Sophie begins this diary under the supervision of her father, but Thomas soon takes it over and writes with regularity for twenty years. This is a wonderful overview of the Adam’s farm and family as they develop through the years. It’s a busy household of seven growing children. Thomas travels to church, Grange meetings, the World’s Fair in Chicago and relatives out west. His wife Rosalia dies from cancer in 1899. Thomas remains on the farmstead for the rest of his life and his son Crayton inherits it.