Kilts Barn Building at Cortland
Willard Kilts was teaching school in 1888. He was not married and his brother Seymour and sister in law were running the farm in Cortland . The farm had been purchased by Peter & Caroline Kilts. After Peter's death, Caroline and Herman ran the home farm. Caroline sent Willard to Cortland for the summer to oversee the building of a new barn.
Saturday, June 2, 1888 . In the morning, I cleaned the bay team and harnessed them for the factory. I did all of the horse barn chores, cleaned the colts and harnessed them ready to start for Cortland . I got all of my things that I wanted to take along in the platform wagon and left home at 8 o'clock in the morning. Herman gave me $450 and Mother gave me $50. I got to Herkimer at 10 and drove on to Utica . At 12:30, I unharnessed the colts, cleaned them and fed them and went to dinner. I was ready to leave at 2 o'clock. It was raining and I bought an umbrella for $1.15. I drove to Clinton and it rained so hard that I put the team in but took them out again and drove to Deansville. I stayed overnight there. My Utica bill for the horses was 40 cents and my dinner was 35 cents. The hostles were 10 cents and for the horses in the barn at Clinton 15 cents. At Deansville the team and myself was $2.25.
Sunday, June 3, 1888 . I cleaned the team and oiled the wagon and left at ½ past 9 for Cortland , supposing it to be not more than 40 miles away. I drove to Eaton and found it to be still 40 miles, so I pulled through to DeRuyter. I arrived there around 6 o'clock, cleaned the colts good and shut the doors for the night. I washed up their legs where there had been bunches come by interfering. It was a nice day. My bill was $2 for the team and all and I gave the hostler 25 cents to help me clean the team and oil the wagon. The bill at Eaton was 55 cents.
Monday, June 4, 1888 . I left DeRuyter at about 9:15. On my way to Cortland , I came past F. Feeter's place and I don't like it. I saw Mr. Merchant on the road and he asked me to stay to dinner but I drove to Cortland village by 12:30. I put the team in and fed them. Then I saw the carpenter and found that he would not do the job so I went to see the mason and he is ready. Then I went to see Herman's house and lot and went up to the farm. I found everything in a fair shape. I got the horses in and cleaned them good for the night. My expenses were 15 cents for the horses and 5 cents for bananas.
Tuesday, June 5, 1888 – Last night it took until 11 o'clock at night to get the stable cleaned, the colts cleaned and cared for. I milked and fed the calves. Seymour and Maggie went to the village. In the forenoon, I took care of all the horses before breakfast. Then Seymour went to plowing. Maggie and I finished planting potatoes by noon. In the afternoon, Seymour took his team and helped to move the hay press and got stuck going across the meadow. We got 3 or 4 elm plank to help get out with. Seymour went over beyond So. Cortland and got back at 11 o'clock at night. Bill horse was tired out entirely. I finished plowing the piece with the colts, helped milk and feed calves and took care of the horses and piled lumber. Colts worked well for the first time plowing.
Wednesday, June 6, 1888 – Seymour borrowed 1 horse to draw lumber with. Seymour 's horses are not able to work. I dragged the piece for sowed corn in the forenoon and pulled one shoe from Nell. In the afternoon, Rennels, Sperry, & H. Petrie came and helped Seymour draw lumber. I went down and got the wagon of F. Brooks and drove to the village, had the shoe set and was ready to come out and Nell pulled another shoe so I had that set too. I had the chain fixed and got shaved and got 1 pint of whiskey for Seymour . The Bee hands came back and their wagons were loaded with lumber and then they helped me load. I drew a fair sized load of 16 foot stuff. I lost my whip somewhere that night. We got caught in rain before we got home but unloaded their loads. All the men stayed and had supper and then went home. I helped milk and Seymour and I unloaded my load and piled lumber.
Thursday, June 7, 1888 – I took care of all the horses before breakfast. Right after breakfast, I took Brook's wagon home, then went to Butterfield's with the platform and exchanged for a Welch wagon of his. I got back at noon, put the colts in and fed them and got ready for the village. Seymour drilled in sowed corn. I had a neck yoke fixed and paid 10 cents had harness fixed and paid $1.65, and paid 25 cents for the horse in the barn. I got almost 8 bushel of oats and $3.90 for same. Came home and took care of the horses. Miss is here and a man looking for a job. Seymour drilled in sowed corn. I was down to see Benton and asked for mail and went to see the carpenters. I bought a whip 80 cents.
Friday, June 8, 1888 – I piled lumber all day and measured. Seymour plowed and he and I took out 2 large stones. Two carpenters came here looking for a job and I hired them. They are going to bring a man with them, each to have $2 per day and board.
Saturday, June 9. 1888 – I wrote, measured lumber and dragged another piece for sowed corn. Then I got ready to go to the village after lumber. I put the horses in the barn, went to see a building mover. Saw Herman's house and it is getting pretty near done. I went to see his lot on Curtain's land. Saw a man who wants to trade for a farm, his $3000 house and lot. I bought up 420 feet of $20 pine. Had man give Fannie a physic pill, some powders for her & 20 cents for my dinner. I gave Seymour $5 to apply on the lumber account. He drilled in balance of sowed corn and then went to the village in the afternoon after lumber and got home 11 o'clock.
