1
DID
LITTLE
BUT
THE
CHORES
The Diary of Robert Michie
(Volume One)
Entries: Jan. 1, 1899 - Dec. 31, 1926
Edited by Mary Anne (Michie) Richardson
ISBN # 978-0-9866249-1-9
c 2014 by Mary Anne Richardson
For inquiries:
Mary Anne Richardson
Apt. 304-B;
2-B Colborne St. W.,
Lindsay, Ontario K9V 5B5
email: marmic1954@gmail.com
Printed in Canada
All rights reserved
2
PREFACE
This book, volume one, is a continuation of the family
diaries that I began transcribing several years ago. The
first diary that I published was that of John Albert Mi-
chie (b. 17 Oct 1813, d. 15 Feb. 1900) under the title of
'Self Doing Naught'. This book, and the one to follow,
are the diaries of his son Robert.
Robert Michie was born in Greenbank, Ontario on 2 Dec
1857 and married Jane (Jennie) Cowan Bell on 29 Jan
1896. He was very active in the Greenbank Presbyte-
rian Church, as well as being involved as school superin-
tendent for a number of years.
Robert and Jennie had three children - Annie, William
(better known as Willie) and James. Both Annie and
James later became teachers. Jennie was often called
to be a nurse as required throughout the community.
They had a mixed farm and planted both strawberries
and raspberries, which they sold throughout the com-
munity and shipped by train as far away as Toronto and
Peterborough. Many hours were spent with their friends
and family picking berries and many trips were made
both to Greenbank store and to Port Perry to sell, and
ship, them.
My dad, Robert Gordon Michie, had many fond memo-
ries of his 'Uncle Bob' and 'Aunt Jennie'. He often told
about having to walk to school in the freezing days of
winter and that he could count on making a stop part
way to receive some of Aunt Jennie's baking and the
warmth of their kitchen. Dad also had many memories
of spending time with his Uncle Bob on the farm helping
him with the crops and the animals, particularly the
horses.
I have tried to be true to Robert's original diary, as it
was written. There were a few areas that his writing was
illegible, or that the ink had faded, and I have made
notes accordingly.
Now, on to volume two!
Mary Anne (Michie) Richardson
(Great grand niece)
Lindsay, Ontario.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As always, my thanks go to my father, Robert Gordon
Michie, for his interest and love of the old family diaries.
He has inspired me to get them published so that oth-
ers can read, and hopefully, enjoy them. Dad passed
away in 2010 and I know he would have been so
pleased to see this book in publication.
I also extend my thanks to my husband John. Once
again his support while I spent so many hours transcrib-
ing the diaries has been so appreciated, along with the
many hours of proofreading as I went along. Our sons,
Robert (RJ) and Shawn, and daughters-in-law Julia and
Winnie, have also been huge supporters and have given
me their expertise with computer issues that I would
never have been able to manage on my own. Thanks
guys!
Finally, I would like to thank Glen and Mary Jean Till and
Mary and Ross Real for sharing family photos that I was
able to use throughout the book, and also my friend
(and mentor) Lois Magahay who has been a great inspi-
ration and a source of support throughout the process.
Above all, my thanks to Robert Michie for sharing his
life in the form of his daily diary.
3
Robert Michie,
date unknown
Jane (Jennie) Cowan Bell,
date unknown
4
1899
JAN. 1 – Attended church in the afternoon. Rev. J. M. Cameron
preached a very good and appropriate sermon. The classes in the
Sunday School chose their teachers which are the same as last year
with the exception of Mrs. J. Leask who takes the class of women
lately taught by E. Buwell. Mrs. Jas. McMillan takes Mrs. Leask’s
class. A sharp cold day, fairly good sleighing.
2 – Municipal election day. Went up to Greenbank in the forenoon
and voted, then drove with Jennie and May Bell (who has been
here for a few days) to Port Perry and took dinner with Mrs. Bell.
Got there too late but managed to get all that we wanted. Got home
in time for supper and spent the evening until after 11 o’clock
trying to straighten up the Church books but could not make them
agree by 5 cts. Hot supper and lecture in the Methodist Church but
did not attend.
3 – At the Church books most of the forenoon but could not find
where the mistake is. G. Fowlie here for dinner. John Lee here in
the afternoon to compare the church account books. He was telling
us that Allie McMillan attempted to poison herself yesterday by
taking carbolic acid. Discovered the mistake and finished the
books in the evening. The elections yesterday (T. Lamb, reeve by
acc), councillors John Doble, Robert Holtby, W. Stephens and
John Boys. W. Real and J. Jeffery and Jas. Camplin got left.
(Camplin not Boys elected).
4 - Sawing wood in the shed most of the day. About 4 o’clock in
the afternoon Mother slipped and fell on the floor near the pantry
door. We had to lift her up and carry her to bed. She is in great
pain and cannot bear to be moved. Raining most of the day and the
snow nearly all gone.
5 – Colder again this morning. Drove in the cutter (very poor
sleighing) to Port Perry for Dr. Archer to come to see Mother who
does not appear to be any better. Gave Silas Butt a ride up to Wes
Lukes, he just arrived from the West last night. Mr. and Mrs. Wes
Luke here for tea. The Dr. came about 7 o’clock. He thinks
Mother will be able to be up in about 10 days. Attended the sing-
ing class (the second meeting) at Mr. Marks in the evening.
6 – Drove to Port Perry in the forenoon for medicine and brought
Mary Bell home with me. Mrs. Mark, Thos. Phair, Mrs. A.
Gordon Sr., Mrs. A. Gordon Jr., and Mrs. S. Dusty here today.
Went to choir practice in the evening, but only Alphia Love put in
an appearance. Snowing a little today but hardly enough to make
good sleighing.
7 – A very rough cold and windy day. All the snow that fell yes-
terday has been blown into heaps. Alex Lee in before dinner.
8 – A rather rough cold day. Went to S.S. and church alone. Mr.
Cameron preached. Miss Nellie McMillan played the organ. W.
Mark and Mrs. A. Lee called in today.
9 – Drove to Port Perry with Mary Bell in the forenoon and at the
Farmers Institute meeting at Greenbank in the afternoon. The
subjects discussed were the dairy cow, the bacon hog and the
spraying of fruit trees. A very good meeting. Isaac O’Neill called
in and got a bag of oats. The Steel cow calved this morning but
one of the calf’s hind legs was broken or deformed in such a shape
that it was thought best to kill it. A fine day but pretty cold.
10 – A very cold day, perhaps the coldest this winter so far. Did
very little all day but the chores. Nellie Michie and Wes Luke
called in the forenoon. The first day of Port Perry races.
11 – A sharp bright day, doing little in the forenoon. Helping
Oliver Luke with his chores in the afternoon, Wes and Russell
being laid up. Mrs. Mark, Mrs. O’Neill and Mr. and Mrs. Akhurst
here in the afternoon. Barbara came before dark. She rode up
from Port Perry with Mrs. A. Lee. Attended the annual church
meeting in the evening, a very good attendance. It was decided to
have 12 managers instead of 6. Those elected tonight are John
Lee, T. Phair, Alex Leask, and C. Gordon for three years. Jas.
McMillan and Jas. Burns for two years. W. Leask and A. T. Horne
for one year. It was proposed to form a Christian Endeavour Soci-
ety1
but it was laid over for two weeks.
12 – A very fine clear day. Wrote a letter to George in the fore-
noon. Sharpened the bucksaw in the afternoon and at the singing
class in the evening. Jennie at the W.F.M.S.2
in the afternoon.
Saw Dr. Archer at W. Reals and sent him here. He says Mother is
doing as well or better than he expected. Alex Lee, Mrs. A.
Gordon Sr., and T. Phair here today.
13 – Took Barbara to the station and called at the Drs. for some
medicine and got home about 1 o’clock. Raining a little. Mrs.
Mark, Alex Lee, John Lee, Mrs. Jas. McMillan and J. M. Real
called today. At choir practice at night.
14 – A rainy day until about 3 o’clock when it turned to snow
which will make fair slipping. Went with A. Lee to Mrs. Purdy’s
sale at Port Perry but did not buy anything. Making out the church
report for the printer in the evening.
15 – Attended Sunday School and church. Mrs. Somerville gave a
short talk in the S.S. on the shorter catechism. Mr. Cameron
preached. The collection for the Merriton church building fund was
taken up today. Mr. Mark, Joseph Burton and Mrs. Bryant called
in.
16 – Went down to Port Perry and called at the Drs. for some pills
for Mother then went over to Uncles at Manchester to get a calf but
did not get it as it was promised to another man. Brought Willie
Bell home with me. Sent cards to Margaret and Barbara and
Jennie sent a letter to Ida Scholes. Mrs. Parkins of Manchester
brought the book, The Life of Gladstone. At the managers meeting
in the evening, all out but Jas. Blair, a very good meeting. A. T.
Horne was elected chairman. Jas. Leask sec., J. M. Real treas. and
I am in for F.S. again. It was decided to build a new fence in front
of the church. Alex Lee, John Lee, W. Petty and Nellie Michie
called in today. Revival meetings started in the M. [Methodist]
Church.
11
The Christian Endeavour Society was formed in
1881 in Portland, Maine in order to bring youth to
accept Christ.
2
The Women’s Foreign Missionary Society
5
17 – Drawed two small loads of wood from Isaac O’Neills in the
forenoon and one in the afternoon. Mrs. J. Park of Manchester and
Mrs. Jas. Innis here in the evening. Willie Bell and I went to a
little oyster supper at Alex Lees and had a very nice time. Got
home between 12 and 1.
18 – A very clear sharp morning. Drove to Manchester and got a
calf from Uncle (the man that he promised it to failing to do as he
promised). Did very little in the afternoon there being so many
callers, namely Mr and Mrs Akhurst; Mrs Walker, Mrs A. Lee,
Barbara Walker, Mr and Mrs Cameron and Alex Ewen. The first
time Mrs Cameron was ever here. Annie and Allan came from
Oshawa about sundown. At the prayer meeting with Jennie in the
evening, a fair attendance and a good meeting.
19 – A very fine day. Annie and Allan left for home at noon. Got
George’s skates and went to the creek for a skate, the first for
several years. The ice is first class. Jennie at Port Perry in the
afternoon. At the singing class in the evening. Mrs. Jas. Leask and
Mrs. C. Gordon in for the evening. Mrs. W. Whiteford died today.
20 – Snowing most of the afternoon. Did very little but the chores.
At choir practice in the evening. Mother does not appear to be so
well today.
21 – J. O’Neill called this morning and paid the $2.50 he bor-
rowed. Sold him the little hay stack for $13.00 in wood. At Mrs.
Whiteford’s funeral in the afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. T. Phair and A.
Akhurst here. Snowing and rough most of the day but not very
cold. A great many people down with the grippe. Tom Bell came
for his gun that has been here for some time.
22 – A fine day. At S.S. and church in the afternoon. Mr. Cam-
eron preached an unusually good sermon.
23 – A fine day, drew 4 loads of short tamarack from Isaac
O’Neills. 4 ½ cords at 90 cts. Mrs. A. Gordon Jr. and Willie Mi-
chie called today.
24 – Got up rather earlier than usual and Willie drove me to
Greenbank and rode with Dave Perkins to Blackwater then by train
to Orillia. Got there about noon. First hunted up Miss Real and
then got dinner at the Grand Central Hotel. Got the writings made
out at Mr. Grants and strolled about the town and hunted up W.
Parkers as it was getting dusk. Got supper there and went with the
girls and Howard south to lake Simcoe. Did a heap of talking and
went to bed between 10 and 11. W. Akhurst and Joe Burton called
today.
25 – Started from Orillia at 2 am and got to Greenbank at noon and
walked home. After doing chores, drove out to Port Perry. At the
prayer meeting in the evening. A fair attendance to organize a
Christian Endeavour Society in connection with the congregation
and the first officers were elected.
26 – Took the pig up to Joe Burtons in the forenoon and went to
Port Perry with a load of wood for Charles Gordon in the after-
noon. Started to snow very hard towards night but did not last
long. At the singing class in the evening, a rough night. Mrs.
Luke and James A. Michie here today.
27 – A very cold day, did nothing but the chores. Went to choir
practice in the evening but there was none as none of the McMil-
lans turned out. A bright clear night.
28 – Some snow in the afternoon and evening and pretty cold.
Sawed some wood.
29 – A fine day, but pretty cold. Attended S.S. and church. G.
Miller being absent, Mr. Cameron addressed the school. Augmen-
tation collection today.
30 – A very cold day and somewhat rough towards night. Visited
Marks and Isaac O’Neills in the forenoon. Took the Jersey up to
Alex Lee’s and cut some wood in the afternoon. Willie O’Neill
got two bags oats.
31 – A very bright clear and cold day. Churned in the forenoon.
In the afternoon Jennie went to Port Perry and among other things
got some oysters, which we had for supper. The first time I ever
tasted fried oysters, they went very good.
Feb. 1 – A fine morning but somewhat rough in the afternoon.
Mrs. A. Gordon Sr. here in the forenoon. Willie Corran came after
her just before dinner. Alex Ewen here in the afternoon trying to
repair the scuffler. At the prayer meeting. Rather a small turnout.
James Miller leader. No organist.
2 – A very fine clear day. At the scuffler in the forenoon. In the
afternoon took the harrows to Gulley’s to get sharped and the back
of the stove repaired. At the singing class in the evening. Fred
Love is moving down to the farm and Jas. Carnegie in to the vil-
lage today. James Innis leaves for Wabagoon tomorrow.
3 – Snowing some in the forenoon. Dr. Archer came before din-
ner. Took a load of turnips to Port Perry in the afternoon for Al-
bert Akhurst. At choir practice in the evening. Mr. and Mrs. T.
Phair called today.
4 – Churned and shaved in the forenoon. Drove to Port Perry in
the afternoon and called at Andrew Ross’ and had a short talk with
Mrs. James Ross of Manitoba. Wrote to R. Holtby and W.
Stephens in reference to limiting the number of liquor licenses.
Isaac O’Neill here and got 5 bu. turnips.
5 – Attended S.S. and church. Rev. McKenzie of Oakwood
preached a good sermon. At the first meeting of the C.E. with
Jennie in the evening. Mrs. Mark stayed with Mother while we
were away. A very good meeting for a start. A fine day and
splendid sleighing.
6 – A beautiful day. Isaac O’Neill here in the morning wanting to
buy turnips but did not get any. John Lee called before dinner and
J. M. Real and Mrs. A. Leask in the afternoon. Got a letter from
Manitoba with a wedding present of $5.00 for Jennie.
7 – Another very fine day. Drew a load of manure for the garden
and three loads of cedar from the lower field for wood. Miss Ida
Phair called today. Wes Luke in before breakfast. The big maple
in [?] bush near our gate was cut down today.
6
8 – Got colder and rough in the afternoon. Cutting wood in the
woodshed and making a water trough for the hens. At the prayer
meeting in the evening. Not many out. James Miller, leader.
Jennie wrote to Manitoba.
9 – A very cold rough day. Finished sawing the cedar sticks in the
woodshed. At the singing class in the evening, rather a small turn-
out. Turnips freezing in the root house pretty bad.
10 – Another very cold day. Did nothing but the chores. Wes
Luke in before dinner. At choir practice in the evening, a small
turnout. There was also a school trustee meeting at Jas. Millers.
The job of getting wood let to W. H. Leask. In compliance with
the wish of the inspector it was decided to get new seats and a new
slate blackboard.
11 – Still very cold. Isaac O’Neill here in the morning for a load
of hay, a bag of oats and a loan of $5.00. Nellie Michie called in
the afternoon. Bagged up some oats to take to the mill. Northern
lights very bright in the evening.
12 – A very fine bright day but pretty cold. Mrs. Mark came and
stayed while Jennie and I went to S.S. and church. Mr. Cameron
preached a good sermon. Another jubilee, it being 50 years today
since services were held at Wick. Both at the C.E. in the evening.
A fairly good meeting but rather stiff. Miss Nellie McMillan took
the topic.
13 – Another very cold day. Mending harness in the forenoon. In
the afternoon at Manchester at the council meeting, the license
question being up. To the surprise of most everyone the council
decided to submit Local Option, the voting to take place on March
21. Called at Uncles and found him some better from a bad attack
of the grippe. Wes Luke in before dinner and after supper.
14 – A fine day, not so cold. Went to Port Perry in the morning
with oats to get ground. Called at the Dr’s and brought home the
lumber for W. Marks boat. Went with the sleigh to Isaacs for
wood but there was none. Willie O’Neill here for 4 bus. oats. Wes
Luke here twice and Long John for some soft water. Box social at
E. Barrett’s.
15 – Snowing some and rather rough. At Port Perry in the fore-
noon for the meal. Working at the boat in the afternoon. At the
prayer meeting in the evening. Mr. E. Boe was the leader, after
which there was a talk about S.S. library. Nellie Michie here get-
ting a wrapper cut and fitted. W. Mark here after dinner. Got a
letter from J. Whiteford and wrote him in reply.
16 – A very fine day and quite mild, working at the boat all day.
At the singing class in the evening.
17 – Mild day and raining a little in the evening. Jennie went to
Port Perry for the Dr. for father who has boils on his face. He got
here about 5 p.m. Working at the boat in the afternoon. Willie
Michie here getting her wrapper fitted. Miss Ida Phair called. A
fire apparently on Scugog Island about 8 p.m.
18 – Thawing a little and threatening rain all day. At the boat in
the forenoon and drawing wood from Isaac O’Neill’s in the after-
noon. At a trustee meeting at G. Reals in the evening to see about
new seats for the school. Mrs. Luke, Mrs. A. Lee and W. Mark
here today.
19 – A fine day, a little colder. Back to Wick to Jubilee service,
preaching by Rev. McMillan, Lindsay. An excellent sermon. The
Rhine bros. sang a duet, very nice. Came home to dinner and then
went back again in the evening but could not get a seat on account
of the crowd. A pretty rough night coming home. Mrs. Mark
stayed while we were away. Mr. Mark here in the evening.
20 – A very fine day and the snow going fast. Drew two loads of
wood from Isaac’s in the forenoon. Plugging and painting the boat
in the afternoon. Went to a school trustee meeting at the school-
house at 4 o’clock to see about the new seats. Alex Lee called in
today.
21 – Warm and the snow going fast, roads bare in many places.
Painting the boat in the forenoon. Sharped the bucksaw and sawed
some wood in the afternoon. Jennie at Port Perry in the afternoon.
Mrs. A. Gordon, Sr. here today. The I.O.F. were to have a concert
tonight but the man Stafford that was to have given it is sick.
22 – 4 or 5 inches of soft snow fell through the night but quite a bit
of it was gone before night. Painting the boat in the forenoon,
washing the cattle with tobacco tea in the afternoon. At the prayer
meeting in the evening. James Miller led the meeting, choir prac-
tice after. A bright moonlight night.
23 – A fine day but somewhat colder. Sawing wood most of the
day. Jack Hill and Mr. Innis here in the afternoon. Both at the S.
of T.3
in the evening, a special meeting on account of the Rhine
bros. being there to sing. A good turn out and a good time. A
debate on Local Option which was declared a draw. After 11 when
we got home. A fine moonlight night. Nellie and Jessie Michie
here all night.
24 – A very fine day. Sawing a bit of wood in the forenoon. At
Greenbank getting horses shod in the afternoon. District Division
meeting at Raglan today and a very different day from the last time
it was there. Word came by telephone that Miss Ellie Byers died
in Toronto this morning. At the singing class in the evening. A
very bright night. John Lee called today.
25 – Another very fine day. Made an oar for the boat in the fore-
noon and cut wood in the afternoon. Willie O’Neill here for 2 bags
of oats and Isaac for 1 bag and some hay. It appears that Ellie
Byers was killed by the train in Toronto yesterday. The body was
brought to George Byers’ today.
26 – A raw cold morning with some rain and sleet. Went to S.S.
and church. A small attendance at both on account of the funeral.
Mr. Cameron preached on training children. Both at the C.E. in
the evening, a good meeting. Jas. Blair, leader, president Miller
absent. Wes Luke here in the evening. Sleighing on the roads
getting pretty thin.
3
Sons of Temperance
7
27 – Colder, with snow in the afternoon and rough. Sharpened
Wes Luke’s bucksaw in the forenoon and sawed wood. Jennie
went to Port Perry in the afternoon and brought Mary home with
her. James Smith came about 5 o’clock and stayed all night.
28 – Blustery, inclined to rain in the afternoon but colder at night.
Sawing wood most of the day, finished all that was drewed up.
Mrs. Bryant and Barbara Walker here in the afternoon. Oyster
supper at G. Reals under the management of Alex Ewin. Got a bid
but did not go.
Mar. 1 – A fine day and thawing a little in the afternoon. Drawing
wood all day, made 5 trips. James Smith left for home after din-
ner. Mr. J.M. Cameron and E. Boe here. At the prayer meeting, a
fair attendance. James Miller, leader. Choir practice after. A year
today was the Ontario elections when C. Calder was elected.
2 – Nice day, sawing wood most of the time. At the singing class
in the evening. Took Jennie up to Alex Lee’s. Trustee meeting at
G. Reals, but did not go.
3 – Sawing wood in the forenoon. Found the Steel cow dead when
I went out after dinner, the reason a mystery. Got Wes Luke to
help skin her. Jennie took Mary home in the cutter, very poor
sleighing. Rain in the evening. There was to have been a meeting
at John Lee’s to talk of enlarging the church but did not go on
account of the rain.
4 – Thawing a good deal. During the day drew in the hay stack
with G. Michie’s help. Mr. G. Real called in the forenoon and
Mrs. J. O’Neill in the afternoon. Started to go to the S. of T. as
the Rhine bros. were to be there but having to call at G. Reals to a
trustee meeting, so much time was spent that I did not go to the
village. A very disagreeable night – snow and sleet, rode in the
buggy. Mr. and Mrs. Mark here in the evening.
5 – Quite a fall of snow through the night which thawed somewhat
through the day. Went to S.S. and church with the cutter. Mr.
Cameron preached on purgatory. The Rhine Bros. sang two pieces
very nicely and also spoke in the S.S. Did not go to the C.E. as it
turned out a very rough cold night.
6 – A very fine day and thawing a little. Jennie went to Port Perry
in the forenoon and did not get home until 1:30 having to wait for
the Dr. and then she did not see him. Sawing wood most of the
day. Both at the Rhine Bros. meeting in the Presbyterian church, a
good turn out and a very interesting meeting. Mrs. Mark was here
when we were away.
7 – Rather a raw wind from the east. Fixing the nests in the hen
house in the forenoon. After dinner Pat Thompson came and told
that there was some wood cut ready to be hauled. Drew one load
but broke the shoe on the front bob and had to go to Greenbank to
get it repaired and did not get back until about 6:30. Mr. and Mrs.
James McMillan here for tea and Miss Ida Phair collecting for the
Bible Society. Rhine bros. in the Methodist Church but did not go,
a cold windy night.
8 – Pretty cold morning but turned out a fine day. Drawing wood
and made 5 trips. Drawed all the tamarack he had cut, 3 ½ cords
this time. Mrs. Mark here for dinner and the afternoon getting a
wrapper cut. Barbara Fowlie here for tea. At trustee meeting at G.
Reals and afterwards at prayer meeting. Mr. Boe, leader. No
organist, no choir practice. G.A. McMillan married today.
9 – Mild day, drawing poplar wood. Made 3 trips in the forenoon.
Marshal O’Neill after 4 bushels oats. Mrs. Alex Lee called on her
way home from Port. Wig sellers here just before dinner. Norman
Stewart, the assessor, called in the afternoon, also Dr. Archer on
his way home from J.M. Reals. Sawed a little wood in the after-
noon. Isaac O’Neill here for a bag of oats and some hay. At the
singing class in the evening. The Nancy cow calved.
10 – A nice mild day. Drew two loads of poplar which I suppose
finishes the wood for this season, sleighing getting rather poor on
the roads, but good in the fields. Cutting a little wood in afternoon.
Wes Luke in after supper.
11 – Thawing a good deal, especially in the afternoon. Down at
Isaac’s in the forenoon settling up accounts and looking at his
livestock, then to Marshall’s and saw his cows. In the afternoon
drove (with the buggy) to the schoolhouse to a trustee meeting to
see about the floor and seats, then to the village and got the oil can
filled and home in time for chores.
12 – At S.S. and church. Mr. Cameron preached. Both at the C.E.
in the evening, a fairly good meeting. It fell to my lot to take the
topic. Muddy roads and a little snow in the evening. Heavy rains
through the night. T. Phair and Mrs. W. Luke called today.
13 – Not doing much in the forenoon. In the afternoon went with
G. Real to Pinedale to look at their school seats. Came home by
way of Saintfield and saw the seats there. Like the Saintfield ones
the best. W. Leask here collecting for a present to E. Bewell which
is to be presented tonight at Jas. McMillans.
14 – A fine day. Fanning up some oats for W. Burton, after which
I went down to the swamp and skated down the middle of the
concession. Very fine ice, can go most any place. Helping Wes
Luke to kill a pig in the afternoon. At a committee meeting at John
Lee’s in the evening to make plans for an alcove for the church.
J.M. Real, J. Lee and myself committee. A raw east wind at night.
E. Bewell moves to Uxbridge today.
15 – A strong wind from the S. East with rain and sleet, a very
disagreeable day. In the forenoon put a new bottom into a pail and
made grafting wax under the directions of Isaac O’Neill who was
present giving us a long talk about fruit trees. Jennie churning.
Doing very little in the afternoon. Both at prayer meeting in the
evening, a very small turnout. Jas. Miller, leader. A very rough
windy night.
16 – A fine day. Gluing some chairs in the forenoon and started
early after dinner to go to Uxbridge together with John Lee to
confer with James Walker as to the probable cost of an alcove for
the church. He figures the cost to be about $400.00. Got home
between 5 and six. At the singing class in the evening. Mrs. A.
Gordon Sr. here for dinner. Wes Luke here for his saw, Isaac for
oats.
8
17 – Sharpened W. Lukes saw and then went skating in the fore-
noon. Went down to Isaac O’Neills in the afternoon to try to buy a
cow but did not do so altogether. Both at choir practice in the
evening, a very good sing. A pretty cold night and snowing a little.
18 – Snowing most of the day from the east which makes fairly
good sleighing. In the forenoon went with Jennie to Isaac’s to
bring home the cow and calf. Doing very little in the afternoon.
Wes Luke called and Isaac came for a load of turnips, 25 bs, at 6
cts. Price of cow $33.
19 – Snow through the night which makes 6 or 8 inches of snow.
Both at S.S. and church. Mr. Cameron preached. A meeting of the
S.S. officers and teachers to see about books. Did not go to the
C.E. as it was a rough cold night.
20 – A very rough day, snowing and drifting from the north west
badly but settled at sundown and a bright calm evening. Did noth-
ing all day but the chores. About the worst drift of the whole win-
ter.
21 – A pretty bleak wind from the S.E. and rough in the afternoon.
Drove up to Greenbank and voted on the Local Option by-law in
the forenoon. Fanned up a grist of wheat in the afternoon. The
roads somewhat heavy with snow. Local Option carried.
22 – Cleaned out the pigpen and sawed some wood in the fore-
noon, and in the afternoon both went to Port Perry with the grist in
the sleigh. At prayer meeting in the evening, a good turnout and an
extra good meeting. Mr. Cameron was there, choir practice after.
Thunder and rain about 11 o’clock, the first thunder this year.
23 – Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for the grist and mending
harness in the afternoon. A very rough afternoon, snowing and
drifting from the N.W. At the singing class in the evening, not
many there on account perhaps of the rough night and bad walking.
24 – A fine day, not doing much in the forenoon. At preparatory
service at the church in the afternoon, a fair good turnout. Rev.
Mr. McKay of Sunderland preached. Mrs. H. Taylor, Arch
McArthur, Maggie Carneggie and Mrs. G.A. McMillan came in
this time. Called at W. Reals and telephoned for the Dr. to come to
see Father who has a bad boil on his lip. Both D. and R. Archer
came in the evening. They put Mother under chloroform and ex-
amined her. They give little hopes that she will ever be able to get
up again. Mr. and Mrs. T. Phair called.
25 – At Port Perry in the forenoon for medicine for Father, sawing
wood in the afternoon. Rough and snowing from the SE in the
evening.
26 – A very fine day. Both at church in the forenoon, it being
communion. A very good turnout, the greater part of the Wick
congregation being present. Mr. Cameron conducted the services.
At the C.E. in the evening, the largest turnout as yet. G.A.
McMillan took the topic, a good part of the time spent in getting
names to the pledge. Wes Luke called in the evening.
27 – A fine day. Sawing wood all day. Mr. And Mrs. Akhurst and
Mrs. Gordon here in the afternoon. Churned the cream from
Nancy’s milk for a week, 9 lb. 5 oz. of butter was the result.
28 – Sawing wood in the forenoon. Drawing church plan in the
afternoon, raining a little most of the afternoon. At the church
envelopes in the evening. W. Mark called and Mrs. A. Lee.
29 – A very rough stormy day. Mrs. Mark kept house while we
drove to Uxbridge and got a new dress. Both picking over the
potatoes in the cellar in the afternoon. At prayer meeting in the
evening, a small meeting. Jas. Miller, leader, no organist, no choir
practice.
30 – A fine day and thawing a little. Took 14 bags of oats on the
sleigh to Port Perry to get ground and got them back with me,
arriving home about 1 o’clock. Sleighing not very good, probably
the last of the season. The lake does not show the least sign of
breaking up. The ice is between 2 and 3 feet thick. Choring in the
afternoon. Made a boat paddle. At the singing class in the eve-
ning, tried them in flats for the first time. Wes Luke called in the
afternoon.
31 – Good Friday. A fine day and thawing some. Splitting wood
in the forenoon and sawing wood in the afternoon. J. O’Neill here
in the forenoon for a load of turnips. John Lee called in this after-
noon. Tom Black and Alma came about 6 p.m. with the waggon.
APR. 1 – Fanning up oats and bagging potatoes for Tom Black in
the forenoon. They leave for home (with the wagon) about 2 p.m.
Several snow flurries during the afternoon. Marshall O’Neill here
for two bags of oats and settled up accounts.
2 – At S.S. and church. Mr. Cameron preached on the resurrection
of Christ. Tom Bell came before dinner. At the C.E. in the eve-
ning. Jennie was to have taken the topic but at the last moment
found that she could not go. Rather a small meeting as it was
rough in the evening. Mrs. Somerville led, Mrs. Luke and Mrs.
Colwell called.
3 – A fine day, cleaning out the calf pen and sawing wood in the
forenoon. Margaret and Ethel came before dinner, they walked up
from Port Perry. In the afternoon, drove out with Jennie and [?]
Bell, principally to see Mrs. Joe Bell and Mrs. Perrin who were
there. At the church managers meeting in the evening. Jennie at
the store shopping. There was a full attendance. The principle
business was the proposed improvements. After all had expressed
their opinion, some favourable, some opposed, and others luke-
warm, it was decided to lay it on the table until the next annual
meeting. Mr. Mark called in the forenoon. Mr. Colwell’s barn,
between this and Port Perry, burned between 7 and 8 in the eve-
ning.
4 – A fine day and thawing some. In the forenoon we churned the
weeks cream of the O’Neill cow. The result was 10 lbs. 4 oz. of
butter. Went up to Mr. Akhurst and got some apple cuttings for
grafting. In the afternoon went to the schoolhouse to see Jas.
Walker and Co. putting in the new seats. Jennie and Margaret at
Alex Lee’s in the evening. Tom Michie starts work for Alex.
5 – The most spring-like day that we have had so far. Splitting
some wood in the forenoon. Jennie takes Margaret and Ethel to
Port Perry and gets back about 3 o’clock. Tom Bell coming with
9
her. At the prayer meeting in the evening. A fair turn out, but no
minister and no elders. It fell to my lot to lead the meeting in a
way. Choir practice after the meeting. Roads pretty muddy.
6 – A fine spring-like day. In the forenoon went to Port Perry for
the Dr. for father who is now very bad with his face, worse than
has been this winter. The Dr. did not come as he said he could not
do any good. Tom also on the sick list. Isaac O’Neill here for two
bags of oats. Mrs. Carnegie here for dinner. Sifting the timothy
seed in the afternoon. At the singing class in the evening. Wes
Luke got his team and wagon into the old creek today.
7 – Raining a little most of the day, especially towards night. Went
down to the scene of yesterdays scrape at the creek. Put up some
fence gaps and fixed the cupboard in the woodshed in the fore-
noon. Did very little in the afternoon. Thomas Phair here in the
afternoon. Fred Love called in the evening to get the job of spray-
ing the apple trees.
8 – The ground covered with snow again that fell through the night
but it was all gone before night. Cleaning out the pigpen and with
Wes Lukes and Tom Bells help took out the black teeth. Sawing
wood behind the barn in the afternoon. Isaac O’Neill here in the
forenoon and Wes Luke at supper time.
9 – Ground white with snow again this morning. At S.S. and
church. Mr. Cameron preached on Sabbath observance. At the
C.E. in the evening, rather small attendance, no doubt on account
of the roads which are very bad. G. Miller was leader. Alex Lee
called in the evening.
10 – A nice spring-like day. Finished the wood at the barn in the
forenoon and did very little in the afternoon. Raked the straw off
the strawberries. Jennie making a wrapper for Mrs. Joe Bell.
Jennie took Tom part way home in the morning. Mr. Mark here in
the morning.
11 – Did little but churn in the forenoon. Duff and Heron here
wanting to buy cattle after dinner. Wes Luke got stuck in the lane
with a load of turnips on account of the snow. One of our pigs
died today. We were all ready to go to hear Rev. Mr. McMillan of
Toronto lecture on the Scottish covenants, but it came on rain and
we did not go. A very dark night.
12 – A warm day, with quite a high wind in the afternoon. Took
off the storm windows, fixed some hens nests and planted some
potatoes (the first planting of the season) in the forenoon. In the
afternoon, took the new boat down to the swamp on the stoneboat
and with Jennie boated down as far as the sideroad. When we got
back, Mr. Mark was come to take it down. Broke the whiffletree
and made a new one. John Lee here in the afternoon. He was
telling about the lecture last night, a very small attendance, $3.30
was the receipts. Mr. O’Neill around today buying potatoes.
13 – A nice spring day. Digging berry bushes in the forenoon.
Heavy rain and thunder after dinner. Picked over the Murphys this
afternoon. Cleared up about 4 p.m. and at the berry bushes again.
Went down to Isaacs for some plum grafts and he came here for 25
bus. turnips. At the singing class in the evening and this being the
last meeting, C. Gordon on behalf of the class presented me with a
nice teachers bible and .75 cts.
14 – Thunder and rain in the forenoon. Jennie drove to Port Perry,
left home at 10 and got back at 3. She reports the roads very bad.
W. And F. O’Neill here for 8 bus. oats. Sandy Gordon called after
dinner.
15 – A fine day. In the garden in the forenoon and sowed some
radish and onion seed. At Greenbank in the afternoon getting
some blacksmithing done and for some salts for the pigs. John
Sommerville here and got 45 bus. oats. Tom and George Michie
here in the evening practising on the violin.
16 – The ground covered with about three inches of snow which
did not all go off during the day. At church and S.S. A stranger
preached, Mr. Cameron being at Sunderland. Both at the C.E.
meeting in the evening, a pretty good meeting. Jennie was leader.
Mrs. Mark stayed while we were away. Mr. Mark and Mrs. A. Lee
also here in the evening. Very bad roads.
17 – Quite a frost in the morning. Went down to the bridge to get a
boat ride but could not get it unlocked. Arch McArthur here for
oats but did not promise him any. Isaac O’Neill after 2 bags oats.
Grafting plum trees in the afternoon – 1st
tree (from the south)
Lombard, 2 Shepherd’s Pride, 3 another kind from Isaacs, 4 Sam
Dusty plum, 4 another kind from Isaacs. Silas Butt called in the
afternoon.
18 – A fine warm day. Picking over some of the turnips in the
morning and grafting the remainder of the day. Put in 103 grafts in
the afternoon. W. Mark here charging some eggs. Tom Bell came
in the afternoon. All three down to the creek for a boat ride in the
evening.
19 – A fine warm day. At the garden and plowing the berry bushes
in the forenoon and grafting in the afternoon. Tom Bell drove to
Greenbank to get clovices mended. At prayer meeting in the eve-
ning, Jas. Miller leader. An after meeting about the S.S. anniver-
sary; the various committees appointed and things start with good
prospects. Moved Mother into the S. bedroom today.
20 – Fine day. Plowing the ground and planting potatoes in the
orchard in the forenoon. Tom Bell helping. Plowing sod in the
SW field in the afternoon. Jennie working on the garden and made
me a pair of new pants. Mrs. Mark and Mrs. M. O’Neill here in
the evening.
21 – Plowing sod all day. Tom went to Isaac O’Neills and got
some of his blackberry bushes. Down with Jennie and Tom for a
boat ride in the evening.
22 – Threatening rain in the morning but soon cleared up. Grafting
in the forenoon while Tom cultivated east of the orchard. After-
noon sowed oats east of the orchard, the first sowing of the season.
Isaac O’Neill after 25 bus. turnips. Tom B. goes hoarse. Quite a
warm day.
23 – A very fine day. Took a walk with Jennie up to A. Lee’s in
the forenoon. At S.S. and church. Mr. Cameron preached. The
new S.S. books were given out for the first time by the new sys-
tem. At C.E. in the evening, a large meeting, Jas. Miller led. Mrs.
Mark stayed while we were away. Mr. Mark also here. A very
fine moonlight night.
10
24 – A fine day. Harrowing the oats east of the orchard in the
forenoon and plowing sod in the afternoon. Jennie washing. An-
nie Gordon here for dinner and Mrs. Carnegie for supper. A man
from Lindsay selling bed springs also here for supper.
25 – Fine weather. Plowing in the forenoon and harrowing in the
afternoon. Isaac here for 2 bags of oats. Went down to Isaac
O’Neills in the evening for strawberry plants.
26 – A fine day. Planted the strawberries in the morning, then took
some turnips and potatoes over to Mrs. Carnegie. Both went to
Port Perry with some oats to the mill. Got 5 bus. barley to sow the
winter-killed places in the fall wheat. Got a screen door for the
front. Did not get home in time to get to prayer meeting. Mr and
Mrs Cameron here while we were away. Fixed an alarm bell so
that we both slept in bed for the first time for awhile.
27 – A fine day. Jennie went to Greenbank in forenoon while I put
on the screen doors. In the afternoon got George Michie’s seed
drill and sowed the peas and oats. Tom Bell came in the afternoon.
George came for ½ bus. peas. All three down to the creek in the
evening fishing but did not get any fish.
28 – Another fine day. In the forenoon cleaned out the calf pen
and the hen house and drawed the brush from the orchard. Tom
harrowed the peas and oats. Afternoon cleaned out the little build-
ing and dug some in the garden. Planted butter beans. Tom rolled
the peas. Willie O’Neill after 8 bus. oats. Both at choir practice in
the evening. A good turnout, but not much done.
29 – A very warm day. Sowed some barley in the fall wheat where
it was killed out and Tom harrowed and rolled it. Fixed the bars
and hoed the berry bushes. Moved the stove out into the wood-
shed. Barbara came before dinner. Tom B. goes home. Wes Luke
in awhile in the evening.
30 – A warm day. At church and S.S. Barbara at church. Mr.
Cameron preached. Both at C.E. in the evening, a fairly good
meeting. Mrs. McKittrick led in place of Maggie Blair. Lightning
and thunder in the evening.
MAY 1 – Cultivated the north field in the forenoon and sowed it
with oats in the afternoon. Quite a thunder shower about 1 pm. A
pretty warm day. Mr. Akhurst here after supper. Took the jersey
up to Alex Lees but no go.
2 – Rolled the new grass until about 9:30 and left for Port Perry
with the wagon at 11. Barbara and Jennie going. Also Barbara
took the train for home and we went to Mrs. Shire’s sale for
awhile. Got home at 5:30. Took Tiny up to Alex Lees again. Mrs.
Phair called in the evening. The first sown oats are well up. A
little cooler towards night.
3 – Somewhat cooler. Harrowing the north field in the forenoon.
Fred and William Love sprayed the orchard for the first time. Tom
Bell came for dinner and he ploughed in the SE field all afternoon
while I planted some shade trees, fixed the watering place and
fences.
4 – Trimmed the berry bushes and worked in the garden in the
forenoon and at Burton and O’Neill’s cattle sale in the afternoon.
The cattle sold for pretty good prices. Tom plowing all day.
Jennie making dress. Corn in the orchard through the ground.
5 – Tom and I went out to Port Perry in the forenoon for the eggs
sent from Frank Bratley for hatching. Fixed the gates and other
chores. Tom plowed in the afternoon. Jennie at dress. At choir
practice in the evening, a fairly good meeting. Potatoes coming
through the ground.
6 – Warmer today. Gardening in the morning, planted cucumbers
and radish. Will O’Neill here for oats, Tom harrowing. Finished
sowing tonight. W. O’Neill after three bags of oats.
7 – A fine day. At church and SS. Mr. Cameron preached. All
three at the CE, a large meeting. Nellie McMillan led. Mrs. Mark
stayed. Mr. and Mrs. Luke in at evening and T. Phair, Edith and
Cecil called on their way home from church.
8 – Choring in the forenoon while Tom harrowed the SE field. All
three out at Port Perry in the afternoon moving Mrs. Bell into
another house. Got home about 7 o’clock. A very fine day.
9 – Tom went to Greenbank in the morning for whitening and
rolled most of the day. Whitewashed the kitchen in the forenoon.
Mr. Carnegie helping to scrub. Enlarged the pig pen and planted
the watermelons. Silas Butt in for tea.
10 – Drawing out manure all day for corn and potatoes, 25 loads.
Jennie cleaning cellar. A very fine day.
11 – Rain through the night and part of the forenoon. Spreading
manure in the forenoon and drawing manure in the afternoon (12
loads). Put the young cattle out to pasture. Union choir practice in
the Methodist church for the SS convention but did not go as it
started to rain a little after 6 o’clock.
12 – Plowing in the forenoon. In the afternoon Tom went to Port
Perry for corn and mangle seed. Jennie finishes her dress (no,
Jennie did not). Fred and W. Love sprayed the orchard for the
second time. A very fine day.
13 – Jennie finished her dress today. Rain through the night and
most of the forenoon. Cleaned out the root house and grainery and
planted some corn in the forenoon. Plowing in afternoon. At choir
practice in the evening, a very good practice. A cool night.
14 – A fine cool day, frost in the morning so some say. All at
church and SS. Mr. Cameron preached. At the CE in the evening,
a fair meeting; G. Miller leader. Union choir practice in the Meth-
odist church after service. Mrs. A. Gordon here for tea and stayed
the evening. Took her home after we came from meeting.
15 – [written by Jennie] - A fine day. Robert plowing in the morn-
ing, is gone to the SS convention this afternoon. It is in Green-
bank. Tom harrowing. Mr. Luke and W. O’Neil called today.
Housecleaning upstairs all day. [written by Robert] - Convention
quite a success, a good attendance at both sessions, especially the
11
evening. Put in as secretary of the association for the year. Took
Nancy cow up to A. Lee’s. A hairy frost this morning which did
damage.
16 – Tom rolled the corn and potato land while I fixed a place to
water the pigs when rain came on and continued most of the fore-
noon. Drilling up in the afternoon until about 4 pm when it started
to rain again and continued through the evening.
17 – Drilling in the forenoon and sowed the mangles; planted the
horse and some of the Indian corn in the afternoon. Mr. and Mrs.
Cameron here for tea. Put the calves out to pasture and also the
cows for the first time. Started to rain between 5 and 6 and contin-
ued through the evening. Did not go to prayer meeting.
18 – Finished drilling and planting the Indian corn and drilled most
of the potato drill in the forenoon. Cutting potatoes in the after-
noon. Pretty cool and threatening rain several times. Jennie paper-
ing Fathers room. Mrs. Mark and Mrs. C. Gordon here seeing
about baking for the SS anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. A. Lee in for
the evening.
19 – Cold and raining some in the forenoon. Cutting and picking
potatoes in the cellar. Tom drove to Greenbank for the mail and
some errands at the store. Isaac O’Neill here. Planted the potatoes
in the afternoon. 28 drills and 8 bags of seed. Jennie finished
papering the room. 9 little pigs arrived this morning.
20 – Planted some corn in the orchard, drawed 25 posts from Isaac
O’Neills and drawed out some manure in the forenoon. Drawing
manure in the afternoon. Willie, Annie and Jessie Smith came
about 5:30 pm. Mr and Mrs. Bryant called in the evening. At
choir practice, a fairly good meeting. Still keeps very cool.
21 – A fine day and a little warmer. SS anniversary Sunday. At
SS and church. Mr. Hodges of Oshawa preached a very good
sermon. His text was 11 D-2:17. He mentioned some springs that
go dry, youth, health, friends, money, but Christ’s salvation does
not. A large attendance. Another very crowded house in the eve-
ning. Mr. Hodges preached again on the example of Sampson in
slaying the lion. We all have [?], cowardice, impatience, narrow-
ness, neglect.
22 – Rain through the night. Took the Jersey cow to Alex Lee in
the morning. Willie, Annie and Jessie Smith left for home about 9
am. Jennie and Tom went to Port Perry and did not get home until
1:30. Planted cabbage, cauliflower and cucumbers. Took the
Molly cow down to the swamp field but she soon broke through
the fence and came back. We therefore had to repair the fence.
Afterwards drawed 3 loads of manure. Went fishing in the evening
but did not get anything. Got word that Annie’s baby died yester-
day. The Baptist church raised today.
23 – Empire day, the first time celebrated. Planted the corn in the
little place near the pump and some other chores in the forenoon.
Tom principally shooting at woodchucks. Up to Greenbank put-
ting up the tables for the anniversary tomorrow. Jennie washing
and baking bread and baking cakes for the 24th
. Mrs. Duncan
McMillan died quite suddenly this morning.
24 – A beautiful day. Drawed out a few loads of manure in the
morning when Mundo Perrin and Alma, Annie Tate, Mrs. Bell and
Willa came between 9 and 10. Went down with Mundo, Alma,
Annie and Willa for a boat ride and fish but the fish were scarce.
All at the Sunday School anniversary in the afternoon and evening.
There was a good crowd. The children gave a cantata in the after-
noon which went off very well. The Uxbridge Presbyterian choir
furnished the music in the evening which was very good, only too
much of a kind. Mr. Secombe, Fraser and Glasford were the
speakers. With the Sunday collections the proceeds amounted to
$83.00.
25 – Tom took Mrs. Bell and Willa home first thing in the morn-
ing. Mundo and Alma start for home about 9:30. Planted the
potatoes that came from the experimental farm. Drew out a few
loads of manure after dinner but rain came on about 3:30, some
thunder. At the social in the evening, not a very large turnout.
Made over $8.00. South Ontario election [?] starts today.
26 – Drawing manure until the middle of the afternoon when it
started to rain and kept it up until about 6. Some very sharp light-
ning. J. O’Neill came after some oats but did not get any. Tom
got his finger cut and burned by the explosion of a cartridge he was
pounding with a hammer. Dryden unseated by the court today.
27 – Drawing manure all day and nearly finished. Several showers
during the day. Most of the crops suffering by wet.
28 – A very dull day, threatening rain all the time with quite a
heavy shower in the evening with lightning. At SS and church.
Mr. Cameron preached and Mr. W. Robinson of Detroit sang a
solo very nicely. At CE in the evening, a good meeting. Mr. Rob-
inson led the meeting and sang a solo.
29 – Plowing turnip land all day. Two [?] mower men called want-
ing to sell a mower, but did not do so. J. Burke here gathering eggs
and another Uxbridge man on the same business. Thundering most
of the forenoon to the south but no rain here, but there was a very
heavy thunder shower about 6 pm. C. Rennie’s raising and Marsh
Hill anniversary but did not go to either of them.
30 – A fine day, no rain, the first for several days. Plowing in the
forenoon. Tom spreading manure. In the afternoon drawed 5
loads of manure which finishes for the season. Miss Maggie Car-
negie here wanting help at a plowing bee tomorrow. Mrs. David
Cragg called to see Mother, and Alfred Butt called in the evening.
31 – Fine day, a very little sprinkle of rain in the afternoon. Jennie
went out to Port Perry in the forenoon while I hoed the berry
bushes and some other chores. Plowing in the afternoon. Isaac
O’Neill, A. Butt, and T.H. Wilson, the great medicine man of
Brooklin, here today. At prayer meeting. Mr. Cameron was there.
Afterwards there was a meeting to wind up the business in connec-
tion with the anniversary, about $70.00 clear after paying all ex-
penses.
JUNE 1 – A very fine day, no rain. Plowing and harrowing the
potatoes. Stove pedlar called. Got out of bed at 11 and found that
Jess had got a horse colt.
12
2 – Took Nancy cow up to Alex Lee’s and spent most of the fore-
noon trying to get the colt to suck but failed. Hoeing potatoes in
the orchard in the afternoon while Tom when to Port Perry for
some more horse corn to plant the second time. At choir practice
in the evening, not a very good turnout. A fine day, no rain.
3 – Planted the horse corn for the second time, the greater part of
the first planting being rotten. Did not do much in the afternoon.
Took the red heifer to the swamp field and then went down to the
creek where W. Mark and G. Michie were fixing the bridge. Miss
Ida Phair called in the afternoon.
4 – Thunder and rain through the night and most of the forenoon.
At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE in the evening, a
very good meeting. G. Miller leader. Took Maggie Carnegie
across the swamp there being water on the road. Mosquitoes very
bad.
5 – Making a new fence in the front of the barnyard. Tom went to
Port Perry for floor paint in the afternoon. Jennie painted the
kitchen floor. Fred Love and John sprayed the apple trees for the
third time. They were here for dinner. Went down to the creek
with Alex Leask and Charles Gordon to fish for mudcats but got
only one perch. A very warm day with a good deal of thunder but
no rain.
6 – Another warm day, a good deal of thunder but no rain. Putting
up new fence west of the barn. Tom went to Port Perry in the
morning for more paint. Mr. Cameron here for tea. Mrs. Annie
Gordon here in the forenoon. Jennie painting floor.
7 – Warm with thunder all afternoon with a big shower between 7
and 8. Tom harrowed the corn and potatoes. Finished cleaning up
the fence rubbish, planted the white beans and did some other
chores. Did not go to prayer meeting as the rain came on. Beef
ring4
started today.
8 – A fine day and much cooler. Went to Greenbank in the morn-
ing for some things at the store. Banked up the early potatoes and
hoed in the orchard the remainder of the day. Went with Jennie up
to Alex Lee’s in the evening, they having got another boy today.
Mrs. Mark and Barbara Walker here in the afternoon.
9 – A very fine cool day. Took Topsy over to Alex Lee to pasture,
then Tom harrowed the corn while I hoed mangles and other jobs.
Tom harrowed turnip ground in the afternoon and went home at
night. Mrs. James Leask here in the afternoon.
10 – Fine cool day. Drilling up for turnips, 48 drills, and sowed
them before supper. At choir practice in the evening, a pretty good
meeting. Jennie visiting at John Lee’s.
11 – A beautiful day. At church and SS. Mr. Cameron preached.
At CE in the evening, a very good meeting. Flossie Burns leader.
Mrs. Luke here in the afternoon. Big pig eat a number of the
chickens in the forenoon.
4
During the hot months, with no means of refrigera-
tion, each farmer would take a turn butchering an
animal and sharing the meat among the other mem-
bers of the ‘ring’.
12 – A fine day, some thunder to the north but no rain in here.
Finished plowing the turnip land about 4 o’clock, then took Jess to
the horse at D. McDonalds. Took the Isaac cow up to A. Lee’s in
the morning, but no use. Mrs. Bell and Tom came before dinner.
Jennie housecleaning the parlor.
13 – A pretty warm day. In the morning Tom harrowed what was
plowed yesterday. About 9 o’clock the colt was much worse. I
went and got Sandy Gordon, took him home again and went on to
Charles Gordon’s for a syringe, and worked with the colt until 3
o’clock when it died. Mrs. S. Dusty, Mrs. Alex Gordon, and Alex
Lee here in the afternoon. Jennie took her mother and Tom home
after supper.
14 – Thunder most of the afternoon and some rain after supper.
Drilled up and sowed turnips, 56 drills. Went to prayer meeting
but was too late. W. Luke, Mrs. Luke and W. Mark called today.
First strawberries of the season for supper.
15 – Started at 7 for Uxbridge for some pig feed and got lots of
rain on the way. Got ½ ton of cornmeal and paid $8.50 for it. Got
home at 4. The weather turning much cooler. Joe Stone bought
the red heifer for $42.50 and paid $5.00 down. John Lee called
today.
16 –This being the first day of the lunge fishing, I got up at 3:30
am and went down to the creek where George Michie came with
the wagon and took the boat over to the lake. Fished until about 9
o’clock and got 2 lunge, 3 bass and 2 perch. Quite a number of
boats out but not so many as usual on a first day. The weather was
very cold and disagreeable with rain flurries and quite a high wind.
Jennie went to Port Perry in the afternoon while I hoed mangels
and did some other chores. Both at choir practice, a very good
turnout. Decided to have a strawberry festival on the 27th
.
17 – A very fine day, finished drilling and sowing turnips. James
Smith and Jessie arrived at 6 p.m.
18 – A fine morning but threatening and rain in the afternoon and
much lightning to the north in the evening. George Fowlie came
for dinner. At SS and church. Mr. Cameron preached. Jas. Smith
and Jessie left for home at 6 pm. At CE in the evening, a fairly
good meeting. Mrs. Somerville leader.
19 – Scuffled the corn and potatoes in the forenoon. Went for a
load of gravel for the road and then drew out some wood from
Isaac’s field for Mrs. Bell. Planted some corn for the third time.
Took the Isaac cow up to A. Lee’s but no use. Jennie down at
Marks for the trolling lines. Word received that Mr. James Butt
was married on Saturday last. Silas Butt called at supper time. A
very fine day but rather warm.
20 – Got up at 3 am and with Jennie drove over to the lake to fish.
The water was rather rough. We got one lunge and 2 bass. Got
home at 8 am, then went drawing gravel. Drew three loads which
finishes the road work. A nice cool day. Annie Gordon here for
dinner and Mrs. Mark in the afternoon. Took the Isaac cow up to
A. Lees again.
13
21 – Took the heifer to John Stones in the forenoon and walked all
the way. She led very well and weighed [?]. Hoed and planted
some corn in the afternoon. Mr and Mrs Robert Phair, T. Phair and
Mr. Wright calling in the afternoon and had a nice little visit. Both
at prayer meeting which was also preparatory service. A good
meeting. G. Michie, Nellie Michie, Annie Dusty, Althea Love,
and Silva Leask came in this time. A very fine cool day.
22 – A very fine day with a little rain about 1 o’clock. Went to
Port Perry in the morning and got home at 9:30. Planted corn and
hoed the mangels. John Ewin and J. Lee here in the forenoon. In
the afternoon Jennie had her SS class here including Maggie Blair
and they had a very good time.
23 – Hoeing mangels and corn in the forenoon and plowing in the
orchard in the afternoon. Mr and Mrs James Allan, Mrs T. Phair
and Mrs Wright called in the evening. At choir practice, not a very
good turnout. Took the Nancy cow up to Lee’s. A fine day.
24 – A very fine day but pretty warm. Sowed the buckwheat in the
forenoon and hoed in the afternoon. Jennie went out to Port Perry
in the afternoon. Alex Lee and boys called and Charles Gordon.
25 – A fine but pretty warm day. Went to Wick to the communion
service. Took Mrs. Carnegie there and back. A good turnout,
most of the Greenbank people were there. Jennie did not go. Both
went to the Methodist SS anniversary service in the evening. A
large crowd. Rev. Mr. McDermid of Whitby preached a very good
sermon but could not agree with the doctrine he taught.
26 – At Port Perry in the forenoon, hoeing corn in the afternoon.
Both at Sonya at the Presbyterian SS and CE convention in the
evening, a large crowd. McMillan of Lindsay and Patterson of
Toronto were the speakers and they were splendid. Got home at 11
pm. A very fine day.
27 – Went to Port Perry for strawberries and afterwards hoed all
the potatoes in the field. Tom Bell came before dinner. Both at
the strawberry festival in the evening. A good crowd and a good
time. The proceeds amounted to $18.23. After paying expenses
there will be about $10.00 to the good.
28 – A drizzling rain in the forenoon and quite heavy in the after-
noon. We picked and preserved 7 jars of strawberries. W. Luke
and A. Akhurst called in the forenoon. Made out the church re-
ports for the quarter in the afternoon. Annie, Emma and Alfie
came about 7 pm. CE business meeting tonight but did not go.
Quite cool with bright northern lights.
29 – Went up to Greenbank in the morning for the beef, but there is
a hitch and there will be none this week. Put Paris green on the
potatoes in the orchard and did some hoeing. Annie left for home
at 2 p.m. Had a small mess of new potatoes, the first of the season.
A fine cool day.
30 – Got up at 3 am and with Jennie went over to the lake and got
one 4 lb lunge. A beautiful morning but a little cool. Got home at
8. Churned and did some hoeing. Hoed a few turnips, the first of
the season, but they are rather small. Started to wean the little
pigs. George Michie up for the scuffler.
JULY 1 – Dominion Day and very fine day it was. Scuffled tur-
nips in the forenoon and in the afternoon went alone to the Sons of
England demonstration at Port Perry. A large crowd and saw the
usual sports. Got home about 7. Both went up to Alex Lee’s in the
evening.
2 – A fine day. At SS and church. Mr Cameron preached. Both at
CE in the evening, a very good meeting. Election of officers;
Nellie McMillan, pres. W. Ledingham and G. and Mrs. G. Bewell
at church. Mr. A. Day preached in the Methodist church today.
3 – Rain in the early morning and threatening several times during
the day. At Port Perry in the forenoon and hoeing turnips in the
afternoon. Tom comes back and takes a load of wood out to his
mother and also some oats to get ground. William Perkins here for
dinner and Alex Lee and Abe Cragg just after dinner. At managers
meeting in the evening. A full turnout but there was little business
to transact.
4 – A very warm day with a good deal of thunder but no rain here.
Paris greened the potatoes in the field in the forenoon while Tom
scuffled. Annie Gordon here for dinner and John Lee Sr. and John
(Jack) Lee Jr. here just after dinner. Tom went to Port Perry with
another load of wood while I hoed turnips. The old sow got in the
stable and ate all but 8 of the chickens.
5 – A little rain in the morning and a good deal of thunder during
the day and very warm. Went for the beef in the morning, then
banked up the potatoes and scuffled the corn and hoed some tur-
nips. Tom hoeing turnips. Both at prayer meeting in the evening.
Mr. Cameron, leader. Not many out but an extra good meeting.
Gave Mrs. Gordon a ride home. Jack Lee there.
6 – A fine cool day. Hoeing corn in the forenoon and turnips in the
afternoon. Tom finishes scuffling the turnips. Jennie picking
currants and making jelly. Barbara Fowlie here for dinner and
stayed during the afternoon.
7 – Got up soon after 3 am and went to the lake. A very fine morn-
ing it was but not a fish did we get. Hoeing turnips the remainder
of the day. Jennie picking the gooseberries. At choir practice, a
good turnout.
8 – Rain through the night with sharp lightning again at 2 pm and 7
pm. Hoeing turnips all day.
9 – A fine cool day. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached.
All three at CE. Maggie McMillan, leader; a fairly good meeting.
Mrs. W. Luke here in the afternoon.
10 – A fine cool day. At Port Perry in the forenoon. Hoeing tur-
nips in the afternoon. Jennie at Port Perry in the afternoon with
some new potatoes and black currants.
11 – Hoeing turnips until about the middle of the afternoon when
we went over to help Wes Luke to cock up some hay as rain was
coming, but we got very little done before it came on. Did not do
much during the remainder of the afternoon as there was another
shower came on. Mrs. Akhurst and Mrs. John McLean here for
tea.
14
12 – At Thomas Phair’s until the middle of the afternoon shingling
his barn. Tom takes the wagon to Greenbank to get repaired and
hoed turnips the rest of the day, very nearly finished. Both at
prayer meeting. Mr. Boe, leader, and not very many out. Mrs.
Mark here in the afternoon.
13 – Very fine day, finished hoeing turnips 1st
time. Hoed man-
gels, horse corn, and beans. Mrs. A. Lee and Mrs. Phair here in the
afternoon. Went with Jennie and Mrs. A. Lee to the lake in the
evening. Had a fine boat ride but got no fish.
14 – A pretty warm day. Fixing hayrack, patching the barn roof
and other jobs. At choir practice in the evening. Tom mudcatting
at the creek in the evening.
15 – Making a hay stack for George in the forenoon. Cleaning the
straw out of the barn and other jobs in the afternoon. Some rain in
the evening. Took the Nancy cow to Alex Lee’s.
16 – At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE in the
evening, a very good turnout. It fell to me to take the topic. A
pretty warm day.
17 – At Port Perry in the forenoon, then Tom went to Greenbank
for the wagon. Fixing the bridge at the barn door. Then started to
cut hay about 4 pm. Mrs. Bryant and May here in the afternoon.
Picked the first lot of raspberries – 13 boxes.
18 – Tom finished cutting the field west of house about 10 o’clock.
Raked and cocked it up in the afternoon. Jennie at Port Perry in
the afternoon, a nice cool day.
19 – A very fine cool day. Drawing in hay. Mr. W. Mark, helping.
After which Tom raked the field. Mr. Cameron and Mr. W. Ak-
hurst here for tea. At prayer meeting Mr. Cameron spoke on why I
am a Presbyterian, 1st
night.
20 – Cut the little field at the swamp and drawed in rakings, fixed
fence at swamp pasture and other jobs. A little rain just before
dinner. Afternoon went down to Isaac’s to see if he had anything
that would make a sleeper for the barn but he did not have any.
Tried at Marshall’s with the same result but got a stick from G.
Michie. Mrs. Luke here picking berries. Mrs. R. Sonley and a
Miss Richardson came with her. Mrs. Jas. Burns, Flossie and baby
Burns, Mrs. Byers, Mrs. Harper and Barbara Walker here for tea.
Barbara, Willie and Jessie Smith came about 6 pm. Went down to
the creek in the evening fishing for mudcats with Isaac. Had pretty
fair luck and got home about 9:30.
21 – Threatening rain in the morning but did not amount to much.
Went with Tom for the barn sleeper at George’s, then framed it and
put it in. Tom went to Port Perry for bread and other provisions.
Afternoon raked and drew in the hay on the little swamp field,
Willie Smith helping. Mrs. Mark and Mrs. Charles McLean here.
Tom took the Isaac cow up to Alex Lees. At choir practice, a very
good turnout. Berry social at the Methodist church.
22 – Got up at 4 am and with Willie Smith went over to the lake.
A very fine morning but we only got one bass. Got back about
9:30. Picked berries in the afternoon, May Bryant helping; 27
boxes. Smith folks left for home at 7 pm. Went to Greenbank to a
sale of the old school seats but there was no sale on account of no
notice having been given.
23 – A very fine day but pretty warm. Both at SS and church; Mr.
Cameron preached, and both at CE in the evening. A fair turnout.
Hugh Martin, leader. Mrs. Luke here in the afternoon. Alf and
Lizzie Spencer of Brooklin and Frank Smith of Dakota at church.
24 – Went to Port Perry with the wagon for salt and binder twine.
Just after dinner Mr and Mrs W. [Brimacombe?] came on a tandem
wheel5
and left again at 6 pm. Did nothing but talk to them. Mrs.
Marshall O’Neill here in the afternoon. Went over to Lukes after
supper to see about the binder. A pretty warm day.
25 – Tom scuffling turnips all day. At Wes Luke’s in the forenoon
fixing up the binder and making a pig rack in the afternoon. Went
with G. Michie to Wick to hear Dr. [Nugent?] on missions. A fair
meeting but not much life. Fred and Roy O’Neill picking berries
in the afternoon. A little rain about 3 o’clock. Pretty warm.
26 – A very warm day. Helping Wes Luke to start the binder in his
rye while Tom put Paris Green on the potatoes. At G. Lee’s barn
raising in the afternoon. Ben Ward and Dan McDonald were the
captains. Ben Ward’s side won after a hot fight. Peter Ganton fell
from the beam on his head and shoulder and had to be carried off.
At prayer meeting. Mr. Cameron was there and gave his 2nd
ad-
dress on why I am a Presbyterian. Jeannie and Tom picking ber-
ries in the afternoon. Mrs. W. O’Neill, Roy and Lillie picking in
the forenoon. 40 boxes in all counting yesterdays picking. John
Lee called in the afternoon.
27 – Took 6 pigs to Port Perry; their weight was 965 lbs. Brought
a bedstead home. Helping Wes Luke with the rye in the afternoon.
Tom scuffling turnips. Annie and Ralph came just after dinner.
Mrs. Mark helping to pick berries. A very nice cool day.
28 – Helped at Luke’s rye until finished, about an hours work and
then cut our fall wheat, finishing at 3 pm. Russell helping. Hoed a
few drills of turnips, 2nd
time, and went to choir practice in the
evening.
29 – Cut George’s fall wheat in the forenoon and hoed turnips in
the afternoon. Tom went to Port Perry in the afternoon and
brought Willie home with him.
30 – Tom left early in the morning and walked to Port Perry to see
Tom Bell of Raglan who is there today. Mr and Mrs. Alex Lee
here in the forenoon and James Michie came just before dinner. At
SS and church. A little late for SS and Mr. A. T. Horne taught the
class. Mr. Cameron read an old sermon preached by Rev.
McArthur in 1867. At CE in the evening, a large turnout, perhaps
the largest yet. R.R. Harrington, leader. A very cool day for the
time of year and a high wind.
5
Tandem wheel – a bicycle for two people.
15
31 – A very fine day. Drove out to Port Perry in the forenoon with
Wes Luke for some repairs for the binder. Spent the afternoon
with Wes fixing the binder. Willie drove to Port Perry after supper
and brought Mrs. Bell and Tom back with him. Jennie and Willie
picked berries.
AUG. 1 – A fine day. Hoeing turnips with Tom until 4 pm when
we finished. After supper went to Greenbank to get the discharge
arms of the binder straightened. William Real threshing rye, the
first of the season as far as I know. Heard that W. McGill of Port
Perry and Sir. J.D. Edgar are dead and John Horne of Saintfield
very low. Mrs. Mark and Jessie called in the evening and Luc
O’Neill for some apples. Pared some apples in the evening, the
first of the season.
2 – A very warm day. Fanned up 7 bags of wheat and took them to
Port Perry mill and got flour in return. Brought home a mattress
bed. Fixing binder, horse rake, and other chores in the afternoon.
Jennie scalded her foot. At prayer meeting with Jennie and Willie
in the evening. Mr. Cameron was there but did not speak on his
unfinished subject.
3 – Drew in the fall wheat in the forenoon. Tom raked the field
and we drew it in in the afternoon. Fixed the watering place in the
swamp field and other chores. Jennie at a quilting bee at Mrs.
Lukes.
4 – Cut the oats east of the orchard in the forenoon. George and
his horse Joe helping. Jennie and Willie picking berries. At choir
practice in the evening, a fair meeting. Plowing sod west of house
in the afternoon.
5 – A fine day and somewhat cooler with wind from NW. Jennie
and Willie start for Inniskillen at 7:30. Willie stayed there and
Jennie got home at 6 bringing Annie Bell with her. Cutting the old
fence posts and other rubbish for wood. At Greenbank in the eve-
ning to sell the school seats but there was no sale on account of
there being so few there.
6 – A fine day but the roads very dusty. At SS and church. Mr.
Cameron preached, rather a small choir. At the CE in the evening,
a fairly good meeting, Nettie McMillan leader.
7 – Trimming sod in the forenoon and cut the peas and oats in the
SW field. A very fine cool day.
8 – A very fine cool day. Trimming sod in the forenoon while
Tom shocked oats and peas. Tom plowing in the afternoon while I
shocked. Helped W. Luke to fix the canvas of the binder at which
refused to work. Jennie at Marks to a quilting bee.
9 – Went for the beef in the morning and then Jennie and her
mother went to Port Perry and got back after twelve. Annie got
dinner ready. Skinning sod in the afternoon and finished the piece.
At prayer meeting in the evening, rather a small meeting. I. A.
Miller, leader.
10 – Did some chores in the forenoon while Tom harrowed the
newly plowed sod. Did very little in the afternoon but take the
Tiny heifer up to Alex Lee’s. Left home at 4 o’clock with Jennie
and Annie Bell and went over to the lake and had a very nice time
but got only 1 fish. Got home about 8 o’clock.
11 – Drawing in oats east of orchard in the forenoon and cutting
wheat for George in the afternoon. At choir practice in the eve-
ning. Mrs. W. Leask, organist. A fair turnout. Mr. Cameron here
for dinner. A pretty warm day, a very little rain about 6.
12 – A very heavy thunder storm between 4 and 6 in the morning
which soaked things pretty well, and it was needing it as things
were getting very dry. Did very little in the forenoon. Cutting
wheat and oats at George’s in the afternoon. Mrs. Mark and Mrs.
Jas. Bush called. W. McMillans new barn (hardly finished) struck
by lightning and burned this morning about 5 am. Just as we were
getting into bed there came a rap at the door, which proved to be
Margaret Bell. As we had no idea of her coming it was quite a
surprise.
13 – A fine cool day. Walked to SS with Annie Bell, Mrs. Bell
and Maggie coming later with the rig. Mr. Cameron preached.
Mrs. W. H. Leask, organist. At CE in the evening, a very good
meeting, Jas. McKittrick leader, no organist. Mrs. Luke here in the
afternoon.
14 – Finished cutting George’s field of oats about 10 o’clock and
got 2 rounds about our north field before dinner. Finished the field
in the afternoon. A very fine cool day. The Port Perry S. of T.
excursion to Fenelon Falls today.
15 – Drew in oats in the forenoon and at Alex Lee’s threshing in
the afternoon and a big ½ days threshing it was. W. Taylor’s ma-
chine. Jennie took her mother and Maggie to Port Perry and left
them there. Mrs. Annie Gordon here in the forenoon. A very fine
day.
16 – A very fine day. Drew in peas and oats in the forenoon and
some rakings in the afternoon. Got 6 bags of oats from Alex Lee.
Mr. Cameron and John Lee here between 4 and 5 o’clock. At
prayer meeting with Tom and Annie Bell, rather a small meeting.
Ice cream social at W. Reals.
17 – Went to Port Perry in the morning and took Father to the Dr.
and Annie Bell to Mrs. Bell’s where we left her. Father paid his
Dr. bill which was $35.00. Went over to Lukes after dinner to see
about cutting and did little else until after supper when we cut four
rounds about the SW field. A pretty warm day and a beautiful
moonlit night.
18 – Finished cutting for 1899 at 5 pm. Got a horse from W. Luke.
G. Michie came and helped to shock up at 4 pm. Drove up to choir
practice with George’s horse, rather a small turnout. A fine day.
19 – Tom started in the morning and took Annie Bell home to
Inniskillen and got back at 8 pm bringing Maggie with him.
George Michie came up in the morning and helped to finish shock-
ing and then I went and helped him with his oats building a stack.
Got done at 4 pm. Took the sow up to Joe Burton’s after supper.
A very hot day. A man called about buying apples.
16
20 – A very warm day. Went to SS and church, Mr. Cameron
preached. At CE in the evening, a good meeting. Maggie Blair,
leader.
21 – A fine day and not so warm. Worked all day drawing in the
oats in the north field. George helping. Billie Bowles called to ask
hands for his raising next Wednesday. Voting today on the ques-
tion of a poor house for the county, but did not go to vote.
22 – A cool day and almost rain in the forenoon. Tom raked the
north field and we drawed it in. Cutting oats at George’s in the
afternoon which finishes the cutting for the year. George Miller
called in the evening to see about the new school blackboard.
23 – Jennie drove Tom and Maggie to Port Perry in the forenoon
where she left them, as Tom starts for Manitoba tomorrow, while I
cut the old wood out of the raspberry bushes. Went with George in
the afternoon to Mr. Bowles raising. A little scarce of hands, but it
went up very well. Mrs. Mark here in the afternoon.
24 – Went down to George’s in the morning to get him to help at
the oats but he was at C. Gordon’s; then tried for one of M.
O’Neill’s boys but could not get one, but got Wes Luke and
Stanley Crowle and drawed it in the afternoon. Raining a little in
the evening.
25 – Drew in oats in the forenoon, George helping. After dinner
pumped out the water and cleaned out the well. I then raked the
SE field and drew in the rakings after supper which finishes the
harvest for 1899. At choir practice in the evening, a small turnout.
Jennie at the store shopping. A fine day.
26 – A nice day, but pretty warm. Gang plowing in the SW field
until 5 o’clock. After supper Jennie drove to Port Perry to meet
Barbara who came up on the train. They got home at 9 pm.
O’Neill’s boys here for apples.
27 – A nice day. Mrs. Mark and Mrs. Moon of Seagrave here for
dinner. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached, no organist at
SS. At CE with Jennie in the evening, a good turnout. J. A. Miller
leader. Choir sang a piece for the first time. Eliza Beare kidnapped
Allie McMillan tonight.
28 – Helping George all day staking oats and finishes his harvest.
W. Luke also finishes today. Barbara down to Marks’ in the eve-
ning.
29 – Gang plowing in the SW field all day. Very warm. Alex Lee
called in the forenoon.
30 – Took Jennie out to Port Perry and left her there. Gang plow-
ing in the afternoon and finished the SW field. W. Perkins here for
dinner and Mr. Cameron and John Lee for supper. Jas. Burns
called at dusk. A pretty warm day.
31 – Took the binder over to Lukes in the morning and spent the
remainder of the forenoon fixing the grainery and mending har-
ness. About 10:30 Mrs. Clyde, Hannah Clyde, Mr. Murray and
Mrs. Joyce from Sutton came, got dinner and left again about 2
o’clock. Harrowed the SW field in the afternoon and went to
Greenbank in the evening and brought Mrs. Joyce(who had been
visiting at Mrs. Walkers) here for the night. Sat talking until after
11. Started to rain about 10 o’clock and it is very badly needed as
things are very dry.
SEPT. 1 – A very fine rain all night which was much needed.
Took Barbara to Port Perry and brought Jennie home, rain most of
the way. Started at 3 o’clock to drive Mrs. Joyce to Uxbridge but
fell in with Hannah Clyde on the road who took her the latter part
of the way. Got tea at John Lee’s and went to choir practice, a
very small turnout but had quite a sing. Very dark night, threaten-
ing rain.
2 – Threshing all day at Mr. Akhurst’s; W. Taylor’s machine. Mrs.
Annie Gordon here in the afternoon.
3 - At SS and church. Mr. Cameron preached, no superintendant
at SS, small choir. At CE with Jennie in the evening. I had to take
the topic and very few assisted. Quite a cool day.
4 – Threshing at Wes Luke’s until 2 pm. Was at the rakes and a
very hard place it was, they threshed so fast, but it was a nice cool
day. Picking the Culbert apples in the later part of the afternoon.
Had a headache and went to bed early.
5 – Thunder and rain in the forenoon. Harrowed the fall wheat
ground in the forenoon and plowed some of it in the afternoon. A
fine cool day. Jessie Michie here in the afternoon.
6 – Threshing at George Michie’s and finished at 5 pm, then went
to Isaac O’Neills and started at 6 and worked until long after dark
but could not finish after all. Jennie went up in the morning for the
beef but there is another hitch. She then went to Port Perry and got
back at noon. Mrs. Alex Lee and Maggie Brown here in the after-
noon.
7 – Went down to Isaac O’Neill’s in the morning and finished his
threshing which took about an hour, then plowed the remainder of
the forenoon except when a shower came up. After dinner started
to help C. Gordon to thresh but they had not finished at D. Cragg’s
and it was 5 o’clock before they started at C. Gordon’s. Finished
him out in about 2 hours.
8 – Went up to Greenbank first thing in the morning for the beef
but went on a fool’s errand. Plowing the rest of the day. At choir
practice in the evening, a fairly good turnout.
9 – Plowing until about 4 o’clock and finished the fall wheat
ground, then harrowed it once over. Fine cool day.
10 – At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. Miss Flossie
Burns came to tea. At CE with Jennie, a good meeting, G. Miller
leader. A dull night.
11 – A heavy thunder storm at 7 am and a drizzling rain most of
the forenoon. Fanned up the seed wheat and some other chores in
the forenoon and harrowed the ground twice over and went for the
drill at George’s in the afternoon.
12 – Sowed the fall wheat in the forenoon and harrowed it and
plowed some in the field east of the orchard in the afternoon. Two
or three rain flurries after dinner. Cool day.
17
13 – A fine cool day. Plowing all day. Mr. Cameron, Mrs. T.
Phair and Mrs. Crowle here in the afternoon.
14 – Drying the potatoes in the orchard. Jennie helping. Picked
some apples and dug up some berry bushes. Mr. and Mrs. Alex
Lee and Barbara Walker called in the evening and Mrs. Mark in
the forenoon. A hard frost in the morning, the first of the season
that I have noticed.
15 – Plowed in the forenoon and in the afternoon helping A. Lee to
thresh, first at the Ewin place and after 5 at his own place. Jennie
at Port Perry in the afternoon. Apple packers here. John Lee
called. At choir practice in the evening, the best turnout for a long
time.
16 – Threshing at Alex Lee’s until 10 when they moved here and
had a short run before dinner and all afternoon. Mrs. Mark helping
Jennie.
17 – At church and SS, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE with Jennie
in the evening. Bella McMillan leader; not very large meeting.
Saintfield [?] home services. E. Horne at church and Mrs. And
Mrs. E. [?] out for the first time. Jas. Yule sr. died yesterday.
18 – Finished threshing at home at 9 am. They then moved to W.
Luke’s where they started at 10 and threshed him out by night; a
very hard day’s work. Foggy in the morning and threatening rain
in the afternoon, cooler at night.
19 – Cleaning up the barn floor in the morning and cutting horse
corn the rest of the day. Mrs. Mark here in the afternoon. Rain
from the east in the evening. Marshall O’Neill’s trial today for
kicking Pat Thompson.
20 – When I went to the barn in the morning I found that Fly
[horse] was missing. Hunted over Lukes place before breakfast,
then hitched up to hunt her when I heard that W. Lukes buggy and
harness was also gone. We then decided that they were stolen.
Drove out with Wes to Port Perry and got 30 cards printed out and
sent them to all the surrounding places but got no trace of the
thieves. In the afternoon we drove as far as Saintfield but could
not get any trace. Mrs. A. Gordon called in the forenoon; Mr.
Cameron in the afternoon and George and Jessie, W. Luke and W.
Phoenix in the evening.
21 – Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with 3 barrels of apples
sold to Mr. Monroe and 10 bags of peas and oats to get ground.
Went to the fair in the afternoon. Jennie went down but did not go
to the fair; there was quite a fair turnout but the exhibits were
rather few. Mr. and Mrs. C. Gordon called when we were away.
Had George’s horse Joe.
22 – Plowing all day. Moved the cook stove into the kitchen. At
choir practice in the evening, a poor turnout of girls. Quite a cool
day.
23 – Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for the meal. Made a pig
trough and cut corn in the afternoon. A very hard frost in the
morning.
24 – Thunder and rain in the early morning and rain again in the
evening. Communion Sunday; a fair turnout and an extra good
sermon by Mr. Cameron. Did not go to CE on account of the rain.
George Fowlie here for dinner, he came on a wheel [bicycle].
25 – Rain off and on all day. Cleaned out the root house and made
a new door to it in the forenoon. Did not do much in the afternoon
but go down to Marks. Making out the quarterly church reports in
the evening.
26 – A steady rain all day, with snow after dinner (the first of the
season). Nothing doing. A cold disagreeable day. Saw nobody.
27 – Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with Jennie to do some
shopping. In the afternoon put up the little stove and then went
down to Marshall O’Neill’s to see about getting Fred to help with
the potatoes. Went to prayer meeting in the evening but there was
no meeting, only Flossie and John Burns there. Mrs. Mark here in
the afternoon.
28 – When I got up there was two of the little pigs missing and
thinking they were stole, went to Greenbank to see W. Phoenix
who was watching the [?] last night, but he had not seen anything.
I then came home and found the pigs in the swamp field. W.P.
came down to see about it in the forenoon. Plowing the remainder
of the day with W. Luke’s horse. A high wind at noon and a little
rain in the evening. Mrs. Mark here in the afternoon.
29 – Plowing all day with George’s horse. At choir practice in the
evening, a pretty cool night. Whitby fair day.
30 – Digging potatoes all day, Fred O’Neill helping. A pretty cool
day with slight rain flurries. Snow in the evening.
OCT. 1 – At SS and church, G. Miller preached, Mr. Cameron
being away on his holidays. At CE in the evening. Nettie
McMillan, leader; a good meeting. A pretty cold night. Mrs.
Bryant here in the afternoon.
2 – Jenny went to the Dr. in the forenoon to get help for her sore
finger. Digging potatoes all day and finished, Fred O’Neill help-
ing. At managers meeting at night. A very hard frost in the morn-
ing.
3 – Taking in the mangels, Fred O’Neill helping. Jennie went to
Greenbank in the forenoon to get Barbara Walker to do the work
for a few days while she nursed her hand. Barbara came in the
afternoon. A very fine day, quite a frost in the morning.
4 – First went for the beef and then plowed the remainder of the
day. A little rain towards night. Wrote to Manitoba in the eve-
ning.
5 – Cutting Indian corn. Mr. and Mrs. Alex Lee here in the eve-
ning. A very fine day.
6 – Cutting corn in the forenoon. Went to Mr. Monroe’s sale near
Manchester in the afternoon. Jennie went as far as Port Perry. At
choir practice in the evening. Took Barbara Walker home.
7 – Finished cutting corn and picked apples the remainder of the
day. A very fine day.
18
8 – At SS and church (Children’s Day services). Mr. Cameron
preached. Did not go to CE as it came up rain when we were ready
to start. Tom Michie in for awhile in the evening.
9 – Rain in the morning. Went down to Marks to see how Jessie
was, she being ill with appendicitis and found her some better.
Afterwards made a door for the root house. Plowing in the after-
noon with Alex Lee’s horse Dick. Jennie made two shirts for
Father.
10 – A very fine day, plowing in the forenoon and at Boud and
McKay’s sale near Seagrave in the afternoon to see the horses but
did not buy. Drove up with Jennie to Greenbank in the evening for
the mail but someone had been there before. Called at John Lee’s.
Mr. Wright of Toronto called before dinner.
11 – A fine day. Plowing all day. Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Phair here
in the afternoon, Nellie Michie in the morning and Mr. Cameron
for tea. Went to prayer meeting with Mr. C. and got a ride on way
home by Mr. Boe. The Mollie cow dropped a big calf this morn-
ing.
12 – Plowing all day. Miss Hannah Clyde and Miss Mary Joyce of
Sutton here in the afternoon. Went down to Marks in the evening
to see how Jessie was and found her out of bed and much better. A
husking bee there tonight.
13 – Plowing in the forenoon. Picking apples in the afternoon, G.
Michie helping. James Smith and Annie came at 6:30. Mr. and
Mrs. Alex Lee called in the evening. At choir practice in the eve-
ning. Annie Smith went with me. A very good practice. A very
fine day. Transvaal war declared.
14 – Picking apples alone in the forenoon. Nellie Michie picking
up some fallen apples. Thunder shower just before dinner. Plow-
ing in the afternoon. James Smith and Annie left for home at 12
pm and F. Perrin and Anna Tate came at 8 pm.
15 – Fernando Perrin left for home at 10 am. Went with Annie to
SS and church. Mr. Cameron preached, or rather read, a pastoral
letter from the moderator of the assembly. Collection in SS for the
centuary fund. Went with Annie to the opening of the New Baptist
Church in the evening, there was many more than could get in. Dr.
Wilton of Toronto preached a very good sermon from the text ‘For
God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that
whosoever believed in him should not perish but have everlasting
life’.
16 – A very fine day. Plowing in the forenoon. At a bee putting in
the posts for a new fence in front of the church. Baptist tea and
lecture tonight.
17 – Plowing in the forenoon and finished the SW field. In the
afternoon went with Alex Lee to W. McKay’s sale. It started to
rain about 3 o’clock and kept it up until bedtime at least. Brought
Mrs. Bagshaw to Alex Lees.
18 – Went with A. Lee to R. Wallace’s to see about a horse, but he
was not at home. We then went to W. McKay’s and bought a mare
for $30.00. Got home a little before dinner. Plowing in the after-
noon.
19 – Thanksgiving Day. Picked apples in the forenoon. Margaret
and Ethel came before dinner and Willie Bell just as we were at
dinner. Went to church service in the afternoon with Annie and
Jessie Michie. Mr. Cameron preached, 6 infants baptised. J.
Wallace (2), J. Burns, A. Lee, R. Walker and W. Thomas. At the
W.F.M.S. social in the evening with Margaret and Annie, a rainy
night but a very fair time. Made $22.00. Mrs. Luke here in the
afternoon. Jennie drove Willa home before we went to the social.
20 – A fine day but a little raw in the afternoon. Drew in the pota-
toes. There was about 4 loads with the gravel box. Went in the
evening to a school trustee meeting at G. Real’s, but little was
done. Decided to meet again on Saturday of next week. G. Miller,
our present head teacher, has resigned. Mrs. Mark here in the
afternoon.
21 – Went down to Marshall O’Neill’s in the morning to get Fred
to help with the turnips next week. Called at Isaac’s for some bags
and also at Mark’s for the same purpose, then bagged up oats and
peas and went to Port Perry taking Margaret and Ethel down to the
noon train. Went to Mrs. McGill’s sale and got home about 5:30 in
the evening. Jennie and Anna drove Lucy to Greenbank for coal
oil and some other things. Mrs. Fowlie and Mrs. Lamb (Barbara)
here for dinner and John Lee and Bella and also a young man
(enquiring about the vacancy in the school) here in the afternoon.
22 – At church and SS with Anna. Mr. Cameron preached. Mr.
John Burns was at SS and gave an address. He came here for tea
and then we all went to CE in the evening when Mr. Burns gave us
a very good address on the CE pledge. Some rain in the evening.
23 – Rain through the night and half through the forenoon. Fixed
the root house in the morning and plowed the rest of the day.
Topped a few turnips after 4 pm. Mrs. Akhurst and Mrs. Gordon
here in the afternoon.
24 – Plowing sod in the forenoon and topping turnips in the after-
noon, Fred O’Neill helping. Tax collector Holman here in the
forenoon. Jennie at Port Perry in the afternoon. Jessie Michie
here.
25 – Harrowed up about half of the turnips and then drawed in 12
loads, Fred and Anna helping. A very fine day. Jennie and Anna
went to Greenbank in the evening for the mail.
26 – Drew in 8 loads of turnips in the forenoon. Finished topping
in the afternoon and got a few harrowed out but it started to rain
and drizzled through the evening. Bible Society meeting at Green-
bank. Plowing match at Myrtle.
27 – Rain all the forenoon and part of the afternoon. Did not do
much. Hung the gate into the root house, put in some glass and
tried to fix the clock. At choir practice in the evening, a very dark
night and only five there, muddy roads.
28 – Rain all through the night and half the forenoon. Plowed sod
about 2 hours in the forenoon and about 1 ½ hours in the afternoon
when it began to rain harder than ever. School trustee meeting at
G. Real’s tonight but did not go as it was a very dark wet night.
Put Mother on the mattress today but she did not like it and we had
to change back.
19
29 – A fine day but a little cool. At church and SS with Anna. Mr.
Cameron preached. At CE, a large meeting, R. Burns leader. G.
A. McMillan out for the first time since he had the fever. Mr. John
Ewin died last night.
30 – A very fine day. Harrowed out all the turnips and drew in 14
loads. At trustees meeting at G. Real’s in the evening to see about
hiring a teacher. Norman Cragg engaged on condition that he
accept $375.
31 – Drew in the remainder of the turnips, 10 loads, 44 loads in all.
Afterwards drawed in the corn. Mrs. Mark and Mrs. J. [Lince?]
here in the afternoon. Anna Tate walked to Port Perry towards
night. Drove over to R. Monroe’s in the evening to see if they had
engaged a teacher for their school and found that they had. A very
dark night and raining a little.
NOV. 1 – Plowing sod in the forenoon and the corn ground in the
afternoon. At prayer meeting with Annie in the evening, a small
meeting. Mr. Cameron was at it, pretty cold night. News today of
a bad British reverse at Ladysmith, South Africa.
2 – A very fine day with a pretty hard frost in the morning. Plow-
ing sod all day. Mending harness in the evening.
3 – A hard frost in the morning and pretty cool all day. Finished
plowing the sod and awhile at the corn ground. Joe Bennet here
wanting to sell apple trees. Mrs. Phair here in the afternoon. At
choir practice in the evening but it turned out a wet night and there
was no singing. Wes Luke called in the evening.
4 – Plowing in the forenoon, a wet waste time. At D. Cragg’s
wood sale in the afternoon and bought ½ acre lot for $3.50. Mr.
Coolage of Myrtle here for tea, he was wanting to engage as
teacher. At trustee meeting in the evening. Hired Norman Cragg
for $400.00.
5 – Drove down to Jas. Smith’s, arriving at 12 o’clock, and left for
home at 5. Mrs. Black and Allan came just before I got home.
Roads rather muddy. Anna at SS, church and CE. Mr. Duncan of
Woodville preached on the Centuary fund.
6 – Did very little all day. Went up to Alex Lee’s and had a talk
with John Lee about the centuary fund and other things, and in the
afternoon went to Greenbank with Jennie to the post office, and
ordered a pair of Sunday boots. Annie and Allan left for home at 1
pm. Anna went to Port Perry with them.
7 – Plowing sod in the little field until 4 when I went to the induc-
tion tea in the Port Perry Presbyterian Church, Rev. Mr. Cooper
being inducted today. A large crowd but the meeting was rather
tiresome. Mr. Cameron and Mr. Duncan here in the interest of the
centuary funds.
8 – A very fine day. Plowing all day. Anna went to prayer meet-
ing in the evening. Jennie and Anna housecleaning upstairs.
9 – Finished plowing the little field at 4 o’clock. Beef meeting
tonight but did not go. Jennie and Anna housecleaning.
10 – Drawing manure on the orchard in the forenoon. At Port
Perry with Jennie in the afternoon and at choir practice in the eve-
ning. Brought Topsy home from Alex Lee’s where she has been
pasturing during the summer.
11 – Ground white with snow in the morning and it snowed a little
all forenoon. Plowing in the orchard in the forenoon and drawing
manure in the orchard and covered the apples with straw in the
afternoon. At school trustee meeting at G. Real’s in the evening,
engaged Miss McBrien at $225. Pretty cold, looks as if it were to
freeze up.
12 – Froze up hard but a fine day. At SS and church with Anna.
Mr. Cameron preached. At CE in the evening, a very good meet-
ing. Flossie Burns, leader. It was decided to hold a social night
the Wednesday before Christmas. Mrs. Bryant here in the after-
noon.
13 – Went over to Lukes to get him to kill pigs in the afternoon.
Fixing up the apparatus and spreading the manure on berry bushes
in the forenoon. Killed 3 pigs in the afternoon, W. Luke head
butcher. Jas. McKitrick here packing the apples. 11 bus., about 5
or 6 bus. spoiled by the frost.
14 – Picked up the best of the frozen apples and then cut up the
pigs in the forenoon. Took the apples to Port Perry in the after-
noon but did not see Mr. Monroe. A little rain on the way down.
Pared some of the frozen apples in the evening (the first).
15 – A dull day. Threshing at T. Phair’s. Jennie and Anna making
head cheese and rendering lard. Mrs. Annie Gordon here for din-
ner. Anna at prayer meeting. Apple tree agent here in the morn-
ing.
16 – Threshing at T. Phair’s for about 2 hours in the morning.
Cutting up the pork and some other chores in the forenoon. In the
afternoon went with Mr. Boe in the interest of the centuary fund.
A very fine day.
17 – A very fine day, plowing in the orchard and finished it. Anna
drove to Greenbank after dinner to get some batting for quilts they
were making today. At choir practice in the evening.
18 – Harrowing the orchard and cleaning out the pigpen in the
forenoon and drawing the manure to the apple trees and other
chores in the afternoon. Jennie and Anna housecleaning the
kitchen. Mrs. T. Phair and Mrs. H. Brown here in the afternoon.
A fine warm day.
19 – At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached, the congregation
larger than usual. At CE with Anna in the evening, a fair atten-
dance. Liberty and Law was the subject. Song service in the
Methodist Church.
20 – Took off the screen doors, put up the storm doors and win-
dows. Fixed the door between the horse and cow stable and some
other small jobs in the forenoon, and went to Port Perry with
Jennie in the afternoon. Saw Mr. Monroe about the frozen apples
but could not get anything out of him. Jennie brought home a fine
Christmas cake from her mother. Nellie Michie here in the after-
noon and evening. Pared apples in the evening.
20
21 – Fixed the apple drying rack and the clock in the forenoon and
making a lounge in the afternoon. Anna drove to Greenbank for
the papers after dinner.
22 – Finished the lounge and pruned some apple trees in the fore-
noon and went to Burton, O’Neill and Ward’s cattle sale at Joe
Burton’s in the afternoon. Mr. Cameron and E. Boe here in the
afternoon. Anna went to prayer meeting in the evening. Fine day.
South Ontario election to be on Dec. 12.
23 – Pruning trees all day. Anna drove to Port Perry in the after-
noon. Mrs. Mark and Jessie here in the afternoon and for tea.
Pared apples in the evening. Had a sore eye in the evening.
24 – Finished pruning the apple trees in the forenoon. Drew away
the brush and covered the strawberries with straw in the afternoon.
Jennie and Anna covering the new lounge. At choir practice in the
evening. A fair turnout, a pretty dark night. Mrs. W. [Kerr?] and
Mrs. A. Lee here in the forenoon.
25 – Burned up the old berry bushes in the morning and then drove
with Jennie over to the lake to see if the boat was there, found it
there all right. Got home just at dinner. Did some chores and dug
up a big apple tree in the afternoon. Pared apples in the evening.
Had quite a time getting in two of the calves. A very dark night.
26 – A very fine day. Went to SS and church. Mr. Cameron
preached. Did not go to CE but Anna went. Marshall O’Neill and
Mrs. drove to church today, the first time I ever remember seeing
them do so. Mrs. Luke and Mrs. Jason Stone here in the afternoon.
27 – Trimmed up the apple tree into firewood in the forenoon and
in the afternoon went with John Michie to the lake and brought
home the boat. Afterwards drew apple brush out of the orchard.
Mr. Monroe of Manchester and G. Lane called in the afternoon.
Isaac and Pat here sharpening axes. Pared apples in the evening.
28 – Did a few small jobs in the forenoon and helped Wes Luke to
fix his well in the afternoon. Drove up to Greenbank after supper
with Jennie for the mail but it was gone. I then went down to
Marks for the papers and to see what they were going to do for the
Centuary fund. A very dark night, mild weather.
29 – A nice mild day. Helping W. Luke with his well most of the
day. Anna drove to Port Perry in the forenoon. A. Lee called in
the afternoon; G. Real and another man in the morning. A very
dark night and started to rain about 9 pm. Hon. G. W. Ross speaks
at Port Perry tonight. 6
30 – Fanned up a grist and went down to Marks’ for some bags in
the forenoon and filled up oats for meal. Took the oats back to
Alex Lee that I had borrowed, let the water off at the spring, and
planted some berry bushes. A very mild day, some rain in the
forenoon. Dark night, foggy. Pared apples in the evening.
6
G. W. Ross was premier.
DEC. 1 – Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with a grist of oats
and wheat and got home at 1 o’clock. Threshed the beans in the
afternoon. At choir practice in the evening. A very dark night and
a small attendance. Tried the new books (Randall’s) for the first
time. S. Martin got a load of straw.
2 – Went to Port Perry for the grist in the forenoon. Intended to
take out a load of wood for Mrs. Bell but found out that Mary had
sold it again. Did very little in the afternoon, a drizzling rain most
of the time. Pared apples in the evening. Jennie made taffy which
went very well.
3 – At SS and church. Mr. Duncan of Cannington preached an
excellent sermon on the three doors. Anna at CE in the evening.
A dark night, a little cooler, but there is no frost yet of any account.
4 – Frost in the morning and continued getting colder all day.
Feels as if it froze up for good this time. Wheeled in some fire-
wood into the woodshed. Anna went to Greenbank to political
meeting, Dryden vs. Calder.
5 – Wheeled in wood part of the time. Alex Lee here in the fore-
noon asking hand to a gravel bee at the church but did not go.
Went down to Phair’s swamp in the afternoon to have a talk with
G. [?] who is cutting wood there, but he had gone home. Samson
Martin was cutting there. Pared apples in the evening. A pretty
cold day.
6 – Rather rough and snowing in the forenoon but better later in the
day. Wheeled in wood in the forenoon and did very little in the
afternoon. Mrs. Mark here in the afternoon. Jennie and Anna
drove to Greenbank in the evening for the mail.
7 – A fine day with a little snow in the evening. Did little but the
chores all day. Anna drove to Port Perry in the afternoon and
brought Mrs. Bell home with her. Pared apples in the evening after
which Anna went down to Marks’ with the papers. Manitoba
election day, Greenaway defeated.
8 – Got the sleigh out and drew in the remainder of the wood into
the woodshed in the forenoon. Did not do much in the afternoon.
J. Lee called and we had quite a talk on the centuary fund. At
choir practice in the evening.
9 – Helped Wes Luke to kill a pig in the afternoon. Anna drove
Mrs. Bell home. Pared apples in the evening. A cold raw wind
from the SE.
10 – At church and SS. Mr. Cameron preached. No superinten-
dant in SS. Anna at CE. A very dull foggy afternoon. Started for
Port Perry at 9:30 for the dr. to Jennie and brought Mrs. Bell home
with me. Got back about 11:30, the dr. getting here at the same
time.
11 – No rest all night and after a very severe travail a daughter was
born at 8 am. Dr. Archer remained for breakfast. Baby weighed 9
¼ lbs. Rain most of the night and nearly all the day, quite heavy in
the afternoon. W. Mark called and brought the papers from
Greenbank. 5 little pigs came in the evening. Annie born.
21
12 – South Ontario by-election day. A very rough windy day with
rain flurries now and again. Went up with Father to vote in the
forenoon and got a shower on the way up. Did very little in the
afternoon. Planted some berry bushes just for curiosity, no frost in
the ground. Wes Luke came in about 9 o’clock and brought word
that Dryden is elected by between two and three hundred. Calder
under the drifts badly. Poor Charlie.
13 – The ground white with snow in the morning and some snow
falling but no frost. It got colder towards night and froze some.
Went down to Marks’ in the morning to get William to run the line
between the wood lots at D. Cragg’s’ swamp but W. was not going
today. Went up to Alex Lee’s awhile in the afternoon. Anna and
Mrs. Bell drove to Port Perry in the evening, a bright moonlight
night. Isaac O’Neill called in the forenoon and got blowed up by
Mrs. Bell for selling her wood. Marshall also called and settled up
accounts.
14 – A raw east wind all day with some snow in the afternoon.
Went to the swamp and helped W. Mark to run the line between
the wood lots in the afternoon. Anna drove to Greenbank to the
store. Dr. Archer called to see Jennie and pronounced her doing all
right. Mrs. Mark called in the forenoon.
15 – Snowing a little most of the day, somewhat rough in the after-
noon but hardly snow enough to make good sleighing. Drove out
to Port Perry in the forenoon. Cleaned out the pig house in the
afternoon and at choir practice in the evening, only 4 out, had the
practice at Mr. Millers. A beautiful clear night. Got a card from
George saying he was coming down next week or the week after.
16 – Got the cutter rigged up in the forenoon and Anna and Mrs.
Bell drove to Port Perry with it in the afternoon, the first of the
season. Jessie Michie here for tea and then Anna went home with
her in the evening. A very fine day. Father’s face badly swollen
today, the first of any account this winter was yesterday.
17 – At church and SS with Anna. Mr. Cameron preached a good
sermon. At CE in the evening with Anna, G. Miller, leader. An
extra good meeting. A short choir practice after CE. Mrs. Luke
here in the afternoon.
18 – Did a few odd chores in the forenoon and in the afternoon
drove out to Port Perry with the cutter to see the doctor about
Jennie who is not getting on as we would like. The dr. did not
come but sent some medicine. Sleighing nearly gone, started to
rain in the evening. Managers meeting tonight but did not think it
best to go. Pared apples in the evening. Nellie Michie here in the
afternoon.
19 – Rain through the night but cleared up in the morning and got
colder. Picked over some apples in the cellar in the forenoon.
Mrs. Annie Gordon and Mrs. A. Lee here in the afternoon. Anna
drove with the buggy to Greenbank for coal oil and she went down
to Marks in the evening with the papers.
20 – Took the sleigh and went to Isaac O’Neill’s and got his fan-
ning mill to clean the wheat which is mixed with barley and after-
wards drew two loads of dung to bank up the root house. Fanned
at the wheat most of the afternoon and made very slow work. At
special CE meeting to elect officers for the first half of 1900, a
very good turnout but the meeting was rather long. They put me in
for president. A. Cleghorn here after dinner selling sprayers and
other things. W. Mark called about posts.
21 – Fanning wheat in the forenoon, doing nothing in the afternoon
as Mrs. Bell and Anna were out at Port Perry getting some things
for Christmas. A woman called after dinner selling fancy cushions
and suchlike. A very fine day, scarcely any frost. Jennie got out of
bed for the first time.
22 – An exceptionally fine day, mild and spring-like. Fanning at
the wheat a good part of the day. Mrs. Bell and Anna baking for
Christmas. W. Mark called and brought the mail. He can hardly
speak with a very bad cold. Wes Luke called brining a goose for
Christmas. Public school concert at Greenbank. Anna went to it.
23 – A fine warm day. Went down to Isaac O’Neill’s in the after-
noon for the timothy sieve for his fanning mill and while I was
away George came from Manitoba after an absence of nearly 10
years. Mr. Ross drove him out. He looks very much the same,
only a little grey. Anna went to Christmas tree at Shaw’s church.
A very dark night. Wes Luke called before dinner and again be-
fore supper.
24 – Rain through the night and all forenoon. About noon it turned
to snow which continued through the afternoon and evening, pretty
rough through the night. Nellie Michie here for dinner and she
went with me to SS and church, a small attendance at both. Mr.
Cameron perched an extra good sermon. No one at CE in the
evening on account of the weather.
25 – Christmas day. Ground white with snow but not enough to
make good sleighing. Anna drove out to Port Perry with the cutter
and brought Willie Bell back. Got our goose eaten and in the
afternoon hitched up the cutter to go to the Post Office but got the
mail from Long John. Took George to Sandy Gordon’s. Ate part
of the big cake Mrs. Bell baked for supper. A nice bright day. Mr.
and Mrs. Akhurst celebrated their golden wedding today.
26 – A very fine day. The first thing in the morning George drove
Mrs. Bell and Willie to Port Perry and got back about 3 o’clock.
He then went somewhere for tea. James Michie and Robert Ak-
hurst here in the forenoon. Jim was going to Toronto. A family
dinner at Marks today. Making a clothes horse in the afternoon.
27 – At public school meeting in the forenoon, a fair sized meet-
ing, which passed off quickly in spite of the talk. J. M. Real was
elected trustee in the place of G. Real. Finished making the clothes
horse in the afternoon. Nellie and Jessie Michie here a while in the
afternoon. Mr. Cameron here for tea. Annual SS meeting in the
evening, a fairly good meeting. J. M. Real was elected superinten-
dant. George, who had been visiting folks about Greenbank, came
home with me.
28 – A very fine cold day. George went away in the forenoon to
visit the people on the 12th
concession. Fanned up some timothy in
the afternoon. Anna at a party at Mr. Akhurst’s in the evening.
Edith Phair here in the afternoon.
22
29 – The coldest day this winter so far. Cleaned out the pig pens in
the forenoon. Cecil Phair came over with some books. Attended
preparatory service in the Church in the afternoon. Mr. Glasford of
Sunderland preached. Ethel Miller, Mrs. Knox and Charles Dur-
ward admitted into membership. A managers meeting was held,
the caretaking for 1900 let to Jas. Innis for $35.00. Choir practice
in the evening, a fairly good one; hard candies and peanuts for a
treat. Annie Dusty here for tea.
30 – A very cold day. George Miller came just before dinner and
remained all afternoon until after tea when he went to Port Perry to
meet Jas. A. Miller. George came back about the middle of the
afternoon and went down to Marks’ in the evening. Father did not
get up for breakfast this morning, something I do not remember of
before.
31 – A pretty cold day. Drove with the buggy to the communion
service at Wick. George went with me to the Methodist anniver-
sary services at Greenbank. The church at Wick was nicely filled
and Mr. Cameron preached. Jessie Michie here for dinner and both
her and Nellie for tea, and went with Anna to the Methodist church
in the evening.
And so ends the year 1899.
1900
JAN. 1 – A very fine mild day. George went over to visit Phair’s
and Lukes in the forenoon. Wes Luke called before dinner, the
principal talk being public school matters. Drove to Greenbank in
the afternoon and voted for Holtby, Doble and Manderson for the
township council. Methodist hot supper and lecture by Rev. C.O.
Johnston of Toronto. Did not get home in time to get to the lec-
ture. George went to it. Anna down to Marks for dinner and tea.
Doble, Holtby, Jeffery and Beys elected.
2 – Stormy in the forenoon. Drove George to Port Perry in the
afternoon on the way to the front. Isaac O’Neill here in the fore-
noon. Worked until 11 o’clock in the evening. At the church
reports and envelopes. Sleighing not very good.
3 – Drove out to Port Perry with the sleigh in the forenoon and
brought home the coal stove that George bought and a half ton of
coal, the first coal ever brought on the place. Put the stove up after
dinner and then drove to the school house where the trustees had a
meeting, then home and did the chores and back to prayer meeting.
Jennie went for the first time out since a long time. A fine mild
day.
4 – Cleaned out the pigpen in the forenoon and drove out to Port
Perry with Jennie in the afternoon. Worked at the church books
with Jennie and Anna’s help until after 12 o’clock but could not
make them come right. A nice mild day. Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Real
called on their way to Port Perry.
5 – Spent most of the forenoon at the church books, found the
mistake all right, and in the afternoon went to the farmers institute
meeting at Greenbank. Rather a small turnout for a very interest-
ing meeting. At choir practice in the evening, one of the best prac-
tices for a long time. Maggie McMillan was there. Mrs. T. Phair
called in the forenoon and Mrs. A. Gordon Jr. was here for tea.
6 – Another fine mild day. Fanned some timothy seed in the fore-
noon. Went down to Marks in the afternoon for some bags. A fine
bright night.
7 – Thawing all day, with some rain in the afternoon and evening.
The roads somewhat muddy. At church and SS with Anna. Mr.
Cameron conducted a service of humiliation and prayer by request
of the Queen. Teachers chosen in the SS. Maggie McMillan here
for tea. At CE in the evening, a good turnout considering the
weather. It fell to my lot to lead the meeting.
8 – A very fine day. Bagged up some oats and peas and took them
to Beare’s Mill in the afternoon. Got the horses shod at Tulleys,
and called at John Lee’s. W. Luke, Mrs. A. Gordon Sr., and James
Lee here in the forenoon. Jim stayed for dinner and rode part of
the way to Greenbank with me on the waggon.
9 – Went after the meal at Beare’s in the forenoon. Went by the
10th
and came home by Greenbank. Went to Samson Martin’s
chopping bee in Phair’s swamp in the afternoon. 9 hand in all
including Samson himself. A fine day and bright night. Alex Lee
here in the afternoon.
10 – Cleaned out the pigpen in the forenoon. Isaac O’Neill here
after some oats. W. Luke, Mrs. [D----?] of Oshawa and Robert
Miller of Manitoba here for awhile before dinner. Cleaned the
clock in the afternoon and in the evening went with Anna to the
annual congregational meeting. A very good turnout. The retiring
managers were re-elected. A. T. Horne; W. H. Leask; J. M. Real;
and myself. I was also re-elected choir leader. The alcove ques-
tion was laid on the table for another year. A very fine night.
11 – A pretty cold day with easterly wind. Started to snow towards
night and snowed quite heavy enough to make sleighing. Made a
coal sifter in the forenoon. Working at the church reports in the
afternoon. Nellie Michie here in the afternoon.
12 – Drew three loads of wood from Cragg’s swamp. Snow rather
thin for good sleighing. Anna visiting at S. Dusty’s in the after-
noon. Drew one load of wood and went back for the second but
broke the tongue of the sleigh just as I got to the pile. Put in an old
reaper tongue in the afternoon. Jennie and Anna drove to Green-
bank in the evening while I kept the baby. A very little snow fal-
ling.
13 – A fine mild day. At SS and church with Anna. Mr. Cameron
preached. Ethel Miller came here to tea. At CE in the evening
with Jennie, an unusually large meeting. Maggie McMillan leader.
It was decided to get a communion set for the church when we get
money enough.
14 – Drew three loads of wood, snowing a little in the afternoon
and evening. Jas. Lee and Mrs. Andrews of Montana here in the
forenoon. At managers meeting in the evening, officers elected for
the year. A. T. Horne, chairman; Jas. Leask, sec; W. H. Leask,
financial sec.; and Alex Leask, treas. Norman Cragg ordered by
the dr. to quit teaching for a time at least.
15 – Drove out to Port Perry with the cutter, the sleighing being
better on account of the snow. Jennie and the baby went with me.
She intended to go to her mothers but found she was not at home
23
so she had to go to Miss Glovers. This is the first time out for the
baby. First went to D. Millars to hear about Norman Cragg, then
got 4 chairs at W. Nott’s for the school and enquired about a
teacher. Got home about noon. In the afternoon went up to the
school. Called at J. M. Reals but he was not at home. Saw Normal
Cragg. Went to Greenbank for the papers and home for supper. In
the evening went to J. M. Reals where we had a trustee meeting
and decided to engage a Mr. Grey of Uxbridge to teach until Nor-
man be able to take charge again.
