Thu Dec 31: Done the chores. Took Grandma to the depot & in the eve went to the basket social, where they took in $33. Thus endeth the year 1896.
January 1897
Fri Jan 01: Pleasant day & warm. Spent the day setting out 335 hills of new strawberries & dug the parsnips. Don Palmer & Grant hunting ducks.
Sat Jan 02: Not doing much but chores. Pleasant day.
Sun Jan 03: Went to Bay View to S.S. & church. Rev Wright preached. In the P.M. took Don Palmer to LaConner. [margin: Pleasant.]
Mon Jan 04: Rain some last night & clowdy today. Rec'd a letter from Geo.
Tue Jan 05: Rainy day. Not doing much but chores.
Wed Jan 06: Went to Mr Vernon. Mrs Wright came home from Seattle. No rain warm like spring. [margin: Tide med.]
Thu Jan 07: Done the chores & went to town in the P.M. Got a money order for Ida. Cool & west wind in the eve.[margin: Tides M.]
Fri Jan 08: Doing chores & not much else.
Sat Jan 09: Clear & pleasant. Done the chores & hauled 4 cords of wood from Hansons.
Sun Jan 10: Pleasant but cool. Went to B.V. Abbott preached.
Mon Jan 11: Doing nothing much but chores.
Tue Jan 12: Stormy day. Snowed some last night. Wrote to Geo.
Wed Jan 13: Went to town & Mr Baileys folks came home with us to stay all night. Clear & cold. [margin: M 25°]
Thu Jan 14: Went to town to take Baileys folks. Cold this A.M. [margin: 27°]
Fri Jan 15: Snowing in the P.M. but melting fast. Set up the small store in the shop. Kamb got a load of hay. Odd Fellows entertainment in B.V. to night. Girls gone.
Sat Jan 16: Pleasant. Some snow left yet but not cold. Went up to Walters to old folks concert meeting in the P.M. Rec'd a letter from Ida in which she says she is gaining. Rec'd a letter from sister Nettie also.
Sun Jan 17: Clowdy. At home all day. Frank Wright here & Mrs Axelson & Arlie Whitney. The girls went to League in the eve.
Mon Jan 18: Doing chores. Stormy weather.
Tue Jan 19: Doing chores. Went to Bay View to see about old (Stormy) folks concert. Ida getting better.
Wed Jan 20: Another stormy day. Reading & choring.
Thu Jan 21: Went to town in the P.M. and got the new book case & secretary. Clowdy & stormy in the eve.
Fri Jan 22: Pleasant. Wrote to Ida. Sent her an order for $15.00. Steamer Smith at Callahan's for hay. Kamb here for hay. Put castors on & set up the new book case. Went to B.V. in the P.M. on Concert business. the girls went to Elmers to pary tonight. Lee here this eve.
Sat Jan 23: Pleasant. John Jenne here for another load of hay.
Sun Jan 24: Stormy all day a melting snow. Went to B.v. to hear Abbott but he did not come.
Mon Jan 25: Colder doing chores & reading. [margin: M. 24°]
Tue Jan 26: Pretty cold weather. Choring & reading. They began driving piles for the Whitney dam. [margin: M. at 13°]
Wed Jan 27: Pleasant day. Wrote to Ida & had a letter from her. Chellis here to dinner. [margin: M 24]
Thu Jan 28: 2 inches more snow this A.M. Went to the Depot for Grandma. Nettie over to Kates to go to Mt Vernon. Warmer & rain in the evening. Letter from Aunt Lou.
Fri Jan 29: Concert at LaConner this eve. Grant & self went. It was very good.
Sat Jan 30: At home till 3 P.M. then went to concert meeting at B.V. Rain eve. A letter from Ida today. Grandma to Kate's.
Sun Jan 31: Went to B.V. to church. Wright preached. Nettie came home from Mt. Vernon. Wrote to Ida & Mother. [margin: Warm & pleasant.]
February 1897
Mon Feb 01: Elmer Axelson began work to day and took a load of hay to Gaches. Lee & Jessie married at 6 P.M. and a party in the eve at the Bradley house. We all went & Will's folks came up and staid here all night.
1897 Feb 2-26
Image Id: 001-0097
Transcription
Tue Feb 02: Elmer washing & oiling harness. Self went & Pearl went to the practice meeting at B.V. Peter Miller here & went with us. Letter from Ida this eve. [margin: Stormy]
Wed Feb 03: Elmer went after his stove in the A.M. & began ditching at the east end of ranch in the P.M. Self went over to Whitney Island with Peter in the A.M. [margin: Rainy some]
Thu Feb 04: Elmer ditching. Self down along the dyke in the A.M. High tide & west wind. Highest tide of the season but one. Peter here yet hunting ducks. Grant came home from Woodburns. Peter went home in the P.M.
Fri Feb 05: Stormy day. Elmer not working much to day, lame back. Oiled harness, same in the P.M. Stormy at night. A League Social in the evening. The folks did not go.
Sat Feb 06: Another stormy day. Elmer washing & oiling harness. Self reading & choring, fixed the lounge & mended harness some.
Sun Feb 07: Went to B.V. to church. Abbott preached. Windy day. Wrote to Ida in the eve. Not very cold.
Mon Feb 08: Self & Elmer killed the pig in the A.M. Clowdy. Elmer ditching in the P.M. Self & Nettie went to town.
Tue Feb 09: R. Elmer washing & oiling harness in the A.M., cut up pig and harness in the P.M. Self & Pearl went to B.V. in the P.M. to practice for concert. Elmer & the girl meeting last night & tonight Rev. France & Wright seeing them. [margin: Rainy A.M. Letter from Ida.]
Wed Feb 10: Another miserable rainy day. Elmer oiling harness. Red heifer had a calf. Stormy in the A.M. Went over to Whitney Island to see the dam & to meeting in the eve. [margin: Clearing screenings in the P.M.]
Thu Feb 11: Fanning screenings to day. Pearl & self went to B.V. in the P.M. to practice singing & to church in the eve.
Fri Feb 12: No rain to day. Elmer ditching. Self helping in the A.M. Went to church in the P.M. or eve.
Sat Feb 13: Elmer ditching. Self & Pearl to B.V. again in the P.M. Whitney Island dam not in yet. Nettie had a letter from Ida.
Sun Feb 14: Went to B.V. in the A.M. & heard Mr France preach. Walter here in the P.M. Wrote to Ida in the P.M. & Geo. [margin: Stormy.]
Mon Feb 15: A miserable rainy windy day. Elmer working at the harness. Went to church in the eve.
Tue Feb 16: Went to Mt Vernon with Otto & Lee on dyke business. Paid 1/2 taxes for 96 & sent Ida money & ticket to come home with. Elmer ditching. Pearl went to B.V. to practice & they all went to church in the eve. [margin: Fine day. Whitney Island dam not in yet.]
Wed Feb 17: Self went to town in the A.M. Elmer ditching. Mr Wright here in the P.M. to practice music. All went to church in the eve. Some came forward. Mud drying up, Kalso plowing.
Thu Feb 18: Elmer went to town with hay for Gaches. Self & Pearl went to practice & to church in the eve.
Fri Feb 19: Elmer ditching. Self not doing much went down to Wrights to supper & to church in the eve.
Sat Feb 20: Went to B.V. to take Lee's organ down to the hall & got some potatos of D. Esary. Went to practice. Ida came home. Grant went to Burlington to meet her. Pleasant.
