Sunday, January 1 - Jan’y 1, 1894 was ushered in with a high
wind and light snow. No snow for sleighing yet.
It has been a bright but very cold day.
Thermometer to zero this morning.
Family at home well. Clara &
Rollin to Worcester, Mass., the Sat. before Christmas. Expect them home Saturday the 7th. I have written Minnie & Sadie. Rec’d a
letter from Minnie last night.
(Note from Katherine Lynn 2008: My (Jessie Seiverts (?) records show Minnie
married Jesse Converse who was Sarah Grandey Converses’ son. Sadie was their daughter. Sarah Converse wrote this diary. Her husband, Jefferson Converse had already
died & evidently she then lived with another son Juba Converse in Panton, VT
or what is known as Jersey St.
leading out from and south of Panton Corner.)
Monday, January 2 – Very cold, thermometer 10 below zero,
wind, no sleighing yet. What snow there
is, is piled in banks, many wells & cisterns are empty. Juba at
home, pretty cold working in shop. I
sent a letter to Minnie & Sadie. Juba to Clara & Johnnies. I did not try to wash, the weather was so
cold. Tried my skill at making
doughnuts. Mrs. Trask said they were
very good.
(Note from Katherine 2008:
Juba is Jubie Converse as we knew him.)
Tuesday, January 3 – Not quite as cold. Therm. 16 above zero. Juba working
in shop building a boat for Walter Merrill.
Quite a number are sick about town – call it grip. No snow for sleighing yet. Some people are wishing for rain as their
cisterns are empty. Hariet came in &
made us a friendly call. She is left
very lonely….husband, son & only daughter, all passed away within a short
time.
(Note from Katherine 2008: Harriet Grandey Stagg, her niece,
then 62. Kathryn has 1899?)
Wednesday, January 4 (1899?) – Very cloudy and looks likely
to rain. Therm. 36 above zero. Heard Mr. William White was sick. Juba has
taken my pension paper to him to sign. He was not well enough to come down
here. Juba
carried the paper to the Office and then worked for Mr. Stagg till nite and
then brot the mail. I had a letter from
Jesse, he is not very well. Says it was only 36 degrees below zero, coldest
this season, snow six inches deep. It is anything but pleasant to know he has
to live in such a home. Oh Lord be
merciful to him.
Thursday, January 5 (1899?) – Very pleasant day, like
Spring. Snow all gone except in fence corners.
Juba working in shop on Walter’s boat.
I have been washing. The weather was so
severe I did not try it Monday. Heard Charles Tulls little girl was very
sick. Juba
had a letter from Rollin last night saying he was having a great visit &
would start for home next Saturday. Juba sent
him a letter today. The weather is some
colder tonight. 18 years yesterday, 4th
Jan’y 1831 since Fletcher Converse died. (Note from Katherine 2008: Fletcher was
Jefferson’s brother.)
Friday, January 6 – Some colder and a fine snow falling. If
the wind
don’t blow it will make good sleighing.
8 oclock evening – snowing lightly yet & very still. Juba in
shop. Bought a pig of Mr. (Edrick) Adams $2 ½.
Tonight he is missing (the pig), no one knows where. Juba
after a long tromp in the snow him over to his home & brought him home in
his arms.
Saturday, January 7 – Snowing again this morning. The wind is rising & piling the snow into
banks. Juba
is going to Ver. with George Allen to bring Clara & Rollin home in a large
sleigh. Wind is south & cold. They will have a cold ride. They arrived ½ past 5. Clara had the
misfortune to not have the right check for her trunk. Operator telegraphed for it to be sent the next
train to Vergennes. This is the first
day of sleighing this winter, it seems better than wheeling. Such cold weather, many I hear are sick with
typhoid fever & grip, same time & year & weather when Rollin &
S. (?) came down with it.
Sunday, January 8 – Wind south & cold, the snow badly
drifted. Clara & Rollin enjoyed their visit much. The leaving her trunk worries her. Hope she will get it tomorrow. All at home today. Did not have last nights mail, hope Juba will go after it today. Juba
did not go after the mail. George Allen
called evening. Edith & her sister called.