16 – Drew one load of wood in the forenoon and sharpened W.
Luke’s bucksaw and drew 2 loads in the afternoon. Making out the
copy for the printed church reports in the evening. Mr. Cameron
here in the forenoon. 2nd
day of Port Perry races.7
17 – A very fine day, rather too mild for the sleighing. Drew 4
loads of wood; sleighing splendid. Nellie [?] here in the afternoon.
Drove to Greenbank in the evening. Called at J. M. Real’s and
John Lee’s, then went to C. Beare’s to try to get Mrs. Beare to act
as organist but did not succeed very well.
18 – Drew three loads of wood, the sleighing rapidly disappearing.
Anna went with a sleigh load to Cannington to C. [McLean’s?] but
they will have a hard time to get back I think. At choir practice in
the evening, a very small turnout. Bill McMillan, organist.
19 – Thawing all day until near night when it turned colder with
quite a high wind from the NW. A little rain before dinner. Anna
got back from Cannington about 2 pm and reporting having, well,
nothing tearing of a time. Mended some harness in the forenoon
and cleaned out the pigpen in the afternoon.
[no entry for the 20th
]
21 – Walked to SS and church with Anna; was afraid to drive on
account of the ice. Mr. Cameron preached on Foreign Missions.
Drove to CE in the evening. R. T. Harrington, leader, a very fair
meeting.
22 – A very mild day and thawing quite a bit in the afternoon.
Made a new part for the bucksaw and sawed some wood in the
forenoon and in the afternoon drove with the buggy to Port Perry
with Jennie, among other things to see the dr. about the baby who
is not very well. George came back from his visit down south.
23 – A fine day but somewhat colder towards night. Killed a little
pig in the forenoon, George acting as chief butcher. Went to
Greenbank in the afternoon for the papers and called at G. Real’s
about school money. Dr. Archer called on his way home from
J.M. Real’s. Mrs. Luke here for tea. Tom Black and Allan came
just after supper. George went up to Alex Gordon’s in the after-
noon.
24 – A very cold morning with an east wind but it got warmer
towards night. Did very little all day. Wrote out the minutes of the
SS association in the afternoon. Tom Black and Allan left for his
brother John’s at Bolsover at 1 pm and a cold drive they will have.
7
Horse races were held on Lake Scugog.
Went to prayer meeting in the evening, a very small meeting. Mr.
Boe, leader, no organist. Anna at party at S. Martin’s. George
came back in the evening.
25 – Mild in the forenoon but got quite rough towards night with
snow a little. Went to Alex Lee’s for his crosscut saw and then
with George’s help cut some apple tree trunks. Anna drove out to
Port Perry in the afternoon for Mrs. Bell and Willa but did not get
them as Willa was on the sick list. W. Mark here in the morning
for the quilting frames. Anna brought word that Mr. Bricks oldest
daughter committed suicide this morning.
26 – A very cold wintery day with a strong wind from the NW; the
coldest day this winter so far, at least it feels that way. Turnips
freezing in the root house. Did very little but the chores all day.
Did not go to choir practice on account of the cold. George here
all day.
27 – A very fine day, a great difference from yesterday. Drove up
to Greenbank for the mail and some other errands in the afternoon.
George went to the woods and got some maple trees to take with
him to Manitoba. Alex Leask here just before dinner wanting to
hire Anna but did not make a bargain. Ida Phair here in the after-
noon and brought 2 baby bibs, a present from Mrs. Wright of To-
ronto. Had Mother out of bed in the rocking chair and out in the
room. Anna not very well. Was some of the notion of going to
Oshawa.
28 – At church and SS with George. Mr. Cameron preached. A
small choir, Belle McMillan, organist. At CE in the evening, a
fairly good meeting considering the weather which was rather
rough. Mr. Jas. Miller, leader. Did not bring Anna home. George
at R. T. Harrington’s for tea.
29 – A pretty cold day. Drove to Port Perry with the buggy in the
forenoon, the chief errand being to get a map and numeral for the
school. In the afternoon drove George to W. McMillans, he is to
put in some days visiting in that neighbourhood. Willa Bell came
home with me from Port. Mrs. A. Lee here in the forenoon. Isaac
O’Neill after 2 bags of oats. Four years today since our wedding.
30 – Snow and rather rough all day, especially in the afternoon.
Fanned up some oats in the forenoon with Jennie’s help. Expected
to go canvassing for church money in the afternoon but my com-
panion, Mr. C. Gordon, did not come likely on account of the
weather. Jennie drove to Port Perry and brought Mrs. Bell back
with her. She left home at 5:30 and got back at 7:30. The Foresters
have a lecture or concert at Greenbank but I did not go.
31 – Fanned up some more oats and started at 10 am for Uxbridge
with 26 bags of oats but found the roads bare in many places. Got
stuck on the hill by the church. Left 10 bags at J. Lee’s and took
the rest through. Got 26 cts. Brought home 1 bag of oatmeal and 6
bags of cornmeal for pigs. Got home at 5 pm. C. Gordon came
today but did not find me at home. Did not go to prayer meeting.
FEB. 1 – A very sharp day. Did little in the forenoon but bag up
some oats and in the afternoon took 13 bags of oats to Beare’s mill
and got it home with me. Dressmaking upstairs. Baby very cross.
24
2 – A fine day but pretty cold. Cleaned out the pigpen in the fore-
noon. Mrs. Annie Gordon here. Alex brought her here on his way
to Port Perry and called for her again on his way home. Anna and
Willie started off to Port Perry with Lucy but she got unmanage-
able about Well’s and G. A. McMillan brought her home while the
girls walked on to Port. Drove down for them and met them just
starting for home. Went with Charles Gordon in the afternoon
canvassing for church money and had some success. At choir
practice in the evening, a fair attendance. Had it in the infant room
on account of the cold. Mr. and Mrs. C. Blair there for the first
time.
3 – A fine cold day. Did the chores, cut some wood and sharpened
the bucksaw. Wes Luke called in the morning.
4 – Snowing all day from the east which makes good sleighing
again. At church and SS with Anna and Willa. Mr. Cameron
preached. At CE in the evening, rather a small meeting. G.A.
McMillan, leader. Drove the girls up to the meeting but not home
again. Two young men about the size of A. Akhurst and Tom
Michie did the job.
5 – A very fine day. Drove up to Greenbank in the afternoon for
the mail and called at J.M. Real’s to talk over the trouble that ap-
pears to be brewing in the choir. At the Pathmaster meeting at Mr.
Akhurst’s in the evening. Only Alex Lee and me came. Put in
Wes Luke for pathmaster. Fell about half sick with a cold.
6 – A very fine day. More snow through the night. Jennie, Willie
and Mrs. Bell drove to Port Perry in the forenoon. George got
back from his visit out north. Did very little all day being half sick
with the cold. An extra fine clear night. Read Mr. Whitamans
famous sermon in the afternoon.
7 – A mild day, thawing in the afternoon and rain in the evening.
Helping Wes Luke to clean stable floor in the afternoon. George
goes over to T.E. Cragg’s. Mrs. Mark and Maggie Dusty here for
tea. At prayer meeting with George in the evening, a very small
meeting. Mr. Miller leader. Went principally to see Mr. Cameron
about the choir difficulty but he was not there. Saw Alex Ewin.
8 – Rain most of the day and the snow going fast, sleighing ruined.
Did nothing but the chores and nursed my cold. T.E. Cragg here in
the afternoon on business with George’s life insurance policy.
9 – A fine day, froze up again and very icy. Cut some wood in the
forenoon. Mr. and Mrs. G.A. McMillan and baby boy here in the
afternoon. George at Mark’s or somewhere in that direction. At
choir practice, a fair good turnout, but not at all good feeling. Mrs.
W. Leask left because [L..?] was there. There is every appearance
of being a big bust.
10 – A fine day, thawing some. George and I sawing wood most
of the day. Took a chill and went to bed without supper. Annie
and Willa putting their hair in curl papers to go to Wick on Tues-
day. Were looking all evening for Mrs. Bratley and Mrs. Black but
they did not come. Jennie very smart. Got 5 eggs today, that is
nothing.
11 – [written by Jennie] A fine day. Rob’t in bed and very sick.
Grandpa taken with chills at dinner time and had to go to bed. We
called Dr. Archer and he said it was la grippe and it had affected
Grandpa’s heart and he may not get better. Robt’s fever 104.
George, Annie and Willa at church this afternoon and heard W.
Cooper, Port Perry, new pastor, pronounced him good. Albert
Akhurst and Annie, Willa and Tom Michie drove to Wick in the
evening. It is the fifty first anniversary of the congregation. Mr.
and Mrs. Mark here this evening.
12 – [written by Jennie] Very soft day, looks like rain. The dr.
here tonight. Grandpa no better. Rob’t holding his own. Called
Russell Luke, Mr. Akhurst, Mrs. Gordon, Mrs. Lee, Mr. John Lee,
Mr. James McMillan, Mr. W. Real, Mrs. W. Mark. George to
Greenbank and doing the chores. Annie and I washing. Mother
and Willa doing the other work and minding baby.
13 – [written by Jennie] A wet foggy morning, rained all night.
Old Mr. Perkins arrived here about one am having heard Grandpa
was sick and not likely to recover. He stayed until this afternoon
when George drove him home. Dr. here about three o’clock.
Grandpa no worse, Rob’t improving. Callers, Mr. Akhurst, Mrs.
O’Neill, Mr. Phair, Mr. Alex Gordon sr. Mrs. W. Mark stayed all
day. Annie & Willa got left, the boys did not come to take them to
Wick tea. It is a stormy night.
14 - [written by Jennie] A nice day but very high wind. George
drove to Port this morning to get a lawyer to come out and make
Grandpa’s will. The dr. and Mr. [Garnold?] came about four pm
but Grandpa unable to transact business. The dr. said he was much
worse and there was no hope for him. Robert improving slowly.
Callers, Nellie & Jessie Michie; Mrs. Gordon & Mrs. Dusty; Alex
Lee; Mr. Akhurst & Mr. Boe; Mr. Lane & others. Telephoned the
girls tonight to come at once.
15 – [written by Jennie] A nice day. Mr. & Mrs. James Smith
arrived here at midnight. Grandpa died at 4:10 this morning.
Annie and Margaret did not arrive in time to see him. Wesley
Luke & Silas Butt laid Grandpa out. George & James Smith went
to Port and made all arrangements for the funeral.
16 – [written by Jennie] A beautiful day. Robert able to be up and
dressed but not downstairs for the funeral service which was held
at 1:30 pm. There were a great many here. Mr. & Mrs. Smith
went home tonight, leaving here at seven o’clock.
25
17 – [written by Jennie] A cold clear morning. Annie & Margaret
went home on the noon train. John Michie drove them to the sta-
tion. I went down to Port with them. The flags were flying today
because the British had gained a victory in South Africa. George
went to G. Burns’ sale this afternoon returning about six in the
evening. He reports a good sale and a large crowd. I. Boe here
today and bought our pigs for $4.60. Eva Luke here this afternoon,
also Mrs. Alex Gordon, sr.
18 – After a week in bed I am thankful that I am able to be about
again, although very weak. This has been a beautiful clear day and
pretty cold. Jim Michie came before dinner, he skated most of the
way across the swamp. He drove Jennie to church in the after-
noon, the first time she has been there for months. He stayed for
tea and then started for Monroe’s. Anna walked to SS and stayed
somewhere for tea and went to the CE I suppose. Joe Burton and
Mrs. Bryant here in the afternoon.
19 – A very fine day but pretty cold. John Michie took our 7 pigs
to Port Perry in the forenoon, weighed 1124 lbs, got $4.60. Map
agent, driven by John Boe, called. Mrs. Akhurst, Nellie Michie
and Mr. and Mrs. Jas. McMillan called in the afternoon. George
and I spent a good part of the day in looking over Father’s papers.
John and Anna drove to Greenbank in the later part of the after-
noon.
20 – A very fine day. George packed up and left at 10 am for Port
Perry to start for home tomorrow. John drove him to Port. James
Lee here in the forenoon, Mrs. Jas. Blair and Maggie Blair in the
afternoon and Albert Akhurst in the evening. Got out as far as the
barn today but feel pretty shaky. Burt’s and O’Neill’s cattle sale
today.
21 – A fine day but a cold east wind with snow in the evening.
Maggie Blair and Nellie Burnett, Mrs. Mark, Miss Ida Phair, Jessie
Michie and Mr. Cameron here in the afternoon. Mr. A. Malice
here for dinner. John Michie doing the chores. Anna walked to
prayer meeting but did not walk home. News comes that Lady-
smith has been relieved.
22 – Snow and hail from the east all through the night and the most
of the day. Wes Luke was in, in the afternoon and told us of the
dreadful calamity that took place at Pinedale last night. Russell
[Luke] went back to Pascoe’s last night to take a load of stuff to
Epsom where he has rented a farm. During the night the house
took fire and Russell, Mrs. P. Luke’s brother and their third daugh-
ter were burned to death, besides everything in the house. W. Luke
brought the news down this morning. As soon as we heard it John
hitched up the cutter and drove Jennie and Anna over to Lukes.
Anna stayed to help Mrs. Luke who is in a terrible way. In the
afternoon John drove Mrs. Bell home and brought Mrs. Rundle
back to Lukes, he then drove Anna to Greenbank to get some
things for Mrs. Luke. Tom Michie came in with the mail and
stayed the evening. John drove over to Lukes about 9 o’clock and
brought Anna home. He stayed here all night.
23 – A nice day but drifting some, the road up by Alex Lee
blocked up for the first time this winter. Jennie drove over to
Lukes in the morning to see if there was anything that could be
done. She then drove to Port Perry and brought her mother and
Anna’s mother back with her.
24 – Snow from the south most of the day. Towards night the wind
turned to the NW and got colder. John drove over to Lukes in the
morning with some eatables. James Miller and E. Boe here in the
afternoon, their business was to see me about the choir.
25 – A very cold day and drifting from the north, especially in the
afternoon. Went to the barn in the morning and did the chores but
did not go out again all day. Jennie and Anna went to the funeral
in the afternoon and in spite of the bad day and roads there was a
very large turnout. Russell and Gertie Luke were both buried in
the one coffin. No one out in the evening.
26 – A terribly cold night, perhaps the coldest this winter. Nobody
called all day. Anna went down to Marks in the afternoon. Got a
little milder towards night.
27 – A very fine day. John after dinner drove the sleigh to Port
Perry taking Mrs. Bell and Willa home, Aunt Janet on the way
home, also Anna, but he brought her back. He also took a grist of
wheat to the mill. J.M. Real called in the afternoon and Mr and
Mrs Alex Lee in the evening. I think I am getting a bit better.
Thos. Phair very sick.
28 – Snow from the east most of the day. Jennie drove over to see
how Mr. Phair was and found him worse. John and George Fowlie
came about 10 o’clock, they walked all the way from Manchester.
They stayed for dinner and left for home again about 3. Jennie
drove to Greenbank in the afternoon for the mail and some things
at the store. Just as she was about to start, Alex Lee drove in to tell
us that Thomas Phair had just died. The papers tell of the Boor
General’s surrender.
MAR. 1 – Snowing all day and drifting some. Snow very deep
and the roads pretty well blocked. No one called today, nor was
anyone off the place. No news from the rest of the world, which is
rather an unusual thing.
2 – Blowing and drifting all day until sundown when the wind
went down. The roads must be in bad state now but we do not
know how things are as we have not seen a critter today. Do not
know if Mr. Phair’s funeral was today or not.
3 – A fine day after the storm. No one seen in the forenoon. In the
afternoon Jennie and Anna hitched up Lucy and made a brave
attempt to raise the blockade and after floundering in the snow for
some time they got as far as Alex Lee’s, the road from there not
having been broken. They heard that Mr. Phair was buried yester-
day. Albert Akhurst here in the evening and stayed until about 12
o’clock.
4 – A nice day with a very little snow from the east. Thought of
going to church but when it came time did not feel like going so
there was no one either out or in all day.
5 – A fine day but a raw east wind. Jennie and Anna did a big
washing in the forenoon and in the afternoon drove up to Green-
bank with Jennie and the baby for the mail that we have not got for
several days. Made a visit at John Lee’s and a cup of tea, got back
about 5 o’clock.
26
6 – Hail through the night which turned rain which continued most
of the day, but turned colder at night. Isaac O’Neill here in the
forenoon for some bags. Started to burn green wood and it does
not go very well.
7 – Cold with snow flurries during the day. Drove up to Green-
bank with Anna in the afternoon for the mail and some things at
W. Wallace’s store (just started). Called at John Lee’s and Mr.
[Bran...?]. Roads a little better but had to take the sides of roads
some places. A. McArthur here selling news.
8 – An exceptional fine day. W. Mark here in the morning. W.
Phoenix and Mr and Mrs Gordon in the afternoon. Drove out with
Jennie and the baby to Port Perry, left home at 11:30 and got din-
ner at Mrs. Bell’s. Called at lawyer Yarnold’s and got his advice
about the estate. Got home about 6 o’clock.
9 – Started at 2 pm with Jennie and the baby and drove to James
Smith’s where we remained all night. James Lee was there. Mr.
and Mrs. Mark stayed here while Anna went to C. Love’s party. A
fine day but rain in the evening.
10 – John did the chores in the morning. Jim Michie here for
dinner. Jessie here all day and Nellie at night. We left Jas. Smith’s
in the morning and got to Frank Bratley’s for dinner and left again
at 3 for Oshawa. Took a walk uptown and saw the foundation of
the new McLaughlin works, an immense building. A very fine
day.
11 – John did chores in the morning. Jim here for dinner and re-
mained during the afternoon. Nellie, Jessie and Tom stayed here in
the evening while Anna went to Port Perry with Albert. Went to
the new Presbyterian church with Tom Black, Mr. Hodges
preached a good sermon, singing rather weak. Hardly know
whether I like the new church or not. Left at 2 pm and got to [?]
Perrin’s at 5 and found them all well. Another very fine day.
12 – Jim Michie did the chores all day. The four boys went to Port
Perry to get their picture taken. John brought Mrs. Bell back and
she stayed here while Anna went with a sleigh load to Alex Ewins,
Uxbridge. They got back about 5 o’clock in the morning. Re-
mained at Perrin’s all day, went with Munda in the afternoon 8
miles NE for a load of wood.
13 – Jim Michie came here with Anna from the party and then left
for Manitoba. John did the chores. Albert Akhurst took Mrs. Bell
home. Started from Perrin’s in the morning and got to P. Blacks
for dinner. Started again at 2 and although the roads were pretty
rough and patchy we got to Port Perry in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Got home at 6 pm.
14 – A good deal colder all day. Isaac O’Neill here in the fore-
noon. Bagged up 18 bags of oats and took them to Beare’s Mill in
the afternoon. Anna went to Marks with some pickles and stayed
for tea. Mr. Cameron here for tea. Somewhat late in getting
chores done.
15 – A fine day. Went for the meal at Beare’s Mill in the after-
noon. In the evening went with Jennie to a little party at Mr. Ak-
hurst’s. Anna kept the baby. Oysters were the principal thing at
the party. Mr and Mrs W. Mark, Mr and Mrs Alex Lee, Mr and
Mrs Alex Gordon, jr., James Lee were the company. Mrs. Mark
and Mrs. Somerville here for tea. Jessie and Annie Dusty here in
the afternoon.
16 – A very fine day. Drew three loads of wood from D. Cragg’s
swamp. Mr and Mrs Alex Lee here in the afternoon. Baby got her
foot burned on the stove this morning, this may be said to be the
first accident that has happened to her, but quite likely not the last.
17 – St. Patrick’s Day. A fine snow from the west and rough and
drifting until about the middle of the afternoon. Cut some wood in
the woodshed. Jennie drove up to Greenbank in the afternoon for
the mail.
18 – Went to SS and church with Anna, the first time for 5 weeks.
Mr. Cameron read a sermon. No choir, on strike. At. CE with
Jennie in the evening, a very fair meeting. As Mr. McKitrick did
not turn up to take the topic it fell to my lot to do so.
19 – A much warmer day, thawing rapidly, rain in the latter part of
the afternoon and evening. Alex Jamison here in the morning for
his money for the school wood. Drove to Port Perry with Jennie in
the morning and did not get home until about 4 o’clock as we had
to wait about 3 hours for to see Mr. Yarnold. Samson Martin, M.
O’Neill and Joe Burton working at the bridge on the side road.
Good sleighing.
20 – Colder with snow flurries in the afternoon. Jennie drove to
Port Perry in the morning to see Mr. Yarnold. W. Mark called in
the forenoon, Ida Phair in the afternoon collecting for Bible Soci-
ety. Wes Luke called just before supper, the first for several
weeks. Went for a load of wood in the afternoon and upset in Mr.
Akhurst’s field and left half the load. Fixing up our boat a little.
Anna at a party at Akhurst’s. Tom Black came at 10 o’clock after
we were in bed.
21 – A very fine day. W. Mark here in the morning. Spent the
forenoon fanning up oats for T.B. Drew 2 loads of cedar wood
from D. Cragg’s swamp in the afternoon. Tom Black left for home
about 3 o’clock and James Smith arrived at 6. Mr and Mrs W.
Thomas here for tea. Anna went to prayer meeting in the evening.
Alex Lee brought a load of manure for S. Martin.
22 – A fine day and thawing a little. Fanned up some oats for
James Smith and he left for home about 10 am. Alex Lee here in
the forenoon. Drew two loads of wood in the afternoon and Jennie
and I went down to Mark’s in the evening to talk over their claim
to the place. Quite a dark night.
23 – A fine day with quite a wind from the NW and thawing some.
Drew out the [poles?] on Mr. Mark’s lot in D. Cragg’s swamp (33
in number) and brought home the wood left in Mr. Akhurst’s field.
Alex Lee brought down two loads of rye straw and took away in
return two loads of oat straw. Went with Anna to the preparatory
service, a fair turnout. Anna Tait and Jessie Michie came in to the
church this time. After service I had a consultation with the ses-
sion about the choir trouble, but did not come to any agreement.
Anna down to Mark’s in the evening.
27
24 – Drove to Port Perry in the morning with Anna to see the law-
yer about arranging for a meeting about the estate which was to
have been today but Annie wrote saying they could not come on
account of the roads. We agreed to try it again next Wednesday.
Cut down wood and did some other chores in the afternoon. Jim
Lee here in the forenoon and Florence Phair called in the after-
noon.
25 – A very fine day and good sleighing. Went to church with
Anna in the forenoon, it being sacrament at Greenbank, a large
turnout, most of the Wick people being there. Mr. Cameron
preached, the choir were in their places. At CE in the evening with
Jennie who led the meeting, an unusually large turnout and a good
meeting. Had a long talk with G. Miller (who is home for a day)
after meeting. Topic was the choir difficulty. A meeting is called
for next Wednesday evening to consider the matter.
26 – Another fine day and thawing a little. Cutting wood in the
woodshed and other chores. Mrs. Annie Gordon here for dinner.
In the evening went with Anna to a party at Alex Lee’s under the
management of Jim Lee. Oysters was to have been one of the
principal attractions but they could not be got at Port Perry. There
was quite a nice time, dancing was the amusement. Got home at
12, Anna sometime later.
27 – Cutting wood in the woodshed and sharpened Wes Luke’s
bucksaw. Mrs. Hartley Brown called in the forenoon, W. Mark
after dinner and a pack pedlar in the afternoon. Wes Luke called in
the afternoon.
28 – A very fine day and the snow going a little but the sleighing is
very good yet. Drove out to Port Perry in the morning to meet the
girls at Mr. Yarnold’s office to settle up Father’s estate. They were
all there, also Mrs. Mark and George M. After a good deal of talk
they all signed off their claim to the farm but Margaret and Annie
would not do so until they got the promise of $50.00 each. Frank
Bratley was also in town but was not in the office. Got dinner at
Mrs. Bell’s and left Jennie and the baby there until Saturday to do
some sewing. Cleaned out the pigpen after I got home. Went in
the evening to the congregational meeting to consider my resigna-
tion as choir leader. There was quite a large attendance and after a
great deal of talk the meeting broke up with nothing done but with
things apparently rather worse than when it started. They would
not accept the resignation and I would not go on unless the Lige
Beare trouble was healed up.
29 – Snow going a good deal today. Sawing and splitting wood in
the woodshed all day. Anna down at Mark’s helping to bake for
their big party which comes off tomorrow night.
30 – A very fine day and thawing. Splitting wood in the forenoon.
In the afternoon drove to Greenbank, the sleighing being fair.
Called at G. Lee’s to see him about Sunday School association
matters. Took a bag of oats to W. Wallace’s. Called at the post
office and then John Lee’s and brought him and also Minnie Mar-
tin down to Egypt. Almost lost Lucy in a hole a little west of Sam
Dusty’s gate. Mr. Petty sawing wood with horse power. Anna at
the big dance party at Mark’s and got back between 3 and 4
o’clock in the morning.
31 – Drove down to Port Perry in the morning to get Mr. Yarnold
to come back and get Mother to sign off to the place and to bring
Jennie and the baby home but Mr. Y. was away to Toronto and
Jennie was not through with her sewing so I had to come home
alone. The roads were a good deal worse on the way home. Split
some wood in the afternoon and other chores.
APR. 1 - A very fine day and thawing fast. Drove alone to SS and
church, Mr. Cameron preached, his text was ‘Arise let us go
home’. No choir but Mrs. W. Leask played the organ. Had a loud
talk with Mrs. Leask after service. Did not go to CE as the roads
were very bad.
2 – Drew 2 loads of manure to the garden in the forenoon and had
a long talk with Wes Luke. Split some wood, mended harness and
some other chores in the afternoon. Rain in the afternoon and
evening. A managers meeting, a dark night and very bad roads.
Went with the cutter.
3 – Sharpened the bucksaw and then went down to the concession
and found it badly flooded. When I got back W. Mark and Tom
Michie were waiting to carry the boat down. We took it down and
found it heavy enough. I then went up to Akhurst’s to see about
getting some money from Albert for school purposes, so went the
forenoon. Drove out to Port Perry with the buggy in the afternoon
after Jennie and the baby. Had to go around by Mark’s, the water
on the sideroad almost reached the front axle of the buggy. Roads
very bad.
4 – Sawing wood in the forenoon. Went up to Alex Lee’s in the
afternoon to settle up with him but he was not at home. Cutting
wood the remainder of the afternoon. Alfred Butt here in the after-
noon. Cecil Phair here before supper. Albert Akhurst here in the
evening. Anna at Mark’s in the evening. Some colder today, not
thawing very much.
5 – Went up to Alex Lee’s in the morning and settled up with him
there being $10.00 coming to him. Cut some wood. Nellie Cragg
here after dinner. Drove with Jennie and the baby to W. Luke’s
and got tea there. A fine warm day and lots of mud.
6 – Making pump sucker in the forenoon and went to Greenbank
with the buggy in the afternoon to get ring on sucker and also
leather. Roads pretty bad. Broke the road from A. Lee’s down to
our gate.
7 – Fixed the pump, mended the single harness, put washers in the
buggy wheels and sawed some wood in the forenoon. Cut wood in
the afternoon. Anna at Mark’s in the evening to get his money for
the centuary fund. Alex very bad with the toothache.
8 – A very fine day. Mrs. Alex Lee and three oldest sons here in
the forenoon. At SS and church with Anna. Mr. Cameron
preached, no choir. Mrs. W. Leask organist. Dr. Park at church.
Did not go to CE on account of the roads which are bad.
9 – Quite a hard frost during the night which did not altogether
thaw out all day. Took 17 bags of oats to Beare’s Mill to get
ground in the afternoon. Sawing wood the rest of the day. Wes
Luke called in the evening.
28
10 – Drove out to Port Perry with Anna to get Mr. Yarnold to come
back but he could not come today but is to come on Thursday. At
Beare’s for the meal in the afternoon. Took Silas Butt from Luke’s
and left him at Blair’s. Mrs. Mark and Jessie here for tea. Anna at
Gordon’s in the evening.
11 – A very fine spring like day. Bucksawing wood nearly all day.
Mr [Caine?] here in the afternoon. Mrs. Mark and Jennie at
W.F.M.S. at the church in the afternoon. Jessie here while they
were away. Anna at prayer meeting in the evening. Fred Love
here wanting timothy seed but did not get it.
12 – A dull foggy day, threatening rain sometimes. Drove out to
Port Perry in the morning and got Mr. Yarnold back to get Mother
to sign off her right to the place, which she did. John also signed
off. Drove Mr. Yarnold home again and got back at 1 pm. Hugh
Jack and Dan Boe here and bought the fat steer at 4 ¼ cts., to go
two weeks from tomorrow. Sawing wood the remainder of the
afternoon. Anna at a party at Marshall O’Neill’s in the evening.
13 – Good Friday. Sawing wood all day. Anna got back from the
party about 10 am. Nellie Michie came home with her. In the
afternoon they went for a boat ride. George, John, Nellie, Jessie
and Anna making the company. A little snow towards night.
14 – Cutting wood in the forenoon and finished the cutting at the
house. At the Reach, Port Perry and Scugog SS Association ex-
ecutive meeting held in the basement of the Methodist Church in
Port Perry. A very small meeting (only 5) and nothing done. Silas
Butt here in the afternoon and Jessie Michie at supper time.
15 – Easter Sunday. At SS and church with Anna. Jessie came
home with us for tea. At CE, a fair meeting, Maggie Blair, leader.
Anna at Methodist Church. Had a long talk with G. McLean.
16 – Finished splitting the wood and planted raspberry bushes in
the forenoon. Pruned the black currant bushes, dug some garden,
sowed some radish seed, the first sowing of the season. Raked the
straw off the strawberries and other chores. Jennie and Anna drove
to Port Perry. Anna went to a party somewhere near Uxbridge.
Went to a SS meeting to see about an anniversary, a small meeting
but decided to go on with it.
17 – Plowed the raspberry bushes and put up fence gaps in the
forenoon and in the afternoon took the pig over to Salter’s. Anna
got home from the party at 7:30 am. Started to rain at 6 pm.
18 – Dug up berry bushes, planted some potatoes in garden; car-
rots, parsnips and radishes in the forenoon. Cleaned the little
house, took straw from the strawberries and dug some in the gar-
den in the afternoon. At prayer meeting. Jennie at Alex Gordon’s.
A thunder shower in the evening, first of the season.
19 – A fine day. Cut the wood behind the barn in the forenoon.
Jennie at Mark’s seeing Mrs. M. who is sick. C. Gordon here
wanting some straw and he came for it after dinner, A. Akhurst
helping him. A. Gordon after some berry bushes. John [Luns-
den?] the assessor called in the afternoon. Anna at Mark’s in the
afternoon.
20 – A fine warm day. Plowed the orchard for early potatoes in the
forenoon and planted them in the afternoon. Jennie helping.
Picked off some stones, put on the screen doors and took off the
storm doors. Nellie Cragg here in the afternoon.
21 – Fine warm day. Cultivated the field NE of barn and did some
plum grafting. Mrs. Annie Gordon here in the forenoon. Drove to
Greenbank with Jennie in the evening. Jessie here in the evening.
Anna at Mark’s in the afternoon.
22 – A fine warm day, some rain in the forenoon. At SS and
church with Anna. Mr. Cameron preached. Mr. Allan led the
singing. At CE with Jennie, Mr. Jas. Miller, leader. Very bad
roads and foggy.
23 – Fine day. Sowed the field NE of barn and then a little corn in
the orchard and put in some apple grafts. G. Real called about a
recommend to Clara Perkins. Jennie at Alex Lee’s in the after-
noon. Tom Michie carried the baby home and called for a few
minutes.
24 – A very fine day. Harrowing and rolling all day. Mrs. Akhurst
here for tea. Anna at Akhurst’s and Mark’s in the evening.
25 – Cultivating the pea ground and went down to George’s and
got nearly 7 bus. of peas. Sowed them in the afternoon and did
some harrowing. Fat steer bloated up and we were afraid of him.
W. Akhurst here in the morning for some strawberry plants. Anna
walked to prayer meeting. I did not go as my feet were sore.
26 – A fine day. Got somewhat cooler towards night. Harrowed
and rolled all day. Planted watermelons. A. Akhurst here for a
few minutes in the evening.
27 – Took the fat steer to Port Perry in the morning and had a hard
time of it as he turned on me 3 times and nearly run the life out of
me. It weighed 1225 lbs at 4 ¼ cts. Jennie drove down and
brought me home. Got 7 apple trees at Kellot’s. Planted the trees
after dinner then harrowed and filled in furrows. Jennie at Mrs.
Akhurst’s visiting.
28 – Cultivated the SW field and did some apple grafting. A very
fine day.
29
29 – A very fine day. Went to SS and church with Jennie, 1st
time
she has been there for a long time. Willie Bell came up with Alex
Lee from Port Perry. At CE with Anna and Willie, a good meet-
ing. R.T. Harrington, leader. George Fowlie came on a wheel
from Manchester just as we were starting for CE.
30 – A little rain in the forenoon and then a very high NW wind
and lots of dust. Sowed the SW field and cultivated the little
swamp field. Mrs. Annie Gordon here for tea. Anna went to G.
Real’s for setting eggs.
MAY 1 – A very fine day but pretty cool, frost in the morning.
Jennie and Anna drove out to Port Perry in the morning, princi-
pally to see the Dr. for Anna who is all out in a rash. The Dr.
however, says it is nothing serious. Planted the strawberries and
raked up the leaves in the lane and some other chores. Sowed the
little field and harrowed some in the afternoon. Jim Taylor here
for school caretaking pay. Anna in bed in the afternoon. Planted 2
grape vines.
2 – Harrowing and rolling all day. Walked to prayer meeting, Mr.
Cameron, leader. Anna in bed most of the day.
3 – A cool day. Harrowing in the forenoon and sowed a part of the
SE field which finishes the sowing for this season. Book agent
here in the afternoon.
4 – Jennie drove up to Greenbank the first thing in the morning and
called at G. Real’s for eggs. Harrowed in the forenoon and rolled
the new grass in the afternoon which finishes up the seeding for the
year. A pretty cool day, quite a frost in the morning.
5 – Jennie went to Port Perry in the forenoon and among other
things got a new Sunday hat. I tied up the berry bushes, mended
the step ladder, harrows, and other chores. Plowed and harrowed
in the orchard and planted some potatoes, corn, beans, cucumbers,
watermelons in the afternoon. Quite cool, a few flakes of snow
after dinner.
6 – A pretty cool day. Minnie Martin came before dinner to see
Anna and stayed until after tea. Went to SS and church with
Jennie, Mr. Cameron preached. Flossie Burns came home with us
for tea. Anna and Minnie Martin went down to Mark’s to see
Nellie who has been sick, while I went with Flossie to the CE. A
rather extra large meeting. Bella McMillan, leader. Nancy cow
[had] a calf in the morning.
7 – Some warmer during the day but a pretty hard frost in the
morning. W. O’Neill came and got 25 bushels of oats. Drawing
manure for corn and potatoes all day. Jennie and Anna house-
cleaning in full blast, finished the upstairs. Mrs. Bryant here in the
afternoon. Fixed window blinds in the evening.
8 – Rain in the forenoon in spells and again in the evening. Jennie
drove to Greenbank the first thing in the morning for wallpaper and
coal oil while I spread manure between showers, and drawed out
manure in the afternoon. Housecleaning on the go, papering the
best bedroom. Isaac O’Neill here in the forenoon.
9 – Plowing the corn ground. Jessie came up in the afternoon and
told us that Nellie was very ill. Anna went there and stayed all
night. Went to prayer meeting, Mr. Boe, leader. Afterwards there
was a meeting about the anniversary and after that an impromptu
managers meeting to see about painting the manse. R. Baird was
there from Wick. A very hard frost in the morning.
10 – The hardest frost of the season. Drawing manure in the fore-
noon and went to E. Beare’s and got 14 bags of oats ground. Both
Drs. Archer were to see Nellie this forenoon and they say she is in
a very critical condition. Went down in the evening and the Dr.
had been there again and he said the symptoms were slightly bet-
ter.
11 – George Michie brought the turnip drill home and got 19 bush-
els of oats. Whitewashed the kitchen in this forenoon and plowing
in the afternoon. Mr. Cameron here just after dinner. Jennie and
Anna went down to see Nellie in the evening. Anna stayed all
night. Jennie reports Nellie very bad, the Dr. has been there twice
today and is coming again at 12. He is to perform an operation
tomorrow, her only chance, and that a very poor one.
12 – Spread some dung in the morning and then fanned up 10 bus.
oats for Isaac O’Neill. I then drove out to Port Perry with Anna to
meet Jas. Smith at the lawyers office but he did not come, although
I waited until noon. Plowed in the afternoon. James Smith and
Barbara came about 7:30 and then Mundo Perrin and Alma came a
little later. Barbara and Jennie went down to see Nellie.
13 – A very warm summerlike day. Before breakfast the O’Neill
cow dropped a calf. James Smith, Anna and Mundo Perrin went
down to see how Nellie was, and they report her a little better. Did
not go to SS. Mundo, Anna and Alma left for home at 1 o’clock.
Went to church with James Smith, Mr. Cameron preached. Jim
and Barbara left for home at 6 o’clock and just after they left Jess
dropped a mare colt. Jennie went down in the evening to see
Nellie, she is still holding her own.
14 – A very warm day with a strong wind from the west and lots of
dust. Took the young cattle to the swamp field, fixed the watering
place, and shelled some corn in the forenoon and picked over some
potatoes in the cellar in the afternoon. Vegetation showing a great
change today.
15 – A fine warm day. Took down the storm windows, fixed the
pump spout at the barn, made a screen window and some other
chores in the forenoon and picked over potatoes in the afternoon.
Jennie went down to see Nellie in the forenoon and found her still
keeping a little better. Wes Luke called this morning. Wrote to
George in the evening, got his letter today.
16 – Went down in the morning and got George’s Joe horse and
spent the day plowing and harrowing the corn and potato land.
Went over to Luke’s in the evening and got John McKinnon’s baby
carriage. A fine warm day.
17 – A very nice day. Drove out to Port Perry and met James
Smith at Mr. Yarnold’s to arrange about administrating the per-
sonal property of the estate. Got back about 1 o’clock. Harrowed
30
and rolled the corn ground in the afternoon. Mrs. Annie Gordon
here in the afternoon. Planted some cauliflowers I got from J.
Smith.
18 – East wind and threatening rain several times. Drilled up for
horse corn in the forenoon and planted it in the afternoon. Isaac
O’Neill here in the morning for a bag of oats. George got the
roller8
.
19 – Drilled up for Indian corn in the forenoon and planted it in the
afternoon. Turned the cows into the pasture for the first time. The
Tiny heifer dropped a calf about 8 pm.
20 – A fine day but somewhat cool. SS anniversary Sunday. Went
to SS and church, an extra large attendance at SS. Rev. Mr. Fraser
of Uxbridge preached. The Methodist choir did the singing; same
preacher and choir in the evening and a large crowd. An extra
good sermon. Gave Mrs. Akhurst a ride home in the evening as
their Ben horse did not act very well.
21 – A cool day with a very high NW wind in the afternoon and
lots of dust. Drilling up for potatoes in the forenoon and planting it
in the afternoon but did not finish. Went down to O’Neill’s in the
evening to change some eggs for hatching. Called at Mark’s and
found Nellie out of bed.
22 – Got up early and churned before breakfast and Jennie went to
Port Perry market, got home at 1 o’clock. I covered up the pota-
toes in the afternoon and planted 16 drills horse corn south of the
potatoes. Mrs. Carnegie here for tea. Wes Luke called in the
evening.
23 – A very warm day. Planted horse corn in the orchard and
planted beans and pumpkins and some other chores in the fore-
noon. Made 2 hen coops, planted tomatoes in the afternoon.
Jennie baking for anniversary. 10 chickens dead this morning.
George Michie came up with the mail, which we have not got for
nearly a week.
24 – Queen’s birthday, 81 years of age. Salted the cattle and tried
to fix the turnip drill in the forenoon and did little in the afternoon
but go the SS anniversary. There was hardly a large crowd as
8
Image from ‘Turn-Of-The-Century Farm Tools and
Implements, Peter Henderson & Co.’ Dover publica-
tion.
some years but it was quite a success. The Port Perry Pres. Choir
furnished the music and did it well. Rev. Mr. McFarlane was the
only speaker besides local. Nellie Michie came up for the after-
noon and stayed all night. Proceeds of anniversary $77.
25 – An exceptionally fine day. Hauled out manure alone in the
forenoon and had William Mark helping in the afternoon. Got the
loan of George’s waggon.
26 – Drawing manure all day, Mr. Mark helping. Eva Luke here in
the evening.
27 – A fine day with a little rain between 12 and 1 o’clock which
was very welcome but not enough to do much good. Went to SS
and church, Mr. Cameron preached. The attendance at both was
rather thinner than usual. At CE in the evening, a fair turnout.
Mrs. Somerville, leader. Mrs. A. Lee and Mrs. W. Wallace here in
the evening.
28 – Partial eclipse of the sun in the forenoon. Finished drawing
out the manure, took George’s waggon home after dinner with
some 6 bags of oats and had a long talk with Dr. R. Archer about
operating on the girl. Jennie and the baby went to Greenbank in
the evening.
29 – Plowing and spreading manure all day. Very fine weather.
30 – Plowing and spreading manure. Jennie washing. Mr. Lang of
Prince Albert here for dinner, he was looking for work. Alex
Leask here in the evening asking hands for his raising tomorrow.
Wes Luke called in the evening.
31 – A fine warm day. Plowing in the forenoon. Hoed in the
garden, harrowed the corn and plowed in the afternoon. Eva Luke
called in the evening. Alex Leask’s barn raising.
JUNE 1 – Plowing all day. A drizzling rain the greater part of the
afternoon which got quite heavy in the evening. John Lee and
Bella, Mrs. Mark and Mrs. Akhurst here in the afternoon. Mrs.
Akhurst stayed for tea. Drove up to Greenbank in the evening for
the mail and got wet before I got home. Rain very welcome as
things were dry.
2 – Plowing all day. George and Jessie came in the afternoon for
the bed springs and mattress, the dr. having decided to operate on
Jessie on Monday morning. At Alex Lee’s in the evening seeing
about pasture for Topsy.
3 – A beautiful day. Jennie and baby drove out to Port Perry in the
morning to see her mother who has not been very well for some
time. At SS and church. Mr. Cameron preached. Did not go to
CE as Topsy tore the back out of the buggy cushion. Mrs. Mark
came after some towels for the operation which is to be tomorrow
morning.
4 – A very fine day. Took Topsy colt over to Alex Lee’s for pas-
ture. Jennie went down to Marks in the morning to be at the opera-
tion on Jessie, but the Drs. did not come. Mrs. Annie Gordon here
for dinner. Finished plowing the turnip land and most of the little
corn plot near the pump.
31
5 – A fine warm day. Jennie went down in the morning to the
operation on Jessie but the Drs. did not come. Mr. Cameron came
home with her and stayed to dinner. They both went back in the
afternoon and the operation was performed by Drs. Robert and
David Archer, Dr. Windel and a student, Mrs. R. Archer’s brother.
Mr. Cameron and Jennie were the only two that saw it. Planted the
corn in the little plot in the forenoon and harrowed turnip land in
the afternoon. Lucy did some fine kicking.
6 – Went down the first thing in the morning to see how Jessie was
and found her as well as could be expected. Jennie went to Port
Perry in the forenoon and brought her mother back with her. Har-
rowed the turnip ground twice over in the afternoon. Jennie went
down to Mark’s and stayed all night with Jessie. Beef ring started
today.
7 – Rain through the night. George brought Jennie home in the
morning. Fixed the turnip drill in the forenoon and fenced in the
afternoon. Went down after supper to see Jessie. Mrs. and Mrs.
George Allan here in the evening and stayed until near 12.
8 – Fine day. Went to Greenbank in the forenoon and got Joe
shod. Rolled the turnip land in the afternoon. Mrs. John Leask
here for dinner.
9 – Drew three loads of gravel for the road and then took the Jess
mare to Port Perry in the evening. Took Mrs. Bell home. A very
fine cool day.
10 – A beautiful day. Went to SS and church. Mr. Cameron
preached on fitness for the Lord’s table and spoke some pretty
strong words. Kept the baby while Jennie went to CE, no leader
but a very good meeting. G.D. McMillan who is just home from
Manitoba laid up with rheumatism was out.
11 – Very fine day. Drilled up for turnips and sowed them in the
evening, 56 drills. E. Boe called and had a talk about reorganizing
the church choir. Jennie washing. She went down to see Jessie
and found her getting along all right.
12 – A very fine day. Fanned up some oats to take to Uxbridge
and hoed in the forenoon. After dinner took Jess over to Ned Bar-
rett’s but wasn’t a day too soon. Came home by Greenbank and
got Jess shod, hoed potatoes the rest of the afternoon. Had the first
strawberries of the season for tea.
13 – Started at 6 am and took 15 bags of oats to Uxbridge and got
800 lbs. of cornmeal. Got home a little after noon, then took Jess
over to Barrett’s but no use. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Ross here for
tea. Two McCormack binder agents here in the evening. Thunder
in the evening and a fine rain.
14 – A fine cool day after the rain. Churned and did some fencing
in the forenoon and fencing in the afternoon. Nellie came and took
Joe away. Oliver Luke came for the turnip drill.
15 – A fine cool day. Jennie went to the market in Port Perry in
the morning. She took two boxes of strawberries, the first ever
sold off the place. Hilled up the potatoes in the orchard in the
forenoon and after dinner went over to W. Luke’s to see about a
beast for the beef ring and afterwards harrowed the corn. Drove to
Albert Phoenix’s in the evening to get him to trade numbers in the
ring. George here in the forenoon for turnip drill.
16 – Drilled for turnips all day (66 drills) and sowed them after
supper. Oliver, Eva and Ned Luke here in the evening for a feed of
strawberries. A very fine day.
17 – Quite a heavy shower about 2 pm. Willie Bell walked out
here in the forenoon. Went to SS and church, Mr. Cameron
preached. After service had an interview with the session about
reorganizing the choir. Tom Michie came home with me for tea
and he then drove Willie part of the way home. Walked to CE, a
fairly good turnout but no one to take the topic. Rode home with
A. Akhurst and Annie Dusty.
18 – Plowed and harrowed the orchard. James Smith came at 6 pm
and after supper he went down to see Jessie. Spent the evening
winding up business.
19 – Got up at 3:30 am (a beautiful morning) and went with James
Smith to the lake. Rowed up as far as 7 Mile Island but did not get
even a bite. Got home about 8 and then went to Port Perry, Jas.
Smith going at the same time. Took 10 boxes of strawberries and
got 12 ½, also took some butter. Had an interview with Mr. Yar-
nold. Got home about 2 o’clock. Sowed buckwheat in the orchard
in the afternoon. Jennie making cushion for back of buggy. W.
Mark here in the afternoon for the boiler. Isaac here in the fore-
noon. Excursion to Guelph, several from these parts went.
20 – Drilling for turnips all day. Went over to Ned Barrett’s after
dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Cameron and Mrs. Annie Gordon here for
tea. John Blight hung himself this morning.
21 – A very fine day. Finished drilling and sowing the turnips in
the forenoon. Jennie went down to the operation on Nellie which
was done in the forenoon by Dr. R. Archer. Nellie’s was a much
worse case than Jessie’s and she is in a critical condition. Barbara
and Willie Smith came about 2 pm and left for home again at 8.
Jennie got back about 4. Mr. Henders called wanting to sell
monuments and fruit trees.
22 – Hoed in the orchard in the forenoon while Jennie went to Port
Perry with strawberries. At preparatory source in the afternoon.
George here in the morning for a bag of potatoes. Went down to
see how Nellie [is] twice and found her about as well as could be
expected. I. O’Neill here after the turnip drill.
23 – Went over to Beare’s and got some cedar plank for stable
floor. George and John here in the morning for a pail of strawber-
ries. Putting in stable floor in the afternoon. Fred Love and Roy
O’Neill here in the evening for strawberries. Jennie went down to
see Nellie and found her doing very well.
24 – A fine warm day. Sacrament at Wick but did not go. Willa
Bell came in the forenoon. At the Baptist church in the afternoon,
a small congregation but a very fair preacher. Jennie took Willa
part the way home. At Church in the evening, Mr. Cameron
preached. Mrs. Luke called on her way to Mark’s and left Eva and
Ned until she came back.
32
25 – A very warm day. Worked at the stable floor in the forenoon
and in the afternoon went out to Port Perry to get the money to pay
for the stock and implements. Mrs. A. Gordon stayed while we
were away. I walked home while Mrs. Bell came with Jennie.
26 – Started at 6 am and drove to James [Sonittis?] and paid him
$700.00 for the chattels and livestock. Left for home at 12:30 and
got home at 4:30, very dry dusty and hot. Worked at stable the
remainder of the afternoon. Mrs. Luke here in the morning for
strawberries. Jennie and Mrs. Bell picking and preserving straw-
berries.
27 – A fine day but pretty warm. Some thunder in the afternoon
but no rain. Went for the beef in the morning. Worked at the
stable for awhile and then went over to Barrett’s before dinner.
Scuffled some corn in the afternoon but Lucy got uncontrollable
and had to stop. Then hoed some. Went to prayer meeting, Mr.
Boe, leader. A CE meeting after. Mrs. M. Gordon here in the
forenoon with her two little girls for strawberries and stayed to
dinner. Jennie preserving strawberries. Baby’s first tooth discov-
ered this morning.
28 – A fine day, thunder and showers all around but not any here.
Scuffling and hoeing corn and potatoes all day. Mrs. A. Lee and 3
oldest boys here in the afternoon for strawberries. Alex came later
on and took them home. Mrs. Mundo Perrin, Jennie Perrin, and
Willa Bell came about 8:30.
29 – A little rain in the morning and a very high NW wind and lots
of dust in the afternoon. Jennie drove out to Port Perry and took
Willa and Lizzie took her rig and her mother home. Hoed the
potatoes and some other jobs. John Lee and Bella here for straw-
berries and later Minnie Martin and Mamey Dusty for some. Miss
McBrien and W. Grey called for their school pay. The school
closed today. Jennie and Lizzie washed the buggy in the evening.
Had a few new potatoes, the first of the season, for dinner.
30 – A very high NW wind all day and quite cool. Worked at the
stable in the forenoon and finished the job and painted the buggy in
the afternoon. Went to Port Perry in the evening with Perrin’s
buggy. W. Taylor here for school caretaking money. He was
telling us about Mrs. W. Real being attacked by a man on her way
home from Port Perry. W. Luke and old neighbour John Throop of
Atonabee called in the evening. Jessie walked up here in the after-
noon, the first time since the operation.
JUL. 1 – A fine cool day. Walked to SS and then to the Methodist
SS anniversary services. Rev. Cameron and Walker were the
speakers, a large crowd. Rode home with Mr. Throop and Mrs.
Phair. In the evening drove out with Jennie to Port Perry with
Perrin’s horse and rig and heard Mr. Cooper for the first time and
liked him very well.
2 – A very fine day. Drilled up the potatoes in the forenoon. Went
with Jennie and the baby in the afternoon to the Methodist SS
anniversary in Beare’s bush and got tea and then drove them home.
Then drove alone to the lecture. The Rev. Mr. Spears lectured, his
subject was singers and their songs. A very good lecture and a
crowded house. They made in all $159.00.
3 – Looked like rain in the morning but it did not come. Fixed the
horse rake in the forenoon and fixed fence in the afternoon. Mrs.
Bryant, Lizzy and Mr. Throop here in the afternoon. Jenny and
Lizzy dressmaking. At church managers meeting in the evening.
4 – Drove out to Port Perry and brought Mrs. Bell and Willa back.
Gave the buggy another coat of paint. Fixed fence and hoed
strawberries in the afternoon. Mrs. G. Welch and Mrs. H. Hick-
man here for strawberries but they were too late. Mr. Cameron
called in the afternoon. Went with Jennie and Willa to prayer
meeting.
5 – A warm day, thunder most of the time and showers went
around but hardly a drop here. Rain is badly needed now. Put the
buggy together, hoed strawberries in the forenoon. Put in a post
for the bars into the pasture, sawed some wood in the afternoon.
Mrs. Bell and Willa drove out to Port Perry in the afternoon.
George Miller called in the evening.
6 – Very warm day and still no rain. Hoeing strawberries and Paris
Greening potatoes in the forenoon. Scuffling turnips in the after-
noon.
7 – Another warm day, with a short shower in the afternoon. Mrs.
Perrin left for home at 9 am. Mrs. Bell going to Newcastle with
her. Hoeing turnips most of the day. At Port Perry in the evening.
8 – A good deal cooler especially towards night. At SS and church
with Willa, Mr. Cameron preached. Jennie and Willa at CE, G.
Miller, leader.
9 – Cool day. Hoed turnips in the forenoon and sprayed potatoes
and hoed turnips in the afternoon. Jennie and Willa picked the
gooseberries.
10 – Jennie and Willa went to Port Perry market in the morning
taking some new potatoes, the first of the season. Paris Greened
the potatoes in the afternoon. Willa at Mr. Akhurst’s in the eve-
ning.
11 – Cut hay in the forenoon in the north field, rather a poor crop.
After dinner there was every appearance of a big rain storm but
there was only a few drops, however there was a little shower
between 4 and 5 o’clock which was much needed. Hoed some
turnips in the afternoon. Jennie and Willa went to prayer meeting.
Mr and Mrs G. Byers and Mrs John Truax here in the afternoon.
12 – Quite a cool day. Finished cutting the hay in the forenoon and
went to Port Perry with the wagon in the afternoon for pig feed.
Got a new plough and binder twine. Mr. Cameron and A.T. Horne
here in the afternoon about the church choir but I did not see them.
Mrs. Luke and Ned here for currants. Churned butter after 9 pm.
13 – Jennie and Willa went out to the market in the morning. Hoed
turnips and some other chores in the forenoon and raked the hay in
the afternoon. Willa drove to Greenbank for the mail after supper.
Sally Lee here after dinner. G. Michie brought the bed mattress
home. Very dry day and a high NW wind.
14 – Drew in the hay, 9 loads. Had George helping. Went to Port
Perry after supper.
33
15 – A great deal of thunder and rain through the night which
soaked the ground well and very welcome it was for everything
was suffering badly. Went with Willa to SS and church, Mr. Cam-
eron preached. Jennie and Willa went to CE in the evening, Jennie
was leader.
16 – A very close warm day. Raked the hay field and drew in the
rakings with Jennie’s help in the forenoon. Scuffled and hoed
turnips in the afternoon. Jennie and Willa picking white and black
currants. Mrs. Annie Gordon here for dinner and stayed until after
tea when I drove her home. Started to rain between 4 and 5 and
rained quite awhile and looks like more.
17 – Jennie went to market in the forenoon taking the first raspber-
ries. Mrs. Bell came back with her. Willa drove up to Greenbank
in the evening for the mail. Big thunder storm between 5 and 6.
Hoed turnips most of the day, very uneven crop.
18 – Scuffled some turnips in the morning and then went to wood-
lot at D. Cragg’s swamp and piled up some wood that was cut last
winter. Hoed turnips in the afternoon. Went to prayer meeting
with Jennie and Willa. Mrs. Edith Phair and Miss Lilly Throop
here for tea. Willa at Mark’s in the afternoon.
19 – Worked most of the day fixing the cow stable and after supper
drove with Jennie via Port Perry to Manchester to see Uncle who
has been very sick for some time. We found him quite a bit better.
Got home at 10 o’clock. Willa at a party at Akhurst’s in the eve-
ning. Silva Leask here in the afternoon for berries.
20 – A pretty warm day. Spent most of the day at the cow stable.
After supper went with Jennie, Willa and the baby over to the lake
and got one lunge. Mrs. Alex Lee here a little while after dinner.
Raspberry social at the Methodist church.
21 – Hoed a few turnips in the forenoon. Pherril, the fruit tree
man, and Mr. Bongard called. Sold the four pigs for $5.75 per 100
[pounds]. In the afternoon drove up for the mail and then took
Mrs. Bell and Willa home and from thence to Manchester. Got
home about 6:30. Mrs. Mark and Jessie here in the afternoon
picking berries, a big picking today. Brought home a new set of
single hames.
22 – A very fine day. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached.
Jennie at CE in the evening, James Miller, leader.
23 – Fine day. Spent the forenoon helping Wes Luke to start up
the binder. It did not work very well and he took the knotter to
Port Perry. In the afternoon hoed a few turnips and went to a
school trustee meeting at the schoolhouse in the evening. Miss
McRae, Maggie Brown and Mrs. A. Lee here in the forenoon.
Mrs. M. O’Neill, Roy and Lilly here picking berries and stayed to
dinner. Mrs. Mark and Jessie in the afternoon and Mrs. Luke, Eva
and Ned and Miss Mabel Throop after supper. Mrs. O’Neill got 24
boxes and Mrs. Luke 12.
24 – Went over to Luke’s in the morning to rig up the binder again
but the knotter worked worse than ever so we sent it out to Port
Perry again with Jennie. Hoed a few turnips. After dinner I took
the knotter over and put it on and it worked all right. About 2:30 it
started to rain a little and got quite hard about 3 or 4. A fine rain
and will do a lot of good except to the barley that is cut. Nothing
doing in the afternoon. Planted a few strawberries just for curios-
ity. Jessie here in the forenoon for some raspberries. Quilting bee
there this afternoon.
25 – Rain through the night. Went for the beef in the morning and
then worked at greening the potatoes until 5. Helped Wes Luke to
start cutting his rye after supper. Jennie went to prayer meeting. A
congregational meeting was held after and chose J. M. Real choir
leader.
26 – Took our 4 pigs and 2 for Wes Luke to Port Perry. Ours
weighed 785 lbs, the price was $5.75 per 100. Hoed turnips in the
afternoon. Mrs. Mark and Jessie here all day at the berries, an
immense picking today.
27 – A very fine day. Went to Greenbank in the morning for the
mail and then Jennie went to market at Port Perry while I cut the
corners of the fall wheat and hoed turnips. Went over and helped
W. Luke to repair the binder. He was cutting rye in the NE field of
the old place. Cut the fall wheat in the afternoon, George and his
horse helping. Hoed turnips after supper. Eva Luke here in the
afternoon nursing the baby.
28 – A very fine day. Hoed turnips in the forenoon and pulled peas
in the afternoon. Mrs. Annie Gordon here for dinner and Jennie
drove her home. Mrs. Mark picking berries and Eva Luke attend-
ing to baby.
29 – At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. The choir sang for
the first time for several months. Ethel Miller came home with me
for tea. George Fowlie and John Park came as we were at supper.
Jennie went to the CE. It started to rain before she got there and
continued during the evening. Much thunder and lightning.
30 – Pulling peas all day after it dried up. Eva Luke here in the
forenoon nursing. E. Mark picking berries in the afternoon and Mr
and Mrs. E. Beare and Miss May Beare here in the evening. An
exceptionally fine day.
31 – Jennie went to Port Perry in the morning with berries to send
to Newcastle and got home at 12. Pulling peas and finished at 5
o’clock. A very fine day.
AUG. 1 – A fine day. Scuffled turnips until 5 pm, some for the
first time. Eva and Ned Luke here for awhile in the forenoon.
Mrs. Luke and Mable Throop here for tea. Mrs. A. Lee and family
here for a feed of berries which are pretty near done now. Mabel
goes home tomorrow. She was telling us that Edna and Win are to
be married on the same day in a few weeks. John Leask’s new
threshing machine went to Phair’s this afternoon.
2- Threshing at Mrs. Phair’s in the forenoon. Hoeing turnips in the
afternoon. After 5 I drove to Manchester for the Legislative grant
for the public school ($66.90, then to Prince Albert and paid Miss
McBrien, then to Port Perry and called at Mrs. Bell’s and found her
not very well. Got home a little before 10.
3 – Cut oats in the field NE of the barn in the forenoon, George
helping. The knotter on the binder broke just before dinner. Went
to Port Perry after dinner and got it fixed and only worked a few
34
rounds before it played out in another place. After supper we
drawed in the fall wheat. Eva Luke here all day and Mrs. Luke and
Ned here in the afternoon picking berries.
4 – Tried to take the worn part off the binder in the morning but
failed, then drove to Port Perry for Browne but he could not come.
Got the parts required and after I got home went at it again and put
the part in all right. Started at noon and finished the field and then
drew up the peas, George helping. After 7:30 John came along
with the papers and we all fell to and finished the stocking up
about 8:45. A very fine day.
5 – A very warm day. Jennie drove out to Port Perry in the fore-
noon to see how her Mother was keeping and found her little or no
better. Walked to SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached a sermon
against the teachings of the Mormon elders who were around those
parts last week. At CE in the evening, Maggie Blair, leader. A
very good meeting. Eva and Ned Luke here for tea, Wes and Mrs.
Luke being away at Pinedale, his mother being very sick. Alex
Lee and Mrs. called in for a few minutes after 9 o’clock.
6 – A very warm day. Helping George to cut oats with his own
binder. Finished at 5 pm. Alex Lee’s boys here in the afternoon
for a feed of berries. Mr. Henders here in the morning buying
duchess apples. He is offering 40 cts. per barrel. Mrs. E. Luke
died at Pinedale today.
7 – Another very warm day. Cut the SW field of oats with
George’s help. Hoed a few turnips after 6. Mrs. Mark and Mrs.
Car here in the afternoon picking berries. Alex Lee spent the
whole day trying to get his binder to work in the south field.
8 – Another very warm day with a high NW wind in the afternoon.
Hoed turnips in the forenoon and after supper. Went to Mrs.
Luke’s funeral at Greenbank in the afternoon. Mr. McColl of Port
Perry conducted the service. 11 little pigs came to hand in the
afternoon, 1 dead.
9 – Helped George to draw in his peas in the forenoon and then
came home for a horse to help him cut, but a little shower came on,
so I spent most of the afternoon hoeing turnips. Threshed at Alex
Lee’s from 6:30 to 8 o’clock. Wes Luke called in the evening to
tell how bad the binder worked. Man here in the morning deliver-
ing books. Mrs. Luke, Alex Lee and family, and George Michie
called today.
10 – Threshing at Alex Lee’s until about 10 and then a short run at
W. Luke’s before dinner and in the afternoon until 4 o’clock.
Hoeing turnips after supper. A very hot day.
11 – Went down to George’s in the morning to help at his oats, but
he did not need me, so I hoed turnips all day with the exception of
a while after dinner when I went over to Luke’s to see what was
the matter with the binder. Finished hoeing the turnips for the first
time, the latest on record as far as I can remember. They did not
come up on account of the dry weather. Not likely they will be
hoed the second time at all. Jennie went out to Port Perry in the
forenoon to see how her mother was and found her very little bet-
ter. Young man here selling a medical book. George went to
Oshawa to bring home the girls who have been down that way for
2 weeks. A little rain in the evening.
12 – Rain through the night which made the day delightfully cool.
At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE in the evening,
Flossie Burns leader. A very good meeting.
13 – Rain through the night and all the forenoon and sometimes in
the afternoon, therefore there was no harvesting today. Threw off
a small load of peas in the barn, then swept out the granery and
then gave the shop a good ridding up, the first time for many years.
Sharped the bucksaw, fixed the bars behind the barn and brought
the young cattle up from the swamp field. After supper drove to
Greenbank for the mail.
14 – Jennie went to Port Perry in the forenoon. Made an arm for
the binder reel, a spring for the screen door, hoed some, cut out
field corners and cut out the old raspberry bushes and some other
chores. George here after dinner for Lucy to cut oats. Started to
rain a little between 5 and 6.
15 – At the berry bushes most of the forenoon and plowing in the
afternoon in the field west of the house for fall wheat with the new
plough for the first. Mr. Cameron and John Lee called in the after-
noon. Jennie went to prayer meeting in the evening. A fine day.
16 – A fine day. Cut the little field and the piece in the root field.
Got through at 4:30 which finishes the cutting for this year. After
supper drew in 4 loads of oats. George here helping.
17 – Drawing in oats with George’s help in the forenoon. Jessie
here keeping the baby while Jennie helped in the barn. Helping
George to draw in oats in the afternoon. A very fine day.
18 – Drawing in oats at George’s in the forenoon and here in the
afternoon. Nellie kept house while Jennie went to Port Perry in the
forenoon and Jessie here in the afternoon minding the baby.
19 – A fine day with a little rain in the afternoon. Mrs. Luke kept
house while we went to church where we got the baby baptized by
Mr. Cameron. At CE in the evening. Oliver and Eva Luke here
for a while in the evening.
20 – Some rain through the night and very dull all day but only a
few drops of rain. Spent the greater part of the forenoon talking to
Mr. Henders, the apple tree man. Plowed a while and in the after-
noon, with George’s help, drew in all the oats which finishes the
harvest all but the rakings, worked until dark. Jessie here keeping
the baby. Mrs. Ed Fisher and Mrs Aggie Bodin called after supper.
21 – A fine day. Helping George all day at his oats and finished
harvest but the rakings.
22 – Went after the beef in the morning and raked oat stubble the
rest of the day. Jennie went to Port Perry in the afternoon and got
the baby’s picture taken. Mrs. Bell and Willa came home with her.
At prayer meeting with Jennie and Willa.
23 – A very fine day. Raking in the forenoon. After dinner, with
Jennie’s help, drew it in and finished harvest for 1900. Plowed the
latter part of the afternoon. Went up to Alex Lee’s in the evening
to see about getting the loan of some oats. Jennie and Willa at
quilting bee at Mark’s, a large gathering.
35
24 – A very warm close day. Went up to A. Lee’s in the morning
and got the loan of 4 bags of oats and then plowed the remainder of
the forenoon. Brought Topsy colt home before dinner. In the
afternoon, with George’s help, we pumped out and cleaned the
well. We found two dead frogs and 1 dead toad in the well. We
then hitched up Topsy for the first time, tried her in the waggon
and plough and she went very quietly.
25 – A very warm day. Plowing all day. Had Topsy hitched up
again and she went very well. Had a call from A. Lee in the fore-
noon and Albert Phoenix in the afternoon. Willa drove to Green-
bank after dinner for the mail.
26 – A very warm day. At SS and church with Willa, Mr. Cam-
eron preached. Willa went to Jas. McMillan’s for tea. At CE in
the evening, a good meeting, Bella McMillan, leader.
27 – A pretty warm day. Plowing all day. Had Topsy hitched up
again and she went very well. Jennie spilled most of the cream in
the churn on account of the lid falling off. W. Luke called in the
forenoon.
28 – Another very warm day. Plowing all day. Mrs. Forbes and
Aggie Bodie here in the afternoon and for tea. Oliver Luke and
Stanley Crowle called in the forenoon.
29 – A very fine day and quite a bit cooler. Plowed in the fore-
noon and in the afternoon went over to the lake and had a little
picnic. Mrs. Luke, Oliver, Eva, and Ned, Nellie and Jessie, Willa,
Jennie and baby Annie made the company. We had quite a pleas-
ant time and got home about 8. John Lee and Bella came in just as
were starting away.
30 – Finished plowing the field west of the house and then har-
rowed it. After supper measured out for fence down at the swamp.
Jennie went to Port Perry in the afternoon and took her mother and
Willa home.
31 – Warm day. Gang plowed the little field and finished at 5
o’clock. Wes Luke called in the evening for some cucumbers.
SEPT. 1 – Harrowed the little field and drew out big stones in the
forenoon. Alma Black called and Tom called where I was work-
ing. At C. Gordon’s threshing in the afternoon. They did not get
started until 4 o’clock. Rode home on the tractor. James Smith,
Barbara and Jessie came in the evening. A very fine day but pretty
warm.
2 – A very warm day with a high west wind. Went to SS and
church with Jas. Smith, Mr. Cameron preached. Jennie, Barbara
and Jessie at CE in the evening and called at Sandy Gordon’s on
their way home. Will Manning died today.
3 – Somewhat cooler. A nice shower between 11 and 12 which
was badly needed but there was not near enough. Moved the old
fence between the SW field and the little field. Jas. Smith helped
to lay the new part. Jas., Barbara and Jessie at Mark’s for dinner
and left for home at 5 o’clock. John Leask, who was threshing at
Whitter’s, moved to G. Michie’s and had quite a time getting up
the sand hill.
4 – A very fine day. Threshing at George Michie’s and finished
about 3 o’clock, then to David Cragg’s and threshed him out.
They then moved to Marshall O’Neill’s.
5 – Threshing at Marshall O’Neills and finished about 10:30 and
then to Isaac O’Neill’s and made a very short before dinner. Fin-
ished about 2, then to Akhurst’s and got supper before starting run
for about ½ hour when they broke down and had to go to Green-
bank. Jennie at Port Perry in the afternoon. Mrs. Mark keeping
house while she was away. Eva Luke called in the evening.
6 – Some rain through the night. Threshing at Akhurst’s until
about 2, then to A. Lee’s at the Ewin barn and finished that in less
than 2 hours, then to his home barn, and threshed after supper until
7. Pretty warm.
7 – A beautiful day. Threshing at Alex Lee’s and finished about
10. They then came here and finished at 4:30 ($6.50 was what he
charged). They then moved to Luke’s and threshed about an hour.
Jessie Michie kept the baby.
8 – A fine day. Threshing at W. Luke’s and finished at noon,
which finishes my threshing for a time. The machine went to Mr.
[Petties?]. Was pretty well played out and did not do much in the
afternoon but clean up the barn floor. Jessie brought half of baby’s
pictures. Jennie made a miscalculation about the day of the week,
she thought this was Friday.
9 – At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. Jennie at CE, A.
McArthur, leader. A small attendance owing to the harvest home
at Saintfield.
10 – A fine day and some like rain. Went down to George’s in the
morning for some fall wheat which he got from G. Real for me.
Drew off some stones, filled up the furrows and harrowed the fall
wheat ground. In the forenoon Jennie went to Alex Lee’s to see
about getting his drill to sow the wheat but could not get it today.
W. Mark here picking up some fallen apples. Alex Lee’s boys and
Bella here for dinner. Cutting corn in the afternoon. Jennie went
to Greenbank after supper.
11 – Sowed the fall wheat in the forenoon with Alex Lee’s drill,
the ground being very dry. Cutting corn in the afternoon. Jessie
came up in the forenoon and took the baby away with her and
brought her back at 4:30. Annie Dusty came with her.
12 – A terrific wind through the night and most of the day. The
dust was terrible, blew down most of the corn shocks, some fences,
the top of A. Lee’s and Akhurst’s straw stack, the chimney of the
church, some silos, and apples by the waggon load. Picked out
some seed corn, pulled the beans and moved in the cooking stove
in the forenoon. Both picking fallen apples all afternoon, put them
in the woodshed. Edith Phair here in the afternoon and Mr. Cam-
eron for tea. Put up the apple rack and peeled some apples in the
evening, the first of the season.
13 – At the corn in the forenoon. After dinner drove up and got
Mrs. Gordon who came and kept house while Jennie and I and the
baby went to Port Perry’s Great Syndicate Fair. Got home at 7.
Afterwards drove Mrs. Gordon home. A very fine day.
36
14 – A fine day. Working at the corn all day. Jennie washing.
Jennie went to Greenbank in the evening. She heard that D.
McMillan’s little boy which has been all its days at Jas.
McMillan’s was drowned in a barrel.
15 – Cutting corn and finished at 5. The swamp fire was threaten-
ing to burn out Marshall O’Neill. Went down to see how it was
going in the afternoon and it looked pretty bad. Made a gate for
the orchard after supper. Pared apples in the evening.
16 – A good deal cooler with slight rain flurries in the afternoon
and evening. At church and SS, Mr. Cameron preached. Baptism
at the Baptist church. Jennie went to CE, R.T. Harrington, leader.
George Michie led the singing.
17 – A cool day. Finished the orchard gate and finished drawing
the old rails from the swamp field in the forenoon and helped W.
Luke to fix his horse power9
in the afternoon.
18 – A very fine day. Plowing in the forenoon while Jennie went
to Port Perry. Isaac Clemens took away Lucy for a few days.
Helping W. Luke with his horse power in the afternoon. Pared
apples in the evening.
19 – A very foggy morning. Went for the beef and brought Mrs.
Jas. Burns to Mrs. Phair’s. Plowing in the forenoon and drawing
stone from the old fence bottom in the afternoon. Jennie went to
Greenbank in the evening and took 9 chickens.
20 – A little rain through the night which was badly needed, but
not enough to do much good. All day drawing stones from the old
fence bottom. John Lee called in the afternoon. Pared apples in
the evening.
21 – Trimmed a tree, put up some fence, fanned up some rye (5 ½
bus) at Luke’s barn, and drew stones in forenoon. Sowed rye (the
first ever sown on the place as far as I know) in the afternoon with
A. Lee’s drill. Took his oats back which was borrowed. Jessie
Michie here after dinner. Big thunderstorm in the early morning.
22 – Finished drawing stone in the morning and ploughed the
remainder of the day. Pared apples in the evening.
9
Image from ‘Turn-of-the-Century Farm Tools and
Implements, Peter Henderson & Co.’; Dover publica-
tion.
23 – A fine day. At SS and church (walked), Mr. Cameron
preached and hit hard at those that held a grudge at anyone. Jennie
at CE, Mr. Boe, leader. Mrs. Bryant and Mrs. E. Burton here in the
afternoon.
24 – A fine day. Plowing all day. Sold Lucy to Joe Burton for
$10.00. Anna Tate arrived just before dinner. She rode up from
Port Perry with Tom Michie in the waggon. Hitched up Topsy in
the buggy for the first time. Pared apples in the evening.
25 – Threatening rain in the morning but it did not come. Drawing
in corn in the forenoon, Jennie helping. Plowing in the afternoon.
Jennie and Anna at prayer meeting. Alex Lee away to Whitby as a
witness in the Frank Trebell case.
26 – A very warm day, too warm to work. Plowed all day. A hitch
in the beef ring today. One of our 6 ducks missing in the morning,
another in the afternoon, and the other 4 at night. Hunted high and
low for them but could not find them. No doubt it is the work of a
fox. Barbara Walker called in the forenoon. Jennie and Anna
dressmaking.
27- Ducks turned up all right in the morning. Much cooler today.
Plowing in the forenoon. After dinner went down to Mr. O’Neill’s
to get Fred to help at the potatoes tomorrow. They are building a
new house and I had some trouble to get him as they have so much
to do. Went with Jennie to the preparatory service in the church.
Mr. Sincler [Sinclair?], the new minister at Sonya, preached. The
new communion service got by the CE was presented to the con-
gregation. Mrs. Luke here in the afternoon and J.A. and George
Miller for tea. P. Luke started to plough on the old place. Pared
apples in the evening.
28 – A very fine day. Digging potatoes all day, Fred O’Neill help-
ing. Jennie went to Port Perry in the forenoon and did not get
home until about 3. Pared apples in the evening.
29 – Rain through the night and most of the forenoon, which was
badly needed. Covered up the potato pits the first thing in the
morning and worked at paving the passage in front of the cattle the
rest of the forenoon. After dinner went up to Akhurst’s to see
Albert about school money. Got ready to plough but Henry Love
came to see about the stable wall and talked a long time. Then
J.M. Real came for some apples which took some more time, so I
did not start to plough but did some more paving. Anna went
down to Mark’s in the evening. Jennie making a jacket for little
Annie.
30 – A fine day. Communion at Greenbank. Attended with
Jennie, Anna and the baby. Mr. Cameron preached. The new
communion service used for the first time. Mrs. Luke stayed while
we were away. Eva and Ned Luke here for dinner. Mrs. L. had to
go home as someone had come to their place. John Lee, Mrs. A.
Lee, and Bella called in the afternoon. At CE with Anna, a fairly
good meeting. Anna did not come home with me, a foggy night.
OCT. 1 – A very fine day. Digging potatoes all day. Alone in the
forenoon as Fred O’Neill did not turn up. Jennie helped in the
afternoon. At church managers meeting in the evening.
37
2 – Finished digging potatoes with Jennie’s help in the forenoon.
After dinner fixed the wheelbarrow and then plowed the rest of the
afternoon. Sold the apples for 60 cts. per barrel. Joe Burton and
Mr. O’Neill had a cattle sale this afternoon but I hear it did not go
off very well. A very fine day. Potatoes rather small.
3 – A very fine day. Picked the Snow apples in the forenoon.
Jennie and Anna helping. Plowing in the afternoon. John Michie
and Jessie here awhile and Mrs. Annie Gordon and Mrs. Jas. Leask
for tea and they went with me to prayer meeting in the evening.
4 – Plowing all day. Jennie and Anna dressmaking. Very fine
weather.
5 – A very warm day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with
Jennie and the baby. Hitched Topsy the first time on the road, she
went fine. Plowing in the afternoon. Liberal convention at
Whitby. W. Luke sent over to get me to go with him but I was
away at Port Perry.
6 – A very warm day. Drew the potatoes into the cellar, after
which Jennie, baby and I drove with Topsy to see G. Allan who is
down with fever. Called first at Jas. Allan’s and got tea, then to
George’s where we found him about the same. Got home about 9.
Soon after we left home Willie and Annie Smith came. They went
down to Mark’s in the evening.
7 – Some rain through the night. Willa Bell, who stayed at Mark’s
last night, came over in the forenoon. All at SS and church but
Jennie. Children’s service. A heavy shower came on a little be-
fore the service closed and more on the way home. Willa went
home with Nellie Michie. Willie and Annie Smith started for
home at 6 pm. Anna Tait at Mark’s in the evening.
8 – Bagged up 20 bags of oats and took them to Beare’s Mill and
brought home lumber for stable door jambs and drew in some corn
in the forenoon. Went for a load of building sand at Jas. McMil-
lans, then to M. O’Neill’s for 100 bricks and 50 tile, then finished
drawing in the corn. At school trustee meeting at J.M. Real’s in
the evening. Engaged W. Grey at $350.00 and Miss McBrien at
$225.00 if she will accept it. A beautiful day and a good deal
cooler.
9 – A very fine day. Drew off stones in the forenoon while John
Michie worked at taking off the claw boards of the kitchen. Both
at it all afternoon. Jennie went to Port Perry in the afternoon for
felt paper and took Anna out. She is going to start tomorrow at the
dressmaking with Miss Knight. Pared apples in the evening.
10 – A slight frost in the morning, the first of the season as far as I
know, which is rather an unusual thing. Pumpkin vines and such
like are still quite green. Went for the beef in the morning. Got a
new pair of boots from Sam, then went for the meal at E. Beare’s.
Putting on claw boards on kitchen in the afternoon. John at it all
day. Jessie and Eldgie Mark here in the afternoon picking up
apples.
11 – A fine day. At the felt papering all day, John acting as boss.
Jessie here for awhile in the forenoon. Mrs. Jas. Miller and Mrs. F.
Ward for dinner. Jennie went to Greenbank in the afternoon and
drove Topsy. Apple packers packed 3 barrels of Snows. Mr and
Mrs and Grace Cameron called in the afternoon.
12 – Worked at the house until the paper was spent and then picked
a few apples before dinner. Started early after dinner for Port
Perry with 3 barrels of Snow apples and got another roll of paper
and 6 [?]. Got home at 3 and then at the house and finished all we
intend doing at this time. John here all day. George came up in
the morning for some apples. Pared apples in the evening.
13 – All day picking apples, John helping. Eva and Ned Luke here
awhile in the afternoon. Mrs. A. Leask called as we were at supper
to see if they could get some sweet apples. A very fine day.
14 – At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. Drove Topsy to
church for the first time and she ran away from the gate to the barn.
No one at CE. Jennie flunked after getting ready to go.
15 – A very fine day. Plowing all day at the corn stubble. Pared
apples in the evening.
16 – A good deal cooler with some rain in the morning. Spent
most of the forenoon fixing windows. Plowing in the afternoon.
17- Quite a hard frost in the morning. Finished plowing the potato
ground and the remainder of the day plowing sod in the field NW
of barn. J.M. Real here before dinner for a barrel of sweet apples.
Mrs. Mark, Jessie and Mrs. Luke here a while in the afternoon.
18 – Thanksgiving Day. Jennie drove to Port Perry in the forenoon
with a duck for her mother, while I kept house and did a few
chores. Anna Tait and Jessie Michie came about 10:30. Went
with Jessie to the Thanksgiving service in the church, Mr. Cam-
eron preached an excellent sermon. Mrs. Luke, Eva and Ned here
in the afternoon. Anna left for Port Perry after supper.
19 – Plowing sod all day. Alex Leask came for 5 bags of sweet
apples. John Lee called. A very fine day. Pared apples in the
evening.
20 – Plowing sod all day. George Michie and Jessie here picking
apples in the forenoon. A. Lee called in the forenoon and was
telling that he has rented the Luke farm for 3 years. At Greenbank
in the evening to a political committee meeting to appoint dele-
gates to convention at Brooklin on Monday. Split in party. This is
the second convention.
21 – A very fine day. Went to SS and church, Mr. Cameron
preached. No organist and no choir. Mr. Allan presented. No CE
as there was anniversary services at the Baptist Church. Annie
Black, Allan and Emma came about 5:30.
22 – Some showers throughout the day. Before breakfast G. Real
called and gave me a blowing up about engaging an assistant
teacher. He is not at all pleased that we did not engage his girl.
Went over to W. Lukes to see about going to the convention at
Brooklin, then picked a few bags of apples, Allan Black helping.
Started at 12 and rode with Wes to Brooklin, getting there at 2.
The convention was large and feelings ran high. There was a
decided split between Burnett and Folke and after a good deal of
38
talk they dropped them both and united on R.W. Ross of Port
Perry. Went to James Smith’s for supper and got home about
11:30 feeling in better spirits than when we went away.
23 – Rain in the morning and most of the forenoon which went in
about 2. Annie, Allan and Emma started for home after dinner.
Plowed sod in the afternoon except what time I spent talking to A.
Lee, J.M. Real (on school matters) and John Lee. Pared apples in
the evening.
24 – Plowing sod all day. Had another talk with G. Real. He is in
much better humour today.
25 – Plowing sod all day and nearly finished. Jennie went down to
Mark’s for some newspapers, as we have not had any for some
days, and the election near at hand. Jack Leask’s machine went
down the road to Phair’s at dusk.
26 – Threshing at Phair’s until a little after four when it started to
rain. Some lightning and the heaviest rain for a long time, and it
was much needed. Plowing match at Bruce’s farm, Port Perry. W.
Luke, Tom Michie and Kyler Whitter left the threshing to go to the
match. Eva Luke here for supper and stayed all night.
27 – Threshed at Phair’s until 9 and finished. Several hundred
bushels of oats broke through the floor and landed in the horse
stable. Finished plowing sod before dinner. Fixed the cover of the
barn well in the afternoon while Jennie went to Port Perry. Anna
Tait came home with her. Pared apples in the evening.
28 – A very fine day. At. SS and church with Jennie. Anna kept
the baby. George Fowler and his mother here in the afternoon.
Jennie and Anna at CE, a good meeting.
29 – A foggy morning and rain in the afternoon off and on.
Threshing at W. Luke’s from about 9 to 3:30, had to stop twice for
a rain. Jack Leask here for dinner. Jennie went to Port Perry and
took Anna down, and brought her mother back. A very dark night
and lots of mud.
30 – Fanned up some wheat for a grist the first thing in the morn-
ing, then drew stones and dirt and finished fixing the barn well
platform. Drove out to Port Perry in the afternoon and took 1 ½
bags of wheat in the buggy. Mrs. Mark and Mrs. [Chuh?] of Clif-
ford here in the afternoon. W. Ross had a meeting at Greenbank
but I did not go as it was a rainy night. Got Topsy shod for the
first time.
31 – Foggy morning. Went down to Mr. O’Neill’s to get Fred to
help tomorrow at the turnips, then banked up the north end of
house. Topped turnips in the afternoon (they were very wet).
Jennie went to Greenbank and got home a little before 6. Went in
the evening with A. Lee to Mr. Ross’ meeting at Port Perry. Mr.
Lout was the speaker, a very good meeting, got home at 12.
NOV. 1 – At the turnips, Fred O’Neill helping, until about 2:30
when rain came on. W. Luke called during the rain. Smith’s meet-
ing at Greenbank tonight. Took in 5 loads of turnips – At the
turnips all day, Fred helping. Drew in 10 loads. Mrs. A. Gordon
here for dinner. Jessie and Mrs. I. O’Neill here in the afternoon.
Jennie went to Greenbank in the evening with 10 roosters.
3 – At turnips all day, Fred helping. Drew in 8 loads. H. Love
came down in the morning to do the stone job but I did not have
time to attend to him. Norman Stuward, collector, called after
dinner. Jennie drove her mother home and brought Anna Tait and
Nellie home with her. Went to political committee meeting in the
evening.
4 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Jennie. Anna kept the
baby. Mr. McDonald of Glenarm preached. Anna went to A.
Gordon’s for tea. At CE, Mr. Boe, leader, in place of M. McDon-
ald.
5 – Rain through the night and some showers in the afternoon and
evening. A little snow, the first of the season. Worked at the
turnips alone, Fred did not come. Got in 6 loads, tied up the steers
for the first time. Went to political committee meeting and took
Alex Lee with me. A warm meeting.
6 – Threw back and topped turnips in the forenoon. After dinner
went down to Mr. O’Neill’s to see why Fred did not come to help
with the turnips, too busy was the excuse. Got John Michie to help
and drew in 5 loads. Eva Luke here for supper. Presidential elec-
tion in the US, McKinley and Bryan are the candidates. (Later,
McKinley elected 2nd
time).
7 – Dominion general elections. Snow in the morning and most of
the forenoon but cleared up in the afternoon. Put up the little stove
and some other chores in the forenoon. Went to Greenbank and
voted for William Ross. Hoed a few turnips after I came home.
Did not hear who was elected tonight. (Heard next day that Ross
won by 90 something).
8 – Snow a good part of the forenoon which went nearly all away
by night. Did some chores in the forenoon and puttied up the
windows in the afternoon while Jennie went to Port Perry. W.
Luke called before supper.
9- A cold wintery day with a high NW wind. Put on the storm
windows and some other chores in the forenoon. Went over after
dinner to help W. Luke with pigs and then went at the turnips, John
helping, and got in 5 loads. Freezing pretty hard.
10 – Finished the turnips with John’s help in the afternoon (5
loads). Apple packers here in the forenoon, put up 10 barrels.
Jessie here in the forenoon. Drove to Greenbank in the evening for
the mail.
11 – At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE in the
evening, Mr. Grey led the meeting.
12 – A pretty cool day with some snow in the evening. Went up to
Alex Lee’s and bought a turnip pulper and brought it home and put
it in place. After dinner the apple packers came again and put up 2
more barrels. Jennie went to Greenbank but had a little smash up
in the lane first. Took in the apple culls while she was away.
Pared apples in the evening.
39
13 – Started to snow about 8 am and continued all day from the
east, about 6 or 8 in. A very wintery day. Took the apples (12
barrels) out to Port Perry in the forenoon. Made and hung a storm
door on the east kitchen door. WFMS social at Greenbank tonight
(or was to be) but did not go as the night was very rough.
14 – A very cold wintery day. Did the chores and made a stable
door. Pared apples in the evening.
15 – Got the sleigh out and drew all the dry wood into the wood
shed. Afterwards cleaned out the hen house. Very wintery.
16 – Drew manure for the garden and berry bushes in the forenoon
and went to J. Ward’s cattle sale at Greenbank in the afternoon.
Good sleighing.
17 – Went after a load of posts on the 11th
concession and some
other sleigh jobs in the forenoon and made cattle stable door jamb
in the afternoon. A little rain in the afternoon and evening, the
snow going. Pared apples (frozen) in the evening.
18 – Rain in the afternoon and evening and all the snow gone but
plenty of mud. At SS and church with Jennie. Mr. H. Horne of
Elora preached. Did not go to CE as it was very dark and rainy.
Anna Tait came about 10 am and left again for Mark’s before dark.
19 – Rain most of the day from the east which froze as it fell. Did
the chores and did some jobs in the shop.
20 – A good deal warmer, with fog, and a little rain. Took a load
of oats and peas over to Beare’s mill in the forenoon and pruned
the black currant bushes and some other jobs in the garden in the
afternoon while Jennie went to Greenbank.
21 – A little rain in the morning and a very high wind in the after-
noon. H. Love came about 9 am and worked at the wall all the day
while I [?] and made a door frame. H. Love stayed all night. Bible
society meeting but did not go.
22 – A very fine day but rain in the evening. Helping H. Love all
day, fixing the stable doors, and H. L. finishes his job. W. Luke
making a big push to get his turnips in.
23 – Went for the meal at Beare’s mill in the forenoon and paved
in front of the cattle stable doors in the afternoon. Pared apples in
the evening. Allan Byers called, he was taking orders for tea.
24 – Some frost in the morning and freezing towards night. Plow-
ing in the orchard in the forenoon and paving in front of the cattle
stable in the afternoon while Jennie went to Port Perry and brought
Anna Tait and Nellie Michie back with her. Nellie stayed all night.
Went over to A. Lee’s bush to get maple seed to send to Manitoba
but could not find a seed.
25 – Snow through the night but not enough for sleighing. At
church and SS with Jennie, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE with
Anna, rather a small meeting.
26 – Made a window sash for the new stable window, the first I
ever attempted to do, and in the afternoon went to Greenbank to
the farmers’ institute meeting. Mr. John McMillan, ex-M.P. of
Huron, and Miss Laura Rose of the O.A.C. were the speakers and
very good they were. The attendance was very good. Pared apples
in the evening.
27 – A very fine day but it did not thaw out any. Put in new win-
dow in stable, put in pane of glass in root house window, put the
thumb latch on storm door and some other jobs in the forenoon. In
the afternoon put the storm doors on the front of house and then
Mr. John Truax of Michigan came and I spent the greater part of
the afternoon talking to him. He lived on the Byers’ place over 40
years ago. He stayed to tea and then went to W. Luke’s.
28 – Put in some glass in the stable windows and some other
chores in the forenoon. Painted the storm door and tore down the
fence behind the wood yard. Pared apples in the evening. L.
O’Neill after a bag of apples.
29 – A very fine day. Put up the fence about the wood yard in the
forenoon and cut up the rubbish. In the afternoon Jennie went to
Port Perry. Jessie Michie and Ida Phair here in the afternoon.
30 – A very fine day. Painted the new stable doors, cleaned out
and overhauled the water closet. Mr and Mrs John Burns came just
before dinner and stayed until about 3, they were on their way to
Cannington. Got word that Flossie Burns has been given up by the
Doctors, she has been ill for some time with typhoid fever.
DEC. 1 – A fine mild day. Finished plowing the orchard and
plowed the little corn patch (which finishes for the season) and
then harrowed the orchard and then burned the old berry bushes.
Jessie here for a while in the afternoon. Pared apples in the eve-
ning. Flossie Burns died this morning.
2 – A fine mild day. Went to Flossie Burn’s funeral at 1 pm. A
very large crowd, more than the church would hold. Mr. Cameron
conducted the service. They took her to Ashburn. No SS. At CE,
a very small meeting. Lizzie McArthur took the topic. Jessie
Michie opened the meeting (1st
time) and Maud McDonald played
the organ (1st
time).
3 – A mild day and many plowing. Fixed the fence behind the
barn in the forenoon and attended the meeting of the Reach, Port
Perry and Scugog SS association at Greenbank in the afternoon. A
very small meeting, only 5 there and nothing done. Weaning baby
and Jennie laid all night on the lounge.
4 – A very dull day with sometimes a little sprinkle of rain. Cut-
ting up elm tree that stood on the old fence bottom, John Michie
helping. Pared apples in the evening. Jennie tried the bed upstairs
with the baby but had to come down to the lounge.
5 – A little snow in the morning and some drizzle through the day.
Split up the wood and trimmed the brush of the tree cut yesterday.
6 – Dug up two apple trees in the morning and cut wood the re-
mainder of the day, John helping. Mary Dusty here for dinner,
Jessie in the forenoon and Mrs. David Cragg in the afternoon get-
ting names for the autograph quilt for the Baptist Church. A fine
day.
40
7 – Cut wood with John’s help, from 10 o’clock and finished the
job.
8 – Drew away the elm brush from the trees we had been cutting
and drew some brush and wood out of the orchard and covered the
strawberries partly with maple leaves and partly with peas straw,
then drove up to Greenbank for the mail, taking the baby with me
(1st
time). Pared apples in the evening. Mrs. A. Gordon here for
dinner and most of the afternoon.
9 – A very cold wintery day with strong northwest wind. Anna
Tait and Jessie Michie came before dinner. Went to SS and church
with Jennie and Jessie, Mr. Cameron preached. Jessie came back
for tea and Anna and her left about 8 pm. Did not go to CE as it
was a very cold night.
10 – Cleaned out the pig pen and some other chores in the fore-
noon. Went down to D. Cragg’s to see a wood lot that T. Cragg
had to sell, came home by way of Isaac O’Neill’s and George
Michie’s and called at each place. Pretty cold day especially in the
morning.
11 – Jennie drove to Port Perry in the forenoon and did not get
home until 2 pm. She left the baby at her mother’s, this being her
birthday. Cut some wood in the wood shed and some other little
chores. Pared apples in the evening and wrote a letter to Scotland.
12 – Bush ranging, or hunting, for wood in the forenoon. Called at
Luke’s on my round. M. O’Neill called. Cut some old rails into
stove wood in the afternoon.
13 – A very rough windy day with snow blizzards. Cutting old
rails into firewood in the forenoon and went to Greenbank in the
afternoon. Pared apples in the evening and finished for the season.
M. O’Neill here in the morning and settled up.
14 – A fine cold day. Jennie went to Port Perry in the forenoon,
the principal errand was to bring home the baby, couldn’t do with-
out it. Mr. Cameron here for a short call just before supper. Cut
old rails all day and went out in the evening to Port Perry to John
Smith’s reception in the town hall on his return from the Transvaal
War. A full house and lots of speeches and fun. They presented
him with a gold watch and chain. Got home about 11 o’clock.
15 – A fine day. Drawed some manure to bank up the root house
and cut some wood in the forenoon and cut wood in the afternoon.
Wes Luke called in the afternoon and we had a settlement of ac-
counts, the first for two years. He is crippled with a lame back.
Alex Lee called. He was telling that J. Somerville and Rose Petty
are to be married on Christmas.
16 – A very fine but sharp day. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron
preached an extra good sermon. At CE in the evening, a fair meet-
ing, Jas. Miller, leader.
17 – Cut old rails most of the day. W. Luke and Silas Butt called
in the afternoon and near dark I helped A. Gordon to get his binder
into W. Luke’s barn. At church manager’s meeting in the evening.
A very fine day.
18 – A dull foggy sort of a day. Went to Beare’s mill with a load
of oats to be ground in the forenoon and worked at the wood in the
afternoon. Jennie went to Port Perry in the afternoon and brought
Willa home with her.
19 – A mild day. Went to Manchester in the forenoon for school
money and took a bag of wheat to mill. Jennie and Willa at quilt-
ing bee at Mark’s in the afternoon while I put a new rig on the
churn. At prayer meeting in the evening. Mr. Cameron, leader.
An after meeting to arrange for Sunday school papers. Paid both
the school teachers. A very dark night. Vic Jamison and Nellie
Burnett married.
20 – Went to the mill for the meal in the forenoon and in the after-
noon went to Greenbank. Called at Cragg’s to see Norman about
his pay for teaching, then to the school with the other trustees
where Inspector Waugh gave us a talk about improving the school
house. Jennie went to the WFMS.
21 – Cut old rails in the forenoon and fanned up a load of oats in
the afternoon. William Luke called and made a bargain for an acre
of swamp wood for $9.00. W. Luke called, he was on a hunt for
their Ned who had wandered away. Went down to Mark’s in the
evening with Willa and had a big musical evening.
22 – Went to Uxbridge with a load of oats and got a bag of oat
meal. Took the wagon, roads very hard and smooth. Got home
about 5. Anna Tait came in the evening. Willa went home with
George.
23 – A mild day with rain in the forenoon which made the roads
somewhat muddy. At SS and church with Jennie, Mr. Cameron
preached about the wise men from the east. At CE with Anna, a
good meeting, R.T. Harrington leader. Jessie played 3 pieces on
the organ, the first she ever did in public.
24 – Put on some shingles on the barn and cut wood in the fore-
noon and cut wood in the afternoon. Jennie went to Greenbank in
the afternoon and took Anna to S. Dusty’s where she stayed to tea.
Jessie here in the morning and again near night.
25 – Christmas day, a very quiet day, no one called. The weather
was colder and mud all hardened up, but hardly a bit of snow to be
seen. We have never taken down the cutter yet. A little snow in
the evening. John Somerville and Rose Petty married.
26 – A little snow on the ground and somewhat cold. Went to the
public school meeting in the forenoon, a small meeting. W. Luke
chosen trustee in my place. In the afternoon went down and settled
up with Fred O’Neill for work done. At prayer meeting in the
evening, Mr. Boe, leader. A managers meeting before which let
the caretaking to Jas. Innis for $33.00. H. Love tendered for
$36.00. At CE meeting after to elect officers for the first half of
1901. Maggie Blair, president.
27 – Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for the payment on the
Mara place, $65.00, and fixed the north barn door in the afternoon.
Tried to settle up with John Brown but could not agree. Alex Lee
threshing clover. Got the first egg of the season.
41
28 – Finished fixing the barn door and spent most of remainder of
the day measuring out the wood lot in Luke’s swamp. John Mi-
chie helped me in the forenoon.
29 – A fine day. Spent most of the day cutting old rails and fin-
ished the job. Jennie went to Greenbank in the evening for the
mail.
30 – A fine day with a little snow but not enough for sleighing yet.
Mrs. A. Lee, Barbara Walker, Mrs. Luke, Mrs. Rundle and Mrs.
W. Elliot called before dinner. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron
preached. No CE on account of the Methodist Anniversary.
31 – Went down to the swamp wood lot and cut a little wood in the
forenoon and in the afternoon went to Greenbank and had a settle
up with E. and S. Dusty. Oliver Luke here a while in the after-
noon. Fixed up the book shelves and counted up some interest
account in the evening. Sat up to see the new year and also the
new century come in.
And so ends the year 1900 and the nineteenth century.
1901
Jan. 1 – A very fine day but somewhat cold. Went up for Mrs. A.
Gordon at 10 o’clock and brought her here to keep house while
Jennie, baby Annie and I went to Port Perry (with the buggy) and
got dinner at Mrs. Bell’s. Miss Mary Glover, Mrs. Howey and
Anna Tait were there. Got home at 4 and took Mrs. Gordon home.
Methodist party tonight but did not go. A very bright night.
2 – Cut wood all day in the swamp and in the evening went to the
annual SS meeting, a fair attendance. A.T. Horne was elected
superintendant in place of J.M. Real. Willa Bell came just before
dinner, she rode up with A. Akhurst.
3 – Cut wood in swamp in the forenoon and went with Jennie in
the afternoon to the preparatory service in the church. Rev. Mr.
Reed of Leaskdale preached a good sermon. Mrs. Jas. Boe and
Willie Leask came in this time.
4 – Some snow in the forenoon but hardly enough to make good
sleighing. Cut wood in the swamp in the forenoon. Fernando
Perrin came from Newcastle before dinner (with the buggy). Did
very little in the afternoon but talk with Mundo, who drove out to
Port Perry after 4 o’clock. He took Willa home and brought Anna
Tait back with him. He drove Topsy and our cutter for the first
time it has been out this winter. A beautiful clear night and pretty
cold.
5 – Mundo Perrin left for home in the morning, taking Anna to
Port Perry with him (pretty cold morning). Cut wood in the swamp
in the forenoon and took a load (19 bags) to Beare’s mill in the
afternoon, got the meal home with me. Anna Tait came back again
in the evening.
6 – A fine cold day. Went with Jennie to communion service at
Wick, drove the cutter but most of the people had buggies. Mr.
Cameron preached. In the evening drove out to Port Perry and
took Anna and Nellie Michie with me. Went to the Presbyterian
church, Rev. Cooper preached a good sermon. Jas. Balfour sang a
solo. Some snow on the way home.
7 – Some snow during the night, quite rough and drifting in the
afternoon, but not very cold. Drawing wood from the elm trees on
the old fence bottom in the forenoon and took the land roller up to
W. Whiteford to get a new frame in the afternoon. Sleighing some
better.
8 – A mild day with rain in the evening. Drawing elm wood in the
forenoon and finished. Cutting wood in Luke’s swamp in the
afternoon. Jennie washing.
9 – Cut wood in the swamp awhile, but broke axe handle and had
to make a new one. At the wood in the afternoon. W. Luke dig-
ging out a fox in A. Lee’s field. At annual church meeting in the
evening, a fair good turnout. A. Akhurst elected manager in place
of Thomas Phair (deceased), and for the usual term Jas. Leask; Jas.
McMillan; Alex Gordon, and R.T. Harrington. G. Michie, choir
leader. Roads pretty slippery.
10 – Drew up wood from the swamp in the forenoon. Alex Lee
called and in the afternoon went with A. Lee to James Ross’ sale at
Port Perry. Snow in the afternoon and evening which makes good
sleighing. Mr and Mrs Cameron and Oliver and Eva Luke called
in the afternoon.
12 – Several inches of snow through the night which started to drift
pretty bad in the afternoon. Finished making the bag truck and in
the afternoon went to a special meeting of the public school to
consider the repairing of the school or building a new one. There
was quite a good turnout and it was decided to remodel the old
one. James Ross from [Bradwardine..?] Manitoba came in the
afternoon and stayed all night. Had a great old talk about old
times. We were hunting up the books and find that it was just 25
years ago tonight since Barbara was married and that was the last
time he was here.
13 – A very fine day. Went to SS and church with Jas. Ross.
Election of teachers in the SS. A.T. Horne superintendent for the
first time. Rev. Mr. Martin of Cannington preached an excellent
sermon. G. Michie, choir leader for the first time. J.R. went to
Marks for tea. At CE in the evening, an extra large meeting, Mrs.
Somerville, leader. Mr. Ross came home with me and stayed all
night.
14 – Nice mild day with a little snow in the afternoon. Drew up
wood in the forenoon and went to Greenbank in the afternoon to
get the cutter fixed and some other errands. James Ross left in the
morning, he is on his way north. Mrs. Akhurst here in the after-
noon, W. Luke also. I. Wheeler here and bought the little red
heifer.
15 – A mild day. Cutting wood in the swamp in the forenoon and
drawing wood in the afternoon. Jennie washing.
16 – Rain in the morning and the snow soft, but turned colder
towards night. Spitting elm wood in the forenoon. Giving the
cattle an application of tobacco in the afternoon.
42
17 - Cut wood in the swamp in the forenoon. Jennie went to Port
Perry in the afternoon principally to get a tooth out but Mr. Murray
was drunk and she did not get it drawn. Wes Luke called in the
afternoon and I spent most of the time talking to him. At Mark’s in
the evening having a sing. Pretty cold night. Anna Tait leaves for
Newcastle this morning.
18 – Very cold day. Cutting wood in the swamp in the forenoon
and splitting in the afternoon.
19 – Coldest day so far this winter. Mended harness in the fore-
noon and threshed the beans in the afternoon.
20 – Some warmer. Went to SS and church, Mr. Cameron
preached on giving. Special collection to wipe out debt of about
$102.00, $60.43 collected. Jennie went to CE in the evening, this
being her night to take the topic.
21 – Thawing a good deal but got colder towards night. Cleaned
out the pig pen and split wood in the forenoon. Drew up wood
from the swamp in the afternoon. At church manager’s meeting in
the evening, did not get home until 12. The news is that Queen
Victoria is very low.
22 – A very fine day. Cutting wood in the swamp all day. Alex
Lee called. Mrs. Mark here in the afternoon and tea. Queen Victo-
ria died.
23 – A very fine day. Tom Michie here all day helping to cut
wood and timber for a new roof for the barn. Spent the evening
fixing Father’s old memorandum books.
24 – A dull foggy day with some snow towards night. Cutting
timber all day, Tom helping. In the evening went with Jennie to a
party at Alex Lee’s. Mrs. Mark kept house while we were away.
W. Donaldson and Willa Bell called just before we started. A
lively time and got home between 12 and 1 but there was no sign
of it breaking up then.
25 – A fine day. Bagged up some oats and some other chores in
the forenoon. Went to Beare’s mill in the afternoon and got the
meal home.
26 – Went and got George Michie’s fanning mill and fanned up
some wheat in the forenoon and took it out to Port Perry in the
cutter in the afternoon. Splendid sleighing. Mrs. A. Gordon Sr.
and Mrs. James McPhail here in the afternoon. Baby Annie has
made great progress in walking the last two or three days.
27 – A fine day with some snow in the evening. At SS and church,
Mr. Cameron preached or at least spoke about Queen Victoria.
Mrs. W. McMillan at church, the first for a long time. At CE in the
evening. A fair good meeting. Miss Bell McMillan, leader.
George, Tom and I sang a piece (the first).
28 – A pretty cold day. Went to J. Wheeler’s in the forenoon with
the heifer. Walked all the way there and back. Drawed up wood
from the swamp in the afternoon. Picked beans in the evening.
Jennie washing.
29 – A very fine day. Drawing up the timber for the barn roof,
Tom Michie helping. Jennie at Greenbank to the store in the eve-
ning. Baptist social tonight. 5 years ago today since we were
married.
30 – A fine day. Drawing out timber and cutting rafters, Tom
Michie helping. At prayer meeting in the evening, Mr. Cameron
leader, subject [was] giving. A good turnout. A beautiful night
and good sleighing.
31 – Went to Port Perry in the forenoon, principal errand to see Mr.
W. Ross, MP, about the census enumeration. Brought Mrs. Bell
and Willa home with me. Drew up wood from the swamp in the
afternoon and went to Alex Lee’s in the evening and settled up
with him while Jennie and Willa went to Greenbank to the store.
FEB. 1 – Cutting wood in the swamp all day. A fine day but drift-
ing a little in the afternoon. W. Luke called in the forenoon and
Allan Wallace in the afternoon.
2 – A very fine day. As this is a holiday on account of the Queen’s
funeral there was little done. Split some wood in the morning and
went over to Luke’s before dinner. Walter Donaldson came about
10 and stayed all day and night. Went up to Greenbank in the
afternoon with W.D. and Jennie, Willa and Walter. Down at
Mark’s in the evening for a sing. A beautiful night.
3 – A cold morning (2 below zero) and some snow from the east in
the evening. At SS and church with Jennie, Mr. McDermott, a
student, preached a good sermon. At CE with Walter Donaldson
and Willa, a fair meeting, Mr. Boe, leader.
4 – Snow through the night and the forenoon from the east and
drifting a good deal. The wind turned to NW in the afternoon and
drifting badly. Jennie drove Willa and W. Donaldson out to Port
Perry in the morning. Helping Wes Luke to kill a pig in the after-
noon.
5 – Pretty rough and cold all day. Fanning up wheat in the fore-
noon. John came up for some flour (40 lbs) and helped me with
wheat. Cleaning timothy seed in the afternoon. Cecil Phair came
over with a file to sharpen their crosscut saw.
6 – 7 below zero in the morning and pretty cold all day. Sharpened
Mrs. Phair’s saw and cut some wood in the forenoon and with A.
Lee dug out the road and made a place in the root house for the big
pig. Jennie went to Port Perry and brought Willa back with her.
Prayer meeting and after that nominations for two new elders. Did
not go as I was not feeling very well and the roads bad.
7 – A very fine day. Cut wood in the forenoon and went to Green-
bank in the afternoon for the mail. Saw John Lee and he was tell-
ing me that A.T. Horne, Jas. Leask, J.M. Real, R.T. Harrington,
Jas. Blair, G. Allan, and myself were nominated for the eldership
last night. Some 10 little pigs came in the evening.
8 – A very fine day. Cut wood in the swamp in the forenoon and at
the house in the afternoon. Jennie drove her mother and Willa
home in the afternoon.
43
9 – A very rough day with heavy snow from the east in the fore-
noon. Cut some wood in the forenoon and sharpened Mrs. Phair’s
2nd
saw in the afternoon. Norman Phair came in the morning for
the first saw and Ernest brought the other one as we were at dinner.
10 – 10 below zero in the morning but turned out a very fine day.
At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. Jessie Michie played
the organ in church for the 1st
time. Ballots given out for the elec-
tion of elders. Mrs. James Ward buried this afternoon. At CE, an
extra large meeting. Maggie Blair, leader.
11 – A fine day. Cut wood in the swamp in the forenoon and drew
it home in the afternoon. Spent the evening fixing up Father’s old
memorandum books. Mr. Cameron had a young people’s [?] from
the congregation tonight.
12 – A very stormy day and snow drifting badly. Not much doing.
Cut a little wood in the afternoon and got one of my ears a little
frozen. Jennie washing.
13 – A very cold stormy day and not much doing. Made a vice to
hold saws when sharpening. Made an axe handle and sawed a little
wood. Wes Luke called before dinner. Roads mostly blocked,
especially the east and west ones.
14 – Another very rough and cold day. Rather worse than the last
two. Most of the snow is now in heaps. Very little doing. Drove
over to Luke’s after dinner and got three bags of meal as ours was
done and the roads not fit to go to mill. Getting a little warmer
towards night.
15 – A good deal warmer. Cutting wood in the swamp in the fore-
noon and drove the sleigh to Greenbank in the afternoon for the
mail. Had to break the road a good part of the way. Roads badly
drifted.
16 – A very fine mild day. Cutting wood at the house all day.
Jennie went to Port Perry in the forenoon. At Mark’s in the eve-
ning for a sing. Jessie Michie here in the afternoon.
17 – A fine day. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached on the
duty of elders in the church. At CE, a fair meeting, Lizzie
McArthur, leader.
18 - Fine day. Went to Cragg’s swamp and brought home load of
dry wood cut last winter and in the afternoon took 17 bags oats to
Beare’s mill but did not get it home. Hugh Jack and Dan Boe here
while I was away but met them at A. Lee’s and sold cow (Molly)
for 3 ¼ cts per pound and a dollar more, and 7 pigs at $6.25 per
100.
19 – Went after the meal at Beare’s mill in the forenoon. Fixed the
pig rack and sawed some wood in the afternoon. Jennie went
down to visit Mrs. M. O’Neill but did not find her at home.