Sun Feb 21: Went to B.V. to church in the P.M. Abbott preached. Alf's folks here & Mrs Moore, also Mrs W. & Miss Downey. Heard the Whitney Island dam was not in and they were about to give it up. [margin: Some snow & sleet.]
Mon Feb 22: Pleasant day but dark & misty in the eve. Went to B.V. to the entertainment. Had a good time & took in $41.45. Elmer ditching in the A.M.
Tue Feb 23: Got up late & went down to B.V. for the organ in the A.M. Mr & Mrs Wright here in the P.M. & Mrs W. sick. Elmer went to the Samish in the P.M. [margin: Pleasant.]
Wed Feb 24: Elmer went to LaConner with a load of hay. Mr & Mrs Wright here. Self & Ida went to B.v. & to Esary's this A.M. Went to church in the P.M. or Eve.
Thu Feb 25: Mr & Mrs Wright started for Seattle. John Kamb got the bal of his hay. Elmer working on the ditch & in the P.M. went to Esary's for a load of ditch rails. [margin: Pleasant.]
Fri Feb 26: Self went to LaC for Mr Geary & bargained for a new organ. elmer working on ditch & hauled another load of ditch rails. Went to church in the eve. [margin: Pleasant.]
1897 Feb 27-Mar 27
Image Id: 001-0098
Transcription
Sat Feb 27: Rainy day. Cleaning seed oats. 95 sks.
Sun Feb 28: At home all day. Pleasant.
March 1897
Mon Mar 01: Elmer & Williamson helping clean seed oats in the A.M. Finished. Self helping Lee make a tank. Pleasant. [margin: Frost.]
Tue Mar 02: Elmer working at ditch covering and putting in timber. Self at Lee's on tank. Mr Whitfield's lecture this eve. The girls went. [margin: Frost.]
Wed Mar 03: Fine weather. Self on tank 3/4 finished. Elmer helped Byron clean his oats & went for wood in the P.M. [margin: Frost.]
Thu Mar 04: Elmer hauling wood. Self fixing gate & went up to Kalso's with Ida in the P.M. Took the plow up to be fixed. [margin: Sun & rain in the P.M.]
Fri Mar 05: Hauling hay from the hay barn & fixing fence & gates. Stormy snow & sleet. Cold & slow farming weather.
Sat Mar 06: Elmer fixing fence and going chores self & Ida went to town. Ida staid at Bailey's all night. Cold raw north wind. Got a N.Y. dft for Geo Sisson for $60.00 to pay May interest. [margin: Frost.]
Sun Mar 07: Pleasant but cool. Went to church. Abbott preached.
Mon Mar 08: Cold south wind. Elmer & self covered ditches with team in the A.M., put a ton of oats in the feed bin & he was scraping dirt away from the ditch in the P.M. Self went to LaC. with Grandma & brot Ida home. Grant over to Whitney Island.
Tue Mar 09: Rain again. Stormy. Cleaning timothy seed out of screenings. Got 250 lbs. In the P.M. went to B.V. with Lee on dyke business. Elmer splitting wood.
Wed Mar 10: Miserable, cold, wet & snowy day. Not fit to do anything. Snow 10 inches deep at night.
Thu Mar 11: Coldest day I ever saw in March. Wind blowing from the north all day. Doing nothing but chores. Self went down to the school house at 1 P.M. to fix up the new seats. Mercury at 24 at 7 P.M. [margin: Mercury at 20°]
Fri Mar 12: Pleasant but cold. Elmer & self ditching in the 8 acre field. Began snowing at 5 P.M. [margin: Mercury at 16°]
Sat Mar 13: Snow all last night. About 5 inches. Warm but snowing good part of the day. Most wintery March on record.
Sun Mar 14: Mr. Williams preached. Warmer. Snow going off. Elmer & the girls went to church.
Mon Mar 15: School began to day. 35 scholars. Elmer ditching some. Rain last night & some to day.
Tue Mar 16: Elmer ditching. Self went to town & brot Grandma home. Got sack Graham, sack W.W. flour, dry fruit, tomatos, clothes wringer &c. [margin: Rain last night.]
Wed Mar 17: Ditching. Stormy in the P.M. some.
Thu Mar 18: Mrs. Randall here. Ditching in the A.M. & part of the P.M. Have 80 rods done now in the 8 acre field. Began splitting timber. [margin: Stormy again last night.]
Fri Mar 19: Snow last night, hail & sleet. Hauling ditch timber & covering ditches. Ground wet as ever & weather cold & windy. League social here to night. [margin: Froze some.]
Sat Mar 20: Snow again this A.M. but a good day to work. Self & Elmer finished the ditch & began on the slough ditch in the Whitney field. Finished it. Rec'd letter from Aunt Lou, Geo. & Mother. It will take 3 or four days good weather before we can plow. [margin: Froze some.]
Sun Mar 21: Rather pleasant. Went to hear Abbott in the P.M.
Mon Mar 22: Elmer hauling rock to fix the road & in the A.M. we hauled down three tons of baled hay from the hay barn for feed.
Tue Mar 23: Elmer hauling gravel & rocks for road. Self went up with Fred Kalso to get some hay & lumber with the scow.
Wed Mar 24: Elmer hauling gravel 4 loads, self choring & made & hung a gate out by the Whitney lane fence. Elmer & the girls went to Neeleys party in the evening.
Thu Mar 25: Very stormy & windy day. Elmer mending sax, self filed saws & practices music. Strongest south wind of the w. Land very wet and no prospect of plowing.
Fri Mar 26: Fixing fence & cleaning out the John Ball dyke ditch. Windy but not much rain.
Sat Mar 27: Took up the hay barn floor & went to town in the P.M. Ida went up and staid at Mrs Gaches. They tried to put in the Rail road dam last night on W.I. but it went out again and took some of the old dam. No train today. Rain again this eve. [margin: Elmer plowing in ditched in the P.M.]
1897 Mar 28-Apr 27
Image Id: 001-0099
Transcription
Sun Mar 28: Rainy. This has been about the worst March on record. No church in B.V. The RR Co making a bridge over middle slough to day. Ida in LaConner.
Mon Mar 29: Self & Elmer working on the hay barn floor. Put in new joists & raised it one foot. No rain.
Tue Mar 30: Turned out the young stock & dug up some rose bush pathces across the road. Elmer went to LaC in the P.M. Mr Wright here in the P.M. Massey & Lee plowing.
Wed Mar 31: Grading sloughs in the A.M. & Elmer began plowing in the P.M. Self pruning orchar in the P.M.
April 1897
Thu Apr 01: Plowing in the P.M. with two teams. First day of the season. So far land in pretty fair order.
Fri Apr 02: Plowing with two teams. Pleasant.
Sat Apr 03: Plowing with two teams in the A.M. self went to town to get the organ in the P.M. Rain some in the eve. Ida at Mrs. Gaches yet. Not very well this week. Organ OK.
Sun Apr 04: Pleasant day. Went to hear Abbott in the P.M.
Mon Apr 05: Plowing with two teams. Warm. Wrote to G.S. yesterday.
Tue Apr 06: Rain in the A.M. Elmer hauled a load of wood for the school house. I took a plow to Kalso's to be sharpened. Both plowing in the P.M. Wright's folks here this P.M. & eve.
Wed Apr 07: Plowing with two teams. Cool & windy. Ida in LaC. yet.
Thu Apr 08: Plowing with two teams. Warm & pleasant.
Fri Apr 09: Plowing with two teams. Have about 34 acres plowed. Warm good plowing weather. Chinaman lecture & exhibition in B.V. to night. Ed Stacey here to dinner.
