Wed Jan 01: Spent New Years day in pioneer style. Went up to the ranch and cut up meat, done chores and cooked our own dinner by the fire Place. Wind blowed fearfully all day. The waves rolled in our boat coming home, and wet us through. Not very cold.
Thu Jan 02: Went to the Ranch as usual. Cut some wood and done the chores. Rienzi salted his meat. The tide went out and left boats high & dry. Had to drag our boat on the land about 10 rods to get home. Had a pretty hard time.
Fri Jan 03: The snow is about two inches deep this morning. Rienz went to the Ranch and done the chores today. Rienzi & I worked in the shop making a bedstead and safe. Gus cut her thumb tying tallow. Cold at night.
1873 Jan 4-9
Image Id: 002-0129
Transcription
Sat Jan 04: Rained as usual today. Gus went up and took care of the stock. Rienzi finished the safe. Guss was most sick with a bad cold. I am feeling pretty well today-- Am getting used to roughing it. Don't think I shall make my home in W.T.
Sun Jan 05: It rained most of the time to day. Vinzy & Rienzi went up to the ranch in the morning. Mr. Allen's folks were down to dinner. We all went to do the chores. Had a hard time coming home. Vinza fell down in the mud and so did I. [margin: Wrote a letter to Steve Rice.]
Mon Jan 06: Pleasant day to day. Vinz & I moved up to the ranch and set up house keeping. Rienzi & Guss went along to fix up for us. They staid to Allen's all night. Vinzy & I got our own supper. Baked some graham cakes by the fire place. Jolly time these. You bet.
Tue Jan 07: Worked at the stables and got the little one fixed. Rienzi & Guss worked fixing up our house. Vinz & I commenced threshing the wheat. R.E. & Guss went home to night. Weather- mild as usual. We are having gay old times "you bet".
Wed Jan 08: Received a letter from Father. In the fore noon Vinz & I finished threshing the wheat. He had a club & I a broom stick with a stick tied on it with a piece of rope. Cleaned it up partly with a sieve made of shakes. Rienzi & Guss moved up to stay all night.
Thu Jan 09: To day cut wood. Mended up the house and worked on the timber for the large stable. Rained most all the fore noon but not very cold. Mud is very plenty and we are pretty well coated with it.
1873 Jan 10-15
Image Id: 002-0130
Transcription
Fri Jan 10: Worked most all day to day making stanchions for the oxen & cows. Warm & pleasant as usual. Rienzi & Guss were visiting as usual. Nothing unusual occured today worth noting down.
Sat Jan 11: The cattle got loose last night. We worked most of the fore noon fixing stanchions. After noon cut brush for a building spot. Rained some in the after noon & evening.
Sun Jan 12: Rienzi & Guss went home this morning. It rained a good deal to day. Vinz & I had to do our own cooking to day. It was safely done. Wrote letters in the evening.
Mon Jan 13: Rained at intervals to day. Rienzi came up and we worked at the hen house. Took off the roof and put in new nests & roosts. Also mudded up the cracks. It was the first log henhouse I ever saw. At night went home crossed the bay in very rough waters- It came in the boat & wet us through. [margin: Vinzy staid alone for the first time in month.]
Tue Jan 14: Rienzi, Guss & I went to the station to day. Got a boat load of apples, nails and a raft of lumber. Had a very hard time to get home. Wind & tide against us and rain from above. Had to leave our raft to get home.
Wed Jan 15: Staid in the house most all day to day. It rained so we could not do other wise. We all went up to the "Highbarger Mansion" at night. Vinz was glad to see us. Spent a pleasant evening talking, reading letters &c.
1873 Jan 16-21
Image Id: 002-0131
Transcription
Thu Jan 16: The steamer Linnie was in the Bay this morning with R.E.'s lumber about 2 miles rom shore. He and I took the boat and went aboard. It was put out in a raft and we poled it in; it took us about four hours. After noon worked on the road. [margin: very pleasant day.]
Fri Jan 17: Raft contained 10,000 ft. Today pole the raft in a little further and made some smaller ones and run them up the slough. After dinner worked on the road up the bank. Had a terrible nasty time. Mud a foot deep. Quite pleasant today.
Sat Jan 18: Today it rained some. In the fore noon we took three rafts of lumber up Trimbles slough and made some more ready for starting. But the tide went out then went to fix a road to draw it up to the house.
Sun Jan 19: All went down to R.E.'s house on the marsh. It rained most all day and we had a hard row as usual wind at head. Guss got up a splendid dinner. Potatos, cabbage, warm biscuit, Farmers pudding, Pear preserves &c. Vinzy & I came back at night and spent the evening visiting, reading, &c.
Mon Jan 20: Rained most all day. Could not do much. Rienzi came up and brought a load of goods from his house. Vinz & I cut some poles to make a gate of. Had an oat meal mush for supper. Wind blowed very hard in the night.
Tue Jan 21: Rienzi went to the station to day and Guss started for Olympia to day. Vinz & I rafted lumber in the fore noon and made gates in the after noon. Rienz had to come home by way of Allens. Had a hard time.
1873 Jan 22-27
Image Id: 002-0132
Transcription
Wed Jan 22: Vinz went to the station alone to day. To see about his filing papers. Rienz & I rafted lumber and went up to Allen's after a load of stuff with the oxen & sled. After noon made some rafts and ?enkered up some gates. did not rain to day.
Thu Jan 23: Rained light showers through the day. We worked on the road until the tide came in then made a rafting trip. came back and worked road till dinner time. After noon Vinz & Rienz went to look at the ranch claims. I staid all night alone in my glory.
Fri Jan 24: I had pancakes for country(?) Rained as usual. Vinz & Rienz got back about 9 A.M. we then went up & worked on the road fixing up place to draw lumber up to the house. Made bread in the evening. Had a great time ?????d it with all.
Sat Jan 25: To day it rained most all day. We did not work much. Tinkered around & done chores, Chopped a little wood, honing an ax and put up a shelf, made a boot jack &c. Cut and sliced apples in the evening. Hung up the dried(?) bugs.
Sun Jan 26: Rained as usual most of the time. Rienz made a ginger cake in the morning for breakfast. Boiled some beans. Read in "River of the West". Trimble and Highbarger came to see us. Had cigars and went to bed.
Mon Jan 27: Went to Allen's Bee to day to cut wood. 9 men present. I reckon we cut about five cords. Got a good dinner. The Sweed eat 6 biscuits. He is a head. "How are you?" "Pretty well ugly" because the hogs tore my coat all to pieces. Was pretty tired at night. [margin: Very pleasant day, no rain.]
1873 Jan 28-Feb 2
Image Id: 002-0133
Transcription
Tue Jan 28: Today it rained at intervals but not enough to hinder work much. Worked on the lumber road some. Did not get our mail to day. Hunted up and made a lizard(?) in the after noon. Cut some bridge poles.
Wed Jan 29: Rained last night and some through the day. I got three letters to day. We worked on the bridge putting in the poles, &c. Got them both done. Are living on Graham & bread this week. Had some arguments on farming &c. [margin: PA get lots of circuses these days far more than is done some other places(?) ]
Thu Jan 30: Went up in the woods cutting poles &c. It snowed most all the fore noon. Quit work at 10 oclock and set in the house. Very disagreeable day. I cut some wood towards night. Fixed our writing case, &c.