Sunday, June 10, 1888 – I cleaned off the horses & took care of them all. After breakfast, I helped Seymour to unload lumber, clean watering trough and then I went to writing. Fred Brooks & W. Rooks came up. I went down and visited with them awhile. Then Mr. & Mrs. Cook came to look at farm in view of trading some village property. I hired him to come on & do some carpenter work at 12 shil per day & board. In evening, C. Sperry came here to have me take Mr. Butterfield wagon home. In morning, I took care of all the horses. Maggie & Ellen Smith & Eddie went to church & did not get back until after 11:00. I leveled up. Fred Spencer was here a little while.
Monday, June 11, 1888 – I took care of all the horses and harnessed them. Right after breakfast, I took the wagon home & when I came back Mr. Petrie & his man were at work scraping & tearing down fence. I had Mr. Denley bring up lumber. In morning, Seymour drew 2 loads lumber. We broke sod for the basement of the barn. It rained some, but we kept to work just the same except about ½ hour. Seymour got me a spade for 90 cents & a grain measure for 20 cents. A man who agreed on Sat to come & help did not come. Maggie & I did all the chores. F. Spencer came around this way on his way to Brooks to paint, was in the house about ½ hour. Fred & two of the Brooks' came here in the evening. Seymour went after load lumber and was not back yet at 11 o'clock.
Tuesday, June 12, 1888 – Weather was fine in morning. Before breakfast, I took care of all the horses & leveled up on stable to know what I was doing. After breakfast, I went to writing a little. Mr. Petrie & his man came and went to work. I washed Fannie's neck with castile soap & warm water. Seymour mowed a little grass in door yard & then a little down in meadow. Then he got out his team and plowed a little till Durfey came with load of lumber. He & Petrie worked all today. Seymour then took load lumber off. I helped. He was going to cultivate ground. Then the dinner was ready. After dinner, he took Kit over to Dayden's & left Bill in the barn with the harness on. At night, Maggie & I did all the chores. Seymour got home at ½ past 11.
Wednesday, June 13, 1888 – Durfey got ½ ton of hay of Seymour . I got out in morning, did horse barn chores & went to work throwing out the sods in ditch for drain to barn. Then I drove the cows in for Seymour & worked at ditch till breakfast time. Petrie came before we went in to breakfast. After breakfast, I went at ditch, washed horses necks. About nine o'clock Seymour got his team out & went to scraping, scraped awhile down in the road, fooled with the dog awhile & then went after some cider. By that time, Petrie wanted the scraper so Seymour put team in barn. In afternoon, Petrie took team & went to Blodgett Mills after feed & some help, got feed but could not find help. Got meal, middlings, & oats & paid by check $3. Paid $1 to have wagon tongue fixed for Maggie. Got home about 10 o'clock. F. Spencer came over about 5:30 & stayed in house until 6 & then left.
Thursday, June 14, 1888 – In morning early, it rained. I took care of horses. Then put cows in & Seymour milked. I cleaned colts & had breakfast. I went to checking off lumber bill, wrote part of a letter, wrote diary. Fanny was very lame in right hind leg. I put on some liniment. I tried to sell little barn to Graves for $35 but could not do it. After dinner, I, Seymour & Maggie went to Cortland with the platform & their team. I got out & went to post office. Then I went to bank & drew $50 & gave Maggie $5 towards drawing lumber & went about my business. I settled with Benton , was owing him $167.94 & paid by check $150. Then I went to see Curtain, then George Petrie & paid him $50 on account. House nearly done. Then it was so near supper time that I stayed. Then I went to see a Veterinary Surgeon about Fannie and concluded to have him come up in the morning. Then I went to H. Cowen's house to see him but could not as he was down town yet. I went down town & found him but could not get a loan. Then I came home. I spent 36 cents treating B. & C. I got home about 9 o'clock, walked up. Seymour went to the horse trot. It was no good. Seymour brought a young man along to work who had been caring for a trotting horse.
Friday, June 15, 1888 – I & the new man took care of the horses. Seymour milked. I & the new man put the cows in. After breakfast, we went up & drew 2 loads manure & spread them. Then we took stantions out of old cow barn & the floor plank & sleepers. Then we took 2 loads of hay to the horse barn & picked up load of bedding in big barn for horses & drew it down & put it in barn. We cleaned the floor in big barn & took calves all in there. Then we piled shingles in horse barn out doors & covered them up with boards. We drove cows up for Seymour to milk. Then we straightened up the horse barn & took care of the horses. The man mixed the feed. I went to writing. It rained at different times very hard & thundered & lightninged. Seymour set out tomato plants. He & Maggie planted beans. The Veterinary surgeon came here & I paid him $1.25. He thinks Fannie is lame in the stifle & wanted to blister her but I would not let him. Fred Spencer was here an hour or so.