20 – A pretty cold and somewhat rough day. Cutting wood at
house all day. Oliver Luke called in the evening with the mail.
21 – A fine day but pretty cold. Took the 2 pigs out to Port Perry
(1230 lbs) at 6 ¼. Cut wood in the afternoon while Jennie went to
Port Perry and brought her mother back with her. Went down to
Mark’s in the evening and had a sing.
22 – A fine cold day. Cleaned out the pig pen and fixed the floor
in the forenoon and killed 2 little pigs in the afternoon, Wes Luke
helping. Mrs. Luke and Ned came over with him.
23 – A very fine day. Cutting wood and sawed logs in the swamp,
John helping, but broke the saw handle about 4 o’clock. Jessie
here after dinner. Alex Lee’s cutting some wood in the swamp
also.
24 – A fine day but pretty cold. At SS and church with Jennie, Mr.
Cameron preached. Took up the ballots for elders. At CE with
Jennie, Mr. Grey, leader, a fair meeting.
25 – A fine day. Mr Miller here all day hewing timber for barn,
John Michie score hacking. Jennie at Greenbank in the afternoon.
Let the job of putting new roof on barn to Mr. Miller for $50.00.
26 – A very fine day. Took the Molly cow to Port Perry in the
forenoon. Mrs. Bell drove down and brought me home. Mr.
Miller and John finishes hewing barn timber about 4 pm and after
that drove with Jennie and the baby to G. A. McMillan’s and got
tea. Got home about 8:30, a very nice night.
27 – A fine day. Drew out the saw logs from the swamp in the
forenoon and in the afternoon cut some more with John’s help.
James Smith and Barbara came about 4:30. Went to prayer meet-
ing with Jennie, Mr. Boe leader. A fine bright night but pretty
cold.
28 – A fine day. Drew out the logs cut in the forenoon and cut
some wood in the swamp . In the afternoon Jennie drove up for
Mrs. Gordon and she stayed to tea and then she drove her home
again in the evening. Jas. Smith and I went down to Mark’s in the
evening. John in bed with [rheumatism?].
MAR. 1 – A fine day but somewhat threatening. Took a load of
saw logs to Beare’s mill in the forenoon and brought home a load
of lumber and the same in the afternoon. Let a log fall and hurt my
big toe. Jas. Smith left for home after dinner.
2 – A very fine day. Made two trips to Beare’s mill with logs and
brought lumber in return. Barbara at Mark’s in the afternoon and
stayed all night. Mrs. Bell not very well.
3 – A raw wind from the SE in the forenoon and rain in the eve-
ning but soon cleared up. Mrs. Alex Lee and Barbara Walker
called in the forenoon. Did not go to church as I could not get my
boot on but Jennie and Barbara went. Barbara stayed at Jas.
Miller’s for tea. Went to CE through the rain, a small attendance,
Mr. Boe leader. Brought Barbara home with me.
4 – A fine day and thawing quite a bit in the afternoon but turned
cold in the evening. Made a trip to Beare’s mill in the forenoon
and brought a load of lumber which finishes the job. 2000 feet 16
foot siding and 800 sheeting. Drew up the spur braces and some
rafters in the afternoon and in the evening went with Jennie to the
CE social which was quite a success. Mrs. Bell in bed most of the
day and yesterday.
44
5 – Colder and quite rough in the forenoon and with John’s help
cut shingle blocks in the afternoon. Jennie drove Barbara to Alex
Gordon’s. She had just got home when Mrs. Luke and Mrs.
Sonley came and Jennie drove Mrs. Sonley also to Gordon’s, with
Luke’s horse.
6 – Very cold and pretty rough most of the day. Drew up some
wood from the swamp in the forenoon and cut shingle blocks, John
helping in the afternoon. Annie Black and Alfie called for a short
time in the forenoon. Tom and her were on their way home from
Carden. Barbara at Mark’s for tea and stayed all night.
7 – A nice day. Drove Jennie up to Greenbank in the morning and
cut some wood in the forenoon. Drew a load of shingle blocks to
Beare’s mill and also drew up some wood in the afternoon. At
Mark’s in the evening singing. Mrs. R. Akhurst there. Barbara
visiting at Phair’s and Luke’s and stayed all night.
8 – A mild day with a little snow most of the time. Bucksawed
wood all day. Jennie drove out to Port Perry in the morning and
took her mother home. She had just gone when Norman and Flor-
ence Phair came and stayed a short time. Barbara came back in the
afternoon. Got word that I have been elected elder of the church.
9 – About 5 inches of snow through the night but a fine mild day.
Cut some wood in the woodshed in the forenoon until W. Luke
came. Cutting shingle blocks with John’s help in the afternoon.
Barbara not at all well and I am about crippled with sore toes.
10 – Somewhat rough in the forenoon which turned to heavy rain
which froze as it fell in the afternoon and evening. At SS and
church with Jennie (Barbara kept the baby), Mr. Cameron
preached. Did not go to CE on account of the rain.
11 – Thawing some all day. Went to Greenbank in the morning for
bread and other things and brought a telephone message to W.
Mark telling him that his brother-in-law, Mr. McLean of Colum-
bus, was dead. Drew a load of shingle blocks to Beare’s mill and
got some wood from the swamp in the afternoon. Tom Michie
called and invited us to a party there tomorrow night.
12 – A nice day. Cut and split wood in the shed in the forenoon
and in the afternoon went to Prince Albert to a meeting of the
executive of the Sunday school association. Jennie went to Port
Perry and did some shopping. Went with Jennie in the evening to
a party at Mark’s, a good crowd and lots of dancing. Got home
between 12 and 1.
13 – Cut wood in the forenoon and in the afternoon drove Barbara
over to Uxbridge and left her at Robert Phair’s on her way to Sut-
ton. We had only gone a little way when it began to snow very
heavy and turned out a rough afternoon.
14 – Snowing a little from the east most of the day. Bucksawing
wood all day. Jennie sewing.
15 – A fine day, bucksawing wood in the forenoon and cutting
shingle blocks with John’s help in the afternoon. W. Leask came
in the evening and we worked until after 12 at the church reports.
Party at A. Ewen’s, Uxbridge.
16 – A fine day. Took a load of shingle blocks to Beare’s mill in
the forenoon. Eva and Ned Luke here with the papers. Jennie
went to Port Perry in the afternoon and brought Maggie Bell home
with her. Mr. Cameron here in the afternoon to talk to me about
accepting the eldership. H. Jack and Dan Boe called.
17 – A very fine day. Went to SS and church, Mr. Cameron
preached an extra good sermon. At CE in the evening, a good
meeting. R.T. Harrington, leader.
18 – A very mild day and thawing fast. Cutting wood all day
except the time bagging up a grist. Jennie drove to Port Perry in
the forenoon and took Maggie home and got back at 1:30. At
Mark’s in the evening singing, preparing for the Burns’ farewell
party at A. Leask’s tomorrow night.
19 – Snowing and drifting most all day from the east, a very dis-
agreeable day. Went out to Port Perry in the forenoon with a grist
and brought Mrs. Bell home with me. Ike Wheeler called in the
afternoon and sold him the two steers at 7 cts per lb, dressed
weight (not counting the hides) and $1.00. Drove up to Greenbank
for the mail. Roads pretty heavy. Went to the Burns’ farewell at
A. Leask’s, went in George’s sleigh. A bad night but there was a
large turnout and a very pleasant time. They presented Mr and Mrs
Burns with a fine picture of Flossie, an autograph quilt, a sleigh
robe and a set of dinner dishes. Got home about 2 am.
20 – Thawing and quite a heavy rain especially in the afternoon.
Cut wood in the forenoon. Went to Beare’s mill in the afternoon
and went to Greenbank to meet Barbara who has been on a visit to
Sutton. She expected to come from Blackwater by the mail, but
the roads were blocked so she and Miss Wilson of Greenbank
came as far as Jack Stones with the [Sunderland boker?] and
walked from there to Greenbank through the slush and rain.
21 – A fine day. Splitting wood in the forenoon. Jennie went to
Port Perry and took her mother home. Her errand was to get stuff
for Annie Smith’s wedding cake which they made in the afternoon.
Took a few shingle blocks to Beare’s and brought home the meal.
22 – A fine day and thawing quite a little. Went to Port Perry in
the morning to get instructions from Mr. R. Mackey as to the du-
ties of census enumerator and did not get home until 6 pm. Bar-
bara visiting at Mr. Akhurst’s in the evening.
23 – Thawing a good deal. Cut some wood and posts in the swamp
in the forenoon. Jennie took Barbara to the 12 train at Port Perry.
Alex Ewin called about 2 pm to bid us goodbye as he starts for
Manitoba on Tuesday next. Went up to Greenbank for the mail but
there was none. Jennie got a tooth pulled and has a very sore jaw
over it.
24 – Quite a thunder storm in the early morning (the first of the
season) but not much rain. Thawing all day. At SS and church,
Mr. Cameron preached a short sermon after which Mr. A.T. Horne
and myself were ordained as elders of the church. At CE, not a
very large meeting likely on account of roads but a fair amount of
interest. I had to lead. Charlie Gibson died today.
45
25 – A mild day and thawing fast. Roads breaking up. Drew up
some wood, posts and other cedar poles from the swamp in the
forenoon and in the afternoon drove down to the woodlot at D.
Cragg’s and cut and drew out on the road about ½ cord.
26 – Thunder and rain through the night. A very mild day and
thawing fast. Took the two fat steers with Tom’s help out to Ike
Wheeler’s in the forenoon. Water rising in the swamp over parts
of the 10th
concession. Finished bucksawing wood at house in the
afternoon and pruned a few apple trees.
27 – A change to cold again and quite wintery. Cleaned out the
hen house and pigpen in the forenoon and went to Greenbank with
the cutter in the afternoon. Not so bad sleighing. Oliver and Eva
Luke here for a while in the afternoon.
28 – A pretty cold windy day. Went to Port Perry in the morning
(going by way of Mark’s on account of the water being over the
concession) to get instructions on the census but Mr. Mackie did
not come until noon. Did not get through until after 6 pm and then
we did not get all the necessary papers. Wes Luke here in the
afternoon for a long talk. Oliver and Eva came over about 10 pm
hunting for him as he had not come home. I went up to A. Lee’s
and found that he had just left for home.
29 – A cool day. Sharpened W. Luke’s bucksaw and studied up
the census in the forenoon and in the afternoon went to preparatory
service. Mr. Glasford preached, Mr. Cameron not there as he is
unwell. G.D. McMillan came home with me and stayed to tea. W.
Luke here in the evening.
30 – A very busy day. Went 3 trips to Beare’s mill for lumber
(small loads, 1100 feet in all) then to Greenbank to get the mail,
expected census papers but they did not come. Then went to Port
Perry with the sleigh (very bad sleighing) and brought Mrs. Bell
back with me. G. Allan here in the evening talking over the census
work. He left for home at 12. A beautiful night.
31 – At communion service with Jennie at Greenbank, Mr. Cam-
eron preached. Not quite so many from Wick no doubt on account
of the roads. At CE in the evening, rather small meeting, Arch
McArthur leader.
APR. 1 – Went over to see how W. Luke was and found him
around again, then made a gate in the forenoon. Went with the
sleigh in the afternoon to Greenbank expecting to get the census
papers but they had not come. Brought the buggy wheels home
and put them on. At church managers meeting in the evening. A
very fine night.
2 – Made a boat oar in the morning and pruned the orchard the rest
of the day. At Mark’s in the evening having a sing. Jennie went to
Port Perry in the morning with the buggy, first time for the season.
3 – About 2 inches of snow in the morning and more falling com-
ing from the east and continuing all day, or more like rain towards
night. Did but very little but go to Greenbank in the afternoon for
the mail, no census came yet.
4 – A little rain in the morning and soft all day. Drew the apple
brush out of the orchard in the forenoon. Went to Greenbank in
the afternoon. No census papers yet. Afterwards hung the gate
behind the barn. Mrs. Annie Gordon here for dinner. Fleet
Cragg’s baby was buried today.
5 – Good Friday. Made another gate and some other chores in the
forenoon and went to Greenbank in the afternoon and got the cen-
sus papers, then started at the census. Took W. Luke, W. Akhurst
and A. Lee. A dark night.
6 – A fine warm day. Started at 7 o’clock on census. Took Mrs.
Phair, Whetter’s, A. Wells and R. Real’s before dinner, then drove
to Wildman’s but they were not at home. Then took Burnett’s, and
Franklins. Barrett not at home, took J. Beare’s where I got supper,
then home at about 8:30. Oliver Luke called. Alex Lee had a
wood sawing bee.
7 – Easter Sunday. At SS and church, a Rev. McDaniel’s, a [Per-
sian?] preached on Mormons in his country. At CE, a fair meeting,
Maggie McMillan leader. Pretty muddy roads.
8 – At census all day. Took Jas. Burns at J.M. Real’s, then J.M.
[Real’s], Neall McArthur’s and Ralph Somerville’s for dinner, then
W. Ianson, W. Clyde’s, W. Oliver’s and Ned Barrett’s. Finished
there at 8:15 pm.
9 – Went to Port Perry in the morning to meet Mr. Mackie to show
how I am getting on with the census. Mrs. Bell went out with me
and in the afternoon took A. Gordon’s, Nottingham’s, Byers’, Petty
(supper) and Burtons. Got home at 9.
10 – At census work all day. Started at S. Dusty’s, then to Fred
Love’s, James Love, and G. Real (dinner), called at W. Reals (ab-
sent) then took T. Cragg’s, John Beare Sr. and Jr., Jas. Blair (sup-
per) and E. Beare’s. Got home at 9:30.
11 – At census all day. James Leask (absent), A. Leask, G.
McMillan, Jas. McMillan (dinner), W. Thomas, T. Salter, A. Phoe-
nix, D. Till, W. Real (supper). Got home at 8:30. W. Mark here
wanting me to make grafting wax. W. Real plowing.
12 – All day at census work, namely Jas. Leask, R. Sommerville,
D. Whalen, J. Clyde (dinner), Frank Dobson, W. Ward, D.
McDonald, J. Stone (supper), J. Wallace, W. Henry. Got home
about 9.
13 – At census work all day, started at Ben Ward, then Scott’s, Jim
Ewen (dinner), Jerry O’Leary, Joe Stone, Ball, W. McMillan (sup-
per). Come home and did our own.
14 – A very fine day. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached.
At CE in the evening, a fair meeting, W. Grey leader. Mrs. Luke
and Ned here for tea.
15 – A very fine day. At census all day. Started from home and
went to B.W. [Stoven?], then to S. McKay, A. T. Horne, J. Milner,
Jas. Graham (dinner), then to the town line. Taylors and meet with
the worst reception so far. Then called at Beaton’s but did not take
46
him, then to Gilson, Malyorn’s, Blakeley’s (supper) and again to
Beaton’s where I remained all night. Mrs. Beaton came home
from Joe Stone’s, Mrs. Stone being sick, and some time through
the night John Heron came after her.
16- Started at the village of Saintfield and finished about 4 o’clock.
Got dinner at the hotel, then drove to Wildman’s, then home for
supper, then down to Marks and took them and had a sing. Mr.
and Mrs. C. Gordon there.
17 – A fine day. Jennie drove me to Greenbank where I worked all
day at census, got dinner at Phoenix’s and supper at Mrs. Walker’s.
Did 15 houses. At prayer meeting. An after meeting about the
anniversary, walked home. John Michie working here all day.
Norman Steward here for supper. John drove Mrs. Bell home in
the evening.
18 – Jennie drove me up to near Greenbank where I worked at
census all day. Got dinner at Miller’s and supper at Boe’s. Nearly
finished. Did 18 houses, walked home at night. Rain sometimes
during the day. John here and sowed the last year’s turnip ground.
19 – John sowing oats after frost got out. Doing some odd chores
in the forenoon and working in the garden in the afternoon.
Planted some onions and potatoes.
20 – The ground white with snow in the morning and it continued
snowing from the NE nearly all day. Towards night it turned to
rain. About 3 or 4 inches of snow fell and drifts some places 3 or 4
feet deep. Did little in the forenoon but make some grafting wax
for W. Mark. Drove up to Greenbank in the afternoon and almost
finished the census job.
21 – Rain through the night and sometimes through the day. The
snow nearly all gone by night. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron
preached. Did not get to CE as it was raining. Mr. and Mrs. A.
Lee called in the evening.
22 – Showers through day, a very heavy shower from the east
between 6 and 7, everything flooded. Went to Port Perry in the
forenoon to see the drs. about the mortality schedule of the census
and in the afternoon went with the waggon and brought home the
roller that had been at Whiteford’s getting a new frame. There was
so much mud that it was very hard drawing it home.
23 – A pretty fine forenoon but it started to rain again after dinner
and continued more or less all afternoon. Worked at the berry
bushes most of the day. Took the storm windows off. Jessie Mi-
chie called in the afternoon.
24 – Some better weather today but not altogether without rain.
Did some odd chores in the forenoon and in the afternoon bagged
up 14 bags of oats and took them to Beare’s mill. Jennie cleaning
up the lane and wood house and wood yard. Mrs. Ganton’s funeral
this afternoon.
25 – Went to the mill for the meal the first thing in the morning,
then filled in some washouts and picked off some stone until din-
ner and in the afternoon harrowed what was sown just a week ago
and none too dry. Mrs. Akhurst here for tea. Went down to
Mark’s in the evening for a sing. Mr. and Mrs. C. Gordon there.
26 – A very fine day. Took the census papers to Port Perry in the
forenoon and delivered them to Mr. Mackie. Harrowing oats (that
had been sowed a week) in the afternoon.
27 – A very fine day. Harrowing oats in the forenoon and plowing
up some that was seeded last year, but not come well. Jessie and
Nellie Michie here in the evening.
28 – A beautiful warm day. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron
preached. At CE, rather a small meeting, B. McMillan leader. Eva
Luke brought us some mayflowers.
29 – A very warm day for this time of year and everything budding
out rapidly. Plowing all day. Jennie doing a big washing. Fred
O’Neill here for some berry bushes.
30 – A dull day, threatening rain several times but did not amount
to much until about 5 when it started to drizzle. Finished plowing
and then sowed oats which finishes the sowing for this year. Eva
Luke brought us a fish.
MAY 1 – A very fine day. Harrowing in the forenoon and in the
afternoon went to Port Perry with the waggon and with John Mi-
chie’s help moved Mrs. Bell’s things from the house to the little
shop nearly opposite Allan’s blacksmith shop. Got home about 7.
Mrs. Bell came with us. Young Mr. McKitrick here in the fore-
noon getting names for a recommend.
2 – Thunder and rain in the early morning but turned out a fine
day. Plowing in the orchard in the forenoon and harrowing oats
and in the orchard in the afternoon. James Miller and D. Till here
in the afternoon and started to frame the barn timber. At Mark’s in
the evening for a sing.
3 – Quite a cool day. Harrowed and partly rolled the fall wheat
and rye in the forenoon and in the afternoon went with Jennie to
Port Perry principally to see Mr. Mackie. James Miller and D. Till
working at barn timber.
4 – A fine cool day. Rolling all day. Jas. Miller and D. Till at barn
timber. Went in the evening with Jennie and baby over to E.
Beare’s to see him about shingles. Came home by Greenbank.
5 – A fine warm day. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. I
attempted to review the lesson in the SS for the first time. At CE,
one of the larger meeting we ever held. In the absence of A.
McArthur it fell to my lot to lead the meeting. Luke’s children
here in the evening. Mrs. Bell in bed most of the day, very sick.
6 – A very fine day. Put in a few grafts in apple trees, planted
early potatoes, corn, butter beans, and 4 rows of strawberries.
Jennie housecleaning. Mrs. Bell in bed all day. Mr. Miller came
in the morning and took his tools to Bob Wallace’s where they’re
to pull down two or three barns before they come back. Wes Luke
had Jess mare away with pigs at Blackwater.
7 – Quite a warm day. Rolling in the forenoon and finished. Plant-
ing maple trees and strawberries in the afternoon. Jennie house-
cleaning. Mrs. Bell out of bed but not very well yet.
47
8 – A fine warm day. Finished planting strawberries, then tied up
the berry bushes, then put on the screen doors and fixed the water-
ing spring. Went to prayer meeting with Jennie and the baby, Mr.
Cameron leader. A very dark night and some rain on the way
home. Moved the stove out before breakfast. Got a letter from
Alex Ewin, Manitoba, the first.
9 – Went to port Perry in the forenoon and ordered the SS anniver-
sary bills [flyers], got some corn, nails, and apple trees and straw-
berry plants. Planted apple and strawberries in the afternoon and
plowed in the orchard. Jennie up to Alex Lee’s, they having got a
baby girl today. Jas. Miller and D. Till came in the evening to
work at the barn. Went down to Mark’s in the evening with Mr.
Miller for a sing. A little rain in the evening.
10 – A very fine day. Planting corn in the orchard in the forenoon
and hauling out manure in the afternoon. Miller, Till and John
working at the barn timber. Mrs. A. Gordon here for dinner. Two
German pedlars stayed all night.
11 – Rain in the morning and off and on a little through the fore-
noon and a very heavy thunder shower about 2 and another very
heavy about 4, water standing in pools everywhere. Drew out
manure in the forenoon and peeling barn rafters and other chores
between showers. Mr. Miller and Till at the timber and making
pins. John did not come. George Michie and Alex Lee here while
it was raining in the afternoon. This being the Jewish Sabbath our
friends did not leave but did nothing all day and stayed all night.
Somewhat cooler since the rain.
12 – Went to SS and church . Just before starting there was a
heavy shower which made me late and a small school. Another
very heavy shower about 8. At CE in the evening, a fair meeting,
Mr. Boe leader. Stayed to choir practice after. The lightning
struck this church yesterday.
13 – A little drizzly in the morning but turned out a fine day.
Spread manure, sowed some oats where they had been covered by
the wash, fixed fence and some other jobs in the forenoon. John
came up to work but Mr. Miller did not come. After dinner I took
down the lightning rod, John thinking it was the car fenders on the
barn. Came up again, we then raising and put stone under the SW
corner of the barn and afterwards drove over to Elija Beare’s to see
how they were getting along with the shingles and found not one
made nor scarcely any sign of any being made. Planted some
cucumbers and watermelons after I got home. Mr. Miller came in
the evening for some tools as he goes to Jamieson’s near Pinedale
to make window frames. Our Jewish friends left in the morning.
14 – A very fine day but pretty cool towards night. John Michie
here all day taking roof off the barn. Went to G. Baird’s in the
forenoon for Mr. Miller’s pike poles and in the afternoon drew the
old shingles into the woodshed. Went to Greenbank in the evening
with Jennie and baby Annie for groceries for raising.
15 – A fine day, finished drawing away the old shingles and 3
loads manure in the forenoon and asking hands to the raising to-
morrow in the afternoon. At prayer meeting in the evening, Mr.
Boe leader. A meeting about anniversary after. Mr. Miller, Till,
and John at the barn. Mr. M. at SS convention at Port Perry in the
afternoon.
16 – A very fine day. Drew some manure in the forenoon. Mr.
Miller, Till and John at the barn all day. Just as we were at dinner
Mr. W. Perkins came in, he had a little spat at Jas. Leask’s in the
morning and had walked to Port Perry and this far back. A few
minutes after dinner Willa Bell dropped in quite unexpectedly from
Toronto. Barn raising in the afternoon and it went up all right and
nobody hurt. Got through about 6. The following were present:
W. Luke, Oliver Luke, Ernest Phair, Jeff Whetter, Kyler Whetter,
Anthony Wells, Jas. Blair Jr., Jas. McKitrick, Jas. Innis, John Lee,
Edward Boe, T. Salter, W. Wallace, W. Phoenix, Weston Phoenix,
G. Lee, J.M. Real, W. Real, G. Real, John Love, G. Byers, Jas.
Burton, A. Gordon, Charles Gordon, A. Akhurst, M. O’Neill, J.
O’Neill, W. Mark, Alex Lee, Tom Michie, Alex Leask, Jas. Leask,
W. McDonald, David Cragg and Mrs. Mark and Jessie Michie
helping with the supper.
17 – Somewhat showery especially in the afternoon. Went to Port
Perry in the morning with Mr. Millers democrat for Willa’s trunk,
Mrs. Bell going with me. Plowing in the afternoon for corn.
Miller, Till and John at barn. At choir practice in the evening, a
large turnout.
10
18 – Some showers through the day especially in the afternoon.
Plowing and harrowing in the forenoon and drilling and planting
horse corn in the afternoon. Mr. Miller, Mr. Till and John in at
barn, they boarded up the west end.
19 – Rain through the night from the east and some showers
through the day. At SS and church with Mrs. Bell, this being SS
anniversary Sunday. Rev. Mr. Cooper of Port Perry conducted the
service, a full house. At the evening service with Jennie, another
full house, Mr. Cameron preached. Rev. Secombe and Rev. Horne
were present, a large choir. John Michie in the choir for the first
time.
20 – Rain in the morning and several times through the day until
evening when it faired up. Drilling for corn and picking off some
stones in the forenoon. At Beare’s for more lumber in the after-
10
Although this is not an actual photo of the democ-
rat used, it would have been similar.
48
noon. John at the barn all day. Mr. Miller came just before dinner
and Till did not come at all. Went over to Beare’s with Mr. Miller
in the evening to give Eljie a blowing up about cutting the shingles
different thicknesses.
21 – A fine day, no rain. Planting corn and drawing out manure in
the forenoon and at the manure in the afternoon. Miller, Till, and
John at barn, put up the east gable end and sheeted the lower run of
rafters. W. Luke here after dinner.
22 – Rain nearly all day and everything terribly wet. The carpen-
ters only put up one set of the top run of rafters (the west end pair).
John went home before dinner and Miller and Till in the afternoon.
Went over to Beare’s and got a load of shingles, 9 ½ thousand, and
in the afternoon went to Port Perry to get strips to put under the
shingles where the bend in the roof is. Got word that Grandma
Tait was dead at Newcastle. Baby Annie sick all night and today a
rash came out which makes it quite sure that is scarletenna or scar-
let fever.
23 – A fine warm day until about 8 in the evening when there was
quite a shower. Got up before 5 and started at 6 for Port Perry to
take Mrs. Bell to the 7 train to go to Newcastle to her mother’s
funeral. Spread manure and harrowed the corn in the orchard the
remainder of the forenoon. In the afternoon drew some lumber for
the carpenters and then went to plow the potato ground. Had only
gone about 3 or 4 rounds when the Hon. J. Dryden called and we
talked about an hour on the political questions of the day. He had
hardly gone when Jas. Watson and Miss Mary Ellen Watson of
Clifford came and stayed to tea No. 1. He had hardly gone when
Mr. Pearce came about insurance and had tea No. 2. Then Annie
Smith and Lizzie Spencer came about 7 and got tea No. 3. Miller,
Till and John at barn all day. Put up the top run of rafters and
some sheeting. W. Donaldson called for a few minutes.
24 – Victoria day and a very bad day it was. Rain through the
night and all day from the east and very disagreeable. Did nothing
but dig a little garden in the forenoon and fixed Mother’s chair in
the afternoon. John here a while in the forenoon and W.
Donaldson in the afternoon. Annie Smith and Lizzie Spencer went
down to Mark’s to practice their music for the concert tonight.
About 6 o’clock went with Annie S., Lizzie S., Willa, Bella and W.
Donaldson to the SS anniversary and to our surprise there was
quite a crowd. The program was very good and consisted of music
by the orchestra; the Misses Anderson and Annie and Lizzie, reci-
tations by Willie Horne and Annie, and addresses by Revs. Horne
and Secombe. The proceeds amounted to $52. Weather some
better coming home.
25 – A fine cool day and no rain. Plowed the potato land in the
forenoon and cleared up the rubbish about the barn in the afternoon
and went to Port Perry in the evening for more nails. Miller, Till
and John at barn all day. They just got started at the shingles.
Annie Smith, Lizzie Spencer and W. Donaldson left for home
about 10. Cattle buyers called at 1 o’clock.
26 – A fine day but looking like rain. John Michie called as we
were at breakfast. Went to SS and church with Willa, Rev. Robert
Horne preached. At CE, a fair meeting, R.J. Harrington, leader.
SS and CE held in the church as the basement was not cleared up
after the 24th
as there is to be a social tomorrow night.
27 – A fine day. Drilling up for potatoes in forenoon and planting
in the afternoon. Miller, Till and John at barn, shingling. Mr.
Cameron here in the afternoon. At SS social in the evening with
Willa. A large turnout. Made about $77.00 at anniversary.
28 – A fine day until evening when it commenced to rain a little
from the east. Finished planting the potatoes in the forenoon.
Willa drove to Port Perry for mail but got none. After dinner went
to Beare’s mill for more shingles but got only 17 bunches. After-
wards covered the potatoes. Went to Greenbank in the evening to
see Jack Park. D. Till and John all day shingling barn. Mr. Miller
was at R. Wallace’s.
29 – Rain through the night from the east but cleared up and it
turned out a fairly fine day until after 6 pm when it started to rain
again. Mr. Miller came about 10. D. Till did not come at all and I
helped John at the shingling in the forenoon. Went to Beare’s mill
in the afternoon for more shingles but got only 21 bunches. They
finished shingling the south side. Beef ring started for the season.
30 – A little rain in the morning but cleared up until about 4 when
it came down in torrents for about 2 hours, the heaviest since the
roof was taken off the barn which is saying a good deal. Planted
beans, hoed berry bushes and some other chores in the forenoon
and helped then at the shingling in the afternoon until the rain
came on. Mr. Miller and John at the barn all day.
31 – Rain in the morning but cleared up a little for awhile. Helped
Mr. Miller to shingle for a short time (John did not come he being
sick) then went to Beare’s for shingles and got 21 bunches. Started
to rain while loading the shingles and rained all the rest of the day,
pretty hard sometimes. Mr. Miller went home after dinner. Went
to Greenbank in the afternoon with Jennie for some blacksmithing
and so on. Tiny cow calved.
JUNE 1 – Rain through the night and forenoon. None of the car-
penters turned up today. Cleaned out the barn or part of it.
Cleaned up the chips where the timber was framed and fixed some
fence and some other little chores. A fine afternoon.
2 – Rain in the early morning and then it faired up until between 5
and 6 pm when it came down in torrents and continued. Wind in
the NW. At church and SS with Willa, Mr. Cameron preached.
Did not go to CE on account of the rain. There were 4 evangelists
holding meetings in the Temperance Hall.
3 – A little rain in the morning but it soon cleared up and it turned
out a very fine day with a strong wind from the NW. John came in
the morning and Mr. Miller about 10 o’clock. I helped them to
shingle most of the day. About 5 o’clock went to Port Perry with
Willa to get more shingle nails and brought Mrs. Bell back with us.
Two of the evangelists called before supper. Mr. Miller went
home. Mrs. Annie Gordon and Mrs. Jas. Allan here for a few
minutes in the afternoon.
4 – A very fine day and no rain. Went to Beare’s the first thing
and got 14 bunches of shingles. Afterwards drew out some manure
but could not get along as the ground was too wet. Plowed and
planted the little plot near the barn pump. Went to Greenbank to
49
see Jack Park. Walter Donaldson here in the evening, he came on
his wheel. Miller, Till and John at barn, very near finished shin-
gling.
5 – A very fine warm growing day. No rain. Scuffled the straw-
berries and helped the carpenters in the forenoon. After dinner
went to Beare’s and got 225 feet of 16 foot siding and then cleaned
up the rubbish about the barn. Miller, Till and John at barn and
finished the job about 4:30 pm.
6 – A warm day with two quite heavy showers of rain. Fixed the
front door in the barn and some other chores in the forenoon.
Hoed strawberries and drew out some manure but the ground is too
wet. Drew some straw to try to fill up the bog. Mrs. Bell and
Willa went to Port Perry in the forenoon and Willa stayed there.
Alex Lee sowed turnips and our manure is hardly started and not a
furrow plowed.
7 – A fine day. Drawing out manure all day. Eva Luke called with
the mail.
8 – A cold drizzle of fine rain from the NW in the forenoon.
Spreading manure and plowing all day.
9 – Quite a cool day and no rain. At SS and church with Mrs. Bell.
Mr. Cameron spoke principally on Dr. McKay of Formosa who
died a few days ago. At CE alone. A good meeting, Mrs. Somer-
ville leader.
10 – A very fine summer day. Finished plowing the part of the
turnip land that was manured, then harrowed it and then drilled it
up, 40 drills.
11 – A fine warm day. Scuffled the corn in the orchard and some
other chores while Jennie went to Greenbank for turnip seed and
other things, then sowed the 40 drills of turnips before dinner.
Drawing out manure in the afternoon. Willa came back in the
afternoon, she walked, and met a man with his arm in a sling who
asked too many questions. She was saying that John [Vicpond??]
of Brooklin was taken to the hospital with smallpox.
12 – A fine summer day. Went for the beef in the morning and
drew out manure the rest of the day. At Marks in the evening
singing. W. Luke called in the evening.
13 – A fine warm day. Drawing out manure and finished about 5
pm. Willa went to Port Perry in the afternoon with Jessie Michie.
Vic Jamison here in the evening for Mr. Miller’s pike poles.
14 – A pretty warm day. Spreading manure and plowing turnip
land all day. Turned the horses out at night for the first time.
15 – A very fine day, a little cooler. Plowing turnip ground all day.
16 – A very fine day. Had a big hunt in the morning for the cows
which had got into Alex Lee’s east place on account of his horse
breaking the gate. Went to SS and church with Willa, Mr. Cam-
eron preached. And in the evening drove Jennie and baby Annie to
the Dr. at Port Perry to see her sore finger. Had the first strawber-
ries of the season for supper. John Michie came after Willa and
went off somewhere.
17 – A fine day, finished plowing the turnip land and harrowed it
twice over. After supper planted some corn where it had been
drowned out. Mrs. Bell visiting at W. Luke’s in the afternoon.
18 – Rain in the morning but soon cleared up and was a fine day..
South Ontario Farmers Institute excursion to Guelph today. Fin-
ished harrowing turnip ground, then rolled it and then drilled up
the remainder of the day. Jennie whitewashing and cleaning the
kitchen.
19 – A little rain in the morning. Drilled up a few more turnip
drills and then sowed what was drilled, 60. At road work in the
afternoon without horses. Jennie, the baby and Willa at Port Perry
in the afternoon. Jessie Michie here for a box of strawberries.
20 – Went to road work in the morning with the team but it came
on rain when there only an hour and had to come home. The rain
continued most of the forenoon. At road work with team in the
afternoon, scraping the hill between here and the 10th
concession.
Willie and Annie Smith, who were at Mark’s all night, came just
before dinner. Went down with them in the evening and had a big
sing. When I got home I found Jennie painting the floor which she
finished about 12 o’clock.
21 – At road work alone in the forenoon and two hours in the af-
ternoon with horses which finishes for the year. Willie and Annie
Smith came back before dinner and left for home about 2 o’clock.
After finishing road work I went to Port Perry with Alex Leask to
order the bills for the big strawberry festival to be held at his place
next Wednesday evening. Got home about 7. A lot of men at
work laying sidewalks in town.
22 – Finished drilling up the turnips in the forenoon and sowed
them after dinner, after which sowed some buckwheat in the or-
chard and scuffled the new strawberries. Mrs. A. Gordon here for
dinner and Mrs. Mark called in the afternoon. Oliver and Ned
Luke came for the turnip drill. A good deal of thunder in the eve-
ning and some rain.
23 – A fine cool day. Robert Akhurst who is down on a visit came
in before we had breakfast and stayed about two hours. Went to
SS and church with Mrs. Bell, Mr. Cameron preached. Went with
Willa to CE but there was not meeting as all went over to the
Methodist Church, this being Rev. Mr. Secombe’s farewell ser-
mon.
24 – A fine warm day. Went to G. Tocher in the forenoon and paid
Mary the interest on mortgage. North Ontario Farmers Institute
excursion to Guelph, a large crowd went. Scuffling and hoeing
corn in the afternoon. Jennie, Willa and Mrs. Bell picking straw-
berries, 47 boxes picked today. There has been 61 or thereabouts
picked so far. Jennie and Willa went to Port Perry in the afternoon
with berries but could not sell them all. 8 cts. was the price.
25 – A pretty warm day, thunder through the forenoon and a little
rain about 11. Hoeing corn all day. Mrs. Bell, Willa and the baby
visiting at Mark’s in the afternoon. Went to Greenbank to see Jack
Park, but he was not there.
50
26 – A very warm day. Got up at 4:30 and after breakfast went up
to Wallace’s with 31 hens, then helped to pick strawberries, 53
boxes. Mrs. Mark and John helping. Then banked up the early
potatoes and hoed corn and strawberries the remainder of the day.
In the evening drove over with Mrs. Bell and Willa to the straw-
berry festival at Alex Leask’s. A very good time there was, got
home at 12.
27 – An exceedingly warm day, 86 degrees about 1 o’clock. Hoe-
ing in the orchard and garden. Made a rack for the grape vines and
nailed the old boarding of the barn. Went down to Mr. O’Neill’s in
the evening to tell them to come for strawberries.
28 – Another very hot day. Picked 61 boxes strawberries in the
morning, L. O’Neill helped and got 15 boxes. John Lee called and
got 7. Eva Luke here all day. Jennie making her a dress for July
1st
. At 10 am I drove to Port Perry to meet Mr. Mackie and wind
up the census business. After getting through with him, which
turned out better than expected, I drove by way of the centre road
to the preparatory service in the church, Mr. Cameron preached.
D. Watson expected, but owing to the heat he did not come further
than Wick. Samuel Dusty came in by certificate. After supper
scuffled and hoed the little patch of corn at the barn.
29 – A very fine day and pretty warm. Did some odd jobs in the
morning and the remainder of the day at the cow stable floor.
Went down to the sideroad after supper to a road job letting. E.
Bryant and Jeff Whetter took the jobs. Eva Luke came after her
dress. John Michie called in the evening.
30 – A very fine day, road pretty dusty. Went to Wick with Nellie
Michie to communion and got home about 2:15. W. Donaldson
came out on his wheel and left after supper. Mrs. Bell left the
house at 10 and did not get back until after six. She was away
reading a book. Went with Mrs. Bell to the Methodist SS anniver-
sary service in the evening. Mr. Limbert, the new pastor, preached
a very good discourse to a packed house.
JULY 1 – A very warm day and very dusty. Did a little at the
stable in the forenoon. John Lee, Mrs. A. Lee and Bella here in the
morning for strawberries, then Marnie Dusty came and then
George and John. Drove Marnie home just before dinner. In the
afternoon went with Willa to the Methodist SS anniversary [picnic]
in Beare’s woods and got supper and came home. Willa stayed for
the evening. Jennie and her mother nearly all afternoon cleaning
strawberries.
2 – Another pretty warm day. Scuffled potatoes, corn and turnips
until about 3 and then hoed potatoes. At church managers meeting
in the evening. Jennie, Willa and the baby at Port Perry in the
forenoon sending off some berries to Newcastle. Mrs. Alex
Gordon and Annie Dusty here in the evening for strawberries.
Nellie and Jessie also here. Had new potatoes for supper, the first
of the season.
3 – A fine day and pretty warm. Went for the beef the first thing
and then finished hoeing the potatoes, then hoed turnips the rest of
the day. After six went with W. Luke and bought a beast for the
beef ring from R. Real for $30.00. Marnie Dusty here in the fore-
noon for strawberries and Edith Phair in the afternoon, but there
was none for her.
4 – Quite a heavy shower about 1 o’clock and pretty warm but not
so bad as some days lately. Banked up the potatoes in the fore-
noon and worked at the cattle stable in the afternoon.
5 – A rainy forenoon off and on. Hoeing turnips between showers
and at the cattle stable. James and George Allan here in the eve-
ning to see the brick in the horse stable floor. A heavy thunder
storm between 9 and 10 pm.
6 – A fine day and somewhat cooler. Went to Port Perry in the
forenoon with 4 ½ bags of wheat and got flour. Brought home a
new water trough. Hoeing turnips in the afternoon. Jennie, Willa
and baby at Greenbank shopping. Wilbert and Jim Lee here for a
feed of strawberries.
7 – Several small showers through the day. Mrs. Bell and Willa
drove to church at Port Perry, there being communion Sunday
there. I therefore had to walk to SS and got the benefit of a
shower. Mr. Cameron preached. Mrs. Bella and baby Annie drove
to church afterwards. At CE in the evening with Willa, rather a
small attendance. New officers chosen, Jas. Miller president,
Nellie McMillan v. pres., Maggie Blair sec., A. Akhurst treas.
8 – A fine cool day. Hoeing turnips until 5 o’clock when I finished
the first sowing (40 drills). After supper sprayed 10 drills of pota-
toes. Jennie and Willa picked the red and white currants. Willa
went with John Michie to a picnic at Seagrave.
9 – A fine day. Finished putting Paris green on potatoes and scuf-
fled turnips and corn (3rd
time for corn) and hoed a little after sup-
per. Went to Greenbank in the evening. Mrs. Akhurst here for tea.
Mrs. Bryant, May Bryant and two of Fred Love’s girls came for
strawberries but were too late. Willa at Mr. Akhurst’s in the eve-
ning.
10 – A fine day but pretty warm, rain a little in the morning. Hoe-
ing turnips all day. Mrs. Bella and Willa drove to J. M. Burn’s on
a visit and stayed overnight. The steer we got from R. Real went
in the beef ring today and came out 14 lbs overweight.
11 – A very fine day. A little shower before breakfast. Hoeing
turnips all day. Mr. Cameron called in the afternoon.
12 – A very fine day, not a cloud to be seen. Hoed turnips in the
forenoon and in the afternoon helped A. Lee to stack hay. Put 10
loads in one stack, and finished at 8:30. Mrs. Bella and Willa
came back from Mr. Burn’s. Orange walk at Uxbridge.
13 – A very fine clear day and not too warm. Hoeing turnips in the
forenoon and in the afternoon helping George to stack hay, put 9
loads in one long stack. Worked until 8:30. Mrs. Bell, Willa and
baby Annie at Greenbank in the evening for the mail. W. Luke
came to get me to help him gather up his hay but could not be two
places at one time.
14 – A very warm day. At SS and church with Mrs. Bell, Mr.
Cameron preached. At CE in the evening with Willa, a fair meet-
ing, Jas. Miller leader. W. Real and Leonard Cragg had a little
scrap. One of the Hood boys drowned in Lake Scugog.
51
15 – A very hot day, nearly 90 in the afternoon. Hoeing turnips in
the forenoon and in the afternoon scuffling turnips and strawberries
and hoeing strawberries after supper. Mrs. Luke called in the
evening.
16 – Another very hot day, 86 in the shade. Hoeing turnips in the
forenoon and helping George to stack hay, 6 loads. Went to
Greenbank to see Jack Park in the evening. Willa went up to the
post office in the afternoon.
17 – Another hot day, 86 in the shade. Quite a bit of thunder to the
south but no rain here. Went and brought the binder from A. Lee’s
barn, then went to W. Luke’s and got the mower and cut all the hay
(in north field) and took the mower home again. A. Lee drawing
hay from the Luke place to the home barn.
18 – A very fine day but pretty warm. Hoed turnips in the fore-
noon and raked and cocked hay (George helping) in the afternoon.
Willa away somewhere in the evening. Mrs. Annie Gordon here
for dinner. Isaac O’Neill brings back the turnip drill.
19 – A very fine day and some cooler. George and Tom Michie
helping to draw in the hay (11 loads) and finished at 4 pm. After-
wards raked the field. Willa went to Greenbank after supper. Mrs.
Luke, Eva and Ned here in the evening for black currants. Got an
invitation to Annie Smith’s wedding on the 27th
.
20 – Another very warm day. Hoeing turnips and greening pota-
toes in the forenoon and in the afternoon went to Port Perry with
Willa for binder twine and some other things. Got home at 5.
After supper, greening potatoes. Willa at Mr. Akhurst’s in the
evening. Saw the first grain cut (rye) opposite G. Dowson’s.
21 – A pretty warm day. Went to SS and church with Mrs. Bell.
Tried to review the lesson in SS (2nd
time). Mr. Cameron
preached. Mrs. Bell and Mrs. Mark went to the Baptist church.
Walter Donaldson here for tea, he came on his wheel. Willa went
off with John Michie to Wick or somewhere else. Went to CE
alone, a fair meeting, Miss Bella McMillan leader.
22 – A fine day and not so warm. Finished putting poison on
potatoes in the morning and then hoed turnips and finished (1st
time) about 4 pm. Fixed the binder roll after supper. Mrs. Bell and
Willa went to Port Perry with raspberries, the first of the season,
and got 8 cts. per box.
23 – A fine day. Scuffling turnips most of the forenoon and in the
afternoon cut the rye just west of the house, George helping. Mrs.
Bell and Willa visiting at A. Gordon’s.
24 – A fine day with a very little rain after 5. Went for the beef in
the morning and then cut the fall wheat alone with the two horses
and then shocked it up. Went over to Luke’s to tell him about
getting the binder tomorrow. Jennie and Willa picking berries.
Alex Leask’s boys here and got two pails and Willa took some to
Port Perry in the afternoon. Willa packing up her things, she starts
for Rochester in the morning.
25 – Took Willa to the train at Port Perry in the morning and scuf-
fled turnips until 5 pm and then hoed in the orchard. Started to rain
a little about 7 and continued during the evening. W. Luke came
after the binder just before dinner. A threshing machine going
over about Roses’, the first of the season.
26 – A fine cool day. Hoeing turnips (2nd
time) until 5 o’clock,
then went down to M. O’Neill’s with the stoneboat and got 100
bricks for cattle stable. Mrs. M. O’Neil here, and Lilly, Mrs. Luke,
Oliver, Eva and Ned, Nellie and Jessie Michie all here in the fore-
noon picking berries. Alex Leask’s boys came just at dinner time
for more berries, but there was none for them.
27 – Started at 7 am and drove with Nellie Michie to James
Smith’s to attend Annie Smith’s wedding. The ceremony took
place about 11, then dinner on the lawn, and then they started
about 1 for Oshawa to take the train to Buffalo to see the Pan
American Exposition. Got home safely at 5 pm. About twenty at
the wedding. Rain about 1 to 2 o’clock.
28 – Rain through the night – a little in the forenoon and several
very heavy showers in the afternoon. Went to SS and church, Mr.
Cameron preached. Had to wait after service until the rain went
over. Did not go to CE on account of rain.
29 – Rain through the night and nearly all afternoon with a very
heavy shower about 6 or 7 in the evening. Water standing in pools
everywhere. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon and got money for
census work. At stable in the afternoon. Arch McMillan and his
little niece here for berries and got dinner.
30 – A fine day and somewhat cooler. Put up the wheat shocks
that had fallen down and found the grain growing badly. Worked
at stable all day. Went over to Beare’s in the evening to settle up
but he was not at home, but left $40.00 with Harvey. Mrs. Bell at
Greenbank in the afternoon. Nellie and Jessie picking berries in
the forenoon. Oliver Luke called after dinner. Lew and Roy
O’Neill came in the evening wanting a few oats but did not have
any for them. W. Phoenix putting up windmill for Mrs. Phair.
31 – A good deal cooler, a little rain after dinner. Finished paving
stable in the morning and hoeing turnips the rest of the day.
Helped C. Gordon to get his binder (which had been in Luke’s
barn) home. Mr. Cameron here for tea.
AUG. 1 – A very fine cool day. Hoeing turnips in the forenoon
and helping W. Luke (and horse) to cut oats. Nellie and Jessie here
picking berries. Ike Wheeler here in the evening and sold him the
jersey cow for $31.00.
2 – Cut oats east of orchard and finished between 3 and 4, W. Luke
and horse helping. Then as it was threatening rain we drew in
some wheat and rye but it was in very poor order. Rain in the
evening. Eva Luke came over with the mail.
3 – Rain through the night. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon to
see lawyer Harris about making out papers for Tom to sign before
he goes to Manitoba. Cutting oats in the afternoon, W. Luke and
horse helping. Had a bad stomach and did not take any supper.
52
4 – A fine cool day. George and Tom Michie, Mr. and Mrs. Alex
Lee, Hardy, Bell and their baby here in the forenoon and Mrs.
Luke and Ned in the afternoon. At church and SS, Mr. Cameron
preached. At CE, a large meeting. R.T. Harrington leader.
5 – A fine day. Cut the oats in the field NW of barn, W. Luke and
horse helping, finished at 5. Afterward drew in the remainder of
the wheat and rye. Alex Lee finished cutting except a small piece
of peas, he is the first of the season. Anna Tait came in the eve-
ning. She came to Port Perry by train and from there by wheel.
George and Tom Michie leaves for Manitoba.
6 – A fine day. Helping W. Luke all day with horse to draw in
oats, barley and wheat. Anna Tait leaves for home.
7 – Quite a heavy rain through the night. Went to Greenbank in
the forenoon and hoed a few rows of turnips. Mr. Akhurst came
after some strawberry plants. Helping W. Luke (with horse) to cut
oats in the afternoon. Did not make very good headway. Port
Perry firemen’s excursion to Fenelon Falls. Oliver Luke at it.
About 9:30 went to W. Real’s and telephoned for Dr. Archer for
Jennie as Dr. D. Archer was not home. Dr. R. came about 11 but
sooner than necessary so we all went to bed.
8 – The Dr. was called up about 4 and between 6 and 7. [baby was
unnamed at this point11
] was born and the Dr. left for home about 8
or 9. Took Jess over to Luke’s to work on the binder and then took
the jersey cow to I. Wheeler’s. Walked all the way and got home
about 12. Cut some oats and hoed turnips in the afternoon. Nellie
Michie came up in the morning and stayed all day, also Mrs. Mark
a little while in the forenoon. Quite a high NW wind in the after-
noon.
9 – Helping W. Luke to cut oats (with horse). Rain a little in the
afternoon so that we had to quit before 5 o’clock. Nellie at Green-
bank in the afternoon. Dr. R. Archer called. Went up to A. Lee’s
in the evening.
10 – Rain through the night and a heavy splash about 1:30 pm. A.
Lee was to have threshed this afternoon (Samson Martin’s ma-
chine) but it did not come. Mr. Akhurst here for a few more
strawberry plants and Miss S. Rundle for some early apples to take
with her to Manitoba. Hoeing turnips most of the day and finished
them. Oliver Luke brought back Jess and got a ducking on the way
over. Quite cool at night with a high NW wind.
11 – A fine cool day. Nellie went home in the morning for the day.
At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. George Fowlie here for
tea, he came on his wheel. Mrs. Mark, Mr. and Mrs. A. Lee called
in the evening. At CE, a fair meeting, Maggie Blair leader. Choir
practice after meeting.
12 – A fine day. Threshing all day at Alex Lee’s (Samson Mar-
tin’s machine) and did a good job. Nellie went home in the eve-
ning.
11
Son, William, was born 8 Aug 1901, 1911 Census
in Reach Township.
13 – A fine day. Went over to Luke’s in the morning and helped
him to finish cutting, then he came here and started to cut about 10.
He stayed until 5 when he went home, there being a church meet-
ing tonight. Jessie here all day tending to Annie. Mr. Henders and
a Mr. Hamblin, general agent of the Smith nursery of Winowa,
came just before dinner and had a long talk on fruit trees but did
not give an order.
14 – A very fine day and pretty warm. Went for the beef the first
thing and then finished cutting oats except some lodged places
which will have to be cut with the scythe. We then drew in one
load of oats (W. Luke helping), then went to Mrs. Phair’s and
started to thresh about 11 (John Leask’s machine), worked til 6.
They had a bad time getting up the sand hill. W. Luke got lost in
the swamp. Mrs. John Leask Jr. here for tea.
15 – Drawing in oats until near 5 when a thunder storm came up
and stopped us. W. Luke and Oliver helping. Nellie Michie here
all day.
16 – Went to A. Lee’s and got 6 bags of oats (borrowed) then
scuffled the strawberries (4th
or 5th
time), then finished cutting oats
with scythe. In the afternoon cut the old wood out of the berry
bushes. Two Whitby men took away about ½ barrel of harvest
apples, got 35 cts. for them. Oliver Luke came after their horse
rake. Nellie here all day.
17 – A fine day and somewhat warm. Went down to M. O’Neill’s
to get Fred to help at harvest and did some other chores in the
forenoon and in the afternoon drew in oats. Fred and Oliver Luke
helping. Nellie went home in the morning.
18 – A fine day. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. At
CE, rather a small meeting. I had the topic. Choir practice after.
19 – Threatening rain several times but did not rain much. Horse
raked a little in the morning and then went to C. Gordon’s thresh-
ing. Started about 11 and finished at 3. After that drew in oats,
Fred O’Neill and Oliver Luke helping. Nellie here washing.
20 – A little rain through the night and little through the day.
Fixed the barn ventilators, cleaned out the grainery and some other
small jobs and after 5 helped W. Luke to draw in oats. Mrs. Bell at
Port Perry in the afternoon. W. Luke called in the afternoon. 13
little pigs came to town.
21 – A fine day and pretty warm. At W. Luke’s all day with
horse drawing in oats. Mrs. Jas. Allan here for dinner.
22 – A very warm day, a good deal of thunder during the afternoon
but no rain here. At. W. Luke’s all day with horse drawing in oats
and peas and finished his harvest.
23 – Went up to Greenbank the first thing in the morning for coal
oil and some other things, then drew in oats, W. Luke and Oliver
helping. Intended to finish but about 10 when we only had a small
load and some rakings left there came on a very heavy rain which
stopped operations. We all got pretty well soaked. Went to Port
Perry in the afternoon for pig feed and got a cistern pump. After
supper worked at putting in the pump.
53
24 – A fine day and some cooler. Fixed the cistern pump place in
the forenoon. Moved the few oat shocks and some other jobs in
the afternoon. Allan and Alma Black and another girl came about
4 o’clock. They went down to Mark’s all night and at 7 Mr. and
Mrs. James Masson came. Went with Mr. M. to Alex Lee’s about
9 to see Mrs. Lee who is very sick and has been for several days
but we did not hear until tonight.
25 – A very find day. Went up to A. Lee’s in the morning with
Mr. Masson to see how Mrs. Lee was and found her about the
same which was very bad. Went to SS and church and Mr. and
Mrs. Masson came to church. Mr. Cameron preached. Allan
Black came home with me and went to church in the evening.
Mrs. Bell at A. Lee’s in the afternoon. Jennie and Mr. and Mrs. M.
went up in the evening and found her no better. Mrs. M. stayed all
night.
26 – Went up to A. Lee’s the first thing in the morning and found
them a little more hopeful about Mrs. Lee, then after breakfast
drove over with Mr. Masson to James Leask’s to see the show
cattle that go to the fair tomorrow. Then drove Jennie and baby
Annie to Port Perry to see the Dr. who says it is her blood that is
thin. Intended to draw in the bit of oats but there was quite a
splash of a shower about 1 which spoiled it. Put in the cistern
pump in the afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Real called and Mr. and
Mrs. Masson left for home about 5. Went up to Lee’s again about
6 and the Dr. was there and he spoke with hope yet. When I got
home Mrs. W. McMillan and a little girl of L. O’Leary’s were
here. Mrs. Bell sick in bed all afternoon. W. Luke also called.
27 – A very fine day. Picked plums, tomatoes, beans, and did
some other chores in the forenoon and in the afternoon, with W.
Luke’s and Oliver’s help, drew in the remainder of the oats and
thus finished harvest. Alma Black and Miss Becker came up from
Mark’s and stayed all night. Went up to A. Lee’s in the morning
and evening to see how Mrs. L. was, she is just about the same. A
very clear moonlight night.
28 – A fine day and pretty warm. Gang plowing all day except
what time I was talking to visitors. About 11 Mr. Cameron and his
little girl Grace came but did not stay to dinner and in the afternoon
Mr. John Throop, Mrs. Luke and Robert Akhurst and C. McLean’s
lad called. Alma Black and Miss B. went down to Mark’s. Went
up to see how Mrs. Lee was, she is just about the same.
29 – A pretty warm day, some thunder but no rain here. Gang
plowing all day. Went up to A. Lee’s in the evening and found
Mrs. Lee some better. Oliver and Eva Luke came over with the
mail in the evening. A banana social at R. Greig’s for the Baptist
church.
30 – Gang plowing all day except the time I was talking to two
Deering binder agents that called in the afternoon. At Greenbank
in the evening for sugar. Gave Mrs. S. Dusty a ride down to A.
Lee’s, she is going to sit up with Mrs. L. who is not quite so well
tonight.
31 – Gang plowing down by the 10th
concession until about 4 when
the rain which had been threatening most of the day came on from
the NE. Went up to A. Lee’s in the evening and found Alex away
for Dr. Mellow as Mrs. Lee was worse.
SEPT. 1 – A cool day and threatening rain a little in the afternoon.
At SS and church with Mrs. Bell and baby Annie, Mr. Cameron
preached. At CE, rather a small meeting, Ethel Miller leader. The
Dr. has been to see Mrs. Lee 3 times and she is no better.
2 – A fine day. Finished gang plowing the little field at the south
and then harrowed it twice. A good deal of shooting in the swamp
as this is the first day of duck shooting. Norman Phair cutting the
bands of some oats that are not in yet. Mrs. Jas. McMillan, who
has been waiting on Mrs. Lee for some days, called in the after-
noon, also Mrs. Luke. Mrs. Lee a trifle better.
3 – A pretty warm day. Harrowing in the forenoon and in the
afternoon went with Jennie and little Annie to Port Perry. Jennie
afterwards to S. Dusty’s to see if we could get Mary for a while but
did not succeed. Mrs. Annie Gordon here for dinner. Mrs. Bell
went down to Mark’s in the evening for a letter.
4 – A fine day. Went for the beef in the morning and came home
by way of E. Beare’s and got his screw jack and then put stones
under the front posts of the bar and after that harrowed some.
Went to prayer meeting with Jennie and little Annie, Mr. Cameron
leader, subject envy.
5 – One of the hottest days of the season. Went to Uxbridge in the
forenoon and got pig feed corn meal at $1.20 per hundred. Got
home about 1 o’clock and after that drew 3 loads of clay into the
pig pen. Mrs. Lee very low and her chance is very slight.
6 – Another very warm day. Went up to A. Lee’s the first thing in
the morning and again after dinner. Mrs. Lee very low. Mr. Cam-
eron there and he baptized the baby Gladys Maire. Mrs. Bell went
up in the evening and Jennie in the afternoon. Mr. and Mrs.
Gordon here in the afternoon for a bag of apples. Pumped out the
water and cleaned the well at the house with John Michie’s help in
the forenoon, and some other little chores and plowed some in the
afternoon. [note in the margin to say that President McKinley shot
at Buffalo].
7 – A very warm day until about 5 when it turned cool with a high
wind from the north and smoky. Went up to Lee’s in the morning
and found Mrs. Lee about the same, then plowed until about 10
when I went to Port Perry to get Dr. Archer for Mrs. Lee, but they
could not come til towards night. When I got back Mrs. Lee ap-
peared to be some better. Plowed in the afternoon and went to
Lee’s again in the evening to hear what Dr. Archer said but they
had not come. Mrs. Luke here for awhile in the forenoon.
8 – A very fine cool day. Went up to Lee’s the first thing and
found that the Drs. Archer did not come last night. Mrs. Lee
getting weaker all the time, they thought she was dying several
times through the day, but was living when I was up in the eve-
ning. Did not go to SS but took Jennie and little Annie to church,
Mr. Gilchrist preached. Did not go to CE. Had a long talk with
Jeff Whitter at our gate on the way home from A. Lee’s.
9 – Went up to Alex Lee’s in the morning and found Mrs. Lee still
alive but she died about 7 am. Jennie was there just after and she
came home and I unhitched from the plow to drive Mrs. Jas. and
William McMillan home but Mr. Boe was going that way and took
them home. I, however, went to Greenbank taking Mrs. Bell to
54
Lee’s. Plowed in the afternoon and went up to Lee’s in the eve-
ning with Jennie when there was a little prayer meeting led by Mr.
Boe. James Innis here in the afternoon telling us that Mrs. John
Park died today.
10 – Did not do much in the forenoon but do some paving near the
stable door. Alex Cragg called for a few minutes. Got early dinner
and started for Mrs. Park’s funeral. Called at the clerk’s office and
got the baby registered. The funeral started at about 3. Rev. Mr.
Cooper conducted the service and she was taken to Greenbank. I
then drove Mr. Cooper down to Alex Lee’s to conduct the service
there (Mr. Cameron not being at home). There was a very large
turnout. The bearers were R. Wallace, G. Allan, A. Gordon, C.
Gordon, J.M. Real and myself. Jennie went up after dinner and
made a flower wreath. Mrs. Bell went up to the house but did not
go further. Tom Black and Annie called after the funeral.
11 – Thunder and rain through the night. Plowing all day. Jennie
preserving plums. At prayer meeting, E. Boe leader, rather a small
meeting. Pretty dark night.
12 – Rain through the night and most of the forenoon. Worked at
the calf stalls in the forenoon and plowed in the afternoon.
13 – A fine cool day. Plowing all day. Mrs. Bell cleaning the little
room upstairs. Mrs. T. Rundle and Mrs. Luke called in the after-
noon.
14 – A fine day. Went to A. Lee’s in the morning and got rye, then
harrowed the rye ground and sowed it. Got down between 3 and 4
and did some other chores. Went to Greenbank in the evening with
Jennie and Annie. Mr. and Mrs. Mark here after dinner for plums.
A picture agent called after dinner. [margin note says: President
McKinley died].
15 – Rain through the night and very heavy about 1 o’clock. Mrs.
A. Cragg and Bella Lee called in the forenoon. At SS and church
with Jennie and little Annie, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE in the
evening, R.T. Harrington leader in place of V. Leask.
16 – A fine day with a very high wind. Plowing all day. W. Mark
here after dinner getting some apples for to show at Port Perry fair.
17 – Threatening rain a little in the morning but did not come to
anything. A road job drawing clay to put on the sand hill, quit at 5
o’clock and Jennie went to Port Perry to meet Barbara on the train,
but Jas. Smith, Jessie and her came by rig, they got here a little
after 6. Mrs. T. Salter died this morning.
18 – A fine day and pretty cool toward night. Mr. Mark came up
the first thing in the morning to tell us that Alex Lee’s baby had
just died. Jennie went down and helped to dress it. Picked up the
fallen apples. Jas. Smith left for home about 2 taking Mrs. Bell
with him to Port Perry, this being fair day. Barbara and Jessie are
staying for a few days. Went with Barbara to A. Lee’s baby’s
funeral which we left about 4:30 and got back about 6:30 and just
as we got home Margaret came having chanced it up from Port
Perry. P. Thompson and M. O’Neill called in the evening for help
for threshing. Moved the stove in.
19 – The first frost of the season. Went early to thrash (J. Leask’s
machine), first at M. O’Neill’s where we finished about 11:30, then
to Isaac O’Neill’s and finished in a little over 3 hours, then to
John’s and started at 4 pm. Big fire in Port Perry in the early
morning, all burned on the south of Queen Street from the Western
Bank to Allison’s Drug Store. Barbara drove Margaret to Port
Perry to the train. Mrs. Bryant here in the afternoon. Late Presi-
dent McKinley’s funeral. [According to the Scugog Township
Heritage Gallery...September 1901. At twelve o’clock midnight
Sept. 18 the baker shop of A.J. Sproule, on the south side of Queen
St. in the Purdy block was discovered to be on fire. Despite the
best efforts of the Fire Brigade the fire destroyed A. Ross & Sons,
general merchants; E.H. Purdy, produce merchant and groceries;
C.H. Allison, druggist; J.A. Murray, dentist; S.T. Cawker & Sons,
butcher; The Western Bank; S.M. Newton, publisher; W.H. Harris,
barrister and many other small businesses].
20 – A fine cool day. Threshing at John’s and finished at 10:30.
Cut some corn and finished the stable repairs and some other
chores in the afternoon. At choir practice in the evening. Mrs. A.
Gordon here for dinner and Mrs. Luke in the afternoon.
21 – A very fine day. Cut the horse corn in the little patch and
orchard. Jessie Smith down at Mark’s in the afternoon.
22 – A fine day. Walked to SS and church and Jennie, Annie and
Jessie Smith drove up to church, Mr. Cameron preached a memo-
rial sermon for Mrs. Alex Lee, a large turnout. Drove with Barbara
in the evening to Port Perry and heard Mr. Cooper preach, a very
good sermon. A beautiful clear night.
23 – A fine day. Shocked up corn in the forenoon and in the after-
noon took Barbara and Jessie to the station in Port Perry and
brought Mrs. Bell home with me. Dug a few potatoes in the or-
chard after coming home. Went over to Luke’s with Jennie in the
evening for the mail.
24 – A fine day. Plowing all day. Went up to Alex Lee’s in the
evening to see Alex Leask about cutting corn. He started after
nightfall to cut Alex Lee’s but had to quit as he could not see well
enough, although it was a moonlight night. Jessie Michie here in
the afternoon.
25 – A fine day but pretty cool in the morning. Went for the beef
in the morning and plowed the rest of the day. Had A. Lee’s horse
Sandy hitched up in the afternoon as Mrs. Bell drove out to Port
Perry to meet Jessie Bell on the train but she did not come. It was
about 9:30 when Mrs. Bell got home. A very fine moonlit night.
26 – A fine day. Plowing in the forenoon. A. Bougard called
wanting to buy pigs. He offered $7.10 per 100, sold to go two
weeks from today. Dr. D. Archer called just before dinner, he is
hunting up evidence in a law suit with Mr. Town which comes off
in Toronto next week. Threshing at Mr. Akhurst’s in the after-
noon. Started about 2:45 and worked until 7, the last ½ hour by
moonlight. Went over to Phair’s to ask them to threshing tomor-
row. Mrs. Bell went out to Port Perry just before dinner and Alex
engaged Miss Maggie Smith as housekeeper for a month on trial.
Eva Luke came over with a card saying that Jessie Bell was
55
coming on the train tonight. Mrs. Bell drove down and waited
until the last train when Jessie and Alma Perrin came. They did
not get here until after 10 pm. A very fine moonlight night.
27 – A very fine day. Jennie went out to Port Perry in the morning
for some meat and brought Jess’ trunk up. Threshing at Akhurst’s
and finished about 9:45. They then moved here and had an hour
run before dinner. Started again at 12:30 and worked till 6:30. D.
Till stayed all night.
28 – A fine day. Finished threshing in about 2 ½ hours and then
moved to W. Luke’s and finished him a little before 6. Jennie and
Jess went to Greenbank in the evening.
29 – Rain through the night and most of the forenoon. Commun-
ion at Greenbank. Went with Jennie and Jessie Bell. Mr. Cameron
preached. A small attendance on account of the rain. Did not go
to CE as the weather was not very good and I had a bad cold.
30 – A fine day, a little cool. Threshing at Phair’s all day and
finished a little before 6. Mrs. Bell and Alma Perrin went to Port
Perry in the afternoon and brought Miss Smith, A. Lee’s house-
keeper with them.
OCT. 1 – A fine day. Took 6 bags of rye and 10 of oats over to
Beare’s mill and fixed the line fence in the forenoon and drew 3
loads of clay on the road in the afternoon. Mrs. Bell and Alma
Perrin went over to Luke’s in the evening for the mail. Jennie
went to Mark’s to see about help in the house. F. Dobson and
Bella McMillan married today.
2- Thunder and rain through the night. Started at 6:30 am and
drove Mrs. Bell, Jessie Bell and Alma Perrin out to Port Perry in
the wagon to the morning train (rain most of the way out). Mrs.
Bell and Jessie are off to Rochester. Nellie Michie came this
morning to stay awhile. Went for the meal to Beare’s mill in the
afternoon and then cleaned up the barn floor. Nellie went to prayer
meeting and did not come back for the night.
3 – A pretty cool day with several flurries of rain. Plowing all day.
Kept the horses in all night for the first time.
4 – A cool day. Plowing all day. Jessie Michie and Lizzie Blight
called in the forenoon. Nellie went down to D. Cragg’s in the
evening.
5 – Several rain flurries through the day and quite a heavy shower
about 6:30. Plowing all day.
6 – A pretty cool day. At SS and church. Children’s day service
by Mr. Cameron. Mrs. Carnegie came home with me to tea. At
CE, a fair meeting, Jas. Miller leader.
7 – A fine summer-like day but a pretty hard frost in the morning.
Plowing all day. Went down to M. O’Neill’s at noon to get help at
potatoes tomorrow. Nellie left and Jessie came in the afternoon.
At church managers meeting in the evening. Brought John Lee
down with me to Alex’s. Got a new pair of short boots at S.
Dusty’s.
8 – A very fine day. Digging potatoes in the forenoon, Fred
O’Neill helping, and went to G. Byers’ sale in the afternoon.
Things went well especially the livestock. Went over to see
Charles Gordon in the evening, he has been very sick, but is now
some better. Called at I. O’Neill’s collecting for a present to Mrs.
F. Dobson. Jessie Michie here all day.
9 – Threatening rain several times but did not amount to much.
Digging potatoes in the forenoon and after dinner W. Leask cut the
corn with the corn harvester and after that drew in some of it. Fred
O’Neill helping all day. Old Isaac Truax here most of the forenoon
and stayed for dinner. Jessie Michie here all day.
10 – A very dull day and several drizzles of rain. Took the pigs to
Port Perry in the morning. Tried to lead them up alone but had to
get John to help. They (6) weighed 1100 and got $6.75 per 100.
Brought a washing machine home on trial. In the afternoon went
to Alex Lee’s surprise plowing bee. 14 plows at it. Nellie here all
day.
11 – A fine day. Digging potatoes all alone until about the middle
of the afternoon, then shocking up corn. Jennie and baby Annie
went to Port Perry and Jessie and Birdie Cragg here in the after-
noon. Nellie here all day. Pared apples in the evening, the first of
the season. Mrs. Luke here in the afternoon wanting to buy apples.
12 – A fine day, but raining a little in the evening. At the corn all
day. John Lee and Bella called in the forenoon.
13 – A very fine day. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached.
Mrs. and Mrs. John Monroe and Miss Jennie [?] were there. No
CE as this is the S. of T. sermon at the Methodist church [Sons of
Temperance].
14 – A very fine day. Picking up fallen apples and digging pota-
toes in the orchard in the forenoon and in the afternoon went to a
church managers bee to clear out the furnace pipes and nail some
boards on the sheds.
15 – A fine day but rain in the evening. Digging potatoes in the
forenoon, Jennie helping a little. In the afternoon went to Charles
Gordon’s bee helping him to dig his potatoes and mangles. Alex
Lee, A. Akhurst and Alex Gordon at it. A. Lee, E. Phair and
Oliver Luke called in the forenoon. Mr. W. Mark had our buggy
away.
16 – A fine day. Finished digging potatoes in the forenoon, Jennie
helping. She and baby Annie afterwards went to Greenbank. Jessie
Michie here for dinner. Took A. Lee’s borrowed oats home and
plowed the remainder of the afternoon. O. Luke and Isaac O’Neill
here after dinner and Mr. Cameron called in the afternoon. Went
down to Mark’s in the evening to practice singing for the W.F.M.S.
social next Tuesday evening.
17 – Intended going to Mrs. Phair’s to help shingle part of her
barn, but it rained through the night and the roof would be too wet.
Plowed in the forenoon and in the afternoon went to Mrs. Harper’s
sale. A disagreeable afternoon, some snow, the first of the season.
Tax collector W. Dobson called as we were at dinner.
56
18 – Ground white with snow in the morning. Plowing in the
forenoon and in the afternoon picked most of the apples, Nellie
helping. 3 barrels Ben Davis, 1 bag Wagners, 1 bag greenings.
Mrs. Akhurst here for the afternoon. In the evening went with W.
Luke by invitation to the meeting of the [?] League, to act as one of
the critics in a debate. The subject was which was the greater man
– Moses or Joshua, Moses son. Not a very fine night.
19 – A fine day but pretty cool with high wind in the afternoon.
Plowing in the forenoon and in the afternoon drew a load of bricks
from O’Neill’s for Mr. Purdy’s new store which was burned down
lately. Mrs. Mark and Jessie here in the afternoon picking apples
and John came after them. At Mark’s in the evening with Nellie
practicing singing.
20 – At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE, rather a
small meeting, partly on account of the anniversary services at the
Methodist church. Maggie Blair was down for leader but could not
come on account of her father being very low. Mr. Miller took the
topic.
21 – A very fine day. Cleaned out the pig pens and some other
chores and topped a few turnips which starts the turnips [harvest].
Helping Mrs. Phair to shingle a part of her barn. Jessie, Edith
Phair and Pat Thompson here today. Jennie housecleaning.
22 – A very fine day. Shingling at Mrs. Phair’s in the forenoon
and topping turnips in the afternoon, Norman Phair helping. Isaac
O’Neill had Topsy away at Uxbridge for pig feed. Jennie and baby
Annie at Greenbank in the forenoon. At. W.F.M.L. annual social,
a fine night and a good turnout. One of the principal things being a
presentation to Mrs. Frank Dobson and singing by Miss Annie
Rennie. Made over $24.00.
23 – A fine day with very high NW wind in the afternoon and lots
of dust. Harrowing out turnips in the forenoon, Norman Phair
topping, and finished them. Drew in in the afternoon alone, 5
loads. Threw back turnips in the evening.
24 – A pretty cool morning with high wind. Rowed up turnips for
awhile and drew in for the rest of the day, Jennie helping. 11
loads. Threw them back in the root house in the evening. Phair’s
boys have fires in the swamp.
25 – A very fine day. Drawing in turnips, Jennie helping. 13 loads
and finished all that was harrowed up. Threw back turnips in the
evening. A beautiful night. James Blair Sr. died, aged 76.
26 – A fine day with a pretty high wind in the afternoon. Har-
rowed out the remainder of the turnips and rowed up a few in the
forenoon and drew in 7 loads, Jennie helping. Threw back in the
evening. Jennie and baby Annie went to Sam Dusty’s in the eve-
ning to see about getting Mary for a month. We had scarcely got
to bed when Mr. and Mrs. F. Perrin, Alma and Jennie Perrin, Anna
Tait and Bella [?] came. Got to bed the second time about 11.
Nellie went home to bed.
27 – A very fine day. Anna Tait, Bella [Slemon?] and Alma Perrin
went down to Mark’s in the forenoon. Willie Smith, who came
back to Mark’s on his wheel came here about 12. Went to SS and
church with Anna and Bella, Mr. Cameron preached. Norman
Cragg addressed the SS. The Newcastle folks left for home at 5
pm. Did not go to CE. Mrs. Luke called in the afternoon.
28 – A fine day. Rowed up a few turnips in the morning and then
went to Jas. Blair’s funeral at 10 am. He was buried at Oshawa so
I did not go further than the house. Drew in turnips in the after-
noon alone, 5 loads. At Baptist church lecture in the evening.
Rev. Mr. Kennedy lectured on John Bull and liberty. A good
lecture but rather a small turnout although the night was very fine.
Had a long talk with Mr. Burnett on political questions. Nellie
here in the forenoon.
29 – A fine day. Drew in turnips alone in the forenoon, 4 loads,
which finishes for this year. 45 loads in all. I do not remember
when they came in in such good condition. In the afternoon went
with a load of turnips for John Park of Manchester from G. Byers.
Got home a little after dark. Mary Dusty came after dinner and
started her month. Had a long talk with Mr. Burnett.
30 – A fine day. Went in the forenoon with baby Annie to G.
Mark’s to see about buying calves but he had sold his, but I bought
2 from Mr. Mill’s nearby for $17. Went after them with the
waggon in the afternoon. W. Luke called and got 3 bags of apples.
Jennie and Mary Dusty went to prayer meeting.
31 – Drawing manure into the orchard in the forenoon and drew in
the horse corn in the afternoon, John Michie helping. Corn in
splendid order. Pared apples in the evening.
NOV. 1 – A very fine day. Plowing all day in the orchard. Mary
Dusty and Annie went down to Mark’s in the afternoon and Jessie
came up with them.
2 – An unusually fine day. Harrowed the orchard and threw back
the turnips from the root house door in the forenoon and plowing
sod in the afternoon. A. Mark’s in the evening having a sing.
3 - A fine day but pretty cool towards night. Mary Dusty went
home in the forenoon and came home with me in the evening. At
SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached a memorial sermon for Mr.
Blair, a large attendance. Nearly all the Baptist people were there.
At CE, rather a small meeting, R.T. Harrington leader.
4 – Rain, snow and sleet all forenoon. Went up to Joe Burton’s,
fixed the tub, churn, washing machine, apple rack and a pail and
cut some wood in the wood house in the forenoon, and plowed sod
in the afternoon. Pared apples in the evening. Quite a hard frost
tonight.
5 – Quite a hard frost in the morning. Cleaned out the pigpen and
plowed sod in the forenoon and cleaned out the closet and dug
some in the orchard in the afternoon while Jennie and baby Annie
went to Port Perry. Jessie Michie here in the afternoon and her and
Mary Dusty went to S. Dusty’s in the evening.
6 – A pretty hard frost in the morning. Rather too hard to plow,
did some chores and helped to wash in the forenoon and went to
Beare’s mill in the afternoon with a load of oats to get ground. Got
the meal home with me. Jennie and Mary Dusty at prayer meeting
in the evening. Plowing match at Myrtle today.
57
7 – Rather a dull day and threatening rain but did not amount to
much. Plowing sod in the forenoon and went to Port Perry in the
afternoon with a load of turnips for Alex Lee, he having sold a car
load to Mr. Monroe. Mary Dusty at Mark’s in the evening.
8 – A little rain through the night but a fine day. Took two loads of
turnips to Port Perry for Alex Lee. Mrs. A. Gordon here for din-
ner.
9 – The King’s birthday. A raw day with several rain and snow
flurries. Plowing sod all day and in the evening drove to Port
Perry for Mrs. Bell who came back from Rochester. A pretty dark
night. A [book?] man here in the afternoon.
10 – A very hard frost in the morning which broke the handle of
the cistern pump. Mary Dusty went home for dinner and stayed
until evening. At SS and church with Jennie and Annie. Mr.
Cameron preached. At CE, a fair meeting. I was the leader, Tem-
perance subject.
11 – Rain through the forenoon and a heavy fog in the afternoon
and rain again at night. Burned off some of the barn timber chips,
picked over some apples and other chores in the forenoon and
plowed sod in the afternoon. Pared apples in the evening. A very
dark night. Put in the fattening steers for the first.
12 – Heavy rain through the night. Plowing sod in the forenoon
and in the afternoon dug out the last of the big elm stump, put a
bottom in a barrel, the first time I ever did the like, while Jennie
went to Port Perry for Mrs. Bell’s trunk.
13 – Plowing sod all day and finished. A pretty hard frost in the
morning and quite a snow towards evening. Mrs. Bell visiting
Miss Smith at A. Lee’s in the afternoon. Samson Martin moved
his threshing machine to A. Lee’s.
14 – A very rough wintery day with high NW wind and some
snow. Fixed the root house windows, dug some in the orchard,
banked up the pantry, fixed the rocking chair, got in the cabbage
and other chores. Went over to Luke’s before supper for the mail
but there was none. Pared apples in the evening. Alex Lee had a
runaway this afternoon.
15 – Snowing a little most of the day. Doing a few chores in the
forenoon and threshing (S. Martin’s machine) at Alex Lee’s in the
afternoon at the Luke place, and in the evening went over to L.
Burnett’s to have a talk on political subjects. A rough snowy
night. Mary Dusty was home for the afternoon.
16 – Threshing at A. Lee’s all day, finished the Luke barn at 9:15,
then moved to his home barn and finished it at 4:30.
17 – A fine day and thawing a little. At SS and church with Jennie
and little Annie. Mr. Cameron preached. At CE, rather a small
meeting, Mrs. W. Wallace leader. Mr. Petty and Rose called in the
afternoon.
18 – A fine day. Went out to Port Perry in the forenoon with
Jennie and Annie and in the afternoon did a few odd jobs. Alex
Lee took away 6 little pigs, 5 at $3.00 each and a runt at $1.00. At
W. Luke’s in the evening with Jennie.
19 – A fine day but not thawing much. Put on the storm windows
and some other chores in the forenoon and drew in some wood into
the woodshed with the sleigh (the first sleighing of the season, but
not very good) in the afternoon. Pared apples in the evening.
20 – A fine day. Fanned up a load of oats and 3 bags of wheat for
a grist in the forenoon and drew in one load of potatoes in the
afternoon, Jennie helping in both cases. In the evening went with
Wes Luke to Port Perry to a little meeting to try to settle the differ-
ences between John Dryden and L. Burnett. The meeting was held
at Mr. J.H. Brown’s. After much talk they decided to bury the
hatchet. Got home about 3 am.
21 – A fine day. Took the load of oats to Port Perry and got 42 cts,
and in the afternoon drew in one load of potatoes. Mrs. Bell at A.
Lee’s for tea. George and Tom Michie got home from Manitoba.
22 – Thawing a little all day and a little rain in the evening. Wes
Luke brought over a pig and we killed it and our one in the fore-
noon, and made a gate in the afternoon. Mrs. Bell went to Port
Perry in the morning and did not get home until after 4. Pared
apples in the evening.
23 – A pretty cold day with east wind. Finished making gate and
cut up the pig in the forenoon and went to Port Perry in the after-
noon to Mr. Allan’s cutter sale. Did not buy anything.
24 – Some warmer with a little rain in the afternoon which froze as
it fell. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. Did not go to
CE as Jennie and her Mother went to church at Port Perry. Jennie
and Annie went down to Mark’s before dinner to see the Manitoba
boys.
25 – About 4 inches of snow through the night and quite a wintery
day but not so very cold. Hung the gate west of the barn and put a
handle in the draw knife in the forenoon and piled up wood in the
woodshed in the afternoon. Pared apples in the evening.
26 – A very cold rough day and drifting a good deal, the lane
blocked with snow. Piled up wood in the woodshed, swept down
the cobwebs in the stable and partly made a saw horse is pretty
much about all that was done out of the house today.
27 – A very cold day, only 5 above zero in the morning which is
very severe for November. Did little but a few chores. Jennie and
Mary Dusty went to Port Perry in the afternoon with the cutter, the
first time it has been out this season, fair sleighing. William Luke
married today.
28 – Thanksgiving day, a fine day but pretty cold. Went to service
in church in the afternoon, Mr. Cameron preached. A fairly good
turnout. Took Mary Dusty home, her month being in. Pared ap-
ples in the evening, probably the last of the season.
29 – Some fresh snow through the night. Warmer and thawing a
little, but colder again towards night. Banked up the root house
with manure and drew wood into the woodhouse.
30 – A fine day. Piled up wood in the woodshed in the forenoon
and drew in one load of potatoes, Jennie helping, in the afternoon.
Quite a few frozen.
58
DEC. 1 - Warmer and thawing fast, the sleighing which has been
good for the last few days is going fast. At SS and church, Mr.
Cameron preached. The congregation was small on account of
Russell Camplin’s funeral. At CE, rather a small meeting, E. Boe
leader.
2 – Some colder. Drew in the remainder of the potatoes in the
forenoon, Jennie helping. Went down to Mark’s before dinner to
see about getting John to help felt paper the house tomorrow. At
Port Perry in the afternoon.
3 – John came up in the morning to help at putting on the felt paper
on the house but we decided that it was too cold to start the job and
he went home. I then cut down two of the apple trees behind the
woodpile and the little tamarack at the cookhouse door and in the
afternoon drew away the brush and put straw on the strawberries.
4 – Another very cold day. Made some scaffolding apparatus and
piled wood in the forenoon and finished the sawhorse and cut some
smaller trees at the north orchard fence in the afternoon. W. Luke
called in the afternoon.
5 – A very fine day but pretty cold in the morning, just at zero.
Went to Port Perry in the morning and when I got home Mr. E.
Boe, R.T. Harrington and A. Akhurst were here. They came to see
about a lecture by Mr. McMillan of Lindsay. They all stayed to
dinner. Jessie came just as they were going away. Trimmed the
trees east of the barn pump in the afternoon and in the evening
went down to Mark’s to see Miss Annie Rennie about helping at
the lectures and had a lesson in music.
6 – A very fine day. Drew off the brush and the wood that I cut
yesterday in the forenoon and in the afternoon started at putting the
paper under the clapboard of the house, John helping. In the eve-
ning went with Jennie to Mr. and Mrs. A. Gordon’s golden wed-
ding, about 40 at it, and quite a good time. They gave Mr. G. A
watch and Mrs. a shawl and hood. Got home at 12:30. Oliver and
Eva called in the evening.
7 – Rather a dull day. All day at papering house, John helping.
8 – Started to snow heavily at 11 am, which turned to a misty rain
during the afternoon. At SS and church with Jennie, Mr. Cameron
preached, giving his personal experiences of the evil of strong
drink. Temperance pledge cards given out in the SS. Did not go to
CE as it was a very dark night.
9 – Went out to Port Perry in the forenoon with little Annie to
change the date on the lecture bills. Cleaned out the pigpen, sharp-
ened the bucksaw and cut some wood in the afternoon. Went
down to Mark’s in the evening and had a sing. Snowing from the
east in the evening.
10 – Several inches of snow through the night and a little falling
through the day but not so very cold. Did very little but a few odd
jobs.
11 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry (with the cutter) with Jennie
and little Annie in the forenoon. At papering house in the after-
noon, John helping. Jennie and Annie went to WFM meeting and
Nellie Michie came home with her and stayed for supper.
12 – A very fine day. At papering the house all day, John helping,
and finished the job.
13 – Thawing, started to rain about noon and continued most of the
afternoon which played mischief with the sleighing which was
very good. Put thumb latch on cattle stable door, put storm win-
dows on Mother’s room and some other odd jobs.
14 – Heavy rain all forenoon and until about the middle of the
afternoon when it turned to sleet and hail and finally to a little
snow. A decidedly bad day. Did nothing but a few chores. Saw
nobody.
15 – A good deal colder. Walked to SS and church, Mr. Cameron
preached. Some wheels and some sleighs, wheels rather the best.
Did not go to CE.
16 – A fine day and pretty cold. Cut some wood in the forenoon
and drew a load of manure for the garden and drew in some wood
to the woodshed in the afternoon. In the evening went with Mrs.
Bell to a lecture in the church by Mr. McMillan of Lindsay. I liked
the lecture well, but Mrs. Bell not at all. Made $20.15 which left
$2.15 to the good.
17 – Fixed the clothes line and cut wood in the swamp all day, the
first of the season. At church managers meeting in the evening.
James Innis was expressing his dislike of the lecture last night.
Snowing a little in the afternoon and evening.
18 – A very fine day. Cutting wood in the swamp in the forenoon
and went to E. Beare’s mill in the afternoon with 14 bags of oats
and got them ground. Mr. Henders here for dinner and took an
order for 3 apple trees. Miss A. Watson married today.
Image above of Beare’s Mill, c1900.
19 – 4 below zero in the morning but turned out a nice day. Cut
wood in the swamp in the forenoon. In the afternoon did little, but
started at 5:45 pm and drove with Jennie to Uxbridge, it being the
opening of their new town hall. A very good concert on the whole.
59
There was over 70 in the chorus, also orchestra, and band, and a
full house. Went with the cutter but the sleighing was rather thin.
Got home at 1 am. Mrs. Bell kept the children.
20 – A very fine day. Cutting wood in the swamp all day. Saw
nobody.
21 – 6 below zero in the morning and a very fine day. Cutting
wood in the swamp all day. At Mark’s in the evening having a
sing.
22 – Warmer, with quite a wind from the SW. At SS and church
with Mrs. Bell, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE, a very small meet-
ing, leader Nellie McMillan did not turn up.
23 – A very fine day. Cut wood in the swamp in the forenoon and
in the afternoon went out to Port Perry with Jennie and little Annie
for some Christmas things. Took the cutter but it was rather poor
sleighing. In the evening went to the annual SS meeting. Not a
very large turnout. They put me in for superintendant. A little
snow in the evening.
24 – A very fine day. Cutting wood in the swamp in the forenoon
and picking over potatoes in the cellar in the afternoon. Mrs. Bell
drove out to Port Perry in the afternoon. In the evening went to a
concert by the S. of T., a fairly good time. $10.60 was the pro-
ceeds. A very fine night.
25 – Christmas, and a very fine day. Went down to Mark’s and got
John to do the chores, and started about 10 am with Jennie, little
Annie, and baby Willie (the first time he was ever off the place)
and got to James Smith’s about 1. Tom Black and all the family
including Alan who has been very sick with typhoid fever, George
and Tom Michie and James C. Masson, and also Mrs. Hallet were
there. Put in a very pleasant afternoon and evening with music and
talk and went to bed about 12. George and Tom left for home at
11. Went with the buggy.
26 – Another very fine day. Intended to be home for dinner but
Willie Smith and Jas. Masson went to Whitby expecting to get a
gramophone that he had bought as a present to Annie his wife, and
we stayed to hear it, but they did not get it, so we got dinner and
started about 3 and got home as it was getting dark. Found that
Mother had been very sick last night when Mrs. Bell was here
alone.
27 – A nice day. Finished picking over the potatoes in the cellar in
the forenoon and in the afternoon went to Greenbank with little
Annie for coal oil. Mrs. Annie Gordon here for dinner. Alex Lee
got a barrel of apples.
28 – A fine day and thawing a little. Cutting wood in the swamp
all day. Mrs. Bell went to Port Perry in the afternoon.
29 – A little snow during the afternoon. At SS and church with
Jennie and little Annie, Mr. Cameron preached, an extra large
congregation. No CE as there is anniversary services in the Meth-
odist church. Mrs. Bell went up to visit Miss Smith in the evening.
30 – A very fine day. Cutting wood in the swamp all day. Went
down to Mark’s in the evening to see William who was hurt with a
tree falling on him last Tuesday. He is getting better. Dusty’s girls
were there. Sandy and Mrs. Alex Gordon here for some apples.
31 – Snowing and very rough with a high NW wind and much
colder. Cutting wood in the swamp most of the day. An Indian
here for dinner, he was selling little picture stands.
1902
Jan. 1 – A very fine day but pretty cold. Went up to Greenbank in
the afternoon with little Annie for some tea. Wes Luke called after
dinner with the mail. Made a gate for the field east of the orchard.
Hot supper in the Methodist church but did not go. Made $130.00.
2 – A fairly fine day with quite a snow storm in the evening. Cut-
ting wood in the swamp all day. G. Michie came up with the team
for a wood rack, but there was none here.
3 – A very cold day (3 to 6 above zero) and rough. Cut wood in
the swamp in the forenoon and in the afternoon went with Jennie to
the preparatory service in the church. Rev. Mr. Wishart of Beaver-
ton preached to a fair congregation. At Mark’s in the evening
having a sing.
4 – 6 below zero in the morning but got warmer during the day.
Cut wood in the swamp in the morning and after dinner took
Jennie and the two babies up to Alex Gordon’s for a visit and went
after them at 5 o’clock. George Fowlie here for dinner and stayed
the afternoon.
5 – A fine day. Went with Mrs. Bell to communion service at
Wick, Mr. Cameron conducted the service. Mrs. Luke here in the
afternoon. At service in the evening, Rev. Mr. Lumbert preached
to a large congregation, there being no service at the Methodist
church. Mr. Cameron preached at Saintfield.
6 – A fine day. Cut wood in the swamp in the forenoon and in the
afternoon drove to Greenbank to vote for councilmen. Voted for
R. Holtby for reeve and Jas. Munroe, Jas. McCullah and W.
Stephens for councilmen.
7 – A fine day. Cut wood in the swamp in the forenoon and in the
afternoon went to Port Perry with Jennie and little Annie. Got little
Annie’s photo taken (2nd
time). Mr. and Mrs. Cameron here while
we were away.
8 – Snowing a little from the east most of the day. Cutting wood in
the swamp in the forenoon but did not go in the afternoon as it was
too wet. Put on some buttings on the shop. In the evening went
with Jennie to the annual church meeting, a fair turnout. Money
matters came out $49.00 ahead. Managers elected. A. Akhurst,
W. Wallace, A. Leask, and John Somerville.
9 – A mild day. Put on some more buttings on the shop in the
forenoon and in the afternoon made a door for the cupboard under
chimney.
10 – A very fine day. Cutting wood in the swamp all day. Had the
[?] down in the evening, the first for a long time.
60
11 – Snow through the night and off and on most of the day which
will make fine sleighing if it does not drift. Drew up some wood
from the swamp in the forenoon (the first of the season) but the
afternoon was snowy. Fixed the back of the sleigh and went over
to W. Luke’s, at least nearly got there and met Oliver and Eva in
the cutter who said Mr. L. was not at home so I rode back with
them.
12 – A very cold rough day. At SS and church with Jennie and
little Annie , the first Sunday that I acted as superintendant. Some
trouble getting teachers. Mr. Cameron preached. Did not go to CE
as it was a rough cold night.
13 – Another very cold day. Cutting wood in the swamp all day.
At church managers meeting in the evening and did not get home
until very near 12. The roads are pretty badly drifted.
14 – A fine day and much warmer. Cut wood in the swamp in the
forenoon and went out to Port Perry with Jennie and little Annie in
the afternoon. Had some oysters for supper, the first for a long
time.
15 – A very fine mild day. Cutting wood in the swamp all day.
Jennie and Annie went out to Port Perry in the afternoon to get
Annie’s photo taken again, they did not like the first proof very
well.
16 – A very nice day. Spent most of the forenoon with W. Luke in
looking at another wood lot and finally bought one for $10.00 and
in the afternoon cut some wood. Went down to Mark’s in the
evening with a letter for John and to get the 2 inch auger. A very
fine clear night. First day of Port Perry races.
17 – A very fine day. 6 below zero in the morning. Drawing wood
from the swamp all day. Mrs. Bell not very well and Mother had a
bad time with sore feet.
18 – A very fine day, but a little rough in the evening. Cut wood in
the swamp all day, Tom Michie helping to saw. Got supper and
was at the chorus when John Michie of Scott, Mrs. R. Greaves and
Gertie Greaves came, and soon after Mr. and Mrs. James C. Mas-
son came and they all stayed all night. Spent most of the evening
until near 12 listening to Mr. M’s gramophone and enjoyed it very
much.
19 – 2 below zero in the morning but got some warmer through the
day. J. Michie and Mrs. Grieves left about 10 am. Went to SS and
church alone. Afterwards Mr. and Mrs. M. and Jennie came to
church, Mr. Sinclair of Sonya preached. At CE with Mrs. Masson,
a fairly good turnout as there had been meeting for some time, it
was election of officers. They put me in for president; R.T. Har-
rington, vice pres. A very bright clear night, road pretty tipsy in
some places.
20 – A fine day and a holiday as nothing was done but listen to the
music of the gramophone, this was music day for sure. Jennie and
Mrs. Masson went to Port Perry in the forenoon. Mr. and Mrs.
Sandy Gordon came down in the morning and Mr. Gordon stayed a
while to hear the music and Mrs. G. stayed until about 4 o’clock
when I drove her home and then went to Greenbank for some
coffee for lunch in the evening. In the evening there was a big
concert which continued until after 12 and everyone was delighted.
The following were present: George, Tom, Nellie and Jessie Mi-
chie; Mr. and Mrs. Luke and Oliver, Eva and Ned; A. Gordon Sr.
and A. Gordon Jr.; Mrs. Alex Gordon and Bessie; Annie and Mary
Dusty; A. Akhurst; Tennie McPhail; Alex Lee; and Miss Smith
and George Lane.
21 – Another day pretty much the same as yesterday. Music until
about 3 when Mr. and Mrs. Masson left for home, taking the music
box with them. They were down at Mark’s awhile in the forenoon.
Started to storm some from the east just when they left.
22 – A great snow through the night from the NE and continued
most of the day. There must be about 14 [inches] at least of new
snow fell and quite a bit of drifting. Helped at washing in the
forenoon, hung the clothes in the kitchen. Fixing the turnip drill in
the afternoon.
23 – A fine day. Went down to the swamp in the forenoon and dug
up some of the wood last cut out of the snow which is over knee
deep. Spent all afternoon with the team breaking roads which are
very heavy.
24 – A fine day. Drawing wood from the swamp. Very heavy
work on account of the snow. Alex Lee brought the mail. No mail
to Greenbank for two or three days.
25 – A very fine day. Cleaned out the pig house in the forenoon
while Mrs. Bell went to Port Perry and in the afternoon drove with
the sleigh to Greenbank with Jennie and little Annie (roads pretty
bad). Got tea at John Lee’s.
26 – A little snow in the morning from the SW which turned to
sleet and then almost to rain, which settled the snow some. At SS
and church alone, Mr. Cameron preached. Mr. James Allan and
family were absent, a very rare thing. Did not go to CE as the
roads, especially through the fields, were very heavy.
27 – Colder and a pretty high wind from the west but not drifting.
Bagged up a grist of oats (16 bags) and helped with the washing in
the forenoon and in the afternoon went with the oats to Port Perry
and got them ground and brought them home.
28 – A very fine day, 2 below zero in the morning. Split some
wood and fixed the turnip drill and some other chores. About 4:30
Willie Smith and his mother came, bringing the gramophone, and
we drove up with the sleigh (Jennie went also) to the church and
gave an entertainment of over 2 hours to a full house and highly
appreciated as far as I could learn. A collection was taken up for
the children’s hospital in Toronto. Between 9 and 10 dollars was
taken up.
29 – A very fine day. Very little done but listen to the gramo-
phone. Willie Smith went down to Mark’s and stayed for dinner.
They left for home about 3. Jennie and little Annie went to Port
Perry at the same time. John Lee called in the evening and had a
talk principally on church matters. 6 years ago tonight since we
started on married life. Fred Love’s baby buried today.
61
30 – A fine day, at zero in the morning. Drew wood from the
swamp and dry wood into the shed all day. W. Luke called with
the mail.
31 – A fine day in the forenoon but snowing from the east in the
afternoon and evening. Drew up wood from the swamp in the
forenoon and in the afternoon went to the District Division of the
S. of T. at Greenbank. A very good attendance. Went with Jennie
and little Annie in the evening to W. Luke’s and had tea and spent
the evening. Alex Lee and Miss Smith were there also.
FEB. 1 - A fine day. Went down to the 11th
conc. and brought
home the last of the wood on the Cragg lot. In the afternoon took
Mrs. Bell to Port Perry on the way to Newcastle. When I got home
Mr. Jas. Miller was here and we went at the report on church life
and work and finished in about 2 hours.
2 – Snowing a little in the forenoon which in the afternoon turned
to a NW blizzard. A perfect terror of a night, the worst this winter
so far. Went to SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. Had all
we could do getting home on account of the drifts. A. Lee rode up
with and home with me. No CE tonight.
3 – Drifting all through the night and all day which makes drifts
from 6 to 8 feet high in some places. Roads all blocked up. No
trains. Did little but the chores. Saw no one expect those of our
own house today.
4 – A finer day and pretty cold. Spent the afternoon in breaking
roads. First time got through at 6 pm. Side road not open at 3 pm.
5 – A very fine day. Cutting wood in the wood shed most of the
day. Went down to Mark’s after dinner.
6 – A very fine day. Cutting wood all day in the swamp with the
saw, Tom Michie helping.
7 – Snowing a little during the day and got quite rough towards
night. Cutting wood all day in the swamp, Tom helping, and fin-
ished the old lot.
8 – Snowing and drifting most of the day, especially towards night
when it got very rough. To all appearances the roads are all
blocked up again. Had Tom helping to cut down the big apple
trees behind the woodpile and the big one near the east fence.
Worked until about the middle of the afternoon when it got too
rough. Nancy cow got a calf in the evening.
9 – Drifting all day and pretty cold. Alex Lee came down in the
morning with the mail which he got yesterday and Oliver came
over in the forenoon on horseback. No one out anywhere on ac-
count of the roads which are all blocked with snow.
10 – 4 below zero in the morning and a cutting NW wind and
drifting a little most of the day. Helping at the washing in fore-
noon and trimming up tree tops in the swamp in the afternoon.
Wes Luke called in the afternoon towards evening.
11 – A somewhat finer day but drifting some in the afternoon.
With Tom’s help we cut some saw logs on the new lot in the
swamp (the first at another new lot). Cut the green pines. In the
afternoon drove with the sleigh to Port Perry for coal oil and some
other things.
12 – Snowing a little most of the day and drifting some. Spent the
day in the shop making a wash stand. Tom came up in the morn-
ing and went to the swamp to cut logs but I did not know that he
was there. He came up about 10 and then went to A. Lee’s and did
not come back.
13 – A much finer day. Cutting saw logs in the swamp with Tom
all day but did not make much headway. Wes Luke tried to take a
load of turnips to the Byers’ place but did not get further than A.
Lee’s and had to turn back.
14 – The finest day for quite a while. Sawing logs in the swamp in
the forenoon, Tom helping, and in the afternoon cut down the big
maple which stood between here and Alex Lee’s. It made 3 fine
12 foot logs which I intend taking to the sawmill to be cut into
flooring.
15 – A most beautiful day. All the trees covered with hoar frost in
the morning and looked something grand. With Tom’s help fin-
ished cutting the maple and then cut the apple tree near the clothes-
line. Tom went home after dinner. In the afternoon I finished and
painted the washstand.
16 – A very fine day. Went to SS and church, Mr. Cameron
preached. At CE in the evening, rather a small meeting. Lizzie
McArthur was to have been leader but failed to appear so the lot
fell to me. A beautiful evening.
17 – A very nice day. Helped at the washing and some other
chores in the forenoon and in the afternoon went to Port Perry with
little Annie (got her photos). Nellie Michie called in the afternoon.
Wes Luke moved to the Byers’ place today.
18 – A pretty cold rough day and drifting some. Cutting wood in
the swamp all day. Alex Lee came down in the evening with the
mail, 5 letters and a postcard.
19 – A very cold morning, 2 below zero and a high NW wind.
Things frozen up in the house, the worst this winter. It got some
milder as the day wore on. Did very little in the forenoon, did the
chores early expecting A. Akhurst to come with his team and go to
a wood cutting bee for the church at Whetter’s, but he did not
come. Cutting in the swamp in the afternoon.
20 – A very fine day. Started to cut the wood pile. Started to do
the chores before dinner when Oliver Luke came in wanting me to
help him out with a colt that got stuck in the snow in Fair’s swamp.
He was taking the colt up to the Byers’ place. After dinner went
with Albert Akhurst’s sleigh, along with Alex Gordon, John and
Tom Michie, to the wood cutting bee for the church at Whetter’s.
Had to walk home alone.
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21 – A very fine day. Trees covered with hoar frost in the morn-
ing. Drew up wood from the swamp in the forenoon and in the
afternoon went to John Burke’s sale, lot 11, conc. 8. A fair sale
especially cattle and pigs. Did not buy anything. Gave A. Lee a
ride home. Some terrible snow drifts on the roads.
22 – A very fine day. Drawing wood from the swamp and the
orchard all day. Wilbert Lee came down with the mail in the after-
noon.
23 – A very fine day. All the trees covered with hoar frost in the
morning. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. Jas. Allan,
Jas. Leask and G.A. McMillan appointed delegates to prohibition
convention at Toronto on Tuesday. At CE, a fair meeting, R.T.
Harrington leader. G.A. McMillan delegate to convention.
24 – A nice day and thawing a little. Drawing out saw logs from
the swamp in the forenoon. Did a few chores in the afternoon and
then went with little Annie to Port Perry to meet Annie Tait who
came on the train. Wilbert Lee came down with the mail. D.
Perkins had Joe Phoenix before J. Nott today charged with shoot-
ing through his window some time ago. Decision reserved.
25 – A very nice day and thawing a little. Drawing out logs from
the wood lot all day. Anna Tait went with Wes and Mrs. Luke just
before dinner to help them to put down a new parlor carpet and
stayed all night.
26 – A very nice day. Drawing out logs and wood in the forenoon.
When I came home to dinner I found 9 little pigs alive and 1 dead
in the shed. After dinner A. Akhurst and I tried for about an hour
to get the old pig into the root house but failed. Jennie, however,
got her in during the afternoon. We then went to the church wood
bee. I drove with the cutter. Had a stomach ache in the evening
and Jennie and Anna did the chores. Ned Luke here a while in the
afternoon. Thawing quite a bit and roads getting soft.
27 – Thawing quite a bit. Went 3 trips to Beare’s mill with saw
logs, 6 at each load. Jessie Michie here in the forenoon asking
Annie Tait to a party tonight at Fred Bryant’s but Annie took sick
in the afternoon and did not go.
28 – Great rain through the night and off and on all day. Snow
going very fast, bare ground to be seen everywhere, roads impossi-
ble. Did little but a few odd jobs. Jennie started a mat.
MAR – 1 A little rain in the forenoon and thawing some all day.
Split some wood in the shed and some other chores in the forenoon
and in the afternoon drove to Greenbank. Roads very bad after the
thaw, the first to travel most of the road since the break up. No
mail today or yesterday. Gave A. Akhurst a ride home. Saw Mrs.
J. Turner at W. Real’s.
2 – A little rain quite a lot of the day. Turned some colder in the
evening. Nobody out at all today on account of the roads. A long
day to me.
3 – Colder and a little snow and pretty rough day. Spent most of
the day making new rollers for the turnip drill. Anna Tait walked
to Greenbank in the afternoon for the mail but someone had got it
before she got there.
4 – A fine day. Cut wood with buck saw most of the day. Anna
went down to Mark’s in the morning with the mail and Nellie came
up with her and stayed until after tea helping hook a mat. Anna
and Nellie went up to A. Lee’s and S. Dusty’s in the evening. Wes
Luke called in the afternoon. He was looking at the roads but the
prospect was not good, in fact there is no passable roads since the
thaw.
5 – A fine day. Cutting wood with buck saw most of the time.
Anna went to Port Perry with G. and Nellie Michie in the after-
noon. Nellie here in the forenoon. Wilbert Lee came with the
mail. Alex Ewen [Ewing?] married.
6 – A fine day. Buck sawed wood in the forenoon. Mrs. Annie
Gordon here for dinner. In the afternoon went with the sleigh to
Port Perry with 10 bags of rye and oats to get ground but did not
get it home. Took Jennie, little Annie and baby down on a visit to
Marshall O’Neill’s and brought them home again. Jessie Michie
here with Anna. They both, with others, went to spend the evening
at Alex Leask’s. Wes Luke called with the mail. Anna did not
come back but stayed at Mark’s all night.
7 – A fine day and thawing quite a bit. Fanned up 15 bags of oats
(Jennie helping a little) in the forenoon and in the afternoon took
them out to Port Perry, the sleighing being very poor. Got 38 cts.
When I got home Mr. F. Franklin and John Park were here horse
collecting and they stayed for supper. Anna came back in the
evening.
8 – Colder with east wind, threatening snow all afternoon but did
not amount to anything. Drawing out wood and poles from the
wood lot all day. Alex Lee had a runaway.
9 – A fine day, some snow through the night but was mostly gone
before night. Went to SS and church with Jennie and little Annie.
Mr. Cameron preached about the recent student’s missionary con-
vention at Toronto. At CE in the evening with Anna, rather a small
meeting. Mrs. Somerville was down for leader but was absent.
10 – A fine day. Drove over with the sleigh as far as Phair’s to see
how the roads were and then went with our maple log to Beare’s
mill. In the afternoon went to the wood sawing bee at the church.
Got tea at John Lee’s (Mr. and Mrs. Alex Gordon Sr. and Mr. and
Mrs. E. Boe were there also) and spent the evening with R.T. Har-
rington and W. Wallace at the church reports. John Lee came
down with me to Alex’s.
11 – Some rain in the forenoon but cleared up about noon. Got up
early and drove Anna Tait to the early train at Port Perry on her
way home, as they are to have a party there tonight. When I got
home Isaac O’Neill was here, the first for a long time. He was just
70 years old today. In the afternoon went to Jas. [Wadel’s ?] sale
near Wick, a very large turnout and good prices, especially live-
stock. Tom Michie went with me. We went by the side road and
came home by the centre road, the side road was far the best
sleighing. Got home at 7. A dark night, thunder and rain.
12 – Rain through the night and some in the forenoon. Thrashed
the beans and cut wood in the forenoon and in the afternoon helped
to shovel out the road. W. Luke, W. Akhurst and Ernest Phair also
at it.
63
13 – Threatening snow a little in the forenoon but did not come to
anything. Sharped the buck saw and cut wood in the forenoon and
went to the church wood cutting bee in the afternoon and finished
the job. Nellie Michie here in the afternoon.
14 – A very fine day and thawing a good deal. Went two trips to
Beare’s mill and took 2 maple logs and brought home some scant-
ling and lumber for pig house. Sleighing very bad in some places.
Alex Lee called before dinner.
15 – A fine day. Went over to Beare’s mill in the morning with the
last maple log and a cedar one. After dinner I started for George
Rose’s sale at Wick with the cutter but turned near D. Cragg’s as
there was no sleighing. I then drove to Port Perry with the buggy
for Mrs. Bell who came back from Newcastle on the 5:30 train.
Isaac O’Neill here after dinner for some turnips.
16 – Thawing and rain. Went to SS and church with Annie and
Jennie, took the cutter but it was very poor sleighing. Small atten-
dance both at SS and church. Mr. Cameron preached. Did not go
to CE on account of the roads.
17 – Colder and a little snow in the afternoon. Drew the brush of
the big maple out of the orchard in the forenoon and cut rafters and
other poles in the afternoon. Jennie washing.
18 – Went three trips to Beare’s mill with logs, sleighing very
poor. Also drew up the remainder of the rafters. Pretty cold day.
19 – A pretty cold day and a good deal of dust. Went two trips to
Beare’s mill with logs and drew away all the lumber from the mill
as they cut it. John Lee called with the mail.
20 – A fine day. Cutting wood in the swamp all day, almost en-
tirely cedar and cut down the last tree on the old lot. Jennie went
to Port Perry in the forenoon. Wes Luke called in the afternoon,
Nellie Michie in the forenoon.
21 – A fine spring-like day. Drew out poles from swamp with the
chain in the forenoon and in the afternoon wood with the sleigh
and finished the old lot.
