Sun Dec 25: Christmas again. The children are happy. Rainy day as usual. Wrote to George. Went down to Whitneys and had a sing in the P.M. I am milking SnowFlake now. Began last week.
Mon Dec 26: Another stormy day. Not doing much but chores. Made a rack for the horses hay. Tillinghast's folks up last eve and brought a letter from George.
Tue Dec 27: Went to the sawmill with Tillinghast in the A.M. & helped him make seed store in the P.M.
Wed Dec 28: Went to town with Whitney and done the chores. Ch. Bowden & John Siegfred here in the eve.
Thu Dec 29: Sent the wheat to Gaches with Bowden. Helped Otto weigh grain a while. He sold for 23.00. Helped Tillinghast in the P.M.
Fri Dec 30: Choring about as usual.
Sat Dec 31: Put down the carpet and done the chores.
January 1888
Sun Jan 01: Fine weather. Was down to Tillinghasts and Whitneys in the P.M.
Mon Jan 02: Done the chores. Put some window lights in the school house, one in the pantry & went to the road meeting. Lovely weather.
Tue Jan 03: Made a box to feed horses in and dressed plank for the new tank. Cooler.
Wed Jan 04: Mercury at 25 this A.M. Finished dressing the plank and shut up the teams in hay barn.
Thu Jan 05: Temp 15. Clear & cold. Not doing much but chores. made a set of boxes to hold oat meal, &c.
Fri Jan 06: Temp 12 Cutting wood & doing chores.
Sat Jan 07: Temp 12 Clear, but pleasant. Cut wood and made a woodbox door.
Sun Jan 08: Temp 12 No sign of a thaw. Will & Puget here to dinner & Ed Stacey. Went to Whitneys in the P.M. to sing. Wrote for a plow circular and to George.
Mon Jan 09: Temp 15 Shut up Kates colt. Cut off her hoofs and Doll's also cut. Cut some wood and done the chores. Ground frozen very hard. [margin: A baby at Whitney's last night.]
Tue Jan 10: Making PO box for Tillinghast. Mr Holtzinger's folks here in the P.M. Warmer.
Wed Jan 11: Clowdy & windy and a little rain. Ice in the slough yet. Whitney went to town in his wagon.
Thu Jan 12: Snow this A.M. and heavy north wind all day. It began to grow cold and mercury about at 7 at bed time.
Fri Jan 13: Mercury at 0 this A.M. The first time I ever saw it so in W.T. clear and cold all day.
Sat Jan 14: Still clear & cold. Not doing much but chores. [margin: Temp 9° this A.M.]
1888 Jan 15-Feb 27 (Missing Feb 3 to Feb 27)
Image Id: 002-0555
Transcription
Sun Jan 15: Temp 4. Still clear, no sign of a thaw. Whitneys thermometer at 2 below zero and mine at 1 above at sunrise. Went to church Mr Moore preached.
Mon Jan 16: Temp at 5 this A.M. Went to town on foot, pretty cold day but south wind. Not so cold at night. Reading "Dawn".
Tue Jan 17: Doing chores and cutting wood. Finished the P.O. Box. Warmer to day and thawing, but it snowed nearly all night and all this A.M. with south wind.
Wed Jan 18: Finished the P.O Box. Working made a step ladder and done the chores. Rainy part of the day. Mary Stacey here at night.
Thu Jan 19: Colder again and wind in the north. Snowed nearly all day. Ed here to take his wife home.
Fri Jan 20: Pulling cloth on the kitchen. Still winterish.
Sat Jan 21: Snowing again last night and to day. Making a pair of bob sleds. The snow is 6 or 7 inches deep now.
Sun Jan 22: Good sleighing to day. A Stacey, J. Henderson and the women folks were here in the P.M. Growing warmer.
Mon Jan 23: Choring about. Tom Hurd here in the eve. Growing warmer.
Tue Jan 24: The snow gone and growing warmer. Dr. Holzchauser here in the P.M.
Wed Jan 25: Working on my roller. Tom Hurd here and bought the cattle & staid all night.
Thu Jan 26: Finished the roller. Thermometer at 54 and the frost nearly out of the ground. Heavy rain to night.
Fri Jan 27: Rainy. Not doing much but chores. Dug some carrots and filed a saw.
Sat Jan 28: Rainy day. Cutting wood and choring around. Dave Fulk here and paid 50 dollars more on his oats. Leaving a bal of 35. Heard a frog today and some robins.
Sun Jan 29: Clowdy rainy & springy. Staid at home reading. Wrote to George.
Mon Jan 30: High tide this A.M. which took out Callahan's dam and flooded his ranch and some of Ball's. Tom Hurd took away the cattle.
Tue Jan 31: Went to Inman's to get school order cashed or endorsed. Warmer. Grass starting up nice. George Jenne owes me $4.50 and for old Doll's work in harvest.
February 1888
Wed Feb 01: Went to town with Whitney. Clowdy & warm.
Thu Feb 02: Sent to Maher & Grosh for knives &c. Fine spring day. Callahan working on their dams. I helped them in the P.M. on the box.
Fri Feb 03: No entry.
Sat Feb 04: No entry.
Sun Feb 05: No entry.
Mon Feb 06: No entry.
Tue Feb 07: No entry.
Wed Feb 08: No entry.
Thu Feb 09: No entry.
Fri Feb 10: No entry.
Sat Feb 11: No entry.
Sun Feb 12: No entry.
Mon Feb 13: No entry.
Tue Feb 14: No entry.
Wed Feb 15: No entry.
Thu Feb 16: No entry.
Fri Feb 17: No entry.
Sat Feb 18: No entry.
Sun Feb 19: No entry.
Mon Feb 20: No entry.
Tue Feb 21: No entry.
Wed Feb 22: No entry.
Thu Feb 23: No entry.
Fri Feb 24: No entry.
Sat Feb 25: No entry.
Sun Feb 26: No entry.
Mon Feb 27: No entry.
1888 Feb 28-Mar 22 (Missing Feb 3 to Feb 27)
Image Id: 002-0556
Transcription
Tue Feb 28: Will sick last night. Not at work to day. I went out and began building over the Kalso fence.