Sat Apr 10: Plowing. Self 1/2. Elmer all day. Self went to town in the P.M. Very windy & cold. Ida at Mrs Gaches yet. Oats way down & no sale. Miss Marshall here this eve. [margin: Rain some last night.]
Sun Apr 11: Went to B.V. to church morning & eve. Wright preached. Young folks went to LaConner this eve to China preaching. [margin: Pleasant.]
Mon Apr 12: Plowing finished the 8 acre piece & went across the road. Ground in good order for plowing. [margin: Fine day.]
Tue Apr 13: Plowing with two teams. Mrs Wallace here. Land getting pretty dry. [margin: Pleasant.]
Wed Apr 14: Plowing with two teams. Pleasant drying weather.
Thu Apr 15: Plowing with two teams. Ed Stacey here & got ten sax oats and my wagon. Ed Byron had the seeder and began seeding to day. Elmer using his plow since Mon eve 4.30 P.M. Drying weather strong north wind. Miss Marshall here yet -- Ida at Mrs Gaches yet. [margin: 8 or 9 acres to plow yet.]
Fri Apr 16: Plowing two teams. Warms & clear. Very drying wind. Finished down by Purdy Ranch except head land.
Sat Apr 17: Plowing. Elmer headlands & harrowing garden in the A.M. Pearl went to LaConner & got Ida in P.M. Self & Grant planting garden & potatos in the P.M. Kalso finished seeding his sod. All plowed but 2 acres. [margin: Warm & dry.]
Sun Apr 18: Easter. Warm & pleasant. Went to B.V. to church in the P.M. Grandma & Elmer went to Pleasant Ridge & LaC.
Mon Apr 19: Clowdy & rainy in the P.M. Elmer harrowing. Self plowing & finished. The "Similk" here for Massey's hay.
Tue Apr 20: Rainy A.M. Elmer hauling feed oats in the barn 12 sks. Harrowing in the P.M. Whitney piece, disk in the 80.
Wed Apr 21: Elmer went to Samish for pigs in the A.M. and harrowed the bal. of the day on the Whitney piece. Went to B.V. to the temperance meeting in the P.M. or eve. [margin: Rain last night some.]
Thu Apr 22: Both teams harrowing. Elmer on the "80" Ed Stacey here & got Lillie cow. Went to Miss Hoffman's lecture in the P.M. Ida not able to go.
Fri Apr 23: Both teams rough harrowing finished. Pleasant day but rather cool & some cloudy.
Sat Apr 24: Began seedig on the "80" 15 acres. Fine warm day. Grass looking splendid. Rec'd letters from Geo. & Nettie.
Sun Apr 25: Ida went to town again to be doctored. Says she feels as bad as when she went to Seattle. At home all day. [margin: Pleasant.]
Mon Apr 26: Cold northwest wind all day. Seeding & harrowing 29 1/2 ac. Began on Whitney field after dinner. Had a light rain just night. Ida in LaConner.
Tue Apr 27: Seeding & harrowing. Cool & dry.
1897 Apr 28-May 22
Image Id: 001-0100
Transcription
Wed Apr 28: Harrowing & seeding. Mr. Abbott here to supper. Went to church meeting in the evening.
Thu Apr 29: Seeding & harrowing. Finished seeding 65 acres, all lincoln oats over 100 sks. Windy & dry -- Land very dusty.
Fri Apr 30: Elmer disk harrowing, self harrowing on the Whitney piece for the last time. Rain some this eve. Ida in LaC yet.
May 1897
Sat May 01: Elmer harrowing 1/2 with disk 1/2 drag. Self rolling down by Olsens. Grant rolling in the P.M. Self cleaning out strawberries. Pleasant. Elmer & Pearl went to LaC this eve. Ida no better.
Sun May 02: At home in the A.M. Wrote to Geo. Went to B.V. to Baptist meeting in the P.M. Maud Chiltan(?) baptized this eve.
Mon May 03: Elmer disk harrowing. Self harrowing 1/2 & rolling 1/2 day.
Tue May 04: Elmer harrowing. Self rolling. Lee finished seeding.
Wed May 05: Elmer harrowing. Finished. Self rolling. Abbotts folks here to dinner. Went to B. V. to meeting in the P.M. Thunder & lightning this eve.
Thu May 06: Rain hard most of the night and some today over an inch I think. This insures all the oats to come up. Worked in the granary this A.M. cleaning up oats & killing mice. Elmer & self went to LaC in the P.M. Ida feeling better. [margin: Rainy.]
Fri May 07: Another stormy day. Elmer took some rhubarb to the station for Gaches & took the wagon up to Kalso's for a new tongue. Mended up grain sacks some. Hauling in grass for horses. Self washed the buggie & spring wagon, mowed lawn & worked in the garden some. [margin: Sent a sack oats to Otis. Cleared off in the evening.]
Sat May 08: Went to LaConner in the P.M. Not doing much in the A.M. Elmer went to Kalso's & hauled two loads of wood. Rain some in the P.M. Grain coming up nicely. Ida some better & intended to come home but did not for it rained -- Sold Will McKenna two tons of oats at $20.00. Am to take an order on Lumber for $25. and have the bal. when he sells his logs.
Sun May 09: Went to B.V. to church in the A.M. Rev Brooks preached. In the P.M. went to LaConner for Ida & Elmer went after Miss Rosa Carlson. Ida some better.
Mon May 10: Elmer took Balls harrow home & hauled a load of sand, in the P.M. hauling wood from Johnson's. Mr & Mrs D'arcy here for a call in the P.M. Pleasant. No rain. Folks that have seeding to do are at it to day but it is rather wet.
Tue May 11: Got some cabbage plants & set out. Piled wood & worked about the house some. Elmer hauled two cords of threshing wood & two load of stove wood, one load from Willard & one from Hanson.
Wed May 12: Elmer harrowed the garden and finished the rolling. Self planted garden peas, beans, corn, potatos, salsify, turnips &c. Went to Bay View to meeting in the eve.
Thu May 13: Took the cattle out of the meadow. Planted some onions. Elmer hauling manure in the orchard. Plowed a patch for peas in the orchard. [margin: Fine warm weather.]
Fri May 14: Sowed some peas & in the P.M. went to the timber & got a load of stuff for barn foundation. The folks went to the Social at LaC.
Sat May 15: Elmer working in the orchard & cleaning out the barn. Self & Ida [margin: Grant went too.] went to Samish. Took dinner with the Woodburn's. [margin: Fine weather.]
Sun May 16: Went to church in the P.M. & walked down the dyke in the A.M.
Mon May 17: Working on the barn foundation. Rain last night.
Tue May 18: Working on the barn foundation and laying the floor. Moved the grain bin up on the new floor. Elmer & Pearl went to town in the eve.
Wed May 19: Went to LaConner with oats & got a load of lumber for the barn. Got a suit of clothes, a lamp and 150 lbs of nails. Ida sick again. [margin: Pleasant]
Thu May 20: Elmer went to town with oats & brot back lumber. Self fixed the meat sage & worked in the garden. Set out three kinds of cabbage plants & planted some pole beans. [margin: Fine growing weather.]
Fri May 21: Elmer went to town with oats & bot a load of fencing. Self planted some beets & cut thistles & in the P.M. went down to Wrights with Ida. Wrights folks here in the evening. Oats looking well, grass also. [margin: Fine weather.]
Sat May 22: Elmer went to Smith's for potatos & hauled a load of gravel in the P.M. mowing the lawn. Self working about the yard & mowing lawn. Party at Barr's to night.