22 – Another very fine day. Cut wood and some other jobs in the
forenoon and in the afternoon fanned up 23 bags of oats and four
of wheat, Jennie helping. Alex Lee called with the mail and
brought a letter from Aberdeen saying that Mrs. Peter Davidson
and Uncle George Tough had died since New Years. The assessor,
Jas. Moore, called at dusk and Miss Maggie Smith in the evening.
23 – A very fine day. Went to SS and church with Jennie (with the
buggy), Mr. Cameron preached. Did not go to CE as the roads
were very bad.
24 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with a
grist of 4 bags of wheat and 21 bags of oats for sale, got 38 cts.
Got nails etc. for the pig house. In the afternoon took a load of
oats and rye to Beare’s mill to get ground and brought home some
lumber.
25 – A fine day. Went for the meal at Beare’s mill and picked off
some stones in the forenoon and buck sawed wood in the after-
noon. Jennie and little Annie went to Greenbank in the afternoon.
26 – A very fine day. Drew stones for the pig house in the fore-
noon and in the afternoon took 4 old cedar logs on the waggon to
Beare’s mill and got them sawed into planks and brought them
home again with some more lumber. Jennie picking potatoes in
the cellar. Mr. Cameron called in the afternoon. Went to prayer
meeting, not many there.
27 – A very nice day, a little rain in the morning. Cut wood in the
forenoon. W. Mark called and I let the job of finishing cutting
wood for $4.00. In the afternoon went with Jennie to Port Perry
with 18 bags of potatoes and got a suit of clothes for them.
Brought home a load of Mrs. Bell’s things but did not take them
off the wagon as it was 7 before we got home, the roads in some
places being bad.
28 – Good Friday. Somewhat dull and rain in the evening.
Worked at the raspberry bushes and planted a pail of potatoes in
the forenoon and in the afternoon went to preparatory service, Mr.
Cameron preached. Miss Mary Ann Carnegie and Miss Lella
Horne were accepted. Jennie and her mother busy most of the day
putting away the things. George Michie clover threshing.
29 – Rain through the night and most of the forenoon but cleared
up and got colder in the afternoon. Painted the turnip drill and cut
wood in the shed most of the day. A. Butt called and bought the
little heifer for $31.00. Jennie fixing the baby carriage. A. Lee
started to plough.
30 – Easter Sunday. A fine day until about 4 when it started to rain
hard. Went with Jennie to communion service at Greenbank, Mr.
Cameron preached, a fair turnout. Mr. Howard Parker of Orillia
called in the afternoon. Mrs. Bell made a little visit to her friend
Miss Smith at A. Lee’s. Jennie Muntz is there now. Did not go to
CE on account of the rain.
31 – A fine day. Helped Mr. Jas. Miller to frame rafters for pig
house, finished about the middle of the afternoon and I then hung
the gate into the field east of the orchard. Jennie washing and
churning.
APR. 1 – Snow through the night and most of the forenoon but did
not lay long. Finished splitting wood in the shed and trimmed the
black currant bushes in the forenoon and scuffled the raspberry
bushes (with George’s scuffler) and planted some in the afternoon.
McLauchlin buggy agent called in the evening but I did not buy.
Alex Lee called with the mail.
2 – A rather cold raw day, some snow. Went to Port Perry in the
forenoon with Jennie and brought back the remainder of Mrs.
Bell’s things. Roads pretty bad. Put up stones and dug part of the
foundation of pig house in the afternoon. Mrs. Mark here in the
afternoon.
3 – A cool day. Drawing stone all day for the pig house.
64
4 – A very fine day. Digging trench and drawing stone for pig
house until about 4, then raked straw off the strawberries while
Jennie and little Annie went to Greenbank to see H. Love about the
mason work but she did not see him.
5 – A very fine day, quite a hard frost in the morning. Went 2 trips
for sand at McMillan’s in the forenoon and in the afternoon went
to Port Perry for lime and plank. Alfred Butt came after the heifer
but could not take her away.
6 – A very fine day. Jennie and Annie and Willie drove Mrs. Bell
to Port Perry (or nearly there) it being communion Sunday at Port
Perry. One of the buggy wheels played out and she had to borrow
one from E. Taylor. Went to SS and church, extra large turnout at
both. Mr. Cameron preached on the Sabbath. At CE, a fair meet-
ing, had to take the lead.
7 – A very fine day. Henry Love all day building foundation of pig
house and I was mixing the mortar. At church managers meeting
in the evening.
8 – Rather dull day with quite a high east wind especially in the
afternoon. Henry Love at the stone work in the forenoon and
finished the job. Miss Ida Phair came on a visit after dinner, also
Hugh Jack and Dan Boe. They bought the two steers one at 4 cts,
the other at 4 ½. Went to Port Perry to take the borrowed buggy
wheel back and bring Mrs. Bell home.
9 – Rain and snow from the east a good part of the day. Cleaned
out the root house, laid the [sills?] of the pig house and some other
chores. A. Butt came for the heifer and had quite a time of it,
helped him. At prayer meeting, not many out, Mr. Boe leader. An
after meeting was held about the SS anniversary and it was decided
to hold it on May 24.
10 –A little rain about 5 pm. Worked all day at pig house. Nellie
and Jessie here in the forenoon picking up some potatoes and
George came after them in the afternoon. Fowlie heifer calved this
morning.
11 – Worked at pig house until about 4 and got the sides raised,
Jennie helping. Then tied up berry bushes. Jennie cleaning out
cellar. Went down to M. O’Neills in the evening to settle with
Fred but he was not at home.
12 – A little rain and hail several times during the day. Plowing
(1st
of the season) in the orchard and filling furrows and tied up
berry bushes. M. O’Neill and Joseph Ward called wanting to buy
young cattle. Barbara and Willie Smith came about 5 pm for
strawberry plants.
13 – Some rain in the morning but cleared up and got a good deal
colder. Barbara and Willie went down to Mark’s for dinner and
left for home about 2:30. Went to SS and church, Rev. R.P.
McKay, Foreign Missionary Sec., preached on missions. At CE, a
fair meeting. Mr. Boe leader.
14 – A fine day but quite a hard frost in the morning. Fixed the
fence between the house and barn that was blown down. Peeled
some rafters and other chores in the forenoon. Sowed the field
NW of barn, the first of the season.
15 – A fine day. Jennie and Annie went to Port Perry in the fore-
noon while I worked at the berry bushes. Sowed the north field in
the afternoon. W. Mark cutting wood in the afternoon with buck
saw. A. Bongard called and bought the pigs at $6.00 and the [?] to
go in 2 weeks.
16 – A very fine day with some frost in the morning. Mr. Marshall
of Port Perry called in the forenoon to sell a buggy but did not
make a sale. Harrowing the remainder of the day and walked to
prayer meeting in the evening, Mr. Cameron leader.
17 – A fine day. Harrowing and filling in furrows and went down
to Isaac O’Neill’s in the evening and called at Mark’s. W. Mark
here cutting wood in the afternoon and Jessie picking up some
potatoes. Mrs. Isaac O’Neill and their little boy here in the fore-
noon.
18 – A fine day. Took a load of oats to Beare’s mill and brought
home lumber, then worked in the garden. Isaac O’Neill here after
dinner and I then went down to his place and helped him with pigs.
W. Mark cutting wood all day. At political caucus in Greenbank to
choose delegates to convention at Brooklin tomorrow.
19 – Went to Beare’s mill in the morning for the meal, then culti-
vated the last year’s root land which took the rest of the day. W.
Mark cutting wood in the forenoon and finished the job. Thunder
in the afternoon but no rain, but some rain in the evening. Liberal
convention at Brooklin today, John Dryden nominated.
20 – A fine day. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. At
CE, a small attendance. Mr. Miller, who was to have taken the
topic, was unable to attend on account of Mrs. Miller being sick, so
the lot fell to me again.
21 – A little rain in the morning. Jennie and little Annie went to
Port Perry for the apple trees from the Wenona nurseries. Split and
piled wood, planted some potatoes, planted trees and some other
chores. Fred O’Neill called in the evening and I settled up with
him.
22 – A very warm day. Sowing all day and finished for the season.
Jessie Michie came with the mail. 2 cattle buyers called. The
warmest day of the season, high west wind.
23 – A very high wind with much dust and a good deal colder.
Harrowed in the forenoon. After dinner fanned up 10 bags of oats
for Isaac O’Neill, Pat Thompson helping. Afterwards split wood.
At prayer meeting, Mr. Cameron leader, and after meeting about
the SS anniversary.
24 – Went over and got the maple flooring from Beare’s mill and
piled it up at the foot of our side line, 489 feet. Then drew some
chips into the wood shed and rolled the new grass in the afternoon.
Mrs. W. Luke here for tea. A high wind and pretty cold.
25 – A very fine day until about 6 pm when it started to rain and
drizzled on through the evening. Took the 2 steers out to Port
Perry in the morning with John Michie’s help. Jennie drove down
for me. Planted some potatoes and corn in the orchard and split
wood in the afternoon. A. McKinnon, the medicine man, called
after dinner.
65
26 – A great rain and heavy thunder through the night and some
rain in the forenoon. Sowed some grass seed on the bare places on
the hay field. Made a door for the pig house and split wood in the
forenoon. In the afternoon Jennie and Annie went to Greenbank
and I went with them to Wes Luke’s and spent the afternoon at his
raspberry bushes. A very high wind and rather raw.
27 – A fine day but pretty cool. Went to SS and church, Mr. Cam-
eron preached. At CE, a good meeting, G.A. McMillan leader.
28 – A very fine day. Splitting wood in the forenoon and finished
the job. John Michie came up for some tools. Alex Lee cutting
wood with E. Beare’s circular saw. Pruning the orchard in the
afternoon. Jennie housecleaning.
29 – A fine day until about 5 pm when it started to rain and contin-
ued through the evening. Took the 6 pigs to Port Perry in the
morning and got $6.25, they weighed 1010. Drew the brush out of
the orchard in the afternoon. Jennie housecleaning. Mrs. Bell,
who has been very poorly lately, was rather worse today.
30 – A fine day but rather cool. Took off the storm doors and
windows and put on the screens and some other chores in the fore-
noon and worked at the new pig house in the afternoon. At prayer
meeting, anniversary meeting, and choir practice after.
MAY 1 – A fine day but pretty cool. Finished rolling the hay field
and also the field NW of the barn. Alex Lee here after dinner and
helped to kill a pig. Mrs. A. Gordon here for dinner.
2 – Cut up the pig and then went to Beare’s mill and got 6000
shingles at $1.60, then drew out 2 loads of manure. Mr. Akhurst
called in the forenoon, also George and John Michie for the turnip
drill to sow mangels. After dinner Mrs. and Emma Black came
and I did very little all afternoon as it rained off and on a good part
of the time. They left for home about 4 pm.
3 – A very fine day. Drew out manure in the forenoon and in the
afternoon went with Alex Lee to Port Perry to buy a buggy each,
but after looking at the different makes, we did not buy.
4 – Some showers through the day. Went to church and SS, Mr.
Cameron preached a strong doctrinal sermon. At CE, a good meet-
ing, Maggie Blair leader. On the way up I telephoned for the Dr.
for Mrs. Bell. Dr. R. Archer came, he says the trouble is malaria.
5 – A fine day. Went down to Mark’s in the morning to get Nellie
to help for a day or two. She came in the afternoon. Drawing out
manure most of the day. Alex Lee called after dinner with the mail
and put rings in the old sow’s nose.
6 – Some rain about noon and a heavy thunder shower between 6
and 7. Spread manure and some other chores in the forenoon while
Jennie and little Annie went to Port Perry principally to see the Dr.
about Mrs. Bell who is no better. Nellie Michie here all day.
Plowing mangle ground in the afternoon.
7 – A fine day. Drilling up for mangles. At prayer meeting. Mr
Cameron not there as he is supposed to be marrying Albert Akhurst
and Annie Dusty. Nellie Michie here all day. Pat Thompson here
after dinner for some strawberry plants.
8 – Sowed the mangels in the forenoon and in the afternoon went
to Port Perry for the window sash and some lumber. Rain on the
way out and quite a thunderstorm about 8. Parkins, the old iron
man, here for dinner and Mrs. A. Akhurst in the afternoon and for
tea.
9 – Quite cold and raw with a very high NW wind. Went to
Beare’s for 400 feet of lumber in the forenoon and tore down the
old pig pen in the afternoon. Jennie papering the south bedroom
upstairs. Went up to Alex Lee’s in the evening, he had a cow
which they killed last night for tuberculosis. George here in the
morning for the roller.
10 – A hard frost in the morning. Drew out manure for corn in the
forenoon and plowed in the afternoon. A. Lee called with the mail
and George Michie for some music.
11 – A fine day but somewhat cool. At SS and church. A college
student, Mr. Henderson, preached in the interest of the student’s
missionary movement. At CE with little Annie, a good meeting.
Mrs. G. A. McMillan leader. Jennie up to A Lee’s in the forenoon.
Mrs. Luke here in the afternoon and Miss Maggie Smith in the
evening.
12 – Went out to Port Perry in the morning to order the SS anni-
versary bills. Plowing in the afternoon, rain off and on during the
afternoon.
13 – A fine day. Planted strawberries in the forenoon, Jennie help-
ing. A. Lee called and in the afternoon went with Jennie and little
Annie to Port Perry for the anniversary bills and ordered a
McLauchlin buggy. Went to Greenbank in the evening to hear an
address on foreign missions by Mr. Henderson and a very good
one it was. Gave Nellie and Jessie a ride home. Mrs. Wright and
Edith Phair called in the afternoon. Isaac O’Neill came after 2
bags of oats. Reach council around looking at roads.
14 – A fine day but somewhat cool. Planting strawberries in the
forenoon, Jennie helping, and finished. Finished tearing down the
old pig house and worked a little at the new one. A choir practice
in the evening.
15 – A very fine day. Working all day at the pig house, John Mi-
chie helping. W. Perkins called and Jas. McKitrick selling binder
cord.
16 – A very nice day. Rolling the north field in the forenoon and in
the afternoon took 10 bags of oats to Beare’s mill and brought
home 300 feet of lumber. Rolled a little after I got home. Isaac
O’Neill here for the turnip drill.
17 – A beautiful day. Rolling in the forenoon and in the afternoon
harrowed and rolled the corn ground and then planted some horse
corn in the orchard. Jennie, Annie and Willa went to Greenbank.
18 – A very fine day. At SS and church, this being anniversary
Sunday. Mr. Sinclair of Sonya conducted the services both after-
noon and evening. Very large turnout at both, and good sermons.
Annie Rennie and Mrs. Cameron helped in the choir.
66
19 – A fine day and very warm. Went to Beare’s mill in the morn-
ing for the meal and drew out manure for potatoes the rest of the
day.
20 – A very fine day. Drilling up for corn in the forenoon and
planted it in the afternoon. Nellie and Jessie called in the evening.
R. Balfour broke his cream waggon and also A. Lee’s.
21 – A very fine day. Plowing awhile in the morning, then Jennie
and little Annie went to Port Perry principally for baking material
for the anniversary. Plowing potato land in the afternoon, little
Annie riding on the plough for the first time. Walked to prayer
meeting, Mr. Cameron leader.
22 – A very warm day and a good deal of thunder during the after-
noon. Started to rain about 3:30 and continued off and on until
about 7. A very heavy storm between 6 and 7. Harrowed the
potato ground in the morning and then drew manure until stopped
by the rain. Things are growing very rapidly these days. This is
nomination day for the Ontario General Elections. Alex Lee and I
had it arranged to go to Port Perry to a meeting tonight but the rain
prevented us. It was Mr. Dryden’s meeting.
23 – Very warm. A terrific thunder storm with some hail about 11.
A good deal of thunder in the afternoon and some very heavy rain
to the south. Drew out manure until about 3 pm when the Jess
mare had a colt. Worked at the pig house the rest of the afternoon.
24 – A dull morning and rain several times but cleared up in the
afternoon. Working at the pig house in the forenoon and in the
afternoon went with Jennie and little Annie to the SS Anniversary,
a large turnout and a big success. The following took part: the
orchestra; Miss Mitchell of Toronto; Miss Gould and Miss Graham
of Uxbridge; Miss Rennie; W. Horne; Rev. Mr. Lambert; and A.
McMillan. Made $120.00.
25 – A very fine day except a little rain about 5 and 6 pm. At SS
and church with Jennie and Annie. SS held in the church. Mr.
Arch McMillan of Sonya preached a good sermon. No CE tonight.
26 – A heavy rain between 11 and 12. Working at the pig house
all day, John Michie helping, and at 6 o’clock went with Jennie
and Annie to the after social at the church. Quite a good turnout
and made about $14.00.
27 – A very dull day, rain off and on most of the day and pretty
raw. Working all day at the pig house, John helping. Jennie went
to Port Perry in the forenoon. M. O’Neill called in the evening.
28 – A very cold raw day with some snow in the forenoon. Work-
ing at pig house in the forenoon and putting new windows in house
in the afternoon. At prayer meeting in the evening, Mr. Cameron
leader, meeting very small. Rev. Mr. Dixon of Seagrave held a
meeting in the hall to tell his views on the prohibition question.
Rather a small turnout, did not stay to hear him. Mrs. Isaac
O’Neill and the little boy here in the forenoon.
29 – A fine cool day. Put in the last window in the room (the west
one) and then went to Greenbank and voted for Mr. Dryden, this
being Ontario General Elections. Called at W. Luke’s for some
eggs but did not get any. Hoed in the orchard in the afternoon and
in the evening went to Port Perry to hear the election news. Dry-
den elected but it was uncertain about the government, the last
report puts them 4 or 5 ahead. A very dark night. Mrs. I. O’Neill
here in the morning.
30 – A fairly fine day with a little rain in the afternoon. Went
down to George’s in the morning and got the lend of a horse, then
plowed and planted with corn the little plot near the barn pump,
then made a few drills for potatoes. In the afternoon went to Port
Perry principally to bring home the new buggy but did not do so as
the roads were pretty muddy and the buggy was not according to
order. Jennie went to W. Luke’s in the evening for eggs and to
O’Neill’s for cooking hens. Government majority 5 according to
the Globe and Mail today.
31 – A very fine day. Drilling up for potatoes in the forenoon and
drawing out manure in the afternoon. Quit at 4:30 and then went
to Port Perry with Jennie and little Willie to see Mr. Marchall
about the new buggy. James Wallace called when we were away
wanting to buy the colt. Jessie called.
JUNE 1 – A very fine warm day. Went to SS and church with
Jennie and little Annie, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE with Jennie
and little Willie. R.T. Harrington was to have been leader but did
not come, therefore it fell to me.
2 – A fine day with a few drops of rain in the forenoon. In the
morning went with the waggon to Greenbank for a barrel of sugar,
the first ever brought on the place. Little Annie went with me.
Drawing out manure the rest of the day. Alex Lee sowing turnips.
Tom Michie away to Victoria Corners to an anniversary. Jennie
housecleaning the kitchen. Started to send the cream to the Port
Perry creamery, the first ever sent off the place. Big thunder storm
after we had gone to bed.
3 – Rain the first thing in the morning, a thunder shower. Drawing
out manure in the forenoon and finished the job. Plowing in the
afternoon. Word that the war in South Africa is over.
4 – Quite cool again. Planted potatoes in field, 26 drills and 8
drills of corn. At prayer meeting in the evening, Mr. Cameron
leader. Gave John Lee a ride down to Alex’s.
5 – A most beautiful day, clear and not a cloud to be seen. Plow-
ing all day at turnip land. Jennie most of the day at the weeds in
the garden. James Smith came at 6 pm. Isaac O’Neill brought
back the turnip drill.
6 – A fine day but somewhat dull towards night. Jas. Smith went
to Fred Love’s in the forenoon to see him about shingles. He left
for home after dinner. Plowing until about 4 when I went to Port
Perry for the new buggy, but went on a fool’s errand.
7 – A very fine day, but rain through the night. Finished plowing
the turnip ground, then plowed in the orchard, then harrowed the
turnip land. Mrs. Annie Gordon here for tea. Dug in the garden
after supper.
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8 – Quite a cool day. Went to SS and church with Jennie and little
Annie, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE, Mrs. W. Wallace was to
have been the leader but failed to appear so it fell to me again.
Mrs. Bell at A. Lee’s in the evening.
9 – Another pretty cool day. Harrowing turnip land in the fore-
noon. Took George’s horse home after dinner then went to Man-
chester for the road list. Called at Uncle’s. Mrs. Bell went with
me as far as Port Perry. In the evening called at A. Lee’s and A.
Akhurst’s and went up to the concession and stuck up a road job
bill.
10 – A cool day with some rain flurries in the forenoon. Enlarged
the calf pasture, rolled part of the turnip land, and then drilled up
and sowed 44 drills of turnips (the 1st
of the season). George took
away the drill. Mrs. Luke called on her way to Port Perry.
11 – Pretty cool day. Went for the beef in the morning, then scuf-
fled the strawberries and potatoes in the orchard, then hoed the
strawberries and part of the raspberry bushes, Jennie helping. Mr.
and Mrs. Cameron came at 4:30 and stayed to tea. Went to prayer
meeting. Some rain just after I got home.
12 – A fine day, a little rain at 9 pm. Hoed in the orchard and in
the afternoon finished rolling the turnip land and harrowed the
corn. Alex Lee brought our new buggy from Port Perry. Jennie,
Mrs. Bell and the two children at W.F.M. meeting at Mrs. Mark’s.
Job letting on the concession in the evening. John Watson’s barn
raising this afternoon.
13 – Some rain through the night but a fine day. Scuffled the
mangoles and some other chores in the forenoon and in the after-
noon went to Manchester for pipe for road culverts. G. Michie
came up in the evening to see about the turnip drill but it was at W.
Luke’s. Jennie and the children visiting at Lee’s and Akhurst’s in
the afternoon.
14 – A very fine day. Working all day on the road, spreading
gravel and cutting brush along the road. The gravel drawers were
on a $10.00 job but I was doing road work. Mrs. Bell went to Port
Perry with the new buggy, the first time out. Carnegie’s Mill12
At
Port Perry burned early this morning.
15 – Quite a warm day. At SS and church, Rev. Mr. Nixon of
Ayre preached an excellent sermon. Mrs. Bell rode up to church
but on the way she lost her book and she walked all the way back
looking for it and found it near our gate. At CE with Jennie and
Annie, G.D. McMillan leader. Jas. Allan not at church. At assem-
bly meeting.
16 – Some thunder through the night and morning. A drizzly rain
most of the forenoon but cleared up. Got cooler with a high NW
wind. Drilled up 60 turnip drills and sowed them. John brought
the sower home. George and Tom away to [?] to play. We had the
first strawberries of the season for tea.
12
Carnegie Flouring Mill and Planing Mill
17 – A pretty cool day with high NW wind. Hoeing mangels most
of the day. Jennie and little Annie went to Greenbank in the morn-
ing, and Jennie, Mrs. Bell, and the children visiting at W. Luke’s in
the afternoon.
18 – A very fine day. Working all day at pig house, John helping.
Put on the sheeting. At prayer meeting, Mr. Cameron leader. An
after meeting about SS matters.
19 – Working all day at pig house, John helping, and got about ½
of north side shingled. In the evening went with Jennie and little
Annie to lawn concert at Wick, rather cool night, but a very good
time. The Uxbridge orchestra; Miss Mitchell of Toronto and the
great Jim Fax were the performers. Fax was the star and did his
part well. They took in $66.00. We got home about 12 o’clock.
20 – Finished drilling and sowing turnips and harrowed the pota-
toes and corn. At Mark’s a little while in the evening asking hands
to a shingling bee tomorrow and having a little sing. Jennie and
little Annie went to Port Perry in the afternoon with 5 boxes of
strawberries, the first of the season.
21 – Rain through the night and most of the forenoon drizzling a
little, but cleared up and a fine afternoon. Hoed a few mangols in
the morning and then hung the pig house door. In the afternoon a
shingling bee. Norman Phair, Albert Akhurst, Tom Michie (from
A. Lee’s) and George and John Michie were at it (all that were
asked). Got along very well but hardly finished as the nails went
down.
22 – A very cool day for the time of year. Overcoats were quite
common. At SS and church with Mrs. Bell, Mr. Cameron
preached. G. and T. Michie, Mrs. W.H. Leask and I sang a piece
in SS (the 1st
). At CE with Jennie and little Annie, Arch McArthur
leader. Officers elected for next half year, Maggie Blair president,
G. Michie Vice. Pres., W. A. Leask sec., and A. Akhurst treas.
23 – Another very cool day. Hoed mangols in the forenoon and in
the afternoon went to Port Perry on some business and waiting for
the 5:30 train expecting Willa Bell from Rochester but she did not
come.
24 – Quite a bit of thunder and some rain in the forenoon and a
little in the afternoon. Hoeing mangols and finished. Jennie and
little Annie went to Port Perry in the forenoon with strawberries
and to meet Willa but she did not come. They went again in the
afternoon with the same success. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Love called
in the afternoon and brought some cabbage plants and Mr. and
Mrs. J.M. Burns called in the evening on their way home from
Cannington.
25 – Went in the forenoon to George Tocher’s near Blackwater and
got home just before dinner. Willa Bell arrived a few minutes
after, she came to Port Perry last night and got a ride out today.
Shingled at the pig house for a while when I had to stop for the rain
and then hung the hen house door. Jennie went to Port Perry for
Willa’s trunk. It started to rain very soon after leaving and rained
all the way there and back and all through the evening. She heard
in Port Perry that King Edward VII was sinking fast and there
68
would be no coronation tomorrow. William Beaton and Robie
McLeod married this afternoon, there is said to be 200 invitations
out and the supper was to be on the lawn but the rain would spoil
this part of it. Edith Phair here for strawberries.
26 – Another pretty cool day. Went to Greenbank in the morning
to see the horse man and the rest of the day made and hung the
door on the buggy house. Wes Luke called in the afternoon, also
Ned. This was to have been the coronation of Edward VII. Alex
Gordon called in the morning to see about strawberries and Alex
Lee with the road money.
27 – A fine day but still pretty cool. Worked at the pig house in
the forenoon and finished the shingling. In the afternoon went
with Jennie and little Annie to the preparatory service in the
church, Mr. Cameron preached. Mrs. Alex Gordon came in by
certificate. Jennie went to Port Perry in the forenoon with straw-
berries.
28 – A very fine day and some warmer. Excursion to Guelph
today. Sowed some buckwheat in the orchard, scuffled the straw-
berries and potatoes and corn in the orchard. Drew away the rub-
bish about the new building and put windows in new hen house.
Jennie went to Port Perry before dinner with strawberries. Mrs.
Phair and Mrs. Wright called in the afternoon for strawberries, also
Oliver, Eva and Ned Luke for the same purpose in the evening.
Between 8 and 9 Mundo Perrin, Alma and Bella Slemon came and
stayed all night.
29 - A cool morning with east wind and a little rain about noon but
cleared up and was a fine afternoon. Went with Mrs. Bell to
Communion service at Wick, not quite so many as usual out, espe-
cially from Greenbank. Mundo Perrin went to Uxbridge to see
some friends. In the evening went with Willa Bell and Bella
Slemon to the Methodist SS anniversary at Greenbank. Rev. Mr.
Jollife [Jocliffe?] preached a good sermon but rather long. Willa
thinks he was too slangy. A full house.
30 – Went down to Mark’s the first thing in the morning and got
the key of the boat and two trolling lines, then Mundo Perrin, Bella
Slemon and I went over to the lake but did not get even a bite.
Rain came on a little when we were there. After dinner all hands
went at picking strawberries and picked altogether 70 boxes, rain-
ing most of the time and all got pretty wet. Mildred Love came
and got 3 boxes and Oliver Luke 1 box for themselves and 6 for
Mrs. Stone. John Michie came up in the evening for 2 bags of
oats. The Newcastle folks left for home at 5 pm, the weather not at
all bright, but it turned out not so bad.
JUL. 1 – Rather dull in the morning but soon cleared up and was a
very fine day. Started at 9 with Jennie and little Annie for Ux-
bridge to attend the Old Boy’s reunion demonstration. We went
principally to hear the 48th
Highlanders band of Toronto, but heard
but very little of them. There was a very large crowd. Got home
between 5 and 6. The Methodist SS anniversary was held in the
church and grounds, not in the bush as usual.
2 – A fine day. Hoed the strawberries and corn in the orchard and
scuffled the corn in the field. Nellie Michie helping to pick straw-
berries, a big picking of about 120 boxes. Mrs. H. Love and James
Ewin came for berries before dinner and just after dinner Tom
Black and Annie and Ralph came. Tom went to G. Frankling’s
with A. Lee and Annie went down to Mark’s awhile in the after-
noon. They left for home between 6 and 7. Alex Lee brought the
beef and came again after dinner for the horse rake. Went to
Greenbank in the evening to see the horse man. Mrs. Bell and
Willa drove down to J.M. Burn’s with strawberries and stayed all
night.
3 – A heavy rain through the night. Worked at the new building
most of the day. Went down to George’s to see about a yearling
heifer that has got out of the field. Mrs. Bell and Willa came back
about 8 pm.
4 – Quite a warm day with thunder in the evening. Hoeing all day
at the corn. G. Rose called in the afternoon and talked life insur-
ance. Nellie Michie all day picking strawberries and Jessie awhile
in the afternoon. John Lee and Bella called in the forenoon for
berries and Mrs. G.A. McMillan, John Lee, and Elgie and Mrs. W.
Real in the afternoon and evening. Jennie drove up to Luke’s, M.
O’Neill’s and A. Gordon’s with berries in the evening. Picked 130
boxes, the biggest on record. Big thunder storm after 9.
5 – Very warm and sultry with thunder most all day, especially in
the evening. Several showers in the evening. Jennie went to Port
Perry the first thing in the morning with strawberries. Drew 2
loads of brick 1400 from M. O’Neill’s for the floor of the pig
house, then 2 loads of dirt for the same. After supper I went over
to John Watson’s to see about getting berry boxes. He had none so
I went down to Seagrave and got 250 from R. Thompson. Rain on
the way there and just after I got home. Very muddy roads.
6 – A fine day but some thunder but no rain here. Went to SS and
church with Jennie, Willa and little Annie, Mr. Cameron preached.
At CE in the evening with Willa but she did not come home with
me. Maggie Blair was leader.
7 – Pretty close and warm with thunder in the forenoon and in the
afternoon more and more until between 3 and 5 a most terrific
thunderstorm. The lightning was terrible and the rain in deluges
but very little wind and no hail. Nellie Michie here all day picking
berries, 142 boxes, but had to stop on account of the rain. Nellie
McMillan and Mrs. T. Lamb here before dinner for berries, Mr.
and Mrs. R. Monroe of Manchester after dinner, and Mrs. W. Real,
Mrs. C. Gordon and Isaac Beare later on. Jennie and little Annie
went to Port Perry with berries and got a new set of dishes. They
had to go into G. Dowson’s on the way home for shelter from the
storm. Barbara and Jessie Smith and Alma Black came just after
dinner and stayed all night. Worked most of the day laying the
brick floor in the pig house. John Lee and Bella called before
supper. Went to church managers meeting in the evening but there
was no business to do.
8 – A very fine day and much cooler. E. Beare called in the morn-
ing for strawberries but got none. He told me that the road was
washed out at the corner so I went down and fixed it the first thing,
then scuffled a few drills of turnips but it was very wet. Then hoed
turnips most of the remainder of the day. Nellie Michie came up
and helped to finish picking the strawberries, about 60 boxes.
Willa took some up to Burton’s and W. Real’s. The Columbus
folks left for home between 9 and 10.
69
9 – Went after the beef the first thing in the morning, then went to
A. Lee’s to help him with his hay that has been out all through the
rain lately, but we had only got a little in when the rain came on
again and stopped us. I then finished laying the floor of the pig
house. Nellie Michie here helping at the berries until the rain came
on. Just after we had dinner Uncle from Manchester and Barbara
(Mrs. Lamb) and her two children came and stayed about two
hours. The W.F.M.S. met here in the afternoon, also the two
youngest classes in the SS, to get a feed of strawberries. There was
a good turnout, 53 in all. Mrs. J. Campbell of Woodville was the
principal speaker in the W.F.M.S. The children had supper out in
the lane but the rain came on just as the lady’s table was being set
so they had to come inside. Leslie Phoenix and Mrs. Jas. Boe
called for berries but did not get any. Had the first new potatoes of
the season.
10 – A fine cool bright day and no rain. Scuffled and hoed turnips
in the forenoon and helped A. Lee with his hay in the afternoon.
May Beare, Mrs. W. McMillan and Willie O’Neill called for ber-
ries. Willa visiting at A. Lee’s in the evening. Nellie and Jessie
picking berries.
11 – A very fine day, cool. Hoed turnips all day. Mildred Love
called in the afternoon, and George, John, Tom, Nellie and Jessie
Michie, and Miss Jennie Munty here in the evening getting a feed
of strawberries.
12 – A very fine bright day and cool. Hoed turnips until about 4
pm and finished the first sowing which is all that is ready. Then
put in the trough in the new pig house and got the pigs in for the
first time. Washed the buggy after sundown. Nellie Michie help-
ing to pick berries, about 60 boxes picked. This will be the last of
any account. Jennie and little Annie at Port Perry in the forenoon
and Greenbank in the afternoon. Mrs. W. Real and Mr. and Mrs.
Peter Lambe called in the afternoon and got 4 boxes of berries and
Ed McArthur, Lizzie and May Peter in the evening for the same
purpose but they got none. Big afternoon preserving strawberries
and got through about 10 o’clock.
13 – A very fine day but pretty warm, about 80. At SS and church
with Mrs. Bell, Mr. Cameron preached. His text was “Lo, I am
with you always”. Mrs. Bell went to the Baptist church. At CE
with Jennie and Willa. Jennie was leader and a good meeting.
Some talk after about a social.
14 – Thunder all day with a few drops of rain at 1 pm. and quite a
shower between 7 and 8. Hoeing the berry bushes in the forenoon
and scuffling turnips, corn and mangols in the afternoon. Jennie
and Willa picked the gooseberries and some black currants and 17
boxes of strawberries.
15 – A fine day, some thunder but no rain here. Hoeing turnips all
day. Put up the gate west of the new building after 6:30. Jennie
went to Port Perry in the forenoon with strawberries, gooseberries,
black currants, and new potatoes (1st
of the season). Picked 48
boxes strawberries today, pretty near done now.
16 – A fine day. Bagged up 10 bags of oats in the morning and
took them to Beare’s mill, then went on to Uxbridge and got 10
bags of pig feed. Got back home about 1. Hoeing turnips in the
afternoon. G. Ross called again about life insurance but did no
business with me. Jennie took little Annie to the Dr. in the after-
noon as she has not been well for the last 2 or 3 days. The Dr. says
it is an epidemic among the children but she will be all right again
in a few days. At prayer meeting with Willa, a fair meeting, Mr.
Cameron leader. An after meeting to make arrangements about the
berry social. It was decided to hold it 2 weeks from tomorrow.
The first raspberries of the season.
17- A very fine day but somewhat dull in the morning. Quite a
high NW wind in the afternoon. Some rain through the night.
Hoeing turnips in the forenoon and scuffling mangols, turnips,
strawberries and corn in the afternoon. Hoed the little corn patch
near the barn after supper. Willa picked the cherries, not very
many. Baby Willie pretty sick with the epidemic today. Willa
went down to Mark’s in the evening to see how John was, he has
had another sick spell, but is some better again.
18 – A very fine day. Hoeing turnips until 3 pm when I went to
help Alex Lee with his hay and worked until 8:30. Mr. and Mrs.
W. Marshall here in the afternoon with the whip holder for the
buggy.
19 – Threatening rain most of the forenoon but it did not amount to
much, but in the afternoon it was a regular down-easter rain. Hoed
turnips in the forenoon and after dinner went down and got John
and we worked the afternoon enlarging the grainery. Annie and
Willie both pretty sick but they appear to be a little better at night.
20 – At SS and church with Mrs. Bell, Mr. Cameron preached.
Did not go to CE as I was not feeling very well. Quite a heavy rain
in the evening.
21 – Rain through the night and the greater part of the day from the
east. Cleared up towards night. At the grainery until supper, John
helping, and finished the job. After supper put up part of the pig
yard fence. Alex Lee called in the forenoon.
22 – A very fine day and no rain. Hoeing turnips in the forenoon
and finished scuffling them in the afternoon. Hoeing again after
supper. Jennie, Willa and the two children at Port Perry in the
afternoon. Mrs. Bell washed the single harness. George and Tom
Michie at Toronto getting musical instruments.
23 – Rain at 12 and a lot of thunder during the afternoon but no
rain. Hoeing turnips all day. At prayer meeting with Willa. Meet-
ing after about the social at A. Leask’s. Mrs. Bell visiting at Mr.
Akhurst’s.
24 – A fine day, no rain here. Hoed turnips all day and finished for
the first time. Willa went to Port Perry in the morning to order the
bills for the social and again in the afternoon with berries. Whetter
Bros. cut barley today, the first grain cutting that I have heard of.
25 – A very fine clear day. Paris greened the potatoes in the fore-
noon and helped George with hay (on the Luke place) in the after-
noon. Drove up to W. Luke’s in the evening to see about getting
the mower to cut hay. Mrs. Phair and Mrs. Ferguson of Port Perry
called in the evening. Mrs. Bell, Willa and little Annie at A. Lee’s
in the evening.
70
26 – A fine day and pretty warm. Quite a lot of thunder but no rain
here. Got W. Luke’s mower and cut the hay east of the orchard (a
heavy crop). Took the mower home and got back in time for sup-
per. Hoed strawberries after supper. Jennie and little Annie went
to Port Perry after dinner with berries and for bread. Mrs. Bell
visiting at Mrs. Phair’s.
27 – A very heavy thunder storm between 1 and 2 pm. At SS and
church with Willa, Mr. Cameron preached. A young man, Purvis
of Toronto, sang a solo. At CE with Willa, a fair meeting, Ethel
Miller leader. George, John and Tom Michie sang a piece. The
rain has lodged the grain a good deal.
28 – A fine day and no rain. Fixed the gate and made the fence
about the pig pen. Went to Port Perry in the afternoon with berries
and to get some repairs for the binder. Turned some of the hay
after supper.
29 – A very fine day. Turning hay and plowing and hoeing straw-
berries in the forenoon. Raking and cocking hay, Jennie helping, in
the afternoon. George helped after supper and got in 4 loads.
Went up to Lee’s in the evening to get help for tomorrow. Willa
went to Greenbank in the afternoon for bread.
30 – Another very fine day. Drew in hay, 8 loads, George and
Tom Michie helping and finished what was cut. Raked it over
after dinner and Jennie and little Annie went to Port Perry with
berries. When they came home I drove up to W. Luke’s to see
about getting his mower and drew it home behind the buggy. After
supper started to cut hay but had to quit as the knives were too dull.
With Jennie’s help we took in the load of rakings. Jessie Michie
here in the afternoon picking berries, a big picking, 52 boxes.
31 – A fine day. Cut the last half of the hay in the forenoon, took
the mower home after dinner, then scuffled the mangols and some
turnips. Quit at 5 and with Mrs. Bell (Willa went earlier) went to
the lawn social at Alex Leask’s in connection with the CE. There
was a large crowd and about $120.00 was taken in. The Claremont
Band and James Fax supplied the music. Port Perry and Green-
bank football teams played and got 1 goal each. Just as the concert
closed it started to rain very heavy and continued for a long time
and a great many remained until the rain was over. It was very
dark, we got home at 1:30.
AUG. 1 – A very fine day. Went the first thing in the morning to
Seagrave for binder cord. Had a long talk with R. Thompson on
prohibition. When we got home W. Luke was here for the binder.
After dinner Mrs. Bell drove to A. Leask’s, then to Greenbank,
then Jennie went to Port Perry with berries while I helped W. Luke
to cut fall wheat. Did not get along very well. Eva drove me
home. Jessie Michie here picking berries, 68 boxes picked. Mrs.
M. O’Neill, Lew and Lillie here for berries.
2 – A very fine day. Did some hoeing and turned some hay and
then Jennie horse raked while I cocked up. In the afternoon John
and Tom helped to draw in hay, 8 loads. 14 boxes berries picked
today. Mrs. Annie Gordon here for dinner. Alex Lee and Maggie
Smith were married tonight. They drove back to Mr. Cameron
who did the job.
3 – A very fine day. Thunder in the morning but no rain. Mrs.
Bell and Willa went up to church at Pert Perry so I had to walk to
SS. G. Miller reviewed the lesson. Mr. Cameron preached. At CE
with Jennie and Willa, Nellie McMillan leader, an extra large
turnout.
4 – A very fine day. George came up in the morning and helped to
draw in the last of the hay. I then raked it and drew it in with
Jennie’s help and so finished haying. Hoed mangols the remainder
of the day. Jessie Michie, Mrs. Alex Gordon and little Bessie here
picking berries and all stayed for dinner. Willa drove her mother
to Port Perry in the forenoon on her way to Newcastle. Drove up
with Willa and the two children to Luke’s in the evening and called
to see Mr. Akhurst who is in bed sick.
5 – Went to W. Luke’s for the binder in the morning and did some
repairing to it. John came up with a horse to help but we only got
one round of the bit of rye before dinner. After dinner rain came
on and nothing more was done in cutting. E.D. Weeks, driven by
G. Real of Port Perry, called taking subscriptions for the new tem-
perance paper, The Pioneer. Went to Greenbank with Willa to see
a football match and a meeting about organizing a band. It was
decided to go on with the band. Scuffled turnips in the afternoon.
6 – A fine day. Scuffled turnips awhile in the morning, then with
George Michie’s help, cut the rye. Got done between 3 and 4.
Shocked it up and hoed a few mangols. Mrs. Alex Gordon here
picking berries and stayed for dinner. Annie Black, Emma and
Alfred came about 10 and picked berries. They left for home after
supper. Went to prayer meeting with Willa, Mr. Cameron leader.
Excursion to Niagara Falls, quite a number from here went.
7 – A fine day until evening when it started to drizzle a little.
Scuffled the remainder of the turnips the second time, the mangols
again and the strawberries and hoed some mangols.
8 – A fine day except a little drizzle for a short time in the after-
noon. Hoeing mangols and finished 2nd
time, then hoed strawber-
ries. Hughie Leask here for berries and Mrs. Bryant likewise but
she did not get any. George called for the horse rake. A. Lee also
called.
9 – A fine day. Drew in the rye in the forenoon with George’s help
and in the afternoon went with Jennie and the two children to Port
Perry partly to see about repairs to binder. Quite a large crowd out
as the Pan American Circus was there. Mrs. Bell who came to Port
Perry yesterday from Newcastle rode home, so I had to walk. Mrs.
E. Ward here in the afternoon for berries but only got 5 boxes.
This is coronation day King Edward VII.
10 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Jennie, Willa and
little Annie, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE with Mrs. Bell, a fair
meeting. I was leader of the topic, talked about disposing of the
social money but nothing done.
11 – A fine day and cool. Wes Luke came down in the forenoon
and we spent quite awhile looking at the binder. I then drove the
binder up to Luke’s gate. He was to take it to Greenbank to see if
the blacksmith could fix it but just before he got started John
Browne and Fred Taggart came trying to sell a new binder. Talked
with them, they then, with Wes, came here and we talked for a
71
long time but no sale. I afterwards raked the rye and drew it in
with Jennie’s help. Scuffled turnips (3rd
time) after supper. Nellie
Michie here picking berries, they are getting nearly done.
12 – A beautiful day. Scuffled the remainder of the turnips for the
3rd
time in the forenoon. Willa and little Annie went to Port Perry
for bread. Worked at pig house, put on the gate to the pig yard in
the afternoon.
13 – A very fine day. Went for the beef. Plugged up the mouse
holes in the grainery and other chores in the forenoon and in the
afternoon went with Jennie and the two children to Manchester
with the road list. Called at Uncle’s and then to J.M. Burn’s and
had tea and a nice visit. Got home at 9:30. Willa went to prayer
meeting.
14 – A very fine day. Did quite a number of small jobs including
throwing out straw, fixing up cutting box, cleaning out pig house,
cutting weeds along the roadside, and piling up wood in swamp
field. Went with little Annie to W. Luke’s in the evening to see
how he was getting along cutting. Rev. Mr. Cameron and John and
Gracie Cameron called in the afternoon.
15 – A fine day. Did a few odd jobs in the forenoon and in the
afternoon cut oats in the SW field, George Michie helping. Got
along fairly well. Mrs. Bell and little Annie at Port Perry in the
forenoon.
16 – A most beautiful cool day. Cutting oats all day, George help-
ing. Willa went to Greenbank after supper for bread. Mr. Petty
threshing, the first in Egypt, but the machines have been going for
a week or more. Oliver Luke came in the evening for two bags of
oats.
17 – A fine day but a little drizzle in the evening. At SS and
church, Mr. Cameron preached. Jennie, Willa and little Annie
there also. At CE, a good meeting, A. McArthur leader.
18 – Rain through the night and a little through the day. No har-
vesting. Willa went down to see Tom Michie who is very ill, the
cause being an ulcerated tooth. Blood poisoning has set in and he
is in critical condition. Put in a new post to the gate at the barn and
cleaned up the bottom of the old pig house. Jennie, Mrs. Bell and
little Annie went to Port Perry in the afternoon to get a ticket for
Manitoba. Mrs. Bell intends to start for there on Wednesday.
Henry Love and Charley called and conditionally bought our 2
year old colt. Went down with Jennie in the evening to see Tom,
he is no better. Rain coming home.
19 – Rain through the night so there was no harvesting in the fore-
noon. Went down the first thing to see how Tom was, he was no
better. Then finished cleaning out the old pig house bottom and
some other chores. In the afternoon, with George’s help, finished
cutting the north field. Jennie down in the afternoon to see Tom.
The Dr. did not lance the abscess, it not being ready. After supper
got Alex Lee’s double buggy and drove Mrs. Bell to Port Perry on
her way to Manitoba. She starts from Port Perry tomorrow morn-
ing. Willa at Mark’s all night.
20 – A fine day. Willa came home and reports Tom improving.
Cutting oats with George’s help in the forenoon and cutting some
lodged oats with the scythe in the afternoon and finished cutting
for the year, the first in Egypt. Jennie went down in the evening to
see how Tom was getting on and found him doing well.
21 – A very fine cool day. Helping Wes Luke all day shocking
oats, a very heavy crop. Willa at Greenbank and Port Perry.
22 – Helping Alex Lee to shock up oats. Rain at 11 and again at 6
which spoiled the day somewhat for harvesting. Jennie and little
Annie went to Port Perry in the afternoon to see the Dr. about
Willie who is not very well. Willa at Marks in the evening.
23 – A very fine cool day. Helping Wes Luke to cut oats and
wheat.
24 – A beautiful fine day. At SS and church with Willa and little
Annie, Rev. R. Leask preached. At Port Perry in the evening to the
reopening of the Presbyterian Church, A Mr. Robinson of Toronto
preached. A full house, a fair sermon. Willa was also there but
she did not go with me.
25 – Another very fine day. Helping Alex Lee to draw in rye.
Willa and Annie at Greenbank.
26 – A fine day. Helping Alex Lee to draw in all day. Jennie and
Annie went to Port Perry for pig feed and other things. 10 little
pigs came.
27 – A fine day. Drawing in oats, George helping. Jennie helping
in the barn. Oliver Luke brought back the binder, they having
finished cutting today. R. Balfour, the cream man, called for the
last time of the season.
28 – A most beautiful day. Drawing in oats all day, George and
Jennie helping, and finished except the rakings and a little loose
stuff. Mrs. Annie Gordon, Barbara Walker, and Miss McRae and
Miss Maggie Brown of Toronto called in the afternoon.
29 – A fine day. Raked stubble and with Jennie’s help drew it and
the loose stuff in except about half a load which slid off after it was
pitched on. Alex Lee called in the evening.
30 – A very fine day and pretty warm. Drew in the last of the
rakings in the morning and so finished harvest, the first in this
locality. A. Lee and A. Akhurst finished later in the day. At 9 am
I went to Phair’s for A. Lee and worked at stacking oats until 8 pm.
Put 22 loads in one stack. Bert Asling and Mrs. at Phair’s. Willa
washed the buggy.
31 – A fine but pretty warm day. Some thunder in the evening but
no rain here. At SS and church with Willa and little Annie, Mr.
Mustard preached. Jennie and Willa at CE, a fair meeting, Mr.
Boe leader.
SEPT. 1 – A fine day. Scuffled the strawberries and cut the old
wood out of the raspberry bushes. Jennie washing. Went to
Greenbank after supper to get some blacksmithing done, but was
too late.
72
2 – A very fine day. Went to Uxbridge for pig feed and got home
at 2:30, then put up the fence where the old pig house stood.
3 – A fine day. Went for the beef in the morning and did a number
of small jobs during the rest of the day. Willa and Annie went to
Greenbank in the afternoon and asked some people to the picnic
which is proposed to hold at the lake tomorrow.
4 – Gang plowing in the north field. The picnic at the lake did not
come off as it was too cool and windy and there was several show-
ers, especially in the forenoon.
5 – A very nice day. Helping Wes Luke all day to thresh (W.
Taylor’s). Willa and Annie visiting at Mark’s.
6 – Threshing all day at Phair’s. A fine day.
7 – Some thunder through the night but little rain here. At SS and
church with Jennie and little Annie. Mr. Mustard preached. Jennie
and Willa went to Port Perry church in the evening.
8 – A very fine day. Threshing all day at Phair’s and finished the
job. Willa and Annie at Greenbank and Port Perry.
9 – Drove with buggy along with little Annie the first thing in the
morning to Wes Luke’s to see about getting some rye for pig feed
but before we got there a terrific thunderstorm burst. The rain
continued all the forenoon and a little about half the afternoon and
there is mud in plenty. Cleaned out the grainery in the forenoon
and put in a spout to carry oats from the grainery to the feed pas-
sage in the afternoon. Drove Willa over to M. O’Neill’s in the
evening there being a birthday party there. Willie O’Neill coming
of age today.
10 – A fine day. Went to Wes Luke’s and got 4 bags of rye then to
Beare’s mill and got it ground. Plowing sod NE of the barn in the
afternoon. Used a skimmer for the first time. Willa got out of bed
at 11.
11 – Plowing sod most of the day. Jennie, with little Annie and
Willie, drove Willa to Port Perry to the noon train on her way to
Newcastle. Annie was to have gone with her but flunked at the
last. Mrs. Luke called on her way home from Port Perry to see
about plums.
12 – A slight drizzle of rain most all the afternoon which turned
into a heavy down-easter in the evening. Plowing sod all day.
13 – A fine cool day. Finished plowing the rye land and then
harrowed it over 4 times. Mrs. Luke here in the afternoon for
plums and stayed for tea. Wes called for her at 9:30 on his way
home from Port Perry.
14 – A fine day and pretty cool. At church and SS with little An-
nie, Mr. Cameron preached on the Lord’s Supper. Nellie Michie
came home with me for tea and her, Jennie and Annie went to CE.
15 – Went to W. Luke’s the first thing and got 3 bags of rye,
fanned it, got George’s drill, sowed and harrowed the ground in the
forenoon. After dinner went over to help A. Lee thresh at the
Throop place, but there was no threshing done, the engine being
out of repair. Came home and dug the potatoes in the orchard.
Jennie, Annie and little Willie went to Greenbank.
16 – A very fine day, threshing until 5:30 for A. Lee at the Throop
place and finished the barn and moved to Alex’s home place.
Jennie washing and baking.
17 – A fine day. Gang plowing most of the forenoon and threshing
at Alex Lee’s in the afternoon. E. Bryant married.
18 – A fine day. Threshing at A. Lee’s until about 2 pm, then at
Akhurst’s the rest of the day. Walter Bratley came at noon. Mrs.
I. O’Neill here for crab apples.
19 – Threatening rain during the forenoon and quite a bit some-
times in the afternoon. Threshing at Akhurst’s in the forenoon and
moved the machine here but did not thresh as the boys wanted to
go to Port Perry fair. Went to the fair which was almost a failure,
very few there and few exhibits. Went for a tank of water after
supper.
20 – A very fine day. Threshing at home and finished at 4 pm. W.
Luke; Norman and Ernest Phair; A. Akhurst; Alex Lee; George,
John and Tom Michie; Will O’Neill and I. O’Neill helping. They
moved over to George’s at the Luke barn and threshed some there.
Nellie Michie helping in the house.
21 – A very fine day. At SS and church with little Annie. G.
Miller reviewed the lesson in SS, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE, a
fair attendance, R.T. Harrington leader. A short business meeting
after.
22 – A very fine day and pretty warm. In the forenoon went to
Blackwater with 6 hogs and got $6.75, they weighed 1150 lbs.
Helping George to thresh in the afternoon. They finished the Luke
barn about 2:30 then moved to the home barn. Some thunder to
the south in the afternoon but no rain here.
23 – Helping George to thresh and finished at noon. They then
moved to Isaac O’Neill’s and finished him at 4 pm, then to M.
O’Neill’s but rain came on when ready to start so only threshed
about ½ hour. Mary Dusty here picking up fallen apples.
24 – Threshing at M. O’Neill’s and finished at 4:30. A cool day.
25 – Harrowing in the forenoon and drawing out manure in the
afternoon. Threatening rain from the east sometimes.
26 – Rain through the night and rather dull all day. Drew out 5
loads of manure which was all there was. Plowed until 4:30, then
drove with little Annie to Port Perry and brought Willa who came
from Newcastle.
27 – [written by Jennie] – A warm dull day. Cut out Annie’s new
red winter coat and dress in the forenoon. Mrs. Robert Wilson of
North Dakota called. Robert and Annie gone to Columbus. [writ-
ten by Robert] – Stopped at T. Black’s and got tea then went on to
Jas. Smith’s for the night. Mrs. J.C. Mason is home.
73
28 – Went to Brooklin SS and church with Barbara and little An-
nie. Jas. Smith, superintendant, reviewed the last quarters lesson.
Children’s service in the church which went off very well. Drove
via Jas. Smith’s to Tom Black’s for tea, just got there when it
started to rain hard. It cleared up and we got home at about 10.
Willa at SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. Jubilee services at
Sonya today.
29 – Plowing in the forenoon and in the afternoon made an oat
box. Jennie, Willa and the two children at Port Perry. A very fine
day.
30 – A dull day with a little rain in the afternoon. Mr. and Mrs.
Akhurst called on their way home from Port Perry. Plowing all
day. Willa trimming Mrs. Akhurst’s bonnet. Jennie washing. L.
Sebert of Port Perry died last night13
.
OCT. 1 – A cold rain most of the forenoon. Went for the beef in
the morning and did some other chores in the forenoon and plowed
in the afternoon. Went to prayer meeting, Mr. Cameron leader.
Willa making bonnet for Annie in the evening.
2 – A very fine day but pretty cool in the morning. Took Willa out
to Port Perry in the morning on her way to Rochester. Plowed the
remainder of the day.
3 – A very fine day. Plowing in the forenoon and at preparatory
service in the afternoon, Mr. Cameron preached. Mrs. Alex Lee
came in by certificate. Jennie making a dress for little Annie. G.
Welch’s baby buried today.
4 – A very fine day. Cutting corn in the forenoon with the binder
but it did not work very well so I quit it. Drew the cut corn and the
pumpkins in the afternoon. Mrs. Annie Gordon here for dinner and
Lew O’Neill for crab apples.
5 – At communion service at Greenbank, a fair attendance, Mr.
Cameron conducted. A raw east wind and almost rain most of the
day until about 4 when there was a thunder shower and the rain
continued during the evening so did not go to CE.
6 – Rain through the night and in the morning. Fixed the eves
troughs and put in some glass in the forenoon and cut the little plot
of corn at the barn pump. Alex Lee called in the morning and Wes
Luke and Ned and M. O’Neill in the afternoon. G. Real came
about 5 pm with G. McKay’s corn cutter and cut what corn was
left. He stayed to supper. Went to managers meeting in the eve-
ning. G. Currie buried today.
7 – Rain after breakfast and again in the evening. Threshing all
day at W. Luke’s. Mrs. Mark and Mrs. C. McLean here in the
afternoon.
8 – A fine day but a little rain in the evening. Jennie and the two
children went to Port Perry in the forenoon while I set up corn and
some other chores. In the afternoon took 12 bags of oats and rye to
13
Louis Sebert, owner of Sebert House, in his 45th
year.
Beare’s mill, then drew corn and set it up against the fence. Mrs.
Isaac O’Neill and Clarence here in the afternoon for crab apples.
Beef meeting tonight.
9 – A pretty cool day. Went to Beare’s mill for the meal in the
morning then drew off the remainder of the corn. Started to dig the
potatoes, a very poor crop. I think the worst I ever saw on the
place. Went up to Greenbank after dinner with Annie for the mail.
Isaac and Mary O’Neill here for a lot of fallen apples.
10 – A hard frost in the morning and a very fine day. Digging
potatoes all day alone and took in 8 bags on the stone boat.
11 – A very fine day. Digging potatoes all day alone and got in 7
½ bags. Went to Port Perry in the evening to meet Margaret Bell
who was expected from Rochester but she did not come.
12 – Rather a dull day with some rain in the evening. At SS and
church with little Annie. Children’s Day service which went off
very well. No CE tonight as there is anniversary services in the
Baptist church.
13 – Very heavy rain through the night and part of the forenoon.
Did some small jobs in the forenoon and dug potatoes in the after-
noon. Got in 3 ½ bags. Baptist tea tonight.
14 – A fine day. Digging potatoes all day alone and got in 6 bags.
Jennie and the children went to Greenbank in the afternoon for the
mail. Started for Port Perry in the evening to meet Maggie Bell but
only got to the side road when I met her walking, she having come
by the 5:30 train. I then went down to George’s for Topsy, they
having had her working a few days.
15 – Somewhat dull. Picked up 6 bags of apples and took them to
Port Perry and got them made into cider for vinegar, 16 gallons,
and brought Margaret Bell’s trunk. Finished digging potatoes, 3
bags, in the afternoon. Tax collector Dobson called. $11.20 was
the sum he wanted.
16 – Thanksgiving day. A fine day but pretty cool. Plowed in the
corn land in the forenoon and did little in the afternoon. Jennie,
Margaret and little Annie left at 4 pm for Brooklin to attend the
party in the church there. Nellie Michie came up and did the milk-
ing and got supper. They got home at 12.
17 – A very fine day. At the mangols and got in 4 loads. Jennie
and Margaret dress making.
18 – Rain off and on most of the day. Finished drawing in man-
gols, 3 loads, and some other small jobs. Jennie went to Port Perry
after 4 pm.
19 – At SS and church with Jennie and little Annie, Mr. Cameron
preached. A heavy shower of rain just after we got home. At CE
with Margaret Bell, only 11 out, Mr. Miller leader. Roads pretty
muddy.
20 – A cool day with some rain scurries in the afternoon. Plowing
all day in the north field and in the evening went with Jennie to the
W.F.M.S. social which was quite a success. The Egyptian band
appeared for the first time and did very well.
74
21 – A fine day. Plowing in the north field. Went with Jennie in
the evening to Port Perry and heard the Canadian Jubilee singers.
Liked them very well. Got home at 11.
22 – Went down to I. O’Neill’s in the morning to get Mary to help
pick apples. Drew in a load of clay into the old hen house. Picked
3 bags of apples, cleaned out the cistern, repaired stable floor,
cleaned out pig house and some other chores. Started to rain a
little about 10 and drizzled a little most of the afternoon and quite
heavy in the evening.
23 – Plowing in the forenoon. Picking apples in the afternoon,
Margaret Bell and Mrs. I. O’Neill helping. Nellie O’Neill and
Clarence was also here. In the evening went with Jennie to Green-
bank and called at W. Luke’s and got 12 pullets. Quite a cool
night.
24 – Picked apples in the forenoon, Margaret helping, but rain
came on about 10 (a thunder shower) and stopped us. Alex Lee
came after dinner and helped to kill the pig. Then picked apples,
Margaret and Mary O’Neill helping. A Lee’s boys also picking for
themselves. Weaned the little pigs. Margaret made candy in the
evening.
25 – A very fine day. Picking all day at the apples, Margaret help-
ing, and finished pretty near. Went down to M. O’Neill’s to see
about help for turnip picking. Called also at I. O’Neill’s. Mrs.
Akhurst here for tea.
26 – At SS and church with Jennie and little Annie, Mr. Cameron
preached. At CE with Margaret Bell, not a very large meeting. I
was the leader. Rain and very dark on the way home.
27 – A fine day. Did a few chores in the forenoon. Jennie, Marga-
ret and the children went to Port Perry and Margaret got her ticket
for Manitoba ($22.00). Started the turnips, Fred O’Neill helping,
in the afternoon. Isaac and Mary O’Neill picking up the remnant
of the apples. Calf died.
28 – At turnips all day and got in 5 loads, Fred O’Neill helping.
Mr. Monroe called and sold him the apples at 75 cts for 1sts and 50
for 2nds. W. Taylor is moving into the Throop house today. Put
up 2 barrels of apples for Manitoba.
29 – A pretty cold raw day. Took Margaret Bell to Port Perry to
the morning train where she started for Manitoba. She took 2
barrels of apples, the freight charges was $2.64. Brought 20 apple
barrels home. Drew in 11 loads of turnips in the afternoon, Fred
O’Neill helping all day. Isaac and Mary O’Neill here in the after-
noon for apples.
30 – At the turnips, Fred O’Neill helping, and got in 8 loads. Rain
came on at 11 and there was several small showers during the
afternoon and evening, also some thunder. Jennie washing.
31 – A very fine warm day. At turnips all day, Fred O’Neill help-
ing, and got in 17 loads, which finishes the job. Apple packers
here for dinner, they put up 20 barrels. They were Mr. Monroe, G.
Vansickler, and a Toronto man.
NOV. 1 – A very nice day. In the forenoon took the apples (20
barrels) to Port Perry and load enough it was as the roads were
pretty bad. After dinner went to Greenbank with Annie for coal oil
and the mail, and then picked up the culled apples.
2 – A very fine day. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached. At
CE, rather a small meeting, Mr. Boe leader.
3 – A most beautiful day. Plowing all day. Jennie washing and
churning.
4 – A very fine day. Plowing in the north field in the forenoon and
finished it and in the afternoon plowing in the orchard. D. Cragg’s
little girl here getting signatures to a temperance pledge.
5 – A fine day. Finished plowing orchard then the little plot at the
barn, then at the potato land. Tom Michie away to Raglan to plow
at the match tomorrow. Wes Luke went with him. He had W.
Real’s team. At prayer meeting, quite a good turnout, Mr. Cam-
eron leader. The 5 elders each spoke on the questions of the as-
sembly. A very dark night and raining a little.
6 – Plowing and putting up small stoves in the forenoon and in the
afternoon went with Alex Lee to the plowing match at Raglan,
there was 16 plows. Tom did not get anything for plowing but 1st
for groomed team and 1st
for outfit. Got supper at T. Black’s and
got home about 9, the roads pretty muddy. After I got home I went
out to feed the horses and got kicked on the stomach by Jess. A 11
½ lb. boy was born to Mrs. Jas. Mason yesterday morning. Mr.
and Mrs. W. Akhurst moved to Greenbank.
7 – A very fine day. Finished plowing potato and corn land and
some sod. Mr. and Mrs. Cameron here for dinner.
8 – Quite a frost in the morning and a very fine day. Plowing sod
all day.
9 – Some frost in the morning but a very fine day. At SS and
church with Annie, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE, a fair meeting,
G.A. McMillan leader.
10 – A fine day. Plowing sod all day. Jennie washing and churn-
ing. R. Wallace called after dinner, wanted to buy colt, but could
not agree on price. He offered $90.00 and I wanted $95.00.
11 – Frost in the morning and pretty cool all day. Finished plow-
ing for the season in the forenoon and drew in some corn and out
some manure and other chores in the afternoon.
12 – A big rain through the night but a warm day. Rain again from
the east in the evening. Went to Port Perry with the waggon in the
forenoon with the chickens. Drew 6 loads of dirt in the afternoon
to fill up some holes in the barnyard. Went to prayer meeting but
only 5 were there so there was no meeting but a meeting was held
in the hall about the referendum vote. Very muddy roads.
13 – A foggy dull day. Brought the big colt home from A. Lee’s
where it has been pasturing for the summer. Cleaned out the pig
and hen house and threw back the turnips from the door of the root
house.
75
14 – A mild day. Dug around the apple trees, made a pump spout
and several other small chores.
15 – A fine day. Put on the storm doors and windows and some
other chores. Tied up the young cattle for the first of the season.
16 – A fine day. Went to SS and church with Annie. A stranger
preached, I think his name was McPhaden from Toronto. Mr.
Cameron was conducting anniversary services at Lesleyville.
James Smith brought Mrs. Mark home last night (she has been
waiting on Annie Mason). He attended SS and church and came
here for tea and remained all night. Did not go to CE.
17 – Rather raw morning with a little rain from the east but cleared
up during the day and started again in the evening. Jas. Smith left
for home about 8 am. Spent all forenoon in taking pig up to G.
Lee’s. Mrs. A. Gordon here for dinner. Just before dinner Tom
Bell dropped in after an absence of over 3 years in Manitoba. We
were not expecting him. In the afternoon he went to Port Perry
with the waggon for his trunk. Did not do much in the afternoon.
Jennie washing and churning.
18 - A very dull foggy day, threatening rain sometimes. Put a
horse manger in the old hen house and put in posts for a hen yard,
Tom Bell helping.
19 – A bright fine sunny day. Jennie, Tom and little Annie went to
Port Perry in the forenoon while I stayed at home and kept Willie.
At the hen yard fence in the afternoon, Tom helping. Sandy and
Arthur Gordon came for a bag of apples.
20 – A very fine day. Tom and Annie went to Greenbank in the
morning for the mail. We drew in the remainder of the corn and
several other small jobs.
21 – A fine day. Went and got George’s saw and with Tom’s help,
cut down the mountain ashes west of the house, one apple tree and
some other cutting.
22 – Quite a high wind with some rain flurries and some hail in the
evening. With Tom’s help cut up some old logs and rails about the
barn.
23 – A little snow on the ground in the morning, the first of the
season. At SS and church with Annie, Mr. Cameron preached on
the temperance question. At CE but there was not enough gathered
to hold a meeting.
24 – A very firm day. With Tom’s help, drew in the wood we cut
last week, drew off the brush from the orchard and covered the
strawberries with straw. Jennie washing.
25 – A fine day. Tom went to Port Perry in the forenoon and to
Greenbank for the mail in the afternoon. Did a few odd chores, put
in some window glass.
26 – Started to snow from the east about 10 am and continued the
remainder of the day. Tom went to Beare’s mill with 20 bags of
oats. Did a few chores. Isaac O’Neill here in the afternoon. Pro-
hibition meeting at Greenbank tonight but did not go as it was a
bad night.
27 – Did a number of small jobs. Tom went for the meal at
Beare’s mill. He took the waggon, but he says there is some
sleighs on the road.
28 – Pretty cold in the morning but got milder towards night. Tom
went up to Greenbank in the afternoon for the mail. He took the
cutter, the first time out for the season. Henry Love and E. Boe
called with the sleigh colleting things for Jas. Cross to give him a
start at housekeeping.
29 – Thawing and some rain in the afternoon and evening. In the
forenoon drew in wood into the woodshed, Tom helping. Went
down to Isaac O’Neill’s after dinner. Tom and little Annie went to
Greenbank for the mail and then in the evening he went to Port
Perry to meet his sister Margaret who is expected from Manitoba,
but she did not come.
30 – A fine day. At SS and church with Annie, Mr. Cameron
preached. At CE, rather a small meeting, Maggie Blair leader.
DEC. 1 – A very fine day. Went down to Isaac O’Neill’s in the
morning. In the afternoon, with Tom’s help, drew in wood and
filled the woodshed to the door but did not get all the dry wood in.
Jennie washing.
2 – A very fine day. With Tom’s help cut some wood in the
swamp field. Wes Luke called, he was wanting me to help him fix
his hen house. Went in the afternoon with Tom to Jas. Monroe’s
wood sale on lot 20, conc. 13. Prices went as high as $51.00 for ¼
acre lots. Tom went to Greenbank on the way home.
3 – A dull somewhat rough day. All day helping Wes Luke with
his hen house. John Michie also helping. Tom Bell at Greenbank
in the afternoon. Alex Gordon and Jim Ewin and another man here
looking at the colt.
4 – A very fine day. Took Isaac O’Neill to Seagrave to vote on the
referendum, then went to Greenbank and voted myself. At Wes
Luke’s hen house in the afternoon. Mrs. Mark and Mrs. M.
O’Neill here for tea. Oliver and Ned Luke after some poles for
rafters. Tom Bell went to Greenbank for the mail.
5 – A pretty cold day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for flour
and other things and at Wes Luke’s hen house in the afternoon.
Tom went up after the mail. Wes Luke had a runaway near the
railway track.
6 – A pretty cold day. At Wes Luke’s hen house all day. Tom
went to Greenbank for the mail. Jas. McMillan called in the after-
noon.
7 – Some snow through the night but not enough to make good
sleighing. At SS and church with Annie, Mr. Cameron preached.
Did not go to CE.
8 – A very cold rough day, 6 below zero in the evening. Jennie
washing. Did very little but a few odd jobs.
9 – 6 below zero in the morning but got some warmer during the
day. Did very little in the forenoon and in the afternoon, with
Tom’s help, cut some old cedar logs in the swamp field. Jennie
housecleaned the pantry.
76
10 – Rather rough but not so cold. At Wes Luke’s all day princi-
pally fixing horse stable door. Tom went to Greenbank for mail.
Ernest Phair had a runaway today.
11 – A pretty cold day. Banked up the root house in the afternoon.
Tom Bell went to Port Perry in the afternoon.
12 – 7 below zero in the morning but fine and clear. With Tom’s
help cut some old cedar logs. Jennie housecleaning.
13 – A very cold day with snow from the east. Cut some wood in
the swamp with Tom’s help in the forenoon and some chores in the
afternoon. Tom went up for the mail but got none.
14 – Coldest morning yet, 10 below zero, but turned out a nice day.
At SS and church with Annie, Mr. Cameron preached. Jas. Walker
was there after an absence in the W.W. for nearly 21 years. At CE,
a fair meeting, R.T. Harrington leader.
15 – Somewhat warmer and pretty rough in the evening. Tom split
some wood in the swamp field. James Walker of Minnesota came
in about 9 and stayed until after dinner. He has been away nearly
21 years and I did nothing but talk to him principally on the tariff
question. At church managers meeting in the evening.
16 – Some rain through the night and the forenoon. The snow a
good deal gone. Helped with the washing. Jennie went to Port
Perry and took Tom on his way to Newcastle.
17 – Went down to Mark’s in the forenoon to see John about going
to finish W. Luke’s hen house. Did very little but the chores. At
prayer meeting, Mr. Cameron leader. A meeting after about SS
helps and papers.
18 – A fairly fine day. Cut a little wood in the swamp in the fore-
noon. Alex Gordon called to say that his sister Mrs. McCorcodale
of Orillia died last evening. At Wes Luke’s hen house in the after-
noon and finished the job. Made cedar decoration for SS room in
the evening.
19 – A fine day and thawing a little. Did very little in the forenoon
and in the afternoon went to Mrs. McCorcodale’s funeral which
was from S. Dusty’s house. I acted as one of the bearers, the oth-
ers were Jas. Burton, Alex Lee, Jas. Leask, J.M. Real, and Geo.
Byers. At Mark’s in the evening having a sing. James A. Michie
of Griswold Manitoba arrived today.
20 – A fine day. Cut brush and made decoration in the forenoon
and in the afternoon drove the team with brush to the church and
helped to decorate the SS room. Nellie Michie went with me. E.
Boe, John Lee, D. Till, R.T. Harrington, A. Akhurst, Maggie Blair,
Bella Innis and Ethel [?] helping. Jas. A. Michie here in the after-
noon.
21 – Rain through the night and a good part of the day. Roads very
icy and sloppy. At SS and church with Annie, Mr. Cameron
preached. A large SS in spite of the bad day. Presents given to the
primary class. Did not get to CE as it was a very dark night.
22 – Soft in the morning but turned quite cold towards night. Did
the chores and helped Jennie at the washing.
23 – A very fine day. Cut some wood in the swamp in the fore-
noon and in the afternoon went to Port Perry with the buggy. Fine
wheeling but rather icy. Wes Luke called and stayed for tea.
24 – Cut some wood in the swamp in the forenoon. Mrs. A.
Gordon here for dinner. After dinner Walter and Ethel Bratley
came and stayed all night. Nellie Michie called in the afternoon.
Snowed in the evening.
25 – About 3 or 4 inches of snow but rather thin to make good
sleighing. Went to L. Beare’s and G. Lee’s in the forenoon. Wal-
ter Bratley went to W. Luke’s and stayed until near night. Drove
up to Greenbank with the cutter with Ethel, Annie and Willie.
Walter and Ethel went down to Mark’s in the evening and Ethel
stayed there all night. Tom Bell came from Newcastle at 10 pm.
Peter Gibson and Clara Love are getting married today.
26 – A pretty cold day and snowing a little. Tom Bell went to Port
Perry with the sleigh and 12 bags of oats to get ground. Walter and
Ethel Bratley went with him on their way home. Walked up to
preparatory service. Mr. Campbell of Quaker Hill preached. Mr.
and Mrs. Jas. Cross and Maggie McMillan came into the church
this time. 4 babies were baptised, namely John Somerville’s, Alex
Boe’s, G. Allan’s and Peter Leask’s. Jim Michie called in the
afternoon.
27 – A fine day but pretty cold. Went down with little Annie to
Mark’s for dinner, there being quite a gathering there. Tom Bell
went to Port Perry for the meal. Tom Black and Annie came in the
afternoon.
28 – A fine but pretty cold day. Went to communion at Wick, Mr.
Cameron preached, about the usual attendance. Sleighing good.
29 – Snowing a little most of the day. Fanned up 20 bags of oats in
the forenoon and Tom went to Port Perry with them in the after-
noon. Jennie washing. At annual SS meeting in the evening, a
large meeting. Chosen for second year as superintendent. The
other officers are Jas. Miller, assist. super.; Jas. Leask, treas.; Ar-
mour McMillan and John McDonald, sec., Jessie Michie, organist;
and Annie [?], organist. Refreshments served after the meeting.
30 – A fine day. Helped Tom to hitch up the Fly colt for the first
time. She went very well. A. Gordon Sr. called for 2 bags of
apples. George Fowlie here for dinner. He has been laid up for
over a month with a felon on his thumb. Tom went in the after-
noon to a bee drawing timber for C. Gordon and had a big time.
He did not get home until 8:30.
31 – A very fine clear day. A little after 12 in the morning Jennie
took a chill while in bed and Tom went down and got Mrs. Mark
who stayed all day. In the morning I went to Port Perry and got
Dr. R. Archer. He pronounced the trouble not very serious and
Jennie got up for dinner. Tom went to Greenbank in the afternoon
to get some harness mended and when away Milton Henders and
his brother came to see him. Then W. Luke and John Throop came
and stayed a short time, then W. Mark.
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1903
Jan. 1 – A very fine bright day. Nellie Michie came up in the
morning and stayed awhile. Mr. and Mrs. Alex Gordon Sr. called.
Went with little Annie to Tom Black’s for dinner and got home
again at 6. Jas. Smith and family were there also. Good sleighing.
2 – A fine day. Went to Uxbridge in the forenoon to see about
getting more maple flooring, fine sleighing. Tom went to Port
Perry in the afternoon to see Milton Henders but he was not at
home. Alex Lee’s party tonight but did not go.
3 – A soft day, rain through the night and forenoon. Got a little
colder towards night, the snow has gone a good deal. Washed the
buggy. Tom hitched up the colt for the 2nd
time and again in the
afternoon and drew up some wood. He went to Port Perry in the
evening. Nellie Michie here in the forenoon.
4 – A fine day. At SS election of teacher. Mr. Cameron preached
in the church service. Joseph Watson of Clifford was there. At
CE, a fair meeting. Jas. Miller leader. It was decided to continue
the meetings and the new officers were elected.
5 – A fine day, a very little snow in the afternoon. Cut some wood
in the swamp lot in the forenoon. Nellie here washing. After
dinner drove up to W. Real’s and telephoned for the Dr. for Jennie.
He (Dr. D. Archer) came about 3 and about 5 a son was born but it
was stillborn. It had been dead for over a week. Mrs. Mark here
helping. Tom went to Port Perry in the evening to a hockey match.
6 – Snowing a good part of the day. Mrs. Mark went home after
dinner as there is to be a big party there tonight and I had to be
housekeeper and nurse. Tom drew up some wood and went to the
party at night.
7 – Snowing a good part of the day from the NE. This has been
callers day with us. First came James A. Michie, then just before
dinner came Jack Park and George Fowlie with the word that Aunt,
Mrs. Fowlie, died last night at the age of 76 after about 10 days
illness. The three stayed to dinner. Then came Mrs. G.A.
McMillan and stayed most of the afternoon. Then about 5 came
Dr. Archer and with him Mrs. Archer. He had scarcely got here
before J. M. Real came for him for his wife. Then after we had our
supper came Mr. and Mrs. Cameron. Tom went to Greenbank in
the afternoon for the mail. In the evening went to the annual
church meeting, a fair attendance. The managers elected were
John Lee; J.M. Real, W.H. Leask and myself. The books show a
balance on hand of about $64.00.
8 – A very cold day with a sharp NW wind. Went to Port Perry in
the forenoon for some stuff for Jennie’s leg and in the afternoon
went to Mrs. Fowlie’s funeral. Not many there. Mrs. Mark went
home for the night.
9 – A very cold rough day and drifting quite a big from the NW.
Did very little but the chores. Bagged up some oats for meal. Jas.
Michie here in the evening.
10 – A pretty rough cold day. Did little but the chores. Tom went
to Port Perry in the morning with oats and rye to get ground and
did not get home until 6 pm and did not get the meal. Managers
meeting tonight but did not go as Annie was not very well and we
had a bad night with both her and Willie. Croup or something like
it was the trouble.
11 – Snowing from the NE most of the day. At SS and church.
Mr. Reid of Leaskdale was expected but was unable owing to
illness to attend so Mr. Cameron conducted the service. Spent a
good part of the time in the SS in electing teachers. At CE a pretty
good attendance as there was no Methodist service. Nellie
McMillan and I were to take the topic but she did not come so it all
fell on me. This is the first night under the new plan of having two
to take the topic without any help from those present.
12 – Snowing and drifting all day and the road from here north
blocked. Tom went to Port Perry in the afternoon for the meal and
found the roads very heavy. There is special services at the church
this week but I did not go tonight on account of the roads.
13 – A fine day. Went up as far as Alex Lee’s in the forenoon to
open the road through the fields. Tom drove the team up that far in
the afternoon and then took Mrs. Mark home and brought Nellie
here. Tom and Nellie went to the special service in the church in
the evening.
14 – A fine day. Tom cutting wood in the afternoon in the swamp.
Jennie got out of bed again in the afternoon. At special service in
the church with Nellie, a fair attendance, Mr. Cameron conducted.
15 – A fine day. Tom cutting wood in the forenoon and at Port
Perry (races) in the afternoon and him and Nellie at special ser-
vices in the evening. Mr. Wishart of Beaverton was leader,
16 - Went to Uxbridge with maple lumber to get dressed, got home
about 4. At special service with Nellie. Mr. Wishart conducted, a
very good address, and a good attendance.
17 – Somewhat rough day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon and
called on the Dr. see him about Jennie’s leg which is not doing
very well. Cleaned out the pig and hen house in the afternoon.
Tom chopping wood in the swamp.
18 – A very cold day, 6 below zero. At SS and church, Mr. Cam-
eron preached an extra good sermon. At CE, rather a small turn-
out, G.A. McMillan and Ethel Miller leaders.
19 – Six below zero in the morning. Went to Uxbridge and got the
flooring from the planing mill. Tom cutting wood in the swamp.
Nellie Michie came up in the morning and helped to wash and
went home in the afternoon.
20 – A very fine day. Making gate in the forenoon. Tom cutting
wood in the swamp. In the afternoon went with Tom to farmers
institute meeting at Greenbank. About the usual number present.
Mr. Orr spoke on fruit and Mr. Guardhouse on heavy horses, both
were good. Tom went to the evening meeting. Mr. and Mrs. Alex
Lee and Miss Ettie Phair called in the afternoon.
21 – About 3 or 4 inches of snow fell through the night. Tom
drove Jennie to Port Perry in the forenoon to see the Dr. about her
leg which is worse. In the afternoon Tom hitched up Topsy and
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the Fly colt and drove them to Port Perry. He went down to
Mark’s in the evening to a musical meeting.
22 – A fine day. Jennie’s leg pretty bad so I had to do housework.
After dinner went to Greenbank to get Barbara Walker but she
could not come, then went down to Mark’s. Mr. and Mrs. A.
Gordon here in the morning and Mrs. Luke in the evening.
23 – A very fine day. Tom drove down in the morning and
brought Nellie Michie to help with the work while Jennie rests her
leg. Painted the gate in the forenoon. After dinner Tom hitched up
and drew up two loads of wood, then he drove to Greenbank.
Geordie McMillan of Port Perry called and bought Topsy horse for
$108.00.
24 – A very cold day. 10 below zero in the morning. We had just
got breakfast when Tom and Ralph Black called on their way
north. Took the Topsy mare out to Port Perry to G. McMillan. In
the afternoon went down to M. O’Neill’s and left some money for
[?]. Tom in the swamp. James S. Lee called in the afternoon.
25 – Somewhat cold with an east wind. Tom drove Nellie home in
the forenoon. Went to SS and church with little Annie, Mr. Cam-
eron preached. John Stone’s little boy was buried today, he died of
diphtheria. Little Mary and the hired man are also very bad. At
CE, a fair meeting. R.T. Harrington and Russell Wallace leaders.
26 – Laying new maple floor in the kitchen all day, Tom helping
and doing the chores. Nellie washing. G.A. McMillan called after
dinner.
27 – Thawing and a little rain in the afternoon. Laying floor all
day. Tom helping in the forenoon and in the afternoon he went to
Greenbank and in the evening to Port Perry. Mr. and Mrs. Alex
Rennie called about 4 pm.
28 – Thawing a little all day. Tom went to Port Perry in the morn-
ing for nails for floor. Laying floor all day. Alex Lee called to tell
us that little Mary Stone died today. Nellie went home for the
night.
29 – Thawing a good deal and raining. Some thunder after dinner
and in the evening. Working at the floor all day. Tom went to
Greenbank in the afternoon for the mail. Nellie went home for the
night, there being a party at Jas. Leask’s. An unusual number of
trains on our line today. The 7th
anniversary of our wedding.
30 – Colder and blowing and snowing. A blizzard from the NW
most of the day. Put the finishing touches on the new floor in the
forenoon and dosed the cattle with tobacco for lice in the after-
noon. James Michie came up in the morning to say that Nellie
could not come today as her mother was sick in bed.
31 – Much milder day. Tom went to Greenbank in the forenoon
for coal oil and other things and in the afternoon went with A. Lee
to Port Perry. Alex Lee called in the forenoon and Nellie Michie
in the afternoon.
FEB. 1 – A mild day, some foggy at night. At SS and church, Mr.
Cameron preached one of the best sermons he has given here.
Both SS and church smaller than usual on account of the fear of
diphtheria. Jennie and Tom went to CE in the evening, Mr. Miller
leader.
2 – Thawing with rain in the afternoon but colder in the evening.
Tom went to Port Perry with 10 bags to the mill and got back about
3:30. A high wind in the evening. Jennie washing. I did very
little but chores.
3 – A fine day. Cut and split wood in the yard. Tom went to A.
Lee’s to help him cut wood but only stayed a short time for want of
an axe. He went to Greenbank in the afternoon for the mail.
4 – Soft and a little rain in the forenoon. In the afternoon went to
Greenbank with Jennie and the two children. Called at J.M.
Real’s, Alex Gordon’s, Charles Gordon’s who is sick in bed, and
W. Mark’s.
5 – A pretty rough cold day. Did nothing but chores. Tom helping
A. Lee to cut wood in the afternoon.
6 – A fine day, a little snow in the afternoon. Tom helping A. Lee
in the afternoon and went to Port Perry in the evening. R. Wallace
called after dinner to buy the Fly colt but she was not for sale. He
was telling me that Robert Gregg was killed the day before yester-
day by a tree. Went over to Lige Beare’s and settled up with him
then to Greenbank. Jessie Michie and Mary Dusty called in the
afternoon.
7 – An extra fine day. Cutting wood in the swamp all day. Tom
drawing it up to the house.
8 – Snowing from the east most of the forenoon, then turned to a
blizzard from the NW towards night. At SS and church, rather
small SS and very few at church as Mr. R. Gregg’s funeral sermon
was preached in the Baptist church. Mr. Cameron preached a good
sermon. No one at CE.
9 – Snowing most of the forenoon. Putting partition in pig house
in the forenoon and in the afternoon drove over to C. Gordon’s to
see how he was and found him a little better. Took Jennie and the
two children to Mark’s while I was at Charlie’s. After that Tom
went to Greenbank for bread and to Port Perry in the evening.
10 – A fine day and thawing a little in the afternoon. We intended
to start for Newcastle in the morning but Jim Michie came up to
say that his mother could not come to keep house as John was ill.
He got the horse and cutter and went to the Dr at Port Perry and
was here for dinner. However John got better and Tom Bell went
down for Mrs. Mark and Jennie and I and the children started in
the afternoon and went as far as Tom Black’s at Raglan and stayed
there all night. Barbara and Willie Smith were there in the eve-
ning.
11 – Soft weather. Started from Tom Black’s and drove over to
Joe Bell’s at Enniskillen and had just got dinner when it started to
rain and continued through the afternoon so we did not go any
further. A neighbour, Mr. Clark, brought over his gramophone and
gave us some very nice music. In the evening went down to the
village with Annie and Maggie Bell to a meeting of Bowmanville
and Darlington SS Association. A good meeting, addressed by
79
Mr. Trebelcock of Bowmanville and Mr. Yellowlees of Toronto
and a very good address they were. Turned some colder in the
evening. County poor house opened.
12 – Started in the morning taking Uncle Joe’s buggy as there as
very poor sleighing from there south and got to F. Perrin’s a little
after noon and met Fred Patton for the first time. He and Mundo
Perrin had quite a time hitching up a kicking colt for the first. T.
Martin and family and Jas. Douglass and daughter of Manitoba
came in the evening. Marshall O’Neill got his leg broken with a
tree today.
13 – Some colder. Started for home and got to Uncle Joe’s for
dinner and then home by way of Blackstock. Got home about 6.
After supper Tom drove Mr. Mark home. Harry Martin the tramp
here all night.
14 – A very fine day. Tom went to Port Perry with some grain to
the mill but did not get it home. Cut a little wood and went down
to see M. O’Neill in the afternoon. Harry Martin left before break-
fast.
15 – A fine day. At SS and church with Annie, Mr. Cameron
preached. At CE, rather a small meeting. G.A. McMillan and Jas.
Miller and myself leaders. Snowing a little on the way home.
16 – A fine day. Milton Henders came as we were at breakfast and
Tom went with him on a fox hunt. They got 1 fox. In the after-
noon went with A. Lee to a bee cutting wood for the church at
Whitter’s. 5 loads drawn today. In the evening went to Greenbank
and with Alex Leask and W. Wallace made out the church report
for the printer. A very cold night.
17 – 10 below zero in the morning with a cutting north wind. It
never got above zero all day. Did nothing but the chores. Baby
Willie has been somewhat sick the last 2 or 3 days.
18 – 4 below zero in the morning and pretty rough especially in the
evening. Tom went to Port Perry in the afternoon for the meal but
only got part of it. He did not get home until nearly 9 pm. There
was a fire in town. Wes Luke called in the afternoon.
19 – A very nice day but pretty cold. Cut some wood in the yard in
the forenoon. In the afternoon Tom and Jennie went to Port Perry.
Tom went to Greenbank in the evening for the mail.
20 – A very fine day. Cut wood in the yard and cleaned out the pig
house. Milton Henders and Tom all day hunting in the swamp but
got nothing. Tom drove Milt home in the evening and stayed all
night.
21 – A fine day with a little snow in the afternoon. Cut some wood
in the forenoon and went to Greenbank in the afternoon. Tom
came home about 10 am.
22 – A fine day. At church and SS, Mr. Cameron preached. At
CE, a very small meeting. Jennie was to be leader but she did not
go so it fell on others.
23 – A fine day. Cutting wood all day in the swamp. Jennie wash-
ing.
24 – A very fine day. Cutting wood in the swamp in the forenoon
and in the yard in the afternoon. Tom went to Greenbank after
dinner, then hitched up Fly to the cutter, the first time single, then
walked to Port Perry and stayed all night.
25 – Very fine day. Cut some wood in the forenoon. Tom came
back before dinner and he and Jennie went to Port Perry in the
afternoon for lunch on his way to Manitoba as he is to start tomor-
row morning. Mr. Stonehouse called and spent a good part of the
afternoon talking cream separator. A. Lee called after dinner.
26 – A very fine day and thawing some. Got up at 5 am and took
Tom Bell to the morning train at Port Perry on the way to Mani-
toba. Went to Greenbank in the afternoon for the mail. Little
Annie on the sick list.
27 – A very nice day and thawing some. Cutting wood in the
swamp all day. Annie some better.
28 – Thawing all day, rain in the afternoon. Cleaned out the pig
and hen house and cut a bit of wood in the yard. Barbara and
Willie Smith came about 3:30 and stayed all night. They were at
Mark’s last night.
MAR. 1 – A fine day but much colder. Walked to SS and church,
Mr. Cameron preached. Did not go to CE.
2 – A fine day. Willie Smith went down to Mark’s for dinner.
They left for home about 3 pm. Went to G. Franklin’s sale in the
afternoon, a good crowd and prices.
3 - A fine day. Cutting wood all day in swamp. Jennie washing.
4 – A very fine day and thawing some. Jim Michie came up in the
forenoon to say goodbye as he starts for Manitoba tomorrow.
Went to Morrison [?] sale in the afternoon with the buggy, fair
wheeling. The assessor, Jas. Moon, called.
5 – A fine day. 1 ½ inches of snow fell through the night but went
away during the day. Bagged up some oats and took them to the
mill at Port Perry with the waggon in the afternoon.
6 – A very fine day and thawing some. Went for the meal to Port
Perry in the forenoon. Mrs. A. Gordon here for dinner. In the
afternoon Jennie, with the two children, drove Mrs. Gordon home
and to Greenbank for the mail.
7 – Cutting wood in the swamp until about 3:30 when it started to
rain and continued during the evening.
8 – A little rain in the forenoon. At SS and church with Annie, Mr.
Cameron preached. No CE on account of the bad state of the
roads.
9 – Went up in the forenoon and with Alex Lee dug out a bit of the
road. There is not so much snow as usual this spring. Drawing out
wood from Luke’s swamp in the afternoon and very rough work it
was as there is scarcely a speck of snow. Florence and Edith Phair
called in the afternoon.
80
10 – Buck sawing wood all day in the swamp field and cut 3 cords
of 4 foot wood in two. I think this is about the most I ever cut in
one day. Rain in the evening. W. Taylor cutting wood by steam at
his house. Jas. Lee went to Port Perry to meet Mr. Throop about
the sale of his Egypt farm. North Ontario by-elections for Domin-
ion house. Grant elected.
11 – Splitting wood in the forenoon and keeping house in the af-
ternoon while Jennie and Annie went to missionary meeting at the
church. Roads very muddy.
12 – A fine warm day. Split wood in the forenoon and some
chores in the afternoon. Jennie sewing carpet rags. Young Cawker
the butcher called before dinner wanting to buy cattle. He did not
buy them but came again and got a steer at 7 cts dressed weight.
He took him away with him. Wes Luke called before supper.
13 – A fine warm day. Pruning apple trees. Beggar man called
after dinner. James Lee called in the evening. First robin of the
season today.
14 – A fine warm day. Pruning apple trees all day and finished the
job. Jennie and the children started for Mark’s in the afternoon but
turned back on account of mud. Mrs. A. Akhurst [had] a daughter.
15 – A fine spring day. At SS and church with Annie, Mr. Cam-
eron preached. No CE on account of the very bad roads.
16 – A fine warm day. Drew out the brush from the orchard in the
forenoon and at the berry bushes in the afternoon while Jennie and
baby Willie went to Port Perry. She reports very bad roads, no
bottom to them. At Mark’s in the evening having a sing. A very
dark night and raining some. James Lee was also at Mark’s.
17 – Another fine day. Cleaned out the colts pen and planted a few
potatoes in the forenoon and cut down the apple tree in the garden.
Went over to the Luke barn and got settled up with G. Michie, the
first time for several years. Little Jim Lee brought the mail. Jennie
dying carpet rags.
18 – A fine warm day. Made some nests in the hen house and at
the berry bushes. At prayer meeting, Mr. Boe leader. An after
meeting about the SS anniversary. It was decided to have one on
the 24 and 25 of May. Roads very bad. Drove Mrs. Gordon to her
gate. Lightning in the evening.
19 – A very warm spring day. Plowed and trimmed at the berry
bushes all day. Jessie Michie came up in the forenoon and little
Annie went down with her and Jennie and Willie went after her in
the afternoon. Isaac O’Neill called in the afternoon. Young
Cawker called.
20 – A very warm day for this time of year. At the berry bushes in
the forenoon and drew some manure to the garden and orchard in
the afternoon. Joseph Burton called before dinner to see about
building a new hen house. John Lee called in the afternoon.
Wilbert Lee brought the mail. Thunder storm at 7 pm (the first of
the season). Rain through the evening.
21 – Another nice day. Got cooler towards night. Plowed the
garden (the first time since it was a garden as far as I know) and
part of the orchard and finished fixing the raspberry bushes.
22 – A fine day, some frost in the morning. At SS and church with
Annie, Mr. Cameron preached. No CE.
23 – A drizzling rain from the east most of the day. Did a few
chores and raked the straw off the strawberries.
24 – Somewhat cooler towards night. Mr. W. Akhurst here in the
forenoon for some berry bushes. Went to Port Perry in the after-
noon with 14 bags to get ground and got it home. Roads very bad,
especially south from the 7th
concession. A. Lee called with the
mail.
25 – Rather rough with snow flurries most of the day. Drawing
wood out of the wood lot in the swamp in the forenoon and in the
afternoon kept house while Jennie and little Annie went to Port
Perry with carpet rags.
26 – Quite a hard frost in the morning. Buck sawed wood and cut
nearly 3 cords. Isaac O’Neill and Clarence came for a bag of oats.
Tom Michie brought Mrs. J.C. Mason and baby, who has been at
Mr. Mark’s for a day or two. About 6:30 Tom Black came with
his tram. He got supper and went down to Mark’s for the night.
27 – A fine day. Cleaned out the pig house and a few other chores
in the forenoon. Tom Black got some seed oats at A. Akhurst’s
and left for home after dinner. At preparatory service at the
church, Mr. Limbert preached, a fair turnout. Mr. D. Till became a
member. Jennie and Mrs. Mason making a dress for Willie.
28 – Somewhat colder with a little snow flurries in the afternoon.
Went up to A. Lee’s and got a piece of an old seeder to replace one
broken on ours. In the afternoon kept house while Jennie, Willie,
Mrs. Mason and baby Mason went to Port Perry and got the two
children’s pictures taken. Mrs. M. also got hers.
29 – A very fine clear day. Mrs. Mason kept house while Jennie,
Annie and I went to communion service. About the usual atten-
dance. Mr. Cameron preached. AT CE with Jennie, rather a larger
meeting than usual. I was leader.
30 – A very fine day. Took Mrs. Mason and baby to Port Perry on
her way home. Brought Mr. John Throop (who is canvassing for
beets for the Peterborough Sugar Co.) home with me and he stayed
for dinner. Put up the poultry netting about the hen yard. Jessie
Michie called in the morning and Alex Lee.
31 – A very fine day with high NW wind in the afternoon. Fin-
ished the hen yard fence, drew off stones from the fields and put in
post for new gate at road. Jennie washed, churned and went to
Greenbank with Willie. Mr. and Mrs. Cameron called while she
was away.
APR. 1 – A fine day. Spent all the day fixing the gate at the road.
W. Luke drawing wood. Ned paid us a visit. At prayer meeting, a
good turnout, Mr. Cameron leader. An after meeting about anni-
versary.
81
2 – A very fine day with quite a high wind in the afternoon. Spent
most of the day putting in garden stuff, Jennie helping. Also
planted some potatoes (2nd
lot) in the orchard.
3 – Rain all forenoon. About 2 pm it turned to snow and continued
the rest of the day until the ground was white. Bagged up some
oats for meal and found some for seed and made a whiffle tree.
Andrew Ross’ sale today. He and Mrs. Ross are going to Mani-
toba to spend the remainder of their days.
4 – About 2 or 3 inches of snow on the ground and very cold and
wintery all day. Did very little but the chores. Jennie and little
Annie went to Greenbank in the afternoon for the mail. Got a
letter from Mrs. John Bell of Edinburgh.
5 – A fine day. At SS and church with Annie, Mr. Cameron
preached. Jennie went to CE, a fine turnout, R.T. Harrington
leader.
6 – Quite a hard frost in the morning. Took the 8 pigs to Blackwa-
ter and got $5.90 (a drop from $6.35 last week). They weighed
1520 lbs or 190 each. At church managers meeting in the evening.
Raining a little on the way home.
7 – A fine day with quite a high wind. Did a few odd jobs in the
forenoon and in the afternoon went to Port Perry with 15 bags of
oats to get ground and got it home with me. Jessie Michie called in
the forenoon.
8 – A very fine day. Split and piled wood in the forenoon and in
the afternoon took off storm windows and doors while Jennie and
the two children went to Port Perry. Jessie Michie brought the
mail. Jennie went to prayer meeting, Mr. Boe leader.
9 – Went up to A. Lee’s in the morning to get him to kill a pig
tomorrow, then finished splitting wood near the swamp. In the
afternoon it rained some from the NE and I went up to A. Lee’s
again to fan up some seed oats but he was down at the other place.
Terry cow had a calf.
10 – Good Friday. A fine day but a little cool. Alex Lee came
down in the morning and we killed the pig. I then went up with
him and fanned up 12 bags of seed oats. Plowed and harrowed in
the orchard in the afternoon.
11 – A fine day. Took half of the pig 78 lbs. up to Alex Lee and
brought home the seed oats, then cultivated the field west of the
house, the first spring work of the season. Then Jennie and the two
children went to Greenbank. Mamey Dusty called.
12 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Annie, Mr. Cameron
preached. Jennie at CE, G.A. McMillan leader.
13 – A fine day with a high east wind. Sowed the field west of the
house, the first of the season. Jennie washing and making head
cheese.
14 – Rain a little in the morning until about 10 when it set in in
earnest and continued most of the day. Sowed 3 acres north of the
barn when the rain came on. Alex Lee here in the afternoon bag-
ging up oats. Granny cow dropped a calf.
15 – Rain through the night and threatening all day. Too wet for
doing anything on the land. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon.
Jennie and Annie went to Wes Luke’s in the afternoon for eggs for
hatching. Went to prayer meeting, only 13 there. Roads very bad
and very dark night.
16 – A fine day. Kept house and read the evidence in the [Gar-
ney?] charges in the forenoon while Jennie whitewashed the cellar.
About 2 pm Willie boy got his left hand fingers badly bruised in
the door between the kitchen and woodshed. Mrs. A. Gordon
called in the afternoon. Plowed and harrowed in the orchard.
17 – A fine day but rather cool. Harrowing all day. Jennie var-
nishing some of the furniture.
18 – A fine day but rather cool. Did not go to bed until about 3 am
as I was watching the sow, 12 little pigs, but 1 dead. Harrowed
and picked off stones in the forenoon. In the afternoon drove with
little Annie to Greenbank for the mail. Just after supper Joe Stone
came in and bought the two steers for 4 ½ cents. Just at the same
time came Jas. A. Miller, B.A., who has just got through his col-
lege course and is going as a missionary to Depot Harbour for a
year. He stayed for tea and we had quite a talk.14
19 – A fine day. In the forenoon went over to A. Lee’s bush with
the children and got some mayflowers and found a partridge nest,
the first I ever saw. At SS and church with Annie. Jas. A. Miller
spoke at the SS. Mr. Cameron preached. Jennie went to CE, a
good meeting, she and A. McArthur took the topic. Sir Oliver
Mowat died this morning.15
20 – Some frost in the morning but a nice day. Drew out manure
all day. Jennie housecleaning upstairs. Went up to A. Akhurst’s in
the evening to see about the seeder. Mrs. Edly Stone died last
night.
21 – Some snow flurries in the forenoon. Plowing for mangels in
the forenoon and at Port Perry in the afternoon. Tom Black and
Ralph came just before dinner for a load of turnips. Isaac O’Neill
called in the evening for a loan of $5.00. Wilbert Lee brought the
mail in the morning.
22 – Cultivating in the forenoon and sowing oats in the afternoon.
At prayer meeting, Mr. Cameron leader. Choir practice after.
Jennie washing and housecleaning. Alex Lee called in the eve-
ning.
23 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon and got a
bushel of Speltz and sowed it in the afternoon, the first ever sown
on the place and the first in the locality as far as I know. Sowed
also a few oats which finishes for the season. Jennie houseclean-
ing upstairs.
24 – A very fine day. Harrowing and picking off stones until about
4 pm when Jennie and the children went to W. Luke’s for 2 set-
tings of eggs. Alex Lee called with the mail.
14
Depot Harbour, currently a ghost town, was just
west of Parry Sound, Ontario in Wasauksing Ojibway
First Nations territory on Parry Island.
15
Sir Oliver Mowat was the third premier of Ontario.
82
25 – A very nice day. Plowing in the forenoon. Alex Lee brought
the Three Rivers strawberries and I planted them in the afternoon.
In the evening went to Port Perry for Willemina Bell who came
from Rochester. George and Eva Leask called for some strawberry
plants but did not get any. J. Lee brought the mail.
26 – A very fine day. All went over to A. Lee’s bush in the fore-
noon for flowers. At SS and church with Willa and Annie, Mr.
Cameron preached. Willa and Jennie at CE, G.D. McMillan
leader, a good meeting.
27 – An extra fine day. Took the two steers to Blackwater. A
Akhurst took 1 and W. Luke 2. We all went together. Albert
drove his rig. Jennie and Annie went to Port Perry for the new rag
carpet.
28 – A very fine warm day. Worked all day drawing stones to
repair the road into the barn. W. Taylor called about potatoes.
Went up to A. Lee’s in the evening to get the news of the trial.
Jennie and Willa put down the new carpet in the best bedroom.
29 – A fine warm day and things starting to grow a little. Planted
potatoes in the orchard and some other chores in the forenoon and
rolled the hay field in the afternoon. At prayer meeting with Willa,
Mr. Cameron leader. Choir practice. Jennie housecleaning.
30 – A fine forenoon but a big rain in the afternoon. Willa drove
me out to Port Perry to the morning train by which I went to To-
ronto. Heard the [Ga....?] trial for awhile, then went to the horse
show and liked it very well. Walked home from Port Perry and a
bad walk it was with rain and mud. Mrs. Gordon, Mrs. Akhurst
and Mrs. Mark here in the afternoon. Jennie drove them home.
MAY 1 - A very cold day, hard frost in the morning. Fixed fences
and some other chores in the forenoon and in the afternoon went to
Port Perry with oats to get ground. Jennie went also. W. Taylor
called for potatoes. Keith Lee brought papers.
2 – A rather cool day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for the
meal and in the afternoon cultivated and harrowed the mangold
ground. Willa and the two children at Mark’s. Jimmie Lee
brought the mail.
3 – Rain in the afternoon. At SS and church with Jennie and An-
nie, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE, a fair meeting. Jas Miller and
Nellie McMillan leaders.
4 – A fine day. Planting strawberries all day. Jennie digging the
plants and Annie carrying them. Jennie and Annie went to W.
Luke’s for setting eggs and Willa and Annie to Port Perry for
strawberries. L. and Fred O’Neill called in the evening, also A.
Lee.
5 – Quite a frost in the morning but a very fine day. Finished
planting strawberries in the forenoon and rolled in the afternoon.
Jennie washed the buggy. At choir practice in the evening.
6 – A very nice warm day. Jennie and the two children went to Port
Perry in the forenoon (got 3 cherry trees) while I planted some
corn and other chores. Rolled in the afternoon.
7 – A fine day. Drilled up for mangolds in the forenoon. A. Lee
brought the mail among which was a letter from Mrs. Archer say-
ing she could not help us at our anniversary as expected so in the
afternoon Willa went to Port Perry to see about getting someone to
take her place and partly succeeded in getting Mr. McQueen.
While she was away Mrs. W. Wallace drove down to say that the
Claremont people that we expected were not coming.
8 – A very fine day. Finished drilling and then sowed the man-
golds in the forenoon. After dinner hitched up the Fly colt in the
old buggy to go to Greenbank but I completely lost control of her
going up the lane and nearly went through the gate. I then hitched
up Jess and with little Annie went up to see Mrs. W. Wallace about
getting help for SS anniversary concert. When I got home Aunt
Janet Tait of Whitby was here. She had walked from Port Perry as
we had not got her letter saying when she was to come. Mrs. Mark
was also here for some rose bushes. Drew out manure the remain-
der of the afternoon. Willa down to Mark’s in the evening.
9 – A fine day. Drawing out manure all day. At Greenbank in the
evening at band practice, the first time for one. Tried to beat the
drums. A very fine night.
10 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Willa and Annie, Mr.
Cameron preached. Jennie, Willa and Aunt Janet at CE, a good
meeting, Maggie Blair leader.
11 – A fine warm day. Plowing all day except after dinner when I
went up to Greenbank to see Mrs. Wallace about the anniversary
concert. Aunt Janet, Willa and little Annie visiting at Mark’s.
Alex Lee called in the evening to fill up 2 bags of potatoes for A.
Cragg.
12 – A very fine warm day. Fixed the watering place at the spring
and then took Aunt Janet to Port Perry on her way home. Willa
also went. Tried to make some arrangement for help at the SS
anniversary at Port Perry but failed, then drove to Myrtle and got
the promise of Miss Armiston. Called at Uncle’s and learned that
John Park was burned out a week ago last Sunday. Got home
about 5 and walked to Greenbank in the evening to choir practice.
Gramophone concert in the hall. Joe Wallace came down on his
wheel in the morning. Willa at W. Lukes in the evening for eggs.
13 – A very fine day. Drawing out manure all day. At prayer
meeting, Mr. Miller leader. An after meeting to make final ar-
rangements about the anniversary. Brought Maggie Blair down to
A. Gordon’s.
14 – A fine day. Planted corn in the orchard and spread manure
while Jennie and Annie went to Port Perry to market, the first time
since it started again. A large turnout but butter only 14 cts.
Planted corn in the little plot near the pump and plowed in the
afternoon.
15 – A fine day and things growing nicely. Finished plowing the
corn and potato land and harrowed it twice. Isaac O’Neill called
after dinner. Willa went to Greenbank in the evening and I called
at A. Lee’s.
16 – A very fine day. Harrowed and planted the horse corn with
A. Lee’s drill. Little Annie went down to Mark’s alone for the first
83
time but Willa and little Willie had to go after her. Silas Butt here
for tea. He off work as he is not very well. At band practice and
did not get home until past 12.
17 – A very warm summer like day. At SS and church with
Jennie, Annie and baby Willie (he for the first time). Mr. Cameron
preached. At CE with Willa, a fair meeting, R.T. Harrington
leader.
18 – A pretty warm day. Thundering most of the day until about 3
pm when there was a very heavy rain with some very sharp light-
ning. Drawing out manure until the rain came on. Anna Tait came
about 7, she wheeled out from Port Perry and pretty bad roads it
was. At choir practice in the evening.
19 – A fine warm day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with
Jennie and rolled in the afternoon.
20 – A very fine day and cooler. Drawing out manure all day.
Jennie washing. John came up for the roller. At band practice in
the evening. Willa and Annie went with me as far as W. Luke’s
for eggs.
21 – A fine day, some thunder after dinner but no rain here. Fin-
ished drawing out the manure, filled up holes in the barnyard and
the barn bridge, and took the colt over to Alex Lee’s for pasture.
Alex Lee called for scaffolding squares.
22 – A beautiful day. Went to Port Perry in the morning with
Willa for packing boxes and scuffler [?]. Scuffled and hoed straw-
berries in the afternoon. Planned to go with Jennie to SS conven-
tion at Port Perry in the evening but little Annie was not well so we
did not go.
23 – A fine day and some cooler. Hoed the berry bushes and at 4
pm with Jennie and the two children went down to the creek and
got a boat ride. At band practice in the evening. A little rain on
the way home.
24 – A very fine day but somewhat cool. At SS and church with
Jennie, Willa and little Annie. Anniversary services conducted by
Rev. Mr. Best of Beaverton. A very full house and a good address.
At church again in the evening with Anna (Willa stayed for tea at
Mr. Akhurst’s). Mr. Best preached again and to another very full
house. Collection of $18.64, the largest on record.
25 – A very fine cool day. Hoed in the orchard in the forenoon.
At the SS anniversary in the afternoon. Walked up while Jennie,
Anna and the two children came after. Jennie and the children
came home with John and he brought Willa up. There was a tre-
mendous crowd, the largest we ever had, and everything went off
well. The Greenbank Band appeared for the first time. The pro-
ceeds so far are $137.00 with a social tomorrow.
26 – Cutting seed potatoes in the cellar all day. Willa drove Jennie
and little Annie up to the church in the afternoon to help clean up
the anniversary dishes. I drove up after 6 o’clock, there was not
very many out. A big thunder storm came up as we were at tea.
27 – Drilled up for potatoes in the forenoon and plowed in the
afternoon until about 3:30 when a thunder shower came up but it
did not rain much. Started about 5:45 and drove over to Shaw’s
Church to a social. The band played. A thunderstorm was on most
of the evening. Got home at 11. Beef ring started.
28 – Cooler with high NW wind. Planted potatoes in field. B.
Cragg called asking hands for D. Whalen’s raising tomorrow.
