August 1886
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 1, 1886
I stayed at home all day as I did not feel well at all. Kate Ball stayed here last night. It was very warm this morning, but was cooler this afternoon and has tried to rain a little tonight.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 2, 1886
I did some striping on the buggy tis forenoon. Cut up some stove wood this afternoon and picked some catnip. Kate and I went to Dexter toight. We got some cloth to cover the back and cushion of the bugy. It didn’t rain any amount last night. Been a cool day.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 3, 1886
It was so cool this morning that we had a fire in the dinning room. I split wood this forenoon. This afternoon I went to Wheelers with Ed. Ball and helped him fix the binder. It took us until night.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 4, 1886
I worked on the wood-pile some this forenoon then watered the squash vines and made a frame for mosquito netting. I bound up some oats that uncle Robert cradled this afternoon. Repaired the wheel-barrow. Ida Backus and Miss Hallin were here to supper. It looks like rain.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 5, 1886
It began to rain last night and rained the most of the forenoon. It was a grand thing but we need more for plowing. I went to Dexter this afternoon and then took father Quells buggy home. I began to study book-keeping tonight.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 6, 1886
I picked pears this forenoon, got about 2 bu. off the tree by the shop. I went to Dexter this afternoon and tried to sell some pears but couldn’t. Kate went over to her mothers and I stopped there to supper when I came home.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 7, 1886
I sprouted in the clearing this forenoon. Kate went over to Van Ripers I did notheing this afternoon didn’t feel real well. Kate, Effie and I went out to Wm. Balls tonight to the Nilson Club meeting.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 8, 1886
Kate and I went to Dexter to church this forenoon. We heard a very fine speaker, a Mr. Adams. We stopped at father Quells for dinner. We went to the Congregational church this afternoon. I went down to Kennys this evening and got some Harpers papers.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 9, 1886
We cut the oats with the binder and got through early this afternoon. Pa rode the binder and uncle Robert and I set up the bundles. It was hot today and is getting dry again. Practiced singing and read a little tonight.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 10, 1886
Kate and I went to Ann Arbor this forenoon; Kate had 2 teeth filled. We took dinner at Aunt Hannah Price’s. Don & Jane Van Riper came and got us tonight and we are going to stay here all night. We had a fine watermelon. It has threatened rain.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 11, 1886
Pa started the plow this morning. Willie and I went to Dexter this forenoon. Uncle Robert went to Ann Arbor. It was over 90 today. Tonight was the concert at the church. The Nilson Club took part. There was a crowded house.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 12, 1886
Pa went to Ann Arbor today to a republican convention as a delegate. We helped move John Williams piano home from the church this morning. We drew in one field of oats today. I tried to do some plowing.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 13, 1886
I helped Geo. Phelps threash, today, we got through about the middle of the afternoon. I got pretty tired. I wrote a letter to Ralph McAllaster this afternoon. I went to Latsons and got Kate tonight. It rained a little.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 14, 1886
Effie and I went to Dexter this morning I applied by letter for a place in a law office in Ann Arbor, and got a favorable reply tonight. I don’t expect much, but thought I would try. We pricked [?] stone this afternoon. Effie and I went to Blodgetts to Nilson Club.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 15, 1886
I stayed at ome all day today. Kate and Effie went to Dexter to church this forenoon. I wrote a letter to Charlie Fuller and one to Fred Neill.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 16, 1886
It rained some this morning. I went to Ann Arbor this forenoon on foot and stayed all day. Came back in the night on foot. I agreed to clerk for O.L. Matthews Atty. Real Estate and Pension agent etc. Coming home I made up my mind I could not stand the small pay.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 17, 1886
I walked to Dexter early this morning and went to Ann Arbor on the cars. Told Mr Matthews I couldn’t work for him and then came back to Delhi on the cars. I cut sprouts this afternoon. I feel very tired tonight. Kate went home a little while.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 18, 1886
I plowed this afternoon. Pa went to Delhi and met Lizzie Cooper at the train. This afternoon I chopped in the woods. The girls went to the swamp and got some Cat Tails tonight. Jessie and Maude and their mother called here this evening. Am practicing writing some tonight.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 19, 1886
I practiced card writing some this forenoon. I think I will do some souch work next winter. Pa took his hogs to Dexter this afternoon. I got out some rounds for a ladder. Today little Johnnie would have been a year old.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 20, 1886
I have been working on the ladder nealy all day. Russell Reeve and a Mr. Smith of Jackson took dinner here. Effie and I went to the Nilson Club meeting at Olleavers [?] tonight. It was dark coming home. It sprinkles a little now, 10:30 p.m..
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 21, 1886
Today the great Farmers Picnic was held at Whitmore [?] Lake. We all went but Pa and Ma & Lizzie. It rained on the speakers and singers, and about spoiled the proceedings. The Nilson Club sang one piece. Lizzie and I went to he train for Ralph McAllaster tonight.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 22, 1886
We went to church up here this morning. Uncle John and his man came down from Dexter on foot and took dinner with us. Ralph, Lizzie and Effie took a ride towards night. It has been very warm today. There was preaching after the church again tonight. A Mr. Butler spoke. He was on trial.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 23, 1886
Ralph McAllaster went home this morning. I finished making the ladder this forenoon and painted it. This afternoon I picked some pears and finished the day sprouting Mattie McColl and Ova’s wife called. Curi [?] and the new preacher called. Practical Penmanship tonight.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 24, 1886
I went to Dexter this forenoon on foot. This afternoon I did some sprouting and helped Pa plough a head-land. The girls all went down to McColls this afternoon and tonight I drove down and spent the evening. The party was for Ova and his bride.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 25, 1886
Ma and Lizzie went to Jackson this morning. Pa took them to Dexter to take the train. Pa and I helped threash at Ed. Ball’s this afternoon. It was a hot and dusty job. I want to become able to quit threashing for good someday.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 26, 1886
I threashed at Ed Balls the most of the day. A horse stepped on uncle Roberts foot and he is layed up with it. Kate and I went to Boydine to a party this evening. It was in honor of Ova McColl and wife. We had ice cream and cake. It was a hot day.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 27, 1886
Pa and I went down to Ball’s and helped finish the threashing, then I came back and hitched up [,] drew the potatoes and went to plowing. Pa and Willie went to Ann Arbor after the colt but he is a hard one and not ready yet. It has been terrible hot and no breeze all day.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 28, 1886
I copied some music for will rosier this forenoon. It was extremely hot. Pa finished ploughing. This afternoon there came up a driving rain from the southeast and poured for a while. Practiced writing a good deal today. Sung a little this evening. Kate has the toothache tonight.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 29, 1886
It was hot this forenoon. We did not go to church anywheres as there was no service up here. Kate and I went to father Queal’s this afternoon and came back tonight. It rained real hard this afternoon.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 30, 1886
Things were wet up in good shape this morning. I didn’t feel at all well today. Practiced writing and wrote some letters this forenoon. Willie and I went to Dexter this afternoon and got ma. She brought me a cane made at the prison. It has grown cool tonight. Prohibition speech at town hall tonight I am not going.
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
August 31, 1886
I picked some pears and plums this morning and then practiced writing. Pa dragged today with the 3 horses the land works up well. Henry Queal was over here a little while tonight. It is very cool tonight and a fire felt comfortable.