From Gauss and his Children

Contents 1 Journal, 1881 1.1 January 1.2 February 1.3 March 1.4 April 1.5 May 1.6 June 1.7 July 1.8 August 1.9 September 1.10 October 1.11 November 1.12 December 2 Source: 3 Notes:

John Jay Johns Journal, 1880<---->John Jay Johns Journal, 1882

Journal, 1881

January

Jan. 1, 1881. How strange those figures look (1881) - two ones and two eights. Nineteen centuries of time have swept over this sinstained earth since the Son of God appeared on it and the angels sang the sweet song "Peace on earth and good will to men". What conflicts o£ truth and error, sin and holiness, what wailings of human woe, what shouts of joy have gone up from human voices to heaven. And even now, of twelve hundred millions of the race, nearly 2/3 are in ignorance, idolatry, and superstition. But to sum up the whole matter, there is a large advance in human happiness, in civilization, art, science, and religion. The Bible is translated into nearly every tongue. Missionaries are spreading the Gospel in all lands. The press is extending its power rapidly in all civilized lands. Human inventories have increased the power of thought and labor beyond computation. The means of comfort and happiness have multiplied a hundredfold in the last century. The progress of our own country has been the stride of a young giant from infancy to powerful manhood. The principles of free civil government as embodied in our immortal constitution are spreading rapidly among all the civilized nations and when the year 2000 dawns on earth, it may be the Jubilee year of freedom, peace and the triumph of true religion to all the nations and peoples on earth. So may it be. As a family we have enjoyed great prosperity during the past year, no serious sickness. We have had the pleasure of having all the children with us during the year. Glover and George will commence this week a new enterprise, that is conducting a newspaper, the Journal - which we hope will be a success. What a debt of gratitude we owe our Heavenly Father. The great desire we feel for our children is that they would love and honor the dear Savior and our Heavenly Father and lead, honest, honorable, and useful lives, This is a mild and beautiful day. Last night the Mittelburger building, containing his dry goods store, the Opera Hall, the Cosmos Office (Printing) all consumed. It is almost a miracle that many other houses were not burned too. It was a very quiet night and snow on the roofs. I called on a few persons today. Old Colonel Cunningham, 82 years old, looks well and retains his faculties, except for deafness. Has been here 51 years. Called on Mrs. Whitney who has been recently stricken with paralysis, all one side. She is better. Called also on Mrs. Robert Parks and old Mrs. Sheppard who is now over 80 years old, and was living here over 60 years ago. She is well preserved.

Jan. 2, 1881, Sabbath. Weather mild and pleasant. I attended the Children's Missionary Meeting with Shirley at three o'clock. These little meetings are not large but something is done in raising money and giving missionary intelligence. We generally get from $1.50 to $2.00. Went to the Methodist Church and heard Mr. McMurry, the Presiding Elder, preach a plain, practical sermon on the life of Joseph.

Jan. 4, 1881. Called on Miss Naomi Barron and her sister, Cora Holke. They are very comfortably fixed. I also called on Mrs. Alf Stonebraker who has just returned from New York after an absence of four months. She has greatly improved in health and looks.

Jan. 5, 1881. Will Castlio of Mechanicsville stayed all night with us. Glover and George are working very hard on their paper. The first number will be out day after tomorrow.

Jan.. 7, l881. Glover and George did not get in till one o'clock at night, being busy at the office preparing the Journal for the mail this morning, the first issue. It is a large sheet and large type. It is a great improvement on the other papers published here. I hope they will make a success of it.

Jan. 10, 1881. Received a letter today from my old lady cousin, Mrs. Mary Rice. I am reading the life of Reverend Dr, Charles Hodge -- delightful.

Jan. 11, 1881. Reverend Mr. Martin and wife called to see Mrs. Durfee.

Jan 12, 1881. Mrs. Durfee has suffered intensely all day with neuralgia. Dr. & Mrs. Ferguson called in afternoon.

Jan. 15, 1881. Dr. Martin called in afternoon and the girls too.

Jan. 16, 1881, Sabbath. Cloudy, not so cold, mercury 20°, Arthur came last night. Cleared during the night. Fred came by in the afternoon and Arthur went with him to the Asylum. Dr. Martin preached a good sermon. Text in Epistle of John, 1st Chapter, 8th and 9th verses. "If we say that we have no sin, deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Jan. 17, 1881. Mercury 12°. Arthur left this morning for the city.

Jan. 18, 1881. Cloudy and raw, light rain, freezing as it falls. The streets so slick that it is hard to walk. The City has adopted a system of waterworks and steam that will be a great thing for the city, in protection from fire, and facilities for manufacturing and heating public buildings with steam.

Jan. 19, 1881. I finished reading the life of Dr. Hodge --one of the most exalted characters I ever read of-- a great theologian, a great deal of strong common sense and a lovely Christian character. The Princeton Theological Seminary seems to have been specially favored of God in having such men as Alexander, Miller and Hodge as teachers. The hearts of David and Jonathan were not more closely knit together than were those of Hodge and Bishop Johns. Their love surpassed that of women.

Jan. 20, 1881. Cloudy and damp, mercury 28 to 32, very difficult to walk, so slippery. Koenig sawing wood this afternoon. I have commenced reading the Life of Christ by Cunningham Geikie, D. D., a Scotchman.

Jun. 21, 1881. William Provines, son of old Dr. Provines, called to see us today. He has been absent from here 14 years and is now living in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Territory. The third number of the Journal is out today. It is good. They are somewhat discouraged about subscribers. The News is in the way. Most new enterprises have some uphill work.

Jan. 22, 1881. Mercury 24° above zero. Glover went to Portage today to get subscribers for his paper. Shirley fell on the ice this evening and hurt his shoulder badly. He cannot move his arm and suffers a good deal. No bones broken but some severe sprain.

Jan. 23, 1881, Sabbath. Mercury 16°. Dr. Martin preached a very good sermon today on the restraining influence of the gospel on society -- on men who are not Christians. Mrs. Gauss called in afternoon.

Jan. 25, 1881. Clear, thawed a little today, Still quite cold, Such a winter as this is seldom seen in this climate. Such long continued cold, freezing weather, now three months. This extreme cold extends far south to Mobile.

Jan. 27, 1881. Clear and colder, mercury 10° this morning. The icy hand of winter tightens. Glover goes up to Hannibal today with the Mayor and several other citizens at the request of Mr. Gray, the waterworks man, to see the waterworks at Hannibal, built by him. Called to see Mrs. Watkins in afternoon.

Jan. 28, 1881. Mercury down to 6° above zero. Glover returned this evening from Hannibal. The waterworks there a great success.

Jan. 29, l831. Cloudy and much warmer, mercury 30° this morning. Melted a great deal during the day. Mercury 50°. Looks very much like a thaw-out.

Jan. 30, 1881, Sabbath. Cloudy and warm, mercury 40° this morning. Funeral of Rufus Robbin's child in our church this morning,

Jan. 31, 1881. Warm and raining, The ground is thawed about two inches and a hard rain would wash it off. It has been now nearly three months since the, ground froze up, the longest continued cold I ever saw in this country. A drizzling rain all day, cooler. Wind north and west, mercury 36°.

February

Feb. 2, 1881. A great many people call this Ground Hog Day. They say if he comes out of' his hole and sees his shadow he will go back and stay six weeks-- that is, the weather will be bad for six weeks. He can see his shadow today, for the sun is out. We will see.

Feb. 3, 1881. Hung up my meat today - 8 hams, 7 sides and one Shoulder.

Feb. 4, 1881. I paid off my accounts in town and will try the cash system this year. Mrs. Mary Provines, 2103 Chestnut St., St, Louis, Mo.

Feb. 5, 1881. Called to see my old friend, William Parks.

Feb. 8, 1881. Mrs. Eaton died very suddenly this morning. Fred took dinner with us. We look for the ice in the river to break up tonight or in the morning, as a big rise is coming down.

Feb. 9, 1881. Cloudy, foggy and drizzling, the frost comes out of the ground slowly, mercury 42°. Commenced raining about 9 o'clock the forenoon and has continued steadily all day. The ice gave away in the river last night about one o'clock. The river is rising and very full of ice today, - wind in west.

Feb. 12, 1881. Stormy, stormy-- the wind roared all night, blew a gale and snowed too. This morning it is raging out-- wind and snow-- colder, mercury 20°. This is the most furious storm of the winter. The ground had nearly thawed out. Winter has returned with new vigor.

Feb. 13, 1881. Still cold and windy this morning, 15°. Cleared up about noon. Delightful in afternoon. Arthur came last night. Fred took tea with us.

Feb. 14, 1881. Clear early this morning-- cold-- mercury l0° above zero. Arthur went to city. Called on Colonel Cunningham this afternoon. He is 82, is quite bright, looks very young for that age. There was an election today in the city to determine whether a tax of 20¢ on the $100.00 should be levied to give fire protection and a system of waterworks which Mr. Gray proposes to build. Carried by an almost unanimous vote.

Feb. 18, 1881. Everything covered with ice this morning - the trees bending with it-- rained most of the night and froze-- mercury 32° - dreary and wintry.

Feb. 15[sic], 1881. Saturday. Clear and the ice on the trees glistens in the sun, mercury 20° above zero. George went to St. Louis this morning on the early train.

Feb. 21, 1881. Called at Robert Parks. Mamie Bennett is there. Called also at Mr. Goebel's on Miss Deis, Mrs. Goebel's sister, who is recently from Germany and who has spent many years in Brazil, South America, teaching. She speaks seven languages. She attends our church. She intends returning to Brazil. She is an intelligent and pious lady.

Feb. 22, 1881. This is a memorable day in the history of the world. Washington's birthday. Clear and mild. I am taking down the old log cabin, built 25 years ago by a man by name of Freeze, now living in Carroll County, Mo.(1) Everywhere water, mud and slush. Sent a barrel of potatoes to Mary today, with a few other things.

Feb. 24, 1881. Clear, mercury 22° in morning. Having peach trees cut back and trimmed. The buds are dead. Brought the old clock back from Meyer's today, repaired and a new face. I bought it 29 years ago of old Mr. Meyer, the father of the men now doing business at the same place. It has marked every hour of health or sickness, joy or sorrow in our family for 29 years. It has marked the hour of the birth of eight of our children and of the death of four of them.

March

Mar. 2, 1881. Heard Dr. Margins of St. Louis lecture at Lindenwood last night. Solid, sensible man, all the lectures I have heard there are too dry and heavy for young girls. In afternoon, very warm mercury 62° .

Mar. 3, 1881. Old John Easterbrook died yesterday morning, a very short illness, too much whiskey-- kind-hearted, weak man. Has lived here for more than 40 years.

Mar. 4, 1881. Cloudy, cold and very windy, mercury 20° . The wind blew a gale all night from the west. This is a great day at Washington, the inauguration day of President Garfield. Old Rahmoller, a blacksmith, died suddenly this morning. Good many cases of pneumonia. Fred has been going to the prairie every day. Terrible roads and very bad weather. Mrs. Whitney and Frank are both very low.

Mar, 9, 1881. Clear, bright day but very muddy. The snow all gone. I went out to see Frank Whitney in the afternoon as he was said to be dying. When I got there I found him sensible and realizing his condition and earnestly engaged all the time in praying. It was a sad sight to see him and his mother, in the same room, she utterly helpless and without any mind, from paralysis. He died about 4 o'clock p.m. He has been a sufferer all his life from spinal affliction.