Said the walking was not very good.
Monday, January 9 – Weather quite cold. Juba
drew a load of wood from Mrs. Trasks lot this morning, afternoon went to
Vergennes Depot to see if Clara’s trunk had arrived. It had not.
Came back & brot the mail. Rec’d my pension papers. No letters.
Hariet came over & brot us a nice basket of apples. Heard Eddie Curlen died yesterday in
Vergennes. Towards night very cold. Rollin came from school said he did not mind
the cold. Therm. 4 above zero.
Tuesday, January 10 – Very cold morning. Therm. 6 deg. below
zero. Rollin has gone to school, says he
won’t be cold, going with Joe’s boys. Juba has gone to the Corners after another load of wood,
will be back by noon. A. M. Juba to
Depot to see if Clara’s trunk had arrived.
It came at last & all things are safe. He bought himself two coats & a pair of
pants.
Wednesday, January 11 – Extremely cold weather for these
days & nights. Lake
Champlain is frozen over as far north as Eisey (NY). Therm. 24 below zero this morning in
Vergennes. Juba
has drawn two loads of wood today from the Corners. Mr. Eddie Curlen was buried in the Ferry Cemetery. Many are sick about here & in Vergennes.
(Note from Katherine 2008: Ferry Cemetery also known as the Adams Cem. & Lake Cemetery)
Thursday, January 12 - Still very cold weather. Therm. 14
below zero this morning. P. M. Juba drew
a load of wood from the Corners. All the
family well as usual for which we are most thankful.
Friday, January 13 – A little more moderate weather this
morning, 2 above zero. Juba
early after a load of wood to the Corners.
Had to mend a sleigh for Mr. Joe Rogers, so he did not go after another
load till p.m. Leslie Kent sent Rollin a
nice present, a small lantern. Tonight
Therm. 24 above zero & looks very much like a storm. Heard Mrs. Mary Sprague was sick. Jesse left here a year ago today for the
National Home of Soldiers in Togus (?) Maine.
Saturday, January 14 – Therm. 34 above zero. A light rain falling. Juba & Rollin off up to the Corners after
wood. Noon they came home without any
wood. It rained so fast when they
reached Corners they did not go to the woods, they brot the mail. I had a letter from Sadie, all well. A notice in the Ver. paper of the death of
Emma Grandey, daughter of Edmund Grandey 2d.
She went last summer to St. Lawrence Co. to live with her niece, town of
Madrin.
Sunday, January 15 – Warm & thawing fast, no sleighing
at all now. We have had varied weather
all winter, from five days of extreme cold weather & then thawing till all
the snow disappeared. People are passing
in wagons today. All well at home.
Monday, January 16 – Still & warm, snow nearly gone, therm.
34 above zero. Juba
has gone to Ver. with Mr. Edric Adams.
Rollin to school. Clara & I washing, finished at 11 oclock. Juba
returned about 3 oclock, changed his blouse coat for another that suited him
better. Juba
bought a quarter of beef over to Hariet & brot it over & cut up for
Hariet.
Tuesday, January 17 – Warm & foggy this morning. Juba is helping Mr. Adams. Clara has gone over there. The Minister Mr. Long called before she returned. I was his first call here. P. M. Juba in shop doing some work for
Charles Spalding. Evening, carried the
beef ham over to Hariets to put in brine with theirs.
Wednesday, January 18 – Some colder, a bright & sunny
day. About 4 oclock this morning George
Sprague called here for a wagon to go to Starksboro after Wealthy Barto, as her
father was thought to live but a short time. Juba
at home in shop. Evening he went after
the mail. I had a letter from Jesse
& Minnie.
Thursday, January 19 – Bright pleasant day. Juba to the Corners with Mr. Adams. Said they thought Mr.
