1895

This year from about January to November the pages are torn and were missing a lot. I will do the best I can and at least try to get out what information that seems important....T.Moye

January 1,1895 Tuesday

Another New Year usered in by a grand snow storm. Wind south. I see Bamford (her husband Wells SR.) looking at a hickory stick guess he's going to make an axe handle. Our cows are doing very well just now strained the milk into 6 pans this morning and the family are well and would like much to here from John. Will here in the evening. A letter from Voltie. Storm cleared up a fine afternoon. Grace had a queer letter from Minnie O'Brien for postage stamps.

January 2,1895 Wednesday

A fine day. South east wind clear. Wells Sr. coping all day Mart choring around. Maud at the ?(could be river) and Grace writing postage stamp letters, and cleaned floors I took care of the milk. Mart & I churned the butter, Wellie here for milk and butter and team to draw rails. Mrs. Ranous sick with diptheria. George Gillespie hurt on head while working at a bee in woods at George Ranous. Charley Easton going down to stay all night. George Gillespie out of mind, wild headed (Note: I think there was more but can't find it. If I do will add it...T.Moye)

January 3,1895:Thursday

Wind south cloudy rather mild. Wellie drew straw from here to thatch his calf stable. I rode over to Wills on the load of straw and stayed all day. patched Charlie Dixons coat. Hannah Joslin buried today from the vault Electioneers running around. butchered the beef today. Charley Easton and Will Dixon helped him. Grace and Mart gone to J. Niles to make an evening visit. Voltie came home today.

January 4,1895 Friday

A clear bright winter day and all are at their seperate employment. Bamford (Wells SR) is mending old harness. Voltie working in the blacksmith shop. Mart choring Wells Jr. here twice today very happy cheerful and pleasant. Shelly Niles here visiting all afternoon. I darn Marts old Mackinaus (Jacket) and Marts overalls. Sew carpet rags and make nine prints for market.

January 5, 1895 Saturday

A very cold morning river frozen from shore to shore. Forenoon Mart and Voltie drew hay in p.m.sawed wood and went skating. Wells SR. and Will went to Marysville for groceries and coal,and intensely cold, George Rattray scattered coal all the way from the Village to Hogans because his end board wasn't up.

January 6, 1895 Sunday

Snowing all night skating spoiled by snow. not very cold John Smith buried today. Grace & Voltie went to the funeral held at the Episcopal Church and from there went over to Belle's to make a very small visit came home after dark. Raining some. Will here to supper. Drew dutchman in Mauds drawing book. A most enjoyable day but I am tired.

January 7,1895 Monday

A soft windless day, a drizzling rain all forenoon. Grace washing Wills Sr. put a handle in the umbrella. Voltie helping Will and Wills JR. draw wood from the swale. Maud and I wash the breakfast dishes and then I get dinner. Bamford (Wells SR.) cut the beef. After dinner Will came over and they all went to election. Scrub Woodman and Develo Breaky running for councilors. Will Dixon going up the Island canvasing for seed potatoes and fruit trees.

January 8, 1895 Tuesday

A soft day. Thaws snow soft no wind. Cloudy Bamford(Wells SR)coping(?) house. Voltie and Junior drawing a half ton hay to John McCune. Maud trying to study music.

January 9,1895 Wednesday

A lovely day sun shining brightly on the bright frozen snow and the ice covered branches of the trees reflect the Rays of the sun with brilliance of diamonds and gems of every hue and color the winter landscape is truly beautiful. Grace making herself a print dress. Color red. Bamford coping the house all day.Mart choring around and skating as usual. Voltie working in shop. Maud doing as she pleases. Evening Voltie and Mr. J Niles & G. Niles went to Wells Jr to play poker after 10:00 O'Clock when Voltie returned. Saw Marts ghost this evening at bedtime. Thought it was Mart all right in the flesh. Mart says it was not he, but Martin lies. Martin is a lier anyway. Eben Joslin is buried today.(Note: Burial's are done in the spring but it must have been a warm Jan. if the ground was not frozen that would make digging a grave impossible....T.Moye)

January 10,1895 Thursday

A cold morning wind north east and begins snowing about 9 a.m. and snow falling fast. Did intend going to Wells Jr. for a days visit but too stormy. Wellie came up after breakfast on the ice skating. Bamford mending horse lines where they had been fastened together by cutting a slit in one end of the broken line and passing the other end through the slit and then putting a long screw through the whole end, A patent invention of his boys so the father says. I suppose he is astonished at their cleverness. Ranous drawing hay from the lower place. Wallace & George went over the river through the storm to Millens Bay for tobacco. Wall came here for Voltie to go with him. Voltie didn't go.