John Lee and Bella called.
29 – A very fine day. Plowing all day. Nellie Michie called and
Anna and her went to visit at A. Akhurst’s.
30 – A fine cool day. Plowing all day. Mrs. J.M. Real and her
mother Mrs. Leask called in the afternoon. At band practice.
Anna and Willa went up to Greenbank with me and walked home.
31 – A very fine cool day. At SS and church with Anna, Willa and
little Annie, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE with Jennie and Anna,
a fair meeting. E. Miller and I leaders.
JUNE 1 – A very fine day. Finished plowing the turnip land in the
forenoon, and in the afternoon went with Jennie and the two chil-
dren to Seagrave to see R. Thompson about berry boxes.
2 – An extra fine day and evening. Scuffled the strawberries, corn
and mangels and in the afternoon went to Port Perry with Jennie
and little Annie. Johnnie Carneggie came for a bag of oats.
3 – A very fine day. Went to Greenbank in the morning for the
beef, then to E. Beare’s for 8 thousand shingles. Drilled up for
turnips in the afternoon. The women scraping off the paint and
paper on the front room. At prayer meeting with Willa, an after
meeting about SS money and the CE social.
4 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry with little Annie, then
sowed 24 drills of turnips and scuffled the mangolds. Alex Lee got
20 bushels of oats. In the afternoon helped to paper the ceiling and
paint the woodwork of the front room. John Lee and Adam Hislop
of Brooklin called. Willa and the two children went down to
Mark’s to see how John was, he having been under the weather.
They report him better.
5 – Another fine day. Harrowing in the forenoon and hoeing in the
orchard in the afternoon. Willa in bed all day. At choir practice in
the evening. Judges gave their decision in the [Gamcy?] charges
yesterday. Charges not proven. John Lee called in the forenoon.
6 – A fine day. Finished harrowing and then rolled the turnip
ground. Hoed in the orchard and helped to paint in the afternoon.
Nellie Michie here for tea. A. Lee called with the mail. At band
practice at night.
7 – A fine day. At SS and church with Willa and Anna, Mr. Cam-
eron preached. Anna stayed at Mr. Akhurst’s for tea. Jennie at
CE, Mr. Miller leader.
8 – A little rain in the forenoon. Hoeing mangolds all day, a pretty
even crop. Women folk papering the front room. Had the first
strawberries of the season for supper.
84
9 – A fine warm day, some thunder in the afternoon but no rain
here. Drawing gravel all day from Jas. McMillan’s pit to the 10th
concession just east of where the spring runs out. 6 teams drawing.
This is the first year under the new plan of road work. We get 30
cts. per hour. W. Real is commissioner for this section. Willa
went to Greenbank in the afternoon for the mail. Mrs. Annie
Gordon called in the afternoon.
10 – A very fine day. Drawing gravel in the forenoon and helping
Charles Gordon to lay the foundation of his barn. Willa and little
Annie went to Port Perry with the first strawberries, 16 boxes and
got 12 ½ cts for them. Mr. and Mrs. Cameron here for tea. At
prayer meeting with Anna, Mr. Cameron leader.
11 – Rain through the night which did a lot of good as things were
getting somewhat dry. Went to Seagrave in the forenoon for berry
boxes at R. Thompson’s but did not get them as they had not got
there yet. At Charles Gordon’s barn raising in the afternoon. John
Monroe and John Brown were captains. Brown’s side won by a
very close margin. I was, as usual, on the winning side. Jennie at
W.F.M.L. meeting at John Stone’s.
12 – Drilling up for turnips in the forenoon. After dinner Jennie
went to Port Perry with strawberries while I sowed turnips with
Fly, the first time at such work. Then drilled up some more. A
little drizzle from the NE most of the afternoon.
13 – A cool day. A heavy rain through the night. Took 4 young
cattle to W. Luke’s to cut down his clover field, then sowed 20
drills of turnips. Hoed mangolds in the afternoon. Joe Burton
came for the drill and had just gone when George Michie came
wanting it. At Greenbank in the evening. Went for band practice
but there was no drum so I went to the S.O.T16
., the first time for
several years. Gave W. Taylor a ride home.
14 – A fine day but very cool. At SS and church with Jennie,
Willa and little Annie. At CE with Jennie and Anna, G.A.
McMillan leader.
15 – A very fine day. Shingling the kitchen, John Michie helping.
Did the east side. Jennie washing. Anna and Willa picking straw-
berries and then after 4 o’clock took them to Port Perry. G.A.
McMillan came in about 9 o’clock to consult about the missionary
views on Thursday.
16 – A fine day, a little rain in the evening. Shingling the west side
of the kitchen, John Michie helping. Jennie and the two children
went to Greenbank in the morning to telephone about the mission-
ary views and visited at Mrs. Akhurst’s and John Lee’s and got
home about 3:30. Wes Luke brought the turnip drill home and we
had a settle up, the first for two years. Anna and Willa at Mark’s
for tea. Went to Port Perry and got 100 berry boxes from Mr.
Kellet. A. Lee is shingling his house today.
17 – A little drizzling rain in the afternoon. Drilling up for turnips
and finished at 4 pm. Jennie then went to Port Perry with straw-
berries while I finished the roof of the kitchen. Nellie Michie,
Anna and Jennie picking berries. R. Thompson’s boy came with
500 berry boxes. Frank Dobson’s raising.
16
Sons of Temperance.
18 – Finished sowing turnips, scuffled the corn and strawberries in
the forenoon and hoeing mangolds in the afternoon. Women
housecleaning the kitchen. William Luke called wishing to rent his
farm. At Greenbank with Jennie to a magic lantern [?] on For-
mosa, a fair turnout, proceeds $9.31.
19 – A very fine cool day. Finished hoeing mangolds and then
hoed in the orchard. Nellie Michie here picking strawberries.
Jennie and the two children took them to Port Perry in the after-
noon. G.D., Nellie and Maggie McMillan here in the evening. A
tramp got breakfast.
20 – A very fine day. Hoeing in the orchard most of the day. Mrs.
W. Real Jr. and Mrs. W. Real called for strawberries. Willa went
to Greenbank after supper on the wheel. At band practice but there
was no drum there yet. Had a few new potatoes for dinner, the
first of the season.
21 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Jennie, Anna and
little Annie. G. Miller addressed the SS, Mr. Cameron preached.
At CE with Anna and Willa, rather a small meeting, Willa was
leader.
22 – A fine day with a little rain in the evening. Went after the
cattle that had been at W. Luke’s for 9 days and then scuffled the
mangolds in the forenoon. Mr. and Mrs. Lamb of Manchester
came after dinner, A. Lee and John Lee for berries, and Jim Taylor
to get an eat of berries. Nellie and Jessie helping to pick. Oliver
and Eva Luke called in the evening for berries. John Michie also
called in the evening but not for berries. Jennie and little Annie
went to Port Perry in the afternoon with berries. A big picking
today. After Lamb’s left for home I hoed some corn.
23 – A terrible rain from the SE during the night which killed 9
chickens in the coops. Did a few odd chores in the forenoon and
went to Port Perry in the afternoon. Willa went with me. E. Stone
and G. Lee called for strawberries. Jennie, Willa and Anna at
meeting in connection with District Division of S.O.T.
24 – Rain through the night and most all the day. Threw out some
of the spare straw in the barn and then started to replace the kitchen
floor, Jennie helping. At band practice in the evening, the first
play on the new drum, and also the first time over the blacksmith
shop. Alex Lee here in the afternoon making a stoneboat. Little
Annie on the sick list.
25 – A very fine day but somewhat dull in the morning. Almost
went for the Dr. for Annie in the morning but she got better. At the
kitchen floor all day, Jennie helping part of the time, but hardly
finished. Anna, Nellie and Jessie picking strawberries. Anna took
a lot to Greenbank and intermediate places. L. O’Neill, Mrs. W.
Real, Maggie Blair and Mrs. S. Dusty, John and Bella Lee called
for berries. Bob Nelson called wanting to buy cattle. South On-
tario F.E. excursion to Guelph.
26 – A fine cool day. Went with little Annie to George Tocher’s in
the forenoon and in the afternoon attended preparatory service at
the church. Rev. Mr. Reid of Leaskdale preached. We got Wil-
liam Cameron baptized. There was also baptized A. Gordon’s girl
(Annie Isabella), W. H. Leask’s girl (Cathleen Eugene) and J.M.
85
Real’s girl (Mary Ledingham). Maggie McMillan and her niece
Miss Leask came after strawberries. Finished laying the kitchen
floor after supper.
27 – A fine day. Did several little chores in the forenoon and in
the afternoon went to Port Perry with 12 bags of oats to get ground.
Willa went with me but came home on the wheel. At band practice
in the evening. Jessie Michie here picking strawberries. Mary
Dusty and Jennie Gordon, Mrs. J.M. Real, and W. Real called for
berries. Mr. and Mrs. Monroe of Manchester came for berries but
got none.
28 – A very nice day. Went with Jennie and Anna to communion
at Wick. Mr. Cameron preached. Hardly as large a turnout as
usual. I stayed for dinner at John Lee’s and went to the Methodist
SS anniversary service. Mr. Emory of Whitby was the chair, the
speakers were Mr. Cameron and W. Ross, MP, and a very good
meeting. Willa and Anna walked up and Anna went to Mark’s for
tea. Jennie and Willa went to the evening meeting. Mr. Emory
preached to a large house.
29 – A nice day with quite a shower in the afternoon. Scuffling
potatoes and hoeing in the orchard in the forenoon. C. Gordon
called wanting me to help him shingle his new barn but I could not
go. Nellie Michie picking strawberries. In the afternoon helping
Alex Lee to paint John Lee’s house. Willa went to Port Perry with
berries to send to Newcastle and then took some to Greenbank. E.
Stone came for berries and Mr. and Mrs. John Beaton but they did
not get any. Barbara, Mrs. J.C. Mason and baby Kennedy Mason
came about 7 pm. Uncle Tom’s Cabin show at Port Perry tonight.
30 – Willa drove Anna to the morning train on her way to Whitby,
perhaps for Winnipeg. Helped Alex Lee to paper the east end of
Jim’s house in the forenoon. At Port Perry in the afternoon and did
not get home until 8:30. Barbara and little Annie at Mark’s in the
evening. Had the first meal of new potatoes today.
JUL 1 – A big rain through the night. Went for the beef in the
morning, then picked strawberries. Jennie, Barbara, Mrs. Mason
and Jessie and Nellie Michie also helping, Barbara, Mrs. M. and
Master M. left for home about 3 pm. Went with Willa to the
Methodist SS anniversary which was held in the church and sheds.
The speakers in the afternoon were Rev. Buckles, Barber and Har-
ris. Band played several pieces. Did not stop to the evening show.
A thunder storm came up just after I got home. Very warm day.
Made $1.69.
2 – A very fine cool day. Scuffling in the forenoon and hoeing
corn and potatoes in the afternoon. Nellie and Jessie here picking
black currants.
3 – Jennie and the two children went to Port Perry in the forenoon.
Rain all the way. C. Calacut and Angus ____ for Mr. Parish, put
eves troughs on the barn. Nellie McMillan came for berries.
Nellie and Jessie Michie picking berries. Wes Luke, John
McKinnon; and Master McKinnon of Buffalo called in the after-
noon. Sandy Gordon came for berries in the evening. Alan and
Emma Black came in the afternoon and stayed all night. At choir
practice in the evening.
4 – A fine cool day. Alan and Emma Black left for home in the
forenoon. Experimented in poisoning groundhogs in the morning
and hoed turnips the remainder of the day. Hoed the garden after
supper.
5 – At SS and church with Willa and little Annie, Mr. Cameron
preached. Lizzie McArthur came home for tea. At CE with Willa,
rather a small meeting, E. Boe leader. G. Miller spoke. A very
heavy shower about 3 pm.
6 - A very fine cool day and no rain. Scuffling in the forenoon
and hoeing in the afternoon. Nellie and Jessie picking strawber-
ries. Jennie washing. At managers meeting in the evening.
7 – A very fine day. At Port Perry in the forenoon and finished
hoeing the mangolds, 2nd
time, in the afternoon. At band practice
in the evening but very few out. Willa at Mark’s arranging for
picnic.
8 – A very warm day. Painting all day at house. Willa went to
Port Perry in the afternoon for more paint. At prayer meeting with
Willa, Mr. Cameron leader. An after meeting about the CE.
9 – Very warm. Painting at house until about 5 when a big thunder
storm came on. Jennie, Willa and the two children at W.F.M.S. at
Mr. Mark’s.
10 – A fine cool day. Scuffled turnips awhile in the morning and
then about 10, with Jennie, Willa and the children went over to
orchards and rowed across to 7 Mile Island and had a very pleasant
time. George, Nellie and Jessie Michie and Wes Luke, Oliver, Eva
and Ned were the crowd. Got home at 7. Mrs. Mark stayed here
while we were away. Alex Lee called in the evening for some
butter.
11 – A very fine day. Hoeing turnips all day. At band practice in
the evening.
12 – A very fine cool day. At SS and church with Jennie and little
Annie, Mr. Cameron preached and spoke strongly of our duty to
the CE and the like. Maggie Blair came home with us to tea. At
CE with Maggie B. and Willa, a fair meeting. G.D. McMillan, our
new president, leader.
13 – A very fine day. Scuffling corn, potatoes and turnips in the
forenoon and hoeing turnips in the afternoon. Jennie washing.
Willa visiting at Mark’s.
14 – Some little rain flurries during the day. Hoed turnips in the
forenoon and in the afternoon went with the Greenbank band to the
Seagrave SS picnic. Had a very good time. The principal singer at
the concert was a Mr. McGregor of Toronto. Got home a little
before 12. Willa went to Greenbank in the afternoon.
15 – A fine day. Hoeing turnips all day. Jennie and Willa at
prayer meeting.
16 – A shower about 12 which would wet cut hay. At the turnips
all day. Jennie and Annie at market at Port Perry. Mrs. W. Ianson,
old Mrs. Byers and Mrs. Harper called in the afternoon.
86
17 – A fine day. At the turnips all day. Isaac O’Neill got the horse
rake to rake up his hay.
18 – A very dull day with rain in the evening. Hoed turnips in the
forenoon and finished, and Paris Greened the potatoes in the after-
noon. At band practice in the evening.
19 – Rain in the afternoon and evening. At SS and church with
Willa and little Annie, Mr. Cameron preached. Got ready to go to
CE but rain came on.
20 – A good deal of thunder all day but not very much rain. Some
very sharp lightning about 2 pm. Hoeing in the orchard in the
forenoon and painting the kitchen (outside) in the afternoon.
Jennie cleaning the hen house in the afternoon which is very bad
with vermin. Jennie, Willa and the two children at Greenbank in
the evening for bread.
21 – A fine day. Some thunder but only a drop of rain. Painting
most of the day. Went to W. Luke’s before dinner to see about the
mower. Willa and Jennie picking berries. Willa at Mark’s in the
evening.
22 – Rain through the night, thunder and a little rain several times
through the day and a very heavy shower about 7 pm. Went to
Port Perry in the forenoon and scuffling turnips in the afternoon.
Went to prayer meeting but there was no one.
23 – A fine day. Cut thistles on roadside and then painted at the
house. After supper took the team and went to Greenbank and
brought home Mr. Dusty’s cow and calf. Went by way of E.
Beare’s and took back 7 bunches of shingles. Jennie and Willa
picking berries and then Willa and little Annie went to Port Perry
with them.
24 – A very fine day. Went to Luke’s in the morning for his
mower and cut hay all day. Willa at Mark’s for tea.
25 – Finished cutting hay and took the mower home in the fore-
noon. In the afternoon went down to Isaac’s for the horse rake,
then raked up some of the hay. At band practice in the evening.
26 – A very fine cool day. At SS and church with Jennie and little
Annie, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE with Willa, a fair meeting,
R.T. Harrington leader. William Perkins died this morning.
27 – A fine cool day. At hay all day, A. Akhurst helping and
George about 2 hours. Broke the waggon and had to get Albert’s.
Jennie at W. Perkin’s funeral at Jas. Leask’s.
28 – A fine cool day, threatening rain a little but only a few drops.
At the hay, A. Akhurst and John Michie helping, and finished
except the rakings at 5 pm. 17 loads in all. Jennie washing. Mrs.
Bush buried today.
29 – Thunder and much rain through the night and the forenoon.
Went for the beef and painted on the house the most of the day.
Jennie and little Annie went to Port Perry. Mrs. A. Gordon called
and Willa visiting at Jas. McMillan’s. John Michie had a runaway
with the binder.
30 – A fine cool day. Finished raking hay stubble and then went
with George to Port Perry to order the bills for the Band lawn
party. Drew in the rakings and then rigged up the binder a bit.
Willa went to Port Perry with berries.
31 – A very fine day. Scuffling turnips in the forenoon and put
Paris Green on potatoes in the afternoon. Willa at Greenbank for
green. Jennie and the children visiting at G.A. McMillan’s and W.
Luke’s.
AUG. 1 – A very fine day. Cut the rye in the forenoon, John help-
ing, and did some chores and painted in the afternoon. Jennie and
the 2 children took Willa to Port Perry. She is to stay to the Old
Boys show on Monday. At band practice. Gave Alex Lee a ride
up and back.
2 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Annie, Mr. Cameron
preached. At CE, rather a good meeting. I acted as leader.
3 – Some dull in the morning but turned out a fine day. Did a few
chores in the forenoon and in the afternoon went to Port Perry Old
Boys17
demonstration, which was quite a success. A good crowd.
Our band was there and won 2nd
in competition with Epsom and
Layton. Did not stay for the concert. Mrs. Luke and Ned here in
the afternoon.
4 – Great rain from the east through the night and all forenoon.
Did some chores in the barn in the forenoon and painted the house
in the afternoon. Put on the trimming paint. J. Lee called with the
mail.
5 – Somewhat dull day. Jennie and little Annie drove to Port Perry
where they went to Brooklin by train to see her father’s grave as
Aunt Janet is to put up a stone, but she could not find it. Willa
brought the horse home. Painting most of the day. Went down to
Port Perry with Willie for Jennie and Annie. At prayer meeting
with Willa, larger meeting than usual. James Monroe gave an
account of his trip to Vancouver to the general assembly.
6 – A dull morning with 2 or 3 thunder showers. Went up to A.
Lee’s in the morning for some felt paper and then boarded up the
west door of the kitchen. Alex Lee started his new binder, the first
he has cut.
7 – A very fine day. Painting house in the forenoon. At strawber-
ries in the afternoon. Went up and saw A. Lee’s new binder work-
ing. Jas. McKitrick called asking hands to his raising. Willa and
the children at Mark’s in the afternoon and her and Jessie went to
the Epworth League in the evening18
.
8 – A fine day. Painting most of the forenoon and finished the job.
Jennie and little Annie went to Port Perry. After dinner Willa and
Annie drove me to Greenbank to McKitrick’s barn raising. At
band practice in the evening. Got a ride home with C. Gordon.
Little Willie 2 years old today.
17
Perhaps referring to the Home Comer’s Reunion?
18
Epworth League is a Methodist young adults asso-
ciation for ages 18-35.
87
9 – A fine cool day. At SS and church with Jennie and little Annie,
G. Miller addressed the SS, Mr. Cameron preached. At C.E. with
Willa, a fair meeting, G.A. McMillan leader.
10 – A fine day. Plowed sod east of the orchard in the forenoon.
About 3 o’clock John came and we drew in rye. In the evening
went to Greenbank and helped to fix up the ground for the party at
W. Real’s. Organ tuner called and tuned the church and SS organs.
11 – A fine day and pretty cool. George came up in the morning
and took in the rest of the rye and then cut oats until 5 pm when we
quit and with Willa went to the band lawn party at W. Real’s,
which turned out a big success. Harry Bennett of Toronto was the
star. Got home about 11:30.
12 – John came about an hour in the morning and finished the field
then Oliver Luke came for the binder. Raked the rye stubble and
then took Willa to Port Perry on her way to Newcastle. Plowed a
bit in the afternoon and in the evening went up and helped to clean
up after the party. Bella Gordon of Boston and Annie McMillan,
John and Bella Lee called in the afternoon.
13 – A very fine day. Plowed and harrowed in the forenoon.
Drew in the rye rakings and put in new posts for the gate down the
east lane.
14 – A very fine day. Spent the whole day in doing a number of
small jobs. Everybody around cutting grain.
15 – A fine day and pretty warm. Spent all the day filling up the
big wash out in the pasture field SW of the orchard. At band prac-
tice in the evening. Wes Luke called on his way to Port Perry for
repairs to binder and sold me his share for $15.00. Ned Luke
stayed here while he was away.
16 – A very fine day. At SS and church with little Annie, Mr.
Cameron preached. Did not go to CE. Mother has been very
poorly the last few days. Mr. Mark called in the evening.
17 – A very fine day. Went down to George’s in the morning to
make arrangements about cutting and did some other chores in the
forenoon. Mrs. Gordon here for dinner. In the afternoon starting
about 3 threshing at Mrs. Phair’s. Jason Stone’s new machine with
a straw blower, the first in these parts, and it works very well.
Mrs. Mark came and stayed while Jennie and little Willie went to
Port Perry to meet Jessie Bell and Alma Perrin who came from
Newcastle. Dr. D. Archer came in the evening to see Mother.
18 – A very fine day. At Mrs. Phair’s threshing and finished at
noon. After dinner got A. Lee’s double buggy and went to Port
Perry for Jessie Bell’s trunk, then went to W. Luke’s for the binder
and cut a little after supper. John came up in the morning to help
but went home again. Alma and little Annie went down to Mark’s
in the afternoon.
19 – Cutting oats with John’s help in the forenoon. After dinner
there was some rain and there was no cutting until after supper.
20 – A very fine day. Finished cutting (with John’s help) for the
season in the forenoon and in the afternoon went with Alma Perrin
and little Annie to Seagrave and home by Saintfield and Green-
bank.
21 – A fine day. Helping W. Luke all day at harvest.
22 – At W. Luke’s with horse all day and finished his cutting. A
little before 9 pm Mundo Perrin, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Patton and two
children came and stayed all night. Willa also came with them.
23 – A fine day. At SS and church with Willa, Alma Perrin and
little Annie. George Miller preached, Mr. Cameron being away on
his holidays. At CE with Jennie, Willa and little Willie, a fair
meeting. I was in for leader as Maggie Blair did not turn up.
24 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry the first thing in the
morning for provisions. Mundo Perrin, Alma and Fred Patton
started for home before I got home. Drew in oats the remainder of
the day, George helping. Jennie helping in the barn. Mary Patton
washing and Jessie keeping house.
25 – A great rain through the night and part of the forenoon and
everything soaked, so there was no harvesting today. Cleaned up
the grainery and a few odd jobs. At band practice in the evening.
Expected Mr. Goldring of Port Perry to lead, but he did not come.
26 – A fine day. Went after the beef in the morning and scuffled
the strawberries. In the afternoon went with Jennie to the grave-
yard on the 12th
concession.
27 – A fine day, but pretty cool. Gang plowed in the forenoon and
in the afternoon went with Jennie and the two children to James
Smith’s, calling for supper at Tom Black’s. Jas. C. Mason was
there and we talked until near midnight.
28 – A cool day and threatening rain from the east but did not
come. Jas. Mason went to Toronto and we started for home after
dinner and got here about 5. Mr. Henders called today wanting to
buy apples.
29 – A sort of a mist all day from the east but hardly amounted to
rain. Plowing most of the day.
30 – Heavy rain through the night and off and on through the day
and very heavy in the evening. At SS and church with Jennie,
Mary (Mrs. Patton) and little Annie. G. Miller preached. Did not
go to CE on account of the rain. Lots of grain out yet and badly
soaked again.
31 – A fine day but rather close and damp. Some thunder but no
rain here. Plowing and harrowing in the forenoon and from about
3 pm threshing at A. Lee’s, Jason Stone’s machine. Mr. and Mrs.
Alex Cragg there. Mr. Lyle the new tenant of the place was there
also. Jennie and Mary Patton at Port Perry getting the Patton chil-
dren’s picture taken.
SEPT. 1 – Dull most of the day but cleared up some towards eve-
ning. Jessie Bell drove Mary and her children to Port Perry to the
morning train on their way to Newcastle. Threshing at A. Lee’s
88
until about 3:30 and finished. At band practice in the evening. Mr.
Goldring was there for the first time. Rode up and back with Nor-
man Phair.
2 – A fine day, no rain. Reset all the oat shocks in the forenoon
and found them growing pretty bad. Drew out manure and some
other chores in the afternoon. Mrs. O’Neill and Mrs. Carneggie
here in the afternoon. They were after crab apples but we have
none this year.
3 – A fine day. Finished drawing out manure. Got 6 bags of oats
from A. Lee and did some other small jobs. Some of the
neighbours drawing in grain, it cannot be very dry. Willa and the
2 children at Mark’s and after supper at Greenbank for the mail.
4 – A dry day. A thunder storm went round in the afternoon but
only a few drops of rain here. Drawing in oats all day, in the fore-
noon with Jennie’s help and Albert Akhurst and Jennie in the af-
ternoon. Finished harvest, late this year on account of the rain.
5 – A very fine cool day. Plowing in the forenoon and did some
odd jobs in the afternoon while Jennie, Willa and the two children
went to Port Perry. Took little Annie to the Dr. as she has not been
doing very well lately.
6 – A fine cool day. At SS and church with Jennie, G. Miller
preached. J.M. Real was at SS, the first time this year. At CE, a
fair meeting, C. Gordon leader.
7 – Jess drove Jennie and I to Port Perry to the morning train and
we went to Toronto to the Dominion Industrial Fair.19
Went first to
Jas. Masons, 88 Winchester Street, and then to the fair. An im-
mense crowd. One of the big attractions is the Queen Victoria
Jubilee presents. Did not stay to the fireworks as it was raining a
little. Stayed at Mason’s all night.
8 – Went first to see the zoo in Riverside Park and then to the Fair
again. Another very large crowd. The great attraction was the
Coldstream Guards Band of London, England. They played very
fine. Left the grounds about 3:30, went to Mason’s again. Train
about an hour late in getting to Port Perry. Jessie drove down for
us. Willa and the two children at Port Perry in the forenoon.
9 – A very fine day. Plowing all day. J. Goldring called wishing
to sell a sewing machine.
10 – A fine day. Some thunder in the afternoon but very little rain.
Plowing all day.
11 – A fine day. Doing some odd chores in the forenoon while
Jennie went to Port Perry. Plowing in the afternoon. Willa walked
to Greenbank.
12 – A fine day and pretty warm. Plowing all day. Edith Phair,
Lilley Throop of Keene, and A. McArthur here in the evening.
19
The Dominion Industrial Fair started in 1879. The
name was later changed to the Canadian National
Exhibition.
13 – A fine day and pretty warm. At SS and church with Jessie,
Willa and little Annie. Mr. Cameron preached. At CE with Jennie
and little Willie. Jas A. Miller was leader.
14 – A very fine day. Plowing and harrowing. Went to Greenbank
after dinner. Neighbour Lyle started plowing.
15 - A very fine day. I think about the warmest this year, 80 in the
shade. Gang plowing all day. Went up to Wes Luke’s after din-
ner. Walked to band practice in the evening.
16 – Another very warm day. Plowing and harrowing in the fore-
noon and picking up apples in the afternoon. At prayer meeting, E.
Boe leader. A good deal of thunder in the afternoon but no rain.
17 – Rain off and on most of the forenoon, some better in the af-
ternoon. 32 degrees colder than yesterday. Did very little but a
few odd chores. W. Luke here in the afternoon.
18 – A fine day, a few little sun showers. Threshing at A. Ak-
hurst’s (J. Leask’s machine) in the forenoon and at George’s
(Luke’s barn) in the afternoon. Jennie, Willa and the two children
at Port Perry in the forenoon. Mrs. Jas. Leask and Mrs. Annie
Gordon here in the afternoon.
19 – Quite a hard frost in the morning, the first of the season.
Threshing at George’s until about 9 and finished the barn, then to
D. Cragg’s and I went and built his stack. Mr. Henders called
buying apples.
20 – A fine day. At SS and church, Mr. Cameron preached.
Jessie and Willa went to church at Port Perry. George Fowlie here
for dinner and he and Willa and little Annie went to church. At CE
with Jennie and little Willie, a good turnout, E. Boe leader.
21 – A very fine day. Digging potatoes all day. Jennie picked up
nearly all that were dug. Willa and Nellie Michie went down to
James Smith’s for Mrs. Mason’s gramophone. They got home
about 8:30. Norman Phair, Armour McMillan and Arch McArthur
called in (having been down to Mark’s) to hear a few tunes on the
gramophone.
22 – Another very fine day. At the potatoes all day alone. Went
down to Port Perry in the evening for Mrs. Joyce who had been at
J. Smith’s for a few days. Spent the evening with music on the
gramophone.
23 – A fine day, but some rain and rough towards night and in the
evening. Went for the beef in the morning, then at the potatoes.
Mrs. Joyce, Jessie and the two children visiting at Mark’s. Mr. and
Mrs. Cameron called in the afternoon. Jennie, Mrs. Joyce and the
two children at tea at Wes Luke’s. Music in the evening.
24 – A pretty cool day. Picked up apples in the forenoon and took
them (21 bags) to Port Perry evaporators in the afternoon. Mrs.
Gordon here for dinner and Mrs. Joyce went with her to S. Dusty’s.
After supper I took her from there to Greenbank. Port Perry’s new
electric light system starts tonight.
25 – A fine day. Finished the potato digging in the forenoon and in
the afternoon at preparatory service in the church. Rev. ____ of
Sunderland preached a great sermon. Jennie and Annie also there.
89
In the evening there was a concert until about 11 pm. Sandy
Gordon, Mrs. Alex Lee and all the children, all the Michie crowd,
and Phair’s young folks, A. Dusty, Albert and Mrs. A. [Akhurst],
and E. And Ernie Salter were the crowd.
26 – A very fine day. Harrowing in the forenoon. Cut the corn in
the little plot near the pump. Then drove with the waggon to Port
Perry for the meal and waiting until the 8 train for Aunt Janet but
she did not come. Arch McArthur here in the evening.
27 – A pretty raw day with high wind. At communion with Jennie
at Greenbank, Mr. Cameron preached. John Lee called in the
afternoon. At CE with Willa and Jessie, an extra large meeting.
Ethel Miller leader. Special collection to make up the balance of
$50.00 to help a student in the north west.
28 – A pretty cool day. Took Jessie Bell to the morning train on
her way back to Rochester after being here 6 weeks. Harrowed the
remainder of the forenoon. Cleaned the clock and cut corn in the
orchard in the afternoon. Gramophone concert in the evening.
29 – A very fine day. Cutting corn most of the day. Jennie and
little Annie at Port Perry in the afternoon.
30 – Cutting corn all day and finished the job. At gramophone
concert with Willa in the basement of church for the W.F.M.S., a
full house and lasted 2 ½ hours. Proceeds $22.00. 11 little pigs
came, two dead.
OCT. 1 – Rain through the night, a little at midday, and quite
heavy in the evening. Binding corn in the forenoon and in the
afternoon drawing it to the fence side. Very wet and heavy to
handle.
2 – A fine clear day. Finished setting up the corn in the forenoon.
After dinner went with Annie to Greenbank for the mail and then
plowed at the corn ground. G. Rose called and talked life insur-
ance.
3 – A very fine day. Plowing all day. Mrs. and Mrs. A. Lee and
children here in the evening to hear the gramophone.
4 – A fine day. At SS and church with Annie. Children’s service,
which went off very well. No CE as S. of T. sermon was preached
in Methodist church. Did not go out in the evening.
5 – A fine day. Plowing all day. Silas Butt called to tell about
threshing at W. Luke’s tomorrow. At church managers meeting in
the evening. Mr. Mills of Port Perry put a stair in the basement
today.
6 – At W. Luke’s threshing all day (Jason Stone’s machine) and at
band practice at night. Willa and Annie at Greenbank in the after-
noon.
7 – Some little showers in the forenoon. James Smith, who had
been at Mark’s last night, came up in the morning and stayed about
2 hours. Plowing all day.
8 – A fine day, pretty cool in the evening. Plowing until about 5
pm when I went with George’s team with 11 others of the band to
Sonya to help at a concert for the Layton band. Not a very large
turnout but a fair time. Got home at 1 o’clock.
9 – A fine day but pretty cool. Threshing all day at Mrs. Phair’s
(Ben Ward’s machine). Jennie and little Annie at Port Perry in the
afternoon.
10 – Threshing at R. Nottingham’s in the forenoon (Ben Ward’s
machine) and plowing in the afternoon. Went down to Mark’s in
the evening to talk over Nellie’s wedding. A fine day.
11 – A fine day. At SS and church with Willa and Annie, Mr.
Cameron preached. At CE, a good meeting, Miss Lizzie Baird
leader.
12 – A fine day. Plowing in the forenoon. Jennie, Willa and the
children went to Port Perry in the afternoon. They sent a box to
Anna Tait at Winnipeg. Topped a few mangolds.
13 – A beautiful day. Threshing all day at Joe Burton’s (for W.
Luke). Jennie and Willa baking for Nellie’s wedding. Jennie and
little Annie at Mark’s fixing the wedding cake. Nellie and Jessie
called in the evening.
14 – A very fine day. Went up to A. Lee’s and got 5 bags of oats
then plowed the rest of the forenoon. Willa at Mark’s preparing
for the wedding. Nellie and Jessie up for cakes. At 4 o’clock
Willa, Annie and I at Nellie’s wedding, married to Willie O’Neill
by Rev. J. M. Cameron. About 65 or more present. Came home
early. Tom Black came up with me and stayed awhile. Walter
Bratley stayed all night. [margin note: Willie O’Neill and Nellie
Michie married].
15 – Thanksgiving day. Foggy in the morning and a thunder storm
in the evening. Plowing in the forenoon. Walter left for home. In
the afternoon went to Thanksgiving service in the church with
Jennie and Annie. Rev. Mr. Sparks, Church of England minister of
Sunderland, preached to a pretty good congregation.
16 – A fine day. Plowing in the forenoon and taking in potatoes (2
loads) in the afternoon.
17 – Plowing in the forenoon. Topping mangolds awhile in the
afternoon until rain came on. Then with the two children went to
Greenbank for the mail. More rain in the evening, some thunder.
18 – A pretty cool day with some rain flurries. At SS and church
with Willa and Annie, Mr. Cameron preached. Fred Vesey, who
has been in England for 27 years, was there. Did not go to CE.
19 – A fine day. At the mangolds all day and got in 6 loads.
Jennie washing. A one legged man here for dinner.
20 – At the mangolds all day and finished, 10 loads today. Went to
band practice in the evening but when I got to Greenbank I heard
that Joseph Watson died this evening so I went over to the house
with Albert Phoenix. Called in at Luke’s on the way home.
90
21 – A fine day. At Port Perry in the forenoon with Jennie and
little Willie. All hands picking apples in the afternoon. At prayer
meeting with Willa, large meeting, Mr. Cameron leader. Tax
collector called.
22 – A fine day with a high wind in the afternoon. In the forenoon
took out to the evaporator at Port Perry 24 bags of apples. In the
afternoon went to Jas. Watson’s funeral. There was a very large
turnout. The service was held in the Presbyterian church, Rev. Mr.
McFarlane conducted the service. There was also present Revs.
Holts, Cowan, Limbert and Cameron.
23 – A pretty cool day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with a
load of apples. Alex and Melinda Gordon here for some apples.
Mrs. Gordon Sr. came with them and stayed all afternoon and night
as Mother has been sinking for the last few days and is now very
low. Mrs. Mark came up after dinner and helped us to finish pick-
ing the apples. George, Jessie and Nellie also came for some ap-
ples. Mr. Cameron called about 4 o’clock.
24 – A pretty cool day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with
apples (the rest of them). Mrs. Gordon stayed all day and night
and Mrs. Mark came in the evening and stayed all night. We
watched at Mother’s bed most of the afternoon and she died about
6:45 pm. After supper Willa went down to tell George to go to
Greenbank to make some arrangements about the funeral while I
went to Port Perry to telephone to Whitby, Raglan and Toronto.
Then went to Manchester to get the death registered, got home
about 10.
25 – A very fine day. George Michie and Norman Phair called in
the forenoon. Took Mrs. Gordon home in the morning and called
at W. Luke’s and Mr. Nottingham’s. Albert Akhurst and Mrs.
Akhurst and Maggie and Mamy Dusty called. J.W. Nott and son
came at noon with the coffin. Mr. Luke and Mrs. and Mrs. Lamb
and son of Manchester called in the afternoon, and Mr. and Mrs.
Alex Gordon Jr., Arthur, Jennie and Bessie Gordon, and Mrs.
Dusty, Allie, Jim and Ray Dusty called in the evening. This has
been a strange Sunday to me.
26 – A very raw cold day with high wind from the NW. Went up
to the graveyard to see Mr. Till about digging Mother’s grave.
Nellie O’Neill went to Port Perry to meet the 10 train and brought
up Margaret Bratley. James Smith’s, and Annie Black came at
noon. Barbara did not as she is in Toronto taking care of little
Kennedy Mason who is very ill. Funeral in the afternoon. Mr.
Cameron conducted the service. W.J. Nott undertaker. The bear-
ers were Alex Gordon Sr., John Lee, W. Akhurst, E. Boe, R. Not-
tingham and Jas. McMillan. Service at the church, Rev. Mr. Lam-
bert assisted. Jas. Smith and Annie Black left for home about 5.
Margaret stayed all night.
27 – Quite a snow drizzle a good part of the afternoon. Topped
some turnips in the forenoon and threshed at home in the afternoon
(Stone’s machine). Drove out to Port Perry in the evening through
the rain to hear the great Mark Guy Pearce lecture in the Methodist
church. Liked it very well but there was some of it I could not
catch as he spoke very fast. Jason Stone and _____ Bush stayed all
night. Willa drove Margaret to Port Perry on her way home.
28 – A very fine day. Finished threshing in about 2 hours and then
they moved to George’s. They broke the king bolt of the cleaner
trucks and the front wheels came out in our lane east of the barn.
Helping George to thresh the remainder of the day. Jennie and
little Willie went to Port Perry to see the Dr. Willa went with
Norman Phair to Port Perry in the evening to hear Mark Grey
Pearce.
29 – A very fine day. Threshing at George’s until about 10 when
they finished. Topping turnips in the afternoon. Willa and Annie
went to Greenbank for the mail. Jennie and Willa making quilts.
30 – A fine day. At the turnips all day alone and got in 6 loads.
Joe Burton got away with the ladders to paint his house.
31 – Several little showers during the day. At turnips all day alone,
got in 8 loads.
NOV. 1 - A very fine day. At SS and church with Annie, Mr.
Cameron preached. Willa walked to CE in the evening. Jennie
had bad chills through last night.
2 – A beautiful day. At the turnips all day alone and got in 11
loads.
3 – A very fine day. Topping turnips alone all day and finished.
Jennie and little Willie at Port Perry in the forenoon, her principal
errand being to see the Dr.
4 – A very fine day. At turnips all day along and got in 8 loads.
Jessie Michie came up after to invite Willa to a party at William’s
on the 7th
concession but she did not go. Willa walked to Green-
bank in the afternoon for the mail. Jennie took sick in the evening
and about 8 o’clock I went to W. Real’s and telephoned for the Dr.
He came right away. Willa went for Mrs. Mark but there was no
immediate need and they all went to bed for awhile.
5 – Rain about 1 am. The Dr. got out of bed about 2 and between
that and 3 a stillborn girl was born. We fully expected it to be so.
Got very little sleep. At the turnips part of the forenoon and got in
3 loads. After dinner took the baby to the graveyard and came
home by the 12th
conc. and called at D. Cragg’s to see if some help
could be got at the turnips. Jennie doing as well as could be ex-
pected. Willa acting as nurse, cook and housekeeper.
6 – A pretty hard frost in the morning and cold all day. Finished
rowing up the turnips and plowed a bit in the orchard in the fore-
noon. Dr. D. Archer called at 10 am. At the turnips in the after-
noon, Wes Cragg helping, and got in 9 loads. Jessie Michie and
Mrs. Gordon here in the afternoon.
7 – A pretty cold day. Threshing at George’s all day (clover and
buckwheat at the Luke barn, J. Leask’s machine). Went to Port
Perry in the evening to meet Aunt Janet who was coming to stay a
few days but she did not come.
8 – A fine day but cool. At SS and church with Annie, Mr. Cam-
eron preached. Willa drove to CE in the evening.
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9 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry with the two children in the
forenoon for Aunt Janet but it was another fool’s errand as she did
not come. At the turnips in the afternoon and finished the job, 6
loads into a pit. 51 loads in all.
10 – A fine day. Plowing and harrowing in the orchard. Alex Lee
called on his way to Port Perry and brought the [?] which he bor-
rowed in the spring.
11 – A fine day. Plowing sod (last of the orchard) most of the day.
Aunt Janet came just before dinner, she walked out from Port
Perry. At Greenbank in the evening with Willa to hear Mr.
McKay, a Knox College student, give an address on his work as a
missionary in the north west. A fair turnout and quite interesting.
Very dark rainy night coming home.
12 – A fine day. Plowing sod all day. Aunt Janet washing. Jennie
not so well today.
13 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning to see the Dr.
about Jennie who has bad pains in her breast and shoulder. The
Dr. did not come but sent some stuff to rub on. Cleaned out the pig
house and in the afternoon plowed sod. Mrs. A. Lee called just
before dinner.
14 – Quite a hard frost in the morning. Went after the colt which
has been pasturing at A. Lee’s during the summer. Talked to a
scale pedlar and plowed the rest of the day. Willa at Mrs.
Gordon’s with a bonnet she had been fixing for her. A snow storm
in the forenoon.
15 – A fine day but pretty cold. At SS and church with Willa and
Annie, Rev. Mr. Fizzell of East Church, Toronto preached a fine
sermon. Mr. Cameron was preaching for Mr. Fizzell. At CE with
Willa. An extra large meeting, I took the topic.
16 – A little drizzle from the east which froze as it fell and contin-
ued most of the day. Got all the cattle tied up. Covered the turnip
pit, cleaned out the pig and hen house and several other chores.
17 – Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with Willa. Plowing in the
afternoon. Alex Lee called with the mail.
18 – Hard frost, too hard to plough. Did a number of small jobs
during the day. John Lee called in the afternoon with the papers.
Aunt Janet washing. Quite a snow storm about 4 o’clock.
19 – A fine day. Worked at the root house most of the forenoon
and in the afternoon went to Port Perry with 17 bags of oats and
rye to get ground. Took the waggon as there was not snow enough
for sleighing. Alex Lee threshing clover.
20 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for the meal
and took Aunt Janet to the station on her way home. Putting straw
on the strawberries in the afternoon. Willa down to Mark’s in the
afternoon.
21 – A fine day. Finished covering the strawberries in the fore-
noon. Slipped off the load of straw and sprained my thumb, the
horses ran away around the barn. At Greenbank in the afternoon to
get the old sleigh shod. Babies and Willa somewhat laid up with
the cold.
22 – A very fine day, inclined to thaw. At SS and church alone
(Willa and the two children being laid up with colds). Mr. Cam-
eron preached. At CE, a good attendance and a good meeting,
Lizzie Forfar leader. Willie had croup in the evening.
23 – Had quite a time with Willie with the croup through the night.
Willa in bed most of the day. Snowing in the forenoon which
turned to a drizzle of rain. Spent the day in a number of small
jobs.
24 – Much colder and quite winter-like. Did some odd chores.
Jennie and Willa mending the old cutter robe. Jessie Michie called
in the forenoon.
25 – A beautiful day. Choring in the forenoon and threshing at A.
Lee’s (Jim Lee place) in the afternoon. Willa drove to Greenbank
in the afternoon for the mail.
26 – Very cold morning, 2 above zero. Threshing at A. Lee’s until
an hour after dinner, then went to Greenbank with the waggon for
the part of the sleigh. Jennie and Willa washing woodwork in the
kitchen.
27 – A very fine day. Drawing up wood from the swamp field
(with the sleigh) to the woodshed. After dinner started for a stone
drawing bee for Isaac O’Neill but met Mrs. Mark who said the bee
was put off.
28 – A fine day. Drawing wood into the woodshed all day. W.
Petty called in just before dinner. Joe Burton came in the after-
noon with the sleigh bringing back the ladders which he had paint-
ing his house. Wilbert Lee brought the mail in the evening.
29 – A fine day, some snow in the forenoon. At SS and church
with Jennie and Annie, Mr. Cameron preached. At CE alone, a fair
meeting , Mrs. W. Wallace leader. Decided to have a social on the
15th
Dec.
30 – A very nice day. Cleaned the stove pipes and drew in some
wood in the forenoon. Jennie washing. In the afternoon all hands
at Port Perry with the sleigh. At Mark’s in the evening with Willa
having a sing.
DEC. 1 – A fine day. Choring about the barn all day. At band
practice in the evening.
2 – A very fine day. Drew in some corn and other chores. Mr. and
Mrs. McLaren of Columbus came about 4 pm and Mr. Cameron
and son John came just before supper. In the evening went up with
Mr. McLaren and Willa to the church where Mr. McLaren gave a
lecture. There was a good turnout and the lecture was good, col-
lection $6.13. Mr. and Mrs. McLaren stayed all night.
3 – A very fine day. Mr. and Mrs. McLaren left for home about 9
am, calling at A. Lee’s first. Did some chores in the forenoon and
in the afternoon went (with the cutter) with Willa to Port Perry.
4 – A fine day, some snow in the evening. Drew in the remainder
of the corn with Jennie’s help in the forenoon. Cutting wood in the
swamp in the afternoon. At Mark’s in the evening having a sing.
Willa visiting at W. O’Neill’s.
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5 – Some snow in the forenoon and wintery like. Chored in the
forenoon and went to Greenbank for the mail in the afternoon.
6 – A fair day, drifting a little. All hands at SS and church (the
first time for several years), Mr. Cameron preached. At CE in the
evening alone, rather small meeting, E. Boe leader. Willa and John
Michie at Bethesda.
7 – A fine day. Cutting wood in the swamp all day. Jennie wash-
ing. Seeder agents and scales pedlar called in the evening. Rode
up with Norman Phair.
8 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry with the sleigh in the
morning and met Barbara, Annie Mason and Kennedy. Cut some
wood in the swamp in the afternoon. At Mark’s in the evening
having a sing. Willa went with a load on Phair’s sleigh to Be-
thesda’s hot supper. A very fine evening.
9 – Rather an unpleasant day, snowing a little from the east.
Choring all day. Jennie and Barbara went to the W.F.M.S. meeting
at Mrs. Walker’s. Barbara went home with Mrs. Mark for tea. I
took Mrs. Mason and Kennedy down to Mark’s on my way to
prayer meeting and called for them on my way home. E. Boe
leader of the meeting. An after meeting about SS helps, a small
attendance.
10 – Somewhat cold and stormy. Took Barbara, Mrs. Mason and
Kennedy to Port Perry to the train on their way home. Jennie and
little Annie went with us. Willa at Mark’s in the evening.
11 – Somewhat wintery. Cutting wood in the swamp most of the
day. At Mark’s in the evening singing. Joe Coldring called in the
forenoon wanting to sell an organ. Mrs. Mark, Mrs. W. O’Neill
and Jessie Michie here for tea, it being little Annie’s birthday, 4
years old.
12 – Cut wood in the swamp in the forenoon. Snowed some in the
forenoon and in the afternoon it settled down to a regular snow
storm from the south and about 4 to 6 inches fell. In the evening it
turned to rain. We were expecting Mrs. Perrin up from Newcastle
but she did not come.
13 – Rain through the night but quite cold in the morning and
getting colder all day with high NW wind. All hands at SS and
church, Mr. Cameron preached. The church pretty cold as only
one furnace was going on account of the west one smoking. No
one from here at CE.
14 – A cold day, just zero in the morning with a high NW wind,
but got some milder during the day. Cutting wood in the swamp
and at band practice in the evening.
15 – A pretty cold day. Cutting wood in the swamp in the fore-
noon, choring in the afternoon. G. Rose called and talked life
insurance. At Greenbank in the evening with Willa to a CE social
in the basement. The young people of the other churches were
there and quite a good time.
16 – A pretty cold day, snow in the forenoon. Cutting wood in the
forenoon. In the afternoon went with the sleigh to Port Perry and
took out 14 old hens. Took Jennie and the children down to
Mark’s on the way and called for them on the way home. Willa
went to Port Perry.
17 – A very fine day. Jennie washing. Made some decoration rope
in the forenoon and at Greenbank in the afternoon getting horse
shod. Called at E. Boe’s, J. Lee’s and W. Akhurst’s. Willa visit-
ing at Mark’s.
18 – A very fine day. Did a few chores and bagged up some oats
and rye with Jennie’s help and took them to the mill at Port Perry
in the afternoon. Made decoration rope for SS in the evening.
Willa gone with a load to public school concert at Saintfield.
19 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for the
meal and in the afternoon went with Willa and little Annie to deco-
rate the SS room. George and Jessie Michie, Mary Dusty, Lizzie
Forfar, D. Till, J. Lee, W. Akhurst, Maggie Blair, Ethel Miller and
Jas. Miller helping. W. Gordon called selling pictures. Snowing in
the evening.
20 – Snow through the night and most of the day and evening.
Somewhat soft but got colder at night. All hands at SS and church,
Mr. Cameron preached. 118 at SS, the largest number that I re-
member. Prizes given to primary class. Little Annie came in 7th
and got a nice book.
21 – Fair weather with a little snow. Cut wood in the swamp in the
forenoon and in the afternoon helped to pick 16 chickens for the
Christmas market. At church managers meeting and band practice
in the evening.
22 – A very rough cold day in the morning but it turned out a fine
day. Kept house while Jennie and Willa went to Port Perry fair
with chickens and butter. There was a big turnout. They got home
after 3. At Mark’s in the evening singing.
23 – A fine day. Choring in the forenoon. Jennie washing. At
preparatory service in the afternoon with Jennie. Rev. Mr. Sinclair
of Sonya preached. W. Taylor moves out of James Lee’s house.
24 – A somewhat wet rainy day. Cutting wood in the swamp in the
forenoon and doing little in the afternoon as it was wet. At Green-
bank in the evening to a S. of T. concert, which turned out to be
quite a pleasant time. The band took part.
25 – A very fine bright Christmas day. All hands went to Wes
Luke’s for dinner and got home (after a pleasant afternoon) about 5
pm. Willa went to Christmas tree at Seagrave in the evening with
John Michie.
26 – The coldest day of the season so far, 15 below zero in the
morning and kept below all day. Bright and clear. Did nothing but
the chores. Jennie [?] leaves today for Manitoba to teach school
there.
27 – Snowing, blowing from the west and drifting all day. Went
with Jennie to communion at Wick, Mr. Cameron preached. There
was a poor turnout from Greenbank, likely on account of the
weather. Did not go out in the evening. John Michie here in the
evening.
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28 – 16 below zero in the morning and it did not get above zero all
day. Cut wood in the swamp in the afternoon. Jennie washing. At
band practice in the evening.
29 – Snowing most of the day especially about noon. Cleaned out
the pig house, banked up the root house and several other chores.
Silas Butt called in the forenoon with Sandy Gordon and got the
loan of the invalids chair. Silas is looking bad and is not long for
this world to all appearances.
30 – A fine day but pretty cold. Went to Port Perry in the after-
noon with Jennie. At annual Sunday School meeting with Jennie
in the evening, a pretty fair turnout. Was chosen superintendant
for the third time.
31 – Snowing again in the forenoon. Cut some wood in the swamp
in the afternoon. Snow pretty deep in the swamp.
1904
JAN. 1 – Somewhat rough in the morning but turned out a fine day
but pretty cold. All hands went down to Mark’s for dinner. W.
Akhurst, Alex Lee and all his family, and James Lee (who came
home from [?] last night) were there, and in the evening went to
the Methodist supper and concert. The band played some after
supper then the cantata ‘Under the Palms’ was given and went off
very well. A good turnout, took in $141.00.
2 – A very cold day, 8 below in the morning and kept below all
day. Chored in the forenoon and went to Port Perry in the after-
noon and sold the pigs for $5.00 per cwt.
3 – A pretty cold day. At SS and church with Willa and Annie.
Election of teachers. Mr. Cameron preached. Jennie and Willa at
CE, Willa chosen president for the next half year.
4 – A very cold day, 20 below zero in the morning and never
higher than 6 below, but there was almost no wind. Went to Port
Perry in the forenoon with 10 pigs, which weighed 1910 lbs. at
$5.00 per cwt. Election for reeve in the township between Norman
Stewart and John Doble. Did not go out to vote. (Stewart elected).
Willa at Mark’s awhile in the afternoon.
5 – A fine day, 8 below zero in the morning but got warmer during
the day. Did little but the chores. Jennie and Willa baking and
churning. G.D. McMillan, wife and family here in the afternoon
and for tea. John Michie and Norman Phair called in the evening.
6 – A fine mild day. Cutting wood in the swamp. Jennie, Willa
and the children visiting at A. Gordon’s in the afternoon and upset
on the way home. At annual church meeting in the evening, a
good turnout. A. Gordon, Jas. Leask, Jas. McMillan, and P. Leask
(1st
time) were chosen managers. $24.00 cash on hand.
7 – A fine day. Cutting wood in the swamp. Jennie, Willa and the
children visiting at W. H. Leask’s.
8 – A good deal milder, snow through the night and off and on
through the day. W. Mark came up after dinner to ask Willa to a
party at W. McMillans at Saintfield. Jennie, Willa and I went to
W. Thomas’ for a visit in the afternoon. We went by Greenbank
and just as we got there Edward Phoenix’s funeral was going up
the hill to the graveyard. We had not heard that he was dead. Got
home at 6 pm. Willa went with George Michie in the sleigh to the
party.
9 – Rather a rough stormy day. Cut a little wood in the swamp in
the forenoon and nothing but chores in the afternoon. Jennie com-
plaining of sore throat.
10 – A fine day but pretty cold. At church and SS with Willa and
Annie, Mr. Cameron preached against swearing. At CE with
Willa, a good meeting, G.D. McMillan leader.
11 – A fine day. Cut some wood in the swamp in the afternoon.
Had a bad cold. At managers meeting in the evening. W.H. Leask
elected chairman, J.W. Real sec. N. Mitchell of Seagrave called
selling binder twine.
12 – A fine day, but pretty cold. Bagged up 21 bags of mixed
grain in the forenoon and took them to the mill at Port Perry in the
afternoon. Jennie went out with me. Alex Lee called in the morn-
ing.
13 – Milder until about the middle of the afternoon when it started
to snow hard from the NE. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for
the meal and in the afternoon drove Jennie to the W.F.M.S. meet-
ing at the church.
14 – A very rough stormy day and drifting from the NW all day.
Expect the roads are blocked. Did chores and put up some shelves
where the west kitchen door used to be.
15 – A fine clear day, roads pretty badly blocked. Went up as far
as A. Lee’s to see about the road in the forenoon and broke roads
in the afternoon. John Michie here in the evening.
16 – Some snow off and on during the day which turned to a regu-
lar hurricane from the NW in the evening. Did very little but the
chores. Cleaned out the pig and hen houses. John Michie and his
mother called on their way home from Greenbank with the mail.
Little Annie sick with the cold. Willie has been bad but is improv-
ing.
17 – A very cold day, below zero most of the time with quite a NW
wind. It drifted all night and the roads in many places are impass-
able. I walked to SS alone as the concession is blocked. There
was 28 present. A.T. Harris’s was the only rig there, all the rest
walked. There was no church service as Mr. Cameron did not
come. No CE.
18 – The coldest day so far, 18 below zero in the morning and
never I think higher than about 10 all day. Clear with a light wind
from the NW. Did nothing but the chores. K. Lee came down
with the mail.
19 – Pretty cold, about 8 or 10 below zero in the morning but got
to about 10 above in the afternoon but pretty rough, the wind being
from the south. Went to Greenbank in the afternoon.
20 - Thawing a very little all day. Did nothing but the chores as I
was somewhat out of turn. Little Willie pretty sick in the evening.
Willa went to Port Perry in the afternoon.
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21 – A pretty raw day with an east wind and threatening snow
sometimes. Went to Greenbank in the afternoon for the mail and
called in to see Mr. and Mrs. Akhurst who are both in bed sick.
Mrs. Mark is waiting on them. John Michie here in the evening.
22 – Hail through the night and thawing all day, rain towards night.
This is the first thaw of any account since winter set in. Did the
chores and made new shafts for the horse rake.
23 – The thaw is over, colder today and fine. Alex Lee came down
in the afternoon and bossed the killing of a pig. He was saying that
Jim Lee had rented his farm to Richard Cragg for 5 years.
24 – A cold day with a high west wind. At SS and church with
Willa, Robert Leask preached as Mr. Cameron has been sick the
last few days. Willa went to Mark’s for tea. At CE, a fair meeting,
I was the leader. R. Akhurst was at church. Took up collection in
SS for children’s hospital, got between $4.00 and 5.
25 – A very cold day, about zero all day but clear. George Michie
called in the forenoon. Did the chores and cut down the pig and
cut a keyhole in the north kitchen door.
26 – A rough day and snowing from the east and about zero all
day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon and up to Burton’s in the
afternoon, roads heavy.
27 – A fine clear day but sharp frost. Went down to Mark’s in the
forenoon to practice for the social at W. McMillan’s. Alex Lee
here when I was away. Went with Willa in John Michie’s sleigh to
the CE social at W. McMillans. It was a beautiful clear moonlight
night, but the roads were rather heavy. There was a quite a good
turnout and a pleasant time. About $15.00 taken in. Got home at 1
am. Dr. Langester of Port Perry died in Toronto today and word
came that Andrew Ross is dead in Manitoba.
28 - A very fine clear but cold day, 10 below zero in the morning.
Went to Port Perry with Jennie in the forenoon and fixed a place in
the woodshed for coal in the afternoon. Joe Stone, the drover,
called. Jennie baking for party.
29 – A very fine day but cold, below zero most all day. Went to
Port Perry in the forenoon to see the remains of Andrew Ross
which is laying in the Presbyterian church. In the afternoon went
to Alex Lee’s for some dishes. In the evening there was an oyster
supper and dance under the management of Jas. Lee. There was
just 50 present and all appeared to have a good time. It broke up
between 2 and 3 am.
30 – A fine day and a little warmer. Went to Port Perry in the
afternoon for coal for the cook stove, the first ever got for that
purpose on this place. Jennie and Willa cleaning up after the party.
31 – A fair day, some little snow towards night and in the evening.
All hands at SS and church, a Mr. McLaren of Toronto preached a
good sermon on home missions. Jennie and Willa at CE.
FEB. 1 – A very cold day with a sharp wind from the NW, below
zero most of the day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for some
medicine for sick cow. Cleaned the stove pipes in the afternoon.
Jennie washing. Our coal burning experience so far has not been
very satisfactory. 15 below zero when we went to bed.
2 – Did nothing but the chores. Snowing a little all day from the
east. John Michie called in the evening.
3 – Snowing and drifting a little most of the day. George Michie
and his mother here in the forenoon for bedding for John who is to
have an operation next Monday. Alex Lee here in the afternoon
bagging up oats. Jennie baking.
4 – Another very cold day, drifting some all day. Did nothing but
the chores, nursing toothache. Alex Lee came for his oats.
5 – Cold day. Drove Jennie down to Mark’s in the afternoon, then
up as far as A. Lee’s to break the road. John in bed again with the
old trouble.
6 – About 4 inches of fresh snow fell during the night. A good
deal warmer and thawing all day. James S. Lee called in the morn-
ing with the papers. Drove Jennie down to Mark’s after dinner to
help them with the work and then went to Greenbank. Roads
heavy and snow very deep.
7 – Rain through the night and in forenoon which settled the snow
quite a bit but it got colder towards night with a high NW wind,
roads bad. At SS with Willa and Annie. There was no church
service as the minister did not come. No CE on account of the
roads. Down to zero at bedtime.
8 – About 14 below zero in the morning and very cold all day with
a bitter NW wind which is getting into the root house worse than
anytime so far this winter. Jennie went down to Mark’s in the
morning to help at John’s operation which was performed by Drs.
R. and D. Archer, assisted by Dr. Proctor and nurse Miss Jennison
between 10 and 12 o’clock. The Drs. said it was one of the worst
cases they ever had. Jim Lee was also there. Went up to Green-
bank in the afternoon to meet A. Leask and W. Wallace to make
out the church report for the printer. Went down to Mark’s in the
evening to see how John was. He had suffered very much during
the afternoon. News today that war has commenced between
Russia and Japan.
9 – A very cold day but cannot tell just how cold as George got the
thermometer away yesterday. Went down with Jennie to Mark’s in
the morning to see how John was. He had put in a bad night but
the Dr. said he was doing as well as could be expected. Jennie
stayed all day and helped them to wash. Robert Akhurst here in
the forenoon and for dinner. James Smith came about 5 pm and
brought a fine silver tea service and a fur collar for Jennie, a pre-
sent from George Michie of Griswold, Annie Black, Annie Mason
and Barbara Smith. About 8 pm G.D. McMillan and Willie Leask
came over to make arrangements about getting a Scotch concert
company in connection with the CE. They left for home between
10 and 11.
95
10 – Another very cold day. Went down to Mark’s in the morning
with Jas. Smith. John had put in another bad night but the Dr.
when he came at noon said he was doing first rate. James Smith
left for home after dinner. Drove up and got Mrs. Gordon to come
and keep Willa company in the evening while Jennie and I went to
the band concert at Port Perry. Liked the concert pretty well. The
star was a Mrs. Morrow who sang very nicely. A very cold night.
Willa down at Mark’s awhile in the afternoon. Henders, the
horseman, called.
11 – Clear cold day. Drove Mrs. Gordon to Greenbank in the
morning and got the mail. Cleaned out the pig house in the after-
noon. Willa down in the forenoon to see how John was. He is still
doing all right.
12 - Another pretty cold day, but bright and clear. Went with
Jennie to Port Perry in the forenoon. Called at Mark’s on the way
to hear how John was, he is doing all right. Wilbert Lee came
down with the mail. The papers say Japan is getting the best of the
war so far.
13 – Some milder. Drawing up wood from the swamp, the first of
the year. Snow very deep and bad to get through. George called
after dinner, he says John is getting along fine. The Dr. was there
today and said there was no need for the nurse any longer, so she
goes home tonight.
14 – Somewhat milder but it got very rough at night. All hands at
SS and church. Mr. Cameron is still unable to come, so Mr. Boe
conducted the service. Willa went to Jas. McMillan’s for tea.
Jennie went to CE, rough night but a fair meeting, Mrs. Jas. Leask
leader.
15 – Very cold and drifting badly in the afternoon. Drove Jennie
down to Mark’s to help with the washing, then drew up wood in
the forenoon. George brought Jennie home.
16 – A terrible day of cold with a high NW wind and drifting bad.
The worst block up of the season I think. Did nothing but the
chores. Saw no one except those at home. A. Gordon was to have
called for me to go to a church wood bee at Whetter’s swamp but
he did not come. Fowlie cow dropped a calf in the morning.
17 – Another very cold day in the morning but got some milder
towards night. Alex Lee called in the afternoon . No trains the last
two days.
18 – A good deal milder and a fine day. Drew up wood from the
swamp. James S. Lee called in the evening with the papers. The
snow plough on the railroad went south at 2 pm.
19 – A fine day but cold. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with
oats for meal. Jennie went also and took Willie to the Dr. for a
sore on his leg. Drawing up wood in the afternoon. Willa visiting
at Mark’s.
20 – The finest day for some time. Went to Port Perry in the fore-
noon for the meal. Had quite a time meeting another sleigh in the
deep snow a little north of Isaac Well’s. Drawing up wood in the
afternoon.
21 – Thawing a little, rain in the evening. At SS and church with
Jennie and little Annie. Extra large SS 115. Mr. Cameron
preached, the first time for several weeks. Lizzie McArthur here
for tea. At CE with Jennie, rather a small meeting., Annie
McMillan leader. Used the silver tea service the first time.
22 – Colder again with high NW wind. Drawing up wood from the
swamp and got up all that was cut. Jennie at Mark’s helping to
wash. Willa at Mark’s in the afternoon.
23 – Some snow in the forenoon. Cleaned out the pig house and
some other chores in the forenoon and in the afternoon went with
Alex Gordon to church wood bee at Whetter’s swamp.
24 – Some snow in the morning and pretty rough. Cold and drift-
ing in the afternoon and evening. Went to L. Burnett’s sale. There
was a large crowd and pretty good prices. Tom Black came from
the sale and remained here all night. He was up at A. Lee’s in the
evening.
25 – A very cold rough day and drifting pretty bad. Tom Black
was down at Mark’s most of the forenoon and left for home after
dinner. No trains today.
26 – Quite a fine day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with
Jennie. Sharpened the buck saw in the afternoon. Willa and little
Annie at Mark’s in the afternoon. They went down with a package
of papers for John which came from Mrs. Mason.
27 – A fine day. Went up to A. Lee’s in the morning to see about
taking a load for him to the Burnett place. Took a load of turnips
for him in the afternoon. Jas. Moore, assessor, called in the fore-
noon.
28 – Rain through the night and thunder and thawing a little all day
but got cooler towards night. All hands at SS (105 present) and
church, Mr. Cameron preached. The organ being out of repair it
fell to my lot to start the singing. Jennie and Willa at CE, a good
meeting, Jennie was leader.
29 – Talked about getting up some present to Alex Lee before he
left for Burnett’s place, so after breakfast drove with Jennie to Wes
Luke’s and got his views which were favourable. We then called
at or saw all the Egyptians except Mrs. Phair before dinner. Then
we drove to Port Perry, calling first at Mrs. Phair’s. Got 2 rocking
chairs at W. Nott’s, costing $9.90. The weather on the way to Port
Perry got very rough, a terrible snow and drift from the east. A
little north of the 7th
concession we turned out for a sleigh and had
to unhitch the horse. I was intended to have a presentation of the
chairs at A. Lee’s tonight but the weather was too bad.
MAR. 1 – Snow and hail through the night and thunder. Went up
to A. Lee’s to see about him moving. Roads pretty badly drifted.
G. Michie called for a few minutes in the evening and then James
Lee came and stayed until 11 o’clock. No trains today.
2 – A fine day and thawing a little. Cleaned out the pig pen and
fixed the pig house floor in the forenoon and in the afternoon went
with a load (of calves) for Alex Lee. There were 11 teams and
moved him, bag and baggage, to Burnett’s farm. Jas. Blair Jr.,
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Alex Gordon, A. Akhurst, Jas. Burton, G. Michie, E. Phair, P.
Leask, A. McMillan and Oliver Luke were the men. Got over all
right, the snow very deep.
3 – Rain and thunder through the night and some rain in the morn-
ing which turned to snow and a hurricane from the NW. The
roughest day this winter so far. Saw no one. The wind blew down
the east chimney of the church which smashed through the roof.
Silas Butt died this morning.
4 – A very fine day, 5 below zero in the morning. Went up to A.
Lee’s late residence to see how the roads were and helped Alex to
load up some traps. At Greenbank in the afternoon. G. Michie
called after supper.
5 – Somewhat raw day. Cut some wood and other chores in the
forenoon and in the afternoon went with Jennie to Silas Butt’s
funeral at T. Rundel’s, Port Perry. The bearers were all Greenbank
Forresters, Jas. Burton, Sam Dusty, J.M. Real, Geo. Lee, T.L.
Salter and Albert Phoenix. Sleighing very good.
6 – Mild day and thawing a little. All hands at SS and church,
extra large SS, 118. Mr. Cameron preached on the Bible Society,
it being 100 years since it was started. At CE with Willa, an extra
large meeting, Miss Forfar leader.
7 – Rain off and on all day and the snow going quite a bit. Did
little but the chores. In the evening all hands went to Alex Lee’s to
the surprise and presentation. G. Michie drove the sleigh with 15
big and little [people]. The roads cut up very bad and made it hard
on the horses. Upset altogether once. Got there a little after 9, all
in bed but Jim and Alex. Expected all the rest of the Egyptians
there but they did not come. Had quite a nice time and got home
about 2 am.
8 – A fine day. At Port Perry with Willa in the forenoon and buck
sawing wood in the afternoon. Jennie down at Mark’s helping to
paper the house. Willa at Fred O’Neill’s birthday (21) party in the
evening.
9 – Pretty rough and cold through the night and all day. Did very
little but the chores. Willa got home at 2 am from F. O’Neill’s
party. Think Mr. Lyle moved in today.
10 – A fine day, a little snow in the afternoon. Jennie and little
Annie at Mark’s all day helping to paper. George brought her
home and the bed that John had been using. Went to Port Perry in
the afternoon with oats to the mill and brought home 1730 lbs of
coal @ $6.75. Tom Black and Ralph came about 6 pm. He has
come for the horse power he bought from Alex Lee.
11 – Some rough through the night and forenoon, drifting some
from the east. Tom Black and Ralph went down to Mark’s in the
forenoon and started for home after dinner. Went to Port Perry in
the afternoon for meal and afterwards Willa went to Greenbank for
the mail. James Lee came home with her and stayed for tea. He
and Willa went down to Mark’s for the evening. He came back
and stayed all night.
12 – A fine day. Cut wood and did the chores. James Lee left for
Greenbank after breakfast.
13 – A fine day. All hands at SS and church. An extra large
school (114). Mr. Cameron preached. Willa went to W.
McMillan’s for tea. Jennie at CE, R.T. Harrington leader. John
Michie at church for the first time since his operation.
14 – Fine until towards night when it got rough from the east. Cut
a little wood in the forenoon and in the afternoon attended Jas.
McKitrick’s sale. A good crowd and fair prices. J. Baird and
Abbot auctioneers.
15 – A fine day with a little snow in the forenoon. Went down to
Mark’s to get Jessie to come and stay with Willa while Jennie, the
two children and I went to Columbus. Started at 2, called at T.
Black’s and then on to Jas. Smith’s where we stayed all night. Had
music from the gramophone. Jessie Michie stayed with Willa.
16 – A fine day. Started from Smith’s at 11 and got dinner at
Black’s and got home at 5 pm. Called at Port Perry on the way.
Sleighing pretty good, snow above the fences some places. Went
in the evening with Willa and Jessie to a SS meeting to decide
about an anniversary. A fair turnout and a start made.
17 – A very fine day. Zero in the morning. Cut wood in the
swamp in the forenoon. Wes Luke came after dinner and we
talked all afternoon. He wanted to buy the Fan colt. G.D. and
Nellie McMillan, and Willie and Silva Leask came for tea and
spent the evening, leaving for home at 11 pm.
18 – About 2 inches of snow fell through the night. A very fine
day and thawing some. Cutting wood all day in the swamp. Jessie
Michie came up after dinner and Willa went to Greenbank. Party
at G. Dowson’s tonight.
19 – Cutting wood in the forenoon in the swamp. Snowing from
the south in the afternoon. At Mark’s in the evening practising
singing for McMillan’s social next Monday.
20 – A fine day but pretty cool for the time of year. At SS with
Willa, 116 present. Mr Cameron being ill he was not able to come,
so Mr. Boe conducted the service. Annie McMillan came for tea
and Jennie and Willa went to CE, Mr. Boe leader.
21 – A raw east wind which turned warmer towards night. Went
with Jennie to Wick to see Mr. Cameron who is very ill. We were
not allowed to see him. Cut wood in the afternoon and in the eve-
ning went with Willa to the parlor social at Jas. McMillan’s. A
good turnout, made $14.00. Good sleighing.
22 – Rain through the night and thunder about 7 in the morning
and thawing all day. Drew out of the swamp the bit of wood that
was cut in the forenoon and buck sawed wood in the afternoon.
Willa went with John and Jessie Michie about 3 pm to Alex Lee’s
party.
23 – A fine day and thawing fast. Cutting wood all day on the
wood lot in Luke’s swamp.
24 – Thawing all day. Uncovered the turnip pit and cut wood in
the forenoon while Jennie went to Port Perry. Lyles got stuck with
the sleigh in our field and had to get our sleigh to take off the load.
Went to Greenbank in the afternoon for the mail.
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25 – Rain in the forenoon and again in the evening. Cleaned out
the pig house, drew out the last of the wood that is cut from the
swamp and drew in one load of turnips from the pit. The second
load had to leave in the field as the horses got down in the snow.
Jennie and Willa finished the patchwork for Mrs. Mason’s quilt.
Thawing rapidly and roads in a bad state.
26 – Colder all day. Sawed wood in the forenoon. In the afternoon
drove to Greenbank for the mail but there has been no mail today
or yesterday on account of the roads which are very bad, on the
centre road especially. Word that Mr. Cameron is still no better.
27 – A fine day. At SS and church with Jennie and Annie. As Mr.
Cameron is still very ill there was no minister. Mr. Boe led the
service. The greater part of the congregation went to the other
churches. There was no minister at the Baptist church also. No
one from here at CE on account of bad roads. Saw the first robins
of the season.
28 – Some snow in the afternoon. Cut wood with buck saw most
of the day. Mr. Lyle tried to go to Port Perry by the 10th
conces-
sion but could not go. John Michie here in the evening, the first
time since his operation.
29 – A fine day and thawing a little. Buck sawing wood in the
forenoon and drew in the remainder of the turnips in the pit in the
afternoon.
30 – A fine day and thawing. At Port Perry with Jennie in the
forenoon. Went with cutter via G. Michie’s. Water over the road
but sleighing fair. At Greenbank in the afternoon for mail. Mr.
Cameron reported a little better.
31 – Thawing all day, some rain in the forenoon. Drawing out
manure all day. Jennie preparing to go to Toronto tomorrow.
APR. 1 – Good Friday. Rain through the night. Got up early and
took Jennie and the two children to the morning train at Port Perry
on their way to visit Mrs. J. C. Mason at Toronto. We took the
cutter and most of the way there was fair sleighing. It rained all
the way to Port Perry and back and the snow going fast. Jessie
Michie and Mary Dusty also went to Toronto. Went up to A.
Akhurst’s in the afternoon to ask for their baby which has been
sick and to get some salts for a sick heifer and then cut some wood.
Willa is to be housekeeper while Jennie is away.
2 – Thawing some but got cold towards night. Piled up wood in
the yard in the forenoon and went to Greenbank for the mail in the
afternoon. Drove the cutter and not so bad sleighing.
3 – Pretty cold day. At SS (101) and church with Willa. A stu-
dent, think his name is Wakeup, preached and did very well. Mr.
Cameron is some better. John Michie called for Willa and they
walked to CE but there was no meeting so they went to the Meth-
odist church. John called in on his way home.
4 – A fine day and thawing some. Drew out some manure in the
forenoon. R. Cragg got some oats changed. Split wood in the
afternoon. At church managers meeting in the evening. Had the
cutter.
5 – A very mild spring-like day. Splitting and piling wood all day.
Willa washing and churning.
6 – Another fine spring day. Went up to Lyle’s and Akhurst’s in
the morning to arrange for digging out the road in the afternoon
which was done. Ed Lyle with team and A. Akhurst with shovels.
Finished splitting and piling the wood in the yard.
7 – A fine warm day and the snow going fast. Buck sawed wood
in the swamp field in the forenoon and in the afternoon walked to
Greenbank for the mail. Got a ride home with Joe Burton in his
cart, the first ride on wheels this spring. John Michie called in the
evening and he and Willa went up to A. Akhurst’s.
8 – Fine until about 4 pm when it started to rain from the SE. Buck
sawing wood in the forenoon. G. Michie called to see about berry
bushes. Went to Greenbank in the afternoon with the buggy, the
first time out for the season.
9 – A foggy morning and quite warm day, some thunder but very
little rain. Hitched up the waggon (the first time for the season)
and took 9 bags of oats to Port Perry mill, went by the 10th
conces-
sion. The first one through since the break up, roads pretty bad.
Brought Jennie and the children home from their trip to Toronto
and Newcastle. Worked some in the berry bushes in the afternoon.
10 – A fine day. All hands at SS and church. I walked up, the rest
came in the buggy. 112 at SS. A student, Mr. Eadie, preached a
good sermon. Willa went to Mark’s for tea and from there to CE,
John Love leader. Did not go on account of bad roads.
11 – A fine day. At berry bushes in the forenoon and at bee at
church cutting wood. Between 25 and 30 at it and cut all the
wood. Rode up and home with John Michie.
12 – Snowing a little from the NW most of the day. Got much
colder towards night. Working at berry bushes all day. Jennie
washing.
13 – Quite a hard frost in the morning and pretty cold towards
night. Went with Jennie to Port Perry in the forenoon. At the
berry bushes in the afternoon. Willa drove to Greenbank for the
mail.
14 – A pretty hard frost which did not entirely thaw out all day.
Buck sawing wood all day and finished the job. Mrs. Gordon here
for dinner, she was getting a dress made. G. Michie came up after
dinner to see about berry bushes. John Michie here in the evening.
Mr. Edward Bewell buried today.
15 – Went up with John to Mr. Lyle’s to shingle the north side of
his house and worked until between 4 and 5 when it started to
snow and got so cold that we had to quit. The ground covered with
snow in the evening.
16 – Quite cold all day, not warm enough to melt all the snow that
fell last night. Splitting and piling wood in the swamp field and
finished. Jennie and Annie at Greenbank and A. Gordon’s in the
afternoon.
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17 – A fine day and some warmer. All hands at SS and church.
Willa walked. 116 at SS, Mr. Eadie preached. Willa went to Jas.
Leask’s for tea. Jennie at CE, reports a good meeting.
18 – A fair day. Pruning orchard and berry bushes in the forenoon
and with John, finished Mr. Lyle’s house shingling in the after-
noon. Jennie, Willa and the two children visiting at Mrs. W.
O’Neill’s.
19 – About 2 inches of snow in the morning and continued off and
on during the day with high NW wind. A regular winter day.
Taking out the rotten turnips out of the root house (and a large lot
there was) in the forenoon. Doing a few chores in the afternoon.
20 – A very rough night and snow drifts 3 feet deep some places
and very rough in the forenoon, but it got warmer towards night.
Norman Phair came over in the forenoon to fan up some oats to
exchange. Drove over to W. Luke’s after dinner for eggs, clover
and timothy seed, and then planted some potatoes (the first) in the
orchard. In the evening drove with Jennie to prayer meeting.
Anniversary meeting after and then choir practice. Big fire in
Toronto last night.20
21 – A very fine day and much warmer. Went to Port Perry with
15 bags and got them ground at Vickery’s. Willa went with me.
While away W. Luke and A. Butt called. Plowed sod east of the
orchard in the afternoon, the first of the season. Willa went with
John Michie to bell ringers at Greenbank, they report a splendid
time.
22 – A very fine day. Plowing in the forenoon and harrowing in
the afternoon. Intended to sew some but Albert came for the drill,
Ernest Phair came with some oats to change, G. Michie for berry
bushes, and Mr. J. O’Neill to get turnips. Minnie Martin, who has
been sick for a long time at Jas. Miller’s, was taken home today.
23 – A very fine warm spring day. Plowed in furrows in the fore-
noon and harrowed in the afternoon. A. Bongard called. Sold him
old Nancy cow for 3 cts lb, and Dusty cow for 3 ½. Willa went to
Greenbank in the evening for the mail.
24 – A warm day with quite a rain about 1 pm. All hands at SS
and church. Willa walked. 122 at SS, the largest number on re-
cord as far as I remember. Mr. Eadie preached. John Michie here
for tea. At CE with Willa and John, a pretty good turnout, G.A.
McMillan leader. Special collection to make up the balance of the
$50.00 to Knox College Missionary Society. Got enough to make
the $50.00.
25 – A fine day. Went up to Akhurst’s in the morning for the drill
and sowed oats (the first) east of the orchard and cultivated last
year’s turnip ground in the afternoon. Mrs. G. Watson died today.
20
The fire originated in the Currie building on the
north side of Wellington St. and spread to Bay Street
and Yonge St. and as far south as The Esplanade,
destroying over 100 buildings, putting over 5000
people out of work and causing over $10,000 in dam-
ages.
26 – A fine day. Plowed the garden then harrowed in the forenoon
and in the afternoon plowed sod south of the house. Mrs. Gordon
here for dinner and tea. She was getting a waist made. After sup-
per John Michie came up and we hitched up Fly to the buggy. She
went fairly well.
27 – A fine day. Plowing sod in the forenoon. After dinner Mr.
Rail of Mara came and I went with him to Port Perry to see the
lawyers about the Mara place. At prayer meeting in the evening
with Jennie, quite a good turnout, Mr. Eadie leader. Choir practice
after. Hugh Jack and D. Boe called in the forenoon wanting to buy
the 2 steers but did not do so. Then I saw High however at Port
Perry and sold them to him, one at 4 ½ and the other at 4 ¼.
28 – A little rain in the morning and threatening most of the day.
Fanned up some seed, took the straw off the strawberries, and then
sowed the field north of the barn with mixed grain.
29 – Rain through the night. Plowing sod in the forenoon. Mr. and
Mrs. A. Gordon called for 3 bags of apples, also a man selling
cloth. In the afternoon Jennie, Willa and the children went to Port
Perry while I planted some potatoes, black currant bushes and
some other chores.
30 – Some rain through the night. Harrowed the field north of the
barn but it was too wet. Got George’s drill and started after dinner
to sow but rain came on and it would not work. Jessie Michie
called and took Jennie and Annie to children’s practice at the
church.
MAY 1 - A very fine warm day. All hands at SS and church
(Willa walked). 117 at SS, Mr. Eadie preached. Did not go to CE.
Willa stayed somewhere for tea.
2 – A very fine warm day. Finished sowing the field NW of barn
with George’s drill and then harrowed the greater part of it.
Hitched up Fly again in the evening. Jennie washing.
3 – A decidedly warm day. Harrowed a while and then plowed
sod the rest of the day. Jennie and Willa papered the south bed-
room down stairs. G. Michie came after a few bricks.
4 – A fine warm day. Finished plowing sod and then harrowed
some. Walked with Jennie to prayer meeting, Mr. Eadie leader, a
pretty good attendance.
5 – A fine warm day. Went up after the drill and then sowed the
hill which finishes sowing for the year. James Lee here in the
evening for berry bushes. G. Michie here after dinner.
6 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with 14 bags to
make meal. Broke a wheel off the waggon just as I turned on the
side road and had to borrow Isaac O’Neill’s waggon. Willa went
to Whitby on her way to Newcastle. Mrs. Gordon here for dinner
and tea. Took the broken waggon wheel to Greenbank and then
took O’Neill’s home.
7 – A fine day and everything growing fast. Harrowed most of the
day and finished the seeding except rolling, and then after supper
99
drove Fly in the buggy (the first to Port Perry in buggy) for the SS
anniversary bills. Annie went with Jessie Michie to practice at the
church in the afternoon.
8 – A very fine warm day. All at SS and church. Drove Fly the
first time to church. 120 at SS. Mr. Eadie addressed the school
and preached. Special foreign mission collection $27.20. McDon-
ald’s broke their buggy going out at the church gate. None from
here at CE.
9 – Some rain in the forenoon. Cultivated, rolled and marked out
the strawberry patch for this year east of the orchard. It will take
over 5600 plants. Jennie papering and house cleaning.
10 – A fine day. All hands planting strawberries. Got in 15 rows
in patch east of the orchard. Pretty cool towards night.
11 – Quite a bit colder all day. All hands at strawberry planting
until we got 30 drills in all when we thought it enough. At prayer
meeting in the evening, E. Boe leader. Anniversary meeting after,
then choir practice.
12 – A fine day. Drilled up and sowed with mangolds the part of
the strawberry lot that we did not plant and in the afternoon got
Mr. Lyle’s waggon and went to Greenbank for the waggon wheel
which was being repaired. Jennie whitewashing and cleaning the
kitchen.
13 – A fine warm day. Took the two steers and the Dusty cow and
old Nancy cow to Port Perry, George Michie helping. Rode home
with Mr. Petty. In the afternoon took off the storm windows and
doors, planted some corn in the orchard and some other chores.
Jennie house cleaning the kitchen and pantry.
14 – Rain off and on all day which is doing a lot of good. Cleaned
out the calf and pig pens and some other chores in the forenoon.
R. Cragg called for berry bushes. In the afternoon went with little
Annie to W. Luke’s for eggs for hatching. Rain in the afternoon.
15 – At SS with Jennie and the two children, 118 at SS, Mr. Eadie
preached. Did not go to CE as it was a wet night.
16 – A little raw in the forenoon. Went with Jennie and the two
children to Port Perry in the forenoon and drew out manure in the
afternoon. Little Annie went down to practice singing with Jessie.
17 – A fine day, a little frost in the morning. Drawing out manure
in the forenoon and plowing in the afternoon. Jennie washing.
Annie went with Jessie to practice.
18 – Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for 6 bags of potatoes
which came from F. Perrin’s at Newcastle. Plowing some in the
afternoon but it was very wet and disagreeable. Mr. Eadie came
for tea. He went to prayer meeting but it was very wet and I did not
go.
19 – Rain through the night and everything pretty well soaked.
Did some chores in the forenoon and put in posts for fence at the
bottom of the garden in the afternoon. Jennie took Annie to
Greenbank for practice. Willie went with them. Jessie sick in bed.
Turned the young cattle out to pasture.
20 – Cool day with some rain in the afternoon. Finished plowing
mangold [land] which is very wet and plowed the little patch near
the barn pump and some other small chores. Jennie went down in
the evening to see how Jessie was, she is some better. 13 little pigs
came, 1 dead.
21 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning and then
put up the picket fence south of the garden. At choir practice (for
tomorrow) in the evening.
22 – Some rain in the afternoon and evening. All at SS and
church, 132 at SS. Rev. Mr. McKerroll of Sutton West conducted
SS anniversary services afternoon and evening to full houses. Not
quite so many at night on account of the rain. Mr. McK. did us a
good service. Collection of $17.00.
23 – Thunder and rain through the night and some droppy most of
the forenoon. Making a lane to the pasture field in the forenoon
and rolling in the afternoon. Jennie baking for the SS anniversary.
24 – A beautiful morning and a nice warm day. Hitched up colt
and rolled with her and Fly, the first work she ever did, and then
scuffled the strawberries. Tom Black and Annie came at 1 pm.
All hands at the SS anniversary. A big crowd in the afternoon.
The children were led by Miss Ettie Salter. The band was there
and in the evening Rev. Mr. [?] lectured and Annie Rennie sang.
Proceeds $132.00.
25 – A very warm day. A sharp thunder storm at 5 am, and thun-
der several times through the day. Harrowed, drilled and sowed
the mangolds. Mr. Pearce called about renewing insurance. All at
social in the evening, a very small attendance. $4.00. Some sharp
lightning on the way home.
26 – All hands went to Port Perry in the forenoon with 11 bags of
rye and oats. Drew out manure in the afternoon. Rain came on
about 6 and continued until 8.
27 – Quite a cool day. Drawing out manure all day. All hands
drove to Seagrave in the evening to see about berry boxes. Got
home at 9:15.
28 – A beautiful day. Planted corn in the little plot near the barn
pump and drew out manure the rest of the day.
29 – A fine day. All hands at SS and church, 110 at SS. G. Miller
addressed the school. A stranger, an old man, preached. When we
got home the Jess mare was sick. Went first for A. Gordon, then
went to W. Real’s and telephoned for Cotes the vet. He came but
could not get the colt away so he drove to Port Perry for Elliot and
together they got it away but it was dead. Drove Mr. Gordon home
and it was after midnight when I got back.
30 – A very fine day. Went up to W. Real’s in the morning to
telephone to vet Cotes then went on to Greenbank. Cotes came
about 10 am. Spread manure and then rolled a bit with Fan colt
and Fly. Jennie house cleaning upstairs. Wes Luke and G. Michie
called in the forenoon.
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31 – A fine cool day. A little rain in the evening. Got George’s
Dick horse and plowed all day at corn and potato land. Jennie
housecleaning upstairs.
JUNE 1 – A great downpour of rain from the east through the
night and everything soaked. Went down to George’s and brought
home 4 bags of potatoes that he brought from Jas. Smith’s and then
finished plowing the corn land which is very wet. Cut potatoes in
the woodshed in the forenoon, Jennie helping. Albert Akhurst
brought the beef (the first of the season). He was telling us that
Mrs. Jas. Blair was seriously ill. All hands went to Greenbank but
there was no prayer meeting as it rained very hard. Miss Edith
Phair has a birthday party tonight, a very poor night for such a
thing.
2 – Rain all forenoon. Cleaned out the calf and pig pen and cut
some wood in the shed. Hoed strawberries and scuffled some in
the afternoon. At W. Luke’s in the evening. Jennie making pil-
lowcases.
3 – A fine day but somewhat dull. Appeared to be making up for
some rain. Scuffled the strawberries, raspberries and potatoes in
the orchard in the forenoon, and harrowed the corn and potato land
in the afternoon. The ground very wet, water running across it.
Jennie washing.
4 – All hands at Port Perry in the forenoon. Sold the 7 pigs for
$5.00 and the rise if any. A heavy rain at noon. Hoed at berry
bushes and poisoned woodchucks in the afternoon. In the evening
Jennie drove Fly (for the first time) to Greenbank to the first meet-
ing of the singing class in our church by Mr. Selby of Toronto. 42
names were given as members, a good teacher.
5 – A fine warm growing day, threatening rain a little but did not
come to much. All hands at SS and church, 114 at SS. An old
man, a stranger, preached. Mr. Selby sang in the choir. At CE, a
fair meeting, Miss Forfar leader. Gave Mrs. A. Gordon Jr. a ride
up and back.
6 – A fine day, threatening rain about 5 pm. Drilled up for pota-
toes in the forenoon and planted them in the afternoon, Jennie
helping. At Mark’s in the evening having a sing.
7 – A dull day but no rain. Drilled and planted horse corn (ground
in places very wet), then drew out some manure. Jennie house-
cleaning the cellar which finishes the housecleaning for the season.
8 – It started to rain about 5 am and never let up until about 7 pm.
Everything terribly wet and a good deal of damage being done I
think. Spent most of the day crating Mrs. Bell’s things which are
to be sent to Winnipeg. Jennie packing. At Greenbank in the
evening but there was no meeting. K. Whetter and Nellie Steel
married.
9 – Several little showers through the day. Finished packing up
Mrs. Bell’s things in the forenoon and took them to Port Perry in
the afternoon. George and John Michie helped to load them up and
took some on their waggon. Mrs. Mark here in the afternoon.
10 – A fine cool day, no rain. Went to Saintfield in the morning to
see Jack Park’s horse and by the way Jack was not there as he is on
the sick list and another man is handling the horses. In the after-
noon put up a piece of fence south of the orchard, G. Michie man-
aging the job.
11 – A very fine warm day. George came up in the morning and
we finished the fence south of the orchard, then put up a piece of
the line fence at the swamp, but we could not put up what we
wanted as there was so much water on the ground. Finished about
3 pm, after which I scuffled in the orchard. Jennie at singing class
in the evening.
12 – A beautiful day. All hands at SS and church, 109 at SS. A
stranger preached a good discourse. At CE, rather a small meeting,
Mr. Miller leader.
13 – A very fine day. Got George’s waggon and with his help
drew out manure. George left at 4 pm to go with the band to Be-
thesda SS anniversary. Alex Gordon and Jim Ewin called at 6.
They wanted to buy the Fan colt and offered $125.00. Agent
Rundle called near dusk and talked binder.
14 – Got up early and took the 7 pigs to Port Perry. Got $5.00 per
hundred. They weighed 1520, the heaviest hogs that I ever sold I
think. Got home a little after 9 and then drew out manure, G.
Michie helping until noon. Drew alone in the afternoon and fin-
ished, then took George’s Dick horse and waggon home. Spread
18 loads of manure after supper. Jennie making shirts. A thunder
storm in the afternoon but it was only a slight drizzle here.
15 – A very fine day. Got up early and went for the fill the first
thing and got back at 7, then plowed all day at the turnip ground
and very wet and weedy it was. All at prayer meeting in the eve-
ning, a SS meeting after.
16 – A very fine day. Plowing all day at turnip ground and fin-
ished. Jennie washing.
17 – Very fine day. Worked all day at turnip ground, harrowed
and rolled it. Sonya Sons of Scotland ran an excursion to Niagara
Falls today. Got the first ripe strawberry.
18 – A very fine day. Drilled up and sowed 32 drills of turnips.
Jennie at singing class in the evening. She washed the buggy.
19 – A very fine warm day. All hands at SS and church, a stranger
from Fergus preached. 109 at SS. As this is Rev. Mr. Limbert’s
farewell it was decided not to have CE so we all went to Port Perry
expecting to hear Mr. Cooper but Mr. McFarlane preached. Mrs.
Nottingham died.
20 – A warm day, some thunder after dinner but only a few drops
of rain here. Drilled up for turnips in the forenoon and sowed them
after dinner. Then we all went to Port Perry, the principal errand
being Jennie to see the Dr. about her throat (2nd
time). Took out 2
boxes of strawberries, the first of the season. John Lee here for
dinner. Road workmen plowing up road at gate.
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21 – A very warm day. Harrowed the corn and potatoes and
plowed turnip land in the forenoon and after dinner went to Mrs. R.
Nottingham’s funeral service at the house by Rev. W. Limbert.
They took her to Prince Albert. Went to Greenbank for the mail
and then scuffled strawberries and mangolds. At 6 o’clock a terrific
thunderstorm came on, then a short lull and then another very
heavy rain. Water standing in every hollow.
22 – Quite a cool day. Went to Seagrave in the forenoon and got
from R. Thompson 750 berry boxes at 47 cts per 100. Did a few
chores in the afternoon. Jennie and little Willie went to Port Perry
with strawberries. Road machines working on our road.
23 – A very fine cloudless day. Hoeing mangolds and corn all day.
Jennie at Greenbank to a W.F.M. meeting. Mrs. Stewart of Lind-
say was the speaker and she was good but only 14 present.
24 – A fine warm day. Went to Saintfield to see John Park (but he
is still on the sick list), then on to G. Tocher’s, neither he nor Mary
were at home. Came home the side road. After dinner Jennie and
the 2 children went to Port Perry with berries. They got home a
little before 4, then we all drove over to Alex Lee’s Hillside for a
visit. Things are looking well. Got home after 9 and found Willa,
Aunt Mary (Mrs. Slemon) and Arthur Slemon of Port Hope. They
drove from Newcastle today.
25 – A very close warm day although there was quite a breeze.
Finished plowing the turnip ground, harrowed drilled and sowed
them after supper. Jennie and Willa at singing class in the evening.
Jim and Ray Dusty and Arthur Gordon came for strawberries.
26 – A very fine cool day. Slemon’s horse, which was turned into
the pasture, was found to be missing and Jennie and Aunt Mary
with little Willie went in search. They went to Beare’s Mill, then
to Port Perry but found no trace of him. At SS with Annie, 106
present. Went from there to the Methodist SS anniversary ser-
vices. Rev. Mr. Crossley of Bowmanville was the principal
speaker. James Lee came home for tea and with Willa went again
to the Methodist service. Mr. Crossley was the preacher, a good
turnout on both occasions.
27 – A very fine cool day. Scuffling mangolds in the forenoon and
hoeing in the afternoon. Mrs. Mark, Jessie, Aunt Mary and Jennie
picking strawberries. After dinner Jennie and Arthur Slemon went
to Port Perry with berries. They took the two rigs as there was not
room in one. After supper Jennie and the two children went to
Greenbank to telephone to Port Hope to hear if there was any word
about the missing horse but they could not get the one they wanted
to speak to. Willa in bed most of the day.
28 – A very fine cool day. Hoeing mangolds all day. Jennie wash-
ing. Jennie and the children went to Greenbank after dinner and
telephoned again to Port Hope. Edith Phair came for some straw-
berries. Willa in bed most of the day. Albert Akhurst stacking
hay. S. Ontario Farmers Institute excursion to Guelph today.
29 – A fine day. Hoeing mangolds in the forenoon and finished.
Jennie, Mrs. Mark and Aunt Mary picking strawberries. After
dinner I went to Greenbank and spoke over the telephone to W.
Slemon of Port Hope. No word of the lost horse. After that Jennie
and Arthur went to Port Perry with berries. Mrs. A. Lee called for
berries on her way home from Port Perry. Scuffled in the orchard
and the new strawberries.
30 – Quite a rain through the night. Hitched up in the morning and
went to hunt for the lost horse. Stopped at Port Perry and got Fly
shod for the first time, then went across to near Blackstock but
could hear no word of it. Went with Jennie and little Willie to
preparatory service. Mr. Cameron preached for the first time since
his illness, not many out. Hoed strawberries after supper. Mr. and
Mrs. Sandy Gordon and Arthur here in the evening to see about
strawberries also Wes Luke on his way to Port Perry for the same
reason. Britton Love drove down with a message saying that the
horse had got home to Port Hope.
JULY 1 – Went to Saintfield the first thing to see J. Park, but he
was not there. Hoed some after I got home. Mrs. Mark, Jessie
Michie, Nellie O’Neill, Aunt Mary and Jennie picking strawber-
ries, got about 160 boxes. After dinner there was quite a heavy
shower and then several more small showers all the afternoon.
Went with Jennie and the two children to the Methodist SS anni-
versary. Went first to Blair’s with strawberries, then to the church
and heard part of the program. Although the weather was so bad
there was quite a crowd. It was intended to have the tea in Beare’s
woods but the rain prevented it. Did not stay to the evening meet-
ing. James Ewin and Sandy Gordon called for berries.
2 – A fine cool day. Finished hoeing the strawberries in the fore-
noon and scuffled in the afternoon. E. Love came for berries.
Jennie and Willa at singing class in the evening. Willa and Arthur
Slemon at Port Perry in the forenoon. Willa went to see the Dr.
3 – A pretty cool day and very fine. At communion at Wick with
Jennie, Mr. Cameron conducted the services. At church service at
Greenbank with Willa in the evening. Mr. Arnold, a city mission-
ary of Toronto, preached. Mr. Petty was having a swarm of bees
near his house.
4 – Warm day with a high wind, a heavy thunder shower at 7 pm.
Scuffled the mangolds in the forenoon. Jennie and the 2 children
at Port Perry with berries to Mrs. Patton of Port Hope. Mrs. Mark,
Jessie Michie, Aunt Mary, Willa, Mrs. Alex Gordon, and Jennie
picking berries, 211 boxes. Allan, Emma and Alf. Black came
before dinner and left for home after tea. Mrs. R. Cragg and Mrs.
W. Real called for berries and Donald and Lizzie McArthur in the
evening. At managers meeting.
5 – A very fine day. Wes Luke called in the morning for berries
and had a long talk about SS’s church union and other things. I
then scuffled corn and potatoes. After dinner went to Mark’s for
cabbage plants and hoed corn. Willa and Arthur Slemon went to
Greenbank for bread. After supper sowed some turnips in a part
of the potato ground that did not come up on account of the wet.
Mrs. W.H. Leask came for strawberries. Mundo Perrin, Norman
and George Slemon arrived with the horse that went home to Port
Hope. They all stayed all night. Then G.A. McMillan and Mrs.
called about berries. Then James Blair, Maggie Blair and Rosie
Hall called and stayed awhile.
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6 – Rain all forenoon and until about 1 pm when it cleared up and
was fine. Went with Jennie and the two children to the Saintfield
Wick SS picnic at Ed Ferguson’s on the town line, which turned
out to be quite a good time. Went for the beef in the morning.
Mundo Perrin, Norman and George Sleman left for home after
dinner.
7 – A very fine day. Hoeing corn and potatoes all day. Mrs. Mark,
Mrs. W. O’Neill, Aunt Mary, Willa and Jennie picking strawber-
ries, 130 boxes. Mrs. Smith and G.A. McMillan’s two boys called
for berries. Archie McArthur called in the evening.
8 – A very fine day. Went to Saintfield early in the morning, then
made a trip to W. Luke’s. Scuffled mangolds, corn and strawber-
ries in the afternoon. Aunt Mary and Arthur left for home in the
morning. George, Jessie and John Michie, Jim Lee, Ida Phair and
Mamey Dusty here in the evening getting a feed of berries.
9 – A warm sticky forenoon, thunder shower at 1 pm and some
rain most of the afternoon and quite heavy in the evening. Helping
G. Michie to draw in hay in the forenoon and picking over straw-
berries in the afternoon. Mrs. Mark, Jessie Michie, Willa and
Jennie picking strawberries, 66 boxes. Jennie and Willa at singing
class in the evening. Theodore Salter had all 4 of his horses killed
by lightning.
10 – A very fine day. All hands at SS and church, 101 at SS. Mr.
Cameron preached. Willa stayed at Dusty’s for tea. All at CE, a
good turnout, Willa leader. Nellie McMillan elected president for
the next six months. Miss E. Baird, vice president; Lizzie
McArthur, sec.; and A. Akhurst, treas.
11 – Rain after dinner, pretty warm. Scuffling turnips until 5 when
we got supper and all went to Elijah Beare’s barn raising near Port
Perry. A big crowd but it was not all put up although we worked
until dark. Got home at 10 pm. Willa stayed and came home with
someone.
12 – A very heavy thunder storm towards morning and after day-
light and it continued to rain some nearly all forenoon. Cleared up
and a fine afternoon and pretty cool. Cut some wood in the shed in
the forenoon. Mrs. Mark and Jessie came up and they and Willa
picked berries. I went to Greenbank after dinner for sugar and tea.
In the afternoon the W.F.M.S. met here and the 3 youngest SS
classes to get a feast of strawberries. About 50 old and young were
here and seemed to enjoy themselves well.
13 – A very fine day. No rain. Hoed mangolds, 2nd
time, most of
the day. Mrs. Mark and Willa picked the strawberries, probably
for the last time this season. Willa went to Port Perry in the after-
noon and then to Greenbank after supper. Rode up with her to W.
Luke’s. Saw Jim Bush and had a talk with him.
14 – A fine day, some like rain but did not come. All day helping
W. Luke to stack hay. Put up a big stack south of the barn. Oliver
got hurt by falling from the load. Willa at Phair’s in the evening.
15 – A very fine day. Went to Saintfield in the morning and hoed
mangolds and turnips (the first) the rest of the day. Jennie helping
awhile in the afternoon. Norman Phair called in the evening to see
about help for the band party.
16 – A beautiful day. Hoeing turnips all day. Jennie and Willa at
singing class in the evening. Had the worse time shaving with a
dull razor that I ever had in my life.
17 – A very warm day. All hands at SS and church (96 at SS).
Willa went to McArthur’s for tea. All at CE, a fair meeting, Jas.
Miller leader.
18 – Fine day and pretty warm. Hoeing turnips all day. Jennie and
Willa picking berries and Jennie went to Port Perry with them in
the afternoon.
19 – A very warm day in the forenoon, but a heavy thunder shower
came at 2 pm and after that it was much cooler. Hoeing turnips.
Jennie Paris greened the potatoes in the forenoon. Barbara Smith,
Mrs. Mason and Kennedy came at 12. Barbara, Annie M. and
Jennie at Mark’s in the evening. Arch McArthur called in the
evening.
20 – A very fine cool day. Hoeing turnips in the forenoon and
helping G. Michie to stack hay in the afternoon. Barbara, Mrs.
Mason and Kennedy M. left for home about 7 pm. Mrs. Isaac
O’Neill cut herself badly with a scythe.
21 – A very fine day. Hoeing turnips until 5 pm when after supper
we all went to the brass band lawn party at W. Real’s, which went
off very well, a large crowd. Mr. Bert Harvey of Toronto was the
star and very good he was. Got home near midnight. Willa went
to Port Perry in the afternoon.
22 – A fine day, some thunder in the evening but no rain. Scuf-
fling in the forenoon and hoeing turnips in the afternoon. Willa
and Annie at Mark’s in the evening.
23 – Helping G. Michie to stack hay until about 9:30 when it came
on a drizzly rain which continued until noon. Hoed strawberries in
the afternoon. Jennie and Willa at singing class. Rain again in the
evening.
24 – A very fine day. All at SS and church, 108 at SS, Mr. Arnold
preached. All at CE, a good turnout, Jennie was leader.
25 – A fine day. Helping George with the hay in the forenoon and
hoeing turnips in the afternoon. Jennie and Willa picking berries
and Willa went to Port Perry with them. Jennie, Willa and the
children at I. O’Neill’s in the evening.
26 – A fine day, some thunder after dinner but no rain here. Got 2
bags of buckwheat from George and hoed turnips. During the day
Willa at Isaac O’Neill’s picking berries as Mrs. O’Neill is laid up
with a cut.
27 – A fine day and pretty warm. Went for the beef in the morning
and then got Albert Akhurst’s mower and cut the hay in the field
west of the house. Got done at 5 pm an then went to a little bee at
I. O’Neill’s. George, John, Fred O’Neill and I were the crowd.
Drew in 4 loads of hay for him. Thunder and threatening rain but
only a few drops. A. Akhurst cut fall wheat, the first of the season.
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28 – Rain through the night which soaked the hay and continued
some through the forenoon. Took the mower home and then scuf-
fled until the rain came on and stopped me. At Albert Phoenix’s
barn raising in the afternoon. Went up all right and got done at
sundown. Isaac Clemens got hurt by a spur brace falling on him.
29 – A very fine day. Finished hoeing turnips except a few where
the potatoes was killed, then raked up hay. Jennie and the children
at Port Perry. Willa picking berries at home in the forenoon and
with Jessie Michie in Lyle’s bush in the afternoon. A. McArthur
here in the evening. G. Michie starts his new binder today.
30 – A fine day but dull and like rain. At the hay and got in 11
loads, John Michie helping all day and George in the afternoon.
Jennie helping all forenoon and part of the afternoon. Alex and
Jim Lee here for tea. Jim is pretty badly crippled with a sore foot
which got stabbed with a fork. He has to go on crutches. Jennie
and Willa at singing class in the evening.
31 – Rain through the night and some threatening during the day
but did not come. All hands at SS and church (106 at SS). Mr.
Cameron preached. At CE with Willa, an extra large turnout as
there was no service at the Methodist church. Willa was leader.
Choir practice after.
AUG. 1 – A very fine day. George and John Michie came up in
the morning and we finished drawing in the hay at 10 o’clock. I
then raked the ground and with Jennie’s help drew them in. Jennie
and the two children went to Port Perry after dinner with berries to
send to Mary Patton, Port Hope. Willa picking berries most of the
day. After supper I hoed the turnips where the potatoes were
killed out and so finished hoeing turnips for the first time.
2 – A beautiful day. Got up early as we had some notion of going
to the Port Perry firemen’s excursion to Niagara Falls but we did
not go. Scuffling all day, turnips, mangolds, corn, strawberries and
raspberries. Jennie and the two children at Greenbank after supper.
George cut his barley.
3 – A very fine day. Hoeing turnips (2nd
time) all day. Jennie
cleaned out the hen house. Willa washed the buggy and went to
Greenbank after supper for the mail. Joe Burton threshing clover.
I. O’Neill came for the horse rake.
4 – A very fine warm day. Hoeing turnips all day. Jennie and
Willa picking berries. Willa and little Annie went to Port Perry
with them in the afternoon.
5 – A very fine day. Hoeing and greening the potatoes all day.
Mrs. Phair threshing clover. Arch McArthur here in the evening.
6 – A very fine day, quite a high wind in the afternoon. Went
through the mangolds for the 3rd
and last time in the forenoon and
in the afternoon went with little Annie to Thompson’s at Seagrave
for binder twine (14 cts per lb). Willa picking berries all day.
Jennie preserving. Jennie and Willa at singing class in the evening.
7 – All hands at SS and church (120 at SS), Mr. Cameron
preached. A heavy thunder shower on the way home, ducked us
all pretty well. Rain continued until about 7. Willa at Mark’s for
tea.
8 – A very fine day. Took out to Port Perry mill 6 bags of rye for
meal in the forenoon and in the afternoon drew some dirt to fill up
the horse mangers and the box stall. At Greenbank in the evening
to see John Lee about [carsom....?] the SS room. Mrs. Alex
Gordon and Jessie Michie here picking berries. Jennie washing
and ironing.
9 – A very fine day, quite cool in the morning. Drove Jennie and
little Annie to the early train at Port Perry on their way to Toronto.
Put ledger plates in the binder guards in the forenoon and hoed the
strawberries and some other chores in the afternoon. G. and J.
Michie are shingling the south part of their barn today and yester-
day.
10 – A thunder shower between 12 and 1. Fixing the roof of the
kitchen to keep the rain from coming into the pantry. Jessie here
picking berries and stayed to dinner. After dinner went to Green-
bank for the mail and measured the church basement for the paint-
ers. In the evening went to Port Perry for Jennie and Annie. Jessie
Bell came with them.
11 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning for
Jessie’s trunk. Willa also going. Wes, Oliver and Ned Luke called
after dinner wishing to buy the Fanny colt but she was already sold
to F. Perrin. Spent most of the afternoon in scuffling the old
strawberry patch. Willa at Gordon’s in the evening with a hat.
Arch McArthur called in the evening.
12 – A fine day. Went to W. Luke’s morning and evening. Put up
bars in the north field and some other little jobs. George cutting
oats, the first in Egypt.
13 – Got up early and with Jennie started with the Fanny colt for
Enniskillen to meet Mundo Perrin to whom she is sold for $145.00.
Got there about noon. Got dinner at Mrs. Joe Bell’s and got home
again at 7 pm. Went by way of Blackstock and came home over
the hills by Raglan. Thunder and rain most of the way as far as
Blackstock and thunder and a few drops of rain half the way home.
Jennie and Willa at singing class. G. Michie here for the scales.
14 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Jennie, Willa and the
two children (111 at SS), Mr. Cameron preached. Mr. Selby sang
a piece in SS. Jennie, Willa and Jessie at CE, Mrs. J.M. Real
leader.
15 – A fine day and pretty warm. Went down to George’s in the
morning to see about getting help to cut oats, but could not get any
today. Cut out the corners of the fields, cut thistles on the road-
side, ground the binder knives and other things. Willa picking
berries, Jennie washing. Jennie, Jessie and the two children went
to Port Perry after 4 o’clock.