Saturday, June 16, 1888 – I & Martin (new man) got out early, took care of horses & put cows in for Seymour . After breakfast, I had a man by the name of Cook, a carpenter & Martin take siding off of cow barn. I finished writing letter. Then I held scraper for Durfey but it was too muddy so we plowed. Then Durfey went after load of sand. Cook, Martin, & I took siding doors off of barn. We had it stripped by noon. Durfey came back then. I helped him put his team in. We had dinner. After dinner, Cook & I went in woods & cut showers to raise barn with. We came back about 3:30. I changed clothes to go to village. Seymour & Cook went after load of shoers. I oiled wagon & then went to village after carpenters tools & work bench. I took veal & calf skin for Seymour . Sold for 75 cents & I paid him for them Martin & Durfey scraped dirt & unloaded sand, had 24 bushels. They did not work very well. I went to see V. S. & returned liniment for Fannie & got blister & paid 1.25. I got 100# of 8 d nails, & 10s & 12s & paid 6.70 for them. I paid Cook $1.50 for 1 day's work. Seymour fixed fence in forenoon & dragged a little in afternoon. It was a very hot day. Fannie was quite lame. I got a cross cut saw tooth in my leg & was very lame toward night.
Sunday, June 17, 1888 – Martin & I took care of horses & got cows in. After breakfast, I churned & Seymour & Martin & Eddie went a swimming. I read some, put blister on Fannie & had a nap. Then Mr. Smith came & I did not get to writing until after supper. Then I wrote up two days' diary, posted book, & wrote 3 letters. The day was pleasant & very warm. Some few signs of rain. Fred & their hired boy, Graves came here a while. The worms are getting bad in cherry trees. Yesterday I gave Durfey $5 to pay for sand if necessary & he did not pay but kept it. Maggie let him have 2.95 worth of butter & 5.95 worth of lard & his wages were to be turned to her for payment. Today I paid her in full 8.88 that gives Durfey 2.90 of my money.
Monday, June 18, 1888 – I & Martin Michale got up about 4:30, took care of horses, then put cows in for Seymour , cleaned his team, harnessed them. Then I unloaded load of shoers & then mowed some grass. Martin helped milk. Then we had breakfast & while we were eating, two of the carpenters came & ate with us. After breakfast, Martin & I loaded two loads of manure & Seymour drew them. I helped to unload the carpenter's tools & filled another wagon. Then Martin & I helped at the cellar. Seymour & Maggie went to the village and sold one calf for $10. They got home in time for her to get dinner. A man rode up with them from whom Martin had taken an umbrella from. I was ordered to pay him for Martin, $2 which I did. A. Reynolds, H. Petrie, & Durfey worked here with teams. We calculated to finish scraping but did not. In afternoon, Seymour held scraper & George put on a load of manure for him. Durfey pulled a shoe on his horse. Seymour then used his team to scrape & let Durfey plow in his place. After 6 o'clock, we had supper. Durfey stayed. Then I drove Nellie single without hitching her to anything, Then I hitched her to buggy & took H. Petrie home & went down to see Parks' barn & wall. Nellie drove very well. It was a warm day. Fred was here & was in the house about 2 hours. Seymour was up plowing.
Tuesday, June 19, 1888 – In morning I took care of colts. Then Martin came out. Martin cleaned & harnessed Seymour 's team & drove cows in barn. Then I washed blister off of Fannie and put on cosmoline. Martin was in ditch. After breakfast, Martin & I picked & dug ditch all forenoon, except when I went to look for a man a little while. The carpenters are putting sills under the barn. After dinner, Martin & I carried out box to put lime in. We then went to work in ditch until Durfey came with his team. We helped plow one side for a trench & scraped it out several times. Durfey broke his harness about ½ past 5 & did not do any more.
Friday, June 22, 1888 – This is a very warm morning. There are indications of rain very soon. I took care of horses in morning & got in the ditch. Martin helped milk. After breakfast, I discharged all the carpenters, rather told them that I would like to have them take another job on Monday & that they might finish the week but they quit right off in morning. I paid them $24 & sent Reynolds & his team to take their tools home. I hitched up Nellie on the buggy & went to see other carpenters & hired two – one of the first stayed. Martin went with me & came back with me. Mr. Sweeney & Fred worked at the cow barn putting in sills. I got back at 10 o'clock. Reynolds brought up 4 bushel of oats for me. I got right in ditch & George held scraper until Martin came. Then he held it until afternoon, when Seymour changed with him. Martin cultivated potatoes. Reynolds hitched one horse ahead of the other. Durfey brought load of lime & drew large stone. Fred & Sweeney put 4 cross sills & two side sills under the barn. We got the south trench pretty well finished & the drain too. I let Martin have $2.50 & bought bolt & some other things & returned screws.
Saturday, June 23, 1888 – This is a very warm & pleasant morning with indications of rain. Reynolds came here with his team to work. Petrie's man came too. Durfey brought up a load of lime. In morning, Reynolds hitched his horses ahead of one another & plowed & scraped the north trench for the wall. When Durfey came, he went to plowing. Martin went to cultivating Seymour 's potatoes. Seymour held the scraper & I worked in ditch most all day, picking & George followed me and shoveled out. Fred & McSweeney worked at shed, squaring it up until about 10:30, then both went in ditch. Durfey drew up 2 loads of stone for trench. Maggie & Eddie went down to depot for her parents at the 11 o'clock train but they did not come. Nettie Moon came up with them. After dinner, Martin commenced cultivating. Durfey was scraping & Seymour held it until about 2 o'clock when it began to rain. Martin brought the horse up & held scraper. Then Seymour got ready & went to village with Maggie again after her parents. In forenoon, I paid Martin 50 cents. Reynolds went home about noon. All the rest worked until about 3:30. Seymour & Martin did not get back at all. I gave Michale 75 cents, Fred $2.25, Reynolds 10.50 & Durfey 10.87 & George 2.10 being in payment in full to them for work to date. Fred & Martin went to the village. Mr. & Mrs Bauder came. McSweeney & I milked. I fed all the calves & took care of all the horses. Then I helped the rest to set cabbage plants & pepper plants.