Wed Feb 29: Doing chores in the A.M. and building fence in the P.M. Will in town.
March 1888
Thu Mar 01: Will in town yet. I finished the fence.
Fri Mar 02: Will home again. Ditching out on the east end of the ranch. Land very wet.
Sat Mar 03: Rainy A.M. Mending sacks and washing harness in the P.M. Ditching again.
Sun Mar 04: Frost again this A.M. At home all day. Tillinghasts folks came up.
Mon Mar 05: Ditching. Land drying up again. Pulliam & Hanson here.
Tue Mar 06: Frost again. Oiling harnesses and ditching. Sawing & splitting D. timber.
Wed Mar 07: Will hauling out ditch timber. Mercury at 25°. Splitting D. timber & ditching.
Thu Mar 08: Began plowing. Self working on tank by wagon shed. [margin: M at 23°]
Fri Mar 09: Plowing. Finished tank and ditch some in the P.M. Cold for this month. [margin: M. at 25°]
Sat Mar 10: Pulling dirt around the tank. Cutting wood and choring about. Will plowing. Price had boat to go to LaConner. Windy sign of rain.
Sun Mar 11: Rain again this A.M. At home all day.
Mon Mar 12: Ditching again all day. Too wet to plow.
Tue Mar 13: Began to break the meadow out beyond hay barn. Rain in the P.M. Will putting harness back together.
Wed Mar 14: Went to town with Whitney. Will plowing sod. Rec'd $70. from Geo Jenne to settle up for a Cortland wagon.
Thu Mar 15: Splitting ditch timber in the A.M. Will breaking. Made and hung a gate in the P.M.
Fri Mar 16: Will finished the breaking and the quit for raain. Rainy P.M. Made some troughs and put through the barn.
Sat Mar 17: Began making a fence along the dyke. Rainy part of the day. Will not working all day.
Sun Mar 18: Went to Whitneys to church. Rev Moore preached. Was down to sing in the P.M. SnowFlake sick.
Mon Mar 19: Went to LaConner to sale and lecture. Lecture by Rev C. Davine. Good tended. The sale also. [margin: Will making fence.]
Tue Mar 20: Rain some. Was in LaC. all day. Will cutting wood digging ditch and fixing flower beds.
Wed Mar 21: Came from LaC. with Lee B. Will digging road ditch.
Thu Mar 22: Fine weather. Will ditching in the A.M. and hauling D. timber in the P.M. Set a hen.
1888 Mar 23-Apr 18
Image Id: 002-0557
Transcription
Fri Mar 23: Will plowing. Self working in garden some. Planted some peas and lettuce.
Sat Mar 24: Will plowing. Beauty lame. Had to quit working her. I went down a put up the school house bell.
Sun Mar 25: Went to church. Pulliam preached. Was down to Whitneys to sing in the P.M.
Mon Mar 26: Will plowing.
Tue Mar 27: Will plowing.
Wed Mar 28: Dave Fulk here and we were all cleaning seed grain. Rainy day. High wind in the P.M.
Thu Mar 29: Will plowing. Went over to Jenne's in the P.M. to see his horses, did not buy any. Beauty not able to work yet.
Fri Mar 30: Ditching or filling ditch in the Lake in the A.M. Will plowing in the P.M. and I putting straw in the furrow.
Sat Mar 31: Rain again last night. Will went to Jenne's this A.M. to see about getting a mare. This has been a wet-cold month. More so than Feb.
April 1888
Sun Apr 01: At home all day reading.
Mon Apr 02: Working in the orchard about the trees whitewashing, &c.
Tue Apr 03: The Bob Irving blew up yesterday. Hauling straw in the A.M. and plowing in the P.M. Will working his colt.
Wed Apr 04: Will plowing. Self forking in straw.
Thu Apr 05: Dito yesterday.
Fri Apr 06: Filling ditch in the A.M. and plowing in the P.M.
Sat Apr 07: Plowing until 3 P.M. then quit for rain. Set up the roller after dinner and cut wood some.
Sun Apr 08: Quite a pleasant day. It did not rain enough to stop plowing.
Mon Apr 09: Went to town. Will plowing.
Tue Apr 10: Will sick. Self plowing finished "the 80".
Wed Apr 11: Will in town A.M. Cultivating in the P.M. Self plowing the Miller place finished.
Thu Apr 12: Self filling ditch and bluestoning wheat. Will cultivating.
Fri Apr 13: Finished the ditch and plowed it in. Will cultivating with seeder.
Sat Apr 14: Will same as yesterday. Self plowing the garden and planted some potatos, peas, onions, beets, parsnips, carrots, &c.
Sun Apr 15: Pleasant day. Went to sing in the P.M.
Mon Apr 16: Began seeding. Sowed 6 acres of wheat and some oats. Working 5 hours.
Tue Apr 17: Seeding, rolling and harrowing. Clowdy and cold with north wind and a little rain just night.
Wed Apr 18: Pleasant day with drying wind. Have 43 acres sowed to night. Self harrowing.
1888 Apr 19-May 7
Image Id: 002-0558
Transcription
Thu Apr 19: Seeding and harrowing. Land in fine order.
Fri Apr 20: Finished seeding the field across the road. 68 acres. Harrowed in the A.M. and cleaned grass seed in the P.M.
Sat Apr 21: Will harrowing. Self sowing grass seed. Warmest day of the season so far. Owen Fulk paid one for his oats and hay $92.50.
Sun Apr 22: Pleasant day. Went to Whitneys to hear Mr Moore preach. Pulliam and Gaches were here in the P.M. Went down to W's to sing in the P.M.
Mon Apr 23: Began rolling the big field. Will harrowing. Cold & windy.
Tue Apr 24: Same as yesterday. Finished harrowing in 80.
Wed Apr 25: Began seeding on this side of the road. Self rolling.
Thu Apr 26: Finished seeding. Will went to Fulks to get disk harrow. Lost 1/4 day for rain. Fine rain this P.M.
Fri Apr 27: Will running disk harrow. Self setting out strawberry plants. 880. Sowed some clover seed and sprouted potatos. Too wet to roll.
