November, 1891 98
11
2. M.
3.T.
4. W.
5. T.
6. F.
7 . S .
8 . S .
9. M.
10 . T .
11. W.
12 . T .
13 . F.
14. S.
15. S .
Dewdrop calved in [the] Rathwell [place]
bush[.] Agnes took Bella back & [was] in
Brucefield looking for Rennet[.]* [She]
had dinner at Junor'
s[and]stayed to vis­
it[.]I [worked]with Father all day pick­
ing up round [the new] hen-house[.]
♦Tablets to make
Father,Agnes & I [worked]all day at [the
new] Hen-house[. We] hauled overboard
trash A.M. John plowing these days[.]
Gathered up chips[.] Father walked to
Clinton & Agnes went for him with Bob &
took Miss Wilson some apples[.]
Agnes & I [spent]all day at[the new]Hen­
house puttying [the] windows right[.] A.
Dunkin & sons here for sheep[.] Mac &
Willie [stopped] in[.] Bella home[; She
is] going to Bayfield [to take an] exam
tomorrow[.]
[To-day we] Killed pigs[.]W[illiam Glen]
& Fen[wick Stewart were here] helping[.
We] finis[hed] puttying [the hen house]
windows & fixing [the] veranda ones[.]
[I worked all day] at[the]henhouse,help­
ed by] Agnes A.M. John Allen here[.]
Agnes walked to Clinton [and] hurt [her]
toe[.]
Mr & Mrs,Jessie & Stella Wiggintonfwere]
ton [were] here[.] Agnes & Jessie [were]
at S[abbath] S[chool.] Agnes at Aunty's
A.M. Jane & Aunty took Bella back P.M.
Fine
milk custard
Fine 0
Dull
Fine 0
Soft
Snow
Fine 8
Dull
Nice 1
Nice 0
Sprinkled
6
Showery
Agnes[worked] with Father cleaning grist Warm 0
grist and chop stuff[.] Father at mill Nice
P.M. John plowing with Kate[. ]Fen[wick] Rain night
took Farmer[.]
Glen here[.] Jane cleaned hall[.] Peel- Raining
ing pears and put pane in milk room cor- Warm 4
ridor & changed hinges[.] windy
Peeling pears A.M.[;] Fixing cellar win- Windy
dows P.M. Father[was] at[the grist] mill Nice 2
[and came home with] 6 bags[of] flour[.]
Bella home & Miss McNaughton18 [here]
Thanksgiving Jane,Agnes & Bella at[an- Showery 15
nual Sabbath School] exam[.]Simpson &
Forest there. Father [was] in [the] bush
splitting and piling blocks[.]John finish­
ed plowing[indecipherable]land[.]Mr McCul
ly's funeral [was held to-day.]19
Agnes took Miss McNaughton and Bella Colder 1
back[.] John started plowing sod[.] Jim Showers
Junor here for dinner[.J Bella home [in Hail
the] even[ing.]John in Clinton [and]Jane
at J[ohn] Pearson's[.]
Father,Jane & Agnes at J.McGregor’s fun- Dull 1
eral[.]Father Jane and Agnes hauled over Froze Hard
logs for wood[.] Bella[was] in Clinton
[and] I swept up [the] cellar[.]
Jane & Agnes [were] in Church(Henderson Dull 2
Bayfield) [.They rode the buggy with] Raining
Bob[.
]
16. M.
November, 1891 99
* '
•* - t • ♦ I J i
.*
’ l
* * j 'j * * » *
* • {
*
•
Put in double windows[.]*Mac here[.]Mas- Raining 1
ter [George Baird]& son [were here]after
their sheep[.]
*storm windows
17. T. [The] Master [was here] in [the] even- 3
[ing.]Father &Mother at Mac's seeing Mrs snowing &
McDougall all even[ing.]John hauled fence blowing &
rails out of [the] river[.] T.Powell freezing
[was here] for dinner (I think)[.]
18. W. Jane & I put bees in and half packed Cold & 1
them[;] 5 hives[.] raw wind
19. T. Father in Clinton with Mac [. ]Fen[wick] & a little
Adamfwere here in the] even[ing[.]Washed warmer 2
& scoured yarn
20. F. Father at U[ncle] James killing pigs A.M. Snowy 2
& [at] Glen's P.M. [I] ironed P.M. Jane & Thawed some
Agnes at D. McEwen’s[►] rainy
21. S. Made slips for Mother's 2 bolaters[. I] Raining 1
finis [hed] ironing [in the] even[ing.]
22. S. U[ncle James Here & at Glen's[.] Green's Raining 0
at Glen's all night[.]
23 . M . Made a match stick holder and an apron Pouring 0
out of shirting wrapper[.] Jennie Fraz- all day
ier'
s funeral[.]20
24. T. Jane cleaned[the] pantry [.The Bayfield] Snowing 1
River [is running] very high[.]Made other Blowing
old apron[.] Agnes[was] at Glen’s[in the]
even[ing.]
25. W. Father walked to Clinton[.]Made saltbox & 1
pattern bag[.]Jane scrubbed John's stair[.]
26. T. Jane washed kitchen plaster[.]Agnes [was] Soft 0
in Clinton A.M.& at Wigg[inton’s] P.M.[I] fine
Changed cloths on bees & took covers off.
T. Frazer & Jimfwere here] after sheep[.]
John [was] in Clinton[this] even[ing] for
window sashes for[the]old horse stable.2i
Fen[wick was here this]even[ing]&[stayed]
all night[.]
27. F. Mother & I in Clinton with turkeys (6) Snowing 0
killed them to Mr Forsyth for dinner[.]*
took in 4 stable front boards[.] Bella
home from school[.]
*1 left this sentence as is.I could not repair it and
be sure I conveyed what the diarist intended: Ed.
28. S. Jack McDonald [was here] for dinner[.We] Cold 1
finis[hed]packing[the] bees[for winter.]
John hauled up a load of wood[.]John & I
[were] at Duncan Walker’s Funeral[.]
29 . S . Jane took Bella back[.] 0
30. M. Father & John [were] at [the Bayfield] Cold,raw 0
river bridge taking out rails A.M. and
hauling wood up P.M. Jane walked [to]
Clinton[.]
December, 1891 100
2. W.
3. T.
4. F .
5. S .
6. S
7. M.
8. T.
9. W.
10 . T .
11. F .
12 . S .
13 . S .
14 .M.
15. T.
T. Wiggin[ton] [was here] asking [neigh- Fine 0
hours to come] to [his] threshing[.] Fa- Coolish wind
ther & Mother at Wigginton's P.M. Agnes
[was] helping father put paper on [the]
W[ood] S[hed.]*Annie Stewart(James)[was] here
P.M.[I] cemented my rubbers & a lot of dishes.
♦Read the last sentence in tomorrow's entry.
The two sisters are building a winter woodshed
privy.
Father & John [were] at Wiggin[ton]'s Fine,soft
threshing all day[.] Mother at Glen's & rain 0
Jane [was] at U[ncle] James’ P.M. Agnes
& I started building "Private."[We work­
ed at it all day except when we did the
chores[.]
Father at Wigg[inton]'s threshing a while Warm 0
A.M. John [was] in Clinton [in thejeven-
ing[.] Mrs & E.A. Isard [were] here P.M.
[Alex.Thompson]the Mason, & his man [were] Pouring A.M.
[were] here for his sheep[-] (3 old ones & Windy,
& a lamb)[.] Agnes &I [Continued] build- colder 0
ing[.]
Jane walked in[to]Clinton[.]Father [was] 0
at.....Dunkin's for dinner[.] J. McDon- Frozen [A.M. ]
aid [was] here and bought 2 sheep[.] Ag- Fine [P.M.]
nes & I finis[hed our construction.]
Jane & I in Church (Stewart)[.] The Fine [then]
children's Anniversary Snowing 0
U[ncle] James' & U[ncle] John's [famil- 0
ies] & us (kids) & J[im] Barkley [were] First sleighing
at [John and Alice] Parkes's[.] John & Fine
I Hauled in 2 jags [of] hay P.M. East wind
John hauled 2 loads [of firewood] A.M. 0
[and another] load..... P.M. I threshed Cold, raw wind
out the beans* P.M. drifting
* by hand with a flail on the barn
floor.
John hauling wood[.] Father walked to 0
Clinton[. I went there in the afternoon Cold, Raw
in the] cutter[.] wind in
evening
Father & Mother at A. Dunkin's [in the] 0
buggy[.] John [was] hauling wood [with Soft, fine
the sleigh] A.M. Sleighing gone P.M. froze
Aunty & I [were] in Clinton[.] Agnes at frost 0
Wigg[inton's.]All[the]Wigginton's [were]
here [this] evening.John cut his foot.
Aunty went to [John and Bella] Green’s
[for the] night.
Bella home[.] Agnes & I choreing[.] Fen- Frozen 0
[wick Stewart was here in the] even­
ing[.] Agnes & Bella [were] at Glen's
[this] evenfing. I]started ripping [a]
striped black dress[.]
Jane and Agnes in Church(Stewart)[.] Soft 0
Jane took Bella back[.] Agnes & I[seem to Raining 0
be] choreing all the time[.] Agnes & Fa­
ther cleaned oats for chop[.]
John took oats to [the] mill[ .I]finis[li­
ed] ripping and pressing [my] dress[.] Raining 0
1. T •
16 .W
17. T.
18 . F .
19. S.
S.Jane
21. H.
22 . T .
23 .W.
24. T.
25. F.
December 1891 101
John went for chop[.] Jane & Agnes [were 1
at] Isard's trading [a] goose[.I] started Blustery
knitting [a pair of] black stockings[.]
a
[I was] in Clinton[.] Adam [Stewart was] 1
here in [the] evening[.] Father & John Snowed
took [the] barn pump out and fixed [the] Clear &
sucker[.]* Agnes cleaned her room[.] cold
*plunger
I [was] in Clinton all day getting [a] 1
dress cut[.] U[ncle] James' Annie [was] Clear & cold
here[.]
Mother & I [were] in Clinton[.] 0
Nice Sun Thaw20
Agnes [were] in Church[.] Nice Sun Thaw
Fen[wick Stewart],J[ohn] & W[ill] McEwen Soft 4
[were here this]evening[.]Fen[wick stay- Raining
ed all] night[.]
Jane & Agnes [were] at Bella's exam in Raining 3
Varna[.] Father & John in the bush these
days[.]
[Mr]Scott[was here) in[the] morning col- Dull 3
lecting for a present for Turnbull[.]22
Father [has] gone to Stratford[.] Jane 4
drove him to the cross-roads[.]Ned, Fen- Froze a little
[wick] & John [have] gone to Clinton[.] soft
sprinkled
Jane, Agnes, John & I [were] at U[ncle Soft 3
John's [Christmas party this even [ing]23
* That was some party. The acount
in The New Era's Stanley Township
news column is given directly below
"....On Christmas night River View, the residence of Mr John
Stewart, presented 4 festive appearance when all his relatives
living in Western Ontario and a number of invited guests assem­
bled and spent an enjoyable time. At 6:30 dinner was served,
when the doors of the spacious dining room were thrown open,re­
vealing the long tables artistically decorated and fairly
groaning under the weight of Jurabonian turkeys and an array
of choice delicacies............ The walls of the dining room
were hidden by evergreens, ferns and floral mottos and formed
a pleasing contrast to the glittering tables.......... dessert
consisting of native and tropical fruits and choice confection­
ary was served,after which dancing was commenced and the light
fantastic was tripped until the wee sma’ hours, being indulged
in by the frisky hpad of the house, a sportive lad of over
three score, as by the younger members of the party. Mr George
H. Steckley, a gentleman formerly in Her Majesty's service,
London, Eng.,acted as floor manager,and received the thanks of
the assembled party for the efficient manner in which he dis­
charged his duties. Mr F.J. Rathwell, S.C.B.C., of Stratford,
was the lion of the evening,and many were the admiring glances
bestowed upon him by the unmarried female portion of the party.
Mr J.L. Parke contributed largely to the amusement of the even­
ing by the performance of several extremely interesting sleight
of hand tricks, while another gentleman sang several solos so
low as to be heard by only a small portion of his audience.Mrs
Chas. Stewart and Mr Jas. Barkley furnished the violin music
and Miss Annie Stewart presided at the organ. Mr and Mrs Stew­
art were presented with a number of valuable presents by the
members of their family and received a vote of thanks from the
entire party for the manner in which they had made the evening
enjoyable..... "
December, 1891 102
26. S. Jane went to Clinton to meet Father[.] I 5
was at [?] Junor's funeral[. ]24 Freezing
Cold wind
27. S. Fen[wick Stewart] & Ned [Glen were here 5
P.M. Father at U[ncle] James’ P.M Hard, frozen.
28. M. Jessie Wigg[inton was] here P.M. 6
Softened a
little, very
windy
29. T. The 4 [children] of U[ncle] James & 3 of 4
U[ncle] John's,* Jim Barkley, G[eorge] Rain & Sleet
Steckley, Mac & Maggie MacNaughton & D. [then] clear
Ross [canvassed the school section] col- & frozen
lecting [money] for a present for M[as-
te]r Baird.** Mary, Ned [Glen] & Jessie
Foster [were] here [this] even[ing.] *
*Fenwick, Ada, Ida and Annnie(McBrien) and Adam, Lily
and Annie(1867-96)
** The Master had
taught in the school section since January
1861, and in belated recognition of his 30 years
of service, a photo of past and present pupils
with the Master was taken at the school. (See Sept
22.) The New Era Jan 8 records that the community
presented Baird with a watch in gratit-
tude for 31 years service.He would go on to
serve a full 50 years.
30. W. Father [was] at the [annual] school meet­
ing and got [our copies] of the school
pictures.* Aunty home[.]
♦Eleven decades later,many copies survive. (Ed.)
31. T. Fen[wick] & John shooting[.]
Ned fetched [the news] papers[.] Weather and egg count
torn off.
1
*
*
4
5
1. A teaching assistant? See MeAsh Varna in Review
2. The Grange (or Granger Movement) was American with feelers
into Canada. It tried to organize farmers politically and
economically against the big city political interests which
in turn were in bed with the banks and the corporations. It
also tried to encourage self-help, self-improvement and
social life.
3
. Elizabeth Glen 1891-1969, married to Francis Watkins "Frank"
How. She became a Jehovah's Witness. She has two sons,,Glen
and Maynard. Glen, a civil rights lawyer, has earned a
'
national and international reputation effectively fighting
for the legal rights of his co-religionists.
4 .
4
. Isabella Melvina Stewart (1858-1911), second child of John
& Abigail Stewart, married 1883 to John B. Green, son of
Goderich Township pioneer George Green. The Green's faimed
up on the Bayfield Concession. The log house of the John
Stewart family was over crowded, and Bella bunked in with
Aunt "Nancy” (Agnes) and kept her company as a surrogate
daughter. Bella's mother was a Tweedy and John's mother was
a Betensen, both of which were families with a serious
genetic weakness for tuberculosis. John and Bella Green had
5 children. John .Stewart Green (1887-1907), Abigail J. Green
(1890-1908) and John himself died from T.B. Lillian Louisa
(1888-1930) or "Lulu," (Mrs Norman Welsh), Janet or "Netty,”
(1896 - 1982 - Mrs Clayton Prouty) and George, (1899-1974)
did live to grow up.
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5. See obit in The New Era, March 20, 1891. Donald Ross died
March 12, 1891, aged 78. He settled on Lot 27 (2) Stanley,
about 1850, cleared it, and resided there until his death.
6
. The New Era for January 8, 1892, identifies as a Stewart
guest a Mr "F.J. Rathwell of Stratford.*' For many years I
wondered if he could be connected to Rathwell*s in Smith's
Falls.James Stewart's sister Anne was married to a William
Rathwell of Beckwith Township. This young man, however,
was the oldest son of Edward Rathwell (1841-1921) and his
wife, Jemima Thompson. Counting 2 stillborn*s,this couple had
14 children. Edward or Ned was born to pioneers John & Jane,
on the Bayfield Concession, and would live in Goderich Town­
ship his whole life, except for a brief residence on the 4th
of Stanley. He sold his small holding to MacFarlane’s (hence
"Rathwell Place.") His farm was a triangle of 98 acres,north
of Varna and across the Bayfield River. McFarlane’s and
Rathwell's could cut across fields and the river and reach
each other’s house in minutes. According to notes by Rathwell
family historian Mrs Muriel Grigg, Fred Rathwell was born
December 6, 1870. We learn from the New Era that in December,
1891 that he was residing in Stratford and that at John
Stewart’s Christmas party, his good looks (according to the
writer of the local news column) were sending shock waves
through the ranks of eligible maidens and their mothers.
Perhaps this young man also had a lively personality. His
father was the only Rathwell of his generation who could /
match the Glen's,MacFarlane's and the combattive
Stewart’s in repartee and debate. (The Rathwell*s were J
f
certainly not humourless, but they were gentler.) My hunch is
that in the James MacFarlane, John and James Stewart
households, Fred may have been viewed as prime husband
material for a total of 9 still unmarried daughters. Eliza-
Ann's diary reveals that Fred died on May 19, 1892 and that
her parents went to his funeral on May 21st. The handwriting
is shaky for both entries as it would be when she recorded
her own father’s death in 1899 - the letters are larger and
she pressed harder. Though she "guards her feelings, by not
attending the funeral,she allows posterity to wonder if she
was too grief-stricken to attend.
7. McQueen's farmed Lots 22, Concessions 2 and 3. Mrs Edward
Glen, mother of Ned and Willie, was Elizabeth McQueen. Wm.
McQueen is probably her father - hence Eliza's interest
in his passing[.] ^
8. Beatty is the correct spelling. See Stanley:1836-1986 p. 380
for detailed account of the Beatty family. The Beatty's were
protestant Irish immigrants who settled on a farm in the
south-west corner of Varna in 1848. It's not clear yet which
Beatty Eliza-Ann is talking about. The Beatty's were like the
MacFarlane'
s - serious farmers strongly into pure bred stock-
raising. Beattys also did bee keeping and operated a general
store and farm impliment dealership for decades.
9. Mrs Edna A. Stewart of Hensall, daughter of Lillian Stewart
and John Cuming, told me that her Aunt Bella and Ada were
both cousins and good friends. Ada encouraged Bella to con­
sider matrimony with her brother Fenwick and lent strong
moral support. Fenwick's marriage to Alice E. Rathwell on Dec
9, 1898 brought a sudden end to that project. Caught by sur­
prise, Ada (always combative and outspoken) could not conceal
her disappointment and made the new bride's early weeks under
James Stewart household roof miserable, and enlisting her 2
sisters help. Their mother Mary would have been able to stop
this destructive pattern, but she had died earlier that year,
in April. Alice never really forgave Ada.
TO. Finley McEwen only had two daughters Anabel and Ella, and no
sons. Duncan's family included two sons - Alex, and John H.
He bought Finley out and put John H. on that place (Lot 28
Con. 3 and put Sandy on lot 28 Con 2. The auction sale
mentioned in the diary is Finley’s first step in the process
of disengagement from farming.
IT. Charles Foster had a small farm just west of Varna on the
south side of the Bayfield Road. Their daughter Margaret was
married to Henry Diehl and that couple lived out their whole
lives on Lot 25, Con. V.
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Maud Scott (Mrs Christie) outlived her first husband and re­
married (as wife #3) to the nationally prominent Saskat­
chewan politician, the Right Hon, James G. Gardener, a
federal Minister of Agriculture in the King and St Laurent
Governments 1935-57. He married Maud Scott Christie after
the war. Gardener came from Huron. His first wife was
Violet McEwen and he and Maud in the late forties and early
fifties visited at Sandy McEwen’s (son of Duncan) whenever
they passed through the vicinity. Maud is in the 1891 S.S.
#1 photo.
13. when the Stewart’s left Smith’
s Falls for Huron, in 1854,
three married sisters stayed behind: Mary (Mrs Robt. Tweedy),
of Lombardy, Isabella d. 1879 (Mrs Archibald Garvin) of
Smith's Falls and Ana or Anne, (widow of Wm. Rathwell, d
1879), of Beckwith Township. Abigail Stewart had numerous
siblings, nieces and nephews in the area. Eliza MacFarlane
and her daughters worked hard to keep in touch with these
relatives.
14. A large cross-section of books that were in the library and
books that were given out as prizes were found in the attic
at Glen Lyon on Glenfarm.
15 They planted fall or winter wheat in this neck of the
woods. It would be sown in late August or early September,
germinate and put down roots that would survive the winter
and get a head start in the spring.
16. Samuel Rathwell (1836-1912) was the son of pioneers John &
Jane Rathwell. He was born in Goderich and moved with his
parents to Lot 25, the Bayfield Concession and lived on it
his whole life. In 1862 he married Eiza Jane Chambers and
they had 9 children: Jane (Mrs Arthur Stephenson) 1863-1948,
Mary (Mrs George Sparling) 1865-1953, Annie (Mrs Wm. Beacom)
1866-1919, John, 1869-1945, Alice (Mrs Fenwick Stewart)*
1874-1958, Addie (Mrs John McKay) 1877-1924, Samuel Chambers
1878-1957, James Benjamin 1879-1964 and Effie (Mrs Perry
Plumsteel) 1880-1929.
17. Charles Stewart (1863-1943) was the second son of John and
Abigail Stewart. He married Emma Irwin of Bayfield. His
father set him up on a farm as he had done for John,but
Charley had the “itchy feet" of his Tweedy uncles. He sold
the farm and moved to London and then to Claresholm, Alberta,
where he operated a Massey dealership in farm machinery.
Charley & Em had one child - a boy - Frank Stewart M.D., who
died around 1945 in St Albert, Alta., leaving a widow and
one daughter.
18. McNaughton's lived on the Bayfield Road in
Stanley, near the junction with the 4th Concession.
19 Probably Joseph McCully who farmed lot 21, con 2, immediately
west of the Baird farm. His tombstone in Baird’
s cemetery
says he he died on Nov 11, 1891.
20. Jennie Fraser, youngest child of the late Donald Fraser, died
Nov 19, 1891, at the. home of her sister Mrs Young of Minto
Township aged 22 years 3 months. She had taught in Essex
county. The New Era, Nov 27, 1891
21. when the land was first cleared, bams were buiilt on the
ground, and were designed to house theubjat crop and the grain
sheaves awaiting threshing. Livestock were kept in separate
sheds. When the west opened up in the 1880's and 90*s, and
superceded sdouthern Ontario as the breadbasket, the farmers
near Ontario^ s growing industrial cities turned to mixed
farming to sell, meat, butter, eggs, fruits and vegetables.
Barns were raised on cement or stone foundations to make
space for cattle and other livestock, and generally included
a lane for horses. Sometimes the old horse stable or cowshed
might be knocked down, particularly if they were log
buildings,but sometimes they were converted to other uses. My
Uncle, the late Clifford J. Stewart farmed lot 27 Con 3. He
used "the old horse stable" to house his car and never called
it the garage.
22. Turnbull? Turnball? possibly a clergyman?
23. see The New Era, January 8, 1892
24. which Junor?
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1892
The logbook of Eliza-Ann MacFarlane 107
continued
The entries for 1892 and 1893 are in a scribbler with
much more writing space than the Expositor Almanac had in 1890
January, 1892
1, F. The 5 of us [were] at Uncle Jame's[this]
evening[.]
Raining 4
2 . S . Lizzie [Glen] left [daughters] Mary &
Bessie here P.M.
4
3. S .
Stormy
8
4. M. Ja[ne,] Ag[nes,j Jno & Bella & U[ncle] Fine 3
James[’s] & U[ncle John's[families, Jim] snow
Barkley & Ned[Glen were]at[Charlie Stew- falling
art’s on the] sleigh[.] Father [was] in
Clinton[and] Hauled in 6 loads of hay[.]*
♦People in town with horses had to buy hay from farmers - often
with cash on the barrelhead. A farmer who needed cash could
drive in a load of hay to town and have a choice of custo­
mers. In winter, when the weather was bad and roads were
blocked, fewer loads of hay came into town and the livery
stables and other citizens or businesses with horses to feed
would pay higher prices.
5. T I [am] sick[today. ]Tom & Jim Agar [were Heavy 5
here] all night[.] Ag & John hauled in W. Frost
[on the]wagon 2 loads of hay [from the] Fine
stack[.]**
*
*
*
*
* When a farmer had more loose hay than the mow
could hold, he built a stack outdoors and then
brought it in when livestock consumption and
sales opened up some room in the hay mow.
6. W. [The] Agars [were here] all day &
night[.] Snowed a
5
little
7 . T . [I was in]Clinton[yesterday and]fetch­
ed the [news]papers[.] Stormy
5
8. F. John hauled 1 load of wood[.] Mr & Mrs
Foster [were here] for dinner & tea[.]
Stormy 8
9.’ S . [John & Alice] Parke's[
were] at Glen's
all night[.]
Cold 4
10. s .
5 degrees
3
above zero
11. M. [The] 4 kids* [were]at Stonehouse1s[this]
evenfing.]** Father & Jane [were]in Clin-
ton[.] Wearing Jewells Godey’s Feb 1861
8
Snowing,
E[ast] wind
& Method of testing lungs (May 1861) ***
* 4 MacFarlane sisters
** John B.Stewart lived on the former Stonehouse
farm on the Bayfield line,Goderich Twsp.he and
Amelia,6 days earlier had their first wedding
anniversary and the party was probably to celeb­
rate it.
*** I don't understand the last three lines and
leave them as Eliza-Ann wrote them.
January, 1892 108
12 . T . Mother & I [were] in Clinton [in the] Fine, 3
cutter[. There was] good sleighing[.] C[old] Wind
13 . W. [A]Fellow looking at horses[was here.] Snow 7
John [is] sick [and] I [have been] do- showers
ing his chores[.]
14 . T . Agnes & Bella [were] in Clinton [in the] 6
cutter[. I] finis[hed] making [a] Black
striped Skirt[.]
15 . F . Jane & I [were] in Clinton[.] Jane stay- 4
ed for church P.M. [I] got a ride home
with Ned [Glen.]i
16. S. [I was] choreing all day[.We] killed [a] 6
heiferf.] Mr Dunkin, Charlotte & Maggie Clear & fine
[were here this] even[ing.]Annie Stewart
[was here] P.M.
17 . S . Jane, Bella & I [went] in[the cutter[to] 3
Church (Stewart)[.]
18. M. Jno. Thompson (the stone) Mason,was here 5
for a lamb & highland sheep[. The] Geese Stormy
[have] paired off[.] I have got a cold &
so has (sic) Father, Mother & Agnes[.]
[I] Cleaned some cabbage refuse out of
the cellar[.]*
* possibly the result of making
a tub of sauerkraut.
19. T. [I] was trying knit patterns all day[.] 3
John [was] in Clinton with hide[.] Clear & Cold
20. W. [I was] knitting woollen lace for [the] 5
bottom of [a] petticoat[.] 7 below zero
21. T . Fen[wick was] up in[the] sleigh for but- drifted 6
ter[.] Father [was] at Glen's P.M. cut- a little,
ting [wood.] Tom [was] in at noon [and] fine
Jane & John [were] in Clinton[.]
22 . F . Jane helped John a little to clean 6
oats[.] Jane, John & Bella [were] at Fos- Snowed &
ter's[this] evening[. X] finis[hed] knit- Drifts a
ting [the] lace & sewed it on [the pet- little
ticoat.
]
23 . S . John [was] at the mill with chop [and he] 9
hung [a] new door on [the] old H[orse] Snowing
stablef.] I washed a few things[.] T[om]
Wig[ginton was] here asking [us] to their
dance[.]
24 . S . Soft 2
25. M. Agnes & Bella[were] at Issards[.]I wash- 5
ed [and I] shortened Father’s cordouroy Blustering
pants[.] even[ing]
26 . T . [I] Started making button-holes in [the] 9
Black Basquef.] A[gnes],Jo[h]n & B[ella Blustering
were ] down at Aunty's[. I was ] Tareing & Snowing
(sic) carpet rags at night[. I] Finis­
hed] going to [the] barn before dark[.]
27 . W. [Father has] gone to Delaware below Lon- 5
don [to] Gibson’s sale[.] John drove Fa- Snowed, a
ther tofthe railway] station [this] mor- little colder
ning[.] Jo]h]n hauled a load of furnace
wood[.] Ag fetched Aunty up....
January, 1892 109
28 . T .
29 F .
30. S.
31. S .
[Two] men here packed 6 barrels [of] 3
apples(Talman's)[.] Ja[ne] & Bella[were] Looks soft
at U[ncle] Ja[me]s['s in the] even[ing.]
Fen[wick was here] all night[.] Showing
Nips Wilson edging[.]Jane walked to Clin­
ton P.M. John [went]up[to the station in
the] even[ing] for Father[.]
Fen[wick]& John[are] sawing[wood*]Father
& Agnes [were] in Clinton with [the]
Apples[.]A[gnes] stayed at McTavish's[.]
(sic) [Father] & Wigginton [were] at
Scott’s & Mac’s [and] Father had dinner
at Wigg[inton’]s[.]
Bob McMillen,Sprung & H____ [were] here Beautiful
for tea[.] Fen[wick] & John [are still]
sawing [wood.] I [was] in Clinton [and]
took milk up for Mrs [Elizabeth] Glen
from [Willie] Glen's[.]
Agnes & I [went to] Church [in the]cut- Frost
ter[.] Fen[wick was here] all nightf.]
5
Softish
February, 1892
1. M. John & Fen[wick] sawing [wood.] I [was] 10
down at Aunty's [in the] even[ing.] Thawing
2. T. [John and Fenwick were] in Clinton for 15
the 8 sheep father bought - 6 of them Snow
from Hawkshaw & 2 lambs from Wright[. ] Soft
3. W. John & Fen[wick] went to Jno. Cuming's 12
sale[.]* R.J. Eratt [was] here for
dinner [and] bought 2 sheep[.] Finley
[McEwen was] in collecting [for the]
Bible Society[.]
*Lot 22, Con 13
Hullett Twsp.
4. T. Rev. [Alex.] Stewart[,his] wife & [son] 16
Robbie [were] here P.M. Fen[wick] & John Fine
[arrived] home P.M.[First] lamb [born]
- one of Erratt’s sheep[.]
5. F. Mr & Mrs Thompson [were here]for dinner 16
& tea & at yarn for Amy[.]Smith &[Thomp- Cold win[d]
son were] here [and] bought [the] Bull
Argowan Nubian[.] I [was] in Clinton
with Lizzie [Glen.]
6. S. Father walked to Clinton A.M. Jane & X 30
[were] at [Jim] Junor’s P.M. Jane called
[on the] Dunkin’s & [the] McGre[gor’s.]
Wigginton & Tom [were] here A.M. Mac &
T[om] Frazer here P.M.Fen[wick]went home
to-night[.]
7. S. One of the 1888 sheep lambed [the] 2nd Snowing 12
lamb[.] S. Thaw, Rain
► i .:
-
| '
8. M. [I]Cleaned Lanterns & Hauled in a jag of 14
hay with John [and] Killed [the] gan- Snowing some,
der[.] Bob Churchill & Lillie[were] here Frozen a
[and bought a]cow[.]J. Scruton and Baker little
[were]here[and] bought Highland lambs[.]
9. T • Father & John [were] in Clinton A.M with 25
cow & lambs The] Erratt boys [were] here Blustering
for sheep[.]John hauled 1 load of wood[.] Fine Even[ing]
Jane,Ag & John [have]gone with[a]load to
Green’s[.I am]Making[a] Flannel petticoat[.]