1897 May 23-Jun 25
Image Id: 001-0101
Transcription
Sun May 23: Went to church at B.V. to hear Wright. In the P.M. went to Telegraph slough to the baptizing. 7 candidates.
Mon May 24: Pearl gone to Seattle. Elmer working on the wood. Self went to find a hired girl but did not get any. Warm & dry. Grain doing well.
Tue May 25: Self choring in the A.M. & went to the council meeting in the P.M. & to hear Rev Proper in the eve. Elmer working on the road.
Wed May 26: Self working in the yard raking & cocking hay & at the barn floor some. Elmer on the road & teams to today hauling gravel.
Thu May 27: Elmer & team on the road. Team one half day. Self working in the garden some & in barn some.
Fri May 28: Frank whites folks here to day & last night. Elmer & team on the road. Mrs. Schmidt here washing. Self not doing much but visiting. Warm & dry.
Sat May 29: Elmer & team on the road. Self working in garden & went to town in the P.M. Pearl came home from Seattle. Thunder shower in the eve. Warm. Set out some celery plants.
Sun May 30: Fine growing day. Went to church. Abbott preached & took supper with us.
Mon May 31: Elmer not working to day. Went to the Samish. Self choring & working in the garden.
June 1897
Tue Jun 01: Elmer hauling gravel on my private road. Self setting out cabbage plants & choring. Ida worse than common to day.
Wed Jun 02: Elmer hauling gravel. Sold a calf to Bresley. Made a new gate by the barn. Pleasant. Grain looking fairly well but thin & weedy. It needs more rain. Mr Wright here to supper. Went to meeting in the eve.
Thu Jun 03: Elmer hauling gravel. Self make rafters for barn some.
Fri Jun 04: Elmer & self cultivating garden in the A.M. In the P.M. he went to Bay view to help fix the hall. All but Ida & Grandma went to the concert. Mr Wright here to practice in the P.M. Childrens concert pretty good.
Sat Jun 05: Ida no better. Elmer & Grandma went to town. Self making rafters for new barn. Grant ran a bad sliver in his foot this A.M.
Sun Jun 06: Went to church at B.V. Mr Wright preached. Clear & pleasant. Ground ry & no sign of rain.
Mon Jun 07: Self went to town. Elmer helping clean out the kitchen. Moved the stove in the eve.
Tue Jun 08: Began tearing down the old barn. Self & Elmer. Ida in bed.
Wed Jun 09: Working on barn self & Williamson. Elmer hauling shakes from Tom Esary's. Warm & dry.
Thu Jun 10: Self, Elmer & Williamson working on barn. Warm & dry.
Fri Jun 11: Sent Elmer down to Esary's with the bull. Self working on the barn some. Light showers last night & this A.M. Williamson's kid born. [margin: Showering.]
Sat Jun 12: Self, Williamson working on barn & went to school election. Fine shower in the eve.
Sun Jun 13: Pleasant. Went to hear Abbott in the P.M.
Mon Jun 14: Ida 40 to day. Self Elmer & Williamson on the barn in the A.M. and started for Seattle with Ida in the P.M.
Tue Jun 15: In Seattle all day. Left Ida at Calhouns & started for home at ten P.M. Elmer working on the road.
Wed Jun 16: Heavy rain most all last night. Arrived home at 10.30 A.M. via Anacortes. Picking berries in the P.M. have 84 qts canned.
Thu Jun 17: Elmer mending sax & cutting thistles. Rainy this A.M. & cold to night. Made a walk in front of the house.
Fri Jun 18: Rainy again this A.M. Mending sax. In the P.M. fixing Lee's fence north side of the Whitney piece.
Sat Jun 19: Self & Elmer working on barn making fork track. No rain. Ed Stacey's folks here in the P.M. for berries. Letters from Ida & Geo.
Sun Jun 20: Pleasant & warm. All went to camp meeting at Rexville.
Mon Jun 21: Working on barn, picking berries & choring.
Tue Jun 22: Dito yesterday. The heifer had a dead calf.
Wed Jun 23: Choring, picking berries, cutting thistles some &c. Elmer on the road with team 1/2.
Thu Jun 24: Warm. Elmer working on the road 1/2 with team.
Fri Jun 25: Working in the garden cultivating & hoing. Warm. Went to the Gramaphone Social in the eve.
1897 Jun 26-Jul 22
Image Id: 001-0102
Transcription
Sat Jun 26: In the A.M. taking up & putting down carpet. In the P.M. both went to town. Took the bales of hay, last of the 96 crop. Strawberries nearly gone, short crop. [margin: Ida at Calhouns yet.]
Sun Jun 27: Pleasant day went to B.V. in the P.M. to church. Wrote to Ida in the eve. Mr Abbott preached.
Mon Jun 28: Elmer painting his buggie. Self setting tires with oil.
Tue Jun 29: Elmer hauling stove wood from Willard's. Self choring.
Wed Jun 30: Elmer hauling stove wood from Willard's 1/2. Mending sax 1/2. Self choring. Damp & light rains to day. D. Ball & Callahan have hay cut. Steamer here for Masseys & Balls oats.
July 1897
Thu Jul 01: Elmer hauling wood. Self helping Lee fix scales in the A.M. Rained hard all P.M. & eve.
Fri Jul 02: One of the heaviest rains, if not the heaviest we ever saw in July. Ground well soaked. Hay down in bad shape. Elmer mowin the yard & hauled a load of wood. Self helping Lee on scales in the A.M. Wright's folks here in the eve to sing.
Sat Jul 03: The Eagle lights on Bay View to day. Stormy in the A.M. for a while but turned out to be a nice day. All went to B.V. Perry Summers here a while this eve.
Sun Jul 04: Went to B.V. to church. Rev Wright preached from John 1st C 42-verse. Pleasant.
Mon Jul 05: Light rain in the A.M. but a good day after 8 A.M. All went to LaC. & spent the day. Heard a good oration by R.O. Welts. Saw Dr. Calhoun. Ida did not come home yet. Don't look like hay weather yet.
Tue Jul 06: Clowdy all day. Elmer & Grant went to Stacey's for berries & cherries. Self helping Lee fix the scales.
Wed Jul 07: Rainy morning. Elmer & self mending sacks & in the P.M. cleaning out strawberries vines.
Thu Jul 08: Elmer went to the Samish for berries. Self fixing up the mower. Had a bad cold. Clowdy but no rain. [margin: Spider(?) got his leg hurt.]
Fri Jul 09: Elmer not working. Went up Skagit River to take his mare. Grant with him. Self fixing the tedder & went to Smith's(?) for berries & currants. A pretty fair hay day.
Sat Jul 10: Pleasant. Began mowing 7 or 8 acres. Self & Grant wet to town in the P.M. for groceries for hay men. Had a letter from Ida.
Sun Jul 11: Went to church in B.V. Mr Abbott preached. Fine hay day.
Mon Jul 12: Haying. Elmer mowed till 10 A.M. & broke the mower. Then went to town for a new one. Osborn began mowing again at 4 & mowed some after supper. Perry Summers began work. Isaacson, Smith & Olsen 1/2 cocking. Summers spreading heaps 1/2 & putting up 1/2. Self tedding & raking.
Tue Jul 13: Elmer mowing all day. Have over 20 acres cut. Smith, Olsen, Isaacson, Summers. Summers tedding 1/2 cocking 1/2. Olsen spreading 1/2 cocking 1/2. Cocking to date 3 ds.
