ELIZAAANN1S LOGBOOKS:
The Late Victorian Logbooks Kept By Eliza-
Ann MacFarlane:1864-1940:Lot 30, Concession
IV, Stanley, Township, Huron County, Ontario
Edited by Ken F. Stewart M.A. with the
permission of Isabel and Jean Fraser.
1998
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A Note On the Sources
Eliza-Ann MacFarlane began these jottings in 1887. They
continue to 1901. Miss MacFarlane also kept detailed account books
of receipts and expenditures. The logs are kept in school exercise
books or on the pages of almanacks. By using abbreviations and
keeping to the "bare bones,"Miss MacFarlane was able to squeeze in
what she wished to record in each day's weather forecast. She us­
ually recorded the weather and the number of eggs her hens laid.
Her sister Agnes never married. Jane married Ned Glen and lived
barely a mile away.Isabella, an elementary teacher, married Thomas
Fraser. James Macfarlane,the father,died in 1899. The one brother,
John, married Isabella R. McEwen, in 1900 and took over part of of
the stone farm house. Eliza, the widowed mother, with her single
daughters Agnes and Eliza-Ann,set up separate quarters. It would
have been better if Eliza and her two daughters had moved to Clin­
ton when John married. Indeed they would have gone, but Mrs Eliza
MacFarlane’s maiden sister Agnes {usually called Aunt Nancy), had
committed herself to keeping house for their brother James, who
farmed three lots to the south. Agnes would not leave her widowed
brother and Eliza therefore refused to leave her sister alone on
the fourth Concession. James and Agnes Stewart died the same week
in February, 1911. Eliza MacFarlane and the two daughters then
moved to Clinton.
Jane, Agnes and Eliza died very close together in 1940
and 1941. Isabella (Mrs Fraser) and her daughters Isabel and Jean,
saved a trunk full of books and papers that have proven to be a
goldmine for local and family history. Only recently was permis­
sion given to peruse these log books.Eliza-Ann had her own form of
shorthand,but thanks to the uncounted hours I spent over 40 years,
picking the brains of people who knew the neighbourhood intimate­
ly,to a detailed culling of the Clinton News-Record and to ex­
tensive perusal of photographs,I found I could crack the code.The
missing letters, implied words and appropriate punctuation, con­
tained in square brackets,are added to make perusal by interested
readers as easy as possible.
Although much of the information is prosaic,what emerges is a
clear and detailed picture of life at the top end of Stanley
Township in the last dozen years of the Victorian era. The logs
peter out in 1901. With the father dead and brother John married
and sharing the house, life was never the same on the place after
that.
Eliza-Ann MacFarlane was an outdoor type and shows in the
log an interest in, and a detailed understanding of, both animal
husbandry and agricultural procedures and techniques. When her
parents went to the "Old Country" in search of breeding stock,
Eliza-Ann was left in charge of operations, and they were effec­
tively and efficiently carried out. One cryptic reference in 1888
- '"shot Wallace" suggests that she could dispatch a suffering
creature if brother John or her father were not available.She was
no Annie Oakley or Calamity Jane, however. She also could do fem­
inine tasks and was a Victorian lady all her life.
In the 1887 experimental diary, she reveals a dry sense of
humour and a capacity for deadpan understatement In the cryptic
diaries that follow, this same quality occasionally shows through.
Fenwick Stewart alleged In later life, that his Aunt Eliza (Mrs
James MacFarlane) cooked mutton so badly that it put everyone off
sheep or lamb in the community. There is a sly dig by Eliza Ann
as she confides to her diary: " Ma stuffed mutton for our dinner
today[.) I am sure your •teeth will be watering when you know
that[.]" I think that if Miss MacFarlane could be reached for
comment now, she might well say:"These diaries chronicle the best,
the happiest and most productive years of my adult life."
K.F. Stewart Toronto Summer:1998
To the left is a list of people whose willingness* to
share reminiscences, photographs, historical books and
papers with me over the past 50 years, has given me a de­
tailed knowlege of life in Stanley Township's Baird's
School Community.
(2)
In The Beginning:1887
The following was written on two large sheets of
newsprint, one with an ad for a hotel, and the other for a Dry
Goods store,
"Fair-day
Wedensday (sic)
September 28, 1887
"I poked around all day doing everything and yet accomplished
nothing!. I] got the floor swept when I was late [at] hen feeding
time[.] I had just come up with the cows when I heard the waggon
(sic) coming & their (sic) was four billys up in the clover here
all day so when I heard the wagon coming [,] I went to put them
down & I saw Lizzie [ Glen] ahead and Agnes & Bella were with her
& Jim [Barkley] was behind in Dunk McEwen’s covered buggy & same
old horses & John Junor behind[.] Jim waited while they opened
the gate for Lizzie & told [my two sisters]to get in for a ride[.]
Bella wouldent (sicj[.] Agnes went[.]I got her to help me with the
lambs[.] Jim was here for his supper[.]I asked him if he was after
the [washing and mending] list[.] He said no [-] just two or three
shirts[. H]e took his overcoat too[. H]e told me he heard about us
riding the 24th.Mr McLeam (sic) came home from the show with fatt
i
­
er[. H[e] was a judge & was here all night and John drove him up
with Nance to meet the 8 o ’
c[lock] train[. Kitten caught two mice
tonight. I took in the clothes before I went to bed and left the
lamp burning!.]Agnes was up at 2. o ’
clock [a.m] and it [was still]
burning.
Commentary Lizzie is Eliza-Ann's first cousin, Margaret Elizabeth Stewart
(1859-1941). Edward Glen Sr had lived across the road from
MacFarlanes for 25 years. TJje previous December he and his wife moved to
Clinton (see Clinton Mew Era December 10, 1886). His sons William and Ned
divided the family holdings on the 3rd and 4th concessions.On June 7,William
married Margaret Elizabeth Stewart.(See Mew Era June 10, 1887).James Barkl­
ey (1859-1949) was a much younger brother of Mary Barkley, wife of Eliza-
Ann's Uncle James Stewart. Mary and James were first cousins. James Barkl­
ey and James Stewart were both first cousins and brothers-in-law.Jim spent a
lot of time at his sister’
s.At the time Eliza-Ann wrote this, Jim had fallen
into a routine of working in the Michigan lumber woods in winter and as a
hired farm hand in Stanley, in warm weather, in 1887, he was working for
Duncan McEwen, (Lot 28 Con 2). Don Glen told me that Duncan McEwen kept an
old rig pulled by old horses for hired help to use. Jim was easy-going and
affable. He seems to have had an arrangement with Eliza-Ann to wash and mend
his clothes.
Thursday
[September 29, 1887] No porridge this morning [-] no flour[-]
have to live on potatoes and short
rations[, Mr]Wiggington [was] here [in the] forenoon and[Mr]Wells
came when he was here. Wells had his dinner here[.} Took away his
billy and bought the two yearlings and father bought his four
sheep. John went with grist after dinner. Bella and I were washing
the 2 yearlings with father[.W]e were pulling apples a while[.T]he
fellow came along with the apple barrels when we were washing
sheep [-] stumped 30 at Glens & 30 here. Glens were pulling apples
at Charlys [and] will finish pulling their, .apples tomorrow at din­
nertime. We are not going to get flour till tomorrow night. Father
has borrowed Frank to go to Seaforth tomorrow!.] Duncan came here
just at dark to buy the yearlings[.] Wells had a letter from his
sister and they had a young daughter. [Wells] is going to take his
sheep to the Goderich fair if he gets word-that their(sic) is any
prize for them. Went to the b a m for the big barrel for rain [-]
had to take the wheel - barrow over to put [it] in [-] gave Bella
a ride over for old acquaintance sake ...I saw a white goat in the
shed....Bella ran up to it & it turned out to be the shovel.
COMMENTARY Probably brother John went with with winter wheat to Trick's
mill to replenish the family's supply of flour. Thomas Trick
had owned Spring Creek Farm since 1873. Situated (as the crow flies) about a
mile north-west of MacFarlanes, it has a mill pond fed by spring-fed Spring
Creek. In 1887, Trick operated both a grist mill and a saw mill.When business
3 .
was brisk, Trick would would have to space the milling of his customers out
to allow for the mill pond to build up. The water turbines, particularly in
warm weather,could deplete the pond faster than the incoming fresh water from
spring Creek could replace it,It appears that Trick told John MacFarlane that
his flour would be ready Friday, Miss MacFarlane notes on Friday that John
went to the mill and in Saturay's entry, she refers to massive baking operat­
ions, so one assumes John returned with the fresh flour,
Friday
[September 30, 1887] Father away to Seaforth this morn-
ing[.]We all went to lift the potat­
oes this forenoon. After dinner[,]which was near 1 [o'
clock]before
we were ready to take it[,] Ag & Bella went away to pull apples..I
put in the potatoes with John and then he went away to the mill in
a little while. Ag and Bella were pulling the Spy [apple tree] in
the old garden when Annie Herbinson shouted Hello to them[. S]he
said she was going over to Glen1s & she would be in here for a
while when she was coming back. When she went [to Glen's she was
told]....Lizzie was down home [at Uncle John Stewart'
s.T]he bovs
or men or whatever you want to call them[,]
wanted her to wait
there[.]Lizzie would not be gone long[. B]ut[Annie] said she would
come here first[.T]hey told her not to stay more than an hour [-]
that Lizzie would be back. I washed the dishes and started to get
[Annie] some tea[,Jwhich consisted of a few slices of bread[.There
is] nothing more in the house[,] only 3 cakes in [the] can[.] I
was out doors & I saw Lizzie at their front door..... she waved so
Annie went over[.] Willie & Lizzie drove her home[.] It was rain­
ing when she left so we gave her a white Parasol[.] Ned came over
[to return]it and stayed till after 10[,]so you may guess the time
I'm writing at.He took Frank home with him when he went.It did not
rain last night[.I]t sprinkled a little when we were at the potat­
oes today and it rained a shower about 4 o'cflock]..............
Saturday
[October 1, 1887] Duncan was here this forenoon [though]
not in the house. [Mr] Steep was around
buying apples. John Junor, John & Willie drove for Jim's trunk
about 5 o'[clock.I]t was raining middling heavy T]hey were lifting
their potatoes & came in from the field[. T]hey had a few bags of
potatoes on the wagon[.] Bella and Ag pulling apples all after­
noon [&] me scrubbing[.]Baked bread today[.] Had a big pie for our
dinner [and] got another for tomorrow made & others with crust as
tuff (sic) as whalebone[.] Ma baked cakes[. I] done the ironing
tonight. It is 10 min[utes] to 11 now & I am going to have a bath.
Sabbath
[October 2, 1887] Raining most of the forenoon [-] Unusual
occurrance[.]Ned was not here.I think he
is keeping away until you come home so I hope you have not got
to[o] thick[.]I guess I had better stop here[.]Mrs Wigginton (sic)
was here a little while in the afternoon[. F]ather went to Uncle
James & Uncle James was here when we came back from [Sabbath]
School [at the schoolhouse]. Turkeys weighed 37 libs........
COMMENTARY Single women in the Victorian era were expected to be above
reproach and to be seen to be above reproach,where men were
concerned. Single males, alone or in groups were suspect, and unchaperoned
encounters with them could get one "talked about," Willie and Ned Glen, aged
28 and 30 "batched it” across the road,Willie married Lizzie Stewart and be­
came a respectable married man. Ned moved to a small frame house half a mile
east, where he would batch it for five years before marrying Jane MacFarlane,
Jane would only be 20 when Eliza-Ann wrote these lines, Ned worked very hard
for several years to pay down the mortgage on Lot 31 (3), This indebtedness
and Jane's tender years meant that the courtship would be a long one, Eliza-
Ann’
s testy observations and eliptical inferences suggest that Ned is very
much on probation,Note in Friday’
s entry the account of Annie Herbinson,who,
upon finding that Lizzie Glen was not yet home,chose to wait for her over at
MacFarlanes, The hired men and (possibly Ned) urged her to stay, but she re-
fused. Eliza-Ann notes that Ned finds a lot of excuses to come around and
that he stays overly long. She also notes on Sunday that Ned didn't visit
that day and wonders what that means.
Monday
[October 3, 1887] Picking turkeys of course[I.]got done
about half-past 1. It has been raining all day. John went up with
the turkeys when ever we ate our dinner. Fergueson (sic) came here
in his covered buggy when we were at the barn hitching[. I] had to
get his dinner. Mrs Fergueson & Miss Fergueson are to be here this
week. Willie & Lizzie [Glen] went to Clinton[. I s]crubbbed Spare
and my Bed-room[.] Agnes washed [the] Spare [bedroom]. Parlour and
Front door windows and I swept out both rooms ready for scrub­
bing[. It is] 1/2 past 9 now[. I] have to set bread yeast[.]
Tuesday
[October 4, 1^98] Raining all day[.]Ned was here this fore­
noon to get a hole bored in a fork [but,]
Poor thing,the borer(sic) was at the barn & John took him there to
bore it.Old plug died today[.W]hen John was at the barn last night
she was a little sick and died about dinner today[.] John [took]
her to the lime-kiln. Had a[n] apple dumpling for our dinner today
[-] baking bread & cream cakes [-] made jelly cake today[.] Agnes
read out halls Book crab apples. Bella blackedma's stove[.] Kil­
led sheep [- Agnes helped to scald it & cleaned guts[.]Bella[says]
I should have gut[ted] intestine firstf.] I hope John will under­
stand what I mean....fixed head mended my parasol tonight[,] then
Bella and I went upstairs and stripped your room[.]Ag put clothes
...[at this point Eliza-Ann runs out of space on the first
broadsheet and switches to a fresh one. It begins Tuesday
continued but doesn't follow through with the sentence.Ag­
nes said tonight she bet you were wishing you could have a [il­
legible] mat for tonight[.]Bella is gueggling here beside me read­
ing every word I write[.]I slept with her last night & I guess she
is waiting for the beast to come as she called me in bed last
night[.] It is 10 minfutes] to 11 o ’
c[lock] & still she gueggles.
COMMENTARY The last few lines provide a clue as to why this entry is
so unclear in places.Bella (15) and Agnes (21) are reading
over her shoulder and at times she appears to include them in the dialogue.
Perhaps Jane (20) forbade any mention of her name. Note the undisguised glee
shown by Eliza-Ann when Ned comes to get a hole drilled. The drill is in the
barn and Ned doesn’
t manage to get up to the house and see Jane. Bella is
bunking in with Eliza-Ann, while her bedroom is being scrubbed down, and is
giggling uncontrollably."Giggle” may have been considered slang by’
’
the Mas­
ter” and probably it never was included in spelling bees when Eliza-Ann went
to school. She guesses, and comes up with ’
’
gueggling”. Perhaps thats how it
sounded in her father’
s broad highland Scots and her mother’
s Ulster ac­
cents. At any rate, the giggling and uproar made a bit of a shambles of that
day’
s diary entry.
Wedensday(sic) Ag and Bella won't let me mind to write[.T]hey
[October 5, 1887] [are] saying O don't forget to tell you the
bulls jumped out on the road today.Well Agnes
started to wash this morning after we milked and she had to leave
to help to put in them things they were talking about[.] O before
I forget they are telling me to mind you to not be saying Hellof,]
as it is very vulgar. Ma stuffed mutton for our dinner todayk-] I
am sure your teeth will be watering when you know that[.] Well we
washed today[.] Agnes was just blueing the clothes about 3 o ’
c[lock,] I guess it was [,] when along marched Sarah & Pryssilla
so we just put them out and we had father's flannel shirt and the
socks done & Agnes washed [illegible] & her [illegible] apron & we
put the shirting, shirts & s[ocks] back..2 1/2 inch blank where
words have been vigorously erased..back into the tub and left
them there. Wells came bobbing along with the sheep and for his
sheep he had his supper here[.] Sarah and Pryssilla went to Glen’s
when we ( O I forgot till they minded me that I had forgot to tell
you [that]I told Ag to cut the jelly cake the stilish way and here
is the way she done it- tiny diagram- a circle with a cross
making 4 quarters - it was her got the supper.) were finishing
milking. They came out where we were milking & and Uncle John's
John went up to Glens in his new buggy[. H]e was asking hands
to threshing. They are to be threshing to-morrow and Uncle James
after them. Kitty's stuck up John’s stair[.] I left him there when
I came to write this[. As I write, Bella and Agnes] are both sit-
[t]ing [,]gueggling & Ag saying Puke Puke Puke[I] And say there is
4 .
5
beasts on that grand bed of your's for there is a bite I got there
on my hand & I have to stop every little while and scratch......
...Bella was sawyingsic^rails with father a good part of the day[.
S]he was at it when the ladys came[.]I think I had something else
to tell you but I forget what it was[. It is] 1/4 past 9[. I'm]
now going to set for bread tonight[-] yet to feed you [illegible]
when you come back. They told me to end up with Puke Puke Puke
diagram of a circle divided in eight...[I have] Jelly cake
on the brain tonight. P.S. Bella got her cheek cut & hurt by a
stick hitting her.
Thursday We are all as tired as Sam Hill to-night
[October 6, 1887] floating around like bees every day. Fat­
her and John at threshing all day.Agnes finished washing coloured
clothes this forenoon[. Indeed she done the most of the washing[?]
very little I did[.]Raining all forenoon[.] Baking bread today[.]
I washed the windows in my room and sewed good bedroom feather-
tick. we took in the clothes just before dinner [because] we
thought it was going to pour rain all day and then we were going
to hang them in the old house.[.] After dinner we were sorry we
took them in and so we took and hung them out again.About 2 or 1/2
[past] 2 who should come driving along but the apple pickers [-]
Hanley(sic) & another man & a cub & Hanley informed them that he
was 17. Ag & Bella were out after they came pulling apples. They
packed 20 barrels today[and are coming back in the morning to fin­
ish & then going to Glens. Mother and I fixed the grapes to night
[-] we just picked enough to preserve a kettleful [and] made the
rest into wine. I forgot to tell you before till Ag sung out from
her roost to Bella [asking] did I tell you about the drawerlegs[?]
I have been catching it for the way I hung out the drawers and
them all staring at them I suppose. Agnes made paste & went into
the parlor & made the 2 paper window blinds. Then we went out with
the intention of taking in the clothes[, ]but it was so clear &
nice [that] we left them out. We then went to the barn to get some
dry boards for the morning fire. Bella wants to finish this[. S]he
wont tell me what but I may as well tell you[,] for I know it is
to draw the way I hung the drawers, for I heard Ag tell her to do
it because I made the jelly cake [diagram] last night. What
follows is a different handwriting and a diagram.
(Contributed)
The artist is not in the habit
of wearing such things and so
cannot remember the exact shape
(Excuse)
Eliza-Ann resumes, feigning
incoherent fulminations,
The dirty brute of a hog let my fellow (one of my numerous
ones) see those horrid unmentionables[!] I hope she wont
be so mean as I let _________ & _________ see yours.lt is now 25
min[utes] past 10[,] so good night[i]
Friday I washed the clock [-] 0 [-] I forgot the
[October 7, 1887] opening salutef.] Agnes came up the stairs and
told me to get up[;]it was pouring rain[. S]he
ran out when ever she got up and took in the clothes[, which were]
wringing wet[,J of course. Agnes washed the dining room windows[;]
then her and Bella went and finished pulling Hanley's apples be­
fore they would come[.I]t wasent(sic^raining when they went out[,]
Bella says[,]but it poured when they were out. [Hanley and his two
helpers] came along.......& finished packing after dinner [. W]e
have 25 barrels and they have to take them up tomorrow. They got
through with the threshing early[.]We put up the blindsin the din­
ing room & [took] the white ones off there upstairs[.]
«
>
*
Bella read up ma*s rooms washed up the dust{.] Ag hung out the
clothes after dinner when it faired up[.]I was ironing at them to­
night [. ] I dont mind of any
more notes just now[.] I am very
tiredf,] so good night - it is 3 minfutes] past 10.
At this point, after 10 days, Eliza-Ann stopped
writing for the balance of 1887, Never again would the
daily entries be so detailed,
(
t
r
t
W*r
THE FIRST ALMANAC DIARY:1888
7
Introduction
The log was kept in a copy of The Diamond Dye Almanac
(1888) published by Hells,Richardson & Co. Montreal. There
is a page for each month for use as a diary. The times of
sun rise,sunset,andmoon rises and moon phases are supplied
each day. At the bottom of all twelve pages is the follow-
ing:"use these diary pages for memoranda of accounts, pay­
ments, engagements, etc".One gathersthat Eliza-Ann found a
detailed daily log too much work and (perhaps) a poten­
tial cause of friction between her and her sisters In
March, she began to keep cryptic notations about weather,
egg production and the goings on for each day. She would
keep this up until the middle of 1901, gradually refining
her short forms.
March,1888
Eggs
6. Tues. Jane & I at Grants1
10. Sat. Soft
11. Sun. Blustring
12. Mon. Stormy
15. Thu. Father & Mother at Wigg[inton's] I was
at Junor'
s[.]
16. Fri. Corn Meal fetched home
19. Mon. Glen & Mrs Glen here
22. Thu. First lambs ^ ‘
"lamey
Sheep died at
night.
23. Fri. 31 eggs used up to now-worth .28 or
,33[.] 18 [degrees] below 10
Duncan here2
24. Sat. Zero this morning 6
25. Sun. 13 [degrees] below zero 12
. 26. Mon. Assesor here all night 6
27. Tues. Wells here 9
28. Wed. Malcolm [McEwen and] Fenwick [Stewart
at]Grey1s sale[.]Wigginton here
/Z_
29. Thu. Hector [Junor] here[.]
Ellie Green 3 year 15
30. Fri. Uncle James [Stewart] here for dinner.
Tom Wigginton here. 6
31. Sat. Ag & Bella at Uncle James
Father at Clinton 14
Jane & John at the river[-]saw a
crane & 4 ducks 90 eggs
90 eggs
7
12
10
13
17
17
22
30
22
30
23
30
34
26
27
26
12
43
33
34
39
1. Sun.
2. Mon •
3• Tues.
♦
4. Wed.
5. Thu.
6. Fri.
7. Sat.
8. Sun.
9. Mon.
10. Tues.
11. Wed.
12. Thu.
13. Fri.
14. Sat.
15. Sun.
16. Mon.
17. Tues.
18. Wed.
19. Thu.
20. Fri.
8 .
April, 1888
Smith here Sold Wallace Father at
Dunkens [and] Mother at Glen's
Smith here Wigginton here
M. & Ann Ross and Malcolm here. Sarah
[Barkley] and Ida [Stewart] Father
went with Malcolm to Morgans sale
Rain Thunder & litningfsic)
[illegible] lovely spring day the snow
went nearly all away[.] Started mat[.]
John heard frogs.
Frogs singing tonight Donald Smiths
dance[.]John went back with bags to
mill[.]
Thomas Wiggintonhjare Uncle James here
Daisy [the] Heifer calved. Mrs Camer­
on's funeral^ Johnny McGregor here
Walker girls left for North-West[.]
John and Tom off to grange[.]
Aunt Agnes [Stewart] here Billy killed
Smith here Duncan Here John in Clin­
ton Broke meat hook
Malcom (sic) at the barn[.] Sandy Ross
here for potatoes[.]Duncan here
Temperatures [illegible]
Ferny calved Mat finished Smith here4
Snowed at night Jane & Bella went to
to church
Morrow here -12 c[ents] Eggs
J. Elliot at school
John away to Ross'es with Vicount(sic)[.
Heavy fall of snow[.]
Brucefield show Jane washed upstairs
hall plaster
Scott [The Canada Temperance]Act voting
Uncle James at barn going to Glen's for
hay «
Father at Clinton[.] Put in mat[-] took
mat hook with him[.] Found 3 turkey
eggs[.]
Eggs
21. Sat 46
9 .
Jane cleaning school[.] Pete McGregor here.
Fergueson's here[-] Agnes went home with
them[. I] finished green dress....
t
o
t
o
•
Sun. Sabbath School started[.] Ned here at
night[.] Ma & John at church[.] 30
23. Mon. John started to plow[.]Started to dig
garden[.] Emmerson here for dinner[.]
Father shot ducks[.]
37
24. Tues • Ferguson's(sic) here today[.]Ned moved
Perdue away[.]Planted cabbage..... 49
25. wed. Pete McGregor here[.]John got a duck[.] 32
26 . Thu. [Two Peddlers] Scott [and] Powell here.
Lots of swallows[;]John says he saw them
[on the] Sabbath[.]
13
19
27 . Fri. Father grafting plums[.]Jane cleaning
Ma's room[.] Set [11] turkey eggs[.]
Tom Churchill here[.]
40
28. Sat. Cows nearly all out all night[.] Mary
Glen born[.] Jane & Bella in Clinton
[and they fetched the]Mat hook home[.]
Wood done[.]
29
29. Sun. Tom Wigginton here[.] Sarah [Barkley] &
Ada [Stewart] at Sabbath School [and
later] here for supper[.] Uncle James
here[.]
47
30. Mon. Emerson here for dinner[.] Alfred Isard
started school[.]
12
30
May, 1888
Eggs
1. Tues . Snowed only a little[;]lay a short
time[.]Father & John at Brucefield[.]
44
2. Wed. Stanley Beauty (black heifer) calved[.]
Aunt Mary [Stewart] here & at Glen's[.]
Dan RossS here Bella Grant's wedding
37
3. Thu. Finished seeding[.]Sarah [Barkley] in
on her road to Glen’s[.]Mrs Finley [Mc-
Ewen] this way coming in[.]
41
4. Fri. German peddler here for dinner[.]Jessie
Wigginton here[;]carae from Glen's with
me[.] Rain
34
5. Sat. Manson here[;]Ada here[.] Agnes & John
at Clinton [.] Father & Mother planted
cherry trees & walnuts[.] Cows all out
tonight [-] only the milch....tonight.
22
6. Sun. Mr & Mrs Wigginton here.[.]Ned here[.]
Will- Henry Elford - John put on his
shoes first time[.]
33
1 0 .
7 * Mon. Uncle John’s AnnieS here for flower
slips[.]Jim Junor here this evening[.] 38
Morgan here & Emerson[.]
Rained & Hail­
ed today[.]
8. Tues. Raining nearly all day[.]Mr & Mrs Dun- 28
can here[.]Agnes at Glens to night[.]
John at Brucefield[.]
9. Wed. Smith’s son here[.]Malcolm in buggy
here[.]Put up river fence[.jMcCartney 27
here[.]
10. Thu. Dan Ross here in evening 29
11. Fri. Smith Here[.]Willie Glen got his girl 26
home[.] Duncan McEwen's raising[.]
Cows (Milch) all out all night[.]
12. Sat. Planting potatoes all day[.] Smith
here
to buy[.]Ned here for pinchers[
. Our] 30
Milch cows in tonight; Glen's out[.]
13. Sun. Made Rubarb pies yesterday[.]
Jane & I 27
at church[.] Rained, hailed, snowed[.]
Stray gobbler came[.) Milch cows in[.]
14. Mon. Snowed {
ground white[in]
some places)[.j
Aunt Agnes here[.] Cold 0 Emerson here
Milch cows in Jane went to Glen’s[.] 28
I finished [braids?] on mat.[.]
15. Tues. Snowed[;] roof & Rails white[.] Albert 22
Wise here[.] John in Clinton[.] John
fixed pump[.]Black cows in[;]fixed the
fence round field[.]
16. Wed. Snowed a little[;]Duncan’s here on way 35
to Clinton[.]Picking clover stones all
day & was putting up fences [in the]af­
ternoon [
.
] Cold out last night[
-]
frostf.] Sarah at Glen’s[.]
17. Thu. Scott here Dan Ross here for potat- 26
oes[.]
Sowing mangold'
s(sic) & carrots..
...all day[.]Black cows out at night[.]
18. Fri. Father in Clinton[.]Got Agnes' seeds[.] 26
McEwens after Goblerfsic^ [.JPlanted
6 rows of mangols this evening[.] Got a
piece of bride’s cake [and] Gota Guinea
egg.
19. Sat. Sowing Mangol & Turnip seeds most all
day[. D]ad again at Clinton[.] Indian 36
woman here[.] Pa & Ma at Elliot’s &
Wigginton'
s[.] John at Craig'
s[.]
20. Sun. Let Black Heifer on the road[.] Vicount
out all night[.] Malcolm & a [stone] 29
Mason here.
21. Mon. Morrow Agnes & I dug flower beds[.]
Agnes & Bella at Glen’s[.] John at mill 26
with grist[.]The Emerson boy] shot a snake....
22. Tues
ll
22. Tues. John E lliot here[.] John sollingf.?]
Uncle James here Finley's share...Fath- 22
er and Knot at Malcolm's[,]
23. Wed Father & Malcolm at Clinton [.] Sandy 28
Ross' wife was here[.] John Junor col­
lecting[.] Let three calve out[.]
24. Thu. Scott here [-] washed sheep[.] Bella at 26
Uncle James [-]Father & John at Sandy
Ross'es & I finished....sun hat & brown
dress....
25. Fri. Glen here[.] Dunkan & Charlotte here[.] 17
26. Sat. Kate foaled[.] Mowed lawn[.] Malcolm 26
here[.] Wigginton heref.] Set Guinea
eggs[.jJane planted melons[.] Francis
came to Glens[.]
27 . Sun Father & Mother at church[.]Uncle James
& Willie & Ned[.] Kates foal died[.] 35
28. Mon. Wells & Wife....Duncan....Smith...[and]
..Morrow..,here[.] Heavy rain [but] not 29
very much.
29. Tues. Malcolm & Wife here[.] Father & Mother
left for Old Country7 [.] Ned here for 32
spade[.jMalcolm here with cow[.]
30. Wed. Ag & I planted turnips most of day[.] 28
Sarah here[-]Smith here cow Kate McEwen
& Jane here[.] Ned & Francis8 here[.]
John plowing summer fallow[.]
31. Thu. Raining....Sarah Wigginton......Jim....
Charlie...here...Found Guinea nest.... 23
1. Fri.
June, 1888
Eggs
Ag & I fixing fence. Old[Mr Edward]Glen 24
here[.]Rev. [Alex] Stewart at Glens[.]
Raining Frost last night
2. Sat. Aunt Agnes here[.]John finished plowing 24
summer fallow[.]Jane in Clinton[.] Mal­
colm here with cow tonight[.] Raining
this morning[.] Sarah here all night.
Smith here with cow[.]
3. Sun. Ned here[.] Fen[wick] & Adam [Stewart]
in on the way to [sabbath] school[.] 28
4. Mon. John harrowing before dinner[.We] shore 20
sheep [in the] afternoon[.]Inspector at
school[.]A very little frost last night[.]
5. Tues. Ag & I finished fence[;]Started running
off lye[and]John started manure[.] 21
6. Wed. Agnes went to Clinton[.] Tom & Jessie 23
[Wiggington] here[.] Gave Annie guinea
eggs[.]Washed blankets [and made] corn-
meal pudding[.]
49
21
26
17
23
28
25
46
30
25
27
37
18
22
17
12
Aunt Agnes...[and}..2 Mrs Glens.here[.]
John & I in Clinton & Ag at picnic mee­
ting[.]Jane ironed her White dress[.]
[Eggs] not gathered[.J
Mrs Junor here
Raining Agnes horse back riding[;]ask­
ing [for] baskets[.]Smith here cow[.]
Heavy Rain Uncle James...[and]....
Francis here[.]
John Butchart^..[and]..Emerson here[.]
planted out cabbage [and] lettuce[.]
.....J[ane] at Glens[.]
Manson here[.]Jane & I cleaned cell-
er[.]
A fellow here for his breakfast[.]
Jane at Clinton & McTavishes[.]
Scott here Road Work
Sarah[Barkley...and]Aunt Agnes here[.]
Ferguson here on way after stray catt-
le[.] Picked bugs first time[.Eggs]not
gathered
Sarah in in way to Clinton[.]John & I
at Clinton[.] Fen[wick] up with pap­
ers John took out the last 2 loads of
manure[.]
Emerson...[and]....Aunt Agnes here[.]
Finished Soap[.] Bella at Grants to­
night! •]
Old [Edward]Glen here[.]John at Bruce-
field[.]Sewed ribbon collar on dress[.]
John finished spreading manure[.]
Cleaned out my room[.]Jane finished her
white dress[.] Guineas out John mowed
lawn[.]
Scott here[.]Malcolm here in evening on
way home from Uncle John's[. I] planted
out some foxglove[.]
An old fellow here looking for work[.]
Set up Ma’s stove[.]2[Duncan McGregor's]
here....Ag at Glens...Francis here
Jane & I at Clintonf.]Ag, Bella & Fran­
cis at river[.]
Francis at [Sabbath] school......... Ned
..Mrs Wigginton....Lizzie....Fen[wick] &
Adam...,here[.] w
Jim__
_ Aunt Agnes here[.]Started weeding
roots[.] John took Aunty home[.]
7. Thu.
8. Fri.
9 . Sat..
10. Sun.
11. Mon.
12. Tues.
13. Wed.
14. Thu.
15. Fri.
16. Sat.
17 . Sun.
18. Mon.
19. Tues.
20. Wed.
21. Thu.
22. Fri.
23. Sat.
24. Sun.
25. Mon.
27
18
26. Tues.
13
Weeding rootsf.]John & Ag at McEwen’s[;]
Jane, Bella & Frank at river[. I] got a 15
letter Mrs McEwen fetched[.]
27. Wed. Sarah here[.] John & I [and Wiggington]
in Clinton[.] Weeding roots[.] 15
28. Thu Raining Weeding roots Lizzie over with
hen 20
29. Fri . Ag & I picked strawberries[. ]Hoeing po­
tatoes [.] Wool buyer/peddler here[.] 21
John at Uncle Johns[.]