February, 1892 110
10. W. [I] Finis[hed the petticoat.]John hauled 12
wood A.M. Mr Potter[was]here to buy corn Cold Wind
that was sold[.]Agnes[was] helping Fath- Blustering
er to trim lambs awhile[.] Evenfing]
11. T . [We] Ate [the] Gander[.] Agnes went down 20
for Auntie[.] John was in Clinton P.M. I Snowing &
took[Auntie]Back when J[ohn]came home[.] Blustering
12. F. 15
Stormy
13. S. [Two]lambs(3rd ones) John [was]in Clin- 18
ton A.M.[with the]cutter to post cards[. Cold
John was] at [the] Mill with peas P.M. Calm wind
14. S. Jane & Agnes [were] in Church[.] (Pat- 17
terson,one of the High School teac[hers] Snow & drifted
preached.) [One] lamb[.] some P.M* &
night
15. M. Rob McMillen [was here] for dinner[.]Fa- 18
ther & Jane went by Wig[ginton’s] to Fine, Drifting
Clinton[.] [Two] lambs a little
16. T. [Two] sheep lambed - 1 the little ewe - 11
both doubles[.] Ned [Glen]fetched in[32 Dull
1/2 bushels of] Peas[.] John & I hauled
in 4 jags of hay[.]The 1st load upset[.]
17. W. Father [was] in Clinton & Agnes [was] at 18
U[ncle] Jame’s P.M. Clear & Fine
4 below zero[F]
18. T. [Two] lambs Mother & I [were] in Clin- 9
ton[.] J[ohn was]at[the] mill with grist Softish
& chop[.] Kizer2 & another [were] here Snow evening
[and] sold Father fanning mill fix­
tures [. ]
19. F. John [was] in Clinton P.M. posting let- 17
ters[.]John took[a] load to Wigg[inton’s Snowing
this]evening. Jim Barkley came back with Soft
them [and stayed] all night[.]
20. S. [Two]lambs & 1 dead John [has been]haul- 31
ing lumber from Clinton for U[ncle]James Thawing
[Stewart’s new house.3 Jim] Barkley had Fine
sorrel[.]
21. S. Jane & Bella [were] in Church (Stew- 18
art)[.] 2 lambs A.M.
22. M. Helen & Aggie Butchart [were here] P.M.& 22
evening[. Their brother] Johnny came in
[the] evening for them[.] Father[was] at
[the] Mill for grist & chop[.]
23. T. Bella & Jane [were] in Clinton[.]Agnes & 26
John hauled in 2 jags [of] hay [which] I
helped take off[.] J. W. McDonald [was]
here [this] evening [and] fetched back
billyf.] [Today, in a by-election in the
Dominion riding of Huron West, the Hon.
James C.]Patterson[
was] Elected(Tory)[.]4
24. W.
25 . T
26. F
27 . S
28 . S
29. M
X. T
2. W
3. T
4. F
5. S
6. S
7. M
8. T
February, 1892 111
. Churchill,J.B.Holmes & fanning mill men 17
[were] here[.] Aunt Abby & Alice [were]at
Glen's[.] Father[was] at Glen’s [in the]
evening[.] Lamb had 1 lamb sheep 3[.]
. [The] Glen's [were] in Clinton P.M. [and] Raining 15
left[their] children here[.] Auntie [was] Cooler
up [and] stitched her jacketf.J
[One]of the 5 lambs died[.I] cleaned cab­
bage out of the cellar and looked [the]
barrel of apples over[.] Father walked to
Clinton[.] John [was] up [in the] evening
for Harness. [Three] lambs - 1 of them
dead[.]
31
Thaw to sun;
Freezing be­
hind
. [Father walked to Clinton.]
Agnes [was] at 28
Mac's [this] eventing.The] Glen's [were] Cold,Easterly
in Clinton[and left their] kids here.Liz- wind
zie got her teeth[.]
. John[was] at Brucefield & Clinton[.]Stan- Clear
ley Beauty died[.]Blackal here[.] 1 lamb-
a big one[.]
. [John was] in Clinton with hide[. I] was Rain & Sleet
over at Glen's [this] even[ing.]
March, 1892
. John & I [were] in Clinton A.M. 1 lamb Cold N . 17
Wind, Clear
. Spotty calved [a] steer[.] Ida [Stewart], 27
Aunty, Mrs Finley & Mrs Duncan McEwen &
baby Lizzie & Scott[were]here for tea[.]
Peter Campbell's girls [were] married.5
. John[was]in Clinton on Bob[.]Father[was] 28
at [the] mill with chop[.I] helped [him] Warmer, clear
clean[the grain. I] finis[hed] stitching A.M., Dull
Aunty's cloak[.] 1 lamb P.M.
. Ag & Jo[hn] hauled in loads of hay[. Fa­
ther walked to Clinton P.M. Jo[hn] went
down for the Stewarts & T.Wig[ginton]was
over[. Everyone then went to Malcolm
McEwen's in the evening.]
. Father walked to Clinton[this]Morning[.j
Lizzie & Maggie McEwen [were] here P.M. Cold
[I]finis[hed]making[the] Black Basque[.]
Father, John & Ned went to Seaforth with
Horses and 3 lambs for U[ncle Donald[Mac-
[MacFarlane] & a bull for R.McMillan[.]
. 29
Beautiful, Soft
. Father walked to Clinton to settle with 29
Churchill[.] Johnny Innis and Pete Baird Freezing at
[stopped] in with [a] letter for Father[. night
I] fixed[the]Jacket & put straps onfthej
vest &[a] skirt on[the]ganzie[.]* [First]
Goose Egg * possibly organdy?
• I walked to Clinton & got Jane's & Bel- 31
la's sunshines[.]* Jim Barkley [was here Snowed A.M.
this] even[ing. One] lamb I think[.] Soft
lamb I think[.] *a ladies' magazine?
25
Wind
40
Thawed quite
a bit to sun
March, 1892 112
9. W. [One] lamb Jno. Beesley & Wigginton
[were here]for tea[.] Cutting out Water­
proof [.] Maggie Elliot’s wedding (Gab's
Maggie)[.]
28
Soft
10 . T. Hawkshaw [was here] for dinner & bought
billy shearling[.] Father took him to
Dunkin's & [to the Brucefield train
station.] John hauled [a] load of wood
[and] went to Clinton [in the] even[ing]
on horseback[.
]
28
Snowing
11 . F . John [was] in[to] Clinton [in the] cut-
ter[.]
31
Drifting
12 . S . [John was in Clinton this morning in
the] sleigh expressing a lamb to Hawk-
shaw[.] Jane [was] in Clinton [in the]
cutter P.M. & at U[ncle] Jamesf's] with
John [in the] evening[.]
31
Drifting a
little, fine
13 . S . Agnes & I [were] in* Church(Stewart)[.]
[Messrs.] Walkinshaw, Jno. Lindsey, Pat­
terson & Grant [were new] elders induct-
ed[.]
31
Snowing &
Drifting
14 . M. Started quilting (old cashmere "Irish
Chain")[.]John[has been] hauling wood[.]
24
15. T. Finis [hed quilting "Irish Chain1
'
] &
started "Old Swan Bill"[.John Tough,the]
Assessor [was] here all night[.]
29
Cold N. Wind
16. W. Mother & Jane[were] in Clinton [with Bob
in the] cutter[.] Aunty[was] up [here[.]
27
a little
warmer
17 . T. Aunty & I[were] in Clinton[.] Levi Trick
& Andrews [were] here for tea[.]Finished
"Swan Bill" a little after dinner[.]
15
Snow
Showers
18. F. Father walked to Clinton[.] Lizzie [Glen 44
went] in[to] Clinton [and] left [her]
children heref.]Started quilting[;] lin­
ing[the]quilt [with the]hexagon centre[.]
19. S. John [was] in Clinton P.M. T[om] Wiggin-
ton[rode] home with him [and he] went to
U[ncle] Ja[mes']s [in the] even[ing.One]
chicken hatched[-] the lst[.] Finis[hed]
quilting [Hexagon Centre] a little after
dinner[.]
20. S. T[om] Wigginton [was here] all last 35
night[.] Stormy,cold
21. M. Jane & Agnes [were] in Clinton [in the] 24
cutter[.] Elsie Katleton6, Ella & Marg Warmer,fine
McEwen [were] here[.] Jno. shore 2
billy's (shearlings) [and] 2 lambs[.]
22. T. Jane [was] at D. McEwen's '*Mat Bee." John 27
[was] in Clinton seeing [the] Vet about Snowing
sheep[.] Shore the other shearling billy S. Thaw
too[.] Raining
23. W . [X was ] working Initials on [a] Hand- 2 9
kerchief[.] Bella made [a] White under- Frozen
skirt[.] Lizzie [Glen was] at J. Pear- flaw Wind
son'
s[.]
24. T. Father walked to Clinton[.] Ada[Stewart 22
here] P.M. & Fen[wick]for tea[.] Finis- Thawing
[hedj cutting Mac's wood[.] Sunshiny
35
Snowing P.M.
March, 1892 113
25. F. John[was] in Clinton with horse in cart
getting him shod[.]Lizzie [was] at Fin­
ley [McEwen's.
]
26. S. Finis[hed] binding quilt[. Two] lambs
37
30
27 . S . 33
28 . M.
‘l
i
t
First Turkey egg Mother & Agnes 33
tapped 6 trees[.] Tom[was here] in [the] Freezing
evening!. He had been] crushing* at behind sun
Glen's[.] *oats were rolled
or crushed in the barn for feed for
horses, cattle & sheep. The basic
mechanism consisted typically of two
grooved steel rollers six inches in
diameter driven by a pulley. The rollers
were mounted on 4 legs and surmounted
by a hopper. The pulley might be driven
by horse, wind or steam power. One man
would shovel the oats into the hopper, a
second might hold the burlap bag and a
third could shovel the crushed oats, as
they accumulated beneath the oilers, into
the bag. The popular form of motive power
in this period was the wind-drived power
mill, mounted on the barn roof.
29. T. Frogs singing[.I] Finis[hed] making Mo- 29
ther's pillows[.] B[ella] A[gnes] Fine
tapped 2 trees more[.I]helped clean oats Sunshiny & Warm
and haul in [a]load of hay[. ]
30. W. Making Buttonholes in [a] Waterproof[.] 33
Jane washed Mac's "Wreath & Roses "quilt Cold East Wind,
yesterday & ironed it today[.] No frost
31. T. Father walked to Clinton P.M. Smith [was
here] for tea[.] Mac’s, H. Steep & C.
Ross [were here in the] evening[.]
April, 1892
1. F. John [was] in Clinton [with the] buggy 34
A.M. [and] Plowing P.M. [We] cut lamb’s Pretty windy
tails [in the] even[ing.] but warm. Snow
went away alot.
2. S. Aunty went to Green’s.Alice filley foal­
ed(dead) [.]John went tor Blackall[.] Red
Heifer calved(Heifer)[.] Fen[wick was
over in the] even[ing. Pedlars Wileym &
Beetie of Varna were] around[.]
42
Very Windy
Showers last
night Snow
3. S. Jane & Bella [were] in Church( Shil­
ton -Methodist)[.] U[ncle] James [was]
here[. The] Crocus’s (Sic) & wildflowers
[are] out [and we have good] roads[.]
4. M. [Two] lambs [We] hauled in a load of
hay[.] U[ncle James's] Annie [came] up
[in the] even[ing] for [her] father[.]
Mother [was] picking potatoes over all
day[.
]
46
Windy, warm
rain at night
33
Rain A.M, Very
Fine & Warm
5. T. Father [was] in Clinton [with the] bug- 40
gy[.] Fen[wick] fetched Annie’s turkey High Wind
up [in the] even[ing. I [worked at] pick- Rain T[hunder]
ing beans[and] took out cellar windows[.] & lightfning]
* last night.6
6. W. [I worked at]Cleaning grass seed with Fa- 36
ther & cleaning at cellar[.I] took [the] Rain & Snow
flowers up[.] A.M, Fine P.M.
April, 1892 114
7. T.
8 . F .
9. S .
10 . s .
11 . M.
12 . T .
13 . W.
14 . T .
15 . F .
16 . S .
17 . S .
18 . M.
19 . T .
20 . W.
21 . T .
22 . F .
23 . S .
24. S.
Bella & I were in Clinton[.] I washed mud 30
off[the] buggy & scrubbed milk shelves[.] Fine & Warm
Father [was] sowing grass seed[.]
Agnes & Lizzie [Glen][went in[to] Clinton 41
[with] Bob[.]I started quilting "Wreath & Fine A.M.
Roses" upstairs[.] Rain & Snow
44
Snowing
Soft Windy
Frost at night
29
Snow Showers
Tom Wfigginton] & Willie McEwen called[.] 35
A[gnes]& Jno.hauled in 2 loads[of] hay[.] Snowing A.M.
I lamb Fine P.M.
Daisy calvedf.] Father & Jno.[were] fen- 34
cing at [the] river[.] Fine Coldraw
N. Wind
John [was] harrowing P.M. John went to 41
Dunkins [in the] even[ing.] a little warmer
Jane walked to Clinton P.M. John went to 32
Dunkin[ 's]with[lie] horse [.John & Father] Windy
sowed peas & oats [in the] field out at Middling Warm
door[. I] Finis[hed] quilting border at
dinner about[.Tomorrow is] Good Friday[.]
Father [was] at [a livestock] Show. [He 32
went in the buggy with] Bob & John [went] Fine
with "Balenbogie Stamp[".] Wiley [was] Cold wind
here[.]Tene & Bell McEwen[were] in [here]
& at Glen's[;] Jane & Bella [were] with
them[.]
Father [stayed] in Clinton all day[. The] 27
Grey Heifer calved[.] I [was] sick P.M.
Jane & Agnes [were] in church(Stewart)[.] 38
Jane, Agnes & Bella [were] in Sfabbath]
School[.]
Father & John [are] harrowing[. The four 29
of] us [have been] quilting every day[.]
John [was] sowing oats[.] Willie McEwen 38
calling roundf.]
Jane walked to Clinton[.]Agnes [has been] 29
cleaning peas...... Sowing peas[.] a little warmer
P.M.
34
Raining Showery
Father [was] at Sprung's[.] John [was] at 33
the mill with chop[. I] got 1/2 Dozfen] Dull Rain
tea spoons with "Forest & Farm[quilt pat- night
tern.]
Father [was] in Clinton all day[.] 31
Fine High wind
[The Four of Us were] at S[abbath] 26
S [chool.] Fine Cold Wind
115
April, 1892
25* M. Chickens coming out[.Jane walked to Clin- 29
ton A.M.[and] I [was]up P.M.getting [the]
buggy shaft mended[.]A[gnes] & Jno.[were]
hauling in hay[.] Jim Junor & T. Dunkin
[were here] for dinner[.]
26. T. Father & John[were]at Sprung's with Dick- 56
enson seizing [a]horse[. John was at] R. Warmer
Tompson's for dinner & tea[.]
27. W. Aunty [is] Home[.J Jno.walked in[to]Clin- 49
ton[.]Dave Kennedy’s son [was]here deliv- Windy
ering trees[-]2 peach & 1 cherry[.]Black-
all & Mac here P.M.
28. T. John [was] in Clinton [in the] buggy A.M. 31
[and] Father walked P.M. Mac [was] here Rain,Thunder &
[in the] morning[.] Lizzie McTavish [wasJ1[ightning]last
here P.M. night Nice
29. F. Aunty [was] up [here.] T[om] Wigginton 31
[was here] for tea[. The] Seaforth plow Dull A.M.Clear
peddlar [called in.] Cold wind
30. S. Finis[hed] quilting "Wreath & Roses"[.] 33
A[gnes] & Jno. hauled in [a] jag of hay Nice Middling
A.M. John was in Clinton P.M. [in the] warm
buggy[.]
May, 1892
1. S. Jane, Bella & I [were] in S[abbath] 36
S[chool.] Raining till
about 1/2 past
2
2. M. J.B. Holmes[was here]for dinner[.]Father 34
[was] in Clinton & Harperhay with him[.I Misty
am] Making a waterproof[.]
3. T. Father & Jno.[are] fencing at [the] Riv- 34
er[. I] Washed[. ] Raining A.M.
Fine Very
warm rain
4. W. Churchill [was here this] evening 28
Fine,Cold Wind
n$ .
. . ,
i -
1 *
-
-
■ ,
/ :
5* T. Dunkin Sa-here (sic) for Dinner & tea & 30
tea & McCartney & G. Hanley (sic) [here] Raining
for tea[.]
6. F. [I] Finis[hed] makirig [my] "Waterproof" 29
& hemmed the bottom^of Mother’s & [star- Raining A.M.
ted] Sewing up Father's old unglued Dull
one[.] I.McEwen called A.M. Bella scrub­
bing school[.]
7. S. Jane & Agnes [were] in Clinton[.] Lizzie 25
[Glen] left her kids here[.]* Mary & Ella Fine,
McEwen [were] here P.M. [I] Finis[hed] C. Wind
sewing Father's Waterproof[.] *little tots,
Mary & Bessie
8. S. Jane & Bella [were] in Church(Shilton - 27
Methodist)[.]
9. M. [I]Washed plaster & Paint in my Bedroom & 39
filled [the] straw-tick[.] Agnes[
was]rak- Fine, warmer
ingfthe] lawn[.]Macs [called and] fetched
3 pigs $6.00[.] Aggie Butchart [was here]
P.M. [and] Mary McEwen [was here in the]
even[ing.* This was the first time the]
Young cattle [were] out [at] night[.]
May, 1892 116
^Commentary If one looks back over the
five years Eliza-Ann has been keeping
this diary, it’s pretty obvious that the MacFarlane1s
were very hospitable, not only with adults, but also
with children. The four MacFarlane sisters had excellent
role models in their mother, her maiden sister Agnes
(Aunty), and their two aunts by marriage, Mary Barkley
and Abigail Tweedy. And, even a century after his death,
James MacFarlane's hospitality, kindness to children
and his willingness to treat his wife and daughters as
equal partners, reveal him to have been an exceptional
man. The four MacFarlane women remembered, after they
grew up, the enriching experience of various adult
relatives taking time out to get to know them and
listen. The Four MacFarlane sisters, working closely
with their father in the selective breeding of animals
and poultry and in improved strains of fruit trees and
crops, came to understand the implications for human
beings. An unspoken rule, observed for 2 generations,
required a MacFarlane woman to marry an exceptional man
or remain single. Jane and Isabella, and their niece,
Ann MacFarlane all married exceptional men - Ned Glen,
Thomas Fraser and Ken Taylor. Agnes Glen was married
only five years before her death from cancer, but her
husband, Donald Campbell was liked and respected by the
Glen/MacFarlane connection. Agnes and Eliza-Ann did not
marry and were very independent and self-sufficient all
their lives. They were profoundly influential with their
Glen and Fraser nieces and nephews and with John1s
daughter, Ann. One can see in the diary that Eliza-Ann
and her sisters are quick to take an interest in any
child who wants to befriend them. They got to know
virtually all the children, teaching in the local
Sunday school. Jane Glen and her unmarried children.
Jack, Don and Isabel, perpetuated for two more generat­
ions the MacFarlane traditions of generous, unpreten­
tious hospitality and being an extended family for
children of relatives and neighbours.
10. T.
11. W.
12 . T.
13 . F .
14 . S .
spacious vehicle. A
third child, Eddie,is due later in the year.
[I] scrubbed my bedroom & closet[.] Annie 24
[Stewart was] up for [a] turkey[.] We
cleaned[the] stove pipes & scrubbed [the] Raining
floor[.] J[ane] & A[gnes] cleaned Aunty’s P.M.
[stove] pipes[.] Mac's c[ailed.]
[I] washed A.M. [A] Gent called at dinner 30
asking the way to Pearson's[. The] Cattle Raining
weren't out since Monday[.]
Mac & T[homas] Frazer(sic)[were] here for 40
dinner & Mac & [Mrs McEwedbwere here in Fine
the] even[ing.]John and father[have been]
fixing[the]concession fence at Smith'
s[.]
Ja[ne] & Agnes [were] in Clinton[. The]
y[oung] cattle [were] out all night[.J
[The Four of] Us girls [were] picking 29
stones all day[.] Jno. [ha^ been] hauling Very Warm
gravel for U[ncle]James[.]* Cows [are]all * Jas.
out[.] Stewart's
new home is under construction.
[Agnes, Bella and I were picking stones] 33
A.M. Glen’s got home [a] new buggy &
[illegible] for [the] girl[s.]* Fen[wick]
Ag & .
1 [were] planting roots P.M. [We
planted] 14 rows [of] carrots and 4 [of]
mangolsf. We] planted [nearly 2 rows of *A growing fam-
onions and] covered 8[•] ily needs more
May, 1892 117
15. S. Agnes & I [werejin Church(Stewart)[.] Jane 22
Jane & I [were] in S[abbath] S[chool.] Raining
P.M.
16. M. A[g],B[ella] & I were picking A.M. & Plan- 29
ting Mangols P.M. [We] sowed 15 rows[. For Fine
the first time this year the] Horses[were]
out all night[.]
17. T. [We] Finis[hed] picking stones about 9 23
0 ’
C[lock.We]Took 3 [bee]hives out of pack- Fine &
ing [-] dead ones[.] warm
18. W. [We] Sowed 15 rows (Turnips & Carrots mix- 26
ed)[.] Scott [was over in the] Even[ing] very Windy
for eggs[.] Washed A.M. I think the horses Sprinkled
were put in[.] some
cooler
19. T . Kate foaled [.] Fred Rathwell died[.]7 ' 25
Windy,
Showery
20. F. Jane & Bella [were] in Clinton[.] [I] 23
Planted rows Potatoes P.M. Dull, Fine
Cool
21. S. Father & Mother [were] at F[red] 30
Rathwell's funeral[.] Dull
Showery
22. S. John & Bella[were] in Church(Stewart)[.] 68
23. M. Agnes & John took stones off [the] clo- 31
ver[.] [I] set out 2 hives [of] Bees[.] Fine,Show-
Father & I shore 7 sheep[. ] D. Ross [and] ery, cool
Sid Smith (C) wind
24. T. [The Five of] Us [were] at Uncle Jno.’s 2 6
P.M.* Glen’s movedFisher's Barn[.]8 Dull
Showery
*The 24th of May
is the Queen's Birthday.
25. W. Father & John took[the]Bull to Clinton[.] 30
Agnes drove the buggy up. Mr & Mrs Fer- Fine A.M.
gueson [were] here P.M. Raining P.M.
26. T. Father & John [are] fencing [at Smith's 32
on the Concession road.] Moving barn [in Fine & Warm
the] evenfing.] Glen's split barn.
1 • ,
l 1
r , * 4
27. F. Jno. Elliot & J. McEwen [were here] A.M. 30
A & [J. Elliot were here all] night [.John Cold North
and] Willie McEwen[were here in the]even- Wind
[ing] changeing^sic) eggs[.] I[worked at]
raking [the] yard & scraping [the] cel­
lar[.]Father & Jno.[
were]fencing[.]U[ncle]
Jafmejs & Fen[wick[were]in Clinton & fetch­
ed [the news]papers[.]
28. S. Fafther] & Jno. shore 14 sheep[.] 32
McDougal of Porter’s Hill & 2 kids Fine &
[were] here for tea[.] Mother & I Warmcool
[were] in Clinton[. ] wind
29. S. Ja[ne]f Ag, Ada [Stewart] & I [were] 27
in S[abbath] Sfchool.] Father [was] Mist &
at U[ncle] Ja[mes’]s[.]* Rain A.M.
Warm
Cleared P.M.
♦probably to inspect the progress
of construction of the new home.
30. M
Hay, 1892 118
Father, Ag & Jno. shore 5 sheep A.M.(All 31
[done]) Cut out waist (print Brown)[.] Very Warm
31. T. U[ncle] Ja[me]s[was] up at noon for some Very Warm 38
cut[seed) potatoes[.] Father & Jno*[are] Pouring
[are at a] banking conference these
days[.3
June, 1892
1 W. Mac[was] here [in the] morn[ing.]
Agnes & 24
I [were]at Rob Pearson’s baby's funeral[. Very Warm
His full name was) John Alex. Stewart Showery
[Pearson.]*
*named after the much­
loved and respected
Rev. Stewart, and his
grandfather John.
2. T. Finis[hed] making Brown Print waist[.] 32
Jane, John, Ned [Glen],Lindy Shoemaker & Raining
I [were) at Mac's [this] even[ing.) Showery
3. F. Started Blue Print(.]Jno.McEwen (was) in 36
after umbrellas[.] Raining &
Windy
4. S. [We had] Wiggin[ton],Mac,Miss McNaughton 16
& Ed & Mr & Mrs Cooper for dinner & C*.]
Bella went home with [Miss McNaughton.]
Father & [Mr Cooper) went to Snell’s[.]
* &C has evolved to mean "for tea "
In 1888 and 1889 (C) seemed
to be a code for male callers
interested in Eliza-Ann.
5. S. Father & Jane [were] in Church(Stew- 15
art)[.] U[ncle] Ja[me]s & Glen [were] Warm
here[.] Adam [Stewart was here] for din- Showers
ner[.]
6. H. I [was at Malcolm McEwen's] P.M. 28
Fine,Foggy
& warm
\) f. i . 1.J I + > _J 11 t
r * f * , 4 1 4 »r *
. )
7. T. Mac, Biggins & Ormsby [were] here P.M. 28
John started at summerfallow[.] Fine
8. W. Ormsby A.M. Father took him out to 36
Snell's and back to Wigginton’s[.He is] Fine
Hunting [for] Advocate advertiz[ing.]* I
was Cleaning bee frames[.)
*probably a weekly: Exeter Advocate ?
9. T. Ag helped clean a few bags of oats[.] I 21
washed 2 bee boxes and a lot of Raining
frames[.] Scott [was] in [here] P.M. Heavy
10. F. Mr & Mrs [Nicholas] Cuming & Mr & Mrs & 24
Mary & Isie Elliot [were] here[.]Father, Fine,Warm
John & Agnes dipped 40 lambs[.]Jane & I
[were] in Clinton [at] church(J.A.McDon­
ald,Varna)[.]1
1
11. S. Father & Agnes scuffled roots P.M .Fath- Fine & 18
er [was] at [the] Mill with chop[.] Very Warm
12. S. Father, Mother, Jane & I [were] in 10
church(Stewart) [. ] I walked up with Par- Very Very
ker and got [a] ride home with Adam Warm
[Stewart] &(€)[.] John [and I were back
# in church in the] even[ing](Shilton)[♦]
June, 1892 119
13. M. Father walked to Clinton A.M. Ag & I 20
picked[the] 1st[potato] bugs [which are]
very plentiful[. I’
ve been] Making Ma’s More wind
Print dress & I cut out [a] Par[a]sol
covering[.] Dan & Mac McNaughton [were
here this]even[ing] showing [off]cart[.]
Mac [McEwen was in] too[.]
14. T. Jno. walked to Clinton[. I] Finis[hed]
making Mother's Print [dress]& covering
Parasol[.] Father & Mother left for Oak
Lake, Manitoba P.M.* Bessie Ross, Tene,
Bill & Liz & Lindy & Ned [were here in
the] even[ing.]
15. W. Agnes & I [drove] Jess in[to] Clintonf.] 24
Lizzie [Glen went] with us[.] I [was] at Misty Morn
U[ncle] Ja[mes']s with oats [and took Warmer
along little] Mary Glen[.]
16. T. Agnes & I [were] picking bugs A.M. &[the 30
two of]us & Bella planted 20 rows of tur- Very Warm
nips P.M. I. McEwen & Bessie Ross [were Morn Cool-
here] in [the] even[ing.] Mac's (C) er Wind P.M.
17. F. Jane, Bella, Agnes,John,Lindy & J.McEwen 18
[were]at [a]picnic P.M. Tom & Jenny Ages Poured
[were] here [in the] even [ing] & all rain,misty
night[.] Aunty [came] up & stayed all Fine
night[.]
18. S. I scraped [the] milk-room & [the] hall 26
[working] all day at it [.Aunty stayed Cloudy
here all] day[.] Jno.sowed rape[seed and Fine
was]in Clintonfin the] even[ing.] Willie
& Maud Scott [were] here[.]
29
Fine,cool­
er wind
19 S. Bella & John [were] in Church [in the] 21
evening (Patterson High School)[.]Agnes Misty
& I [were] in Sfabbath] Sfchool.] Bees Drizling
swarmed out & returned [to the] W[est]
hive[.
]
20. M. Ag, Bella & I [hoed turnips] all day[.] Fine,a 2 5
John[was away] at road-work[.] Fen[
wick] little
[came] for tea[.] dull,coolish
21. T. [Ag,Bella & I hoed] mangols [all day.] 23
[We] Picked bus A.M. & I got dinner & C Showery
Jane [did the] washing[.] Mac's (C) evening
22. W. Jane, Lindy & Marie [were] in Clinton
A.M. Bees swarmed 1st [time from hive]
No. 3[.] Ag & Bella [were] hoeing roots
all dayf.J I [joined them P.M.
23. T. [Ag and Bella hoed roots all day. I did]
too all but got dinner from 1/2 after 11
& washed dinner dishes[.] Jane washed 6
blankets[.] Jno. hung [a] wire Clothes
line & [a] low gate[.] Jno.[was] in Clin
ton [in the] even[ing.]
24. F. [I] Picked bugs A.M. John [was] hauling Fine & 13
sand to barn-step[.] A[gnes]Jno & B[ella Warm, Dull
were] hoeing after till noon[.] Ag & I & cooler
Finis[hed] weeding Roots P.M.(through at
tea time)[.]
18
Fine,warm
Rain Even­
ting]
18
Dull, Warm
Fine Cool
25. S. Agnes picked 1st Strawberries [and] Made Fine & 15
2 pies[.]Jno.[was] hauling sand to [the] Warm
barn step[.]I washed Mother’s Straw-tick
and Feather covers & (C) all day[.] D.
Ross [was] here[.]
June, 1892 120
Jno. & Agnes [were] in Church (Patter- 24
son)[.]Jno. & Fen[wick were]up[to church Fine
in the] even[ing] (Patterson) [.] [Agnes,] Rain Even-
Bella & I [were] in S[abbathJ S[chool.] ing
T[om] Wigg[inton was] here[.] Fen[wick
was here] all night].]
[I] Scrubbed Mother’s Bed-room & ironed 12
ticks & washed [a] big quilt[.]Jane [was] Raining
in Clinton[.She] went by Wigg[inton’s] $
drove up with their horses[.]9Jno. mowed
[the] lawn[.]
[I] Scraped at [the] pump [in the] lane, 15
Filled Mother’
s Tick & aired the bed Raining in
clothes[.The] W[est] hive swarmed again[; Morn, Fine
the bees] stayed]out]2 hours & then went Raining
went back[.] Jane,Agnes & Majorie [were] Evening
at Junor’s & McGregor’s[. Uncle James's]
Annie [was] here P.M.
West hive swarmed again[- the] 1st that 14
stayed off[.1] finis[hed] scrubbing[the] Dull
cider barrel[.] Ja[ne was] quilting at Like Rain
Glen's P.M. Ag & X picked bugs A.M. &
finis[hed] P.M. & hoed 6 rows [of] pota­
toes].] B[ella was] at Mac’s [in the]
even[ing.]
[I] Scraped out & filled holes in [the] 18
Milk-room & washed [the] Milk-R[oomj Rained at
doors[.] Jane & John[were] in Clinton]*] night,Dull
Baird & C. Ross [were] in at noon[.] Clear &
Fine
July, 1892
I [was] in Clinton A.M. to meet Father & 27
Mother[.]They came on the P.M.train [at]
2:28 o ’
c[lock.]John [was] hauling [more] Fine
sand to [the] barn steps[.] W[est hive] Cool Wind
swarmed 2nd [time.]
A.M. [we] scuffled some[.] We hoed a few 20
pot[atoes] P.M.before [the]rain[.J Bella Dull A.M.
& I [were] in Clinton A.M. Raining P.M.