Mar. 11, 1881. Glover sat up at Edwards with Frank Whitney's corpse all night. Funeral is at ten o'clock this morning.

Mar. 13, 1881, Sabbath. Bible Society meeting at Jefferson Street Church.

Mar. 19, 1881. Rained most of the night. A furious snowstorm has raged all day, without abatement up to this time - 8 o'clock p.m. Fred got a dispatch this morning that Mr. Meyers was very low with pneumonia and he and Annie left on evening train for Boonville.

Mar. 20, 1881, Sabbath. William Morgan came this morning about 6 o'clock from Carrollton. Doug Martin stayed all night with our boys. I am suffering a great deal all day, pain in the head from cold. Could not go to church.

Mar. 21, 1881. Mr. Bates is working on my fence today around the chicken yard. A dispatch from Fred today saying William Meyers was better.

Mar. 22, 1881. Clear and cold. I suffered intensely with neuralgia all day. Dr. Johnson gave me a hypodermic injection of morphine that relieved me. I kept in bed all day, a rare thing in thirty years. Dr. Martin and Mr. J. E. Stonebraker called on me. What a blessing health is! Sickness shows us how frail and helpless we are. David said, "Before I was afflicted I went astray".

Mar. 24, 1881. This has been a bright spring day. I still suffer from neuralgia. Mr. Martin called in morning and Mr. Stonebraker in evening.

Mar. 25, 1881. Clear and mild in morning. Fred returned this morning. Was quite sick while in Boonville. Mr. Meyers getting well.

Mar. 27, 1881, Sabbath. Clear and milder. Suffered a great deal with my neuralgia. William Parks called in the morning before church. George is complaining of cold and neuralgia. Mr. Alexander called in the afternoon.

Mar. 29, 1881. Stormy night and ground covered with snow this morning, cold, windy. Clear in afternoon. Suffered severely all day with my neuralgia. Mr. Martin called in morning and Mr. Alderson in afternoon.

Mar. 30, 1881. George is a good deal better today and went to his office. My neuralgia not so painful today. Mrs. Ross called in afternoon.

April

Apr. 1, 1881. Clear and cold. I missed my neuralgia today for firt [sic] time in two weeks. I feel very much weakened. I have suffered very little pain in my life. The Lord has been very tender to me in that respect.

Apr. 4, 1881. Reverend John Boal of Cincinnati called on Mrs. Durfee. His father, Robert Boal, lived here many years ago.

Apr. 5, 1881. Clear and cold, mercury 27°. Some new cases of meningitis. I am still better today. William Parks and Mrs. (Dr) Johnson called.

Apr. 6, 1881. Louisa and her children left for home this morning. They have been with us four weeks. She is the picture of health, looks very young, though she is 39 years old and has had nine children. She spoils her children more than any mother I ever saw. Her children are very bright and good looking. I went down town for the first time today in three weeks. I am weak and feel a little of the neuralgia every day. Miss Naomi Barron and her sister, Cora Holke called in afternoon, Miss Charlotte Shaw too. Fred brought his horse for me to use a few days.

Apr. 7, 1881. Commenced raining during the night and is still raining freely this morning. Wind east, mercury 36°. This rain will be very fine for wheat and grass, if it clears off warm. I haven't planted a seed in my garden yet.

Apr. 8, 1881. I got a letter from old Patsy (colored) in St. Louis, begging me to send for her. She went to St. Louis last summer with her two daughters, one has died and the other gone to the dogs with drink. But have no place for the old woman. I feel sorry for her, she is a hard-working honest old woman.

Apr. 9, 1881. Reverend Thomas C. Smith called on me in forenoon with William Parks. I called on Mr. Smith at Dr. Martin's after dinner.

Apr. 14, 1881. I have a man raking and clearing the yard today. Sowed some Trophy tomato seed.

Apr. 16, 1881. Bright, fine mild day. It really looks like Spring, the first day like it. Had my garden plowed today. Planted a bushel of Early Rose potatoes, seven rows next the grapevines, and a bushel Burbanks next below towards the meadow. I also planted four potatoes in 14 hills in the lettuce bed, sent my [sic] by Judge Buckner, called the White Elephant,-- late variety, formed by a cross of "Garnet Chili" and "White Peach Blow", twin brother of "Beauty of Hebron", - gross, large, good keeper. Ground loose, manured last fall. The sun is quite warm this afternoon.

Apr. 17, 1881, Sabbath. Warm this morning, the sky hazy - mercury 82° by noon. This is easter Sunday. Fred and Annie came up in afternoon. Mrs. Durfee has become very deaf in a few days.

Apr. 19, 1881. Cloudy and cooler. I went to my farm on the prairie this afternoon. The wheat on my place is fair for the season. good deal of water in the lake.

Apr. 20, 1881. Cloudy and light rain before breakfast, very heavy dew. I planted onion sets and three double rows of early peas today. Mary Gerhart who has been living with us nearly ten years as a servant leaves us today. She has been a faithful, good girl. Lizzie Poser comes in her place. Had a square spaded for strawberries.

Apr. 21, 1881. Cloudy and warm this morning. Mrs. Durfee is suffering very much with her ears and is very deaf.

Apr. 22, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Martin called on Mrs. Durfee.

Apr. 24, 1881, Sabbath. Cloudy, warm, his [sic] threatened rain. Communion in our church today. Old Aunt Katy, the old colored woman, has pneumonia.

Apr. 27, 1881. Went up to Mallinchrodt's nursery and got 200 Cresent seedling strawberries

Apr. 28, 1881. Very cloudy and thundering this morning and before 8 o'clock raining -- cooler. We are eating the last of our apples. I never knew them to keep so well. They are a drug on the market, 50¢ per bushel.

May

May 1, 1881, Sabbath. The Missouri River has risen very rapidly last night and today. We expected Dr. Farris to preach for us today, But Mr. Morrison came in his place, a great disappointment to many people.

May 2, 1881. We had a heavy rain last night and still raining some this morning, clouds heavy. Continued rain now would be very disastrous, as the rivers are so high. If the Gasconade and Osage Rivers were to rise now, at the present stage of the Missouri River, we would have the terrible scenes of 1844 repeated, and so much worse, as there are so many more people living on the bottom lands.

May 3, 1881. Renewed the leases on my farm today.

May 4, 1881. Cloudy and raining nearly all day. Mrs. Glenday, my wife, Shirley and I went to St. Louis today. The rain made it very unpleasant. It is a fearful sight to pass over the bridge now with the great flood of waters, the bottom on the other side like a sea. We walked nearly across the bridge at St. Louis with Arthur and saw a grand sight, the great expanse of waters in East St. Louis, the whole levee in St. Louis covered with water. It is a grand solid bridge. We took dinner with Arthur. These continuous rains, with the present high water, are alarming. The Marais Coche Lake is full, and my land on the bottom, and many other, is under water, and the wheat crop lost on it. Captain Owen had to leave his house today.

May 7, 1881. The river falling. Captain Austin Owen's house fell in the river last night.

May 10, 1881. Called at Ellen Johnson's (colored) where her mother, old Aunt Katy, lies dead. She was our servant for ten or twelve years, faithful old woman and I hope she died a Christian. I called on Mr. Robert Parks in forenoon.

May 11, 1881. I received a very kind letter from my cousin, Thomas Johns, in Virginia, in view of my visit there. We separated fifty years ago. We were raised together and the same age.

May 14, 1881. Planted nine hills of cantaloupes in the foundation of the old cabin and mulched them with straw. I planted four hills of watermelons for Shirley near smoke house. We have had another day without rain, though it rained around us.

May 15, 1881, Sabbath. Clear and cool, wind in the west and looks settled. Dr. Irwin preached for us today. Dr. Martin is in Montgomery City assisting in an ordination service of a new pastor. I was appointed a commissioner by the Presbytery to the General Assembly which meets in Staunton, Virginia on the 19th of May. I expect to leave tomorrow. This will be a long journey for me. I expect to go by the Ohio and Chesapeake Railroad from Cincinnati. After the Assembly adjourns, I expect to go to Richmond to see my niece, Mrs. Virginia Cowan Wooldrige, thence to Farmville, to see John J. Walker, my cousin, and then to Thomas Johns at Appomattox County, -- places I left fifty years ago.

May 16, 1881. Clear, bright, cool morning, mercury 58°. I start to Virginia this morning. May the Lord bless me in my journey and bless my dear family in my absence.

(Journal garden record kept by wife in absence (partial copy))

May 17, 1881. Town is considerably exercised over the kidnapping of little Mary King by Robert Parks.

May 19, 1881. Cleaned house down stairs, had a fine day.

May 30, 1881. Glover mowing the yard.

June

June 17, 1881. I reached home last night after an absence of one month, at Staunton, Virginia, to meeting of General Assembly, then to Washington and Philadelphia where I spent a week with Mattie and Mr. John walker, and then to Appomattox where I spent three days with my cousin, Thomas W. Johns, and then home by Lynchburg and Staunton, via the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad to Cincinnati, and then on the Mississippi & Ohio to St. Louis. the weather has been rather dry here since I left. This trip has been a great treat to me. I have remained at home closely for thirty years. I saw a great deal that was very interesting. Staunton, where the General Assembly met, is a beautiful town of 8,000 people. It is most beautiful, situated on hills and surrounded by hills and mountains. The town is flourishing, good trade. The people are highly intelligent, refined and religious. A good deal of wealth, as is seen in beautiful, private residences, surrounded by beautiful grounds. The Presbyterian element very strong -- descendants of the old Scotch-Irish stock that originally settled the place. It is a great center of female education, five large female seminaries.

End of Excerpts copied from J. J. Johns Diary by Anne D. Gauss, his granddaughter)

June 17, 1881. I spent a day and night in Washington City (D.C.). It is a magnificent city, splendid wide streets. The public buildings are very grand. I spent six days in Philadelphia. Here I saw a great many interesting and beautiful things, Carpenter Hall where the first Congress met, Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed, the table on which it was signed, the chair and the furniture all preserved as it was and in the adjoining room a great many relics of the Revolution are kept. I saw the great city building not yet completed which will be the largest and finest in the country. I went to Fairmount Park containing 3,000 acres where the Centennial was held and where several of the finest buildings still stand and filled with the articles which were on exhibition then. The Park is laid out beautifully with broad roads on both sides of the Schuylkill River. I went to and through Greenwood Cemetery, a vast and beautiful city of the dead, ornamented with elegant and costly marble monuments. I went to Richmond, Virginia and here spent 3 days with my niece, Mrs. Virginia Wooldrige, in Manchester. Richmond is a famous city as the Metropolis of the old dominion and the last stronghold of the Southern Confederacy. It is a pretty city of 70,000 people. It has some things of great interest. The old stone house where Washington and Lafayette held their headquarters. The old St. John's Church where Patrick Henry made his famous speech for Independence, the State Capitol with its beautiful grounds where is the splendid group of statues of Washington on horseback, surrounded by Jefferson, Mason, Nelson and other heroes. Also a fine statue of Stonewall Jackson. I then went up to Farmville and spent 3 days with John J. Walker, my cousin. He is about my age, were boys together 50 years ago. His mother was Aunt Betsy Walker, sister of my mother and daughter of Joel Jones. He seems to be in easy circumstances and lives in good style. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church but not a spiritually minded man. His mother was a most devoted pious woman I ever knew. He married Susan McKinney whose father I knew well when I was a boy in Virginia. He has only two children living, a son and a daughter, both married, Charles and Jennie Scott. I went to Appomattox to visit my cousin, Thomas Winston Johns. He and I were boys together 50 years ago. He is the adopted son of my uncle Colonel John Johns and his mother was my cousin the daughter of Uncle Anthony Winston, M. D., and his father's name was McCormack.