Sat Apr 28: Will harrowing with disk harrow in the A.M. Self rolling. Had to quit for rain in the P.M. Will has worked his colt 20 days to date.
Sun Apr 29: Was over to Telegraph(?) and went to church to hear Mr Banks preach. Fine farming day.
Mon Apr 30: Went to town. Will harrowing. Showery. Sold Mr Smith one 1/2 ton of hay. He brought 10 cords of wood on Saturday night.
May 1888
Tue May 01: Till. using my team. Will finished harrowing. Self cutting some wood & splitting it. Planted some peas and sowed the bal. of the clover seed. Fine growing weather.
Wed May 02: Will plowing for Tillinghast and he has had the other team for the last 3 days. Self cutting out tar weeds and choring around.
Thu May 03: Will plowing for Tillinghast, finished. Self rolling in the 80, finished. Fine weather, grain coming up splendid.
Fri May 04: Self rolling. Doll had a colt last night. Working Beauty, she is not lame. Will plowing cabbage path. Hall Bradley died Wednesday last and was brought home to day.
Sat May 05: In the A.M. went to the funeral. Will not working to day. In the P.M. rolling finished the job.
Sun May 06: Borrowed $70. of Mrs Peck and gave note for one year at 10 percent and let Peter take it on demand. Beautiful growing weather. Another lovely day. Went to Bay View to church in the P.M.
Mon May 07: Fixed and planted the carrot ground. Will finished plowing cabbage ground. Tillinghast had the team.
1888 May 8-Jun 2
Image Id: 002-0559
Transcription
Tue May 08: Will harrowing & rolling cabbage patch. I planting cabbage in the P.M. Killing tar weeds &c in the A.M. Little rain last night and looks like more.
Wed May 09: Rainy A.M. Self cutting wood. Will washing harness. In the P.M. both planting potatoes. 8 row 30 rods long.
Thu May 10: Went to town to get the mower. Will working on the road. Pleasant, but cool. The grain all looking well for this time of year.
Fri May 11: Will not working, went hunting. Self over to Whitneys Island with Tillinghast. Lovely day. Saw lots of good marsh land. Whitney damming middle slough on south end.
Sat May 12: Oiled the light harness and set up the mower, very drying weather. Will got home with a deer in the evening. The mower looks well & strong.
Sun May 13: Took a ride up to John Balls in the A.M. and was down to Whitneys to sing in the A.M. Windy from the north.
Mon May 14: Went to town and got the oil and furniture. Still windy & clear.
Tue May 15: Painting milk house. Will working for him self & hunting.
Wed May 16: Both working on Purdy's granary.
Thu May 17: Painting house roof and cut the colts. Worked in the garden an hour. Beauty had her colt last night.
Fri May 18: Will working for himself on granary and self 1/2 day painting. Pulling weeds and putting harness together.
Sat May 19: Will painting for himself 1/2 and harrowing potatoes 1/2 for me. Went to town for oil and furniture. Grain growing first class, but would do better with rain.
Sun May 20: Went to hear Rev Moore preach at Whitneys and to Whitneys Island in the P.M. Warm & dry.
Mon May 21: Went to LaConner to see doctor B. Will planted some more cabbage. Was in town until Sat noon. Will has been painting and working on the road this week and Alf is here sick. He harrowed the cabbage ground one day.
Tue May 22: No entry.
Wed May 23: No entry.
Thu May 24: No entry.
Fri May 25: No entry.
Sat May 26: No entry.
Sun May 27: At home all day. Warm and dry.
Mon May 28: Went to town again. Will howing garden and cabbage plants.
Tue May 29: Will working on the road.
Wed May 30: Will working on the road. Very warm.
Thu May 31: Will not working. Self at home. Had a nice shower this A.M. which spoiled the Picknick. Pulled weeds out of the grain some and hoed strawberries in the P.M.
June 1888
Fri Jun 01: Had another glorious rain to day which lasted nearly all day and will insure a crop. Will not working.
Sat Jun 02: Will working on the road to day. Set out some cabbage plants and weed onions some. Ed Stacey here and Gertie & Lola came with him.
1888 Jun 3-27
Image Id: 002-0560
Transcription
Sun Jun 03: Was down to Whitneys to sing at 10 A.M. Wrote to George in the P.M. The folks went to church in the P.M. at Bay View. This is a beautiful day.
Mon Jun 04: Went to town to stay with Dr. Will hoing carrots, &c.
Tue Jun 05: Will fixing carrot ground. Splendid growing weather.
Wed Jun 06: Dito yesterday. Heard Mr Tillinghasts lecture & fixing stage.
Thu Jun 07: Helping fix the stage & painting house. Heard Mr Fridie's(?) lecture.
Fri Jun 08: Helping to fixing the stage & painting house. I came from LaConner this P.M. Went to the entertainment in the eve. It was well attended.
Sat Jun 09: Went back to LaConner this A.M. Will went also to play ball.
Sun Jun 10: Rainy day, was in LaConner. Went to church and took dinner with Jesse Francis.
Mon Jun 11: Went to the Beaver Marsh on the road appraisal with O. Kalso.
Tue Jun 12: In town setting up a binder for Gaches. Raining again.
Wed Jun 13: Will working in the carrott patch. I still in town.
Thu Jun 14: Went to Lopez Island in the Ex M.E. S.S.
Fri Jun 15: Got home from the Ex at 4 A.M. Could not get through the pass any sooner.
Sat Jun 16: Will in town in the A.M. to play ball. Came home in the eve. The grain is premium and will go down.
Sun Jun 17: Fine growing day. Went to church at Whitneys to hear Rev Moore. Staid at home in the P.M.
Mon Jun 18: Cold and clowdy. Went to town. Will weeding carrotts, &c.
Tue Jun 19: In town, but came home with John Ball in the eve. Will painting. Rain some in the P.M.
Wed Jun 20: Painting. Had a hard rain last night. Warm & pleasant to day. Good growing weather. Grain pretty weedy in the lower field, but looking fine in this side of the road.
Thu Jun 21: Painting. Fine weather.
Fri Jun 22: Painting as usual. Fine weather.