Fri Jan 31: No rain to day clear & cold most all day. Mercury at 28° this morn. We R.E. & I went up to McCollums and hewed out some sills for the house and worked in the woods all day. Vinz made road &c.
February 1873
Sat Feb 01: Mercury down to 20° this The coldest mornng of the season on Puget Sound. Ice froze in our house 1/4 inch thick. I staid in the house most of the day tending sore back. Rienz went after the ox. Sawed wood some.
Sun Feb 02: Staid in house most all day. wrote a long letter home to Father. Read some. Pleasant day. Vinz went down to Siegfried's walking.
1873 Feb 3-8
Image Id: 002-0134
Transcription
Mon Feb 03: Went up to the house lot and commenced to draw up the lumber. Had a good look. Got about half of it up. Cold in the morning. Clear through the day. Got home late at night.
Tue Feb 04: Finished drawing up lumber for the house and got some for posts. Got a letter from Alanson Briggs. No rain to day. Slashed brush some and tore around generally.
Wed Feb 05: Went down & stuck out the flooring then it began to rain and I cut wood some. Sawed out some ladder strips and set in the house some. Rained most of the day.
Thu Feb 06: Rained most of the fore noon - Vinz drawed up drags for wood. Rienzi & I went over on my claim and examined it. Found it to be a good one. Commenced slashing & clearing for a house.
Fri Feb 07: No rain to day. Went over and slashed on my claim. Quite a pleasant day. Carried our dinner with us. Am getting to be a crusty chopee you bet. Washington Territory Pioneer.
Sat Feb 08: Rained a little this morn. Today was an eventful day, went to a log house raising for one of the sailor boys. Ten boys present. Came back and ran after a deer about a mile shot at him but did not get him.
1873 Feb 9-14
Image Id: 002-0135
Transcription
Sun Feb 09: To day was a very pleasant day. Ther. at 53. Wrote home my intention to stay in W.T. I wonder when I will see Pa. again. You bet I can't tell. Our full of business now and belong to a farm on Swinomish slough. Such is life.
Mon Feb 10: In the fore noon Vinz went after beets. Rienzi & I fixed the foundations to the shop and got all on stick. Rained most all the after noon I made an oar. Vinz drawed Highbarger's potatos. Rienz made a bench dog.
Tue Feb 11: We all went to the station to day consequently it rained as usual. Guss got back from Olympia. Vinz & I brought brick & windows in Allen's boat. Rienzi had a stove, trunk and the chairs, &c, &c.
Wed Feb 12: To day it rained most of the day. In the fore noon Vinz took Allen's boat home. I cut timber for the house. After noon Vinz went after the cattle had the "hardest time he ever had". I finished the ladder & done the chores & made a trunk. [margin: Rienz & Guss were at the other house.]
Thu Feb 13: Went up and commenced to work on the shop. Vinz drawed up some sleepers & sills for the house & shop. Rienz & Guss came up to the Highbarger House.
Fri Feb 14: Rained most of the time today. We went up to McCollums and staid till most dark. Vinz went down to Wilchers did not get home until dark 7 P.M.
1873 Feb 15-20
Image Id: 002-0136
Transcription
Sat Feb 15: Rained fearfully last night. Today went up and commenced to work on the shop put up the rafters. Snowed some. Slashed and piled brush up by the house.
Sun Feb 16: Snowed a little to day but it was so warm all went off. Vinz & I went up to McCollum's. Got the ox "stub" Took dinner with McC.
Mon Feb 17: Cold & clear to day little snow on the ground. Rienz & I cut wood and Vinz took the Oxen & drawed them. At night Rienz & I went to the White House and staid all night.
Tue Feb 18: Got up at 6 A.M. and started for station. Very cold. Vinz went to Mac's. Made good time and got there a little after 8 A.M. Did not start for home until after 5 P.M. on account of wind & tide. Got to the Parnick house at 12 M and staid till morning.
Wed Feb 19: Got home this morning at Breakfast. had a hard time. Mac's went and took boat home and after noon R.E. & S. went and work at the sloughs & marsh. Vinz made road.
Thu Feb 20: Today R.E. & S. shingled on the shops and put the Batters on. Rained in the after noon. Guss went up to Mr Allens. Vinz worked on his Road and boted shingles up the slough.
1873 Feb 21-26
Image Id: 002-0137
Transcription
Fri Feb 21: Worked on the shop and slashed some. Finished shingling & hung two doors and put in one window. vinz worked boating up shingles and made road some.
Sat Feb 22: Finished up the shop & again went a slashing until noon. After noon went down to Ulcher's(?)and drove the hiefer. Rained a little to day. [margin: Had a good view of the country and saw some mosquitos(?)]
Sun Feb 23: Rienz & Guss went home this morning. I shot two ducks and had them for dinner. They were good you bet. Wrote letters &c. very pleasant day. Wind north.
Mon Feb 24: To day was a very pleasant day. but frosty in the morning. Vinz & I went to McClellands to dig carrots. Brought home one load. Slashed up by the house in the afternoon.
Tue Feb 25: Vinz & I went out to my claim to slash. Cold & clear. Ground frozen all day. Rienz did not come to day he went to the station.
Wed Feb 26: Clowdy to day. Sowed some in the afternoon. Slashed all day up by the building lot. Rienz & Guss came up at 8 oclock. Felt rather tired & sleepy to night. Slashing is hard work.
1873 Feb 27-Mar 4
Image Id: 002-0138
Transcription
Thu Feb 27: Snow six inches deep this morning. not very cold. Went up to the shop and set up the stove. Vinz went to Mac's for carrots. Worked in the shop all day fixing up wots(?) &c. made a potato machine.
Fri Feb 28: Cold this morning. Vinz drawed manure for a hotbed. R.E. & I worked in the shop getting out window casings &c. Made a garden rake. Whitney files two saws. Vinz made a gate.
March 1873
Sat Mar 01: Slashed some and hewed sills for the house. Mr Allen was down visiting. Cool and clowdy.
Sun Mar 02: Rienz & Guss went down on the marsh and staid. Vinz & I staid to home all day. McClellan came down a little while. No rain today but clowdy.
Mon Mar 03: Vinz & I slashed up on the building lot. Rained a little but not very hard.
Tue Mar 04: Slashed most of the day. worked in the shop in the afternoon. Made a window casing. Rained in the afternoon. Rienz & Guss came up in the morn.
1873 Mar 5-10
Image Id: 002-0139
Transcription
Wed Mar 05: Slashed in the fore noon. Went to the Farmers Club meeting in the after noon in our shop. McClellan, Smith, McNutt, Jennings, Sigfreid, Trimbles, McCollumns and Mrs. Allen were present.
Thu Mar 06: Worked at the hot Bed some and then went up and measured for McCollumn's line. worked on the house the rest of the day hewing sills & sleepers.
Fri Mar 07: Rained some to day. Cut wood in the morning. Rienz filed the saws. Vinz slashed and fired trees. I made a window casing and hewed sleepers.
Sat Mar 08: To day went out on my claim and cut down two Cedar tree and made shakes for my house. Got home just night. Guss went up to Mrs. Allens. No rain.
Sun Mar 09: Staid around all day. Guss & Rienz staid with us. Warm & pleasant. McNutt came visiting.
Mon Mar 10: Went out on my claim and commenced to raise a shake house. it snowed and drove us back. Worked in the shop the rest of the day making window casings. Made four.