Sunday, June 24, 1888 – This is a warm & pleasant day. Mr. & Mrs. Bauder are here. Fannie is lame again. In morning I got up, fed horses & put Seymour 's team in. then I got cows, put them in & milked two. Then McSweeney came & helped to finish milking. I fed all the calves then cleaned the colts. After breakfast, I went up stairs and wrote some. Then I watered the colts. McSweeney went to church. Seymour got back about 5:30 this morning. He had a small black eye. He said that he was with the rest of the boys until late & missed them. He came for home but got tired when near Dwight's & sat down & got to sleep & slept until he heard the rooster crow. Seymour laid & slept most all day & drank cider in afternoon. Mr. & Mrs. Bauder, Maggie, Eddie & I went out for a ride. We went over towards South Cortland & down to Cortland & back to Iseman's & stayed there some time. Seymour & Martin played 7 up for the cider. I took care of the horses all day. Seymour broke my umbrella last night. The Bauders, Maggie & Spencer were in the horse barn talking a long time.
Monday, June 25, 1888 – In morning, I got up at 4 o'clock and took care of the horses. I went to pounding stones. Then Seymour & Martin came out and got cows & milked. The horses were out. After breakfast, Seymour caught them & went on road to work. Fred, George, Eugene, & myself got in the ditch. Durfey & Martin went to scraping. I broke stone all day in trench. It was a nice day to work & we got a lot of the ditch dug, stone thrown in & a kettle of slur. I took care of horses at night. Ed Bauder, wife & Maggie & boy went to the village and they drove Nellie since the other horses were on the job. They had not got back yet at 1 o'clock. Martin rode over and Durfey went off. He wanted some money but I did not give him any. We got the trenches nearly dug today. Bauder & Spencer are very friendly. B churned, made a kettle of soap, and pounded some stone too.
Tuesday, June 26, 1888 – In morning, I got up 4:30, took care of horses, got cows in, went to pounding stones in trenches. It commenced to rain. I & Spencer & Sweeney carried sleepers for little barn. Then I got ready & took Ed & his wife to the village with their team & platform. Ed invited Fred down. I saw mason & he said he was coming at noon. I paid Curtain $112.87 for Herman & 75 cents to lawyer for making contract & 15 cents for horses in barn. I gave 1.50 to Michale when I came home. It was noon & Martin had dinner. I fed horses & went to pounding stone. Durfey worked ½ day & drew stone. Martin did not work at all, he went to sleep. Seymour cultivated & got Martin to load a couple loads manure to get it away from barn. Fred & Sweeney worked at shed after ditches were finished. Finss helped draw stone. In evening, I went to town to see masons & Mooner & two masons agreed to come.
Wednesday, June 27, 1888 – In morning, I got out at 4 o'clock, did chores in horse barn, then went to pounding stone. Martin & Seymour got cows in & milked. After breakfast, I did some writing. Durfey came & two masons with him. I helped them square up for the wall & then they went to work laying up for bottom level. Laid the south side level over half way. I pounded stone & handed for masons all day. Fred & McSweeney are working at shed. Martin is making mortar. The sheriff was here to see Seymour about a quarrel & he said that Seymour struck a man with an umbrella & then got hit & had the man arrested. Seymour took out a load of manure and then borrowed Knapp's wheelbarrow. I helped to load one load of manure & got back, went to drawing stone, one load. He cultivated on that, was in afternoon too caked. I let Seymour have $2 one to apply on Martin's account. McSweeney & I milked & did all the chores, covered wall.
Thursday, June 28, 1888 – In morning, got cows in, milked, took care of horses, had breakfast. It then commenced to rain, rained all day. In forenoon, Seymour got his machine out & fixed it to mow road with tomorrow. McSweeney sawed out board for evener. Then he & I was calculating about basement in barn. I fell asleep & slept till noon. Then I fed horses & had dinner. Afternoon, I went to writing till Fred came. Then he & I went to the village. I went to see a carpenter. I found one after 6 o'clock & came right home. Fred rode home with C. Sperry. I saw veterinary surgeon & got blister for Fannie & I got 10cents worth of cosmoline & some other things. I drove Nellie & put her in Hodges barn. It rained all day, at times quite hard. We did no work at all on barn. Seymour & Martin ground scythes. I saw George Petrie & he wanted some money & I told him that I would see him on Saturday or Monday.
Friday, June 29, 1888 – I got out at 4 o'clock in morning. Martin & I got cows in & took care of horses. I went to pounding stones. Then we had breakfast. After breakfast, I went back to pounding stones. Durfey & son & two masons came & went to work at 7 o'clock. George, Martin, McSweeney & Fred worked. It was very bad & muddy in morning but got all right before night. I pounded stone all day. Fred & McSweeney worked at shed. In evening, Maggie & I went to village. I took down a jar of butter to Donnigan at $4.15. I let Maggie have $2. I had my hair cut & a shave. I saw another mason & he said he would come on Monday. We brought up force pump to start water. We got home at 11 o'clock. I got a letter from home that I had expected for a few days.
