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DIARY OF

SARAH A. GRANDEY CONVERSE

February 1899


Wednesday, February 1 –Still very cold & bright, not a cloud to be seen.  Juba has Hariets team a drawing wood this forenoon.  This afternoon has gone with Edric down to Wm. Adams, Chimney Point.  He heard Mr. Jay Norton was found dead I the bed t his morning at Wm. Adams.  Mr. Brockerick that lived on the road to Vergennes died yesterday.

 

Thursday, February 2 – Cold, clear & bright all day.  Juba is helping fill the ice house over to Hariets.  I had a severe attack of palpitation of the heart this morning & have felt weak & stupid all day.  All the rest are well as usual.  Heard Elden Dayfoot was sick.  We have had a week of clear, cold weather, cold as I ever knew, not a cloud has been seen today.

 

Friday, February 3 – This morning clouds and cold, more moderated at noon & commenced to snow.  Juba packing the ice for Mr. Adams to fill Hariets ice house.  Mr. Kingman & Hariet have gone to Ver.  Brother George would have been 80 years old to day.  He died Dec. 4, 1894. (?)

 

Saturday, February 4 – Snowing quite briskly this forenoon, afternoon bright & pleasant.  A. M. Juba at home.  P. M. He has gone to Vergennes with Hariets team to bring them a load of coal.  Rollin went over to the lake with George Allen to see him ___ ice & ride home on the ice.

 

Sunday, February 5 – Very pleasant but cold.  All at home.  George Allen came over.  Towards evening Juba, Clara & Rollin went to the Corners.  Evening Hariet & Edith & Wm. Curlen & wife came in, said Stella was not very well.  10 years tomorrow since Juba & Clara were married.

 

Monday, February 6 – Cold & some cloudy.  Juba to Elberts. Most of the day bright & clear.  Had our washing done before noon.  Juba came home with a very lame shoulder & seemed very hoarse.  I fear he will be sick..  He is out to work in the cold so much.  He hurt his should a week ago today & did nothing for it or said anything about it until tonight.  Now he has a plaster for it.

 

Tuesday, February 7 – Still very pleasant but cold.  Juba is not able to work & I hope will keep quiet for once in his life, as much as one day.  Miss Wood, the teacher, is sick & had the Dr. ___today. Heard Judge Smith of Ver. was very sick.

 

Wednesday, February 8– Snowing fast this morning, very light snow, no wind yet.  Juba feels better this morning, for which I feel very thankful.  Rollin has gone to school in the storm.  Mrs. Stagg has taken her sisters place & teaches today.  Her sister is better, but not able to go out.  It has snowed without cessation all day & tonight it must be over a foot on a level.

 

Thursday, February 9 – Bright sunny morning, cold.  Ther. 4 above zero.  Juba’s shoulder is a little better, is not able to go out & make roads.  Joe took Rollin with his children to school. 

 

Friday, February 10 – Cold, 4 below zero this morning.  The sky is clear & wind south.  Hope it will soon be warmer.  Juba is out with Joe plowing the road open.  P. M. Juba & Clara to the Corners.  Clara only went as for as Charlie Tulls.  Rollin to school.  Says tomorrow is the last day of school.

 

Saturday, February 11 – Very cold this morning, six degrees below zero in the porch.  Sun is shining bright but don’t seem to warm the air much.  Rollin is sick, vomiting so he cannot go to school, the last day.  Juba has gone up to help Elbert again today. I rec’d a letter from Sadie.  All well.  Rollin has not been up today.

 

Sunday, February 12 – Coldest morning yet. Ther. 11 below zero in our porch.  All at home.  Rollin is feeling some better.

 

Monday, February 13 – Still very cold, are having a severe north snow storm, coldest this year.  Rollin is feeling pretty well today.  Juba started to carry logs to Ver. but the storm increased so fast he did not go.  It commenced to snow about 9 oclock & continued a perfect blizzard all day & evening.  Juba & Joe had to go to make a road for the mail carrier.  Abraham Lincoln birthday, a holiday.

 

Tuesday, February 14 – Bright sunshine today but cold. Juba & Joe out clearing the road.  The weather has been cold for two weeks.  11 years today since my dear grandchild died in St. Louis, Mo., Clara Converse Gaebler.

 

Wednesday, February 15 – Very cold, wind south this morning, will fill the crossroads again.  Juba & Joe out to get the mail through.  I made a bad mistake in the day.  Grant & Juba went to Vergennes tonight.  They attended a show.  Did not get home till twelve oclock.

 

Thursday, February 16 – A little more snow forenoon.  Juba & Joe out clearing the road again.  Before night the wind blew a gale & filled the tracks they had dug out full again.  Rollin is better, so he has been out some, coughs hard. Juba & Clara after the mail.  I rec’d a letter from Minnie.

 

Friday, February 17 – Much warmer & bright. Juba gone to take some logs to mill for Wm. Curlen.  He returned before 1 oclock, brot home some of the lumber.  Joe drew a load of lumber home for him.  Mr. Kingman & Hariet have gone to Bridport.  Edith’s brother does the chores.

 

Saturday, February 18 – Still thawing.  Juba has gone to Ver. with some logs.  Joe went with him.  We had a pleasant call from Mr. Martha Farr (?) of Westport, NY.  Rollin & Joes boys went to Vergennes with them.

 

Sunday, February 19 – Still and warm, ther. up to ___.  All at home.  Mr. Long, the Methodist Minister is on the sick list yet.

 

Monday, February 20 – Cloudy & looks likely to storm. Juba has go ne to Frank Warner’s to finish boarding his barn.  I have been working.  Clara is cooking.  Rollin at work on a foot.  I sent a letter to Jesse.

 

Tuesday, February 21 – Very bright & pleasant this morning.  Juba & Joe out digging out the road over west.  Loyal & Bertha came down.  Bertha made a short call &went back up to see Flora Spalding.  Loyal went over & worked on the road with Joe & Juba. Joe worked only half a day.  Juba did all day.  Evening it commenced to rain.

 

Wednesday, February 22 – Very cloudy & dark this morning.  The snow is disappearing fast.  All gone in the north & south road.  Juba & Joe digging out the banks so the mail wagon can get through.  I suppose Minnie is enjoying a holiday today, as it is Geo. Washington’s anniversary.

 

Thursday, February 23 – Very bright & pleasant.  Juba & Joe dug out the banks again.  Juba took me down to Mrs. Lyman’s in a buggy.  The north & south roads are very muddy with big snow banks on each side.

 

Friday, February 24 – Very clear & pleasant.  Colder, froze so the banks will leave.  Gette Allen came over on the crust after some milk. Juba in the shop.  Dr. Kent brot Leslie down to stay till he returns from the lake street.  I rec’d a letter from Helen Converse, St. Paul.

 

Saturday, February 25 – A beautiful spring day.  The mud plenty in the road, is high on the sides of the road.  Juba in shop.  Hariet sent for me. I helped to tie a quilt.  The Ten Brocke girls called there, Ida Stagg & a little boy came down to stay over night.

 

Sunday, February 26 – Sun came up very bright & soon the clouds obscured it, before night it was bright again.  Heard two men died in Vergennes last night, Mr. John Norton & a barber I don’t know his name.  Mr. Long, the Methodist Minister, is real sick yet.  Is no better today.

 

Monday, February 27– Very clear pleasant day, snow disappeared fast, high south wind. Juba at home in shop.

 

Tuesday, February 28 – Very bright & clear, wind very strong in the south.  Juba has gone to Vergennes to get a load of coal for Mrs. Stagg with their horses & wagon, arrived home soon after 5 oclock.