16 – Rain through the night and morning, then about 3 a thunder
storm came up. It got very dark but there was not so much rain but
it drizzled on quite a while. Cut some old rails in the woodshed in
the forenoon. After dinner went with Willa to Greenbank for the
mail. Mrs. Annie Gordon here for dinner and tea. Jessie dress-
making, Jennie ironing. Willa hat making.
17 – A fine cool day. Went for the beef in the morning then scuf-
fled and hoed some strawberries in the forenoon and in the after-
104
noon started to cut oats in the field north of the barn. Worked with
two horses until 6:30 when George came with a horse. Willa
walked to Greenbank in the evening for the mail.
18 - A very fine day and pretty cool. Cutting oats all day, George
and horse helping. Jennie drove the binder most of the afternoon.
Willa at W. O’Neill’s in the evening.
19 – A fine day but a little rain in the evening. Cutting oats in the
forenoon, George helping, and in the afternoon cut some clover.
Jessie and Jennie dressmaking.
20 – A terrible rain from the south through the night and morning
and everything very much soaked. Drove Willa out to Port Perry
to the 11 train on her way to Whitby to see her aunt Janet. Went
after her again at 5:30. That was about all I did. Jessie dressmak-
ing, Jennie scrubbing. Jessie and Willa at singing class in the
evening. Lizzie McArthur came home with them. Lige Beare
called looking for a beef syndicate.
21 – A very fine day, somewhat warm. At SS and church with
Jennie and the two children. Willa and Lizzie McArthur walked.
Jessie walked to church. 116 at SS. Mr. Selby sang a piece. Mr.
Cameron preached and announced his resignation as pastor of the
congregation. Willa and Jessie went to the Baptist church and
Willa went to McArthur’s for tea. At CE with Jessie, a good turn-
out, Maggie Blair leader. A. McArthur drove Willa home and
stayed awhile.
22 – A heavy thunder shower between 3 and 4 in the morning and
another about the middle of the afternoon which soaked everything
badly. Spent the day in doing a few odd jobs. Jessie making dress
for Margaret.
23 – A fine cool day. Moved the fence south of the calf pasture
and took it to fence the strawberry patch east of the orchard. Hoed
the strawberries again. Willa went to Port Perry in the afternoon.
Jennie washing, Jessie dressmaking. Arch McArthur here in the
evening.
24 – A fine day. John and horse came up in the morning and we
cut the hill south of the house (which was very hard to do) and then
the patch of wheat in the field W of the barn (badly rusted) which
finishes the cutting for the year. Jennie and Jessie packing up
Willa’s things as she starts for Winnipeg tomorrow.
25 – Got up at 4:30 am and took Willa to Port Perry on her way to
Winnipeg. Mr. Gerrow of Scugog here for dinner, he was selling
strawberry plants. Went to Greenbank in the afternoon for the
mail. That is about all I did as there was a heavy thunder shower at
1 pm and another between 5 and 6 pm. Some of the neighbours
drawing in a little before the rain.
26 – A high wind through the night and a fine cool drying day.
Made and hung a door for the box stall and after supper, with
Jennie’s help, drew in the wheat and a load of oats. Little Annie
and Willie went down to Mark’s after dinner.
27 – A very fine day. Threw out some shocks in the morning and
drew in the rest of the day with Jennie’s help. Sheaves not in very
good order. Jennie at singing class in the evening. Jessie house-
keeping.
28 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Jennie and the two
children (105 at SS), Mr. Cameron preached. (G. Wallace sat with
his wife). At CE with Jennie, a very small meeting, only 9 all told,
I was leader. The subject John Calvin and his lectures. Special
service at Methodist [church]21
.
29 – A very fine cool day. Drawing in oats all day, Jennie helping.
Jessie housekeeping. Painter Tremeer of Port Perry called in the
afternoon to see about [calsoming?] the basement of the church.
Let the job for $20.00.
30 – A very fine day. Drawing in oats all day with Jennie’s help
and finished harvest except the rakings.
31 – A fine cool day. Went to Greenbank in the morning to see the
men who are [calsoming?] the SS room, then raked the stubble the
rest of the day. Jennie washing in the forenoon and in the after-
noon went to Port Perry with the two children, then came home by
Greenbank for the mail.
SEPT. 1 – Rain in the morning and pretty dull all day, close and
warm. Did a number of small jobs in the forenoon and in the af-
ternoon, with Jennie’s help, drew in two loads of rakings which
finishes harvest.
2 – Rain through [the night] and a little off and on during the fore-
noon, thunder during the afternoon but no rain here. Cut some old
rails in the woodshed in the forenoon and plowed south of the hill
in the afternoon. At Greenbank in the evening. Pretty dark and
lots of lightning. Gave Jim Dusty a ride home. Called at A. Ak-
hurst’s. Jennie making shorts. Jessie making a blue suit for Willie.
3 – A fine day, pretty warm. Plowing all day.
4 – A fine cool day. At SS and church with Jennie and the children
(103 at SS), Mr. Cameron preached. At CE with Jennie, a fair
turnout, Arch McArthur leader. Called at John Lee’s and W. Ak-
hurst’s to see Mrs. A. before meeting.
5 – A very fine day. Jennie with little Willie drove me to Port
Perry on the way to Toronto Fair. Got dinner at Jas. Mason’s and
at the fair in the afternoon. An immense crowd said to be 130,000.
The chief attraction was the Black Watch Band of Scotland.
Stayed for the fireworks which was good. Got back to Mason’s at
11 pm.
6 – Another very fine day. Went to the fair with Jas. Mason and
heard the Black Watch Band which was very fine. Jessie Bell
drove to Port Perry in the morning and left the horse and went to
the fair also. We got home about 9 p.m.
21
John Calvin, 1509-1564, was a French theologian
and pastor during the Protestant Reformation and
influenced the founding of Calvinism.
105
7 – A fine day but somewhat dull and threatening rain in the eve-
ning. Plowing all day.
8 – A fine day. Plowing all day. Scale pedlar called after dinner.
Jennie, Jessie and the two children visiting at A. Gordon’s. Jennie
walked first to Greenbank for the mail and stayed for the W.F.M.S.
9 – A very fine day. Helping Mr. Lyle to thresh all day, John
Leask’s machine, with blower and self feeder, the first self feeder I
ever saw and the first one that was ever in these parts. Jennie and
the two children at Port Perry in the forenoon. Jessie bad with hay
fever.
10 – A very fine day. Threshing at Lyle’s in the morning and
finished in about 1 ½ hours, then they went to A. Akhurst’s and
finished him about 7 pm. They then moved to our barn. Jennie at
Port Perry in the forenoon.
11 – A fine day. At SS with Jennie, Jessie and the children. I
walked up while they drove (108 at SS). Mr. Cameron preached.
No one from here at CE.
12 – A fine day. Threshing at home and finished at 3:30, then they
went to George’s (home barn) and worked til dark. Rather more
grain, at least in bulk, than last year.
13 – A very fine day. Threshing at George’s and finished at noon,
then went to D. Cragg’s and helped to raise a new driving shed and
grainery.
14 – Went for the beef in the morning, then scuffled the strawber-
ries, but before I got done it started to rain and rained off and on
most of the remainder of the day. Cleaned out the calf pen, the
root house, the barn floor and some other small jobs. Jennie churn-
ing.
15 – Plowing all day. Some rain in the forenoon. Jessie Michie
called in the forenoon. Jennie at singing class (1st
night of 2nd
class) in the evening.
16 – A fine day. Plowing all day. Jennie, Jessie and the two chil-
dren at quilting bee at Mrs. Mark’s in the afternoon.
17 – A fine day. Plowing all day. Jessie making coats for Annie
and Willie.
18 – Threatening rain a little about noon. At SS and church with
Jennie and the children (106 at SS), Mr. Cameron preached.
Jennie and Jessie at CE, Mr. Boe leader.
19 – A fine day. Plowed until about 10 am, then went to Port Perry
with Jennie, Jessie and the two children in the waggon and took
Jessie’s trunk and she started on her way back to Rochester. A
steam dredge working at the foot of Queen Street.
20 – Quite cool with a little rain in the forenoon, some thunder at
noon. Plowing all day. Jennie washing. I. O’Neill threshing.
21 – Quite a hard frost in the morning and pretty cold all day.
Plowing in the forenoon and keeping house in the afternoon while
Jennie went to Port Perry to see the Dr. about a lump on her knee
and got it lanced. Went down to George’s after she came home.
22 – A fine day. Plowed until 9 when I went to Phair’s to thresh.
Jennie and the children at preparatory services in the church. Rev.
Peckover of Sunderland preached. Edgar Leask was admitted to
the church.
23 – A fine day. Threshing at Mrs. Phair’s until 9:30 when Tom
Lambe came to put up the new feeder, so a stop was made until
after 1 pm. Finished there and moved down to R. Cragg’s (in Jim
Lee’s place) and threshed about 2 hours. New feeder works pretty
well.
24 – Threshing at R. Cragg’s. Rain came on before we got started
in the morning and several times through the day. The new feeder
did not work very well so slow progress was made. Finished
about 5 pm. Some thunder in the morning and evening.
25 – A fine day. At church with Jennie and the two children.
Communion at Greenbank, about the usual attendance. Mr. Cam-
eron preached. At CE with Jennie and the two children, a pretty
good turnout, Miss Baird leader.
26 – Rain in the morning and a little a few times in the forenoon.
Plowing all day. At congregational meeting in the evening to
consider about the singing class, a small meeting and nothing done.
27 – A fine day. Cutting corn in the forenoon while Jennie and
little Willie went to Port Perry. Annie stayed with me. In the
afternoon we all went on a visit to Rev. J. M. Cameron at Wick.
Mr. Cameron is leaving next week to reside near Hamilton after
being our pastor for nearly 10 years.
28 – A fine day. Went for the beef in the morning and cut corn the
rest of the day. Sunderland fair.
29 – Rain off and on during the forenoon. Plowed a little. Fin-
ished cutting corn in the afternoon. Jennie and the children went
for the mail.
30 – Drawing in corn in the forenoon and in the afternoon drawing
out manure for the next years strawberry patch. A very high wind
from the NW all day. A lot of apples blown down. R. Wallace’s
barn burned this morning.
OCT. 1 – A pretty cool day with a high NW wind. Plowing all
day. Mrs. A. Gordon Jr. came down in the afternoon and picked
up a bag of crab apples and Alex came after them in the evening.
Jennie making a dress for little Annie.
2 – A pretty cool day with high NW wind and some cold rain flur-
ries. At SS and church with Jennie and the two children (108 at
SS). It was children’s day and there was a large turnout as this was
Mr. Cameron’s last Sunday as pastor of the church. He moves this
week to near Hamilton. Did not go to CE.
3 – A fine day and some cool. Harrowing all day. Jennie washing
and mending grain bags. Mr. and Mrs. Alex Lee here in the after-
noon for 8 bags of oats.
4 – A fine day with a little rain at noon. Went to Port Perry with
21 bags to grind. Harrowing in the afternoon. At church managers
meeting in the evening, rather dark night.
106
5 – Went to Port Perry in the morning for the meal and took out 21
hens. Started to rain before I got home and rained off and on most
of the afternoon. Made an apple drying rack in the afternoon and
in the evening pared apples, the first for years.
6 – Rather cold day with NW wind. All hands picking up the
fallen apples in the forenoon and a lot of them there is, and all
picking potatoes in the afternoon. A pretty good crop and not so
badly rotten as might be expected from reports. Went to Green-
bank in the evening for mail.
7 – A very hard frost in the morning, too hard to dig potatoes until
it thawed out some. After that all hands were at the potatoes. G.
Michie came up after dinner for the scales. John away at Markham
fair.
8 – Rain off and on several times through the day. Finished dig-
ging potatoes in the forenoon. Moved the bed down from upstairs
and put up the room stove and some other chores in the afternoon.
Pared apples in the evening.
9 – Some rain in the morning and evening. All hands at SS and
church (100 at SS). Rev. Mr. Duncan preached a good sermon and
officially declared the congregation vacant. No CE on account of
the S. of T. annual sermon at the Methodist church. A very dark
night.
10 – Rain and wind through the night and some in the forenoon
and again in the evening with thunder. Plowed sod in the forenoon
and topped mangolds in the afternoon. Jennie churning.
11 – A fine day. Harrowed up the mangolds and then all hands
drawing them in. Got in 8 loads. Not near so good a crop as last
year. Mrs. A. Gordon Jr. and Miss Mary Dusty here picking ap-
ples in the afternoon and Alex came for them towards night. Mrs.
Mark brought the mail.
12- A cold rain from the east (but never very hard) most of the day.
Finished drawing in the mangolds and plowed the rest of the day.
Jennie washing. Mr. and Mrs. C. Gordon came for 2 barrels of
sweet apples.
13 – A fine day, pretty cool in the morning. All hands went to Port
Perry with the waggon in the forenoon. Plowing in the afternoon.
Jennie picking apples to send to Winnipeg and went to Greenbank
for the mail in the evening.
14 – A fine day, cool. Plowing sod all day.
15 – A beautiful day. Plowing sod all day. The children out in the
field most of the time. David Cragg called in the forenoon to see
about apples. His two girls and a grandson came in the afternoon
and picked several bags and Wes Cragg came for them with the
waggon.
16 – A beautiful day. All hands at SS and church, an extra large
school (127). E. Bewell and G. Miller gave a few words. Rev. Mr.
Duncan preached another good sermon. All at CE, rather a small
turnout, perhaps on account of the Baptist anniversary services. G.
Miller leader, and he did well.
17 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with
about 20 chickens and four barrels of apples for Mrs. Bell, Winni-
peg. On the way home a little south of the 8th
concession I wit-
nessed a bad runaway and smash. There were 4 in the rig, Mrs.
Walter Mark, her two girls and her boy. The horse ran them
against a telegraph pole and smashed the rig badly and threw them
all out against the fence. Mr. Cawker, who was on the road, drove
with all speed for a Dr. while I carried the boy who is badly hurt to
Mr. Fidgets. One of the girls was also hurt but with Mr. Fidget’s
help she was able to walk to his house. I then turned back to Port
Perry and telephoned to Mr. Mark at Seagrave. Albert Akhurst
also came along just after it happened. All hands at taking in pota-
toes in the afternoon and did the job. Pared apples in the evening.
[margin note – Roy Mark died from injuries received at runaway.
A son born to Mr. and Mrs. W. O’Neill.]
18 – A very fine day. Plowing in the forenoon. After dinner went
down to George’s to see about going to Laurier meeting at Ux-
bridge tonight, then drew some brush into wash outs in the SW
field. Went with George to the meeting at Uxbridge. A very large
crowd and an orderly meeting. The speakers were J. Gould, Mr.
Grant, and Laurier22
. A splendid meeting. Got home a little after
12.
19 - A very fine and warm day. Plowing in the forenoon and in the
afternoon went to Roy Mark’s funeral. There was a large turnout.
Rev. Mr. Tricker conducted the service. Jennie and the two chil-
dren went with me as far as M. O’Neill’s to see Nellie and her new
baby boy. I called for them on my way home and first went to
Greenbank for the mail. Pared apples in the evening. Plowing
match on E. Beare’s place.
20 – A very fine warm day. Plowing in the forenoon and all hands
picking apples in the afternoon. Jennie and the children helping
Mrs. Mark in the forenoon.
21 – Rain through the night. Plowing in the forenoon. All hands
picking apples in the afternoon until about 4 pm when there came
up a thunder shower. Several showers during the evening. Went
down to I. O’Neill’s to tell them to come for some apples. Pared
apples in the evening.
22 – Rain through the night and until about 8 in the morning.
Plowing sod most of the day. Mrs. I. O’Neill came up in the fore-
noon to see about apples. She came again in the afternoon with
Isaac. Mrs. Carneggie and the two children picked up and took
away several bags. Mr. Lyle came for auger. Cleaned stove pipes
after dinner.
23 – A fine day but somewhat cold. All at SS and church (105 at
SS). A student, Mr. Robertson, preached. No CE as this is the
Baptist anniversary services. After supper I drove down to P.
Fidgets to see how the Mark’s girl was who was hurt in the run-
away. She was thought to be a little better but still in a very criti-
cal state.
24 – A fine day. Finished throwing back the mangolds in the
morning, then topped some turnips. Jennie washing. In the after-
22
Wilfred Laurier, Prime Minister of Canada, 1896-
1911.
107
noon went to A. T. Horne’s sale, rather a small crowd, things went
fair. Jennie and the children went as far as Greenbank and visited
at Mrs. Walker’s, Mr. Akhurst’s and John Lee’s, then we all got
tea at the Baptist social but did not stop [for] the concert.
25 – A fine day. All hands all day picking apples. W. Love came
for some sweet apples. Pared apples in the evening.
26 – Rain through the night and morning. Plowing in the forenoon
and topping turnips in the afternoon. Quite a snow storm in the
afternoon, the first snow for the season, which made the turnips
very wet.
27 – Ground white with snow in the morning which did not go
entirely away in shady places during the day. Jennie went to
Greenbank in the morning and all I did in the forenoon was to
clean out the pig house. Harrowing up turnips in the afternoon.
Pared apples in the evening. W. Ross held a political meeting at
Greenbank tonight. Nomination day.
28 – A fine day. At the turnips all day. Jennie helping part of the
time, got in 10 loads.
29 – A very fine day. At turnips all day. Jennie helping most of
the time, got in 11 loads.
30 – Quite a hard frost and pretty cool all day but fine. All at SS
and church (115 at SS). A student preached. Mr. Robinson of
Detroit who is on his wedding trip, sang in the SS and also the
church. At CE, a fair meeting. I was the leader, baptism the topic.
31 – Quite a hard frost. Topping turnips and finished about 4 pm,
then harrowed up some but did not finish. Jennie washing. Pared
apples in the evening.
NOV. 1 – A very fine day. Finished harrowing up the turnips and
then drew in 10 loads, Jennie helping. Down to George’s in the
evening practising singing for W.F.M.S. tomorrow night.
2 – A very fine day. At turnips and got in 7 loads which finishes,
38 loads in all. Jennie helping in the forenoon. All hands at the
W.F.M.S. meeting in the evening, a pretty good turnout. Mr. Jami-
son of Knox College was the speaker and good he was. Collection
$22.00.
3 – A fine day and pretty dark night. Jennie and the children went
to Port Perry in the forenoon while I did little but throw back some
turnips in the root house. Not feeling well all day. After dinner
went to Greenbank to vote as this is the general election day for the
Dominion house. W. Ross and Peter Christie are the candidates in
this riding. I think it has been about [the] quietest election that I
remember of. M. Stonehouse called in the afternoon wanting to
buy chickens. Christie elected by 96 it is said. [margin note -
Laurier government sustained by over 70].
4 – Plowing sod in the forenoon and finished. Plowing turnip
ground in the afternoon. Jennie making clothes for Willie. Pared
apples in the evening. A drizzling rain at night and very dark.
5 – A fine day. Plowing all day. Went up to W. Luke’s after sup-
per to get the election news which was very satisfactory with the
exception of South Ontario.
6 – A pretty hard frost in the morning which did not slacken all
day. All at SS and church (115 at SS). A Mr. Tough preached.
No one from here at CE.
7 – Another hard frost and cold all day. Drew in the corn in the
forenoon, Jennie helping. Apple packers, Cephas Sleep and two
boys, packed 12 barrels. Drew straw to cover strawberry plants in
the afternoon. Pared apples in the evening.
8 – A hard frost and a fine day. Finished covering strawberries and
threw back turnips in the forenoon. Mrs. A. Gordon Sr. here for
dinner, she was getting some sewing done. Jennie and the children
went up to visit Mrs. Lyle but she was not at home. Took the 12
barrels of apples to Port Perry in the afternoon. [margin note –
U.S. Presidential election, Roosevelt and Parker, Roosevelt
elected.]
9 – A hard frost, too hard to plough. Spent most of the day pruning
apple trees. Jennie washing. Afterward with the children she went
to Greenbank for mail.
10 – Too hard frost to plough. A fine day. Pruning orchard.
Jennie went to W.F.M.S. at Jas. Miller’s. Pared apples in the eve-
ning.
11 – Frost too hard to plough. Did a few chores in the forenoon
and drew away the brush in the orchard in the afternoon. Mrs.
Mark called after dinner. Jennie making coat for Willie.
12 – A fine day with a high wind in the afternoon. Went to Port
Perry in the forenoon and put in glass in stable windows in the
afternoon.
13 – A fine day but pretty cool with high wind. All at SS and
church (103 at SS). Rev. Mr. Campbell of Penetang preached. No
one from here at CE. John Michie ran into W. Luke’s buggy and
upset them at Luke’s gate.
14 – Cold with high wind. Drawing apple limbs and old rails to
woodshed in the forenoon and in the afternoon drew a load of
gravel from McMillan’s pit to level up the church sheds. Put up a
box on the 11th
conc. at the head of our sideroad to put the mail
into. Mr. A. Gordon’s children are to bring it down from Green-
bank. Pared apples in the evening.
15 – A fine day and some warmer. Drew up some old rails for
wood in the forenoon and made a coal bin in the afternoon.
16 – A very fine day but did not thaw out enough to plough. Went
to Port Perry in the forenoon with 22 bags to grind for meal and
brought home 1600 of coal. Moving gate NW of barn in the after-
noon. At Greenbank in the evening to a SS meeting to see about
lesson helpers for next year. Decided to have a Christmas tree.
Just 12 out all told.
17 – Still cold. Thanksgiving day but as there was no church ser-
vice, we did not leave home. Finished fixing gate and threw out
old fence SW of house. Pared apples in the evening.
18 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for the meal
and drew old rails in the afternoon. Jennie has a sore leg.
108
19 – A fine day and some warmer, fog in the forenoon. Jennie
went to Port Perry in the morning to see the Dr. about her sore leg
while I cut wood in the woodshed. Went to Greenbank in the
afternoon. Called at T.E. Cragg’s to see about the Liberal conven-
tion at Toronto next week and came home by the mill. Pared ap-
ples in the evening. Thunder in the evening and rain after we had
gone to bed.
20 – Warmer. All hands at SS and church (100 at SS), Mr. Hunter
preached. Alex Gordon’s buggy tongue broke in the shed. At CE,
not very large meeting, Silva Leask leader. Raining a little on the
way home.
21 – A fine day. Plowing all day at turnip land. Jennie covering
the lounge. Pared apples in the evening.
22 – A very fine day. Plowing all day, finished turnip ground and
plowed a little in orchard. At George’s in the evening singing.
23 – Got up early and Jennie and the children drove me to Port
Perry on my way to the great Liberal convention at Toronto. Got
there between 9 and 10. There was morning, afternoon and eve-
ning meetings in Massey Hall. An immense crowd. Hon. G.W.
Ross23
was the principal speaker in the evening. Got meals and
stayed all night at Mrs. J.C. Mason’s.
24 – Cooler and some snow. Attended the morning meeting of
convention and left for home at 2 pm. Got to Port Perry at 6 when
Jennie and the children met me. Band concert at Greenbank but
did not go to it as it was rather late.
25 – Plowing the orchard and finished I suppose for the season.
George Michie took away the cutting box. Jennie complaining
badly of sore leg. Pared apples in the evening. Bible society meet-
ing at Greenbank.
26 – A fine day with a little snow about 4 pm. Jennie went to Port
Perry in the morning to see the Dr. about her leg which is worse.
Did a few chores. Put on the storm windows. Not feeling very
well.
27 – A fine day but pretty cold. At SS and church with Annie.
Jennie did not go as she was not feeling well. (105 at SS), Mr.
Hunter preached. At CE, a fair meeting, Mrs. J.M. Real leader.
28 – A fine day but cold, nearly down to zero in the morning.
Went with Albert Akhurst and W. Mark to the church wood lot at
Whetter’s swamp. Came home by Greenbank. Pared apples in the
evening.
29 – A high wind through the night and thawing most of the day.
Helping George to thresh from about 11 am to 5 pm at the Luke
barn, Samson Martin’s machine. Jennies leg rather worse.
30 – A fine day with a little snow in the afternoon. Went to Port
Perry to see the Dr. about Jennie’s leg. Brought Joe Burton and
23
Hon. George W. Ross was Minister of Education.
Jas. Lee on their way home from the world’s fair at St. Louis. Mrs.
Mark here in the afternoon. A traveller got supper and stayed all
night.
DEC. 1 – A fine day with a high wind and a little snow towards
night and in the evening. Jennie’s leg pretty bad so I did little but
the chores. Went to Port Perry to the 5:30 train in the hopes that
Aunt Janet was coming for a time but she did not come. Mrs.
Albert Akhurst called in the forenoon. Our traveller that stayed all
night left after breakfast.
2 – A fine cold day. Sandy Gordon and Mrs. came down in the
morning and Mrs. Gordon stayed all day and night. Jennie’s leg
some better. Cut wood in the shed in the forenoon. In the after-
noon got out the sleigh and drew some wood into the woodshed
and then drove up to Gordon’s with the sleigh.
3 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning principally to
see the Dr. about Jennie. Finished drawing the wood into the shed.
Mrs. Gordon stayed all day and I drove her home after supper.
4 – A very fine day but pretty cold. At SS with Annie (102 pre-
sent). Came home and did not stay for church as Jennie was bad
with her leg. Did not go to CE as I had all the chores to do outside
and in.
5 – A pretty cold day. Went after Mrs. Gordon in the morning who
stayed all day and night. I then went to Port Perry to see the Dr.
about Jennie. Did a few chores in the afternoon. A little snow.
6 – A fine day. Swept the cobwebs from the stable and a few other
chores. Went to Port Perry to the 5:30 train and met Aunt Janet
who is to stay here a while. Fine roads.
7 – Rather a rough day with several snow flurries. Took Mrs.
Gordon home the first thing and then went to Port Perry for Aunt
Janet’s trunks. In the afternoon went to R. Nottingham’s sale,
which passed off fairly well. C. Calder nominated by the Tory
convention yesterday.
8 – A very rough wintery day. Drifting from the NW. Did little
but the chores. Lyle’s had a wood bee today.
9 –Zero at sunrise and very sharp all day but clear. Wes Luke
came and killed the pig and stayed for dinner. Cut up pig in the
afternoon. Aunt Janet washing.
10 – 4 below zero in the morning and never got much above it all
day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon and did the chores and in
the afternoon started coal in the kitchen stove.
11 – Pretty cold with some snow. At SS and church with Aunt
Janet and Annie (99 at SS). Rev. Mr. Keath preached a good ser-
mon. No one from here at CE. Annie’s birthday, 5 years old.
12 – A pretty cold day with some snow in the evening. Ethel
Miller and Miss Gibson called collecting for the Bible Society. In
the afternoon cut down the old apple tree (Johnnie’s tree). At
church managers meeting in the evening with the buggy.
109
13 – Cold day. In the forenoon cut down the burnt apple tree and
the basswood tree nearby. In the afternoon banked up the root
house and drew away some brush. Aunt Janet washing. Alex Lee
and wife here for tea. At Mark’s in the evening singing.
14 – A fine day but pretty cold. Went to Port Perry in the after-
noon with Jennie. Rev. Mr. Keath and Mr. E. Boe here for tea.
15 – A very fine day, zero in the morning. Drew away apple brush
in the afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon called in the evening.
Annie has a bad cold.
16 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning with Aunt
Janet. George, John and Jessie Michie and James Lee here in the
evening making rope for decorating the SS room.
17 – A fine day. Did very little but the chores.
18 – A fine cold day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet and little
Annie (108 at SS). Rev. Mr. Keath preached. No one from here at
CE.
19 – Some snow in the afternoon. Cutting wood all day, John
Michie helping. Aunt Janet washing. Russian pedlar stopped for
dinner.
20 – Snowing all day. Cutting wood in the swamp, John Michie
helping in the forenoon but not in the afternoon as it was too rough
and snowy. Uxbridge Christmas Fair and Liberal convention at
Whitby.
21 – A very fine day. At Port Perry in the afternoon to the Christ-
mas Fair which was quite a success. Took the cutter the first time
this season. Alex Gordon Sr. fell at Port Perry and cut his head.
22 – A very fine day, some snow in the forenoon. At Greenbank in
the afternoon with the sleigh decorating the Sunday School room
for the Christmas Tree on Saturday eve next.
23 – A dull day and thawing enough to spoil the sleighing. Sandy
and Arthur Gordon brought yesterday’s mail. Cleaned out the hen
house. At preparatory service in the church in the afternoon, Rev.
P. Sinclair of Sonya preached. The attendance was rather better
than usual. Rev. Mr. Keath was also present.
24 – A very cold day with east wind. Went to Port Perry with the
buggy in the morning for Walter and Ethel Bratley who came up
on the train and in the evening all hands went with the sleigh (very
poor sleighing) to the Christmas Tree in connection with the Sun-
day School which was quite a success. A full house and a very
large number of presents given, among which was a purse to
Maggie Blair (who was not present), a chair to Jas Miller and a
cutter robe to me. The proceeds came to about $14.00.
25 – Another cold day, below zero in the morning with east wind.
Went alone to communion at Wick, roads pretty slippery. The
attendance was the smallest I ever saw there especially of those
from Greenbank. Rev. Mr. Keath conducted the service in a very
nice way. Service at Greenbank in the evening but did not go.
26 – A fine day but pretty cold. Dinner party at Mark’s to which
we were all invited but by mistake we thought it was to be on New
Year’s day so did not go. Alex Lee called after dinner. Went to
Greenbank in the afternoon for the mail. Walter and Ethel Bratley
came up from Mark’s in the evening and stayed all night
27 – Rain through the night which froze as it fell making the roads
very slippery. Took Walter and Ethel Bratley to Port Perry on their
way home. Had to get horse shod on account of the ice. Went to
congressional meeting in the afternoon. Rev. Mr. Sinclair of
Sonya in the chair, not a very large meeting. Decided to give a call
to Rev. Mr. Keath of Leamington. Rain most of the day.
28 – A very rough cold day and drifting, wind in the SW and to-
wards night turned to NW. Drove with the buggy in the afternoon
to Wick (Mr. E. Boe going with me) to the meeting to call a minis-
ter. Jas. Miller, Jas. Leask and J.M. Real were also there from
Greenbank. Decided to call Mr. Keath and give him $900.00.
Wick to pay $500.00 and Greenbank $400.00. This was to have
been the annual SS meeting but we decided to call it off on account
of the weather. Public school meeting chose W. Real as trustee.
29 – Snowing and drifting from the NW off and on all day. Did
very little but the chores. Aunt Jennie washing.
30 – A fine day and quite mild. Went to Greenbank with the cutter
in the afternoon for the mail. Several municipal candidates on the
war path.
31 – A mild day and thawing a little. Repaired horse stable and
bagged up some oats.
1905
JAN. 1 – Quite mild day and thawing which nearly spoiled the
sleighing. At SS and church with Aunt Janet and little Annie (104
I think at SS). Time all spent in choosing teachers. Rev. Jas. A.
Miller preached and did very well. This is the first time he ever
preached in our church. The call to Rev. Mr. Keath was being
signed. No one from here out a night.
2 – A mild day and thawing, a little snow from the NE, colder
towards night. Cut ventilator in the pig and hen house and put
some glass on bedroom window in the forenoon, and in the after-
noon went to vote at Greenbank. Voted for R. Holtby and Jas.
Carneggie for county council; Norman Stewart for reeve and A.
Leask, Jas. Graham and McIntyre for council. The Methodists
have a tea and concert tonight but did not go. Carneggie and
Holtby elected. Also Doble, Leask, McIntyre, Graham and
Crozier. Port Arthur surrendered to the Japs24
.
3 – Very cold all day, 4 below zero in the morning. Went to Port
Perry in the afternoon with oats to get ground and brought home
1200 lbs. of coal. Sleighing not so bad except a few places but it is
very thin.
4 – Very cold, about 10 below in the morning. Went to Manches-
ter in the afternoon to a Liberal organization meeting. T.E. Cragg
24
Port Arthur was a Russian naval base at the tip of
the Liaotung Peninsula in Manchuria.
110
in the chair and W. Phoenix sec. In the evening went to the annual
church meeting. A. Akhurst; A. Leask; G.A. McMillan and W.
Wallace chosen managers. A fair turnout, nearly $60.00 in debt.
5 – Very cold, below zero most of the day. Went to Port Perry
with the sleigh in the afternoon for the meal.
6 – Very cold and snowing a little with rough east wind. Did very
little but the chores. Alex Gordon called for a barrel of apples. In
the evening went to the postponed SS meeting. As it was a bad
night there were only about 25 present. I was again chosen super
(for the fourth time); Jas. Miller, asst. super.; Russell Wallace, sec.;
Dave McMillan, asst. sec.; Jas. Leask, treas.; R.T. Harrington, lib.;
Silva Leask, organist; Jessie Michie, asst. organist.
7 – A lot of snow fell through the night and a little during the day
with NW wind drifting it pretty bad. Did nothing but the chores.
Pared apples in the forenoon.
8 – A pretty cold and rough afternoon. Went up as far as Mr.
Lyle’s in the morning to see about the road out which goes through
the fields from there to the concession. At SS and church with
Jennie and little Annie, a Mr. Shaw preached. He was late in get-
ting there and made it late getting home. Annie Rennie took
charge of the choir. 106 at SS. A. Gordon takes a new class and
two classes have not yet got a teacher. Called at Gordon’s on the
way home for the mail. No CE.
9 – Snowy afternoon and very rough evening. Went to Port Perry
in the afternoon with Jennie and little Willie and got his photo
taken. At church managers meeting in the evening.
10 – A rough day, snowing a little and drifting some all day. Did
chores and cleaned out pig house. Aunt Janet washing. Pared
apples in the evening. Saw no one.
11 – Snowing a little and drifting some from the east and nearly
down to zero all day. Did nothing but the chores. Pared apples in
the evening.
12 – Hail and rain through the night which made a crust on the
snow. Took Aunt Janet to Port Perry on her way to Newcastle and
Port Hope. Drove up to the mail box in the afternoon which turned
colder and pretty rough. Isaac Wells buried today. 2nd
day of Port
Perry races.
13 – Cold but clear day. Went to Greenbank in the afternoon.
Called at the school house to see Miss Baird about taking a SS
class but failed to get her assent. Brought Mrs. Gordon home from
S. Dusty’s.
14 – Very cold, 10 below zero in the morning and below nearly all
day, clear and sharp. Cleaned out pig house. Bee drawing wood
for church but did not go as it was so cold. At choir practice in the
evening, Miss Annie Rennie leader, her second night, all the choir
out.
15 – Very rough and drifting from the SW and cold. AT SS and
church with little Annie. Notwithstanding the weather there was
96 at SS. A student (I think he was) preached. He announced that
Rev. Mr. Keath would be inducted on the 24th
. A special appeal to
wipe off the deficit in the church account next Sunday. No CE.
16 – Somewhat cold and rough. In the afternoon went to Whetter’s
swamp and took a load of wood up to the church.
17 – A very fine day and warmer. Drew up some wood from
Luke’s swamp in the afternoon.
18 – Drawing up wood from Luke’s swamp. Started to snow about
4 pm and continued through the evening. Nominations for Ontario
General elections.
19 – Thawing in the morning but got colder towards night. Went
to Port Perry in the afternoon. Got proof of Willie’s photos.
Called on Rev. Mr. Cooper.
20 – A very fine bright day. In the afternoon went with Jennie and
the two children to visit Mr. A.T. Horne at Saintfield who has been
ill since the beginning of the winter. We did not find him much
better.
21 – A fine mild day. Did nothing but the chores. Not feeling very
well. 13 little pigs came but 9 of them are dead. Did not go to
choir practice.
22 – A very fine day, some snow about 4 pm. At SS and church
with Annie (94 at SS). A student preached. A special appeal to
wipe out arrears in church account brought $34.00. Did not go to
CE as I was not feeling well.
23- A very fine day. Split some wood in door yard. Jennie wash-
ing.
24 – Snowing a little and blowing from the east all day. Went to
Port Perry in the morning with the sleigh and 14 bags of oats to
grind. Met the train and brought home Mrs. F. Perrin and Jennie
Perrin of Newcastle. Rev. Mr. Keath inducted into the Wick and
Greenbank congregations today but did not go as I was not feeling
well and the weather rough. News of terrible times in St. Peters-
burg, Russia.25
25 – A very rough cold day, down to about zero all day with a high
NE wind and drifting. This is the Ontario General election day.
Dryden and Calder are running here. Went up after dinner and
voted. At the time of writing we have no news but I feel that the
government is going under today. [margin note – Calder elected
and government snowed under.]
26 – A very cold day, 13 below zero in the morning and never
hardly above all day. George Michie came up after dinner and
gave us the election news as far as he knew. Wes Luke called on
his way to Port Perry and left Mrs. Luke and Ned here and then he
stopped on his way home for supper.
25
Jan. 22, 1905, known as Bloody Sunday, unarmed
demonstrators intending to present a petition to Tsar
Nicholas II were gunned down by the Imperial
Guard.
111
27 – A good deal milder but drifting and snowing some from the
SW. Went to Port Perry in the afternoon with Jennie for the meal
and to see the Dr. for myself.
28 – Pretty cold in the morning. Drove Mrs. Perrin and Jennie
Perrin to Port Perry on their way home to Newcastle.
29 – Pretty cold in the morning but a fine day. At SS and church
with Annie (113 at SS), Rev. Mr. Keath preached his first sermon
as pastor to a good audience and did very well. Mrs. Keath was
with him. Did not go to CE. 9 years tonight since we were mar-
ried.
30 – A very fine day. Cut and split some wood in the door yard.
S. Sleep of Seagrave called after dinner and bought our 8 pigs.
31 – A very fine day, a little snow in the afternoon. Split some
wood in door yard. Greenbank Band goes to Wilfred tonight.
FEB. 1 – A fine day, a little snow in the afternoon. Split wood in
the forenoon and went to Port Perry in the afternoon for coal. At
prayer meeting in the evening, Rev. Mr. Keath, leader.
2 – Cold day. Tom Black, Alma and Ralph came from Mark’s
where they had been all night and got dinner. After dinner Tom
and I drove over to Alex Lee’s and got back about 7 pm. A very
rough cold afternoon. Tom then went down to Mark’s for the
night. Alma and Ralph went after dinner.
3 – 12 below zero in the morning and never above all day with a
cutting NW wind. Turnips freezing in root house. Did nothing but
the chores. Saw no one.
4 – 12 below zero in the morning but a fine clear day. Did nothing
but the chores. Suffering with a sore hip.
5 – A pretty cold day with bleak east wind. At SS and church with
Annie (109 at SS), Rev. Mr. Keath preached. At CE, rather a small
turnout, Silva Leask and I, leaders.
6 – Cold and snowing a little. Went to Port Perry in the afternoon
with 18 bags of oats to the mill. Mr. and Mrs. Alex Gordon Jr.
here in the evening preparing the church report for the printer.
7 – A very cold day, below zero most of the time. Did the chores
and a little at a new water closet26
.
8 – 14 below zero in the morning, clear and still. Got warmer
towards night with some snow in the evening. Went to Port Perry
in the forenoon for the meal. At prayer meeting in the evening,
Rev. Mr. Keath leader.
9 – Quite a lot of snow through the night and thawing a little all
day. Working in the shop making a new little house.
10 – A rough day, snowing and drifting all day. Working in shop
most of the day. Mrs. Gordon came about 10 and I drove her home
about 5 pm.
26
“Water closet” – outhouse.
11 – Cold in the morning but calm and clear. Cleaned out the pig
house. John Michie, his mother and Nellie O’Neill came for
awhile in the afternoon. He drove with the sleigh around by the
11th
concession as there has been no road through the fields this
winter so far.
12 – Snow in the afternoon from the SE. At SS and church with
Annie (108 at SS). Rev. Mr. Keath preached on blind Bartemus.
No CE.
13 – A very cold day, about zero all day with a stiff wind from NW
and drifting snow. Did the chores. Jennie washing. Saw no one.
14 – 10 below zero in the morning and never much above all day
with a high SW wind and drifting. Did chores and saw no one but
our own folks.
15 – Very cold, never above zero all day with a cutting NW wind.
Went up as far as the 11th
concession in the morning. Mr. Sleep
came to tell me to take the pigs to Seagrave tomorrow. Went down
to George’s to get help with the pigs tomorrow.
16 – Below zero in the morning with high SW wind and drifting
badly. Took 7 pigs to Seagrave, sold to Sleep Bros. John Michie
went with me and we had a hard time getting there as the roads
were very bad. The 7 weighed 1660 lbs at $5.25 per hundred.
17- Snowing and drifting most of the day from the SW which
turned to a NW blizzard at night. Broke roads and went to Green-
bank in the afternoon. Roads very heavy.
18 – Very cold with high NW wind and drifting badly. Calmed
down towards night. No RR trains today.
19 – Cold in the morning, 6 below, but calm and clear. Went up as
far as Akhurst’s to see if the road was open. At SS and church
with Annie, the roads pretty bad, indeed they are blocked some
places, but there was 103 at SS. Rev. Mr. Keath preached. He was
somewhat behind as he had trouble getting down the centre road.
Did not go to CE.
20 – Much warmer, almost thawing. Went to Port Perry in the
forenoon with the sleigh hoping to meet Aunt Janet at the train but
she did not come. Roads not very good. Brought home some
lumber for little house and worked at it in the afternoon. Tory
demonstration at Port Perry tonight.
21 – A fine day and almost thawing. Working most of the day in
the shop. George Michie came up after dinner to ask me to a party
there tonight. We tried to take a heifer away but failed. At
George’s party for a short time in the evening. A good crowd and
a lively time.
22 – Snow through the night and off and on during the day from
the SE. Working in the shop.
23 – A fine mild day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon to meet
Aunt Janet who came from Newcastle this morning. Working in
the shop awhile. Jennie and Aunt Janet making quilt.
24 – A beautiful mild day. All hands drove to Alex Gordon’s for
the afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. C. Gordon; Mrs. Bryant and L. Bryant
112
were also there. Had an upset coming home on the 11th
concession
turning into Akhurst’s field. While we were away Mrs. W.H.
Leask and Laura [Golden, Golder?] called.
25 – A beautiful clear mild day. Had a bad cold and did not get out
of bed until noon and hardly out of the house the remainder of the
day. Jennie and Aunt Janet did the chores.
26 – Quite cold and rough all day. At SS and church with Annie
(103 at SS). Mr. Keith preached. Did not go to CE as I was not
feeling well. [Note: Prior to this point in the diary Mr. Keith was
spelled as ‘Keath’].
27 – A fine day. Not feeling well and did nothing but go up to the
mail box. Jennie and Aunt Janet quilting. Aunt Janet and little
Annie taking the cold. Farmer’s Institute meeting at Greenbank.
28 – Clear but pretty cold and drifting some. George Michie called
in the forenoon. Sat in the house all day except helping to bag up
some oats. CE social at Jas. Leask’s tonight but did not go, was
not well enough. Took in $22.00.
MAR. 1 – A clear day but pretty cold, 4 below zero in the morn-
ing. John Michie took load of oats to mill in the forenoon and got
the meal home with him. Jennie added to list of sick with cold.
2 – A beautiful day but pretty cold. All more or less sick with cold
or grippe. Nothing doing. Jennie the worst today.
3 – A very fine day. All more or less sick with grippe. Jennie is
the worst. G. Michie called in the forenoon. In the afternoon went
to preparatory service in the church, Rev. Mr. Keith preached to a
fairly good congregation.
4 – A fine clear day but pretty cold and drifting some. Did little
but the chores. Made a doubletree. All a little better today.
5 – Snowing a little from the SW and rather disagreeable. At
communion at Greenbank, a fair turnout. Rev. Mr. Keith con-
ducted the service. Did not go to CE. All at home a little on the
mend.
6 – A very fine clear day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for
coal. Made a doubletree in the afternoon. Bee at church cutting
wood, did not go.
7 – A beautiful day and thawing a little. Made whiffletrees and
cleaned out pig and calf pens.
8 – A very fine clear day. In the afternoon went with Jennie to
Thompson’s store at Seagrave. Jas. Michie married.
9 – Not quite as fine a day, not thawing any. Rev. N.D. Keith and
Mr. E. Boe called about 11 am. We all got an invitation to tea at
Jas. Burton’s tonight, but did not go.
10 – Nearly down to zero and very cold all day. Did nothing but
the chores.
11 – A very fine day but pretty cold. Went up to Luke’s in the
morning. Went to Port Perry with the cutter in the afternoon.
Oliver Luke called.
12 – Clear but pretty cold. At SS and church with Aunt Janet and
little Annie (118 at SS). Mr. Keith preached. Did not go to CE.
Mrs. Jas. H. Leask, Barbara and Annie Mason and Kennedy were
there.
13 – Cold, 4 below zero in the morning but got warmer. George
Michie brought up Barbara, Annie Mason, Kennedy Mason and his
mother about 10:30. Went to session meeting in the church in the
afternoon to revise the church roll.
14 – A very fine day and thawing a little. Went up for Mrs.
Gordon Sr. in the morning. After dinner took Barbara and Annie
Mason and Kennedy to Port Perry on their way home and stopped
awhile at the stock sale in the curling rink which went off rather
dull.
15 – A very fine clear day, 4 below zero in the morning. Fanned
up a load of oats with Aunt Janet’s help in the forenoon. In the
afternoon went to Frank Dobson’s sale, a large turnout and pretty
good prices. At prayer meeting in the evening, Mr. Keith leader.
He took up the first question in the shorter catechism and the first
deadly sin “Pride”. A SS meeting after when it was decided to
hold an anniversary on May 24.
16 – A little snow from the east. Went to Port Perry in the fore-
noon with 60 bus. oats and sold them for 40 cts. per bus. In the
afternoon fanned up another load, Jennie helping.
17 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with 63
bus. oats and got 41 ½ cts. per bus. In the afternoon went to the
manse in Wick on the invitation of Mr. Keith, together with the
rest of the session, and got tea and spent the evening. We had a
very good time. A beautiful night.
18 – Some rain through the night and off and on through the day,
quite heavy in the evening. Snow going fast and roads getting bad.
This is the first thaw of any account since before Christmas. Went
to Port Perry in the forenoon with 16 bags of oats and got them
ground and home again. Up to Joe Burton’s in the afternoon.
Jennie on the sick list.
19 – A fine day and freezing a little. Started for SS with the horse
and cutter but the roads were dreadful and we only got as far as W.
Luke’s where I left Annie and the horse and walked the rest of the
way. There was 82 there but not a single rig. Mr. Keith walked
down from Wick. I did not stop for the church service but came
home. Got the horse down in Lyle’s field. After supper walked to
W. Real’s and telephoned for the Dr. for Jennie. Dr. D. Archer
came about 7:30. He drove up as far as O’Neill’s and walked
across the fields. He reports Jennie not so bad as we feared.
20 – A very fine day, snow hard in the morning but thawing some
in the afternoon. Did very little but the chores. Aunt Janet wash-
ing. Jennie in bed all day but she thinks herself some better.
21 – A fine day, hard in the morning but thawing in the afternoon.
Mrs. Mark and Mrs. A. Gordon Jr. called in the forenoon, also W.
Slovin, the assessor. Jennie sat up a while in the afternoon.
113
22 – A fine day and thawing some all day. Drawing wood from
the swamp field to the woodshed. Saw the first robin. Jennie some
better, up all afternoon.
23 – Thawing fast all day. Walked to Greenbank in the forenoon
and bad walking it was. Jennie up most of the day.
24 – A fine day and thawing, a little rain about noon, foggy in the
evening. Drew out some cedar posts from the swamp lot with one
horse, the water rising fast. Went down to George’s after dinner
for some black currants for Jennie who has been up most of the day
and is a little better. Mr. D. Lyle called in the morning.
25 – A fine warm day and the snow going fast. Went to W. Luke’s
in the forenoon, roads very bad. Tapped 6 maple trees along the
lane. Broke the road on horseback from our gate south. Jennie
quite a bit better all day. Her and Aunt Janet sewing carpet rags.
26 – A warm day, thawing with a little rain in the afternoon.
Walked to SS and church. In SS only 76 present as the roads were
so bad. Rev. Mr. Keith walked down again but did not go home
tonight. He preached an extra good sermon. Did not go to CE. A
pretty dark night.
27 – A fine day and thawing. Wes Luke came after dinner and
helped to kill pig. Jennie and Aunt Janet washing and at carpet
rags.
28 – A thunder shower, the first of the season, in the forenoon.
Warm and the snow settling fast. Helped Jennie to cut up the pig.
Made some shingles for the little house.
29 – A very fine warm spring-like day. Made some shingles in the
forenoon. Isaac O’Neill called wanting some straw. Walked to
Greenbank in the afternoon. Called at W. Akhurst’s, J. Lee’s and
J.M. Real’s and in the evening went down to see George about
music for the anniversary on the 24 May.
30 – Thunder in the morning, not so warm today. Plowed a little in
the orchard, the first of the season either here or any place near that
I know of.
31 – Cooler, some frost in the morning. Did some jobs with the
sleigh in the forenoon. Sleep Bros. called and bought fat cattle at
4, 4 ¼ and 4 ½. In the afternoon went with the waggon with Aunt
Janet and little Willie to Greenbank. Isaac O’Neill came for a
small load of straw. A little rain in the afternoon.
APR. 1 – Quite a hard frost in the morning. Drew out some ma-
nure in the forenoon and planted some potatoes in the orchard, the
first planting of the season. Isaac O’Neill and W. Mark came for a
small load of straw.
2 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet and Annie
(108 at SS). Rev. Mr. Nevell, Methodist minister, preached. Did
not go to CE.
3 – Took the fat cattle to Seagrave with John Michie’s help.
Started away with 3 but one heifer ran back after we had got as far
as Alex Gordon’s and came home. No doing anything with her.
Jennie drove and brought us home. Set up the new closet in the
afternoon. At church manager’s meeting in the evening.
4 – A fine warm day with high SW wind in the afternoon. Tore
down the old closet and some other chores. Willie Carneggie
called asking to his moving tomorrow.
5 – A fine day. Worked in the garden and at the berry bushes in
the forenoon. Alex Lee came with the oats that he borrowed last
fall. In the afternoon helped to move Mrs. Carneggie from the
house on the 11th
concession near the RR track to the house on the
sideroad on 9th
conc. near the RR track. At prayer meeting, Mr.
Keith leader, a pretty good turnout. Old Mrs. Samuel Byers was
buried at Greenbank today.
6 – A fine day but quite cool. Went to Port Perry with the waggon
in the morning with Aunt Janet to the market. A big turnout. Got
home at 1:30. At berry bushes in the afternoon. Hugh Jack and
Dan Boe called buying cattle.
7 – Quite a hard frost in the morning and cool all day. At berry
bushes all day.
8 – A hard frost and so cold that it did not fully thaw out all day. A
few flakes of snow in the forenoon. Helping John and George to
fan up seed oats in our barn. Bagged up 98 bushels. In the after-
noon drove Annie and Willie to anniversary practice for the little
folks at the church, Miss Annie Rennie leader. A. Butt called, sold
him the wild heifer at 6 ¼ cts per pound dressed.
9 – A fine day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and
Willie (114 at SS). Rev. Mr. Wright, late missionary in the Yukon
preached. His mission now is the collection for Queen’s College
endowment fund. At CE with Jennie, a fair turnout, Nellie
McMillan and Miss Forfar leaders.
10 – Rain off and on the fore part of the day. G. and J. Michie
came after oats. Alfred Butt and J. Vernon came for dinner and
killed the wild heifer. Plowed over the strawberry ground.
11 – A fine day. Went in the morning with Annie and Willie to
hunt for eggs for hatching. First went to W. Luke’s, then to G.
Real’s, and finally got them at J.M. Real’s. Gang plowing the rest
of the day. A. Butt and J. Vernon came for the beef.
12 – A hard frost in the morning but a very fine day. Sowed east
of the orchard, the first of the season, and harrowed in the after-
noon. Mrs. A. Gordon here for dinner. A. Akhurst called in the
afternoon. At prayer meeting, Rev. Mr. Keith leader, a good meet-
ing. SS anniversary meeting after. Rev. Mr. Wright was present.
13 – Frost in the morning and a cool day. Went to Port Perry in the
morning with Jennie and little Willie to market. Harrowing in the
afternoon. Isaac O’Neill and Mrs. came for a load of turnips.
14 – A fine day, cool. Took straw off strawberries and some other
jobs in the forenoon. Sowed oats in the north field in the after-
noon. Mrs. Mark called after dinner.
15 – A hard frost in the morning. Finished sowing the north field
in the forenoon. In the afternoon went to Whetter Bros. barn rais-
ing. Pretty cold and snowing a good deal of the time, which made
114
it some disagreeable. Did not get any of the rafters or the collar
beams up. Aunt Janet drove Annie and Willie to practice in the
church.
16 – A hard frost which did not thaw out all day. High NW wind
and pretty wintry. At SS and church (107 at SS). Mr. Keith
preached. Decided in SS to get the Sherlock quartet for anniver-
sary. At CE, a fair meeting, Silva Leask and I, leaders.
17 – Cold with high NW wind, frost did not go out enough to make
the land workable. Some snow and quite wintery. Finished tying
up the berry bushes and several small jobs. Aunt Janet washing,
Jennie sewing.
18 – Another cold day, frost did not get out of ground. Picked over
the turnips in root house and wheeled out the rotten ones. Did
some odd jobs in the afternoon. Isaac O’Neill and Mrs. called in
the forenoon and Mrs. O’Neill came again in the evening for 2
hens and a rooster.
19 – Making bars and some other jobs in the forenoon. D. Lyle
called to get holes made in waggon [?]. Harrowing in the after-
noon what was sown on Saturday and it did not work very well on
account of frost. A very high wind and lots of dust. At prayer
meeting, a good turnout, Mr. Keith leader.
20 - Warmer with a few drops of rain in the afternoon. Went to
Port Perry in the forenoon with Jennie and little Annie. Sowing
oats in SW field in the afternoon.
21 – Good Friday. Snow through the night from the east and con-
tinued through the forenoon until there was about 3 inches. It did
not thaw very much during the day. Did very little but a few odd
jobs.
22 – Warmer, the snow nearly all gone by night. Drew out some
manure and took Annie and Willie down to George’s to practice
with A. Gordon’s children for SS anniversary. In the afternoon
finished sewing the SW field. Isaac O’Neill came for a load of
straw.
23 – Easter Sunday. A very fine clear day but cool. At SS and
church with Aunt Janet, Willie and Annie (107 at SS), Mr. Keith
preached. At Port Perry Presbyterian church in the evening. A
Miss Macintosh of the Toronto City Mission gave a very interest-
ing address. Snow not quite all gone yet.
24 – Warmer. Gang plowing in the forenoon and harrowing in the
afternoon. Jennie and Aunt Janet housecleaning upstairs.
25 – A fine warm spring day. Harrowing and gang plowing.
Jennie and Aunt Janet housecleaning.
26 – A warm day. Gang plowing all day. Jennie and Aunt Janet
churning and housecleaning. At prayer meeting, a fair turnout, Mr.
Keith leader.
27 – A fine warm day. Harrowing in the forenoon and sowing in
the afternoon which finishes the sowing except the orchard. Jennie
and Aunt Janet cleaning the cellar.
28 – A very fine warm day. Harrowing in the forenoon and plow-
ing in the orchard in the afternoon. Separator agent called and
talked a long time. D. Lyle cutting wood with Stone’s machine.
29 – A fine day with high wind in the afternoon and lots of dust,
some thunder and a little rain through the night. Plowing in the
orchard in the forenoon. Did a number of small jobs in the after-
noon while Jessie Michie drove old Jess in the buggy and took
Annie to anniversary practice. Aunt Janet took Annie and Willie
down to George’s to practice in the forenoon.
30 – A fine day but cool. Went over to Lyle’s bush in the forenoon
with Jennie, Annie and Willie and got some May flowers. At SS
and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (122 at SS). Mr.
Keith preached on the Sabbath. Did not go out in the evening.
MAY 1 – Pretty cold and raw. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon
with Aunt Janet. Harrowed in the orchard in the afternoon.
2 – Snow from the south most of the forenoon and rain off and on
during the afternoon. Picked stones off the fields in the forenoon.
Aunt Janet washing. Jennie making Annie a white dress.
3 – Rain a little off and on all day, a big thunder shower at 4, an-
other at 7 and all the evening. Whitewashed the kitchen. Jennie
and Aunt Janet housecleaning. At prayer meeting in the evening.
Mr. Keith did not get there and a very few out but we had a little
anniversary meeting. Very dark night. George Wallace Sr. buried
today.
4 – Rain, heavy through the night and morning. Went to Port Perry
in the forenoon to market and order the SS anniversary bills.
Plowing in the afternoon. Put up a bigger mail box at the head of
the road. Jennie and Aunt Janet cleaning the pantry.
5 – Another big rain through the night which makes it pretty wet in
low places. Fixed floor over the cistern, planted potatoes in the
orchard in the forenoon and drew out manure in the afternoon.
Jennie and Aunt Janet housecleaning.
6 – Drew out manure in the forenoon. Annie went down to
George’s to practice. Started to rain after dinner and rained all
afternoon. Jessie Michie drove Old Jess and took Annie to practice
at the church, but Annie Rennie did not come.
7 – A fine day and some cool. At SS and church with Aunt Janet,
Annie and Willie (103 at SS). Mr. Keith preached. John Sommer-
ville’s boy and O’Neill’s boy and girl were baptized. Several
immigrants, Scotch I think, were present. Mr. and Mrs. Edgar
Horne were there.
8 – Drawing out manure until about 3 pm when it started to rain.
Jennie and Aunt Janet housecleaning and finished the job.
9 – A fine day and pretty cool. Went to Port Perry in the morning
with 14 bags of oats to the mill. Got the meal home, also brought
the new room carpet home. Drawing out and spreading manure in
the afternoon. Jennie and Aunt Janet putting down new carpet.
115
10 – A fine day. Plowing and spreading manure all day. Jennie
and Aunt Janet laying carpet. At prayer meeting, Mr. Boe leader.
Anniversary meeting after. Barbara and Willie Smith came in the
evening.
11 – A fine warm growing day, threatening rain in the afternoon.
Dug up strawberry plants for Willie Smith and spread manure in
the forenoon. Man hunting work got his dinner here. Barbara and
Willie Smith left for home at 2 pm. Aunt Janet went to Port Perry
market.
12 – A fine warm day. Plowing in the forenoon and harrowing in
the afternoon. James Stonehouse came just before dinner with a
cream separator and left one for a few days on trial.
13 – A very fine day. Planting strawberries. Aunt Janet digging
up the plants. Got 12 rows in. Annie and Willie went down to
George’s in the forenoon to sing and in the afternoon Jessie Michie
drove up with Annie to practice at the church. Jessie brought up
some suckers.
14 – A little rain about noon. At SS and church with Aunt Janet,
Annie and Willie (105 at SS). Mr. Keith preached. At CE, a fair
meeting, Mrs. Jas. Leask and I, leaders.
15 – A fine day. Planting strawberries all day, Aunt Janet digging
the plants. Put in 14 rows. Two men called and delivered the
strawberry and raspberry plants ordered last fall.
16 – A fine day. Aunt Janet and little Annie went to Port Perry in
the morning while I was planting strawberries. Finished planting
in the afternoon and then harrowed a little. Mr. and Mrs. A.
Gordon Sr. called in the morning for some strawberries for Mrs.
Beacroft.
17 – Harrowing corn and potato ground in the forenoon and in the
afternoon putting up fence, George Michie helping. At prayer
meeting. Mr. Keith spoke on John Knox,27
this being 400 years
since his birth. Mrs. Mark, Mrs. W. O’Neill, baby O’Neill, and
Jessie Michie called in the evening.
18 – A fine cool day. Rolled, drilled up and sowed the mangolds,
34 drills. Jessie Michie drove up Annie to practice at Greenbank.
John came after the turnip drill to sow mangolds. Isaac, Mary and
the 2 children came for 3 bags of oats, 7 ½ bus. at 40cts.
19 – A fine day and cool. Went to Port Perry with Willie in the
forenoon for the matting for the spare bedroom. Scuffled the berry
bushes, strawberries (1st
time) and hoed in the afternoon. Jennie
and Aunt Janet laying carpet.
20 – A fine day but pretty cool. At fence building in the forenoon,
John Michie helping. Cut some potatoes in the afternoon, Jennie
and Aunt Janet helping. James Stonehouse called to see about
separator, we have bought it. Jessie Michie and Annie went to
practice at Greenbank. Washed the buggy.
27
John Knox, Scottish clergyman and leader of Prot-
estant reformation.
Cream separator would have looked similar to
this one manufactured in the early 1900’s.
21 – A beautiful day, a little cool. At SS with Aunt Janet, Annie
and Willie (115 at SS). After SS was our Anniversary Sunday and
R.J. Wallace preached to a very full house. At evening service
with Aunt Janet, another even bigger crowd. W. Wallace preached
on John Knox. Collections $18.50. Mrs. Mark rode home with us
and called in on her way home.
22 – A very fine day but cool. Drilling up potato drills in the fore-
noon. Put the young cattle down to swamp field, the grass not at
all good. At Phair’s in the afternoon helping to lay foundation of
the new part of barn. Jennie and Aunt Janet washed, churned
twice, and cut seed potatoes. Mr. Ballard of Port Perry called in
the afternoon and Mrs. Mark in the evening.
23 – A beautiful clear cool day. Planted the field potatoes in the
forenoon and covered them up and drilled up some for corn in the
afternoon. Aunt Janet went to Port Perry in the forenoon and did
not get back until after 1 pm. Jennie baking some for anniversary.
24 – A fine day and some warmer than usual. Drilled up for corn
in the forenoon. Allan Black came at dinner. All hands except
Jennie at the Sunday School anniversary. There was a programme
by the young people and an address by Rev. Mr. Hagen and music
by the band. A large turnout. The concert was in the Methodist
church which was crowded. The Sherlock Quartet gave the music
and it was fine. The proceeds were $210.00.
25 – A fine warm day with high SW wind in the afternoon. Allan
Black left for home in the morning. Rolled until about 10 when
Aunt Janet went to Port Perry Market. Went in the afternoon to
Phair’s barn raising, which went up without any accident.
26 – Rain through the night and a cool day. Rolling all day and
with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie, went to the after social at the
church. Not a very large turnout. Made about $7.00.
27 – A very fine day. Rolling most of the day and finished, then
harrowed the orchard. Poisoned woodchucks in the evening. Saw
a porcupine near the swamp.
28 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Annie (113 at SS),
Mr. Keith preached. Went to Port Perry in the evening principally
to see the Dr. about Jennie. Went first to the Methodist church
(there being no Presbyterian). The Sons of England were out.
29 – Planted horse corn in the forenoon. Started to rain at noon
and rained all afternoon. Fixing a place in the stable for the sepa-
rator. Aunt Janet washing. Jennie fixing the lounge. Marsh Hill
SS anniversary.
116
30 – A very fine day. In the morning Aunt Janet drove me to
Greenbank where I rode to Blackwater with Mr. Dusty and then to
Presbytery meetings at Lindsay, the first for me. Aunt Janet drove
again and met me in the evening south of Saintfield. News of the
great navel battle between Russia and Japan in which Japan was
victorious.28
31 – A very fine day. Put the separator in the stable and drew out
manure. Albert Akhurst brought the beef, the first this season.
Road machine working down our line a while in the afternoon.
JUNE 1 – A very fine day, a little shower at 6 pm. Drew out 2
loads of manure in the morning and not feeling at all well. I went
to Port Perry with Aunt Janet and little Annie, they to market and I
to see the Dr. Hung stable door and spread some manure in the
afternoon. Mrs. O’Neill came for a bag of oats.
2 – A fine cool day with somewhat high wind from the NW. Drew
out manure in the forenoon and in the afternoon with Aunt Janet
and little Willie went to preparatory service at the church, Rev. Mr.
Young of Eldon preached. Miss Cora Blair received as a member.
3 – A very fine day. Plowing turnip land all day. Aunt Janet
scrubbing.
4 – Rain in the morning from the SW. Went alone to communion
at Wick, some rain on the way. Not so many as usual from Green-
bank. Rev. Mr. Keith preached. At evening service at Greenbank
with Aunt Janet and little Annie, Mr. Keith preached. An unusual
large turnout as there was no service in the Methodist church on
account of Mr. Neville being away at conference.
5 – Drew out manure until about 4 pm when a thunder shower
came up which turned into a down Easter. Aunt Janet churning
and spilled the butter out of the churn onto the grass.
6 – Went to Greenbank in the morning to see Jack Park and spread
some manure in the forenoon. Drawing out manure in the after-
noon. Threatening rain off and on all day but did not amount to
much. Mr. Williams called wanting to buy young cattle. George
sowed turnips, the first.
7 – In the morning went for the beef with little Willie, rain all the
way and until about the middle of the afternoon. Fixing separator
room and spread manure. Jennie baking fruit cake. Isaac Beare
had a runaway and broke his buggy pretty bad.
8 – A very fine day. Plowing all day.
9 – A fine warm day, the most summery day this season. Plowing,
harrowing and rolling turnip land. Got an invitation to John
Leask’s raising tomorrow. Sonya SOS excursion to Niagara Falls
today.
10 – Drilled and sowed 60 rows of turnips. A little rain at noon
and in the evening.
28
Battle of Tsushima
11 – Rain through the night and dull all day. At SS and church
with little Annie (107 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. Did not go to
CE.
12 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning to see the Dr.
for Jennie and myself. Called in and saw through E. Beare’s new
house and stables. Scuffling and hoeing strawberries, raspberries
and potatoes. J.M. Real, wife and little girl called in the afternoon
for some strawberry plants to take to Jas. Burns, Albert. Mrs. Real
leaves for there tomorrow. Her mother and Mrs. John Stone are
also going.
13 – A very fine day. Went to Greenbank in the morning to see
Jack Park. Drew out manure and finished the job. Plowing in the
afternoon.
14 – A very fine day, the warmest of the season. Took off under-
shirt. Plowing and harrowing most of the day. At prayer meeting
in the evening, a good turnout, Mr. Keith leader. A meeting after
about spending SS money but little done.
15 – A fine day and pretty warm. Aunt Janet went to Port Perry
market while I hoed strawberries. Rolling turnip land and drew old
rails to house for firewood. Mrs. A. Gordon Sr. here for tea.
Drove her home in the evening.
16 – A heavy rain in the night and drizzling nearly all day. Drilled
up for turnips, but it was too wet to sow them. Had to quit about 5
pm on account of the rain. The band was to go to Oakwood to-
night but I think they did not go.
17 – Went to Greenbank in the morning calling at S. Dusty’s and
J.M. Real’s. Sowed turnips after dinner, then scuffled mangolds
and strawberries. As we were at supper Mary Patton and two
children came. We did not get word to meet them at Port Perry so
a liveryman drove them out. Pretty warm.
18 – A pretty warm day, thunder and rain about 1 and off and on
during the afternoon. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie
and Willie (103 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. Did not go to CE, a
foggy evening.
19 – Very warm, thundering most of the afternoon but only a few
drops of rain. Finished drilling for turnips and sowed them after
dinner, then plowed in the orchard. Aunt Janet churning.
20 – A fine day and not so warm. Went to Greenbank in the morn-
ing to see J. Park. On the way hired Jim Dusty for a month at
$8.00. Had to go back again at 11 and called in and got J.M.
Real’s democrat to draw out berries and in the afternoon went to
Port Perry with Aunt Janet and little Willie and got some berry
cases and boxes. Scuffled some in the evening. Aunt Janet and
Mary Patton washing. Fred Love cutting hay, the first of the sea-
son.
21 – A fine day and pretty warm. Finished plowing the orchard
and harrowed it. Scuffling corn and potatoes in the afternoon.
Wick SS picnic this afternoon.
22 – A very fine cool day. Hoeing mangolds all day. G. Rose
called in the evening for 2 bags of oats.
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23 – A fine day. Hoeing all day. At prayer meeting, a fair turnout,
Mr. Keith leader. A SS meeting after. S.O. Farmer’s Institute
excursion to Guelph today.
24 – A very fine day. In the morning went with Annie and Willie
to Seagrave and got 750 berry boxes. Hoed strawberries the rest of
the day. Picked 4 boxes of strawberries, the first of the season.
Little Jennie Gordon came and got 2 boxes. Washed the buggy.
25 – A very warm day. At SS and Methodist SS anniversary with
Aunt Janet and Annie (100 at SS). A full house at Methodist
Church. Rev. M. Keith and W. Ross, ex MP, were the speakers
and they both did very well. Did not go out at night. A terrific
thunder storm between 7 and 8.
26 – A fine cool day. Went to Port Perry in the morning and got a
new waggon rack from A. Campbell and gave $10.00 for it. Mary
Patton picked 16 boxes of strawberries and Aunt Janet took them
to Port Perry, the first sold, got 15 cts. per box.
27 – Quite a cool day. Went to Greenbank in the morning to see
Jack Park. Put a new rack into the waggon and fixed the new rack
and hoed mangolds. Tom Black and Alf came before dinner.
They were on their way to John Black’s back in Carden. Mrs.
Mark called in the afternoon. Mrs. Slemyn and Mrs. Patton picked
20 boxes of strawberries.
28 – A fine cool day. Went after the beef and to Port Perry with
berries (Annie with me) in the forenoon. Scuffled in the afternoon.
The two Mary’s picked 40 boxes of strawberries. At prayer meet-
ing, Mr. Keith leader. An after meeting about SS library.
29 – A very fine day. Scuffling in the forenoon while Aunt Janet
and Arthur went to Port Perry with berries and to the market. The
two Mary’s picked 36 boxes of berries in the afternoon while I
hoed corn. Took Jennie out for a drive in the evening. McArthur’s
barn raising today.
30 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning with
berries. Hoed corn and potatoes and painted part of the rack.
Arthur and Mary Patton went to Port Perry in the afternoon.
JULY 1 – A very dull day with a little rain about 3 pm. The two
Mary’s and I picking berries in the forenoon. At Methodist SS
anniversary in the afternoon. Mary Patton and Arthur Slemyn also
went together. I came home after tea and went back again. There
was a good turnout but I did not think a great deal of the concert.
Mr. Benrose, the male singer was NG. Miss Alexander was fairly
good. Proceeds $231.00.
2 – A pretty warm day, some rain through the night. At SS and
church with Aunt Janet, Annie, Willie and Elsie (105 at SS), Mr.
Keith preached. Jennie very bad with ear ache. Went to Port Perry
after supper and got some stuff from Dr. which eased it some.
Arthur and Mary Patton and children went for a drive in the eve-
ning.
3 – A pretty warm day. Got up at 4 am and went to W. Real’s and
telephoned for the Dr. for Jennie. At about 8:30 am a son was
born. A big day at the strawberries. Mrs. Mark, Jessie Michie,
Mrs. A. Gordon, Mary Dusty, Vida Cragg, Miss Lyle, D. Cragg’s
two girls, Mary Patton, Eva Luke and Jim Dusty picking and alto-
gether picked over 500 boxes. I went with Arthur Slemyn to Port
Perry after dinner with a load of berries and Jim Dusty, who starts
his month, went to Greenbank with some. At Managers meeting in
the evening. Jim Lee, Mona Leask and Alma Harmon called.
[margin note: James Gordon Michie born]
4 – Rain through the night and some thunder and rain after 6 pm.
Scuffled turnips in the forenoon while Jim Dusty went to Seagrave
for more berry boxes. Hoed turnips in the afternoon while Jim
scuffled. About the middle of the afternoon Dr. Archer came and
with him Jessie Bell who came to see Jennie thinking her to be
seriously ill. Cecil Phair called in the evening for berries but did
not get any.
5 – A very fine day. Took Jessie Bell to the 7 am train at Port
Perry on her way back to Rochester. When I got home I turned
and went back for the Dr. as Jennie had taken a bad cramp in her
leg. Neither of the Archers were at home so I got Dr. Proctor to
come but she was very much better before he got here. Another
big day at the strawberries. The same pickers as Monday but Mrs.
G. Lyle came in place of Miss J. Lyle and also Mrs. Beacroft.
Picked 500 boxes again. Jim Dusty took 5 cases to Port Perry and
some up the way of Greenbank. Mrs. A. Lee, Ed Lyle and Jas.
McMillan came for berries. At prayer meeting, a fair turnout, Rev.
Mr. Keith leader.
6 – A fine day and pretty warm. Hoeing turnips all day. Jim scuf-
fling and hoed strawberries. He went up to Greenbank after sup-
per. Rev. Mr. Neville called and had a long talk. He was after
berries for Saintfield berry social. Arthur Slemyn and Mary Patton
went to Port Perry in the afternoon.
7 – Very warm, a thunder shower at about 9:30 am. Annie Black
and Ralph and George came in the forenoon. Picking strawberries,
a whole gang, but the rain kept things back somewhat. Went to
Port Perry in the afternoon with 3 cases of berries. Rev. Mr.
Neville called for berries for festival at Saintfield tonight. J. Stone,
John Beare and Mr. Baird of Manchester called for berries. Picked
425 boxes.
8 – A warm day. Thunder most of the afternoon but no rain. Hoed
turnips most of the day. Jim Dusty went to Port Perry in the morn-
ing with berries and scuffled most of the remainder of the day.
Arthur Slemyn and Mary Patton and two children left for home in
the forenoon. E. Boe, R. Barrett and --- Holdershaw called for
berries but did not get any.
9 – A very fine day. At SS and church with little Annie and Elsie
Slemyn (111 at SS). Mr. Keith preached. An [excursion?] in the
Baptist church took quite a number away.
10 – Rain until about 9. Dull and warm the rest of the day.
Painted rack, hoed turnips and poisoned bugs. A good gang of
berry pickers but only in the afternoon. Annie Park of Manchester,
her sister and little brother came at dinner. Willie Beaton, Mr. and
Mrs. R. Holdershaw and G. Barrett (and with him R. McDonald
and Fred O’Neill) came for berries. Jim Dusty went to Port Perry
with three cases, two to be sent to Port Hope and one left with Mr.
Brock. Picked about 370 boxes. 9 little pigs living and 4 dead.
118
11 – A very warm day. Went to Greenbank in the morning and
hoeing turnips the rest of the day. Mrs. Beacroft, Mary Dusty,
Jennie Garston and Mrs. Mark came in the morning and finished
picking over the strawberry patch. Mrs. G. Lyle and a Miss Mark
also came and picked some. They also picked the old patch in the
orchard. Jim Dusty went to Port Perry in the morning with berries.
Mrs. [Spafford or Stafford?] and Mrs. Blake Cragg came after
berries and Mrs. John McCulley of Wick and with her Miss Ack-
ney. They wanted berries but had to pick them themselves and
then they did not get as many as they wanted. They stayed for tea.
12 – Hoed turnips a while in the morning but rain came on and we
had to quit. Quite a heavy rain from 10 to 1. Cut weeds in the
fence corners in the afternoon while Jim Dusty went to Greenbank
and got Jess shod. Mrs. Mark came up in the morning to pick
berries but it was too wet. At prayer meeting, a fair turnout, Mr.
Keith leader. Faith was the subject. A very warm night. Orange
walk at Uxbridge.
13 – A warm day. Hoeing turnips most of the day. The berry
picking gang went over the patch for the last time and got 175
boxes. A thunder storm came up about 3 pm. Jim Dusty took
some berries to Greenbank and other places between here and
there.
14 – Jim Dusty went to Port Perry in the morning with the last of
the strawberries. Hoeing all day. Jim scuffling. A thunder shower
between 1 and 2 pm. Mrs. A. Gordon Sr. here for dinner and tea.
15 – A fine day and no rain. Drove Aunt Mary and Elsie to Port
Perry to the morning train on their way home to Port Hope. Hoed
turnips the rest of the day. Jim Dusty took J.M. Real’s democrat
home after dinner. Mrs. Mark and Jessie, Mrs. A. Gordon and
Jennie picked over the strawberry patch and got all they picked.
They got about 90 boxes.
16 – A fine day. Rain in the morning. Little Annie got one of her
feet scalded in the morning so she was not able to go out. At SS
and church with Aunt Janet and little Willie (58 at SS), Mr. Keith
preached. Jas. Allan and wife were out for the first time since they
came from the NW. No CE. Went to Port Perry in the evening to
the reopening service in the Methodist church, Rev. E.R. Young
preached an excellent sermon.
17 – A fine day and pretty warm. Scuffled and hoed the straw-
berry patch and harrowed the orchard. Jim Dusty picked the cher-
ries. Aunt Janet washing. Jennie preserving. Little Annie in the
house all day with her sore foot.
18 – A very warm day, about 85 in the shade. Went to Greenbank
in the morning. Poisoned bugs and hoed turnips the rest of the day.
Jim Dusty hoeing mangolds. Mrs. Mark, Jessie, Mrs. Gordon and
Jennie picked over the strawberry patch for the last time. They got
about 40 boxes. Aunt Janet picked the currants. Almost every-
body at the hay. John Lee and R.T. Harrington are painting the
basement of the church.
19 – A fine day and not so warm. Finished hoeing turnips first
time and hoed potatoes 2nd
time. Jim Dusty hoeing mangolds and
scuffling. Mr. and Mrs. Keith called in the afternoon. At prayer
meeting, a fair turnout. Mr. Keith leader, subject Hope.
20 – A fine day and cooler. Went to Port Perry in the morning
while Jim Dusty hoed. In the afternoon plowed up the old straw-
berry patch. Jim went to Greenbank in the evening. Aunt Janet
and Jennie making jelly.
21 – A very fine day. Plowed a bit in the orchard and Jim har-
rowed the old berry patch. Cleaned out the barn floor and other
jobs. Took Jennie and Willie out for a drive to Greenbank in the
evening.
22 – A fine day and cool. Got A. Akhurst’s mower and Jim Dusty
cut all the hay while I cut the fence corners and hoed corn.
23 – A dull morning and quite a dash of rain about 10 am. At SS
and church with Aunt Janet and little Willie (110 at SS), Mr. Keith
preached. SS held in the church as the new paint in the basement
was not dry enough. At CE, a fair turnout. I was the leader. An-
nie Rennie sang a solo.
24 – Rain through the night and little showers off and on through
the day, the hay lying untouched and spoiling. Went to Port Perry
in the morning with Jennie to the Dr. Jim Dusty scuffling turnips.
Both hoeing turnips, 2nd
time, in the afternoon.
25 – A fine day with high NW wind which soon dried out the hay.
George and John Michie came up at 10 and we raked the hay and
then in the afternoon got in – loads. Quit at 6 pm to let them go to
play with the Greenbank band at James Love’s golden wedding.
Drove up to Greenbank in the evening with Jennie, Annie and
Willie
26 – A very fine day and cool. John and George at the hay in the
forenoon. George left at noon to go to A. Gordon’s to help him
with his hay. Finished drawing, 17 loads in all, about 3 pm. Then
Jim Dusty raked the field and after supper drew in one load. An
apple buyer called (Mr. Conlon) and sold him all the apples for
$20.00. At prayer meeting in the evening, Mr. Keith leader, sub-
ject Love. An extra good address.
27 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry with Aunt Janet in the
waggon. Jim Dusty hoeing. Fixed fences and some other chores
in the afternoon. Mrs. A. Gordon Jr. and Jennie called.
28 – A fine day and pretty warm. George Michie came up in the
morning to help in with the pump but we broke the sucker before
we got it in so we went no further. Hoed turnips in the forenoon
while Mrs. Mark, Jessie, Aunt Janet and Jim Dusty picked raspber-
ries. I went to Port Perry in the afternoon with a case of berries
and ordered a new pump for the house well. Mrs. Allan Wallace
buried today.
29 – A rather dull day and sometimes threatening rain from the
east but it did not come. Finished hoeing the turnips, 2nd
time, and
then at the strawberries.
30 – Rain through the night and in the day a wet mist, almost rain,
from the N. At SS and church (106 at SS), Mr. Keith preached.
Aunt Janet, Annie and Willa were also out.
31 – A nice day. Some thunder and little rain in the afternoon. At
berry picking until about 3 when rain came on. Mrs. Mark, Jessie
119
Michie, Mrs. A. Gordon Jr., and Jennie and Jim Dusty at it also.
Jim Dusty went to Port Perry in the afternoon with berries. He
then drove Mrs. Gordon home. Aunt Janet churning.
AUG. 1 – A very fine day and pretty cool. Picked berries, fixed
the watering place at the spring and several other jobs. Aunt Janet
washing. Went with Jennie, Willie and Annie to Greenbank in the
evening for the mail.
2 – A very fine day, cool. Picking berries most of the day. Mrs.
Mark, Jessie, Jim Dusty and Aunt Janet picking but did not get
over the patch. Jennie, Annie and Willie went to Port Perry in the
morning. Jim Dusty went with some berries to Mary Patton. John
Irving and G. Welch came in the afternoon and put in a new pump
at the house. At prayer meeting, a good turnout, Mr. Keith leader.
3 – A very fine day and pretty warm. Went over to R. Cragg’s in
the forenoon to help him put some posts under the barn. Jennie,
Annie and Willie went to Port Perry market. Got out the binder
and some other chores in the afternoon.
4 – Raised up the binder in the forenoon with Jim Dusty’s help and
in the afternoon cut the oats east of the orchard, the first cutting we
have done this season (but there is a good deal cut around the
settlement). I. O’Neill was threshing barley and fall wheat today
which turned out very well). Got the piece cut about 3:30 when a
drizzle of rain came on. Jim D. drove the binder, the first time for
him. George Michie helped about 2 hours, also his horse. Isaac
O’Neill came up in the forenoon for the lend of horse rake. Aunt
Janet and Jennie preserving berries. Mrs. Mark, Jessie and Mrs.
Gordon here picking berries. Ed Lyle came down and wanted me
to help them thresh clover. The machine (J. Leask’s) came about 4
pm but as they intended threshing in the field, the rain stopped
them. Jim Dusty left, having put in his month.
5 – A warm day with a high SW wind, some thunder and a little
splash of rain about 3:30. Went to Greenbank in the morning with
Annie and Willie for binder cord. Plowing the orchard the rest of
the day. E. Luke got a piece of the binder.
6 – A fine day. Some showers went around in the afternoon but
none here. At SS and church with Aunt Janet and Annie and Wil-
lie (124 at SS, the largest attendance of the year, so far). Mr. Keith
preached. Maggie McMillan sang a solo. Mrs. J.M. Real got
home last night. Went up to the post office in the evening with
Jennie, Annie and Willie.
7 – Cut corners of field and some downed oats in the forenoon and
in the afternoon went to help D. Lyle to thresh clover in the field
opposite our north field (J. Leask’s machine) but about 3:30 a
smart shower came up and stopped us. There was also another
heavier shower about an hour after. Mrs. A. Gordon and Jennie
Gordon, Mrs. Mark, Jessie and Nellie O’Neill here picking berries
all day until the rain came on and Mrs. M. O’Neill and baby Willie
O’Neill here in the afternoon. Aunt Janet churning, Jennie pre-
serving.
8 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning with Annie
and Willie. In the afternoon cut 5 rounds in the north field with the
two horses and then shocked up some. In the evening went with
Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie to the band concert at R. [Fle-
well’s?]. There was a large turnout and Harvey [?], a boy Rich, and
a girl, all from Toronto, gave the program which was oddly mud-
dling to my notion. There was $123.00 took in. John Lee and I
sold the tickets.
9 – A fine day and pretty warm. Went for the beef in the morning,
then got a horse from George and cut the rest of the north field.
Got done at 4 pm, then shocked up til dark. Mr. Mark, Jessie Mi-
chie, Mrs. A. Gordon, Jennie and Bessie Gordon here picking
berries.
10 – A very warm day, about 80 in the shade. There was some
thunder through the night and again about 5 pm but no rain here.
Shocked up the rest of the N field in the forenoon. After dinner
went down to George’s for a horse but did not get one, so had to do
the best I could in the SW field with two horses. Aunt Janet went
to Port Perry market in the forenoon. Jennie making pickles.
11 – A fine day and pretty warm. Got a horse from George and
finished cutting the SW field. Jennie making raspberry vinegar.
12 – Very warm and close. Shocking up in the SW field until
about 2:30 when a terrific thunderstorm came up, the most severe
of the season. A very high wind broke down some limbs of trees
and blew down the chimley on the kitchen. We had just got supper
when Jack Lee, his wife and little girl (1 ½ years old) came and got
their tea. Mrs. Mark, Jessie and Mrs. Gordon picking berries, the
last of the season. Everything pretty well soaked.
13 – A fine cool day. At church and SS with Aunt Janet, Annie
and Willie (112 at SS), Rev. R. Leask preached. Tom Black, An-
nie and little Jessie came just before dinner. They went to church
and then to Mark’s for tea. At CE with Jennie and Willie, a good
meeting, Maggie McMillan leader.
14 – A fine day. Shocked up oats in the forenoon while Jennie,
Annie and Willie went to Port Perry. Got a horse from George and
cut the hill but did not quite finish. Mrs. Mark here for green
beans.
15 – Started to rain from the east sometime through the night and
never let up until about 5 pm, sometimes it fairly poured. The
biggest rain for many a day, everything well soaked. Nothing
doing outside. Went to Greenbank in the afternoon for the mail.
16 – A fine clear cool day. Shocking oats in the forenoon, they
were very wet. Finished cutting just after dinner then went to Mr.
Lyle’s to help him thresh. Aunt Janet washing.
17 – A very fine day. Threshing clover all day, worked until 8:15
pm. Aunt Janet went to Port Perry market in the forenoon.
18 – A very fine day. Cut the little bit of oats near the barn pump
and so finished cutting for 1905. Harrowed the orchard and scuf-
fled the strawberry patch in the afternoon. Went up in the evening
to get Jim Dusty to help draw in but he is engaged. Everyone
drawing in about here.
19 – Put away the binder and then drew in some oats alone. I think
it is the first time I ever did so, until about 4 pm when I went with
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the waggon to Port Perry to meet Jessie Bell. Got there in time for
the 5:30 train but she did not come on it. I waited for the next train
and she got there all right. Rained nearly all the way home. Heard
that George Stone was killed last night by being crushed between
the machine and engine.
20 – A very fine day. Went with Aunt Janet to George Stone’s
funeral, which was very largely attended. The Methodist church
could not hold all. We had no SS. Rev. R. Leask preached to
about 8 or 10 (so it was said) in our church. Mr. Neville and Mr.
Young, the minister at Seagrave, conducted the funeral. In the
evening went with Jennie to church at Port Perry. Rev. Mr. Cooper
preached a good sermon.
21 – All hands went and pumped and cleaned out the well in the
morning, then I hoed at the strawberry patch most of the remainder
of the day. Jennie went up to Gordon’s in the afternoon and got
the lend of their sewing machine. After supper went to Port Perry
for Jessie Bell’s trunk. Vivid lightning on the way home and just
as I got home there was quite a splash of rain.
22 – A very fine clear day. Finished hoeing strawberries in the
forenoon and some other chores, and in the afternoon drew manure
on the next years berry patch. Went up to Dusty’s in the evening
to get Jim to help tomorrow. Aunt Janet washing. Aunt Jessie
made a hummock. Little Willie has quite a high fever.
23 – A fine day. Turning out oat shocks in the forenoon and with
W. Mark’s help drew in the north field in the afternoon. Aunt
Janet churning, Jessie making dolls for the children.
24 – A fine cool day. Went on a hunt for a man to help draw in.
Tried Lyle’s, then Akhurst’s and then got Alex Gordon. Then
threw out the shocks in the SW field. Jennie with Willie and An-
nie to Seagrave to see about selling chickens. Drew in in the after-
noon with Alex Gordon’s help and got the most of the field in.
Lyle’s finished today.
25 – A very fine clear day. Threw out the remainder of the oat
shocks in the morning, then went to Greenbank to telephone to the
Dr. for Annie who has been in a fever all night. The Dr. (D.
Archer) came just before dinner. He says the trouble is tonsillitis.
In the afternoon, with G. Michie’s help, drew in the rest of the oats
and so finished the harvest of 1905 except the rakings. A. Akhurst
called wanting help at threshing tomorrow. Jennie and Aunt Jess
went to Greenbank in the evening.
26 – Horse raked some in the forenoon. Alex Gordon called want-
ing help with his harvest. Went in the afternoon and built a stack
of oats, 10 loads. Several local thunder showers went round but
only a few drops here. Annie is better, she was up for dinner.
27 – A fine cool day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet and little
Willie (98 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. In the evening went down
to see Mr. Isaac O’Neill who was hurt last evening by falling from
a load of grain, the horses having run away. He got one of his
fingers broke and also put out of joint and his neck hurt but he is
doing pretty well as far as I could see. Jennie and Aunt Jessie went
to church at Port Perry in the evening.
28 – Helping Alex Gordon to stack oats in the forenoon and help-
ing A. Akhurst to thresh in the afternoon. A shower came up when
about to quit. Jennie went to Seagrave in the morning with chick-
ens. Arthur Gordon sick with appendicitis.
29 – A very fine day. Threshing at Akhurst’s and finished a little
after 12. They then moved to George Michie’s and threshed until
nearly 8 and then moved out and left the straw stack open. Jennie
and Willie took Aunt Janet and little Annie to Port Perry on their
way to Newcastle for a two week visit. Jennie then drove up to see
Arthur Gordon who is no better.
30 – A great deal of thunder and lightning through the night and
some rain. Had the stomach ache during the night and most of the
day and did nothing. Jennie and little Willie went for the beef.
She called in to inquire for Arthur Gordon and found him about the
same.
31 – A very fine cool day. Went up to Gordon’s in the morning to
ask for Arthur. No change. Then horse raked and in the afternoon
drew in rakings alone. Jessie went up to Gordon’s in the evening.
They think Arthur a very little better.
SEPT. 1 – A very fine day. Oliver Luke came down in the morn-
ing wanting me to help them to stack oats but I did not go as I was
not feeling very well. After that went to Seagrave with Jennie and
little Willie, called at Gordon’s to ask for Arthur and found him
about the same. Dug the potatoes in the orchard in the afternoon.
2 – Plowing all day until 5 when I went to Greenbank. Called at
Gordon’s and they thought Arthur was worse. They have about
given up hope. Threatening rain all afternoon but it did not amount
to much.
3 – A fine day. At SS and church with Jennie and little Willie, the
first time for Jennie for a long time. (121 at SS), Mr. Keith
preached. Called at Gordon’s on the way there and found Arthur a
little better. Dr. Bascomb of Uxbridge was there today. Went
down in the evening to see Lu O’Neill who is also sick. He is
doing fairly well. Called at Isaac’s and he is getting along pretty
well.
4 – This is labor day and I kept it by plowing all day. Some rain in
the forenoon.
5 – Plowing in the forenoon until about 10:30 when I broke the
plough point. Went to Port Perry in the afternoon. Alex Gordon’s
children stayed here today. Jennie Gordon was quite sick. Alex
Gordon Sr. came after them in the evening. Showery in the after-
noon.
6 – Rain in the early morning but turned out a fine cool day. Plow-
ing all day. Went up to Gordon’s in the evening. Arthur is about
the same. Jennie no better.
7 – Scuffling and hoeing strawberries in the forenoon while Jennie
and little Willie went to Port Perry market. Plowing in the after-
noon. A fine day.
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8 – A very fine day. Plowing all day. Went to Greenbank after
dinner with Willie for the mail. Called at Gordon’s. Arthur a little
better. Jennie and Bessie in bed.
9 – A very fine warm day. Plowed until about 4 pm when I went
to Port Perry to meet Aunt Janet and little Annie on the 5:30 train.
Later Mundo Perrin, Mrs. Perrin, Alma and Jennie Perrin, Bella
Slemyn and Anna Tait came by buggy. Jessie Harmon died last
night.
10 – A very fine warm day. Hitched up the team to Mundo
Perrin’s rig and Mundo, Anna Tait, Alma and Jennie Perrin, Bella
Slemyn, Jennie and Annie, Willie and I went to SS and church.
Owing to it being Jess Harmon’s funeral there was a small atten-
dance (85), Mr. Keith preached. Perrin’s left for home about 5:30.
At CE in the evening with Anna Tait, a fair meeting, Silva Leask
leader.
11 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning for Anna
Tait’s trunk and then hoed strawberries until noon. Plowing in the
afternoon. Jessie and Anna sewing.
12 – Plowing all day. Warm, quite a lot of thunder in the afternoon
and evening but little rain here.
13 – A very fine cool day with pretty high wind. Plowed a while
in the morning when W.H. Leask came and cut the corn with his
new corn harvester. In the afternoon Jennie, Jessie and little Willie
went to Port Perry. After that Jessie, Anna and little Annie went to
Greenbank for the mail. Hoed strawberries and some other little
jobs in the afternoon.
14 – A hard frost, the first of the season, in the morning and a very
fine day. Anna went to Greenbank to post a letter by the morning
mail. Plowed in the forenoon and drew off corn in the afternoon.
Mrs. [Hately?] and son, of Layton, came for some plums.
15 – A fine day. Finished drawing the corn in the forenoon. At
preparatory service in the afternoon, a fair meeting. Rev. Mr.
McEchern of Leaskdale preached. Archie McMillan, David
McMillan, Russell Wallace, Joseph Wallace, Cecil Leask, Mona
Leask, Mary Dusty and Allie Dusty came in on profession of faith;
Janet Tait by certificate, and Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Allan were rein-
stated, not having used their certificate from this congregation.
Jessie Bell and Anna Tait making new yellow dress.
16 – A foggy morning and a very nice day. Plowed in the fore-
noon and in the afternoon went with Jennie to the Dr. at Port Perry,
she having a sore toe. Anna, Annie and Willie at Mark’s in the
forenoon.
17 – At communion at Greenbank with Aunt Janet and Anna Tait.
There was a pretty good turnout, Rev. Mr. Keith conducted the
service. It was raining when church came out and continued all
afternoon and evening. John Michie and James S. Lee called and
stayed for tea.
18 – A fine day and pretty warm. Plowing all day. Anna went to
Greenbank in the afternoon. Jessie making a coat for Aunt Janet.
19 – Went to presbytery meeting at Lindsay. Anna with little
Annie and Willie drove me to Greenbank, from there to Blackwa-
ter with Mr. Dusty. Coming home I walked from Wick. Alex
Gordon was to have given me a ride but we did not connect.
Lightning most of the time on the way which turned out to be quite
a rain a few minutes after I got home.
20 – A fine day. Went for the beef in the morning with Annie and
Willie. Plowing the rest of the day. Jessie and Anna visiting at
Gordon’s in the afternoon. Annie and Willie were with them.
21 – A fine day. Plowing all day except the time Aunt Janet went
to Port Perry market. Mrs. Mark here in the afternoon for plums.
22 – A fine day. Plowing all day. Jessie packing trunk to start for
Rochester tomorrow.
23 – A fine day and cool. Took Jessie Bell to the morning train at
Port Perry on her way back to Rochester. Plowing the rest of the
day. Went down to George’s after dinner and got 4 bags of oats.
John Mark called wanting to buy pigs but I had none to sell.
24 – A fine cool day. At SS and church. Walked while Jennie,
Anna, Annie and Willie drove. Rally day at SS but there was only
the usual number (112). It was children’s day service and it went
off very well. Aunt Janet and Anna went to the Methodist church
in the evening, George Miller preached.
25 – Pretty cool in the morning and a fine day. Harrowing all day.
26 – A fine day. Digging potatoes most of the day. Jennie, with
Annie and Willie, went to Port Perry in the morning for express
parcel. Jennie and Anna dressmaking in the afternoon.
27 – A very fine day. Digging potatoes all day and with Jennie
went to prayer meeting. A fair turnout, Mr. Keith leader. When
we came home we were surprised to find the threshing machine (J.
Leask’s) in the barn. We were not looking for them. J. Leask and
Alex McArthur stayed all night.
28 – A beautiful day. Threshing finished a little after 1 pm. R.
Cragg, Norman and Ernest Phair, E. Lyle, A. Akhurst, and Wes
Cragg (for G. Michie). The machine then went to G. Michie’s
(Luke’s place) and I went with them. The crops are not as good as
last year.
29 – A very fine day and quite warm. Threshing at George’s until
about 10 am, when they finished. They then moved to Lyle’s.
Digging potatoes in the afternoon. Jennie, Anna and little Willie at
Port Perry in the forenoon. SS convention at Port Perry today.
30 – A decidedly warm day. Digging potatoes in the forenoon and
threshing at Phair’s in the afternoon (Jason Stone’s machine).
Jennie and Anna dressmaking.
OCT. 1 – A fine day and very warm. Walked to SS. Aunt Janet,
Anna, Annie and Willie drove in buggy. 117 at SS, Mr. Keith
preached. Anna went to G. Michie’s to tea. At CE with Jennie, a
pretty good turnout, G.A. McMillan leader.
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2 – A dull foggy morning. Threshing at Phair’s. A little rain came
on about 8:30 and nothing more done until after dinner. At church
managers meeting in the evening. Jas. Burton rented his farm
today.
3 – A fine day. Threshing at Phair’s and finished about 10 am,
then to Richard Cragg’s and worked until night but did not finish.
Jennie, Anne and Annie visiting at Greenbank in the afternoon.
Anna went down to visit O’Neill’s in the evening. Mrs. A. Gordon
here for dinner.
4 – A fine day. Digging potatoes most of the day. Went to Port
Perry after dinner with Annie and Willie to get Anna’s ticket to
Winnipeg. At prayer meeting, a good turnout, Mr. Keith leader.
His subject was on Lancelot Andrewes’s29
private devotions and
the first lesson on the SS teacher’s training course. There was also
an after meeting to consider about a tea party. It was decided not to
have any but to raise the money required for church purposes by
subscriptions. Anna packing up to start for Winnipeg tomorrow.
5 – A very fine day. Took Anna down to Port Perry to the morning
train on her way to Winnipeg. Took out 12 bags of oats and got
them ground. When I got home Aunt Janet and little Annie went
to Port Perry market. Finished digging potatoes. Drawing out
manure in the afternoon.
6 – A very fine day. Plowing strawberry patch in the forenoon. In
the afternoon went down to James Smith’s with Jennie, Annie,
Willie and James (the first time James was on the road). Got there
between 5 and 6. Barbara was away at Whitby and did not get
back until after 8 pm, then had a long talk about her trip to Mani-
toba. She is highly pleased with the country.
7 – Came to Tom Black’s for dinner and started for home at 3:30
and got home about 6. Aunt Janet kept house while we were away.
8 – A very fine summer-like day. At SS and church with Aunt
Janet, Annie and Willie (118 at SS), Rev. Mr. Crozier of Ashburn
preached. At CE with Jennie, a fairly good turnout, Jennie was
leader.
9 – A fine summer day. Plowing all day. Jennie making pickles.
At George’s in the evening having a sing.
10 – A very fine day and quite warm and summer-like. Harrowing
all day except after dinner when I went to Port Perry for bread and
flour. 6 apple pickers came about 10 am, 3 men and 3 boys, all
from Oshawa. They picked all afternoon and then all went to Port
Perry. They got back about 11.
11 – Rain through the night and all forenoon and some in the after-
noon. Very little doing. The apple pickers hung around all fore-
noon and left after dinner. At prayer meeting with Jennie, Mr.
Keith leader. Beef meeting tonight also. Roads pretty muddy.
29
Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626) was a prominent
English bishop in the Church of England during the
reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. His
best known work is the ‘Manual of Private Devo-
tions’.
12 – Somewhat raw in the morning but turned out warmer with
some little rain flurries in the afternoon. Harrowing in the fore-
noon and topping mangolds in the afternoon. Sunderland fair day.
13 – A fine day. Plowing sod in the forenoon and in the afternoon
harrowed up the mangolds and drew in 5 loads. At W.F.M.S.
thank offering meeting, a fair turnout. The principal number on the
program was an address by Mr. Black of Toronto which was very
good. Collection about $15.00. A beautiful clear night.
14 – A beautiful day. Drawing in mangolds, 8 loads. 13 in all and
finished.
15 – A fine day until about 6 pm when it rained a little. At SS with
Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (115 at SS). I then went over on
invitation to the Methodist SS, it being their rally day (144 at it).
Did not go out at night.
16 – A fine day but cooler. With Jennie’s help took in the potatoes
(quite a few rotten), then went to Port Perry with Jennie and baby
James to see the Dr. as James has had a sore throat for some days.
The Dr. says it is nothing dangerous. Apple packers came (5)
about 9 am and worked the rest of the day but did not finish. Three
of them went to Port Perry in the evening. Bible society meeting
tonight in our church but did not go.
17 – A fine day. The apple packers finished their job before dinner
and left. They put up 50 barrels. Went two trips to Port Perry with
apples, 19 barrels the first time and 18 the next. Jennie, Aunt Janet
and the three children on a quilting bee and birthday party for little
Willie O’Neill at Mrs. Mark’s.
18 – Took out to Port Perry the remainder of the apples, 13 barrels.
When about half way there it started to rain and continued the most
of the day and evening. Did a few indoor chores.
19 – Plowed a while in the morning then Jennie went to Port Perry
market while I picked apples for the evaporator. In the afternoon
at apples, Jennie helping. Worked until dark. A little rain in the
evening.
20 – Rain through the night and some little drizzles in the after-
noon with high wind and getting colder. Plowing all day. Jennie
and Aunt Janet washing.
21 – The ground white with snow this morning (the first of the
season) and a little more during the forenoon but it was nearly all
gone by noon. Tax collector Dobson called. In the afternoon took
out to the evaporator at Port Perry 30 bags of apples and got 25 cts
per 100 lbs. The load came to $6.10. Brought home 1500 lbs. of
coal.
22 – At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie (126 at SS,
the most for this year so far). Mr. Keith preached. Anniversary at
the Baptist church took away some. A very dull afternoon and
rain. No CE.
23 – Plowed until about 4 pm when Aunt Janet and little Willie
drove me to Port Perry where I took the 6 train on my way to the
Provincial S. School convention at London. Went via Manilla as
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far as Toronto and stayed with Annie Mason. Saw Annie E. Mi-
chie, the first time since she came to those parts. A Scotch concert
in St. Enoch’s church. Mrs. Gordon here getting coat made.
24 – At meetings of convention, morning, afternoon and evening.
Mrs. Lawrence was the star. Fine meetings. James Dusty and
Jennie topping turnips in the afternoon
25 – Thanksgiving day. At convention meetings, three sessions,
which closed the convention, which I enjoyed very much all
through. Did not get back to Mr. Armstrong’s but went to the RR
station on my way home.
26 – Started from London at about 1:30 am and got into Hamilton
about 3:30. Waited at the train station until daylight and then took
electric car and called on Rev. J.M. Cameron whom I found all
well. Got back to Port Perry again on the 8 o’clock train. Jennie
and little Annie met me at station. A pretty dark night. Some rain
during the day.
27 – Harrowed up turnips in the forenoon and threw in 7 loads in
the afternoon. Some snow in the afternoon.
28 – Snow a little through the night which did not altogether go
away in shady places. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Willie
and Annie (116 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. At CE with Jennie, a
fairly good meeting. I was leader.
29 – A fine day. Drew in turnips in the forenoon, 5 loads, Jennie
helping in the root house. In the afternoon went to Port Perry with
15 bags of apples to the evaporator. Jennie topping turnips.
30 – A little snow in the morning. At turnips all day and got in 9
loads. Jennie helping in the afternoon.
NOV. 1 – Rather cold and rough with several snow blizzards. In
the morning took Fowlie cow to Port Perry, sold to I. Wheeler.
Jennie came in the buggy. Plowing in the afternoon. At prayer
meeting in the evening, not a very large turnout. Mr. Keith was
there but I took up most of the time giving a report of the SS con-
vention at London.
2 – There was about 2 in. of snow in the morning which did not go
away more than about half all day. Plowing sod all day.
3 – Topped a few turnips in the morning but rain soon came on and
nothing more was done during the forenoon. Plowing sod in the
afternoon. Jennie cleaning the cupboard.
4 – At turnips all day, Jennie helping, got in 10 loads. Fair
weather.
5 – At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie (124 at SS),
Mr. Keith preached. It was a special service for the CE. John
Michie, Miss Forfar and Mary Dusty here for tea. No CE as there
is a revivalist in the Methodist church.
6 – Rain and snow through the night and all the forenoon. Plowing
in the afternoon. James Smith and Mrs. Joyce of Sutton came just
at dark.
7 – A dull day with a little drizzle in the afternoon. At the turnips
and got in 6 loads, Jennie helping. James Smith left for home in
the forenoon. Mrs. Joyce visiting at Gordon’s but came back at
night. Isaac O’Neill here for a load of turnips for Mrs. Carnegie.
8 – Snow again through the night which went off about noon.
Plowed in the forenoon and finished topping turnips in the after-
noon. Took Jennie and Mrs. Joyce to S. Dusty’s after dinner and
called for them at W. Luke’s on the way home from prayer meet-
ing. A fair turnout at PM, Mr. Keith leader. An after meeting
decided to have a Christmas tree on Friday before Christmas.
9 – Several little snow showers during the day. At turnips alone
and got in 6 loads. Jennie and Mrs. Joyce at Port Perry market in
the forenoon. Drove Mrs. Joyce to Greenbank in the evening on
her way home.
10 – Snowing a little several times through the day. At turnips all
day and finished, Jennie helping, 10 loads. 53 loads in all. Isaac
O’Neill came for a load but his horses got stuck and he had to
throw off part of his load.
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11 – A fine day. Plowing all day. Finished the sod field and
plowed a little in the orchard. Jennie putting up the room stove.
12 – Fine day. At church and SS with Aunt Janet, Annie and Wil-
lie (123 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. Missionary subject. No CE.
13 – Went down to Isaac O’Neill’s in the morning then with Jennie
went on a cow hunt. Drove over to Mr. [?] but they had none to
sell, then to Hoey’s at Port Perry but he had not the kind we
wanted, then home. Snowing and rough all the time. Plowing in
the orchard in the afternoon. Got all the cattle in for the first of the
season. Quite cold and winter-like.
14 – Did some chores in the forenoon and in the afternoon took 19
bags of oats to Port Perry mill and then went on to Jas. Smith’s for
cow. Got there a little after dark and stayed all night. Mrs. W.H.
Leask and little Roy here in the afternoon and Will called for them
on his way home from Port Perry and stayed for tea.
15 – Started from Jas. Smith’s with cow and calf in waggon and
got home between 1 and 2 pm. Snowing from the SW all the way
home. Went up to Joe Burton’s and had a talk with Harry Muckel-
stine who has just came with his wife from England. 10 years
since he left those parts.
16 – Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for meal. At G. Lee’s in
the afternoon. Aunt Janet at Greenbank. Thawing a little.
17 – Snowing from the SW nearly all day and rather disagreeable
outside. Put straw on the strawberry patch.
18 – Cleaned out pig and calf pens and several other chores. Put
on storm windows. Thawing a little.
19 – A fine clear day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie
and Willie (125 at SS). Rev. Mr. Sinclair of Sonya preached on SS
work. Mr. [?] is leaving for Winnipeg shortly. No CE.
20 – A fine clear day. Jim Lee called in the morning. Pruning
apple trees. Jennie washing.
21 – A very fine day and thawing a little. Drew the brush out of
the orchard and some wood into the shed.
22 – A very fine day. Drawing out manure most of the day. At
prayer meeting in the evening, Rev. Mr. Keith leader, a fair atten-
dance.
23 – A fine day and thawing some. Went over to R. Cragg’s in the
morning with the sleigh for some mortar and spent the rest of the
day rebuilding chimley on kitchen which was blown down last
summer. Mrs. Mark and her sister Mrs. Hughes called in the after-
noon.
24 – Got up early and drove Jennie and little Willie to the morning
train on their way to Toronto. Finished the chimley and cleaned
the pig and hen house and spread manure. Went down again to
meet the 8 pm train. A terrible dark night and muddy. Some rain
in the forenoon.
25 – A fine mild day. Plowing in the orchard and harrowing after
several days of freeze up.
26 – A fine day but some colder towards night. At SS and church
with Jennie, Annie and Willie (127 at SS). Rev. Mr. Keith
preached. Did not go to CE.
27 – A fine day, a very little snow on the ground in the morning.
Drew out some manure in the forenoon with the sleigh. Plowed in
the afternoon. Went down to George’s in the evening for a sing.
28 – Started to snow from the SE about 8 am and continued very
rough all forenoon which turned to rain about noon. Drew in some
corn stalks and did some other chores.
29 – Warmer through the night and frost nearly all out. Plowing
all day. At prayer meeting in the evening, a pretty good turnout
considering the night which was rough and cold. Mr. Keith
leader. A SS meeting to see about papers and lesson helps.
30 – Very cold (6 above zero) and rough in the forenoon. Jennie
went to Port Perry market. Mrs. [Tukesbury?] of Prince Albert
called in the afternoon taking orders for books. Did a few chores.
DEC. 1 – A pretty cold day but clear. Drew in some corn stalks in
the forenoon. In the afternoon attended preparatory service at the
church. An extra large attendance, Rev. Mr. Canaman of Wood-
ville preached. The following new members were received:
Marion Moore (Allan) by certificate, and by profession of faith
Donald McArthur; John McArthur; John McMillan; Stanley
McMillan; Everett Love; Jewell Love; Stanley Real; Harvey Real;
George Real; Oscar Real; James Dusty; Mabel Gordon; George
Leask; Eva Leask; Willie Golden; Maude Berchard; Sarah Smith;
Ray Stone; Gordon Wallace; John McDonald; and Ethel McDon-
ald. 22 in all, the largest number at any one time in my recollec-
tion.
2 – Snow in the morning which turned to rain about 11 am and
sloppy and dull during the rest of the day. Went down to George’s
with little Annie for a practice for the Christmas tree.
3 – A nice day. At communion service at Wick with Aunt Janet.
There was a good turnout, Rev. Mr. Keith conducted the service.
At evening meeting at Greenbank with Jennie. There was an extra
large turnout. Rev. Mr. Wishart of Beaverton preached an excel-
lent sermon.
4 – A pretty rough cold day. Took in the last of the corn stalks and
some other little chores. Aunt Janet and little Annie at Mrs.
Mark’s in the afternoon.
5 – A fine day. At Port Perry in the forenoon and in the afternoon
pulled down the fence on the west side of the lane to the barn. At
George’s in the evening singing. Sephas Sleep called and bought
two pigs at $6.00 per 100.