30. Sat. A g & Bella hoing potatoes[.] Jessie Wig-
ginton here[.] Ned here baking for [Mon­
day's Dominion Day] picnicf.] Jessie &
Bella cooking berries[. Eggs not gather-
ed[.]
1. Sun. Annie StewartlO......Uncle James.... Tom
Wigginton..Ned..Daniel..Fred..here[.] 57
2. Mon. Picnic John started mowing[.]Brigham,
Adam & Ellen ElliottU here[ . Jane & 17
Annie Ferguson & John Here.Duncan'
s here
on way from picnic[.]01d fellow with arm
off here[.
]
3. Tues • Old [Edward] Glen..... Aunt Agnes here[.]
Started coleingfsic) hay. 15
4. Wed. Taking in hay[.]Fellow at pump for
drink[.] 18
5 . T h u . At hay 32
6. Fri. Harrow [Ontario?] pedler here[.] At
hay[.] Father & Mother sailed for
home in Toronto[. Eggs] not gather­
ed^]
7. Sat. Finished big hay field[.]Jim....Ned..
& Dune[an] McEwen here[.] 24
8 . Sun . Uncle James....Ned here[.]Aikenhead
at [Sabbath] School[.] 23
9. Mon. Sarah here[.]Jessie & I[were]at Mrs
Wigginton's rug bee[.] John & Jane 17
in Clinton[.]
10. Tues. John in Brucefield [-] got binding
twine[. Eggs] not gathered[.]
11. Wed. Scott here [-] brought wood[.] Fen-
[wick] here [this] afternoon[.] A 16
little rain
12. Thu. Raining Shook out hay 13
13 . Fri . Aunty [Agnes]..Andrews cattle buyer...
....here[.] 7
14. Sat. Finished hay [in] all but [the] orchard
before dinner[.] 21
15. Sun
14
16. Mon.
17. Tues.
18. Wed.
19. Thu.
20. Fri.
Tom Wigginton here for dinner[.] Annie
Stewart,Ned & George & Tom here in
evening[.] 17
Ag & Bella picking berries[;]got about
3 q(uar]ts(.] Finished hay (orchard) 18
Mrs Wigg[ington] at Glens (cherries)
John at Uncle James *[.] Ag & I picking
bugs nearly all day[.] 12
Ag & John in Clinton & Brucefield & at
Duncan's[.] Jane at Uncle James[.]Rain
(fried lard over) [Eggs not gathered.]
Ag & Bella weeding turnips[.]Aunty Ag- 12
nes here.Trout sited(sic) yesterday[.3 16
Started cutting wheat[.] Mother home 12
from Old Country[.] Lizzie here[.] 11
21. Sat.
22. Sun.
23. Mon.
24. Tues.
25. Wed.
26. Thu.
27. Fri.
28. Sat.
29. Sun.
30. Mon.
Father home [with imported livestock]
Glenapppin & Glenlyon[.] Wiggintons... 19
.♦..Uncle James...Fen[wick].... Adam..
[and] Duncan here[.] Sold 4 fat cows
to one Smith[.]
Ned & Will....Jim...John Junor....Jack
McGregor....Malcolm & McBride here. 12
Finished cutting wheat Sold 4 steers
to Stanbury’s12[.]Sarah (Barkley] and
Annie [Stewart], Mr & Mrs E. Glen and
Sarah Wigginton here[♦]Father & Moth­
er at Malcolms. Eggs not gathered.]
Father and John in Clinton[.]Jim[Paul? 24
apeddler here[.]
Aunt Agnes here[.] Horses out at Mai- 13
colms creek[.] Started putting straw
out of mow[.]
I cut some carraway[.] Taking in Wheat
[and] outting [last year’s] straw out
of mow[.] Sandy Ross and Mrs here[.]
Jane in Clinton[.] Uncle James here[.
Eggs not gathered.]
Nora Junor & Lizzie McEwen here[.] 23
Finished taking in wheat.G.Elliot and
Jack here[.]
Linds....& Mrs Hugh McGregor Sr.... & 2 3
rag pedler....here[.] Took in wheat-
sakingsf.] Old country sheep home[.]
Father & Agnes started for church[.] 23
Uncle James,, Ned, John & Hector Junor
[here]
.
Aunt Mary & Ida [Stewart]12 here[.] 20
Duncan for sheep[.] Bella herding
horses[.]
31. Tues
15
31. Tues. Shot Wallace[. ]0ld Innis1*... .McIntosh..
Pete McGregor here[.] Weeding tur- 16
nips [and] started pulling peas[.]
Bella herding horses[.]
August, 1888
1. Wed. Ag at Uncle Jame's for kitten[.]15 Hoe- 18
ing roots [in the] forenoon[.]
2. Thu. Ag in Clinton[.] Aunt Agnes Here[.]Will 27
& Road[.]
3. Fri. Ag & I pulling garden peas[.]2 McG[reg- 34
or] Duncan’s here[.] Heavy rain-storm
4. Sat. Arch[ibald]McDougal..Jim Junor..here[.] 29
Ma made the first apple pies[.]
5. Sun. Bella & I went to church[.]Mr & Mrs Bob 26
Renolds....Fen [wick].... Bill B[e] acorn*6
& Jack..Tom Wigginton..[and] 2 McGregor
boys here[.]
6. Mon. Jim Heren here[.] Bella & I spreading 22
peas[.] Ag herding horses[.]
7. Tues. Took in 2 loads of peas[-]finished pull- 29
ing both[.] Rev. [Mr Stewart] called[.]
Fen[wick went] for doctor for his moth­
er[.]*7 Old Glen here Ma went down[.]
8. Wed. Aunt Abby & Lily18 at Glen’s[.] Father & 30
Mother at Wigg[inton’s] Finished peas[.]
9. Thu. Started cutting oats[.]Father at Varna & 7
Uncle James’[.] Jane went to Clinton[.]
10. Fri. Old Mr Fisher here[.]Jane at Uncle James’.41
Jessie, Tom & Lizzie Hunter here[.]
Fetched..[illegible]..stand...[illegible].
Sleam Dunk here[.]....J[ohn] and A[gnes]
picked first [apples?]
11. Sat. Bella went to Clinton[;] Father herding 47
horses[.]Finished cutting lowpiece oats[.]
12. Sun. Tom Elliot..Cook...Hamilton....McDougal.. 25
Cousin John [B. Stewart] *9.here[ .] Jane
& I at church[.]
13. Mon. Morrow here[. He] took John's lamb & Fa- 28
ther & John cleaned up the oats. I [was]
herding20 [the] bull all day[. Jane & Ag
picking thimble[berrie]s[.]
14. Tues. Nursery peddler here[.] Tom Wigginton 23
here all night[.]
15. Wed. Smith Here[.] Rosy calved[.] Finished reap- 34
ing[.]Father at Duncan's[.]
16. Thu. Father & John in Clinton[;] got Glenappin 31
shod [.]Herding bull[.]
16
22
17. Fri.
18. Sat.
19. Sun.
20. Mon.
21. Tues.
22. Wed.
23. Thu.
24. Fri.
25. Sat.
26. Sun.
Sandy Innis & G[eo]r[ge] Inglis....Uncle
James....& Cluff here today[.]2l Ag & I
clipped lambs[. ]Herding bull after din­
ner[. ]
Herding bull 60
Ned here to night
Father at church[.] Tom & J[essie Wiggin- 23
ton] were here[. The Rev. Mr] Turnbull
preached[.]
Started hauling in oats[.] Took 4 fat 36
cord[s of wood] to Brucefield.] Margaret-
Ann in on way for berries[.]
Took 7 steers to Walker's22 corners for
Stanburys[.]Father in Clinton[.] 36
Finished taking in Rathwell23 [place 46
oats[.] Herding bull[.]
Jane & John in Clinton[.] Finished har- 36
vest[.] Aunty [Agnes]..... Finley[McEwen]
and Inglis...here[.]
Bella & Agnes at Varna[;] Father at Mai- 32
colm's[.] Ned here[.] Scott bought Ag's
lamb[.]
Father at Malcolm's threshing[.] Mrs Finley,
Ella & baby [Anabel McEwen]......Mrs Dunk &
Mary & Bella Ross..Hugh McGregor ....& Tom 33
Fraser...[here].
Henry Bacom, Ned & Will here[.] John, Ag, 32
Bella at church[.]
27. Mon.
28. Tues.
29. Wed.
30. Thu.
31. Fri.
Ho[l]mes here (other side of Clinton).
Vic-
ount(sic) at Butchart1s[.] 26
John at Gilmour's for wheat[.] I went to
Clinton[.] a fellow going to see the mason 25
Guinea hen died[.] Sowed wheat (at 34
Smith’s)[.]24
Maggie McGregor, Carrie, Kitty & Lizzie
McTavish [and] Parks Here[.] Father & John
in Clinton[.] 20
Finished making my boot box[.] Raining 54
1. Sat.
September, 1888
Father & John in Clinton 33
2. Sun. Uncle James, Jim [Barkley], George Gil- 25
mour & Fen[wick] here[♦] Jane, John &
I at church[.]
3 . Mon. John to Perdues25 to see about thresh-
ing[.] I [was] at Uncle James'[.] John 18
fractured his wrist.
4. Tues. I went for Reeve[.]Father at Malcolm*s[.] 25
5 . Wed
22
6 .
7.
8.
9.
1 0 .
11.
1 2 .
13 .
14.
15.
16.
17 .
18.
19.
2 0 .
2 1 .
22.
23 .
24.
25.
26.
17
Reeve & Son here setting arm[.] Glen’s
threshing
Thu. Scotch pedler....Aunt Agnes....Wigginton
& Tom..heref.] Stray pig heref.] Perdue
fetched separator[.]
21
Fri. Agnes in Clinton. Reeve here. 28
S a t . Churchill here[.] Perdue fetched [steam­
threshing] engine[.] I finished[pleated?]
mat[.]
32
Sun • Jane & I went to church[. We] saw Polly &
Margaret Cumming. Sarah Issard & Willie
with us.
19
Mon. Threshing[.]John went to Clinton[.] Took
machine over to Finley's[.] 22
T u e s . Took tank out today 30
Wed. Father at Finley's threshing[.] 28
T h u . [Agnes and I]washing sheep[.]John at mill 14
for chop[.] Wigginton & Tom here for
wheat[.] John & Ag in Clinton[.] Duncan &
Mrs here[.]
wheat[.] John & Ag in Clinton[.] Duncan &
Mrs here[.]
F r i . Uncle James threshing[.]Sarah Wigginton 26
heref.] Jim Inglis after pig[.] Ag at
Churchill's and Issards[.]
Sat:. Uncle John’s threshingf.]Ag & Father fix- 26
ing up sheep. Mother & Jane in Clinton[.3
Sun. Tom here[.] Rainingf.] 31
Mon. John & Ag in Clinton[.] Tom here all 19
night - Ned[.]
T u e s . Father, John & Tom at Seaforth[.] 18
Wed . Started lifting potatoes[.] Duncan here
[illegible] sheep[.] Churchill here[.] 33
T h u .
Fri.
S a t .
S u n .
M o n .
T u e s .
Wed.
Jane & I lifting potatoes[.]Ag & Bella at
Clinton show[.] Mr & Mrs Ballantyne here
all night[.]
Father,John, Jane & I..Churchill & Tom at 36
show[.] Churchill here[.]
Girls all at potatoes [-]Father carrying 25
them in[.] Finished Melons[.]
Mr & Mrs Tom & Stella [here.]Bella & I at
church[.] 21
John & Agnes at Clinton[?]Father & Mother
at Rathwells26 23
Father at Malcolm[
McEwen’s.]John at Uncle 20
James[.]
Rainingf.] Ag & John in Clinton[.]Church- 21
ills here27[#] Pedler (dress cutting)Mar-
tin & Sons here[.]
18
27. Thu.
28. Fri.
29. Sat.
30. Sun.
Raining Father took Glenlyon to Church­
ills (sold)[.] Ag cleaning oats[.] 17
Raining Father went to Clinton[.] 20
Cleaned stove & stove pipes[.]
Raining[?] Snowed first,I think[.] Father
at mill with grist & chop[•] Ag & John in
Clinton[. Eggs] not gathered[.]
Father at Uncle James' [and] Uncle James
here[.] Raining 37
October, 1888
1. Mon. John & Agnes in Clinton [.]Raining Aunty 14
[Agnes and] Tom here[.] Men all went to
Clinton with Dad[.] Fen[wick] and Tom
here all night[.]
2. Tues.
3. Wed.
4. Thu.
5. Fri.
6. Sat.
7* Sun.
8. Mon.
9. Tues.
10. Wed.
11. Thu.
12. Fri.
Father, John & Tom away to Goderich 11
show[.]Fen[wick] & Ag went to Clinton to
take home team[*] Jane at Issardsf.] Mrs
Duncan here[.J
Snowed last night & all day nearly (big
flakes & showery)[.] All (4) pulling 16
apples[.]
Raining Lizzie [Glen] here[.She] gave
Mother [a photograph] album.28 6
Tene McDonald....Tene M c E w e n S a r a h 9
[Barkley] in on way to Clinton[.Sarah is]
going up north[.]29 They came home from
[the] show[.]
Father & John at Clinton for 4 loads [of]
Goderich stuff(Hanley rails to fence).Mr &
Mrs Ferguson here[.] fetched goose (pul­
ling apples)
Raining[;]Ned,Jane,John & Agnes at preach- 15
[ingj in[Sabbath School](But^&rt Ministry)30
Pulling apples[.] Ned Rathwell here for 12
dinner[.] Started plowing (shanty field)
Father,John & George at Bayfield show[.] 4
Pulling apples[.] Packers at Glens[;] they
sacked them to night[.]
First baking of new flour[.] Heavy frost 7
last night[.] Pulling mangols all day. Old
Glen here[«] Beautiful day[.]
Jane, Bella & Father gone to Blyth[.] Ag & 12
I finished mangols before dinner[.] Scotch
peddler [who was] here last time....[and]
...Jim..-here[.]
Raining[;] Sandy Ross & Smith have bought 5
Bold Vicount(sic),heifer calf & Ag’s black
heifer[. T]ook away after dinner[.] Duncan
fetched up his sheep[.]Mrs &Duncan here[.]
13. Sat
14. Sun.
15. Mon.
16. Tues.
17. Wed.
18. Thu.
19. Fri.
20. Sat.
21. Sun.
22. Mon.
23. Tues.
24. Wed.
25. Thu.
26. Fri.
27. Sat.
28. Sun,
29. Mon.
30. Tues.
31. Wed.
19
Baker, McDougall, Duncan, Torrance [and] 7
George Stickley31here[.]Jane [at]Sheppards
sale[.]
Agnes & I at Sabbath School, Beautiful
Day[.] 8
Jane & Bella home on A.M.train.Pulled barn 9
roads took cellar[.]Father shot rabbits[.]
Raining to night[.]
Raining (Showery) Glens here[.]Agnes & I 5
Pulling apples[.]Started ploughingRathwell
[place] after dinner[.] Tom & Jessie
here[.] Finished ploughing shanty field[.]
Pulling apples[?] shower after dinner[.] 3
Malcolm in on way To Sheppards[.] Father
ploughing too in forenoon[.]
Lifting potatoes all day[-]finished[.]Nice 2
day[;] Aunty here[.] Charlie took Glen'
s
barrels[.]Saw flock of geese going south[.]
Raining all forenoon[.] Pulling apples[.] 15
Ag & J[ohn] took up [a] load [of] rails[.]
Father ploughing after dinner too[.]Took in
a load of mangols[.] Malcolm[here after
scraper[,]
Father hauling mangols all day & pulling ap­
ples & carrying sheep[.] Cold wind snowing 7
& raining all day[;] ground white now[.]
Snow lying yet on roofsf.] round edges 6
places yet[.] Wigginton here[.] Ma at
Glen'sf;] Baby sick[.]
Dickson's man here for his 3 lambs that he 5
bought[.]Jane in Clinton[;]got home with Un­
cle James[.] Ag & I baking an apple [des­
sert. ]
3 days taking in apples all day[.] misty
rain[.] Missed goose[.] Finished taking in
apples[.] 14
I [was]in Clinton[.]Hauled 3 loads of rails 8
(wood)[.] Beautiful day[.]
Ag & I pulling carrots all day[.]Ned & Dun- 6
can here[.] Beautiful day[.]
East south wind;showery[.] Ag & I pulling 10
carrots[.] Uncle James here[.]
[We] Finished pulling carrots and took in 1 7
load[.] Raining[.] Ned in Clinton for cid-
er[.]
Fen[
wick] here[.] Showery 4
Finished taking in carrots[-]4 loads[.] Ad- 6
am & Jim Elliot called[.] Showery
Ag & I pulling turnips[.] Adam Elliot 5
here[.] Beautiful day
Jim Elliot & Uncle James here[.] Uncle John 2
& Glen’s went to Hullet [Township.]
Mother &
I in Clinton[.]Beautiful day[.]Jane & Agnes
at quilting at Annie Ross ’
es [. ] Jennie Grant
here all night[.]
November, 1888
20
1. Thu.
2. Fri.
3. Sat.
4. Sun.
5• Hon•
6. Tues.
7. Wed.
8. Thu.
9. Fri.
10. Sat.
11. Sun.
12. Mon.
13. Tues.
14. Wed.
15. Thu.
Glen's threshing[. I] put on new boots {for
the] first time.Ag & I taking in turnips[-]
5 loads &£I] pulled about l[.]Jane at meet­
ing {concerning missions.] Martin here this
morning{.] Beautiful day[.] 4
Glen’s threshing{.} Ag & I finished pulling
turnips & taking them in [-] 2 1/ loads{.3
Aunty here{.] John plowing{.] Showery warm 13
Picking turkeys until dinnertime{.] Sarah
here[.] Mary Cummings [correct spelling
is Cuming] here all night[.3 Father Mother
6 Agnes in Clinton[.] Beautiful day 2
Beautiful day[.] Ned here[.]Jane & I went a
piece with Mary Cumming[.]32 7
Ag at Malcolm's{.] Father plowing all day
too[-]finished at Rathwells about 5{o'clock]
Sarah [Barkley]and Annie [Stewart] in on a
walk[.]Heavy rain at night & thunder slight-
ning[.] Beautiful [hot] day[.] 5
Started plowing below barn[with]two teams[.]
Nice day [but]dull[.] Wigginton [calledin[.] 6
Picking turkeys all morning[.] Wells here
with 4 sheep[.] Aunty [Agnes] & [sister]Ag &
John in Clinton with turkeys[.] Apple pack­
ers called[.] Beautiful day[.]
Father at Malcolm’s for dinner[.]Scott here 11
for Dick(his lamb).Wells bought one yester­
day and took it with him[.] Raining all
day[;] milch cows and colts in to night[.]
Tom & Jessie[Wigginton]here with [4]sheep[.]6
Malcolm & John Thompson33 here[.] Ada [Stew­
art]with Ag & Bella went to town for pump[.]
Trees delivered to night[.] Raining
Showers{.] Tom & Jessie here with citrons &
for pears[Jane finished jacket[.] John & Dad
took up 2 loads of wood after dinner[.] fin­
ished my checked red shirting skirt and put
it on to night[.]
Father & John at Uncle James’[.] Tom [here]
cold wind very windy Two black cows in
to night for the first time[.] 9
Jane in Clinton[.] McDonald here[.] Cut out
jacket lining[.] Beautiful day[. Eggs] not
gathered[.]
Frost last night. Father & John at Wiggin-
ton's threshing[.]Laidlaw here[; He] bought
[the] last billy lamb[.] Beautiful day 9
Father & John finished plowing all but sum­
mer fallow land in front of door[.] Cut out
jacket[.] Mrs Junor here[.] Beautiful day 9
Thanksgiving day examinations[and then]Sab­
bath School closed[.] Rev.Sim[p]son, Sawyer,
Scott & Forrest at Examination[.] Father &
John plowing summer fallow[.] Beautiful
day [-] raining a little to night[.]
9
16. Fri
17. Sat.
18. Sun.
19. Hon.
20. Tues.
21. Wed.
22. Thu.
23. Fri.
24. Sat.
25. Sun.
26. Hon.
27. Tues.
28. Wed.
29. Thurs.
30. Fri.
21
Snowed a little and froze last night [.We]
had in all the cattle last night[.]Ma [and]
John [attended John Pearson's dance.34. 7
Agnes went to Duncan's[.] Duncan here for
his sheep[. He] bought an imported shear
ling[.] Jane & John in Clinton[.] 3
Jane & I in church[;]Ramsay preached[.]Hard
froze[-]snowed a little toward night & star­
ted raining[.] Thawing toward midnight[.] 2
Raining cold Uncle James..Sandy Ross & Dun­
can here[.]Ag went down for Uncle James[.] 2
A fellow here with McDonald's two sheep[.]
Father in Clinton[.] Jane & Ag at Greg­
or 's[.]35 Uncle James & Dares here[.] Nice
day [-] froze hard 2
Nice day Apple packers here[;They] packed
15 barrels[.]Father at Uncle James’killing
pigs[.] Allister here for his 2 sheep[.]
Duncan with sheep[.] Dewdrop calved[.] 2
Nice day[,]Aunty here[.]Jane in Clintonf.]
Father & John & Irish36cutting..[and haul­
ing] wood -] 1 load before dinner and 3
loads after dinner[.] 2
Nice day[.] Put in double[i.e. storm] win­
dows [in the] kitchen[.] Father went to
Bell's sale and him & Mother went to Fin­
leys at night[.] Ma was at Duncan’s all
day[.] Finley’s wem't at home[.] 10
John & Willie McEwen in this morningf.JFa-
ther at Wigginton's for dinner [and at]
Woon’s & Wises too37 Manson here[.] Mrs
Middleton's funeral[.]38 15
Ag & Bella in Church[.The Rev.Alex.Stewart
preached.] Nice day[;] The ground is hard-
frozen [making for]good roads[.] 2
Nice day Dull middling cold A few flur­
ries of snow Jane in Clinton[.] I hauled
2 loads of wood after diner[.] 5
Agnes at McTavish'es after dinner[.]Prayer
meeting at A[lex.] Innis's[;] Ma, Jane & I
went[.] Hauled 2 loads of wood I think af­
ter dinner[.] fellow hunting mink[.] Nice
day dull 0
Aunty here[.I] hauled 2 loads of wood be­
fore dinner [and] John [hauled] 1 after[.]
filled apples for cider[.] John hauling
gravel[.]39 Nice day [but] dull[.] 3
Father...John....& Willie in Clinton.[Ont­
ario Department of Education] Inspector
[Elgin] Tom at [S.S. #1 ] school[.] Sarah
Wigginton here[.] J.Wigginton here asking
[us to a] dance[.] John hauling gravel[.]
Raining & snowing a little[.] 3
John at Malcolm[McEwen’
s]bee hauling earth
to house[.]40 wigginton dance[;] John
went[.]Jim [Barkley]here going to dance[.]
Snowing & soft all day[;]freezing a little
to night[.]
December, 1888
22
1. Sat.
2. Sun.
3. M o n .
4. Tues•
5 . Wed.
6. Thu.
7. Fri.
8. Sat.
9. Sun.
10. Mon.
11. Tues.
12. Wed.
13. Thu.
14 Fri
15. Sat.
16. Sun.
John Junor here.....Father & John went to
Tom Welsh'es sale. Father took Wigginton's
sheep...... 3
Dull day[.] Ned [here,] 0
Father away buying our beef. Wells here[.]
Finished red shirting busque[.] Started
storming some[.] 3
Father & John went to Johnny Thompson’s
for heifer father bought yesterday[.]
Glen's killed pigs[.] John there to
night[.] Jane cleaned pantry[.] Showering 0
some[.]
Agnes at Corin's; (sleigh [used] first
time)[.] John at mill with chop (had Hec­
tor) [.] Jane cleaned kitchen ceiling[.]
Stormed soft last night[.] 3
Mother,Jane & John in Clinton[.]Took cider
apples & didn’t get cider[.] Sleigh in
Clinton[.] Fen[wick] here[;] took vinegar
home. Snowed some nice day 1
Killed 6 pidgeons[.] (Sic) 1
Jack Reid & Jack Elliot here[.] Father &
John finished cutting, splitting & piling
what wood was hauled up[.] Dull day Soft-
ish Finished making curly jacket and ap-
ron[.]
Jane & I at church[.] Uncle James here[.]
Soft buggies going good[.]
Aunt Agnes....Heren & Couch here[.] Father
S
t John in Clinton for cider with the wag­
on[.] Soft fine day
I[was] at Duncan McEwen’s[.] Mother & John
in Clinton[.] Mother got home with Duncan
(for sheep)[;]John waited for cider & ket­
tle[.] A little frost windy
Making apple butter[.}Duncan & Mrs here[.]
Jim here all night[.] Snowing a little to
night[.]
Mr Glen here[.] John took back kettle[.]
Father & John hauled some wood[.] Set up
Jane's stove upstairs[.]4l Snowing stormy
Father & John hauling up logs for wood to
day too[.]I moved into the room[.] Jane at 4
Uncle James’[.] McGuire here and away af­
ter fat sheep[.] nice day Sheep died[.]
Father in Clinton[.] McDonald’s man after
his sheep[.] Finished making other apron
(shirts)[.] Thawing[;] rained a little to
day[.]
Raining
17 • Mon. Misty [-] Started freezing & snowing a very
little near night[.] John in Clinton[.] Fa­
ther dug round berry bushes & moved little
trees[.] Ag cleaned her room[.]
18. T u e s .
23
Jane at Pearsons [. ]Minnie42& Gustie & Sarah
here[.] Clear moonlight Froze hard cold
no wind 1
19. Wed. Father & Mother went to Wigg[inton's] about
1/2 past 4(after they came from bush)[.]Fel
low here to night wanting to buy pid-
geons[-] Icy cold flurries
20. T h u . Father in Clinton[.] I [was] at Glens[.]
clear windy cold
21. Fri. Father put on new smock[.] made 3 window
boards [.]Agnes made......[illegible].. .box
...[illegible]Stormy but not very frosty[.]
22. Sat. John at the mill with [a Wagon-load [of]
grist[.] Father at Duncans[.] Finished
father's drawers[.] Clear cold (middling) 2
23 . S u n . Bella & I at church (Rumbal) Green
Froze hard (buggies)
•
C
N
M o n . John in Clinton[.] Shot a partridge[.] Kil­
led turkey. Soft a little rain 1
25. T u e s . Sarah [Barkley,] Ada & Annie [Stewart] here
after dinner and all night[.] Ned & George
here at night[.] Raining and warm
26. Wed. Father at school meeting[.]43 Duncan & Tom &
Duncan's and J. Bole'
s boy here[.] Warm a
little rain
27 . T h u . Father in Clinton[.]Sarah Wigginton here all
night[;] her & Ma went to Uncle James'[.]
Hard frozen stormy 2
28. Fri. John went down to Uncle James' with [news]-
papers to night[.]44 Hard froze nice day
windy 4
29. S a t . Jane & Bella in Clinton[.] Father & John in
the bush these days. I finished navy blue
basque[.] 3
30. S u n . Ag & I in church[.] Hard froze a little
soft p.m. 3
31. M o n . Father at Varna (election) .45John Hunting all
day[. We] ate Sarah's goose[.] Snowed last
night; soft[.] froze a little to night[.] 6
1. The Grant's farmed on the London Road on the Stanley. The
cluster of houses at the junction of Stanley Sideroad 30 and
the London Road, was called Granton.(Unlike the Granton in
Biddulph Township, this Granton had no post office status.
Janet (Jennie) Grant was a longtime friend
with Isabella MacFarlane,and both became school teachers.
Jennie became an avid photographer.
2 . Duncan McEwen 1843-1927-son of Stanley pioneer "Cash" John
McEwen, and farmed Lot 28, Con 2.
3. S.S. #1 teacher ’
Master" George Baird's mother-in-law, Mrs
John Cameron,died April 7 and her funeral was April 9.
Deceased was born in Perthshire, Scotland 1800,married John
Cameron 1833, emigrated to Glengarry, Upper Canada, 1845 and
settled in Stanley, 1850. Her daughter Janet married to Geo.
Baird. See obit. Clinton New Era ,April 13, 1888.
4.
5. This Ross Family lived on Lot 27, Con 2.
6. Annie Stewart 1867-96, daughter of John Stewart and Abigail
Tweedy Sometimes call "Nan"; She died at 29 of TB.
7
.
24
James MacFarlane made several trips to Scotland to acquire
purebred livestock -sheep-cattle-horses.
8. Francis Hamilton
9.
10. Annie Stewart 1875-1960, daughter of James Stewart and Mary
Barkley; married 1900 to Harvey H. McBrien, a Clinton
carpenter.
11. When the diarist's maternal grandfather, Adam Stewart,
emigrated from Ireland to Leeds County, Upper Canada, in
1833, his niece Mary Anna Stewart came with the family. Mary
Anna married James Elliott of Kitley Township, Leeds Co. in
1835 and the farmed south of Smith's Falls on Con 3, S.
Elmsley Township. In 1857, the Elliott's followed their
Stewart and Barkley relatives to Huron Co.and settled in
Hullett Township north of Clinton. The diary entry is
confusing; one of the Elliott daughters was a Mrs Brigham.
12. Stanbury's lived out on the London Road.
13. Ida Stewart 1877-1956 dau. of James And Mary.
14. refers to John Innis {sometimes spelled Innes).
15. Yesterday Eliza-Ann says "Shot Wallace." Wallace
was probably a cat and Agnes is getting a kitten
from Uncle James and Aunt Mary.
16 The Beacoms lived up in Goderich Township. Bill Beacom and
Fenwick were good friends and future brothers-in-law. Wm.
Beacom married Annie Rathwell and was the father of
Elmer and Cela. Cela Beacom married Fred Sloman and they
operated the "School-on-Wheels" in northern Ontario. Wm.
Beacom died young in tfcL'
17. Mary Barkley suffered severely from "dyspepsia." She was
overweight and may have suffered from an eating disorder.
18. Lillian Ellen Stewart 1876-1904, youngest child of John and
Abigail Stewart.
19. John Barkley Stewart (1861-1925), eldest son of John and Abi­
gail Stewart. His father had set him up on a farm on the Bay-
field Concession, Goderich Township. In 1890 O he year -
Lhi^
diar^TTsf misstYiqi- Jack married a Stanley Twsp. neighbour,
Amelia Graham (1868-1903). They had 3 children:William John
John(1890-1974) Elva Abigail Graham(1895-1947) and Thomas
Brown(1902-7$). Jack's second wife, Mary Jane Haliday(1871-
1939) is the mother of the youngest child, Mary Robertson,
still living in 1998.
20. Eliza-Ann occasionally refers to herself or her siblings as
"herding" horses or cattle. This most recent reference sup­
plies a clue. A bull is kept only for breeding. In 1998, our
diarist could have written, without violating propriety:
"Cow X in heat. Father and John tied up getting the oats into
the bam, so I had to set the bull on her. I left the pair to­
gether for most of the day in the barnyard." In many house­
holds, well into the 20th century, only the menfolk would
supervise this livestock coupling. Women of all ages and small
boys would be sent to the house. On a farm where men were in
short supply, a wife, sister or daughter, would take the init­
iative. James MacFarlane was years ahead of his time and was
widely respected for the high quality of his pure bred stock.
His four daughters would all understand the logic and the fin­
ancial rewards of selective breeding. They conformed to Vic­
torian propriety by not talking about it, or using a euphemism
such as "herding."
21. John Innes fsometimes spelled Innis), a native of Banfshire,
Scotland, emigrated to Upper Canada in 1841 and came to Stan-
in 1848. Originally he settled on Lot 30, Con 2, but event-
moved 2 lots north to lot 32. He was one of the first horse
importers in the area.His son Alex (Sandy) Innes carried on
the tradition and fanned on Lot 32. John Innes's daughter,
Mary, was Mrs Duncan McEwen. John Innes died in 1893.(see obit
in Clinton New Era, August 4, 1893.)
22. Duncan Walker farmed
23 Lot 32, Con 4, Stanley Township fronts on the Bayfield River
and is 120 acres. It had been occupied by Edward Rathwell and
by Alex. Robertson, before Edward Glen and James MacFarlane
bought it and split it between them a decade or so earlier.A
mile and a quarter south, next to James Stewart, Nicol
Robson had farmed Lot 26-IV,before moving west.The MacFarlane’s
tended to refer to their part of that lot as "the Rathwell
place" while Glen's tended to call their 60-acre portion "the
Robison Place." (There is a tendency in people from Ulster to
add or subtract syllables from names - Robson becomes Rawbison
and Elliot becomes Eliot). And in handing down the oral
tradition about the pioneer days, Robson and Robertson got
confused as one-and-the same person by the oral historians and
both got called "Rawbison." To the day of his death in 1997,
Don Glen called that farm on the 4th "the Rawbison place."
(More on this in the 1893 diary)
24. The Smith’s lived to the south, on Lot 25, Con 3.
25. The Perdues lived just across the Bayfield River from the
MacFarlane’s, in Goderich Township. In addition to farming,
they did custom threshing and were the threshermen of choice
James MacFarlane, James and John Stewart.
26. The Rathwel1's were Protestant Trish settlers from County
Carlow, Ireland. John and Jane Rathwell were pioneers in
Goderich Township in the 1830's. They settled on the Bayfield
Concession in Goderich Township and most of the Rathwell's
to whom Eliza-Ann refers are children or grandchildren of
this prolific couple.