Saturday, June 30, 1888 – We over slept & did not stir until 5 o'clock but got chores done very quickly. After breakfast, the masons, Durfey & son, Fred, McSweeney, Martin, & George got to work. I broke stone all day & drew large stone. It was a cool day. Fred & McSweeney went in woods & got sill out for shed. Seymour mowed some & fooled the day away, plowed one furrow along road, drew sill up for boys. I helped him get hay in. The day was cool. The boys got the shed nearly done. Durfey & boys drew large stone & dirt all day & fine stone which I pounded. I paid the Donnigans 1.50 too much on account of butter deal. I paid them $13.50 wages. Paid Durfey's son $2 & Durfey 13.50 & Fred Spencer 6.50 by check, & George Finss $3.75 by check & McHale $2 leaving his due 1.50. Paid McSweeney 10.13. Seymour took McSweeney home & went a fishing. I and Fred milked and did chores. Martin went to village & got back 3 o'clock in the morning.
Monday, July 2, 1888 – This is a very cool morning. I got out at 4 o'clock, took care of horses & put cows in, went to work at cellar. Then wrote some. The men all came on & went to work. Fred & McSweeney went at shed & put another new sill under there. Went in woods & got it. Seymour cultivated a little and then went after dinner.
Monday, July 9, 1888 – In morning early, I took care of all the horses & got cows in. Considered the inside of the basement. It rained in the morning. After breakfast, Durfey, son & masons came & went to work. I helped for awhile at building scaffolds to lay stone from. Then young Durfey & I helped Seymour to put hay in horse barn. Then we took hay rigging off and Seymour went after a load of quarried stone. He started at 9:30 and got back at 6:30. He brought a good load of stone to the foot of Cole Hill & threw off past of them. Durfey got a load and as soon as he came back & drew stone, I threw dirt in behind wall to make road so we could drive through to lay the wall from the bank. Michale was going to Reynold's to work at 1.25 per day but agreed to stay at 1.15. I gave Seymour $1 to pay for load of stone & 10# wrought nails. He said he paid 1.00 for the stone & had the nails charged. He said he had no money when he started but came home drunk, besides paying all I gave him for stone & having nails charged. I helped draw stone & mix mortar all day. Fred, McSweeney, & I undertook to raise barn a foot & found that 2 sills were too poor to raise any thing so they put them in. Reynolds brought me a plank 1 foot wide & 22 feet long for window sills. I gave McSweeney $20. He went to the village and used $5 of it leaving his due to 9 th $4. Maggie, Eddie & I went to village at night. Seymour & Cleary milked. I kept colts in shed all day & night. Fannie was very lame this morning. Elmer Bauder came here this afternoon.
Wednesday, July 11, 1888 – Seymour got up at 4:00 & called me & we went out & put Paris green & lime on the potatoes till breakfast. I unloaded load of sand & mixed mortar while he was getting lime ready. After breakfast, Seymour wanted to send after some cider which he wants me to buy but I did not go. Martin went to Rennels to press hay. Elmer went with him but came back & went to work tending mason. Fred & Sweeney raised horse barn a little. Seymour got some more lime ready but did not use or do anything scarely till dinner time. Durfey & his son came about 10 o'clock with load of blocking. I helped to unload him. Then I went after load of sand. Louis took fence away. I went over to Brook's to see the basement of his barn.
Thursday, July 12, 1888 – The masons finished the wall & went to painting & laying butments. Seymour shelled peas in forenoon. In afternoon, drew up water & put Paris green on potatoes, 8 or 10 rows in morning. McSweeney & I drew stone for butments & then drew stone away from wall & scraped for doorway & filled in next to wall. After dinner, I took Seymour 's team & platform & went after lime down to village. Fred & McSweeney put siding on, doors on. Durfey drew up tools to measure with and then got load of sand. After dinner, got another load of blocking and then plowed bank in towards wall.
Monday, July 23, 1888 – Today is a lowry looking day in forenoon & so I got wagon ready & went to the village twice after loads of lumber. Then I went to raking. Seymour mowed some in forenoon. In afternoon, Lyman came up. They both mowed all the afternoon. The man I hired helped trim out fences & bunch hay all day. At night, Seymour & Maggie & man went to town. I bunched hay at night. I drew 1076 feet spruce at $17 per M.
Tuesday, July 24, 1888 – This is a gloomy day in forenoon & I went over to Butterfield's after wagon. Seymour drew few loads stone for butments. I hitched on Sperry's wagon & drew 5 loads blocking out of basement up behind house for firewood. Then Seymour went to village for load lumber & got 6 4x6x14 & 1 8x8x14 & 3 10 foot spruce siding. I went to mowing. At dinner table Maggie gave me a raking about sending Seymour to village. She said that the hay in north lot was not worth $5 per ton & a good deal more & that the barns would not be ready for hay this summer. We drew 5 loads of hay.