None of us [were] in S[abbath] S[chool.] 17
John [was] in Church [in the] evening[.] C* Raining
* I think
this C is code
for ’
’
courting.”
It was quite respectable for
a Victorian young man to drive
a young lady to morning or
evening Sunday services and
drive her home again[.]
I picked [a] 1/2 q[uar]t [of] Strawber- 12
ries A.M. [Father,Agnes, Bella & I were Fine
Hoeing potatoes till tea time]. Father, showers
Jane & I were]putting labels in lambs[.]
Jno. [was over] at [Wm. Glen's [barn-]
raising [in the] even[ing.] W[est] Hive
Swarmed 3rd time A.M. [The North Hive
swarmed at 3 P.M. for the 2nd time.]
Jno.[was] mowing A.M. [and] raking P.M.I 17.
washed]. We) started coleing hay P.M. Fine
26. S .
27 . M.
28 . T.
29. W.
30 . T .
1. F .
2. S
3. S .
4. M.
5. T •
July, 1892 121
6. W
7 . T.
8. F.
9. S.
10. S.
11. M.
[More mowing and raking A.M. and coleing 20
P.M.JBoth Hives Swarmed(doubled them)[.] *
* When bees swarm,
they cling together in a huge "bee
ball" to a tree branch (protecting
the queen) while scouts look for a
suitable place to build a new hive.
If spotted in time,a bee keeper can
cut the branch off and carry the
• swarm and drop it in a fresh hive
with some frames and cellwork. Al­
most always the swarm will take the
hint and occupy the proffered hive.
Miss MacFarlane appears to have
nabbed both swarms today.
LOADING h a t .
Aunty [is] back from Gireen'sf. We]hauled
5 loads[of] Hay [and] Finis[hed] putting
up [the] Rathwell field[. I] Washed [an]
Old Brown B[ee] Box[.]
[We] Hauled in 7 loads [of] Hay[.]
& Aunty [were] in Clinton[.]
Jane
[We] Hauled in 4 loads [and] finis[hed]
is[hed the] Rathwell field[. I] took [a]
Frame[of] Honey from[the] W[est Hive.and
Hive] No.3[.] No. 3 Swarmed [but the
swarm was [very small.]
Jno. & I [were] in Church A.M. [and John
went again with] Jane (in the] even[ing]
(Mr Mitchell-a student)[.] Father [was
at] U[ncle] James's [and was] up [here
in the]even[ing] with him[.]
Jno.mowed A.M.[and] We put it up[in the]
even[ing.] Jno. scuffled [in the garden]
up to[the]potatoes & C Agnes & I picked
[the] 1st Raspp[berrie]s.[I] cleaned out
Private[.]* *winter toilet in
woodshed
12
warm
15
15
18
22
12. T. Agnes,John & Bella [were] in Bayfieldf.]*
Mr [Edward ] Glen Sr. [was here] P.M. &
[for] tea[.] Father was mowing [in the ]
even[ing and I followed] putting up
some[.] *probably to see the
Orange Walk
13'. W. [We] Hauled in 3 1/2 loads [of hay] &
• coled some[.] Jane & Agnes picked 7 lbs
[of] Rasp[berrie]s.
14. T. Jno.mowed[the] Shanty field[.]We finish­
ed raking below [the] barn [and] Hauled
in 2 loads[.] Mother & Jane [were] in
Clinton[.]
15. F. [We] Hauled in 4 loads [and] Finis[hed]
that field[.] Agnes [was] sick today[.]
Jane & Ag picked Rasp[berrie]s [in the]
morning[and] traded with Lizzie[Glen]for
[some] B[lac]k currants[.]
16. S. [We] Hauled in 5 loads [from the] Shanty
field & Raked it all & coled most of
it[.] Bella walked to Clinton[.] Scott
[of] Brucefield & [Indecipherable were
here ] for tea & got some wool[.]
17. S. Agnes & John [were] in Church(Scott, the
lawyer's brother)[.]U[ncle] Ja[me]s[was]
here P.M.
22
22
19
20
Fine, Very
Windy Heavy
Showers even-
[ing]
23
Fine &
Very Windy
19
Fine, cool
July, 1892 122
18. M. John Finis [hed] mowing [and We] Hauled in 26
three loads [-] all of [the] Shanty Fine, a
field[.] Agnes & I [were] picking Rasp- little war-
[berriejs A.M. & Weeded some nips P.M. mer.Breezy
19. T. [We] Hauled in 3 loads[.] Jane [drove] 21
Jess in[to] Clinton for Paris Green[.] Fine
20. W. [We] Hauled in 4 loads [of hay.This ]Morn- 21
[ing] Father Finis[hed] thinning Turnips Fine,Warm
[in the]morn[ing. Malcolm and Ann McEwen
were here] in [the] evening[.]
21. T. [We are] Finis[hed] haying[.We]Hauled in 14
1 load A.M. - the last [of] 42 loads[.]
Mac's (C) Agnes, Bella & I [were] Green­
ing Potatoes P.M. Jno.[took the] Cart in-
[to] Clinton[.]
22. F. [The] 4 of us picked 27 lbs of Red Rasp- 14
[berrie]s & lbs. of B[lac]k Rasp[ber-
rie]s[.] I washed[ & I] took some honey
to cousins[.]
23. S. Jane pulled & cooked [both] yellow & 13
B[lac]k Rasp[berrie]s[.] Cutting Wheat[.]
Ag & I [were] stooking all day[,]Jane P.M.
[and] Father after tea[.]
24. S. Jane & John [were] in Church(Scott) [and 16
John went again in the] even[ing.The] Rev.Heavy Showers
[Mr] Stewart & wife are back[.] A lot light­
ning Fine &
very warm
25. M. [We] Finis[hed] cutting wheat early [and] 27
Father,Ja[ne], Ag & I [were] stooking[.] Fine &
U[ncle] Ja[me]s called round on us[.]Tene Very Warm
& Bell McEwen [came] in [the] even[ing[.J
Ag & I [were] at Auntie's[.]
26. T. Jno. [was] hauling gravel to [the] barn 22
step[.]Agnes & 1 picked Rasp[berrie]s A.M. 90 [F]
Mother, Jane & I [were] in Clinton P.M.
27. W. [We] Hauled in 5 loads[of] Wheat at Rath- 12
well's[.]Cooked 1st apples Sauce .
& Pies[.] a little
cooler
28. T. [We hauled in 6 loads of wheat from the
Rathwell place.] Father walked [to] Clin-
ton[.]
8
Very Warm,
A little
cooler
29 . F .
30. S.
[I] Sorted Bee's Wax,Washed,Ironed,&[was] 26
at Glen's [in the] even[ing.] Agnes [was] Raining
at U[ncle] Jas. [this] even[ing.]
Cutting Peas P.M. Jno.[was] in Clinton . 36
[with the] Horse [and] Cart in[the] even- Fine,A lif­
ting.] Edna Green, Mary Glen, Eliz[abeth] tie cooler
& Magfgie] McEwen came over P.M.*
*Four girls ranging
in age from 4 to 11.
31. S . Jno. & I [
were] in Church (Stewart)[. We 26
went again in the] even[ing](Earnest)[.]
Earnest [was here] all last night[.]
Cooler
1. M • [We] Hauled in 7 loads[of] wheat [-] all
[done] but [the] Raking[.] Bella Green &
Rachel Hanley [were visiting] at Aun­
tie 's[.] She went back with them[.]
2. T. Mother & I [were] in Clinton[.] Cutting
Peas near[ly] all day[.] Agnes[was] rak­
ing till tea time[.] J. Dunkin [was]
here[.]
3. W. [We] Finis[hed the]wheat [and] Hauled in
[a] small load [of] Rakings[.] Cutting
Peas[- We] Finis[hed the] field at [the]
door & Hauled in 4 gags[.]Took lambs off
sheep[.]
4. T . [
We] Finis[hed] cutting Peas over next
Mac'
s bush & Hauled in 2 loads after
tea[.] Bella walked to Clinton[•] Hill,
the Brucefield butcher [was] around[.]
August, 1892 123
37 .
Rained
Some
24
Fine &
cool
28
28
5. F . Father & I turned some peas A.M. We cut 18
down a piece of oats beside [the] Dull A.M.
roots[.] Jane walked to Clinton[.] RainingP.M.
6. S. F[ather],Jo[hn], & I [were] sawing rails 36
for [the] thresher A.M.10 Ag turned Peas Fine
P.M. & hauled in [the] piece out at[the] Cool Wind
door.(3 1/2 loads) P. McGregor & McLeod
& J. McKenzie & Mac’s (C)
7. S. Jane & Agnes[were] in church(Stewart)[.] 25
John [went in the] even[ing.]
8. M. Father,John & I [were]in Brucefield with 26
3 steers to [deliver to] P.McGregor[.] Very Warm
Father,John,Agnes & I[were] cutting oats
P.M. Next Mac's bush[.]
9. T. [We were]Cutting oats all day[.We]Finis- 22
[hed] cut[t]ing[.] Jennie Grant [came] Very Warm
P.M. & [stayed] all night[.] Heavy Rain
even[ing]
10. W. Father [was] at Woon’s threshing all 2 4
day[.] Jno. hauled some manure[.] Ag & I Showers
milked sheep A.M. Jane & Bella [were] i
n
. all day
Clinton P.M. [I] cut out [a piece in the
newspaper about] making aprons[.]
11. T . Father,Ag & I Did Pea - [indecipherable] 21
& put off a load [of] Peas A.M. Father Dull,cooler
[was] at Mac's threshing P.M. I [was] in a little
Clinton[.] misty, rain
12. F. Father & I lifted stooks A.M. & turned 44
Peas P.M. Ag was turning Peas too[.]Liz- Fine,Cool
zie & Annie were in Seaforthf.We] Hauled
in 2 loads [of Peas] after tea[.] Aunty
[has returnedJ home[.]
13. S. Agnes & Bella [were] in Clinton & at R. 46
Thompson's[.] John drove Bella to [the]
Goderich train[. We] Hauled 5 loads [of]
oats & 1[of] Peas[.]
14 *
. S. Agnes & I [were] in Church(Stewart) [. We 31
drove to Clinton with]Jess[.]Father[was]
at U[ncle] Ja[mes]’s [and] fetched 2
kittens home[.] Jno.[wentJwith Ned [Glen
to church in the] evening[.]
15. M. [We] Hauled in 7 loads [of] oats[.] Jno. 22
Dunkin & [his] Wife[were here this] even-
ing[.]
August, 1892 124
16. T .
17 . W.
18 . T.
19. F.
20 . S .
21 . S .
22 . M.
[We] Hauled[in 5 loads of oats] from next
Mac's bush[.]Father & Dunkin[were at]Wig-
[ginton's,] Salkelds &(C) Father bought 2
steers from Cantelon[.] Scott [was] here
[in the even[ing]& Mr Buchanan[,the] Live
Stock Advertizer, [was here] all night[.]
[We] Finis[hed] Harvest[.] Hauled in 4
loads [of] oats & 2 [of] peas[.We] made
a stack[of]oats yesterday[and] finis[hed]
it to day[.]Father & Jno.[were]at Scott’s
[in the] even[ing.] Jane walked [into]
Clinton[.]
[I’
ve been]Fixing Bella's B[lac]k-Spotted
skirt[.] Jane [was] at U[ncle] J[ames]’s
P.M. Jane & Ag [and the James Stewart
family were] at [John] Diehl’s [in the]
even[ing. The] Dunkin’s & Amelia [were]
here [this] even[ing.]
Jane & Agnes[were] in Clinton A.M.[I was]
Helping Jno.roof[the] stack A.M. Jane & I
[were] at Isard’s [in the] evening[.]
Father & J no.[have been]hauling manure[.]
Agnes [drove] Jeff [into Clinton.]
Mother & Jane [were] in Church(Stewart.)
[John went in the] even[ing.] Mrs Edward
Glen Sr [is] at Lizzie's[.J
[I] Finis[hed] fixing Bella's skirt &
mended Father's heavy pants. [We had] 2
Sturdey's (sic) for tea[.] Jno. went to
McTavish'es to see [Bill] Perdue [about
threshing our crop.] Jane & Ag [were] at
Mac'
s[.]
23. T. Agnes [was]at Butchart's P.M. & called at
Ross['es.] Jim Junor [was here P.M. [Mr]
P.Cantelon fetched steers[in the]even[ing
[and was here] for tea [with his] 2 sons
too[.]
24. W. Jane & I [were] at Grants P.M. [in the]
buggy [with] Bob[.] Charlie Mason [was
here] P.M.
25. T. Mother & I were] in Clinton P.M. [The]
Threshers came [in the] even[ing &] 2
[stayed] all night[.]
26. F. [We] Finis[hed]threshing[here]early [and]
Jno. had to move to Shepherd Aunty
[was] up at Glen's for tea[.]Ida Miller &
Laura & Frank Perdue [were here] P.M.
27. S. Agnes [was} at [the] Barn all day [and] I
[was there] P.M.helping to lift [the] pea
load off the [barn] floor[.]l put another
load off[.] I [was] in Clinton [in the]
even[ing.]
28. S. John & I [were] in Church(Stewart.) Jane
& I [were] in S[abbath] S[chool.] Jim &
Ettie Cartwright [were here] P.M.
29. M. Father [was] in Clinton getting Bob &
the Sorrel shod[.] Ernest West came to
work here[. I am] Making over B[ella]’s
B[lac]k dress these days[.]
35
Fine &
Very Warm
24
24
29
Fine and
Cooler
28
23
27
24
Fine, a
little
Warm
12
Dull,Warm
Rain even-
ling]
26
Showery
19
Dull,Fine
22
Clear &
Cool
•19
Fine &
Warm
38
Fine &
August, 1892 125
[The] Boys [are] hauling manure these 26
days[.]Tom Wigg[inton was here] all last Very Warm
night.[The five of Us]Kids[were]down at Heavy Rain
U[ncle] Ja[me]s['s] with Mac’s kids last P.M.
night[.]
Weir, the Machine Agent & McPhail [were] 27
here trying to buy apples[.] Rain P.M.
& even[ing]
September, 1892
Stanley [the] apple buyer [was] here[.] 9
Father [walked into] Clinton[.j John Fine
[drove] Jess[into Clinton in the] even- Cold Wind
[ing.] Jane & I [were] at McTavish'es
P.M. [and we] called [on] Mac's [in the]
even[ing[.]
Jim Junor [was here] P.M. for dinner & 27
tea [
. ] Father at Woon's, Marshall'
s,[?] Fine,Warm
Wigg[inton’s,] Mac’s, McGregor’s & (C)
[We had a] Sturdy lamb for dinner & tea. 22
[We were] at Dunkin’s with [a] Billy & Very Warm
took 1 from Frazer’s[.] Jane & Agnes
[drove] Jess in[to] Clinton P.M.John[was
in] at noon [with] Bob[.
]
Agnes & Father [were] in Church (Render- 16
son)[.]Fen[wick]& John walked[to Church Dull,Warm
in the] even[ing.] Heavy Rain
even[ing]
I [was] at Jim Junor's for [a] pig[. Mr] 20
Weir [came] here [and] bought apples[.j Raining
Agnes & I pulled pears (about a bag)[.j Morn, Warm
G. Smith [was] here for dinner[.]
Sowing Wheat[.] John T[h]om[p]son [was 23
here] for dinner[. ] Jno. & Andy Dunkin Paining
[were] here[.] Jane & Agnes went to Fin- all night
ley's [this] even[ing.] Clear &
Cool P.M.
Jim Junor & Mac[came] here for Bob[.]Fa- 18
ther went with him to load [the rail] Fine &
car[.] I [was] at U[ncle] Ja[mes]'s with Warm
[a] pail [of] pears P.M. Mrs Jun[or] &
kid & Tene & Bell[were here in the]even­
ting.]
Jim [Junor was] in for his team[.] Jane
and Agnes[werejin Clinton P.M. [and]sent Fine
Bella her clothes[.]
Father [was] with Mac at A. Dunkins A.M 30
T[om] Frazer fetched a sheep[.I]scrubbed Fine &
[thej cellar steps & out [thej door[.] Warm
I [was]helping] Jno.clean grist A.M.[and
was] sic[k] with it P.M.* A. Dunkin[was] *Inhaling too
here[.] too much fineI
*
*
*
*
&
grain dust can give one
a sick stomach (threshing
fever) or it can play
havoc with allergies.
I walked to Clinton P.M. Jno. & West 12
[were] up [this] even[ing with the] Dull
cart[.] West [wasj at [the] mill for
flour[.] Fa[ther & John] washed 3 Bil­
lies [.] Pressed kettle pears[.] J.Dunkin
& James [were here forthe night[.]
30. T .
31 W.
1. T .
2. F .
3 S .
4. S .
5. M.
6. T .
7. W.
8. T .
9. F.
10. S.
September, 1892 126
11. S. I walked to Church [in the] mom[ing.} 12
Jno. & Ja[ne went in the] evenfing. I] Fine,Windy
got a ride up with Trick* & [a ride]home heavy rain
with Alex.innis [.] even[ing]
♦Probably Bob Trick.
12. M. [I] Made factory drawers and sewed wire 32
on [an]old hat[.I] cut lining for[a]shop- Showery
ping bag[.] Agnes [was] at Glen’s [this] Raining
even[ing. we ] got a card from Bella[.
]
13. T [I] Stitched [the shopping bag,] gave the Raining 17
drawers to Jane* [and Started making an- all day
other pair[.]
*For her trousseau. Jane would marry
Ned Glen on Dec 28 and this is the
first intimation of it in the diary.
14. W. [X worked at] Trimming sheep all day with 16
Father[.]Window glass in the kitchenfwas] High Wind
broken last night[.] & Rain
Dull
15. T. [Another day of trimming sheep with Fa- 13
ther, including trimming a sheep’s horn Fine,Heavy
for] Mr G.Baird Sr.[I]Finis[hed the sec- -Rain even-
second pair of drawers [and I] Made 1 & fingi
mended 1 root mit[.] Ned fetched [the
news]papers[.]
16. F. [I've been] making [an] under-waist[. Mr
G. Baird Sr.was here] morn[ing] & evening
for tea & sand[wiches.] Father [was at
Scott's [and] had dinner there[.] Jno. &
West [are] hauling stones to pave the
C[ow]Stable these days[.]
12
Fine
Cold Wind
17. S.
18 . S .
19. M.
20. T.
[I] finis[hed] making a corset cover all 11
but [the] lace[.] Ag [was] in Clinton[.] Warmer
Wigg[inton] called [in the] morn[ing] &
Mac[in the] even[ing.Mr] Ferguson & [his]
wife [came in the] even[ing and] bought
"Old Jess"[.]
I walked to Church [in the] morn[ing] 11
(Stewart) [and] John [went in the] even- Fine,Windy
[ing[.]
Wigg[inton] & Tom* [came] for tea[.] They 12
took some lambs[.] Father & Ernest [went] Cool
with lambs [to] Brucefield[.] Ferguson &
2 girls [were] back with "Old Jess"[this]
even[ing. Three** MacFarlaneJKids & Mac's
[have]gone to U[ncle] Jno.'s[.I]Finis[hed
the]Shopping Bag and started [on the]
lace[.]
♦probably
Tom Fraser
** Eliza is
home working on Jane’s trousseau
and Bella is away teaching on
week days, so "Us” in this
instance does not equal 5 Mac-
Farlane siblings - just 3 -Ag,
Jane & John.[
I
]
[I] Finis[hed the] lace for 1 sleeve[.] 15
Father & Mother went for grapes [. I] Cool Wind
killed the last swarm of bees[.] Jno.
[was] in Clinton getting [the] horse
shod[.]
September, 1892 127
21, W
22 . T
23 . F
24. S
25. S
26 . M
27 . T
28. W
29. T
30. F
1. S
2. S
3. M
4. T
. Father left for [the] London show[.]
Jno. & Ernest hauled in the end of [the]
Old [hay]Stack[. ]
. [John, Ernest,] Jane, Ag & I [dug] at
[the] potatoes [for] 15 rows[.] Father
[joined in digging] some at [the end[. ]
Nannie & her Aunt (Mrs Ferguson) [were]
here P.M.12 [We] sold Ferny to Hill[.]
. John took Ferny to Brucefield[.] [We]
Finis[hed the last] 8 rows [of] pota­
toes^ ]T[om] & Jessie Wigg[inton], Nigo
Sheriff & Fen[wick were here this] even­
ting.]
. [I] Finis[hed the] lace for [the] other
sleeve[.] Father,Mother & Jane [were] in
Clinton[.] Father was seeing Mr Scott[.]
. John [went in the] cart [to] church [in
the] morn[ing] (Simpson Brucefield) [and
also in the] even[ing.](Stewart.) Scott
died[.]Mrs isard & E. Ann Mac. P.M.
. Agnes, John & I [were] at Scott's [this]
evening[.] Ernest left[.]
. Agnes walked to Clinton A.M.[and was] at
[the] funeral[.] Father & Mother walked
[and]John drove to [the]funeral[.]Father
& Jno.[were] hauling manure[.]
. John [has] gone to[the] Goderich show[.]
Burns & ----- called to see horses [. A]
fellow [was] here to buy [a cow that is
already sold[.]
. Father walked to Clinton P,M.W[m.] Glen
went for Lindy[.] Agnes & I [were] at
the Master's P.M.
. I [am] making[a]Sunbonnet[.] Jane finis-
[hed] making Ticks[. I] Found [a] turkey
nestf.]
4 i
October, 1892
. [The] Rev [Mr] Stewart & [his] 2 sons
called[.] Aunty [is] back[.] J. Thomp­
son [was] here with sheep[.] J .McKen­
zie & wife [were] here[this]morn[ing]for
[the] heifers he bought[.] Father [was]
at McKenzie's [and] bought [a] Grey
horse[.] I [was] in Clinton getting [a]
shoe changed[.]
. Jane & Agnes [were] in Church (Lee from
Scotland-Mac's relation)[.] Jane & Agnes
& Lindy [were] in S[abbath] S[chool.]
Jno. & N[ed] walked [to] Church in [the]
even[ing.]
. Glen’s killing heifer[.] Morrow’s store
[in] Varna burned yester[day.]
[I] Finis[hed] making [the] Sunbonnet[.]
12
Warmer
14
Warm
24
Pretty
Warm
Very Warm
8
Rain P.M.
15
Fine
Windy
Fine,
Windy
30
15
Beautiful
11
8
Clear
Cold Wind
1
12
Warmer
Raining P.M.
6
Cold Wind
Showery
even[ing]
October, 1892 128
5. W. Agnes & I started pulling Apples (Seeks).
Mother [was] at U[ncle] John's seeing
Mrs Ferguson[.] Lilly [was] up for [a]
Pattern[ .
J
6. T . Aunty & I [were] in Clinton with things
to show[.] John [was in with a] Horse[.]
Father, Ja[ne] [and] A[gnes were] at [a]
prayer-meeting[. The] Master [came] for
tea at Scott’
s[.]
7. F. Jane, Agnes & I [were] at [the] show[. Showery
We went in the] buggy[.] John & Ned went
up in [the] cart[.]
8. S. I [was] in Clinton to post [a] card to 16
Teaswater(sic)[.]Father & Jno.[are]haul- Misty,Rain
ing manure[. At night] Fa[ther] & I put
glass in by times [the broken] kitchen
window[.]
9. S, Jane & I [were] in Church [this] morn- 9
[ing](Stewart)[.] Jno.[went in the] even- Nice
[ing.] Mr & Mrs Wigg[inton]& Stella [were C[old]Wind
here] P.M.
Snowing
very Cold
Windy
12
Nice Cool
Wind, War­
mer
10. M. [We were] pulling apples all day[.I] 6
Killed 2 Hives [of] Bees[. Fa[ther]start- Nice &
ed pulling Mangols[.] A[gnes] Jo[hn] & I Warm
[were] at U[ncle] John's seeing Miss
Fergueson13
11. T. Father & Mother went out to Elliot's[.I 6
went to Wigginton's [to stay] all night.
12. W. [TheA Blythe show [is on.] John was at 8
U[ncle] Jno's threshing P.M. Mrs Wiggin- Beautiful
ton & Stella & I[were]at[the] Ben Miller
Woolen Mill[.]
13. T. John[was]at U[ncle]Jno.'s threshing till 6
about 3 & then [to] U[ncle] Ja[me]s['s.] Warm
Ja[ne,]A[g] & I [were] at Mac's [this]
even[ing.] Copeland from Teeswater
[stayed] all night at Wig[ginton's] with
Father[.] Wigg[inton came] back with
them[.]
14* F. Jno.[was] at U[ncle] Ja[me]s['s] thresh- 5
ing till 2 P.M. Father & I[were] at[the] Very Warm
Bayfield show[.]Copeland bought[a]Shear­
ling Billy & took him home[.] Mr Webber
called[.]
15. S. Edward Glen[was] born at noon [to Willie
and Lizzie.] 14 Jane & Lindy [were] in Rain Day
Clinton P.M. M. Snell & [a] friend from Nice night
Listowell called [in the] morn[ing.]
16. S. Agnes & I [were] in Church [in the]morn- 12
[ing] & John & Ned[went in the]even[ing] Fine,Dull
(Stewart)[.]
17. M. Ag & I [were] pulling apples all day[.j 9
Father & Jno.[were] pulling and hauling
in mangols[.] John Thompson arrived
[this] even[ing] to point[the] hen house
& (C)
18. T. Us pulling apples all day[.]Jno.[was] at 3
Butchart's threshing all day[.] Agnes Rain even
stayed at Glen’s all night[.] ing
6
October,1892 129
19. W. John[was] at Butchart's threshing A.M. I
[was] with Father P.M. fetching stones
from [the] river[.] Aunt Mary called[.
]
Kate Pearson's Motheris [was here]P.M.
20. T. Father & Jno.finis[hed] pulling mangols
A.M. John [was] at D.McEwen's (Finley's)
P.M. [We were] pulling [apples] all
day[.]
4
Fine &
warm
5
Highish
Wind
21. F. John, Jane & I [were at] Church in Clin
ton (Hamilton)[.] walked home[.]
Fine &
Nice
22. S. John hauled in mangols A.M. [and was]
at Mac's threshing P.M. P. Campbell & J.
Dunkin [
were] her[e.] T[h3ompson & Lindy
went home[.] Jane [was] at Grant’s P.M.
23 . S .
24. M.
John & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[.] A.
Walker [was here] P.M. & even[ing.]
9
Raining
I washed [clothes and I also] washed out 10
a lot of old duck p[an]ts[.] Jane & Ag
pulled some apples P.M. The Mason & Lin­
dy are back[.]
25. T. P[eter]Campbell & S[am]Cooper [are] here
to build[us a] Wood-shed[ *]Ag & I [were] Drizzley
pulling apples all day & at Glen’s [in
the even[ing.] Mac & ------ [were here]
from Wingham[.]
26. W. John[was]in Clinton A.M.for lumber & P.M. 17
A[g]& I [were] pulling apples all day[.]
27. T. Beetie [was] here[.] T[om] Wigginton
fetched him[.] Father took him to J.Dun- Dull
kin's P.M. A[g] & I finis[hed] pulling
apples[. The] Mason floored [the] cow-
stable [and] went home[.]
28. F. I took in our barrel of apples(all Spys.)
[Agnes, Ned, Jane & I hauled in] 2 loads S.W. Wind
[of] mangols all P.M. John was at Glen's Fine
threshing yesterday & to-day[.]Jane[was] Rain even-
in Clinton A.M. fingj
29. S. John [was] down early [in the] momfing] 6
at U[ncle] Ja[mes[’s] for lumber* & Raining&
[took the] cart [to] Clinton P.M. Cooper Snowall
[was] here & bought 2 shearling Bil- day
lys[.] I washed [the] kitchen & pant-
ry[.]
* probably left over from recent con­
struction of the new farmhouse
30. S. John [went to] Church[this] even[ing] in 0
[the ]cart (
McDonald of Seaforth today)[. ] -Rain,some
snow Morn-
ing, Nice P.M.
31. M. [The] Carpenters [were] back (Dan Camp- 5
bell too) & [they] left at night[.] Fa- Fine,Dull
[ther],A[g] & I pulled 4 rows [of] car- Raining
rots[and] Jno. hauled in 2 loads[.] Fen- even[ing]
[wick]. Bell & Jno.McEwen,Mr Wigg[inton]
& Jessie, Ned & Lindy [were here] all
night[.]
November, 1892
1. T . A[g is] sick[.] Jno. hauled in 3 loads
[of]carrots & I threw [them]off in [the]
barn[.] Father [was] pulling nips[.]
2. W. [John hauled in 4 loads of] carrots & 1
[load of] turnips[.]
Ag [was]at Wigg[int­
on’s] P.M. Cooper was here & bought 3
more [sheep.]
3. T . Father [and Tom Wigginton were] at Coo­
per's with [the] sheep[.] Ag & I pulled
some nips P.M. Jane [was] in Clinton P.M.
4. F. Jno. (Father helped fill) hauled in 5 5
loads [of]turnips P.M. Fa[ther],A[g] & I Dull A.M.
[were]pulling turnips A.M.Mrs & Jane Fer- .Rain P.M.
gueson [were] here[this] even[ing] & all snowing &
night[.] Freezing
5. S. [Father,Ag and I pulled turnips A.M.]be-
ween loads. Ferguesons left [at] noon[.] Dull
[With] F[ather] & Jno. filling nips & Frost at
Ag & I unloading[we]hauled in 7 loads[.] night
Ja[ne,]Ag & I put straw on[the]apples[.]
Fen[wick] was here] for dinner[.]
6. S. Jane & Agnes[were] in Church[this] morn- 17
[ing](Stewart) & Jno. & Fen[wick in the] Beautiful
even[ing. Today was the 1st day of the]
organ[.]
7. M. [We] Finis[hed the] Turnips A.M. 1 1/2
loads[. We] Killed 2 pigs P.M. & 12 Turk- Raining
eys [in the] even[ing.] High Wind
130
3
Dull
Dull
Drizzly
Rain P.M.
8. T. [We] killed 13 more] turk[ey]s this]morn-
ting.] Jane [was] in Clinton A.M. & P.M.
Father left for Toronto [on the] 1/2 past
1 train[.A] pedler(sic) [selling]trinkets
[was] here[.]
9. W. Father [got] home [at] night [and he has] 3
Bought Jane [a] watch(.]16 SoftenedSome
Snowed, Dull
10. T. Thanksgiving Jane,Agnes & I [were]at[the]
S[abbath] S[chool] examination[.] Sarah & Dull
Ida Isard [were] here P.M. & Even[ing.]
11. F. Agnes & I packed 5 hives [of] bees[.]Dick- 3
son's man fetched sheep[.] T. Frazer and Soft, Dull
The Master[were] here for their sheep [in Soft Snow
the] even[ing. ]A[g] & I shook the carpets evenfing]
[from]Ma’s & Ja[ne's]rooms[.The]Cows[are]
all in [the barn.]
12. S . [I] washed double windows and put in the 2
cellar ones P.M. I threw off a load of Snow Show-
turnips A.M. ers,Freez­
ing some
13. S. Jane & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[. ] Froze hard
Soft1
4
14. M. Ja[ne] & I washed plaster & (C) * in Rainy
Ma's Bedroom[.]Jane washed 5 windo[w]s[.] Dull & Warm
Father[was away] seeing Apple-packers at
Scott’s P.M.I scrubbed spar[e]B[ed]-room
down & Ja[ne washed spare room and]stair
[windows.] * appearsalso
to mean "We had a good yak
while we worked.1
'
November, 1892 131
15. T . [The apple-packers] Packed 51 barrels Dull & Warm
altogether[and stayed] here all night[.]
Sturdy [was here] for dinner[.J Jane & I
[were] filling refuse all day & Fa[ther
was]carrying [it] in[.]