Copyist NOTE:  The above seems to be a contradiction to other records in that his cousin, Thomas Winston Johns, 
was the son of John Johns' sister who married a McCormack and they had two children, a boy and a girl.  
Both parents died when the children were very young.

Thomas lives on the plantation of his father who died in 1868, age 85. He has a very interesting family, wife, five daughters and one son. The oldest married, the wife of Captain Trent. His daughters are very interesting ladies, well educated and refined. His wife is a cultivated woman, good woman. He is a very energetic Christian man. His son is a very worthy man, living in Lynchburg in a wholesale house. I stopped an hour in Lynchburg and saw him and then came on via Charlotteville to Staunton where I spent the night. Great deal of eastern Virginia is very poor land, pine barren old fields turned out exhausted. They think they are improving it in the state, recovering from the destruction of the war. They need capital in immigration. The negroes are unreliable, they seek employment in the towns, on the railroads. On my return I came on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad from Staunton to Covington on the Ohio River. The most beautiful mountain scenery in the world for 250 miles along the New River and the Greenbrier. It is a scene of enchantment from one end to the other, beautiful rivers and beautiful mountains. I had no accident of detention in my whole trip. I saw a great deal and enjoyed a great deal, received a great deal of kindness from friends and will be a bright page in my history and the memory of it will ever be dear to me. The Lord was very merciful and gracious to me in this whole journey. My wife and Shirley are absent in Sedalia. Home is not home without them.

NOTE:  From here on starts his regular daily entries which will be copied at a later date.  
Anyway, this completes the story of his visit back to Virginia. (F.J.)

June 17, 1881. Very hot and dry here. Vegetation has suffered some. Early vegetables were not good, the late vegetables promise well if we get rain. No fruit of any kind, the peaches were killed, cherries and pears and apples have all fallen off, especially the early ones.

June 18, 1881. Warm. Glover went to St. Louis. Heavy cloud in north in afternoon, only a sprinkler, went east.

June 19, 1881, Sabbath. Heavy clouds and thunder in early morning in north -- passed by us. Another about 12 o'cl. while we were in church, good deal of wind, passed us on east. Fred and Annie came up in afternoon.

June 20, 188i1. In afternoon between two and three o'clock heavy clouds from northwest with good deal of wind and afterwards a good rain cooled off very much. Glover returned by late train last night. The harvesting just commenced fairly today though some have been at it a few days. Much later than usual. Lizzie gave birth to a son last Friday and it died on Saturday afternoon.

June 21, 1881. Cool, cloudy and rainy this morning. This rain will be good for many things. My potatoes under the straw have been too dry. Not straw enough on them. I got a small mess yesterday. We have had a few messes of raspberries. Election today on restraining swine.

June 22, 1881. Clear and cool this morning, mercury 55°. This is a most delightful day, mercury at noon 72°. Had all my corn and garden plowed, strawberries hoed and mulched, old pea vines taken up and ground spaded for popcorn. Very cool in evening.

June 23, 1881. Cloudy and cool all forenoon, mercury 60° in morning. Harvesting generally about 8 days later than usual. Wheat crop much lighter than last year. For some reason, did not fill well, too light colored straw where last year there was 35 bushels per acre this year will be 20 bushels. The corn on my place is in fine condition. Everything is late. Very heavy rain down there Monday and good deal of wind. Went by Mrs. Durfee's, wheat about like mine, corn not so good.

June 24, 1881. Cool this morning and during the night, mercury 65°. Planted some corn on pea ground. Set out cabbage plants.

June 25, 1881. Nights cool, cloudy today, mercury at noon 80°.

June 26, 1881, Sabbath. Pleasant, cloudy. Arthur came up this morning. He is very busy, taking stock at the end of six months. Dr. Martin gave us a very good practical sermon on the text "The Strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak. Let each please his neighbor for edufication [sic]. James I ".

June 27, 1881. Clear early this morning, soon clouded up, little shower, heavy clouds in west and northwest and thundering. Heavy rains passed around us last night, good deal of rain today, this is trying on the wheat, standing in the field uncut. It has occurred to me that this is my sixty-second birthday. What can I say in view of it. When I think of the many events that fill up a space of sixty years how long it seems and yet how short it is. I am conscious of a great many errors and sins in my life and nothing but the sovereign grace of God has kept me from ruin, temporal and spiritual. I can sum is [sic] all up in this -- Goodness and Mercy have followed me all the days of my life and after this life is ended I am looking by faith in the Lord Jesus to that house, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

June 28, 1881. Cloudy in the morning and very warm. Wrote to Mattie and Louisa. Cleared by 10 o'cl a.m. Very hot day, mercury at noon 95°. Everything will grow well now. Went to jail this afternoon to see a young man by name of Birdsey who was arrested for getting money under false pretenses. He is of good family in Louisville, Kentucky. I wrote to his father asking him to send money to get out and get him home. He took one false step and that led to others. Called at Judge King's this afternoon. A comet is visible every evening about 9 o'cl in northwest and every morning at 2 o'cl.

June 29, 1881. Clear and very hot, the mercury at 6 o'cl a.m. was 80°. This is a very hot day, mercury at noon 96°. Mrs. Reid, Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Stuart spent the day with us and Mrs. Walton and Mrs. Alderson took tea. Young Birdsey's father came and took him home.

June 30, 1881. Cloudy and threatens rain this morning. Heavy clouds and lightning all around last night at 9 o'cl. Rain in forenoon, got much cooler in evening. Robert Pouris came out in evening, he is going to Scotland soon.

July

July 1, 1881. Clear and quite cool. It has been a most delightful day. I called at Robert Parks this afternoon. Annie came up and preserved some raspberries for us. Glover went up to Dardenne Prairie with McCausland.

July 2, 1881. Clear, bright cool morning. Henry Davis cutting my meadow today, it is a heavy crop. Wrote a letter to my wife today and received one from Tom Johns and Mattie. Everybody was terribly shocked to hear that President Garfield was shot in the depot in Washington early this morning, by a crazy devil who lives in Chicago and who had been disappointed in not getting an office. He shot twice, once hitting the shoulder and the other, much lower down the back. His condition reported very dangerous. The last accounts this evening he was worse. What a terrible calamity it would be if he should die, under such circumstances. This assassin is a republican stalwart, his aim was to get Garfield out of the way so that Arthur, Vice-President, might take his place. A hot contest has been going on in the Republican party between the Grant and anti-Grant men. Arthur is a Conkoing [sic] and Grant man, was turned out of the New York Custom House by Hayes for corruption in office. Garfield has just entered upon his office and so far has done well. And all good citizens deprecate [sic] and deplore such diabolical acts as this. What a sad condition of things that such devils are abroad in the land.

July 3, 1881. Sabbath. Clear, bright morning, warmer. The President is reported better. May the Lord restore him. Annie and Fred came up in evening for tea. I attended the Children's Missionary Meeting in afternoon at 4 o'cl.

July 4, 1881. Clear day, warm. This anniversary of our National holiday will be celebrated all over the land. It would be a great thing if people understood its true import and the true principals on which our forefathers founded the government. We have grown beyond all precedent in extent of territory, in population and wealth and in general, intelligence but there are serious symptoms of corruption in the body politic. Nothing but the leaven of the Gospel can save the nation. Very hot day, 92° at noon. President reported worse, still in danger.

July 5, 1881. Clear and warm, mercury 72° at 6 o'cl. Got a mess of the Burbank potatoes for dinner. They yield better than the Early Rose. My wife and Shirley expected to leave Sedalia today. Received postal today saying that little Mattie was so sick they put off coming until Saturday. The thermometer now at 2 o'cl is 98°.

July 8, 1881. Clear and hot, mercury 80° at 6 o'cl. Promises to be another very hot day, no signs of rain. Had my garden and corn patches plowed yesterday. At 2 o'cl mercury 99°. Called at Mr. Gill's after supper.

July 9, 1881. Clear and excessively hot, hottest night we have had. I was up at 3 o'cl this morning, not a breath of air stirring. Saw the comet in the north, tail west. I saw two beautiful and brilliant stars in the east. At 6 o'cl this morning the mercury was 82° and at 9 o'cl it is at 90°. This is the hottest day we have had, mercury got up to 100°. Expect my wife and Shirley tonight.

July 10, 1881, Sabbath. Clear and very hot, mercury 82° before 6 o'cl. My wife and Shirley came last night. We have not seen each other for two months. The intense heat continuing, it is terrible, scorching, mercury today got up to 103°. It is bothering vegetation rapidly.

July 11, 1881. Clear and the same intense heat, mercury 80° at 6 o'cl this morning. Wind gone to east and some cloudy. A thunder cloud in the southeast passed us just at noon, mercury 100°. Thunder clouds in the west about 2 o'cl. Sunstrokes frequent, bowel diseases.

July 12, 1881. Clear and hot still, yesterday evening a heavy rain passed south and east of us, we had a light shower, mercury this morning at 6 o'cl, 82°. We have a mess of tomatoes today. Intense heat burning up vegetation, mercury at 2 o'cl, this afternoon, 100°. We have a very good mess of roasting ears from the sweet corn. I gathered a mess of potatoes from a few hills I planted from potatoes sent me by Judge Buckner (White Elephant Potatoes). They are small, been two [sic] dry for them. We expected to go out to Mr. Garvin's to a sociable but were disappointed in getting a buggy. Just at 8 o'cl a cloud from north came ever with good deal of wind but no rain, cooler.

July 13, 1881. About 2 o'cl this morning we had a heavy dash of rain for a few minutes. It cooled off very much and this morning, very wet. This is a great relief from the burning heat, cloudy today with some appearance of rain. In afternoon a cloud arose in southwest and about 3 o'cl we had a good rain with some wind. What a blessing! Mercury went down to 75°.

July 14, 1881. Cloudy, had another good rain during night. The ground now is quite wet, the rain yesterday and last night general in the region and the change of temperature a great relief to everybody. Fred and Annie here to dinner today.

July 15, 1881. Clear and warmer, mercury 77° at 6 o'cl a.m. I rode down in the bottom three or four miles to Joe Rock and my bottom lands. The corn crop looks tolerably well, much of it late, the late rain great benefit to it. A crop of corn could have been raised on my land after the water fell. I have had arrangements with Achepohl to cultivate it next year at $4 per acre. At 2 o'cl. the mercury 92°.

July 16, 1881. Very hot again, clear this morning, mercury 82° at 5 o'cl, very hot day. Arthur came to tea.

July 17, 1881, Sabbath. Warm, mercury 82° at 6 o'cl a.m., cloudy, threatened rain before noon, cooler. Wind in the north and has been very pleasant all afternoon, mercury 84°, cloudy.