27. The Churchill'
s lived north-west from the MacFarlane’s, on
the 10th Line in Goderich Township. The diary entries suggest
that there was largely a business relationship between the two
households.
28. in late Victorian times, there were two standard sizes for
mounted studio photos, the small carte and the larger cabi­
net photos. The elaborate, ornate albums with their thick
pages, had openings of both sizes cut in them and the photos
could be inserted or withdrawn very easily. The vast majority
of the photos were taken in local studios with exotic scenes
and plush appointments for background. Most newlyweds sat for
a "wedding photo" sometime in the first year of married life
and copies were given to siblings. Aunts and Uncles,
sweethearts or grandparents to adorn their albums. These
sturdy albums often as not occupied a place of honour in the
parlour and were able to survive a lot of handling. It was
acceptable for a young lady to sit close to a young gentleman
caller, to show him the pictures. Most of the photographs in
the MacFarlane-Glen-Fraser connection are in Glenfarm House,
and it is fairly safe to bet that the album and photos that
Lizzie Glen gave her Aunt E]iza MacFarlane are there. It's
also a safe bet that two of the photos would be the wedding
photo and one of Mary, the baby. The Glen wedding photo shows
Margaret Elizabeth Stewart and William Glen around a
simulated and overly-large exotic earthernware jar. William
Glen was small and slight in stature, but is well turned out.
Lizzie has a timeless beauty and would age gracefully. Lizzie
was the best-looking of the 6 daughters of John and Abigail
Stewart, although sister Lily (Mrs Cuming) was a very close
second.
29. Sarah Elizabeth Barkley (1859-1923) at age 10 or 11, lost her
father David when a steam engine in the sawmill where he
worked blew up. Mary his widow had several small children and
no income. She remarried almost immediately to John Hunter,
but was still experiencing difficulty. Mary, (Mrs James
Stewart) offered to take and raise one of the children, and
so Sarah lived the next 18 years in her Uncle James Stewart’s
home. The Hunter's lived north of Clinton in the vicinity of
Lucknow and Dungannon,and Sarah could see her biological mot­
her frequently. But four or five years earlier, the Hunter’s
moved up to Algoma District (near Sault-Ste.-Marie). About
the time of this diary entry,James and Mary Stewart gave
their niece money to go and visit her mother on the new place
up north. Sarah never came back. She married Willie McBain,
a stone mason who had worked for Buchanan and had helped put
Malcolm McEwen’s stone house up earlier in 1888. Wille then
moved up to Algoma. The two knew each other from Stanley, and
eventually got married(Dec 1, 1890) The Stewart’s and
MacFarlane’
s received wedding photos which still survive.
30. John Butchart (Lot 27 Con 3) had a brother Dr James Butchart,
who was a medical missionary in China. Eliza-Ann is not ol^ar
25
26
1
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
as whether Dr Butchart was home for a visit and spoke in per­
son, or whether some Other preacher or lay speaker gave a de­
tailed account of Dr Butchart's work[.] Fund-raising in sup­
port: may have been part of the agenda.
George Stickley (Steckley?) was the hired man at John Stew-
wart's in this period. A veteran of the British army, he-was
cockney to the core[.J
. . » 1
,
, , # ■ ,
r
’
Mary Cuming is a cousin. As noted in Footnote 11, Mary Anna
Stewart came to Canada in 1833 with her Aunt and Uncle, Adam
and Ann Stewart. She married James Elliot and the couple
followed their Stewart relatives to Huron and settled in the
north of Hullet Township. One of their daughters married a
Nicholas Cuming. The Cumings kept in contact with their
Stewart cousins in Stanley. A son, John Cuming, worked for
John Stewart and in other places in the Baird's school com­
munity. John would marrry Lillian Stewart (his second cousin,
once removed) in 1899. Ada, a daughter of James Stewart,
became close friends with Isabella, another Cuming daughter,
and tried unsuccessfully to matchmake Bella with her brother
Fenwick. When Eliza-Ann writes about walking Mary part way,
it's safe to assume she's staying nearby at James Stewart’s,
or, more likely, at John Stewart's.
John Thompson of Blake was a stone mason. Isabel and Don Glen
said that Thompson did the stonework on MacFarlane's house
and barn, and the foundatiion of Ned and Jane Glen's house
in 1902. One of his assistants did the foundation for Ned
Glen when he raised his barn in 1900.
Pearson hired Peter Campbell to build him a new frame house
in 1888, which still stands on lot 32, Con 3. This Nov 16th
entry would refer to the house-warming party.
Gregor McGregor farmed on Lot 26, Concession 3.
George Elliott over the river in Goderich Township was
nicknamed "Irish" Elliott. (I.P., E.J. & D.A. Glen)
The Woon and Wise farms front on the Bayfield River, in
Goderich Township, immediately to the north of MacFarlane'
s.
The Middleton's were "Old Country English gentlemen." Charles
Middleton settled in Goderich Township in 1834. The Middle­
ton's had money and were able to prosper by lending it out in
mortgages at the high rates of interest prevalent in pioneer
days. Like MacFarlane's,
, Middleton’s raised pure bred stock
and cultivated fruit orchards scientifically. At the time
of this diary, Charles' sons were farming. John Middleton
had his farm on the 10th concession at the junction of the
Clinton-Bayfield Road. Since 1878, the Anglican parish of
St James, Anglican Church, Middleton, has flourished. George
Middleton's farm nearby consisted of several odd-sized lots
on the Bayfield Concession. The funeral alluded to by Eliza-
Ann is probably that of Mrs Charles Middleton.
This probably to do with Statute Labour. From pioneer days
until well into the 20th century, rural rate payers were
required to work so many days a year maintaining the gravel
roads. The more acres one owned, the more hours or days
required. A farmer with horses could do his work by using
his waons to haul gravel from the gravel pit to road repair
sites. If one did not do one's reqired service, a substitute
could be hired and the delinquent party billed for the wages.
The McEwen stone house was built in 1888. Instead of digging
a cellar on a flat site, the celllar floor and foundation
could be built at ground level and then earth and fill banked
up against the foundation walls. This had the visual effect
of making a house seem more imposing, perched on a hill.
The word "stove" is a guess as the writing is illegible. But
Jack Glen did tell me that when the MacFarlane stone house
was new, each bed room in winter was heated with a small wood
stove. There was a net work of stovepipe holes in the walls
and ceilings and enough chimneys to set up a network.
Probably Minnie Walker:see 1891 photo of the Master with his
former pupils. Minnie Walker is about Eliza-Ann's age.
The annual meeting of the rate payers of School Section #1,
Stanley, was held between Christmas and New Year's. The
three trustees for the coming year would be elected. The
teacher would be formally installed for the coming year
and his (or her) salary was set. The Master was at this
school from January, 1861 to December, 1910. The school
house was the focus of the community. Everybody who grew
up in the school section had been taught by the Master.
The Sabbath School was held there every Sunday from Easter
to Thanksgiving. Many young people who graduated from the
school were destined to marry a class mate. The annual
meeting was serious business.
Isabel Glen, daughter of Jane MacFarlane & Ned Glen, used to
say (and the diary supports this) that James and Eliza Mac­
Farlane and their 5 children went to Clinton far more fre­
quently than most of their neighbours. There was no rural
mail delivery until 1912, and the people of S.S. #1 had to go
to the Clinton Post Office for their mail. MacFarlane's
would pick up the mail and what ever big city daily or weekly
newspaper their relatives, friends and neighbours subscribed
to. Mailed newspapers were stitched shut with cord, but
Isabel said that didn’
t stop the five children and their
parents from perusing the front page. Some of the people
for whom they performed this service told them to go ahead
and cut the cord and read the whole thing. At any rate,
I recall Isabel saying that her mother and Aunts were exposed
to the Toronto World, The Globe and The Mail & Empire and the
two London papers, the Free Press and the Advertiser. James
Stewart subscribed to The Hamilton Spectator until his death
in 1911. He was an avid reader and debater of public affairs
and read anything he could get his hands on (as long as it
was Tory.)
Municipal elections in Ontario were usually on December 31
or New Year's Day. Stanley Township was run by elected
councillors and a Reeve. The Township Hall was in Varna.
44.
45.
2 b
both taken
September 22,1891
Top: "Maple Grove"
Farm house:
Jas. MacFarlane Prop.
Bottom George Baird
with past and present
ipupils,commenorating
30 years at S.S. #1
CNT.
KENT CO
DUART,
OUTSIDE ;WORK A SPECIALTY
Standing L to R. John MacFarlane, Jane MacFarlane ’
'Seated h t
R. James Mac Farlane, Agnes MacFarlane and Mrs James MacFarlane nde
. 1Eliza Stewart Absent Eliza Ann MacFarlane
Back Row, L to R: Frank Scott, Bill Scott, unknown, Frank
Butchart, Ida Stewart, Edith Whittingham, Lillian E. Stewart,
Master George Baird,Jane MacFarlane, Alex. McTavish, Annie
'"Nan" Stewart,Ada Stewart, William McTavish, Minnie Walker,and
standing apart. Bob Gilmour. Middle Group [standing beyween
the back row and the bench] L to R John innes,unknown, Byron
"Tim" Waldron, Alex D Baird,William McEwen,Peter Baird,unknown
Janet McLeod,Ella McEwen,william Baird[boy in front of him un­
known], James Baird,[child in front of him unknown],Alex.McEwen,
Annie E. McEwen, Isabella May McEwen,Isabella R. McEwen.Bench
Row:Mary McEwen, Elizabeth McEwen, Mary Glen, ? Smith, Bertha
Whittingham, ? Jennison, Maude Scott, Tena Ross, Kate Ross,un­
known, Bessie Smith, Anabel McEwen.Front Row on the grounds
Christena McEwen,Margaret McEwen,Annie Stewart,Christena Baird,
Agnes Butchart, Agnes MacFarlane, and Janet Gilmour.
TWO PHOTOGRAPHS
TO. C5. §ap©I(3^,
PHOTOGRAPHER,
29
THE FIRST FULL YEAR;1889
This diary follows the format set in 1888, but
it is penned on blank paper. Eliza-Ann inserted all
the numbers and drew in all the lines. The original
is brittle and there are holes. Missing text will be
indicated by dots....
NOTES WEATHER EGGS
DATE
January
1st T . All at Uncle James.... Nice Day 5
2. W. 3
3. T . Killed heifer[.]John in Clintonf.]Asked
Wigginton's over tomorrow 4
44 P .
5. S.
Wigginton* s..Adam..Ned & George here[.J
Father & Mother in Clinton[.] Ag on
horseback asking Ada[.j
Finished knitting pleating on petti-
co[a]t[.] Father at Malcolms[.]
Nice Day 4
a little
soft after
dinner
8
6. S . Raining 5
7. M. Malcolm’s dance Junor & John Me [?]
asking [me] to dance[.] Nice day
5
8. T. Father away to London[Ontario.] Lizzie
here this afternoon[.] Softish 7
9. W . Father home to night; [He] fetched 3
lamps & my watch charmf.]1 Ned [Glen
here.]2(poured all day high winds snow­
ing) [.]
Rained
16
10. T. John in Clinton[.] Stormy
Big drifts 5
11 . F . Father at Duncans[.] Snowed a very
little 10
12 . S . Father finished making pot-hole cup­
board Ned fetched home his pigs[.] Nice Day 8
13 . S . Father, Mother, Jane and I [were] in
Church[. We went in the] sleigh. Tom &
George here[.]
Nice day 8
snowed a
very little
14. M. Sarah & Ida here & John at mill with
chop[.] Malcolm & Alex McDougal [here]. Nice day 10
15 . T . Duncan here[.] Nice day
cold wind
6
16 . W. Raining all day in showers[;] saw par­
tial eclipse[.] 9
17 . .
18. F.
Father in Clinton[.] Fen[wick Stewart,]
Ned & Will[iam Glen] at barn[. I] fin­
ished blue shirting wrapper[.]
Father at Dunkins for lambs (2) with
wagon[.]
Hard froze
snowing a
little to
night
Snowing to
night
10
8
19. S. Mother, Jane, John & I in Clinton[.] (poor
sleighing) 8
20 . S . Father, Mother, Jane & I at church.[.] storming 10
January, 1889 30
21.
2 2 .
23 .
24 .
25 .
26.
27 .
28.
29.
30.
31.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6 .
7.
8 .
9.
1 0 .
11.
M. Jane & Agnes...& John at Finleys[.] stormy 8
T . Mr & Mrs [Nicholas Cuming] here to
night[.]
Nice day
10
W. [
Cuming's]& I at Glen’s &[at]C[linton.] Nice day 6
T. Mrs [Cuming] & Auntie drove up in cut­
ter[.] Mr Wells & Mrs Lang here[.] Nice day 7
F . Ag at Wiggintonsf.]Auntie went home aft­
er dinner[.]3 Duncan here in buggy[.] Nice day 8
S . Old Duncan [McGregor?] here.[] Nice day 5
s. Jane & I in church[.] snowing 12
M. John at Sandy Ross'es with Dewdrop[.] snowing a
little all day 11
T . Ag & Bella at Glens in evening[.] 5
W. [There was a dance at Bob] Pearson’s[.] snowing a
little all day 13
T . Torrance here[.] John in Clinton
(cutter)[.] Snowing &
stormy
10
February, 1889
F . John at Churchills[.] Dan Ross and Dan
McGregor here[.] Wises' [had a dance.] Snowed some
9
S . Father in Clinton[.] Ned & George
here[.]
9
S. Father,Mother,Jane & Agnes in church[.]
[They went in the] sleigh[.] Milligan
from Toronto preached[.] 11
M. Aunt Agnes,Adam Whiteford from Oak Lake snowing 9
[, Manitoba,]4...& Dan Ross of Dakota5..
__.here[.] John, Ag & Bella in Clin­
ton[.} Father left for Montreal[.]
John took Aunty home [in the cutter.]
T. John & Jane [were] in Clinton in [the] stormy 1
morning [and they went again in the]
evening for Maggie[Cuming.]Ned & George
here[.]
W. Maggie [Cuming] & the rest at Glen's very stormy
to-night[.] Father came home[.] [5 degrees] 12
below zero
11
Stormy
6
some stor­
my but mild
snowing 9
Nice day
8
Snowing 8
Stormy
T . Jane and Maggie at Uncle James' [in the
daytime and they were with] John, Ag &
Bella at Uncle John's at night[.]Father
& John in Clinton(sleigh)[.]
F. Sold Nancy to Tipling[.] Lizzie [Glen]
here[in the]afternoon and Charlie,Alice,
Annie,Adam [and]Fen[wick Stewart] & Ned
& George here at night[.]
S . John and Jane went to Clinton with Mag­
gie in [the] sleigh[.j
S. Ma, John,Bella & I at church(Sleigh)[.]
Jim & Ned [here.]
M.
12 .
13 .
14.
9
15 .
16.
17 .
18 .
19.
2 0.
21 .
22 .
23 .
24.
25 .
26.
27 .
28.
1st
31
T. John in Clinton[;] got up & down with Snowing
Ned in [the] cutter[.] Stormy 8
W . Johnny Gilmour & Tom selling tickets 4
here[.] Father & John in Clinton[;]
took sleigh[.] Finished knit-quilt
blocks[.]
T. Father, Mother and John in Clinton[.]
Bull(Arcgowan Nubicum) arrivedf.] Tor- Nice day
ranee. Sparrow & Ned here[.]
F. Father in Clinton[.] Nice day
cold east wind 5
S. Mr & Mrs [Nicho las] Cuming here[.] Fa­
ther drove him to Wise’s [in the
sleigh.]Started knit-Quilt borderf.]
Thawing 5
S . Father at Uncle James's[.]
M . Started quilting Agnes' quilt - John
Junor...... Bella Ross & Finley McEwen
here[.]
6
Snowing
Stormy
T .
W.
T .
F .
S .
s .
John Junor here for [a] bag [of] pot­
atoes; [ he took a bushel plus 10 Snowing 1
pounds.]
Junor's here[.] John started for [the]
mill with chop [but]turned back [when] Cold 3
he found the] concession blocked[.]
Lamey lambed one (Billy)[.] Finished
Ag['s] quilt and started wool com- clear day 8
fortables[.] drifting
Finished tacking2 wool comfortables[.] Snowing
Hector Junor's dance Stormy
Tacked 1 other comfortable[.The temper­
ature was six degrees] below zero at 9 Snowing
o’cl[ock] A.M. [and nine degrees below stormy
zero] at barn time
11
8
Ned, Will & George [were] here [and
went with] John [to] Uncle John's[.] Sunny day 8
23 [degrees] below Zero
M . John out breaking road at mill with
chop p.m.[.] Tacked 4th comfortable[.] Sunny day 4
6 [degrees]below [zero]this morning[.]
T. Mother, Jane & John in Clinton[;] took
my watch up[-] mainspring broken[.Jim] Snowing a 4
Turner here[.]
W. Tacked 5th comfortable (Ag’s)[.] John
at Junor’s[.] John started hauling Nice day 3
manure[.] warm
T. Uncle John’s Annie [called] here [to
invite] us to Alice's wedding[.]Ag at
Malcolm’s[.] Jane in Clinton[; She] 1
went on Grey's back as far as Wiggin-
t[on's.]
March, 1889
.F. Father & Mother at Wells'[-they]bought
10 sheep[.] Wells brought some of them Nice day 6
home [for us.] soft
2nd.S •
3rd. S
4. M.
5. T.
6 . W .
7 . T .
8. F .
9. S .
10. S.
11 . M.
12. T.
13 . W.
14 . T .
15. F.
16 . S .
Holland^here for dinner bargaining for
trade oats[.]Finley here to night-John
at foot-ball match[.I] finished cover­
ing comfortables & binding Ag's
quilt[.}2nd.sheep lambed[-]2 ewe lambs
(long-faced old old country)[.]
. Mother, Jane, Agnes & John in church
(Nellie & Hector sleigh)[.JUncle James
here [-] John at Glen *s[.] Tame shear­
ling had a nice lamb this morning[.]
Started feeding long-faced lambs[.]
Father in Clinton[.] Tipling & Hull
here[.] Old country shearling lambed 2
l[ambs.] (1 R[am] & 1 E[we.] Tom Wigg-
inton here(.]
Agnes went to Stonehouse'
s? on the
Grey[.] Jane mending bags[.]
Fellows here peddling Beacom's
fencef.] Joe Fisher8 & insurance man
here for dinner[.] John in Clinton [-J
got 2 teeth filled and one pulled[.]
John at Dan Ross1
es[.] Glen1s cutting
in the forenoon[;]Father there[.] Fa­
ther [was] in Clinton [this] after-
noon[. He] came home by Wigg[inton1s.]
Father & John cleaning wheat[.The] Rev.
[Alex.] Stewart & wife here[.] Prayer­
meeting at Malcolm1s[.] Father, John,
Jane & Agnes there[.]
Father and John in Clinton with a load
of wheat[.] Fetched home my watch from
J. Ross[.]9 Bella and I helped [Father
John] to clean another load[of wheat.]
Ned & George here[.]
Mild Snowed
Father,
Mother & John[were] in Clinton
[in the] afternoon[.] Father & John.,
[also made a trip to Clinton in the
morning and] finished taking up [the]
wheat[.] Lilie [Stewart was] her[e
this] afternoon[.]
Donald Smith & Dan Walker here[.]Hol­
land here for his oats with chop[.]
Father & John in Clinton with pota­
toes [.]To day was Alice Stewart's wed­
ding [at Uncle John's. T]he 5 of us
[MacFarlane cousins were] there[*]
Father in Clinton[.] Started our 1888
mat - again[!]
Malcolm & Junor here [-]left bags for
potatoes[.]Ag out there for papers[.]
Father at Duncan'
s & Ross'
es[.] Scott
here & Glen’s weighing horses[.]
Wigginton's entertainment*o [-] Jim
& John here went to Wigginton1s[.]
Father & John in Clinton[.] Shipped
bull to Wingham(to Black)[.] Aches-
on here[.]
32
Nice day 5
soft
10
Nice day
soft
6
Nice Day
soft
Nice day 12
soft
Nice day 11
soft snow­
ing a little
Nice day 21
North Wind
Snowing 25
Stormy
Snowing 26
Stormy
Nice day
a little 20
12
11
20
Nice day
Beautiful
28
23
25
Beautiful
day soft
Beautiful 26
day soft
33
17 . S . Francis Hamilton at Glen’s [-] came
last evening!.] Nice day 23
soft
18. M. Sandy Ross here[.]Sarah here and Jane
at Glen’s a little while[.] Father in
Clinton[.] River over road (upper
bridge) off next morn[.] Nice day 20
soft
19 . T . Father & John in Clinton shipping
Nellie, Hector & Grey to Duncan[.]
John & Fenwick saw ducks when they
were coming home[.]..[Mr] Tuff..[the]
Assessor..here all night[.]John Junor
here[.]
29
Nice day
soft
20. W. Jim, John & Dave Junor & Johnny
McGregor here[;]Jim in the morning[.]
Smith here[.j Jane & I at mat bee at
John Junor’s[.]
Nice day 19
middling
21. T . Agnes finished 1888 mat at dinner
time[.] Uncle James & Mrs J.Pearson
here[.]John in Clinton[?] he got home
with Ned & Will(buggy)[.]
Nice day 30
22 . F. Jack Butchart,John Junor after potat­
oes & Lizzie McEwen here[.]Dyed cott­
on rags brown in cooler for carpet[.]
Bella went to Uncle James'to night[.]
Nice day 26
23 . S . Isabel & Lizzie McEwen here[.jUBelle
learning [how to] crochet-quilt[.]
Heard frogs & a pluverfsicj [;]spring
birds here long ago[.]
Beautiful 29
day
24. s . Lots of frogs singing all day[.]Grass
pretty green under the apple trees on
the lawn[.]
Beautiful 20
25. M. [I] Made 3 pillow cases and sewing
sheets[.]Went up the concession after
cows[.]
Beautiful; 28
Froze hard
last night
26. T . Jane & I at Grants[.] Jane went by
Clinton[.]
soft
Beautiful; 26
Hard froze;
coming home
27 . W. Mrs Glen Sr. at John Junor's[.]People 30
plowing all round to day[.] Beaut[iful]
snowing to night
28 . T . Mrs Wigginton...John Junor---[here.]
Agnes in Clinton[.] Nice day 32
29. F . Ag at Wigginton's hooking mat[.I]Fin­
ished making 12 pillowcases[.]
Snowing; a 28
little
coldish
30. S . Jane in Clintonf.] Big ewe lambed 2
R[ams.] Stanbury, Duncan & Acheson
here[.]
Nice cold 25
raw
31. S . Stanley Beauty calved heifer[.] John
at Glen's[.]
Snowing; 36
ground well
covered
April, 1889
1. M. Wells... & John Butchart here[.] Nearly All the 24
fresh snow melted
2 . T . Acheson and Crooks here with chop for Snow & sleet;
oats[.] Jane washed 9 sheets,15 pil- Ground white
low cases and 4 towells (new). this morning;
all melted 19
Nice spring day
The other Old Country shearling lamb­
ed 1 R[am} & 1 E[we.}Bella at Glen’s
inviting them to R.Pearson's party[.]
Uncle James here[;] Father in Clint-
ton[.]Jane & Agnes at Missfionarjy
meeting[.] John and Waldie McEwen
here[.]
34
Raining; 30
snowed a
little
Nice Day 15
Worth wind
Hicks here with chop for oats[.] Ag­
nes’s other sheep lambed & other long
tail[.]
North wind 23
drifted
stormy, snowing
all day; lots of snow
Uncle James here[„] Mother at Glen's Nice day; 21
this evening[.} a lot ofthe
snow melted
[I got my]1st Turkey egg[.]Last snow
snow not all gone yet[.} Frogs sinq-
freezing..
nice dav
19
34
Father & I planted out 5 trees [-]
Irish Juniper etc,[;]went to Clinton
[and] got cards about horse[.]Fenwick
here[.]
Beautiful
day
37
Sabbath School started[.] Jane, Bella
& I [were] there[.] Ag got [a]cold[.]
Sarah at school[.] Ned & Tom Elliot -
John & Ned had supper[-] Elliot
Nice day
22
Father at Varna[;] bought Stewart's po-
ny[.] Finished tapeing carpet rags[.]
Agnes started sewing[.] Ag at Glen’s[.j
Father had to go for the cows[.]
Nice day
cold wind
20
16
Alexander with chop for feed oats[.]
Ferny calved (heifer)[.] Father & Mother
out at Junors[•]
Nice day
cold wind 29
Father at Clinton to day helping Junors
to pack as Mrs Junor[is]leaving to mor-
row[.] Tipling here showing ponies[.]
Raining 26
Cleaned peas[.} Jane went to Clinton
[and] took my watch[•]
Nice day 26
coldish wind
Father through Goderich Township[.]
Johnny McTavish got a ride a piece[.]
Dull day
nice
33
Cantelon here[,] Coleman at Glen’
s for
noon[.]Father at Glens overnight[.I]Set
20 turkey eggs[.]
John shot [a] yellow hammer[•] Raining all day 33
Jane & I [were3 at S[abbath3 School[.3 Misty & rainy
John, Ned, George at Wigggintons[.3 27
Cantelon and 2 others here packing Snowing & 35
apples(10 barrels)[•]Herberson,J .Butch- rainy
art and 2 McLeods here[.] Horny heifer
calved[.3 (He[i]f[er 3)
Father & John at Malcolm’s with buggy Fine day 29
for scraper[.]12 Father & John scraping
in hill at [the] back of [the3house[.]
Thomas] Trick & [his son] Levi [were]
here for tea[.]
, 1889
Jane & I [went] in [the buggy to] Clin- Nice day 25
ton[.]Jim Snelli3 & Arch[ibald]Mc Doug- cold
*1 hpr<af .i Jnhn went to Uncle Jameses
3 . W.
4 . T .
5 . F .
6. S*
7 . S .
20. S.
21. S.
22 . M.
23 . T .
24 . W .
25 . T .
26. F .
27 . S .
28 . S .
29. M.
30. T.
May,
1
. W.
35
6 . H.
7 . T .
8 . W .
9 . T .
10. F.
11 . S .
12 . S .
13 . H.
14. T.
15 . W.
16 . T .
Mother and I at Cartwrights[.] Agnes
washed 6 sheep with father[.] Young
black heifer calved(he[i]f[er])[.]Turn­
ed out young cattle for good[.]
nice cool 36
wind
Donald Junor, Arch[ibald] McDougal,Mal- Nice day 14
colm. Jack McG[regor] & Tom Matheson
[here.]
Cleaned stove pipes[.] Mother &
Jane at Wiggintons[.]
Ag & I at Wiggintons for wire strecher
(sic) [.]14 Churchill & Anderson's
sons [here.] Jane cleaned up John's
stair[.] Took off any flannels[.]
Agnes & I planting patch of potatoes
out there[.] Jane & I in Clinton[;]got
John’s watch & left mine[.]
All winter clothing off & Comfort­
ables off bed[.] Digging strip out to
little gate. Lizzie here[.]
Streaching (sic) wire round house &
digging garden[.] Washed sheep[.] John
hauling manure to shanty field [for
roots)[.]
Jane, Bell & I in Church[.]
from Hensal preaching[.]
Shore 6 sheep[.]Jack McGregor & F.Ket­
tle here for tea[.] Finished our flow­
er beds[.]Father at Malcolms[.]Ag & I
hauling apples out of cellar
Agnes & I cleaning out cellarf.} Mrs
Rathwell. .George...Annie....Curry—
John..Isabel & Lizzie here[.] Father &
Mother at Duncan's[.]
Father in Clinton[.] Jane finished
cleaning Ma's room[.] Agnes at Uncle
James’[.]
Jenison’s, Mitchel & Alexander here[.J
Jane cleaned parlor[.]
very warm 39
very warm 15
(heavy) 35
Thundering
Raining
very warm
Nice day 18
Acheson Nice day 40
raining 29
a little
Nice day 29
Nice day 31
raining all
evening
Nice day 33
17. F. Shearing sheep[.] Mother at Sarah
Wiggintons[.]
18. S. Finished shearing sheep (20)[.] Moth­
er & Jane in Clinton[.]
19. S. Jane, Bella & I in Church[.j N[ed],
George, Adam & Tom [here.]
20. M. Agnes, Bella & I [planted 6 rows of
potatoes in the shanty field] after
dinner about 4 o’clock[.] Uncle John
in this morning[.] Annie here[.]
Bought fish fromm pedler[.]
21. T. Jane, Agnes & I [planted 8 rows of]
potatoes before dinner[.] Hunter &
Sandy Thompson here & J. Butchart &
Malcolm & Matheson fetched in
pigs[.] Put up stair rods[.]
22. W. Jane, Agnes & I finished planting 18
rows [of] potatoes before dinner[.]
Uncle James here[.]
Nice day 23
Nice Day 23
Nice cool 29
day rained
a little
Nice cool day
raining
25
Raining P.M.
19
Cold
raining
29
20 .
21.
22 .
23 .
24.
25 .
26 .
27 .
28.
29 .
30.
1.
2 .
3.
4.
5 .
3&
S .
s.
H.
T .
Father & I planted out 5 trees [-]
Irish Juniper etc,[;]went to Clinton
[and] got cards about horse[.}Fenwick
here[.]
Sabbath School started[.] Jane, Bella
& I [were] there[.] Ag got [a]cold[.]
Sarah at school[.] Ned & Tom Elliot -
John & Ned had supper[.] Elliot
Beautiful 37
day
22
Nice day
Father at Varna[;] bought Stewart's po- Nice day
ny[.] Finished tapeing carpet rags[.] cold wind
Agnes started sewing[.] Ag at Glen'sf.]
Father had to go for the cows[.]
20
16
Alexander with chop for feed oats[.] Nice day
Ferny calved <heifer)[.] Father & Mother cold wind 29
out at Junors[*]
W. Father at Clinton to day helping Junors Raining 26
to pack as Mrs Junor[is]leaving to mor-
row[.] Tipling here showing ponies[.]
T .
F .
Cleaned peas[.] Jane went to Clinton Nice day 26
[and] took my watch[.] coldishwind
Father through Goderich Townshipf.} Dull day 33
Johnny McTavish got a ride a piece[.] nice
Cantelon here[.J Coleman at Glen's for
noon[.]Father at Glens overnight[.I]Set
20 turkey eggs[.]
S. John shot [a] yellow hammer[.] Raining all day 33
S. Jane & I [were] at S[abbath] School[.]
John, Ned, George at Wigggintons[.]
M . Cantelon and 2 others here packing
apples(10 barrels)[.]Herberson,J.Butch-
art and 2 McLeods here[.] Horny heifer
calved[.] (He[i]f[er])
T. Father & John at Malcolm's with buggy
for scraper[.]12 Father & John scraping
in hill at [the] back of [the]house[.]
Thomas] Trick & [his son] Levi [were]
here for tea[.]
May, 1889
W. Jane & I [went] in [the buggy to] Clin-
ton[.]Jim Snell*3 & Arch[ibald]Mc Doug-
al here[.] John went to Uncle James,s
to night[.]
T Sarah here[;]Jane went home with her[.]
Father at Jervitt's sale[.] Oiling kit­
chen floor[.] Agnes at meeting[.]
F . Father & John in Clinton with apples[.
I] finished oiling [the] kitchenffloor
and] put up river fence[.] Planted one
flower bed[.] cabbage
S . Planted onions & a row of Lettuce[.]
Father & John digging post holes be­
hind house[.] Some of the cattle out
all night[.] Steam Dunk here[.] Agnes
...one lamb...died[.]
S. Wiggintons at Glen's[;] Jessie here at
S[abbath] S[school.]Father & Mother at
church[.]
Misty & rainy
27
Snowing & 35
rainy
Fine day 29
Nice day 25
cold
A very little
rain 26
nice kind 26
of cold
Nice warmer
38
Nice day 30
May, 1889 37
Donald Junor here[.]Agnes & I [were]
in Clinton[.] Lily Miller came out
with us[.]
Jennie Mustard^, Aggie Butchart,
George Stickle[y, Edward, William
and Ned Glen]... Coleman’s man....&
..2 Jenkins [here.]All of us [were]
at[the] river[.]lf
i
Father in Clinton[;]Lillian[Miller]
went home...Fen[wick] here[;J came
home from Clinton with father..Tree
Agent Mr Fallis....Mr & Mrs Duncan
...Margaret & Cordelia [here.]
Father & Mother in Church[.] Frost
last night & other night too[.]
Carrie [the] Heifer calved(steer
Jim Aikenhead here[.] John in Clin­
ton[.] Jane & I streaching wire[.]
Malcolm McEwen here for dinner &
once before[.] Agnes & I streaching
wire[.] Malcolm McGregor here all
night[.]
Cows (milch) Horses & sheep in all
night[.]
[There were] 7 chickens killed last
night[. I was] in Clinton[.]Malcolm
McEwen here for tea[.As Pathmaster,
he is[let[t]ing jobs on the road[.]
, 1889
Jane & I [were] in Clinton[.]Butch-
hart & [son] Johnny & Lollie (tree
pedler) here[.]
Agnes & I at Sabbath School[.]
cold 20
Cold windy
24
Cold 22
Nice day 25
cool
Very windy
raining 26
Snowing 25
cold wind
15
Raining mostly
all P.Af.
Pouring rain
all day 18
Raining 15
all P.M.
Cold Dull 15
Raining nearly
all day 14
Glen here Nice day rain- 2_9
ing evening 11
Johnny Butchart here[.]Jane & Ag- Dullish 13
nes at Glens[.] Father at Wigentons sprinkling
(sic)[.]