Sat Jun 23: Will harrowing cabbage ground in the A.M. and playing ball in the P.M. Self up to Abbotts on school business in the A.M. and to town in the P.M. Clowdy and warm. Grain looking splendid.
Sun Jun 24: At home all day. June Henderson here and staid all night last night. We were over to Whitneys Island in the A.M.
Mon Jun 25: Setting cabbage all day. Will harrowing part of the day. Had 2 extra men. Set about 9000 or so.
Tue Jun 26: Weeding garden and hoing potatos. Rained a good shower last night.
Wed Jun 27: Painting in the A.M. and setting cabbage in the P.M.
1888 Jun 28-Jul 17
Image Id: 002-0561
Transcription
Thu Jun 28: Painting for self in the A.M. and for Will in the P.M. Fine graing growing weather. Whitney haying. Began cocking to day.
Fri Jun 29: Painting for Will all day for Will on the ganary. Went to the Band Boys Show in the eve. Got home at 12 M.
Sat Jun 30: I painting on the granary in the A.M. Will went to town in the P.M. Self setting cabbage. Clowdy & misty nearly all day. The granary just beginning to head.
July 1888
Sun Jul 01: Rainy most of the A.M. Was down to Tillinghasts to supper.
Mon Jul 02: Rainy again a good part of the day. Setting cabbage plant most of the day.
Tue Jul 03: Rain most of the night and this A.M. Ground very wet for the season. Will not working.
Wed Jul 04: Went to LaC. to spend the 4th. Had a middling good time and got home at 10 P.M. Pleasant day.
Thu Jul 05: Pleasant day. Putting cabbage. Will not home yet. Hired a man. He began at 10 A.M. Hayden was his name.
Fri Jul 06: Setting plants. Fine hay weather.
Sat Jul 07: Fine weather. Will went to town with a load of hay for A Polson, weeding carrots & setting cabbage.
Sun Jul 08: At home reading & writing. Gertie & Lola started for Stanwood.
Mon Jul 09: Setting cabbage & began mowing for Tillinghast & self.
Tue Jul 10: Will mowing all day. Hayden & self mowing with scythe, weeding carrots & setting cabbage.
Wed Jul 11: Finished mowing and began raking & cocking hay.
Thu Jul 12: Cocking hay until 9:30 when it began to rain heavily. Not doing much in the P.M., rainy.
Fri Jul 13: Resetting cabbage in the A.M. Working at the hay some in the P.M. but had to quit for rain as usual.
Sat Jul 14: Hoing potatos, weeding carrotts & tedding hay in the A.M. In the P.M. all cocking hay. Tillinghast and his man helping fine(?) &c and his hay in fair order. Finished 7 1/2 acre field.
Sun Jul 15: Ed Stacey and his wife here to day and last night. Wrote to James Birk about plow order. Went with Ed to see Whitneys dyke & dams.
Mon Jul 16: Will hauling hay for Tillinghast in the A.M. and mowing in the orchard and putting up hay in the P.M. Man & self working in the garden and setting cabbage in the P.M. Beautiful hay weather. [margin: note ??tick]
Tue Jul 17: Will working at the cabbage patch cultivating & hoing. Ed finished the carrotts and hoed cabbage in the P.M. Tillinghasts & we went to hear the drummer boy in the east.
1888 Jul 18-Aug 6
Image Id: 002-0562
Transcription
Wed Jul 18: Went to LaC. and heard the famous Drummer boy and vote it splendid. Will & Hayden hoing cabbage & cultivating. Self painting fence & selling plants in the P.M. Beautiful hay weather.
Thu Jul 19: Went berrying to day. All hands got about 75 pounds.
Fri Jul 20: Self painting fence and eave troughs. Boys hauling hay. 9 loads.
Sat Jul 21: Snowflake new calf this A.M. Went over to help Whitney put in his big dam. It looks like a good job so far. Fine hay weather.
Sun Jul 22: Staid about home all day reading & writing. Wrote to Geo.
Mon Jul 23: Hauling hay & setting cabbage.
Tue Jul 24: Hauled one load of hay and then a load to P. Polson LaConner. Hayden working in the orchard mowing, &c.
Wed Jul 25: Hauling hay 10 loads. 29 to date.
Thu Jul 26: Roy Carter here get oats. Rainy this A.M. Will sick again last night, not working to day. Went to Bay View in the P.M. to sell some hay to Moeler.
Fri Jul 27: The folks went to the Ex to day. Self at home making doubletrees & tank pump. Ed hoing cabbage in the P.M.
Sat Jul 28: Hauled 2 loads of hay to Bay View and 2 loads of lumber home. Ed hoing cabbage. Fine weather. Rain ????? some.
Sun Jul 29: Fine weather. Mr Rouhey here to dinner. Down to Whitneys in the eve.
Mon Jul 30: Hauled a load of hay to Klingenmaier. 3000 lbs. He is to bring 4 1/2 cords back for it. Took another load to Wooden in the P.M. He has 4 tons & 500 lbs. at $10 = $42.50. Ed Hayden quit to day and worked to Tillinghast. I paid him off.
Tue Jul 31: Finished hauling hay. Had 38 loads or about 40 tons from 8 acres. Hauled some manure and a load of wood in the P.M.
August 1888
Wed Aug 01: Setting fence posts and cleaning some feed grain. Rained several showers in the P.M. and thundered some.
Thu Aug 02: Making garden fence and hung a gate down towards Whitneys. Will cultivating in the P.M. cabbage.
Fri Aug 03: Hauled a load of hay for Whitney to Bay View in the A.M. In the P.M. hoing & cultivating cabbage. Sent for the Farm & Fireside and Conv Puzzle guess. 1625. also the beer powder.
Sat Aug 04: Will went hunting. Self hoing garden and went to town in the P.M. Rainy some in the A.M.
Sun Aug 05: Wrote to Father and went to Bay View to church. Taylor Bebber came here to work this eve.
Mon Aug 06: Will not back till night to day. Bebber & self hoeing cabbage. In the P.M. self doing chores, fixing pump & gate, etc.