July 18, 1881. Clear and cooler, mercury 70° this morning. It was a delightful night, great relief, this change. Tomatoes abundant now. Arthur left this morning.

July 19, 1881. Clear, mercury 73° this morning at 6 o'cl, nights very pleasant now. Had blackeyes peas [sic] for dinner. Blanche, Shirley and I went across the river in Ferry Boat. Mercury got up to 92° at 2 o'cl, we need rain again.

July 20, 1881. Clear and hot, mercury 82° at 6 o'cl this morning. At one o'clock p.m. the mercury 100°. We are in another terrible hot and dry spell. By 3 o'cl the mercury got up to 103°. The wind felt like it came from a furnace. Shirley had a slight attack of cholera morbus.

July 21, 1881. Clear and the hottest morning this summer, at 6 o'cl a.m., mercury 85°, at 9 o'cl a.m., 92°, quite windy, at 12 o'cl and 1 o'cl and at 2 o'cl, mercury 104°. This wind and heat is withering and scorching everything, almost unprecedented.

July 22, 1881. Cloudy and cooler. In the night a cloud arose in the west and promised rain but passed off. Wind this morning in the west and cooler, mercury 80°. At 2 o'cl p.m. the mercury is 78°. What a delightful change, cloudy.

July 23, 1881. Clear and cool, mercury 70° at 6 o'cl a.m. Heavy dew this morning for the first time for days. Went out to Mrs. Watson's with Mrs. Durfee, Blanche and Shirley. She is suffering with a sprained foot. In afternoon went to the prairie and by Mrs. Durfee's place with my wife and Shirley. The corn crop is suffering from dry weather and chinch bugs. Had Mrs. Rogers buggy and horse.

July 24, 1881, Sabbath. Clear, mercury 72° at 6 o'cl. Reverend Mr. Vardeman preached for us today. His theme, Christian himiliation [sic] and exaltation. He and Mr. William Parks took dinner with us. We had a little shower at 5 o'cl this afternoon.

July 25, 1881. Clear, mercury 72° at 6 o'cl a.m. Everything is wet this morning from shower yesterday afternoon. This has been a very pleasant day, mercury 86° at 2 o'cl p.m.

July 26, 1881. Clear and cool, mercury 68° at 6 o'cl a.m. Cloudy in forenoon. New Moon today. Cloudy all day and looked like rain but all passed off.

July 27, 1881. Clear and quite cool, mercury 64° at 6 o'cl this morning. This is a delightful day. If we only had a good rain to refresh the earth!

July 28, 1881. Clear and warmer, mercury 65° at 6 o'cl a.m. Had four loads of brick bats hauled for the road in the yard and at the gate.

July 29, 1881. Clear and pleasant, mercury this morning 67°, no signs of rain. George went off to Wentzville on 27th to attend barbecue at Flint Hill yesterday. Glover went up to Femme Osage today to Wedig Tyler's. George came home. He and Dr. Davis, Editor of Cosmos had a fight about some editorials in the Cosmos and Journal, somewhat personal. Davis met him this morning and cursed him and George knocked him down twice. They were separated. I rode with Fred in afternoon to Asylum and looked at a milch cow at Jerome White's and called at William Parkes.

July 30, 1881. Clear and cool, mercury 64° this morning. Glover came home to breakfast. How dry it is, no signs of rain. I bought a milk cow and calf of Jerome White for $45.00 and sold my cow to E.C. Cunningham for $40.00. Warmer today, mercury 90° at 2 o'cl p.m.

July 31, 1881. Clear and hot, mercury 72° in morning and went up to 92 at 2 o'cl p.m. The Reverend Mr. Dubose one of our missionaries in China preached for us this morning. His coming was very unexpected. He is just returning from China by way of San Francisco. His wife and three children with him. They have been in China for ten years. He told us of religions in China. Fred and Anne took tea with us.

August

Aug. 1, 1881. Clear, hot and dry at 5 o'cl a.m. It was cloudy at noon, mercury 92° and at two, 95°. The dryness is terrible, some floating clouds. got my new cow today.

Aug. 2, 1881. Clear and hot, no sign of rain, at noon 96°, at 3 o'cl, 99°.

Aug. 3, 1881. Some clouds early this morning but mercury 76° at 6 o'cl a.m. I rode down in the bottom on horseback bout six miles to see a man to make a wire fence on my bottom land next to the lake. I have rented this land to Henry Achepohl. It was a very hot dusty ride. Mr. Horton, a classmate of George's at Princeton, came today on a visit on his way west. Glover went up early this morning to Dog Prairie to a picnic. The mercury was 100° at one o'clock today. The sun fairly blazes and burns.

Aug. 4, 1881. Clear and hot, mercury 78° this morning. another parching hot day before us. Lizzie and her children came today from Sedalia. we had some clouds in the afternoon.

Aug. 5, 1881. Clear and very hot, mercury 78° at 6 o'cl a.m. George went with Ed Gill to Augusta, this county. At 2 o'cl p.m. mercury 99°, the heat is most distressing. We have some corn, plenty of tomatoes and potatoes.

Aug. 6, 1881. Little cloudy and very hot this morning, mercury 78° at 6 o'cl a.m. At 2 o'cl, mercury 100°, about 3 o'cl a cloud arose in southwest and thundered by passed away without rain. George got home from August[sic] at eight o'clock and said he had a heavy rain at Weldon spring. Fred and Annie came up after supper.

Aug. 7, 1881, Sabbath. Clear and cooler. This has been a very pleasant day, mercury not up to 90°. The drought is very extensive in the west and the corn crop seriously damaged.

Aug. 8, 1881. Clear and cooler, at 1 o'cl p.m. mercury 92°. The pastures all dry as the streets. I feed my cows with green corn and that is drying up. There was an explosion at the foundry yesterday afternoon in which one man was killed and two badly injured.

Aug. 9, 1881. Clear and hot, mercury 80° at 6 o'cl this a.m., good deal of wind stirring. this day can take the premium for heat. At this hour, 3 o'cl p.m. the mercury in the shade is a little over 106°, two degrees higher than it has been this season. a strong breeze blowing from the west. These extremes in temperature are for some wise purpose in the economy of nature and in the ordering of the all-wise Providence. The Lord reigns.

Aug. 10, 1881. Clear and hot, mercury at 6 o'cl a.m. 78°, at 12 o'cl. 98°. this is a better day than yesterday. No signs of rain yet. The President Garfield is worse again. He has a hard struggle for life. This has been another very hot day, mercury 102° at 2 o'cl p.m. My corn is burning up in my garden.

Aug. 11, 1881. Clear and hot, mercury 80° at 6 o'cl a.m. No signs of change. This is a terrible day for heat, now at 3:30 o'cl, the mercury 107°. It is almost insupportable.

Aug. 12, 1881. Some clouds this morning but soon disappeared. At 6 o'cl a.m., mercury 84°, the hottest morning. Very hot night, no air. Now at twelve o'clock, mercury is 104°. The heat is awful. It got up to 107° at two o'clock. Some clouds in afternoon. Heavy clouds and thunder and lightning in southeast across the river. very hot and close in forepart of night.

Aug. 13, 1881. Partly clear this morning and fresh breeze from east, mercury 78° at 6 o'cl a.m. a Most delightful change. Old Aunt Patsy, the old negro woman who was with us so many years, returned from St. Louis where she went a year ago with her daughter who died there. She is very old but very vigorous. She has no home. It has been cloudy most of the day and cool fresh wind from the west. Heavy rain with great deal of lightning in St. Louis yesterday evening. Lightning set fire to mill and other buildings, loss $200,000.

Aug. 14, 1881, Sabbath. Cloudy and cool, mercury 70°. Arthur returned from Kentucky yesterday where he has been recuperating for a week. Letter from him today says he has improved. Mrs. Glenday is ill. Letter from Louisa today, cloudy and pleasant all day. we expect Mattie, Mr.. Borden and Shirley in a few days.

Aug. 15, 1881. Clear and cool, mercury 66° at 6 o'cl a.m. No signs of rain. mercury got up to 90° in afternoon.

Aug. 16, 1881. Clear and warmer, mercury 67° at 6 o'cl a.m., appearances indicate hotter weather and no signs of rain. Mercury went up to 90°. went to Charlesworth to a party. Lizzie and her children went over to Mr. Gauss to stay as Mattie is expected tomorrow.

Aug 17, 1881. Cloudy in west, north-mercury 80° at 6 o'cl a.m. Before 7 o'cl heavy thunder in the northwest and some prospect of rain. May the Lord in mercy send it. we had a shower between seven and eight this morning that laid the dust. It has been partly cloudy during the day. the mercury went to 98° about 2 o'cl. in afternoon wind changed to west. Mr. Borden and Mattie took a buggy ride in afternoon. The President has been very much worse for several days. He is now reduced so low that there is little hope of his recovery.

Aug. 19, 1881. Cloudy and not so hot, mercury 76° at 6 o'cl a.m. Wind west and north. John Gibson of St. Louis with his son, Marshall, 8 years old, dined with us today. Mr. Borden left for Philadelphia this evening. Mr. Yosti and her daughter, Jennie Lentz, Mrs. Fielding, Mrs. Walker and Mrs. Alderson called. Cunningham took the calf home. Fred and Annie called after tea.

Aug. 20, 1881. Very cloudy, mercury 70° at 6 o'cl a.m. Glover went to St. Louis today. Very cloudy all day, just before night cleared up. We can get no rain. I called in afternoon on Reverend Uncas McCluer at Mr. Gauss. Arthur and Glover came in evening from St. Louis. The pastures are as dry as the street. I cut corn for my cow. Arthur's health has greatly improved by his visit to Kentucky.

Aug. 21, 1881, Sabbath. Clear and cool, mercury 70V at 6 o'cl a.m. All our children except Louisa and Mary are with us today. These are happy occasions in our lives. At one time we care scattered far apart and through the good Providence of our Father we are brought together. How many blessings we enjoy as a family. Reverend Uncas McCluer preached for us today a good sermon but spoke so indistinctly that a great many could not hear it.

Aug. 22, 1881. Clear and cool, mercury 62°. Arthur left on early train. In afternoon, mercury 88°. The President is reported much worse today, blood poisoning.

Aug. 23, 1881. Clear and warmer this morning, mercury 70° at 6 o'cl a.m., at 3 o'cl p.m. the mercury up to 94°. The President is very low.

Aug. 24, 1881. Clear and warmer, 72° at 7 o'cl a.m. at noon, 96°, another hot spell, no signs of rain. I rode out to Mrs. Watson's and stopped at George B. Johnston's. He is going to move to Texas soon.

Aug. 25, 1881. Cloudy and red in the east this morning ans some clouds are around, warm, mercury 72° at 6 o'cl a.m. This is the day of the picnic at Walnut Grove. Our old cow that has given us milk and butter for five or six years went off to the butcher today. she has given milk without a calf nor for 2½ years and fives now 2 gals a day. she has been extremely fat for two years and I have to sell her because I must have a cow that gives more milk. At 3 o'cl p.m., mercury 99°.

Aug. 26, 1881. Clear and hot, mercury 75° at 6 o’cl a.m., no signs of rain, the heavens are brass and the earth iron. It is most unprecedented and distressing draught and the weather so hot. The President is extremely low. Mercury 102° at noon and 103° at 2 o’cl. Fred and Annie called after tea and Dr. Martin also.

