When Clara and Joseph marry, they promise to keep a diary of their first year – how romantic! They take turns recording farm work, shopping trips, sermons, and revival meetings. In May Joseph breaks his leg and they must manage somehow to get the crops harvested. Joseph is farming with his brother Charles but in 1898 formally purchases the farm as sole owner. Their diary is transcribed and glimpses of them in later years can be found in the diaries of their son Walter and son-in-law, Amos Andrew.