Wednesday, July 25, 1888 – In morning, I took care of the horses & looked barn over & settled on what to do. McSweeney & I ground scythe & fixed rivets. Seymour mowed in south meadow & finished piece I commenced then went in new seeding. I raked until after dinner from breakfast. Then I went to mowing until 6 o'clock. Seymour & Fred drew hay in afternoon. Con trimmed fence, bunched hay, mowed away all day. In evening, Jay Lathropp & I hitched Fannie on road cart & went to village. I did several errands & brought Uncle Ben's horse up to rake with. In morning Lyman came up to see if Maggie wanted him. She said No & that she did not care much if the haying was done at all or not. The carpenters are putting stringers under big barn in basement. We got in 8 loads of hay.
Thursday, July 26, 1888 – In morning, I took care of horses & ground machine scythe. After breakfast, I took Uncle Ben's horse & went to raking in clover. Seymour finished mowing clover & the new seeding. After I got that raked, we went to dinner. Fred & Con were cocking it up. After dinner I went to mowing with colts & mowed till 6 o'clock. Seymour , Fred, & Con drew 6 loads of hay. Donnigan came & pointed wall under barn & did some other work. At night, I took him to the village with Nell & buggy & paid him 2.25 & took Ben's horse home. I got envelopes & mallet, got letter from Mother, saw George Petrie a minute, got horse medicine. 6 loads today
Friday, July 27, 1888 – In morning, I took care of horses. Con & McSweeney milked. After breakfast, I took Nell & raked until near noon. Then I took team & drew a few loads stone to fix bridge & wall for horse barn. I sowed a load of hen manure on sowed corn & then went to mowing & mowed till 6 o'clock. Unloaded load hay for Seymour & went after 1 bushel potatoes at Eldridge & bedding down to little barn. Con went with me. Seymour went to mowing & mowed till 8 o'clock. The carpenters have worked on new part for a few days. In morning, it was lowry & indicated a rainy day. They drew 3 loads of hay. Con helped all day.
Saturday, July 28, 1888 – In morning, I took care horses, cleaned & harnessed Seymour 's team. Con & McSweeney milked. After breakfast, Seymour went to mowing. Fred came about 8 o'clock & went in house awhile as usual at once. In morning, got to work at about 8:30. I harnessed the colts, changed reach in wagon & started to village for 130 feet stack timber. I got as far as Eysaman's & the reach broke & threw me over between the horses but they stood still. I went to Eysaman's & got auger & bored new hole & went home. I put Fannie on cart & went to village, took harnesses, crowbar & looked for letter but did not get any so I got H. Cowan to sign note with me for $50 at bank and I got money. I paid McSweeney 24.50, Fred $10, & owe 1.87 more. Paid Jay $3. Men quit at 5 o'clock in hay field and all. I got home at noon & went to mowing & then raking.
Tuesday, July 31, 1888 – In morning, I got out & took care of horses & was cleaning Seymour 's team when Fred came. We got team ready & he went out & mowed. I chored around until breakfast & eat mine. Then I mowed until Fred eat. Then I helped carpenters until about 10 o'clock. I drew timbers around for basement. Fred raked & Con bunched hay for awhile. I mowed then till dinner. After dinner, we all put stringers & cross sills on basement. Then we all but carpenters went at hay. Maggie raked, I bunched & the boys got some hay till it rained very hard. After the rain, I went to the village & got some feed, ale, & cigars for raising bee. I asked most all we wanted at the bee. It rained a few times quite hard. Mr. Eysaman & his sisters went to Little Falls to J. Eysaman's funeral. It was a nice day.
Wednesday, August 1, 1888 – In morning, I got out & took care of horses. Then I carried plank & things to lay temporary floor over basement to raise the barn on. Then the men got out & milked. I cleaned the colts good & then went to breakfast. After breakfast, Con & I laid sleepers in new part & he helped me carry plank & to lay floor. Fred went to mowing. I asked Ernest Price & Mr. Yeager to raising. I helped carpenters all day until after supper & then I raked to let M. Sperry come and eat. The boys drew 8 loads of hay. After supper, Fred went to mowing. About dark, Con & I milked. I laid some stone around under horse barn. Fred called for his coat & pipe of tobacco. Maggie started at once with his coat & cigar without a word. She was so sick before that she couldn't wash dishes. About 9 o'clock, Fred lit lanterns to tend to horses. We were speaking about an extra machine to mow with. Fred said the tongue was broke in theirs. Maggie said wasn't that too bad. Fred, Mag, & Eddie stayed down in kitchen & visited for about 1 ½ hours. We had the raising today, commencing about ½ past 1 o'clock. There was about 12 here. We put it up by 4 o'clock & had supper. Most all went away before. It rained easy. There was some few mistakes. Jay & Eugene went to village. W. Graves & another young boy came here. Mrs. Eysaman came up in afternoon to help Maggie. The day was pleasant.
Thursday, August 2, 1888 – In morning, Fred got out & was mowing when I got up at 4:45. He mowed until breakfast, came in & eat & went to mowing. After breakfast, I went to Yeager's & asked to take his machine & he said we might so I hitched the team & went after it. I mowed about an hour & ½ & broke the pitment. Then I raked with Nell till noon. Then I went & got some lumber & paid $7.85 for it & 20 cents to repair the pitment. I got back about ½ past 3 & the brass out of the pitment was left in shop so I drove Fannie down & got it. At noon Fred pulled the harness off of team & they were not warm at all but nothing seemed too much to do. Mag went up & mowed without a murmur when she had plenty of work in the house. Then he & Con went & ground scythe. The carpenters were suring barn & fixing braces.