January 11,1895 Friday

Grace washed the colored clothes. A soft day, cloudy. Wind south east Voltie went to help Wellie set nets but found the ice very poor didn't set any. Mart choring around as usual. Bamford mending harness in kitchen. Mart went for the mail. Thawing all day with some rain in p.m. Weather very thick and dark Voltie over to Wills in evening.

January 12,1895 Saturday

A glorious day. Bright warm and clear, seldom such a day at this season. set outside, doors open. Maud and her sled and the dog out nealy all day. Voltie and Wells Jr. making ice tongs. Bamford coping the house all day. Grace cleaned floors and made cookies. I washed my dress skirt. Took a nap. Wellie here to dinner. Mr. J. Niles crossed the ice this morning and back again. Reports ice very poor indeed full of holes. Wallace and George here evening playing cards. Voltie helped Will carry in bees (looks like true??)

January 13,1895 Sunday

I intended to go to Belles this morning. Maud & I but a wild snow storm is raging blowing snow drifting. Alone all day. Wellie didn't come up today. Jack & Shell Niles out skating during the short lull in the storm. George and Mart going courting this evening to Horns storm so hard they couldn't go.

January 14,1895 Monday

A stormy day, snowing and blowing all day and all last night drifting, drifting. Cattle and horses stay in stables. Mr. Woodman's driving there cattle through the blinding storm to the river to water. Will Dixon has no coal for their stove. Would like grandmother to come over if she could get here. Grace piecing a quilt. I sew and cut carpet rags.

January 15,1895 Tuesday

A stormy day. Snowing and blowing. Very doubtful if O'Brien goes for the mail. Ought to write a letter but not get time cannot wash , no soap. Voltie went in evening to Mr. Niles for tobacco. Mart followed him under pretence of going to post office. O'Brien drove down on ice with mail. J.O'Brien gone to a wedding Miss Dee married to a Brown snowed all day. Cold meduim Morgan's boys at J. Niles playing cards.

January 16,1895 Wednesday

A fine day. Light wind south west. Charles Woodman drove up on the ice to Kingston. Voltie & Mart drew three loads of hay from old barn or stack after dinner Voltie went over and brought his grandmother here. First time she has been here since last April. No kerosine Voltie went to Mr. Niles to borrow Kerosine after dark. Mart rigged out again for Hornes going with Wallace. Wallace didn't come to go with Mart. A.J. Niles young people going to George Ranous instead. Mart disapointed again.

January 17, 1895 Thursday

A fine day. Wind south west veering around to north towards evening. Voltie and Mart drew straw and after dinner went to river view for kerosine. drew it over on Mr. J. Niles's sled. Said crossing good enough for horse. Will Dixon went up the Island canvasing for trees. Came back at evening time. Wells started to go to special school meeting at 10:00 p.m. but learned it was appointed at one p.m. so called at Sammys and made a visit came home to dinner and then went to school meeting and adjusted thieir school affairs all right. Bamford going to turn the benches around for a dollar. Glad he's got a job. no teacher yet. Voltie brought news that Norman Petrie and Jesse Ried had a lawsuit. Reid won the suit.

January 18,1895 Friday

A cold freezing morning proceded by a frozen night not much wind. Dark clouds lying off south ward. Dark blue, a cloudy sky. Wells SR. gone to the school house with a market basket of tools to work at his cash job. Didn't get through til 4 p.m. Voltie & Mart sawed the maple logs for stove wood. Wellie here to dinner. Voltie carried W. G. Woodmans letter to George Niles chosen friends meet this evening at G.W.Woodmans. Will Dixon canvassing the foot of Island for apple trees and taters. Charlie Dixon came and brought me some pickles.