Donald Junor,Tom & McEwen's here[.] Raining 13
Gobbler died last night[.]Sarah Is-
ard(sic) Bob Trick collecting for
picnic[.]
Agnes at the meeting[.] Father in Nice Day 26
Clinton[.]
Tom Wigginton in[.] Raining 13
pouring evening
Agnes at Uncle James'[.] I [was] Raining 20
round there asking [for] baskets[.]
John in Clintonf.] Finished puttng
on net wire[.]Wells sheeps(Philips)
other lamb died[.] John got his
watch.
23 . T .
24. F.
25. S .
26. S.
27 . M.
28. T.
29. W.
30. T.
31 . F .
June,
1. S .
2 . S .
3. H.
4. T .
5. W. ]
i
i
]
6. T.
(
7. F.
8 . S . 1
]
June , 1889 38
9. S . Ned, George, Jack Elliot & Another
fellow here[,j
Raining 15
10. M. Malcolm C[ameron],Uncle James [and]
Mr & Mrs Duncan here[.]
Dull day 19
11. T . Mother & Jane in Clinton[.] John &
Father digging post holes along the
concession[.]McDonald[from]Porter’s
Hill & another fellow here[.]Glen's
after scraper
Nice day 21
12 . W. Agnes in Clinton[.]Let out calves[.]
French man here[.]Johnny Butchart(C)
Nice day 17
13 . T . Father in Clinton[.] Baking for Is-
ards picnic to-morrow[.] Lizzie
here[.]
Nice day 20
very warm
shower morning
14. F . All at Picnic but Mother & John[.]
Malcolm in, Charlie Mason here[.]
Nice day
warm
15
15 . S . Agnes in Brucefield and at Dun­
cans [.] Currel & I.Isard looking at
horse[.]
Nice day
showers
30
16 . S • Jim...Fen[wick] & Adam.....here[.] Nice day
showers
18
17 . M. Jane at Stonehouse's(.] Nice day 15
18. T . Jane & I[were]at N[ed] Rathwells[.]
McDougal.....Alexander...McLeod...
..Wigginton...& Coleman [here.]
Nice day 23
19. W. John [with the wagon] in Clinton[.]
J. Butchart...D.Ross..Malcolm & Tom
..[here]
Nice day 26
t
o
o
.
T. Liz & Jane gone to Blyth [for Ellen
Elliot's wedding.]18 A.McQuire.....
Fen[wick]..John off collecting sold
cattle[.]Bella at Grants[.] Finished
[illegible.] Head ache*
Sultry day*
17
21. F. Fenfwick] stayed all night[.]J. But­
chart [here.] John walked to Clinton
[and]stayed to [attend a] concert[.]
Rainy Morning
cool evening
18
22 . S . Charlie McDougal [came for eggs.] M.
McEwen, Ned, George & Ida camped
out[;] do not know when they will[be
back]
cold 17
23. S . Ag & Bell[a] went to churchf.] [Mr]
Beattie Esqi9. from London, Tom & D,
McEwen & Mr Ross, Mr Duncan & James
[here.]
cool 18
24. M. Jane [and Lizzie?] came home on the
4.25 train[.] Father at Snells, Dun­
cans & Brucefield with Beattie[.]
Nice day
dull
13
25 . T . Alexander here for his horse[.] Nice day 36
26 . W. Father & Mother at McGregor's[.] Fa­
ther in Brucefield with wool[.]
Nice day 17
27 . T . Father in Clinton with chop (bug-
gy)[-J
Raining
nice day
15
28. F . Agnes & Mother in Clinton[.] Agnes &
Father dipping lambs[.]
Nice day 17
June, 1889 39
29. S. Father, Glens & Mac in Brucefield
with fat sheep to Jack Hunter (1
sheep ours)[.]Father took buggy[.]Fa­
ther & Agnes dipping the rest of the
lambs[.] Father,Agnes & Bella finish­
ed sowing turnips[.] Jane finished
Bell's slate dress[.]
very warm 17
30. S. Agnes, Bella & I [were] in Church[.]
[The Rev. Mr] Drumm preached[.]Uncle
James here[.]
Nice day 26
warm
July , 1889
1. H. All at [Dominion Day] picnic but mo­
ther! .] Malcolm, Jim Aikenhead,Sandy
Campbell, Fred,George & Jim here for
tea[.]
Nice day 20
Raining P.M.
heavy thunder
sharp lightening
2 . T . Father & Agnes planting potatoes[.]
Agnes at Glens [this] evening for
mousetrap!.]
very 32
warm
3 . W Donald Junor here[.] Agnes & Father
scuffling roots with pony[.] Father
at Malcolms[.]
Very warm
pouring 22
rain
4. T. John in Clintonf; He] fetched home
[the] new wagon[.] Jane,Ag, Father &
I weeding mangols[.] Malcolm, McTav-
ish, Aunt Mary [Stewart] & Mrs[John]
Hunter^o (Sarah [Barkley1s] mother)
[here.]
22
Very warm
5. P. Finished weeding mangols before din­
ner[.] Jane & Agnes hoeing potatoes
P.M.[.]Jane,Agnes & John seeing Sar­
ah [Barkley]before her departure for
Algoma in the morning[. ]2l
Nice day 17
6. S . Father & Mother in Clinton. Started
mowingf•]
Nice day 20
7 . S . Jane,Bella & I[were]in Church (Stew-
art)[.]
Warm 18
Nice day
8. M. Hauled in all [the hay which] was
mowed [on] Sat[urday] -(5 loads)[.]
Very warm
Nice day 19
9. T . Hauled in[5 loads of hay.]Took Bella
up to try for 3rd class [teaching
certificate? Upper School?]
Very warm 14
10. W. Hauled in [5 loads of hay.]Took Bel­
la & Jennie Mustard up[.]
Very warm 18
Raining
Evening
11 . T . Scattering hay Nice day 22
12 . P . Hauled in [8 loads of hay.] Currel
here[.]
Nice day 27
13 . S . Hauled in [5 loads of hay; a lamb
died and] Agnes & John skinned[it.]
Raining morn
Nice day
14 . S . Mr & Mrs Jessie [Wigginton]& Stella
& Uncle James [here.]
33
Raining P.M.
15 . M. Duncan & Miss Sftella] Wigginton
here[.J Hauled in [4 loads of hay.]
Nice day 11
cool wind
16. T. Hauled in [5 loads of hay.] I mowed Nice day 16
before dinner[and]finished the
first little field[.]
16
July, 1889 40
16
17 . W.
18. T
19. F
20. S
21* S
22. M
23 . T
24. W
25 T
26. F
27 . S
28. S
29* M
30. T
. Hauled in[6 loads of hay.]J.Butch-
art (C) Mowed before dinner[.]Jane
SAgnes picking berries(1st)[; ber­
ries scarce this year.]
. Hauled in [8 loads of hay-]all we
had cut[.jLizzie McTavish and Chri­
stie McLeod passed[.]
. [I] finished mowing[.I]did not mow
the orchard[because] the sheep are
running in it[.] Father in Clin-
ton[;] got chop[.]
. Duncan, Beatie & Fox here[;]bought
lambs & Billy[.[Father drove Beat­
ie & Fox to Snells[.] Jim Junor
here all night[.]Hauled in[3 loads
of hay.]
. Jane, Agnes & I in church (Stew­
art )[.] Father at Uncle James'[.]
. Agnes, father & I hoeing mangols
all A.M.[.]Hauled in[l load of hay.
- the last.We took off 55 loads al­
together. ] Agnes & I in Clinton
seeing if Fox's car was come[.]22
We were at Mrs Glen’s & McTavish-
es[.]
. Father[in the buggy]& John in[the]
wagon took up the Billy & the 10
lambs[.] Agnes, Bella & I hoeing
mangols[.] P.M. Agnes & John crad­
led round wheat[.]23 Mrs Duncan
McEwen &[her daughter] Annie [Eva]
called on the way from Clinton[.]
. Heaping wheat[;]Agnes & I stook-
ing[.] Father & Bella hoeing man­
gols [.] Mrs Duncan & Cordelia
here[.]
. Finished cutting wheat A.M.[.]Fa­
ther & John hauling manure[.]Bella
& Agnes hoeing mangols P.M.[.] Mo­
ther & Jane in Clinton[.]
. Mr & Mrs Dunkin here [this] even-
ing[.]Agnes,Bella & I hoeing tur­
nips all day[.]
. Father walked to Clinton[and] got
home again with Scott[.I] finish­
ed my muslin dress & cuffs[.] Ag­
nes & Bella hoeing turnips all
day[.] I [was] hoeing A.M.[.]
. Father & Mother in church[.]Uncle
James here[;]Fen[wick] Tom Elliot
& George around[.}
. John S
t I hauled in 5 loads of
wheat[.[Father,Agnes & Bella hoe­
ing turnips[.] Mr & Mrs Thomas
Dunkin here[.] Started quilt-mis­
sionary quilt[.]
. J[ohn] hauled in 4 loads of
wheat[.] All of us-Father,Agnes &
Bella hoeing turnips[.] Ben Hig­
gins [an in-surance agent and]Bob
Pearson (sow) here.
Nice day
Nice day 16
Dull day 25
a little rain
cold wind 24
Nice day 25
Nice day 16
coolish
sprinkled
Nice day 14
coolish
Nice day 20
coolish
Nice day 12
warm
Nice day 17
Nice day 18
warm
Nice day 12
Nice day 12
Nice Day 8
31 . W. 26
2 .
3.
4.
5.
6 .
7 .
8.
9.
10 .
1 1.
12 .
13 .
14.
15.
July, 1889
Mr E. Glen Sr.& Mr Duncan here[.]
Father in Clinton with Duncan[.]
Lizzie here[.]I raked wheat stub­
ble [.] Jane & Agnes skinned lamb
(another died)[.] Finished Mis-
[siona]ry quilt[.]
August, 1889
T. Hoeing turnips[.]John & I took in
the rakings [gleaned from the
wheatfield.] Tom McLean, Mr & Mrs
McEwen and Steam Dunks an[dj oth­
ers here[.] Agnes at Miss[ionary]
meeting[.]
F. Father in Clinton[.] Agnes & I
[were] at Stomehouses seeing Aun­
ty[.]Duncan & Jack McGregor[here.]
S. Father left for Old Country[.]K.J.
Dunkin Stepheson(sic)[:] Pump &
Cistern Maker here[.] John & I
[were] in Clinton[;] We took up 6
steers[.]
S. Purvis and [Isaac]Salkeld here[.]
M. [Aunt Agnes & I were] in Clinton
[to go to Mrs Weir's funeral[.]24
Started cutting peas[.]
T . Finished mowing peas
W . Reaping oats behind [the] barn[.]
Lizzie [was] over [in the] even-
ing[•]
T • Mother & John in Clinton [.Finis­
hed cutting field oats[.] Turned
some peas[.] Jane & Agnes picking
brambles [in the] evening[.]
F . John & I finished turning peas
[and we] put off wheat raking and
cleared out old horse stable[.]Ag­
nes & Jane [were] picking berries
[in the] morning[.]
S . Took in peas(3 loads)[.] Bella in
Clinton[; she]got card from(fath­
er Vancouver went on)
S. Agnes,Bella & I in Church(Stewart)
M. Agnes, Bella, John & I reading hay
for oats[.] Mother & Jane at..Wig-
gintons & Jane picking berries[.]
T • At hay[; I] cut 2 rounds [a]round
the big field of oats[on the"Rath-
well place."] Bella & Agnes at Un­
cle James 1[; ]Annie came up to stay
all night - to pick berries[.]
W . Reaping P.M.[.] Uncle James here[.]
Bella passed for 3rd class [. ]
T. John at Wiggintons threshing A.M.[;]
Reaping P.M.[.]John went to Macs for
divine[services.]Bella in Clinton[.]
Nice day
Nice day 10
shower evening
Nice day 11
Nice day 18
coolish
Nice day 19
coolish
Nice Day 14
Warm
Nice day 14
Nice day 6
Nice day 25
dull
Nice day 15
Nice day 25
cold
Nice day 16
sprinkled
Nice day 14
small shower
Raining 47
nearly all A.M.
Nice day 18
cold morning
1.
41
16 . F
August, 1889 42
17 .
18 .
19.
20 .
2 1 .
22 .
23 .
24.
25.
26 .
27 .
28.
29.
30.
31.
S .
S .
M .
Reaping oats [on] the Rathwell place Nice day 16
all day[;]got ball [of binder] twine cool wind
from Glen,s[.] slight shower last night
John & Agnes in Clinton with Bob in Nice day 18
buggy for[more binder] twine[.] Fin­
ished reaping[?] hauled in 4 loads
[of] oats from below [the] barn[.]
Aunt Agnes here[.]
John Junor, Tom Wigginton, Fen[wick] Nice day 18
& Adam here[.]
Hauled in 7 loads of oats from below 0
the barn[.] Bella May & Ella McEwen a small
here[.]25 shower [this] morning
T. [We] finished hauling in [oats from Nice day 23
the field] below the barn[.] We took all day
in 4 loads to-day- 15 alto-gether[.]
John at Finley's threshing[.]
W. Hauled in 5 loads from [the Rathwell Nice day 9
well place.] Mother picked [the ni- showers last night
cest little pail [of] berries [this]
evening[.]
T . Hauled in 6 loads[.] Christening[;]* Nice day 4
ing[;]*M.Bryden & Annie Stewart stay­
ed the night[.]
♦possibly Mary Glen
F. Hauled in 5 loads[.] Jenkins here[.] Nice day 22
here[.]
S. Hauled in 5 loads[.] Fen[wick] & Adam Nice day 24
here[.] John in Clinton (Bob, buggy) warm
S. Jane,Bella & I in Church[.] Uncle James, Nice day 31
Mr & Mrs Wigginton & Jessie, Stella and
Miss Jessie Moir [here.]
M Hauled in 5 loads.[.]Started stack with Nice day 9
2nd load[.]26 Adam passed with his warm
gun[.]
T. [We]Hauled in 5 loads[and] put almost 6 Nice day 14
in [the] stack. Lizzie Thompson came
here[.]
W. [We] hauled in 1 load[-]the last [of] 32 Nice day 20
loads from[the Rathwell place.We had] 47 very warm
loads of oats altogether[.]Jane & Lizzie
at Uncle John'
s[.]
T. Mother & Agnes in Cinton. [We]were all at Nice day 26
[the] Glen's in [the] evening[.] Jane & very warm
Lizzie Thompson at Uncle James' P.M.
F. Bella in Clinton[;] Agnes & her at Wig- Nice day 13
gintons[.] Tom here[.] very warm
S. In Clinton with Lizzie Thompson[.] Nice day 22
very warm
September, 1889
. Agnes,Bella & I in church (Manning
preached)[.]
Nice day 22
very warm
cool in evenings
1. S
September, 1889 43
2 . H. John in Clinton[.] Put Shrops[shire
sheep] down to hayfield[.] Glen here[.]
Ditto 24
3 . T . Jane & Agnes in Clinton[.J Roofed the
stack[.]
Nice day 16
heavy showers
4. W. Took off load of oats[.] Fixed my mus-
lin[.J
Nice day 16
windy
5 . T . Jane & John in Clintonf.]Mc & T.Mathes-
on (C)John & George at Uncle James 1[.]
Took lambs from sheep[.]
Rained a 12
little
very windy
6. F. John at Malcolm's threshing[.] Clothes-
bar peddler [here.] Jane at Sarah Wig-
gintons[.]
Nice day 21
7 . S . John in Clinton (Bobsbuggy)[.] nice day 21
8. S . Mother & I in church[.] Tom Wigg[inton]
& Adam [Stewart here.]
9. M. John & Jane in Clinton[.We]got a letter
from father[who is in the Old Country.]
Nice day 4
10. T. John finished putting in [fence] posts
[a]round [the] front yard[.] I [was mak­
ing button-holes in Mothers silk bask[.j
Nice day 22
11 . W. John in Clinton[.] Lizzie at Wigginton's
(afternoon)[.]
Nice day 30
12 . T . John & Jane in Clinton[.] Ada [Stewart]
here[.I]fixed[the]lounge27 [and]Bound my
stripped(sic; flannel pettic[o]at[.]
Nice day 15
13 . F . John in Clinton[. I] changed band on 5
cent apron[.] Nice Day 13
14. S, Father came home P.M. Fen[wick] Father &
Jane went went to Clinton in [the] buggy
& John & Fen[wick in the]
wagon[.The]hor­
ses ran away when they were starting and
broke [the] gate[.]
Nice day 0
15. S. Jane, Bella & I in Church(Stewart)[.]
Uncle James here[.]
Nice day 24
raining evening
16. M. Father, John, Jane & I in C1into[.Impor­
ted] Stock arrived[;] 2 fillies & 10
sheep ours 11 Beattie's 12 Duncans &
horse[.]Uncle James,Malcolm,Tom Matheson
& Johnny here[.]
Nice day 9
17 . T. Finished Ma's Silk Dress, Cut bur[dock]s
in orchard. Fen[wick] here [in the]even-
ing[.]
Cold &
windy
4
18. W. Went to Clinton with father for Goderich
show[.] I [was] at J[ohn]Pearson'
s see­
ing the baby[.]28
Nice day 9
19. T. In Clinton meeting father Cold raining
evening 11
20 . F . Agnes, Bella & Father cleaning wheat[.]
Jane & I reading trash(some event)[.]
Cold &
showery
21
w
«
CM
Father & Mother in Clinton[.]Duncan here Cold; 11
for his sheep[.] John sowed wheat[.] a few misty
showers
September, 1889 44
22 .
23 .
24
25 .
26.
27 .
28.
29.
30 .
1.
2 .
3 .
4.
5.
6 .
S. Uncle James,Tom Beacom,01d Duncan & Beat- Cold 9
tie here[.] Beattie here all night[.] Ag­
nes, Bella & I in Church(Stewart)[.]
M . Father & Beattie in Clinton A.M. [. 3 John Nice day 10
took up sheep & they crossed fields
P.M.[.]Agnes[W?]Mac & John for[outs?oats?]
Tene,Bill & John [McEwen] here [thisjeven-
ing[.]
T. The 5 kids of us [were] lifting potatoes[; Warm 4
We] lifted....18 rows altogether[.] Agnes Nice day
holding sheep for father after dinner[.]
W. Agnes, John & Bella at Clinton show[.] Warm Windy
Father, Jane & I finished lifting pota- Raining 18
toes A.M. Fen[wick Stewart was] here [in evening
the] evening[.]
T. Father,Jane,John & I [were] at[the]Clin- Cold Windy
ton show[.]Father got his leg hurt [when Raining 0
he was ] with[the ] bull in[the]
morn [ing.] evenibg
Old Duncan drove him home[.]
F . Jane & Agnes in Clinton[.] Johnny McTav- 30
ish called in to see [the] stock[.] John Cold Windy &
got a wagon jack[in trade]from [a]pedler Raining
for a coon skin[.]
S . Father & John in Clinton with wheat for Nice day 0
flour[.]
S. Jane, Bella & I in Church(Stewart)[.] 15
John Thompson[the stonemason,]Jim Junor, Nice day
Mr & Mrs & Stella Wigginton here[.] a littlecold
M. Father A.M.& John P.M. at Glen’s thresh- Showery 11
ing at Spear’s[.]29 Jessie Wigginton...
...John Gilmour & Cooper..[here.] Lillie
[Stewart was minding her niece so her
sister Lizzie could feed the threshers.
Lillie brought] Mary Glen over[.] John
started fall ploughing (at Rathwells big
field)[.]
October, 1889
T . Father up at Weir's to see about thresh- Showery 9
ing[.] Killed skiny(sic) lamb[.]Moore & Windy
son from London here in livery[rig.]Jane
& I at prayer meeting(Old Grah[a]m)
W. Jim Hearn here[.] Jane, Agnes Father & I Nice day 31
putting up hay above [the] old H[orse] Coldish
S[table.] Found guinea nest - 20 eggs.
T. Jane at Miss[ionary] Meetingf.] Agnes & 11
Bella fetched up pumpkins & squash & Fa- Raining A.M.
ther helped them pull the beans[.]Father Nice P.M.
& John making box for dorkings* to­
night [.] *imported poultry See Dec 6 entry
F . Father, Jane & John at Bayfield show[.] Nice day 0
George went with John[.]
S. Willie McEwen (C) Gammel for dinner[;] 20
Jack McDonald with sheep[;] Johnson & Raining morning
Pollock buying sheep[.]Jane washed pias- nice day
ter up John’s stair[•]
S. Agnes & I in Church (Ramsey)[.] Tom Math- Very Cold 4
eson for tea[.] Snowed last night[.]
October, 1889 45
7. M
8 . T .
9 . W .
10, T.
11. F .
12 . S .
13 . S .
14. M.
15 . T .
16. W.
17 . T .
Agnes finished making Lamberquins(sic) Very Cold 0
for John,s windows & put them up[.] Aunt
Agnes here[;]Jane drove her home[.] John
Wigg[inton here.]
Father at Wigg[inton’s]threshing[.]I[was] Nice day 15
in Clinton with Agnes[who was catching
the train] for [Blyth.]Lizzie....Scott..
..& Edwards here[.]
Jane & I at Benmiller [woolen mills ]with Nice day
wool for rolls[.]Mrs Perduefwas] here[to
tell us that the]threshers are coming[.]
Malcolm here tonight[.Fenwick,] Jim Per­
due & Matt Shepherd here all night[.]
Bella at Nico Buts & Finleys[.]
Threshing all day[.] Matt Shepherd here Nice day
all night[.] Eliza-Ann Isard here[.] A
stack of straw out[. We]threshed the oat
stack to-day[. Mick] Diehl & [Bert]Whit-
tingham [were here] after threshers[.]30
[We]finished threshing at dinnertime[.Nice Day
We]went to Uncle James's P.M.and finish­
ed him[.]Bob Pearson and Bill Craig[were
here] after threshers [. ]3iLizzie McTavish
here P.M.
John at Malcolm’s threshing[.] Father Nice day
went to Brucefield for cattle for Mal-
colm[.] Mother & I in Clinton[.] Scott
here[.]
29
Father & Mother in Church(Stewart)[.] Cold Wind
Bella & I pulling mangols A.M.& at fun- Nice day
eral P.M. (Gilour's baby)[. The Rev.Alex
Stewart took the]service[.]Mason here to
floorfthe] stable[.] Agnes came home from
Blyth this evening[.] At river P.M.get­
ting stone [-] John & Father too[.]
Agnes,Bella & I pulling mangols all day[.Warm
We] hauled in 1 load in the sheep rack
Agnes,Bella & I pulling mangols all Nice day
day[.]McTavish’s here (C) Father at But- very warm
charts threshing[.] Jane in Brucefield
with mason’s tools[.]Called at Diehl's &
McGregor's
Agnes, Bella & I pulling mangols all day Nice day
[and we] finished them [.The Rev. Alex]
Stewart called[.]Mother,Jane, Bella & I
at [a] prayer-meeting [led by Mr] Stew­
art [.] Old [Mr Edward] Glen here[.]
18. F. Carrie & Kitty McTavish here.Father at Nice day
Finley's threshingf.] Bella at Uncle
James’[.] Pearson’
s here (C)
19. S. Father [was] in Clinton [and he] fetched Nice day
home[a set of]Double Harness[.]We pulled
[the] apples off of 2 Spy trees[and got]
10 pails[.] Agnes,Bella, Father & I cut­
ting corn[.] Bella Ross[was] here [this]
evening[.]
20. S. Jane & I at church[..The Rev.Mr Stewart] Nice day
preached on Thou shalt be missed for thy Frost at
seat shall be empty[.] nights
3
0
4
4
2
5
3
4
0
6
3
October, 1889 46
2 1 .
2 2 .
23 .
24.
25 .
26.
27 .
28.
29.
30.
31.
1.
2 .
3 .
4.
M.
T .
W.
Agnes & I cutting corn all day[.] Father Nice day 3
[helped us] at it A.M.& [he was] helping
[the] mason P.M. Bella started schoolf.]
Agnes & I finished cutting corn & helped Cold Dull 1
fill 4 loads of mangols[.] Jane helped
John off with them[.]
Mother & I at Stonehouse’s seeing Auntie
[Agnes]32 [Edward] Glen....Mrs Ned Rath-
well & Jennie [Rathwell] here[.] Jennie
[stayed here.]Agnes & John took in [the]
last load of mangols[.]
Cold bright
day Hard 2
frost last
night
T. Jennie Rathwell at school with Bella[and Nice day 0
she] went home to-night[.]Helping put in coldish wind
straw P.M. Finished pulling apples[- We]
had about 12 pails altogether[.] John
started ploughing shanty field
F. I [was] in Clinton[.] Billy out on the Dull 2
road[.] Raining P.M.
S. Bella & I in Clinton at Church(Henderson Dull, rained
from Hensall)[.] Agnes walked to Stone- a little 0
house’s[.] Wiley[a]collecter[was]here[.]
s . Father & Mother & I in Church[.]Tom Wig- Nice day 7
[ginton] here[.] cool wind
lovely roads
M. Agnes washing [clothes.] I [was] at [the Beautiful 1
Bayfield]river[which fronts on our Rath- cool wind
well place,helping in] fixing [the]fence
with fatherf.]33 I [was] at Finley's P.M.
Dixon's man [was] here with 2 sheep[.]
Bella went to Grants to-night[.]
T. Finley[McEwen] was in[.]Steam Dunk,John- Nice dull 0
ny Besque, his father & Uncle & Wells day
here[.] I [was] at Finleys for peas [and]
got 2 bags (5 bus[hels]).Agnes & John
took in 2 loads [of] corn I helped put
[them] off[.]
W. I washed[.] John took the mason part way Cold wind 4
home P.M. Father plowing P.M. John took dull
up the 3rd & last load of corn
T. Ada [Stewart] & Jennie Grant here all 0
night[.] Ned..George ...Mr & Mrs Duncan3* Raining morn
& Amelia here[.] Father & Mother at Ned nice P.M.
Rathwell's[.]
November, 1889
F. Father,Agnes & I in Clinton with [Carrie Showery 2
the heifer for the butcher’s[.] Glen
here[.]
S . John hauling sand A.M. Sponged & ironed Raining 1
my brown & black dress [.] High winds
to night
S. Bella & I [were] in Church[ ?]Prof [essor] Nice day 0
Gregg preachedf.] Mrs, Jessie & Stella cold wind
Wigginton here from Glen'
s[.]
M. Mr & Mrs [?] & baby (May Louise)here for Nice day 3
dinner[.] Father & John hauling stones cold wind
for horse’s stall[.]3
3
November, 1889
5. T
6. W
7 . T
8. F
9. S
10. S
11. M
12. T
13 . W
14 . T
15. F
16 . S ,
17 . S .
18 • M.
47
. Agnes & I [were] piling mangols in [the] Cold Wind 0
roothouse[.] Shepherd, Tompson(sic) & freezing
Cluff called on the way from J.Ross'es[.]
. McTavishes here (C)Johnny passed[by com- Nice day 3
ingj from his school when Agnes & I were
sawing wood[.] Father & Agnes in Clin-
ton[.]
. Thanksgiving day Examinations for Sab- Beautiful 3
bath School] Turnbull, Forrest & Cluff
[were the] examiners[.] Smillie & bro­
ther here[.]
. Agnes & I pulling turnips[.]Agnes sawing Nice day 1
up a tree with father for wood at riv­
er[.They] fetched it up on [a] load [of]
stones[being used in the building of the
stable floor.]
. I [was] at [.] Finley's for peas (5 bus- Mild dull 0
hels & 4 lbs.) Father took the mason to
Varna & paid the taxes[.] Jane walked to
Clintonf.] Agnes, Bella & I [were] pul­
ling turnips[.]John & us took in 2 loads
in [the] wagon box just[.]
. Jane, Agnes & I in church[.] Jim Junor,
Tom Wigginton & his cousin McGregor
[here.]
. Father, Agnes & I finished pulling tur- Mild & 0
nips A.M.John & us finished taking[them] dull
in P.M.{3 loads)I twisted a ball of cot­
ton for my quilt border[.]
. Father at mill with 5 bags of oats for Mild 0
chop (buggy)[.] Agnes & I helped clean Rain evening
them[.] Currell here[.] East here (for
dinner) with a load of brick for fur-
nace[.] Jim Inglis here[.] I helped John
up with a load of rails[.]Father & Moth­
er at Wigginton's[;] Father went over in
[the] buggy before dark[.]
. Uncle James here[.] Killed pigs[.] Jane Drizzling 1
scrubbed her room & swept [the] empty a little
room[.]I[was] twisting cottonf.]
. [I] scrubbed my room & cleaned paint[.] Raining 3
Jane washed[the] plaster & floor of[the]
North west room[.] Mother making soap
yesterday[.] Duncan McEwan (C) Scott (C)
John [was] in Clinton [in the] evening
on Bob[; He] got home with Adam[.]
. Weighed pigs (187 lbs. each) Father at Nice day 1
Uncle James'killing pigs[.] Annie up for Froze hard
[news]papers[.] I took Jane back[.] Mal­
colm here [this] morning[.] Mrs Cart­
wright & Etta here[.] Finished twisting
[cotton] & washed it[.] E[liza] A[nn] I
...[ink smudge indecipherable]
► Father & John in Clinton for Furnace late Nice day 0
P.M. John plowing at Rathwell's these Froze hard
days[.]Jane cleaned Spare Bed room[.]Ag­
nes at Glen's P.M.
Agnes, Bella & I [were] in Church (Stew— Nice day 4
art)[.] Jim Junor & Tom Matheson [here.]
Mother & Jane in Clinton[.] Father Milder 4
[worked]at postholes along[the]con[cess- Raining some
ion. ]
November,1889 48
19.
20 .
2 1 .
22 .
23 .
24 .
25 .
26.
27 .
28 .
29 .
30.
1.
2 .
3 .
4 .
T. Davis & Jim Scott here putting up fur- Mild 1
nace[.]Alice [Parke] & Lillie Stewart in some rain P.Af.
[here] on [the] way from Glen's[.]
W. Father away to London[; I] took him to Mild 3
Brucefield[.] John finished plowing at Showery
Rathwell's
T. [Lottie?] drive down Haywood & Best- his Raining 1
labourer to build furnace brick[.] Davis
& Scott here P.M.[.] John went to Clin­
ton for papers & to Brucefield for fath-
er[.]A fellow(01d Peacock)[was] in[this]
morn[ing] asking [the] way to Uncle
John *
s[.]
F. Scott here A.M. finishing putting in fur- Mild 1
nace[.] raining
S. John finished plowing [ the] shanty Dull 6
field[-]the last of[the] old plowing[.I]
Led Kute for John plowing [the] back
yard[.I t]ook down [the]wagon for[a]load
of wood[.]John & Father sawed it[.] [We]
moved machinery up to [the] barn[.j
S . Father, Mother & John cleaned old cow- Drizzling
stable & tied in the 4 calves last Morning 2
night[.] Nice day
M. Agnes at Stonehouse’s seeing Aunty[.]Fa- Nice day 3
ther & Mother at Dunkin's[.] Sold sheep a little
and lambs to Andrews' buyer[.]Dunk McEw- frost P.M.
en looking at lambs[.] John plowing sod hail
next Uncle John's at McEwen's bush[.]
T. Jane & I went to Thompson’s[.]Uncle John Nice day 1
[Stewart] gone to Denver, [Colorado]this
evening[.]36 John plowing
W. Jane & I at Lindsey's[;We] came home to-
night[.]Quite a bit of snow last night[.]
T. Holland here[.] Mother at Glen's[.]Char- 0
lie here[.] Snowing
lightly
F. Father at Uncle John's killing pigs & a
cow[. I ]cut points off my hair[.]McDon- Snowing 2
aid here for his sheep[.]Mother finished all day
spinning rolls tonight[.]
S . Father in Clinton in cutter for first Nice day
time this winter[.]
December, 1889
S. Jane & I in Church in cutter(Logie.)[.]
Jim Junor here[.] Nice day 3
M. Jane in Clinton in buggy[.] Father &
John at wood[.]I hauled up 3 loads[.]Mo- Mild 1
ther finished twisting yarn a little driz
T. Wells here for his sheep[;]Father bought Clear & 1
one[.] Johnny Scott here[;] C & Willie raw
at night[.] Willie Glen in on gig asking
to threshing[.] Agnes & Jane cleaning
oats[.]
W. Jim Hearn here[.] Agnes helping clean Cold east 0
wheat[.]John at mill for flour & chop[.] wind Frost
Dewdrop calved [but the] calf [was] dead
when John went to the barn[.]The veranda
thermometer read 18 degrees F.]
5. T
6. F
7 . S
8. S
9. M
10. T.
11 .W.
12 .T.
13 .F .
14 .S .
15 .S .
16. H
17 . T ,
18. W.
19 T .
December, 1889 49
T. John at Glen's threshingf.]Father at Sy- Silver thaw
monds sale & Mother at Stonehouse's[.] drizz 1
F. Jane in Clinton[.] Miss Sarah Wigginton Nice day 1
here all night[.] Father & John in [the]
bush[.] Beast[last] night[;]Old Country
dorking hen killed[.]
S. Trontofsic)Smith here[;he]bought our fat Nice mild 0
heiferf.] Father at Bob Marshall's [and] day
bought 2 heifers[.] Moore from London
here[;] Father at A. Elliots with him[.]
Father at Wigginton's[.] Malcolm here[.]
Agnes drove Mrs Wigginton home[.] Bella
in Clinton[.] Bull out in field all day
with cows[.]