Friday, August 3, 1888 – In morning, I got out & went to barn & took care of horses. Then Fred came out & helped milk. I helped carpenters till breakfast. After breakfast, Fred & I went to mowing. I mowed about 2 hours & the pitman broke again. I quit & drove machine to house & went right to village for load of lumber. I got the rod mended again & got home to dinner. I had 500 feet of hemlock siding 2 6x8x12 & 1 2x12x16 & 1 2x21x12. After dinner the boys went to draw hay. I went to mowing & mowed one piece off & threw machine out of gear traveling. When I came to throw it in gear again, it broke. After supper I was going to village but Reynolds came along & I sent it down with him to get new iron gear & paid 65 cents for it. Con worked at the hay all day. Fred, at noon, laid on couch & smoked his pipe.
Saturday, August 4, 1888 – I went to village & got some plank in forenoon. In afternoon, I went down with the expectation of getting spruce siding but did not so I bought hemlock boards, 1 foot wide. I drew 500 feet per load. It rained very hard at night. We men & Eddie were down to the horse barn & Fred & Maggie were in the house some times alone. Then they both went down to barn setting boards up against bay. Con worked at the hay all day. Lathropp went home. I paid Fred 1.75 to settle in full. Jay $6, leaving balance of 15.00 & McSweeney $5 leaves 4 balance. Fred laid on couch at noon & smoked.
Sunday, August 5, 1888 – The day was pleasant. I took McSweeney & Con down to the village with platform & colts. They went home. Fred was here till after 2 o'clock, then he went home. I unloaded lumber & got chains & binder on .I wrote in forenoon. Fred raked quite a piece with Bill. I & Mag milked & after milking, Mag went to Spencers after Eddie. It was rather late when she came home. I was home all day.
Monday, August 6, 1888 – In morning, I went to town. Fred mowed. I got horse shod & got back with windows & nails before dinner. After dinner, Con helped hay it all day. I got 100 shipps and 100 of corn & oats for Mag & paid $2.45. I got hinges & c– that came to $2.25. At night, I put cows up & went to milking. Fred came down to milk. Mag came down & told him to go on if he wanted to go to the village. She milked one & told him he might have a horse & rig if he wanted it but he went a foot.
Tuesday, August 7, 1888 – In morning, I took care of horses. After breakfast, I went to the village, saw Uncle Ben & tried to get some money of him or out of the bank but could not so I went & got load & got force pump. I got word that the collars were shipped. I came home at dinner time & went to mowing after dinner. I mowed until 6 o'clock. Carpenters were putting cornice on. After dinner, Fred lay on couch & smoked. After supper, I went & raked with Nell till dark.
Wednesday, August 8, 1888 - In morning, I took care of all the horses. Con & McSweeney milked. I went to village & got 528 feet of 2 in. hemlock. I took Harris's moving plank home & returned the force pump. After dinner, Con & I drew old rubbish from old place to the back yard. I brought up 4500 shingles & 44 pieces 2x3. We finished haying today & had 4 ½ loads, small ones. Con & I drew about 15 loads rubbish in afternoon. I took care of all the horses at night. Mag & Wint & Fred picked peas. Fred was up to the house till breakfast, churning. I got two or three letters.
Thursday, August 9, 1888 – In morning, I took care of all the horses. After breakfast, I & Con got teams out & drew 3 loads stone in drain & 2 loads in basement. Fred came up while we were eating breakfast. Maggie asked him in but he would not come, said he was not hungry but when we all got through, he went to the house & I guess eat. Then he went down to the barn & was picking up tools & I asked if he was going and he said Yes. So he found his tools and then I didn't know if he worked or what he did but was in and about the house all the forenoon. Con & I drew stone for the drain & then was going to draw large stone but broke whiffletree & then trace iron. After dinner, Fred, Vint, & Eddie went to village, took buggy & left it to get it fixed. Afternoon, helped Dean awhile at grading basement & then went to shingling. I paid 55 cents for ex & repairs. Fred came up at night & rode aways with Reynolds & went back cross lots where Mag & Eddie were picking peas. Eugene & Jay went to village with his colt & cart.
Friday, August 10, 1888 – In morning, I took care of horses. After breakfast, I got Con started to drawing shingles, & rubbish. Then I took fannie & the cart & went to the village to see about lumber. I got Kit ready for ed to go after buggy. He went down with me & came back with me. I got 754 feet spruce in afternoon & 1 bushel of oats. While I was away, Fred was here and offered to cut pile of rubbish for $4. Mag sent a few spears of wheat down to Jimmy spencer to know about cutting it. He thought it was not fit to cut yet. The carpenters finished shingling one side of old barn & put rafters on. After supper, put hinges on windows on old barn. Frd was here at night. Conner & I drew a few loads of rubbish & stone. I hitched horse at night & Maggie & Eddie went to the village.
