October 20
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
October 20, 1997
Cold this morning. School was pretty dull. Me and Zach went 2 Renée’s. Mom picked me and him up and we went 2 fashion page pics. I got 2 be in his group. Came home and did homework. Ate with Mom. She left. Renée called, Courtney called, Ashley called, Karen called, and Zach called. :) Told Courtney I’d skip fair and do sumtin’ with her.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
October 20, 1960
Woke up real early pitch dark. Phone rang right after six. Alice Joslyn called to say Doc Cook had heart attack and died at Boscobel early 1:30 or 2:00. Loie had a wild day here and there, errands etc. Carrie seemed some better but looks so thin. Mrs. B. came over then I made cookies for Loie to take to Helen’s. Later cooked ham for them. In eve. went up to see Helen. Looks awful but felt better talking with us.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
October 20, 1938
Raining. Practiced. No chapel. Usual classes. Home for dinner. Cleared a little but quite cool. Got a letter from Margaret Loft. Daddy home. Walked to school with George and Allan (partway). Rest of the way with Elma. We went inside the auditorium and talked with Mary. Usual classes. Got our grade cards. Algebra kept me off the honor roll. Made B on it. Mary didn’t get some of her grades put on so I went back with her to get them. Today is P.T.A. and Mother and all the other ladies were out at school. Mary and I talked quite awhile and then a man she used to live by at Oakdale drove her home. Mr. Capps (I’m afraid of him) was at home tuning the piano. He was nearly thru (thank goodness). Finally after having me play for him he left. I got ready and started to school to meet Mother but went back after my glasses and book in case P.T.A. wasn’t over. But when I got there they were just coming out so I waited in the car for Mother. Drove to town with her. Nearly out of gas so we stopped at a service station for some gas. Then I stopped at Mr. King Johnson’s and gave him some jars. We then went to Cate’s, the 10-cent stores and McKiney’s Hardware Store. Then home. Picked Mrs. Winslow up and drove her home. I studied and practiced. Daddy home. After supper I washed dishes and got ready for bed. Then listened to Major Bowes.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
October 20, 1887
I have been at the Court House all day helping the Poor Commissioners start their accounts in some new books. Will have to go again tomorrow. It rained this morning and again this evening. Una burned some of her fingers today, which gives her a sore hand.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
October 20, 1871
Baked four loaves of bread, Philip shot a coyote from the door way. We will dry the pelt for me to take home. He just came from the sand hills with a big wild turkey, I am drying some pieces of buffalo meat, that I will take home.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
October 20, 1862
Mr. Henry improves very slow, is not able to go to the mill without resting. I do hope he may soon be well. He frets so much about staying in the house all the time. The others are all well. George Peak eat dinner here today. He left about 2 o’clock for Asheville. Said he was going to Hendersonville tonight. Rather cool all day. I have quilted some today, will get it out in two more days, I think. Mr. Henry & Zona went to the mill this afternoon. He still has slight chills & fever every day. George Peak was telling us of a battle in Kentucky. Our forces were victorious completely as Gen. Bragg commanding the Confederates. We took a great many prisoners, Army stores &c. The mail carrier says the same is reported in Greenville S. C.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Samuel P., age 34, London
October 20, 1667
(Lord’s day). Up, and put on my new tunique of velvett; which is very plain, but good. This morning is brought to me an order for the presenting the Committee of Parliament to-morrow with a list of the commanders and ships’ names of all the fleetes set out since the war, and particularly of those ships which were divided from the fleete with Prince Rupert; which gives me occasion to see that they are busy after that business, and I am glad of it. So I alone to church, and then home, and there Mr. Deane comes and dines with me by invitation, and both at and after dinner he and I spent all the day till it was dark in discourse of business of the Navy and the ground of the many miscarriages, wherein he do inform me in many more than I knew, and I had desired him to put them in writing, and many indeed they are and good ones; and also we discoursed of the business of shipping, and he hath promised me a draught of the ship he is now building, wherein I am mightily pleased. This afternoon comes to me Captain O’Bryan, about a ship that the King hath given him; and he and I to talk of the Parliament; and he tells me that the business of the Duke of York’s slackening sail in the first fight, at the beginning of the war, is brought into question, and Sir W. Pen and Captain Cox are to appear to-morrow about it; and it is thought will at last be laid upon Mr. Bruncker’s giving orders from the Duke of York (which the Duke of York do not own) to Captain Cox to do it; but it seems they do resent this very highly, and are mad in going through all business, where they can lay any fault. I am glad to hear, that in the world I am as kindly spoke of as any body; for, for aught I see, there is bloody work like to be, Sir W. Coventry having been forced to produce a letter in Parliament wherein the Duke of Albemarle did from Sheernesse write in what good posture all things were at Chatham, and that the chain was so well placed that he feared no attempt of the enemy: so that, among other things, I see every body is upon his own defence, and spares not to blame another to defend himself, and the same course I shall take. But God knows where it will end! He gone, and Deane, I to my chamber for a while, and then comes Pelling the apothecary to see us, and sat and supped with me (my wife being gone to bed sick of the cholique), and then I to bed, after supper. Pelling tells me that my Lady Duchesse Albemarle was at Mrs. Turner’s this afternoon, she being ill, and did there publickly talk of business, and of our Office; and that she believed that I was safe, and had done well; and so, I thank God! I hear every body speaks of me; and indeed, I think, without vanity, I may expect to be profited rather than injured by this inquiry, which the Parliament makes into business.
*(The Diary of Samuel Pepys M.A. F.R.S., edited by Henry B. Wheatley F.S.A., London, George Bell & Sons York St. Covent Garden, Cambridge Deighton Bell & Co., 1893.)