Aug. 27, 1881. Clear and hot, mercury 75°. Mrs. Rood has been very low for days. Every sign of another very hot day, mercury 102° at 3 o’cl p.m. went to William Parks in afternoon. Mrs. Rood lies very low. She is 76 years old. I was at her wedding forty-three years ago.

Aug. 28, 1881, Sabbath. Clear and hot, mercury 74° at 6 o’cl a.m., another hot and dry day ahead of us. Mrs. Rood died this morning at 7 o’cl. Mrs. Mattie Edwards died at 3 o’cl of puerperal fever. Two members of our church gone in one day. Mrs. Edward’s death is sad indeed, a young wife and mother (32) leaving four little children. Her mother and brother died last spring.

Aug. 29, 1881. Clear and hot, mercury 78° at 6 o’cl a.m., about 9 o’cl this morning the wind commenced blowing strong from the east and now at twelve we have heavy clouds and every appearance of rain. Rained a little about three this afternoon. Attended Mrs. Rood’s funeral at 4 o’cl. I have attended the funerals of her father, mother and two sisters and their husbands and her husband. Now at 7 o’cl heavy clouds and some rain, much cooler, the mercury went down to 80°. George went to St. Louis this morning and returned in evening.

Aug. 30, 1881. Partly cloudy, had a good shower this morning about five o’clock. The mercury 70° at 6 o’cl a.m. This rain and change of temperature great relief, the dust was terrible. At 12 noon the mercury 88° more signs of rain. I see by the papers that the rain was general over the state yesterday. The president is still better. Attended Mrs. Edward’s funeral at four o’clock.

Aug. 31, 1881. Clear and warm, mercury 77° at 6 o’cl a.m. sowed rye in the orchard yesterday. In afternoon we had heavy clouds with a little rain. Afternight, a great deal of thunder and lighting in the southwest.

September

Sept. 1, 1881. Clearing, warm, mercury 75° at 6 o’cl a.m., a very light rain in the night. Went out to sale at George B. Johnston’s. Very warm.

Sept.2, 1881. Cloudy this morning, mercury 74°. Annie and the baby are here today. Lizzie expects to leave this evening for Sedalia. At 11 o’cl a.m., heavy clouds, thunder. Jim McDearmon and Miss Irvin were married last night. George attended. This terrible drought is in France and Canada as well as in this country. It rained a little about 1 o’cl today and much cooler.

Sept. 3, 1881. Cloudy, cool, mercury 70

Sept. 4, 1881, Sabbath. Clear, warm, mercury 76° at 6 o’cl a.m. At 2 o’cl, mercury 102°. This is a very hot day, strong south wind and feels like it comes from a furnace. It feels like it would bring rain, no clouds. Arthur came up today. His house has been very busy. Fred came up in evening to tea.

Sept. 5, 1881. Clear and the hottest morning this summer, mercury 83° at 6 o’cl a.m. Arthur returned to the city on early train. No clouds.

Sept. 6, 1881. Clear and hot, mercury 80° this morning. What a summer of heat and drought. Here we are into September and no relief. I have been suffering for weeks with an itching of the body something like heat or rash. Very hot day, good deal of air stirring but brings no rain.

Sept. 7, 1881. Clear and warm, mercury 80° at 6 o’cl a.m. We had a lawn party here last night, great many young people, a very pleasant affair. Mattie went to St. Louis this morning to visit Mrs. McCarty. This has been a very hot, sultry day, mercury 100° at 2 o’cl p.m., cloudy in evening.

Sept. 8, 1881. Some clouds this morning, very heavy clouds with thunder and lightning in the west. It passed around us. Cooler this morning, mercury 76° at 6 o’cl a.m. My cow jumped out last night and I had quite a hunt for her and when I came back she was at home. Judge Dryden was in town today looking after our church case. Robert Miller died very suddenly today. Cooler, mercury 90° at 2 o’cl p.m., cloudy this evening and some thunde. Mattie returned from St. Louis this evening on eight o’clock train.

Sept. 9, 1881. Cloudy and cooler, mercury 72° this morning. Heavy cloud rose in southwest last night, gave us a light rain and passed north. George and Shirley Borden went with a party to fish on Peruke Creek. Raining now at 8:30 a.m. Very sultry in afternoon though the mercury was 88°, about 4 o’cl p.m. heavy clouds rose in the south, good deal of wind, some rain, later a cloud came from the west and good rain after dark.

Sept. 10, 1881. It rained a good deal in night. Shirley got back half past twelve at night and George at Three this morning. Sowed winter turnip seed for greens in lowest part of garden. It became very cool about noon. The town is crowded today with people to see Forpaugh Great Show. Quite cool tonight.

Sept. 11, 1881, Sabbath. Extreme and violent changes of weather, clear and the mercury down to 52° at 6 o’cl. a.m. In Michigan there was terrific destruction of crops, houses, forests and fences and human lives by fire. Thousands of people utterly destitute. In afternoon rode with Mr. Stonebraker to see Mrs. Eliza Miller.

Sept. 12, 1881. Clear and quite cool, mercury 56° at 6 o’cl a.m., heavy dew. This has been a pleasant day, mercury went up to 80° today. Our yard begins to look green again. Shirley Borden and Shirley Winston and I went to the country this afternoon to see Mrs. Durfee’s farm and my farm. They are cutting corn and plowing for wheat. The corn on my place will make about 30 to 35 bu. Per acre. The drought has greatly interfered with the plowing.

Sept. 13, 1881. Clear and warm, mercury 58° in morning, at noon 80°, getting cloudy. Judge Dryden in town today on our church case again. At 3 o’cl p.m. mercury 82°. Headache all afternoon.

Sept. 14, 1881. Partly cloudy, mercury 62° at 6 o’cl a.m. I had a most distressing headache all night, got no sleep. Got a box ready to send to Mary Pearce, a great deal of valuable clothing in it. Called on Mrs. Ross and C. Shaw in afternoon.

Sept. 15, 1881. Cloudy and cold, mercury 58° at 6 o’cl a.m., a heavy cloud with lightning hung to the west last night and this morning heavy dark clouds are flying from northwest and quite cold. It rained a little in the night. It has been a cold day, overcoats in use and we have a little fire tonight. What a change from the melting heat a few days ago. The dark clouds have hung over us all day. Judge Dryden and Mr. Strong took testimony on the church case today. The evidence is very strong that the plaintiff brought the suit at the request of the church here and for its benefit, as they had no interest in the matter, having left here never expecting to return. This ought to throw the case out of the United states court.

Sept. 16, 1881. Cloudy and cold, mercury 52°, the sun has been out sometimes but mostly cloudy, windy and cold all day, at three o’clock mercury 62°.

Sept. 17, 1881. Clear and cold, mercury 43°. Papers report snow in Minnesota and North Missouri. It got a good deal warmer today, mercury got to 80° at noon. I sowed lettuce seed, early curled head, today and some spinach for greens in the spring. Everything very dry again. The President reported worse today, too much blood poisoning.

Sept. 18, 1881, Sabbath. Clear and cool in morning. Arhtur came from St. Louis this morning, he looks very well. Dr. Irwin preached for us this morning, Mr. Martin absent at meeting of Presbytery at Montgomery city. Warm in middle of day, mercury 86°, getting very dry again. President very low.

Sept. 19, 1881. Clear and warm, mercury 62° at 6 o’cl. a.m. Arthur left on early train. It has been warm today, mercury 90°. Mattie and Shirley Borden left for Philadelphia this evening. They were here nearly five weeks, Mattie is in fine health.

Sept. 20, 1881. Clear and warmer, mercury 66° at 6 o’cl a.m. Plowing lower pastures for rye. Sowed rye in little orchard. President Garfield died last night at Long Branch at 10:35, General Arthur was sworn in this morning at 2:30 a.m. There will be a great mourning throughout the land. The President’s death will cause no trouble, there will be changes in the cabinet but the affairs of Government will move as usual. This is a very hot day, mercury now 96° at 2:30 o’cl p.m. Called out to see E. C. Cunningham who is sick. The Northern Presbytery met here this evening.

Sept. 21, 1881. Clear and warm, 66° at 6 o’cl a.m. and 94° at 2 o’cl p.m. today. Attended the meeting of the Northern Presbytery. Dr. Gauss of St. Louis dined with us. Both Presbyteries appointed a joint committee to settle the Washington church case. Dr. Marks gave a very interesting account of the Southwestern Missouri. The numerous mineral springs and the rapid filling of that country by building railroads and mineral health.

Sept. 22, 1881. Clear and hot, mercury 70° at 6 o’cl a.m. Received a letter from Mrs. Mary Johns at Denver, Colorado, saying they expect to leave there for this place today. At 2 o’cl p.m. mercury 92 Received a letter from Mrs. Mary Johns at Denver, Colorado, saying they expect to leave there for this place today. Fred and I rode to the Asylum and to Mrs. Durfee’s for apples. Called at Ned Cunningham’s, he is sick. I called in morning at William Parks and Robert Parks. Cloudy in afternoon.

Sept. 23, 1881. Clear and hot, mercury 72° at 6 o’cl a.m. Another very hot and dry spell. At 2 o’cl p.m. the mercury 92°. Fred had a hemorrhage last night that was alarming and very weakening. It seems that he had them last spring but during the summer has been very well till a few weeks ago. During a cold spell he has a return of them. I was kept in ignorance of them until today. It is a great trial to us as well as to him and his wife. He has gotten into a fine practice here, all hi prospects very bright but this casts a shadow over all. He thinks of making a trip to the southwest for a few weeks to recruit. Glover is thinking of leaving here permanently, no opening here for American young men. He will try St. Louis and if he fails there will go southwest. How happy we have been in having our boys around us. But it seems that this cannot continue longer. All sources of human happiness are uncertain. May the Lord in mercy give us strength for all trials. Our trust must be in his merciful care, his goodness and wisdom in ordering all affairs for his glory and our best good.

Sept. 24, 1881. Clear and warm, mercury 76° at 6 o’cl a.m., windy this morning and for several days from south. It feels like it would bring rain but no clouds. We expected my sister-in-law, Mrs. Mary Johns, and Bonnie on the 5:25 train this morning from Denver but a freight train got off the track near Warrenton and they are delayed. Glover went to St. Louis this morning on the accommodation train to seek a situation in some business as he finds he can do nothing here in the law or anything else. My sister-in-law and Bonnie came at ten o’clock this forenoon.

Sept. 25, 1881, Sabbath. Some clouds, had a light rain in the night, a good deal of thunder and lightning. Barely laid the dust. Strong appearance of rain in forenoon. Glover returned from St. Louis last night. Mr. Martin preached a sermon appropriate to the death of the president. Hallelulah! The Lord reigns! Mary and Bonnie look very well. She is a very active well preserved woman for age, sixty-six.

Sept. 26, 1881. Clear and little cooler, heavy clouds passed us on the north and west last night. This is the day of the funeral of the president and memorial services will be held all over the land. We all attended the service in the Jefferson Street Church. Mr. Morton preached a very fine sermon. John Lindsay took Mr. Morton’s horse today. Fred is still having hemorrhages and expects to take a trip southwest. The mercury got up to 96° today.