S . Father at Uncle James'[.] Raining 1
M. John plowing 2 weeks tomorrow since he Nice 1
quit[.] Father in Clinton with sheep[.] Mild
Father at Malcolm’s
T . Bob Marshall fetched heifers[.] Father at 0
Cameron's sale3? with Mefsicj[.] J[ohn] Raining P.M.
plowing A.M. Raining P.M. Jane & I got
ready to go to McTavish'es when it start­
ed raining[.} Jane & Agnes at Glen's[.]
Dickson's man here for his 2 sheep[.] I Nice 1
[was] in Clinton with Father & John with cold wind
fat Heifer[.]John at the [illegible.]John
plowing A.M.
Jane & I at McTavish'
es[.] Mrs Scott 1
there[.] John plowing all day[.] Beautiful P.M.
Father helping to move up Campbell’s 0
house for [Malcolm McEwen’s wood shed.]38 Small showrs
John plowing[. ] Agnes at Clinton & Jane Snow
and her at Wiggintons[.]Jane took buggy[.]
Master J. Biggins39,a Mr Scott & Mr Thomp­
son here[.]
1
. Father at [McEwen's]A.M.A Mr Taylor from 1
the other side of Londsboro(sic) [was A little
here] looking at black cattle[.] (He snow
thought we had Galloways)[.] Farrar &
Rattenbury40 here looking for Shrop[shire]
sheep for an American[.]
i
. Agnes & I[were]at Church[.] Old Barr pulled 1
us there in thebuggy[.] Jim [Barkley] here A little
[this] evening[.] Uncle James here. snow
M. Mother & Jane in Clinton[.I] finished sewing Raining 1
knit guilt blocks together[.]
T. William Snell here for Billy lamb[.]Fa- Warm 1
ther at Herbison's sale41 [where he] bought some rain
[a] Saddle[.] Glen here morning
W. Agnes at Uncle James’[. She went next door 1
to see] H[arry and Margaret] Diehl's Raining some
baby[.]42 Jim Junor here[.] Jane fixed our
old seal caps[.]
T. John finished plowing at dinnertime [. ] Dull Warm 0
Father in Clinton[.] Ned Glen here with
sore hand.John at Uncle James' with [news]
papers[.]
F. Jane trimmed Mother's bonnet[;](Mother cov- Raining 1
ered shape with old velvet[.]
20 .
December,1889 5U
21. S. Jane in Clinton[.] Finley here[.] John in Nice day 1
Clinton to-night[.]
22. S . very windy 0
23. M. Ned & Mary [Rathwell] here[.]Father[walked Nice day 2
into] Clinton[this morning] on business[.]
Agnes [was] dying rags for foot stool
mat[.] John was in [the] bush & Father kil-
ledfthe] gander[ P.M].
24. T.
25. W.
26 . T .
27 . F .
John fetched up a load of furnace wood[.] 0
Killed turkey[.] Pouring rain,
thunder & lightning
All Uncle James’ children here [plus] Adam Beautiful 0
& George[.] Jim Junor..&..Ned [Glen] here warm Sun
for supper[.] shining,no snow
Jane & Agnes in Clinton [with] buggy[.]Fa- Windy 3
ther & John at wood[.JBeetiefsic) here all starting
night[;] Duncan fetched him[.] freezing
Father took Beetie to Dickson’s had dinner *Sea£orth
in C 1/4* & came back by Brucefield[.]Bel- Clear 1
la at Grants all night[.] (Jennie [is hav- sunshine
ing a] party[.] Froze hard
28. S. Finished my home jacket(Cheap wood) Clean- Nice day 3
ing oats A.M. with John[.]Father & John at Frost came
wood[.] back a little
29. S. Tom & George at barn[.] Raining a
little this
morning Very
high winds to­
night
30. M. Father in Clinton with W[illiam] Glen for 3
salt[.] J.Cooper & J. Gilmour [were] here Hard froze
[this] evening[.] snowing a
little
31. T John at Glen’s with first chop there[.] Hard froze
I washed[.] east wind
Here is a fragment by Eliza-Ann MacFarlane found
in a little notebook she kept for recipes.
[It is] the last day of the year 1889 [and I am] feeling kind
of forlorn[.] Bella is washing the dishes[,] Agnes has just
finished walking in the wood[,J and Mother has just gone out
to catch fowl[.] (We are all intending to go to Uncle James*
tomorrow.) We are alone us three & are soberly wondering what
we will be doing a year from tonight. It seems as if there
was never anything new in this family, but there is lots of
newness. I hope we will all feel better Dec 31st 1890.
In one of the account books is a folded sheet of
newsprint, with the first nine days of January,
1890. They are given below. Eventually Eliza
settled for a Huron Expositor 1890 Almanac,
and transcribed an abridged version of what
follows.
January, 18901
1. W. The five of us [were] at Uncle James' all Pouring rain 2
day[.] John, Adam, Lillie, Ned & George
[were here.] John Allen was here all
night[.] Tom Wigginton [was here] asking
for [a]hand to cut to-morrow at night[.]
51
2. T . Mrs Finley McEwen & children & Susie Nice warm 3
McFarlane called[.]I finished making [a]
case for [the] dinner knives[.]
3. F Father at Wiggintons all day cutting & Nice day 3
chopping[.] Jack McDonald here[.] Colts Ground frozen
away out all night[.]
4. S. Agnes & I [were] in Clintonf.We] took up Nice day 3
[the] parlor stove to Davis[.]* I got 2 frost back
teeth pulled[.]
* Davis put in the furnace in and this must be a trade-in of sorts.
5 . S . Ned & George here [in the ] evening [. ] Pouring rain 3
6. M. Father & John in bush at wood P.M. Jane Raining some 5
milked and did my chores P.M. Tom Mathe-
son at barn[.]
7. T. Father & John[are still] in [the]bush[.] Nice day 5
Agnes hooking her (cat's head) mat for hard froze
ottoman[.] Party at G ’s
8. W. Agnes finished her mat[.] Father & John Very windy 6
in [the] bush[;They]fetched up a load[.] flurries
Jane finished the riding basque [and I] evening
finished my knit quilt[.]
9, T. Uncle John's John & John Dunkin here[.]
Father & John in[the]bush[.This evening]
John went to Clinton on Bob for papers[.]1
1
. Isabel Glen told me in 1959 that her grandfather, James
MacFarlane, took great delight in buying gifts of jewellry
for his wife and daughters. Isabel was the only granddaughter
he knew and she also was the recipient of his generosity.
He died less than three months before Isabel’s 6th birthday,
but at the time of his death she had already received about
a dozen gifts of various sizes. I recall her saying that he
would go and sit alone in the living room and her mother
(Jane) or her grandmother or one of the Aunts would tell
her to go in and see her grandfather. After a brief chat,
2
.
he would produce the jewell or bauble and beam with pleasure
when she put it on,
Isabel Fraser told me that Jane MacFarlane and Ned Glen be­
came formally engaged during the time when Jane's parents
were in the "Old Country." The diary for 1888 says that both
James and Eliza went, and that is probably when it happened.
Eliza-Ann has not mentioned it so far, but one can assume
that Ned is now Jane's fiancd.
3
. Agnes Stewart (1836-1911) sister of Eliza MacFarlane, lived
in various locations. She lived with brother James, Eliza
and their parents. When James got married in 1867, she lived
in a log cabin on the 'back fifty" of lot 28 Con 4 and looked
after the old folks as long as they lived. We think the dad
(Adam) died about 1874 and the Mother (Ann Barkley) died
on March 10, 1879. When brother John acquired the Frazer
place (Lot 29 Con 5) Agnes (or "Nancy") moved into the cabin.
"Nancy's shack" was a few rods north of John Stewart’s and
a bit to the south-west of MacFarlane's. Don Glen told me
that Agnes had an understanding with a brother of James Mac­
Farlane that they would marry. The old MacFarlane's in Perth­
shire, Scotland, were too old to live alone and the brother
went back home to fetch them to Canada. They refused to leave
and the brother felt obliged to stay and look after them. So
Agnes never married, and spent her days helping siblings
James, John and Eliza, as needed. In 1898, her sister-in-law,
Mary died and she moved in with her widowed brother James,
temporarily she thought, to help the family adjust. The
MacFarlane's felt that Uncle James' family indulged in a
sort of opportunism. Fenwick got married and lived in a
house on the family farm. Annie married in 1900 and Ada and
Ida left home for the city to find work. Agnes kept house
for James for over 12 years, and the two died a couple of
days apart in 1911.
4
. James MacFarlane's brother William had left Stanley for Man-
toba some years earlier. It's not clear whether Whiteford
is a neighbour or relative, visiting in Ontario.
5
. in the 1870's and 1880's the neighbourhood experienced some
significant depopulation as people were driven by limited
opportunities and the high cost of farm land in eastern
Canada, to the Canadian north-west or to the American west.
People settling in the U.S. west could get a free homestead
(160 acres or 1/4 of a square mile) if they farmed it
successfully. The departed migrants were always welcomed
back in Stanley when they visited.
6
. The Hollands
7
. The Stonehouse's were "Old Country English" with money, who
pioneered in Goderich Township. One of the Stonehouse's who
farmed on the Bayfield Concession was cornered in the box
stall by his stallion and attacked. He died of his injuries
and his widow, with only small children, sold the farm. It
was bought by Eliza-Ann's Uncle John Stewart and he put his
son, John B. Stewart on the place.
8
. The Fishers were pioneers on the 4th of Stanley. Edward
Glen and James MacFarlane bought them out. Jack Glen told
me that Fisher's were involved in distilling and did them­
selves in by sampling too much of the inventory. They did
remain in the Clinton area.
9
. J. Ross: a jeweller?watchmaker?
*
•
0
. This eliptical reference probably means that there was a par­
ty at Wigginton's. For the better part of a century, up to
about World War II, people in the S.S. #1 Community, and
near neighbours across the river in Goderich Township took
turns providing week end entertainment. Friday night was
the preferred time:Saturday night turned into Sunday after
midnight. The family giving the party would clear out the
biggest room for dancing. The evening might begin with cards
(euchre) and those coming brought refreshments. The host had
a choice of fiddlers and pianists resident in the community.
James Stewart played the fiddle by ear and I believe John
could as well. Their sons, Fenwick and Adam, played the fid-
at local square dances most of their adult life. Jim Barkley
played the fiddle. Annie (daughter of John and Abigail)
Stewart could chord on the piano or parlour organ. Several
* 3
generations of the McCowan family provided such musical
service right into the 1960's.
Isabella R. McEwen(1876-1964) and Elizabeth McEwen{1881-
1976). In 1889, Belle would be 12 and Lizzie would be 7.
Belle was destined to marry John 11 years.. Elizabeth McEwen
had a life-long problem with poor eyesight. The Clinton New
Era of this period has references to Malcolm McEwen taking
his daughter as far as Montreal to seek treatment from
medical specialists. At one point Lizzie was out of school
for a year. But she overcame her disability, qualified as a
teacher, and was the one who took over S.S. #1, in
January,1911, when George Baird retired after 50 years. At
the end of June, 1912, she resigned and married R.Y. McLaren,
and they farmed on the London Road just north of Hensall. The
Master was getting past it at age 68 and his instruction and
class management were getting somewhat frayed. My father
Harvey Stewart said he never would have made it to high
school had Elizabeth not come when she did. She restored
discipline and was demanding in her teaching. Her ungrateful
students in the senior class in 1912, all got their entrance.
Elizabeth had a daughter Margaret (Mrs Dorland Evans) who has
won distinction as an historian of Ontario politics.
The scraper was a primitive forbear of the bulldozer. It clo­
sely ressembled a wheelbarrow without wheels or axle and
no sides on the tub. The forward part of the device had a
sharp edge. The driver would hitch a team up to the scraper
and grip the handles. When the team started up, the operator
would pull back on the handles as the team pulled forward.
Earth would be dislodged in clean lines and the loosened
clods could be shovelled by hand. Contractors building early
roads or rail road rights-of-way made extensive use of these
simple scrapers right into the early 20th century. I was
shown a scraper in 1957 by Cliff Stewart that had belonged
to James Stewart his grandfather (Uncle James). The London,
Huron & Bruce Railway, running from London through Clinton to
Wingham had been put through in 1875. When the job was done,
the contractor auctioned off used construction equipment to
local people, and James bought the scraper. It is quite possi
ble that Malcolm McEwen got his the same way.
The Snell's were Old Country English who pioneered in Hullett
Township. Like the Middleton’s in Goderich Township, they
people of means who raised pure bred livestock, cultivated
the best orchards and embraced innovations in agriculture.
The 1878 Atlas of Huron County has a detailed write-up about
Humphrey Snell, and engraved illustrations of Humphrey and
Mrs Snell, their farm buildings and even their prize-winning
sheep, horses and cattle. James MacFarlane and the Snells
had a great deal in common, moved in the same circles and
had business dealings with each other. There has been inter­
marriage amongst their descendants.
Several times already in these journals Eliza-Ann has made
allusions about fences. In this period James MacFarlane was
replacing the cedar split rail fences of the pioneer era with
modern wire fences. Stretchers were needed to maximize the
tension and tightness of the fence wire. A huge cedar post,
one to two feet in diameter, and specially braced, served as
anchor post. The ends of the fence wire roll were securely
wrapped around the anchor post. Then the wire roll would be
unrolled. At about every 6th post, the stretchers would be
set up to stretch the fence to maximum tightness. Then sta­
ples would be driven into the preceeding 5 posts. The process
would be repeated with the next 6 post, and so on, until the
fencer reached the next anchor post.
Jennie Mustard was the daughter of Margaret Mustard. Margaret
later Duncan McEwen (another Duncan who lived further south
on the 2nd. Jennie kept her Mustard surname. She grew up in
the community taught grade school, including at her alma
mater S.S. #10, and she coached drama productions. She never
married.
The 24th of May is the Queen's Birthday.
Steers are made, not born. Is Eliza-Ann showing Victorian
modesty in declining to write "male'' or "bull calf?" Or
is it more likely, in her cryptic fashion, that she is indi-
11.
1
2
.
1
3
.
1
4
.
15.
16.
1
7
.
s +
eating that it has already been decided that the newborn's
destiny lies in the nutritional side rather than the proc­
reative side of the MacFarlane cattle operation?
18. Ellen Elliot married
19. Beattie was from Westminster Township, south of London,
and was a prominent breeder of pure bred stock -esp
sheep.
20. see Footnote 30, 1888 diary.
21. See Footnote 30, 1888 diary.
22. From 1840 to about 1912, North Americans used the term "car"
when referring to railway freight or passenger cars. People
who shipped livestock relied heavilly on the railways and in
Clinton there were railway stockyards by a siding immediately
west from where the Stratford-Goderich crosses the London
road. It would be another 10 years before telephones were in
general use, so a stock raiser would have to check personally
to see if the expected shipment had arrived. Laws governing
treatment of animals were not nearly as strict as now, and
one did not want one's livestock to languish on a rail siding
a moment longer than necessary.
23. By 1889, most people used mechanical reaper or binder to cut
grain, but many "broke in" a field and cleared the outer per­
imeter of the grain field by cradle to avoid tramping down
the grain under hooves and wheels. Subsequent generations
that didn't know or want to know how to use he cradle were not so
squeamish.
24. The Weirs lived nearby in Goderich Twsp.
25. The two girls are first cousins. Bella May is Duncan
McEwen’s daughter (destined to die in early woman­
hood.) Ella is Finley McEwen's daughter.
26. When he couldn’
t get another sheaf into the barn, a farmer
might build uo stack. The sheaves were tossed to builders
who would make a waterproof pile. In round or square for­
mation, sheaves would be lined close together, butts out.
The centre was kept high, and when the builder deemed it
high enough, he would top it off by using some sheaves for
a thatched roof.
27. For the better part of a century, nearly all farm kitchens
in this neighbourhood had some sort of serviceable couch
that all members of the household could flop on in their
work clothes. Generally the "lounge", as Eliza-Ann calls it,
did not have a back, but might be raised at one end. This
allowed the reclining party to participate in the conver­
sation, if he or she were so inclined. The couch might be
upholstered with leather or horsehair, and protected by an
old blanket. Wood stoves have to be out three or four feet
from the wall or wainscotting,and the lounge could be
put beside or behind in what otherwise might be waste space.
28. Margaret Myrtle Pearson, born September 1, 1889 (Stanley Tow­
nship Record Book)
29. The Spear's were pioneers in the community and Edward Glen
bought Lot 31-3 from them in 1876. They moved to Kent County
near Highgate. One of the boys, William, returned to court
Margaret McEwen, married her and took her back to Highgate.
30. The Whittinghams lived on Concession 4, south of James Stew­
art for a generation. The Diehls, natives of Bavaria, came to
Canada from Germany via the U.S., and settled on Concession
5 (Lots 23-26) The two Diehl brothers, Valentine and Jacob,
settled here in the early 1850's and had large families. The
last Diehl (Carl E. Diehl:1893-1972) left the neighbourhood
in the early 1960's. Somebody in the John Stewart family
composed verses about their exotic neighbours
The Diehls live by the riverside
where trees grow'round so thick.
There's Jacob, George, Charley, Jack,
Henry Lou and Mick.
The Mick Diehl mentioned by Eliza-Ann was the son of Jacob,
and he farmed the ancestral acres -Lots 23 and 24.
In the days before the telephone, every farmer went through
31.
s *
the ritual of going around in person to all the people he
traded work with to get help at threshing. One paid the
thresherman so much an hour for the use of his machine, and
all the rest of the labour was free. You gave your most im­
mediate neighbours the same number of days they gave you.
How long it took depended on whether you put your crop in the
mow or stack, or whether you stook-threshed right from the
field. When the thresherman informed you he would be at your
farm on such-and-such a day, you then went around in person
to tell those committed to you that their services were re­
quired. And they could command your presence when the machine
came to them. It was quite alright to go to someone else's
threshing to buttonhole your help - in fact it saved, steps
32. Eliza-Ann has a pronounced tendency to refer to homes and
farms by the names of the previous owner. John Stewart
bought the farm on the Bayfield Concession,Goderich Township,
from Stonehouse’s widow and put his son, John B. Stewart, on
it. In a few weeks time,early in 1890, John would wed Amelia
Graham, daughter of Wm. Graham, a prosperous neighbour. The
Graham1s had only recently bought Lot 19 and part of Lot 20,
Concession 3 and erected a substantial white brick farmhouse.
Agnes was probably keeping house for her nephew and helping
him with the cows and the hens, until he was joined by his
bride.
33. x worked for a Stanley Jackson for 4 summers (1958-61), whose
farm on Concession 2 also fronts on the Bayfield river.
The Bayfield River, in a very hot summer can be as dry
as a bone above where it is joined by Spring Creek. But in
spring, the ice breaking up and the torrential run-off
will sweep away any fence ever invented. A fence is necessary
to keep livestock from wandering away or being injured in
the boulder-strewn river bed. Stanley Jackson dealt with the
problem by sinking a huge anchor post that survived the
spring torrents. He attached a roll of fence wire to it and
unolled it and hooked it up to another anchor post at the
end. In between, the river fence was held up by wooden X's
which sat on the ground and were held up by tension. In the
Autumn, Stanley would dismantle the fence, roll up the wire
and carry the roll and the X's and store them in a spot
safely above the highwater mark. Eliza-Ann does not make
clear how MacFarlane’s dealt with the problem. But it is very
likely that they used rails. An old-fashioned snake or shad
fence could have been laid out every spring after the run­
off, and before livestock were let outdoors. In the late
fall, they could dismantle the fence and pile the rails above
the high water mark.
34. Eliza-Ann plays fast and loose with surnames and given
names. When she refers to "Duncan" she might mean
McEwen, McGregor. But Duncan could also be a surname.
In Clinton newspaper files for the period, reports
about James MacFarlane and his purebred stock activities,
more than once mention a John Duncan of Brucefield, also
a purebred stock man.
35. The floor of a horse's stall was paved with stones about the
size of eggs or golf balls[.] Packed tightly together or set
in wet cement, the rounded stones were thought to be better
for the horse's hooves and to provide it with better traction
than would poured concrete or dressed stone. MacFarlane1s
and Glen’s had an ample supply of such stones from the gravel
pits on their properties.
36. Mary Emma Stewart (1857-1939) married Donald M. Ross(1850-99)
in 1887. In fact sisters Mary and Lizzie were married toget­
her in a double wedding ceremony at home. The groom's father
Roderick Ross, farmed on Con 3, Lot 10. Mary & Dan Ross
went to Denver where he prospected for silver.
37. is this Malcolm Cameron who went to Dakota earlier in the
decade or another one?
38. in 1879, Donald Campbell of Lot 29, Con 3, Stanley, sold
his 100 acre farm to Malcolm McEwen, on lot 30. (See the
Clinton New Era,October 16, 1879. The "Campbell place as
McEwen‘s referred to it for the next 80 years had a frame
house and an unraised two-bay barn. Malcolm McEwen built
* 6
the stone farmhouse on Lot 30 in 1888. (See The New Era,
Nov 11, 1887, March 9 and Sept 7, 1888) In 1889, the
Campbell house was moved north to lot 30, and placed
against the rear (west) wall of the new stone house,
to serve as woodshed, summer kitchen etc.
39. The Biggins farm was south of Clinton on Lot 33, Con 1.
James ("Squire") Biggins had just died on Oct 19, aged 82,
(New Era Oct 23,1889)
40. The founder and first settler of Clinton, in 1835 was a
Rattenbury. Rattenbury's remained prominent in the social
political and commercial life of Clinton for over a century.
41. Herbison’s lived in Goderich Township to the north-west of
MacFarlane'
s.
42. Born December 2, 1889, Annie Erma Diehl (1889-1972) -Mrs
Morris Durham The Clinton News-Record January 13,1972
THE SECOND ALMANAC LOG BOOK
57 ~
1890
Eliza-Ann MacFarlane wrote this year’s diary on the
memoranda pages of The Huron Expositor ALMANAC For The Year
Of Our Lord:1890, McLean Bros. Seaforth,Ont.
January, 1890
, 1890
1. W. [The] 5 of us [were] at Uncle James['s.]
John Allen [was here] all night[.]
2
Pouring Rain
2. T. Made c ase for dinner knifes(sic)[.] Mrs
Finley [McEwen] & Susie [McFarlane]
called[.]
3
Nice, warm
3 . F . Father at Wigg[inton’s] cutting[.] Colts
Colts out all night[.]Jack McDonald[was]
[was] here[.]
3
Nice, froze
4. S. Agnes & I [were]in Clinton[with the]par­
lor stove[.] I got 2 teeth pulled[.]
3
Frost back to
nice
5. S. Ned [Glen] and George [Steckley were] 2
here [this] evening[.] Pouring Rain
6. M. Jane milked and done my chores P.M. Tom
Matheson [was here] at [the] barn[.]
5
Raining some
7 . T . Agnes hooking Ottoman mat[.] Party at
G[len]’s[.] Father & John in the bush
these days[.]
5
Hard Froze
Nice
8. W. [I]finished my knot quilt,Jane her Rid- 6
ing Basque & Agnes her mat [. ] Very Warm
Flurries Evening
9. T. Cousin John [B. Stewart] and J. Dunkin
here[. My brother] John [went] to Clin­
ton on Bob [this] evening[.]
6
Windy, Snowy
10 . F . Jane & Ag [were] in Clinton with D_
Stove[.]l Ag got [a] tooth pulled [by
Mr Bruce.] A[lex.] Innis & McLaughlin
[were] here[.]
5
Dull
11. S. Father [was] at Wells' sale[.]
S.
4
Thaw,nice P.M.
12 . S . Bella & I [were] in church(Stewart)[.]
Father at Uncle James' P.M.
9
Rain P.M.
13 . M. Grange Social2 Balderson's old house
blew down[.]
10
Very windy,
Snowed a little
14. T. Ma went to Mac's[and to]Wigg[inton's[.
]
Jane and Agnes [were at Finley McEw­
en ’s.]
5
Nice day
hard Froze
15 . W. Agnes & I did barn work[.]Father & John
[were] in [the] bush[.]
7
Snowed a little
16. T. Agnes & I did [more] barn work[.]Father
& John [were again] in[the] bush[.]John
9
Snowing and
[wasJin Clinton on Bob this] evening[.] ???
17 . F. [
More barn work.]I washed[.]Father[
was]
in Clinton[.He got $350 from [JohnJDun-
can[.]
5
Snowing
January, 1890 58
18. S. Agnes[is] sick[.]Jane [wentjin[to]Clin- 9
ton[in the] buggy[.]Father at Glen's[?] Nice day
I baked a little[.]
19. S. Jane & I [were] in Church[;We took the] 8
buggy(Stewart)[.] Nice day,rain
at night
20. M. Jim Heron here[.] Men made [a] fence at 7
the end of[the] H[orse] Stable[.]Mother Windy, frozen
[is] making [a] broom[out of] Iron Wood
Iron Wood for [the] barn[.]
21. T. Agnes & I [were] in Clinton[.]She got 4 4
teeth pulled[.] John Elliot & Carson Very windy
[were] here[.Brother] John [is] sick[.] Snowing
22. W. Agnes finis[hed] her Crochet-Quilt[.] 12
Uncle James[called]here on[his]way from Snowed some
Clinton[.] Father & I cleaned vats[.]
23. T. Annie Diehl & Uncl[e] James here kil- 6
ling heifer[.] Stormy
24. F. I was at U[ncle] James['s house] with 8
beef[.] Snell fetched back lamb[.]John Chilly
[was] in clinton[.]Adam[Stewart called]
in[.]
25. S. Father walked to Clinton[.] Bella & I 4
[are] sick[.] Foreboding
26. S. George Steckley* [was] herefor tea[.] 12
Misty &
Drizzly
♦George Steckley was John Stewart's
hired man. Cockney Englishman,
Imperial Army veteran, he was very
much one of the family and popular
in the community[.]
27. M.[I] Finished[the] Braided Chemise[.]Fa- 5
ther bought a steer at Elliott*s[•] Mr a little sun
Hanly fetched lambs[.] Drizzle
28. T. Adam here for John to help them cutting 5
to-day & to-morrow[.] Nice, freezing
some wind
29. W. Jane at Glen's, Agnes at Macs,* Father 5
at McGregor's & at Mason's sale[.]Elli- Rain evening
ot &[illegible] [were]here all night[.]
30. T. Jane & I [were] in Clinton[.]Jno. Chur- 4
chill Charlie & Tom Powell [were here.] Beautiful
[were here.]
31. F. Ab Knott and Uncle [James were] here[.]
J[ohn] Pearson [arrived] with [a] tele-
gram*for U[ncle]James[.]Ag went down[.]
John at Glen's with chop[.]
2
very heavy
stickey mud
very sunshiny
* probably ad­
vising him of the death or impen­
ding of Mrs James Elliott in Hullett
Elliott and his wife are buried
in the graveyard in Burns church.
February, 1890 59
1. S. Agnes at Stonehousef's] John [was] in 3
Clinton on Bob[.] Aunt Jessie [MacFar- Hard Frozen
lane],Mr & Mrs [George] Chapman & their
two children [were Jhere[.]*
* probably Margaret McKenzie who mar­
ried Geo.Chapman of Atwood.They had
two boys and two girls. The oldest
boy,Arthur(1887-1965) was raised by
Dunk and Mary McKenzie his grand­
parents and Stanley pioneers,on Lot
24,Con 4. Arthur would have to be
one of the two children alluded to
by Eliza-Ann. This is her first re­
ference to the McKenzie’s since the
diaries began.Margaret's older bro­
ther Paul,was a hired man at MacFar-
lane's in his teens but he died ar­
ound age 20 or 21.
2. S . Aunt Jessie & Ag in Church[.]Mother[was 6
off] seeing Mrs Wigginton[.] Cold Wind
3. M. Father [was] in Clinton[;] He got money 8
for Grey[. ]Fen[wick came] home with him Nice, dull
for tea[.]
4. T. Sprung, Govier, Mrs Ettie Cartwright & 5
Charles [were] here[.] Misty & soft
5. W. John,Jane & I [were]at[Cousin]J[ohn B.] 5
Stewart's wedding.* Frozen, snowed
a little
*He married Amelia Graham,daughter
of Wm. Graham, Lot 18,Con 3.
6. T. Jane [was] in Clinton[.] I [was] at Is- 11
ard's[.] Aunt Jessie & Ag [were] at Snowed a little
Glen’s[. We] sold [a] heifer[.]
7. F. Glen here[.] Aunty & Ag [were] at [the] 10
Graveyard & [at]U[ncle Jamesf's] Father Snowed a little
[was] at Wigg]inton]'s sale of Smith's
things[.]
8. S. John [was] in Clinton on Bob[.] Took up 13
a log for wood[.]
9. S. Tom Elliot and W. Elliot's son [were] 9
son[were] here[.] Hard Frozen
Snowed a little
10. M. John took[a] heifer to Clinton[.] Aunt 13
Jessie & Jane[were]at[Finley McEwen's.] Nice Day
11. T . John took Auntie to Johnson's[.] Father 14
[was]at Snell *s[.]Mother[was] in Clin- Nice, Soft
ton[.I] started [to] knit [a] mat [for]
the hall door[.]
12 . W . 15 hard
13. T.
14. F.
15. S.
J. Scruton & Sue Ketchen [were] here 8
for dinner[.] T. Matheson,Tene,John and Nice, soft
Will [McEwen] were here[.]John [was] in
Clinton [with Bob and the buggy.]
Mother & I [were] at Isard's[.] Uncle
James Sandy Thompson & a Dutchman [were
here.]
13
Raining & sleet
Jon took Auntie to Brucefield[.] Jane & 8
I in....Clinton Church[.]Charlie & Fen- Cold wind
[wick Stewart] here[.]
60
February, 1890
16. S. Jane & I [were] in Church[.] 12
Soft P.M.
17. M. Aunt Agnes came here[.] 8
18. T. [I have] near[ly] finished [the] ging- 15
ham dress[.] Soft,Thaw; hard
froze at night
19. W. Geo[rge] Hanley here for dinner[.] 7
hail snow
20. T. [I] finished knit mat at [the] kitchen 12
hall door[.]John walk[ed] in[to] Clin- Snow & drifts
ton[.
]
21. F. John hauling up logs for wood[.] 18
Snowing & drift
ing a little
22. S. First lambs 2 E[we] yearlings (1 each) 11
Finished Old Cloud mat[♦]Cantelon here
here with chop[.] Father in Clinton[.] Nice day
23. S. Bella & I in Church(Principal Grant)[.]*
14
Snowed a little
*The Rev George Monro Grant, Prin­
cipal of Queen’s University at King
ston 1877-1902
24. M. 2nd lambs E[we/R[am] Finis[hed] Fix- 12
in[g] new black skirt[. ] Elliot here Soft
here with chop[.]
25. T. John at Tricks with grist[.]Smith here 11
with Heifer[.] Jane at Isard's[.] Springlike
Raining
26. W. Aunt Agnes at Uncle John's &[at Uncle] 10
James[‘s.]Father at[Malcolm McEwen’s.] Froze a little
27. T. Father at Duncan McEwen's[.] Jane 18
[was] in Clinton[. I was over] seeing Soft
Aunt Abby [Stewart]...............
28. F. John at Jenkins 9
Raining, freez­
ing & snowing
at night
March, 1890
1. S. Father walked to Clinton[.] Adam & 16
George [were] here [this] evening(.]
2. S. Fenwick here[.] Beetie shearling died 11
last night[.] Flaked a little
3. M. Wells’ shearling lambed-2- 1 each[.] 12
(added later) The Billy died on the Nice
llth[.]
4. T. Malcolm & Smith here[.] Father went 13
with Mac to Coleman’s sale[.] Snowing
5. W. [I] Finished making my black dress[.] 16
J.Matheson [was] at[the] bam[.] John Stormy, below
started [on the] manure[.J zero
6. T. Mother & Janefwent] in[to] Clinton in 12
[the] cutter[.] Clear & Windy
10 below 0
7 . F .
8. S .
9. S.
10. H.
11. T.
12 . W.
13 . T .
14. F.
15. S.
16. S.
17 . H.
18. T.
19. W.
20. T.
21. F.
22 . S .
23. S.
24 . M.
25. T.
March, 1890 61
Smith here for J. Ross's Heifer[.] 17
Auntie & I [were] in Clinton [.We went 9
in the cutter with old Lamey. Cousin] Nice day
Mary Emma [is] home [from Denver.]
Uncle James here[.] Jane & Agnes [went 11
to] Church in [the] buggy[.](Stewart) Nice day
(Stewart)
Jane & Agnes [were over] seeing [Cous- 14
in] Mary[Ross this]evening[.] 3 sheep Sleet
lambed (Beetie 2 of each)[some indec­
ipherable short hand]
Father & John[were] at Switzer’s [and] 14
soldfthe] buggy[.] The other B Country Drizzling
sheep lambed[.]
Johnny Barkley3 & Tom Ager [were] here 11
all night[.] Agnes started Welcome Soft, soft
mat[.]
Father with Ager at Mason’s, Duncan’s, 11
Elliot’s & U[ncle John. I finis[hed]
braiding [the] Night ____ collar.* a little frosty
at night
* Night gowns are "unmentionables."
John & Ager[were] in Clinton[.]McDer- 10
mid [came] home with them [and was] A little frost
here all night[.] at night
[The visiting] Folks went home [this] 13
morning[.]Agnes finis[hed her] mat[.] Snowing quite
a bit
Stormy,but all the snow blew off the 16
roads in drifts[.]
[Mr] Tough ( [the] Assessor) [was]
here all night[.]
14
Softened a
little
Jane & I[were]at Wells[.]Father[was] 18
at Churchill's & [in] Clinton[.]Last
year[’s] GC sheep lambed[.]
