January 5
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
January 5, 1997
Got up at 11:00. Ate. Watched T.V. Bryan left at 3:00. Talked on the phone. Went outside and chilled. Stressed over what to wear tomorrow. Ed came over :). Chilled. Had Los Tres. Phone.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
January 5, 1960
Waiting for TV man so didn’t leave the house. Mrs. B. came here. Man didn’t come until 12:30. Took care of TV also fixed a radio for upstairs. Finished ironing, later went to Service Class at Mrs. B.’s. Edna’s car wouldn’t start. Lo had left the house so Carrie didn’t get there. Late getting home helped with dishes.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
January 5, 1941
Nice, cold. Much better. Up most of day. Quite hoarse. Funny voice. Gave Ruth a good laugh when she called. Mary came about noon. Mom and Dad ate dinner at Clure’s. Brought my dinner over. Studied and rested. Learned Gettysburg Address. Finished letter in afternoon and evening. School tomorrow. Ah!
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
January 5, 1887
I taught the classes in the College School that were assigned to me, today. I feel a good deal discouraged tonight, there seems to be no interest in the Book-keeping and I don’t feel like sending for books for only 3 scholars as I fear the class would be too small to do any good. I am also afraid that I will get stuck on some of my other studies it has been so long since I studied them myself. I began the class in penmanship this afternoon. The snow is very deep. Willie Waters and I got my trunk over this morning. I got a letter from Kate tonight. How I wish I was back with my darling wife.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Columbus T., age 21, North Carolina
January 5, 1864
Snow on the ground four or five inches deep. Rumors of exchange of prisoners. All still hoping and fearing. Read in Shakespeare “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” Constantly anxious for systematic study — want the necessary books — and more light. Crowded, cold and some one all the time in the light, or shoving against you.
*(Worthy of Record: The Civil War and Reconstruction Diaries of Columbus Lafayette Turner, Ed. Kenrick N. Simpson, courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina.)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
January 5, 1862
Jinnie got up very soon before 5 this morning & Willie woke soon after. I called Atheline just after 5, also Fannie. We eat by candle light this morning. A wonder for the cloudy & misty rain today. Mr. Reynolds preached to the negroes today at the Academy. I shall not go. 10 o’clock I must see about dinner soon. Pinck going to church with Jinnie. Cool & misty rain all day. Pinck & Jinnie went to church but few out. It has been a long tiresome day for me. Mr. Henry came this evening, did but little trading in Augusta as everything was up so high. Salt $16.20 for each. He was offered twenty five dollars per sack in Greenville. Very dear, I think. He got no coffee at all as it was selling at 70 & 75 cts. per lb. I think people should quit now & drink rye. We will soon be out of coffee & then we try the pure rye till it gets down. Mason & Slidell have been given up. I wish old Abe had kept them & then perhaps we could have had peace or England would have given the North a decent thrashing. The children were rejoiced to see him. I was as glad as they were. No one suits me like him. Mrs. Knight came up after dinner. I was down there this morning & Mrs. Fanning & Obazena came up with me.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)