1888 Aug 7-21
Image Id: 002-0563
Transcription
Tue Aug 07: Bebber & Will finished the cabbage in the P.M. Will & myself fixed up the binder ready for work.
Wed Aug 08: Taylor & Will workong for Whitney haying. Self went to town and got a new cook stove. In the A.M. ceiling the front porch. Fine weather for ripening grain. Callahan and Ball cutting.
Thu Aug 09: Taylor & Will at Whitneys again. One haying, one hoing cabbage. Self choring about in the A.M. and went to town in the P.M. Bought a wagon of Gaches and gave my note for $72.50 at 10%. Payable when the grain is sold. Bought a bb of flour and a bbl of sugar. Golden C.
Fri Aug 10: Taylor & Will working on the road. On his account. Self setting up new stove and am ceiling porch.
Sat Aug 11: In the A.M. Bebber & Will on the road. Self finished the porches ceiling. In the P.M. started the binder. The grain is heavy and too green to cut good. Whitney went to town with my wagon and brought my new one home. Fine weather.
Sun Aug 12: At home all day. Fine weather. Dave Fulk & Mr South here to dinner. The girls went to Bay view to Sunday School.
Mon Aug 13: Will & Taylor cutting and shocking at Fulks. I went to the saw mill and got some lumber and began building a hay rack.
Tue Aug 14: Will & Taylor at Fulks. Self went to town and got 200 lbs cinching twine. Nice weather.
Wed Aug 15: Began cutting in the big filed. Fulk & Miles working. He using 2 horses.
Thu Aug 16: Dito yesterday. Lovely harvest weather.
Fri Aug 17: Self turning grain & shocking. Warm. Fulk & Mills helping and boarding at home. Am weaning the colts.
Sat Aug 18: Cutting as usual. Have put up about 80 acres this week. 50 2 or 3 for me and the bal. for Dave Fulk.
Sun Aug 19: Pleasant weather and a good prospect for good weather. No church today. Mr Moore sick. Wrote a letter to George.
Mon Aug 20: Will cutting oats in lower field. Broke down once. Knife to binder. Self making wagon bed and helping unload the engine.
Tue Aug 21: Finished oats on the other side of road. Fulk boarding here. Self fixed up the engine and tried it. Johnnie Peth hery helping. Sprained my ankle which was not very pleasant.
1888 Aug 22-Sep 10 (end of book)
Image Id: 002-0564
Transcription
Wed Aug 22: Cutting, grain very heavy. Not doing much myself but nursing lame ankle. Lovely weather for harvest. Waikle threshing.
Thu Aug 23: Finished cutting oats & began on the wheat. Still dry & good harvest weather. Hanson Burdon & Frank VanValkenburg here to dinner. Self turning grain.
Fri Aug 24: Finished the weather and went to Fulks but broke the binder. Self went to town to see about sacks &c. Went & saw Waikles machine.
Sat Aug 25: They got the binder fixed and started at 9.30. I fired up and tried the engine again. It works well. Went to the primary meeting in the P.M. Looks like rain.
Sun Aug 26: Threatening rain & sprinkled some. Peter's folks here visiting today. Pulliam preached in our house this P.M. Jim Gaches here also. Cleared off at night. Will & Taylor at Fulks cutting 1/2 day.
Mon Aug 27: Cutting at Fulks, 2 men & team. Self went over to Balls in the P.M. The engine not doing good work.
Tue Aug 28: Fixing fence with barbed wire in the A.M. and over to Balls and to town in the P.M. Cutting at Fulks as usual.
Wed Aug 29: Working at the engine in the A.M. and moved machine to Callahans in P.M. Threshed a little. The men cutting at Fulks. Machine working well.
Thu Aug 30: Tried the thresher and got 900 sks or over for Callahan. Will at Fulks. Finished cutting. Bebber & team & wagon at Callahans.
Fri Aug 31: Threshing at Callahans & Whitneys. Will away in A.M. and hauling wood in P.M.
September 1888
Sat Sep 01: Threshing at Whitneys. Ida to town. Will at town.
Sun Sep 02: Threshing at Whitneys.
Mon Sep 03: Moved to Kalsos this A.M. & threshing all day. Light rain in the eve. Threshed 1027 sks.
Tue Sep 04: Threshing 3/4 day & it rained 1/4 at O. Kalsos. Did not get done.
Wed Sep 05: Finished at Kalsos at 9 A.M. & moved to Gortons. Quit at 2 P.M. for rain.
Thu Sep 06: Went to town in the A.M. and got sacks. Will also. Gave note for $222 to Gaches for sax. Threshing at Gortons in the P.M. very wet & tough.
Fri Sep 07: Threshing at Gortons finished & moved to my gate after supper. Bebber working at cabbage & setting up shocks.
Sat Sep 08: Threshing at Balls. Fine day. Whitney was offered $18 per ton for oats.
Sun Sep 09: Threshing at Balls. Lovely weather.
Mon Sep 10: Threshing at Balls. Lovely weather. Mrs Miller here. Have threshed 31 hundred sacks for Ball in 3 days. Set three times. This endeth this book.
1888 Sep 11-17 (pp 1)
Image Id: 002-0589
Transcription
Tue Sep 11: Diary begun Sep 11th 1888. Threshing at John Balls. Fine weather.
Wed Sep 12: Threshing at Balls 6/10. Quit for rain at 8.15 and began again at 1 P.M. Rain light.
Thu Sep 13: Threshing at Balls and moved the engine up to my gate. Fine weather. Threshed 1122 sks.
Fri Sep 14: Threshing at home 1015 sks.
Sat Sep 15: Threshing at home 1134. Grant sick. The Dr. here to see him.
Sun Sep 16: Threshing. Finished the oats and began on the wheat then broke down at 3.15. Grant better. Racked 18 loads of finishing.
Mon Sep 17: Went up and fired up but did not thresh. Rained hard all the A.M. Went to town in the P.M. & got some sax to pay Whitney back. Mrs Miller & Effie Burdon went home. Got a bb of G. sugar. Caught lots of water in our tanks and have plenty now for 2 months.