16. W. [Jane, Ag & I were filling refuse all
day] & hauling [it] in with Farmer &
[the] stoneboat[.] Jane took Fafther] to
[the train] station A.M.for Teeswaterf.]
Jno. [went] up with [a] load[ of] apples
(17 bar[rels.])Kids & Stewarts [were at]
Mac's[. ]
45
Warm
Bees fly­
ing
17. T. [Jane went to the train station] for[Fa- Raining
ther in the]even[ing.We] Finis[hed]haul- Fine
ing in refuse app[le]s [John was up Coolish
with another load of apples.]
18. F. Jno. [went] up with [the] last load [of] Snowing
apples & got salt^.] Father walked[.]
Raked up yard[.] Put down carpet in Ma's
room[.]Mac [
was here] in[the] even[ing.]
19. S. Father walked to Clinton to get ap[ple] 1
pay & [wasat U[ncle] J[ame]s['s] P.M.[I] Snow
put boards in[the] woodshed(out of [the] Showers
orchard) & put up platform at bees[.]
20. S. Dull
Bad Roads r
21. M. Tom Wfigginton] called[.] Jane [is] mak- Dull
ing Jno. [some] p[an]ts[.] Agnes cleaned Slight S.
[the] house pantry[.j Nailed cover for showers
sugar-barrel[.]
22. T. I walked to Clinton[.] Father [was] at
Glen's helping[to] kill beef. A[g] finis­
hed the] pantry[.]
23. W. [First] Sleighing[to-day1 We]cleaned[the]
kitchen stove pipes & washed off [the]
floor[.] Tene McEwen & Kate McDougal[were
here P.M.
24. T. Mother & Jane[went into] Clinton in [the]
cutter[.]I washed[and]Ag cleaned up Jno's
stair[.]
25. F. Agnes[has been] washing kitchen plaster &
a little paint[.] Mr Glen* [was here] all
night[.]Jno.took chop to[the] mill &[was]
in Clinton[in the] even[ing.j Ja[ne] fin­
is [hed the]p[an]ts -2 p[ai]r for Jno. & 1
for Father[. Now Jane is] cutting out [a]
dress[.] * probably Edward Glen Sr
26. S. Jno. was] in Clinton to see about [the] Dull
colt’s foot A.M. [He was] at Nile &
fetched [a]load[of] wood P.M.Jno.Thompson
[came] for sheep[.]Jimmy Dunkinfwas here]
for dinner[.] [We’
ve been] Cleaning [the]
Kitchen[.]
27. S. Jno. & Agnes [were] in Church(Stewart)[. ] softish
28. M. Mother & I[were] at Isard's P.M. [We had] softish
poor sleighing [in the] cutter & [we] got
turkeys[.] I [was] at U[ncle] Ja[me]s[’sj
for Wood-shed windows[.] Jno. [has been]
hauling up wood[.]
Snow
N. Wind
Snowing
1
Snowing
2
November, 1892 132
29. T. Ag & I put things all out of [the] anty-*
room into[the] wood-shed stair[.]Jno.[is] softish
hauling wood[.] * ante: Latin
for "before"
30. W. A[g] & I finisfhed] cleaning [the] empty
room & [we] dusted and swept Jane's
room[.]Father[
was]at Wigg[inton's]thresh-
ing[•]
■ r:-'1.
. f, o
r
i ? \
o
i
,
December, 1892
1. T. Mother & Jane [went to] Clinton in [the] Softened
buggy[.] We put carpet down in Bella's
Room[.]
2. F. Father walked to Clinton [and] bought
Furniture from Chidley[.J I cleaned my
Room[.]
{-v-iqcis t
!
o b£ox .'Oir.?w
3. S. John [was]in Varna about Apples A.M.& in
Clinton P.M. Blackhall[came here this
even[ing to] see [a] colt[.] Powell &—
-------- fetched [the new] furniture A.M.
j . \ \ x I flfw e i i »
i • ■
'ai ’
n vH •- >
••
»
4. S. John [went to]Clinton in [the]cart[this]
morning for colt medicine[.] Aunty[came]
back from Green's[.]
5. M. John[was] in Varna[on the]sleigh with 20
bags of apples for cider[.We] borrowed a
barrel[. John] fetched [an] Apple-butter
Kettle too[.We have our own bar full
too[.]
*'x I •
•
;
bsr,*f •
*!.'. ‘ ; e 4( u
»j-*: ;■**?;.& j , *-n 1>
:
6. T. [Today We were] Making Apple-butter[and]
Bar-cider[.We also had]about 15 pails of
peeled apples[.]* John took [the] barrel
& Kettle back[.]
*In the days before refrigeratiion, the
standard way to keep apples over the
winter was to peel them and ream out
the core and dry them out. They could
be used simply by dropping them in boil-
water. Dried apples were an export as
well. They could be dried at home in a
small-scale operation or in a large-
factory operation with an "apple evapor­
ator." The apple peeler was a simple
cast iron kitchen utensil that could be
clamped on a board or table. The operat­
ing handle turned a large geared wheel
which,in turn, drove two different oper­
ations. The operator impaled an apple on
three parallel rotating prongs.The drive
wheel also drove a second large wheel
which had 2 spring-driven devices. One
device closely ressembled a man's safety
razor. The spring pressed the razor-edge
against the apple's surface,the rotating
prongs spun the apple against the sharp
edge. As the bottom wheel rotated, the
apple would be peeled in three or 4 sec­
onds. The rotation was complete when a
second spring-driven arm pushed the
peeled apple off the prongs. The oper­
ator would crank the device at a steady
speed with one hand and with the other
hand would impale another apple on the
prongs. A tube-like knife which turned
like a key, removed the core. Peel
missed by the peeler would be removed
with a paring knife. The peeled apples
might dry out in the sun or in a dry
cellar corner near the furnace.
a little
Misty
Soft
1
Slight
snow
Showers
,£
December, 1892 133
7. W. Elsie Thomson [was] here for turkeys[.]
Father [was] at Rutledge's sale[.] I
scoured up [an] old brass candlestick
& Ironed some[.] Blackall [was here] &
Adam [came in the]even[ing.]
8. T . I washed[.] Jane [was] in Clinton P.M Snow Flur­
ries, Cold
Wind
9. F . Father & Agnes [were] at [the] School
Exam[.]
Dull, Raw
Wind
10. S . Father walked to Clinton[.] Agnes [was]
at U[ncle]Ja[me]s[’s]P.M.Mr & Mrs Ross &
Child over from Denver came last night[.]
11. s . Jno.walked to Church and got[more]medic­
ine from Blackall[.]
Flakey
Raw
12. M. Jane walked to Clinton A.M. to get jacket Raw & Dull
lining fitted[.] Agnes washed[.]Jno [was]
in [at] night to see Blackall about[the]
colt[.] I washed some kitchen paint[.]
13, T. Fergueson & Jno. Kyle [were here]for din­
ner[.]Ferguson, Elliot [were here] for
supper[.] Father [was] at Whittingham's1?
sale[.]J.McDonald[came]P.M. with sheep[.]
[I did some more of] Washing paint[.]
A Little
softer
sprinkled
14. W.
15 . T .
16. F.
g
f
t
17 . S.
18 . S .
f
19. M.
20. T.
4
21. W.
23 . F .
Fen[wick Stewart] & W[illiam] Glen [were] Rain,Soft
here all day[.We]killed 2 pigs &[a]heifer
& W[illiam]Glen‘s pig[.]John & Jane[were]
in Clinton[.] Jane walked home [and got a
ride with Wanless[<«]'
Mother & I [went to]Clinton in[the] buggy Hard Frozen
P.M. John [was] in Clinton for flour[.] Soft
Hard Frozen
I [was] at Varna with [a]hide to get tan­
ned in [indecipherable.]
P[eter]Campbell & S[am] Cooper [are] fin­
ishing [the] woodshed[.]* See P. 30
Jane & I [were] in Church(Student)[.The Hard Frozen
Rev. Alex.] Stewart [was] in church[.]
[The] Carpenters[are] back roofing [the] Snowed a
hen-house inside[.] [The] Colt died[.] little’
Jno.[went to] Clinton A.M. for lumber[.]
[This] even[ing we were] Over by Stone-
house's & (C)* *They made a
social call on cousin John B.
Stewart and his wife Amy.
The carpenters finished this evening[.]
Aunty [was] up & stayed all night[.]
[I] Drove Father [in the] buggy part way
to Brucefield[,He has] gone to [a]London
sale[.]Fen[wick was]up with[our news]pap­
er A.M.
[I] Baked The Cakesr.1 Aunty [was] up
all day[.This] evening Agnes went[in the]
buggy to meet Father[.] John has gone to
Brucefield with Ned [Glen.]
. • ,
1 w * i - 1 1 • - ' . . r ■ . • , • 1 ►
’ I . t • t -v ‘
Father & Jno. [were] in Clinton for 5
sheep[.] Bella arrived home[.]
22. T.
H
24. S
December, 1892 134
Snowing
25.
26.
27 .
28 .
29 .
30 .
31.
Jno. [was] in Clinton in the] cutter for
4 sheep P.M.& even[ing.] Mother & I [went
to] Clinton in [the] cutter P.M
S .
M. Jno. Steep fetched E.A. Isard over A.M.
([She is] making Bella's dress.) Ag &
Jno. [went] down to U[ncle] Jno.’s to­
night[.] Killed 2 geese 2 turk[ey]s
& 3 roosters [also a] kitten
T. Jno. [was] in Clinton for Mr & Mrs R.L.
Lang from Oak Lake, Manitoba & [their] 3
children[.]l8
Stormy
Dull
Calm
Nice day
sunshiny
W. Jane's Wedding-day Sunshiny
with light snow
falling
Beautiful Moonlight
T. Bella & I [were] in Clintonf.] Mr & Mrs
Dunkin & the McTavish boys & a friend
(Stewart) [
were] here[.]
F. Miss McNaughton & Miss Foster [were]
here[.] Father & Mr Lang [were] in Clin­
ton & at Biggins's[.]19
S. Maggie [Lang] & I [went] in [the] cutter Fine
to] Clinton A.M- Father & Robert [Lang Dullish
were] at Jno.Elliott'
s & the mill (in the
cutter) P.M.
The Woodshed and Other Odds and Ends
"...Mr Jas. Stewart has excavated the cellar for his new house;
Mr [Peter] Campbell has the contract for the woodwork and Mr
Arthur Cantelon the mason work and plastering:................
The New Bra May 6, 1892
"..Jas. MacFarlane recently added a wood shed ±o his commodious
house." The New Era November 4, 1892
while Eliza-Ann has several direct references to the building
of the new woodshed, not once does she mention that the James
Stewart family were finally replacing the log house with a mod­
ern frame farmhouse. There are several indirect references to
Uncle James amassing building materials, and that's all.
The MacFarlane, James & John Stewart households were very
close, tied by blood and friendship, but there was also a heal­
thy rivalry to have the best, crops, livestock, buildings, vehi­
cles and impliraents.The rivalry also showed up in the give-and-
of sharp banter,and verbal jabs and,of course, noisy posturing.
In the privacy of the home, each household mercilessly analysed
the strengths and shortcomings of all members of the other two
households, told stories about them and mimicked them.
When John Stewart was building his stone house in 1878,
James came over to inspect. When asked what he thought, James
sniffed and said "They tell me that stone houses are only good
for fifty years." When James, some 12 or 13 years later began
to consider what kind of new house he might build, he took a
fancy to the Junor’s house on a triagular lot at the corner of
Goderich Township's 16th Concession and the Bayfield Road. It
was a compact "Ontario classic" - storey-and-a-half with peaked
gable and made of field stone. The story goes that the two bro­
thers were going home from Clinton,and> as they passed the Junor
place, James confided to John that was what he like to build on
the fourth. (Fenwick was very probably riding with them.) John
cast a contemptuous look at the edifice and grumpily replied:"Go
cont. next page
r*4 p*
■■
• io <
*
*
*x>
af vj j *
•
* •
t
i
aheadl Build yourself a nice little shithousei"
The two brothers regularly needled each other ,and the
MacFarlane's in front of the children - to put on a show. James
and Eliza MacFarlane took pleasure in the "game," while Abigail
and Mary, and maiden sister Agnes were quiet and kindly. At any
rate, James was sufficiently stung that he opted for a substant­
ial L-shaped frame house, with sharp peaks, made even more impo­
sing by putting it on an artificial mound, as Malcolm McEwen had
done, in later years,Fenwick’s wife Alices"I wish Fenwick's dad
had built a house like Junor's,- it would've been less work to
keep up."
When the house was being built, James MacFarlane came
over to inspect. *The front faced west and the kitchen window was
on the west side. South off the kitchen were 2 rooms, a bedroom
and a pantry. MacFarlane said "James, you're shutting the sun out
of the main room of the house! You’re making a terrible mistake!"
James insisted that Campbell knock down the studs and give the
kitchen a south window- Later that same year, James MacFarlane
put a wood-shed on the south face of his own house, much to the
bafflement of the James Stewart household.
1. The diarist’s antagonism, so obvious in 1887 and thereafter
appears to be subsiding. Jane and Ned would marry in
December[.]
2. The proper spelling is "Kaiser". Benjamin Kaiser of Bruce-
field is listed in the 1878 Atlas as a hotel keeper. In
the early 20th cent. Jack Kaiser ran a blacksmith shop in
Brucefield.
3. James Stewart was practically the last of the local pioneers
to replace his log house with a modern farmhouse. It was
built in 1892. Peter Campbell did the Carpentry and Arthur
Canteleon did the stonework. See The New Era quote above page
This is the first reference to the impending construction.
4. The nearby Dominion riding of Huron West was the preserve of
Malcolm Colin Cameron, a Goderich lawyer and Liberal. His
long service in the Commons (1867-98) was twice interrupted
when he lost his seat in disputed election proceeedings.
He won Huron West in the 1891 Dominion election but was
unseated December 26, 1891. James Colbrooke Patterson had
been the Conservative sitting member for Essex North since
1878. He lost his seat in 1891. The caretaker Abbott
government, that was formed after Macdonald's death was in
need of fresh blood and Patterson was sworn in as Secretary
of State January 25, 1892. He needed a seat and had already
been nominated to run against Cameron in the by-election.
Stanley Township Tories had fought Cameron (1867-78) as the
sitting member for Huron South. When extensive boundary
changes went into effect in the 1882 election, Cameron ran in
new Huron West riding. In the by-election on February 23,
1892, Patterson carried the seat by a mere 25 votes. Though
they could not vote in the contest, there is little doubt
that the Glen's, MacFarlane's and Stewart's, rejoiced at the
spectacle of Cameron getting his lumps. However, Patterson
left politics in 1895 to become Lieutenant -Governor of Mani­
toba and Cameron was returned in a by-election, January 14,
1896. See CDP & 1912 PG
5. Peter Campbell (1843-94) was born in Drummond Twsp., Lanark
County and came to Stanley with his parents at an early age.
He lived in Clinton and then moved to Lot 22, Con 3 Stanley
in 1882. He had 4 sons and three daughters. Eliza-Ann's diary
doesn't make clear whether the wedding was a double or a
triple affair. One of the daughters, Christena, married John
Moffatt (New Era Jan 26, 1894) Campbell built the new SS #1
School house in 1875. He built the L-shaped farm houses on
Lot 27 (IV) -Jas. Stewart 1892, Lot 27 (III) - Butchart
1891 and Lot 32 (III) Pearson 1888.
(Ill) Pearson
6. "Kettleton" is the proper spelling of this name. There
were Kettleton children for some years in this period
enrolled at S.S. #1. Isabel Glen recalled in long retrospect
that the family lived in a house near the London road and she
was pretty sure the father was a section hand with the fail-
* / 1
5C
road, A pectiofc Jj^nd had a certain section of track assigned
t
q
> gr several hundred yards) and he would go over
it daily looking for loose nuts, (which he would tighten),
missing 'SpIkfe^twhiCh he' would replacep arid he would' Earmark
ties or rails that needed replacing. It was a very low-pay^ing
job and a section hand was well-advised to rent a cheap house
near his designated section. Mr Kettleton had a section of
the old London, Huron & Bruce line of the Grand Trunk,
running near the western end of Stanley's Concession I. A-
farmer, who Isabel declined to name ,disowned his daughter
when she married a Kettleton boy against his wishes. "I
would as soon see her in her coffin as see her where she •
is now!" he is alleged to have said.
See diary entry for March 21, 1891 and footnote #6 1891. I
*
The
Possible explanation: It's raining. MacFarlane’s buggy ha^ a
a roof one can put up, while the Wigginton rig does not. In
return for her trouble taken to pick them up, Wigginton's
give MacFarlane horses a rest and hitch their team to the £
MacFarlane vehicle.
The fence rails of dry cedar made excellent kindling. The I
farmer who engaged the thresherman and his outfit was expec­
ted to supply the firewood and water to -drive the steam
engine. <
i
t
w
rxi'The Belden Atlas'.(1878> -^shows four^different, -Sheppard famis
on both sides of the road on the Bayfield Concession in
Goderich Township,a couple of farms west of Rathwell's,
I
I
i
81
9.
;
*
10
12. "Nannie" is Annie Stewart, daughter of John and Abigail
Stewart. Abigail, daughter of Charles and Margaret Tweedy,
had a younger sister Mary(1837-96) who married John Ferguson,
a school teacher. They lived all their lives around Smith's
Falls. They had 3 sons, William, Thomas and Charles. John
Ferguson died while his sons were quite young, and the 3 sons
looked after the mother as long as she lived. Abigail Stewart
did not see a lot of her Tweedy relatives. The 250 miles
between Clinton and Smith's Falls, even with direct rail
connections, was by 19th century standards a very long dis­
tance. Since Abigail and her sister-in-law Agnes Stewart were
born in S. Elmsley Township near Smith’s Falls, they tried to
keep in touch with Tweedy's and with the three Stewart sis­
ters of Eliza who had married down there:Mary(Mrs Robert
Tweedy), Isabella(Mrs Archibald Garvin) and Ann(Mrs William
Rathwell). With the deaths of Agnes Stewart in 1911 and her
sisterr Eliza MacFarlane in 1912, commmunication between the
Smith’s Falls and Clinton^families lapsed. The four
MacFarlane sisters kept up contact for a while and they
preserved enough written and photographic evidence to allow
the writer to piece much of this pack together. But as long
as Abigail,Agnes and Eliza lived, there was continual keeping
in touch by mail and occasional visits back and forth. This
must have been happy occasion for Abigail to have her younger
sister Mary come to see her. (paper on Tweedy's edited
Stewart)
13. "Miss" should probably be "Mrs." Mary (Tweedy) Ferguson had
3 sons and no daughters.
14. Edward "C," Glen:1892-1962, lived all. his life on the origin­
al Glen farm - Lot 30 Con IV. He married Mary MacLaren:1897-
1965 in 1917 and had two children - Robert:1920-86 and Alice
(Mrs Chester NeilIans of London.) Robert also spent his whole
life on his father's farm and inherited it when his mpther
died. Robert married Muriel Wise in 1948. Their son Gordon
liyes on the family acres - the 5th generation to do so.
15. Eliza-Ann says ""Kate Pearson's mother" because we have l}ere
an example of how many Scots settlers had the same names.
The lady she refers to is Margaret McDonald(1826-1915)
wife of pioneer Alex. McEwen, who lived on lot 15, Con 3,
15 farms south of his nephew Malcolm. Most of that family
werit west or to the U.S. John and Ann stayed on the home
place and Kate married John Pearson in 1887. With more than
one Duncan, Alex., John , Margaret and Catherine McEwen's, it v
is easy to get confused. To make it worse, they are all sort
of related.
16. The watch, the case and the guarantee are preserved in the
house at Glenfapn.
17. Whittingham's farmed on the 4th concession south of sideroad
25 and the James Stewart place. Will Potter, who took over
the farm married a Whittingham girl.1
‘
One- of their c
f
e
u
g
t
t
j
^
e
i
^
p
'
.
Hazel, would marry Malcolm (or Mike) MacFarX&qe, son of' John,
and, Eliza-Ann's nephew.
18. Mrs Lang was the daughter of James MacFarlane’s brother
(Donald? William?) Check.
19. The Biggins family had the first farm south of Clinton on the
Stanley side of the London Road. They were English settlers
with means and the original Biggins was often referred to as
'•Squire” Biggins.
ISABEL GLEN'S
1893
JANUARY,1893
YEAR
139
1. S .
2. M .
3. T.
4. W.
5. T.
6. F .
7 . S .
Maggie [Lang] & Agnes [were] in church Stormy
[this] morning & Jno.[in the] even[ing.]
Agnes [is] helping Jane to [
wallpaper[.]
E.A. Isard[was] here[.] Rob [Lang] & Jno.
[went to] Clinton in[the] Horse and cut­
ter A.M.[The] Kids & the Mr & Mrs [were]
at U[ncle] Ja(me]s[’
s.]
Rob & Jno.[were] at Snell's,Fair’s etc.
;
Agnes washed [. ]
.
Lang's & Agnes [visited] at Jane's & Fine
Mac'sf.] Dan Ross (Denver)[was here] for
dinner[.] Mrs Finley & Bella Ross [were]
here[. I] took E.A Isard home[.]
Rob, Agnes & Bella [were] in Clinton[.] Stormy
Rob [was] at Biggins'[es] for dinnerf.]
Rob, Maggie & I [were] at U[ncle] Jno.’s
in the evening[.]
[Rob, Maggie] & [the] Baby [were] visit­
ing Maggie's old neighbours[.] Tom & Jim
Agar [were]here for dinner [and]Jane was
in all day[.]
Willie Isard came for E.A.[in the] even- Snowing
ing[.] Father [was] in Clinton[. He]rode som[e]
"Sorrol" to & from Wigg[inton’s.]
8. S .
9. M.
10. T.
Rob, Maggie, Bella & I [were] in Church Stozmy
[this] morn[ing. John, Bella, Ned & Jane
went in the] even[ing.]
E.A. Isard [came] back [this] morning[.] Stormy
Maggie [Lang][.] washedf.]
Agnes melted snow[.]* I Over-easted Very Stormy
Bell's B[lac]k dress & B[lacjk wrapper & *the supply
[I] put pockets in the skirts[.] of rainwater
in the cistern or rain-
barrel had been used up
by a houseful of guests[.]
11. W.
12 . T .
13 . F.
14 . S .
[I] sewed hooks on [Bella's black dress Snowed some
and black wrapper.] Jane [was] in all
day[.] Folks [were] breaking [open the
snowed-in] roads to-day[.]
The 5 of us [were] in Clinton P.M. get­
ting photos taken & Lang's, us & Mac's 2
girls[went to] Jane’
s[in the] even[ing.]
Jno.took E.A. Isard home this even[ing.]
Father & Rob [were] at Wise's & Middle-
ton 's[.]
Mr & Mrs Lang [were] in Clinton calling
on Mrs McLennon([at the] bakery)[.]Bella
[was] in Clinton with Ned[.]
15. S. Maggie & Agnes[were]in Church[this] mor­
ning [and] Jno. [in the] even[ing.]
16. M. John & I [were] in Clinton (and we] took
Bella up to [the] station en-route for
Ottawa[.] Mr & Mrs Lang went with us to
Mac's going to Gilmour'
s[.]
Very Stormy
Very Cold
Wind
January, 1893 140
Jno.drove Mr & Mrs Lang & Family to[the] Clear & Cold
station enroute for Hensall[.] Mother Sunshiny
[was] at U[ncle] John’s early this morn­
ing. Mary's second son born[.]* *Donald Ross
1893-1981
Ag washed[.] I made [a] basting-thread
holder [and] sorted the dress-making re­
mains etc. Father & Jno took the hind
quarter of beef to the cellar[.]
Cold & Raw
Some snow &
Drifts
Jno. was at Glen's cutting all day[.]
Finley called P.M. while the Mrs went to
U[ncle] Jno.’s[.] I [went to] Clinton in
[the] Cutter P.M.
Some warmer,
Bad Roads for
passing
Father [was] in Clinton[.] I took him to Warmer
Wigg[inton's] corner and met him at Sunshiny
Jane*s[.]Jno. Middleton[was] here P.M. &
even[ing. I] made [a] cord bag etc. for
the pantry[.]
D[an] Ross [came] for dinner[.] Ag & I Heavy W.
[were] at Jane's [this] evenfing. I] Frost
cleaned the Hen-House[.] Sunshiny
Eliza-Ann comments about the
temperatures for Jan 11-21"
"Jn the zero direction all
these nights."
Agnes & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[. ] Some Warmer
Snow
Father & Mother [were] in Varna at Fos­
ter *s[.] Jno. Middleton's son was here
P.M. Jane called [while] Ned [was] down
at U[ncle] Jno.'s[.]
Jno. [is] working in [the] bush[.] Jane
[was] in here P.M. Agnes drove her down
to Aunty’s & then home[.]
Ned [was] at U[ncle] Jno.'s [and] bought Drifted some,
3 head of cattle - a fat heifer & the fine
others milkers[.] I washed[.]
Agnes [was] in Clintonf. She]got Jane to Dullish
go with her [and] bought a mantle[.]
Agnes & John,[using]
Adam's sleigh [went] Silver Snow
with [a] load to Thompson's [this] even­
ting.]
I washed,cleaned[the] hen house, & swept Silver Thaw
out[the]veranda[.] Agnes scrubbed,black- Raining
ened [the] stove & carried in soft wat­
er[.] Fa[ther] & Jno. shore 2 billy
lambs[.]
T. Wigg[inton at Glen's [and*] called
here[.]
[Father shore] the other lamb to day[.]
Windy
Freezing
Snowing a
little
Agnes & I [were] down at U[ncle] Jno.'s Drifting
& [at] Aunty's [this] even[ing.]
February, 1893
Jane [wasf in P.M.at Lizzie’s & her & I Mild, Cold
[were] at Aunty's [in the] evenfing. I] Stiff N . Wind
put [a] collar on [an] old gingham basque[.] even[ing]
17 . T .
18. W.
19. T.
20. F.
21. S.
22 . S .
23 . M.
24. T.
”
*
v 1
J
h
\ ’
25. W.
26. T.
27 . F .
28 . S .
29. S.
30. M.
31. T .
1
. W.
standing, L. to R. Charles, Mary Emma, (Mrs Donald
R. Ross, and James Adam. Seated L to R. Alice
Louisa, (Mrs John L. Parke) Margaret Elizabeth,
(Mrs william Glen) Lillian Ellen, John Barkley,
Annie, and, Isabella Melvina (Mrs John B. Green.
FIRST COUSINS:THE JOHN STEWART FAMILY
while the date of this studio portrait is
unknown, the people in the picture appear
to be the right age for this to have been
taken in 1891. It was probably one of the
several presents given to John and Abig­
ail Stewart by their children at the
house party on Christmas day, 1891.
NAMES
February, 1893 141
2. T • Agnes [was] in Clinton P.M. Mrs [Finley
McEwen, Mrs Duncan McEwen] & Mrs Scott
[were] at Jane's[. I worked at] putting
[a] collar on [the] black-striped
dress{,]
S.Thaw, night
3 . F . Adam[Stewart was]here cutting wood with
John[. I] finished fixing [the] B[lac]k
Dress[.] 1st lambs 1 sheep in morning
1 dead & 1 living 2nd 2 lambs night
Stormy,Cold
4. S . Adam [was] with John all day[.) Agnes &
I [
were]out at Jane's [this] even[ing.]
D.M. Ross fetched our mail
Hard Drifts
Calm even[ing]
5. S. Cold 1
S.E Wind
6. M. Agnes washed & I accomplished nothing
visible[. I did the hen nests and fed
the boys[.]H.P. was over for [the]step-
ladder[. I] hunted up old books to see
how to make........
Silver Thaw 1
Raining
Snowing
evening
7 . T . Jane [was] in all day[.] Jno. took her
home & went to town[.] Fenwick fetched
our mail[.I] cut [a] black polinise off
into a basque[.)
Drifting 1
some & a
little snow
8. W. Ned [was] in sawing wood with Jno. P.M.
Ag [was] down at Aunty's P.M.
Cold Wind 1
some drifts
9. T . [Ned was in sawing wood with Jno. P.M.
I] Finis[hed] fixing the basque[.] Mr
Finley McEwen & [daughter] Anna Bell
[were here] for dinner[.]
Snowing & 2
Drifting P.M,
J) * f
X
/ . 4
#4
i
10 . F . Ned [was] in sawing P.M. Jane was in
too[.] They went down to U[ncle] Jno.'s
[in the] even[ing. I] Made [a] feed
trough for hens & 1 nest box[.]
Snowing & 2
Drifting A.M.
11. S . N[ed] sawing P.M. T[om] Frazier [was
here]for dinner. I]made 2 nest-boxes[.]
Agnes & Jane[were]in Clinton P.M. Aunty
[was] up P.M. (2 lambs-doubles)
Fine & 1
Nice
12 . S . Agnes & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[.]
Good sleighing (2 lambs-doubles)
W. Frost 1
Beautiful
13 . M. Jane & I went to Nicholas Cuming's[.]
Jno. McKenzie [was] here [and] bought
[the] B[lac]k Heifer{.]
Nice 1
14. T. Jane & I went to Brigham's for dinner &
to old Mr Elliot’s P.M. Jane stayed at
Brigham's all night [and] I stayed at
Elliot's
a little 7
silver, rain­
ing P.M.
15. W. Jane & I got home about 10 o'c[loc]k.
Lizzie & [the] children & Aunty [were]
here P.M. Father & Jno. took the heifer
to McKenzie’s[.]
Nice 3
16. T. Jno. [was] cutting wood with Ned[.] T.
Wigg[inton] & J. Dunkin & Charlotte
called[.] Father [was] out buying a cow
from Jno. Stewart & [was] at Jack McDon­
ald 's for dinner
Cold Wind 1
Flakey
17 . F .
18. S .
19. S.
20. M.
21. T.
22. W.
23. T.
24. F.
25 . S .
26. S.
27 . M.
t
28. T.
1. W.
2 . T .
3. F.
February, 1893 142
I [was] in Church P.M. (McQuarrie-Wing-
ham)[.] Jno. hauled home some wood[.] W.
Glen [is] cutting[.] Powell & Young
[were] here [this] even[ing.]Father went
to Dunkin's [this] even[ing] with Mac[.]
Fen[wick] & Jno. [have] gone to Wigg[in­
ton's] dance[.]
John [was]sawing wood with Ned P.M. Jane
[was] in P.M. [and] Ag drove her home[.]
D.M. Ross, wife & family left for Den-
ver[.]
Agnes & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[.]
Jno.,A[g] & I [were] at Mac’s [in the]
even[ing.T]he 4th con[cession] & [the]
2nd concession] folks [were] there[.]
Jno. [worked] with Ned P.M.
Mr & Mrs Lang & Luella [were] back for
dinner[.] Jno. [worked] with Ned P.M.
J.W. McDonald P.M. fetched oats[.]
Mr & Mrs Lang & Luella left after din-
ner[.] Jno.[was working]with Ned[Glen]
& Jno.Scott P.M. Agnes [was] at McTav-
ish’
es P.M. & her & I [were] at Jane’s
[in the] even[ing.]
Jno. [was] in Clinton P.M. Aunty [has]
gone to Green's[ We are] making Jno.'s
drawers[.]
Jno. [was] sawing with Ned P.M. [I]
Finis[hed the] drawers]. Out at Jane's
this even[ing] in cutter for [a] let-
ter[.]
I [was]out at Jane's morn[ing] & even­
ting] for mail[. I was] at [the] barn
all P.M. Ned & Jane [were] in Clinton
sitting for photos[.]i
Agnes & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[.]
At barn A.M. cleaning Pea-floor at hay
[I have been] Making Father's drawers[.