Sept. 27, 1881. Cloudy and signs of rain, mercury 72° at 6 o’cl a.m. Glover goes to St. Louis today looking for a situation in business. I go with Dr. Ferguson and Kirkpatrick to divide the Dr. Overall estate, to look at his land in the Prairie. We started to the Prairie but a heavy rain came up before we got out of town and we turned back. It was a good shower and looks like rain at this time, 11 o’cl a.m. I have just sowed Timothy seed on the rye patch in lower lot. Some of the rye is up. About 2 o’cl p.m. we had another good shower, another light rain form five to eight o’clock tonight. Called at King’s in afternoon. Ed Gill and Minnie McDearmon spent the evening here.

Sept. 28, 1881. Cloudy and foggy, cooler, mercury this morning 68°. The large Pine tree in my yard I fear is dying, the Arbor vita is dead. They are a great loss to the yard. Cloudy most of the day and light rain before noon, mercury today down to 76°, clearing in evening.

Sept. 29, 1881. Clear and warm, mercury 72°, very cloudy, and windy from the south. I went with Ezra Overall, Dr. Ferguson and W. Kirkpatrick to the Prairie near Grafton to see Dr. Overall’s land there. Farmers very busy sowing wheat and most of the fields very dry and cloddy. No rain on that side of the Prairie.

Sept. 30, 1881. Raining this morning, commenced raining at five this morning. It is a good rain. Glover went to St. Louis this morning. It is now ten o’clock and pouring down rain and has been for about five hours. It has rained steadily all day, everything is thoroughly wet at last. What a change from extreme dry to extreme wet.

October

Oct. 1, 1881. Still raining, mercury 67° this morning. Glover returned last night on late train. Mr. Gray, the waterworks man, urged him to go to Palestine, Texas and he expects to, Monday next. Thus changes come inevitably. This rain has been very extensive, storms in many places west of us. It still rains now at 2 o'cl p.m. Fred took supper with us. Raining very hard tonight.

Oct. 2, 1881, Sabbath. Cloudy and warm, soon commenced raining and is still raining now after twelve o'clock. Very few at church today. Arthur came up this morning. It has rained nearly all day and warm.

Oct. 3, 1881. Cloudy, warm and raining still this morning. Arthur went off on the early train. This is an eventful day for us. Glover left us this morning for Palestine, Texas perhaps never to return to live with us again. How painful this is to us. He has been with us nearly every day since he left college five or six years ago. He is a noble fellow but he has struggled here in vain to accomplish anything. This leaving is a necessity. He, perhaps, made a mistake in studying law. Providence seems to have directed his way to Palestine through Mr. Gray, the waterworks man. We can only hope that the Lord will guide to the right place and open a way of usefulness for him. He goes with our prayers and blessing. At 2 o'cl p.m. very warm and raining again. Everything damp and moulding. A dispatch came to Glover from Mr. Gray at Palestine saying no opening there for him but he is in St. Louis on his way and he will go on, not knowing what awaits him. The Lord may open some place for him there or he may be directed to some other place. Fred came to supper. Heavy thundercloud west and north about 10 o'cl at night. Had potatoes dug today, yield good, the Burbanks very fine. Great many tomatoes rotted.

Oct. 4, 1881. Cloudy and raining still. This is the fourth rainy day, Mercury 72° this morning at 6 o'cl. This is ruinous to the St. Louis Fair. Grass and rye grow rapidly, our yard is very green again. My poor, poor pine and Arbor Vitae look sadly brown and dead. Wind changed about 11 o'cl a.m. and heavy clouds came over with a heavy shower at 12 o'cl. It got a great deal colder by 3 o'cl and by 5 o'cl the mercury was down to 60°. I went with Fred to Mrs. Watson's this evening. Wind in the north and very cloudy. The roads very bad. The shocks of corn very seriously injured by long rain and warm weather.

Oct. 5, 1881. Clear and cool, mercury 48° this morning early. The wind dried off everything very much during the night. I was very sick during the forepart of the night with pain in the stomach and bowels with purging like the operation of medicine. I expected to have gone to the St. Louis Fair with Mary Johns today but not well enough. This promises to be a very fine day, so drying. William Morgan called on his way home.

Oct. 6, 1881. Cloudy and cool, mercury 52° this morning. Mary Johns left this morning for St. Louis and then to Texas this evening. Fred went down with her. She is a very vigorous woman now at sixty-six years. She idolizes Bonnie. Her son Claude has done well, he supports his mother and sister. I gathered my Irish potatoes and there were three barrels. The Burbanks very fine.

Oct. 7, 1881. Partly clear, warmer, mercury 62° in morning, signs of rain. Called to see Mrs. Hodgeman and Mrs. Ferguson to have some statement corrected about Mrs. Watson. Called at William Parks, four of the family sick with malarial fever, better now.

Oct. 8, 1861. Cloudy and warm, mercury 70° at 6 o'cl a.m., sultry and signs of rain. George received a letter from Glover at Palestine, Texas. He had just arrived there. Gray thinks fine opening there for a newspaper. Fred and Annie here to supper. Very heavy rain in evening.

Oct. 9, 1881, Sabbath. Clear and cloudy, mercury 62° at 6 o'cl a.m. The rain continued till midnight. It was the heaviest rain we have had, washed a good deal, cool, delightful day, wind north. George saw Mr. Gray just from Palestine, Texas. The newspaper scheme had fallen through.

Oct. 10, 1881. Clear and cool, mercury 55° at 6 o'cl a.m. My cabbages are growing finely since the rains, will make some heads. Everything looks green, the yard is a little spotted, some spots, grass killed. Called at Ross' in afternoon. Beautiful day.

Oct. 11, 1881. Clear and cool, mercury 54°, cloudy and warmer, light rain in afternoon. Called with my wife at Dr. McIlheanny's. He is past 82 but quite active. The apples are said to be nearly all ruined by the late rains, the skins have cracked and many have fallen. This is a year of failures in nearly everything.

Oct. 12, 1881. Cloudy and warm, mercury 72° in morning, windy and looks like rain. I sowed Timothy seed on the little pasture. Warm today. Fred and Annie took tea with us.

Oct. 13, 1881. Rainy and cool, mercury 55° this morning, very heavy rain in forenoon, cool, wind north. Received a letter today from Glover at Fort Worth, Texas.

Oct. 14, 1881. Cloudy, dark and warmer, some fog, mercury 57° this morning. This is very trying weather on the farmers in sowing wheat and on the corn shocks, the apples too are in very bad condition from cracking and falling. It has been a warm, cloudy, damp day, mercury went up to 80°. County Sunday School Convention met this evening in Jefferson Street Church. Had a good address from Reverend William Marshall, St. Louis. "Every christian should do his work well and improve every opportunity of doing good."

Oct. 15, 1881. Cloudy and warm. The Sunday School convention met this morning, only seven or eight present. Commenced raining soon after noon, colder, wind west, continues to rain in afternoon and night. This is very hard on all farming interests. The grass and rye have grown rapidly.

Oct. 16, 1881, Sabbath. Cloudy and cool, mercury 55° this morning, cloudy all day, warmer. The Sunday School Convention in afternoon and night was well attended and very interesting. Hope it will result in stirring up more interest on the subject in this community and excite to an effort to gather in more children in the schools. Fred was here to supper, he expects to start his journey tomorrow.

Oct. 17, 1881.

Mercury this morning 70°. The Texas travelers start about 11 o'cl a.m., two wagons, seven men and six extra horses. A heavy cloud rose in west and very heavy rain fell. It rained several hours this evening.

Oct. 18, 1881. Mercury this morning 48°, cloudy and cooler. It has been cloudy and cool all day. Clearing this evening.

Oct. 19, 1881. Clearing and cool, mercury 42°, bright, clear day, cool. This is the centennial of the battle of Yorktown and the surrender of Cornwallis and the end of the war for independence. It will be celebrated today in grand style at Yorktown. A large delegation of French, some of the descendants of Lafayette have come to join in it and Germans too.

Oct. 20, 1881. Cloudy, foggy and very damp, cool, mercury 46° this morning. Built a shed next to the chicken house to roost in, in cold weather, repaired some fences. No signs of clearing off. Went to Mrs. Durfee's place yesterday afternoon. The wheat that has been sowed looks fine. The ground is very wet, a good deal to sow yet. Apples very badly injured, cracked and rotten. Called to see Mrs. Alf Stonebraker, not at home. Called at Dr. Johnson's on Mrs. Fant.

Oct. 21, 1881. Very foggy and cool, mercury in morning 43° by 9 o'cl a.m., clear, very pleasant day. Called at Ross' and on Reverends McMonray and Blakey of the Methodist Church.

Oct. 22, 1881. Partly clear and cool, mercury 52° in morning, mild, delightful day, rather warm. Went out to Mrs. Durfee's place with Billy Collins to get some apples, Dietrich just finishing seeding wheat.

Oct. 23, 1881, Sabbath. Rain in night and raining this morning, warm, mercury 58°. Arthur came last night on accommodation train. He is in fine health. It has rained most of the day. I went to the Methodist Church tonight and heard a good sermon by Mr. Blakey, their new preacher, on the special Providence of God over his people.

Oct. 24, 1881. Cloudy and colder, mercury 50°, wind west, it has been a damp, cloudy, cool day. Got a load of corn and a load of wood.

Oct. 25, 1881. Clear and cool, mercury 44°, bright fine day.

Oct. 26, 1881. Clear and milder, mercury 48°, very pleasant day, too warm for the season. Having some of the oak trees in the yard trimmed and topped. Called on Mrs. Salveter this afternoon.

Oct. 27, 1881. Cloudy, rainbow in the west this morning, warm, mercury 54°, strong appearance of rain. I went out to Mrs. Durfee's farm this morning to see about apples, most of them gathered. Wind in east.

Oct. 28, 1881. Cloudy, and very damp, rain during the night and sprinkles some now, wind in east, mercury 50° this morning. We had a postal from Fred yesterday evening from Franklin County, and dated nearly a week ago. He had greatly improved in health, appetite fine. Another postal from Fred today, well and gained 6 lbs. Went out to see Jerome White and E. C. Cunningham and then went with John Stonebraker to the Prairie to see a cow at Antion Dortorgue's, bought her for $35.00. The Wheat looks very strong. Thunderstorm last night.

Oct. 29, 1881. Clear and spring-like, mercury 60°. This has been a bright, pleasant day, too warm for the season. This month nearly gone and no frost -- wonderful fact. My cow came today, pure white Durham breed from Frank Boschert's, sold my cow for $27.00. George went up to O'Fallon and Wentzville this morning. George went to St. Louis on the evening train and saw the Baron Stubens at the Southern. He came home on the ten o'clock train.

Oct. 30, 1881, Sabbath. Cloudy, heavy day, cooler. James White buried today. Cleared in evening.

Oct. 31, 1881. Heavy fog, cool and damp, mercury 45° this morning. By noon clear and pleasant. Annie had a letter from Fred today from Lebanon, Laclede County -- well and fat. Sold my cow today for $27.00. She has been a great disappointment, gives only a gallon at milking and eats a great deal.