1873 Mar 11-16
Image Id: 002-0140
Transcription
Tue Mar 11: Rained all day steady. Worked in the shop and made five window casings and two door frames. No body went to the station. Hard wind blow at night.
Wed Mar 12: Rienz went to the station to day. Very pleasant most of the day. Rienz & I fixed the house to keep hens our of the garden. I made a hot bed and put the dirt in it. Worked on the rouse in the afternoon.
Thu Mar 13: Rained in the morning. Made some door frames and worked on the house. Planted the hot bed and the plums & apple seed. Raised the house in the afternoon. Pleasant in the afternoon.
Fri Mar 14: Worked on the house to day. Rained in the fore noon some. Did not get along very fast. Cold and dreary some of the times.
Sat Mar 15: Worked on the house all day. Raised the kitchen and made the sashes. Put in windows and doors. Rained in the after noon. Sowed some timothy seed down along the road. When will it make grass ????
Sun Mar 16: Rienz & Guss went home this morning. Rain in the fore noon pleasant in the afternoon. Mr Allen and Mr. Bracket came to see us. Took a walk in the after noon up Whatcom road. Wrote to C.W. Briggs.
1873 Mar 17-22
Image Id: 002-0141
Transcription
Mon Mar 17: Rained most all day worked on the house and in the shop. Put up the rafters on the house.
Tue Mar 18: Worked on the house as usual. Rained a good share of the time. Commenced shingling the kitchen.
Wed Mar 19: This was the finest day of the season so far. I think if we had sugar we would feel quite at home. Vinz went to the station. Rienz & I worked on the house shingling &c. Mrs Crumrine & Mrs Siegfried were here.
Thu Mar 20: Mosquitoes were quite plenty today. Vinz got home this fore noon with some strawberries &c. doors also. Shingled in the fore noon and worked on my house in the afternoon. Pleasant day. [margin: Planted some peas] radishes, Cabbage & lettuce all up in the hot bed.
Fri Mar 21: Went to Telegraph Slough after sand had a rough time but got home in a short time. Mixed the mortar and finished the chimney. Had good [margin: luck]. Mr. & Mrs. Allen were here.
Sat Mar 22: Finished shingling and put in the gutters & fastened them. Pleasant day. Went to Dyke meeting at Trimbles. Mr. Payne was there. they talked Dyke stronger.
1873 Mar 23-30
Image Id: 002-0142
Transcription
Sun Mar 23: Staid in the house most all day. Very pleasant. There was a high northwest wind so Rienz & Guss could not go home. Wrote a letter for pasttime.
Mon Mar 24: Worked all day cleaning up around the house and fenced it in. Very nice day. Saw a sand hill crane.
Tue Mar 25: Rained a little to day. Guss went to the station with Trimble. We grubbed in some potatos and set out a strawberry bed also some cuttings. Early sovereigns & early rose.
Wed Mar 26: Rained most of the day. Finished setting out strawberry plants and then worked in the shop.
Thu Mar 27: Went out on my claim on put up the rafters on my house. Also the roof and finished planking up. Rienz & Guss went home to wash. Cold and unpleasant.
Fri Mar 28: Cold & Blustery. Staid around and worked on the house. Rienz & Guss came back.
Sat Mar 29: No entry.
Sun Mar 30: No entry.
1873 Mar 31-Apr 14 (pp 24-25)
Image Id: 002-0196
Transcription
Mon Mar 31: Cold & rainy in spells. W. & wife down to the White-house. T. & S. out on Sisson claim at work on chimney. Chimney a failure.
April 1873
Tue Apr 01: Weather changeable, wind & rain. W. came and bought his sewing machine to the shop. All worked around the house. Set posts for privy, put on window caps, worked on a seed sower, T set a hen up on wheatstraw.
Wed Apr 02: S. went to Trimbles after the mail, then all worked on rafting and drawing flooring up the house. Rain in the after noon. Worked on doors &c. T. set two hens and fixed cattle stables.
Thu Apr 03: Rained all the fore noon. Worked on doors and stairs. T cracked the cherry stones rec'd from Avery also battened the shop and cut poles for a gate.
Fri Apr 04: Pleasant no rain. Stuck out the flooring on the marsh. Worked around the house, made some raft frames, door sills, raised the privy and put on door locks.
Sat Apr 05: Got up at 1 A.M. did went to the station for lumber. Made three rafts and pole them as far as Telegraph Slough. Arrived home at 3 P.M. Worked around house until 6 oclock. weather clear & pleasant- light frost the morn.
Sun Apr 06: Clear & pleasant. W & wife went to their claim to day, came back at night.
Mon Apr 07: Got up at 12 M and went to Telegraph Slough for our lumber, had good luck and got in our slough at 4 oclock. In fore noon drawed up flooring. After noon Trimble has the oxen to draw hay to McClellans. T. went along and [margin: Whitney burned a piece of marsh by the White-House and sowed timothy seed.] and got a load of beets also potatos. W. & wife went home at 4 P.M.
Tue Apr 08: W. went to LaConner. T. made a gate and some chicken coops. Twenty-two chickens hatches. S. worked on house, finished off closet and my doors. Blazy heifer calved to day - heifer calf. Rain in fore noon. T. received some Peerless potatos, seed wheat & barley by mail from Pa. T. set a hen on twelve eggs. Grass seed is coming up.
Wed Apr 09: Warm & pleasant. Whitney not back yet. T. worked on the marsh road and in the front yard. S. worked on privy & house. Sowed some timothy seed on the salt marsh by the bridge. T. set a hen.
Thu Apr 10: Light frost. W. came back this morning. T. worked drawing up front yard. Set up the stove in the new house Hung doors and put on latches &c.
Fri Apr 11: Got up at 4 oclock and floated up the rafts. Rain in the fore noon. Move to day and took the first dinner in new house. Hauled up batter put up shelves and put batters on the house. T found a hen setting on thirteen eggs, on wheat straw.
Sat Apr 12: Worked on house stuck out lumber on the marsh. finished off the privy &c. Rain in fore noon. cold & windy at night. T. worked up a place for clothes line.
Sun Apr 13: W & wife went to the white house. pleasant but cool.
Mon Apr 14: W. staid down to wash to day, came up at night. Very pleasant and warm. T. & S. worked in the garden. Sowed the grass plot, set out some raspberries, lettuc, grapes cuttings and planted some beets, cabbage, celery, spinach & peas also a bed of onions got some black berries of McClellan also some seed potatos meshannon(?)
1873 Apr 15-30 (pp 26-27)
Image Id: 002-0197
Transcription
Tue Apr 15: Set out a row of raspberries in the morning then went with Trimble over the marsh to view the sloughs and place for dyke. Came back at 3 P.M. Dug a ditch up through the yard and commenced digging a well. Warm & pleasant. [margin: Well 3 hours]
Wed Apr 16: Clear & warm. T not very well; cut wood some and took the last raft out of the water. W. & S. worked on the well. got down nearly 9 ft. [margin: Well 18 hours]
Thu Apr 17: Vinz set out some cabbage plants this morning. S. & W. worked on the well in fore noon. Made knife box, match box & put flooring down in sitting room- mosquitos bad last night. Rec some Rhubarb plants from Pa. The assessor was here to day. [margin: Well 10 hours]
Fri Apr 18: W. & S. work in well all day. T. went to McClellan's for beets in fore noon. In afternoon took some wood down in the flat for the whitehouse. Onions are coming up. [margin: Well 20 hours]
Sat Apr 19: W. & S. worked in well all day. T. set out some rhubarb plants and dug out roots in the orchard. Pleasant day. Gnats plenty for the first 24 ft in well. [margin: Well 19 hours]
Sun Apr 20: All went down to Smith's to dinner. Pleasant.