This] even[ing I was] pasting in scrap
books[. We] Had frozen eggs for tea[.]
March, 1893
A[g] & I [went to] Clinton in [the]
cutter A.M. & Jno. [went] P.M. with
"Sorrol" hitched with Fen[wick's.]
Willie, Lizzie & Edd [were] in Clin­
ton [.]Wigg[inton],Fen[wick],Ida, Lilly,
Nannie & Bessie [were here] for din-
ner[.]
Agnes & I [were] out at Mac’s [this]
evening[.]I went to Jane's but she was
at Scott's[.]I swept out my room & put
Jane's [wedding] presents in there[.]
Father was at Charles Avery's2 sale[;
he] got a ride with U[ncle] Jno.[Stew­
art.] "The load’
’
* [landed] at Stone-
house's Mac’s Girls & Boys too[.]
6
Cold East Wind
Stormy even-
[ing] & night
below zero
Snowing 8
& drifting
a little
Snowing 10
Very Stormy
11
Dull & Cold
10
Snowed some
Nice 9
10
Snowing &
some drifts
11
Fine, Sunshiny
19
Flakey,Sun­
shiny
Nice 1
some drifts
Cold E. 9
Wind Some
Drifts
13
Raining, West
Wind, Colder
4
Cold W. Wind
Stormy P.M,
Sunny evening
Fine 9
Thaw to sun
12
Snowing P.M.
Fine even[ing]
Stormy
March, 1893 143
* "The load” appears to be a new slang
term for the five MacFarlane siblings.
4. S . Father & W[illiam] Glen[were] in Clin­
ton[at] Mclsa[a]c's farm sale(our cut­
ter [Glen’s] horse)[.]
Stormy
6
5 . S . Agnes & I [went to] Church in [the]
cutter(Stewart)[.]
Fine,drift
ing P.M.
5
6/ M. A[g] washed kitchen window valences[.]
I was helping Jno. to haul in some hay
P.M.(from one barn to the other.)
Fine
C. Wind
8
7 . T . Agnes & I [were] at D. McEwen's [this]
even[ing] & Father out at Jane's went
with us[.]
Beautiful
Warm
7
&
8 . W. I Mended faher*s shirt & cleaned the
hen-house[. I]Have to help with chores
at night this long-time[.]
C. Wind
Real Thaw
10
9. T . Father shore 3 ewe lambs[.] I [was] in
Clinton P.M.[The Roads[are]very bad[.]
Spotty calved [this] morning[.] Ellie
Cairns [was here this] even[ing] & all
night[.]
4
Rain P.M.
Clear even[ing]
10. F . Father & I shore 3 ewe lambs[.] [Ellie
Cairns was here] all day[& all night.]
Fine 9
11. S . Father walked to Clinton[. He]got back
with W[illiam] Glen [who] turned back
about Pearson's[. I] Mended Father’s
pants & finished making his drawers[.]
Raining 8
1 x
12 . s . Ned was in P.M. for tea[.] Their 1st
cow calved to-night[.]
A little
soft snow
14
13 . M. I walked to Clinton A.M. to post [a]
letter to Bella[.] McTavish called[.]
Jno. [has] gone to Graham's[. I] drove
[to Clinton] P.M. to post a reply
card[.]
Froze
a little
E. Wind
12
14 . T . [I] Helped father shere(sic) all 3 ewe
lambs[.] Making button-holes in Moth­
er's good basque[.] Dewdrop calved [a]
heifer[.] Jane was in P.M. I took her
home & her 12 hens[.]
Raining
Snowing
11
15 . W .
•
*
i*
♦j
Father walked to Clinton to get B.Mar­
shall's writings done[.] Finished but­
ton-holes, sewed buttons on old shoes
& sewed slippers[.]
Blustery 18
16 . T . I [was] in Clinton P.M. Fine
Cold Wind
13
17 . F . Willie Scott[was]in A.M. Ag & I [were]
at Jane's [this] evening.] Ned [was]
in town [and] fetched our mail[.]
14
Fine, frosty
Sun Thaw
18 . S . Ned [was]in all day sawing with John[.
I] Cleaned [the] Hen-House[.I] have to
help with the chores every night[.]
19
19. S . Agnes & I [were] in Church(
McDonald-
Seaforth)[.] John walked up [to church
in the] even[ing.] Charlie's son born
(1st)[.]*
16
Soft Snowing
♦Frank Stewart
♦Frank Stewart
1893-1945
March, 1893 144
20. M. Ned [was] in [here] all day sawingf.]
Mother & I [drove to] Clinton in [the]
cutter[.1]started making bleached cotton
p[an]ts[.]
16
Cold Wind,Rain­
ing Even[ing]
21. T . [Ned still here sawing. 1} Helped move
move some peas on straw[.]
20
Thawing, Dull
22 . W. Mother [was] out at Jane’s for dinner[.]
Uncle James’
s Annie was here & at Glen's
P.M. Jno. [was] with Ned sawing[.]
21
Some snow
C.E. Wind
23. T . I [went to] Clinton in [the] cutter[.]
[John & Ned still sawing.]
15
Soft
24. F . Kate & Lizzie McTavish [were] here P.M. 19
[John & Ned still sawing.] Ned & Jno. Thawing, A
[were] in Clinton [this] even[ing.] Shower at noon
River floods
25. S. [I] Finis[hed]making drawers[.]Jane[was] 18
in P.M.Adam fetched the mail[.]Ida Stew- Frozen a little
art [was] at Glen’s P.M. Father [was] Dull
there [this] even[ing] for a little
while[.]
26. S. Jno.[was] in Church[this] even[ing.J Fa- 23
ther [was] at U[ncle] James’s[.] Fine, Frost
at night
27. M . [I]Made 3 towells & sewed at Mother *s 22
dress [. ] Father[was ]out at Mac's[.] ’
’
The
load” [landed] at Jane’s to-night[.]
William Glen’s colt died[.]
28. T. Mrs Bob Pearson & Jane [were here P.M. 24
[Mr] Tough [the] Assessor [was] here all
night[.]
29. W. [I] Finis[hed] making mother's print 20
dress(Dutch Elm)[.] Ida called[.]
30. T. Ned [was] sawing up [the] old house with 20
Jno.P.M.I[visited]at U[ncle] Ja[me]s['s] Thawed a lot
P.M. Jane fetched in [the news]papers Frost at night
this morning[.] Aunty [was] back A.M.
31. F .
1. S .
2. S .
Good Friday Aunty was up[.] Ag took out
A[unt] & [the news]papers to Jane in the
Jane in the buggy[.] I washed[.] Maggie
Cuming died3......... .
28
Snow went a
lot, Frost at
night
April, 1893
I [drove] in[to] Clinton [in the] bug- 30
gy P.M...[I was] at Aunty's [this] even- Fine
[ing] & Ag [was] at Jane’
s[.] Frozen
Agnes & I [were] in church(Stewart)[.] Fine 42
Father heard frogs[.] Snow show­
ers P.M.
3. M . Father went to Blythe to Maggie Cuming’s
funeral[.] I took him up [in the] morn-
[ning] & went for[him in the] even[ing.]
Rosy calved [this] morning & Fannie A.M.
Jno. & A[g were] at Isard’s dance[. I
heard the] Frogs singing[.]
4. T. [I was] With father A.M. measuring [a]
field[. I was] stitching [a] jacket[.]
Jane & Auntie [were] here P.M. & Tene &
Bell [in the] even[ing.] John is plowing
sod land
Rain A.M. 25
Fine, P.M.
warm showers
Thunder
H. Wind
Snow went
fast.
30
April, 1893 145
5. W.
6 . T .
7 . F .
8 . S .
9. S .
Agnes walked to Clinton[.] Ed[ward] Glen
Sr.[was here] P.M. [I] Set 2 Varna geese
[on] 22 eggs [and] 1 hen [on] 15 eggs[.]
[I] Was just ready for Clinton when
Carrie & Kitty arrrived. [I have been
making Button holes in Mother’s lilac
[dress.] I got my] 1st Turkey egg[.]
Jno. [has been] plowing old sod [in the]
field beside [the] barn these days[.]
Jack Parke, Adam [Stewart] & Jno. [were]
at Mac's[.] Jane was in P.M. stitching
[the] jacketf.] Mr Jno. Dunkin & [his]
Father [were] here [in the] even[ing.]
Father [was] in Brucefield for McIntosh
A.M. ([The] Young bull [is] sick[. He]
came P.M. Jno. [was] at [the] mill for
chop A.M. & in Clinton P.M. getting
’
'horse” shod[.] I [was] in Clinton P.M.
24
Dull,coolish
C[old] 35
E[ast]
Wind
26
Dull A.M.
Warm P.M.
High
c[old]
wind
29
A[gnes]& I[were]in church A.M (Stewart.) C. Wind 29
Jno. [went in the] even[ing.] asprinkle
of snow
10. M.
11 . T .
12 . W.
13 . T .
14. F.
15 . S .
16 . S .
I [went] in[to] Clinton P.M. [for a]
"Rooster” [which came] on the [1:30] ex-
press[. I paid] $2.00 express charges
(minus) 70 [cents for picking it up in
person[.] Jno. [is] plowing[.] McIntosh
[came this] even[ing.]
[Eleven o ’
clock]when I got in this morn­
ing & out early even[ing. I was] at
Aunty's [this] even[ing.]
[The] Glen’s had Mary at doctor for skin
disease[.] A[g] & I [were] at Jane's for
a little while [this] even[ing.]
30
Mother & Aunty [were] at Jane's
[was] in Clinton P.M.
P.M.
John [was] at[the] Brucefield Show [and]
got [a] 1st [prize] for horses. [I] set
[a] 2nd hen[.] Ja[ne],A[g] & I [were] at
the Debating Society's Entertainment
even[ing.]
[I] Stitched Mother's basques & mended
Fafther's] shirt[.I]Set[the]3rd goose[.]
A[g] & I [were] at Aunty's [this] even-
Dull
C. Wind
38
H.E. Wind
Dull
32
H.S.E. Wind
Rain at night
34
26
Dull & cold
Snowing....
[ing.]
Agnes & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[.]
Jno. walked [to the] even[ing service.]
Jessie Wigginton [was] here P.M. I [was]
at S[abbath] School[.]
17. M. [Jane & I were] in Clinton P.M.
Snowed 36
A.M. 2 or 3
in[ches]
Thawed [in] sun
31
C. Wind
Raining
27
C. Wind
Clear & Fine
18. T. U[ncle] Ja[me]s [was here] P.M. & for
tea[.] Mr G[eorge] Baird [was here] for
tea also[.] Aunty [came] up[.] [I] Set 3
hens with turkeys[.] [I] Took [a] hive
out of packing[. All the bees were]
dead[.]
24
Clear & Fine
Sun Warm
I
19. W
April, 1893 146
20 . T .
21. F .
22 . S .
23 . S .
24. M.
25 . T .
Winters,D.Ross & Harry Steep [were here]
for tea[.]Ross & [another manjwere after
potatoes[.] Agnes [was] at wigginton's
P.M. Jane [was] in P.M. at [the] bush
for flowers
[I] Finis[hed] Mother's lilac dress [The
heavy] wind blew [our] wood-shed about
2 1/2 [feet] aside & blew down [a] barn
door & [at] Ned’s place [it blew the]
roof off Robinson's* barnf.]
[I] Finis[hed]mother1s blue print basque
([the] 3rd one lately.) Fen[wick was] up
for[the]Gander[.] Jane fetched in[news]-
papers [this] morn[ing.] W[illiam] Glen
fetched more[in the] even[ing.] Ag [was]
at Glens P.M.
Father [was] at Mac's for dinner[.] With
Mac [he was] at the Martin's P.M. [and
they had tea at T[om] Frazer's[.]I [was]
at Aunty's P.M. Ned [stopped] in on his
way to [the Robertson] barn[.]
A[g] & I [were] in Church(Stewart.) [We]
lost [a] bolt out of [the] whiffeltree
coming home[.]
Fa[ther] & Jno. [are] putting [up] some
fences[.] Jno. [was] plowing P.M.I made
[a] print case for my comfortables[♦]
[I] Washed & Ironed[.] Agnes scrubbed
Jno.'s stair[.]Agnes & I [were]at Jane’s
[in the] even[ning.]
33
30
very very
windy, Rain
ing too
Windy, 27
Raining &
Snowing
23
Rain &
Snow
C. Wind 23
Some Snow
Dull 28
C. Wind 24
Fine
26 W. D. Ross [was] paying for potatoes[.] I H.C.Wind 14
[was] Mending an old smock for John[.] Raining
[I] Cleaned [the] Henhouse[.] A[g] swept
Mother’s room and hall[.]
27. T. [I] Cleaned wheat with Jno. A.M. Jno. in 24
Clinton P.M. for flour[.] We got Belle's H.C. Wind
photos & letterf.]
5 [I] set [a] hen [in
the] Hforse] Stable[. I was] at Aunty’s
[in the] even[ing.]
28 . F . Jane & I [were] in Clinton P.M. Mac(C) Windy 2 9
Aunty [was] up[.] Some Warmer
29. S. McTavishes [called] in for [the] scrap- C. Wind 19
er[.] Fa[ther] was over at Trick's [and] Fine
1 was at Ned’s[.]
30. S. A[g] & I [were] in Church(Mr Hunt-McDon- 20
aid's assistant [in] Seaforth.)Stayed at Warmer
Ned's [after church.] I got [ajsheep on Raining P,M.
her back. Ned[was here]in[the]even[ing.] evening
1. M.
2 . T .
May, 1893
[A] lamb died[.I] stitched Mother’s blue Warm & 28
& yellow skirt[.]Jane [was]in P.M. Harry Showery
[Diehl] & Jno. caught 4 suckers P.M. &
[Jno. caught 2 at night.] 1st ones [this
year.]
Fafther] & Jno. moved [the] wood-shed
back[. I] stitched mother's cashmere
skirt[.]
Colder 20
Dull....
May, 1893 147
3. W. [I stitched Mother's] Basque etc. Fa- 17
ther mended [the] gate at [the] barn[.] Sunshiny &
Jno. [did the] 1st. sowing P.M. Mamie, Warm
Bessie & Eddy Glen [were] here A.M.
[while] Lizzie [was] in Clinton[.]
4. T. Jane took their sheep down & visited 22
Aunty P.M. I [was] in Clinton P.M. Mrs C. N. Wind
Glen Sr had a stroke[.] Ned & Jane were
up all night[.]
U[ncle] Ja[me]s's Annie [was here] P.M. 33
Nannie called [this] even[ing - She had
been] at Glen's helping Lizzie make over
[a] dress[.] Some of the cows [were]
away all night[.]
Father [went A.M. in the buggy] with 2 Clear 20
bags of grain for chop[. I] Took "Dolly"
out for Ned & Jane to go to his mo­
ther’s[. I] finis[hed] Mother’s skirt[.]
7. S, A[g] & I [were] in church(Stewart)[.] 21
Jno. [went in the] even[ing.] Ada [was] Good Wind
at S[abbath] S[chool.] Beautiful
8. M. Father walked to Clinton [and] got 2 25
teeth filled[. I] Took Dolly out for Nice & Warm
Jane to go to Clinton [this] even[ing]
to stay all night[.]
9. T. Jno. went out for Doll for Father to go 22
to Blake to the mason's for grape- Beautiful &
vines[. He] bought 2 pigs[.] The cows Warm
[were] all out all night[.]
10. W. Father [was] in Clinton [with the] bug- 22
gy[. He] left the horse with Jane [up- Nice & Warm
on his return] to go to Clinton [at]
night[. I] finis[hed] Mother’s cashmere
dress, all but [the] overcasting[. I
was] cleaning oats P.M.
5. F .
6. S .
11. T . [The] Glen’s [were] in Clinton[;] Mary &
Bessie [stayed] here[. A] sheep lambed Rained
- [she] had, I think, [a] ewe[.] Mary little
foaled - [she had] (this is right) [a] little
filly[.] J[ane] & A[g] etc. [are] mak­
ing a factory corset cover[.]*
30
a
a
cooler
*The 3 sisters have a production line making
"unmentionables" for Jane’s trousseau.
12. F. At sheep all P.M. dagging and feet[.] 21
A[g] & I washed [the] buggy at Smith's
river[.] Jno. & Ned [have] gone to look
for pigs by Varna[.] They got 4 - 2 for
Will[iam Glen.]
13. S. Jno. finis[hed] sowing [this] even[ing.] 27
[I]finis[hed the] waist, all but part of Rainy
[the] lace. Jno. got [a] fish last night
[at] Adam’sf.]
14. S.
15 . M.
A[g] & I [were] in Church(stewart)[.]Jno.
[went in the] even[ing.]Ada & Lily[Stew­
art were] in S[abbath] S[chool.]
Fa[ther], Jno.,Ag & Mamie [were] washing
sheep [in the] river P.M. W[illiam] Glen
[was]at Ben Miller for[a] spruce tree[.]6
Mrs Dunkin [was] here P.M. A[g] & I[were]
out at Jane's [this] even[ing.]
Misty 21
Fine P.M.
Fine 2 6
C.N. Wind
May, 1893 148
16. T. Fa[ther] A[g] & Jno.[were] picking stones Misty & 18
all day[.] I [joined them] P.M. Scruton & Cold,Wind
F. Carling [were] here trying to buy & Rain
lambs[. We kept the] milch cows in to­
night[.]
17. W . [I was] Out at D[uncan] McEwen's to see 26
about getting oats[.] Fa[ther was] at Cold Wind
U[ncle] Ja[me]s's A.M.Jno. [was] at [the] & Rain
mill P.M. with chop [and] fetched [some]
lumber home[.]
18. T. Mac’s (C) Father [was] at[the] mill for 25
chop and got a long ladder[.]Jno.[was] at C.tf. Wind
Brucefield to see about oats[.The] Colts Fine
were out all night(I think)[.]Fitzsimmons
was here [and] bought lambs[.]
19. F. Father went to Clinton with Mac[this]mor- 21
ning[. I] Planted Onions, Beans & Corn[.] Fine &
Jno. Thompson [was here] for dinner [and] Warm
bought a billy[.]
20. S. Jane & I [were] in Clinton[. I] Got Dolly 25
shod[.] Jimmy Dunkin [came] for eggs [and
stayed] for dinner[.] Wiley [was] around
[in the] even[ing.]
21. S. A[g] & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[.] Jno. 16
up with Adam etc.
22. M. [I] Aired feather-ticks etc.A.M. Ned,Jane 23
& Mamie washed their sheep P.M........ I
planted 4 rows[of] potatoes[in the] even­
ting.]
23 . T . A[g] & I planted 1 row [of] potatoes[.]
[Two] pedler[s] called[- one representing
the] Chatham Fanning-mill[Company and the
other]Home Comfort Steel Range[s.I] darn­
ed socks [and I] hemmed Jane ’s print
frills & put one on r
a
y brown print[.]A[g]
ironed P.M. [and] I [did] some too[.]
18
Raining &
Windy
24. W. A[g] & I planted 8 rows [of] potatoes A.M. 28
[and] Fa[ther]& [planted 9 more] P.M.A[g] C. Wind
& Jane, Bell & Mag[gie] McEwen [were] at Fine
[the] river P.M..........
25. T. I planted 10 1/4 rows[of] Carrots and op- 20
ened one[.I planted] 4 l/4[rows of mangos C.tf. Wind
P.M. Fa[ther] & A[g] opened rows & cover- Threatening
ed[.] Jno.Diehl [came] here [this] even- Rain. Fine
[ing and] bought 3 shearlings[.]
26. F. Mother & I [were]in Clinton[. John Diehl 20
was here] for sheep [and] got 4[.]I plan- Some Rain
ted 16 rows [of] Mangols A.M. & opened a
little [and] Ag planted 3 3/4 [rows] P.M.
[Cousin] Ida [was] here P.M. & [The] Rev.
[Mr] Stewart called[.]
27. S. Father & I shore 10 sheep(Fa[ther] shore 26
2 of them alone)[.] Ag [was] at U[ncle] Dull, Misty
Ja[me]s’s P.M.
28. S. Ag & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[.] Jno.21
walked [to church in the] even[ing[.] C. Wind,Fine
29. M. Mary Glen started school[.] Fa[ther] & I
shore 10 sheep[.] Fa[ther] & Jno. & Mac Nice
[were] down[this] even[ing]with Ned[Glen] Rain
taking down [Robertson’s] shed[.]7
23
30. T .
31. W.
1. T .
2. F .
3 . S .
4. S.
5 . H.
6 . T .
7. W.
8. T .
9. F.
10 . S .
11 . S .
12 . M.
May, 1893 14 9
[Father & Mac were back at the Robertson 29
place] with Ned [this] morning[. Father Fine & Nice
A.M. and I shore] 7[sheep] P.M.Jane [was]
in P.M.stitching [her] dress[.] Jno.[was]
in Clinton with 8 bags [of] potatoes[.]
Fa[ther] & I shore 7 sheep A.M.[and] l[in 21
the] evenfing and] finis[hed shearing.[.]
Mr & Mrs A.Dunkin & Pearl [were] here P.M.
I put away furs to-day & finis[hed] rak-
[the] door yard[.]
June, 1893
Fafther], A[g] & I Planted 13 rows [of] 21
turnips A.M.Fa[ther] & Jno.[were]fencing Warm
P.M. [at] Rathwell's bush fence[.] Mac's Showery P.M.
girls [were here] in [the] evenfing.]
Frank Shore[was]here about Advocate ads[.]8 * , 18
Ag S
t Janefwere] in Clinton P.M. [We moved Fine &
stoves and cleaned pipes-our's and] Aun- Warm
ty’s[.]Fa[ther] & Jno.[are]fencing below Showers
[the] old house at [the] road[.]
[I] Set 4 hives [of] Bees out of chaff & Very Warm 24.
washed 2 bee-boxes[.] & Fine. H. Rain
P.M. & even[ing.]
A[g] S
t I [were] in Church(Stewart)..... Fine &21
....Mrs Glen died[.]9 Warm, Dull P.M.
. *i v
t
j : . '
,
*
?-
*
■
• *
«
,
. r'
* m *
A[g] washed[.] I house-cleaned my room Dull, 22
[and]Bella’s & Cleaned[the]Hen-house[.] Very Warm
Father & Mother[were]at Mrs [Elizabeth]
Glen's funeral P.M. Bessie [Glen was]
here[.]
Buchanan [in connection with the] Stock
Journal ad came for tea & [stayed] all
night[.]Jno.& he [were] at Wigg[inton's
this] even[ing.] -Jno. [was] in Clinton
P.M.[attending] fair day[.]Fa[ther was]
harrowing summer-fallow[.]
Fine,dull 17
Cold evening
17
Fine, cold
I [was] helping Jane P.M. [to get ready 18
for the barn-]raising* [this] even[ing.]
Fa[ther was]at Dunkin's with Buchanan[.] Fine & Warm
Tene Baird & Tene McEwen [were here] P.M.
Albert Wise & wife & kid called [this]
even[ing.]
*1 think salvage from the Robertson barn
is being assembled and raised as a third
bay on the east end of Ned's barn on Lot 31-3.
Jane & I [were] in Clinton P.M. [The] 31
McQueen'
s1° [are] at Glen's[.] Fa[ther very Warm
was] harrowing and gang-ploughing P.M. & windy
Fa[ther] & Jno. [were] in Clinton with 18
[a] steer for Fitzsimons[.] Fa[ther] & I Heavy Rain
sowed all 5 rows of turnips P.M. Jno. all
[worked]at[the] fence P.M.[I] finis[hed] Saturday
cutting out [a] print dress[.]
Agnes & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[.] 31
Jno.[went in the] evenfing. J.C.Gilroy’s. Fine & Warm
J.W. Jarvis’s & Lawyer Scott's baby’s(sic)
[were] baptized[.]
Father started mowing[the] lawn[for the] 22
1st time [this year. It was pretty] near Fine,
hay[. The] Spys we kept [are] all going Very Warm
to rot[.] (We made jeus(sic) of some[.])
Wigg[inton was here] P.M, [The] two pump
men [stayed for tea[.] A[g] & I [were]
at the school[house] picking library
books [this] even[ing.]
June, 1893 150
13. T . I washed, A[g] washed her print dress... 15
swept upstairs[.] Fine & Warm
14. W. Kitchen & Jim Swan [were here] for din- 15
ner[.] I washed P.M. A[g] & I were pick­
ing [potato] bugs all A.M..... A[g was]
visiting Mrs Nott & Ellie Cairns P.M.
15. T. [Ag & I picked bugs A.M. ] Jane & Tene 17
[were here] in [the] evening[*] Mac's Fine &
fetched our papers[.] very warm
16. F. [X] Sewed the band on [a] skirt & made 3 16
frills[.] Fitzsimmons[came] after a lamb. Fine & very
(1st one)[.]Ag[and I] ironed[and I kill- warm A.M.
ed 2 roosters[.] Heavy Rain &
Hail P.M.
17 . S .
18 . S
Father went to Clinton to meet Bella(re­
turning from Ottawa.) [Father] took wool
........ Jno. [was away] at road work[.]
13
Fine & Warm
19. M.
20. T.
Father & Mother [were] in Church(Smyth -
Methodist) [.]Jno. & Fen[wick went in the] Very Warm
even[ing](Houston - School Teacher.) Tom
Wigg[inton] & Ernest West[were here] P.M.
A[g] & I picked bugs A.M. & part of P.M.
Father [was away] at road-work all day
[and] Jno. [was] fencing[.]
8
[Father was at road work] A.M. Fa[ther &
Jno.[were] hauling manure P.M. I[was] in
Clinton P.M.
19
Very,Very Warm
21. W.
23 . F
24. S
[I worked] at [my] dress all day [and I] 17
finis[hed] putting frills on [the] rain last
skirt[.Father and John were hauling man- night & in
ure] all day[.] morning. Very
very warm in even-
[ing.]
22 . T . A[g] & I [were] picking bugs A.M.[Father
and John hauled manure all day.] Bella
[was] at school P.M. Kitchen [was] let­
ting [roadwork] jobs [this] even[ing.]
Jane & I [were] in Church P.M.(Carriere-
Grand Bend)[.]Fa[ther] & Jno.[were]haul­
ing manure all day[.]
10
Dull & cool
a little rain
Warmer
A[g] & I picked bugs P.M,
29
13
A little Dull,Warm
25. S. Fa[ther],Mother & I [were] in Church [in
the] morn[ing] (Proffessor] Gregg)[. I]
went with Ned & Jane, Jno. & Bella [in
the] evenfing.]
.
1 ’ "
■* ,f *v’
2 i - .‘ k *
•
* ■
*
''
*
«
. *.
26. M. [Father and I were]weeding roots all day
[and we] planted some cabbage[.] Jno.
scuffled all the roots & potatoes[.] Fa-
[ther] & Jno.[were] at[the] manure [for]
part A.M.
27. T. A[g] & I [worked] at [the] roots all day
[and] Fa[ther helped] P.M. [after] put­
ting out manure A.M.
Fine & warm
a little
rain even[ing.]
25
Fine,
cool wind
Fine
28. W. [Two] Hives swarmed & returned[.]Fa[ther 8
was] at [the] mill P.M. A[g] worked at Cool Morn-
roots all day[.] Jane went to Clinton & [ing], Fine
I stayed there to get dinner ready[.]
7
9
9
June, 1893 151
29. T . Fa[ther] & Ag dipped 35 Iambs [and] I 8
[worked] at[the] roots[.] Chickens [are] Fine & Warm
coming out [and] hives swarmed[.] Hearn
& a government man[were] here looking at
[the] bull[.]
30. F. Fa[ther], A[g] & I [worked] at roots[.] 9
(Fa[ther]just finis[hed] the potatoes{.]
July, 1893
1. S. Fa[ther] & A[g] finis[hed] dipping 8
lambs[.] Jno. [was] in Bayfield P.M. I Fine
stayed in all day & finished making[the]
print dress[.]
2. S. Jno. & A[g] [were] in Church(Stewart)[.] 7
Mac's (C) Fine & Warm
Pouring Rain [in] even[ing.]
3. M. I [worked] at roots with Fa[ther] all 14
day[.] Fitz[simmons was here]after lambs Cool & Fine
today (I think)[.] Mac's (C)
4. T. [Ag, Father and I worked all day at 9
roots[.] Father was in Clinton P.M. &
took Jane with him[. They] got Blankets,
etc. *
♦Jane by now is three months pregnant.
5. W. Fa[ther],A[g] & I finis[hed] weeding car- 12
rots A.M. & started on [turjnips & [were] a little rain
at them P.M.Jno.[was] in Clinton & Bruce-
field [in the] evenfing.]
6. T. At roots all day[.](I did not write these 14
days at the time so I might have made a A shower at
mistake)[.] noon
7. F. Fafther], A[g] & I [were] weeding turnips 13
A.M.[We started] at hay P^M. [and] hauled Fine
in 1 load[.] Jno. [is working] at summer-
fallow these days[.]
8. S. Fa[ther] & I [were] weeding nips all day 11
[and have] finis[hed]weeding roots[.]A[g] Very Warm
scrubbed A.M. & pulled & canned cherries Windy
at [the] old house P.M. cold even[ing]
9. S, A[g],Bella & I[were]in Church(Stewart)[.] 9
...... Bees swarmed[.] cold cold wind
hS ,ov: h i *£ 1 \ i.r t> •:
10. M. Jno. took off [the] load & hauled in all 12
day with [the] grey stallion [for the] 1st Fine,cool wind
time[.He] Hauled in 5 loads of hay[while]
I [did the] raking with "Old Kate"[. The]
w[est] hive swarmed[.]
11. T. [We hauled in 6 loads of hay.]Father[was] 13
in Brucefield to see if[the new hay] load- Fine & Warm
er came[.] Mac’s & Ag[were] at Glen’s [in
the] evenfing.J Jno. took Bella to Varna
[this] even[ing] for Bayfield tomorrow[.]
12. W. [We] Hauled in 7 loads[.] Jno. [was] in 8
Clinton this even[ing. The] Hive that Very,Very Warm
swarmed on [the] 9th swarmed [again.]
13. T. Ag & I went to Goderich [to the] Prebby- 7
Methodist Picnic[.We] left [the] horse in showers P.M.
Clinton[.]Aunty helped Mother[this] even- Heard Thunder
[ing.] Bella [came] home [in the] even­
ting.]
July, 1893 •iL 152
14. F .
15 . S .
16. S .
17 . M.
18 . T .
19. W.
20 . T .
21. F .
22 . S .
23 . S .
24. M.
25. T.
26. W.
[I] cut out [a] light delaine skirt with .
-
t r 14
flower[.]Jane [was] in P.M. [We were]put- Fine &
ting up hay after IV P;M. Parke's [are] very Warm
at Glen’s[.]
Aunty & I [were] in Clinton[. I Got Dolly 12
shod [and] I got 2 front teeth filled[. Heavy Rain
I was] putting up hay [in the] even[ing.] Fine & very
warm
£
?I VJ I
#
Bella & I [were] in Church(Stewart)][.] 14
Jno.[went in the] even[ing.] A[g] had [a]
sty & sore lip[.] 1 <
,i
! ; \ -
j i' - . ■
[We] Hauled in 7 loads [of hay. I] raked 13
it up with Kate[.] Fitz[simmons was here] Fine & Warm
for [a] lamb[.]
? M
[We hauled in 5 loads. I raked where the 12
windrows were[.] Swan [was] here telling a little
[us that the] loader [had] arrived[.] cooler
C
i ’
i
*
~ 1 •S v
.
r
.
o
r
.
i
n
.LP.;
:
: ' -
i [ j*;5b
Fa[ther was] in Clinton A.M. for twine 43
[from the] Central Prison[.] Mac went for
[the] loader & [it was] used P.M. Father
& Jno. moved to the shanty field *[and]
Hauled in 1 load [in the] even[ing. I
r
]
greened potatoes A.M. & P.M. [We]
jg \.