6 – A very fine day. Drew away the rest of the lane fence and then
drew out some manure. At prayer meeting with Aunt Janet, a
pretty good turnout, Mr. Keith leader.
7 – A very fine mild day and thawing a little. Putting in some
glass in the forenoon and in the afternoon, with Jennie, went with
the buggy and called first at D. Cragg’s, where their youngest girl
is down with typhoid fever. She is very little better. Then we
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called at W.H. Leask’s where Mrs. Jas. Horn is laid up with bad
feet, she is about the same. Then to G. McMillan’s where little
Harry and the little girl are in the typhoid fever also. They are both
some better. Then we went to Greenbank.
8 – A fine day and thawing a little. Putting in some glass and other
little chores. Jim Lee called in the morning.
9 – A fine day and thawing a little. Went to Port Perry in the after-
noon with the waggon and 20 bags of oats to the mill and brought
home 1580 lbs coal at 6.75 per 100. Aunt Janet and the children at
George’s in the afternoon at singing practice for Christmas tree.
10 – Very much colder with high NW wind. At SS and church
with Jennie, Annie and Willie (114 at SS). Rev. J.M. Cameron,
our late pastor, preached a good sermon. This is Wick anniversary
service. No CE announced.
11 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning with the
waggon for the meal and did some odd jobs in the afternoon.
George Michie called wanting help to thresh tomorrow. New
government formed in London, Bannerman leader.
12 – A pretty cold morning with a little snow from the east but got
some warmer. Threshing clover at George’s (John Leask’s ma-
chine) in the forenoon and in the afternoon attended Jas. Burton’s
sale. There was a large turnout and things went pretty well. Tom
Black, Annie and little Jessie came about 2 pm. Tom bought the
cream separator at the sale for $41.00. They left for home about 7.
13 – Threshing all day. At George’s clover in the forenoon and
oats in the afternoon. 19 bags of clover and it is $7.25 per bus. A
little snow but not enough for sleighing yet. At prayer meeting, a
fair meeting, Rev. Mr. Keith leader. His subject was the Book of
Psalms.
14 – The coldest day of the season, about zero in the morning.
Went to Port Perry in the morning with Aunt Janet and little Annie
to the market and got some Christmas things. Tom Black and Alf
came about 2:30 pm. They came for their separator at Joe Bur-
ton’s. Nellie McMillan and Silva Leask called collecting for the
Bible Society.
15 – The coldest day so far of the season, 6 below zero. Went to
Port Perry in the morning with Jennie to the Dr. with her toe.
Went down to Phair’s swamp in the afternoon and cut brush for
Christmas decorations. At George’s in the evening singing.
16 – A very fine bright day. Cleaned out pig house in the fore-
noon. Went down to George’s after dinner with Annie and Willie
to practice singing.
17 – A beautiful day, trees covered with hoar frost. At church and
SS with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (122 at SS), Mr. Keith
preached. No CE.
18 – A fine day and thawing a little. Got up early and took 2 pigs
to Seagrave with the waggon ( a little snow but not enough for
sleighing). Took a calf for Albert Akhurst to Seagrave. The pigs
weighed 510 lbs @ $6.25. In the afternoon went to Mrs. Josh
Horn’s funeral, Rev. Mr. Argue preached in the church, Mr. Keith
also took part. At church manager’s meeting in the evening and
got home at 11:30.
19 – A fine day, somewhat foggy. Went to Phair’s swamp and got
a Christmas tree and brush and drew out manure the rest of the
day. John, George and Jessie Michie; Jas. Lee; Miss May Blair;
Miss E. Forfar; Mary and Allie Dusty here in the evening making
decorations.
20 – A fine day and thawing a little. Did a few chores in the morn-
ing. Mrs. A. Gordon here for dinner. In the afternoon went to
Greenbank with the waggon and helped to decorate the basement
for the Christmas tree. Those there were E. Boe; J. Lee; Jas.
Miller; Joe and Russell Wallace; John Michie; Jessie Michie. Mrs.
John Slovin of Bethesda was buried at Greenbank today.
21 – Snow through the night and awhile in the morning, which
turned to rain in the afternoon. Went down to Isaac O’Neill’s in
the morning and got two geese for Christmas dinner. In the after-
noon went with Jennie to Port Perry, this being their Christmas fair
and a bad day they have. Went with the cutter, the first time we
have had it out this season. Some had wheels.
22 – Thawing all day and the sleighing pretty well gone. Did little
but the chores. In the evening, with Jennie , Annie and Willie went
to the Christmas tree in connection with our SS, which was quite a
success in every way, a full house. Jessie Michie was given a
purse of between $9 and $10. Little Annie and Willie both sang
pieces alone for the first time. Annie Rennie sang. She is leaving
us to go to Smith’s Falls. A balloon was sent up at the close.
Proceeds $13.00.
23 – Got a little colder towards night, a very little snow. Not feel-
ing very well and did nothing but the chores. Jennie and Aunt
Janet baking and getting ready for Christmas.
24 – A fine day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and
Willie (121 at SS). George Miller addressed the school, Rev. Mr.
Keith preached. A song service was held in the evening, J.A.
Miller in the pulpit, and the singing led by Miss Annie Rennie, this
being her last Sunday here. A very nice service but not many out.
Jennie and Aunt Janet were at it.
25 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning to meet Annie
Elsie Michie, who is now attending a Ladies College at Toronto,
but she did not come by train. She, however, came with Willie and
Jessie Smith. Alma and Allan Black; Mrs. Mark; George, John
and Jessie Michie; Willie O’Neill; Nellie and little Willie O’Neill,
here were for dinner and all for supper including James Lee.
26 – A fine day and thawing a little in the afternoon. Willie Smith
and Jessie, Alan Black and Annie E. Michie went down to
George’s in the forenoon and all except Annie E. left for home
after dinner. Drove to Greenbank for the mail with Annie E, little
Annie and Willie.
27 – A fine day and thawing a little. Went to public school meet-
ing in the forenoon, about 25 present. No burning question on
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hand. Isaac Beare elected trustee. Jas. A. and George Miller here
for tea. At prayer meeting with Annie E., small turnout, Mr. Keith
leader.
28 – A fine day and thawing. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon
with Jennie and Annie E. Annie E. went in the afternoon to visit
Mrs. W. O’Neill and did not come back.
29 – Foggy and dull with some rain in the forenoon. Did little but
the chores. G. Michie called after dinner.
30 – Colder, with a high west wind. Did the chores. Annie E.
Michie came up from George’s for dinner and went back for sup-
per and here again for the night.
31 – A very fine day. Walked to SS while Jennie, Anne E. and
little Annie and Willie went in the buggy (125 at SS). Miss
Maggie McMillan sang a solo. Rev. Mr. Keith preached a sermon
on old age. George Michie here for tea. He then drove Annie E.
up to the Methodist church in the evening. Word came that Mrs.
Reynolds died. Miss Emily Baird is dead in Calgary.
1906
JAN. 1 – Rather a rough cold day with NW wind, some snow most
of the afternoon. John Michie came in the morning and Annie E.
Michie and he went to T. Black’s at Raglan for dinner. Went to
Greenbank in the afternoon to vote for councilmen. Voted for
Norman Steward for reeve and A. Leask, Jas. Graham and –
Walker for councilmen. The usual Methodist church party tonight
but did not go.
2 – A very fine mild day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with
Jennie, principally to get groceries for the party. I went to see Dr.
Archer and he pronounced my trouble lumbago. Went to Green-
bank in the afternoon to attend Mrs. Reynold’s funeral but it is not
to be until tomorrow. Alex Lee and John Michie here when I came
home. Annie E. came in the evening. George came with her. A
very fine night.
3 – Hail from the SE most of the day and evening which turned
almost to rain. Wes Luke here for a pig in the forenoon. At
Greenbank in the evening with Jennie to the annual SS meeting. A
fair turnout considering the weather. Mr. Keith in the chair. I was
again chosen superintendant, for the 5th
year. G.A. McMillan, asst.
super.; R. Wallace, sec.; Jas. Leask, treas.
4 – Rather stormy all day with many snow flurries but not very
cold. Did little but the chores. Went down to George Michie’s for
some coal oil. Jess here awhile helping to make sandwiches for the
party tonight which was quite a success and everything went off
nicely. As near as I can remember the following were present:
Jas. S. Lee; Donald and Archie McArthur; Milton Harrington;
Mary, Allie and Maggie Dusty; Roy and Ethel McDonald; John,
David and Annie McMillan; Charles Love (musician); John,
George and Jessie Michie; Willie O’Neill and Nellie, and L.
O’Neill; Willie and Annie Rennie; Mr. and Mrs. John Leask Jr.
and their Willie; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Leask; Mr. and Mrs. Alex
Boe; Willie, Edgar and Silva Leask; Mono Leask; Archie and
Nellie McMillan; James Blair Jr.; Russell and Joe Wallace; and
Annie Elsie Michie. Broke up about 2 am.
5 – Took Annie E. Michie to the train at Port Perry on her way
back to Toronto. She goes to Brooklin today. Took some dishes
back to Mrs. Mark in the afternoon.
6 – Rather rough with snow flurries and high NW wind. Went to
Greenbank in the afternoon.
7 – Rough and snowing and drifting until about noon when it got
some better. At church and SS (with the buggy) with Jennie, An-
nie and Willie, (113 at SS). Election of teachers, did not get all the
classes supplied. Rev. Mr. McEachrin of Leaskdale preached. Mr.
Keith is at Leaskdale preaching anniversary sermons.
8 – Cold and clear, 6 below zero. Jennie washing. Went to Port
Perry in the afternoon with 20 bags of oats to be ground. Took the
sleigh but the sleighing was rather thin some places. A beautiful
night.
9 – A very cold stormy day in the forenoon but got some better in
the afternoon. Went to Port Perry in the morning with the old sow
(she weighed 450 lbs @ $4.25). First day of Port Perry races.
10 – A very fine day. Drove up to Greenbank in the afternoon with
Jennie who went to the W.F.M.S. while I got harness fixed. At
annual church meeting in the evening, a fair turnout. Jas. Blair;
J.M. Real; John Lee and I were chosen managers. It was decided
to cooperate with Wick in building a new manse.
11 – Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with the sleigh and got
1100 of coal. Not very good sleighing. In the afternoon went with
Jennie and little Willie to R. Thompson’s store at Seagrave.
12 – A very fine mild day. Wes Luke here in the afternoon helping
to kill a pig. Mrs. Luke and Ed came with them and they stayed
for tea and until about 9. A very fine evening.
13 – A fine day but some raw. Cut up the pig in the forenoon and
went to Greenbank in the afternoon. Word that Art Ward is dead.
14 – Raining a little off and on. At SS and church with Aunt Janet,
Annie and Willie (114 at SS). Mr. Keith preached. Finished elect-
ing teachers for SS. Art Ward buried today.
15 – A mild day. Did very little but the chores. A church manag-
ers meeting in the evening. Chosen chairman of board. A very
rainy night.
16 – Snowing a little most of the day with high wind from the SW.
Did a few odd jobs. Aunt Janet making head cheese. Invited to a
party at W. McMillan’s tonight but did not go as the weather was
unpleasant.
17 – Rather rough and snowing some most of the day. Cut some
wood in the afternoon. At adjourned congregational meeting, a
fair turnout. The manse question was laid over until it was found
how the congregation responded as to money.
18 – Mild day. At Port Perry in the forenoon with Jennie and
Annie. Went with the cutter, good sleighing. Jennie, Aunt Janet
and the three children visiting at Gordon’s in the afternoon.
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19 – A fine mild day. Went to James Leask’s for a visit in the
afternoon with Jennie and wee James. Got home about 9. Had a
very pleasant time. Albert Akhurst here in the afternoon to get me
to make a box for their wee baby girl that was born yesterday and
died today.
20 – A soft day and the snow going fast which is spoiling the
sleighing. Made a little box for Albert Akhurst’s baby and with
Jennie took it up and Jennie dressed it and put it in the box. A nice
little baby it was. Sawed some wood in the afternoon. John Mi-
chie, James Lee, Jessie Michie, Laura Colder and Tom Michie,
who came home from Manitoba yesterday [?].
21 – As warm as a spring day. All the snow gone except where
there were drifts, and the mud very bad. The frost appears to be all
out some places. At church and SS with Jennie, Annie and Willie
(135 at SS, the largest number perhaps in the history of the school).
Mr. and Mrs. John Wallace of Dakota and Laura Colder were
among the visitors. Rev. Mr. Keith preached one of his best ser-
mons. CE announced for tonight after being dormant for some
weeks. Did not go as I was not feeling very well and the roads
were so bad.
22 – Another warm spring-like day with any quantity of mud.
Spread manure part of the day. Raw in the evening.
23 – Warm and rainy in the forenoon but got colder and began to
freeze towards night with high NW wind. At W. Luke’s in the
afternoon. Jennie sewing.
24 – Colder, with NW wind. Cleaned out pig house. Shifted tur-
nips that were rotting in root house and cut some wood. Jennie
making Annie a new dress. At S. Dusty’s in the evening with
letters to post. [C. Jennison or Jemison?] and Ettie Salter married
today.
25 – A bright and clear day and pretty cold. Cut wood part of the
day. Jennie sewing preparing to visit Toronto tomorrow.
26 – A beautiful clear day. Got up early and drove Jennie, Annie
and wee James to the evening train at Port Perry. They are off to
Toronto for a weeks visit. Sawing wood part of the day.
27 – A beautiful clear mild day. Cutting old rails for wood and
finished the job. Aunt Janet scrubbing. Willie playing outside all
day. No snow on the ground.
28 – A pretty fine day but a little colder. At SS and church with
Aunt Janet and Willie (130 at SS). Among the visitors were G.D.
McMillan who said a few words. Mr. Keith preached. At CE, a
fair turnout. I was leader if there was such a thing as leader.
29 – A good deal colder with high SE wind. Did very little but the
chores. Aunt Janet washing. The 10th
anniversary of our wedding
day.
30 – A fine day. At Farmer’s Institute meeting at Greenbank in the
afternoon, a fair turnout. Mr. Annis of Scarborough and Mr. Sloan
I think it was, spoke and they were very good. The women’s insti-
tute met in the basement of the Presbyterian church. Met with
Tommy Foster of Manitoba.
31 – A fine day but a little colder. Went down to John Michie’s in
the forenoon. Cutting wood in Luke’s swamp, John helping, in the
afternoon. Tom Black and Tom Michie called in the afternoon. At
adjourned congregational meeting in the evening principally to
consider the manse question. The motion to build was voted down
13 to 8, I think were the figures.
FEB. 1 – A little snow through the night and snowing a little in the
forenoon. The afternoon was quite rough with high NW wind and
colder. The most wintry day for a long time. John helping for
about two hours to cut wood in Luke’s swamp and finished the job.
2 – 20 below zero at sunrise and never above 6 below all day with
a cutting north wind. Went down to Port Perry to the 10 train for
Jennie, Annie and James who came home from Toronto and we
were pretty cold before we got home. Edward and Mary Joyce of
Sutton came about 5 pm from Mrs. Mark’s where they had been
for two days and stayed all night.
3 – Snowing and pretty rough with high S wind. Jennie and Mary
Joyce went to Greenbank in the afternoon.
4 – Rough through the night but warmer, snowing a little from the
SW most of the day. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie, Willie,
Mary Joyce and Ed Joyce. Ed and I walked. 119 at SS. Rev. Mr.
Peckover of Sunderland preached a rousing sermon. Mary went
home with John Michie for tea. At CE with Edward, an extra good
turnout as there was no Methodist church.
5 – Below zero all day, 13 about 9 am, with a pretty good north
wind. Did very little but the chores.
6 – Below zero all day, 19 in the morning, but still and clear. Took
Mary and Ed Joyce to Greenbank on their way home. Called on
John Lee.
7 – Pretty cold and clear. Frank and Russell Watson’s sale. Did
not go. At prayer meeting with Jennie. Rather small turnout. Mr.
Keith leader.
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8 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with 20
bags of oats to be ground and brought home some coal. Mr. and
Mrs. Alex Gordon here in the evening making up church report.
9 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for the
meal. About 3 pm Herb Bratley came and stayed about an hour
when he went down to John Michie’s. At 6 Tom Black came,
bringing with him Thomas Foster of Manitoba. They stayed all
night.
10 – Some rough with several snow flurries and getting colder.
Tom Black and Tom Foster left about 10 am for Greenbank. Tom
B. came back for dinner and left for home about 2. Jennie drove
up to Greenbank while I went to W. Luke’s.
11 – A very fine day but cold. At SS and church (with buggy) with
Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (124 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. At
CE with Jennie, a good turnout. G.A. McMillan and Ethel Miller
leaders.
12 – A very fine day and thawing a little. Drawing out manure
most of the day. At joint congregational meeting of Wick and
Greenbank to consider the manse question. Question not settled
but put off until next Monday evening. Jennie was also there. Got
home near 12 o’clock.
13 – A very fine, almost spring-like day. Drawing out manure.
Jennie, Annie, Willie and James visiting at Mrs. Mark’s in the
afternoon.
14 – A little snow most of the day but not enough for sleighing.
Pretty cold. Did very little but the chores. W. Oliver’s sale, did
not go.
15 – 10 below zero in the morning, clear with wind N. Jenny went
to W.F.M.S. meeting at W.H. Leask’s. At John Michie’s in the
evening singing.
16 – A very fine clear day and not very cold. Drew out manure in
the forenoon. At W. Luke’s in the afternoon. Herb Bratley here
for tea.
17 – A beautiful day and mild. Drawing out manure most of the
day and in the evening went to the Sons of Temperance Division,
the first time for a long while. About 20 present.
18 – A very fine day, a little snow in the evening. At church and
SS with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (133 at SS). Mr. Keith
preached on parents duty to their children.
19 – A beautiful clear day and thawing a little. Drew up the last of
the wood from lot in Luke’s swamp. At congregational meeting
about the manse, not many out. Made Wick an offer as to building
new manse. Afterwards went to oyster supper at Joseph Burton’s.
Jennie there also.
20 – A fine day and thawing a little, rain towards night, and mud
getting deep. Went to Port Perry in the morning with Annie and
Willie. In the evening went with Jennie to oyster supper at W.
Wallace’s at Greenbank. Church managers and wives were the
principal guests.
21 – A mild day and a little rain. After dinner started for Alex
Lee’s with Jennie, Annie and James but the roads were so bad with
mud that we did not go further than Greenbank and visited at Mrs.
Walker’s and John Lee’s. Oyster supper at A. Akhurst’s tonight
but did not get a bid.
22 – Froze a little in the morning but as muddy again towards
night. Jennie and little Willie drove me down to Port Perry in the
morning and I went by train to Whitby to see Margaret about sign-
ing deed of Mara place. Got there at 1:30 and came home by the
5:30 train. Aunt Janet met me at Port Perry.
23 – A little frost in the morning but very mild all day. Sawing
and splitting wood most of the day.
24 – A very warm spring-like day. Splitting wood most of the day.
In the evening went to S. of T., there were 10 new members in-
ducted: Alex Gordon; Vida Cragg; Maggie, Mary and Allie Dusty;
Willie and May Petty; Eva Luke; Ed Lyle and Miss [Parish?]. The
Rev. Mr. Brace30
was present. A very dark night and muddy.
25 – A dull day with some rain about noon. At SS and church with
Jennie, Annie and Willie (105 at SS). Rev. Mr. Keith preached an
extra good sermon. No CE as the roads are very bad and Rev. Mr.
Brace preaches to the S. of T. in the Methodist church tonight.
26 – Snow through the night but hardly enough to cover the
ground. Colder with high NW wind. Went up to see Ray Dusty
who has been laid up with sore leg. Found him a little better. Mr.
Town is moving into the Burton place today. Temperance lecture
tonight, did not go.
27 – About zero in the morning, clear day, with sharp N wind.
Started at 10:30 am with Jennie, Annie and Willie for Alex Lee’s.
Roads rough (had the buggy). Got dinner and got home again
about 5:30 pm.
28 – Below zero in the morning and quite a wind. Did little but the
chores. Went up to A. Gordon’s awhile in the afternoon. Only
Mrs. Gordon and the two youngest girls were in.
MAR. 1 – A fine bright day. At Port Perry market in the forenoon
with Jennie. Had the buggy, roads pretty rough. In the afternoon
went over to Jim Lee’s swamp to see about some wood. Jennie,
Annie and Willie visiting at Marshal O’Neill’s and Isaac O’Neill’s.
2 – A fine day but somewhat raw. At preparatory service in the
church. Rev. Mr. Pickover of Sunderland preached. John Carne-
gie received into membership. Aunt Janet was there also. At
John’s in the evening for a sing.
3 – Rain through the night. Cleaned out calf and pig pens in the
forenoon. Intention in the afternoon to go out to see what money
could be raised for the support of the Sunday School instead of an
anniversary but it started to rain from the SE. The rain froze as it
fell.
30
Rev. Adam P. Brace, 1860-1941, was field secre-
tary of the Sons of Temperance.
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4 – Roads a little icy but not very cold. At communion with Jennie
at Greenbank. Mr. Keith conducted the service. There was the
smallest attendance I ever saw in the church I think. Very few from
Wick and a good many absent from our own. In the evening went
with Jennie to the CE but there was no meeting as there was a male
choir at the Methodist church.
5 – A fine day and thawing some. Went down to John Michie’s in
the forenoon with Annie and Willie. After dinner, with Jennie,
drove around to see supporters of Sunday School. Called at W.
Wallace’s; S. Dusty’s; Jim Blair’s; John Lee; R. Somerville; D.
McArthur; D. McDonald; John Stone; H. Love; Jas. Innis; and E.
Boe’s. Was pretty successful in getting the promise of money
instead of holding an anniversary.
6 – A very fine day and thawing in the afternoon which made it
some muddy. Went with sleigh in the morning to Jim Lee’s
swamp and drew out some wood into his lane. Snow nearly all
gone. In the afternoon went, with Jennie, Annie and Willie to
W.H. Leask’s. Left them there while I went on collecting for SS.
Called at Alex Leask’s but he was not at home, then to W. Tho-
mas’, then to Jas. McMillan’s and then back to Will Leask’s. Went
back to the woods where Marshall O’Neill’s sawmill is running,
then stayed to tea. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dobson were there also.
Called at C. Gordon’s on the way home. Got home about 8 pm.
7 – A fine day. Drew out the remainder of the wood from Jim
Lee’s swamp (3 ½ cords) in the forenoon. Making gate in the
afternoon. Mrs. Annie Gordon here for dinner and tea and Mrs. D.
Lyle here in the afternoon and for tea. In the evening went with
Aunt Janet to prayer meeting. Not a very good turnout, perhaps
somewhat on account of a party at R. Wallace’s. Mr. Keith leader.
An after meeting was held about an anniversary for the SS. It was
carried to have no anniversary as there is enough pledged to carry
the school. $109.50 to the present time.
8 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry market with Jennie ( a pretty
good market) and in the afternoon went to James Wallace’s sale.
Took Jennie and little James up to J.M. Real’s where she stayed
while I was away. Called in on my way home and got tea there.
When we got home Barbara and Willie Smith were here. They
stayed all night.
9 – A nice day. Barbara and Willie Smith left after dinner and
went down to John Michie’s. Went out to Port Perry in the after-
noon with 20 bags of oats to be ground and brought home 1580
lbs. of coal. Roads getting pretty muddy.
10 – Somewhat colder in the morning with quite a wind. Went up
to Alex Gordon’s in the forenoon, Annie and Willie going with me,
with a rooster. After dinner went to Port Perry for the meal. Took
Aunt Janet down to station on her way to Whitby for a two week
visit. Then went up to W. Luke’s. Mark’s Bros. called in the
forenoon and C. Sleep towards evening, both wanting to buy cattle.
Did not sell.
11 – A fine day. At SS and church with Annie and Willie (116 at
SS), Mr. Keith preached a good sermon. Did not go to CE. Mrs.
Mark and Emma Black here awhile in the evening. Daisy cow
dropped a calf in the early morning.
12 – Quite a lot colder. Jennie washing. Went to Greenbank in the
afternoon on some little errands. Took down the decorations in SS
room.
13 – A fine day. James Lee called in the morning and I went with
him to his farm and helped him to start the bricking of his hog pen
floors. Got dinner at R. Cragg’s. Making a gate in the afternoon.
14 – Went to Port Perry in the forenoon to see the vet about cow.
He came back (Coates) after dinner. W. [S---?], assessor, called
after dinner. Snow most of the afternoon.
15 – A fine day but colder. Did a few chores. Hung gate at NW
corner of woodshed. Mrs. Annie Gordon here for dinner and tea.
A. Butt called wanting to buy cattle. George Michie here for tea.
Drove Mrs. Gordon home in the evening.
16 – Snowing a little in the afternoon. Allan and Alma Black came
about 7 pm and got tea, then to party at John Michie’s. I went
down for awhile. Quite a lively crowd. Sandy McGregor the
horseman called.
17 – A fine day but pretty cold. Did little but the chores. Allan
and Alma Black left for home about 3 pm. At Greenbank in the
evening to the S. of T. Quite a number there, several from Sea-
grave. A pretty good program. The band was also there.
18 – A fine day. At SS and church with Annie and Willie (115 at
SS), Mr. Keith preached. At CE, a fair turnout. Mrs. Jas. Leask
leader. Arch McMillan sang a piece.
19 – Snowing a little most of the day from the E, about the most
wintery day for some time. Mrs. Annie Gordon here all day.
Jennie washing. Wes Luke called in the forenoon to get buck saw
sharped.
20 – Somewhat rough and stormy. G. Michie, Arch McMillan,
Dave McMillan, G. Barret, and the Oliver family left for the north
west this morning. Went to Greenbank in the afternoon and called
at Jas. Innis’s, H. Love’s, J. Lee’s, W. Akhurst’s, and Mrs. Walker.
21- Snowing and storming off and on most of the day from the W
and SW. Did little but the chores. Did not go to prayer meeting as
it was pretty rough.
22 – Pretty cold and stormy, especially in the afternoon. Some
snow. Went to Port Perry market in the forenoon. Aunt Janet
came back from her two weeks visit to Whitby. Went up to S.
Dusty’s in the afternoon to see Ray and found him some better.
23 – A pretty cold day and some stormy in the afternoon. Went to
Greenbank in the afternoon and got Fly mare shod.
24 – Below zero in the morning but got warmer and bright. Went
to Port Perry in the morning and met Mrs. Mason and Kennedy.
Drew two very small loads of wood from Jim Lee’s place in the
afternoon. Drew it with the sleigh but there was very poor sleigh-
ing. Jennie and Mrs. Mason went down to Mrs. Mark’s in the
evening. Jim Dusty called in the morning and Tom Michie after
dinner.
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25 – A fine day, thawing, which made the roads very muddy.
Jennie, Annie Mason, and Annie and Willie drove to church and
SS while I walked. (120 at SS). Annie Mason sang a solo, Mr.
Keith preached. Did not go to CE.
26 – Some frost in the morning but it soon started to thaw and
there was lots of mud. Drew out manure in the forenoon. In the
afternoon went with Jennie, Annie Mason, Kennedy Mason and
little Willie to Alex Gordon’s to an oyster supper at 5 pm. In the
evening went with Jennie and Annie Mason to John Michie’s for a
sing. Jim Lee was there also. Saw W. Mark for the first time since
he came home from New Jersey. A very dark and rainy night.
27 – Rain all forenoon and until about the middle of the afternoon
when it got some colder and there was enough snow to make the
ground white. Drove Annie Mason and Kennedy to Port Perry on
their way home. There was lots of mud on the roads and rain most
of the way. Tom Michie called in the forenoon. Party at D. Lyle’s
tonight.
28 – A little frost in the morning but it soon got warm and all the
bit of snow was gone by noon. Drew out manure until it got too
muddy. D. Lyle called, he was inviting us up to his place for tea
tomorrow.
29 – A little frost in the morning but soon muddy enough. Aunt
Janet and little Annie went to Greenbank in the morning. Cutting
wood in the forenoon. In the afternoon, with Jennie, went up to
Mr. D. Lyle’s for tea. Mr. and Mrs. W. Mark; Mr. and Mrs. Alex
Gordon; Mr. and Mrs. A. Akhurst, and Mrs. S. Dusty were also
there.
30 – A fine day and any amount of mud. Split wood and some
little chores. In the evening went to box social in the hall by the S.
of T. A full house and a good program, only too long. $15 taken
at the door besides the sale of the boxes. $36.00 in all.
31 – A fine day but pretty cold with high NE wind. Went to Port
Perry in the morning with Jennie and little Willie. S. Sleep called
in the evening and bought the 2 steers for 5 cts per lb, $1.00 rebate,
to go next Friday.
APR. 1 – A very fine clear day. At SS and church with Aunt
Janet, Annie and Willie (121 at SS). Rev. Mr. Keith preached. At
CE, a fair turnout. I had to lead in place of Jennie who was not
able to go on account of a cold. A beautiful night, roads improving
greatly.
2 – A beautiful day. Bagged up some oats in the forenoon and
took them to Port Perry in the afternoon to be ground and brought
home some coal. At church manager’s meeting in the evening.
W. Luke and Norman Lyle called in the forenoon and Jim Lee after
breakfast.
3 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning for the
meal. Went up to Alex Gordon’s after dinner and then scuffled the
raspberry bushes, the first in the way of work on the land that I
have seen this season. Tom Michie around shooting woodchucks.
4 – A fine day with high NW wind. At the raspberry bushes all
day. A little rain about noon.
5 – Went to Port Perry market in the forenoon with Jennie and
Annie (a big market). Annie got two teeth pulled. At berry bushes
in the afternoon. Started to snow about 4 pm and soon the ground
was covered.
6 – With John Michie’s help, took 2 steers to Seagrave, S. Sleep
being the buyer. They weighed 2275 lbs at 5 cts per lb, $1.00
rebate. Mr. S. says he will lose money on them. Jennie came after
us with the buggy. Mr. Town called wanting to get a [?] fixed.
Tom Michie called in the afternoon to say goodbye. He intends
starting for Edmonton tomorrow. Worked on the berry bushes
awhile in the afternoon.
7 – Did not do much but the chores as I was half sick with the cold.
Went up to A. Gordon’s in the afternoon. Snowing a little, some-
times raw.
8 – A fine day but somewhat raw. At SS and church with Jennie,
Annie and Willie (116 at SS). Took up collection in SS for the
Japan famine fund and got $8.34. Henry Roy and Cathleen Leask
sang, Rev. Mr. Keith preached. Roads not as good as last Sunday.
Did not get to CE.
9 – Rain nearly all day from the SE and very raw and disagreeable.
Made a pole gate to put between the house lane and the barnyard.
10 – A dull day and threatening rain most of the time. Went to
Greenbank in forenoon with the waggon, mud bad. Blake Cragg
and G. Till called about a debate in connection with the S. of T.
11 – A dull day and threatening rain in the forenoon. Cleaned out
calf and pig pens and some other little chores. Jennie drove to
Greenbank to W.F.M.S. She went around by John Michie’s and
took up Mrs. Mark. Roads very bad.
12 – A fine day and the land dried up a good deal. Went with
Jennie to Port Perry market in the forenoon. A big market, roads
very bad. Took the straw off the strawberry plants in the after-
noon. Feeling more like spring towards night. Heard the first
frogs of the season.
13 - Good Friday. A very fine bright day. Hung new gate between
house and barn in the forenoon. In the afternoon plowed a bit of
the orchard and then the potato and mangold land east of the or-
chard. I have not seen anyone else working on the land yet.
14 – Plowing until about 11 am when it started to rain and contin-
ued till about 2 pm. Plowed a while after that. Everything pretty
wet again.
15 – A little rain. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie
(116 at SS). Maggie McMillan sang a piece at SS. Rev. Mr.
Neville of the Methodist church preached. Mr. Keith preaches
tonight in the Methodist church. Did not go, roads very bad, worse
than last Sunday.
16 – Took off the storm windows and spread manure in the fore-
noon. Plowed strawberry ground in the afternoon. Jennie washing
and churning. Ed Luke here for dinner. He came for the plough
skimmer. G. Till and G. Mitchell called in the evening about de-
bate.
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17 – A very fine spring day. Planted potatoes in the orchard in the
forenoon and planted raspberry bushes in the afternoon. Jennie
went to Greenbank in the afternoon for the mail. Ed Lyle sowing,
the first that have heard of. John Michie brought back the cutting
box which they have had a long time.
18 – A very fine day, the warmest of the season. Cultivating most
of the day (not in any too good a state). At prayer meeting, rather a
small turnout. An after meeting consider a party on May 24, de-
cided to leave it to the managers. W. Akhurst here in the morning
for some berry bushes. Mrs. I. O’Neill and little girl wanting tur-
nips. A Mr. Lang came in the evening looking for work and stayed
all night.
19 – A fine warm day. Did some chores in the forenoon while
Jennie, Annie and Willie went to Port Perry market. Mrs. A.
Gordon Sr. here for dinner and the afternoon. Mrs. Mark called.
Sowed oats in the field north of the barn in the afternoon, the first
of the season.
20 – A very fine day, a little foggy in the morning. Sowing and
harrowing all day. Henry and Cathlene Leask came over with their
pony in the afternoon and two of R. Real’s boys to see about get-
ting some strawberry plants. News in the papers about the great
earthquake in San Francisco31
.
21 – Harrowing in the forenoon and sowing the field W of the barn
in the afternoon. A little rain between 10 and 12. Jennie making
garden. Nels Mitchell called taking orders for binder cord.
22 – Cooler. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie
(120 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. Maggie McMillan sang a solo.
Did not go to CE but with Jennie and Willie went down to see John
Michie who is laid up with sciatica. He was a little better. Raining
a little on our way home.
23 – Much cooler with high N wind, pretty raw. Went to Seagrave
in the forenoon with 4 pigs. They weighed 840 lbs., price $7.00
per hundred. Sowing and harrowing in the afternoon.
24 – Frost so hard that nothing could be done on the land. Spread
manure in the forenoon. Harrowed in the afternoon. Aunt Janet
and little Annie visiting at Gordon’s in the afternoon.
25 – A beautiful day. Gang plowing all day in the SW field. Aunt
Janet went up to S. Dusty’s in the evening with a letter. Jennie
making dress for Annie.
26 – A beautiful day. Gang plowing all day. Jennie making
clothes for Willie Cameron.
27 – A very fine day. Finished gang plowing in the forenoon and
went to Port Perry in the afternoon. Jennie sewing.
31
Earthquake of 7.9 magnitude struck San Francisco
and the northern California coast at 5:12 am on April
18. The damage and resulting fire are remembered as
one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the
United States.
28 – A beautiful day. Harrowed a little in the morning and then
sowing the SW field which finishes the sowing for the year. Jennie
washing windows and buggy. Pascoe Luke called in the afternoon
to see about boarding the men that are to fix the barn on the Luke
place.
29 – A nice day. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie
(124 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. There was a little meeting of the
managers after when it was decided to have a lecture on May 24th
.
At CE, not many out. I was leader, the subject missions in Honan
[China]. A good deal of thunder and lightning in the evening but
no rain here.
30 – A very fine day. Harrowing all day which finishes seeding
except the rolling. Jennie house cleaning. Annie started this morn-
ing, for the first, at public school.
MAY 1 – A very fine day. Plowing in the orchard in the forenoon.
Jennie housecleaning. Isaac O’Neill came up for a bag of oats. In
the afternoon went with Jennie to the induction of Rev. Mr. Leitch
to Sonya church. There was a full house. Rev. Mr. McKecheren
preached. Rev. Mr. Wallace addressed the minister and Rev. Mr.
Peckover the congregation. Rev. Mr. Keith presided. Each did
their part well and everything went off first rate. Got tea in the
basement and started for home. Cooler on the way home.
2 – A thunder shower in the morning and again about 4 pm. Plow-
ing and harrowing in the orchard and the strawberry ground.
Jennie washing. P. Luke called to see about boarding the men
repairing the Luke barn. At prayer meeting with Jennie, a very
small turnout. Mr. Keith leader. Annie at school.
3 – Threatening and raining a little in the morning. Jennie and
Willie went to Port Perry market while I scuffled raspberry bushes.
Jas. Miller, who is working at Luke’s barn, here for dinner. Went
to Port Perry in the afternoon with 15 bags of oats to grind but did
not get it home. Jas. Miller, Jim Lee, R. Raines, A. McMillan and
Pascoe Luke here for supper. Jim Lee, A. McM. and P. Luke
stayed all night. Went down with Jennie to I. O’Neill’s in the
evening to see their little girl Irene who got hurt on the head today
with John Michie’s colt. She is doing well.
4 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning for the meal and
had to wait awhile for it. Fixing fences in the afternoon. Carpen-
ters at Luke’s barn here. Arbour day, no school.
5 – A fine day. Fixing fence in the forenoon. Drawing manure and
old rails in the afternoon. Jennie scrubbing. Luke’s barn carpen-
ters here for meals.
6 – A little rain in the morning but turned out a fine day. At SS
and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (119 at SS), Mr.
Keith preached. At CE with Jennie, a pretty good turnout. Jennie
was leader. Miss Bryan and Nellie McMillan sang a piece.
7 – A fine day but quite cool. Drawing out manure in the fore-
noon. In the afternoon at Luke’s barn raising. Jennie also over
helping. Went up without a hitch. G.D. McMillan called in the
evening. A. McMillan, Jas. Lee, and John McArthur here all night.
Annie at school. Miss Dollie Sonley of Pinedale called in the
afternoon.
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8 – Pretty cold and raw. Started to rain a little about 5 pm. Jennie
went to Port Perry in the morning while I spread manure. Drew
out manure the rest of the day. Carpenters here for meals. Jim Lee
and John McArthur stayed all night. Annie at school.
9 – Drew out manure until rain came on about 10 am. Spread a
little manure and went with the rig to meet Annie at school. Rain
off and on all afternoon, quite cold and raw. Luke’s carpenters all
went home after dinner.
10 – Quite cold all day with a NW wind and very little growth so
far this spring. Drawing out manure all day and finished the job
which is the earliest on record as far as I can remember. Luke’s
barn men here for meals and Jim Lee and A. McMillan stayed all
night. Jennie putting in some garden stuff. Annie at school.
11 – Quite a hard frost in the morning but warmed up a little.
Helping Pascoe Luke to make 2 gates (Norman Lyle also helping)
and afterwards spread manure. Willie Smith came about 10 am
and left for home again about 4. He was after strawberry plants.
Annie at school. At prayer meeting with John McArthur, a fair
turnout. Mr. Keith gave an address. G.A. McMillan opened. Car-
penters at Luke’s barn got meals here. John McArthur, Jim Lee
and A. McMillan stayed all night.
12 – Quite a bit of thunder and two or three small showers during
the day with high wind and lots of dust. Helping P. Luke in the
forenoon to hang gates. Plowing root land in the afternoon.
Luke’s barn carpenters here for meals. In the evening went to
Greenbank to the S. of T. (E. Lyle rode up with me), the principal
thing being a debate between Greenbank and Prince Albert. The
subject was the comparative evils of tobacco and liquor. There
was a good turnout, some being there from Prince Albert, Port
Perry, Scugog and Seagrave divisions.
13 – Rain through the night and a drizzle most of the forenoon
which is just what is needed. Things are beginning to grow a little.
At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie (106 at SS), Mr.
Keith preached. Did not go to CE. A very fine evening.
14 – Some raw in the morning but got warm and a very fine day.
Harrowed mangold ground in the forenoon and drilled it up in the
afternoon. John Love called for two bags of oats. Mrs. Isaac
O’Neill also called. Annie at school. Luke’s barn carpenters here
for meals. They go to M. O’Neill’s tomorrow as the supply of
shingles has run short.
15 – A very fine warm growing day. Went to Greenbank in the
morning and took Annie to school, then sowed the mangolds.
Planted strawberry plants in the afternoon. Jennie digging plants.
Two Scotch cloth pedlars called and we got cloth for a suit of
clothes and a dress for Jennie.
16 – Quite warm. About 2 pm a thunder storm came up with
heavy hail. Then it came a second time, also with hail, which
drenched things pretty well. Went up to the school for Annie.
Luke’s barn carpenters left after the rain as there is no material. At
prayer meeting, rather a small turnout, Mr. Keith leader. Donald
Ianson married.
17 – Quite warm. A good deal of thunder during the afternoon and
a shower about 3. At Port Perry in the forenoon with Jennie.
Plowing and harrowing in the orchard in the afternoon. Annie at
school. W. Luke called.
18 – About 2 am Willie got very restless and in a high fever and
we decided to call the Dr. So I went to W. Real’s to call him up
but the telephone would not work so I had to drive to Port Perry.
A beautiful morning. Dr. D. Archer got here about 6 am and he
thinks Willie will be all right in a day or two. He was pretty sick in
the forenoon but much better towards night. Planting strawberries
alone most of the day. Thunder all the afternoon with a big shower
about 2:30. Annie at school.
19 – A good deal cooler and a fine day. Plowing root land in the
forenoon and planting strawberry plants in the afternoon, Jennie
helping a little while. Luke’s barn carpenters got meals here. T.
Rundle died.
20 – A very fine day and somewhat cool. At SS and church with
Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (126 at SS). The church service was
special. It was expected that Rev. Mr. Peckover of Sunderland
would preach but he could not come. Mr. Keith preached, a full
house. At church service again in the evening with Jennie. Mr.
Keith again preached with a full house. A union choir, Methodist
and Presbyterian, at each service.
21 – A very fine day. Plowing corn land in the forenoon. Sowed
flax seed in the orchard after dinner and then harrowed corn
ground. P. Luke called in the forenoon to settle up about the car-
penters (who have been at the barn) board. They finished the job
except the grainery which is to be done at a later time.
22 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning. Drilled
up for potatoes in the afternoon. Jennie picking over potatoes.
Mrs. Isaac O’Neill called. Annie at school. In the evening went
with G.A. McMillan to the manse at Wick to see about a new
cistern. Met the Wick managers and decided to put in new cistern.
23 – Rain with thunder and lightning through the night. Went to
Greenbank for the beef in the morning taking Annie to school, and
planted the potatoes in the field east of the orchard. Ethel Bratley
came about 7 pm. She came to Port Perry by train and wheeled out
from there. A pretty warm day. Jennie washing.
24 – A very fine day and quite warm. Plowed and planted the little
plot beside the barn pump (in corn) and planted some corn in the
orchard. In the evening went with Aunt Janet to a lecture in the
church by Rev. Mr. Silcox of Toronto. The lecture was good but
the attendance very small. Annie Rennie and Miss Bowes of Lind-
say sang. Proceeds about $24.00.
25 – Very warm day. Harrowed corn land in the forenoon and
rolled it in the afternoon. A thunder shower came up about 3 and it
rained off and on the rest of the day. Jennie whitewashing the
cellar. She drove up to meet Annie on her way home from school.
Ethel Bratley left for home. Apple trees are now out in blossom
which is pretty plentiful.
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26 – Somewhat dull day. Thunder in the afternoon but no rain
here. Cooler towards night. Drilled up and planted horse corn.
Jennie cleaning pantry. Mrs. I. O’Neill, with Clarence and Irene,
here in the forenoon for a bag of oats and some strawberry plants.
27 – Quite cool with east wind. At church and SS with Jennie,
Annie and Willie (116 at SS). Mr. Keith preached an excellent
sermon from the 7th
commandment. At CE with Aunt Janet, a fair
turnout, Annie McMillan and I were leaders.
28 – Rain a little in the morning. Annie did not go to school.
Went to Port Perry with Jennie in the forenoon and in the afternoon
with Jennie scraped the whitewash off the kitchen walls. Mrs. I.
O’Neill and Mabel Gordon here for strawberry plants. A very fine
evening.
29 – A fine day and pretty cool. Jennie went to Greenbank in the
morning and took Annie to school. At D. Lyle’s in the forenoon
helping to make two gates. Whitewashing the ceiling of the
kitchen in the afternoon. Went down with Jennie to Isaac
O’Neill’s in the evening and bought a cow for $45.00. A very fine
evening but pretty cool.
30 – A very fine day. Went down to I. O’Neill’s in the morning
and brought home the cow that we bought last night, then rolled
the rest of the forenoon. In the afternoon helped Jennie to paper
the kitchen, the first time it was ever papered. At prayer meeting
in the evening, a fair turnout, Mr. Keith leader.
31 – A very fine cool day. Rolling oat fields all day (and finished).
Jennie finished papering kitchen. Mrs. I. O’Neill and boy and girl
here in the afternoon. Annie at school.
JUNE 1 – A beautiful day. Drilled up 24 turnip drills in the fore-
noon. Hugh Jack and Dan Boe called and --- the two dry cows. In
the afternoon went to the preparatory service in the church. Rev.
Mr. McEachrin of Leaskdale preached. G.D. McMillan and Laura
Golder were received by certificate. After the meeting went to
Port Perry for suit of clothes at D. Perkin’s but they were not
ready. Jennie washing and scrubbing. Annie at school.
2 – A very fine day. Sowed 24 drills of turnips and plowed in the
forenoon and in the afternoon scuffled strawberries, raspberries
and early potatoes while Jennie, Aunt Janet and little James went
to Port Perry. Jennie washed the buggy.
3 – A very fine day. At communion at Wick with Aunt Janet and
Annie. A fair turnout, Mr. Keith conducted the service. At church
in the evening at Greenbank with Jennie and Willie. Mr. Keith
preached, not a very large turnout.
4 – A very fine day. Plowing turnip land all day. Jennie house
cleaning. Annie at school.
5 – A fine day and pretty warm. Plowing turnip land until about
4:30 when a thunder storm came up but it only rained a few drops.
Jennie house cleaning. Annie at school.
6 – A very fine day. Went for the beef in the morning then har-
rowed the corn and potatoes. Plowing turnip land in the afternoon.
Jennie papering sitting room. Annie at school. At prayer meeting,
16 present. An after meeting to arrange for SS picnic.
7 – A fine day. Thundering off and on all day. There was a nice
little shower between 11 and 12. Plowing turnip land all day and
finished. Jennie house cleaning and about finished I think. Annie
at school.
8 – A big thunder storm through the night and thunder off and on
during the day which finished with a terrific thunder storm be-
tween 9 and 10, raining hard while writing. Went to Port Perry in
the morning with 2 cows to Jack and Boe. Ned Lyle going also
with 1 cow. Jennie drove down for me. Methodist church confer-
ence in session at Port Perry now. Went to G. Lee’s after dinner
and then drew off some stones from turnip land. L. O’Neill called
for a bag of oats. Annie at school.
9 – Things pretty wet after the rain. Tried to harrow but it did not
work very well so I quit and put a new post in for the gate between
the house and barn. Harrowed turnip land in the afternoon. About
the middle of the afternoon I was called over to see three young
cattle of D. Lyle’s that had been killed by lightning last night.
They had been pasturing in Luke’s swamp (the farm being now
rented by Norman Lyle). W Luke was also called in to value the
cattle and we put them at $100.00. A. Graham, VS, was also there.
Finished hoeing the strawberry patch for the first time. Rain in the
evening.
10 – Rain through the night with lightning. At church and SS \with
Jennie, Annie and Willie. Raining a little when we started and
very threatening after we got there but not much rain. Only 63 at
SS, the smallest number for a long time. Only 3 of the teachers
present. Rev. Joseph Real preached, Mr. Keith being away at the
assembly at London. Rev. R.H. Leitch was also present. Did not
go out at night. Much cooler.
11 – A fine day and cooler. Got up at 4 am and Aunt Janet drove
Jennie, Willie and I to Port Perry where we took train for Port
Hope. Got there about 10 and got dinner at Fred Patton’s. Found
Mrs. Bell pretty helpless but not looking quite as bad as we ex-
pected. Strolled around the town with Fred and in the evening he
drove us out to P. Sleemons. Stayed there all night. Mrs. Gordon
here all night.
12 – Frost in the morning but a very fine day. Bella Sleemon
drove us in to town and drove Willie and I around the town. Got
dinner at Patton’s and then started for home. Aunt Janet met us at
Port Perry. Got home about 7. Mrs. Mark here in the evening.
13 – A very fine day. Harrowing and gang plowing turnip land.
Annie at school. At prayer meeting, not very large turnout, Mr.
Boe leader.
14 – A fine day and pretty warm. Scuffled mangolds in the fore-
noon while Aunt Janet went to Port Perry market. In the afternoon
sowed some buckwheat in the SW corner of the SW field. Used
Lyle’s seeder. In the evening went with Jennie to hunt up berry
pickers. Got the first ripe berries today. Annie at school.
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15 – A fine day and pretty warm. Harrowed and rolled the turnip
land and then drilled up some. In the evening went with D. Lyle
and W. Luke to Jas. Monroe’s to make a declaration about Mr.
Lyle’s cattle that were killed by lightning. Annie at school.
16 – A fine day, warm, a little rain in the evening. Drilled up
turnips in the forenoon and sowed them after dinner. At Green-
bank in the evening with Jennie. Started to go to see Roy McDon-
ald but did not go further than Greenbank. Planted Eddorside
potatoes, 1 lb. cost $1.00 and 25 cts freight, 8 potatoes. Mrs. R.
Cragg called for some eggs to set.
17 – Rain through the night and a little drizzle most of the day
except awhile from 9 to 1. At SS and church with Aunt Janet,
Annie and Willie (118 at SS). Mr. Keith preached, he gave a re-
port of the assembly meeting at London which he attended. Did
not go out in the evening. Rev. P. Nevill, the pastor of the Meth-
odist church, preached.
18 – Dull and threatening rain from the east in the morning but did
not come to much. Scuffling corn, strawberries and potatoes and
then hoeing mangolds. Annie did not go to school on account of
the threatening weather. Mr. and Mrs. A. Gordon Sr. called after
dinner. Jennie washing in the forenoon and went to Port Perry in
the afternoon. Had strawberries for supper.
19 – A fine day. Hoeing mangolds all day and finished. Jennie
baking for picnic. Annie at school. Mr. Isaac O’Neill called for
bag of oats.
20 – A dull day. Drilling up for turnips in the forenoon. In the
afternoon went with Jennie, Annie and Willie at Sunday School
picnic at Haddon’s bush on the town line. Wick, Saintfield and
Greenbank Presbyterian in it. There was a good turnout and it
went off very well. Layton band gave music. A tug of war be-
tween Greenbank and Wick resulted in a victory for Wick. We got
a big rain on the way home. Old Mrs. Dusty was buried today.
21 – A fine day. A thunder shower went round about 4 pm but no
rain here. Went to Greenbank in the morning to get some staples
for wire fence and took Annie to school. Aunt Janet went to mar-
ket at Port Perry and took out 16 boxes of strawberries, the first of
the season for us. Finished drilling and sowing the turnips. Mrs.
A. Gordon Sr. and Mrs. Jas. Allan here for dinner. Went over to R.
Monroe’s after supper for fence wire.
22 – A nice day, two or three little rain showers and quite cool.
Scuffled some and helped Hugh Monroe to put up wire fence on W
side of lane from the house to the barn, the first wire fence put up
on the place. He did not have wire enough to finish so he went to
G. Real’s to finish some he is putting up for him. W. Akhurst
called in the forenoon. Annie at school. Jennie picked some
strawberries.
23 – Rain about 10 and a big shower about 3. Picked strawberries,
scuffled mangolds and hoed. Mended baby carriage. Aunt Janet
went to Port Perry with 50 boxes of berries. Mrs. A. Gordon Sr.
here for dinner and the afternoon getting a skirt made. Went to
Seagrave in the evening for berry boxes.
24 – A fine cool day, no rain. At church and SS with Jennie, An-
nie and Willie (122 at SS), Rev. Mr. Keith preached on Thou shalt
not steal. At CE with Aunt Janet, a fair turnout, G.D. McMillan
leader.
25 – A very fine day. Hoeing corn all day. Jennie picking berries.
W. Akhurst; Mrs. A. Gordon and Jennie Gordon; Mary, Allie and
Jim Dusty; Lillie O’Neill; Mabel, Gordon and Luella Cragg pick-
ing. They got done at noon. Jim Dusty went twice to Port Perry
with berries. E. Boe called for some berries.
26 – A very fine day. Hoeing corn and strawberries. Jim Dusty
scuffling most of the day. We pulled down the east lane fence
between the house and the barn. Silva Leask came over for some
berries. Mr. A. Akhurst and [Zetta?] called in the evening. Jennie
washing. Annie at school.
27 – A very fine day and pretty warm. Putting in posts for new
fence on east side of lane. W. Akhurst; Mary and Allie Dusty;
Mrs. A. and Jennie Gordon; Mabel Gordon; Luella Cragg; and S.
O’Neill picking berries in the forenoon. Jim Dusty went to Port
Perry and then to Greenbank with berries. At prayer meeting with
Jennie in the evening. Mr. Boe leader, not many out. S. Ontario
excursion to Guelph today.
28 – A very warm day. Went over to T. Dewey’s in the morning.
Spent most of the day making stone walk in the barn yard. Aunt
Janet went to Port Perry market. Annie at school. A thunder
shower came up between 3 and 4. Jennie drove up and met Annie.
Jim Lee; Bertha Till and Ethel Miller called in the evening for a
feed of strawberries. Mrs. W. Real and O. Luke also to see about
berries. Another big thunder storm in the evening.
29 – A warm close day. Thunder in the forenoon but no rain.
Picking strawberries. Jennie; Mrs. Gordon and Jennie Gordon;
Allie Dusty; Mrs. W. O’Neill at it. Jim Dusty came just before
dinner and took berries to Port Perry and then to Greenbank. Went
to J.M. Real’s barn raising in the afternoon. There was a large
number there. It went up all right. Was on the losing side, but it
was very close race. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Beare called in the eve-
ning for berries. Miss E. Baird and Maggie Blair called for berries.
Thunder storm between 8 and 9.
30 - Ernest Phair called about 8 am and brought the news that J.
M. Real’s barn that was raised yesterday was blown down by the
storm last evening. Hitched up and drove up, A. Akhurst going
with me. Helped them awhile to straighten the timber up. A quite
a few sticks broken. Jim Dusty took Fly to Greenbank and got
front shoes set. Picked strawberries with Jennie until dinner and a
little while after when rain came on very heavy which turned out to
be a north easter and continued nearly all afternoon. Jim Dusty
went to Seagrave for berry boxes and then took some berries up the
way of Greenbank. Mrs. R. Gregg; Britton and L. Love; Jennie
and Bessie Gordon called for berries. Jennie put up 19 jars of
berries.
JULY 1 – A fine day. No rain but pretty close. At SS with Jennie
and Willie (Annie stayed at home as she was not very well). 118 at
SS. A close of SS, all went over to the Methodist SS anniversary.
Mr. Keith, Mr. Hagen and Mr. [?] were the speakers. A good
crowd and good meeting. Jim Lee came home with us for tea. At
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Methodist meeting again in the evening, a very full house. Mr.
McCombe preached. Margaret, who came to John Michie’s yes-
terday, came home with me from the meeting. George Bratley
came up from John’s.
2 – A very fine day. Picking strawberries in the forenoon. Jennie;
Alex Gordon; Mrs. Gordon; Jennie Gordon; W. Akhurst; Mrs. A.
Akhurst; Allie Dusty; Lewella Cragg; L. O’Neill; G. Bratley; Mr.
and Mrs. Les Lamb and two children helping, and near noon Tom
Black, Annie and little Jessie Black came. Picked about 300 in all.
Alex Lee came for some after dinner. He took Margaret to Green-
bank. Miss Gregg and Mrs. Jas. Ewen also called for berries. Tom
Black left for home about 6. In the evening went with Jennie to the
Methodist SS anniversary. A very full house. The Harmony Quar-
tet were the principal attraction. They took in about $260.00.
Margaret came home with us.
3 – Allie Dusty came down in the morning to tell us that Jim was
not coming, so I went to Port Perry with a case of berries. The
water over the 10th
concession nearly 2 feet deep at the deepest
place. Quite a heavy rain between 12 and 1. Jennie drove Marga-
ret and George B. to Port Perry on their way home. Scuffled man-
golds and part of the corn but it is too wet. After supper drove to
Port Perry (the 3rd
trip for the horse today) to meet Annie Elsie
Michie who came on the 8 o’clock train from Toronto. Got home
after 9. Rain after that.
4 – A fine day. A very heavy rain through the night. Went for the
beef in the morning with Willie. Then picked berries the rest of
the day. No pickers came but Mrs. Mark awhile in the afternoon.
Hugh Leask, Eva and Ned Luke, Jennie and Arthur Gordon, Mrs.
E. Ward, O. Luke and Maggie Dusty, Miss Lyle called for berries.
5 – A very fine day and cool. Hoed turnips in the forenoon. Aunt
Janet went to Port Perry market. Mrs. Gordon and Jennie Gordon
picking strawberries. Jim Dusty called, he is laid up with boil on
knee. In the afternoon went to J.M. Real’s barn raising (2nd
time)
which went up all right. Jennie and Annie E. drove up for me.
Mundo Perrin called, he is taking a load for his brother who is
moving to a farm on the 13th
of Reach. G.D. Nettie and Maggie
McMillan here in the evening. A very fine evening.
6 – A very fine day. Hoeing turnips all day. Jennie went to Port
Perry with Annie and Willie with a crate of berries for Port Hope.
Mr. A. Gordon and Allie Dusty picking. Mrs. Baird and son of
Manchester came for berries. Mr. W.H. Leask and Henry stayed
for dinner. George and Oscar Real; Mrs. E. Barret; Mrs. T. Phair
and Norman, all got berries and Mrs. and Mrs. Sephas Butt came in
the evening but did not get any. Anne E. Michie went down to
John’s in the afternoon. Mundo Perrin called and got dinner on his
way home from moving his brother Sam.
7 – Scuffled in the forenoon and hoed a little in the afternoon.
Thundered a good deal in the afternoon and a drizzle for awhile.
Annie E. came back from John’s. Jennie scrubbing etc.
8 – Pretty warm with a good deal of thunder and some rain.
Walked to SS while Aunt Janet, Annie E., Annie and Willie came
in the rig. Only 93 at SS. Mr. Williams of Prince Albert visited
the school in behalf of the SS association. A Mr. Barker, a retired
minister of Toronto, preached, Mr. Keith being away on his holi-
days.
9 – A fine day, some thunder in the afternoon but no rain here.
Paris greening potatoes in the forenoon and hoeing turnips in the
afternoon. Mrs. A. Gordon; Allie Dusty; Mabel Gordon; Mrs. G.
Lyle and boy; and Miss Mark picking berries. Jennie baking for
the women’s meeting. After dinner she went to Port Perry. Miss
Ada Butt called for berries. At church managers meeting in the
evening but there were only four there (John Lee, A. Akhurst, A.
Gordon and I) so no business was done.
10 – A very fine day. Some thunder but no rain here. Scuffling in
the forenoon. Mrs. Blair; Mrs. A. Gordon; Allie Dusty; Jessie
Michie and Annie E. Michie picking berries. In the afternoon the
W.F.M.S. met here also the 4 smaller SS classes, about 60 all told
and had quite a pleasant time as far as I could see.
11 – A very fine day. Hoeing turnips all day. Jennie washing.
Jessie Michie picked a pail of strawberries in the forenoon. Mrs.
W. Real called in the evening.
12 – A fine day and not too warm. Hoeing turnips most of the day.
Jessie Michie picking strawberries. In the forenoon Jennie at Port
Perry market. Aunt Janet went to Greenbank after dinner. Jennie
and Annie E. Michie visiting at Mrs. Phair’s. Orange celebration
at Beaverton. The Greenbank band attended.
13 – A fine day and pretty warm. Hoeing all day at mangolds (2nd
time) and berry bushes. Jennie Gordon called in the forenoon and
little Annie went home with her. Jennie, Anne E. and Willie visit-
ing at J. M. Real’s. Mrs. Gordon Sr. came down for dress pattern
but did not get it.
14 – A fine day and very warm. Hoeing and scuffling strawber-
ries. Jennie, Jessie and Annie E. Michie picking berries. Mrs.
Alex Gordon and Arthur called in the morning for some potatoes.
W. Real called in the evening for strawberries.
15 – A fine warm day, somewhat dull but no rain. At SS and
church with Jennie and Annie. Willie was not allowed to go as he
had some sore spots on him (113 at SS); Mr. Arnold, a Toronto
city missionary, preached.
16 – Hoeing turnips in the forenoon. R. Thompson’s son called
with binder twine. After dinner, with Jennie and little James, went
to Greenbank. Rain came on then and there was a nice shower.
Jennie and Annie E. went to Gordon’s for tea. Then in the eve-
ning, with Jennie and Annie E., went to Jas. McMillan’s. Got
home after 12.
17 – A very fine day and much cooler. Hoeing turnips in the fore-
noon and scuffling in the afternoon. Jennie, James and Annie E.
went to Greenbank in the evening for the mail. Hugh Monroe
called in the evening.
18 – A fine day. Hoeing turnips in the forenoon and helping John
Michie with his hay in the afternoon. Jennie and Annie E. at
prayer meeting.
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19 – A fine day and pretty warm. Hoeing turnips all day. Jennie
and Annie E. went to Port Perry market. Annie E. went down to
John Michie’s for the night.
20 – Rather dull all day, some thunder and a little rain in the fore-
noon and about 7 pm. Hoeing turnips in the forenoon and helping
John Michie with his hay in the afternoon. As we were at dinner
W. Kerr of Brooklin came bringing Mrs. Joseph Bell of Roland,
Manitoba, and her 3 children Jessie, Mabel and Willie.
21 – A very warm day. Hoeing turnips in the forenoon and fin-
ished 1st
time. Started to bug kill after dinner but a shower came
on and I worked at new stair in the barn. Annie E. visiting at Mr.
Dusty’s.
22 – A thunder storm in the early morning and a very warm day.
Walked to SS while Aunt Janet, Annie, Willie, Anne E. and Jessie
Bell drove in the buggy. (115 at SS). Mrs. Johnston and Maggie
McMillan sang a piece. Mr. Arnold preached. At church at Port
Perry with Jennie in the evening, G. Miller preached. Rather a wild
night on the way home but very little rain until later.
23 – A fine day and much cooler. Scuffled in the forenoon.
Jennie, with Jessie and Mabel Bell, drove Annie E. Michie to Port
Perry on her way home to Griswold. Cutting hay in the afternoon
with A. Akhurst’s mower. Jim Lee called in the evening.
24 – A fine cool day. Finished cutting hay and the old strawberry
patch. Raked out some hay after supper. Jennie and Mrs. J. Bell
and little Willie Bell visiting at John Lee’s.
25 – A very fine day. Went for the beef in the morning with little
Willie. Drawing in hay, John Michie and W. Mark helping. Got in
9 loads in good shape. Mrs. W. Akhurst here in the afternoon.
26 – A very fine day. Drawing in hay in the forenoon, John Mi-
chie and Ed Lyle helping, got in 5 loads. In the afternoon raked
the field and with Jennie’s help got it in, 15 loads in all, without a
drop of rain and in fine order. Jennie and the children went to
Greenbank in the afternoon. The Baptist church have a social
tonight at Mrs. Jos. Watson’s. Albert Akhurst has a very sick
horse.
27 – A fine day and pretty warm. With Jennie’s help drew in the
hay on strawberry patch. Scuffled corn and turnips in the after-
noon. Mrs. W.H. Leask here in the morning for raspberries.
28 – A fine day. Hoeing all day principally at the corn. Jennie
drove Mrs. J. Bell and three children to the train at Port Perry on
their way back to Brooklin.
29 – At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie. A shower
came on just before we got there. J.A. Miller gave a few words
(only 92 present). Rev. R. Leask preached to rather a small con-
gregation. We had a hard job to get home in time to escape a terri-
fic thunderstorm. The lightning was fearful and the rain in deluge,
which did much damage to crops, a good part being as flat as if a
roller had gone over it.
30 – A very fine cool day. Crops looking pretty bad after the
storm. Moving and repairing fences in the forenoon and plowing
old strawberry patch in the afternoon. Jennie picking and preserv-
ing raspberries. D. Lyle is getting the north side of his barn shin-
gled today.
31 – A fine day and quite cool. Finished plowing strawberry
patch, harrowed it, finished scuffling turnips 2nd
time, and hoed
turnips. Jennie washing. Port Perry firemen’s excursion to Niag-
ara Falls today. We talked of going but that was all it amounted to.
A threshing machine heard between here and Greenbank, the first
of the season.
AUG. 1 – A very fine day. Hoeing turnips, 2nd
time, all day. Mr.
Henders called buying early apples. Mrs. Jas. Miller and James A.
Miller called and took tea. Little James pretty sick with chicken
pox.
2 – A fine day. Finished hoeing turnips in the forenoon while
Jennie and Aunt Janet went to Port Perry market. They took little
James to the Dr. but he pronounced it only chicken pox and noth-
ing serious. In the afternoon took 8 bags of oats to mill at Port
Perry to grind. Annie and Willie went with me.
3 – A very fine day. Working all day at new stair in stable.
4 – A very fine day. Hoeing all day at strawberries and other
things. Got the hoeing pretty well up. Jennie picking and preserv-
ing berries.
5 – A very warm day, the most oppressive this season I think. A
little thunder shower about 5 pm. At SS and church with Aunt
Janet, Annie and Willie (109 at SS); a special collection to make
up the $50 for Knox College Student Missionary Society,
amounted to $22.47, more than enough to make up the balance.
Mr. Keith preached on ‘thou shalt not bear false witness’. Miss
Forfar was present.
6 – A very fine day and much cooler. Did a number of small jobs.
About 1 pm John [Heslop?] of Whitby with his wife and two little
girls came and stayed about 2 ½ hours. They were on their way to
visit friends in Mariposa. D. Lyle cutting alsake clover.
7 – A fine cool day. Rigging up the binder in the forenoon and in
the afternoon with Jennie, Annie and Willie went to Port Perry and
then on to Manchester to see Uncle who has been in bed 7 months.
He is a little better today but not able to be out of bed. Came home
by Prince Albert. Went down to John’s in the evening to see about
help to cut. Miss Forfar was there.
8 – A fine day. Rigged up binder and other jobs in the forenoon
and in the afternoon cut part of the field N of the barn, John Michie
helping with horse. Pretty bad cutting as it is down badly. About
8 pm Mrs. Joyce of Sutton and Mrs. John Foster of Manitoba and
boy came. It is about 32 years since she was here.
9 – A fine day and pretty warm. Went to Port Perry in the morning
for some repairs for binder and took Mrs. Foster down to Charles
Taylor’s for a visit. After putting the repairs on cut a very little
before dinner. After dinner cut the rest of the field north of the
barn, John Michie helping. Mrs. Joyce and Mrs. Foster at Mrs.
Mark’s for tea. In the evening took them to Greenbank and stayed
to the annual band concert at R. Flewell’s. There was a fair turnout
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but not quite as many as last year I think. Mr. Pearce (I think his
name is) and the Uxbridge band gave the programme which was
fair. Sale of tickets $62.75. A dark night and raining a little on the
way home.
10 – A great rain through the night which soaked things well.
Some rain in the forenoon and thunder all day. Did some tinkering
jobs and shocked up some oats.
11 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning with Jennie and
little Willie and brought Emma Black home with us. In the after-
noon went over to M. O’Neill’s and helped them to lay the founda-
tion of the new barn. Emma Black went with me. Called first at
R. Monroe’s who is very ill and not expected to last long. In the
evening went to S. of T., the question of selling the sheds and
grounds being up. It was decided not to sell.
12 – A very fine day and quite cool. At SS and church with Jennie,
Annie and Willie (117 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. His subject was
the 10th
commandment. In the evening went to church at Port
Perry, Mr. Cooper preached. A beautiful evening.
13 – A very fine day and cool. Hoeing some in the forenoon and
helping John Michie with his oats in the afternoon. Jennie, Annie
and Willie at Port Perry in the afternoon.
14 – A fine cool day. Hoeing strawberries in the forenoon. Cut-
ting oats in the afternoon, John Michie helping. Had a bad stom-
ach ache in the afternoon and evening.
15 – A fine day. Jennie, with Annie and Willie, went for the beef.
Cutting oats, John Michie helping. Cutting bad owing to grain
being lodged. Jennie walked to W.F.M.S. meeting at W. Wal-
lace’s. Jew Turner called and got some hens. L. O’Neill called
asking hands for barn raising tomorrow. [margin note – Willa Bell
married today at Winnipeg].
16 – A very fine day. Cutting oats, John Michie helping, in the
forenoon. Cut until about 4 when, with Jennie and Willie, went to
Marshall O’Neill’s barn raising. Got home again about 9. Went
up all right, the only one hurt was J.M. Real who got his leg cut
with an adze. Aunt Janet, Annie and little James at Alex Gordon’s.
17 – A fine day but pretty close and warm. John Michie came up
and we finished cutting at 10. Then cut with the scythe some
places that were missed. After 5 went to Port Perry with Jennie,
Willie and James. Brought Jessie Bell’s trunk home. Aunt Janet
and Annie at party at Albert Akhurst’s.
18 – A fine day and pretty warm. Cutting flax in the orchard with
the scythe in the forenoon. Emma Black here for dinner. She left
after dinner for Port Perry on her way home. In the afternoon, with
Jennie’s help, drew in 6 loads of oats.
19 – A fine day and very warm. At SS and church with Aunt
Janet, Annie and Willie (113 at SS), Rev. Mr. McEachrin of
Leaskdale preached.
20 – Pretty warm, a good deal of thunder and a little rain about 4
but not enough to stop drawing in. Drawing in most of the day
with Jennie’s help. Annie at school, the first since holidays. Isaac
O’Neill here in the morning for some binder twine. He says he has
the biggest crop that ever he saw.
21 – A very warm day. Drawing in oats all day with Jennie’s help.
Annie at school.
22 – Another scorching hot day, a very heavy dew in the morning.
Drawing in oats, Jennie helping, until about 3 pm when a thunder
shower came on enough to stop drawing. Annie at school.
23 – Very warm in the forenoon but much cooler towards night.
Raking stubble until about 4 pm when, with Jennie’s help, drew in
some oats. Jennie and Willie at Port Perry market with chickens,
butter and eggs. Annie at school. D. Lyle threshing in the after-
noon.
24 – A fine day and quite cool. Drawing in oats with Jennie’s help
and finished harvest except some rakings.
25 – A fine day and cool. Before I got out of bed Wes Luke came
for me to help stack oats. Was there all day. Wes Real and
Gordon Lang also helping.
26 – A fine day and pretty warm. At SS and church with Jennie,
Annie and Willie (105 at SS), Rev. Mr. Keith preached. In the
evening, with Jennie, drove to R. Monroe’s to ask for him and
found him a little better. Then we went to church at Seagrave,
Rev. Mr. Young preached. A beautiful night.
27 – Rain through the night and a little after daylight. Drove An-
nie to school and a few other chores in the forenoon. In the after-
noon finished raking stubble and then drew it in which finishes the
harvest for 1906. Tom Dewey’s barn and contents were burned
down. It was caused by a spark from Allan Goode’s threshing
machine. Went over in the evening to see the ruins and a hard
looking sight it was.
28 – A very fine day. Finished cutting flax in the orchard in the
forenoon and in the afternoon, with Jennie’s help, pumped and
cleaned out the well at the house. Annie at school. A tramp called
in the morning.
29 – A very fine day. Plowing all day. Jennie washing. Annie at
school. Made a call at Isaac O’Neill’s in the evening.
30 – A very fine cool day. Helping D. Lyle with team and waggon
to draw in oats. Went to Port Perry to meet the 8 o’clock train
expecting Jessie Bell but she was not there. Annie at school.
31 – A fine day and cool with high wind in the afternoon. Plowing
in the forenoon. Isaac O’Neill came up for the lend of the horse
rake. In the afternoon went with Jennie and little James to prepara-
tory service in the church. Rev. Mr. Cooper of Port Perry
preached. We got James baptized. Annie at school. After supper
Jennie went to Port Perry and met Jessie Bell on her way out, she
had come on the 6 o’clock train.
SEPT. 1 - A fine clear and cool day. Plowing most of the day.
After dinner, with Jennie’s help, drew in flax in the orchard. Went
down to John Michie’s in the evening. Jessie Bell dressing An-
nie’s new doll.
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2 – A pretty warm day. Some thunder and a little rain in the eve-
ning. At communion at Greenbank in the evening with Jennie, a
fair turnout, Mr. Keith conducted the services. After dinner went
to the Methodist SS, 95 present.
3 – Rain through the night. Jennie went up to Gordon’s in the
morning for their sewing machine. Plowing the rest of the day.
Jennie Gordon here for tea. Labor day.
4 – A very fine day and pretty cold in the morning. Jennie and
Jessie drove me to Port Perry and I went to the fair at Toronto.
Spent all the time until about 10 pm on the grounds. Saw the fire-
works and stayed all night at Annie Mason’s. Barbara and Willie
Smith and Annie and Emma Black were there also. Jennie went to
the Dr. for James.
5 – A very fine day. Spent the day until about 4 at the fair. Jennie,
Annie and Willie met me at Port Perry. Jennie went for the beef in
the morning. Annie at school.
6 – A very fine day. Plowing all day. Annie at school.
7 – A fine day and pretty warm. Plowing until supper, then scuf-
fled strawberry patch. Jennie washing.
8 – A very warm day. Hoeing strawberries nearly all day. Jennie
sewing.
9 – A very warm day. At SS and church. Aunt Janet, Jennie,
Annie and Willie drove and I walked (107 at SS). Mr. Keith
preached. Did not go out in the evening.
10 – Another warm day. Spent all forenoon at Greenbank getting 2
shoes on Fly. Cutting buckwheat in the afternoon. Jennie and
Jessie Bell at Gordon’s for tea and the evening. Annie at school.
11 – A fine day and pretty warm. Went with Alex Gordon collect-
ing funds for repairing the Temperance Hall shed. Drove all day,
got dinner at D. Whalen’s and supper at S. Dusty’s, then went to
meeting at church to consider the question of forming guild or
something of that sort. Not a very large turnout but the sentiment
was in favour of doing something of that kind. Jennie at Port Perry
in the afternoon. Annie at school. Eva Leask came home with her
and stayed all night.
12 – Another very warm day. Went up as far as Petties in the
morning (taking Annie and Eva Luke on their way to school) to see
W.H. Leask about cutting corn. He came about 10 with his corn
cutter and finished a little after dinner. Cut some of the buckwheat
and in the evening went to a meeting of the church session and did
not get home until near 12. Mrs. Mark, Mrs. W. O’Neill and little
Willie O’Neill here for tea. Annie at school.
13 – Warm in the forenoon. A big thunder shower about 1 pm and
two smaller showers later and was very welcome as things were
pretty dry. In the morning drove Jennie, Willie, little James and
Jessie Bell to the morning train at Port Perry on their way to New-
castle. Then drew off some corn. Cleaning up the grainery and
some other little jobs in the afternoon. Went over to Phair’s and
Cragg’s in the evening to collect for repairing hall shed. Much
cooler. Annie at school.
14 – Much cooler. Finished cutting buckwheat in the forenoon and
finished drawing of corn in the afternoon. At John Michie’s in the
evening.
15 – A fine day. Plowing all day. Annie down at John Michie’s in
the afternoon. Went to S. of T. in the evening to report about col-
lecting for shed repairs.
16 – A very fine cool day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet and
Annie (100 at SS). Rev. Mr. Campbell of Quaker Hill preached.
Went to church at Port Perry in the evening with Aunt Janet and
Annie, Mr. Cooper preached.
17 – A fine day and pretty warm. Plowing most of the day. Went
over to W. Leask’s in the evening but did not succeed in my mis-
sion on account of G.A. being away at Whitby. Annie at school.
18 – A very warm day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for
Jennie, Willie and James and Jessie Bell on their way back from
Newcastle. Plowing in the afternoon. Annie at school.
19 – Another very warm day. Plowing in the forenoon. In the
afternoon, with Jennie’s help, drew in two little loads of buck-
wheat. After supper Jennie took Jessie Bell’s trunk to Port Perry.
Annie at school.
20 – Drove Jessie Bell to Port Perry in the morning on her way to
Rochester. Aunt Janet and Annie also went by train to Brooklin to
see Mrs. Jas. Bell before she left for Manitoba. Plowed until about
4:30. Got supper and drove to Port Perry to meet Aunt Janet and
Annie. Started to rain when about half way there and a big rain it
was. Had to wait at Port Perry quite awhile and then it drizzled
most of the way home.
21 – Another hot day. Plowing all day. At prayer meeting with
Jennie in the evening, Mr. Keith leader.
22 – Heavy rain through the night and again about 3:30 pm and
again at 6. Plowing until the rain came. Went over to W.H.
Leask’s in the evening and he and I went over to G. A. McMillan’s
and talked over the trouble between them. They agreed to drop the
trouble and be friends again. A lame man here for dinner.
23 – A good deal cooler. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and
Willie (107 at SS), Mr. Keith preached and extra good sermon. A
little committee meeting after to nominate officers for the newly
formed guild. In the evening went with Aunt Janet to the Method-
ist church at Greenbank. Mr. Honey preached a special sermon to
the S. of T. which turned out fairly well.
24 – A very fine cool day, quite a frost in the morning. Went up to
D. Lyle’s in the morning and got the loan of 4 bags of oats. Plow-
ing in the forenoon. In the afternoon, with Jennie’s help, drew in
the last load of buckwheat. Went down to John Michie’s in the
evening for a sing. Annie at school.
25 – A very fine day. Digging potatoes all day, Jennie helping.
Not a very heavy crop but clean and scarcely any rotten. Mrs.
Mark here in the afternoon picking up fallen apples. At W. Luke’s
in the evening settling up about beef.
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26 – At potatoes, Jennie helping. Rain about 10:30. About the
middle of the afternoon went to help A. Akhurst thresh, Allan
Goode’s machine. At guild meeting in the evening with Jennie. A
very heavy rain during the meeting. Not a very large turnout.
Elected officers: G.D. McMillan, president. Beef ring meeting.
Annie not at school today.
27 – A very fine day. Threshing at A. Akhurst’s until about 3:30,
then at Norman Lyle’s. Jennie and little Willie at Port Perry mar-
ket. Annie at school. Jennie, Annie and Willie at O’Neill’s for
tomatoes. Down to John Michie’s in the evening having a sing.
28 – A fine day. Threshing at Norman Lyle’s and finished about 4
pm. They then moved (A. Goode) to Whetter’s. Scuffled the
strawberries. Annie at school.
29 – Rain in the morning. Plowed until about 11 when rain started
again and continued off and on all day. At Division S. of T. in the
evening. 48 years tonight since division was organized.
30 – A beautiful day. All hands at SS and church. This being rally
day, there were 142 present. Among the visitors being R. Cragg,
super of Methodist SS; W. Luke, ex super.; Jas. Monroe, super of
Bethel SS, each of which gave a short address. Solos were given
by Jewell Love (first time); R. [Mintron?] (1st
time); and Harry
Leask. It was children’s day in the church. Mr. Keith gave the
address. In the evening, with Jennie, Annie and Willie, went to see
Maggie Blair who is just home after being in Toronto hospital for 5
weeks. Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Leask were also there. A very fine
clear night.
OCT. 1 – A fine day, frost in the morning. Threshing at R.
Cragg’s. Started about 9 and finished at 5:30. At church managers
meeting in the evening. Jessie Michie here helping Jennie to pick
the Snow apples.
2 – A very fine day. Threshing all day at Mrs. Phair’s. Jennie
finished picking Snow apples. Annie at school. The new Method-
ist minister came to town today. They are having a reception to-
night.
3 – A very fine day. Threshing at Mrs. Phair’s until about 3:30
when they moved to John Michie’s and had a short run. Annie at
school. At guild meeting in the evening with Aunt Janet. A fair
turnout.. Jennie at W.F.M.S. at the church.
4 – Rather dull and started to rain a little about 4:30 and continued
all the evening. Threshing at John Michie’s until 4 and finished.
Threshers then went to C. Gordon’s. Jennie and Willie at Port
Perry market. Annie at school. Aunt Janet and little James at S.
Dusty’s in the afternoon.
5 – Rather dull in the morning but brightened up. Finished plow-
ing SW field and then harrowed field W of house. Annie at school.
Two men packing Snow apples in the afternoon.
6 – Went to Port Perry in the morning with 8 barrels of Snow ap-
ples. A drizzling rain from the NE nearly all the way. In the after-
noon went to help D. Lyle thresh but only worked about an hour as
the rain came on too heavy and continued most of the afternoon.
Annie and Willie up to Gordon’s in the forenoon.
7 – Quite cold day. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and
Willie (113 at SS). Mr. Keith preached. Quite a number went over
to the Methodist SS rally day.
8 – A fine day, somewhat dull. Threshing at D. Lyle’s until about
1:30 then they came here. J. Roach, G. Welch and R. Wallace are
the threshers (A. Goode’s machine). Jennie and Willie at Port
Perry in the forenoon. D. Campbell of Port Perry died last night.
Annie at school.
9 – A very heavy rain through the night. Started to thresh but only
threshed 15 minutes when the rain came on heavy and had to quit.
Started again at 9 and finished about 2, about 8 hours in all. They
then moved to A. Gordon’s. Annie did not go to school.
10 – A fine day but rather cold, frost in the morning. Went to Port
Perry in the morning with 20 bags to get ground and got it home
with me. Harrowing in the afternoon. Jennie picking apples.
Annie at school. At guild meeting in the evening with Jennie, a
fair turnout, Mr. Keith leader.
11 – Pretty cold, a very little snow, the ridges looked white. Went
to Port Perry with Jennie and Willie with some apples to the
evaporator. In the afternoon plowing the corn ground. Jennie
picking apples. Annie at school.
12 – The hardest frost of the season, almost too hard to plough.
Plowing in the forenoon, helping Jennie to pick apples in the after-
noon. Annie at school. James fell down the cellar stair. At John
Michie’s in the evening having a sing but it was not much of a
success as all had the cold.
13 – A fine day. Helping Jennie to pick apples in the forenoon and
topped mangolds in the afternoon. At S. of T. in the evening. Mrs.
W.H. Leask; Henry, Roy and Cathlene Leask and Willie Golden
here in the afternoon picking Tolmon Sweets. W.H. Leask came
with barrels in the morning.
14 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie
and Willie (121 at SS). Mr. Robertson, a student, preached a good
sermon. In the evening went to Baptist anniversary. Rev. Mr.
Cooper of Port Perry preached to a full house.
15 – A very fine day and warm to excess, more like July than
October. With Jennie’s help drew in the mangolds, 12 loads. Mrs.
Mark called in the afternoon. Annie at school.
16 – A very fine day and pretty warm. Threw back mangolds and
cleaned out root house while Jennie and Jessie Michie went to Port
Perry market. Drew out manure in the afternoon on next years
strawberry patch.
17 – A fine day. In the morning took Aunt Janet and Annie to Port
Perry on their way to Newcastle, then drew out manure until noon
and finished. Jennie washing. Plowing in the afternoon until about
4 pm when John Bradley of Port Perry came and I helped him to
put up the wires on the fence on the east side of the lane between
the house and barn. At guild meeting in the evening, a fair turnout,
Mr. Keith leader.
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18 – A fine day. Thanksgiving day. Kept it by plowing all day.
Jennie washing. Social in the Baptist church but did not go. Mr.
and Mrs. Mark here picking some apples for themselves.
19 – Rain through the night and all day until about 4 pm. Cutting
wood in the wood shed in the forenoon. Went to Port Perry to
meet Aunt Janet and Annie on their way home from Newcastle.
Roads pretty muddy.
20 – A fine day. Plowing all day. John Michie came for apples.
21 - A very fine day. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and
Willie (122 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. James Allan is home from
the NW and was out.
22 – Rather a dull day. Plowing all day. Mrs. S. Dusty and Mrs.
A. Akhurst here for tea. Annie at school.
23 – A fine day. Plowing all day. Annie at school. G. Franklin
and --- Collins here packing applies, put up 8 brls which was all
they had. Fred Love called wanting to buy apples. At Greenbank
in the evening with Jennie to a singing practice at W. Wallace’s.
24 – Rather a dull day. Topping turnips all day, Jennie helping. In
the evening, with Jennie, went to the W.F.M.S. thanksgiving social
in the church. Just as we were ready to start a thunder shower
came up and we had to wait some time and then we had rain all the
way there. However there was about 40 there and a good address
from our missionary student, Mr. Overcutt. About $15.00 col-
lected. After 12 when we got home.
25 – Plowing in the forenoon and harrowing up turnips in the af-
ternoon. Jennie washing. Mrs. A. Gordon and Jennie and Mabel
Gordon here picking apples. Annie at school. Boys brought apple
barrels.
26 – A fine day. Drawing in turnips all day, Jennie helping, got in
20 loads. Sandy Gordon and Charles Gordon came for apples.
Franklin and Collins packed the rest of the apples, 20 barrels in all.
27 – Went to Port Perry in the morning with the apples (20 barrels)
and brought up a load of shingles for the S. of T. shed. Rain nearly
all afternoon. Took the shingles to Greenbank. Jennie finished
topping turnips and picked up apples in the orchard. Tax collector
Wier called.
28 – A cold blustery day with snow flurries from the NW. At SS
and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (101 at SS), Mr.
Keith preached. After service Mr. Keith and James Leask of Wick
came here for tea. They were on their way to the jubilee services
in the Presbyterian church, Port Perry. Maggie Blair out 1st
time
since operation.
29 – Ground covered lightly with snow but it was all gone by
noon, but the hills to the south were white all day. Harrowed up
the last of the turnips in the forenoon and drew in 7 loads in the
afternoon, Jennie helping. Annie at school.
30 – Ground white with snow and it snowed a little most of the
day. Did a number of little jobs while Jennie and Mrs. A. Gordon
went to see a destitute family on the 12th
concession. In the after-
noon she went to John Leask’s to get them to take a load of wood
to the family. Annie at school.
31 – Snow lay on the ground all day, pretty raw and freezing hard
towards night. Plowing sod all day. Went to guild meeting with
Aunt Janet, a fair turnout, Mr. Keith was there. Annie did not go
to school.
NOV. 1 – A pretty hard frost in the morning which took all day to
thaw out. Some however were plowing sod. Rowing up turnips all
day. Jennie went to Port Perry with Mrs. Mark and in the after-
noon, with Annie, went to Greenbank and other places. In the
evening went over to R. Cragg’s to see about the SS convention at
Greenbank on Friday of next week. A very fine night.
2 – A fine day. Drawing in turnips all day, Jennie helping. Got in
15 loads. Annie at school.
3 – A very fine day. Drawing in turnips all day, Jennie helping,
and finished the job, 16 loads today. Aunt Janet scrubbing etc.
W.H. Leask came for his apples. I. O’Neill called in the forenoon.
4 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Jennie and Willie.
Annie was not very well and did not go. (113 at SS), Mr. Keith
preached.
5 – Rather raw in the morning but it turned out a fine day. Plow-
ing all day. Jennie washing.
6 – A fine day. Plowing all day. Jennie finishes picking up the
apples. Corner stone of the new Methodist church at Seagrave laid
today. Plowing match at Saintfield.
7 – A hard frost. Threw back turnips and other jobs in the fore-
noon and in the afternoon went to Port Perry with apples to the
evaporator and brought home a load of coal. At guild meeting in
the evening with Jennie, Mr. Keith leader.
8 – A fine day, hard frost in the morning. Went to Port Perry in the
morning for Mrs. Bell who came on the train from Newcastle.
Drew in corn in the afternoon with Jennie’s help. Annie at school.
Mrs. Mark and Jessie called in the evening.
9 – Plowed in the forenoon. In the afternoon went with Jennie to
Reach, Port Perry and Scugog SS association convention in our
church. Rain came on after dinner. It was very gloomy all after-
noon but still there was a pretty good turnout. Rev. Mr. Cooper
and Mr. Yellowlees were the speakers and a good meeting it was.
Jennie then came home. Got tea in the basement of the Methodist
church. The evening meeting was in the Methodist church. Rev.
Mr. Hagen and Mr. Yellowlees were the speakers, Rev. Mr. Tarrel
in the chair. James Smith and Mrs. Mason and Kennedy came
about dark. Walked home from the convention. A pretty dark
night.
10 – Rather a dull day, threatening snow several times. Jas. Smith
went down to John Michie’s in the forenoon and left for home after
dinner. Plowing most of the day.
11 – Rather a disagreeable day, snowing a little and melting as it
fell. Roads sloppy. At SS and church. I walked while Jennie,
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Annie, Willie, Annie Mason and Kennedy Mason went in the
buggy (109 at SS). Annie Mason gave a solo. Mr. Keith preached
an extra good sermon.
12 – A pretty cold wintery day, snowing a little sometimes. Plow-
ing sod most of the day. In the evening went with Annie Mason
and Jennie down to John Michie’s and had a sing. Russell, Joe and
Lottie Wallace were there also.
13 – A pretty cold day. Did not plow. Tied in cattle and other
little chores. After dinner took Annie Mason and Kennedy to Port
Perry on their way home. Mrs. A. Gordon Sr. here for dinner. I
drove her home.
14 – A very fine day. Covered the strawberry plants with straw in
the forenoon and cut down some apple trees in the afternoon.
Jennie at W.F.M.S. meeting in church. At guild meeting with
Jennie, a pretty good turnout. Annie at school.
15 – A fine day but did not thaw very much. Put on storm doors
and windows and several other little chores. Jennie, with Annie
and Willie, went to Port Perry market in the forenoon.
16 – Fine clear day. Did several little chores. Cut down some
apple trees. Jim Lee called, first time since coming from Mani-
toba.
17 – Very dull and a little rain in the forenoon. Drew brush out of
the orchard and some other chores. At S. of T. in the evening. A
very dark night.
18 – Rather a dull day, thawing out and roads pretty muddy. At SS
and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (113 at SS), Mr.
Keith preached. An after meeting was held of the managers and
elders.
19 – A fine day. Plowing sod all day. In the evening went with
Jennie, Annie and Willie to an apron concert and social in connec-
tion with the band. A full house but the programme was nothing
very great. Mr. Keith called in the forenoon.
20 – Rather dull and threatening rain several times. Plowing all
day and finished sod. Mr. A. Gordon Jr. here in the afternoon.
Bible Society meeting at Greenbank tonight but did not go.
21 – Rain nearly all day from the east which froze as it fell. Did a
few chores and small jobs. Guild social evening tonight but did
not go as it was a very dark wet night.
22 – Rather rough and threatening rain several times. Cut some
wood in the forenoon and in the afternoon went to Port Perry with
12 bags of oats to be ground and got them home with me. Roads
pretty muddy.
23 – Ground a little white with snow but very little frost. Plowing
in the orchard all day.
24 – A fine day and freezing towards night. Finished plowing the
orchard which finishes the plowing for this year I suppose. At S.
of T. in the evening, a fine clear night but the roads rather rough.
25 – A fine day, the frost nearly all out by night and lots of mud.
At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie (115 at SS). Mr.
Keith preached on giving, a good sermon.
26 – I intended to go to Greenbank to help Mr. Miller with the hall
shed but there was snow in the morning and rain all afternoon so I
did not go but spent the day enlarging the separator room at the
barn. A very gloomy day and mud galore.
27 – All day at Greenbank helping to repair the hall sheds. James
Miller all day and John Michie in the afternoon. Got dinner at
John Lee’s. Jennie did the chores at home. Roads very bad. A
little drizzle several times during the day.
28 – Ground white with snow in the morning and several flurries
during the day. Got quite cold towards night. Cleaned out pig
pens in the forenoon. In the afternoon went down with Annie and
Willie to practice singing for Christmas tree with Gordon’s girls.
Jennie washing. Albert Phoenix and Nellie Real married today.
29 – Pretty cold in the morning but turned out a fine day. James
Leask came over and I went with him canvassing for church ex-
penses for next and succeeding years. Got dinner at A. Lee’s and
supper at John Stone’s. Jennie at Port Perry market. Russell
McDonald here for dinner. He is buying hogs.
30 – A fine day. Did a few chores in the forenoon and in the after-
noon went to preparatory service at the church with Aunt Janet. A
fair turnout, Rev. Mr. Webster of Cambray preached. No new
members. R. Cragg called.
DEC. 1 – Rather a rough day with high wind and snow flurries.
Out all day with James Leask canvassing the congregation and
with the exception of two or three finished the job. Got dinner at
G.A. McMillans. Jennie at Port Perry in the forenoon.
2 – A pretty cold day, nearly down to zero in the morning. Went
with Aunt Janet to communion at Wick (went with buggy). A fair
turnout. At church with Jennie at Greenbank in the evening, Mr.
Keith preached.
3 – A very cold and rough winter day, down to zero in the evening.
Did nothing but the chores and cleaned out the hen house.
4 – Cold morning, 6 below zero, some snow in the afternoon.
Went up to W. Luke’s in the morning to get him to kill a pig.
Called at S. Dusty’s.
5 – A fine day until toward evening when it started to snow from
the east. Wes Luke came and killed the pig. At guild meeting in
the evening with Aunt Janet, a fair turnout, Mr. Keith gave an
address. Rough night coming home.
6 – Snow and hail through the night and the forenoon and rough in
the afternoon. Did little but the chores.
7 – Winter day for sure. 9 below zero in the morning and it did not
go higher than 5 below all day with a cutting north wind. Did
nothing but the chores. Jennie washing and making head cheese.
8 – 9 below zero in the morning and never got above it all day. A
little snow in the afternoon. Went up to G. Lee’s in the morning
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with the sleigh (fairly good sleighing). At John Michie’s with
Annie and Willie to sing, with Gordon’s girls. Cleaned out pig
house.
9 – A fine day and not so cold. At SS and church with Jennie,
Annie and Willie (in the cutter, the first time out for the season).
108 at SS, Rev. Mr. Leitch of Sonya preached, this being anniver-
sary services at Wick.
10 – Some snow in the forenoon. Went to Port Perry in the after-
noon with 15 bags of oats to the mill and brought home 1750 lbs.
of coal. Sleighing pretty good.
11 – Zero in the morning but a very bright calm day. Went to Port
Perry in the morning for the meal and in the afternoon drew two
small loads of wood from Jim Lee’s place. Jennie washing.
12 - A fine day and much warmer. Drew 2 loads of wood from
Jim Lee’s and finished the job in the forenoon. Jennie and Annie
at W.F.M.S. meeting at Mrs. W. Akhurst’s. Jennie elected presi-
dent. Went with Jennie in the evening to guild meeting.
13 – A fine day but dull with a little snow towards night. Went
with Jennie, Annie and Willie in the sleigh to Tom Black’s at
Raglan for new Singer sewing machine. Good sleighing. Got
home about 6. Aunt Janet and Mrs. Bell kept house.
Sewing machine of that time period...
14 – Much milder, hail in the afternoon and evening. Cleaned out
pig pen. Down to John’s in the evening singing. Jennie trying new
sewing machine.
15 – Soft, a little rain sometimes, colder towards night. Went
down to John Michie’s with Annie and Willie to practice singing.
16 – A very fine day. At church and SS with Aunt Janet, Anne and
Willie (122 at SS). John Somerville, wife and family were at SS.
Rev. Mr. Keith preached. In the evening went to Port Perry with
Jennie, Mr. Cooper preached a good sermon. A beautiful evening.
17 – A fine day. Went over to Whetter’s swamp in the forenoon to
see church wood lot. Put up new hen roosts in the afternoon and
attended church managers meeting in the evening. Jennie washing.
18 – Cold, but very fine and clear day. Cut a little wood in the
shed. Aunt Janet, Jennie, Annie, Willie and James went to Port
Perry in the afternoon and Aunt Janet and James got their picture
taken.
19 – A beautiful clear day. Cleaned out pig pens and in the after-
noon went to Phair’s swamp for a load of brush for the Christmas
tree. At SS meeting to see about supplies for next year.
20 – A fine day, a little snow in the afternoon. Went to Port Perry
fair with Jennie. Jim Lee; John and Jessie Michie; Mary and Allie
Dusty here in the evening making decorations.
21 – A fine day. Went up to the church in the afternoon to help
decorate the SS room for the Christmas tree. At John Michie’s in
the evening singing. Russell and Joe Wallace here also. George
W. Michie came home from Manitoba last night.
22 – A fine day but pretty cold. Went down to John Michie’s with
Annie and Willie to practice singing.
23 – A clear day but very cold, about zero with quite a cutting NW
wind. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie (122 at SS),
Mr. Keith preached.
24 – A little below zero most of the day with a cutting N wind.
Went to Port Perry to meet the 5:30 train with the sleigh and
brought home Jessie Bell; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Patton and Helen and
Douglas; and Alma and Jennie Perrin. Got supper in haste and
then drove to our Christmas tree. Jennie, Annie, Willie, Jessie
Bell, Alma Perrin and Fred Patton in the sleigh. There was a full
house and everything went off well but a fire burnt some of the
presents. Over $13.00 took in. J.A. and G. Miller made addresses.
Margaret Bell and Mrs. Laidlaw of Winnipeg here when we got
home.
25 – A very cold day with N wind. A big day here. Jessie Bell had
a Christmas tree which was a grand success, presents galore.
Drove up to Greenbank about noon for the mail. Mrs. Laidlaw
went with me as far as J.M. Real’s.
26 – A fine day and much milder. Went to Port Perry in the fore-
noon and took Fred Patton, Alma and Jennie Perrin on their way
home, also Aunt Janet on her way to Newcastle for a visit. Jessie
Bell, Douglas Patton and our Willie also went to Port Perry. Went
up to Alex Gordon’s in the evening to help Alex with church
books. Jim Gordon came while I was there.
27 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the afternoon for meal.
Jessie and Margaret Bell, Helen and Douglas Patton and Annie and
Willie went with me. Did not get my own grist but a Mr. Pearce’s.
Jennie and Jessie went to Greenbank in the evening.
28 – A fine day. Went to Greenbank to get a new [?] on sleigh.
Jennie and Margaret went to Port Perry in the afternoon visiting.
Ethel Miller and Miss Slovin called for the Bible Society.
29 – A fine day, mild almost thawing. Went to Greenbank in the
afternoon for the sleigh and the mail.
30 – A fine day and thawing a little towards night. At SS and
church with Jennie, Annie, Willie, Jessie Bell, Margaret Bell and
Mrs. Laidlaw (took the sleigh). (128 at SS), Mr. Keith preached.
He repeated the whole of the shorter catechism.
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31 – Rain all through the night and thawing all day which pretty
well spoils the sleighing. Went to Greenbank with the cutter in the
forenoon. Mrs. A. Gordon Sr. here for tea. I drove her home in the
evening. Jessie, Margaret and Willa making dress for Jennie.
1907
JAN. 1 – A mild day. Went to Greenbank for the mail after din-
ner. Went with the cutter but rather poor sleighing. Tea party at
the Methodist church but did not go.
2 – A fine mild day. Went to Greenbank in the forenoon with Mrs.
Laidlaw to telephone to Mrs. Perrin. Went to Port Perry to meet
the 5:30 train and brought home Mrs. Perrin.
3 – Rain through the night which froze as it fell which made it very
slippery. The crowd were to go to Port Perry to get their photo
taken but it rained nearly all day. Jennie and Mrs. Perrin went to
Greenbank in the afternoon for the mail.
4 – A fine day. Went down and borrowed John Michie’s horse and
buggy and with the two rigs Jennie; Jessie and Margaret Bell; Mrs.
Perrin, Mrs. Patton and Mrs. Laidlaw went to Port Perry and got
their picture taken. Margaret and Mrs. Laidlaw stayed and visited
a while at Port Perry and Mrs. Perrin took the train for home. In
the evening went with Jennie to annual SS meeting, a fair turnout.
G.D. McMillan elected superintendant, J.M. Real assistant.
5 – A very fine day. Got up early and Jessie and Margaret Bell and
Mrs. Laidlaw drove in the buggy to Port Perry on their way home
and I walked to Port Perry and brought the rig home. Then Jennie
drove Mrs. Patton and Helen and Douglas to the next train and this
clears out all our visitors. R. Holtby called canvassing votes.
George Michie came up in the afternoon. In the evening went to S.
of T. and installed the officers. The first time that I acted as
D.G.W.P.
6 – A beautiful day and thawing in the afternoon. At SS and
church with Annie and Willie. G.D. McMillan acted as superin-
tendant for the first time. No lesson as all the time was taken up
with the election of teachers and that was only partly done (106
reported present). Rev. Mr. Keith preached to a more than usual
full house.
7 – A very dull day rain most of the afternoon. Jennie washing
most of the day. Went to Greenbank in the afternoon to vote.
Voted for Holtby for reeve, McIntyre for deputy reeve, and Leask
and Thompson for councillors. There was to have been a shingling
bee on the hall sheds but the rain prevented it. I had got home but
a few minutes (about 4 pm) when Mrs. Bell fell on the ice at the
east door and broke her right arm above the elbow. I drove imme-
diately to Port Perry and both Dr. D. and R. Archer came out and
set it. We were invited to tea to John Michie’s but the accident
prevented us going. A very dark night. 10th
concession flooded in
the swamp.
8 – A rather dull day, almost raining sometimes. Did very little but
the chores. G. Michie and Mr. and Mrs. A. Gordon Sr. called to
ask for Mrs. Bell who is pretty poorly on account of the broken
arm. Dr. D. Archer called about 5 pm. Went to Port Perry to get
Aunt Janet on the 5:30 train. She has been at Newcastle for about
2 weeks. A pretty dark night.
9 – A good deal colder and pretty rough in the forenoon. Miss
Lyle, Mary Dusty and G. Michie called to ask for Mrs. Bell. At
annual congregational meeting in the evening, a fair turnout. Ac-
counts came out by about $45.00 behind. Mr. Keith in the chair.
10 – Pretty rough, high wind from W. Dr. D. Archer called in the
forenoon to see Mrs. Bell. She put in rather a bad afternoon with
rheumatism.
11 – A fine mild day. Got a horse from John Michie and in the
afternoon took 15 bags of oats to be ground in Port Perry. Races
there today. Mrs. Mark here in the afternoon.
12 – Some snow through the night and pretty rough all forenoon.
Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for the meal. Took John’s
horse home. Jennie sick in bed with sore throat and headache.
13 – A fine day. At SS and church with Annie and Willie (123 at
SS). Some time spent in choosing teachers, one class yet to fill.
Mr. Keith preached. My first Sunday as choir leader. S. Allan was
there from the NW.
14 – A fine day. Did little but the chores. Mr. and Mrs. Alex
Gordon Sr. called in the afternoon and Mrs. Phair and Norman
towards night, all to ask for Mrs. Bell. Dr. R. and D. Archer called
at noon. At church managers meeting in the evening, four of the
12 present. I was chosen chairman for the 3rd
time; G.A. McMillan
sec.; J.M. Real, financial sec.; and Alex Leask treas.
[Margin note – Tuesday missed writing].
16 – Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with Jennie. Tom Black
and Allan here for dinner. At guild meeting in the evening, not a
very large turnout, Mr. Keith leader. Choir practice after. Word
came that Mr. Andrew Ross is dead.
17 – 6 below zero in the morning but got milder towards night.
Did the chores. Not feeling very well. At John Michie’s in the
evening singing.
18 – A fine mild day. A district division S. of T. at Greenbank in
the afternoon and evening. Came home for supper. Quite good
meetings. Blake Cragg, D.W.P. and Ethel Miller, [?].
19 – Rain from the SE in the night and heavy in the forenoon.
Foggy all day. Very icy and slippery.
20 – A very high wind all day from the W. Getting colder towards
night and a little snow. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie
and Willie (99 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. R. Akhurst at SS and
church.
21 – A fine day and not too cold. Got a horse from John and went
to Port Perry with the waggon for a load of coal. Went in time to
attend Mrs. Andrew Ross’ funeral but they did not get to Port Perry
with the body. Expected tomorrow. In the evening went with
Jennie to Greenbank to a little surprise party at John Lee’s. The
church managers got it up. He was presented with a chair. Those
144
present were: Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Real; Mr. and Mrs. A. Akhurst;
Mr. and Mrs. C. Gordon; Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Leask; Mr. and Mrs. G.
A. McMillan; Mrs. and Mrs. W. Wallace; Alex Leask; Jas.
McMillan; Barbara Walker; Robert Akhurst; Jim Lee and John
Lee. Had a very pleasant evening. A beautiful night.
[note: On the 21st
the diary states that Robert went to attend MRS.
Andrew Ross’ funeral, but on the 16th
he states that he got word
that MR. Andrew Ross had died.]
22 – Much colder and wintery, about zero all day. Did chores.
Cleaned out pig house. Jennie making a dress for James.
23 – Cold, 12 below zero in the morning and never higher than 4
below all day. Clear and calm. Cut a little wood in the woodshed.
At guild meeting with Jennie, a fair turnout, Mr. Keith not present.
Choir practice after.
24 – Very cold, 16 below zero in the morning and never got above
zero all day, wind in the NE. Went with Jennie to market in Port
Perry.
25 – Below zero most of the day but clear. Did the chores and cut
a little wood. In the evening drove with the cutter (sleighing not
very good) with Jennie and Annie to Alex Gordon’s to make out
church report. A very fine night.
26 – A fine day, cold and clear. Did little but the chores. Dr. D.
Archer called to see Mrs. Bell.
27 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie
and Willie (116 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. Drove in the cutter
but it was not very good sleighing.
28 – A very fine winter day. Went to Port Perry with 15 bags of
oats to be ground. Took the waggon.
29 – A fine day with a very little snow in the afternoon. Did noth-
ing but the chores. Half sick with cold, so is Willie, Annie and
Jennie.
30 – A very fine clear day but pretty cold. Went to Port Perry in
the forenoon for the meal. Took the waggon although there is
more sleighs on the road. Wes Luke and family called on their
way to Jas. Ross’ to a supper gathering. He was saying he in-
tended to have a sale on the 23 of next month. Did not go to guild
meeting as we are all more or less under the weather. James had
the croup last night.
31 – A fine mild day, a little snow in the afternoon. Did nothing
but the chores. Nursing the grippe.
FEB. 1 – A fine day. Nursing the grippe. All improving a little.
John and Jas. Lee called about 2 pm and Mr. A. Melice taking
orders for different articles. Cattle buyer Parrot of Myrtle called
just at dark. Mr. Melice was telling us that Mr. T. Eaton, the great
Toronto merchant, is dead.32
32
Timothy Eaton, Mar. 1834-Jan. 31, 1907, founder
of Eaton’s Department Store.
2 – Quite mild all day and nearly raining sometimes but got colder
at night. Nursing grippe. A very great many people have it now.
Allie Dusty called in the afternoon.
3 – A very high wind through the night. Mr. Wallace’s store at
Greenbank and the Harrington house occupied by the Fair brothers
were burned about 2 this morning. Everything burned in the store
but a barrel of coal oil. Cause of the fire unknown. Went to SS
and church alone as the rest were not fit to go and perhaps I was
not either as it was very cold. (101 at SS), Mr. Keith preached.
Allan and Emma Black called a minute on their way home. They
came up to John Michie’s last night. Mrs. Bell sat up by the stove
a little while today, the first since she broke her arm.
4 – A very fine winter day. Mr. and Mrs. Alex Rennie of Port
Perry here for tea. Allie Butt called, he was looking for cattle.
5 – Very cold with wind from NE with a very little snow.
6 – Pretty cold all day. R. Cragg called in the morning wanting the
scales. Aunt Janet went up to S. Dusty’s with letters.
7 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning to market
with Aunt Janet. Called at the Dr. and got some medicine for
myself.
8 – A fine day. Went up to D. Lyle’s in the morning to see if he
wants to take a share in the beef ring. Isaac O’Neill called. In the
afternoon drove with Jennie, Annie, Willie and James to Green-
bank, the first time there since the fire. Jennie washing.
9 – A very fine mild day, almost thawing. Went down to John
Michie’s in the morning to see him about beef ring. Mrs. A.
Gordon Sr. and Arthur called, also Mrs. Phair.
10 – Snowing about noon which turned into a blizzard towards
night, the roughest night this winter I think. At SS and church with
Jennie, Annie and Willie (121 at SS). Mr. Keith is away. A stu-
dent, a Mr. Cameron I think his name is, preached.
11 – Very cold with cutting NW wind, 6 below zero in the morning
and never got above that all day, 12 below at bedtime. Cleaned out
pig and calf houses. Dr. D. Archer called in the afternoon to see
Mrs. Bell.
12 – Below zero nearly all day but not so rough as yesterday.
13 – A fine day. Bagged up some oats in the forenoon. Went to
Greenbank with Jennie to W.F.M.S. meeting. At prayer meeting in
the evening with Aunt Janet, Mr. Keith leader.
14 – A nice day, not so cold. Went to Port Perry in the morning
with 20 bags of oats to be ground and brought home 1300 lbs coal.
Sleighing fairly good. W. Mark called, he was taking orders for
binder twine. Heard that the Rev. Mr. Young of Seagrave is dead.
15 – Snow from the SW most of the afternoon. At Port Perry in
the forenoon for the meal. At John Michie’s in the evening having
a sing.
145
16 – A mild day. Drew up a maple tree from near the road and
then with Aunt Janet and the children drove up to Alex Gordon’s.
In the afternoon went to W. O’Neill’s lumber camp at W.H.
Leask’s and got a load of birch slabs at $2.75 per cord.
17 – Colder. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie
(116 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. George, John, Jessie and I sang a
piece, the first time we ever did so in church, except when once R.
Wallace sang instead of George on a Sunday evening.
18 – 6 below zero in the morning but soon got warmer. Went for
wood twice to M. O’Neill’s camp. Annie went up to A. Gordon’s
for yeast cake. Jim Lee and Jim Kerr of Brooklin called just after
dinner. Jim Kerr is leaving for the west tomorrow.
19 – A little rain from the south in the forenoon which turned to
snow from the NW in the afternoon and very rough, but a beautiful
evening. Drew two loads of wood from M. O’Neill’s camp at
W.H. Leask’s. At John Michie’s in the evening singing.
20 – A very fine forenoon, warm sun. In the afternoon it snowed a
little and in the evening it was very rough, snowing and drifting.
Drew 1 load of wood from W.H. Leask’s and 2 loads from Jim
Lee’s swamp. In the evening went with Jennie, Annie and Willie
to lecture in the church by Mr. Keith on his trips to the old land.