Mon Apr 21: W. & S. worked in the well. T. pulled stumps & dug out roots. Trimble has the oxen to draw rails. Rain & wind last night. Saw a strawberry in bloom. Struck the cement in the well. It was very hard you bet. [margin: Well 20 hours]
Tue Apr 22: W. went to the station today. T. & S worked on the well Struck water about ten oclock and stopped work at noon; hard rain last night. Dug out stumps & roots in afternoon. Saw first strawberry blooms. [margin: Well 10 hours]
Wed Apr 23: Quite cool this morning. all worked on the house to day. Put up the porch frame and began siding up the kitchen. Highbarger came after the oxen this morning to plow.
Thu Apr 24: Clear & pleasant. Mosquitos & gnats plenty. T. backed up and covered the well. W.& S. put siding on the house.
Fri Apr 25: W. & S. worked all day siding up the house. T. worked around the yard cleaning up generally. Sowed the back yard to grass. (timothy). Spike heifer calved. Set out a wild honeysuckle by the privy. Transplanted the tomato plants. They were about four inches high. Pleasant.
Sat Apr 26: W. & S. sided up the south side of the house and tinkered around the house the rest of the day. T. transplanted some alfalfa near the house. Planted some squashes just night.
Sun Apr 27: W. & wife went to Allens and then down to White claim. Nothing new or funny transpired.
Mon Apr 28: Rained most all last night. T. worked on seed sower and picked our potatos. S. went down to and measured dyke site- with Whitney & Allen. Came up to the new house at night and brought the organ up. pleasant at night.
Tue Apr 29: S. & T. plowed the log house garden and planted it with potatos. W. & wife went to the station. Received some plants from Pa in cans. [margin: Trimble had oxen 1/2 day]
Wed Apr 30: W. filed saw, S. set out the plants and T. worked on seed sower. In the after noon all went out to S. claim and worked. Rafted some lumber round the slough just right. Salmon berries in bloom now. [margin: Trimble had oxen today]
1873 May 1-16 (pp 28-29)
Image Id: 002-0198
Transcription
May 1873
Thu May 01: Rained some to day. Trimble had the oxen today. Went to McClellan's and split rails to fence our beet patch with. [margin: Trimble has oxen.]
Fri May 02: All went to McClellan's today. finished over 600 rails. T. plowed on the beet ground in afternoon. pleasant.
Sat May 03: Tillinghast finished plowing the beet ground and hauled wood drags in the afternoon. W. & S. worked on the house in the fore noon and measured sloughs in the afternoon.
Sun May 04: T. & S. went down to Welches looking for Rosy in the fore noon. Staid around the house the rest of the day. Cool at night.
Mon May 05: T. harrowed the beet ground and drawed up the lumber, S. & W. worked in the house in the fore noon putting on cloth. in fore noon and planted beets & onions in afternoon. Large red onions & (Rock Giant Medeira) on the south east. pland some turnips & carrots.
Tue May 06: Planted beets all day. Finished. Planted some corn & squashes on the marsh. After supper planted some parsnips, (sugar on the north side of bed.) Guernsey on south) also some penny beets.) cool night. pleasant.
Wed May 07: T. plowed & harrowed in the orchard today. Whitney hunted after the cattle in the fore noon, did not find them. S. hoed the potatos - Worked on the house in the afternoon. [margin: Planted some peas & six weeks beans.]
Thu May 08: Made Garden & planted potatos. Planted Cal. Red Peerless potatos. Corn, Crosby's Early. Marmouth sugar and small popcorn. Peas, Champions of England & Dan O'R'K, Beans, Black wax, Indian Chief & Valentine, squashes, melons, beets, Early horn carrot & some cabbage. Peerless potato had one piece in a hill except the north row on lower end. Found Rosy & the spotted heifer with calves. Transplanted some young apple trees and celery plants. Squashes coming up. [margin: Siegfried had the oxen for three days.]
Fri May 09: W. & T. slashed on the bank in front of the house. S. worked in the shop making mopboards. W. put the roof on the poch in the morning. Mosquitos were the thickest of the season so far.
Sat May 10: W. & S. shingled the porch in the morning and slashed on the bank the rest of the day. T. took "Stub" & "Star" and helped Allen plow his garden.
Sun May 11: Measured a Pear sprout and found it had grown 9 3/4 inches this spring.
Mon May 12: W. was down on his claim to day. Allen had the lame oxen in the fore noon & Trimble in the afternoon. T. & S. slashed all day on the bank and above the road. [margin: Highbarger came and got the cattle.]
Tue May 13: W. went to the station to day. - Set out some early cabbage plants in the morning. 170. T. & S. slashed on the bank. Trimble had the cattle.
Wed May 14: Cherry heifer calved to day. All slashed on the spit down below the barn.
Thu May 15: T. done the chores and slashed up by the house. W. & S. went down to the Parrish claim and began dyking. S. & T. slept in the Parrish house.
Fri May 16: All worked on the Dyke to day and finished up six rods. Weather warm & dry.
1873 May 17-Jun 5 (pp 30-31)
Image Id: 002-0199
Transcription
Sat May 17: Rained slightly most all day. W. put cloth on the sitting room and all tinkered around the house and shop all day.
Sun May 18: Quite cool to day. Mrs. Allen & Mr. McClellan were here. Shot two chicken hawks.
Mon May 19: Spent the day slashing back of the house. Clowdy with signs of rain. Highbarger brought the oxen home.
Tue May 20: Slashed all day. Clowdy with a little rain.
Wed May 21: Rained some in the forenoon. worked in the shop making mosquito bars. slashed most of the day.
Thu May 22: S. slashed all day and Whitney half a day. T. worked with the oxen clearing off and plowing the garden. Whitney held plow in the afternoon. warm & pleasant.
Fri May 23: W. & S. went down to the beet patch and put lime on a few of them. They are few and far between. Slashed the rest of the day. T. plowed & harrowed in the garden. After supper transplanted the blackcaps, strawberries (Wilson & M Christie). Gnats & mosquitos very thick.
Sat May 24: Worked in the garden to day. Planted potatos, peas, & beets. Also transplanted celery, onions, beets and turnips. Afternoon T made a pig pen and W. & S. went down to Siegfried's and got a pig.
Sun May 25: Staid at home all day. Saw a deer. Rained most all the afternoon.
Mon May 26: Cool & windy. Slashed all day.
Tue May 27: T. went to the station. Rained in the morning. W. churned in the fore noon. Slashed the rest of the day. [margin: washed the tree with lime ashes & manure]
Wed May 28: Rained considerable in the morning. In the fore noon worked in the shop and put tools in order. Slashed in the after noon. Commenced applying liquid manure. T. bushed the peas.
Thu May 29: Rained most all day did not do much cut wood & worked in the shop some. S. went to the shoe shop in the afternoon. W. put the big saw in order.
Fri May 30: Went up and put some lime on the beets. W. fixed Trimbles saw in the fore noon. slashed the rest of the day. Rained just night.
