Thomas Smith
b. May 6, 1809 - d. Feb 23, 1881
Harrison County, Ohio
Diary Text ~ May 1875
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The Diary
May 1 1875 Saturday
A wet morning after breakfast John & I went to the barn & tied up all the oats carried up 2 bundles straw and cut one of them Ed & John tagged the sheep before dinner After Ed went to fix some fence & John to cutting the apple tree and some other chores_ I rode Coley to Leesburgh to hear if any thing new supped with Theadore come home trough a tremendous rain but got home safe I bot 5 lb Nails assorted of Lee Hunt for cash 25 cts
May 2 1875 Sunday
Cold & raw Ed & wife & Fred went up to McClains mules & exprefs not back till near 5 oclock_ I cut box straw Black my boots shoes & Shave etc till fixed up to go to Leesburgh to have an earley start for Carlton supped & sleped at Roberts he just got home from Philadelphia Theadore meeting him at Bowerston brought home some new shoes & (traps?) for children with new sample box & new samples fulley equiped for businefs
May 3 1875 Monday
Raw & cold_ After breakfast Robert & I started for Carlton at 9 oclock with Coley & Eds bugey bringing all the books arived there a little after one oclock puting up at Van Horns after dinner look over our acpt_ Robert bought post office money order amounting to $14.25 to mail to Stine Bro NY it costing 10 cents besides Envelops & postage stamp 3 cts The Senft trial put off_ Judge Tripp & Crane his counsil
May 4 1875 Tuesday
In Carlton Robert & I Lawyers told us we would not be called on this time Bill at Vanhorns for R.H. myself & Colley $3.00 left for Leesville 11 oclock Robert lent me $2.00 to pay part of the bill_ In Lessburgh a little after 2 oclock dined with RH gave Joseph cash to pay out Rachel Cahill $50.00 fifty dollar bill got 4 1/2 lb fresh fish & come home before night_ all was well_ John McCourt & Ed plowing in big bottom_ The OP Taylor could not be attended to this time eather J McCourt lost rench of steel plow cost 35 cents
May 5 1875 Wednesday
A fine morning cold for time of year Jack McCourt & Ed plowing in bottom 2 teams Nane & bay horse & mules all day I at home all day after being at Carlton_ Fixing hog pen Troft and cutting feed & etc
May 6 1875 Thursday
Ed & John plowing in bottom all day I at home choring & a while over in bottom drove up eds cows when I was coming up Mandey went to Shilts to make garden
May 7 1875 Friday
A fine day getting warmer Edward & John plowing all day in bottom Mary & I went to Leesburgh before dinner dined at Roberts John got his dinner at Edwards I got 1/2 bush Earley rose of Joseph unpaid for & bought ten cents linseed oil of Lee Hunt got some white lead of Theadore & come home before night Mandey having got back middle of after noon Mary done her trading with Joseph
May 8 1875 Saturday
The first warm day John & Edward plowing in bottom I out with them all forenoon helping Ed haul 3 or 4 load willow poles then laid out a new land for john_ After dinner I went to D Nights for some srubery go 2 Arbultes 2 savan airs 3 goosberry plants gave cash $1.00 The (stborles?) 25 each all the rest 10 cts each Mandey went along as far as Hagerstown to see her Mother back home before night & got the srubery planted
May 9 1875 Sunday
Thundered lightened & rained some last night makeing a warm day Joseph Lidey & Children come up here they dined with Edward but come up here a while after dinner Informed me Robert was at home come last evening Also said he receved his goods last evening seemed to think them a bad investment on account of not having anough of other goods to exhibit with them
May 10 1875 Monday
At home forenoon helping lay off lands in bottom for boys to plow_ After dinner I fixed up and went to Deersville come up a heavey shower which caused me to stop till it was over T PMs sheep & hay house but got to Deersville before dark supped & lodged at sister Sarah, all was well It rained wome on the night_ John & Ed plowing all day in bottom
May 11 1875 Tuesday
A fine morning after breakfast I went out to Julia Smith's Abe & Sam under the Weather I stayed till after dinner told the boys my errand and they promised me some money shure again the first July next when the would receave the cost payment from Scott_ I then come to Deersville got some goossberry sprouts 1/2 bus Earley Rose potatoes and some 2 Kinds corn sweet and large mamoth and got a present of a gal can maple molasses come home here again night or before_ The boys got done plowing all on this end of bottom that I laid out the day before
May 12 1875 Wednesday
At home all day boys & I went to clean out bryer patch over in far low corner of bottom & clean out old fence & reasett it and start the plow in which was a hard job and I got very tired and a little out with John he was so slow but still we done pretty well
May 13 1875 Thursday
Fine morning boys went to bottom to finish plowing & building fence at bryer patch & then commenced harrowing & at it all day_ I put shafts to old Express & Mary & I went to Leesille We bought goods & things of Joseph to amount of $3.90 I paid him cash for two little hats for Fred & Thomas Fierbaugh 25 and also cash on the assignee funds $25.00 I got a plow point of Jame Mourland for Mikes little plow 35 cts and then come to Don Nights & bought 8 apple trees for $1.00 which I paid & come home arriving at 7 oclock for supper
May 14 1875 Friday
A fine day at home all day first after breakfast boys & I planted the 8 apple trees I got yesterday of Night_ Then the boys went to harrow in bottom at it all day I was choring around hauled some beding with Coley & exprefs after dinner I went after grist but did not get it
May 15 1875 Saturday
Quite a frost & cold boys finished harrowing some time in the evening I went to Leesville to see Barrick about some accounts as it was his last day with Trip Theadore and Tom Crawford went to Cumberland I come home earley and went after grist_ Edward plowed his lot at (Steese?) John plowed at patch for Crawford it kept them late