Wed Jul 14: Schmidt, Olsen, Isaacson, Tholstrup 1/2 Summers & Elmer mowing, finished north side of the Olsen road. Cocking & spreading. Summers teding all day. 8 days cocking to date. [margin: Clowdy no rain.]
Thu Jul 15: Schmidt, Olsen, Isaacson, Tholstrup, Summers. Summers tedding 1/2. 12 1/2 days cocking to date. Pretty fair hay weather but not much sun. Puget Sound University concert this eve. Elmer & the girls went.
Fri Jul 16: Got up & found it raining. Which it continued to do most of the day. Have about 60 tons of hay cut down. 18 or 20 in the windrow. Such is the life of a farmer. Doing most nothing but watch it rain. Finished cleaning out the strawberries. Cleared off just night & the weather looks better.
Sat Jul 17: Pleasant most of the day. Spread out wind rows & put up 70 cocks or so in the P.M. But it was pretty wet. Summers worked till 4.30 then went home. Smith & Isaacson 1/2 each. Had letter from Ida. She is still too sick to come home.
Sun Jul 18: Went to church in the A.M. to hear Mr Wright. Pleasant. Good hay day & all the neighbors using it.
Mon Jul 19: Another good hay day. Self raking & tedding. Elmer mowing. Smith, Isaacson, Olsen, & Summers stacking. (18 1/2 days to date.)
Tue Jul 20: Another fine hay day. Elmer mowing finished across he road at noon. 51 acres. Self tedding & raking & putting up 1/4 day while Grant tedded. Schmidt, Olsen, Isaacson. Summers cocking 22 3/4 to date.
Wed Jul 21: Haying. Elmer mowing. Schmidt, Olsen, Isaacson, Summers & Osborn shocking. Self raking & tedding (27 3/4 to date.) [margin: Fine hay day]
Thu Jul 22: Finished mowing, raking & tedding. Smith, Isaacson, Olsen, Summers & Osborn cocking & Elmer 1/3 day. Elmer mowing & tedding 2/3 day. 33 days cocking. [margin: Pleasant day but clowdy to night.]
1897 Jul 23-Aug 16 (Duplicate of next)
Image Id: 001-0103
Transcription
Fri Jul 23: Rain again last night & this A.M. but not hard. Elmer hauled a load of hay for himself. Self & Summers choring & putting up hay ropes in the horse barn. Clowdy all day.
Sat Jul 24: Clowdy in the A.M. but pleasant in the P.M. Self making hay rack in the A.M. Elmer & Reny went to town in the A.M. Elmer, Perry S. & Smith & self putting up hay in the P.M. Finished shocking. 35 day to date.
Sun Jul 25: Went to church in the P.M. Reb Abbott preached & came home with us to supper. Pleasant. Massey & Fred working.
Mon Jul 26: Began hauling hay. 21 loads in the horse barn & 7 in the new barn. Crew Smith, Isaacson, Ryland, Olsen, Summers, Frank Wright, Sorenson & Elmer.
Tue Jul 27: Crew same as yesterday. Hauled in 39 loads in the new barn and 41 loads to date or 61 all told in two days. This is the last day hauling ever done on this Ranch. [margin: Fine weather.]
Wed Jul 28: Hauling hay. 30 loads. Crew same as yesterday & Mon. Hauling in old barn. Perfect weather. 91 loads in tonight. [margin: Ida arrived from Seattle this eve at 9.30. Elmer went after her.]
Thu Jul 29: Hauling hay all day in old barn. 30 loads, 121 to date. 60 in old barn, 40 in new & 21 in horse barn. Crew same as usual. [margin: Fine weather but windy.]
Fri Jul 30: Self fixing up gates & hoing in the garden. Olsen hauled his hay five loads. Elmer & Summers hauling his hay. Lee finished hauling.
Sat Jul 31: Elmer & Summers hauling hay for Clyde Creighton & Willard. Self helped load hay & in the P.M. went to town & got baling wire. Fine weather. The hay press moved in tonight. Summer went to Burlington. [margin: A letter from Geo to night.]
August 1897
Sun Aug 01: Went to B.V. to church in the A.M. Rev Wright preached.
Mon Aug 02: Baling hay. Self & Elmer hauling in bales. Summers no working. Frank Wright, Grant hauling in cocks & Warren W in the P.M. Fine weather baled 21 tons.
Tue Aug 03: Baling hay. Crew same as yesterday & Summers also hauling bales.
Wed Aug 04: Baling hay. Finished out after shock at 5 P.M. About 57 tons for the 3 days. Summers, Frank Wright, Warren Williamson working. Warm & dry.
Thu Aug 05: Elmer hauling hay for Osborn. Self & Summer gathered up & hauled a load of loose hay. The boys both cultivated garden, Fenced the bales & began working on the dyke by the hay barn. Elmer & the girls at Hannahs. [margin: Warm & dry.]
Fri Aug 06: Working on dyke in the A.M. In the P.M. Elmer hauled a load of hay for Osborn & one for Norton. Perry Summers cutting thistles.
Sat Aug 07: Hauled a load of hay in the horse barn & took a load of hay & oats to LaConner & got twine. Perry working at hoing garden. Showery in the eve. The folks went to Avon to Social this eve.
Sun Aug 08: Warm. Pleasant. Went to B.V. but there was no church. Alf & family here to dinner.
Mon Aug 09: Getting ready for camping. Hauled in another load of hay in horse barn. Making 24. Ida sick abed again. Mr Berger here all night.
Tue Aug 10: Some light showers this A.M. The folks went camping. Ida in bed which lets camping out for us. Self not doing much but chores. Went to the station to talk with Hurd about hay. Summers went to Burlington.
Wed Aug 11: Pleasant day. Not doing much but chores. Sent Chapman's building for school blocks via Otis to LaC. Made a sled to haul baled hay.
Thu Aug 12: Hauled a load of hay for Mendenhall & done the chores. Ida up again to day. Pleasant. Mrs Allen here with potent medicine. The folks came home again this eve & Summers also.
Fri Aug 13: Elmer & self went to LaConner in the A.M. & we went home in the P.M. Summers hauling manure. Bot my sacks 1500 at 5 3/4 cts each. [margin: Fine weather.]
Sat Aug 14: Perry Summers hauling manure. Self fixing up the binder.
Sun Aug 15: Ida sick abed yet. Went to church & heard Mr Wrights farewell sermon. Mr & Mrs D'arcy here in the P.M. Began cutting oats. Perry shocking.
Mon Aug 16: Grain in good order.
1897 Aug 17-Sep 14
Image Id: 001-0105
Transcription
Tue Aug 17: Cutting oats. Smith & Summers shocking. Dry & warm.
Wed Aug 18: Cutting oats. Finished the piece by Olsen's at 3 P.M. Have about 27 acres cut tonight. Ida in bed all day.
Thu Aug 19: Cutting oats. Summers & Schmidt shocking. Began on the Whitney piece after dinner. Warm & dry. Ida sick abed.
Fri Aug 20: Cutting oats. Same as yesterday. Help the same.
Sat Aug 21: Cutting oats. Same as yesterday. Help the same. Ida had Dr. Bailey this A.M. Better in the P.M. Mrs Elliott, Mrs Lane(?), & Wrights folks here this P.M. Rec'd a letter from Geo. Heard wheat was $1.00 per bushel in N York. [margin: Fine harvest weather.]
Sun Aug 22: Pleasant. Went to church in the P.M. Rev Mr Taylor preached. Ida in bed as usual. Mr & Mrs Polson here this eve.