Sat May 31: Rained at intervals all day. S. made a pair of oars. W. & T. worked at odd jobs. Went down to the white-house and brought up the wash things just night.
June 1873
Sun Jun 01: Rained in the morning. Staid at home all day. nothing unusual transpired.
Mon Jun 02: Slashed all day- W. helped wash in the fore noon. Pleasant.
Tue Jun 03: Slashed most of the day. it began raining about 4 P.M.
Wed Jun 04: Slashed in the forenoon. S. went to the shoe shop; got a piece of deer of McDonald. Drawed up some lumber in the afternoon.
Thu Jun 05: W. & S. went over to Squaw Bay looking for apple trees. Saw Marches & Monks places. T. slashed. [margin: W. & S. slashed three hours.]
1873 Jun 6-Jun 22 (pp 32-33)
Image Id: 002-0200
Transcription
Fri Jun 06: Rain in the morning. T. slashed in the fore noon. W. & S. worked on the house putting up partitions. All slashed in the afternoon down by the barn.
Sat Jun 07: In the fore noon worked on the house putting down floors &c. Afternoon went and run out our claim. Then had a road meeting in the shop. Pleasant.
Sun Jun 08: Mr. Allen's folks were here to dinner. Very pleasant.
Mon Jun 09: T. drew(?) up some manure in the fore noon. S. hoed the potatoes & W. washed. Afternoon worked in the garden, transplanted the pie plant. Mosquitos came 20000 strong.
Tue Jun 10: W. & S. went to the station then down to Sullivan's farm. W. started for Olympia to prove up on his claim. T. staid at house and slashed - Set out the tomato plants & sixty cabbage plants. Mrs. Jennings staid all night with us.
Wed Jun 11: T. slashed in the fore noon. S. fixed mosquito bars. Afternoon went down and took off cloth off from the White house and commenced moving. Made two trips with boat. Rained a little in the morning.
Thu Jun 12: Set out some celery plants and planted some radishes. Slashed some in the fore noon below the barn. Finished plowing the garden. Went and got a load of Goods after supper. Mosquitos lovely. Hawks caught two chickens.
Fri Jun 13: Slashed most of the day. Finished moving. Hawk caught two more chickens.
Sat Jun 14: Slashed in the fore noon. S. cut wood & watched the Hawk & shot him. He caught one chicken first. After dinner went up and worked in the beet patch hoing & transplanting - cool & clowdy.
Sun Jun 15: Nothing unusual happened. Allen's folks came down first night. Quite cool.
Mon Jun 16: Cool & rainy slashed in the fore noon and worked in the beets in the afternoon transplanting.
Tue Jun 17: S. worked on the house in the fore noon. T. slashed. Afternoon worked in the beet patch. Had a hard thunder shower. Whitney got back from Olympia.
Wed Jun 18: S. & T. Worked in the beets in the fore noon. W. helped wash. Afternoon fixed up the house put down carpet. Fixed book case, &c. Went over to Steamer?? Slough in the evening to get lumber. Got back at 1 oclock with no lumber.
Thu Jun 19: Went over on board the steamer "Setelo" staid all day. Got the scow load of lumber in Allen Slough at 11 o'clock. [margin: Had the first S. berries]
Fri Jun 20: Unloaded the scow and that is about all quite - pleasant. Not many "Sketos"
Sat Jun 21: All worked around the house in the fore noon. S. made a stand. Afternoon hoed potatos & rafted lumber. S. went out to sleep on his claim. Rained in the morning and night.
Sun Jun 22: Had strawberries for dinner & chicken pie. Pleasant. Nothing unusual occured.
1873 Jun 23-Jul 14 (pp 34-35)
Image Id: 002-0201
Transcription
Mon Jun 23: Started in dyking this morning with six men. Rainy and the marsh wet. (R.W.T.M.)
Tue Jun 24: Whitney went to the station to day. Pleasant. T. & S. worked on the dyke. Very high tide.
Wed Jun 25: Shut up the first lagoon. High tide. T. worked transplanting beets. W. & S. worked on dyke.
Thu Jun 26: W. & S. worked on the dyke. T. worked in the beets. Thunder shower at night.
Fri Jun 27: W. & S. worked on dyke. Put lumber in second lagoon. T. transplanted beets. Made another box. Marsh very wet.
Sat Jun 28: T. hoed potatos. W. & S. worked on dyke. Put mud in lagoon all day.
Sun Jun 29: Had strawberries & peas for dinner. Pleasant in the afternoon. Not many mosquitos the past week.
Mon Jun 30: Worked on the dyke as usual.
July 1873
Tue Jul 01: The carpenter left also the lockman. Filled the sloughs & built dyke.
Wed Jul 02: Built about 16 rods of dyke.
Thu Jul 03: Tillinghast to the station. S. worked on the dyke. Raining in the morning - clear in the afternoon. Mosquitos thick.
Fri Jul 04: T. worked in the garden hoeing potatos. W. dyked in the afternoon. S. all day. Very warm & mosquitoey.
Sat Jul 05: All worked on the dyke all day; it is going lively- Warm & dry. Have nine men now dyking.
Sun Jul 06: Very pleasant day. Mosquitos thick. Went up to Highbarger & McNutt's garden. Timothy & beets are looking fine.
Mon Jul 07: T. & S. hoed beets. W. worked in the dyke. Warm & pleasant.
Tue Jul 08: T. & S. hoed beets. W. worked on the dyke. W. & S. went to the station and then over to Dodge's place, saw a nice garden and grain. High tide this afternoon.
Wed Jul 09: All worked on the lagoon. Warm & mosquitos thick.
Thu Jul 10: S. went up and commenced haying with McNutt. W. & T. worked on the dyke.
Fri Jul 11: Same as day before. High tide.
Sat Jul 12: S. came home as night, high tide. Cut off the big lagoon this week.
Sun Jul 13: T. & S. went over to Fidalgo Island. saw some nice fruit grain &c. Twenty-six of Marches strawberries weighted a pound. Whitney found a stool of oats containing 50 stune or heads. One head had 348 grains.
Mon Jul 14: Rained nearly all night last night and a little by spells all day. Transplanted a few onions near privy and parsnips east of house. Eddie has gone to hay it again. W. & T worked on dyke.
1873 Jul 15-Aug 4 (pp 36-37)
Image Id: 002-0202
Transcription
Tue Jul 15: W. went to the station. Measured timothy stalk 6 ft 2 in. Head 8 1/2 in. Sullivans' oats and barley on land dyked last- season and land last - fall and winter will make a good crop. W. thinks his grain is the best - he has seen. Oats are 10? thick. T. worked on dyke.
Wed Jul 16: W. set turnip plants also cabbage & kohl Rabbi. Sowed flat Norfolk turnips. Rained last-night and night before. T. worked on dyke.
Thu Jul 17: W. & T. on dyke. Muskrats do not trouble us much on the dyke. Too close to the water & toom much wind. Fine day.
Fri Jul 18: W. & T. worked on the dyke. S. haying. Weather fine.
Sat Jul 19: Got through haying. McNutt has worked 5 days- bill 18.00 Fine weather.
Sun Jul 20: Clear cool & windy. All went up to see McClelland's hay after dinner.
Mon Jul 21: Worked on the dyke to day. Commenced putting on the 5th sod. Three of us topped out 27 rods.
