Williams. Mother goes to Cris’s to eat roast goose. James goes on to mill, gets our flour, then to home. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1860 Quite cold. I stayed all night. They have a young daughter but it is dead. It will be buried at Coffee Creek this afternoon. James comes after me, then hauls corn, then goes and carried the little babe to the grave. Catherine is here to day. I am very tired and sleepy. The children at school to day. End of page 45 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1860 Marion and Freeman goes to the shoe shop to get shoes mended Old Mr. Barney Miller comes for day. James hauls wood. We scrub, and clean the house then James takes me to mother’s on the sled to fix a can for her. Marion goes to the office. The papers are filled with war news and secession. I feel bad--do not work much. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1860 I do not feel like walking to Gilead to meeting. James goes. Brother Miller preached. John Young and John Foster come by going to meeting, and K. Young is with them. All gone--now I read all day. Catherine goes by to mother’s. Mother is sick. Maria Jane goes with her--gets a mess of kraut. MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1860 The old year is most out. I do a large washing. Beautiful day for the last day of the year. James gathers corn in the Morrison field. Maria Jane goes home with Morrison children from school. Marion and K. Young goes at night, they have lots of fun. James does not go to the debate tonight. I do not get much work done. |