1888 Sep 18-28 (pp 2-3)
Image Id: 002-0590
Transcription
Tue Sep 18: Bebber digging potatoes in the P.M. Fired up and finished my threshing in the A.M. and moved to Dave's in the A.M. and threshed after dinner. 512 sks.
Wed Sep 19: Clowdy & Rainy. Threshed at Dave's in the A.M. Threshed at Dave's in the A.M. The men hauling sax in the P.M. & Miles Fulk helping them. Will hauling all day and in the P.M. yesterday. Was up to see Alverson's machine in the P.M.
Thu Sep 20: Set up the gang plow. Rainy day. No one working much. Will to town.
Fri Sep 21: Will up to Balls in the A.M. I at the saw mill in the A.M. and Bebber setting fence post, making fence panels in the P.M. Will & Bebber hauling sacks and the slacker tender helping them.
Sat Sep 22: Hauling lumber and fence the cabbage patch. Too wet to thresh.
Sun Sep 23: Threshing at Fulks 3/4 day. Bebber helping with team. Will not working. Good weather but grain pretty wet. Pulliams preached here to day.
Mon Sep 24: Fine weather. Will hauling sacks. Threshing at Fulks. Finished at 5 P.M. Bebber & team. Came home at 5.
Tue Sep 25: Threshing at Callahan's. My teams both hauling sax. Mr South helping. Broke the traction and could not move.
Wed Sep 26: Threshing at Balls. Had a slow time moving and broke down at noon with the separator. Lovely weather. Both teams hauling in sax and Mr South helping them.
Thu Sep 27: Threshing at Ball's. Will hauling sax. Bebber at Balls with the team & wagon. Fine weather. Have worked with engine 22 3/4 days to date.
Fri Sep 28: Still at Balls. Weather fine. Grain in nice order. Finished hauling sacks.
1888 Sep 29-Oct 8 (pp 4-5)
Image Id: 002-0591
Transcription
Sat Sep 29: Threshing at Balls, Bebber & team there also. Will hauling hay for Whitney.
Sun Sep 30: Finished threshing at Balls and moved to Whitneys. Will not working. The girls back sick. Dr. Calhoun here to see them.
October 1888
Mon Oct 01: Threshing at Whitneys, all hands. Weather fine. The girls no worse.
Tue Oct 02: Threshing at Whitneys. Fine warm weather. The girls improving. Dr. C here to see them again. Ida not well.
Wed Oct 03: Threshing at Whitneys 1354 sks. Weather still fine.
Thu Oct 04: Finished threshing for this year at 9 A.M. Bebber at Whitneys all day. Will & I took a load of wheat to Walter & then dug potatos till night. Have a good yield.
Fri Oct 05: Bebber at Whitneys. Will & I digging potatos and hauling in wood. Took a load to Whitney. Weather still fine.
Sat Oct 06: Roy & his wife here last night and preacher White here to dinner. Will cultivating cabbage in the A.M. Not working in the P.M. Self went to town in the P.M. Bebber at Whitneys with the team. Looks like rain today.
Sun Oct 07: Went with Frank Darcy down to the Samish. Saw Dales & Dawson's machine's. Got back at 6 P.M. with out any dinner.
Mon Oct 08: Will not working. Settled up with him and bout(?) the cabbage and agreed to give him $300. cash and 25 more if I do well on the cabbage after selling it. He is to work what time he has from now till he goes to the Samish to live.
1888 Oct 8-16 (pp 6-7)
Image Id: 002-0592
Transcription
Mon Oct 08: Some rain. This is Father's birthday. Bebber hauling manure to day.
Tue Oct 09: B. hauling manure. Self Will up at my timber claim getting out posts, &c.
Wed Oct 10: Rainy day. B working in the A.M. hauling manure out of the hay barn. Will & the Fulks went to Fidalgo deer hunting. Self not doing very much. Bebber has worked up to Oct 6th at night. According to my account 57 days. Whitneys machine threshed on Oct 2&3 in 19 1/2 hours 256785 lbs of oats or 8024 bushels of 32 lbs each or 128 tons 785 lbs. next.
Thu Oct 11: Bebber hauling manure in the A.M. Finished in the A.M. We went up to timber and got 2 loads of posts. Rainy P.M.
Fri Oct 12: Bebber working 1/2 day. Hanging gate in garden and cutting corn fodder. Self choring about. Gathered some apples in the P.M. Dark heavy weather. Some light rain.
Sat Oct 13: Bebber working 1/2. Hauling straw &c. In the P.M. went to town. Ida & Will went to the Samish. Will came home with a deer.
Sun Oct 14: Pleasant weather. At home reading. Cooler.
Mon Oct 15: Rainy A.M. Was up and settled up with Otto Kalso and got my road receipts. In the P.M. went to the timber & got a load of cedar for the dyking Co. 4 hours work, 2 men, team & wagon. Bebber 1/2 day. Oats dull at $17 per ton.
Tue Oct 16: Working on the dyke 2 days man, 1/2 team & w. Gaches here & bought my oats at $17. per ton. 100 tons. Whitneys at $1650.
1888 Oct 17-Oct 27 (pp 8-9)
Image Id: 002-0593
Transcription
Wed Oct 17: 1 1/2 day on dyke for man 1/4 team & W. In the P.M. self hauling wood for Tillinghast. Fine weather, woods(?) pretty good.
Thu Oct 18: Bebbers on the dyke. 1/2 self hauling wood for Tillinghast 3/4 day.
Fri Oct 19: Bebber to town. Self fixing wagon to haul dirt and in P.M. plowing in the cabbage.
Sat Oct 20: Rainy A.M. Not doing much. Settled up with Tillinghast. Will here to dinner & supper. Plowing cabbage in the P.M. finished.
Sun Oct 21: Staid at home and had preaching by Mr White. Whitney & Kate here to dinner. Will & Ed Stacey also.
Mon Oct 22: Rainy day. Bebber back this A.M. Worked 3/4 day on the tank for the house.
Tue Oct 23: Rainy A.M. and again in the evening. Bebber worked 1/2 on tank.
Wed Oct 24: Cold wet and windy. Went to town. Bebber not working. Got $150 of Gaches and paid up small bills. Skagit River up and the ground quite wet. Frank Darcy had my wagon to go to town & took the stove up to Roy.