Tue Jul 22: All worked on dyke except Whitney. He washed in the fore noon & went to the station in the afternoon. Trimble & Allen started for Olympia. The pump came.
Wed Jul 23: Worked on the dyke as usual, fine day.
Thu Jul 24: Worked on dyke. W. went to Highbargers in the afternoon and got his pump fixed. Fine weather for work. Mosquitos thick in the evening. Very few on the dyke.
Fri Jul 25: W. & S. spent the day putting in the pump, filing saw, cutting wood, &c. T. worked on dyke. Warm & dry.
Sat Jul 26: All worked on dyke putting on 5th sod. very warm, mosquitos very think about the house. T. & S. had to sleep in sitting room.
Sun Jul 27: Staid around the house in the day time. In eve, went down to the white house. Mosquitos bad. Mercury 82° in the shade.
Mon Jul 28: Warm & dry. T. & S. worked on dyke. W. washed in fore noon & dyked in A noon.
Tue Jul 29: All worked on dyke, finished up the side of Allen slough. Trimble came home with a title to his land.
Wed Jul 30: Commenced dyking on the south side of Whitney's claim. Mosquitos not bad on the work.
Thu Jul 31: T. worked on the dyke. W. & S. worked on a box for Allen Slough. [margin: McNutt had timothy 7 ft high and heads 9 5/8 in long.]
August 1873
Fri Aug 01: All worked on dyke. W. went to make an agreement with Trimble & Allen in the fore noon.
Sat Aug 02: Worked on the dyke as usual. Warm & dry - No prospect of rain.
Sun Aug 03: Warm & pleasant. McNutt took dinner with us. S. went out to his claim.
Mon Aug 04: W & S worked on the big slough. T. on the dyke.
1873 Aug 5-28 (pp 38-39)
Image Id: 002-0203
Transcription
Tue Aug 05: Worked on the slough & dyke. Put in one mud sill. Rained a little.
Wed Aug 06: Changed the plan of putting in sills and took up what was in. T. worked on dyke. W. was up to see jennings about dyke in afternoon.
Thu Aug 07: Put in two triangles. T. worked with the dykers. W. staked out dyke in the afternoon. Rained some in the forenoon.
Fri Aug 08: Put in five triangles. Weaterh fine. The tide was up in the Cut? grass a little today. Tomatos are about an inch in diameter. Cabbage not heading much yet. [margin: Ten & one half hours on slough]
Sat Aug 09: High tide. Worked on the slough and dyke. [margin: 11 hours on slough]
Sun Aug 10: High tide. Pleasant day. nothing unusual around.
Mon Aug 11: Tide on the marsh. Worked on the slough and dyke as usual. Mosquitos about played except nights & morn. [margin: 10 1/2 hours]
Tue Aug 12: Worked on slough & dyke. [margin: 10 1/2 hours]
Wed Aug 13: Worked on slough & dyke. [margin: 10 hours]
Thu Aug 14: Vinz worked on the dyke & W & S on Allen slough. [margin: 10 hours]
Fri Aug 15: Worked on the slough & dyke. [margin: 10 hours]
Sat Aug 16: T. worked on dyke. W. & S. burned the slashing in the afternoon. Burned very well. Mc Nutt & Fenton worked 11 hours on slough. [margin: 11 hours]
Sun Aug 17: Very pleasant quiet Sunday.
Mon Aug 18: Worked on the slough in the fore noon. Went out and poled the second scow load of lumber in the afternoon.
Tue Aug 19: The men unloaded the scow in the fore noon and put the lumber ashore in the afternoon. Placed the boxes in Allen slough.
Wed Aug 20: Worked on slough & dyke as usual. Commenced to piling, and framing for the second big slough.
Thu Aug 21: Worked on the slough & dyke
Fri Aug 22: Commenced slough no 2 but did not get much done on it. Weather cold & clowdy.
Sat Aug 23: Quite pleasant to day. Worked on sloughs & dyke as usual. Have ten bents for second slough.
Sun Aug 24: Dito last Sunday. Mrs Jennings was here to dinner.
Mon Aug 25: Had all the men working on the slough today. planked up half of it.
Tue Aug 26: Rained some in the morning. Finishing planking up Allen slough. W. & S. went to La Conner just night. Staid with Andrews.
Wed Aug 27: Came home from the station at 9:30 A.M. Mr. Smith came with us. T. commenced filling the lake on Allen's line. Framed and put in bents in Slough No. 2. The boxes in A. Slough have proven a failure. [margin: Got the first new apples. 2.00]
Thu Aug 28: Rained most all the fore noon. Worked all the afternoon.
1873 Aug 29-Sep 22 (pp 40-41)
Image Id: 002-0204
Transcription
Fri Aug 29: Worked on the dyke and sloughs.
Sat Aug 30: Very pleasant. Worked on slough no 2. put in most all the bents. McCollum was up visiting.
Sun Aug 31: Very pleasant. Mr. Smith was up here to Dinner. Allen's folks came up also. [margin: Had the fresh ripe tomatos Sep 1st.]
September 1873
Mon Sep 01: Worked on the slough and dyke as usual.
Tue Sep 02: Commenced work at 5:30 and stopped the hole in Allen slough.
Wed Sep 03: Commenced laying the bottom and fixed the barrow road on the se slough
Thu Sep 04: Fixed the box in and got ready to eat off the slough.
Fri Sep 05: Shut up the two sloughs and stoped the tide for the first time. Success is evident
Sat Sep 06: Put in 13 bents in the next big slough. Fine weather- cool mornings.
Sun Sep 07: W. & wife & Vinz went over to Fidalgo Island. S. went up to Highbargers.
Mon Sep 08: Worked on dyke and sloughs.
Tue Sep 09: T. went to the station and down to Dodges. Commenced putting frames in the Lagoon.
Wed Sep 10: Weather fine. Dyking as usual.
Thu Sep 11: Finished framing for the sloughs. Commenced digging a canal for a box around Allen's slough.
Fri Sep 12: Sawed wood before breakfast. Worked on scow & boxes. The bank caved in and delayed the box at Allen Slough. [margin: 2 days on scow to date.]
Sat Sep 13: Very fine weather. S. & McNutt worked on the scow in the fore noon. the rest on the dyke. Put the box in for the Allen Slough. Afternoon W. & S. burned brush heaps. [margin: 1 day on scow]
Sun Sep 14: W. & Wife & S. went down to Allen's to dinner. Had a good wind to go down with and a very pleasant time. T. staid at home.
Mon Sep 15: Cut off the lagoon. dyked in the afternoon. Thunder shower in the evening. [margin: Thunder storm.]
Tue Sep 16: Worked on dyke and planked up one Loye slough. Floated the box and hung it in the last slough.
Wed Sep 17: Put in the box and commenced planking the 130 ft slough. Planked in Allen S.
Thu Sep 18: Cut off the 180 ft slough. and dyked some. Windy. good weather as usual. [margin: Scow 1 day.]
Fri Sep 19: Dyked as usual and finished planking the 120 ft sloug.
Sat Sep 20: McNutt & S. made oars for the scow and Harry & Wilcher calked it. Fine weather [margin: 2 2/2 day on scow.]
Sun Sep 21: Very pleasant day. All staid at home. Picked some seet corn. The popcorn was ripe, picked some for seed.
Mon Sep 22: W. worked on the dyke. Vinz & S. worked on the bridge over the dyke.