Saturday, August 11, 1888 – This is a rainy morning. In morning, Jay & I commenced unloading spruce, took that all off & took pine & hemlock down off of scaffold. Gene & Con milked. Then all three took care of horses. Then had breakfast. Then Con got old team out & we straightened tire on front wheel of Spencer's wagon. Con drew roof boards around. I helped unload them got bill for what I want. Then I got ready to go to village with team & platform. Con churned & then went in ditch. Fred is here. This morning, I went down town & looked for Uncle Ben Weatherwax. I walked up street 3 times & finally stayed to dinner & he came. I got $40 of him but he said that he could not spare it easily & surely not long. I got prices on goods I needed to hang rollers on door with & ordered arm stuff for swing & other doors. I looked for them at 2 places & go a 70 cent better bargain for doing so. I had team in barn & got home about 6 o'clock, had supper & then went to help get colts back in day pasture. I paid Jay $2 leaving $25 his due, & paid Con 1.25 leaving $20 his due. The whole order of track, rollers, hooks, screws, tin nails was $12 which I had charged at Smith's. Con & I milked & then drew wagon in barn, took care of horses. Then I laid blind ditch next to road. Con filled it in with dirt. Fred is here tonight again. It looks like rain. He brought some candy for Eddie.
Sunday, August 12, 1888 – In morning, Con & I got up late. He & I milked & then I took care of horses. Then we had breakfast. After breakfast, I watered & cleaned colts. He watered & cleaned old team. Then he & I read papers till about 9 o'clock. Then I went out & looked around concluding on Monday's operations. It rained in the night very hard & this morning also. At 10 Mag, Eddie & I got ready & went to Mr. Smith's with Nell & buggy. From there, after dinner we went to Mr. Eysaman's & then home. They held a consultation of doctors today & concluded he was in a critical condition. Maggie & Eddie & I came home & did milking. Then I took care of the horses. While I was doing so, Fred came to the house & was going away when I was going up. It rained. Con went away after we did & got back at about 8 o'clock.,
Monday August 13, 1888 – This is a rainy morning. Con & I milked & took care of the horses. After breakfast, Con got harness on old team. I did some writing. When I came down stairs, I found Fred there. I & Con went at the ditch in front of house. Mag wanted me to take calf down & I wanted to stay & put in full time. I asked if Fred could not go down all right. She said she supposed he could but Seymour would not like it so he went home, changed his clothes & went down with her. Eddie was fixed to go but was not right around so she went right on without calling him. She sold the calf for $8 & gave him $5. He said he wanted to ride back but after she looked about an hour in the rain for him, she came on to Eysaman's and stopped there some time. She got home about 2 o'clock. At the supper table, she remarked that Fred must think that she would be around there till this time waiting for him in the rain. Mr. Eysaman died last night at 8 o'clock. Con & I packed 1 stone under corner of shed, drew stone, & laid blind ditch & filled in. After chores were done, we plowed & scraped in basement ater 7 o'clock. Smith was here. It was lowry & bad all day. Jay & Gene came at night.
Tuesday, August 14, 1888 – In morning, I got out & took care of horses & helped milk. Then we got both teams cleaned & old team harnessed before breakfast. Carpenters went to work before breakfast. After breakfast, we got old team right out & went to plowing & scraping. We got pretty near done, filled ditch & made bridge & all. About 9 o'clock, I looked up to house & Fred & Ed Brown were there on piazza. They sat there for some time & Brown went over to Brook's to borrow money to get back to Binghamton with. Fred & Maggie were in the house all alone. Fred was on the couch asleep with a pillow under his head when we came in for dinner. He eat dinner here. At breakfast table, Mag made same remark that she did yesterday about waiting for Fred to ride, being worried over it some & at dinner table, the same last night. Fred had a tale & had one cent left out of all his money, so Mag said. This was a nice day. In afternoon, Fred went home, got cradle, came back & cradled small piece oats back of house. Then he sat in house, took a nap on the couch in afternoon also. My eye which has been sore is swollen today very bad. Lyman & Henry Eysaman drove by here today.
Wednesday, August 15, 1888 – In morning, I got out & took care of horses, cleaned all of them & helped milk. Then I harnessed colts & went to village for small load pine & 350 feet of Hemlock of Ireland. I saw J. Keller on the road down but not to speak to him & on the way home. I talked with him at Eysaman's funeral. Con was grading in basement & choring around with team while Mag, Eddie, & I were at the funeral. Eysaman was 67 years old. Fred was here late in morning & finished cutting wheat. He helped me at night. Carpenters were putting on cornice. I got my old hat & pair of socks for Con. In morning Mag stayed at Eysaman's to help. Eddie & I went down to burying ground & then to Herm's little house. I saw George Petrie & talked with him. The funeral was quite large. The day was pleasant. I drove Fannie. S. Carpenter was here & I told him to come on to work at once at 2.25 per day. Fred was in house alone with Mag visiting 2 hours or so.
Thursday, August 16, 1888 – In morning, I got out & took care of all horses. Then Con came out & he & I milked. After breakfast, he & I went to work in basement, leveling for floor, while it rained very hard. Then we got team & drew stone till it was fairly dry to scrape. Then we scraped till noon, and then till night & leveled. The carpenters were making doors and shingling. Fred was here most of the forenoon in house with nothing. We got to debating over people getting drunk. She said some felt big to have some one know that they have been drunk. Fred said that it was just that everybody knows that they had had a good time with being drunk. The ideas change she said.
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