Father & John at D. McEwen's sale[.] 9
Jane[was ] at Isard’s[ .The] Ager Bro- Pretty soft
[ther]s [were] here all night[.]
T.Ager bought Glenappinf.] Fa[ther] 10
& John[were] in Clinton[.] J.B.Homes
Jessie & Stella [Wigginton],Ada [Ste­
wart] & Sandy Gordon here[.]
Father & John, [driving the] buggy, 15
[were] at J.B.Homes[’s] & [in] Clin-
ton[.]
John walked to Clinton[.]Glen here(C) 24
12
Stormy
Smith here (C) Tom Wigginton fetched 19
John's Efuchre] Cards[.] Raw wind
W.H. Scott here[.I] Finis[hed]button 13
holeing [the] black dress[,] Wells Rain at night
[and Moffatts are off to Manitoba[,]
March, 1890 62
26. W. Alex Inglis here(C) Jane & Ag [were]
at D. McEwan*s[.] Long faced lambed
(1-E[we])
13
Blustery
27 . T . I [drove the] buggy in[to]Clinton Mr
& Mrs James and Thomas Duncan here[.]
15
Very windy
28 . F . Agnes & I [were] at Lizzie's quilt­
ing[.] Mr & Mrs Wigg[inton] [were]
here [in the] evening[.]
13
Stormy
29. S. Father in Clinton[.] 17
30. S. 16
Stormy, ongoing
31. M Lame ewe lambed (lamb dead)[.] 18
Nice
April, 1890
1. T . Jane & Agnes[were]in Clinton[and] got a
photo[of the] kids all at Mac's[.]4Aun­
ty at both Uncles[.] Father at ufncle]
James['s.]
Nice 23
2. W. Mr & Mrs Dunkin here[.] John at Wise's Nice 12
forty[.]* Frogs [were]singing [for the]
1st time[.Big dry Ewe [gave birth to a
E[we lamb.]
♦Goderich Township farms are surveyed
in 80 & 40 acre parcels.
3. T. Jim Junor and Smith[were] here with [a]
heifer[.] Father was in Clinton[.]
19
Springlike rains
4. F. Jane & I [ at were] at Grant*s[.] John
[was] at Dunkin’s[.]Bella [was]at U[n-
cle] James's[.]
21
Misty, nice
5. S . The Mason,* Bella McEwen & Jack McDon­
ald [were here.]
*
19
Misty, nice
Frost Sat night
Alex Thompson
of Blake.
6. S. Tom Wigginton [was] here for tea[.] 18
Raining
7. M. Father & John [were] at Dunkin's for
seed & at Wells' old place for beef[.]
Last year G.C. 2 lambs R[ams]
21
Beautiful
8. T. [I]finis[hed]braiding [the mat for the]
n[orth] door[.] Fa[ther was] in Clin­
ton!.] Jane [was] at U[ncle] James['s]
all night.Aunty was at U[ncle James's.]
17
Some Rain
9. W. Agnes started [the] other door mat.Ash­
ton [was here about.......the] Russell
fence.] [The] nice big G.C.[sheep had 1
lamb, a ewe.]
27
Rain & Sleet
10. T. John [rode] in[to] Clinton [on] horse­
back[.JFemey calved[;it was a]big black
steer[.]
24
Snowing
11. F. John Churchill [was] here[.] Ag finis­
hed her] door mat[.] Jessie the black
cow calved a small heifer.]
15
Nice, raw wind
April, 1890 63
12. S.
13 . S .
Aunt Agnes [was] in Clinton with Uncle 27
John [Stewart.] I started.... [another] Beautiful,windy
...mat[. Jessie Wigg[inton is] back for
[indecipherable]
Uncle James here[.] Mother [was]over at 18
Glen’s [this] evening seeing Betsy[.]* Beautiful, very
warm
*Mrs Edward Glen Sr. nde Eliza­
beth McQueen,mother of Wm & Ned
14. M. Churchill, both Mrs Glen's, Janey Bell,
John & Will McEwen [were] here[.]
31
Dull, cold
15 . T . Mother & Aunty at Isard's seeing Sarah
Wigginton[.]
38
nice, cold wind
16 . W. Father & John [were] at the Brucefield
show[. They went in the] buggy[.] Aunty
[was] down sweeping Frazier's[.]5
20
nice day
17. T. Ma & Jane [were] in Clinton[.] Father
[has]gone[to the]Lucknow show[.] Smith
& J.Pearson(C) & Mr & Mrs Finley [McEw­
en],Dunk & Lizzie McTavish[were]here[.]
26
Nice day
18. F. Mary Emma [Ross was] here[. Her sister
Lillie came for her[.] Smith (C) Father
planting slips[.]
25
Cold wind,
clear
19. S . John [was] sowing peas [today and was]
in Clinton[this]evening[.]Lizzie [Glen]
left Mary here[.] I [did some] digging
[in the] garden[.]
19
Nice
20. S. Jane & Agnes [were] in church(Stewart.)
They took the] buggy[.]
36
Nice
21 . M. I was at Dunkin's for seed peas [this]
morning[.]61d turkey laid her lst[egg.j
20
Coldish
22. T. Mekin here (C) after the two colts[.]
Father & I [are] digging these days[.]
33
windy
23 . W. Killed & ate [the] gobbler[.] Mary Emma
[Ross], Finley [McEwen] & Jim Ross
29
raining
24. T. Jane & Agnes [were] in Clinton[.] John,
Bella & I [were] at U[ncle] John's[.]
26
25. F. Mary Emma [has] gone back to Denver[.]
Mrs Baird was here[;] I drove her
home[.] B. Churchill [here at] noon[.]
24
nice
26. S. Bella walked to Clinton[.]Fen[wick was]
here for [news]papers[.]
33
Rain
27 . S . Agnes & I [were] in Church{Stewart)[.] 28
Nice, cold wind
28. M. I [worked at] horse-raking stubble off
clover.Mrs Wigg[inton] & Stella [were]
here[.] [The] Black Heifer calved - Red
steer[.] Agnes helped shere(sic) 3
sheep[.]
32
nice,
white frost
29 . T . [I] saw swallows [.] Jane saw them
first[.] Mac called[.] Daisy
calved [a] heifer[.]
33
Rain, dull
30. W. Jane & I were at Stonehouse's[.]
Aunty went to Green's[.The] sick
sick lamb died[.]
22
Nice, rain in
evening
May, 1890 64
1. T . Smith (C) Jane,Agnes & I [were] picking
A.M. Mother & I [were] in Clinton[.]
Dunkin* s walked here[.]
29
Cold Wind
2 . F. B. Churchill [was here at] noon[.] Jane
& I were at Wigginton’s P.M.
20
nice
3. S. Jane walked in[to] Clintonf.] Ag, Bella,
& John took 2 loads[of]stones off [the]
[the] clover[.]
32
rain
4. S. Young cattle [were] out last night[.] 20
Misty
5 • M. [I] Finished [the] Braided Night
Dress[.]Tom Wigg[inton]came]overin[his]
gig[.] Cattle all in[.]
11
Rain
6. T. Glen & Duncan [were] here for dinner[.]
I [was] at Aikenhead’s for pigs[.]
pigs[. The young cattle were all
out[.]
35
Snowing
7. W. Jane, Ag & I [were] picking stones all
day[.3
43
Nice, cold wind
8. T. [More] picking stones I [was]in Clin­
ton P.M.with potatoes[.]
21
Nice, cold wind
9. F. [I] Ironed Braided set[.] John went
to Varna[.] Churchill [indecipherable]
Cattle all in[.}
25
Raining
10* S . John walked to Clinton[.]Dan Ross here
seeing Patent[rail fence.]6 Washed [?]
quilt[.]
40
Raining
11. S. Jane & Agnes in Church(Stewart)[.] 25
nice, cold wind
12 . M. Agnes & I [were] picking stones A.M.
planted 2 rows of potatoes P.M.
24
Raining
13 . T . John [was] digging [in the] garden all
day[.] Father [worked at] pruning [and]
I [worked at] picking stones off [the]
yard[.] The cattle were all out last
night[.]
32
Dull, nice
14. W. Ashton & 3 others[were] here fencing[.]
cing[.] D[an Ross [was here] for seed
potatoes[.John,Jane,Ag and I planted 11
rows of potatoes.]
17
Nice
15. T. Ag & I planted 3 3/4 rows[. Jane,Ag and
I were picking stones P.M.] Father[was]
in Clinton[. We got our first goose
egg.]
29
Nice
16. F. Father & Mother[were] in Clinton[.]Mr &
Mrs Duncan [were here. In the] even[ing
J. Beetie & B. Churchill [were here.]
Stanley Beautyf?] Jane’s [illegible 2
words]
24
nice, cold wind
17 . S. Isard, Ida [Stewart], Minnie & Dfuncan]
Walker, [the] Atlas peddler, James Dun-
kin & [illegible] peddler [were here.]
22
nice
18. S. Jane & l[were]in church[.] Uncle James
[was] here[.]
28
Raining
19. M. Ashton & 2 boys [worked on the]fence[.]
Finley[McEwen was] here[.] Father [was]
Dunkin's[.They] bought[Stanley Beauty.] ?
21
nice,
??
May, 1890 65
20 . T.
wind
Ashton & 3 others [worked] all day[.]
Dunkin's boys fetched[rest of entry in-
decipherible J
26
Nice,cold
21. W. Father[took the] buggy in[to Clinton[.]
ton[.] Bella & I [were] planting tur­
nips [.] Mac's boys (C [rest of entry
indecipherible]
22
Nice,rain in
evening
22. T. Ag & Lizzie [were] at J. Pearson'sf.]
John & I hauled 4 load[s] of stones[.]
[rest of entry indecipherible]
26
Nice, warm
23 . F. Jim Junor & for Howson [were here for
dinner[.] Ag was at Mac's for [news]-
papers[.]
22
Heavy rains
last night,
warm
24. S. Smith(C) Aunt Agnesfis] back[.] Bell[e]
Bell[e] McEwen,Wigginton and J.McGregor
[here.]
22
Nice, windy.
Pouring Rain
25. S.
26. M. Mr, Mrs & Maggie Dunkin [were] here[.]
Father [was] in Clinton............. ]
25
Rained
Nice, rained a
little
27 . T. Father [was] at Emerson's trying to buy
cattle[.]
24
nice, windy,
evening rain
28. W. Took Auntie........................
Father & Mother at Dunkin's[. I] washed
sheep[.]
21
Nice
29. T. Mother & Jane[were]in Clinton[.] Father
& I harrowed [the field at Smith's &
hauled 4 load[s] of stones[.]
24
Nice, warm
30. F. John [wasJin Clinton[.] Father dug &
planted some....cabbage[and]pumpkins[.]
kins[.]
21
Rain
31. S . Father [was] in Clintonf.] Mr Smith's
son & daughter [were here.] Smith (C)
I [was] in Clinton for [illegible]
18
Nice, warm
June, 1890
1. S. Father & Mother in Church[.] 10
Nice, warm
2. M. Fa[ther]& I hauled off 6 load[s of]
stones & shore 3 sheep[.] Straightened
B[ee] frames[.]
18
3. T. Fafther] & I[(and John a little)]finis-
[hed] shearing 8 [sheep.] J. & C. Eliot
here [to see the fence[.]
18
Thunder storms
4. W. Father[was] digging[in the] garden[and]
planted beans (Butter for string)[.] I
[was] at Aunty*s[.]
16
very warm
5. T. Smith (C) [There was a Liberal party]
election [contest in the] school[house
to pick a candidate for the impending
provincial election-] Bishop [versus
Homes[.]? Aunty [was] up [here.]Jane &
Bella [were] in Clinton[.]
16
Hard driving
rain
6. F. Dan Ross(C)I finished digging Ma's gar­
den[.] Father [is] digging yet[.]
27
Nice, cooler
June,.1980 66
7 . S. [I] Finis[hed] this side garden .Father
[was] in Clinton{.]Tene & Bell [McEwen]
& Bela Forsythe were here[.]
14
Nice,cold wind
8. S. Jane, Bella & I [were] in church(Stew-
tart]) [.]
20
Nice cool wind
9. M. I painted 2 B[ee] Boxes[.] Ag [was at]
Isard's[.] Aunty [was] up [here.]
18
Nice, warm
10. T. Glen here[.] Bella's turkeys coming
out[.]
32
Raining
11. W. Melia & Charlotte Duncan, Jim & Arm­
strong with pictures) & U[ncle] James
[were here.]
12
12 . T. P. McGregor[was here for]dinner[.]J.& W.
McEwen (C) Beetie & Horton Varna T Aun­
ty & I [were]in Clinton[.] Ag at [?] in
Toronto[.]
18
Nice, windy
13. F. Father[went to the mill for]chop[.]Aun-
ty[and]Bell McEwen[here]for eggs[. The]
Blind Peddler [was here.]
39
Nice day
14. S. Ag[was]in Clinton[.]Mac[is]letting jobs
on the road[.]*Jane finis[hed] Bella’s
Red-Stippled dress[.] *Statute Labour
14
Nice
15. S. Mother & Agnes in Church(Fletcher)[.] 16
Nice
16. M. Ag & I [worked] with Father hoeing yel-
lowweed[.] Aunty[was]up with [a]Ladie'
s
Slipper[.j*
20
Nice,very warm
* wild orchid
17 . T . Smith (C) Agnes walked [to] Clinton[.] 18
Line folks* [are]] hauling gravel from Nice
Glen's[.] *Residents of
Concessions 4 and 5 doing
Statute Labour for road
repairs
18. W. Father[was] at Bru[cefield] with wool &
[at]J. Cooper's & H[ugh] McGregor's[.]
19
Nice, a little
cold
19. T. Kate foaled [a filly.] Father [was] in
Clinton[.]
15
nice
20. F. The 5 of us [were] at a picnic in Is-
ard's bush[.] Jim [Barkley was] here[.]
7
nice
21. S. Father was at A Dunkin's[.] Mother & I
[were] in Clinton[.]
14
Rain last night
22. S. Jane & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[.]
Uncle James [was] here[.]
20
Nice & Warm
23 . H. Father [was]in Clinton[.Today the bees
bees had the ] 1st swarm[.] J[ohn] & I
were at Mac'sf.] Mr Culbert [was] here
all night[.]
24
very warm
24. T. Fafther], Ag & I [worked at] roots and
planting turnips[.] Smith (C)
24
very warm
25. W. 2 Coopers & McRoberts [were] here[and]
[and] bought 4 sheep.......[2nd swarm
of bees]
19
very warm
June, 1890 67
26 T. Father [was] in Clinton [and]got [the]
[the] other 2 B[ee]Boxes[.] F[ather,Ag
& I [were] hoeing potatoesf.]
15
nice
27 . F . Ag & I [were]weeding roots[.] J.Deeves
[was] here for Churchill[.]
14
nice
28. S. Mother & Jane [were] in Clinton [at a] 20
Church council [meeting.]Sold steers[.] mist, very
warm
29. S. Father, Mother & Jane [were] in church
(Stewart)[.]
9
very warm
30. H. [I] finis[hed] painting[the] 2nd[of] 2
B[ee]Boxes A.M. Father Agnes & I worked
at roots[.]
20
Rain evening
July, 1890
1. T. Father, Ag & I [worked] at roots[.] 19
Rained a little
2. W. Ag & I planted cabbagef.] Father[was in]
Clinton A.M. Ag & I were at Aunty's[. A]
garment pedler [was here.]
11
3. T. Jane & Aunty [were] in Clinton[.] F[ath-
er],A[g],Jo[hn] & I [worked] at Rootsf.]
J[ohn was] spreading hay after sup[per.]
14
nice,cold A.M.
4. F . Father [has] gone to London for 50.....
sheep[.]Ag & I [did] rootsf.] J.McDonald
& McPhail [were] here[.]
17
5. S. Father [got] home[.] Jim drove [the]
sheep up [in a] wagon[.] Ag & I finis­
hed] colling hay [in the] Smith field[.]
13
Nice
6. S. Agnes, Bella & I [were] in Church(Stew­
art )[.]
25
Nice
7. M. [We] Hauled in 6 loads [of hay from the
Smith's field.]
19
Nice, warm
8. T. [We] Hauled in 7 loads [from the Smith’s
field.] Up with & for Bella trying for
[her] 2nd class cert[ificate.8There were]
2 swarms [from the] white hive[.]
18.
9. W. Up with & for Bella[.] Geo[rge] Baird (C) 18
Cold Wind
10. T. Up with & for Bella[.] [The] White Hive
swarmed again[.]J.Thompson[
was here]
with
with 2 lambs[.]
21
Cool
11 . F . [Ag up with and for Bella.The]Brown Hive
[swarmed.We took in 7 load[s]of hay[from
the] field behind [the] barn[.]
11
12. S. [Ag up with and for Bella.We took]4[more]
loads[from the field behind the barn.The]
B[rown hive swarmed] again.....(the 1st
Box Hive)[.] Janey,Ag,John & Bella [were]
at 12th [of July celebrations] P.M.*
28
Rained a
little
*The Stewart's were strong Orange supporters.
13 . S . James Angus Fisher and Uncle James[were]
here[.] Father[was]at U[ncle] James’[s.]
26
July, 1890 68
14. M. [X] Took honey from [the]White Hive(the
1st)[.]J[ane] & Ag picked[the]1st Rasp-
[berrie]s I [worked at] roots A.M. Jas.
Dunkin [here] P.M.
12
15. T. [I went] Up with Bella[.] [At home,we
home,we were] putting up hay all day!.]
all day[.]
16
Day was cool
16. W . [We used 8 loads of hay building a
stack.] Reid here[. Geordie McLeod [was
here] for tea[.]
19
Nice
17. T. Geofrge] Baird (C) [We] Hauled 8 loads
[of hay and] finished[the] field at[Mc-
Ewen's] bush[.] Parke [here.]
15
Showers A.M.
cool
18. F. John [manured]* the field next [to the]
watering place[.] Shipley[
was]here[and]
Father [was] in Clinton..............
13
nice
♦This is a
guess. The ink
blotted.
19. S. Father [was] in Clinton for Glenburn -
hauled 1 load[.]Jno. & Ifwere] in Clin­
ton with steers[.] Mr & Mrs McEwen
[were] here[.]
4
cool evening
20. S. Jane, Bella & I [were] in Church[Stew­
art)!.] Jim ]Barkley and] Jack Ellliot
[were here.]
34
Nice, cool
21. M. Father & Mother at Dunkin’s[.] Finis-
[hed]mowing & big stack[.]Ag & I pick­
ing berries[.]
21
22 . T . Father [was] in Clinton[. We were] col­
ling hay all day[.]
17
Nice, warm
23 . W. [We] Hauled 6 loads[of hay]to [the] 2nd
stack[.] Jane [was] at Dunkin *s[.]
Rained a little
24. T. Uncle James & Wigginton here[.I] scrub­
bed my room & filled [the] tick[.]
35
Rain
25. F. Mother & Father [were] in Clinton[.]
Bella & Agnes picked [potato] bugs[.]
15
Showers
26 . S . [We] Cut and stooked[the]wheat in front
of[the] door[.]01d [Mr] Fisher* & [his]
nefewfsicj [were] here[.]
16
nice
27. S. Father & Mother [were in church][Reid,
Toronto)[.] Jim [Barkley was] here.
20
Nice, warm
28. M. [We] Hauled 4 loads [of hay][ 3 out of
the low field) [and Finis[hed the] 2nd
stack[.] Mac's (H) & [C)
29. T. [We]Hauled 5 loads of hay,finis[hed the]
last stack [and] Finished haying[.]
10
Nice
30. W. Andrew Dunkin & [his] wife [were] here
[for the] first time[.] Reading [the]
hay mows[.]
oo
mm
Raining
31. T. John [was] at Brucefield for [the] pea
harvester^.] Ag, Bella & I [were]
weeding [tur]nips P.M. & Even[ing[.]
18
Nice ,warm
Hayloads
69
1. F.
2 • S •
3 . S .
4. M.
13 Smith’s [Rented field]
11 Behind barn
16 [By McEwen's] Bush
8 Watering Place
8 Last Field
56
August, 1890 loadikq iiat.
Agnes [was] in Clinton[.] The Smith boy 17
[was here]for eggs[.] Mr Wigginton, Mr Nice, Warm
& Mrs Dunkin,U[ncle] James & S. Switzer
[were here.We] hauled in 9 loads of
wheat[.]
[We] hauled in 5 loads of wheat(14 al- 15
together)[and] started cutting peas[.] Nice, warm
Jane & Agnes in Church(Reid)[.] 18
Nice,very warm
John[was] in Brucefield[.We were] Mov- 15
ing straw[.]* Ed Wise & Fenfwick were High winds,rain
[were here] for flour[.] evening
•
•
i
n
Moving straw A.M.* [Worked] at Peas P.M.
P.M. Cooper & McRoberts here[.] Nice
17
* The straw in the barn from last year’s
threshing has to be moved to make room
this year's sheaves.
for
6. W. [We] Finis[hed] cutting [the] peas A.M.
[and] started [the] oats[.] John [was]
in Brucefield [looking]for a spring in
[the] binder[.]
Nice
22
7. T. [We were] Reaping oats [on the] Rath-
well [place.]Bella [was] in Clinton[.] Nice
14
8. F. [We] Finis[hed reaping oats on the
Rathwell place and started] cutting [in
the] shanty field[.]
Warm
19
9. S. [We] Finis[hed]reaping [and]Hauled in 3
loads of peas[.] John walked to Bruce­
field for [the] McIntosh bullock[.]
Nice
24
10. S. Jane & Agnes in Church[.] Jim [Barkley,
McIntosh & his student here[.] Nice
34
11. M. [We] Hauled in 7 loads [of] peas[.]
McIntosh, Ada [Stewart] & Woon [here] Nice,
23
windy
12. T. [We] Hauled in 4 loads of peas & 1 of
oats[.] Father[was]in Clinton P.M. Jim
Barkley [was here] all n[ight.]
Nice
19
13. W. [We] Hauled in 5 loads of oats[.] Fath­
er [was] at Woon's threshing P.M. Nice,
52
dull
14 T. [We] Hauled in 6 loads of oats[.] McIn­
tosh [was] here[.] Bella passed for 2nd
class [teaching certificate.]
19
15 . F . [We]Hauled in 7 loads of oats[.] Father
was at [Finley McEwen's] threshing P.M.
17
August, 1890 70
16. S. McIntosh [here.We took in]the last load
& finis[hed the] harvest[.] Mother & Ag
[were] in Clinton[.]
20
Nice, warm
17 . S . 26
Raining
18. M. John[
was]hauling manure[.]Father was at
at Brucefield & [fetched] Mrs Maggie Mc-
McGregor[.]
16
Nice
19. T. Took Mrs Maggie McGregor home [in the]
evening[.]
19
Raining
20. W. [I worked]with Father clipping sheep
all day[.Ag, Jane & Bella were in Clin-
Clinton.]
12
nice
t
o
•
►
3
•
Mr Baird (the Teacher), Mr Thompson and
Elsie [were] here[.]
18
Raining
22 . F. Mr Cooper & McRoberts here all night[.]
Father & John and others[were] in Clin­
ton[.] Dickson here and Bruce with
lambs[.]
20
Nice, cool
23 . S . Father walked to Clinton[.] 31
nice, cool
24. S. Bella & I [were]in Church(Gregg)[.] Un­
cle James,Tom Beacom & Wigginton [were]
here[.]
10
cool
25 . M. Father was in Brucefield with wool[.]
Donald Ross & Jim Steep at Gates[.] Jim
[Barkley was here in the] evening[.]
14
Rained a little
26. T. Jane & Ag [were] in Clinton with......
....[3 bags of apples.) Mr & Mrs Dunkin
and U[ncle] James [were here.]
15
Nice
27. W. Father,Agnes & I [were] weeding & scuff­
ling [tur]nips[.]
17
Sprinkled, cool
28 . T . Father [was] in Clinton with Dunkin &
Charlotte A.M. & at Wigg[inton's]thresh­
ing P.M. Ma & Jane [were] in Clinton[.]
8
Beautiful
29. F. Father[has] gone to Montreal[.] Ag drove
drove him to Clinton[.]Apple buyers from
London [were] here[.]
17
Showery,windy
30. S. 24
Windy, cold,
Drizzling
31. S. Jane,Agnes & Bella [were] in Church(Ram­
sey) [.] Jim [Barkley was here.]
25
Nice, cold
Loads
Hay 56
Wheat 14
Peas 14
Oats 20
104
SIlBR F-lK lK A BtftC.
September, 1890 71
1.M. Father [got] back from Montreal[.] Bel- 14
la started Model School [and] Ag took Beautiful
her up[.] Aunty[is]back from Green's[.]
.'
»
r '
‘~ ’’ i 4 i
*
2. T. Mrs [Malcolm] McEwen & Mrs [Richard] 11
SpearS [were] here[.] Jane & I [were] Beautiful
at Andy Dunkin’
s[.]
* - * I ‘ . -I * • *
t
f
! I . •*
3. W. Father [was] at Wiggfinton*s] for oats 16
[and] at [the] mill for chop[.] Jane Beautiful
[was] in Clinton[.]
4. 3
?
. Father walked to Clinton[.] 13
Rain in evening
5. F. I walked to Clinton[.] 13
Nice
6. S. Mother & I [were] in Clinton[.] Aunty 15
[was] in too and] got her clock chains raining A.M.
her clock chainsfc [news]paper[.]
7. S. Jim [Barkley was] here[.] 12
very warm
8. M. I [was] in Clinton with Bella & at 22
Glen’
s A.M.Tom Wiggfinton was] here[.] Raining
here[.]
9. T. Ag walked to Clinton & [I] went up with 18
Father after[.] John sowed wheat[.] nice, dull
10. W. [Lord Dormid, our new Bull, arrived in 9
Clinton.] Mr Hirst [and] Melia Duncan Nice
Duncan[were] here[.] Ag & I[were] pick­
ing grapes to-night[.]
11. T. Jane at Mac's P.M. Ag took Aunty down 21
bedding & sand[.] Dull, snowed a
little
12. F. John[was] in Clinton getting[the] horse 28
shod[.]Mr & Mrs Finley[McEwen were here Misty, Rained
this] evening[.] a little
13. S. Father & John in Clinton fixing car[.]* 8
Jane & Bella [were] picking grapes [and Nice, Windy
got] 2 baskets[.]Jane [was ] at U[ncle]
James[’s this] evening[.]
* Perhaps Eliza-Ann is referring to what later
generations called a ”dolly,” the device that
rolled back and forth on the wooden track inside
side the barn,and which was part of a more com­
plicated apparattus involving ropes, block and
tackle. When properly hooked up, a team of draft
horses could pull on the rope, slingloads of hay
or sheaves would rise off the wagon on the b a m
floor.When the pulley hit the dolly, a slingload
would slide horizontally along the track.The hay
or sheaves could be dropped in either mow by
pulling on a long trip rope[.]
14. S. Fen[wick] & Tom [were]here all night[.] 12
Ag Bella & I were in Church(Stewart) [. ] Nice, cool
15. M. Father, John & Tom gone to Goderich[.] 20
Wigg[inton] & Fen[wick]took up sheep to dull
Clinton[.]*
♦Probably James MacFarlane was entering sheep
in the Goderich fall fair.
September, 1890 72
16. T. 17
Rained a little
17 . W. [I] Took[the]divide boards out [of the]
bees'[boxes.] Fen[
wick] & Wigg[inton] &
[the] sheep [had to be] fetched home
[from] Goderich[.]
11
Nice
18 . T. [We were] Lifting potatoes & [will]fin-
i[sh] A.M. to-morrow[.]
13
Nice
19. F. Mr & Mrs Kyle,U[ncle] James & Aunt Mary
[were here.John] Duncan came here [with
a] load of sheep for Lon[don.]
15
Rainf Windy
20. S. Father & John [were] in Clinton with
Duncan’s sheep for London[.]
20
cool
21. S. Father & Mother[were]in Church[.] Aunty
[is] here[.]
9
Nice
22. M. Father,Mother,John, Aunty & I [were] in
Clinton[.] Churchill [was] here[.]
11
Nice, cool
23. T . Father [was] at Butchart's threshing[.]
Bella Ross & Ella McEwen [Aunt and niece] 8
[were] here [this] evening[.] Nice, windy
24. W . Father, Mother & Agnes [were] at London
fair
11
Nice
25. T. John [was] at Glen's threshing[.]
T. Frazer & [his] brother-in-
law * [were here.]
8
* Cameron?
26 . F . Father at Finley's threshing[.] Jane
walked to Clinton[.]
17
Raining
27 . S . John [was] at Glen’s threshing[.] Dunk-
in kids for father to take [illegible]
sheep[.]
10
cool wind
28. S. Jane, Agnes, Bella & I [were in] Church
(Stewart)[.]Mr & Mrs Wigg[inton]& Stel­
la & Jim Junor [were here.]
8
nice, cool
29. M. [I] Killed a sick sheep[.]Father & John
[were working at fence[post] holes [us­
ing] cones[.] Dunkin [was] here[.]
15
Nice, Frost at
nights
30. T.
October, 1890
12
nice, warm
1. W. Mac & Will here[.]Ag & I[were] at Clin­
ton [delivering]things to the show[.] J.
Thompson[the stone] mason [was] here at
[at] night[.]
16
nice, warm
2. T • I [was] up with [the] Glen's,Ag & Bella
at [the] show & John was up with [our]
horse P.M. F. Brigham was
[was here] all night[.]
11
Rain morning
nice after
3. F. Father, John, Jane & I [were] at the
show[.] Bella Cuming [came] home with
home with us [.] Ross from.........
16
nice
4. S. [We] started pulling apples[.] Sturdy
[was] here[.] Ag [was] at Glen's[.] Nice
October, 1890 73
5 . S
6. M
7. T
8. W
9. T
10. F
11 S
12. S
13. M
14. T,
15. W.
16. T.
17 . F.
Jane & I and Bella Cuming [were] at 8
Church(McMillain)[.] Raining
. Jane & Bella Cuming went [over] to U[n- 9
cle] John's[.Our brother] John [was] at
Trick’s seeing [the] Perdues[.]
. [I]drove Father &[Mr]Wigginton to Clin- 17
ton [to catch the train] for Guelph[.]
Ag & I were pulling feathers[.]
. Aunt Mary [is] sick [so] Jane [was] at 3
U[ncle]James'[s] baking for[his]thresh- Nice
ing[.Ag & I pulled more feathers.] A.
Dunkin [was] here[.]
Cattle buyers Billy Pearson & Johnson 17
[were here]
wanting pigeons[.] Un[cle's]
James & John [were] threshing[. ] T[om] Dull, east wind
Wigg[inton was held up at another thre­
shing, so] Lizzie [was] late[.Ag was at
Macs today.]
U[ncle]John's threshing A.M.,us P.M.Stur­
dy [was] here [and] bought 3 sheep[.] Rain in
morning
Threshing A.M. J.McDonald[was] here[.] I 13
[was] in Clinton with [five of Dunkin's] nice, dull
steers[.]
6
Raining
Agnes[was] helping at Mal[colm McEwenj’s 2
threshing[.] Aunt Agnes [is] back from [a High wind
stay at] Green's[.]* Father & John [get­
ting?] Mother at U[ncle] James's[.]
James'
s.
*Bella Green had 4 children in 5 years-Edna, 1885,
Stewart 1887,Lulu,1888 and Abby, 1890.Nettie was born
in 1896 and George in 1899. It is probable that Agnes
went over to help her [probably] exhausted niece, with
whom she had a special relationship.
Father was at Mac's threshing & Ag [was 10
there for a second day.] John & I [were]
in Clinton for [the] Model Farm Calf[.]
Fatherfwas] pulling mangols[.] Jane [was 2
Stewart's]helping Ada[do the family]wash.* Windy
Ag & I pullfed] apples[.]
* Mary, Mrs James Stewart, had a weight problem and
eating disorder. Victorians called most digestive
complaints "Dyspepsia." Quietly efficient,it takes
illness to make her family realize how much of a load
the mothe carries. Jane helped her 17-year-old cousin
get on top of the washing.
Father,Ag & I[were] pulling mangols A.M. 8
Raining
Ida Isard and U[ncle Jame's (sic)Annie 2
[
were]here[.] Mother at S.Wigg[inton's] Cold Wind
P.M.
18.
19.
2 0 .
21 .
22 .
23 .
24.
25.
26.
27 .
28.
29.
30.
31.
1.
2.
October, 1890 74
S. Father[was]in Clinton with W[illy] Glen 3
for barrens, (sic) Jane[was] at S[arah] nice
Wigg[inton’s P.M.]Bella[was] at U[ncle]
Ja[mes's.]
S . 11
Rain m o m .
M. Father [was] at[the] mill [with] 3 bags 0
of wheat [in the] buggy[.]Ag & I[were] Dull, cool
pulling mangols P.M.[Mother was at Sar­
ah Wigginton's.
]
T. Father, Ag & I[were]pulling mangols all 5
day. Ada [Stewart came by at] noon [to] Nice
ask [for help with] thresh[ing.] Bfella
cameJ home to-night[.]
W. Apple packers came last night[.] Beetie 7
here al night[.Two Dunkin’s [were] here Nice.
T. Ag [was] pulling mangols A.M. Father 1
[was]at Blythe with Beetie[.] John took Rain P.M.
him to Dunkin’
s at night[.]
F. Ag was pulling mangols P.M. Mr & Mrs 6
[Nicholas] Cuming [arrived] P.M. [and] showery
stayed] all night[.] Father [was] at
Woon’s thresh[ing.