1873 Sep 23-Oct 14 (pp 42-43)
Image Id: 002-0205
Transcription
Tue Sep 23: W. & wife went to the station. T. & S. work on the dyke. filling sneall(?) sloughs.
Wed Sep 24: W. & T. worked on the dyke. S. put up the dyke bridge & worked on the scow oars. Weather fine. T. hauled up some wood in the afternoon. [margin: scow 2 hrs.]
Thu Sep 25: All worked on the dyke.
Fri Sep 26: Vinz & S. worked on the scow. First frost. The rest on the dyke. [margin: scow 17 hrs]
Sat Sep 27: Finished the scow. To worked on dyke. Frost this morning. Killed squash, onions. Weather fine & dry. [margin: scow 20 hrs]
Sun Sep 28: Very pleasant day. S. went up to McNutt's. Mr. Jennings was down here.
Mon Sep 29: Commenced to fill the "50 ft" slough with mud. McCollum & S. went and got a load of hay. got back at 9:30.
Tue Sep 30: T. & McCollum put the hay in the barn. W. & S. worked on the dyke. The "50 ft" slough went out.
October 1873
Wed Oct 01: McDonald & S. went out and got the lost scow load of hay. got back at 8 oclock. Pretty high tide.
Thu Oct 02: S. worked on McClellands box in the forenoon. Helped T. draw hay in the afternoon. Commenced to fill the "45 ft" slough.
Fri Oct 03: Rained so that we only worked 1/4 of the day. S. worked on Mc's box. very high tide.
Sat Oct 04: Fine weather to day. S. finished the box. T. drew up manure and put on the garden.
Sun Oct 05: W. & T. worked on the "45 ft" slough in the forenoon to make it safe. Very pleasant day. S. went to Fidalgo with Trimble. He got his new cook.
Mon Oct 06: Whitney taken with stiff neck - did not work. S. sick, eat to many apples - did not work. T. worked on dyke. Tide came in the ditches.
Tue Oct 07: Trimble went to the station and Whitney with him. S. did not work. T worked on the dyke. Rainy & windy by spells. Armstrong left today. Tide 6 inches over the marsh at 5 P.M.
Wed Oct 08: Very wet dyking to day. Clowdy & rainy.
Thu Oct 09: Worked at dyking although it was pretty wet. S. made a spade handle.
Fri Oct 10: Found "Lillies" calf. All worked on dyke.
Sat Oct 11: Rained most of the fore noon. Quite pleasant in the P.M. dyked some. The marsh is very wet , from the high tide.
Sun Oct 12: Very pleasant day rather cool in the morning, but no frost. The whole family went to Mr. Davey's visiting. had a very pleasant time. Weather fine.
Mon Oct 13: Rain all the fore noon - S. made a shingle horse. Worked in the afternoon on the dyke.
Tue Oct 14: Very fine weather. Wind in the north. Worked on dyke as usual finishing taking out sods.
1873 Oct 15-Nov 4 (pp 44-45)
Image Id: 002-0206
Transcription
Wed Oct 15: Fine weather hard frost this morn. Worke on dyke as usual. W. & S. gathered up lumber in the afternoon.
Thu Oct 16: Very fine day for dyking, All worked on the dyke.
Fri Oct 17: Very fine day as usual. W. worked on the dams mailing(?). S. & T. on the dyke.
Sat Oct 18: S. worked on the dyke. W. & T. dug potatos. Fine day.
Sun Oct 19: Fine day staid at home all day.
Mon Oct 20: T. finished digging potatos. W. & S. worked on the dyke. Commenced topping out on the east end.
Tue Oct 21: W. & wife went to the station. T. worked on the dyke. S. made a machine to pack beets on and a pair of oars. Fine day.
Wed Oct 22: S. worked on dyke. W. & T. pulled mangolds.
Thu Oct 23: S. worked on dyke. W. & T. pulled mangolds.
Fri Oct 24: All worked on the dyke. Hard frost this morning. Pleasant day.
Sat Oct 25: S. & T. worked on the beets. W. worked on the dyke with the men. Finished & discharged the men. Frosty weather.
Sun Oct 26: Staid at home all day. Very pleasant. W. & S. went up and got Mc's boat at night.
Mon Oct 27: S. 24 years old today. S & W went to Whatcom. Had very pleasant weather but head wind. T worked on the ditch.
Tue Oct 28: W. & S. went to Sehome and from there to Mr. Burnetts. Staid over night with him. T. & Mrs. Whitney went to the station.
Wed Oct 29: W. & S. bought a boat load of fruit and started for home at noon. Got home about 8 o'clock. T. worked on ditch.
Thu Oct 30: In the fore noon all went down on the Parrish claim and measured the dyke. After noon piled lumber on the marsh. Open the box from Pa.
Fri Oct 31: Whitney sowed timothy seed. S. dug ditch. T. drawed p the pears and a load of stuff from Allen's garden. Dark & clowdy. Mrs Howard & Earnest were here visiting.
November 1873
Sat Nov 01: Clowdy but no rain. Mrs. Howard & Earnest were here visiting. S. dug ditch. W. & T. plowed in the garden.
Sun Nov 02: Staid at home all day. Koury & Chamburg came up in the afternoon. Fenton also. Clowdy but no rain.
Mon Nov 03: S. worked on the ditch. W. & T. plowed in the garden.
Tue Nov 04: W. went to the station and got 13 sacks of timothy seed. S. worked on the ditch. T. worked on the ditch and done chores.
1873 Nov 5-25 (pp 46-47)
Image Id: 002-0207
Transcription
Wed Nov 05: S. went down and worked on the boat fixing it up ready to paint. Cleaned out the shop in the afternoon. W. worked in the ditch some. T. went out to move Charly. [margin: Rain 3hs]
Thu Nov 06: Rainy & windy. Went down and got some lumber to work and T. hauled it up to the shop in the afternoon. He drew drags of wood in the afternoon. S. made a cabbage cutter and worked on the ditch in the afternoon. [margin: Rain 4hs]
Fri Nov 07: S. went out to his claim & made shingles. W. & T. worked in the shop hauled wood &c. [margin: Rain 4 to 6 hs]
Sat Nov 08: W. & S. saw shingle stuff in the fore noon. They proved to be no account. The "130" slough went out. The neighborhood worked all the afternoon and till four oclock in the morning stopping the hole. Succeeded.
Sun Nov 09: Went down to the slough, found it all right. Came up and eat breakfast and while doing so the fatal slough went out again. A very blue day on the Ridge. Clowdy and raining.
Mon Nov 10: Went down to the slough and from there up to Siegfred's point and load the scow with brush and put in the slough. McNutt came down. [margin: Mr Best and family were visiting.]
Tue Nov 11: Got up at 2 A.M. and went to work on the "busted" slough. Made a R.R. and put in mud until 2 P.M. T. went to the station. Fine day.
Wed Nov 12: Worked on slough on preceding day. Vinz worked canning beets in the afternoon.
Thu Nov 13: Worked on slough from 3 o'clock until 9. Rained and had to quit. Put in the vents and box. Box washed out again. [margin: Rain 6 hs]
Fri Nov 14: Worked on slough all day. Clowdy but no rain.
Sat Nov 15: Commenced working on the slough at 4:30 A.M. Stopped the tide and finished up about 3 oclock. No rain. Highbarger & Billy helped us also Trimble.