Thu Oct 25: Rain all last night and some this A.M. Worked on the slough bridge in the A.M. 1 day on dyke for 1 man. In the P.M. hauled out the big planks for the hay barn tank and cleaned it out. Pleasant in the P.M. Sold Inman some wheat. 10 sacks.
Fri Oct 26: No rain. Bebber & self working on big tank out by the hay barn putting on the top. Will here in the evening on his way to LaConner.
Sat Oct 27: Rain again all day. B. not working. Went to town with Will and settled up with him. Heard J.B. Allen's speech on politics.
1888 Oct 28-Nov 5 (pp 10-11)
Image Id: 002-0594
Transcription
Sun Oct 28: No rain to day. Ground very wet. Tanks all full. Pulliam preached here in the P.M. Alf Stacey here.
Mon Oct 29: Rain again this A.M. but quit at 9 A.M. Self working on the tank by the hay barn. Bebber working in the P.M. Hauling dir by the side of the tank.
Tue Oct 30: Working on the dyke 1 1/2 day all told. Bebber, self & team. Had to quit for water in the slough at 3.00 P.M. Will here in the eve and went to town.
Wed Oct 31: Rain again till 8 A.M. Bebber not working. Went to town. Self cutting apples, choring & in the P.M. took some wheat down to Glover's.
November 1888
Thu Nov 01: Rain in the A.M. choring. Bebber grading in the pasture 1/2 day. Self went to town with F. Darcy and staid all night.
Fri Nov 02: Bebber & team working on dam 3/4 day. Self in town till 4 P.M. Came home with McKenna. Rain some in the P.M. Bebber has worked up to this date since Oct 6 13 1/2 days inclusive. Harvest work 54 1/4 = $81.40 Since harvest 13 1/2 @1.25 = 16.90 Total = $98.30.
Sat Nov 03: Rain again last night. Went down to work on the dam, but it was to wet, water to high in the slough. Brot my plow home then hauled dirt up by the tank till noon. In the P.M. hauled straw, wood & dug 2 loads of carrots for the cause(?).
Sun Nov 04: Ed & Roy here last night. Rain last night and to day some. Went to church at Bay View.
Mon Nov 05: Began plowing, ground in pretty good order. Self working about the house, picking apples, &c. Rain again in the eve & P.M.
1888 Nov 6-16 (pp 12-13)
Image Id: 002-0595
Transcription
Tue Nov 06: Went to election and was one of the judges. Bebber plowing. Pleasant day.
Wed Nov 07: Gathering apples and doing chores. Bebbert plowing. Alf Stacey here to supper. Went to town with him after supper. Heard that Harrison was elected.
Thu Nov 08: In LaConner all day. Rep's feeling jubilant over the election. Pleasant day. Bebber plowing.
Fri Nov 09: Bebber hauling bark and took a load of wheat & apples to Till. In the P.M. plowing. Self making bottom to book case and choring. Foggy all day. Harrison still elected.
Sat Nov 10: No reverse election news yet. Gaches took away 1202 sks of the oats to day. Bebber plowing 1/2 day, loading grain 1/2. Grain worth 17.25 now per ton.
Sun Nov 11: Raining again this A.M. Wrote a letter to Father.
Mon Nov 12: Rainy day. Bebber not working. Self choring about and putting cloth on the bedroom, some stairs.
Tue Nov 13: Bebber grading sloughs. Self not doing much in A.M. Putting on cloth in P.M. Not much rain. Alf Stacey here to day.
Wed Nov 14: Frost this A.M. 26°. Bebber & self digging & hauling in carrots all day. Tillinghast had wagon & harness to go to town.
Thu Nov 15: Mercury 24°. Bebber not working in the A.M. Plowing in the P.M. Clear & frosty. Self putting on cloth.
Fri Nov 16: Clear and frosty. Mercury at 26°. Bebber plowing. Self & Ida went to town in boat. Staid at Jim Gaches all night.
1888 Nov 17-27 (pp 14-15)
Image Id: 002-0596
Transcription
Sat Nov 17: Bebber plowing. Clear & frosty. Came from town with Gaches and then Mary Peekley(?) took 900 sks oats & 32 of wheat. Came home with the folks in the eve. Will here to supper.
Sun Nov 18: Let Tillinghast have 200. dollars on interest Nov 15th.
Mon Nov 19: Rain. B. not working. Started for LaConner.
Tue Nov 20: Started for Seattle on the Chief, arrived at 2 P.M. B. not working-rain part of the day. Heard Moody preach this eve.
Wed Nov 21: Came home. Arrive in LaC. at 8 A.M. and staid in town all night. B. not working.
Thu Nov 22: Got Gaches boat and brought my mouldings and the paint and oil home. Bebber hauling wood and digging carrots. Self moulding the bay window in the P.M.
Fri Nov 23: Bebber choring about and digging carrots. Self working on the house moulding windows & fixing stairway. McKenna here after carrots.
Sat Nov 24: Bebber piling(?) grain and went to the saw mill to get boat load of lumber. Self putting roof boards on the house. Clowdy but no rain.
Sun Nov 25: Rainy dismal day. Ed Stacey came and got his cow.
Mon Nov 26: Self working on the house in the A.M. and overt to Tillinghasts ranch in the P.M. The painters came and began work at noon. Pleasant day. Bebber choring around all day.
Tue Nov 27: Another fine day. Self working on the house putting base boards. The painters left at 3 P.M. Watters and Bebber killed the hogs this P.M. The painters went away again this P.M. Took the boat to the canal.
1888 Nov 28-Dec 7 (pp 16-17)
Image Id: 002-0597
Transcription
Wed Nov 28: Bebber pulling up cabbage and choring about. Took Watter's pork up to him. Self & Ida went to town. Got home at 3 P.M.
Thu Nov 29: Bebber banking up the cabbage. Self working around the house, cutting up pork, &c. Found George colt in the ditch and got him in the barn on sled in the eve. Dave Fulk helped us.