]
S. Jane & I [were] at church..John up with
the 2 loads [of] apples(.] Nice, showers
evening
S. Father,Mother,Jane & I [were] in church
(Stewart)[.]U[ncle] James & Wigg[inton] Nice, dull
were] here.Ma & Jane [were out]see[in]g
S[arah] Wigg[inton.]
M. Glen's pulling our mangols[-We] hauled 4
in 3 loads[.] Father was at Wigginton's Snow, showers
threshing A.M.
T. [We] hauled in 2 loads[of mangols.]John
walked to Clinton[.] Sarah Wigginton
died[.]
W. [We hauled in] 5 loads [of mangols and 3
had to put the] sides on] the wag[on.]
John is plowing these days with Jeso' &
Marco's colts[.]
T. [Father took in 1 load and Ag and I 1
took in 3 loads of mangols.] Father,Mo­
ther & Jane[were]at Sarah Wigg[inton’s] Nice
funeral[.] Jane went to Clinton [Cemet­
ery] with [the] Wigg[inton’s.] Dewdrop
calved[.]
F. Laid in cows & calves[.] Jennie Grant, 3
Ada [Stewart] & Duncan, Mrs & Melia Snowing
here[.]
November, 1890
S. [We] hauled in 3 quite full loads of 1
loads of mangols [on the] sheep rack[.] Snow, rain
John [was] in Clinton [this] even[ing]
in [the] cart[.]
S. [The last 4 loads of mangols were haul­
ed in.] Jane [was] in Clinton[.]
2
November, 1890 75
3 . H.
4. T.
5. W.
6. T.
7 . F *
8 • S.
9 . S .
10. M.
11. T.
12 . W.
13. T.
14. F.
15. S.
16 . S .
17 . M.
18. T.
19. W.
20. T.
Jim [Barkley] here[.] Father at U[ncle]
Jame’s[.] Cattle all in[.] Freezing
[I] Killed 10 turkeys[.] Mother & John 3
[were] in Clinton [in the] buggy[. ] Snowedlast
night
[We] killed pigs[.] Ag & I took in some 4
refuse apples[.] soft
Thanksgiving[: The] 4 of us [MacFarlane
lane sisters were] at [the] S[abbath] Nice
S[chool] Examinations[.]Father[was]pul­
ling [turjnips & John [was] away shoot­
ing! .]
Father, Ag & I [were] pulling [tur]nips
[and] John hauled [them] in[.We] pulled
carrots P.M. Jane [was] in Clinton[.]
Snow evening
Ag & I hauled in 1 load of[tur]nips & 2
loads of cabbage[.When that was] finis-
[hed* we] took in apples[.]
* Eliza-Ann made this
list at the bottom of
the November page
/HE >i,0U5K
Mangols
Turnips
Carrots
Cabbage
20 loads *
sides on
5 boxfulIs
1
2
Father [was] helping U[ncle] James kill 1
3 pigs [. ] Putting out cattle off wheat nice, cold
[stubble] & cleaning cellar[.] froze a little
Father,John & Jane[were]in Clinton with
14 live turkeys and 6 bags of refuse nice
apples[.]
Father[was] at Dunkin’s[in the]buggy[.] 1
John started[plowing] sod[.I worked at]
cleaning[the] cellar [while]Jane[clean- very nice
ed] upstairs[.]
Mother & I [were] in Clinton[.] Mrs Is-
sard [was] here[.] nice
[I] finis[hed] putting nips out of[the]
shed with father A.M. & scraping the Beautiful
cellar P.M.U[ncle]James[’s]Annie[here.]
[I] Took in cabbage & scraped [the]Milk
Room(. Hugh] McGregor & Crerar from Raining
Strat[ford here.]I drove[to] Clinton[.]
X walked to church(Stewart)[.] Tom &
Jessie Wigg[inton were] here[.] Nice
Levi Trick [wasJin looking for colts[.]
Started [indecipherable] carpet[.] Raining
Betty McGregor and Duncan McFarlane nice
from Aux Sables here[.]
Father walked to Clinton[.] Snow, hail,rain
Jane & I [took the] buggy in[to] Clin- nice, cold wind
ton[.] Agnes [was] cleaning [grain for]
grist & chop[.]
November, 1890 76
21. F.
22 . S.
23. S.
24. M.
25. T.
26. W .
27. T.
28. F.
29. S.
30. S.
1. M.
2. T.
3. W.
4. T.
5. F.
6. S.
7. S .
Mother[was out]seeing[the] McEwen’s ba- Nice, Warm
by (Elizabeth)[.]^Father [was ]out[this ] Hard frost
even[ing.] last night
John [is] plowing sod still[. I] Washed
[the] double windows* & 3 milk room win- Clear,cold wind
dows[.]
* Eliza-Ann's terra for storm windows
I [was] in Church(Stewart)[.] Clear,cold wind
Mr Dunkin & Mr McCallum [were] here for
tea. Father [was] working at [the] con-
[cession] fence[.]T[om] Wigg[inton]here
for sheep[.]
John finis[hed] plowing[the] field next Snow
the [side]road & Mac's[.]* *the N/E corner
of Lot 30 Con 4
Ag [was]at Cairn’s & Scotts.Mother[was]
at Mac's[.]J[ohn] Dunkin[was] here with Nice,froze hard
a sheep[.]
Ag [was]in Clinton [and] got teeth pul-
led[.]Father [was] at Churchill's [and] Nice
Mother [was] at Wigg[inton]'s[.] Jane &
I [were]at a prayer meeting at D[uncan]
McEwen’s[.] J.
Mcdonald [was] here[.]
Sid Smith [was] here[.] John [is] plow­
ing below [the] watering place[.] Nice, dull
[I] Finis[hed the] fork-cases* & sewed
up mac’s bolsters. Jane finis[hed] Bel- softened
la's black dress[.] *cutlery
Snowed a very
little
December, 1890
[Today] Sarah Barkley [was] married to
Win.McBain[,]Algoma[.] Ag finished Bel- Snowing, frosty
la’s night dress[. I] made [a]case for
for tea-knives[.The]Tree peddler [was]
here all night[.] Father & John [are]
making [a] Bee-box for packing[.]
Father & John making B[ee-]Box[.]
Father & I[were]finishing [the bee-box
box] in the house[.] Adam [Stewart was
here] in [the] evenfing.]
[We] Packed t he 5 hive [of] bees [in
the box for the winter.The]Tree pruner
called[.] Jane & John [were] at Wigg-
[inton]'s [this] evening[.]
John[is] hauling manure[on the] sleigh[. nice,18 degrees
Mr] Wiley[,the collector, was] here[.] frost
[I] cleaned [the kitchen stove pipes nice
and] Hung 1st pictures in [the] par-
lor[.]
Jane,Bella & I [were]in Church [we went
in the] cutter[. The Rev. Mr Stewart
took the service.]
Cold Wind
December, 1890 77
8. M. Jane [was] in Clinton with Bella[. They
took the]cutter[. ][The] Stanbury's were
[were here] looking at heifers[.]
9. T. Jane washed kitchen plaster[- The Rev, 1
Mr Stewart, Mary & Robert were here[.]
[Wejkilled little lamey[.] Nice
10. W. Father walked to Clinton[.]Mother [was] 4
at Glen's[.]John [was] in the bush P.M. soft, sleighing
gone
11. T. Agnes [was] in Clinton[.She] got an im- 1
pression took[for falseteeth.] I [was] softr pelting
at Isard's[.] snow tonight
12. F. John [was]at Smith’s to get Will to cut 2
cut wood[.] Stormy
13. S. I [went]in[to]Clinton for Bella[.] John 1
& Will [were] at Smith*s[this]even[ing.] Cold Wind
14. S. Agnes & I[were] in Church(McLean,Blythe). Cold Wind
Father [was] at U[ncle] James* [looking 1
for a] missing animal[.]
15. M. [I] varnished picture frames[and] Bella 2
papered [a] book case[.] Nice
16. T [I] Papered [the] backs [of the frames] snowed a little
& Hung[them] up[.]Mekin called[.]Jennie
Grant [was here at] noon[.] Bella[is]in
Clinton at school[.]
17. W. Father [was] in Brucefieldf.] Bella[is] Nice, soft
in Clinton[.] G. Baird,John & Tom [were
in] Varna[.] Mac’
s kids [were] in{.]
18. T. Agnes & Bella [were] in Clinton [with] 2
butter[. They drove the] cutter[.] John
[was] at U[ncle] John's cutting [wood]
P.M. & [he will be there] tomorrow all
day[.]
19. F. [We] put down carpet in the dining room nice frosty
room [- the] 1st rug[.] J.Dunkin [was]
[was] here[.Cousin] J[ohn B.] Stewart's
baby born [today]* *William John
Stewart, 1890-1974
20. S. Bella [was] in Clinton[. I was] Hemming
carpet[.]
21. S. Adam [Stewart was here] P.M. 2
rain
22. M. Jane [was]in Clinton[.I was]sewing car- 2
pet[.] Windy, nice
23. T. I [wasjin Varna with Bella at [herjexam 2
& at Dunkin's[. We] Killed [the] year- Cold,Blustery
[lin]g heifer[.]
24. W. Father & I [were] in Clinton[. We] put 4
carpet down in Jane & Bell's room[.] Snow
25. T. Aunty [Agnes], Ada,Annie,Ida [and] Adam 3
[Stewart] & G[eorge] Steckley [were]
here[.]Jennie Grant[stayed]all night[.] Clear & cold
Some starlight
December, X890 78
26. F.
27 . S .
28. S.
John[was]in Clinton[with the] gig[this] 3
evening[.]
John & Willie [Smith were] hauling up
[cord]
wood[.] Stormy
2
5
Snowing
29. M.
30. T.
31. W.
[I] made a linen cover for [the] easy
chair[.] 4
John [has been] hauling wood[.He took
[a] load down [to Aunty's[.] Ag & I
[were]in Clinton[-] good sleighing[.]
Father [was] in Clinton & [he was] at
the [S.S. #1 annual] school meeting[.
He] bought Bella's kiefor Trunk[.]
Agnes made B[ella] 2 aprons[.]I [was]
topsewing shirts[.]11
3
Soft
4
Thaw
1. Check the few entries for 1890 begun on the end of the
1889 sheets. Mr Davis the Clinton hardware and stove merchant
had installed a furnace in the MacFarlane house, and had made
some sort of trade-in or sale by consignment deal for the
wood stoves that had formerly heated the rooms. They brought
in the parlor stove on the 4th.
2. see more detail entry (date) and footnote #
3. John Barkley (1849-1921) was Jim's older brother. He
lived his whole life in Ashfield Township.
4. Perhaps this was the splendid photo of the five
MacFarlane siblings, by H. Foster Studios in Clinton.
5. Not sure if she refers to the house N. of John Stewart's,
where Agnes Stewart lived, or to the Fraser home on Con 3.
6. I'm guessing that she's referring to the patent rail fence.
One had to pay a fee to erect one.
7. The Legislative Assembly of Ontario was dissolved on April
26, 1890 and a general election took place on June 11. The
provincial Liberals held power without interruption from 1871
to 1905. With only a week to go, things have been left rather
late. Don Glen said that the disappointed candidate was fav­
oured by the Liberals in that corner of the riding and he ran
as an independent. The Conservatives including Stewart’s and
MacFarlane's voted in sympathy for the independent. When
James and John Stewart and James MacFarlane met on the way to
vote, MacFarlane said in his Scots burr "We’
re all Grits
today1” Thomas Fraser is said to have feigned an attack of
lumbago to avoid working for Bishop. See 1897 P.G. & New Era
8. Isabella is taking a summer course, probably at the Clinton
Model School. The cryptic references suggest that her sisters
took turns driving her in, doing errands in town, and picking
her up. We are never told the hours, but in those days before
air conditioning, it was considered prudent (Isabel Glen told
me) to schedule summer classes of any sort early in the day
and end them by noon or 1 P.M. We find out on Aug 14 that she
passed.
9. The Spears were pioneers in the neighbourhood and then they
moved away to Highgate in Kent County. Malcolm McEwen's
daughter Margaret married Will Spear.
10. This is not Elizabeth McEwen (1881-1976) later Mrs R.Y.
MacLaren. That Elizabeth was the daughter of Malcolm McEwen.
The Elizabeth referred to here was
Don Glen told me that all shirts -particularly work shirts
were made by the women until well into the 20th Century.
n.
79
1891
Pate
January, 1891
1. T . ...at Uncle James 6
Poured Rain
All Day
2 . F . Frozen 8
3. S . Bella walked to Varna today[;She] starts
teaching on the 5th.1
Clear 8
4. S . Shower
Snow
8
5 . M. Mother & Jane at Isards 6
6. T. Clear 9
7. W . 6
8. T . I [was] in Clinton [in the] buggy[. ]
Sold 2 cows to Sr. Smith[. ]
Beautiful 8
Weather
9. F. Went for Bella [in Varna]in[the]buggy[ . ]
Tom Wigg[inton] here all night[.]
7
10. S. Jane walked to Clinton[.] Agnes & I were Mild 11
down at Aunty's* [in the] evening [-]
moving [her] stove[. ]
* Aunt Agnes lived in a cabin
just north of the John Stewart house.
11 . S . Jane & Bella in Church[. ] Bella got 2
teeth pulled[. ] John took Bella to Varna
[in the] evening[. ]
Cold wind 7
Showers of snow
thawed
12. M, Father at Wigginton's cutting[. ] Mac at
[the] barn[. ]
Blustery 8
13 . T . Father at Smiths [in Buggy] A.M. John
at Glen's cutting[. ] Ada [Stewart here]
for dinner.Jane & Ag at Glen's quilting.
if
Snowing
9
14. W . Hooking [-] pegged border [of] mat[.] M
9
15 . T . John in Clinton [this] evening on Bob[. ]
[I worked] at [the] mat[.]
Warmer
Cloudy
10
16. F. Hugh Gilmour [here] all night[.] Bella
home.[.] [The] spotted heifer calved[. ]
[I] Finis[hed the] mat[. ]
Clear &
cold
4
17 . S .
18. S.
Francis Hamilton [here] P.M. for tea[.]
[I] started log cabin quilt again[.]
Agnes & I in Church (Edge Methodist)*
Augusta Diehl [rode] home with us[.]
Clear
& Milder
wh[ite]
Frost
Nice
7
2
* Eliza-Ann's shorthand for the clergy & his
affiliation.Today's preacher was probably the Rev.
Mr Edge, a Methodist.The regular Minister was the
Rev. Alex Stewart,who served at Willis Presbyterian
1878-1912.
January, 1891 80
19.
2 0 .
2 1 .
2 2.
23 .
24.
25 .
26 .
27 .
28 .
29.
30.
31.
1.
2 .
3 .
4 .
5.
M. Father & John took up fat cows[.]I [went
to] Clinton [in the] buggy[.]
T . Mrs Finley [McEwen]........ Mrs Duncan
[McEwen]....baby Anna-Belle McEwen... &
Malcolm McEwen [here P.M.]
W. Father in Goderich[.] Agnes at Cairns
all night[.] Mother & I [took the buggy
into] clinton[.] Mrs innis asking [women
neighbours] to rag bee[.]
T. Jane fit I At Innis's bee[.] Father with
Mac at Walker's sale[.] John [was] in
Clinton [in the] cutter.
F. Carrie Grant here in sulky[.] Jane went
for Bella [in the] cutter[.]
S. Mr John Sr. & Jr. & Mr Hugh Sr.& Jr here
Jr. here for dinner[.]* Malcolm Taylor
here[.] Father in Clinton[.]
Silver Thaw
Nice, Soft
Blustery
Frozen a
little
Snowed 15
a little
Nice 5
♦probably McGregors or Junors
Jane & Bella [went to] Church [in the] 11
cutter[.]John drove Bella over[to Varna] Nice, warm
P.M.
M.
W.
T.
S.
H. Gilmour Sr.& Jr. [here] for dinner[;]
father [was] at G. Elliot's with them[.]
Good Sleighing[i]
Snowed 13
John & Jane went [to visit] the Cuming's, Soft
Elliot's and Brigham's on the]other side
[of] Blythe[in the] cutter [with] Bob[.]
Sandy Ross here[.]
8
John home at dinner.Took logs to Trick's
Tricks [sawmill] P.M. Taylor from Kippen
[here] for dinner[.] J. Rattenbury and
Varco from Carlow here[.]
Aunty came up to go to Clinton[and]stay­
ed all night[.] John [was] at [the] mill
[and] fetched home [the] lumber [sawn
from the] logs[.]
Father walked in[to] Clinton.Bella walk­
ed home [from Varna. We both were] in at
Aunty's[.]
Aunt Agnes & I were in Clintonfwith the]
buggy[.] Father walked to Dunkins[.]
W. Frost
Nice
Soft
Raining
8
Frozen 8
Softer P.M.
Raining
February, 1891
S. Agnes & I[were]in Church(Murry(sic) from
London [for the] Anniversary Church[ser­
vice] ).
M. Agnes washed [clothes] & I cleaned [the]
hen house[.]
Soft, Flurries
Freezing
18
Flurries &
wind
T. I [was] down at Aunty’s P.M. Blustery 7
Rained at Mid-night
W. John went to Grange Social[.]2 (Stanley
Beauty's calf) Stormy 14
T. Agnes in Clinton (cutter scraping)[.]* Milder* 8
J[ohn] Dunkin here [in] sleigh[.] Cover­
ed** kitchen lounge[.] ** upholstered?
7
7
9
7
3
6
iw
4
S .
T .
F .
February, 1891 81
6. F . [I] went [to Varna] for Bella[.] Jane
came home [from Hullett and Morris Town­
ships [.]
Mild
1
7 . S . Jane finis[hed] covering her shoe box[.] Mild 8
8. S . Jane & Bella [went to] Church in [the]
cutter[.]John took Bella over[to Varna.] Mild 8
Varna.
]
9. M. Bob Pearson (C) Thaw, then
frost
8
10. T . Agnes walked to Clinton (indecipherable) 12
11 . W
18. W.
19 . T .
20 . F .
21, S.
22 . S .
at Wigg[inton's] P.M. Jane & John at Frozen
Aunty*s[.] Dunkin here[.] James Gilmour Slippy
buried[.]*
♦Gilmour's (sometimes spelled Gilmore)
lived on Lot 22 Con III. The Hugh
Gilmour family had lived on Lot 23,
but had 10 years earlier gone to
the North-West (Moose Jaw) The John
Gilmour family remained. Three un­
married children occupied the farm
for many years - Mary, Hugh and Bob.
12 . T .
13 . F .
14 . S .
15 . S .
16 . M.
17 . T .
H. Gilmour Jr.here[.] Willie Ross( C in­
decipherable )
. Father went to London,
Glanworth, etc. Willie Glen went for K.
Eddicoffer(sic)[.]
R. Beacom & W. Cox here[.] Mother & Jane
in Clinton[with the] buggy[.]Father [re­
turned] home[.]
Father [went] to Brucefield[;] I [went]to
McGregor*s[.] Jane & I [were] at Finley's
P.M.
Bessie Glen born [to Willie and Lizzie.]3
Bella [was] home at dinner [and] the 5 of
us [were] at Mac’s [this] evening[.]
Agnes & I[went to] Church in [the buggy.]
U[ncle] James here[.] John took Bella [to
Varna.]
10
Soft to Sun
16
10
15
Cold wind
Thawing
Aunt Agnes & I [were] in Clinton
on the Herbison's[.]
calling Thawing 13
Dunkin [McEwen] & Thomas [Fraser] here[.]
Jane & I [were] at Glen's[this] even[ing;
I] stayed all night[.] John at mill with
chop[.]
12
Frozen,Soft
very high
wind
John at mill for chop[.J Blustering 15
Aunt Mary [Stewart] here for dinner[.] Mo­
ther at Glen's[.] Ida [Stewart was here]
for tea[.]Father[was] in Clinton[.] Bella
went to Exeter from Varna[.] Aunty [has]
gone to Green's[;]4 U[ncle] John[Stewart]
took her[.]
John & Jane
Bella[.]
went to Brucefield for 14
Pouring Rain
Jane & I [were] in Church(Henderson Bay-
field) [. ]Father at Coopers with MacLean[.
John H.] McEwen (Dunk's & C) here[.]
Jane & I in Church(Stewart) Hard froze
Blustering
22
6
February, 1891 82
23 . M. 1st lambs E. & B. Hawkshaw here[;]
Mrs John Pearson here P.M.
Soft 17
24 . T . Yesterday 2nd Lambs 2 ewes 3rd Pouring
Rain
21
25. W. Mac in [here;]Father went to J.Gilmour's
with him [in the] even[ing.]John & Ned
went to hear Porter speak[.] Rathwell’s
bridge[has]a bentfsic; gone out of it[.]
Soft 18
Hard Froze
26 . T. 4th lambs 3 Blustery 16
27 . F . 5th - 1 -R[am] John at Glen's cutting[.]
Bella home[.] Tin peddler here[;] bought
3 pails
Cold 26
«
0
0
C
N
S . John in Clinton on Bob Snowy 13
March, 1891
1. S 6th Hawkshaw / big one / Near zero 19
2. M. 7th & 8th / had 2 & / died the others
was dead[.] Radcliffe & somebody bought
body bought 5 highland sheep[.]
Sunshiny
Cold
21
3. T . 9th 2 C. McTavish P.M. Snowing 23
4. W. 10th - 2 Bright 19
5. T . 11th - 2 / 12th Old Longface 2 /13th 15
- 2 / Father [went] with [the] Glen's
[in the] sleigh to vote[.]* John in Clin­
ton [at] night[.]Beauty calved[.]
♦Dominion election:This was Sir
John A. Macdonald's last victory.
His death weeks later on June 6
went unnoted by E.A. McF.
6. F . I [went to] Clinton in [the] cutter[.] Snowing 16
& blowing
7. S . Hawkshaw 2 / 2 big ones Bella home A.M.
Tenie [and] K. Eddicoffer over [in the]
evening[.]
16
8. S . Sheep lambed [at] night [-] had another
[lamb] dead before morn[ing.] The 4th
Hawk - 2
Thawing 15
rain
snowed a little
9. M. Churchill, Mac & James Dunkin here[.]Fa­
ther at Glen's [in the]evening[.]
Frozen 14
10. T . Finis[hed] covering parlor chairs. Ada
[was] in[this] evening on [her] way from
Glen'
s[.]
Thawed 18
a little
11 W. Lizzie & Ida Thompson here[.] Father
walked to Clinton[.] A sheep lambed 2
(m 68) I think[.]
18
Thawing
12 . T . Mother & I [went to] Clinton in[the bug­
gy.] Tom Wigg[inton] here all night[. I
found the] 1st goose egg[.]
16
Nice Soft
13 . F. John in Londsboroughfsic) with Highland
sheep[.]
Stormy 15
14. S . Donald Ross['es]funeral5 Father went ov­
er to Churchill’s[.]Bella walked home[.]
16
March, 1891 83
John took Bella to[the B]ayfield road in Blustery 21
[the ] cutter[.] NoSnow
Started quilting Jane's old bias blocked 14
quilt[.] Reid from Maine here[.] Ag & I
at Glen’s [in the] even[ing.]
Finished [Jane’s quilt.]Beatie & Tough[
, 19
the] assessor[,] here allnight[.] Hawk-
shaw, Wigginton & Dunkin here[.] John
took [Hawkshaw] to Clinton[.]
Father & Beatie at Wigginton f
s & he Soft 15
drove them to Innis['s] & Dunkin’s[.] Snowing
Aunty back from Green’s[.] M[alcolm
McEwen & Peter Baird [were] here[.] I
[was]at school[.I]started quilting Ag's
finer quilt[.]
Churchill here with cow[.]Jane [went to] Nice 20
Clinton in [the] cutter[.]Big Ewe lambed cold wind
W[illiam]Scott here on horseback collect- Thaw 21
ing for missions[.I] finis[hed]Agnes['s]
quilt[.] Aunty [was] up [here.]
Fred Rathwell6 & Fenfwick here] in [the]
evenfing.] Bella home[; She] stayed all Thaw 17
night at Uncle James’[. ]
Jane took Bella a piece[.] Thaw 14
Father at Wigg[inton'
s.] Tom here [this]
even[ing; he took a pair of] hens to Thaw 20
take to Beatie[.] Started Bella's
quilt[.]
Jane at Wigg[inton’s] P.M. & all night[.] Nice 21
W. McQueen Sr. buried7 Slight frost
at night
Finis[hed] Bella’s quilt[.]Varcoe here[;
He] bought 2 pure bred heifers[.] John Nice 15
[took the] buggy [to the] mill for chop
& drove Varcoe[.] Hauled in load of hay
from stack to Clinton[.]
Father walked to Clinton[.]Jane went for Cold 21
Bella[.] east wind
Mac[was] in[.]Father went to[the] Far[m] 21
Insurance] Bu[reau] meeting [in] Bruce- Sleet & S Y
field with him[.] John went P.M.[.] Ag &
Bella went to Grants[.]Annie & Ida Stew­
art here P.M. Finished making 4 shirting
petticoat [illegible .]
Hugh McGregor & Mrs McGinnis here[.] Bel 18
la & I[went to] Clinton in [the]buggy[.] Beautiful
Agnes & I [went to] Church in [the] bug- Nice 43
gy[,](Ramsay) Mr & Mrs Wigginton here[.]
Bessie calved[,] Jane & Bella said they
heard a frog[.
]
I went to McGregor's after Mary Grace[.] Clear 26
Bella went back to Varna[.]
Shore 1st sheep(the yearling billy) Last Rain
yearling lambed (dead) Making blue print
skirt of drapery[.]
0
15. S.
16 M.
17 . T .
18 . W.
19 . T .
20. F .
21. S .
22 . S .
23 . M .
24 . T .
25 . W.
26. T.
27 . F .
Good Friday
28 . S .
29 S.
30. M.
31. T.
April, 1891 84
1 . w. Jane & I at Glen’s quilting[.] Father &
John at Holmesville with heifers[.]Ada &
Jessie here for dinner [and] Jessie all
night[.]
Nice 22
Showers
2 . T . Making sunbonnet[.] Agnes helping to
clean grist[.]
Nice 27
Showers
3 . F . John was at [the] mill in Clinton [with]
grist[.] Jno.Junor [just] back from the
0[ld] cfountry] walked home with John[.]
Bella home[.] Mending bags all day[.]
34
Snowing
4. S . Agnes in Clinton[-] got Stamp Patt's[.]
John [went] for grist[.] Jennie Grant
here P.M.Made Bee Mitts & cut out skir­
ting [for] skirt[.]
Nice 26
cold wind
5. S. I walked [to] church (Stewart)[.]
McTaggart died[.] Frogs singing[.]
Frost 32
at night
6. H. Father in Clinton[.] U[ncle]John’s Annie
[here]P.M.Jane dyed factory lining quilt
shirting[.]
27
7 . T . Agnes cleaning oats A.M. Livery man
fetched telegram from Johnny about hor­
ses [.] Jane, Agnes & John at Mac's [and]
Tom here all night[.]
16
Clear,cold
8. W. I [was] in Clinton[.] Jane & I [were] at
McTavish'es P.M. John at Holmesville[.]
Set geese(I think)[.] Ferny calved red[.]
Clear 14
Cool wind
9. T . John in Brucefield at Dunkin's & C in
cart[.] J[ohn was] in Clinton with [the]
horse getting [it] shod P.M. Beetie [the
peddler] from Varna called[.]
Dull 22
Raw
Rain night
10 . F . Finis[hed] ticking pettico[a]t[.] Agnes
went to Clinton to go to Thompson1s[.]
Warm 23
Showery
Sun shining
11. S . Bella & Mary Grace home[.]John & Mary in
Clinton P.M.
Raining 20
12 . S . Highland sheep lambed 2 R[ams.]John took
John took Bella part way on [the] gig[.]
Dull 18
13 . M. John [was] in Clinton[. He] went P.M. to
Dunkin's with horse[.] Agnes home A.M
Jane took Mary to McGregor's
45
very warm .
14 . T . Father & John [were] at [the] Spring Show
with Glenburn[.] Sprung & Askwith [were
at the show and were] here all night[.]
24
Heavy Rain
evening
•
•
i
n
f
-
i
Sprung & Askwith bought Glenburn[.] Fath­
er in Clinton & John took up horse[.]
Started quilting Jane's shirting quilt
P.M.
Misty 33
16. T . Lifted Churchill corn[?] A.M. Mac [here]
P.M.[;] J. Dunkin [at] night[.] Janefwas]
at Mac's [in the] evening for the [news]-
papers[.]
Dull 23
17. F. Finis[hed] quilting[.] Sparrow here tak­
ing[the 1891 Dominion]census [and stayed]
for dinner[.]Father & John hauling in hay
from stackf.] Bella home[.]
25
Beaut[iful]
warm
April, 1891 85
18 . S . Beetie8(Sic) [of] Varna here[.
] Showery 25
19 . S . T. Wigginton & Bella Cuming & A[da] Stew­
art9 called[.]
Nice
warm
26
20 . M. Mother & I [were] in Clinton[.] Mary Glen
[was]over[.]John plowing sod below water­
ing-place P.M.
56
21 . T . Fencing A.M. Varnishing curtain Pole fix­
tures P.M. Jane house-cleaning [John's
stairway.]Jane[house-cleaning in the]par­
lor[.] I thought I heard swallows[.] D.
Ross (C)* I think today
*(C) may be Eliza-Ann's
for social calls paid her by interested
29
code
males.
22 . W. Agnes & I[were] in Clinton getting dress
& jacket cut[.] Mac's kids and their
[hired] man [here] in [the] eventing.]
John sowing peas[.]
Warm 23
23 . T . Aunty up [here] dyeing her dress[. I]
shore 3 shearlings [-] the 2nd shearing
this spring[.]Sprung & Askwith &[The Rev.
& Mrs]Stewart here[.]Jane, Ag & I [were]
at B[ob] Pearson’s [for the] prayer-meet
ing[.]
24
Cool wind
24 . F . Jane walked to Clinton for papers[.]
Wiley here [-] Peddling for Morrow [of]
Varna[.] Bella home Hang curtains
Clear 16
25 . S . Beetie peddler here[. I] shore big Bil-
iyt ■]
N.Wind 24
Beaut[iful]
26 . S . Jane & I [wereJin church (Henderson Bay-
field)[.] Jane, Agnes, Ada & I in Stab-
bath] School[.] Bella went back [in the]
even[ing.]
Cool, 28
nice wind
27 . M. Mrs Glen Sr.[and] Annie Stewart(James'
)
here[.]Mother at Mac's with Mrs Glen P.M.
Shore 2 sheep[.] Heard swallows[.]
Warm
windy
24
28 . T • Amelia Dunkin here[.] Lily[Stewart] over
from Glen's[.I] stitched [the] jacket[.]
30
29. W. [I] shore the 6th & last shearling & the
big ewe P.M. Aunty & Ma [were] at Glen's
[this] even[ing.]
32
30. T. Mother & I[were]in Clinton[.]Father[was]
at Finley McEwen's sale[.]l° Mother
got broadcloth dolman cut & fitted[.J
19
May, 1891
1. F. Father at Dunkin's all day shearing
sheepf.] Bella home P.M.Arbor Day*
22
warm, windy
* Students outdoors planting trees. Bella
got the afternoon off from teaching.
2 . S . Jane & Bella [were] in Clinton[.][Bella]
got [a] tooth pulledf.] Young cattle out
all night[.] Fafther] & John fixed river
fence [helpedby?] Cronyn[.]
Warm
Showery
28
3. S . Agnes & I [were] in Church[.]The 5 of us Cold 12
and Ada were in S[abbath] School [. ] Cows
all out[.]
N .W. Wind
May, 1891 86
5. T .
6. W .
7 . T .
8. F .
9. S.
10. S .
11. M.
4 . M.
12 . T .
13. W.
14 . T •
15. F.
16. S.
17. S.
18 . M.
Bella went back[.] Old Lamey lambed & 16
dead[.]Jane & Agnes out at Scott's[this]
even[ing]with dorking eggs[.] Father & I
shore sheep[.] T. Wigginton over[.] Cows
all out[.]
Elizabeth McEwen here P.M. Mac over [at] 24
Glen's [in the] morning[.] John in Clin- Snowing
ton for grass seed P.M. Cattle all in[.]
Aunty [was] up getting [a] basque fitted 22
(the one she dyed)[.]John rolling[.]Year- Cold Wind
ling calf died (black heifer the one
that was sick & slobbering)[.] Just[the]
Milch [cows were kept] in [at night.]
John in Clinton[with the]gig[.] Father & 29
I shore 5 sheep[;] 2 [in the forenoon Warmer
and] 3[in the afternoon].Agnes finis[hed
her]black cashmere skirt[.]Cows[are] all
out[.]
Mr & Mrs Foster over in the even [ing] Windy 19
with Bellaii [I] shore 2 sheep A.M. Warm
Goslings clipping - 3 out - all there
is left
Started making vest 18
Jane, Agnes, Bella & I at [Sabbath] 18
School[.] U[ncle] James here[.] Showery
Jim Barkley [called] in on [the] way Nice 13
[and was] back for tea[.] Bella went
back[.] Fen[wick] up for Roller & sor-
rel[.]D.Ross (C) Horses out all night[.]
Father at Varna [to] get buggy fixed 14
[which cost] $3.00[. He also] bought po- N.W. Wind
tatoes from Beatty [and a] late Rose[.]
$1.00 Mac (C) Mother walked over to
Rathwell's[.JFather there P.M. Ja[ne] &
Ag picking starw[berries.....