.
o■
»
; j .I v
?
o
. vd Oi.0«h
[We] Hauled 3 loads with [the hay] loader 17
1st shanty field P.M. Father [was] mow- Very Warm
ing A.M. [in the]field next shanty[.]S[am] even[ing]
Cooper [was here] all night to bore (sic)
1adder[.]
[Father] finis[hed] mowing in field next 12
shanty. We] Hauled in 4 loads [-] all of Fine & Warm
Shanty field[.] Jule [was] in for"Dolly."
Mother [was] in Clinton with Jane P.M.
. i -
■ j .v. i' . , x 1 ty-1/?6 * * 1
[We]finis[hed] hayingf.]Hauled in 7 loads 13
[including]all [the] last field & what was Very Windy
left in [the] Rathwell [place.] I raked A.M. Sprinkle
with Mary(imported)[.] of rain P.M.
rib e t.’-n y - mh *
, | • y i - Y - i -
P
-i * €, ,
A[g] & I [were] in Church(Bayfield Hen* 14
derson)[.] Jno. [went in the] even[ing.] Very3dusty
Old Innis died[today.]H The "Master"[is]
away at[the] Chicago World's Fair[.]* Fa-
[ther was] at Wigg[inton's.]
* It was a settled convention in the. neighbour­
hood that George Baird would pen the obituaries
in*the. weekly New Era.The obituary for John’In-
nes,which would normally have appeared in the
New Era on July 27,appears a week later on Aug­
ust 3. 1
( . ’:•
•.
‘
T, 1 iiv. d ~ l ,! v - / {v/
Father [was] in Clinton A.M. [We started] 9
Cutting wheat[.] Fa[ther] A[g] & I [were] Fine, Windy j
stooking P.M. A[g] picked our first Rasp- Slight Shower
[berrie]s A.M.
Father & I [were] at [the Innes] funeral 9
[and] went [in the procession] as far as Warm & Windy
Clinton[. We] finis[hed stooking the
wheat] A.M. * . 1
Hauled in 4 loads of wheat P.M. Rid barn 14
& took off [last] hay load before[.] Fa- Fine &
ther [was] hoeing roots[.] Mrs A. McMur- Very Windy
chie [was] here A.M. collecting [money]
for [the Rev. Mr] Stewart’s present[.]*
*Celebrating 15 years as Willis Church's minister.
July, 1893 153
10
27. T. [We] Hauled in 9 loads of wheat(all but
the rakings)[.] Carrie & Jennie [Grant Fine
were] here [this] even[ing] for [the la­
dy's side-]saddle.*Uncle Ja[me]s's girls
[were] at Jane's [this] even[ing.]
28. F. Fa[ther] & Jno. took [the] bull [to the] 14
station A.M. Fa[ther] brought [the] bug- Fine & Cool
gy[.] I raked [the] stubble A.M. & Jno. Rain evenfing]
& I hauled in[the gleanings] & put[them]
off etc. P.M.
29 . S .
30 . S .
Father [was] at [the] mill with chop for 9
pigs[.] Jno. & Fen[wick took] wheat[.] Fine
I washed & ironed[.]
[The] Rev. Robert Craig [was]at S[abbath] Fine & Warm
S[chool. The] Master [is] back [from
Chicago.]
31. M. Jno.hauled rails for machine A.M. I held16
them [while he sawed them] P.M. [We] put
in sheep to label lambs[.]
August, 1893
1. T. I [was] labelling lambs A.M.[and] making 43
at delaine dress P.M. Woon was here ask- Fine & Warm
ing [for] threshing hands[.]Jno. & Bella
[have] gone to Varna to [a] garden party
[this] even[ing.]
2. W. I [was] cleaning grist A.M. Jno., Mother 12
& I went to Clinton [in the] buggy with Nice cool
grist & wool P .M .[Everything was closed breeze
for] Civic Holiday [and we] had to re­
turn[.]
3 . T . Father [took in the grist and the wool]
A.M. Jno. [was] at D[uncan] McEwen's
threshing all day[.]Mother & I [were] in
Clinton P.M. Jim Swan [was] here[.]
10
Very Warm
& dry
4. F. Jno. [was] at Woon’s threshing A.M. & 26
Mac’s P.M. Father[was] at Mac's P.M.till
Jno. came[.I was] out at Jane's [in the]
morn[ing]........ [and] made 2 jells P.M.
Wigg[inton] & Jno. Plewes* [came] for
dinner[.] Aunty went to Green's[.]
5 . S .
6. S .
* John Plewes was the first owner of Lot 31 (3).
He moved north to Goderich Township to a small
20-acre plot on the south-east corner of the
Bayfield Road and the 16th[.]
[We were] Threshing P.M. [We had] 15 men 11
for supper, our own included[. Perdue's] Rain even[ing]
Took [the] machine to the McTavish'esf.]
Fitz[simmon's] son [came] for [a] lamb
[in the] even[ing.]
A[g] & I [were]in Church[thisJ morn[ing] 27
(Stewart)[.] Jno. & Bella [went in the] Cold Wind
even[ing. The] Green's & Wigg[inton's
[were] at Glen’s[.]
7. M. [We were] Cutting peas all day in [the] 16
old sod field beside [the] barn[. Ned] Cool Wind
Glen [was here] for tea[.]
8. T. [We were cutting peas all day.] Ufncle] 23
Ja[me]s [came] for dinner[.]Mother[was] Warm
at [Uncle James’s] P.M.
9. W.
10. T.
11. F.
12 . S .
13 . S .
14. H.
August, 1893 154
[We] finis[hed cutting peas] at 17
5 o'clock[.]
[We were] Cutting oats all day.A[g] & I 22
[were] stocking[.] Father has a boil on Very Warm
[the] back of [his] neck[.]
[We finis[hed] cutting [the] field of
oats & hauled in 3 loads of peas[.
We had] Jim Swan & [another] gent for
dinner[.] Bella went to Grant's P.M.
&
[We finished cutting the last two fields
of oats. The] Wind last night twisted &
threshed [the] peas badly[.] Fa[ther]
turned some peas & set up stooks[.]
A[g] & I[were]in Church[this] morn[ing] 26
(Acheson Kippen)[.] Jno. & [George] Cold Wind
Stickley [went in the] even[ing.] Ada
[Stewart] got [a] ride home with us.
([She]was all night at Whittingham’s[.]
[We] Hauled in 6 loads of peas[.] Cool Wind 16
23
Warm Rain
early even-
ling] Poured
H[igh] Wind
29
Cool Wind
15. T. [We hauled in 4 loads of peas and two 13
of oats[.] One of the oat-loads had a Nice
forkful of peas on[it.We are] Finis[hed
the] peas [-] 13 [loads of] peas & [a]
forkful altogether[.] Father [was] in
Clinton [this] even[ing.]
16. W.
17. T.
18. F .
[We] Hauled in 3 1/2 loads of oats[. Mr] 15
Sturdy [came] for dinner & Jack McDonald Dull Rain
for tea[.] Middle P.M. &
even[ing]
A[g] & Bella [were] in Clinton P.M. [I] 16
Cut out the Delaine Basque & Cleaned out Dullish, Nice
[the] Hen-House[.]
[We] Hauled in 2 loads of oats[. I] Basted' 24
[the] basque together and up[.] [A] Hedge- Heavy Rain
fence canvasser [stayed] for tea[.]* P.M. Fine
P.M. <
5 even[ing]
*Up until the 1820’s priests school
teachers of the poverty-stricken Catholic
majority of British-ruled Ireland kept Gaelic
alive by holding school in the shelter of
hedge rows. These schools were widely looked upon
as subversive of authority and of progress by
the Ulster Scots-Irish protestants and were alluded
to with contempt. The pro-British, anti-Catholic
viewpoint was sustained by the oral tradition in the
MacFarlane John Stewart and James Stewart households,
and was almost never alluded to in writing. It is not
clear just who the canvasser represented - a marginal
protestant sect or perhaps Roman - Catholic sep­
arate school supporter seeking largesse from the
wider community.
19. S. Bella went to Bayfield with Ned, Jane & 19
Tene McE[wen for the] 2nd [Concession]’s Fine & Cool
picnic [.* I] Sawed wood with Jno., Rid
upstairs in [the] woodshed, made jelli-
cake etc. * The Baird’s School community spirit was such
that the tradition of having area picnics persist­
ed right up to the late 1950’ The first one would
be on Dominion Day in Innes1s Grove or McGreg­
or’s bush. The second one would be mid-August.
As transport became faster and cheaper, Bayfield
became the favourite site. I recall that the
1957 picnics were well attended. But in the next
10 years, rural de-population, closing the school
house and the move to larger capital-intensive
farms gradually killed off the tradition[.]
August, 1893 155
20. S. A[g] & I [were] in Church [this] morn- 34
[ing] (Stewart) [. Jno. & Fen[wick went in Fine & Cool
the] even[ing[.] Showery P.M.
21. M. Father walked to Clinton[.] Ag washed[.]
[I] sewed hooks & eyes on [the] basque &
fittedf.] A[lex.] Innis & [John] Avery
[
were] here [this] even[ing.]*
*See footnote No. 4.
22 . T .
23 . W.
24 . T .
25 . F.
26. S.
27 . S .
28 . M.
29. T
30. W.
31. T.
1 . F.
2 . S .
[We] Hauled in 8 loads [of] oats[.] a little warmer 37
[We hauled in 3 loads of oats and]finis­
hed the] Harvest[.] Father wentto
Brucefield [for] the new cultivator[.]
Jno. [has] gone [to a] party [at] S[am]
Rathwell’s[.]
[Father was] at [the] mill with chop[.]
[Father] & I milked sheep A.M. Jim Swan
[was here] for tea[.]
Ag & Bella went to [John Thompson’s]
(the mason). Father [was] in Clinton[.]
Father [went] for chop[. I hurt the] top
of my thumb poking at[a] dress thistle &
[I had a] tooth-ache P.M.
22
Very warm
23
24
A[g] & I [were]in Church(Stewart)[.] Jno. 21
[went in the] even[ing.] Rain Rain
Jno. [was] sowing wheat P.M. [I found it 15
a] nuisance working at [the] dress with Heavy Rain A.M.
[a sore] thumb[.] Bella [was] at [the]
school P.M. Tene & Jno.McEwen[came over]
in [the] even[ing.]
Father & I [were] in Clinton midday[. We
received the] 1st[lot of game bird] fea- Very cold
thers from ujncle] Jno. [MacFarlane] in N. Wind
Scotland[.]12 i ironed P.M. T[om] Wigg-
[inton is] helping Glen's paper spare
rooms[.]
Mother & I [were] in Clinton P.M. Sandy
Ross S
c Ada[Stewart came] for dinner[.I] Pleasant
Killed [the] 1st rooster for dinner[.]
Jennie Grant [came] P.M. & [stayed] all
night[.]
[I was] Working at [the] basque[.I]pre­
served egg plumbs[.] (sic) [I] milked
sheep etc.[in the] even[ing.]Jane [was]
in P.M.stitching [her] blue print wrap­
per[.]Annie & Ida [Stewart were] up [in
the] evenfing] with [a] gander[.]
September, 1893
Father & Mother[have]gone to Varcoe’s[.]
A[g] churned & I baked bread & buns Fine,
[ing]
Father & Mother [were] at Andrews [and]
returned [in the] even[ing.]Ag walked to
Clinton P.M.
46
21
22
33
Rain even-
& night
20
3. S. Father & Mother [were] in Church(Stew- 24
art)[.] Jno. & Adam [went in the even-
ing[.] Bella & I [were] in S[abbath] Cool & pleasant
S[chool.] Ag [has] boils on [her] face
these days[.]
September, 1893 156
4. M.
5 . T .
6. W.
7 . T.
Bella & I [were] in Clinton[.] Bella
[was] getting dresses fixed[.] Father
started digging the foundation under
[the] wood-shed[.]
Father & Bella [were] in Clinton A.M. [I
was] making[a] frill for[the] delaine[.]
G[eorge] Sturdy ([who came] after [a]
Billy) & Cox[stayed] for dinner[.] Smith
[was here] for tea[.]
37
Fine & Warm
24
Jno. & Bella [were] in Clinton
even[ing] for [her] dressesf.]
[this] 20
Cold E. Wind
Jno. took Bella to [the] station enroute 27
for No. 5 S.S. Colborne[.]* [I]Made Bel- Rain H. Wind
la's shopping bag[.] A[g] made jelly Fine P.M.
(apples)[.]
* Bella’s first teaching job is in a
rural one-room school house, School Section #5,
Colborne Township. The township is directly north
of Goderich Township, the boundary being the
Maitland River.
8. F.
9. S .
10. S.
11. M.
[I] made [a] frill for [the] basque and
stitched the one on [the] skirt etc. Fa­
ther walked to Clinton A.M. Jno. [was]
trimming a lamb P.M. & Fa[ther]plowed[.]
[X] finished[the] delaine dress & mended
Jno.’s shirt,P[an]ts & braces[.I] helped
Father fix sheeps' feet[.] Father [went]
to Clinton shipping a lamb to Jno. Junor.
21
Fine & Cool
30
Warmer
Jno. & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[.]Jno. 23
[went again in the] even[ing.] Jno. & I Fine &
[were] in S[abbath] S[chool.] very warm
[I]pasted starch over comfortable & part- 22
ly scraped[the] cellar[.]* T. Dunkin [was Windy
here] for dinner[.] F[ather] & Jno. [have
been] plowing & putting some shingles on
[the] barn & [they] put [a] ring in [the]
bull etc.
12. T. A[g] & Ada[Stewart]went to Fergueson's[.] 22
I took them to Snell's corner[.] Jno. Windy & Warm
[Thompson* came] for tea[.He has] gone to
[William] Glen’s to floor [the] stable[.]
[I continued] scraping [the] cellar A.M.
* Stone mason John Thompson of Blake - he was the
MacFarlane's mason of choice and a good friend.
William Glen has raised his barn to put stables
under it. Ned would do the same 1899-1900.
13 . W.
14 . T .
[I] Finis[hed] scraping [the] cellar[.My]
tooth [is] aching[.] One Armed Armstrong
called(peddling fruit trees[.]
25
[I] Killed & picked 8 roosters A.M. I 20
[was]in Clintton P.M. with them[.]* Jno. Very Warm &
Thompson [was] over [in the] even[ing.] Windy
* to sell
15. F. I washed mine own & 5 pairs of socks[.] Very Warm 20
& Dull,Smokey
16. S. [I] Peeled apples for pies etc. j^.M. [I] 18
ironed,scrubbed, picked apples pears[.] Raining
[I gave Jno. Thomson [a] p[ai]r of chick- Showery
ens[.] Fa[ther was] in Clinton A.M. Jno. Very Windy
hauled [a] load of sand[.]
September, 1893 157
17. S. Jno. & I [were] in Church(Hamilton 2 5
Londesboro)[.] Jno [went in the even[ing] Calm
with N[ed] & J[ane. John and I were in]
S[abbath] S[chool.]
18. M. [I] Washed kitchen windows, blacked [the] 20
stove etc. Father [was] in Clinton A.M. Raining Morn-
for lime & cement[.] Jno. [has been haul- [ing]f Fine
stones to [the] wood-shed[.]
19. T. I went over to Glen's P.M. with Aunty[.I] 19
Scalded [the] hen-house P.M. Ada & Ag re- Rain
turned P.M. Geo.0.Sturdy [was] here [and] Very Windy
bought 2 shearlings[.]
20. W. Father went to London Fair[. He] got [a] 19
ride to Bruce[field] with Mac'sf.] A[g] Fine
washed[and]Mother & Aunty[were] at Jane's Very Windy
P.M. I white-washed [the] hen-house[.]Jno.
went to Sturdy’s*for Goderich tomorrow[.]
♦Sturdy1s had a farm on the north
side of the Huron Road, between Clinton
and Goderich, near the junction of the
IX-X Concession Road, Goderich Township
21. T. Father walked to Clinton[.I] started cut- 18
ting out [a] dress[.] Jno [Thomson was Nice, Windy
here] all night[.] Sprinkled
22. F. Mother & I[were]in Clinton A.M. Jno.Thom- 10
son [is] here building under the wood- Beautiful
shed[.]
23. S. I walked to Clinton P.M. [John Thomson is 19
still working on the shed foundation.]
24. S. A[g] & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[.] 16
Cold Wind
25. M. I[was]in Clinton P.M. Mr & Mrs Levi Trick 45
& Miss Bertha Andrews [were here in the] Very C. Wind
even[ing.The] Master [was] in [at]noon[.]
Jno. [was] trimming sheep[.] Father made
[a] box [in which] to ship [a] lamb[.]
26. T . [I] Took Fa[ther]up to Coat1s road [this] 28
morn[ing. He] went as [a] judge to Exeter C. Wind
fair[.] Jno. went to town [in the] even- Fine & nice
[ing.]Mr Greaves([a] poultry judge),[was]
here all night[.]
27. W. Farther], Jno.,A[g] & I [were] at Clinton 33
fair[. We] took cattle,sheep & hens [and] Fine & pleas-
Ned took sheep up[.} ant
28. T. Fa[ther] & Jno. [were] at Wigg[inton's] 35
threshing P.M. Jessie [Wigginton was here Fine C. Wind
this] morn[ing.I] held[the] wood for[the] Light showers
machine[.]* I [was]in Clinton P.M. & sent even[ing]
father back to ship the lamb[*] W. Frost
♦Jessie Wigginton came over probably to
get a wagon-load of sawed up fence rails
to feed the steam threshing engine that
afternoon. Eliza held the rails while her
father or John or both sawed some up. (
July 31st entry above.
29. F. Fa[ther] & Jjio. [were] at Wigg[inton’s
threshing [tms] morn [ing.] Fa[ther was] Nice
in Clinton IKM. Jno. [was] at U[ncle
James’s] threshing P.M.
16]
Sep[tember, 1893 158
30. S. [John was threshing at Uncle John’s A.M. 18
and Uncle James’s P.M.]I filled wheat A.M. Dull & Windy
& father carried itr to the other barn[.]
[We were] sawing wood P.M.
1. S .
2. M.
3 . T .
4. W.
5. T .
6. F.
7. S.
8 . S .
9. M.
10. T .
11 . W.
12 . T .
13 . F .
14 . S .
15 . S .
16. M.
October, 1893
A[g] & I[were]in Church(Gregg Toronto)[.] 16
[Ag and I were in] S[abbath] S[chool.]Jno.Beautiful
& Ernest [West were] in Varna[.]
[We were] Threshing from[10 o ’
clock] till
supertime[.] Father was in Clinton P.M. 6
to meet[the] Stratford train[.] I[was] in
Clinton [this] even[ing and] got [a] tele-
gram[.]
Jno. [was] at Mac’s threshing all day[.] Raining 10
[Jno. was at Mac's threshing A.M.[and] at 11
[the] Bayfield show in the east P.M. [I Fine & nice
was] at Jane’s P.M. Fa[ther] & A[gnes]
were at Bayfield [and Tom] and Jessie
Wigg[inton went with them[.] E[rnest]
harrowing[.]
Jno.& Ernest [were] at Ned’s threshing[.] 17
I [was] out helping Jane[.] Fa[ther was]
in Clinton P.M.
Fa[ther],A[g] & Ernest]lifted 9 rows [of] Dull A.M. 8
potatoes[.] Aunty & I [were] in Clinton Rain Shower
P.M. P.M.
Fafther], Jno., Ernest & I lifted 14 rows Fine 5
[of]potatoes[.]Jno.[was]away all night[.]
A[g] & 1 [were] in Church (McMillan Mimi- Beautiful 8
co - "Scotch” Gunn’s bro[ther]-in-law[.] & Warm, Windy
Jno., Ern[est] & Fa[ther have been] haul- 9
ing out manure[.]
[John, Ernest and Father were hauling out 2
manure.] Fa[ther was] in Clinton to meet
Mrs McMillan & daughter & Mrs Crearer,
Stratford[.]
I took Mrs Crearer to McTavish'es A.M.Jno.Beautiful 8
went to[the]Blythe(sic;show last nightf.] & very warm
The mason [was] here P.M. pointing [the]
chimney[.] Ernest [is] plowing[.]
Mrs & Annie McMillan, Ag & I[were]at Bay- Beautiful 6
field[. Ernest is plowing.] Jno. [was] at & very,
D[uncan] McEwen's threshing[.] very Warm
H. McGregor drove Mrs Crearer up here[.] 1
I took them to Clinton station [.]Ag walk- Dull & warm
ed up[.] Moore [was] here wanting to buy
[a] rooster[.]
[I] Fixed roosts in [the] Hen-house[.] Raining & 1
High,Cold Wind
Jno.[went to Church with Adam[Stewart The 6
minister was The Rev.Mr Henderson. Three] Raining,a
hens chilled dead last night[.] little warmer
[The] Boys[are]hauling out manure[.] A[g] 9
& I pulled all our apples [.We have] about Fine & Nice
12 bags,fallen included[.](just guessing)
[I] smothered [a] hive [of] bees[.]
October, 1893 159
17. T. Fa[ther] & I pulled 10 rows[of]mangols[.] 2
Jno. & Er[nest] hauled them in P.M. - 4 Warm
loads on [the] sheep[ rack[. I] Smothered
the other Hive [of] bees[. ]
18. W. Fa[ther was] at Dunkin's sale[.I] Doubled 6
a hive[.] Jno. & I pulled 8 rows [of] man- Beautiful
gols[.] Jno. & Er[nest] hauled them in 3 very warm
loads[.]
19. T. [I] Killed 12 chickens A.M. Mother & I
[were] in Clinton P.M.[The]Men finis[hed] Cool Wind
in pulling & hauling mangols (7 Rows)[.]
20. F. A[g] & I[were] in Clinton at Mrs Wilson's 6
funeral[.] Jno.[was] away P.M.hunting for Nice &
Hunter[.] Alexander [was] here for din- Pleasant
ner[.] Dupee called [in the] mornfing.]
21. S. [I] Took in some apples and cut honey off 4
[of] frames, etc. A[g was] at Diehl's &
bought a gander[.] Earnest is] plowing[.]
Fa[ther [is] putting in roots to [the]
root house[.] Jno. is putting up [a fence
[that the] wind blew down[.]
22. S. Father & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[.] 1
Jno. & Er[nest went in the] even[ing.] Beaut[iful]
Good roads dust flying
23. M. [I] Took "Old Kate" and hauled in Apples 5
& Earth to fill holes* in[the]hen-house S
c Beautiful
fetched up [the] "cooler"** from [the]
shanty[. I] punched in [and]pounded earth
in [the hen-house] P.M.
♦Note the precipitate drop in
egg production. Predators (foxes, racoons, skunks)
must have dug under the stone walls and come up
through the dirt floor, in the hen house. Eliza-
Ann had to get more hens to replace the casual­
ties, and, checking ahead, egg production resumed
in late January, two months later.
** slang for a sledge hammer
or wooden mallet.
24 . T .
25 . W .
26. T.
27 . F .
28 . S .
Jno. Alexander[
was] here [at] night[and] 4
had supper[.] [Brother John was] hauling Beautiful
rails with Kate[.] I rid wood-shed,Slight Shower
scraped bee-frames etc.,etc.Father [was]
pulling carrots[. The] boys hauled them
[this] evenfing] in 2 loads[.]
[I was] sorting apples...[and]....packed
4 hives[.]Mr & Mrs Calder[were] here all
night[. There were many callers this
evening from Mac 1s, Uncle James's, Uncle
Jno.'s plus Ned and Jane.]
Cool &
pleasant
[I] Finis[hed]sorting apples & made jel- C. E. Wind 2
ly etc. [The]Calder's left[at], night for Raining
[their] daughter's [home] in Clinton[.]
I [was] in Clintonf.] Jane [stayed] in Dull, 5
all day[. The] Men[started] at[the] tur- Rain Showers
nips[. I] peeled the first drying ap- P.M.
ples[.] T. Wigginfton] called peddling
tea[.]Fen[wick] was up for pears and ap-
p[les.]
[The] Men[have] finis[hed] pulling & ta- 7
king in roots[.] Er[nest was] plowing C.H. Wind
these days while they pull[ed] them[.] Snowing night
4
October, 1893 160
29. S.
30. M.
31. T .
1
. W.
A[g] & I [were] in S[abbath] S[chool.] 5
Jno. & Ernfest were in]church[this]even-
[ing](Stewart)[.]
Ern[est]hauled up some wood and took out
manure with[the] sleigh[.] Jack McDonald
& Cooper [were] here for tea[.] Jack
traded a Ram[. I] peeled appfles in the]
even[ing.]
4
Snow Showers
2 or three in
morn[ing.]
Jane & I [were] in Clinton P.M. A[g] & Fine 3
I[
were over]at Auntie's [this]even[ing.] E. Wind
November, 1893
I washed[.] Er[nest is] plowing[.] Fa- 2
[ther has been] cleaning rubbish(the re- Nice & Dull
mains of U ’s* old house)[.]** Jno. was Indian Sum-
trimming lambs[.] mer~like
* colloquial and ungrammatical
substitute for "our." To my knowledge, there
was no family with a surname beginning with U,
associated with that corner of the community.
** MacFarlane's stone house was
put up 1878. The historical atlas of 1878 shows
the 2 houses as black square dots. The log house
appears to have been 50 to 100 yards south-west of
the stone house. Earlier references in this diary
suggest that the old house served as a laundering
station and a summer kitchen and bakery. In 1892
and 1893, there are references to its gradual
dismantling.
2 . T .
3. F .
4. S .
5. S .
6. M.
7 . T .
8. W.
Jane[stayed] in all day[.]* Father walk- Rain
ed to Clinton P.M. I ironed [and] sorted
rag [and] wool pickings etc. Mrs J[ohn]
Diehl and Ada [Stewart] [were here] P.M.
*Jane is in her 8th month of pregnancy.
Mother & I [were] in Clinton P.M. [at] Fine &
church(Musgrove from Walton)[.] Fafther] Nice
& Jno.[were] at W[illiam] Glen’s thresh- Cool Wind
ing[. They] started a little before
noon[.] Cooper[was] here [and] bought a
lamb[.]
[I] finis[hed] packing bees[.] Jno. went
to Jno .[Thomson1s] with [a] thoroughbred
heifer P.M.
Hard
Frost
Beautiful
and warm
Father,Mother & I [were] in Church(Stew- Nice
art)[.] Jno. [attended] even[ing] church
in Varna on[the] way home from Jno.Thomp­
son '
s[. ]
[I] rid around[the]bees & my room & Moth- Sees out
er*s[.] a little
these days.
Mr Tom & Mr Baird came for dinner[.] Beautiful
Father [was] at [the] school[. I] worked
the ends of [a] p[ai]r [of] blankets[.]
A[g] & I [were] at Finley [McEwen's this]
even[ing. The] Butchart's [were] there[.]
McMillan ([from] below [Grand] Bend) [was
here] looking at P.A.
Father[was]splitting wood [and]piling[it] Beautiful
in[.] Jno. hauled up old rails[. I was] & Warm.
melting beeswax[.]Ned fetched in potatoes Bees fly-
& bar ashes[.] Agnes washed blankets[.] ing thick[.]
November, 1893 161
9. T .
10 . F .
11 . S .
12 . S .
13 . M.
14 . T .
15 . W .
16 . T .
17 . F .
18 . S .
19. S.
[I] Took wax off [the] "cooler" & peeled Beautiful
apples etc.[The] Rev.[Mr] Stewart & [his] dull part•
wife called in on Jane[. I was] at Ned's ly
[in the] even[ing while] he[was] in Clin-
ton[.]
Aunty & Jane [were here] for dinner & P.M.
Jno. [was] helping Ned with [a] fence[.] Warmer
Fa[ther was] plowing with Ned *s team etc.,
below[the] watering place[.]There is fall
wheat in [the] field next [McEwen’
s] bush
at [the] road & they finis[hed] plowing
the other 4 fields to-day[.]
Mother & I [were] in
[was] making soap[.]
Clinton P.M. Mother
A[g] & I[were] in Church(Stewart)[.]
& ______ [went in the] even[ing.]
Jno. Very Misty
A.M. fDull
I [was]in Clinton P.M. Jos[eph]Gaard[was] Raining
here looking to get a fat sheep[.I Killed Showery
& picked 9 turkeys[.]Jno.[was]at Ned’sf.] Fine & Dull
Er[nest] started [plowing] sod[.] P.M,
Mother [worked] at her soap[.] I [was] Snowing
choring [and] melted white wax[.] Fa[ther Showers
worked] piling up wood in [the] bush[.] E. Wind
Jno. & Ernfest] [were] plowing sod above Freezing
[the] shanty field[.]
Ned helped father kill pigs[.] Boys[were]
plowing[.] I [worked] at melting wax[.]
[I melted more wax] A.M. Jane[
was]here[.] a little snow
I [was] in Clinton P.M. "The 4th con[ces- shower morn-
sion" [was] at [a] party at Mac’s[.] ing H. Frozen
I killed 3 Turk[ey]s A.M. [and was] in Softened
Clinton P.M. [I] peeled apples [in the] Nice, Windy
even[ing.] Fa[ther] & A[g][were] at Ned's
[and] killed their pigs & 5 turk[ey]s[.]
Melting wax[.] Mother salted pork[.] Er- C. Wind
[nest has been] hauling gravel since [he]
finis[hed] plowing[.] Er[nest's] sister &
brother [
were] down [this] morn[ing.]
A[g] & I [drove to] Church with[the] colt C. Wind
(McDonald Seaforth)[.] Jno. walked [to Snowing a
church in the] evenfing.] little
20. M. Ag Jno. [with the James and John Stewart C. Wind
families were] at[Charlie Stewart's this] Nice
even[ing. I] finis[hed] melting wax[.] Even[ing]
21. T .
22 . W .
23 . T .
Fa[ther was] at[William] Mustard's funer­
al P.M.13 [The]Rev.[Mr]Stewart & F[inley]
McEwen called when retu rningf.] I washed,
cheese & wax rags too[.] Elsie Thomson
[was] here P.M. and all night (for lame
lamb)[.]
C. Wind
Snowing P.M.
Rain night
[I] Killed 2 geese[.] I [was] in Clinton C.C.S.W.
P.M. to meet Bella[.] Wind & Snow
& rain
Ned,Jane & Aunty [came] for dinner[. The]
Smith kids [came] with [a] cow[.]Thanks- C. Wind
giving[:]A[g], Ada & I [were] at [the] Snowing
S[abbath] S[chool]exam[.]Examiners [
were]
R. Irwin, Clinton [and] Forest [of] Bruce-
field[.]
November, 1893 162
[I] Took Bella to [the train] station [in Snowing some
the] morn[ing and] washed[the] wax dishes C.C. Wind
P.M. Bella came to Jane's [this] even­
ting.] Jno. [is] flooring [the] box stall
[in the] horse stable these days[.]
Ned took Bella back to [the] station [at]
noon[. I] washed my hair[.] Father walked
to Clinton[.] Aunty [has] gone [home.] I
went down [there] at night[.]
A[g] & I [were] in Church(Henderson Hen- C. Wind
sall)[.] [It was] Children's day[.] Jno.& Good roads
E[rnest went in the] even[ing.] H. Frozen
[I]Cleaned the hen-house A.M.,washed[the] Raining
double windows, & put in the cellar ones C. Wind
P.M. [I] Peeled Apples[in the] even[ing.]
Fafther] has been] mending bags[.]
Double windows [were] put inf. I] basted
hems on the 3 woolen sheets[.Father mend­
ed more bags at [night.]