Barto a little better. Dr. Kent said he
did not think he would live long.
Friday, January 20 -
Still pleasant & warm. Heard Mr. Barto was just alive. Juba over on
the Lake Street,
home before noon. Louisa came also,
staid over night. Mary is looking very
thin & nearly worked out.
Saturday, January 21 – Pleasant, wind south. Juba to the
Corners. Said they thought Mr. Barto some better. Juba
gone south now with Mr. Adams, returned at three oclock. After supper he went
to get the mail. Rollin has been skating
on the pond. Freddie Egleston from
Bridport here to see him, are both at the pond.
I saw a paper, Sign of the Times, Oakland,
Cal.
Sunday, January 22 - South wind & warm, sun shone bright
this morning, before noon appeared clouds & now many signs of storms. Juba gone with Clara & Rollin the Corners. Mr. Barton
is really no better.
Monday, January 23 – Pleasant & warm. We have now had a week of Spring
weather. The Lake
froze over about the 10th and is now ___ as a bottle. I don’t remember the lake being frozen so long
before a storm. Juba
gone to Ver. with Hariet’s team after a monument for Josiah Stagg. Mr. David Barton died this morning at 5
oclock. To be buried Wednesday in the Lake Cemetery.
Tuesday, January 24 – Very cloudy & strong south
wind. Yesterday Mr. Walter Hatch took
his skates & went down to the lake alone & skated into a hole in the
ice & was drowned. His calls were
heard by some small boys & they ran to tell he was in the water but it was
too late when help reached there. He was
soon drawn out & brot to his family.
Wednesday, January 25 – The ground is covered with snow this
morning. Will make sleighing if the wind
is still. Juba & Clara gone to
attend the funeral of Mr. D. Barto. Very clear & pleasant all day. Yesterday Juba
took Hariets team to the Depot & brought down the grave stone for Josiah
Stagg & helped put it up. Mr. Barto
was buried in Masonic order, Ver. lodge.
Thursday, January 26 – A very bright & pleasant
day. Juba & Clara to the funeral of
Mr. Walter Hatch. He was buried in the
cemetery by the Lake. Mr. Whitfield Kingman & Hariet have gone
to Bristol for
a visit. Juba is doing their chores. I sent a letter to Jesse.
Friday, January 27 – Morning cloudy, they soon disappeared
& the sun shone bright the rest of the day.
It is too cold to thaw though. Juba is at home, save doing the chores at Mrs.
Staggs. Edith & sister spent the
evening & staid over night. A
donation to the church tonight for the Minister. I have written to Sadie.
Saturday, January 28 – It was a very cold night last
night. This morning the wind is south
& strong, hope it will soon be warmer.
Juba at home. Sent a paper to Jesse
& letter to Sadie. Whitfield & Hariet have returned at noon. Rollin is having a hard cold, but is out
playing.
Sunday, January 29 – Very cold bright day, therm. down to
zero. All at home. George Allen came over. Heard Mr. Long, the Minister, was quite sick,
called the Dr. yesterday. Rollin has a
hard cold & feeling about sick today.
Monday, January 30– Cold morning, therm. down to zero, by
noon it was 15 above. Juba is drawing wood
from Mrs. Trasks lot. The minister is
not better. Joe drew one load for Juba. 34 years & six months since our dear son
John Rollin was slain in battle at Petersburg,
Va. No word could ever be heard from him, after
he fell, as his men left him dying on the field, the 30 day of July 1864. He was then 21 years 8 months & 2 days
old. Graduated at Mid?? College Aug. 1862.
Tuesday, January 31 – Very cold yet but sun shining. Juba drawing wood from the Corners. George Allen drew one
load & Juba has drawn one from Dudley’s
woods for him. Juba
had the bad luck to have his sleigh break down.
He said the Minister was better.
Rollin is better & has gone to school. I rec’d a letter from Jesse tonight, he is
better. I sent a letter to Minnie.