Jane & Agnes finis[hed] picking straw- Rain
[berrie]s[.] D. Ross (C) Jane & Agnes Warm
[were] at Glen's [in the] even [ing.]
Fatfher], Ja[ne], Ag & I planted 17 rows
[of] potatoes[. There is] 1 row to plant
yet[,] Jane in Clinton[.] Mac's (C)
25
19
Tene, Bell[e] & Mrs Junor [were here Cooler 18
this] evening[.] Ag shearing 6 sheep[.] Cold rain
1 Sheep died to night (little Blackey's
mother)[.]
Father in Clinton[.] W. & J. Cooper Cold 29
here[.] Bella Cuming [was here in the] N. Wind
even[ing.] Finis[hed] Jacket[.]
Jane & Bella [were] in Church (Stewart) 16
& I [was] in S[abbath] School[. Bella
went back [to] Varna[.] Agnes [was] at
Glen's, U[ncle] James' & [Uncle] John's
with B[ella] Cuming[.] John drove [Bel­
la home[.]
Ag, Father & I [were] sowing carrots & Warmer 14
onions A.M.(8 rows) John [sow]ed 24 rows
[of] Mangels[.] Shearing sheep (shore 4)
P.M.
May, 1891 87
19 . T .
20. W.
21. T .
22 . F .
23 . S .
24 . S .
25 . M.
26. T.
27 . W .
28. T.
29. F.
30. S.
31. S .
1. M.
2. T .
[I] Took [3 loads of] stones off [the] Pretty
clover with Father A.M. John Finis[hed] Warm
sowing mangels[.] [In the evening] John
[was] in Clinton [and] Father & I shore
2 sheep[.]
Jim's shearing A.M. Shore 2 Sawed &
took down braces to concession fence P.M.
& took in a little hay[.] John sick[.]
[We] put up [the] parlor window shades
last evening and A.M. to day[.] Agnes Very
finished her flower beds[.] Fencing Warm
with father P.M. Lizzie over P.M.
23
47
18
Father in Clinton A.M. Bella
Fencing with father & John P.M.
Fencing with father & John A.M.
& I [were] in Clinton P.M.
home[.] Showery
cooler
Aunty & Cool
clear
N. wind
Father & Mother at Church[.] I [am] Warmer
Mac (C) John Thompson here[.] Agnes Nice
at Uncle James, [the] river & Uncle
John'
s[.] Ag mending bags A.M.
Teen here all night[.] Took Farmer down Cold
to draw out their grain[.] Father at
Cooper’s with Mac A.M.[and] at Dunkin’s
for dinner[.] Ag & I mending bags all
day[.]
Father & John hauled 2 loads of wheat
to Clinton[.] Set out Bees hives[.] I Warmer
[was] mending [for half a] day[.]
Father at Brucefield to see about wool[.]
John hauling up old rails[.] A. Dunkin &
Willie & Chester & Ada here[.]Jane went
home with Ada[.]
15
18
9
21
17
Father walked to Clinton[.]
hive (
White)[.]
Set out 5th Pretty
warm
Mother & I in Clinton took Jessie her
turkey[. We also] took a frame of honey
from the hive[. Mr] Scott [of] Brucefield
[was] here[.He] bought & took away [some]
wool[.]
Agnes & I [were] in Church (Gregg)[.Four]
of us [were in] S[abbath] School[.]Father
up at U[ncle] James' [in the] even[ing.]
Wilson here for eggs[.]
June, 1891
Father, Agnes & I [were] fencing between
Middfleton’s] A.M. [and were] draining an
outlet with W[illiam] Glen P.M. Lizzie
here & Dennison called [in the even[ing.]
Looked in all Bee’s [hives.]
24
15
18
9
14
Pretty warm
14
21
[Continued work on drain outlet] All
day[.] John in Brucefield with dark filly
Cleaned my room A.M.
Inserted in pencil is Mac’
d cP2)
Possibly it is a cryptic reference to the
Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. He
had suffered a stroke in May, and would
die the night of June 6. It was known
that he was dying days before the end.
The MacFarlane's were Conservatives.
June, 1891 88
3. W. Father draining all day[.) John hauling
manure these days[.] Mr & Mr [& Miss]
Maud Scottl2 [were] here[this] evening[.]
Rain
cooler
11
4. T . Aunty & I [were] in Clinton[.] Father
finis[hed] draining A.M. Rain, cool
11
wind
5 . F . Father plowing Summer Fallow[;]John haul­
ing manure[.]I took [news]papers down to
U[ncle] James* [in the] evening[.]
Cool wind
11
♦James Stewart was a fierce Conservative and
almost certainly devouring all the news he could get
about the dying Conservative leader.
was
6. S . Kate foaled (filly). Father & John at
Tricks for lumber[.]
16
7 . S . Jane & Bella in Church (Gregg) [Four of
us were] at S[abbath] School[.]
Warmer 13
8. M. Father plowing[?] John hauling manure[.]
I [was] fixing lining for [a] Gingham
dress[.] Bella got a ride over[to Varna]
with U[ncle] James[.]
Warm 13
9. T . Aunty up cutting her silk cape [and]
gingham[.] Jane [was] out at Mac’s[this]
even[ing.]
Very
Warm
14
10. W. Father & Jane at Varcoe’s[.] D. Ross,Mac
& Charlie (C)
Raining 13
11. T .
*»* *
'
r ( * i
Father digging garden[?] Agnes & picked
[the] 1st [potato] bugs[.] Jack McGregor
(C)
Very
Warm
12
12 . F . Father,Jane,Agnes & John at Isard's pic­
nic A.M.Bella home[.]Father planted some
cabbage(I think to day)[.]
Pretty
warm
16
13 . S . Father at Spruogg’sf.] I [was] in Clin-
ton[.] Planted some beans & corn[.]
Very
warm
14
Kitchen’s letting jobs on road[.]* Mac’s
(C)
♦Kitchen is pathmaster and "letting
jobs" means assigning what tasks a
farmer or his son or hired help
must do in road repair and upkeep,
under the provisions of the Statute
Labour law. See below June 15 & 16.
14. S. Agnes & I [were] in Church (Stewart)[.] 9
4 S.S.* Mac's (C)
* This is Eliza-Ann's shorthand for "The 4 of us
were at Sabbath School (teaching)." The "four"
were the MacFarlane sisters:Eliza-Ann, Jane,
Agnes and Isabella MacFarlane. There is an un­
breakable bond between these four exception­
ally bright, hard-working and self-confident
women that would endure for the five decades
left to them.There was no aristocratic preten­
tiousness or snobbery here. Their Christian
convictions guide them and they let their ac­
complishments speak for themselves. When John
is also involved, Eliza-Ann speaks of "The of
15. M. Bella went back [to Varna].Father, Agnes 18
& I at potaoes all day{clearing)[.] John
at road work[.]
June, 1891 89
16 . T . Father in Clinton A.M. [He] got 1 bee 14
box[.j Agnes & I hoeing potatoes all
day[.] John [was doing] road work A.M.
[He had] Adam [Stewart] helping him[.]
17 . W. Finis[hed potatoes & planted turnips A.M. Cooler 14
Aunty [was] up [here] fixing the collar
on her cape[.] Father & Agnes dipping
lambs P.M. Fen[wick] was here all
night[.]
18 . T. I [was]in Clinton & fetched home 2[more] Some 11
B[ee] Boxes[.] Father [was] digging [in rain
the] yard [and] planted cabbage[.] Caught
skunk[.]
19 . F . Father,Agnes & I[were] dipping lambs A.M. Cool 10
[16 lambs & 2 sheep were done. Father a little
planted more cabbage] &[was]over at Cro- rain
nyn's P.M. Jane went for Bella [and]took
Mary Glen [along for the ride.]Mrs Henry
Diehl & [her]2 children,[Erma and Fannie,
were] here [this] evening[.]
20. S. Jane & Bella walked into Clinton[.] John Rain 0
[went] in[the] cart[.]Father digging A.M.
Churchill[was] over with horse[.] Father
[was] at [a] sawing bee at Mac's P.M.[I]
painted 16 [Bee] boxes 1st koat(sic)[.j
21. S . Jane & Bella in Church[.] Jane & I in 13
S[abbath] S[chool].
22. M. Father finis[hed] digging [the] garden[.
We] planted beans,corn & cabbage[.]Pain­
ted 3 B[ee] Boxes 2 coats[.] Agnes & I
were picking strawberries[;] It[was the]
1st picking [and we] got 4 1/2 lbs[.]
23 . T . John in Brucefield (filly)[.] Father Cool wind 12
scuffling potatoes A.M.
24. W. N[ed] Glen hauling manure[.] Jane & I Very Warm 0
[were] at Grant's P.M.[We took the] bug-
gy[-]
25 . T . John at Glen's[.]Father & I[were] clean- 22
ing potatoes all day & Ag helped P.M.
Jane & Agnes got 3 1/2 lbs [of] berries
A.M.
26 . F . Father in Clinton[.] Jim Junor & [his]
wife [were] here[this] evening[.] Fixing
muslin dress[.] Bella home....
27 . S . Mother, Jane & I [were] in Church(McMil- Warmer 12
len - Student Seaforth)[.]
28 . S . Father, Mother, Jane & I in Church(Stew- 10
art)[.]Jane[ was]down at Aunty's[in the]
evening[.J
29. M. Aunts Agnes & Abby & Mother [have] gone 9
to Smith's Fallsl3[.] Father took Mother Hot &
to Clinton[.] Bella went back[.] Finley very dry
[McEwen called. Today a W[hole] H[ive]
Swarmed[.The] 1st swarm came out 2 weeks
ago-fast[I]
30 . T . Jane went for Bella[; She is] home for 25
[the summer] holidays. Whittingham &
Jimmy Ross called[.]
July, 1891 90
1 . w. Agnes, Mary & I picking strawberries[.]
Mac & Wiley here[.] Mac’s called in the
evening[.] John [was] in Clinton [with
the] cart[.] [I] pulled [a] pail [of]
gooseberries[.] [Ij washed & ironed the
"Roses" muslin dress pettico[a]t[.]Finis-
hed hauling manure[.]
17
Showers
Last night
hot
2. T . Pulled Gooseberries & Cherries[.]John in
Clinton A.M. and Mowing P.M.
Hot 15
3 . F . Pouring Rain All Day 15
4. S . I [was] in Clinton A.M. Father in Bruce-
field p.m. [and] got 15 lbs of yarn.
McGregor's and Dunkin's[here.]Jane [
was]
at [Uncle James' [this] evening[.] Ag &
Bella [were] at Glen's[.]
Cold Wind
Showery
23
1
5 . S . Agnes & I in Church (Livingston - Metho­
dist. ) Jane stayed home from Sabbath
School[.] T. Wigginton was here and Fen-
[
wick][was here in the] even[ing].
Cool Wind 25
6. M. A[gnes] & I picked[potato] bugs A.M. Fa­
ther & Agnes at roots P.M. John mowing
all day[.]
Showery 20
7 . T . U[ncle] James [was here] for dinner[.]
J. Scott (C)
Cold
even
17
8. W. John mowing at Smith's[?] Bella in Clin-
ton[. All 4 of us] pulling cherries A.M.
Coleing hay P.M.Thurs[day] A.M. Maggie's
1st boy died[.]*
Cool
windy
*?
21
9. T. Fa[ther] Ag & I weeding mangols A.M. A.
Dunkin [was] at Glen’s [this] morning[.]
John & us colering hay P.M.
Nice 17
10. F. Hauling in hay all day (8 loads)[.] Jane
in Clinton P.M. D. Ross (C)
Nice
warm
29
11. S. Hauled in 5 loads [of hay. We] Finished
the field in front of door &[the one at]
Smith's*[.] Bella finished her net
dress [. ] Bella Cuming came down with
Uncle John [Stewart] & J[im] Barkley[.]
Jane preserved jam [made from] yellow
Raspberrie]s[.]
♦rented field Lot 24 Con III
23
12 . S . Jane & Bella in Church(Stewart)[.] Bella
Cuming was in S[abbath] S[chool.]
Agnes &
Bella at home went to Varna[.]
Very warm 18
13 . M. Coleing hay A.M. [We] hauled in 4 loads
[from the shanty field[.] Bella picnick­
ing at Bayfield[.]
Very 19
warm, slight
shower even-
[ing]
14. T. Bella,Agnes & I picked berries P.M.& ev­
enting. 3
Raining 16
15. W. Mrs Foster & Mr & Mrs George Dunkin &
kid here ([and] at Glen's for cher­
ries )[.]
Dull 16
drizzling P.M.
16 . T . [We] Hauled in 4 loads [of hay.] Jane &
Agnes picked berries[.] Father in Clin-
Nice
warm
14
ton for Mother*A.M. Bella & I took hon­
ey from [the] 2 hives [that housed last
year'
s 1st swarms.]
* back from 2 weeks in Smith's Falls.
18!f2-1918
Taught, at S .S . #1
Stanley
January 1861 to
December, 1910
Fifty continuous
Years
Right - an article
in the London Free
Press,Sat. Jan ,
1961 commemorating
the 100th anniversary
of the start of his
career.
Below a studio
portrait of his
family done by H.
Foster, Clinton.
Baird married
Janet Cameron in
1865 and they had
6 sons and a daugh­
ter. The portrait
was probably done
in 1889, the year
John left for good
to live in Moose
Jaw.
.Reverse See the
30th anniversary
photograph taken
of the Master with
past and present
pupils. The major­
ity of those in the
picture are mention­
ed in the Diary.
Rear, Standing, L to R Alex D. (1882 - ?), Robert
(1873-196? ),John (1869-1964) and Peter(1870- ? ).
Front, seated William (1878-1958), Janet (Mrs Baird)
Christena Baird (1871-1959), George Baird and George
Thomas (1873-1963).
o
o
o
c
c
c
July, 1991 91
17 . F .
18 . S .
19. S.
20. M.
21. T.
22 . W.
23 . T .
24 . F .
25 . S .
26. S.
27 . M.
28 . T .
29. W.
30. T.
31. F .
1. S .
2 . S .
[We] hauled in 9 loads [of hay and are
finished in the fieldjbelow [the]barn[.]
Bella Cuming [was]here P.M.
Father [was] in Clinton for [binder]
twine[.] John finished mowing[.IJfinish-
ed making [my] gingham dress[.]
Agnes & I in Church (Stewart)[.]
Slight
Showers
16
16
Cool wind 19
slight
shower
Fine
Warm
12
Very warm 12
Jane in Brucefield[;] Dunkin’s & Gil-
mour’s with Bella Cuming[. We] finished
haying (hauled in 4 loads[.] D. Fred (C)
John,Agnes & I cutting wheat[.] Father
Jane & Bella weeding roots[.]B[ella]Cum-
ing, U[ncle] John’s & us down at Aun­
ty ’s[. ] Aunty here[?] McRoberts was here
all night[.]
Jane, Agnes & I[were]stooking all day[.]
Father [had Mr] W.Snell &[his] wife here
[this] evening[.]
Agnes & I finis[hed] stooking [and then
worked at]weeding turnip A.M.& P.M. Bel­
la & I [were] at Glen's [this evening;]
Dunkin & Mac[were here.]Beetie[was here]
all night
Jane & I [were]picking berries A.M. Took
[a] frame of honey from the w[est]
hive[.] Agnes & Bella [were] in Clin­
ton [.] Father at Coopers A.M. & weeding
[turjnips P.M. D. McEwen (C)
Father, Ag & I [were] weeding mangols[.]
Jane & Bella [were]at U[ncle] James’ and
Ag & I [were] at Aunty's[.]
Jane & Bella [were] in Church(Stewart).] Slight
J. McGregor, T. Wigginton, [the] Scott shower cool
boys (C ) wind
Father,Agnes & I [finished] hoeing man- Nice
gols[.j Jo]hn] & I hauled in 1 load [of]
wheat[.]
15
17
Cool wind 10
16
8
10
Hauled in 6 loads [of] wheat[.]Mother & Nice
Jane in Clinton[.]
Raking A.M.Father & John at Glen's thres­
hing P.M. I picked 5 lbs [of] berries[.] Rain
supper[.] Agnes
10
14
Hauled in 2 loads after
in Clinton[.]
Hauled in 4 loads[of sheaves] & 1 of ra-
kings[.] Bella Cuming & us down at
U[ncle] John's [in the] even[ing.]
August, 1891
Jane[was] at Wigg[inton's] & Bella [was]
in C1inton[,where she]got 4 teeth out[.]
John & Agnes by Brucefield at McGregor's
& J. Junor’s[.] Father & John[were] hel­
ping Ned [Glen] to finish [the] wheat[.]
Father & Mother in Church (Straith)[.]
Mary Glen [
was] in S[abbath] s[chool.]
1 swarm [of bees] off (1st brown swarm
last year)[.]
Dullffine 10
Fine 10
Dull
Slight
shower
Cool
21
10
3. M. Threshing P.M. I picked [a] little pail Fine 13
[of] rasp[berrie]s A.M.
4. T. Ag & I picked a pail of thimbles & 1/2 17
[of] a little one of rasp[berrie]s A.M.
John at Woon's threshing P.M. Father
Jane & Bella in Clinton P.M.
August, 1891 92
5. W.
6. T .
7. F .
8. S.
9. S.
Swarm off(sic) bees left (the one that
swarmed [on the] Sabbath)[.] Bella got 39
teeth _________ Father & John in Clin­
ton with load of wheat A.M. & Father &
Bella with [me were back in Clinton] P.M.*
John at Ned's threshing P.M. * Is Bella
getting
dentures
. or a partial plate?
Swarm off [the] same hive again[.] Agnes Very Warm 12
& I picking berries A.M. I picked[half a
pail of] Rasp[berrie]s[.] They scuffled
some[.] John & they cleaning wheat[.] I
washed[.] D. McEwen 2(C)'s N. & J.
McGregor (C )
Cutting peas P.M. Father in Brucefield[.] Very Warm 19
John & Jane in Clinton with a load of
wheat[.] Jessie calved[.]
Finished making old yellow Aprons[.] Cut Showery 13
[a] road around oats[.] Bella & I picked Very Warm
berries [in the] evening[.]
Agnes & I in Church (Needham/Egmond- 13
ville)[.] U[ncle] James's girls & Lilly
[were here for tea[. Rain with hurricane
wind blew down the Russel[l]*fence[and a
lot of other fences.]
*a type of rail fence
10. M. Agnes & I stooking oats P.M. Jane & Bel­
la picking brambles A.M.
Very warm 14
11. T. [We f]inis[hed] cutting [the] 1st field
[of] oats (next to U[ncle] John's) A.M
Cutting peas P.M.
*
11
12 . W. J. Butchart (C) Cutting peas all day[.]
John in Clinton A.M. getting [the] pea
machine mended[.]
Nice
cool
& 19
wind
13 . T . Cutting peas all day [-] Finis[hed.] Fa­
ther at Wigg[inton *s.] J. Cooper & McRob-
erts here[.] Mrs Dunkin called[.] Bella
holding lambs for father[.]
Warm 16
14 . F . [Father & John were in Brucefield to del­
iver 23 lambs to McRoberts.]*
Rain 17
*The entry is very confused -this is what she was
trying to say.Eliza-Ann was probably very tired.
•
C
O
•
i
n
r
H
Father in Clinton[.] Jane, Agnes & I
[were] stooking next to Mac’s bush
Warm, 16
Mist
Heavy dew
16 . S . Jane & Bella in Church (Sommerville)[.] Nice 13
Showers
17 . M. Took Bella to Varna[.]Stooking P.M. Jane
& Agnes [stooking] all day below water­
ing place[.]
Nice
warm
17
August, 1891 93
f
t
H
f
t
0
0
H
Finis[hed] cutting[.] [We] hauled in 2
loads [of] peas[.] Jane picked [a] pail
[of] berries [this] even[ing.]
Pretty
warm
18
19 . W. Hauled in 6 loads[of] peas[.] Father put
[the]horses[in]to Smith's cloverfield[.]
Jane [was] at [the] school house select­
ing [books for the Sabbath School] lib­
rary [.]14
Nice 16
20 . T . [We hauled in 4 loads of peas and are]
finis[hed.] Jane picked [a] little pail
[of] berries[.]
Very Warm 29
Rain Evening
21. F . Milked sheep[.] Aunty up back from
Green's[.] Bella home[.] Raining 17
22 . S . Agnes and Bella in Clinton. Macs and J
McEwen [called.] Father put shingles on
[the]barn[.] Father & Mother[went]visit­
ing by Brucefield[.] John plowing P.M.
, Fine
Nice
17
23 . S . Agnes & I[were]in Church(Sommervilie)[.]
ville)[.]
Cool,Rain 11
in even[ing
& [at] night
24 . M. Killed Jessief.] N[eil] McGregor (C) Mac
here[.] John plowing[.]
Rain 10
25 . T . Jane & John in Clinton[.] Father & John
putting the manure on[the] pea land[.Fa­
ther and John were] plowing[in the]even­
ting. Uncle James’s] Annie [was] here[.]
Fine 22
26. W. Hauled in (4?)loads of oats P.M. Pulling
plumbs (sic) A.M. Jane in Clinton P.M.
Bella home[.]
17
27 . T . [Hauled in 10 loads of oats P.M.] Jane
gone to[Cousin Alice] Parke's with Bella
from school[.]
fDull 27
sprinkled
28 F. [I] started making father's vest[.] Jane
[came] back[;] John [was] in Clinton[.]
Raining 14
29. S. Father and u[ncle] James [were] at Wises
A.M. & [at] J. Middleton's[in the] even­
ting] for seed wheat.15
Fine 14
30 . S .
* k
rV j f _* #
Sprinkled 15
31 . M. Hauled in 7 loads of oats[.] Teen [here]
for dinnerf.] Fine 20
September, 1891
1. T . Hauled in 2 loads[;]Finis[hed]Harvest[.]
Mother & I picking brambles[.]
Beautiful 14
2 . W. I [was] in Clinton A.M.and called on Mrs
Wilson[.]Took down drain troughs to Rath-
well’s P.M.[.]
Nice 13
Slight shower
3 . T . Father in Clinton[.] Father helping John
haul manure[.]Agnes at U[ncle] James'[.]
16
4. F. Bella home Nice
cool
18
5 . S . Teen helping at wheat land. Bella & I in
Clintonf; Bella] got a tooth pulled.
Raining 16
September, 1891 94
6. S. Jane & I in Church[.] Fen[wick] was here
all night[.]
Cold wind 15
7 . M. I [was] in Clinton with Father[;He] left
for Quebec[.]U[ncle] James'Annie here[.]
Annie here[.]
15
8. T . Teen here[.] Puttyed window[.] Nice cool 13
night.Frost
9. W. Jane & Agnes [were] at Finley's P.M. &
[at] Mac's [in the] evening[.] Bella
home[.] Fen[wick was here] all day[.]
10. T. [Fenwick]at Beacom's threshing[.]U[ncle]
James [was] up [this] morn[ing.] I [was]
rolling A.M. [1] lengthened Johns Coat
Sleeves.[John was in Clinton.]Bella[was]
in Clinton [at a Teacher's Convention.]
John finished [the] Wheat [in the] even­
ting. ]
Warm 28
11 . F . Washed[.] John & Fen[wick] shot 2 part­
ridge [and were] in Clinton [in the]even­
ting.]
Warm 31
12 . S .
V .
Father home with Balbougie Stamp chick­
ens, [a] new [type, just]out[.] John & I
[were]in Clinton P.M. [Annie and Fenwick
Stewart],Jo[hn],Ag & Bel[l]a[were] pick­
ing butternuts & grapes[.]
12
Very Warm
Showery
13 . S. More chickens [delivered today.] Agnes &
I [were] in Church[
; Clergy were] Hen­
derson & Cripple [from] Bayfieldf.j
Nice 14
Warm
14. M. Father [went] in[to] Clinton [with] Jess
[in the] buggy[.] John [was] light plow­
ing oat stubble[. At home we were] Clean­
ing [the] Cellar[.Father was] at S[amuel]
Rathwell's1® seeing Wfilliam] Perdue[.]
Showery 15
15. T. Cleaned 2 1/2 bags of oats A.M. Father
took them to the mill P.M. Picking Pota­
toes [six rows] P.M.
Heavy Rain
Fine 15
16. W. Picking potatoes all day (6 1 l/2rows)[.]
Father & Mother at the Mason's[;]* came
home by Parkes[.]**Will[ia]m Scott [came]
asking Ma to [a] quilting bee tomorrow[.]
Fine 15
Warm
* probably stone mason Alex. Thompson of Blake, on
the south boundary of Stanley. (See entry for
Oct 17.
** The Parke home place was on Lot 12 Con X
17 . T . We [were] [picking pota[toes] all day[and
finished the last six rows.]Jane in Clin­
ton P.M.[Mother at Scott’s quilting bee.]
Very warm 0
18 . F . Agnes & I pulled 2 bags of apples[.]
I [was] in Clinton P.M. Mrs W igginton
here[.] Father pulling down old Hen
house[.] Russell fence blew down[;] They
[are] helping to put it up[.]
Heavy 24
Rain
19. S. Agnes hauling down old Hen-house with Fa­
ther P.M. Bella in Clinton[.]
Fine 4
Very warm
20. S. Father & Mother in Church Fine 3
Very warm
21. M. Aunt [Agnes] & I went to Blythe to [visit
with the Cuming's.] T. Wigginton here.]
Fine 4
Very warm
September, 1891 95
[Aunty and I visited at Brigham's, Wig- Fine 17
ginton's called here.To-day, W.G. Bare-Very warm
lay, a photographer,in honour of The
Master's impending 30th anniversary
as a teacher at S.S. #1 Stanley,took
his picture in front of the north
wall of the] school [with about 60
past and present students.Mother and
Father] got [Barclay to come here and
do our] house Photo[.]
[Aunty and I visited at Elliots.] Father, Fine 24
Jane & Jno. at London Show[.]* Agnes took Viery warm
them down [to the train station] & went
for them [on their return. She] took Mrs
Junor up with her[.]
♦London’s annual Western Fair
Aunty and I[were]at Fergueson's[.We came] Fine 13
home to night.[.The]Master*[was here]with very warm
sheep[.]
* SS #1 Teacher
George Baird
I [worked] at the Sabbath School quilt at Fine 13
Gilmour's P.M. A Mitchell here[.]T.Frazer Very warm
[here] with sheep[.] Bella home[.] Jane &
Agnes picked butternuts[.]Fa[ther] & Jno
in Clinton for lime[.]
Father in Clinton with Mac A.M. & [with]
Jane P.M. U[ncle James here[.] Father &
John fixing show sheep[.]
Jane & Bella in Church(Stewart)[.] Father
Father at Wigginton'
s[.]
Mother & I [were] in Clinton A.M. & John &
Fen[wick] at night[.] A. Dunkin [with wife
& child called in] here on [his] way from
Seaforth* Father & John fixing sheep for
fixing sheep for shows[.]
♦Eliza-Ann wrote C 1/4
Agnes [was]at [the] show [and I was up Showers 6
with John(showing horses.). A.Dunkin was last night
here[;] he bought 6 shearlings[.] John Cold wind
Thompson came [at] night[.]
Father, John, Aunty, Jane & I [were] at Cold Wind 4
[the]show[.] J.Dunkin [was] here[.] Old
Mr Dunkin & Herbert here for dinner
with sheep[.]
October, 1891
Father in Clinton for sheep[.] Mother Cold wind 18
sick[.] Miss Jennie McDougall here.Tene
McEwen here [in the] evening[.]
I [was] in Clinton A.M. Father [was] at Very warm 12
A. Dunkin's [and] bought 2 steers[.]
Bella home[.]
[Mr and Mrs Varcoe were]here all night. 7
[The stone] mason went home[.]
Raining 13
Fine 6
Very
warm
Fine 8
Very warm
Fine 9
Very
warm
22 . T .
23 . W.
24 . T .
25 . F .
26 . S .
27 . S .
28. H.
29 . T .
30. W.
1. T.
2 . F .
3 . S .
4. S.
October, 1891 96
5. H.
6. T.
7 . W.
8 . T .
9. F.
10. S .
11. S.
12. H.
13. T.
14. W.
15. T.
Varcoe's left[.] Jane took Bella back[.] A few
Mason back P.M. William Snell [here] showers
for dinner[. ] dull
A. Dunkin [was] here for sheep[.] Jane & Dull
1 [were] at [a] prayer-meeting at D.cooler
McGregor's[.] John at Mac's threshing[.]
Bayfield Show John at Mac’s threshing[.] Raining
threshing[.]
12
11
22
[I] pulled some pears [.John was at Mac’s Fine
threshing]a little while[.]Bella home[,]
Mr Wise & Ned here & A. Dunkin with
sheep[.]
Father at Blythe show[;] Jane took [him] Fine 0
up[.] Agnes went for Bella[.] I was at
Rev. Stewart's at[a] Bee[.] John at But-
chart's threshing P.M.
Mason went home[.] Bella & I [were] in Fine 18
Clinton with pears[;]got mantle cut [and]
tooth filled[.]Bella at Grant's P.M. John
at Butchart’
s all day[.]
Agnes & I[were] in Church(Stewart) [.]Jane Cold wind 12
& I [were] in S[abbath] School.] Father
[was] at Ufncle] Jame's
Mason back[.]Jo[hn]in Clinton for lime[.] 6
Agnes & I finis[hed]pulling pears & star- Hard Frost
ted pulling apples[.] last night
Mother & I [were] in Clinton[. I] got 2 9
Goose-Eggs[.] John at U[ncle] Jame's till
2 0 C[lock] & U[ncle]John's after thresh­
ing! -]
John at U[ncle]John's threshing all day[. Raining 6
The threshers - Bill, Ceaser(sic), and Hail
Ward Perdue were] here all night[.]
[We] finished threshing [in] the middle Rain 6
of the afternoon. John moved them to Evening
Scott's[.]Lizzie here for dinnner [l]fin-
ished knitting [the] mat[.]
16 .F . [Agnes & I were pulling apples for] a Fine
while before dinner[.]Jane[was]with us P.M. Dull
11
17 . S . [The] mason finis[hed the]Hen-house* and Fine 9
went home[.]Bella home[.]She stayed at
U[nclejJames'all night[.Mr Wigginton and
Tom, A. Dunkin, Fenwick,Annie and Uncle
James here.]
♦There is a picture of Eliza-Ann by Jennie
Grant in front of a splendid field stone
hen house.
18. S.
19 .M.
20 . T .
Jane & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[.]
Jane took Bella over[.] Father and John
shingled some [of the henhouse roof. I]
washed my window[.]
Pulling apples A.M. Agnes & X [helped] a
little[.]John started to plow[.]Father &
Agnes started pulling Mangols.l pulled a
few[.]
Dull 6
14
Raining
Rain 3
Dull
9
October, 1891 97
21. W.
22. T.
23 . F .
24. S .
25 . S .
26 .M.
27 . T .
28 .W .
29 . T .
30.F,
31. S.
Father, Agnes & I [were] pulling Mangols 14
[until it started to rain.] Mrs Brigham Rain P.M.
and Mrs Moore [were]here P.M. Jane,Agnes
& John [were] with them at U(ncle John’s
[in the]evening[.]
[The visiting cousins came for tea, and
were joined by Lizzie.When they left for
home,] Jane went with them as far as
Clinton.she] got a ride home with Cousin
John[ B. Stewart.]Finis[hed]pulling Man­
gols .[.]
Agnes & I hauled in [all] 10 loads of Nice 14
Mangols[; The wagon had the] boards on Dull
[the]sides & [each load was]heaped up[.}
Bella home[.]
0
Cold wind
Father,Jane & I [went to church]in Clin- Nice 4
ton(Simpson)[.]
Father walked up to Church & Mother,Jane
& I rode [the buggy with Jess.] & I got
home with Finley [McEwen.]
John at Woon’s threshing all day[.]Fath- 7
er at Craig's sale on the....Mother & I Coldish winds
[were] in Clinton[. I]got[a]tooth filled
[,a] front leftside double one[.]
Gorel & Swarts, the apple packers [were] Nice 1
here. They packed 13 barrels [or] sacks. Cold Wind
Agnes & I carried the apples in[.] Fath­
er [was] shingling [and] John[was] plow-
ing[.]
Father & Agnes [were]in Clinton with Ap­
ples [.We]Finished pulling and taking in
Apples[.] Stanley & J.B. Harris [were
here] for dinner[.] Charles Stewart mar­
ried Miss [Emma] Irwin[.]17
’
j » * )
*
>
m '
*
•
*
*
■
♦ , • 4 * ' I• '
*
*
* ’ •*
*
Father at Glen's threshing all day[.] I
pulled cabbages & put[them] in [thejcel-
lar[.] C.Grant and C.McTavish drove[over
here] P.M. Mother & Jane picking beech­
nuts [.]
[Father was again at Glen’s threshing.] 9
Jane, Agnes & I pulled turnips A.M. [We]
hauled them in P.M. [-]3 1/2 loads[with]
double sides[on the wagon.]Bella home[.]
Ada [Stewart] & Jennie [Grant were] here
all night[.] Jessie [Wigginton] & Annie
Stewart [Uncle James' Annie] came over
from Glen's [in the] evening[.]
Jane & Bella in Clinton[.] Father at
Glen's threshing till P.M. and at Steeps
after.Jane Bella & I [indecipherable] at
Aunty’s & John, Adam, [George] Stickley,
Ada,Annie Ida & Lillie......
0
Very Windy
Rain A.M.
7
Nice, Warm
November, 1891
Jane, Agnes & I[were]in Sabbath-School[. Rain &
The] Horses & Milch Cows [were] in all Snowed 0
night [for] the ist.[time.]
1. s.