Sun Nov 16: Mrs. Jennings was here. Nothing unusual to record. [margin: Rain most all day]
Mon Nov 17: Worked on the sloughs putting in mud and made an extension to the sluice box.
Tue Nov 18: W. helped Guss wash in the fore noon. Worked on the sloughs as usual.
Wed Nov 19: W. went to the station & got the trees. T. & S. wheeled mud - fine occupation.
Thu Nov 20: S. worked on the boat. W. & T. wheeled mud. In the morning T. & S. healed in the trees.
Fri Nov 21: S. made shingles. Vinz fixed his sled. W. worked in the shop on his crib. [margin: rain 2 hs]
Sat Nov 22: S. worked in the shop made his root cutter. W. & T. also worked in the shop. [margin: Rain most of the day]
Sun Nov 23: All staid at home. Wrote letters, read, &c. [margin: Rained]
Mon Nov 24: Worked on the boat a little and wheeled mud four hours. W. went to view Highbarger's dyke in the morning. High tide.
Tue Nov 25: Tide over the marsh & high wind. Worked in the shop in the fore noon and wheeled mud in afternoon. [margin: Rain 3 or 4 hs]
1873 Nov 26-Dec 15 (pp 48-49)
Image Id: 002-0208
Transcription
Wed Nov 26: Went down to wheel mud. High tide. Showery in the fore noon. Cool and clear at night. [margin:Rain 3 hours]
Thu Nov 27: Hard frost this morning. Wheeled mud all day. S. painted the boat in the afternoon.
Fri Nov 28: Mercury down to 26° this morn. Wheeled mud in the Highbarger lagoon.
Sat Nov 29: All worked on the big lagoon finished about 3 P.M. Floated the plank around to the other lagoon. Tide 6 inches over the marsh. Snow storm in the evening. Ground frozen one or two inches. [margin: First snow]
Sun Nov 30: Snowed most of the day. Nothing ocurred worth recording. Not much warmer.
December 1873
Mon Dec 01: Cold again, clear with wind in the north. Vinz & Charley wheeled muc. Too cold for us. S. finished his oars. W. filed saw and we sawed some wood.
Tue Dec 02: Mercury down to 15° this morning and remained cold all day. Cut wood most all day.
Wed Dec 03: Temperature about the same as yesterday. W. & S. went out on the marsh road and cut a tree for shakes to cover wood shed with. T. hauled up wood.
Thu Dec 04: T. hauled some bolts for shakes and broke his sled. W. & S. cur bolts for shakes & pickets. Cold as usual.
Fri Dec 05: Tide one foot over the marsh. W. went to Highbarger's in the fore noon and got some rings made for S. worked on some fir trees getting them ready to burn down. T. worked on the sled. Little warmer at night.
Sat Dec 06: Tide eighteen inches over the marsh today. W. & S. burned down trees and cut wood. T. finished his sled and hauled Shake timber. [margin: Highest tide of the month]
Sun Dec 07: S. went down to the dyke in the morning and shot some ducks. Then went down to help Allen pack goods to the slough. Then cut down some firs to keep them from falling in the garden. The rest of the folks went visiting at Mrs. Jennings. Little warmer. [margin: Tide 15 inches over the ms]
Mon Dec 08: T. hauled shake & picket bolts. W. & S. sawed wood, cleared road and burned down trees. [margin: high tide]
Tue Dec 09: W. & S. went to the station and got the rest of the seed and the wagon. T. hauled bolts and helped Trimble kill hogs. Quite frosty in the morn.
Wed Dec 10: John Cornelius came up and surveyed the Highbarger claim. We all went with him in the fore noon. W. in the after noon. T. drew a load of beets in the afternoon. S. cut wood.
Thu Dec 11: T. went out to move Mr. O'Laughlin. W. & S. worked on the house and cut wood. Cold as usual.
Fri Dec 12: T. hauled up lumber and shingles. S. & W. worked on the house and cut wood.
Sat Dec 13: In the morning. T. went after beets. W. & S. cut wood. Clowdy & warmer.
Sun Dec 14: Mr. O'Laughlin came out and got his folks. Started for his farm.
Mon Dec 15: Worked in the shop some and began the porch. [margin: Rain 3hs]
1873 Dec 16-Jan 6, 1874 (pp 50-51)
Image Id: 002-0209
Transcription
Tue Dec 16: Put the floor on the porch. Made an axhandle and some butter(?) handles.
Wed Dec 17: W. & S. went down to work on the slough. It was not thawed enough. Put a door latch on the shop. S. made shakes some for wood house. [margin: W. made extra wagon box]
Thu Dec 18: W. S. & the boys worked on the sloughs. Wheeling mud fixing wings &c. Very pleasant day. T. hauled water(?) on the wagon.
Fri Dec 19: Billy brought our mail for this week to day. Cold south east wind. S. made shakes. W. worked on the dam. T. hauled over 50 bushs of beets.
Sat Dec 20: Sisson made shakes in the fore noon. W. began the wood shed and settled up with Charley & Harvy. After dinner W. & S. made a table. T. hauled two loads of beets. [margin: rain 2 hours]
Sun Dec 21: S. went up to McNutt's. Everything quiet along the line. "Charley Frenchmen" brought us some venison. [margin: ? 18 ins over the marsh]
Mon Dec 22: S. made pickets in the fore noon. After dinner W. & S. repaired dyke and worked on the dams. T. hauled beets. [margin: ? dito yesterday]
Tue Dec 23: Vinz hauled beets as usual. W. & S. wheeled mud a little and then split shakes (340)[margin: highest tide of the season]
Wed Dec 24: All down choping mud on the dam at midnight last night. Vinz hauled one load of beets. W. went down and took the cloth off from the white house. S. went to Highbarger's and got crowbar mended then went after a stray lumber raft. Cleaned some and put ceiling in the bedroom.
Thu Dec 25: This is Christmas in some places. W. fired trees, filed saws, &c. T. & S. went down to McNutt's to get timber for an ox yoke. "never done it" Very pleasant.
Fri Dec 26: T. & S. worked on the lagoon wheeling mud. W. & wife went to Sickfreds visiting.
Sat Dec 27: All worked down by the dyke deepening ditches till 3 P.M. Then it began to rain. [margin: Rain 3 hours]
Sun Dec 28: Rained most all day; nothing else worth recording.
Mon Dec 29: All worked on the dyke ditch to day.
Tue Dec 30: Trimble went to the station. Worked on the ditch until it rained. [margin: Rain 3hs]
Wed Dec 31: Worked on ditch a little while in the morn. Worked on the shop some and made ax handles. Sawed wood in the afternoon. [margin: Rained 3 hs]
Thu Jan 01: Worked in the show some on sitting room table. Sawed wood some.
Fri Jan 02: Worked in the shop in the fore noon on bookcase. Afternoon W. S. sawed wood. T. worked in ditch. [margin: Snow & rain 5 hs]
Sat Jan 03: T. & S. sawed wood in fore noon. After noon all worked in the shop & house. Commenced to put cloth on "boys" room. [margin: Rain Snow 4 hs]
Sun Jan 04: Snow went off today clowdy rainy day.
Mon Jan 05: T. & S. worked on the ditch side of the dyke. W. helped wash, filed saw, &c. Very pleasant.
Tue Jan 06: W. & S. went to the station. T. worked in the shop. Received some garden seeds from the Depot. [margin: Rain 5hs High tide]