November

Nov. 1, 1881. Clear and mild, mercury 46° in morning. October has gone and no frost, very remarkable, everything is growing like spring, the hickory leaves are yellow but the oaks are green. Got 6 bbls apples from farm yesterday, many of them cracked. Received letter from Arthur today, says he received one from Glover, saying he had secured a situation with Brown, the wholesale grocer as corresponding clerk. Quite warm in afternoon, mercury 68°. George went to St. Louis this afternoon. Called on Mrs. Robert Parks, she is in bad health.

Nov. 2, 1881. Rained in night and raining this morning, colder, mercury 50° at 6 o'cl a.m. wind west. George returned on late train. Heavy, cold rain today, wind from west and got colder all day. In the evening at 5 o'cl, mercury 42°. Mr. and Mrs. Meyers came early this morning to Fred's he returned tonight. Cunningham took my calf this evening.

Nov. 3, 1881. Clear and cold early this morning, mercury 38°, white frost, the first we have had. It has clouded up now at 8 o'cl. During the day alternate cloud and sunshine, cool, afternight, clear and bright. This day was appointed by the Synod as a day of prayer and fasting for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our churches and revival of true religion and that the religious destitutions in the State may be supplies [sic] by sending out evangelists. We had a letter from Glover today saying his engagement with Brown had fallen through at the end of one day. This has cast us in the depths. But we are in the hands of the Lord. He is our help in time of trouble.

Nov. 4, 1881. Clear, cool, white frost, mercury 38°. Tomato vines not hurt. George went to St. Louis on accommodation train. Milder during the day. Had an interview with Miss Charlotte Shaw this morning on the subject of troubles between her and brother on money matters. Family troubles are the worst of all troubles to heal. I could do nothing. We are all in great trouble about Glover. Our new cow gives about 2-3/4 gals a day. This has been a bright pleasant day.

Nov. 5, 1881. Clear, bright and milder, mercury 48° this morning. The weather looks more settled. This has been a splendid day, cool and bracing.

Nov. 6, 1881, Sabbath. Bright day, milder. Dr. Irwin preached for us today, good sermon on the love of Christ. Dr. Martin went to Columbia to preach for Mr. Wilkie. A young man named Thomas from Texas, a student at the college, was buried today from the Methodist Church. George went to St. Louis this evening and returned on the late train.

Nov. 7, 1881. Cloudy and threatens rain, win in east. I am feeding hogs on tomato vines and green tomatoes. My cabbages are heading. Went with Henry Lackland to see the part of Mrs. Durfee's land that runs back of towards Dardenne, the Van Meter tract. She proposes to sell it to him as it joins his land.

Nov. 8, 1881. Raining this morning, cool, continued to rain most of the day and get cooler, wind in the west. Annie got postal from Fred near Arkansas line, great improved, gained 9 lbs. George went to St. Louis this afternoon.

Nov. 9, 1881. Clear and cool, mercury 37°, white frost. Got some of the coarse meal from the Hominy Mills for my cow to mix with wheat bran.

Nov. 10, 1881. Cloudy and cool, mercury 40°, in afternoon commenced sleeting and then rain. Our new cow does very well, gives 3 gals a day and good rich milk.

Nov. 11, 1881. Rain, rain again this morning and in the night, cool, mercury 42° this morning, heavy rain most of the day, very hard on farmers. Letter from Glover today, he can find nothing to do in Fort Worth.

Nov. 12, 1881. Clear and cool, mercury 42°, stong southwest wind. The election in Virginia was carried by The Republican party vs the Democrats.

Nov. 13, 1881, Sabbath. Clear and cool, mercury 38°. Arthur came last night, he is in very fine health. The opening concert in the new Mittleberger Hall came off lastnight, full house and quite a success. The violin and flute make beautiful music in the hands of masters. Mrs. Scott is a very superior elocutionist. Communion was held in our church today. Arthur and George went to St. Louis this evening.

Nov. 14, 1881. Clear and cool, mercury 36°. Putting manure on my asparagus today. Cooler in afternoon. The last word from Glover, he was still at Fort Worth, Texas, had found no regular employment and but little prospects there and was thinking of going further west on the railroad. We feel deep anxiety about him. He has gone out into the world at the age of twenty-six to start anew at some new business. "The heart of man deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps."

Nov. 15, 1881. Clear, coldest morning this fall, mercury 25°, made ice 1/2 inch thick. All tender, green things killed. My cabbage and cow beets out but not hurt. Gathered my Hangel Wentzel beets today, very fair crop after the dry summer. Had a letter from Glover today at Fort Worth. He has no situation yet, working at little odd jobs till he can find something permanent. Seems to be in good spirits. We learn through him that Claude Johns was defeated in the last election in Austin.

Nov. 16, 1881. Clear and milder, mercury 40° in early morning. Our servant girl, Lizzie Poser, is sick and we have to get another. The servant business always a very troublesome one, good ones are very hard to get. Those we have had thought they knew a good deal and wanted high wages from the start but had to teach them nearly everything about cooking and washing. We have generally been fortunate with our servants and kept them a long time. We keep them because we treat them kindly, pay them punctually and give them a good many privileges, never scould them, correct them kindly. Mary Gobert, who stayed with us about two years, is anxious to come back to us.

Nov. 17, 1881. Very cloudy and warm this morning, mercury 60°. In afternoon commenced raining.

Nov. 18, 1881. It rained heavily all night and is now pouring down. This is the biggest rain we had had for years, all low lands flooded, the river rising rapidly. For two months it has rained a good deal, most unprecedented in the west and northwest. It is colder, mercury now at 3 o'cl p.m. 34°, wind west and signs of clearing. A trunk came from Philadelphia today. George went to St. Louis this evening and stayed all night.

Nov. 19, 1881. Very cold this morning, cloudy, mercury 25°, very windy all night and still strong wind from the west. The papers report heavy sleets and the heavy rains did great damage to railroads. My cabbages are out, froze. I gathered them and put them in pots and covered them - poor heads. Boynton, the noted swimmer, passed our town today at noon all the way from Omaha to the mouth of the Missouri River. He floats in a dress of cork and rubber. Clear in afternoon, mercury 25° at sunset.

Nov. 20, 1881, Sabbath. Clear and coldest morning of the season, mercury 18°. Annie had a postal from Fred at Van Buren, Arkansas. He expected to go to Fort Smith with the wagons and then return to Alma and stop with Mary a few days and come home. It has been cloudy during the afternoon and win southeast and looks like falling weather. We had a letter from Mattie today. She has been made President of a Dorcas Society in her church.

Nov. 21, 1881. Snow on the ground and still snowing, mercury 33°. The trial of the right to Frank King's child between the Parks and the Kings is going on to Probate Court. We had a letter from Glover today, saying he would leave Fort Worth that night for Sedalia with a view of getting a situation in St. Louis or Kansas City. He could find nothing in Fort Worth. He is having a hard time of it, and gives us much trouble on his account. I went to Sunday School Teacher's Meeting tonight. These meetings are very poorly attended but they are profitable and interesting. The snow is light and it has cleared off tonight.

Nov. 22, 1881. Cloudy and Foggy, mercury 30°, damp and chilly, murky day.

Nov. 23, 1881. Cloudy in morning, mercury 32°, cleared up early in forenoon and colder, wind west. In afternoon much colder and wind strong from northwest and mercury down to 26°. The trial of Guiteau, the assassin of President Garfield has been going on since last week. His brother-in-law, Scoville, is his only lawyer - Robertson having withdrawn on account of disagreement as to the mode of defense. His acts since trial begun are those of a crazy man. No man would in the circumstances do such a deed unless he was at least partially insane. He ought to be defended by one of the ablest lawyers in the land. Insanity is the oft repeated plea to clear criminals but it would be a terrible thing for a really insane man to be executed merely because his victim was the President of the United States. Our cow is doing very finely, giving about 3-1/2 gals daily and making 5 or 6 lbs butter weekly. The corn this year is of very poor quality, not fit to fatten hogs, a great deal of it.

Nov. 24, 1881. Clear and very cold, mercury 16° above zero. This is Thanksgiving Day. Although this has been a year of disasters to the farming interests, drought and then floods and long continuous wet weather, yet we have, as individuals, and as a people, a great deal to be thinkful for, There is abundance in the land and great general prosperity, money abounds, great demand for labor at high prices. If we only fear and honor Good in all our ways what happy people we would be. The Methodist ladies gave a dinner and supper down town today for their church. George and I took dinner with them. Very cold day.

Nov. 25, 1881. Clearing in morning, mercury 20° at 6 o'cl. Annie had another daughter this morning at 4 o'cl. Both very well. Cloudy, now in the middle of day and warmer, wind south. We looked for Fred today, he may come this evening. Annie had a postal from him today at Alma. got a load of corn and corn fodder today from Duerker.

Nov. 26, 1881. Cloudy but looks like clearing, milder, mercury 40°. Fred returned this morning, been absent six weeks. He brought John Pearce with him, his mother was very anxious to send him here so he could go to school. He is a very remarkably fine boy. Fred says they are very poor and that is a miserable place (Alma, Arkansas) and sickly too. Fred says Mary has very fine children but Tom Pearce is a lazy, trifling fellow. This has been a delightful day, wind west. Had my raspberries covered.

Nov. 27, 1881, Sabbath. Clear, beautiful day, mercury 40°. Fred came up in afternoon with little Mary Glenday. Jane and I went down to see Annie and the little stranger, baby. George went to St. Louis on the early train.

Nov. 28, 1881. Clear and frosty, the weather looks settled. Our new servant girl, Emily, came this morning. We received a letter today from Sedalia saying Glover is very sick with Typhoid Fever. His mother will go up tomorrow morning. This is a dark cloud over us. If we only had him at home where we could help nurse him but we are very thinkful that he is at his sister's and not way off among strangers. In such a time as this we can only look up to our Heavenly Father for help and strngth to bear whatever he may, in his wisdom and mercy, send on us. Oh! God, for Jesus sake spare this dear boy. What greatly aggravates this trouble he is engaged to be married to a very lovely young lady here, Eleanor Martin. What a trial to her, may the Lord comfort her heart.

Nov. 29, 1881. Warm and somewhat cloudy. This morning early my wife left for Sedalia. George went up last night to attend the Missouri River Convention at St. Joseph as a delegate. No word today from Sedalia and we are greatly disappointed. Very warm and spring-like, mercury 66° in afternoon. I have been troubled for several days with neuralgia in my head.

Nov. 30, 1881. Warm and some cloudy. I suffered a great deal last night with neuralgia, slept none. We are anxiously looking for news from Sedalia. We had a letter from Sedalia at noon. Glover is much worse, has had several hemorrhages from bowels, which is a very dangerous symptom. Fred has come at 3 o'cl with dispatch from Sedalia that Glover worse and little hope for him. Oh! Lord pity us and spare the dear boy if possible and let this bitter cup pass from us, not our will but Thine be done. Heavy thunder shower this afternoon.

December

Dec. 1, 1881. Cloudy and colder, mercury 33° this morning, looks like clearing. I was free from neuralgia yesterday and last night after taking colomel and blue mass. We are waiting anxiously to hear from Sedalia. Fred and Arthur went up to Sedalia last night. The intelligence is very alarming from Glover. Mrs. Gauss has kindly offered Eleanor Martin money to go to Sedalia and she is crazy to go and I will go with her tonight.