January 19,1895 Saturday

A cold morning. Freezing hard wind west. Voltie bushed a road across the river just forminst(don't know if she ment fromist she seems to make her own words up at times...T.Moye) the house came back after dark. Will went to Carlton Island and the Bay for oil. Rachel came home with grandmother Dixon here, came last Wednesday. Rachel ate supper here then. Will came and Rachel went over home with him.

January 20,1895 Sunday

A mild day. Wind south. Wells SR. ,Maud and I went over to Belle's in sleigh. Found roads very good. Had a fine visit only the children went playing in the snow and came in covered with snow from head to foot. Came home again just at dark found Rachel here grandmother didn't go home, found her here too. Voltie and Charles Woodman drove to corners saw Buchanan about lung complaint. Don't believe anything ails either of them. A cloudy day, looks like a thaw. Wellington Smith here ...gone home now...away across the ice and away....away. Wellie accompany new teacher & Lottie.

January 21,1895 Monday

A mild soft cloudy day. Voltie gone with Rachel to Carleton Island. Will Dixon and Charley over here came for their oil. G.D.(?) gave young C. (Charles Dixon about age 11) a reprimand for striking his sister Flora (about age 10). Well tis 20 minutes past 11 a.m. supose I will have to look around about the dinner. Heard this day that Frank Woodman has got the best head and most brains of any shote on the Island so his brother Charles says. Suppose his brother Charles knocked some sence into him when he got him out in the field and barn when he used to give him a pounding every day so as to make an M.D. of Frankie. By swan going to rain.

January 22,1895 Tuesday

Wellie and Will came today to go to Kingston but a blinding blizzard of a snow storm set in from south east It rained all night but froze. They unhitched the horses from the sleigh and postponed going. Woodmans went J. Niles went, blowing all day but not cold, Voltie washing in shop all day. Wells Sr. covering an old umbrella. Mail, the Whig yankee, Voltie's potatoe outfit & a letter for me from Dick Brown. London, England for which I am much pleased. Mart lost Wellie's paper, Kingston News coming home.

January 23,1895 Wednesday

A beautiful bright day. Wind south west. Wellie and Will gone to Kingston Ed Bates came over and stopped at Wellies awhile then came up here and stayed till Wellie and Will came home from Kingston. Duncan Jimmie drove down inviting to a dance at Will Dixons to be given. Friday evening Frank Woodman here. Will Dixon, Frank Woodman, J.D.B.(could be James Devolsom Bamford her son Voltie) went toGriffins River Village to a dance. Walked across the ice. Martin gone over to stay all night with Jen and the children. Henry Holliday and Matilda Niles Married this evening.

January 24,1895 Thursday

Will and Voltie came at 6 O'Clock this morning. The dance a failure on account of a slim attendance not going to give anymore party's. Voltie went immediately to bed and did not get up till eleven O'Clock a.m. A cold morning and growing colder towards night. West wind. Wellie here and drew wood from the swale. Will and Charles here for one bag of their coal. Sent Mart to Mrs. Niles for a butter basket. Churned today and made 15 lbs. of butter for market today. Grace & Voltie going to Kingston tomorrow morning.

January 25,1895 Friday

Arose at 1/2 past 4 O'Clock. A fine winter morning. Bright and clear and cold. Voltie and Grace gone to Kingston came back at 1/2 past 2 O'Clock p.m. and went to Wills in evening to a party. Mart went ,too. Stormed all night from the north. Wind and snow. A terrible storm. Whole party had to stay all night Horn's team brought Voltie and Grace home in the morning at daylight. A tough time for the party from up the Island to go home. The Jimmie's and Archie Berry. Frank Woodman ate so much made himself sick.

January 26,1895 Saturday

A stormy morning from the north. Voltie, Grace, & Mart came home at breakfast time. After breakfast Grace went to bed and slept til 2 O'Clock p.m. Mart slept till dinner was on the table. Voltie called him up to dinner.Voltie worked in the shop all day. Wells Jr. here to dinner. The storm increased to the most severe winter snow storm I ever saw. Very hard work to get water enough to cook our meals. Voltie wading in snow above his knees to get water from the river. Will came over and carried a half bushel of coal home on his back. But the wind went around to the south and snowed and blew harder then ever and continued to howl and storm all night. The hardest I ever heard.