Not so bad a turnout considering the night and the lecture was
good. Collection near $8.00.
21 – Cold, about 6 below zero in the morning with quite a wind
from the NW. Went with Jennie to Port Perry market. Fixed the
clock in the afternoon.
22 – Cold and clear, 12 below zero in the morning and it hardly got
up to zero all day. Cut some wood in the shed.
23 – Clear and cold, 10 below zero in the morning. Cleaned out
pig pen in the morning. Tom Black came just after dinner and we
went to Wes Luke’s sale. There was a large crowd and pretty good
prices.
24 – Rather stormy and snowing a little from the south. At SS and
church with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (113 at SS), Mr. Keith
preached.
25 – A high wind all night and continued during the day from the
NW, drifting but not snowing. Cut some wood in shed. Allan
Black came about 7:30, he walked from Port Perry, came by train
from Oshawa, and him and I went to special meeting in our church.
Roads rather bad. Rev. Mr. McEachrin and Mr. Keith spoke.
Allan went to see Mr. Miller about working for him at the carpen-
ter work next summer and made a bargain.
26 – Below zero in the morning. Took Allan Black to Port Perry
on his way home. In the evening went with Jennie to special meet-
ing. Mr. McEachrin and Mr. Keith spoke. Somewhat better turn-
out tonight. A very fine night. Dr. D. Archer called and took the
splints off from Mrs. Bell’s arm. He was well pleased with the
way it had united.
27 – A very fine clear day. Drew a load of wood from J. Lee’s
swamp in the forenoon and in the afternoon drew a load of wood
for the church from the Gregg bush. R.T. Harrington went with
me. In the evening went with Jennie to the special meeting in the
basement of church. A rather better turnout. Mr. McEachrin and
Mr. Keith spoke and Rev. Mr. Terral a few words. A beautiful
evening.
28 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning with 15
bags of oats to be ground. Jennie went with me to market. In the
afternoon went up to W. Luke’s for Tom Black’s sleigh box and
then went to Jim Lee’s for a load of wood. In the evening went to
special meeting with Aunt Janet. About the same number as last
night. Mr. McEachrin spoke. Birthday party at O’Neill’s in honor
of [Lue’s?] majority. Wes Luke moved to the house at the foot of
Greenbank hill.
MAR. 1 – A very fine day until evening when it started to rain
from the SE. Went to Port Perry in the morning for the meal but it
was not ready. Drew a load of wood from Jim Lee’s swamp. In
the evening went with Jennie to the preparatory service in the
church. Rev. Mr. McEachrin spoke. A larger turnout than the
other meetings. Ida McKitrick and Bella Innis united with the
church this time.
2 – Thawing a little in the forenoon which turned colder in the
afternoon with high NW wind and a little snow. Went to Port
Perry in the forenoon for the meal.
3 – Some cold and rough. Went with Jennie to communion at
Greenbank. Rev. Mr. Keith conducted the service. Not many from
Wick.
4 – A fine day. Drew 3 loads of wood from Jim Lee’s swamp (4 ½
cord in all) and drew out some manure. Jennie washing. Mrs. Bell
out to the kitchen for supper, the first time since she broke her arm.
5 – A fine day until evening when it started to snow hard from the
E. Drawing out manure. Jack and Boe called in the forenoon and
bought the Dusty cow for 3 ¾ cents per lb., and Mr. and Mrs.
McNight of Port Perry called about 2 pm. Social at S. of T. to-
night, intended to go but a bad night.
6 – A pretty cold wintery day. Cleaned out calf pen and sawed
some wood. Went with Aunt Janet to prayer meeting. About the
usual turnout, Mr. Boe leader.
7 – 6 below zero in the morning but got much milder. Threw out
turnips in the root house in the forenoon and in the afternoon went
with Willie to Greenbank to get new waggon tongue made. Called
at A. Akhurst’s and found Mr. A. a little better.
8 – A fine day. Took Dusty cow to Port Perry, Norman Lyle going
with me with 3 cattle of his. They got there without any trouble.
Jennie and Annie came down for me with the cutter, splendid
sleighing. In the afternoon sawed some wood while Jennie went
up to [Meshfords?] and Somerville’s. Mr. Malice called delivering
some things ordered.
9 – A fine day. Went down to John Michie’s and we went up to A.
Akhurst’s and arranged with him to fill our beef ticket for 6 cts. per
lb dressed beef. Drew out manure in the afternoon.
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10 – A very fine day and thawing some in the afternoon. At SS
and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (11 at SS), Mr.
Keith preached. After the service Mr. E. Boe rose and announced
his resignation as elder. James boy not well, he has a sore mouth.
11 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning with the
sleigh for coal (sleighing going pretty fast) but as there is a scarcity
of coal I only got ½ ton. Drew out manure in the afternoon.
12 – Drew out manure until about 11 when it started to rain from
the SE and it drizzled most of the afternoon. Alex Lee and Mrs.
came just before dinner and stayed until about 3. George Michie
called in the forenoon. Aunt Janet visiting at William O’Neill’s.
At John Michie’s in the evening singing, pretty dark.
13 – Thawing all day. Drew out manure in the forenoon. Cut
wood in the afternoon while Jennie and Annie went to the
W.F.M.S. meeting in the church. At prayer meeting. Session
meeting after to consider Mr. Boe’s resignation. Roads not very
good. Jessie Michie came of age.
14 – A little wet snow though the night. Mrs. A. Gordon Jr. called
in the morning. Went to Port Perry market with Jennie with the
cutter but it was not very good sleighing. Got something from the
Dr. for James who has been poorly for some days. Got (Jessie or
Jennie?] to sign quit claim deed for this and the Mara place. Tom
Black came about 3 with his team for the sleigh box that he got at
Luke’s sale. John Michie called. At box social by the S. of T. in
the evening. Not a very large turnout but a fairly good time.
15 – Thawed a little in the forenoon but turned colder towards
night with high NW wind. Drew out manure in the forenoon and
cut some wood in the afternoon. Jessie Michie called in the morn-
ing to arrange about her birthday party to be held here tonight.
John and his mother came up with the sleigh bringing the provi-
sions etc. The party came off and was quite a pleasant affair.
Those present were: Willie O’Neill, wife and son Lu; Roy and
Lillie O’Neill; Albert Akhurst and wife; John, Dave, Armour,
Annie and Nellie McMillan; W.A. Edgar and Sylvia Leask; John
Leask Jr. and wife; Willie and Annie Rennie; W. McDonald; Roy
and Ethel McDonald; Mary Carneggie; Jim Blair Jr.; Jim Lee;
Clarence Town; Miss Dowson and brother; N. Baird; Donald
McArthur; Russell and Joe Wallace; John, George and Jessie Mi-
chie; Willie and Lora Golder. Andrew Gordon supplied the music.
He has not been here for many years. When the party dispersed he
remained here overnight.
16 – Thawing all day with high SW wind. Took Andrew Gordon
to C. Gordon’s in the forenoon and cut wood in the afternoon.
17 – Rain through the night and thawing most of the day. At SS
and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie. Took the buggy, roads
pretty bad. Broke the harness near Mr. Lyle’s. (113 at SS), Rev.
Mr. Terrill preached. He exchanged with Mr. Keith on account of
the roads.
18 – A fine day and thawing. Hunted for a waggon and got A.
Akhurst’s and took out 15 bags of oats to Port Perry and got them
home again. Got a new set of single harness. 10th
concession
flooded, had to come home by J. Michie’s, lots of mud.
19 – Rather dull all day and sometimes almost raining. Went to
Greenbank in the morning with A. Akhurst’s waggon for waggon
tongue but it was not ready. Buck sawed wood the rest of the day.
Colder towards night. Jennie and Aunt Janet quilting.
20 – A high NW wind until evening and pretty raw. Buck sawing
wood all day. At prayer meeting in the evening. An after meeting
on the question of holding a SS anniversary. It was decided to
hold one on the 24th
May.
21 – Thawing a little all day. Cut wood in the forenoon and in the
afternoon went to Greenbank with A. Akhurst’s waggon and got
new waggon tongue.
22 – A fine warm spring like day, the snow all away but the fence
corners and mud galore. Buck sawing wood. Tapped 6 maple
trees between the house and the barn. W. [S---?] assessor called.
23 – Warm day. Mud, lots of it. Buck sawing wood.
24 – Soft all day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and
Willie (120 at SS), Mr. Arnold, city missionary of Toronto,
preached. Road very very bad. Thunder and rain through the
night.
25 – A fine mild day. Cutting wood most of the day. Went with
Jennie up to Alex Gordon’s for supper and got home about 11:30.
J.M. Real and wife and little Mary; also Jim Clark and Mr. Hayes
were there.
26 – Thunder and rain through the night or early morning and dull
all day and somewhat raw. Cleaned out pig pens etc. in the fore-
noon and in the afternoon went to shingling bee at hall shed. 6
present and got a little done but there is still more than half to do.
Roads very bad.
27 – Thunder and rain through the night and rain through most of
the afternoon. Cut wood in the forenoon.
28 – Warm day. Cutting wood most of the time. Jennie and Willie
went to Port Perry market. They went by the 11th
concession on
account of water. Roads very bad. Nearly 3 pm before they got
home. Annie went up to Gordon’s and stayed there until Jennie
came home. Mr. Sleep of Seagrave called and bought pigs to go
any time I like, price $6.60 and the rise if any.
29 – Good Friday. Rather dull and almost rain several times. Kept
holiday by buck sawing wood. Jennie making dress for Annie.
30 – A fine day. Split wood and scuffled the raspberry bushes in
the forenoon. Plowed a bit of the orchard and cut wood in the
afternoon, John and George Michie helping.
31 – Easter Sunday. Frozen up this morning and thawed very little
all day. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie (130 at
SS). Annie and Willie sang a piece and G. Miller gave an address
at SS. Mr. Keith preached. Maggie McMillan sang a solo. Robert
Monroe died today.
APR.1 – Pretty cool with high NW wind. Split wood in the fore-
noon and in the afternoon went to Greenbank with Jennie, Annie
and Willie. Jennie to the W.F.M.S. meeting and I to church wood
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cutting bee. There was a fair turnout at the bee. Got rather more
than half cut. The W.F.M.S. got supper for the men and then there
was a managers meeting held. The women collected about $4.00.
2 – Went to Port Perry in the morning with oats to be ground and
did not get home until about 3 pm. Jennie washing. 11 little pigs
came.
3 – Dull day. Drawing out manure for potatoes. At prayer meeting
with Jennie, roads very bad. Not many out. Anniversary meeting
after but nothing done.
4 – Rather dull day. Drawing out manure and making lane fence
that the cattle may go to the N field during the summer.
5 – Somewhat raw with E wind. Split wood in the forenoon and in
the afternoon went to the church at Greenbank and with Alex
Gordon and Harvey Real drew into the shed most of the wood that
has been cut at the bees.
6 – A fine clear day with raw wind from the east. Drawing rails to
pasture lane fence in the forenoon. Went to Port Perry with Jennie
in the afternoon. At S. of T. in the evening, installed the officers.
7 – Rather raw with high SE wind which turned to rain in the eve-
ning. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (116 at
SS), Mr. Keith preached. A.T. Horne and wife of Uxbridge were
there.
8 – A dull day, rain off and on during the forenoon. Spread ma-
nure in the forenoon and in the afternoon went to church wood
cutting bee. About 14 there and we got it all cut, but not all piled
up.
9 – A fine day. At work all day at raspberry bushes. Hugh Jack
and Dan Boe called. Jennie making Willie a suit of summer
clothes.
10 – Ground white with snow in the morning and some fell during
the forenoon. Spread some manure and other chores. Jennie and
Annie walked to Mission Band meeting and stayed for prayer
meeting. Anniversary meeting after. Roads pretty bad. George
Michie and Dave McMillan loading car for to start for the west.
11 – Frozen quite hard in the morning. Went to Port Perry in the
morning with 15 bags of oats to grind. Jennie went to market. Did
not get meal home. Plowed some in the afternoon east of orchard
for potatoes. The plow running on top of the frost a good part of
the time. Conlin Bros., cattle buyers, called.
12 – Snowing a little in the forenoon and very dull all day. Went
to Port Perry in the forenoon for the meal. Road not very good.
Plowed a little in the afternoon.
13 – Snowing a little most of the day which melted almost as soon
as it fell. Planted raspberry bushes and plowed a little. Mr. Sleep
of Seagrave called about 5 pm. G. Michie called early in the morn-
ing to say goodbye. He and Dave McMillan is leaving today for
the north west.
14 – A hard frost and high NW wind, frost did not go out where it
was shaded. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie
(119 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. Sylvia Leask and Nellie
McMillan sang a duet.
15 – Frozen hard which scarcely thawed out all day. Drawing out
manure most of the day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon and
met Mr. and Mrs. Bushaw of Mara and wound up the business
about the Mara place. At John Michie’s in the evening picking out
some pieces for the SS anniversary.
16 – Snow on the ground in the morning and continued off and on
during the day, in the afternoon quite heavy, and at night there was
about 1 ½ inches on the level. Nothing done on the seeding yet.
Mrs. John Real died.
17 – Went to G. Love’s and then drew out 3 loads of manure all
with the sleigh which slipped not so bad. The snow soon went off
except where it was shady. Plowed in the afternoon for potatoes
and strawberries. At prayer meeting in the evening with Jennie.
18 – Frozen hard in the morning. Drew out manure in the fore-
noon and spread some in the afternoon. Jennie and Mrs. Alex
Gordon visiting at W.H. and Alex Leask’s. Annie went up to
Gordon’s.
19 – Frozen hard in the morning and never got very warm. Before
we got breakfast Mr. Sleep came to tell me to take pigs to Sea-
grave, so I went. Took 5 which weighed 925 lbs at $6.60. Went to
Port Perry in the afternoon with 10 bags to be ground. Got meal
home. Got some shorts. Mrs. Mark and Mrs. M. O’Neill here in
the afternoon.
20 – Frozen hard in the morning which hardly thawed out all day.
High NW wind. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with Jennie
and Annie. Sent away proceeds of Mara place to the heirs. Did a
few odd jobs in the afternoon. About 5 pm Tom Black came. He
brought Allan, who is going to work for Mr. Jas. Miller this sum-
mer. He went down to John Michie’s and stayed all night.
21 – A little warmer, especially towards night. At church and SS
with Jennie, Annie and Willie (130 at SS), Mr. Keith preached.
After church there was a meeting of session and Mr. Boe’s resigna-
tion as elder was accepted and it was decided to call for the elec-
tion of three new elders. Allan Black stayed here all night.
22 – Much warmer and something like spring with high SW wind.
Took 2 steers to Seagrave with John Michie’s help. After a long
run and tussle to get started Norman Lyle helped us. Jennie took
Annie and Willie to school. This is Willie’s first day at school and
Annie’s first day for this season. The teacher, Mr. Woon, put her
in the second part first. Jennie then drove to Seagrave and brought
John and I home. Called at W. O’Neill’s on the way home. In the
afternoon did the first sowing in the field W of the house.
23 – Sowing in the forenoon and harrowing in the afternoon.
Jennie washing and churning. Mrs. A. Gordon Sr. here most of the
day. Annie and Willie at school.
24 – A fine day. Harrowing in the forenoon and sowing in the
afternoon. Annie and Willie at school.
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25 – Some rain through the night. Sowing and harrowing all day.
Annie and Willie at school.
26 – A fine day, a little raw in the forenoon. Harrowing and filling
in washouts. Annie and Willie at school.
27 – A very fine spring day. Gang plowing on the hill in the fore-
noon which was none too dry. Put in some potatoes in the orchard
in the afternoon. Jennie planted some onions. Picture pedlar
called. Up at Lyle’s in the evening.
28 – A beautiful spring day. Allan Black came in just before din-
ner and went to church. He was here again and stayed all night.
At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie (127 at SS), Mr.
Keith preached. Went over to Lyle’s woods after supper with
Jennie and the children and got the first wild flowers.
29 – Thunder shower about 7 am and another about 7 pm. Drove
Annie and Willie to school. Eva Luke starts to teach in the little
room. Then went with Jennie in the waggon to Port Perry for corn
meal but did not get any. Got a new bed. Gang plowed the rest of
the day. Sam Dusty called and we had a settlement of accounts.
30 – Rain heavy in the early morning and forenoon. Fanned oats
and cleaned out pig and calf pens in the forenoon. Went to Port
Perry for corn meal, roads pretty bad. Jennie went up to Alex
Gordon’s to ask for Mrs. A. Gordon Sr. who has been under the
Drs. care. She is some better.
MAY 1 – A fine day. Could not do anything on land on account of
the wet. Spread manure in the forenoon and some odd jobs in the
afternoon. At prayer meeting in the evening, Rev. Mr. Keith
leader. SS anniversary meeting after, then choir practice which
made it rather late. Annie and Willie did not go to school as Annie
had a sore throat.
2 – A very fine day. Frost in the morning. Did a number of odd
jobs. Mr. Wilson, medicine man, of Brooklin, called. Sephis Butt
called and bought the litter (11) of pigs. Aunt Janet and James
went down to J. Michie’s. Annie and Willie at school.
3 – A very fine day. Gang plowing and filling up washouts. Annie
and Willie at school and then at practice for SS anniversary. Aunt
Janet and little James at Gordon’s in the afternoon. Jennie house-
cleaning the cellar.
4 – About 3 inches of snow on the ground and still snowing, a
regular blizzard from the NE. Very wintery like. Nothing doing
on the land. Snow did not all go off during the day. Allan Black,
who has been working near Uxbridge, came here about 10 am as
they could not work on account of the weather. Went down to
John Michie’s in the afternoon and had a settlement of accounts.
5 – A fine day but not warm enough to melt all the snow. At SS
and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (113 at SS), Mr.
Keith preached. Annie and Willie sick in the evening.
6 – A fine day and much warmer. Too wet to do anything on the
land so put in most of the day trying to level up the lane between
the house and barn. Sandy Gordon came in the afternoon for 2
bags of potatoes. Annie and Willie at home.
7 – A fine day. Harrowed potato and strawberry land and in the
afternoon plowed a little for corn. Rev. Mr. Keith came about 5
pm and stayed for tea. G. Till and Blake Cragg called in the eve-
ning to see about shingling hall.
8 – A fine day. Plowing all day. Jennie at W.F.M.S. meeting at
J.M. Real’s. Willie Rennie called for strawberry plants. David
Cragg called just after dinner. Old Mrs. Harrington was buried
today.
9 – A fine spring day. At Port Perry in the forenoon with Jennie to
market. Got 9 apple trees from E.D. Smith’s. Sowing in the after-
noon. Jennie housecleaning.
10 – Quite a hard frost in the morning. Finished sowing in the
forenoon and harrowed in the afternoon, most of the time with
mitts on. Jennie at Gordon’s helping them to paper the house. At
choir practice in the evening.
11 – Hard frost and cold all day. Harrowed and plowed most of
the time with mitts on, but in spite of the cold the first sown grain
is coming up. Jennie housecleaning.
12 – Somewhat raw. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and
Willie. Allan Black walked. (127 at SS). A student, Mr. Thorn-
ton, preached and also sang a solo. Mrs. Mark and Jessie called in
the evening.
13 – Quite warm with high SW wind and some dust. Harrowing
and plowing. Jennie housecleaning upstairs. Annie and Willie at
school. Sephus Butt came after dinner and got his 11 little pigs.
14 – A fine warm day and things are starting to grow. Harrowing
in the forenoon, rolling in the afternoon. Jennie housecleaning.
Annie and Willie at school. Anniversary practice after school
which made it rather late when they got home.
15 – A warm day. Rolled in the forenoon. In the afternoon it
rained a very light drizzle most of the time. Drilled up for man-
golds awhile and then went to school and brought home Annie and
Willie. Jennie housecleaning. Marney not very well.
16 – Not so warm. At Port Perry in the forenoon. Drilled up and
sowed mangolds in the afternoon. Norman Lyle got the lend of the
roller. Annie and Willie at school. Practice for anniversary after.
17 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry with the waggon for corn for
pigs. Patched roof of house and grafted an apple tree. At prayer
meeting, Mr. Keith leader. Session meeting after. Counted ballots
for elders. James Leask, J.M. Real and G.D. McMillan were the
highest. Choir practice after that. They are moving Linton’s old
harness shop to the place where Dusty’s shop stood. Annie and
Willie at school. Anniversary practice after. Aunt Janet went after
them about 5 pm.
18 – A fine spring day, some like rain in the forenoon. Drilled up
for potatoes, planted and covered them without any help. Jennie,
little James and Marney went to Greenbank the first time Marney
has been out from the place since she came last fall.
19 – A fine day and somewhat cool towards night. At SS and
church with Jennie, Annie and Willie (133 at SS). Sunday School
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anniversary . Rev. Mr. Turner of Kirkfield preached. At the eve-
ning meeting with Jennie. Mr. Turner again, a packed house each
time.
20 – Cold, so cold that there was little snow about 8 am and again
about 5 pm with high NW wind. Went up to G. Love’s in the
morning. Planted some strawberries in the afternoon. Jennie
washing in the forenoon and went to Port Perry in the afternoon.
Annie and Willie started for school but they turned back as Annie
had a headache. Clarence O’Neill started to school. Isaac brought
him up here in the morning.
21 – Cold all day with high NW wind. Ice on the water in the
morning. Planting strawberry plants, Jennie helping. Annie and
Willie at school. Practice after, Jennie drove up after them. Allie
Dusty called for some eggs.
22 – A fine day and some warmer. Finished planting strawberry
plants in the field, Jennie helping. Then put the young cattle to the
swamp field. Albert Akhurst brought beef, the first of the season.
A. Bongard called about the pigs. Edna Gordon here most of the
day, there being no school today. Aunt Janet and little James at
Akhurst’s. At prayer meeting with Jennie, Mr. Keith leader. Not a
very large turnout.
23 – A fine day. Got A. Akhurst’s drill and sowed the horse corn
in the forenoon. Rolling in the afternoon. Jennie baking for anni-
versary. Annie and Willie at school. Practice for anniversary after
school.
24 – A beautiful day in every respect. Put in the little plot near the
barn pump in corn in the forenoon. Tom Black and Annie and
Jessie came about 2 pm. Went with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie
to SS anniversary. Aunt Janet came home after tea and then Jennie
came up for the concert. G. Fox sang, Miss Crabtree recited and
Miss August gave instrumentals. A packed house. The singing
was all [?] and not the thing for a church to my thinking. $142.00
taken in and a social tomorrow night.
25 – A fine day but somewhat cool. Tom Black and Annie left for
home in the morning. Did some grafting and scuffled strawberries
in the forenoon and in the afternoon went with Jennie and little
James to Manchester for road list. Called at Uncle’s and found
him still in bed and not any better.
26 – Rain through the night which will do good as things were
getting dry. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie
(124 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. George Watt of Iowa was there.
Thunder shower about 8 pm.
27 – Foggy in the morning. Went to Seagrave with 6 hogs which
weighed 1030 lbs and got $6.75 per 100 lbs. On the way home it
rained pretty heavy for awhile. Aunt Janet then went to Port Perry
expecting to meet Mrs. F. Perrin who was coming from Lindsay
but she did not come. Planted strawberries in the orchard in the
afternoon. Got colder towards night and there was some snow in
the evening. Annie and Willie at school.
28 – High wind through the night and the ground white with snow
in the morning but it soon disappeared. It never got anything like
warm all day. Went to Port Perry in the morning for pig feed.
Drew out manure in the afternoon. Hugh Monroe came to finish
wire fence but did not have wire enough. Annie and Willie at
school.
29 – A fine day and a little warmer. Went for the beef in the morn-
ing taking Annie and Willie to school. Drawing out manure the
rest of the day. Bang agent called in the afternoon. Mr. Pearce
here for supper, renewed the insurance on buildings $1700.00 in
all. Isaac O’Neill came for turnip drill.
30 – A very fine day. A little warmer. Drawing out manure all
day. Jennie housecleaning the closet. Isaac O’Neill brings back
turnip drill. Annie and Willie at school.
31 – A fine day and fairly warm. Drew out manure in the forenoon
and in the afternoon went with Jennie to preparatory service in the
church. Rev. Mr. Leitch of Sonya preached an extra good sermon.
Annie and Willie at school.
JUNE 1 – A fine day but some dull in the afternoon. Drawing out
manure all day. About 8 pm Tom Bell of Oshawa came. He
walked from Port Perry via Greenbank.
2 – A very fine day. Went alone to communion at Wick. Gave
Oliver Luke, who is working at John Beaton’s, a ride back. Mr.
Keith conducted the service, a pretty good turnout. Jennie, with
Annie and Willie, drove Tom Bell down as far as the ridges on his
way home. Went to church at Greenbank in the evening. Mr.
Keith preached to a fair audience. Got a ride from and to the end
of the road with John Michie and Allan Black.
3 – A fine warm day and everything growing fine. Spread manure
in the forenoon while Jennie and her mother went to Port Perry.
Drawing out manure in the afternoon. E. Bungard called. Annie
and Willie at school. C. Gordon called. Nellie McMillan and
Willie Rennie married today.
4 – Dull and threatening rain all afternoon which turned into a
south eastern rain in the evening. Drawing out manure in the fore-
noon and finished the job. Plowing turnip land in the afternoon.
Mrs. A. Gordon Sr. here for dinner. Jennie gone to W.F.M.S.
meeting at Lindsay and will be away until tomorrow night. Annie
and Willie at school.
5 – A great rain through the night and it started again about 5 pm
and turned out a very wet night. Plowing all day and in the eve-
ning went to Greenbank to prayer meeting but there was none.
Brought Jennie home. Annie and Willie at school.
6 – Pretty cool all day. Almost rain in the forenoon. Went to Port
Perry in the morning with 6 pigs to Mr. Bungard and got $7.00 per
hundred. Plowing and harrowing in the afternoon. Jennie wash-
ing. Annie and Willie at school.
7 – A fine day and a little warmer. Drilled up for turnips most of
the day, 56 drills. Annie and Willie at school. Annie went home
with Eva Leask and stayed all night.
8 – A nice day. Sowed turnips in the morning. Rolled grain in the
afternoon. Broke the roller tongue. Jennie housecleaning kitchen
and pantry. Annie came home after dinner from Jas. Leask’s and
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went to bed sick without supper. Went down to M. O’Neill’s in
the evening to settle about fire wood and heard that Mrs. Jas. Cross
died yesterday and that S. Moon of Seagrave was killed today by a
stone slipping on him.
9 – A very fine day but not very warm. At SS and church with
Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (133 at SS). Rev. Mr. Leitch of
Sonya visited the school, also Jas. H. Leask, super. of Sonya SS.
Mrs. Cross’ funeral service was conducted by Mr. Keith. In the
evening went with Jennie to hear Mr. Cooper at Port Perry but it
turned out to be a union service in the Methodist church. Rev. Mr.
Philp preached a very good sermon.
10 – A fine day. Annie and Willie at school. Hugh Monroe came
in the forenoon and finished the wire fence between the house and
barn. Plowing turnip land the rest of the day. Mr. Stonehouse
called.
11 – A very fine day. Plowing turnip land all day. Jennie house-
cleaning. Annie and Willie at school. Isaac O’Neill called in the
forenoon.
12 – A fine day. Finished plowing turnip land but there is part of
buckwheat land to plough. Annie and Willie at school. Isaac
O’Neill and Bill Lewis came for the turnip drill. This is a great
day for weddings, someone has counted 8 for today. Among them
are G.D. McMillan to J.A. Watson; Elgin Real; Laura Camplin and
Flo McHadden.
13 – A very fine day. Scuffling and hoeing strawberries and other
things all day while Jennie, with Annie and Willie, went to Port
Perry market. In the afternoon Jennie went to W.F.M.S. meeting at
John Stone’s. Isaac O’Neill brought home the turnip drill. About
6:30 James Smith and Mrs. Annie Mason came and stayed all
night.
14 – The most summer like day of the season. Harrowing, rolling
and drilling turnip land. Jas. Smith and Annie Mason went down
to John’s for dinner and left for home about 3 pm. Annie and
Willie at school. Mrs. Annie and little Annie Gordon here for tea.
John Michie got turnip drill.
15 – A fine day. Drilling and sowing turnips and plowing the
orchard. Jennie painting pantry floor and oiling kitchen floor.
Greenbank band away to a picnic at Brougham today.
16 – A fine warm day. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and
Willie (124 at SS). J.M. Real was superintendant as G.D. McM.
was away on his wedding trip. Mr. Keith preached. Choir rather
small today.
17 – Pretty warm. 84 in the shade in the afternoon. Plowing and
harrowing in the orchard. James not well and about 11 I went to
Port Perry and got Dr. D. Archer and he thinks it is membrane
croup. R. Cragg came over for the lend of saw set. South Ontario
Farmer’s Institute excursion to Guelph today. Jennie painted pan-
try floor.
18 – A warm day. Plowing and harrowing buckwheat land. Made
a new stoneboat. Anne and Willie at school. Jennie washing.
Thunder storm about 4 pm but only a little rain here.
19 – A fine warm day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for
buckwheat and sowed the S end of the root field and harrowed it.
About 4 pm a thunder shower came on, very moderate, and contin-
ued quite awhile which will do a lot of good. Went after Annie
and Willie who were at school. Moved out the range into the
woodshed in the morning. Syler Whitter’s baby was buried this
afternoon. Over at Cragg’s and Phair’s in the evening warning
them out for roadwork.
20 – A fine growing day. Rolled buckwheat and finished sowing
turnips. Annie and Willie at school.
21 – Pretty warm. Quite a lot of thunder in the afternoon but only
a little sprinkle of rain. At roadwork, drawing dirt to raise the road
at the far creek. Mr. and Mrs. W. Luke called in the evening.
Annie and Willie at school.
22 – A fine day and very warm. A lot of thunder in the afternoon
but no rain here. Scuffling all day at strawberries, potatoes, man-
golds and corn. Jennie went to Greenbank in the afternoon. Willie
went with her and Annie to Gordon’s. The Greenbank Band are to
play at Uxbridge tonight.
23 – A thunder shower about 8 am and again about 5 pm, warm
and growing. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie
(133 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. G.A. McMillan superintendant,
out for the first time since his marriage.
24 – Got up at 3:30 am and, with Jennie, drove to Uxbridge and
went to Toronto on the North Ontario Farmer’s Institute excursion.
Fell in with Scotch Alex Ledingham. Spent most of the day look-
ing at pianos but did not get one as they cost too much. Got home
again about 9:30. A pretty warm day. Annie and Willie did not go
to school as it rained in the morning. Jas. Blair’s barn raised today.
25 – A pretty warm day. Took Tiny cow to A. Bungard at Port
Perry in the morning. Jennie came down later and gave me a ride
home. Hoeing mangolds in the afternoon. Annie and Willie at
school.
26 – Big thunder storm through the night and drizzle of rain most
of the forenoon which soaked things pretty well. Made new gar-
den gate and hung it and hoed mangolds. At prayer meeting with
Jennie, a fair turnout. Mr. Keith leader. This is to be the last meet-
ing for some time. Annie and Willie did not go to school as it was
raining about the time for starting. Mammy in bed all day, she has
been very poorly for the last few days. Jew man took away the old
stove.
27 – A very fine day. Hoeing mangolds and finished at 4 pm, then
hoed corn. Annie and Willie at school.
28 – A very fine day. Hoeing all day at corn, potatoes and straw-
berries. Jennie washing. Annie and Willie at school. The last day
of school before the holidays.
29 – A nice day, a few drops of rain in the evening. Hoed until
about 2 when, with Annie and Willie, went to Port Perry with 7
boxes of berries (the first of the season) and brought home 1000
empty boxes. Mrs. W. Real called for berries and also Bessie
Gordon. Jennie ironing and picking berries.
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30 – A fine warm day, some rain through the night. At SS with
Jennie, Annie and Willie (117 present). After SS went to Method-
ist anniversary service, a full house. Rev. Mr. Hager and Rev. J.A.
Miller were the speakers.
JULY 1 – Scuffled turnips in the forenoon. Jennie picking berries.
A little rain in the forenoon. A fierce thunderstorm about 1:30 and
rain again between 6 and 7. Went with Jennie, Annie and Willie to
Greenbank to hear Bengough33
but having to wait until the rain was
over it was late when we got there. The church was so full that we
could not get in so we came home without hearing him, only a few
minutes at the door. The cream collector called for the first time.
2 – Very cool day for the time of year. Went to Port Perry in the
morning with a case of strawberries and got 12 cts per box. Scuf-
fling corn and mangolds in the afternoon and started to hoe the
turnips after supper. Jennie washing. Mammy still in bed. Jew
man got some hens.
3 – A fine cool day. Went for the beef with Annie and Willie and
hoed turnips in the forenoon. Helped Jennie to pick berries and
then took them (1 case) to Port Perry. Mrs. W. Luke here when I
left and J.A. and Ethel Miller came while I was away. Had a long
talk with J.A. and it was 10 pm before we got in from milking.
Wes Luke drove down for Mrs. Luke.
4 – A very fine day. Hoeing turnips and picking berries. Jennie
went to Port Perry with berries.
5 – A very fine day and pretty warm. Scuffling most of the fore-
noon. Jennie, Annie and Jessie Michie picking berries (114
boxes). Jennie went to Port Perry with 2 cases. R. Barrett and
White called in the evening for berries.
6 – A fine shower about 7 am. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon.
Picked strawberries and stemmed them all after. Jennie preserving.
Jennie Gordon called for berries. At S. of T. in the evening.
7 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and
Willie (133 at SS), Rev. Mr. Menzies preached on the Point aux
Trembles School. James Lee and Miss Ida Phair here in the eve-
ning for a feed of strawberries.
8 – At berries nearly all day. Mrs. A. Gordon; Jennie Gordon;
Mary Dusty; Jim Dusty; Mr. W. Akhurst; Mrs. G. Lyle; Jessie
Michie and Jennie picking. Picked about 375 boxes. About 8 am a
terrific thunderstorm came up. Mary Dusty with others ran to the
shop when she was stunned with lightning. She was unconscious
for some time. After dinner Jim drove her home. Jim Dusty went
to Port Perry with 4 crates of berries and then to Greenbank with
some. G. Love and P. Gibson and Fred Ward and wife called
about berries. Another thunder shower about 1 pm.
33
The Bengough referred to here is most likely J.W.
Bengough (1851-1923), founder of the ‘Grip’ maga-
zine where he was editor and cartoonist. He also
drew cartoons for the Montreal Star, the Toronto
Globe and others. He was also an alderman in To-
ronto in the early 1900’s.
9 – A beautiful clear cool day. Hoeing turnips all day. Jennie,
Annie and Willie went to Port Perry in the morning with a crate of
berries. Jennie washing in the afternoon. E. Barrett called for
some berries.
10 – A very fine day. Hoeing turnips most of the day. At berry
picking: Jennie; Mrs. Gordon; Jennie Gordon; Jessie Michie; Mr.
Akhurst; Jim and Allie Dusty; Lillie O’Neill and Gertie Town.
Picked 275 boxes. Jim went to Port Perry and to Greenbank twice
with berries. In the evening went with Jennie, Annie and Willie to
lawn social at the manse Port Perry and had a very good time. A
beautiful night.
11 – Rain awhile in the morning and drizzle most of the afternoon
and evening. Scuffling turnips in the forenoon. Mr. and Mrs. and
Catherine Keith here for tea. Lawn social at Jas. Monroe’s tonight
was postponed for weather.
12 – Rain through the night and morning but cleared up and was a
fine cool day. Picking berries in the forenoon (wet). Hoeing tur-
nips in the afternoon. Jessie Michie; Mrs. Gordon and Jennie
Gordon; Allie Dusty; Jim Dusty picking. Jim Dusty went to
Greenbank twice with berries. Mrs. John Stone; Mrs. D. McDon-
ald; Cora Asling; Mrs. J. Beare; Alex Lee and wife; and Bella all
wanting berries. Rev. Mr. Menzies called. He is collecting for the
Point Aux Trembles schools. Mr. Young was driving him.
13 – A very fine day. Paris greening potatoes in the forenoon,
hoeing turnips in the afternoon. Jennie, Annie and James at Port
Perry in the afternoon. Eva Leask came and got 4 boxes of berries.
Miss O’Leary also wanted berries but did not get any today. When
all were in bed but I, Fred Patton and Mary, Helen and Douglas
and Lizzie Perrin came. They drove Mundo’s team and democrat.
14 – A fine day and pretty warm. Fred Patton drove up to SS and
church Jennie, Annie, Willie, Mary Patton, Douglas and I (145 at
SS). Rev. Mr. Davison of Seabright preached.
15 – A fine day and pretty warm. Hoeing turnips all day, John
Michie helping. Fred Patton and Mrs. Patton; Mrs. Perrin; Mrs. W.
O’Neill; Jessie Michie; Mrs. Gordon; Mrs. G. Lyle picking berries
(400 boxes). Several parties called for berries. Jennie and Fred
Patton went to Greenbank after supper with berries.
16 – A lot of rain through the night and a little shower after dinner,
pretty warm. The Port Hope and Newcastle people left for home
about 9 am. Jennie went to Port Perry in the morning with 2 crates
of berries. Scuffling in the forenoon and hoeing turnips in the
afternoon. Jennie baking for W.F.M.S. meeting tomorrow. Lawn
party at Jas. Monroe’s. Mammy not as well today. Mosquitoes
very bad in the evening.
17 – A very warm day. Hoeing turnips in the forenoon. Mrs.
Gordon; Jessie Michie and Mary Dusty picking strawberries.
Barbara Walker helping Jennie preparing for the afternoon. In the
afternoon was held our annual meeting of the W.F.M.S. The 4
youngest classes in the SS were also present. About 75 in all at
supper.
18 – A pretty warm day. Hoeing turnips until about 2 pm when I
finished for the first time. Then went to Greenbank for the mail,
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then scuffled. Jennie and Jessie Michie picking berries. Jennie,
with Willie, then went to Port Perry with a crate of berries for
Mary Patton of Port Hope. Mrs. Gordon called in the evening.
19 – A very warm day, somewhat dull and like rain. Most of the
neighbours at their hay. Hoed the mangolds 2nd
time. Mrs.
Gordon, Jennie and Bessie Gordon picking berries in the forenoon.
Jennie picking in the afternoon and went to Greenbank with them
in the evening.
20 – Somewhat warm and thundering in the forenoon which termi-
nated in a heavy shower between twelve and one. After that it was
much cooler. Hoeing potatoes, strawberries and the garden.
Henry, Roy and Cathleen Leask came for strawberries and stayed
for dinner.
21 – A fine day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and
Willie (147 at SS), Rev. Mr. Keith preached. After the sermon Jas.
Leask, J.M. Real and G.D. McMillan were ordained as elders. A
short session meeting after service. In the evening went with
Jennie and Willie to Port Perry and heard Mr. Cooper.
22 – Rain through the night and most of the forenoon. Did very
little in the forenoon. Picked cherries and strawberries in the after-
noon. Jennie; Mrs. Gordon; Jennie Gordon and Jessie Michie also
picking which will likely be the last time over. Alex Gordon and
all the family down in the evening.
23 – A fine warm day, thunder around about 5 and 6 pm but no
rain here. Scuffling turnips until 5 pm. Jennie and Jessie Michie
picking strawberries in the forenoon. W. Monet and C. Henders
called in the evening buying apples.
24 – Went to Port Perry in the morning with Jennie, Annie, Willie
and James in the waggon. Quite a heavy thunder shower while we
were at Port Perry and much thunder during the afternoon but no
rain here. Hoeing strawberries in the afternoon. Aunt Janet and
Willie went to Greenbank for the mail. Mrs. Gordon Sr. here for
tea.
25 – A fine day. Paris greening potatoes in the forenoon. Hoeing
turnips (2nd
time) in the afternoon. Jennie washing. Mary and
Allie Dusty picking strawberries in the forenoon. Annie and Willie
at Gordon’s. Aunt Janet at Port Perry market with eggs.
26 – Rain through the night and much cooler during the day with
high NW wind. Finished scuffling turnips 2nd
time in the forenoon.
Jennie picking berries. Made new pig troughs for pig house.
27 – A quite cool day with a good breeze from NW. Hoeing tur-
nips until 5 when I went to Port Perry. Jennie picking cherries,
black currants and the very last of the strawberries. Annie and
Willie at John Michie’s and A. Akhurst’s.
28 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and
Willie (133 at SS), Mr. Keith preached.
29 – Threatening all forenoon, thunder shower about 12, then
much cooler. Hoeing turnips until about 4 when I got A. Akhurst’s
mower and cut hay until 8. Young Gregg called asking hands to
barn raising tomorrow. Jennie preserving cherries and black cur-
rants.
30 – A fine day. Cutting hay in the forenoon and in the afternoon
went with John Michie to Mrs. Gregg’s raising. Got home a little
before 10. Port Perry fireman’s excursion to Niagara Falls. Mr.
and Mrs. Mark and Jessie Michie went.
31 – This has been rather a blue day. Raked up hay in the fore-
noon, John Michie cocking it up, got done at noon when a heavy
thunder shower came on and soaked it well. Then another terrific
thunder storm at 1 pm, some very sharp lightning. Thunder all
afternoon and little more rain about 5. Did very little in the after-
noon. Jennie washing. Allan Black here for dinner. He was at the
Niagara excursion yesterday. James had a bad attack of croup in
the evening.
AUG. 1 – A fine day but threatening towards night. Thunder and
rain in the evening. Threw out hay in the forenoon that was in the
rows (very wet) and in the afternoon, with John Michie’s help,
drew in 7 loads. Jennie helping in the field all afternoon. Lilly
O’Neill and a Miss --- and Mrs. W.H. Leask and Henry called
about berries. Jennie picking raspberries in the forenoon.
2 – Heavy rain through the night. In the morning went to Port
Perry with Jennie, then on to Manchester with road list. Threw out
hay cocks after dinner and drew in the rest of the hay, A. Akhurst
helping, 11 loads in all. Mr. Sleep of Seagrave and Mr. Davis of
Oshawa called buying apples. Aunt Janet went to Greenbank for
the mail.
3 – A very fine day. Raked the hay field and with Jennie’s help
drew in the rakings, also the weeds on the old strawberry patch. In
the afternoon plowed and harrowed it. Jennie went to Greenbank
in the morning to telephone to Jessie Bell.
4 – A very fine day but pretty cool. At SS and church with Aunt
Janet, Annie and Willie (147 at SS). Rev. Mr. R. Leask preached.
Tom Black, Annie and Jessie at church and here for tea.
5 – A fine day, somewhat dull. Hoeing turnips all day. Jennie,
Mrs. Gordon and Jessie Michie picking raspberries and in the
afternoon Jennie went to Port Perry with berries and met Jessie
Bell who came home for her summer holidays.
6 – A very fine day. Finished hoeing turnips 2nd
time and scuffled
strawberries. Jennie and Jessie Bell picking black currants. After
dinner hitched up and with Jennie and Willie started for Sutton
West. Drove by way of Sunderland and Valentyne to Edgar
Horne’s where we got about 5 pm. Edgar was away at a barn
raising. Stayed there all night. The crops thereabouts are a good
deal nearer ripe and of better quality than here.
7 – Rather dull in the morning but turned out a beautiful day.
Started from E. Horne’s about 8 am and went by Wildred (calling
at Mr. Chamberlain’s), Pefferlaw and got to Sutton at noon and
found the Joyce family all well. In the afternoon, with Mrs. Joyce,
we went to Jackson’s Point and spent the afternoon. It is a very
nice place for camping and a lot of people were there.
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8 – Another very fine day, but pretty warm. Started from Sutton at
8:30 am for home. Came by way of Udora to Alex Leask’s at
Leaskdale and got there at noon. Mr. L. was away at Uxbridge.
Mrs. L. and Miss Morrison got us dinner and we started again at
2:30. Called at Rev. Mr. McKechran, came by way of Victoria
Corners and got home a little after 6. Mrs. Gordon and Jessie
Michie here picking berries in the forenoon. W.H. Leask’s barn
raising in the afternoon. Mr. Honey over the swamp is threshing,
the first of the season.
9 – A very fine day but pretty warm. Hoeing strawberries and
other things. Aunt Janet went to Port Perry with berries. Jennie
washing. Jennie Gordon here in the evening. Jessie Bell made
James a pair of blue pants. 12 little pigs came.
10 - A very warm day. Went to Port Perry in the morning with
Aunt Janet, Willie and James in the waggon for corn. Cleaning out
old strawberry patch in the orchard. Jennie and Jessie Michie
picking raspberries, 66 boxes. Preserving in the evening. All the
jars full. Aunt Janet went up to Akhurst’s with some berries.
11 – A very warm day, some like rain towards night. At SS and
church. Walked up while Jennie, Jessie B, Annie and Willie drove
(130 at SS). A. Ledingham addressed the school. Rev. Mr. Keith
preached.
12 – A fine day, a very little rain through the night, some cooler.
Hoeing strawberries most of the day. Jennie, Jessie Michie and
Mrs. Gordon picking berries. Jennie went to Greenbank in the
afternoon. Jessie Bell making dress for Annie. Henry and Roy
Leask came for berries.
13 – A fine day and cooler with high wind from the NW in the
afternoon and dirt flying. Went to Port Perry in the morning to the
early train with Jessie Bell and Annie who are on their way to
Toronto, Port Hope and Newcastle, etc. The Port Perry Band have
an excursion to Peterborough today. Jim Lee and Ida Phair are in
it. Got out the binder in the afternoon while Jennie went to Sea-
grave with some hens. John Michie called in the evening.
14 – A fine day and cool. Cleaned up grainery. Made watering
stand for hens and some other small jobs. Jennie washing in fore-
noon and at W.F.M.S. meeting at G.A. McMillan’s. John Michie
got Fly to help cut oats. Isaac O’Neill got his house damaged by
fire this afternoon. James fell down the cellar stairs and hurt his
face.
15 – A fine day. Fixing fence along the road in the forenoon and a
few little jobs in the afternoon. Mrs. A. Gordon, Jessie Michie and
Jennie picking berries. George Fowlie, Mary and George Lamb
came for berries. They were here for dinner. In the evening went
with Aunt Janet and Willie to Band concert at R. Flewell’s. There
was a large turnout. G. Fox and a ventriloquist from Toronto were
the performers. Mr. F. Folke of Oshawa was chairman. A. Ak-
hurst and I sold the tickets which amounted to $119.00. The re-
freshment stand took in about $30.00. A fine evening and lots of
dust.
16 – John Michie with horse came up in the morning and we cut in
field west of house until about 11 am when we had to stop as it
started a little drizzle of rain, which will be a good thing for roots
and pasture, and quite a heavy thunder between 12 and 1. After it
cleared up a little went to Port Perry with the waggon and Jennie
and Willie. Some rain again on the way home. Jennie making me
a smock in the evening.
17 – A fine cool day with wind from NW. Did a few odd jobs in
the forenoon and in the afternoon, with John Michie’s help and his
horse, finished cutting field W of house about 5. After supper
went to Port Perry. Jennie picking berries and preserving. Jennie
Gordon brought the mail.
18 – A beautiful day, clear and cool. At SS and church with Aunt
Janet and Willie (131 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. The Wick
church was reopened after being renovated.
19 – A very fine cool day. Went to Port Perry in the morning with
Willie and the waggon for Jessie Bell’s Toronto purchases. Jessie
Michie, Emma Black and Jennie picking berries in the forenoon.
Puttying up windows in the afternoon. Jennie making me a smock
and a pair of pants. Put up the mail box at the head of the road. It
was carried away by some smarty on Thursday night, the night of
the band concert.
20 – A fine day, cool, a few drops of rain after dinner. Scuffled
strawberries and hoed some in the forenoon. In the afternoon went
to Greenbank with Jennie, Willie and James for the mail and got
tea at John Lee’s. Everybody harvesting but not very ripe at home.
In the evening went with Jennie over to R. Cragg’s.
21 – A very fine day and pretty cool. Did a few little jobs in the
forenoon. In the afternoon, with John Michie and horse, cut most
of the field NW of barn. Norman Phair called wanting help to
thresh tomorrow and John Whiteford asking hand to raising at
Baker’s on the 14th
concession. Jennie making pants for Willie.
John Michie, R. Cragg and A. Akhurst (except peas) finished cut-
ting today.
22 – A very fine day. Helping Phair’s to thresh in the forenoon at
the Petty place (W. Taylor’s machine). Grain turned out pretty
well they thought. In the afternoon finished cutting field NW of
barn. Jennie went to Port Perry in the morning and met Jessie Bell
and Annie who have been away for over a week.
23 – A fine cool day. Cut the hill field with John Michie’s help.
In the evening rode up with John to Greenbank to take part in a
debate between 3 from the S. of T. and 3 from the Epworth
League.34
It was held in the basement of the Methodist church.
T.E. Cragg chairman and associated with him as critics were Ar-
vella Real and Bertha Till. The subject was resolved that a young
man with $2,000.00 capital would be better to remain in the rural
districts of Ontario than to go the western provinces to settle. The
League debaters were R. Cragg, Bert Beare and school teacher
Woon. Those from the S. of T. were Les Phoenix, G. Till and I.
There was a good attendance and the affirmation taken by the S. of
T. were the winners. A lunch was then served.
34
The Epworth League was a Methodist young adult
association.
154
24 – Some little rain showers in the forenoon. In the afternoon
with Jennie’s help drew in the field W of the house. A tire came
off the waggon wheel and it was pretty dark before we got through.
25 – A fine cool day. Walked to SS while Jennie, Annie, Willie
and Jessie Bell drove in the buggy (143 at SS). A Mr. Grant, a
returned missionary to China, preached. Alex Ledingham, better
known as Scotch Alex, came home with me for tea and stayed until
about 9:30 when I drove him most of the way home to Alex
Leask’s. A pretty cool night.
26 – A fine cool day, high NW wind. Raked the field W of house
and drew it in the forenoon. Jessie Bell went to Greenbank and
took Annie and Willie to school, the first day since holidays.
Drawing in oats in the afternoon with Jennie’s help. Jessie visiting
at A. Gordon’s. Annie and Willie went there from school. D. Lyle
threshing after about 6 o’clock.
27 – Rather dull and threatening rain a little most of the day which
started to rain in earnest about 4 and drizzled for awhile. With
Jennie’s help drew in what was left of the field NW of the barn.
Raked it and drew in rakings and went as far as Dusty’s to meet
Annie and Willie coming home from school.
28 – A little dull in the morning but turned out a fine day. Started
for beef but met Ernest Phair with it. Plowing in field NW of barn
all day. Annie and Willie at school and at Mission Band after.
Aunt Janet and James went down to John Michie’s in the after-
noon.
29 – A fine cool day. Plowing all day. Jennie washing. Annie and
Willie at school. Miss Maggie Brown of Toronto called in the
afternoon. [margin note: Quebec bridge disaster]35
30 – A fine day, somewhat dull in the morning. Drawing in the
hill field all day, Jennie helping, which finishes harvest except a bit
of buckwheat. A light crop on the whole. Port Perry High School
held an old pupils reunion today.
31 – A fine day. Made fence S of strawberry patch in the fore-
noon. Cut buckwheat in orchard in the afternoon. Jennie, Jessie
and little James at Port Perry. Annie and Willie at Gordon’s and
did not get home until near dark.
SEPT. 1 – A fine day, warm about noon, a little rain in the evening
thunder shower. Walked to church while Jennie, Aunt Janet, An-
nie and Willie rode (123 at SS). Rev. J.M. Cameron, the former
pastor of the church, preached.
2 – Thunder shower through the night. Plowing all day. Got the
loan of 5 bags of oats from D. Lyle. Annie and Willie at school.
Aunt Janet and little James visiting at John Michie’s.
3 – A fine day. Plowed until about 9:30 when I scuffled the straw-
berries while Jessie Bell drove Aunt Janet to Port Perry on her way
35
A large uncompleted span of the St. Lawrence can-
tilever bridge near Quebec fell into the river, killing
over 75 men.
to Port Hope on a visit. In the afternoon, with Jennie’s help, cut
the buckwheat at the foot of the turnips in the SW field. A pretty
good crop I think. Annie and Willie at school.
4 – A little rain in the morning. Jennie went to Greenbank taking
Annie and Willie to school. Plowing until 5 pm, then finished
shocking up buckwheat. Rev. J.M. Cameron of Hamilton called
about 4 pm. Mr. E. Boe was with him.
5 – A wild thunder storm about 8 so Annie and Willie did not go to
school. Rained off and on all forenoon. Thunder in the afternoon
but little rain. Thunder and heavy rain again in the evening. A fire
away to the NE. Plowing in the afternoon.
6 – A few little rain flurries in the afternoon, cool. Plowing all
day. Annie and Willie at school.
7 – A fine day. Plowing until about 4:30 when we got supper and
with Jennie went to Port Perry. Jennie, Edna and Annie Gordon
here for tea.
8 – A fine day. At SS and church with Annie and Willie (110 at
SS), Rev. J.M. Cameron preached. Jennie in bed all day. Allan
Black called in the evening.
9 – A very fine day. Plowing all day. Annie and Willie at school.
Jessie Bell housekeeping. N. Lyle finishes harvest.
10 – Plowing until about 3 when it started to rain and rain it did.
Heavy from the SE, thunder in the evening and heavy rain. Annie
and Willie at school.
11 – Went for beef in the morning taking Annie and Willie to
school, then plowing until noon. Hoed some and other jobs while
Jennie went to W.F.M.S. meeting at James Leask’s. 9 little pigs
arrived, 1 dead.
12 – A very fine day. Plowing all day. A choir practice in the
evening. Annie and Willie at school.
13 – A fine day, pretty warm. Plowing in the forenoon. Went to
Port Perry in the afternoon for pig feed. Jennie washing. Annie
and Willie at school. Mrs. Bell has been out of bed the last three
days.
14 – A very fine day. Plowing in the forenoon and in the after-
noon, with John Michie’s help, drew in the buckwheat which ap-
pears to be a pretty good crop. After supper went with Annie and
Willie down to the creek to get a boat ride but the boat was too
leaky. Tory demonstration at Beaverton today. R. Borden is to be
there.
15 – A very fine day but pretty warm. At SS and church with
Jennie, Annie and Willie (112 at SS), Mr. Keith preached the first
since his holidays. John McMillan and Willie Rennie 1st
time in
choir. Harvest Home services at Saintfield tonight. Jennie and
James at Mrs. Mark’s in the evening.
16 – A pretty warm day. Finished plowing field W of house and
then harrowed the rest of the day. Annie and Willie at school.
155
17 – A cool day. Harrowing in the forenoon and plowing where
the buckwheat grew in the afternoon. Annie and Willie at school.
18 – A fine day. Plowing until about 4 when I scuffled the straw-
berries while Jennie and little James went to Port Perry to meet
Aunt Janet. In the evening went to church session meeting. Willie
not very well through the night. Willie and Annie at school.
19 – A very fine day. Plowing all day. Annie at school. Got ready
to go to choir practice in the evening but the rain came on at the
time of starting but soon cleared off again.
20 – A nice day. Plowed a little while and about 9 am went to help
John Michie to thresh (W. Taylor’s machine) and finished about
3:30, then went to A. Akhurst’s and had a run. Annie at school.
21 – A fine day. At A. Akhurst’s threshing and finished about
1:30. The machine then went to D. Lyle’s but I did not follow
them. Jessie Bell left on the morning train for Rochester. Jennie
drove her down to Port Perry. In the evening went to open division
in the hall. Not a very big turnout but it went off fairly well.
22 – A beautiful day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie
and Willie (120 at SS). Mr. Keith conducted children’s service.
23 – A fine day. A little thunder in the afternoon and evening but
no rain here. Helping D. Lyle to thresh until about 10 am when
they finished (the machine then went to Whitter’s). Went down to
J. Michie’s to see about corn cutter which came at 2 pm. W.H.
Leask’s machine run by G. Dowson. Finished cutting at 4. I then
had to take the binder to Orchard’s on the 12th
concession near the
lake. After dark when I got home. Jennie washing in the forenoon
and in the afternoon I helped her to pick apples. Annie and Willie
at school. A man brought 30 apple barrels for Lane who has
bought our apples.
24 – Picking apples until about 10 am when I went to R. Cragg’s
threshing, finished at 6. Annie and Willie at school. Aunt Janet in
bed all day.
25 – Drawing corn from the field to the E orchard fence in the
forenoon. Some little rain flurries and in the afternoon several
quite heavy showers. Picked apples and other jobs. Annie and
Willie at school. Edith Phair called while we were at dinner.
26 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with
Jennie. In the afternoon W. Taylor’s threshing machine came from
Phair’s and started at 1:30 and worked until 6:30. Jim Blair and
Fred Ward are the threshers. In the evening went to choir practice.
Gave Jim Blair a ride up and back. Annie and Willie at school.
Taylor and Blair stayed all night.
27 – A fine day. Started to thresh but had only worked a few min-
utes when the blower plugged, the belt came off and wound around
the cylinder which smashed the table and sprung the cylinder shaft.
They had to take it to Sunderland. Got back about 6:30 and put it
in in the evening. In the forenoon pumped out and cleaned the
well at the house. N. Lyle took a tank full of the water. In the
afternoon attended preparatory service in the church. Rev. Mr.
Wesley of Sunderland preached. No new members this time.
Annie and Willie at school.
28 – Finished threshing in about an hour and a half and they then
moved to Norman Lyle’s. Raining all forenoon from the east.
Rain all afternoon too heavy to thresh so I did very little.
29 – Somewhat dull and raw. Went with Jennie to communion at
Greenbank. A pretty good turnout, Mr. Keith conducted the ser-
vice. Allan Black here for dinner. Did not go out in the evening as
it was threatening rain and very dark.
30 – Rain in the morning but turned out a fine day. Threshing at
Norman Lyle’s and finished about 12:30 (they then moved to Alex
Gordon’s). Drawing corn in the afternoon. Apple packers came
about 4:30 and put up 8 barrels of fall apples. Willie and Annie at
school. At John Michie’s in the evening singing, Jennie also.
OCT. 1 – A beautiful day. Went to Port Perry in the morning with
8 barrels of apples for Lane and 10 bags to Bigelow’s evaporator.
In the afternoon went to John Monroe’s sale which went off rather
dull. Jennie and little James went with me to A. Gordon’s. In the
evening went with Jennie to practice at W. Wallace’s for the
W.F.M.S. social. Annie and Willie at school.
2 – A very fine day. Digging potatoes all day, Jennie helping. A
very good crop, got in nearly [?] loads. Jennie and Aunt Janet at
prayer meeting. Annie and Willie at school. Nursing a sore eye all
day.
3 – A fine day until evening when there was some rain, quite
warm. Jennie went to Port Perry market with chickens. Digging
potatoes all day, Jennie helping in the afternoon. Got in another 2
loads. Annie and Willie at school.
4 – A fine day and some cooler. Digging potatoes all day, Jennie
helping in the afternoon, got in 2 more loads. Annie and Willie at
school.
5 – Several showers during the day and evening. Finished the
potatoes, another load. At S. of T. in the evening, pretty muddy
roads.
6 – At church and SS with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (130 at
SS), Mr. Keith preached. Rain coming home and all the evening
and very dark.
7 – Plowing corn ground and had only one round to finish (about 4
o’clock) when a heavy shower came up from the SE and I got the
worst ducking this year. Annie and Willie at school.
8 – A good deal colder with high N wind. Did several small jobs
in the forenoon while Jennie and Willie went to Port Perry.
Topped mangolds in the afternoon. Annie at school.
9 – A fine day. Drew in the mangolds, Jennie helping. 11 loads,
not a very big crop, too many small ones. Annie and Willie at
school. At prayer meeting with Jennie, a fair turnout, Mr. Keith
leader.
10 – A little rain through the night. Went to Port Perry in the fore-
noon with 8 bags of oats to be ground and 6 bags of apples to the
evaporator. 2 performing bears in town. Drew out manure in the
afternoon. Jennie visiting at Mr. Lyle’s.
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11 – Quite a heavy thunder shower through the night and several
little showers during the day. Plowed the old potato ground.
Jennie washing. Annie and Willie at school. Annie has been head
of her class for more than three weeks now.
12 – A fine day, some little showers. Plowing all day. At S. of T.
in the evening.
13 – The coldest day of the season. At SS and church with Jennie
and Annie and Willie (129 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. A male
choir at the Methodist church tonight.
14 – Quite a hard frost and a fine day. Picking apples all day,
Jennie also. Annie and Willie at school. At church manager’s
meeting in the evening. C. Gordon had a break down coming
down the hill.
15 – A beautiful day. Picking apples all day, Jennie helping. At
John Michie’s in the evening singing with Russell and Joe Wal-
lace. Annie and Willie at school.
16 – Another very fine day. Wes Luke came and helped to kill pig
in the forenoon. Picking apples, Jennie helping, in the afternoon.
At prayer meeting with Jennie, a fair turnout, Mr. Keith leader.
Annie and Willie at school.
17 – A beautiful day. Cut up the pig and picked apples the rest of
the day alone. Jennie at W.F.M.S. meeting at Mrs. James
McMillan’s at Greenbank. Mr. McGregor of Lindsay was present.
Annie and Willie at school. Methodist church have an old folks
social tonight.
18 – A fine day but cooler. Picking apples all day, Jennie helping
a little in the forenoon. She was at a quilting bee at Mrs. Mark’s in
the afternoon. Annie and Willie at school. Mr. Lang of ---- here
overnight.
19 – Somewhat cool all day. Picking apples all day, Jennie helping
awhile in the afternoon. Went to Port Perry in the evening with
Jennie. Mr. A. Gordon Sr. and Edna here for dinner. Annie, Wil-
lie and Edna went down to John Michie’s to practice for the
W.F.M. social. Mr. Lang went away after breakfast.
20 – A fine day but pretty cold, quite a hard frost in the evening.
At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie (111 at SS), Mr.
Keith preached. In the evening went with Jennie to Seagrave to the
opening of the new Methodist church. The church was packed to
the doors and a good sermon by Rev. Dr. Williamson of Hamilton,
who also did the begging and did it well. More than enough prom-
ised. A beautiful night.
21 – Pretty hard frost in the morning but a very fine day. Picking
apples most of the day, Jennie helping in the afternoon, washing in
the forenoon. Annie and Willie at school.
22 – Somewhat raw. Picked apples in the forenoon, Jennie help-
ing, and finished the job. In the afternoon with Jennie and little
James went to Port Perry with apples to the evaporator and 3 bar-
rels to Winnipeg and 1 to Hanley. Annie and Willie at school.
They then went down to Jessie to practice for the W.F.M. social.
23 – A fine day and pretty cool. Plowing all day. Annie and Wil-
lie at school. In the evening, with Jennie, Annie and Willie, went
to the W.F.M. social in the church. A fine night and a good turn-
out, Mr. Keith chairman. The programme all old pieces and pretty
good. Lunch served by the ladies in white caps and shawls, pro-
ceeds $28.75.
24 – A pretty hard frost, too hard to plough. Jennie drove Annie
and Willie to school and went on to the church where she helped to
clean up after the social. Cleaned out hen house and pig pens. In
the afternoon topped turnips, Jennie helping.
25 – Pretty raw and cold with high NW wind. At turnips all day,
Jennie helping. Got about half harrowed up and 4 loads in. Annie
and Willie at school.
26 – A hard frost in the morning. Drawing in turnips, Jennie help-
ing. Got in 15 loads. A fire in the evening to the W.N.W.
27 – Rain through the night and a little more or less all through the
day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and Willie (105 at
SS), Mr. Keith preached.
28 – Rather cold with high N wind. At turnips all day, Jennie
helping. Got in 13 loads. Annie and Willie at school.
29 – Pretty cold and raw with high N wind. Finished topping and
harrowing up turnips and got 6 loads in, Jennie helping. Annie and
Willie at school.
30 – A very hard frost in the morning. Drawing in turnips, Jennie
helping. Got in 12 loads. Annie and Willie at school. At prayer
meeting with Jennie, a fair turnout, Mr. Keith leader.
31 – Thanksgiving day. Celebrated here by working all day at
turnips, Jennie helping. Took in 12 loads and finished the job, 62
loads in all. Edna Gordon here most of the day playing with Annie
and Willie. Baptist social tonight.
NOV. 1 – A beautiful day. Plowing. Jennie washing. Annie and
Willie at school.
2 – Rain through the night and all day. It never let up. It came
from the south, mud everywhere. Did a few jobs about the barn.
3 – Heavy rain through the night. High NW wind during the day
and colder. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie (112
at SS), Mr. Keith preached. Muddy roads.
4 – Quite a hard frost in the morning. Went to Port Perry in the
forenoon with Jennie. Plowing sod in the north field in the after-
noon. Annie and Willie at school.
5 – A fine day. Plowing sod all day. Mrs. O’Neill came and got 3
little pigs at $2.00 each. Jennie washing. Annie and Willie at
school.
6 – Dull and drizzling the greater part of the day from the E, with
quite heavy rain in the evening. Plowing sod. Annie and Willie at
school. Man came with 40 more apple barrels. Billie Lewis came
for calf for Mrs. O’Neill.
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7 – A little snow on the ground in the morning (the first of the
season) and it continued to snow nearly all day with high NW
wind. Jennie went to Greenbank taking Annie and Willie to school
and I went after them in the afternoon. Roads very bad. There is
drifts in the lane over 3 feet deep and it was all the horse could do
to get through. Got the young cattle in for the first. The apple
packers came but could not work out in the orchard.
8 – Mild day but the snow did not melt very fast. Plowing most of
the day. Annie at school alone.
9 – Tried to plough in the morning but it was too hard so I went to
Port Perry with 6 bags of oats to the mill and brought home a new
Bell root pulper ($12.00). Annie and Willie went with me.
Plowed a little in the afternoon.
The Bell root pulper would have been similar to this one...
10 – A fine day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and
Willie (113 at SS). Mrs. Jas. McMillan reported on her trip to
Bobcaygeon to the SS convention. Mr. Keith preached. Tom and
Allan Black here for supper.
11 – A fine day, some frost in the morning. Plowing sod most of
the day. Jennie washing in the forenoon. She went up to Gordon’s
in the afternoon to see Alex Gordon Sr. who got hurt on Saturday
by falling from a load of straw. He is better and was able to be up
at S. Dusty’s. Annie and Willie at school.
12 – A pretty hard frost in the morning. Drew in the corn and out
straw to cover strawberries, Jennie helping. Tax collector Wier
called. Apple packers Collins came a little before dinner and put
up 20 barrels. Annie and Willie at school.
13 – Pretty cold with high W wind. Finished covering strawber-
ries, pruned apple trees and other jobs. Jennie at W.F.M.S. meet-
ing at Mrs. Wallace’s. Annie and Willie at school. Luke and
Henry called. They wanted to sell a waggon. Apple packers did
not turn up.
14 – Hard frost. With Jennie’s help, drew in 19 barrels of apples
into the barn with the stoneboat. In the afternoon got John Mi-
chie’s waggon and took 20 barrels of apples to Port Perry. Annie
at school.
15 – A fine and much milder day. Put on storm windows and
doors. Helped to put up room stove and few other jobs. Collins
apple packers put up 26 barrels of apples. Annie at school. She
has been head of her class for two weeks.
16 – A beautiful day. Went 2 trips to Port Perry with 20 barrels of
apples each time. Collins here all day packing. Annie and Willie
at Gordon’s playing.
17 – A very fine day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie
and Willie (125 at SS), Mr. Keith preached on baptism. Thawing
some.
18 – A very fine day. Picking up the cull apples in the forenoon,
Jennie helping, and in the afternoon took 22 bags to Port Perry
evaporator. Jennie, Willie and James went also. Collins came in
the afternoon and finished packing the apples about 8 pm, 20 bar-
rels more, 80 in all. Annie at school.
19 – A very fine day. Took the last 20 barrels of apples to Port
Perry in the morning but did not get the money as there is trouble
between Mr. Lane and the firm he is buying for. Covered orchard
strawberries in the afternoon. Jennie washing. Annie at school.
She dropped to 2nd
place after being head for 2 weeks and one day.
20 – A fine day with rather raw wind from SE. Helping Norman
Phair to thresh at Petty place in the forenoon. Pruning apple trees
in the afternoon. Jennie and Willie went to Mission Band meeting
and did not get home until after dark. Annie at school. Head of
class again.
21 – Rain through the night and half the forenoon which kept An-
nie home from school. Plowing in the north field (sod) and fin-
ished it at dark. Aunt Janet visiting at S. Dusty’s.
22 – A fine day. Plowing little plot near pump and in the orchard.
Jennie at quilting bee at Alex Gordon’s. Annie at school, got head
of class again at one bound.
23 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry with Aunt Janet, principally to
see Mr. Lane about the pay for apples but got poor encouragement.
Went to G. Love’s in the afternoon. Aunt Janet and little James
visiting at Mrs. Mark’s. Edna and Annie Gordon here playing with
Annie and Willie.
24 – A fine day. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie
(131 at SS). Rev. Dr. McLaren, Home Mission secretary, preached
a fine sermon on home mission work.
25 – A fine day. Banking house and putting in wood. Went to
Lang’s sale on the 7th
concession in the afternoon. Did not buy
anything. Jennie housecleaning kitchen. Annie at school.
26 – Ground white with snow in the morning and snowing a little
most of the day. Drove Annie to school and went on to Greenbank
and went for her at night. Jennie housecleaning.
27 – A fine day. Drawing in wood from the yard and limbs from
the orchard trees. Jennie washing. Annie at school.
28 – Snow through the night and a little rain in the forenoon.
Drove Annie up to concession on her way to school when she got a
ride with Alex Gordon. Pruning apple trees in the afternoon.
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29 – A fine day. Pruning apple trees in the forenoon. In the after-
noon, with Aunt Janet, went to preparatory service in the church,
Mr. Keith preached. Mrs. G.D. McMillan and Archie Paige came
in this time. Annie at school.
30 – A fine day. Went to Port Perry in the morning with Jennie
and Annie, principally to inquire about the pay for apples but got
very poor comfort. Took the cutter but the sleighing was rather
thin. Drew brush from the orchard in the afternoon. Mrs. Bell in
bed all day, worse than usual.
DEC. 1 – A fine day. Went with Aunt Janet to the communion
service at Wick. Took the cutter, sleighing a little thin. At church
with Jennie and Annie. A Mr. Watson, a Knox College student,
preached on mission work in the west.
2 – A fine day. Finished drawing brush from the orchard in the
forenoon. In the afternoon drove over to see John Monroe but
there was nobody at his house. Called at W. O’Neill’s. Annie at
school.
3 – A fine day and pretty cold and wintery like. Did a few odd
jobs. Jennie at Greenbank in the afternoon. Annie at school. Jim
Dusty called with some money.
4 – Pretty cold in the morning, 1 below zero. Banked up the root
house in the forenoon and in the afternoon went with Jennie and
Annie to Port Perry where Annie got two teeth pulled and I went to
the afternoon and evening sessions of the Grand Division S. of T.
There was a fair attendance in the afternoon and the public meeting
in the evening was a full house. The principal speakers were Mr.
Alviston of Philadelphia, Most Worthy Patriarch; and Joseph
Gipson of Ingersol, which were good. After 11 before the meeting
closed. I then walked all the way home.
5 – A very fine day. Aunt Janet drove me part way to Port Perry
where I attended the morning and afternoon sessions of the Grand
Division. Rev. Mr. Brace of Richmond Hill was chosen G.W.P.
An initiation team from Orillia gave an exhibition and did it very
well. Jennie drove down and met me at Pat [Figets?]. Jennie
washing. Annie at school.
6 – A very fine day. Went over to John Monroe’s in the afternoon
and had a talk with him about our apple losses. We decided to go
over to Uxbridge on Tuesday next and get legal advice. Annie at
school.
7 – A fine day and almost thawing. Went to Port Perry in the
afternoon with 10 bags of oats to be ground but did not get them
home. Took the sleigh but the sleighing is rather thin. Saw J. Lane
about the apples. He has made an assignment.
8 – A fine day, thawing some and the sleighing rather poor. At SS
and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie (124 at SS). Mr. Keith
preached on giving and did some pretty plain talking. A son born
to Mr. and Mrs. Alex Lee.
9 – Went to Port Perry with the waggon in the morning for the
meal. Annie at school. The teacher Mr. Woon was not there ow-
ing to sore throat. Jennie washing. Rain from about 4 pm on in the
evening.
10 – Thawing most of the day and the result is mud. Went over
with John Monroe to Uxbridge to get legal advice about the price
of apples sold to Lane and got little encouragement. Annie at
school.
11 – Snowing a little from the NW most of the day but not enough
to make good sleighing. Jennie and Willie at annual meeting of
W.F.M.S. at W. Akhurst’s. Jennie elected president for the second
time. Mission Band meeting also. Annie at school. Did very little
but the chores.
12 – Pretty cold day. Cut some wood in the shed. Jennie and Aunt
Janet quilting. Annie at school.
13 – A fine mild day. Cleaned out the hen house and cut wood.
Jennie and Aunt Janet quilting. Annie at school. Went down to
John Michie’s for a sing but John was not at home.
14 – Snowing all day from the E. Alex Gordon Sr. brought Edna
and Annie Bell down in the morning. The plan was that they were
to go down to John Michie’s to practice for the Christmas tree but
it was so rough that they did not go. I drove them home about
4:30.
15 – Snow through the night from the E. At church and SS with
Jennie, Annie and Willie. Roads up by Lyle’s pretty well drifted.
(111 at SS), Rev. Mr. Cooper of Port Perry preached, this being
Wick anniversary.
16 – Somewhat wintery. Drove Annie to school and went for her
and did the chores. Jennie washing.
17 – Drove Annie to school. Went to Port Perry in the afternoon
with Jennie and Willie, principally to put in claim for apples. Did
chores early and then with Jennie and Annie went and spent the
evening at W. H. Leask’s. A very fine night.
18 – Drove Annie to school. Went to Port Perry in the afternoon
with the sleigh and got 1925 lbs of coal @ $7.25. In the evening
went to Port Perry to chorus practice in Methodist church under the
leadership of Jos. Goldering. Perhaps about 80 there. A fine night.
Wes Luke got badly hurt in the face at Sunderland Christmas fair.
19 – Port Perry and Uxbridge Christmas fairs. Drove Annie to
school. In the evening went with Jennie to concert in Methodist
church, Port Perry, which was fine. The house was packed. The
principal attraction was the Sherlock Quartet of Toronto, Miss
Beacock of Toronto and the chorus of 80 or 100 voices.
20 – A fine day. Drove Annie to school and then to meeting of
creditors of J. Lane at Port Perry. Was appointed one of the in-
spectors of the estate. Jennie went after Annie and called to see W.
Luke and found him doing as well as could be expected. This is
the last day of school for the year. Mr. Woon dropped out.
21 – A fine day. Did the chores and went down to John Michie’s
in the afternoon with Annie, Willie and James to practice for
Christmas tree and in the evening also with Russell and Joe Wal-
lace.
22 – A fine day. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie
(105 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. Maggie McMillan sang a solo.
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23 – Went to Port Perry in the afternoon with Jennie, Annie and
Willie. Heavy snow all afternoon and some in the evening. At
church manager’s meeting at the church. G. and W. Collins called
in the forenoon to talk of J. Lane’s apple account.
24 – Somewhat inclined to snow. Went to Port Perry to the 10
o’clock train and brought up Alma and Jennie Perrin from Newcas-
tle. Went again to the 5:30 train for Jessie Bell. Then down with
the sleigh to Christmas tree at the church. Jennie, Annie, Willie
and Alma and Jennie Perrin went with me. There was a fair turn-
out and a pretty good time. Mr. Keith chairman.
25 – Almost thawing all day, some snow in the afternoon. At
home all day. John and Jessie up for dinner. A Christmas tree in
the parlour. Quite a big day for the little ones.
26 – A nice day. Went to the public school meeting in the fore-
noon, a fair turnout. J.M. Real chosen trustee. New school house
spoken of. Jennie and Jessie Bell went to Port Perry in the after-
noon. Mrs. Alex Horne buried today.
27 – Thawing all day with SW wind and a little rain sometimes.
Jennie and Willie drove with the cutter to James Smith’s for a
pattern for Jessie’s coat. They got back about 8 pm, a pretty dark
night. Jennie and Edna Gordon here in the afternoon.
28 – Drove Alma and Jennie Perrin to Port Perry to the train on
their way home. Sleighing not very good. Walter Bratley came up
from John Michie’s. In the afternoon drove up to Greenbank for
the mail. Walter went with me. Freezing towards night.
29 – A fine day. At SS and church with Aunt Janet, Annie and
Willie (122 at SS), Mr. Keith preached on [local?] option. Walter
Bratley went down to John Michie’s for supper.
30 – Snow and rain through the night which improves the sleigh-
ing. Jessie Bell went to Port Perry to get her coat fitted. Walter
Bratley went with her on his way home. In the evening, with
Jennie, went to the annual SS meeting. A rough night, but there
was not a bad turnout, but when it came to elect the officers there
was a dead lock and nothing was done when we left for home
about 10:30.
31 – Rather a fine day. Went down and called on Isaac O’Neill in
the forenoon. Mr. and Mrs. A. Gordon Sr. called in the afternoon
and Mr. and Mrs. A. Gordon Jr. called in time for tea and spent the
evening. Jessie B. making her coat.
1908
JAN. 1 – A pretty fine day and pretty quiet here. Rev. Mr. Terrill
called in the forenoon wanting me to help at a tea party at Saint-
field. In the afternoon, with Annie and Willie, went to Greenbank.
Called at J.M. Real’s, John Lee’s and W. Akhurst’s. Methodist
anniversary tonight.
2 – A fine day. Jessie Bell went to Port Perry in the morning with
her coat to the tailor. I went to Port Perry in the afternoon with 12
bags of oats to be ground but did not get it home. Water across the
10th
concession.
3 – A most beautiful bright day, a little snow during the night.
Went to Port Perry with the sleigh and took Jessie Bell to the train
on her way back to Rochester. Willie went with me. In the after-
noon drove with Annie and Willie to Greenbank for the mail.
4 – Snowing a little in the morning and afterwards almost raining,
then towards night turned colder with high NW wind. Did very
little but the chores. Jennie making pinnies for Annie.
5 – Zero in the morning, clear. At SS and church with Jennie,
Annie and Willie (122 at SS). No lesson as all the time was taken
up with choosing teachers. Mr. Keith preached.
6 – A very fine day. Drove Annie to school. Two new teachers,
Miss B. Real and Miss Slovin start today. Did chores. Jennie
washing.
7 – A very fine mild day. Threw back some turnips in the root
house that were beginning to rot and sawed some wood. Jennie
churning and ironing. Annie at school.
8 – A pretty fine day. Annie at school. Drove Jennie and Willa up
to W.F.M.S. in the afternoon. They stayed for Mission Band and
got tea at Mrs. Walker’s. In the evening went to the annual church
meeting. There was a fairly good turnout and everything went off
smoothly. The funds came out $9.00 to the good. A. Akhurst; W.
Wallace; A. Leask and G.A. McMillan were chosen managers.
Renovating the church was the principal question.
9 – Pretty cold day. Drove Annie to school, then, with Jennie,
went to Port Perry market (2nd
day of horse races). In the evening,
with Jennie, went to union meeting in our church in connection
with the week of prayer. Rev. Mr. Terrill preached, a pretty good
turnout. A very bright clear night.
10 – A fine day but cold. Annie at school. She came home highly
pleased as she has got into the second book. Those that went in
with her are Austin Bundy; Fred Real; Alex Real; Ed Luke; Henry
Leask and Lester Taylor. Jennie and Willie visiting at A. Ak-
hurst’s. Went over to Akhurst’s swamp to see Albert about some
firewood.
11 – A very fine day. Drew 4 small loads of wood from A. Ak-
hurst’s swamp just north of John Michie’s barn. James Lee called
in the afternoon. At S. of T. in the evening. A very fine night.
12 – Rain through the night which turned to hail, which about 10
am turned to snow and snow it did in earnest from the NE the rest
of the day and drifted badly. At SS and church with Aunt Janet,
Annie and Willie. The attendance at SS was lower than usual, 84 I
think it was. Mr. Keith preached. We had all we could do to get
down the sideroad on the way home. The snow drifts were high
but very soft.
13 – Snow too deep for Annie to go to school. Threw back turnips
in the root house, some rotting pretty bad. Broke roads in the
afternoon.
14 – A fine day. Drove Annie to school and went on to Green-
bank. Drew one load of wood from A. Akhurst’s swamp. At
church managers meeting in the evening. A very fine night.
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15 – Drew 2 loads of wood from A. Akhurst’s swamp in the fore-
noon. In the afternoon, with Annie and Willie, went to Port Perry.
In the evening, with Jennie, started to go to prayer meeting but
turned at S. Dusty’s as it was very rough and drifting badly.
16 – Rough, cold and drifting most of the day. Not out anywhere
and saw no one. Trying the new buck saw in the woodshed. An-
nie not at school.
17 – A fine day. Broke the road through the fields and drew home
4 loads of wood from A. Akhurst’s swamp.
18 – Drifting more or less all day but not so very cold. Drew 5
loads of wood from A. Akhurst’s swamp. Allan Black here for
dinner.
19 – A fine day but somewhat raw and cold. At SS and church
with Jennie, Annie and Willie, Mr. Keith preached (123 at SS).
Road somewhat heavy.
20 – A fine day. Drove Jennie down to John Michie’s to help
Jessie with the work, her mother being at Mrs. Akhurst’s who is
very ill. Then took Annie to school and went on to Greenbank,
then to D. Cragg’s and got his froe36
and spent the afternoon trying
to make shingles in the woodshed for A. Akhurst’s barn. Got word
from Winnipeg saying that William is in the hospital.
21 – Thawing some, rain in the afternoon and evening. At the
shingle making most of the day. Drew up some blocks from A.
Akhurst’s swamp. Jennie churning and washing. Annie at school.
Whitter’s house burned down.
22 – Somewhat rough with high NW wind. Drove Annie part way
to school. In the afternoon took 12 bags of oats to Port Perry to be
ground and brought home a load of coal. At prayer meeting in the
evening with Jennie. Alex Lee’s baby died this evening.
23 – A blizzard from the NE all day. Drove Annie to school and
went after her part way. At the shingles the rest of the day.
24 – 10 below zero in the morning. Annie did not go to school.
Worked at shingles awhile when W. Wallace came with a Mr.
Cuff, agent of the Morris Piano Co. and he talked piano until after
12 o’clock. In the afternoon went with Jennie to Greenbank and
attended Alex Lee’s baby’s funeral.
25 – Somewhat raw wind from SW. Went to Port Perry in the
forenoon for the meal. R. Akhurst here for dinner. At the shingles
in the afternoon.
26 – Snowing and blowing nearly all day from the east and rough.
At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie (108 at SS), Mr.
Keith preached an extra good sermon. Annie received a diploma
for reciting verses.
27 – Zero with a high NW wind, snow drifting badly, a wild day.
Worked at shingles in the wood shed.
36
A froe is a L-shaped tool used in combination with
a wooden mallet to split timber or to make shingles.
28 – Spent the forenoon making roads. Made a road to the south,
then away up past R. Cragg’s. In the afternoon went with Jennie to
Port Perry. Roads very heavy and weather decidedly bad. Snow-
ing and drifting from the south west.
29 – Ten below zero in the morning and never higher than 4 below
all day with quite a high wind from the NW. At the shingles in the
wood shed part of the day.
30 – Twenty below zero in the morning and a bright day. Went up
to Alex Gordon’s for the mail. Called at A. Akhurst’s. Made
shingles in the afternoon. G.A. McMillan called. Called at A.
Akhurst’s and D. Lyle’s in the evening to talk over new school
house.
31 – Somewhat raw, especially towards night. Drove Annie to
school, the only day she was there this week. At the shingles.
FEB. 1 – Rough all night and snowing and drifting from the S
which turned to a hurricane from the NW towards night. Down at
John Michie’s in the forenoon. Walked in the afternoon through
the snow to meeting at school house about building new school
house. There was a good turnout. Wes Luke in the chair and Rev.
Mr. Terrill secretary. The whole time of the meeting was spent in
talking where the new school should be built. It was decided to
have a pool a week from next Monday. Rode home with Lyle’s in
the sleigh and a bad night it was.
2 – Blowing and storming all night and some all day. 4 below zero
in the morning. Roads all blocked. Walked over the drifts to the
SS. A small turnout, 34 I think it was. The Super not being there
it fell to me to act. We had only one class taught by R.T. Harring-
ton. Mr Keith did not get down so there was no church service.
About 8:30 a fire was seen in the direction of Greenbank which
proved to be Bundy’s store and dwelling house. Very little was
saved but the piano. $2200.00 of insurance.
3 – Got somewhat rough and stormy in the afternoon. Dug out
roads in the morning. A. Akhurst brought some shingle timber and
took away 7 bunches that were made. Worked at the shingles a
little while when Jas. and Will Leask came. They walked across
the fields and came to talk about school matters. They are quite
warm on dividing the section should the new school be built at
Greenbank. They stayed for supper and until about 7 o’clock.
4 – Twenty below zero in the morning and it never got above about
8 below all day. Clear and bright. Did very little but the chores as
it was too cold to work at shingles and I was not feeling very well.
5 – 16 below zero in the morning with E wind which got very
rough towards night, snowing also. Did a little at the shingles but
it was too cold. J.M. Real here in the afternoon getting out church
report. 12 little pigs came in the evening.
6 – Storming most of the night from the E and pretty rough all day.
Intended going out to Port Perry market but did not start as we
were afraid the roads were not passable. No trains on this line.
Did not do much as I was not very well. Jennie washing.
161
7 – Below zero in the morning with a high wind from the NW and
drifting. Went up as far as S. Dusty’s in the afternoon. No mail at
Greenbank since Tuesday. No trains on this line today.
8 – Twelve below zero in the morning and never higher than about
5 below with a cutting NW wind. Did a little at the shingles. Tom
Black came. He came for Mr. Town’s sale but it was postponed on
account of cold and roads. Tom stayed all night.
9 – Below zero in the morning but bright with almost no wind and
it got warmer. At SS with Jennie, Anne and Willie (96 at SS), Mr.
Keith preached. Roads rather bad.
10 – A very fine bright day. Went to Greenbank in the morning
with Jennie and voted at the school house on the question of a site
for a new school house. Mrs. John Joyce of Sutton came down
from Greenbank with us. [margin note: School pool, west side, 3
ahead].
11 – A beautiful day. Drove with Mrs. Joyce and got dinner at
Tom Black’s at Raglan and then on to James Smith’s and talked
until midnight and stayed all night. Roads in rather bad state.
Through the fields the greater part of the way.
12 – A fine day until near night when it threatened rain from the
SE. Talked all forenoon and after dinner started for home and got
there about 6. Jennie walked to W.F.M.S. at Greenbank. James
Lee married to Ida Phair today.
13 – Thawing all day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with
Jennie and Willie to market and took 10 bags of oats to the mill.
Roads getting soft. Mrs. Joyce went up to Gordon’s and Alex
drove her back about 6. She got her things and went with him to
Sam Dusty’s where she will start for home tomorrow.
14 – Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for the meal. In the after-
noon attended Mr. R. Town’s sale (on the Burton place). Started to
rain from the east soon after the sale started and rained all after-
noon and evening but there was a pretty good turnout and fair
prices. Tom Black came up with Annie. He went to the sale and
bought a horse. They got tea here and went down to John Michie’s
for the night.
15 – Rain through the night and forenoon. About noon it turned to
snow and a high NW wind, the snow sticking to everything. At the
shingles most of the day. Jennie making a dress for Annie.
16 – A bright clear day. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and
Willie. Roads pretty bad with water over the road near the new
road. (84 I think at SS). Mr. Keith did not come. Mr. Terrill was
to have taken his place but by some misunderstanding both he and
Mr. Keith were at Saintfield.
17 – A very fine clear day but pretty sharp. Drove with Jennie to
Tom Black’s at Raglan to attend his sale which went off fairly
well. Bought his cultivator for $8.50. Got home again a little after
8 pm. Road not very good in places.
18 – A fine day. At the shingles most of the time. Jennie at Meth-
odist Ladies Aid meeting at R. Town’s in the afternoon.
19 – Snowing and drifting from the E all day. At the shingles most
of the day. Bible Society meeting in our church tonight but did not
go on account of the weather.
20 – Drifting a little most of the day. Making shingles. At choir
practice in the evening at W.H. Leask’s. Tom Black came.
21 – Snowing some and drifting all day. Tom Black went with S.
Dusty to Blackwater on his way to visit his brother back north. He
left his horse here. At shingles in the forenoon. In the afternoon,
with Jennie, to A. Lee’s and found Mrs. Lee rather poorly. They
have a case of smallpox not far away. A young man, Palmer, is
very bad. Got home at 7. Snowing most of the way.
22 – A fine day but pretty cold. Making shingles most of the day.
23 – A fine day. At SS and church with Jennie, Annie and Willie
(99 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. Allan Black here for tea.
24 – A fine day. Cleaned out pig house in the forenoon and in the
afternoon went to Port Perry with 10 bags of oats to be ground and
brought home some coal. They did not have any nut coal so I had
to get slow and pea coal. Jennie washing. Tom Black came from
the north. Took his horse and went somewhere.
25 – A mild day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with Annie
and Willie for the meal. Made shingles in the afternoon. About 5
pm it started to snow from the SE and turned out a very rough
night, but not so very cold.
26 – Snowing all night and most of the day from the SE. Made
some shingles. At choir practice at the church in the evening.
Road pretty heavy. Bert Beare and Arvella Real married today.
27 – A pretty cold day. Went to Port Perry market in the sleigh
and Jennie, Annie and Willie. Annie got two teeth pulled at the
Drs. In the evening went with Jennie to Willie Rennie’s. Alex
Gordon and Mrs. were also there. Spent a very pleasant evening
and got home about 1 am. Roads very heavy. A big surprise fare-
well oyster supper at R. Town’s. Got an invitation but could not be
at two places at the same time.
28 – Cold day. At preparatory service in the church with Jennie.
Not a very large turnout. Rev. Mr. Monroe of Cambray preached.
Willie Rennie came in by certificate. Stayed up until about 12
o’clock watching the O’Neill cow which is expected to be dead
before morning.
29 – Clear and sharp. Found the cow still alive. Went to Port
Perry in the morning to consult vet Graham but he was at Jack
Beare’s so I drove home by Greenbank and met him near R.
Real’s. In the afternoon I again went to Port Perry and got Graham
to come out to see the cow. He has no hopes of her. Meeting at
the school house this afternoon about a new school house, was not
able to attend. Went to the stable about 9:15 and found the O’Neill
cow dead. Went down to John Michie’s and got him out of bed to
come up and help to skin her. Jennie helping by holding the light.
I think she was the best cow we ever had.
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MAR. 1 – At communion service at Greenbank with Jennie. There
was a good turnout considering the weather. Mr. Keith conducted
the services. Coming home we had to face one of the worse storms
of snow with high east wind.
2 – Some snow in the morning. Drew away the dead cow and
cleaned out pig pen and finished the shingles in the afternoon. R.
Town called. No RR trains.
3 – Pretty cold day and drifting some. Cleaned out calf pen in the
forenoon and in the afternoon at D. McDonald’s sale of cattle and
horses, which went at fair prices. Jennie quilting.
4 – A beautiful day. Helping Jennie to pick over the potatoes in
the cellar. At choir practice at the church in the evening.
5 – A beautiful day. Went with Jennie to Port Perry market. An-
nie at school, the first day for over a month.
6 – A very bad day. A blizzard from the SE which turned to a
slight rain in the afternoon. Threw back turnips and did the chores.
No trains since morning.
7 – Colder but thawing a little in sunny spots. Did little but the
chores. Mrs. O’Neill and Clarence called in the afternoon.
8 – A very fine day and thawing a little. At SS and church with
Jennie and Willie (Annie, not being well, did not go). G.D.
McMillan being unwell was not at SS so it fell to me to act as
superintendant. 115 I think present. Mr. Keith preached. Mrs.
W.H. Leask, Mrs. W. Rennie and Miss Mona Leask sang a trio.
9 – Colder but a bright clear day. Went with the sleigh to Tom
Black’s at Raglan for the cultivator that I bought at his sale. Mrs.
Mark went with me and stayed to help them pack up for Manitoba.
They are to load their cars (2) tomorrow. Walter Bratley was there
helping them. Got home about 6 pm. Roads good, snow in abun-
dance. Jennie and Willie did the chores.
10 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for the
meal. Mrs. A. Gordon Sr. here for dinner. Drove her home about
5. Jennie washing and churning.
11 – A beautiful day. Not feeling very well, bad cold. Jennie went
to W.F.M.S. meeting at Jas. McMillan’s. About 4 pm M. Perrin
came with the sleigh and with him was Mary Bell of Inniskillen
and about 7 pm Mr. Jennings of Whitby to see Aunt Janet. He
came from Port Perry where he had some cattle at the stock sale
held there today. Thawing some all day and the snow getting quite
soft.
12 – A very fine day and thawing. M. Perrin, Mary Bell and Mr.
Jennings left for home in the morning. Then I, with Jennie and
Willie, went to Port Perry market with the sleigh and brought home
some coal. In the afternoon we had a visit from Alex Lee and
wife. They stayed until after tea.
13 – Thawing until towards night when it got colder. Got ready
early after dinner to go to sale at L. Beaton’s old place but it started
to rain. After waiting around started with Jennie but the going was
so bad we did not go further than the mail box at the 11th
conces-
sion.
14 – Thawing most of the day. Visiting at John Michie’s and F.
O’Neill’s in the forenoon. Buck sawing wood in the afternoon.
W. Mark came with hand sleigh for shingle packing box.
15 – Rain through the night and until about the middle of the after-
noon and then some snow. Walked to SS and church, it raining all
the way and got pretty wet. Alex Gordon; Arthur and Jennie
Gordon, and Ray Dusty were all from this corner. There were 24
at SS and Mr. Harrington taught all that came. Mr. Arnold of the
Toronto Mission preached in the basement.
16 – Started to snow about 8 am and came down heavy for awhile,
then came a high NW wind and it was pretty rough for most of the
day. Picking over turnips in the forenoon. Sawing wood in the
afternoon.
17 – Snowing from the E a good part of the day. Cut a little wood.
14 little pigs came.
18 – A fine day. Went to Greenbank in the forenoon and made
several calls. Cut wood in the afternoon.
19 – A fine day but pretty cold. Went with Jennie and Annie to
Port Perry market. Splendid sleighing. Cut some wood.
20 – A beautiful day. Went to Greenbank in the morning with the
sleigh taking Annie to school. Took the old waggon wheels to let
Mr. [Whiteford?] see them but he thought they were not worth
cutting down so I brought them home again. In the afternoon went
with Willie to Port Perry with 14 bags of oats to be ground and got
it home again. The assessor John Johnson called.
21 – A very fine day. Cut wood and some other jobs. George Lee
here changing some oats for seed. At John Michie’s in the evening
having a sing. Annie and Willie at Gordon’s in the afternoon.
22 – A fine day and thawing a little. At SS and church with Jennie,
Annie and Willie (110 I think at SS). Rev. Mr. Mustard preached,
an extra large turnout. Albert Stone, who has lately moved to the
Penhal place, was there with all his family.
23 – A fine mild day, thawing. Went to G. Love’s in the forenoon.
Cutting wood in the afternoon. Jennie and Annie, with Mrs. Mark,
visiting at W. O’Neill’s.
24 – Thawing a little but turned quite cold towards night. Cutting
wood. James Lee called. He was after potatoes. Annie at school.
25 – A fine day but somewhat raw wind from SE. Cutting wood
most of day. Annie at school.
26 – Thawing rapidly all day. Rain in the evening. Buck sawing
wood. Annie at school. Got to the head of her class but had a job
getting home as the water was over the road at the new road.
Mammy has been very poorly for the last few days.
27 – Not thawing very much. At the wood most of the day. Jennie
washing.
28 – A good deal of thunder and rain through the night and thaw-
ing until towards night when it got colder. Cutting wood in the
forenoon. Went up as for as S. Dusty’s in the afternoon.
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29 – A fine day. At SS and church with Annie. Walked as there is
almost no road through the fields. (117 at SS), Mr. Keith preached.
30 – A fine day. Water in cellar. Trying to open drain etc. and cut
some wood. Willie got stuck in snow bank. James Lee came on
horseback for some potatoes.
31 – A little frost in the morning. Drawing out manure in the
forenoon. Jennie washing. Rain most of the afternoon. Mending
harness.
APR. 1 – Rather dull most of the day. Rain from the SE in the
evening. Drawing out manure in the forenoon. Cleaning out pig
house and other chores in the afternoon. Jennie making clothes for
Willie.
2 – Cold with high NW wind and frequent snow blizzards. At the
wood most of the day. Jennie, Annie and Willie up to S. Dusty’s
in the morning.
3 – Cold and rough, wintery like. At wood part of the day. Jennie
making mat.
4 – A fine day but pretty cold. Went down to J. Michie’s and I
O’Neill’s in the morning to see about the road through the swamp
as we would like to get out to Port Perry. In the afternoon went
with Jennie to Port Perry. Took the buggy, drove down the lane on
top of the snow banks. Saw Dr. D. Archer and sent him out to see
Mammy who has been bad for several days. Got home about 6.
5 – Thawing all day, rain in the afternoon. Walked to SS and
church with Annie (109 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. After service
there was a meeting to consider having a SS anniversary. A few
stayed and it was decided to have an anniversary as usual. Com-
mittees were appointed.
6 – Thawing most of the day. Drawing out manure for awhile in
the morning. Cutting wood in the afternoon. At church managers
meeting in the evening. Church renovation was the question.
Annie at school. Jennie Gordon called in the morning. Mammy
very ill.
7 – Thawing all day. Annie at school. Went to Port Perry in the
forenoon with Willie principally to tell the Dr. how Mammy was
(roads pretty bad). Mrs. Alex Gordon Jr. here in the afternoon.
Isaac O’Neill also called I think to tell us of the operation that his
wife is undergoing soon. Mammy very poorly.
8 – Rain through the night which froze as it fell. Rain most of the
forenoon, the ice did not melt all day and it got colder towards
night. At the wood a little while. Jessie Michie called after dinner.
Jennie churning. Mammy a little better today.
9 – Thawing all day. Spent the forenoon trying to get an outlet for
the water in the cellar and in the afternoon went to W. Boe’s sale.
Roads pretty bad, lots of snow some places. Annie at school.
About 7 pm. Mary Patton and Helen and Douglas came. A livery
man drove them out from Port Perry.
10 – A very fine day, thawing and lots of mud. Went with Jennie
to Port Perry with eggs and butter. Cutting wood in the afternoon.
John Michie called in the evening.
11 – A very high NW wind. Took 8 bags of oats to Gibson’s mill,
the first time that I have been there since Gibson ran the mill.
Roads pretty bad.
12 – Snowing a little in the afternoon. AT SS and church with
Jennie, Annie and Willie and Helen Patton (131 at SS), Mr. Keith
preached. His text was There shall be no more sea. Roads very
muddy.
13 – The most spring like day of the season. At the raspberry
bushes all day. Jennie and Mary Patton washing in the forenoon.
Annie went up to S. Dusty’s in the morning. Jennie at I. O’Neill’s
in the afternoon. Mrs. O’Neill is to have an operation tomorrow.
Mammy very poorly.
14 – A very fine day. At the raspberry bushes in the forenoon and
plowing in the orchard in the afternoon. Norman Lyle started to
plough. Jennie went down to Isaac O’Neill’s in the morning to the
operation on Mrs. O’Neill but the Dr’s decided to wait until tomor-
row and try and get a Toronto Dr. Jennie also went up to
Gordon’s. Went to Greenbank in the evening to practice with
Methodist choir but it was not until tomorrow night. Stayed to
band practice. Mr. Sleep here after dinner and bought the two
steers at 4 ½ cts per lb.
15 – A very fine day. Colder towards night. Planting raspberry
bushes in the forenoon and cleaning off the old bushes in the after-
noon. N. Lyle came and got 25 bushels of turnips. Hugh Jack and
Dan Boe called wanting to buy cattle. Jennie went down to Isaac
O’Neill’s and Mrs. O’Neill was operated on and a bad tumour was
cut out of her abdomen. Dr. Hayes of Toronto was the operator.
Dr. Mellow of Port Perry; Dr. Barry of Port Perry and Dr. Mellow
of Saintfield and a trained nurse. Jennie saw the whole thing. A
bad case and Mrs. O’Neill has but a slim chance. Went down in
the evening.
16 – Hard frost in the morning and a fine day. Cut wood, planted
early potatoes in the orchard and planted 6 apple trees. Jennie at
Isaac O’Neill’s all day washing up the clothes after the operation.
Mrs. O’Neill doing well as far as can be seen. Rundle of Port
Perry and another man called trying to sell a waggon.
17 – Some frost in the morning but a very fine day. Went up and
settled with D. Lyle and A. Akhurst and then, with Jennie, went to
Port Perry but as it was Good Friday the stores were shut and we
did not get the things we wanted. Did a few odd chores in the
afternoon. Methodist Missionary banquet tonight and a very fine
night.
18 – Mild, rain in the afternoon. Water coming into cellar again.
Spent forenoon cleaning out drain. Spread manure in the after-
noon. Mary Patton went to Port Perry to the 5:30 train and met
Mrs. Perrin and Alma. Jennie went down to I. O’Neill’s and finds
Mrs. O’Neill doing very well.
19 – Rain through the night. A fine day but rather raw. At SS and
church with Jennie, Annie, Willie and Helen Patton (128 at SS),
Rev. J.A. Miller preached. Went down to see Mrs. O’Neill in the
evening. She is getting along pretty well.
164
20 – Snowing in the morning until there was about 2 inches. In the
forenoon took the two steers to Seagrave. Went with E. Lyle and
W. Petty who took two each. Rather bad walking. In the after-
noon went to Gibson’s mill with 10 bags of oats to be ground and
got it home. Mary Patton drove L. and Alma Perrin to Port Perry
on their way home.
21 – Quite a hard frost in the morning. Drew out manure in the
forenoon for potatoes. In the afternoon walked over to Harrison’s
sale but there was no sale as the family came to a settlement and
divided the property. There were not many there. Mrs. Mark and
Mrs. R. Cragg called in the afternoon. Jennie almost laid up with
the cold.
22 – A very fine day. Plowing potato land in the forenoon. Went
to Port Perry in the afternoon and met the train and brought Bar-
bara up for a visit. Jennie called at Isaac O’Neill’s and found Mary
getting along well. Annie and Willie at Greenbank for practice for
SS anniversary.
23 – A fine warm day. Plowing all day. Mr. Henry of the Massey
Harris Co. called trying to sell a waggon.
24 – A very fine day. Went to Port Perry in the forenoon for corn
for pigs and got it ground. Cultivating in the afternoon but it is too
wet. Jennie and Barbara visiting at Mrs. Mark’s. I went down in
the evening for a sing.
25 – Cultivating until about 10 when it started to rain and contin-
ued until about noon. After dinner took straw off strawberry plants
and then cultivated. Thunder shower at 6 o’clock. Barbara at John
Michie’s.
26 – A very fine spring day. Went over to Lyle’s woods with the
children and got about 5 or 6 flowers, the first of the season.
Walked, with Annie, to SS. Jennie, Barbara, Helen and Willie
rode in buggy. (136 at SS), Mr. Keith preached on the Lord’s Day.
I made the attempt to sing a solo. Barbara stayed at Mrs. Walker’s.
Mrs. Mark and Miss Duggan the nurse that has been attending Mrs.
O’Neill called in the evening. Miss D. is leaving for home tomor-
row.
27 – Sowed mixture of grain until noon when Jennie drove Barbara
to Port Perry on her way home. Raining when they started, with
thunder. Cleaned out calf and pig pens and ploughed the garden.
Annie, Willie and Helen Patton at school.
28 – Harrowing, sowing and cultivating. George Jackson here for
dinner. He was wanting to sell a waggon. Jennie and Mary Patton
house cleaning. Annie and Willie at school. Threatening rain
several times during the day and some rain in the evening. Isaac
O’Neill called.
29 – Rather raw and several little showers. Annie and Willie to
school. Got an old waggon wheel from Mr. Whiteford. Had a talk
with Bain and [Speight?], waggon agents. Cultivated a little in the
afternoon but it almost mired the horses. At prayer meeting in the
evening. An after meeting held to send delegates to the Presbytery
to consider the call of Mr. Keith to Prescott. J.M. Real and Jas.
Leask chosen. Jennie and Mary Patton house cleaning and wash-
ing.
30 – A fine morning. Got up early and with Jennie and Willie
went to Port Perry (Mary Patton drove us down) and took the train
for Toronto. Got dinner at Mrs. Mason’s (who was houseclean-
ing). In the afternoon it started to snow and rain and a miserable
day. Went to the horse show in the St. Lawrence arena. A fine
show of horses but a poor attendance. Stayed at Mason’s all night.
Did not go out in the evening.
MAY 1 – Very raw with high NW wind and some little rain and
snow. Went with Jennie, Willie and Annie Mason down to Eaton’s
and spent the time until train time. The train late in getting to Port
Perry. Mary Patton was there for us. At choir practice at John
Michie’s in the evening. Alex Lee and Mrs. called.
2 – Fixed fences in the forenoon and in the afternoon, with Jennie
and Mary Patton’s help, bagged up 30 bags of potatoes. Snow in
the afternoon, ground white.
3 – Snow all gone about noon, bright day. At SS and church with
Aunt Janet and Willie (Annie did not go on account of a pain in her
side). (128 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Lee
called in the evening.
4 – A fine day and a little warmer. No rain. Went to Port Perry in
the forenoon with 20 bags of potatoes and in the afternoon with 12
bags. Mary Patton went with me in the afternoon. Annie and
Willie at school.
5 – A very fine day. Sowed part of the SW field, the lower part
being too wet. Jennie down at Mrs. O’Neill’s with Mrs. R. Cragg.
Mrs. O’Neill improving. Aunt Janet at S. Dusty’s for tea. Annie
and Willie at school and at anniversary practice after. One of the
finest days this spring.
6 – Harrowing until about 10:30 when it started to rain from the SE
and continued off and on the rest of the day. Annie and Willie at
school. Jennie went after them in the rain. Jennie and Mary sew-
ing.
7 – A very bad day. Rain through the night and all day from the
SE. Water standing everywhere. Went down to John Michie’s and
settled up with him for last summer’s work. Mary Patton went up
to S. Dusty’s for the mail. Jennie and Mary sewing.
8 – Rain from the east off and on all day. Cleaned out pig house
and tied up berry bushes. Jennie and Mary Patton sewing. Aunt
Janet sick.
9 – Rather a fine day with high NW wind which dried things up a
little and badly is it needed. One little shower about 2 pm. Went
to Port Perry in the morning with 4 bags of oats to be ground and
got 8 bags of corn for the pigs. Waited to get it ground and did not
get home until after 4 pm. Aunt Janet sick in bed all day.
10 – A fine day but rather cold NW wind. At SS and church with
Jennie, Annie, Willie and James. This is James’ 1st
time since he
was baptised I think. (130 at SS), Mr. Keith preached. Annie
Leask sang a solo very nicely.
11 – A fine warm spring like day. Spent the forenoon putting in
the garden and the afternoon planting potatoes and hoeing straw-
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berries. Annie and Willie at school but came home after dinner as
this is arbour day. Annie took a note to Mrs. W. Real to telephone
for the Dr. for Aunt Janet who is no better. Dr. R. Archer came
about 10 am. He thinks it is gall stones that is the trouble. Alex
Lee and wife came about 5 o’clock on their way home from Port
Perry. Alex wanted to get instructions in grafting. They got their
tea before they went home. Mrs. Alex Gordon called in the eve-
ning. She was wanting some help in getting up the topic for the
W.F.M.S. meeting. The topic is the Sandwich Islands. Mary
Patton washing. Some rain in the evening.
12 – Rain most of the forenoon. Mary Patton drove Annie and
Willie to school. Hoeing strawberries and raspberries in the after-
noon. Aunt Janet in bed all day.
13 – Went to Port Perry with Jennie in the forenoon. Cultivated in
the north field in the afternoon (very wet it is). Jennie at W.F.M.S.
at J.M. Real’s. Annie and Willie at school. Willie head of class.
Isaac O’Neill came for 2 little pigs. A little rain in the afternoon
and evening.
14 – Heavy rain through the night. Jennie drove Annie and Willie
to school and brought Mrs. Gordon Sr. who stayed until after tea.
Let off water in fields, sowed some grass seed on pasture field, and
grafted some.
15 – Drizzled rain from the SE. Sowed the south end of the SW
field (very wet) and harrowed it. Annie and Willie at school.
Jennie and Mary housecleaning the cellar. At choir practice at
James Leask’s in the evening.
16 – Drawing out manure for mangolds in the forenoon and plow-
ing it in the afternoon. Thunder shower about 5 pm. Jennie and
Mary Patton housecleaning. Annie down to Jessie’s practicing
singing. Wanderer Lang here for supper.
17 – A very fine spring day, warm and no rain. At SS and church
with Jennie, Annie, Helen and Willie (140 at SS), Mr. Keith
preached. In the evening went with Jennie down to see Mrs.
O’Neill and found her improving greatly.
18 – A fine warm day and things are beginning to look green.
Went to Port Perry in the forenoon with 8 pigs ($5.75 per 100). On
the way home gave an English immigrant a ride. He is on his way
to Jas. Leask’s. In the afternoon sowed the north field which is
still none too dry and this finishes the sowing, the latest that I
remember of. Jennie washing. Aunt Janet down in the kitchen
today for a short time.
19 – Harrowing the N field. Annie and Willie at school. Isaac
O’Neill came for the turnip drill. A little rain during the afternoon
and evening.
20 – A fine warm day. Cultivated the strawberry and potato ground
in the forenoon and started to plant strawberries in the afternoon.
Jennie digging the plants. Jennie and Mary housecleaning upstairs.
At choir practice in the evening at the church. Annie, Willie and
Helen Patton at school and then at practice and did not get home
until nearly 8 o’clock. Beef ring s