Mon Aug 23: Cutting oats. Oats heavy & ripe. Smith & Summers shocking.
Tue Aug 24: Finished cutting oats at 9 A.M. & put the binder away. The men finished shocking at noon in the P.M. They began cleaning out the slough down in Bradley's field. Steamer Daisy here for twenty tons of hay for Tom Hurd.
Wed Aug 25: Self went to town. The men working at the ditch in the slough. Dry & warm. Was up to Balls to see about threshing.
Thu Aug 26: Smith & Summers ditching in the A.M. & hauling dirt on the dam by the hay barn in the P.M. [margin: Foggy A.M.]
Fri Aug 27: Smith & Summer on the dam hauling dirt. Self working on dyke some & went to the social in the eve. Very small attendance. [margin: Foggy A.M.]
Sat Aug 28: Work same as yesterday. Have the dam in good shape now and it has cost something like 35.00 to fix it. [margin: Fine harvest weather.]
Sun Aug 29: No church today. Pleasant. Massey & Lee cutting oats. Ida no better, in bed all the time nowadays.
Mon Aug 30: Kalso threshing, Summers sick, not working. Strong S.E. wind all day.
Tue Aug 31: Rain most & last night and a good deal today. Sorry time for threshers. Hauling straw & manure in the A.M. Self went to town in the P.M. Summers setting up shocks.
September 1897
Wed Sep 01: Rainy in the P.M. Summers not working.
Thu Sep 02: Hauling straw & manure from the stack bottom in the A.M. & raining in the P.M.
Fri Sep 03: Rain most of last night & half the A.M. Perry hauling manure 3/4 Blanche White came over. Self helping Perry 1/2.
Sat Sep 04: Showery all day. Perry hauling manure 1/2 self helping him some and set up the dome shocks in the Whitney field. Summers went to Burlington in the P.M.
Sun Sep 05: Still showery. Grain sprouting some. It looks bad for farmers. Went to church in the P.M. Mr Abbott preached. Ida bad as ever.
Mon Sep 06: No rain to day. Ball threshing some in the P.M. Fred Kalso not threshing. Thinks it is too wet. Summers not back yet.
Tue Sep 07: Pleasant. Ball threshing, Perry & team helping. Kalso threshing also. Grain in pretty good order.
Wed Sep 08: Rainy A.M. Threshing machine at Byrons & Lockharts & moved in here in the evening. Self went after Mrs Smith & got ready for threshers. Summers with the machine. Sorenson helping me in the P.M. hauling manure & straw.
Thu Sep 09: Threshing, very fine weather. Finished this side of the road. Got 994 sks from 42 acres. Sacks weight well and oats are fine. Dr. Calhoun & Dr. Bailey & Jim Gaches here.
Fri Sep 10: Threshing finished at noon. 1547 sks. 65 acres. Summers at Callahans with team in the P.M. Smith & Sorenson finish hauling sax & hauled three loads of straw. Good weather.
Sat Sep 11: Sorenson helping me haul straw in the A.M. not here in the P.M. Perry at Callahans & Olsen's threshing 1/2 day each. Self hauling screenings in the P.M. Pearl went after Grandma in the P.M. The threshing cost about 275 dollars or 6 1/2 cts per bushel. Ida in bed as usual.
Sun Sep 12: At home all day. Summers at Olsen's with team. Ida in bed as usual.
Mon Sep 13: Bradley began threshing at noon. Rain some this A.M. Pleasant P.M. Gathered seed peas & beans &c.
Tue Sep 14: Went to LaConner in the P.M. Fine threshing weather.
1897 Sep 15-Oct 13
Image Id: 001-0106
Transcription
Wed Sep 15: Fine weather. Bradley threshing. Mr Wrights folks here to say good bye and started for Fairhaven. Mr & Mrs Abbott here. Self went to B.V. to meeting with Mr Abbott.
Thu Sep 16: Bradley finished threshing. 2710 sks 110 acres. Tom hurd here & settled for the hay. Self over to Dick Peth's in the P.M. to see the blowing machine. Mannie Barr here this eve.
Fri Sep 17: Not doing much but chores. Settled up with Summers this A.M. & he started east. Smith at Balls driving the team. [margin: Fine weather.]
Sat Sep 18: Went up to Ball's & changed horses this A.M. & in the P.M. went to town with the girls.
Sun Sep 19: Ida worse than common to day. Self did not go to church. Mr Layton died of heart disease to day.
Mon Sep 20: Self cleaning screenings & cutting a chute down through the hay mow.
Tue Sep 21: Smith brot the team home to night. Self helping Lee haul straw on the dam in the A.M. Lee sold 1500 sks oats at 21 dollars per ton.
Wed Sep 22: Smith has the team & wagon to haul straw. Self helping Lee haul straw for bedding.
Thu Sep 23: Ida worse than common to day. Self went to town for medicine and money order to Pierce. The Str. Daisy here to hay. Lee & self loading here in the P.M. [margin: Fine weather.]
Fri Sep 24: Self not doing much but chores. Was up to Kalso's too see about baling.
Sat Sep 25: Done the chores, dug some potatos & pulled the onions. Lee went to town & got hay hooks fixed. Ida no better.
Sun Sep 26: Clowdy with a South wind & looks like rain. At home all day waiting on Ida, reading. Massey has not threshed yet.
Mon Sep 27: Went to town & got Mrs Campbell to nurse Ida. Elmer here in the A.M. Pleasant this P.M. [margin: Rain hard all last night.]
Tue Sep 28: Began baling hay. Nels Larson helping me stow away bales. No rain. Massey threshing. Steamer Lake here for the 500 sks of oats. Baled about 17 tons hay. [margin: Massey had the team from 10 A.M.]
Wed Sep 29: Baling hay. Elmer stowing bales. Self also. Rain in the P.M. Mrs Campbell here. Baled 21 tons.
Thu Sep 30: Rain lightly most of the day. Baling finished the 1st barn. 44 1/2 tons. Elmer stowing bales. Massey threshing.
October 1897
Fri Oct 01: Baling hay -- stormy most of the day. Massey kept on threshing.
Sat Oct 02: Baling hay. Hay looks well & have 95 tons out to night.
Sun Oct 03: Ball finished threshing. Went to church at B.V. Mr Abbott preached and was here to supper.
Mon Oct 04: Baling hay finished at 4.30. 117 tons in the barns. 58 tons baled in the field. 36 sold. 25 for our use. Self storing bales, average yield 3 6/10 per acre. Elmer took 4 1/2 tons to Gaches. [margin: Fine weather.]
Tue Oct 05: Byron baling hay & storing it in my barn. Self went up to Ball's & in the P.M. to town. Clear cool & foggy. Oats going down & hay up. Sold Gaches 10 tons at $8. delivered.
Wed Oct 06: Ida moved downstairs but not very well. Mr. Abbott here to dinner. Self not doing much but chores. Elmer helping Byron haul bales with Lee's team. [margin: Fine weather but foggy.]
Thu Oct 07: Ida had another bad spell today. Will & Teenie here. Mr Bates here & got 3300 lbs hay at $7.00 bales that they use the press on. Grandma went home with Woodburn's folks.
Fri Oct 08: Self choring & digging potatos. Mr Darcy & Mrs Mein(?) here in the P.M. Byron finished baling. [margin: Foggy.]
Sat Oct 09: Elmer & Lee started for Seattle. Pearl & Mrs Campbell went to town in the P.M. Frank Wright here. Self fanning screenings & digging potatos also picked two boxes of apples. Winter apples. [margin: Fine weather, warm.]