January 27,1895 Sunday

A fearful stormy morning. Wind west and blowing and snowing such a blinding snow storm cannot see a rod from the door for drifting snow banked high and continues the same all day. The snow packed so hard a man can walk on top of the drifts. Will here for more coal. Frank Woodman here wants Voltie to go with him to Morgans going to try and walk up there in this storm. Voltie will not go.

January 28,1895 Monday

A fine morning. Wind west Frank Woodman goes to lower school Voltie & Mart draw wood from I don't know where.

August 3,1895 Saturday

A breezy day cloudy looks like rain. Grace brought in the clothes early this morning. Wellie here to lunch with us. Voltie & Wellie drew this forenoon the barley, only 2 loads a heavy crop. Had shelled beans for dinner, golden wax. After dinner Maud & Beatrice go to Wellies for peas and then go to Wills for fence wire staples. Rachel to Wellies for cucumbers.

August 24, 1895 Saturday

Wellie & Voltie helping Mr. Niles draw oats afternoon. It rain dropped all forenoon. Guess Niles oats got wet for they loaded oats right through the rain.

August 25,1895 Sunday

A beautiful clear day. Warm after last nights heavy rain storm. Grass and all vegatation bright and green. Grace and Voltie went to Carlton Island returned at sundown. I alone nearly all day. Maude, Charlie & Flora went to church. Evening visitors George and Florence Morgan & Miss Foley teacher.

November 21,1895 Friday

A fine warm day. Sarah came this morning to finish sewing for Grace finishing her dress and making Grace's jacket. Voltie plowing. Voltie ate dinner at Wellies. After dinner I went to see mother and the children and Rachel. Walked over and found it rather muddy. Had a pleasent visit had soup for supper which was excellent. And came home at sun down with Voltie on the wagon. Voltie, Ed Bates, Grace, & Sarah Gillespie gone to Mr. Woodmans this evening. Maud has been at school. Wellie plowing too. A fine Moonlight evening but looks like rain. Very warm Letter from Bamford(Wells Sr.) going to make another trip from Chicago to Buffalo and back to Chicago.

(NOTE: no entry found for 22,23, or 24.)

November 25,1895 Monday

A stormy day. Ground frozen hard snow falling fast. Fields covered with snow, with the furrows making a dark line through the pasture. Next summer I hope to see it all planted to seed house beans. Grace is washing. We have washed only a few clothes in 2 weeks on account of storm and rain and cold.

November 26,1895 Tuesday

Wind south blowing a gale all night, rain pouring in torrents. Clothes twisted on line every way this morning cleared away after breakfast so Voltie went to the grange to plow. Snow and ice all gone but wind howling tremendous rain and wind squalls nearly all forenoon. Voltie came back home just in time to escape getting drenched but Frank and Charlie get the whole broadside. Clear up again at noon and Voltie and Wellie plow till dark. Grace finished Graceie's little hood. I finished a pair of stockings for Beatrice and began a pair for Marjorie. Grace finished Maudes dress. Wind hauling to westward and is colder at dark. Maude a very good girl all day. Barometer stands very low at 29. Letters from John, Dick Brown. Wells got note from Falger and $25.00 paid.

No 27th

November 28,1895 Thursday

Arose early this morning. Grace going to Kingston on Pietpont sent 13 lbs. to market, butter 18cents per lb. Wind blowing strong from south all night but hushed at day break. A very fine day. Milly Woodman died this morning. Voltie went to Kingston with Charley Woodman to get things for the funeral. Jen went up on the boat this morning to go to Mrs. Pillars taking the 3 youngest children with her. Our cattle breaking in here. Irene fixing the fence behind the hay stacks. Sam Woodman driving around the fields in his buggy to head the cattle off with his dogs. Drove them out at last and put the bars up. This evening Voltie is at Mr. Woodmans. Maud went to school Grace not very well. Boat could not stop at Hallidays.(On Holliday point...T.Moye) Water so low. A beautiful evening with clear moonlight. Wind gone to sleep. Wellie plowing all day.

November 30,1895 Saturday

Cold again Wind north and freezing Millys funeral 10 O'Clock a.m. George Niles came home today. Voltie, Grace & Maud go to the funeral. Sarah stayed home and sewed on Grace's wrap. Wallace Niles helped Voltie draw hay from stack and pitched up into the barn. Maude went to Rachels to get me 2 eggs and make a little visit. A dance at Almonds Jr. tonight.