May 16 1875 Sunday
A nother frost cold & raw at home tended meeting forenoon at Methodist Church after noon went to Brethern Edward drove Jack to McClarns away all day John never left the house the whole day slept most of afternoon
May 17 1875 Monday
A little frost but fine & dry Edward went to plow for E Willit John and I hauled some manure on patch beyond garden forenoon afternoon we plowed harrowed & marked out and planted the potatoes I got of Simonton & the earley Rose I got of Joseph two roes of Joseph & one of Simontons I got very tired at it_ I mixed up 4 1/2 bus corn rye & some wheat and took it to mill forenoon
May 18 1875 Tuesday
Edward working all day for Willit had Jack mule & bay horse plowing harrowing & marking off_ John & I went out in bottom commenced marking off I marked a while in forenoon with Nance John at it all day Alick mule I went after grist & washed off Joseph bugey in eve besides doing other chores
May 19 1875 Wednesday
Fine & warm John & Edward marking of corn ground till after 2 oclock then fixed fence along oat field & between Fierbaugh & as plant corn in evening for him self John with him all the time after dinner I went to Leesville and more (particue?) to look for the Hifs boys to help plant corn_ could not get them Scot of German Township lectionery I went over to J M Holmes with hires to begg some pumpkin seed & got a nice little lot
May 20 1875 Thursday
A fine warm dry day commenced to plant corn_ The help I marked off John McCourt Edward Sam Jame Enis Willitt got half done James Carver come here lechonering F. Oglebay come to see me in field
May 21 1875 Friday
After breakfast went to plant corn The help John McCourt Edward & Fouts little boys David & Jacob poor help Though the best could be had got done all but a little corner for want of certain seed_ Next morning I gave David 10lb Bacon side with $1.25 and there work not over 75cts for the two
May 22 1875 Saturday
Still dry & warm John & Edward planting potatoes till dinner when John quite & rode Nance Mare home after cleaning up_ I went to Leesville gave Joseph Cash to pay to plowman Dutton his dividend $22.00 ten two fives & a two_ I got a pocket wallet of him and eat supper there Mrs Long of the Crossing there on visit
May 23 1875 Sunday
Still dry & rain wanting rain very badley Rob & family here to day & Theadores Alley_ After 3 oclock I went to bring Elley Barns to live with us at the rate of $65.00 a year bargained in pressence of JJ Lidy in Leesville_ Robert & family left for home after Elley & I got back John McCourt not back with Nance till 8 oclock PM
May 24 1875 Monday
Dry & warm John on hand he & Edward fixing seed pototoes & went to plant got done the potatoes before dinner and John finished plant corn and put in ballance of afternoon at the willows and finished them makeing a good job of it Robert & Theadore come before dinner and Robert fixed up and took Nance to Joseph bugey stating he bought it at $130.00 Theadore got some seed corn & hay and Edward went with him to help to plow in bottom with mules_ I recevd a letter of Simonton about JJ Bugey which I answered next day by Beal Forscythe_ Had a slight shower of rain
May 25 1875 Tuesday
John went over the creek to chop some shade trees off of the oats on upper end at it all day grubing some thorn bushes and cleaning up in the upper end Beal Froscythe wife & child here for dinner pretending to be lectionering for his Uncle Jefs Giles & J Carves I wrote a letter to F T Simonton by him about JJ bugey Ed in Lessville helping Thead
May 26 1875 Wednesday
John McCourt went to lay up fence but gave it up cut oak top at lower end of wheat and then went to cut bryers & grub elders in eds lot all day
I went to Leesville dined Theadore went down in bottom to see them plow and come to Joseph bot plog Tob 10 and come home trough Bowerston getting pint whiskey for Mike cost 50 cts which money mary gave me to buy_ Ed got home at dark
May 27 1875 Thursday
Still warm & dry_ John & Ed helping Fierbaugh to plant corn all day with Ebin Lauchrage Mike Boor & themselves I choring around went up to I Heastons for post digger in afternoon fixing my rideing bridal & greesing it while Mary & Ellon spent the evening with Mike & Sarah I minding Clide & Fred Bill McFadden here to buy 2 year old steer offered $25.00
May 28 1875 Friday
No rain yet_ John & Edward building fence along west side of field, After dinner I made this entry before fixing to start towards Cadiz_ Left at 4 oclock got Wm Adams after 7 oclock there all night well used
May 29 1875 Saturday
I at William Adams 4 miles west of Cadiz he & I started after breakfast I no place but in Bank drew $400.00 four hundred dollars for which I gave check for I met Abe Smith thare returning from looking for lost mare_ I started for home at 10 oclock had a fine shower of rain from town to McLaws got a wetting home a little after 2 oclock did not lay out a cent_ John McCourt & Ed haul some rails over towards schoolhouse & some manure out on the schoolhouse field before dinner after dinner washed the sheep and after supper I gave John McCourt cash $2.00 to buy over hauls suspenders etc
May 30 1875 Sunday
A fine cool morning After breakfast I went to see Sam Johnston about Mrs Adams acp_ we could not agre his Father saying the scedule was wrong_ I then hitched Mules to carriage and took Clide to Leesvll dined with Robert and come back salted the sheep wile Theadore & Ed drove carriage to Creek after Ed drove up to McClans Theadore & family went home aft supper
May 31 1875 Monday
A fine dry morning John went ovr toward school house to rebuild fence he and Ed at it all day I went to M Gundey bought a two year old sled of him for $20.00 paid him for it makeing arrangement to go for him next morning_ at home bal of day mending Mules collars & straps halter & blind bridal commenced to make chicken crib red up some in evening late after supper with John