[I] Stitched the hems, worked on the] end Snowing
[of a] blanket[and] Cut out drawers[.]Jno. Gaining
[was] at Duncan McKenzie[Senior's] funer- Sleet
al P.M.14
A[g] & I [were]in Clinton P.M. [The] Boys
[were] in [the] bush [the] 1st. time[.]
Fa[ther was] at [the] mill with chop[. I]
Worked an end blanket & sewed buttons on
shoes[.] W[m.] Glen killed pigs[.] The
Boys [were] at [a] prohibition meeting in
[the] school [this] even[ing to hear the]
Rev. J.A. MacDonald, Pres[ident.]*
Stormy
Snowed a lot
just after
dark
*The Rev. J.A. MacDonald, age 31,
was a writer, editor and crusader for Liberal
causes. A native of Middlesex County, he was
ordained in 1891 and had a church in St Thomas.
He was destined to be the editor of the Toronto
Globe and fiercely supported Laurier and Reciprocity
in the 1911 Dominion election.
December, 1891
[I] Made [a] goose house [from] rails[.] Stormy
I [went to] Clinton in [the] cutter P.M.
Ern[est was] hauling up wood([we had]
good sleighing[.]
Fafther was] at "the Master’s" P.M. [I] some snow
Put [a] tail on[the] ganzie & made draw­
er straps[.] Jno.& Efrnest were] in town
[this] even[ing.]
snowing
Jno. [drove the] sleigh in[to] Clinton Nice &
[for] grist[.] Fa[ther went to get [a] Sunshiny
tooth pulled but didn’t[.] Jane & Manie
[were here all day.] Jim Swan [was here]
for tea[.]
A[g was]housecleaning Jno.'s stair[.]Jno. Dull, drift-
[was] at Jno. Elliot's threshing[.] Jane, ing a little
Annie & Jim Fergueson, & Bell Taylor
were at U[ncle] Ja[me]s's [this] even-
[ing.] Jane & Bell stayed there[.]
24 . F .
25. S.
26. S .
27 . M.
28 . T.
29. W.
30. T.
1. F.
2. S.
3 . S .
4. M.
5 . T .
December, 1893 163
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.
19. T .
Ferg[ueson’s] went home P.M. Jno. [was]
in Clinton A.M. getting sucker of pump
fixed[. I] Started making Fa[ther [a]
smock[.] Jno.[ was] at [another] prohib­
ition of alcohol meeting[atthe]school[.]
I [was] in Clinton P.M.[and] took up our
shawls for the "Young Women's Mission
Band" Scotch social[.]
A little
colder,dull
Snowed
Snowed a
Little
Agent Weir & gent called [in the] morn-
ing[.] John Thomson [was] here all
night[.] A[g],Jno.,Nannie* & Adam [have]
gone to Green's[. I] Finis[hed] father's
smock[.]**
*Adam's sister Annie, so-called to
distinguish her from her cousin Annie in the Jas.
Stewart family. The 4 first cousins are visiting
Bella Green and her family up on the Bayfield Line
in Goderich Township.
** A smock was a working garment
much Ike today’s jean jacket.
Father[was] at Hensall seeing about oat
dustf.J Sturdy [was] here P.M. [I] made
[a] chemise tail & worked [the] ends of
Jane's blankets [in the] even[ing.]
A[g] & I [were] in Church{Stewart)[. ]
Jane drove in P.M.[and] Ned[came in the]
even[ing. I] peeled app[le]s for pies[.]
McLeod in with heifer (no name)[. I]
Stamped [the] drawers & worked [the]ends
of [the] B[aby's] blankets etc.
[I] Worked on [the] bottom of p[an]ts[.]
A[g] is knocking down plaster in [the]
dining room[.]
[I] Cut out [the] basque lining & sleeve
part [this] even[ing.] A[g is] cleaning
[her] room[.] The Boys [are] hauling out
logs these days[.]
[The] Men killed W[m.] Glen's beef & our
cow[.] Jno.[was] in Clinton P.M.with [a]
hide[.] [He] fetched home some shawls[.]
E.A. & Ida lsard[were]at Jane’s[.] D[un­
can McEwen's boys [Jack and Sandy came]
after[the] sheep rack box[.I was] clean­
ing guts all P.M.
I stitched (hemmed) Jane's canton flan-
ell[.] Fa[ther made] out lamb pedigrees
all day[. The] Boys washed [the] single
harness[.]
I swept & dusted my 2 rooms[.] A[g] & I
[were] at Jane's [in the] even[ing.]Fa­
ther went to] Clinton for tags in [the]
buggy[.The] Boys[
were]oiling harness[.]
Jno.& E[rnest] walked to C[hurch in the
even[ing J(
Musgrove.)
[The] Boys finis[hed] oiling harness[.]
Mac'
s & Adam [were] in[this] even[ing.]
Fafther & E[rnest were] sawing wood P.M.
Cutting out dress P.M.Jno.[was]in Clin­
ton P.M. E.Glen Sr. [was here]P.M. A[g]
[was] washing kitchen plaster[.]
Dull & nice
A.M. Rain­
ing P.M.
C. Wind
snowing P.M.
Snowing &
Drifting &
Wind
Snowing
Snowing some
S. thaw a
little Rain­
ing all day
Freezing &
Snow
good sleigh­
ing
Roads icy
Big Floods
Snowing
Snowing &
Drifting
December,1893 164
20. W.
21 . T •
22 . F .
23 . S .
Fa[ther], Er[nest],& Ned & teams [were] Nice,Flakey
in Brucefield after a horsepower15 &
straw-cutter[.] A [g] & I went out with
Ned in the even[ing.] A[g was] washing
plaster [and] I washed [clothes.]
Jno.[was] at Wigg[inton's] wood-bee P.M Beautiful &.
I[was] in Clinton[.] E[rnest is] making Sunny
[a] salt trough [from a] big log[.] Ned
[is] fixing [the] Frazer bridge[.]
Jack McMann [was] here P.M. Jim Swan Thawing
[came] for dinner[.] Ned[was]here help- Raining
ing to cut [wood.]
[I] Killed [a] goose & a hen[.] Shore Beautiful
[from] London [came] for dinner[.] Teen Sleighing gone
called[.] Foster fetched [the] cow robe.
Fafther] went up to Goderich[.]Jno.went
up P.M. [in the] buggy to meet him &
Bella[.]
24. S.
25 . M.
26. T.
Raining
[This] morn[ing]Bella went out for Jane Raining
with[the]buggy[.] I took [her] home P.M. Beautiful
A[g], J[ohn], Bella,Er[nest] & I [were] Bees Flying
at U[ncle] Jno.'s this evenfing.]
Jane's D[aughte]r Isa[bella] Pearl Raw Wind
Glen [was] born[.] Bella & I[were] in Hard Frozen
Clinton P.M.
27. W. I [was] at Jane's[.] Jack McMann [was] Nice
here P.M.
28 . T .
29. F.
30. S.
31. S .
Bella & I[went to] Clinton P.M. in [the] .Raining
covered buggy[.] Ida [Stewart was] here
& her & Ag [went] out to see[the] kid[.]
I [was] at Jane's[.] Jno.went [at] night C[old] & Raw
to Jno.Thompson's with sheep & for Mein- Flakey
tosh[.]
Ben Tomlinson [was here] all day & Fine & H.
night[.] The white-faced mare died[.]Fa- Frozen
[ther] walked to Clinton[.]Bella got Ned
to take her up[.]
[Bella went back to Goderich.] I [came]
home P.M.
This is a reference to their wedding photo, taken by the H.
Foster studio in Clinton.
The Avery's farmed lots 27 and 28 on the Stanley side of the
London Road. John Avery's sister, Atlanta,was Mrs Alex.Innes.
Maggie Cuming was a Mrs Ballantyne.
This may be a reference to the very attractive studio por­
trait Isabella had taken in Ottawa when she was at Normal
School. See p.
77"
2.
3.
4
5.
6
7
.
8
.
9.
10.
13.
14.
The lane of the Glen farm in 1999 is still lined with spruce
trees. On the Huron Road, near Benmiller, Mr A. Taylor,a’
close relative of the Taylor's of Morris Township, ran a
greenhouse and nursery operation. Claire Taylor says he
was famous for developing an attractive strain of spruce
and it is possible that Wm. Glen bought the spruce trees for
Spruce Lane Farm from Taylor.
We know that the original 2-bay barn on Ned Glen's main
farm (Lot 31, Con III) was built in 1862. The year 1862
was drilled in auger holes over the south doorway. As we
saw in 1892, the barn on the Robertson place was badly
damaged in a wind storm. Jack Glen told me that his father
used the beams salvaged from the Robertson barn to build a
third bay on the east end of the barn on Lot 31.
Farmers' Advocate? The Exeter Advocate?
The New Era, June 9, 1893. Elizabeth, wife of E. Glen
died June 4, 1893, aged 65. [buried in Clinton cemetery.]
The late Mrs Glen was the former Elizabeth McQueen. Don
Glen told me that the McQueen brothers were prosperous
Stanley township farmers, who made a lot of money in the
mid-1850's, during the Crimean war (that "Rooshian war")
selling wheat to feed the British soldiers in the field.
The War Office paid in gold and this stimulated wheat
production in Ontario. The McQueen brothers (Mrs Glen's
siblings) squandered the gold on whiskey, became compulsive
alcoholics and ran their farms into the ground. The
MacFarlane’s were strong teetotallers, and the Glen children
were much closer to that side of the family. Elizabeth
probably encouraged the keeping of the McQueen relatives at
a distance. Don said that the McQueen's were held up
as an example not to follow. Relations with them were
respectful and correct and infrequent.
See Huron News-Record, July 26, 1893 and The New Era, August
4, 1893: John Innis, 1814-93, d. July 23, aged 89 years, 3
months. A Stanley pioneer, he emigrated from Banffshire,’
Scotland 1846 and lived in Zorra Twsp. for 7 years. He
came to Stanley in 1853 and cleared Kot 30 Con II (now
farmed by the Scott's.) He was the father of Alex. Innes
(Lot 32, Con II),of Mary (Mrs Duncan McEwen) and of Mrs W.H.
Scott He was a strong Liberal and was one of the first horse
importers in the area. Interment in Clinton Cemetery.
Survived by his widow Isabella [?].
James MacFarlane's father brother were heredetary game
keepers on a large estate in their native Perthshire[.]
They salvaged so many splendid plumages from pheasants and
other game birds that they could send generous consignments.
Isabel Glen still had some of the best specimens which she
showed me in the 1950's. My mother Verna Stewart urged her to
take them to a miliner and have them made into a lady's hat -
which she eventually did. The hat and unused feathers are
still in the Glen farmhouse[.] A photograph of Uncle John,
his wife, daughter and widowed father can be seen below at
the end of the footnotes. Don Glen told me that James 's
brother John came out to Canada with the other brothers
and was going to marry Agnes Stewart. However, when his
aging parents could no longer live alone, John went home
to Scotland to bring them here.They refused to budge and
John felt he could not leave them. Apparently Agnes was
quite charitable when he asked be released from his promise
to marry her. I don't know if John asked her to consider
coming to Scotland, but if he did, she refused. She was born
in Ontario and had no ties with Scotland. John married
eventually and carried on as the Game Keeper.
Check Stanley blue book
The New Era, December 1, 1893 Duncan McKenzie died
November 27, 1893, aged 77. He was a native of Ballachlish,
Inverness, Scotland. He emigrated to Canada in 1843 and
settled in Stanley in 1853. He pioneered on Lot 24, Con ,
IV Stanley, andlived there for the rest of his days. He
was survived by his wi'fe Mary, sons Duncan and Hugh and
a daughter Margaret (Mrs Chapman of Ethel in Perth Co.)
The obit does not mention a son Paul who died young.
In the 1871 Dominion census, Paul, aged 16, is listed as
living with James MacFarlane. Don Glen confirmed that
Paul was the hired man. The Mackenzie's were undisputably
the neighbourhood "characters" whose antics were recalled
and whose droll utterances were mimicked for 3 generations
11.
12.
U c
in the community. They lived in primitve squalour but were
the sould of honour and integrity. Eliza-Ann totally
ignores the McKenzie's kin her diary save for one fleeting
reference to Margaret and this allusion to Duncan's death.
15. The horsepower was a device to supply motive power to pulley-
driven machinery. Steam and gasoline tractors 1900-20
made the horsepower obselete. "The motive power was
four teams of heavy draft horses,each hitched to a long
beam. The horsepower machine itself consisted of four long
beams,each placed at right angles to the other, and attached
to a central pivot. A large cast iron gear, about six feet
in diameter, was fastened to the underside of the beams.
This in turn engaged a small cog wheel attached to a steel
shaft. As the horses moved about a thirty-foot circle pulling
the beams, the steel shaft rotated and transmitted the motion
to the.... [threshing machine, buzz saw or straw cutter.]
from The Barefoot Boy From Francistown, by Robert Bruce
Walker, edited by K.F. Stewart, OISE Press, 1989, p.10.
The following wood-cut will innko tho principlo of the
threshing machine quite clear. At A are fluted iron
rollers between which tho unthreshed corn passes, at
ratkor n alow rato; 1
3 is tho cylinder or drum, contain-,
ing four projections or beaters. These are bars of wood
covered with iron, and revolve rapidly. Grain, chaff, and
stems, all pass over this cylinder, and aro thrown for­
ward into the second compartment, where thoy aro acted
upon and shaken by lour rakes, placed on tho hollow
cylinder C, and moving rapidly in the direction of
tho arrow. Hero tho grain and chaff fall down '
-
’
-.rough
tho wire meshes into a winnowing machine, nnd tho
straw is carried forward to another cylinder D, whore it
is again shaken by rakes, and then thrown out at tho
ond of tho machine. Sometimes this last cylinder has
brushes fixed to it, which sweep back any of tho com or
chaff which may have fallen into the cavity at E.
lzstk k ’
s mraovBU ciMrr-ourrvR.
>
r
. •
c n A r r - c u T T i N O .
ELIZA"ANN MACFARLANE'S LOGBOOK FOR
HER XXXTH YEAH
1894
January 1894 167
1. M. Jno. took B_
_ T___ to Brucefield[. I Cold Wind
[was] at Aunty's [in the]even[ing] & out
to Jane's[.]
2. T. Finley [McEwen was here this] even[ing.] Dull
Jno. took Bella to [the train] station] Softened
for Glencoe[.]* Farther was] at W[m. ] a little
Glen’
s cutting [wood.]
* Bella has changed schools.
Glencoe is a large village in Middlesex County,
south of London.
3. W.
4 . T .
Mo[ther [was] out to Jane’s & I [came] Fine & Sunny
home [this] morn[ing. Mother came] home L. Wind
& [I went] back [at] night[.]
Fa[ther] & A[gnes were] at Mrs Donald
Smith’s funeral[.]
Roads soft
Looking like
rain
5 . F .
6. S .
7 . S .
Fa[ther was]in Clinton[.] Ned [was] here Snowing
sawing [wood] P.M.
[Ned was here sawing wood] all day[.] I H. Frozen
[was] at Jane's[. I] B[aked] & W[ashed.]
Jno. & Adam[were] in church [this] even- C. N, W,
[ing.] I [went] home [this] morn[ing.] Wind
8. M. [I was] At Jane's all day [with] M[o-
ther[.] A[g was] in Clinton P.M. Ned was
here sawing [wood] all day[.]
Light Snow
C.N. [Wind]
9. T. [I] Came home[in the] morning & [was]out
P.M. with Ada [Stewart.I was] at Aunty’s
[in the] even[ing.] Duncan Smith [was]at
Ned'
s[.]
10. W. Mr & Mrs Dunkin called P.M.[Duncan Smith C.N.W. Wind
is still at Ned’s.] I w[ashed] & clean­
ed [the] H[en-House[.] Fa[ther was] at
[the] mill with chop[.]
11. T .
12 . F .
13 . S .
[I was] at Jane's all day[.] Fa[ther] C. N. Stormy
walked to Clinton P.M. A[g was]at McTav- even[ing]
ish'es P.M. Jno.[was] sawing with Ned[.]
Jno. & E[rnest were] at Marshall's
dance[.]
Jno. made a Hen-House gate[;therefore I] Cleared even-
darned Jno's mitts, etc. [ing]
[I was] at Jane's all day[:] W[ashed] - Beautiful
S[ewed] & I[roned.* The] Stone-house cow Soft
calvedf.] Ned & Duncan [were] in all day
cutting [wood.] *Eliza-Ann has refined
her short forms by assigning
single capital letters to domestic chores.
So far B = baking 1= ironing S= sewed and
W = Washing. A = Agnes and M or Mo. = Mother.
14. S. A[g], M[other] & I [were]in Church(Stew- Softened
art)[.The] Boys [went in the] even[ing.]
15. M . [I was] At J[ane's] all day -B[aked]
,
W[ashed.] Fa[ther was] at Brucefieldf.]
Ned [was] at [Londesboro] with grist[.]
1
January, 1894 168
16. T. Fa[ther] & Mo[ther[were in] Varna[visit- Dull & Warm
ing the] Dunkin's & [the] Fostersf. I]
Cleaned out P______ * & making at......
Jno. [has been] sawing [wood]at Ned’s[.]
*P may stand for "Private," or for privy -
the cold weather indoor toilet in the wood
shed, but the rest of the sentence is in­
decipherable.
17 . W.
18. T.
19. F.
20 . S .
A[g] & I [were] at Grant’s P.M. Helen & Soft & Dull
A[gnes] Butchart & M.A. McGregor [were]
at Jane's[.]
[A] sheep died([the] Beetie Shearling.) Fr[oze at]
Jno. & Ned [were] in Clinton for salt[.] night
I [was] at Jane’s all day[and] W[ashed.]
Fa[ther] & Mo[ther were] in Clinton[and] Softened
went to D. McEwen’s (but they weren'
t at
home[.]
I [was] at Jane’s[in the evening.I] kil- Soft
led [the] last gosling[.] Jno. [was] in Rain
Brucefeld & Clinton[to]see Swan[.] Peter
Camp-bell died[.]i
21. S .
22 . M.
23 . T .
Jno. & E[rnest were] in Church [in the] Rain, Soft
even[ing.] A[gnes [was] at Ned’s[.]
I[was ] at Ned’s[.] E[rnest] A.M. & Jno. H. Frozen
P.M. [were] hauling in hay with Ned[.]
Fa[ther] &[the] boys [were] at a Patrons
of Industry meeting[in the]school [this]
even[ing.]
Fa[ther]& I [were] at P[eter] Campbell’s Softened a
funeral P.M. Jno. & Ned [went too. I] little. Sno[w]
C[leaned the] H[en-]House[.] Foster & M. [at] night.
Brigham & Mary Miller [were here in the]
even[ing and] at Jane's at night[.]
24. W. Jim Barkley [is] home[.] A[g was] with
visitors at Lizzie's for dinner & at
U[ncle] Ja[mes']s for tea & [the] even­
ing. I]Finis [hed]Jno. 's p[an]ts & darned
socks[.]
9
Rain & Sleet
Snow
25. T. [I darned socks] & ganzies[.] Ned,Mac, & 15
Adam[were] here cutting[wood] P.M. [The] Cold, a
Kids* [were]at U[ncle] Ja[mes’]s [in the little snow.
even[ing.] * probably Eliza-Ann, Jane, Agnes &
John MacFarlane.
26. F.
27 . S .
28 . S .
[The]Men [are] cutting[wood]at Ned’s[.]
A[g] & I [were] in Clinton P.M. [The]
visitors [have] gone home[.]
6
Nice, Some
sleighing,
most buggies.
[I sewed & swept]for Jane A.M. [I] peel- 15
ed app[le]s at Aunty's [in the] even- Light Snow
[ing and did] Mending[.]
Fa[ther was] hauling logs to [the] 7
mill[.] I made [a] gate for [the] H[en- Snowing P.M.
house door & baked 2 kinds of cook-
ies[.l] wrote to U. Jm & Gertie[.]2 jno.
& I [were] in Church[;We took the] cut­
ter up[.]
29. M.
Nice
13
January, 1894 169
30. T.
31. W.
1. T .
[I worked] at making [a] serge skirt[.] Softish 14
Fa[ther was] hauling logs all day[.] Snowing &
Drifting
Mo[ther] carded wool & ewe lacked lamb 9
comfort night[.](sic) [I] cleaned [the] Light Snow
H[en]-H[ouse and] finis[hed] cutting out
[my] dress[.]
February, 1894
E.A. & Son [were] here P.M. Fa[ther has
been] mending bags[.] A[g] & [were] in Snowing
Clintonf.] Jno. [was] at Mac's sawing Heavy
[wood] P.M. [and] Helping Ned with logs Light
A.M.
13
2. F. Jno.& Ned [were] at Hensall for feed[.] 14
A[g] changed library books & [was] at Sunshiny
Ellie’s P.M. [I] W[ashed], dusted etc. Frosty
3. S. Fa[ther] walked to Clinton P.M. [and 13
the] boys [went in the] even[ing.] Some Milder
4. S. [A[g] & I [were] in Church (McMullen of 13
Woodstock[.] 5 above C.W.
5. M. Mr & Mrs Dunkin [came] for dinner[.] J. 18
& W. Cooper [came] for tea[.] Aunty[was] Warmer
at Jane's[.] Ned & Jane went to Sun, Thaw
McQueen's[.] Jno.[was] at [the] mill for
chop[.] Dewdrop calved[.]
6. T. Fa[ther] & Mo[ther were] at Rob Thomp- 17
son’s[. The] Boys etc. [are] on loa[n] 9 degrees
to Isard's [I was] working a little at
the skirt[.]
7. W. Jim Barkley [was here] for dinner[. I] 14
washed A.M. Jno. [was] in Clinton P.M. Thawing
[He drove horses,including] Ned's one[.]
Mrs Jim McQueen's3 funeral [was this af­
ternoon .] A][g] & I [are] papering [the]
little B. roomf.]
8. T. [Ag and I] finis[hed papering the B 22
room.] Another lamb [born.] Mac & Fitch* Frozen
called.
*Probably "Fitz" misspelled (Fitzsimmons, the
Clinton butcher.)
9 . F .
10 . S .
Bk. Liz, Ger[tie],Hes[ter] & Bob Thomp­
son & Lilly, Linsey & Annie Churchill &
Ned, Adam, & Tene & Jno. [McEwen were]
here [this] even[ing.] 2 lambs-one died
sabbath night[.]
Sleet, Rain
Thunder &
L[ightning
at] night.
A[g was] at Ned's P.M. & I [was] at Aun- 23
ty's [in the] even[ing.] Er[nest was] in Frozen
Clinton P.M............. Blustering
11. S. A[g] & I [went] in [the] buggy to]Church Light Snow 17
(Stewart)[.] Blustery, C. Wind
12. M. Jno.went to Blake for [a] heifer[.] A[g]
washed?I [was] mending sundries[.] Jno.
[McEwen] called[.]
Worse [in]
C. Wind 18
A.M. very
stormy P.M.
even[ing.]
13. T. [John McEwen] & young Wiley [called.]Jno.
[got] home [at] noon[. John] & [the]
rest [have] gone to Stone[house’s.]* Fa-
[ther was] at Ned's [this] even[ing & us
at Aunty’s[.]
22
Big Drifts
Roads bare
Fine
21
February, 1894 170
14 . w .
15 . T .
16 F .
Fa[ther] walked to Clinton.[I] fixed [a] Fine 21
plant box for [the] hens[.] A[g] is mak­
ing over [her] B[lac]k dress
A[g] & I [were] in Clinton & at D. McEw- Fine A.M. 6
en's[.] Mrs Stewart & sons(Rev.) [were] C. Wind,Snow-
here[this] even[ing.] Jno.[was] in Clin- ing, Stormy.
ton with Ned(lambs)[.]
Finley[McEwen] called A.M.(B.S.) [I was] Snowing 23
Making folds for [a] skirt[.] Aunty [was Clear
here] for dinner[.] Er[nest] finis[hed]
hauling wood [and] started [on the] man­
ure[.]
17 . S .
18. S •
19. M.
[I] Finis[hed the] skirt all but [the]
pocketsf.] Jno.[was] in Clinton [in the]
sleigh [and he] sold "Sorrel." Mot[her
was] at Jane's[.]
Jno. & I [went to] Church in [the] cut­
ter[.] 3 lambs triplets
[I] Finis[hed the] skirt. Made garters,
cleaned [the] H[en]-House [and] looked
over apples[.] Jno.[was] over on [the]
Parr [Line]* looking at "Jack"[.]
Rained a 17
little; soft
Rain.
C.W. 16
Frozen
a flurry 23
Nice
Concession
VI and VII,
Stanley Township - the road runs north and south,
from the Bayfield River, intersecting the Bayfield Road
in the centre of Varna, running south to the Hay Stanley
Town Line and beyond. Years ago I referred to the 6th of
Stanley and Don Glen said "You never hear it called the
6th - it's called the Parr Line!" The 1986 Sesquicen-
tennial history of Stanley says that John Parr was the
very first to file for a lease on that line, but he
allowed the application to lapse and never actually
lived on it. Looking at who lived on the line, the
name Wiley jumps out at the reader, as the probable
owner of "Jack."
20 . T .
21. W.
22 . T .
23 . F .
24. S.
[I was] At Jane's A.M. [while] they C. Wind 23
[were] in Clinton [getting] teeth fill- Snowing
ed[.] Mrs [Ned] Rathwell, Isaac & Win- even[ing]
nie [were here] P.M. & even[ing.] Fin­
ley [McEwen] called[.] Fa[ther was in
Clinton[.]
A[g] & I [were] in Clinton P.M. at [a] C.W. 20
S[abbbath] S[chool] Convention[.] Jno. Fine
[was] in Clinton[.] Jno. & E[rnest were]
at Wigg[inton's] dance [in the]even[ing.]
Kate McTavish [was here] P.M. [I] Star- 3 above 20
ted hem-stitching [the] band[.] Fine, Drifty,
even[ing.]
[I] Drove Jno. to [Malcolm McEwen's] be- Stormy 22
fore diner[.] Farther] & Jno. were at
Finley’s & Dunk's P.M.
A[g] & 1 [were] in Clinton at Worthing- 4 degrees 17
ton's sale of [fancy goods.] at about 1/2
past 8, 6 degrees
at about XI P.M.
25. S. A[g], Jno, Erfnest], Jane & I [were] in Nice 17
Church [this] even[ing] (Miss McKay - Sunshiny
Formosa)[.]
. M. Fafther was helping W[illiam] Glen kill 21
a heifer A.M. [and was] in Clinton P.M. Very Nice
A[g] & I [were] at Ned's [this] even­
ing.] Mrs Brigham & Nellie [are visit­
ing [there.]
26
February, 1894 171
27 . T.
28 . W.
A[g], Mrs
ton P.M.
home with
Br[igham] & I
[Mrs Brigham]
us ][.]
[were] in
& Nellie
Clin-
[came]
27
1. T •
2. F
3. S
[I] Went for Aunt A[gnes] [this] morn-
ting.] Jane & Ned [were here] P.M. Us
at Lizzie's this evenfing.]
March, 1894
[I] Took the Br[igham’s] to U[ncle John
Stewart's this] morn[ing.] Jno. & I Beautiful
[were] in Clinton P.M. L[izzie3 Thomp­
son [came] home with me[.]
Lizzie & I [were] at Grant’s P.M. [in and
the] buggy[.] Mac, Ned, Willie & Adam
[were here] cutting [wood.]
23
15
23
4. S .
5. M.
Liz S
t I [were] at U[ncle James's] P.M. Mild 23
& [at] U[ncle John’s in the] even[ing.] Frosts at
[Lizzie, Mrs Brigham and Nellie came] Night
home with us[.]
Mrs Bfrigham] & Mot [her went] out to Beautiful 30
Ned’s P.M. Beauteous
Mrs B[righam was] at Ufncle James's]
A.M. [and she] crossed [the] creek[J]*
29
Springlike
Jno.took [the] B[righam's] to [the] stat­
ion [in the] even[ing.] Jno.,Ned & Jane,
Lizzie & I [were] at McTavish'es [in
the] even[ing. (Lizzie and I were there
P.M.)]
* There was a well-worn and somewhat circu­
itous path running from
MacFarlane's to the James
Stewart house. MacFar­
lane's lived on Lot 30,
Con IV and James Stew­
art 's farmhouse was on
the front 50 acres of lot
27 -IV south of MacFar­
lane’s. Half the land
in the 3 intervening lots
was still bush. One went
out of MacFarlane *s back
door, over the fence into
"Uncle John’s back 50."
The front 50 acres of
Lot 29 was James MacFar­
lane's bush. Cutting
through John Stewart's
back 50 is Wiltse Creek,
starting over in Tucker-
smith township and flow­
ing south-west towards
the Bayfield River. It
runs for its final mile
and a half through Lots
29, Con II, III, IV and
V. While it was often dry
in mid-summer,melting
snow and rain in March
and April could turn it
into a torrent. Once ac-
cross the creek, one made for the south-west corner
to go around Finley and Duncan McEwen’s 50 acres of
bush on the east end of Lot 29 (IV). From the
South-west corner of the "back 50" one could aim
straight for James Stewart's house. Eliza-Ann is
impressed that Mrs Brigham rose early,walked the
route and forded the swollen creek.
March, 1894 172
6. T. Fa[ther was] at Jno. Elliot1s,Marshel's Raining 34
(sic) & Wigg[inton’s. I] made a log cab- all day
in block[.]*
*"Log Cabin” pattern for quilts.
7. W, Liz & I [were] at Jane's & Mac’s P.M. & 22
even[ing. The] Master’s boys etc.[were] Beautiful
in at noon [showing off a] telescope[.] Cool Wind
1st Goose Egg
8. T. I [was] in Clinton P.M. with Lizzie 10
T[hompson.] Jno.[was working]with Ned[.]
9. F. Jno.,A[g] & I [were] at Dunkin’s [in 40
the] even[ing.] Fa[ther [got] some prun- Beauteous
ing done.......
10 . s .
11. s .
Jno.,E[rnest] & Fa[ther were] pruning[.] 36
Fa[ther was] at H[arry] Diehl’s & [had]
dinner at U[ncle] Ja[mes’]s[.] A[g] & I
[
were] at Aunty’s [in the] even[ing.]
A[g] S
t I [went in the] buggy [to] Church Cool Wind 33
(Stewart)[. ]
12. M. Ned [was] helping cut peas P.M. [and he 43
stayed]for tea[.Mr] Tough,[the Assessor,
[came for tea] & [stayed] all night[. I]
started hemmimg [a] 2nd-hand ________ &
cutting out browney[.] *
* an "unmentionable?"
13. T. Jno.[was] away getting [a]wheel for[the]
fanning mill[.] Jane fetched in [a] tur- Showery-
key [this] morn[ing.] Bob Marshell(sic) Snowing
called........
14 . W . Making Browny skirt[.]
W INHOWIHG-MACIilSE .
H. Frozen
Nice
15. T. I [was] in Clinton P.M. Snowing, C.W. 22
16. F. Er[nest was] at Glen's cutting [wood.] C.W. 53
[X worked] at making dresses[.] Sunshiny
17 . S .
18 . S .
Jno. [was] at [the] mill for chop[.] Fa- Raining 25
ther walked to Clinton [and] got a ride T[hunder] &
up with Adam[.] Lightning
A[g] S
t I [attended church in the] morn- Very 40
[ing](Hamilton - Londesboro)[.] Jno. Warm- Frogs
[went in the] e[vening.] singing wildly
19. M. Jim Swan called[.] A[g] & I [were] at Beautiful 34
Ned’
s [this] even[ing.]