Dec. 5, 1881. In the last four days we have passed through sad and mournful scenes. Eleanor and I reached Sedalia about 5 o'cl. Friday morning. We found our dear Glover still very low but in his mind. He was delighted to see us. What a comfort to him and to her to be together. It was like an angel's visit to him. What a noble girl she is. What a terrible disease this Typhoid Fever is in a malignant form. What a sad sight to see a noble strong young man bound to earth with so many tender ties lying on the verge of death. But Oh! What a blessing that he was here at his sister's with nearly all his family around him doing all they could to alleviate his sufferings. Henry Gauss showed the greatest kindness. He is a very fine nurse. Friday morning about 10 o'cl. the doctors came and found all the symptoms worse, temperature 104° and hemorrhages. He realised that his condition was very critical, while he wanted to live, he was willing to go if the Lord willed it. I had several talks with him and prayed with him, all satisfactory, his trust was on Christ. He felt he was an unworthy Christian but he clung to his Saviour. It was evident in the evening that the end was near, he gradually became insensible and about half past 2 o'cl a.m. he passed quietly away. What a crushing blow to us all, that this noble son, so affectionate, so high in all his impulses and principles, so pure in his life, having lived here at home with us all his life and now after his first leaving home to go out into the world to seek a position and a home, he comes back after two months to die. His grandmother is nearly broken hearted, she doted on him and never wanted him to go away from her. What a crushing blow to the dear girl to whom he had been engaged for four years. He reached home Saturday night. The funeral was appointed for Sunday afternoon. Eleanor came over Sunday morning and she stands around him nearly all the time. She put a beautiful bouquet in his hand. His is the most natural corpse I ever saw. He looks like he was dressed for his wedding. The funeral was the largest I ever saw. The Knights of Honor and the Military Company were out. We laid him away tenderly in his home in our lot in the cemetery. Thus, five we have laid there and now we begin again the duties of life with sad hearts. What a void in our family circle but the family in Heaven is increased. The weather has been mild, today cloudy and chilly. Our old servant, Lizzie Poser, is back to stay till we can get another. Mr. Martin called in the afternoon.

Dec. 6, 1881. Cloudy and mild. Mrs. Frayser called in afternoon. Fred and Eleanor came up. She spent the evening with us and we talked and wept over our sad bereavement.

Dec. 7, 1881. Clear and cool, the wind went to the west during the night. We received very kind, sympathizing letters today from our good brother, Dr. Farris, and Dr. Gauss of Boonefille who was with Glover during his illness. The Cosmos contains a very fine notice of Glover's death.

Dec. 8, 1881. Clear and mild, this is a most delightful day, like October. Great many of our lady friends called today to condole with us.

Dec. 9, 1881. Clear and cool, bright bracing day. The weather seems to be settled. This town was startled and shocked last night by the fall of another span of the bridge and 30 freight cars with cattle and hogs went down. The engineer was killed. What a blessing it was not a passenger train. What an outrage such bridges are!

Dec. 10, 1881. Clear and cold, mercury 30° this morning. The air very chilly today, wind east. Mr. Ben Pearce came down today to see John. He will get 20 acres out of his brother's estate and he is very anxious to buy the interest of the heirs for Tom and Mary when it shall be sold for partition next fall. Clouded up in evening. Fred and Annie and Mary Glenday came up to Tea.

Dec. 11, 1881, Sabbath. Light snow on the ground this morning, cloudy, not so cold as yesterday. We had a good sermon from Dr. Martin this morning from text, "Be still and know that I am God". 46 Psalm, comfort in affliction, God is our refuge. Afternoon clear and bright out, a beautiful Sabbath afternoon but our hearts are sad. Just one week ago we were laying our dear Glover's body in its last resting place. We try to comfort our hearts with the thought that his redeemed spirit is perfectly happy in Heaven with Jesus and our redeemed family whie we are here in this world of sin and sorrow.

Dec. 12, 1881. Very cloudy and warm, light rain in the night and threatens strongly this morning. This has been a very warm, cloudy day, light showers in morning, heavy thunder and lightening in southwest and west after night. George has been engaged nearly all day with the railroad commissions in investigating the bridge disaster. The people are very much excited about it and feel that there has been criminal neglect on the part of the railroad company and the commissioners too. When the first span fell two years ago it was understood that the other span ought to be reconstructed in the same way that one was, with wrought iron and steel cords.

Dec. 13, 1881. Cloudy, rainy and very warm, rained in the night and during the day heavy showers. In afternoon, wind went to the west and cooler. In today's Democrat is a long report by George with the Railroad Commissioners, Pratt and Harding, on the bridge disaster. They say the middle span must come down and be rebuilt with wrought iron and the approaches made straight.

Dec. 14, 1881. Clear and cold. Killed hogs today, four ten months old and weigh about 120 lbs - Berkshire. Mary Schumpe came today. Mercury this morning 30° above zero. Eleanor Martin spent the afternoon with us. She feels, at times, that she cannot stay at home and wants to be with us.

Dec. 15, 1881. Clear and cool, mercury 28° this morning. Cutting up hogs this morning. They are still in fine condition to cut. Sent a draft for $86.60 to Henry Gauss at Sedalia to pay funeral expenses for Glover. I called this afternoon on a Mrs. Faning whose daughter, about 17 years old, is greatly afflicted with hip disease. They are poor but very good people, Presbyterians. She is a daughter of old father Owens of Wentzville. How greatly some people are afflicted, good people, and how many are free from all trouble, not good people either.

Dec. 16, 1881. Clear, milder. A great many of our friends have called to see us in our bereavement. We find many kind people in the world. This has been a delightful day. Our new servant is doing very well.

Dec. 17, 1881. Very mild, clear day. I took some books to the sick daughter of Mrs. Faning. George went to St. Louis today and returned with Arthur in the evening. Arthur has concluded to remain with Alkire and Company next year. He has a very high standing in the house and a promise of advancement in future.

Dec. 18, 1881, Sabbath. Mild, delightful day, mercury in early morning 40°. Mr. Martin preached a very good practical sermon - "The people had a mind to work." When the people of God, men and women, have a mind to work and pray the Lord blesses them. The sermon had a practical bearing on subject of repairing our church which is out of order, the plastering in part of the ceiling having fallen. Arthur went back to the city this evening.

Dec. 19, 1881. Very mild, pleasant day, some signs of rain. I took out letter of Administrator in Glover's estate on account of his curatorship of the Van Burkleo in California.

Dec. 20, 1881. Raining this morning, warm. It has been a cloudy, dar, drizzling day.

Dec. 21, 1881. Cloudy and warm, some signs of clearing in the west. George went to St. Louis yesterday evening. get colder during day, wind west. I went with Dr. Martin down to Prairie to see Mrs. Bart who is low with consumption. She is cheerful and trusting in Christ. A case of small pox in town today.

Dec. 22, 1881. Clear and very frosty, mercury 30°. Mr. Myers came down yesterday for Mrs. Myers and they leave this evening. John Pearce had a chill yesterday. Clouded up in evening and commenced raining from west. Wilson Overall and Miss Fannie Gill married this evening.

Dec. 23, 1881. Cloudy and not so cold, mercury 36° this morning, cleared at noon, cool west wind. Called on Mrs. Ross.

Dec. 24, 1881. Beautiful, mild day. This is a real southern winter such as I have seen in Mississippi and Louisiana, great relief to stock. The town is full of people buying Christmas things. It is a great pleasure to make presents to children and friends, it makes it a joyous season.

Dec. 25, 1881, Sabbath, Christmas. This day is observed all the world over as the birth of our dear Saviour. It is usually observed as a time of rejoicing, festivity and giving and receiving presents. Quite a number of presents were made in our family. The principal things were a French tea set and large hanging lamp for parlor for my wife. These things don't amount to much but they contribute to making life brighter. Amidst the rejoicing our hearts are sad for our dear Glover is at rest in a brighter world, having higher and purer joys. Cloudy this morning but clearing. Mild, beautiful day throughout. We had a large congregation in morning and fine singing.

Dec. 26, 1881. Clear, mild beautiful morning. This is observed as Christmas Day. We had a delightful family reunion today except it was saddened by the vacant chair at table and at the fireside. Fred and Annie, Mary Glenday and the baby, Arthur and Eleanor Martin, Glover's loved one, took dinner with us. The pleasure was greatly enhanced by exchange of presents and a box came from Mattie at Philadelphia with a present for everyone. she is certainly very kind and thoughtful and shows such good judgement in selecting appropriate things for each one. We are a very happy family. Mr. John E. Stonebraker took tea with us. The weather is like the early days of October, lovely.

Dec. 27, 1881. Cloudy and very foggy and damp. This has been a very chilly disagreeable day. I called this afternoon to see Miss Faning who is sick with hip disease, laying on her back and can't turn.

Dec. 28, 1881. Very mild, some clouds but clearing this morning, like a mild October day. Having leaves raked up and put in stable. Went out to Mrs. Durfee's farm and sold stock hay. Wheat looks strong. John went to Wentzville to see his grandfather. Cooler this evening, wind west.

Dec. 29, 1881. Clear and colder, wind west. Sent a box of clothing to Mary Pearce today by express. Getting colder in evening and looks like snow. Eleanor Martin spent the evening with us. Mary Glenday was here all day. Got a load of hay from Dierker. I called at Mrs. Frayser's in afternoon. Spieker, a carpenter, was here making some examinations of the house in reference to changes and additions.

Dec. 30, 1881. Cold and snowing, mercury 18°, strong west wind blew all night, light snow on the ground. We had one day colder than this, 24th of November. In afternoon cleared off, mercury in evening 28°.

Dec. 31, 1881. Cloudy, mercury 25° at 12 o'cl, commenced snowing heavily. George went to St. Louis yesterday evening and returned today. Colder in afternoon and ceased snowing and clearing up. We have come now to the close of the year 1881. It has been an eventful year to me. In May I went to the meeting of the General Assembly of the Southern Presbyterian church at Staunton, Virginia. From there I visited Washington City, then Philidelphia where I spent nearly a week with my daughter, Mattie at Mr. Borden's. I then went down to Richmond and spent a few days with my niece, Virginia Wooldridge (nee Cowan) and thence to my native region, Farmville and Appomattox formerly part of my native county of Buckingham, visiting my cousins, J. J. Walker and Thomas W. Johns. This was a great event in my ordinarily quiet life, absence of fifty years. It has been a year of remarkable droughts and in the Fall of very high waters in the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and the most unprecedented rains. Up to this time it is most remarkable mild winter. It has been a sad year to us as a family in the untimely death of our dear son, Glover at 26 years of age. The Foundry connected with the car shops burned up about 5 o'cl this evening, heavy loss and will throw a great many out of work.

Source:

Location of handwritten original unknown.Transcription and excerption by Florence Johns in 1960s. Transcribed to softcopy by Allen Morgan and Susan D. Chambless, 1999.

Notes:

• by email (6/6/03)The entry for 22 Feb 1881. "I am taking down the old log cabin built 25 yrs ago by a man named Freeze, now living in Carroll Co., MO." This was Silas M. Freeze, my ggg grandfather. He had a daughter Sarah who m. a John Watson and stayed there near St. Charles until she died somewhere 1880-1882. Can't find anything on her or what happened to her two sons and husband. I wish I knew where that cabin was. But, appreciate having the info. Faith Keahey.