Sun Oct 10: Pleasant day did not go to church. Was over on Whitney Island for a walk in the P.M.
Mon Oct 11: Rainy day. Went to town to take Nettie. She started for the convention.
Tue Oct 12: Clowdy & showery. Self doing chores digging potatos & put in the window lights. Sold Jim Esary 15 tons hay & 3 of oats. Hay at $8. & oats at $20.
Wed Oct 13: Pleasant. Went to B.V. in the A.M. & dug potatos in P.M. Mr & Mrs Best here this noon. Mrs Schricker died this A.M.
1897 Oct 14-Nov 9
Image Id: 001-0107
Transcription
Thu Oct 14: Went to the funeral at LaConner. Tholstrup had team & wagon to haul straw. Elmer came home from Seattle. [margin: Frost. Fine day.]
Fri Oct 15: Elmer went to the Olympia Marsh to get a load of seed oats for me from Owen Fulk. Mr Harris here to dinner. Ed Stacey also & brot the cow home. Self digging potatos. 8 sacks & took in the squashes. Found a potato the weighed 4 1/4 pounds.They found Mr Klingenmaier dead this A.M. near his barn. [margin: Warm & pleasant.]
Sat Oct 16: Self & Elmer digging potatos in the A.M. In the P.M. he & Mrs Campbell went to town & brot Nettie home. Self doing nothing in the P.M. but stay about the house. Ida worse again yesterday & today. Mr Klingenmaier buried this P.M. [margin: Pleasant, light frosts]
Sun Oct 17: Went to Bay View to church morning & P.M. Mr. Whitfield preached in the A.M. Abbott in the P.M.
Mon Oct 18: Self & Elmer went to the timber & got a load of posts & made a new gate at the road in the P.M. Elmer went to town for medicine "Microbe Killer" in the P.M.
Tue Oct 19: Elmer hauled three load of gravel one for the dyke. Self made a new gate & hung it. lee took out the sluice box. Strong south E wind & light rain in the P.M. Ida began to take "Microbe Killer". [margin: Mr Waikle here.]
Wed Oct 20: Strong wind all day but not any rain until night. Self & Elmer working on dyke 8 hours fixing lagging where the box was taken out and hauling dirt.
Thu Oct 21: Ida had a very bad spell last night & this A.M. Mr Abbott, Mrs Bradley & Alf Stacey here. Elmer done chores & went to town. Ida better towards night. [margin: Rain hard till the P.M.]
Fri Oct 22: Self had bad cold. Elmer choring. Ida somewhat better & had lots of callers today.
Sat Oct 23: Elmer fixing dyke between the barn & hay barn. Self not doing anything. No rain today.
Sun Oct 24: Ida worse again to day. No one went to church this A.M. Children all went in the eve. Wrote to Geo. Mr McKenna here. [margin: Rainy A.M.]
Mon Oct 25: Went to town & took Mrs Campbell home & got Mrs Galligher. Ida worse again this A.M. Lee hauling hay.
Tue Oct 26: Self went to Mt Vernon to pay taxes and came back by LaConner got a sack sugar, can of oil. Fine weather.
Wed Oct 27: I am 48 today. Ida some better. Ida some better. Self doing chores & went to woods & got a stick for a maul.
Thu Oct 28: Pleasant. Doing chores & not much else. Pearl went to Woodburn's to see about a girl.
Fri Oct 29: Hauling wood from Gorton's 4 1/2 cords maple wood. His hay bill was $8.00 to be paid in wood 6.00 in maple, the bal. in 3 ft wood. Elmer here this eve & took Pearl to hear the Mormon.
Sat Oct 30: Pleasant day. Self fixing the planking by the barn in the A.M. & went over to the Whitney Island in the P.M. & saw the new dyke.
Sun Oct 31: Pleasant -- At home all day. The "Clara Brown" here for Esary's hay just church time. The girls went. Mr Abbott & Mr Hayton's folks here to supper.
November 1897
Mon Nov 01: Pleasant again. Fixing dyke a little had a lame shoulder. Ed Stacey's folks here to dinner. Grandma went home with them. Oats are dull and the best only worth $17.00. [margin: Tholstrup has team & wagon.]
Tue Nov 02: Self fixing dyke three hours in the A.M. & made kraut in the P.M. Mrs Galligher here yet. Ida about the same as for the ten months past.
Wed Nov 03: Worked on the dyke two hours. Lee also setting post & banking mud up to the lumber near his house. In the P.M. went to LaConner & took Mrs Gaches home. Lee went with me & took one of his horses. Oats selling at 16 & 17 dollars and very dull at that. Hay quiet at 7. to 8.
Thu Nov 04: Light rain most of the day. Self doing chores, washed & oiled a single harness. Sent to J.R. H????? for music. Raining pretty hard this eve.
Fri Nov 05: Another rainy day. Mr Tholstrup here and settled up beef bull. Self down looking at the dyke & cleaned out the ditch some by the sluice box. Have a lame shoulder.
Sat Nov 06: Rain most of last night & a good deed to day. Went to LaC. Nettie also to get her teeth filled. Rec'd pay for the hay & oats from Esary Bros. by dft on Seattle.
Sun Nov 07: No rain went to B.V. to church. Heard Mr Daniel preach. Wrote to George.
Mon Nov 08: Elmer here. He & self topping out dyke beyond hay barn.
Tue Nov 09: Rainy day. Worked two hours on dyke in the P.M. & oiled harness & cleaned up the shop.
1897 Nov 10-Dec 4
Image Id: 001-0108
Transcription
Wed Nov 10: Elmer & self working on dyke 1/2 scow dirt. Oiled harness, cleaned out the shop &c. Moved the cook stove. [margin: Rainy P.M.]
Thu Nov 11: Worked on dyke 3 hours. Self & Elmer. Rain most of the day. Went up to Kalso's & settle the baling bill. 119 ton 99.45 58 3/4 at .80 47.00 $146.45.
Fri Nov 12: Working on dyke all day. Clowdy but no rain. Mr Berger here this eve & the girls went to town.
Sat Nov 13: Elmer & self unloaded the scow. ! 1/2 hours on dyke. Elmer & Grant went to town before dinner. Rainy A.M. but pleasant P.M.
Sun Nov 14: Stomry day. Did not go anywhere. [margin: Snow & hail.]
Mon Nov 15: Elmer, Nettie & Grant went to school. Self not doing much. Was up to the station & subscribed for the Post daily for the next year beginning Nov 7th 1897. [margin: Cold rain. East wind.]
Tue Nov 16: Another pretty good day. The folks went to school. Mr & Mrs Wright came on the train this P.M. & remained all night. Stormy night.
Wed Nov 17: Another stormy day. Nettie & Elmer went to school. Grant did not. Mr Wrights folks went down to Bradleys in the P.M. Grant & self went hunting in the eve. Ida about as usual for the past week. She weighed 78 1/2 to day with nightgown on. [margin: Warm wind.]
Thu Nov 18: Another rainy day. Not fit to do anything. Mr Gore here with dictionary and I bot one for 22.50 7 volumes.
Fri Nov 19: Went with Lee to take the scow down to the dyke. Heard Skagit River was high again. Went to the station with Lee in the eve. [margin: Dyke work 3 hours.]
Sat Nov 20: Went to Balls to see about water & to Fredonia with Lee at noon. Found the water coming but not as high as last Nov. Loaded the scow & fixed dyke two hours this A.M. but south wind all day & no rain. Elmer had the team & went to the Samish to see about his oats. [margin: Dyke 2 hours. Frost.]