December 2,1895 Monday

Did not sleep very well until almost time to get up, for one of the cows was thumping and whacking her horns against the house back of my bed trying to eat all the hay from the cellar windows. Arose at 6 to find the rain pouring down and tub (same as a rain barrel...T.Moye) overflowing with soft rain water about 10 a.m. our rain changed to a snow storm and shower all day. Ground white again. Charlie Dixon here, through the storm for their parlor stove oven door. Charlie brought me some Krout. Maud a very good girl washing up breakfast and dinner dishes. Grace finishing her coat. I bottled the wine. As I look out the window what a dreary prospect and no Kerosene or matches in house. First Voltie goes to Mr. Woodmans but they have none and then to Mr. Niles and they have none.

December 3,1895 Tuesday

A beautiful clear cold morning river steaming. Wind north west but quiet. Voltie and George Niles gone to Millens Bay for Kerosene. Wellie here this morning and sent too. Wallace gone over the river for the oil which Mrs. Niles bought at the corners. Charley Woodman drove in here for a yeast cake and his sheep which will come down and run with our cows. Sent a letter by Voltie to his father and one to John by our Post Office.

December 4, 1895 Wednesday

A cold day Voltie drawing wood from Part Metcaff. A pedlar called here. Our stove pipe and chimney Burnt out pipes red hot danger of house catching fire. After awhile we succeed in stopping the draft and build a fire in the kitchen and ate dinner there. Maud frightened and says how will we get the piano and organ out.

December 5,1895 Thursday

Snowing nearly all day Wellie and Voltie drawing wood from Part Metcalf. Grace cleaning pantry. Wells Jr. ate dinner with us had chicken pot pie for dinner. Eveline and the children at her fathers for a days visit. Maud home from school stormy and cannot go Ed Bates went to Kingston Voltie drove for him at evening time. Ed bringing for Voltie Blacksmith coal and horse shoes & house nails.

December 6,1895 Friday

A perfect winter day, clear bright and cold. Wind, south west and river steaming, sending up clouds of vapor which float away to the north east earth covered white with snow far and wide. Winter has begun early. Wells Sr not home yet. Voltie and Wellie drawing wood with 2 teams from Part Metcalf Eddie Bates here for Volties oars. Ed going to Clayton to meet with his lodge the order of OF( probably Odd Fellows..T. Moye)Will stopped here a few minutes to warm, he stated the sad mishap which occures to Rob Michea while on the pierpont enroute for Kingston. Poor unfortuante Rob lost a twenty dollar bill which he had just demanded of his sister Lizzie Woodman in order to get it exchanged in the office that he might get two dollars which Lizzie was owing him. Grace is washing. A fine stary bright evening Voltie working early and late with no help. Evening vister Wallace , Frank, Jim Morgan & John McDonald. A letter from Wells Sr and one from the Merchant Bank for Bamford. $4.50.

December 7,1895 Saturday

A cold morning wind in the night hauled around south. Not blowing very hard,. Our clothes all on the line this morning. Voltie brought them in before breakfast. Voltie goes again this A.M. for more wood and drew a load of logs. Wallace came after dinner and helped Voltie saw up a log. Grace irons clothes cleans floors made pie and cookies. Irene baked bread a cold raw cloudy windy half snowy day. Maud is 11 years old today. I wish we could get a letter from Martin. A dark dull evening looks like rain.

written at the bottom of the page: My faith looks up to thee Thou lamb of calvary Savior divine now hear me while I pray wash all my quilt away and may I from this day be wholy thine. ( I don't know if she copied it or wrote it. doesn't say.....T.Moye)

December 8,1895 Sunday

December 10, 1895 Monday(??)

(Found this entry in mom's diary added it, will check on difference in date when I can....T.M.)

This morning lie in bed til 7 A.M. very cold morning. Wind South. After breakfast Sarah went home charging Grace $2.00 only. Which Grace paid and then we all alone all day. But I make a few fried cakes and bake the bread. reading "Zions Watchman" towards night I sent Maude over to Rachels with some cakes. In evening sending a story by Mrs Mary Jane Holms entitled "Meadow Brook" like the story. Eceedingly well for light reading.