Fri Nov 30: George colt dead this A.M. Rain. Bebber not working in the A.M. Covering cabbage in the P.M. Self fixing book case, putting corners on the disk cupboard and putting base on the porch posts.
December 1888
Sat Dec 01: Bebber ditching on the lane ditch. Self went down and fixed sluice box cover. Helped Tillinghast survey. Worked on porch posts in the P.M. Finished them. Heavy rain last night. Ground full of water.
Sun Dec 02: Windy & stormy. Did not go to church. Wrote to George.
Mon Dec 03: Bebber went and brought the plow in then went to plowing cabbage. Self painting brackets for porch & taking up carpet and taking down pictures. the painter came back this P.M. Heavy S.E. wind all day.
Tue Dec 04: Bebber plowing and covering cabbage. Self moving stove & wainscoting the kitchen. No rain today.
Wed Dec 05: Bebber not working to day. The big dam went out this A.M. Went to LaConner. Came home and found the ranch flooded.
Thu Dec 06: Lots of water. Bebber doing chores. Self went to town after spades & men, &c.
Fri Dec 07: Bebber working on piles some, 3 hours. Self went after the boat(?) and put an anchor on it. Rain some and lots of water. All over the R.
1888 Dec 8-18 (pp 18-19)
Image Id: 002-0598
Transcription
Sat Dec 08: The highest tide of the season so far. Water in the roothouse about 5 inches and horse stable also. Interesting. The painters went home this P.M. Bebber down to the dam but not working much. Did not drive any piles to day. Been little prospect of shutting up the break.
Sun Dec 09: Not much done to the dam yet. Warm pleasant weather. Tide not as high as yesterday.
Mon Dec 10: They worked on dam all night driving piles. Bebber helping some.
Tue Dec 11: Working on dam to night all night. Rainy bad night. Bebber also.
Wed Dec 12: Working on dam some to day, but had to give it up. Piles washing out and no prospect of being able to dyke until spring.
Thu Dec 13: High tide again today and water up into the milk house.
Fri Dec 14: Bebber working & self also on Whitneys sluice box. Churchill also, who I hired this A.M. worked this eve 2 hours digging for the box. The painters back again this P.M.
Sat Dec 15: Began dyking in Padilla. Churchill & Bebber working all day in my pasture. Self down to Whitneys a while in the eve at sluice box.
Sun Dec 16: Painters working to day and dykers also. Pleasant winter weather. Tillinghasts folks up calling. Geo. Jenne here also.
Mon Dec 17: Still fine weather. The men dyking in the P.M. Self not doing much but chores. Davis came back this P.M. Tides not very high now.
Tue Dec 18: Bebber has worked 27 days besides what he did on the big dam since Nov 2 when I owed him $98.30. The men dyking to day. Self doing chores and painting kitchen floor.
1888 Dec 19-27 (pp 20-21 Duplicate of next)
Image Id: 002-0599
Transcription
Wed Dec 19: Pretty high tide again this A.M. but pleasant weather. Churchill quit. Bebber not working. Worked last night. David finished graining(?) & painting. Self painted the kitchen floor again.
Thu Dec 20: Davis finished his jo and went to town. Paid him off. High tide again this A.M. and it broke in our enclosure again. Doing chores and fixing up clothes hooks, &c. High wind to night. S.E.
Fri Dec 21: Ida went to town with McKenna. Self choring about the house. Tide in high again about the house. Bebber at Whitneys again working up at the crossdyke, which does not hold much.
Sat Dec 22: Dyke broke again to day. The tides are keeping high every day. Putting down carpet and went to school meeting. Strong north wind last night and to day. Signs of winter weather.
Sun Dec 23: The new dyke held to day but it was a low tide. Frosty. Ther. at 28. Went to Bay View to church. Pulliam preached.
Mon Dec 24: Moved the stove back in the new house. Went down to Whitneys in the eve to a children's Christmas tree. Clear & frosty.
Tue Dec 25: Mercury at 22 this A.M. Spent Christmas at home. Tillinghasts folks were up here to dinner. Took a walk out to the cabbage patch in the P.M. They are badly frozen and look as though they were a dead loss.
Wed Dec 26: Mercury at 26. Still clear & frosty. Done the chores, &c. Worked on the dyke some. Whitney went to Seattle or started this eve.
Thu Dec 27: Clear & pleasant. Choring & dyking. Not so cold as it was.
1888 Dec 28-Jan 7, 1889 (pp 22-23)
Image Id: 002-0601
Transcription
Fri Dec 28: Lovely weather. Dyking in the A.M. and went up to Ball's in the P.M.
Sat Dec 29: Dyking. Bob Woodburn helping me. Still fine weather with light frosts.
Sun Dec 30: Still frosty. Mercury at 25. Clowdy & signs of snow.
Mon Dec 31: Another beautiful day. Mercury at 24 this P.M. Dyking some & in the P.M. went up and got Maud, Tillinghast went with me. The cross dyke is no account water up in the orchard to day. Sent a big letter off to George this A.M. 12 pages.
Tue Jan 01: Fine weather doing chores. Shot 2 duck. Very quiet New Year day.
Wed Jan 02: Began work on a small scow and some ??? chores. Frosty weather & higher tides. Water coming through the dyke pretty bad.
Thu Jan 03: Finished the scow. The carrots are spoiling with salt water. Mrs Ball & Globe here to dinner. Whitney went to Fidalgo Island this eve. Kate also.
Fri Jan 04: Not doing much by chores. Highest tide for 2 weeks. Pretty well filled up inside. Dave Fulks cross dyke broke in several places and flooded him again. Got a bill from Martin & Gaches this P.M. Dug the parsnips this P.M. Bebber has worked 27 days besides the dam & Whitneys cross dyke.
Sat Jan 05: Pretty high tide to day & some rain. Not doing much but chores.
Sun Jan 06: Reading "Mask Torn Off". High tide again today. Warm & pleasant. The inside dyke still islands.
Mon Jan 07: Pleasant. The Hulls came to day. Was down to the dam this P.M. with Whitney. Grandma started for W.I. Dug carrots & put down carpet. Light frost this A.M.
Hall Bradley died Wednesday last and was brought home to day.