Sun Nov 21: Water over all the land about the station. Ida had a bad spell this A.M. & all night. Mr. Abbott & son here this A.M. on way to LaConner. Rain warm. [margin: Rainy.]
Mon Nov 22: Self & Lee working on dyke some with scow. Mr & Mrs Wright here this eve & all night. [margin: Dyke 5 hours.]
Tue Nov 23: Went up to the station with Mr Wright in the A.M. & found that the water had begun to fall. Wrights folks started for home this eve via Anacortes. [margin: Rainy.]
Wed Nov 24: Pleasant day. Self hauling rock & brush for the dyke & in the eve. Self & Elmer went down & loaded the scow and fixed apron on the sluice box No. 2. [margin: Dyke $3.00]
Thu Nov 25: Thanksgiving. Oats are worth about $17.0 now and hay $8.00. Went down & unlocked the scow just night. Self & Elmer. The folks went to the League social in the eve. Self staid with Ida. [margin: Dyke 2 hours. Rainy.]
Fri Nov 26: Rainy. Self & Lee loaded & unloaded the scow, fixing dyke near Lee's Warehouse or Huffs boat house. [margin: Dyke 4 hours.]
Sat Nov 27: Elmer & self went to town. Had to walk. Water over the land from Indian to Higgins slougs. Elmer sold his oats to day for $17.00 per ton. Don Palmer here this eve. Bot a pair of gum boots for self & for Grant. Tides have not been high this month as usual in Nov.
Sun Nov 28: Stormy in the eve. Cold all day. At home. Folks went to B.V. Lilly had a calf in the P.M. 29th. [margin: Frost 24°]
Mon Nov 29: Snow or hail 2 inches deep this A.M. Misty all day. Was up to the station and got the mail. The water was about 18 to 20 inches deep yet about the station. Self went down & loaded the scow in the P.M. D. Palmer has left(?). [margin: Dyke 3 hours.]
Tue Nov 30: Went down & unloaded the scow & in the P.M. killed the pig. Elmer helping. Loaded the scow in the P.M. Cut up the pig. [margin: Dyke 3 hours.]
December 1897
Wed Dec 01: Went down to unload the scow but found it sunk. Worked on the dyke some in the P.M. & took the water out of scow. Fine weather. [margin: Dyke 4 hours.]
Thu Dec 02: Salted the pig. Unloaded the scow & went to Bay View in the P.M. Fine weather yet. [margin: Dyke 3 hours.]
Fri Dec 03: Pleasant. Self making a fence around the straw stack.
Sat Dec 04: Elmer & Axel went to the Beaver marsh. Self loaded the scow. Rain a good part of the time to day. Warm. Mr GalBraith here yesterday & offered me $8.00 per ton for my hay. [margin: Dyke 2 hours.]
1897 Dec 5-Jan 4, 1898
Image Id: 001-0109
Transcription
Sun Dec 05: Pleasant except a little rain in the A.M. Self & Elmer went to church in the A.M. [margin: Tides]
Mon Dec 06: Self not doing much. Stormy & windy. Grant home with a cold. Warm [margin: not]
Tue Dec 07: Stormy & windy. Went to unload the scow but could not as the spond(?). Went down & took it out at night. Warm. [margin: high]
Wed Dec 08: Stormy weather. Self not doing much.
Thu Dec 09: Stormy par of the day. Went down & unloaded the scow in the P.M. and in the eve went to the Odd Fellows Entertainment at Bay View. [margin: Dyke 3 hours.]
Fri Dec 10: Stormy & windy. Grant not going to school this week.
Sat Dec 11: Elmer went to the Samish for some ground feed. Self & Nettie went to LaConner. Stormy part of the day. [margin: Tides medium.]
Sun Dec 12: Rain to day. Self & Nettie went to Bay View to church in the A.M. Mr & Mrs Sterns & Mrs Elliott called to see the invalid. She is not so well for the past week.
Mon Dec 13: Very wind day. Lots of rain. Elmer & the girls went to Edison to night to a concert. Heard today that Aunt Lou Baker died Nov 30. Ed Byrons boy died to day. Rec'd a letter from Geo.
Tue Dec 14: Went to the funeral in the P.M. Moved the scow in the A.M. [margin: Frost.]
Wed Dec 15: Loaded the scow in the A.M. Pleasant. Ida worse again. [margin: Frost 28°]
Thu Dec 16: Snowing much of the time, but melted as it came. Unloaded the scow & went to the station to send for Dr J. Dr. J. here this eve.
Fri Dec 17: Another stormy day & colder ???ds night. Frost in the A.M.
Sat Dec 18: Elmer & Nettie went to town. Self & Lee loaded & put a load of dirt in front of the dyke by the first break. [margin: Frost 30°. Pleasant.]
Sun Dec 19: At home. Ida not well as common. The young folks went to church. Kate Williamson quit work.
Mon Dec 20: No school this week. Elmer went to Samish -- Self & Pearl went to LaConner. Pleasant. The girls went to Esary's to a party this eve. Will Massey married today. [margin: Heard of the death of Aunt Frank Leighton.]
Tue Dec 21: Elmer hauling manure 1/2 Steamer Similk after Byron's hay. Mr Wright & Frank here this eve. Fine weather.
Wed Dec 22: Pleasant weather. Low tides. Mr Wright went home this A.M. Elmer went to town.
Thu Dec 23: At home choring, fixing meat brine, &c. Elmer & Grant went to the shooting match. Went to the Mendenhall Qt in the eve at B.V.
Fri Dec 24: Weather clowdy & misty -- Ida no better. Pearl sick with cold. The folks went to the tree at B.V. in the eve.
Sat Dec 25: Pearl not well but up. Ida worse than common. On the whole this is anything but a Merry Christmas. [margin: Rainy.]
Sun Dec 26: Frank Wright here yet. He & Nettie went to church at B.V. Rain hard all night.
Mon Dec 27: Stormy all day and most of the night. Doing nothing but chores. Frank & Grant went hunting got 8 ducks.
Tue Dec 28: Elmer & self went to town. Self took dinner with Mr Baileys folks. Warm & pleasant. Skagit River high again. But not doing much damage.
Wed Dec 29: Self at home. Elmer went to town & took the calf & got a load of lumber. Warm & pleasant. Mrs Elliott here. [margin: Ida weighed 76]
Thu Dec 30: Pleasant day -- Elmer went down to Samish after his apples. Self went hunting with Grant. Nora McKown crazy & went to the asylum to day.
Fri Dec 31: Elmer went to Lary's Slough after bark with 4 horses. In the P.M. built(?).
Sat Jan 01: At home all day. Nothing particular to record.
Sun Jan 02: Frank Whites folks here in the P.M. and all night. Elmer went to Beaver Marsh to move Axels folks.
Mon Jan 03: At all day. Frank's folks went home at 3.30 P.M. Ida no better & Pearl not well. [margin: Rainy day.] Elmer went after bark again. Self went to the station for Miss Williams who began work. Self & Elmer build a wood shed & began setting fence posts in the lane. Pleasant. [margin: Warm. Tides low. Letter from Eva.]
Tue Jan 04: Light rain today. Elmer went for the other load of bark. Self went to town this P.M. to get a money order for Eva Reed. Roads rough & bad. George Stump here yesterday & today for seed oats. Sold him 100 sks at the price I got for the balance and he pays 28.00 on them now.