20. T. [Ag and I were at] Aunty's [this even- 4 6
ing. I] Made cakes A.M. [I] Washed & C.E. Wind
C[leaned the] H[en-]House P.M. & rain
35
35
March, 1894 173
Jno.,Er[nest] & I [were] at Ned's Crush- S.E.W. 25
ing & Cutting[.] a little rain
[I]Swept B[ella]’s room[.] Jennie [Grant 33
was here] all night......as School Exam Raining
all day[.] Jno.[was] at[the] station for
Bella [in the] even[ing. The] Stonehouse
Calf died[.]
Aunty, Ned & Jane [were here] for din- Very 34
ner[. I] made [a] muslin apron[.] stormy [this]
morning,Snowing
blow]ing,]
Fafther] & B[ella were] in Clinton A.M. Rain & 33
A[g],B[ella] & I [were] at Ned'sfin the] Sleet P.M.
even[ing.]
Fanny calved [in the] night[.] A[g] mind- 34
ed [the] baby for Ned & Jane A.M. Jno. & Cold & Stormy
E[rnest went to church in the]even[ing.]
Jno. took Bella in [the] cutter to [the] Snowing 43
station [in the] even[ing.]* Bessie all day
calved [in the] night[.] *end of Easter Weekend
[I was] Working at [a] Serge basque[.] Cold & 36
Wintery
Sleighing
Aunty & Ida [were] at Lizzie's[. A] ped- Light 34
lar called at Lizzie's [and stayed] all Snow P.M. &
night[.] A[g] & I [were] at Ned's[in the] even[ing.]
even[ing.]
Jane & I [went to] Clinton P.M. in [the] 37
buggy[.] A[g] minded [the] Kid[.]A[g] & I C.W.
[were] at Aunty's [this] even[ing.]Lizzie Softened
[Glen] is down home with [some illness?]
[The]Men[are] getting fence-binders these
days[.]
Aunty [has] gone to Green’s[.] Jno. [was] 30
at [the] mill[. I] Made button-holes in Milder
[the] basque[.]
Fa[ther] walked to Clinton[.I worked] at Milder 41
[the] basque[.] Snow all
gone. Rain
at night.
April, 1894
A[g] & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[. 31
Four new] Elders[were] ordained-J.Hous- C.N.W.
ton,McClarty, D. McEwen & D.McTavishf.] Dull
Smith stop[ped here] for tea[.] Ned,Jane 35
& Kate & Will McTavish [were] at U[ncle] H[ard] Frost
Jno's[. I worked] at [the] basque [and] A little
finis[hed it.I] knit cuffs [and added a] wanner.
ruffle[.][
I
]
[I] over-casted [the basque], washed & 29
made jell[y] cake[.] Ned called[.] Alex. H.F. C.W.
Smith [came] for eggs[.] Jno. Stewart raining
[has] gone to Denver[.]4
Sid[was here] looking at lambs[.] Fa[th- 34
er was] in Clinton[.] A[g was] at Wigg- C.C.W.
[inton's] P.M. [and I was] At Ned's [in P.M.
the] even[ing.]
21. W.
22 . T .
23 . F .
24 . S .
25 . S .
26. M.
27 . T .
28. W.
29. T.
30. F.
31. S .
1. S .
2. M.
3. T .
4. W.
April, 1894 174
5. X • Jno. [was at Wigginton's] & A[g was] in 30
Clinton P.M. Jane's turkey laid 1st egg. Snow Showers
[A] Stonehouse cow [was wandering loose] C.W.
somewhere here[.]
6. F. John [was] at [the] Brucefield horse 38
show[.] A[g]& I [were] at Jane's[in the] Fine, C»W.
even[ing] quilting [a] cradle quilt[.]
Er[nest was] plowing P.M.
7. S. Jno. [was] in Clinton P.M. Fa[ther has 33
been] pruning by spells these days[.]
8. S. A[g] & X [were] in Church(Stewart)[.] 36
9. M. Kate died[.]* Jane & I[were]at Bob Pear- 30
son's P.M. Mrs Jessie & Stella Wigg[in­
ton were] here P.M.
* a beloved old horse
10. T. [I'm] Still [working] at [the] basque[.] 37
1st Turkey Egg Snow & slush
11. W. [I have] Finis[hed the] basque all but 28
[the] watch-pockets[.I was] At Jane's in Dull, Warm
the] even[ing and] A[g was] at Mac's[.
Jane and I] Finis[hed]quilting[the]crad­
le quilt[.]
12. T. A[g] & I [were] in Clinton P.M. Carrie 39
& Jennie [were] Jane's P.M. Beautiful
13. F. T[homas] Fair [the] Postmaster died[.]5 58
A[g was] in Clinton [this] morn[ing & I
[was] at Green's P.M. Jane [was] in P.M.
Mr & Mrs McEwen [called this] even[ing.]
Jno. speared 28 fish[.]
14. S. Jno. & E[rnest speared 3 fish[.The] con- 38
tract for a new Frazer bridge [has been]
let to Jno. Diehl [for] $175[.] Lumpy
Hodgins died[.]*
♦Possibly a member of the Hodgins
family in Clinton, well-known
grocers.
15 . S . Father & I [were] at Thos.Fair's funeral
P.M. A[g was] at Sabbath School[.] Jane
took my class[.]G[eorge]S[teckley]start­
ed [at] U[ncle] Jno.['s]& Jno.Elliot['s]
P.M.
32
Beautiful
& warm
16. M.
17 . X .
18. W.
19. X
Fa[ther was]at Middleton's and Bill Per­
due 1s to get grafts[. Father and John
were] grafting plums P.M. [I] started
cleaning [the] milk room[.]
34
Beautiful
& warm
[I] Finis[hed cleaning the milk room] & 33
some of other[.] Jno. started seeding
[with] Mary & Grey[.] Er[nest is] culti­
vating
[I] Finis[hed] cleaning [the] cellar!.] 42
Jno. walked to Clinton A.M. [and] got Sprinkled
teeth filled!*} A[g was] at U[ncle]
Ja[mes']s P.M. [and] her & I [were] at
Ned's [this] even[ing.]
Jane [wasJin Clinton with Tena [McEwen.] 3 2
I [went] out for [the news]papers[.] Fa- Rained
[ther is]grafting these days[.I have been] Beautiful &
Mending socks[.] Warm
April, 1894 175
20. F.
21 . S .
22 . S .
23 . M.
24 . T •
25. W.
26. T.
27 . F .
28 . S .
29. S.
30. M.
1. T .
2 . W.
3 . T .
4. F.
[IJTook over 2 barrows of manure for As- 35
pargus & [on] Sat[urday] morn[ing two] Slight Ap-
more[.] ril Showers
Fa[ther] walked to Clinton, going around 38
P.M. & even[ing] with [a] petition for W. A little cool-
Jackson for to be(sicJ Postmaster[.]6 ish, slight
showers.
A[g] & I[were]in Church(Stewart)[and in] 33
S[abbath] Sfchool with] Ada & Ida [Stew- Coolish,Fine
art[.] Isabella Pearl Glen [was] baptiz-
ed[.]
[Uncle James’s] Annie [was] up with[the] 29
petition[.] Fa[ther] walked to Clinton
[with the petition. We've] Finis[hed]
seeding[.]
[I] Planted some onions P.M. A[g] & I 36
[were] at Jane's[this] even[ing.]Er[nest Warmer
was] plowing[.]
A[g] & I gathered old metal & planted 32
onions[.]Fa[ther did] grafting [and the] Warm & Nice
Boys were taking stones off [the]
fields[. The] Red Heifer calved[.]
A[g] & I, Liz & [ ? were] in Clinton P.M. 30
[I] Got Dolly shod[.]
Sorting potatoes all day....A[g] making
closet &........ Men washed some sheep &
shore some[by the] river[.] Cows out all
night for good[.]
31
Very Warm
& pleasant
Jno. & I [were] sorting potfatoes] all 34
day[.] Ned [helped sort] part [of] P.M. Warm Rain
[We got] 3 bags altogether[.] Jno. Green Beautiful P.M.
fetched Ned’s and oue pigs[.] Aunty [is]
home[and] we[
were] down[this] even[ing.]
Jno.[Green went] horn[e in the]even[ing.]
[At Church](Stewart) Doll [went] lame[.] 27
Jn[o.] & Er[nest went to church in the] Beautiful
even[ing.]Ida[was]in S[abbath] S[chool.]
Ned & Jno. [were] in Clinton with potat­
oes [.] Er[nest has been] hauling manure
these days[.]
30
Beautiful &
Warm
May, 1894
I sowed 14 1/2 rows [of]Carrots & 17 1/2
[of] Mangols[.] Farther] & Jno. [were]
opening, etc. Mac called [in the] morn-
ting.] Jno. [worked] at [the]river fence
A.M. Jim Swan & [an] agent called[.]
I sowed 19 rows [of] Mangols A.M. An­
drew Scott called wanting potatoes & T.
Wig[ginton was] around selling gate
hinges[.] (I bought [a] p[ai]r.) Aunty
[was] at Jane's[.]
I[was] in Clinton P M.
in for pota[toes.]
Ned & Jane [were]
23
Beautiful &
Warm
37
colder
19
Warmer
Jno. [was] at [the] Mill [for] chop[.] 33
Fa[ther] & Er[nest] finis[hed] washing Rain, C.W.,
sheep (ewes)[.] I took out double win- [then] Warmer.
dows [.]
May, 1894 176
5. S. [The] Boys sowed Tares & Tares & Oats[.] 18
Fa[ther was] in Clinton P.M. [for the] .Rain P.M. &
plum trees[.] Mag[gie] McEwen [was here] even[ing]
with my Lesson Book[.j One [of the] Hun- Warmer
ter’s called[.]
6. S. Mary foaledf.] A[g] & I [were] in 23
C[hurch.] Jno. [went in the] evenfing.] Fine A.M.
Mary & Bessie [Glen were] in S[abbath] Heavy Rain
S[chool: Bessie for the] 1st [time.]
7. M. Jno. Hunter [was] looking at [the] bull 27
[this] mornfing.] Twitchell [was here] H.W.
with trees (spruce,Wfeeping] Willow etc. C.H.W.
Jno., Er[nest] & I planted 12 rows [of]
potatoes[.] Jno. planted onions[.]
8. T. Jno., Er[nest] & I planted 22 rows [of] 24
pot[atoes.] Jno. Er[nest] & Fa[ther] cut Warmer
[seed] pota[toes] A.M. [I] Finis[hed
[the] Blouse (G. Print.)
9. W. [The] Boys [worked] at Rivfer] fencing 25
A.M.[and did] shearing P.M. Fa[ther] & Warmer,Fine
Ag [were] digging flower beds etc. [I]
washed, [and] sowed beets[.]
10. T. Mother & I [were] in Clinton P.M. T[om] 24
Wfigginton] called [this] morn[ing] for cool Wind
lend offsic) [our] adz[e.The] Boys[have] Warmer, Rain
finis[hed] shearing[.]
11. F. Ned & Jno.washed his sheep[.]Jane & Aun- 30
ty [were] here P.M. [The] Boys [were] Fine & C.W.
knocking down lane posts and made[a]bara Warmer
gate[. The] Last set of chickens coming
out[.]
12. S. Jno. [is] shingling [the] school[house.] 28
Fa[ther] & Er[nest are] fixing fences[.] Wanning & Fine
I washed [the] print racks & ironed[.]
13. S. Fa[ther] & I [were] in Church(Hamilton - 25
Londsboro)[.] Fine, C.W.
Warmer
14. M. [I] baked some cakes[.I] Took chaff from 56
round............................. full Rain, C.W.
of bees[.]
15. T. Mo[ther] & A[g] [were] in Clinton P.M. 32
Adam fetched up E red - finis[hed] morn- Fine
[ing.]fsic) [I] baked [a] shanty [cake] C.W. A.M.
& some C - Pies[.] Warmer
16. W. A[g] scrubbed up boys'stair[way.I] fixed 28
[the] serge basque[.] Heavy Rain
Thunder and Lightning
17. T. Aunty & I [were] in Clinton P.M. Fa[ther 28
had] walked to Clinton before [us. The] Very Warm
Boys [are] making [a] gravel box[.] Dull, Rain
18. F. [I was] sorting rooms[.] A[g] ironed[.] 26
E[rnest was] splitting wood[.] Rainy
19. S. Fa[ther was] at [the] mill A.M. & [in] 29
Brucefield P.M. [I] took[the]long-tailed Cold & Showery
off [the] striped B Basque[.]
20. S. Jno. [was] at C[hurch in the] evenfing] 31
(Shaw - Egmonfdville. ]) jRainy
May, 1894 177
21. M.
7
22 . T .
Ned [was] here fencing[. To-[night Jno., 28
A[g] & I [were] at [a] Congregational Rainy, Cool
Meeting[.]
[Ned was here fencing.]Ned Sr.[came for] 30
dinner[. A] Machine Agent called[.] A[g Nice & warm
was] at Mac's & I [was] at Ned's [this]
even[ing.]
23. W. Fafther] & Mo[ther] [were] at Ben Miller 28
[and] came home by Clinton[.] Ned [was] slight showers
here [working] at fences[.]
24 . T .
25. F.
Fa[ther] & Mo[ther were] at N[ed] Rath- 2 7
well's for dinner & tea[.] Ned [worked] Beautiful
at fences A.M.[I] finis[hed] putting [a] & Warm
top in [a] straw tick[.
]
Jno. [was] at Ned's [and] Jane [was] in 32
[here] P.M. Fa[ther was] in Clinton [and
I was] Cleaning my rooms[.] [John B.]
Stewart & Graham*[have] gone to [the]Old
Country with cattle[.]7
*Goldie or William?
26. S. Fa[ther was] at U[ncle] Ja[me]s['s] A.M. 24
Jno.[was] at Ned's[.] N[ed] & Ja[ne were]
at J. McQueen's [barn] raising[.]*[I was]
cleaning my rooms[.]**
* John MacFarlane would do Ned's
chores while Jane & Ned went
to help McQueen relatives.
** As the eldest, and as a symbol
of her importance in the farm­
ing operation, Eliza-Ann has
her own parlour.
27. S. I walked to Church(Henderson came.) 25
Fine, Warm,
Rain even[ing.]
28. M. N[ed] & Jno. [were] fencing at [the] riv- 31
er, I think [.] Fa[ther] went to Jno. El- Snow showers
liot’sf.]
29. T. Fa[ther was] in Clinton [at a] "Fair Dir- 32
ector's" meeting[. I was] at Jane's stay- Fine & Cold
ing with the baby A.M. McLean lecturing
in school[.]*
♦Probably M.Y. McLean, an active Liberal,
editor and owner of The Huron .Expositor
in Seaforth.
30. W. I spent all day in bed[. The] Men were 29
cleaning wheat etc.A[g was] cutting out a Raining & Hail
print dress[.] Higgins called[this] even­
ing to talk] politics[.]
31. T. Aunty [was] at [Lizzie Glen's] & [the] 27
Green's came after her[.] Jno. [was] in Fine, C.W.
Clinton with [a] load of wheat P.M. [The]
Men put up the river fences again[.]* Mrs
Gabey E[lliot was] in with J. Reid[. I
washed a little[.]
* probably shaken up by high winds
and flash floods.
June, 1894
1. F. Jno. [was] in Clinton with [a] load [of] 25
w[heat.] A[g was] in Clinton A.M. [The] Warm, Fine
Advocate ads man called[.] C.W.
June, 1894 178
2. S. A[g] & Jane [were] in Clinton P.M.[while] 24
X minded [the] baby[.] A[g] got her new Raining all
(J.)[.] day, clear
middle P.M. & even[ing.]
3. S. Fa[ther] & I [were] in C[hurch](Stewart).. 26
...............A[g] minded [the] kid for Warmer
N[ed] & J[ane[.] Rain P.M.
4. M. Ned here, men fencing between Reid[.] Er- 40
[nest was] hauling gravel to [the] barn a little cool-
steps[.] Ja[ne was] in P.M. er, sprinkle
[in] even[ing. ]
5. T. N[ed] & J[ohn were] fencing [at] Ned's[.] 27
Fa[ther] & Mo[ther]have gone to Hullet[.] Fine & cold
U[ncle]Jno.'s & Gilmour's & J[ohn] & Bell W[hite] Frost
[were] at Ned’s[.]
6. W. N[ed] & J[ohn were] fencing[.] U[ncle]Jas. 22
[was] at Mac's [this] even[ing.] Fine & Warm
Colder
7. T. Jno. Scott & Jno. McEwenfwere] here[this] 24
even[ing.] Jno. [has been] shearing with
Ned[.] 1st swarm about 6 o'clock(I think)
[from] O-W-Hive[.]
8. F. Scruton, [the] butcher & Jno Middleton 21
called[. I did some] Baking[.] Fafther] & Finefwarmer
Mo[ther] returned[.] N[ed] & J[ohn have
been] fencing[.]
9. S. [Ned & John were fencing.] Jane [was] in 25
to-day[.] A[g] & I[were] in Cfhurch] P.M.
10. S. A[g] & I [were] in Church(Stewart)[.] Jno. 26
& Fe [nwick went in the] e[
vening.] Fine & very
warm.
11. M. Watson & Jno.Middleton called[.I] churned 24
the first cfream] with Daisy[.]* N[ed] & Very Rainy
Jno. [were] fencing[.j I wrote to Maggie
Lang[. At] noon Y-W-H[ive] swarmed [and]
B-H[ive was] next[.]
*Eliza-Ann had one or more cows that were her’s to
milk and sell the butter their cream provided.
The sale of eggs and butter and dressed poultry
all contributed to Eliza-Ann’s income.
12 . T . [Ned and John were fencing.] Fa[ther] &
Jane [were] in Clintonf.] Mekin cfalled &
[a] man wanting to loan [? I] washed some
& baked some pies[.]
27
Heavy Rain &
Very Warm
13. W. Jno. [was] at Ned’s all night & A.M. Ned 26
[was] in helping [to] dip lambs[.] Howson Very Warm
[was here] for dinner[. The] other B[ee]
hive swarmed[.]
14. T. [I] put 1/2 oz.taps in bee frames[.I was] 27
planting....in drowned-out places nearly
all day[.] Aunty [is] home[.]
15. F. Colt foaled(filly) [.]Mo[ther] & A[g were] Rain A.M.31
in Clinton P.M. Fine & Warm
16. S. [We] Planted 14 rows of turnips A.M.[and] 37
plowed up 6 rows [of ] potatoes [. We were ] Very Warm
Planting beans and nips near[ly]all day...83 degrees [F]
..................McNaughton called[.He] at supper
called before on the 12th[.]
June, 1894 179
17. S. Father,Mary[Glen] & A[g were in]C[hurch.] 27
(Stewart) J[ohn went in the] e[vening.j
18. M. Jno. & Er[nest were] at Road-work[.]Ned & Heavy 29
Harry Perdue came for dinner[. The] Rev.Rain- Warm,
[Mr]Stewart& Donald & M.Swallow called[.] Cool even[ing]
[I 'm cutting out gingham [for a blouse.]
19 . T . Fa[ther],Jno.& Er[nest worked]at roots[.] Rain 28
Jno. Allen [came] for dinner[.] Cool & Misty
20. W. Aunty & I [were] in Clinton P.M. [I got 3 9
some] teeth filled[and] my front ones re- Nice
filled[.] Fa[ther] & Mo[ther were]at Wig-
[ginton's this] even[ing.] J. Pearson
ca[lled.]
21. T .
22 . F .
Carrie and] Jen[nie Grant] & Liz McTavish 24
& Jane & [the] kid [were here] P.M. [The]
young W-hive swarmed [again.]
Fa[ther] & A[g] [have] gone [to see the] 23
Model Farm at Guelph [.]* I[was] in Church very warm
P.M.(Shaw)[.] Jim Dunkin [was here] all Rain, even-
night [.] Jno[was] meeting [the] train[to] [ing]
night[.]
*part of the fledgling Ontario Agricultural
College founded 1874.
23 . S .
24 . S .
Ned & Jane were in Bayfield & at Charlie 20
[Stewart's in the] even[ing.] A[g] & I Very Warm
milked their cows [this] even[ing. The]
Boys washed [the] buggy[.] W-l swarmed &
[then] returned[.]
Fa[ther] & Mother[were]in C[hurch](Stew- 19
art)[.] I went with Ned & Jane[. W -1 Very Warm
swarmed again and returned[.] Rain Even[ing]
25. M. Jno. [was] stretching wire with Ned[.] 28
Er[nest was] hauling earth to [the] barn
stepsf.]* [Mr]Scott[of] Brucefield Call­
ed P.M. [I]washed some clothes P.M.[The]
Y[oung]- W [Hive] & the B next the W one
swarmed[.] A[g] got badly stung[.]
26. T. [There was]voting[today and] Father[was] 24
out at school all day[.]* Mo[ther,A[g] &
I washed[.] Erfnest is] plowing a piece
for rape[.]**
* Ontario provincial general election
** Canola - an oilseed crop
27 . W. [Ernest is still plowing.] Aunty[was] at
Jane's P.M. Er[nest]fetched home [a] new
bicycle[.] [The] B[ee] hive next W - 6
swarmed[. ]
24
Cool & Misty
very Warm
Cool
28. T. Fa[ther] walked to C[linton.] A[g] & Jno. 26
left[this] even[ing]for Brigham's picnic Warm & Windy
tomorrow[.] A[g] canned old house cher­
ries & I picked bugs[.] 4-W swarmed[and]
doubled[.]
29. F. [I] Baked pies A.M.& scalded roost[ers.]
Mofther] churned & Fa[ther] finis[hed]
sowing rape[.] Er[nest's] hauling [more]
gravel to[the barn] steps[.]Willy (Crip­
ple) Elliot [is] here with kids[.* Bee
Hive 6 doubled[.]
* William Elliot(1837-1912) was
the son of James Elliot and Mary Anna Stewart of Hullett Twsp.
June, 1894 180
30. S. I swept out our rooms and Mother's. Jno.
[was]in town[this] even[ing]for Bella[.] Warm
24
1. S .
July, 1894
Fa][ther] & Mo[ther went to Jno. Thom- 29
son's[.] I [was] at Jane's[.] Very Very Warm
2. M.
3 . T .
4. W.
Jen[nie] Grant & Bella [were] at [the] 29
river[.] Fafther] took Willie [Elliot] Very Warm
down to U[ncle] Jno.’s[.] Jno. made [a]
screen door [for the] kitchen[.]
Jen[nie] & Bella [were] in Clinton[. I] 32
put Paris Green [on the] pot[atoes. We] A little
cut a little hay [this] even[ing- the] Cooler
lst[.]
Bella & Jane [were] in Clinton P.M.(Jane 27
dr[ove.I] darned 6 p[ai]r[of] socks with
A[g] & [We]washed winter clothes etc.P.M.
Er[nest was] mowing A.M.
5. T.
6 . F .
7 . S .
[The] Boys hauled in 1 load [of hay] A.M. 23
&,[with] Ned, hauled in 5 or 6 loads P.M. Cool W[ind]
Bella[was] making her blazer etc.I [was]
sorting wool with Fafther] near[ly] all
day[.]Mother & Willie[were] at Will’s[.]
Ada [Stewart was here in the] even[ing.]
Fafther] & N[ed were] in Brucefield with 25
wool[.] W[illiam] Eflliot] went out to Rain, Cool
Ned's back [?] P.M.
[I] Took Willie Eflliot] & son to Aun- 28
ty's[.] A[g] & Be[11a were] in Clinton Cool & W[indyf]
A.M. & Jane [was] in P.M. Fafther] & Jno. Fine
[were in Clinton] with [the] Bull, [the]
Shouragh Heifer & steers[. I] finis[hed
the] gingham blouse[.]
8. S. [IjMindedfthej kid[.]A[g] & B[ella were] 22
in Church[.] Jno. & B[ella] went[in the]
even[ing.] Fafther was] at U[ncle
James's.]
9. M. [I] Greened[the] potatoes[.The] Men haul- 26
ed in 6 loads [of] hay[.] I drove [the] Warmer
horses [on the hay] fork[.] Ned [was]
here[.]
10. T. [We] Finis[hed] mowing A.M. [and] hauled 18
in 4 loads[.] I[did the] raking P.M. Er-
[est went] in[to] Clinton P.M. for a pul­
ley on [his] bicyclef.]
11. W. [We] Finis[hed] haying [this] even[ing.] 17
[We] Hauled in 1 [load] A.M. & 5 [loads] Warm
P.M. I did [the] raking P.M.[There were]
Just 4 [loads] in [the] Shanty field[.]
Jno. [was] in Bruce[field] for a pulley
A.M.
12 . T .
13 . F .
Jno. & Er[nest were] hauling in with Ned 24
all day[.] B[ella] & A[g were] at Wig- Pretty Warm
[ginton's] P.M. Jno.took B[ella] to[the]
station enroute for Godferich] etc. [She
caught the] late train[. I] cut out[the]
print dress[.]
Er[nest was] mowing with Ned[.] Fafther] 18
walked to Clinton P.M.
July, 1894 181
14. S. Jno. & Er[nest were] hauling in with Ned 40
all day[.]A[g] churned & I made 8 cherry
pies P.M.
15. S. A[g] & I & Jane [were] in Church (Stewart.) Very 26
Warm & Dry
16 . M. [The] Boys [have been] cutting wheat[.]
Ja[ne] & A[g were] picking Ja[ne]'s
berries A.M. Bella [is] home........ [I]
took some honey fron No. 4[.]
25
Very Hot
& dry
17. T. [I] finished taking 4 bee frames [from 2 6
No. 4. and We have] finis[hed] cutting
wheat[.] I[was] in Clinton P.M. Sam Wil­
son called[.]
18. W. Jno. [was] reaping for Ned[.I] was pull- 24
ing & preserving cherries[.] A[g] & I
picked berries P.M.
19. T. I [was] in Clinton P.M. Ellie P.M.& Ab & 23
Mr & Mrs A. Dunkin[were] at G[len]'s for
Cherries [in the]even[ing.] Jno. finis-
[hed] reaping [at] N[ed]’s A.M. Ned &
& Jno.[were] in C[linton] P.M.[with the]
Waggon(sic)[.j
20. F [We] hauled in 11 loads [of] wheat, ([I] 25
think.)[We] Pulled currants [and] finis- Rain even[ing]
[hed them.]
21 S. Jno. [was] in Brucefield A.M. & got 24
slings[.]8 N[ed was in Brucefield] P.M. Fine & Cool
[We] finis[hed the] wheat - 4 l[oads] &
[the] rakingsf.] I[was] raking after tea
until late[.]
22 . S .
23 . M.
24 . T .
Fa[ther & I [were] in C[hurch.] A[g] & I 33
minded the kid[.]
A[g] & I[did a] washing and Made[ginger]
snaps[.] Jno. & Er[nest] [were] hauling
with Ned[.]
25
Warmer, Show­
ers [in] even«
[ing]
[John ] went to C[linton [.]Fa[ther] & Mo- Rain 2 5
[ther] went to W. Kyle'sf.] I washed & Fine & Warm
done some mending[.] Rain
25. W. Bella[was] at [Master George] Baird's[.] 28
[I] Mended Jno.'s p[an]ts[. I] Took some Fine & Warm
honey [from the beehives. I] Lost [the]
kid [at] noon[.]* Ned [was here] P.M. to
[work on the] steps[.]
*Jane reclaimed Isabel.
26. T.
27 . F .
28 . S .
29 . S .
Bella & I [were] at Ben Miller[.] Fa[th- 32
er] walked to C[linton. The] Boys [were]
hauling m[anure]with Ned[.] A[g] & Bella
[were] at[Lizzie Glen's this] even[ing.]
Jno. with A[g was at Lizzie Glen's this 40
evening.] Ja[ne was]at Lizzie's P.M. Ned 90 [degrees F]
[was] hauling gravel here P.M. [I] Made at tea time
jell[y]c[ake], ironed & washed under­
skirts [.]
Ned[was] here[.] Jno. & Er[nest]cut some 10
peas [. ]Ja[ne] & I[were] in C[linton] P.M. Very Warm
[leaving] A[g] minding [the] kid[.]
A[g],Bella,Maimi & Jane[were]in C[hurch.] 20
July, 1894 182
24
30. M. [I] Raked peas A.M. A[g] picked bramble
[berriejs A.M. U[ncle] J]ame]s, Aunty
Mary,& Mr & Mrs Armstrong[were here] A.M.9
Etc. Aunty & Jennie [were] here P.M. To­
night [I] filled honey jars [and] churn-
ed[.] Adam [was here] P.M. [working] at
peas[.]
31. T . [I] Made 9 pies[.] [I was] looking in 26
[at the] bees P.M. Farther],A[g] & I, &
[the] Armstrongs [were] at Jane's [this]
even[ing.] Jno.& Mfother] & A[g were] in
C[linton] A.M. & Jno[went] again[in the]
even[ing.] Ned[was] hauling g[ravel] P.M.
Er[nest was] plowing[.]
1
. W.
2. T.
3 . F .
4. S.
5. S.
August, 1894
A[g] & Bella [were] in Clinton A.M. Ned 22
[was] helping [us] finis[h] hauling in Warm
peas A.M. Jno. & Er[nest helped with Ned
P.M.M[other & A[g went]down to Stewart’s
P.M. [Mr & Mrs Armstrong] & A[gnes] & Cool
B[ella were at Lizzie Glen's this] even­
ting. ]
Ned [did] stooking [and] Jno. started 25
cutting oats[.]Fa[ther]&[the Armstrong'
s Warm
[were in C[linton] etc. P.M. Tene & Bell
[McEwen and] Nannie & Lilly [Stewart] Windy
[
were] here [this] even[ing.]
Erfnest filled in] for Ned at Scott's 31
threshing A.M. [and was] at Mac's P.M. Light Rains
[The]Arm[strong's]went to U[ncle James's
this] morn[ing. I] darned socks etc.
Er[nest was] plfowing] A.M.[and] cutting 20
Ned's peas P.M. Jno. [was] at Ned’sf.] Cool Wind
I [was] in C[linton] P.M. & Fine
A[g] & I [were in church](Stewart.) 19
6. M. [I] Cleaned [the] hen-house,milked sheep 24
etc., etc. [The] Boys [were] at Ned's & Warmer
Will's all day[.A ]Jew-pedler[came] in[.]
»
7. T. I [went in[to] Clinton [this] morn[ing] 20
for [binder]twine [and] made pies P.M.
Jno. [did the] reaping [while] Fa[ther]
& Er[nest did] stooking[. ]
8. W. [John reaped while Father] & Ned [did] 28
stooking[,] Er[nest,who was] at Woon’s Very Warm
threshing, [was] home at 2 o' clfock.I] Slight Showers
put [a] tail on a ganzie [and] done some
mending[.]
9. T .
10 . F .
I went to Stonehouse's with Lizzie to 26
pick bramble[berrie]s[. I drove] Lucy[.] Rain,
Fa[ther] walked to C[linton[. The] Men
[were] hauling in N[ed]'s peas[.] Stat- Fine & Nice
ion Agent A.G. Patterson &[his] son[were
here this]even[ing.]
A[gnes] & Bella [were] at Fergueson's[.] 26
Ned & F. Heywood [were] here [and] haul- Pleasant
ed in 12 lo[ads of] oats,(I think)[.I]
Sorted berries & Made pies etc.[A] Horse
lost a shoe[.]
August, 1894 183
11. S .
12 - S .
13 . M.
14 . T .
15 . W.
16. T.
17 . F .
18 . S .
19. S.
20. M.
21. T.
22 . W.
23 . T .
24. F.
Ned [Glen] & Frank [Armstrong were] here
all day[.We] hauled in 17 loads & finis­
hed the] oats[.] Frank & I [worked] in
[the] mow P.M. Mo[ther was] at Jane's
[in the] even[ing.j
Jno. & Er[nest] & Frank[were]hauling in
Ned’s oats[.] Fa[ther] & I[were]in Clin­
ton P.M.[The] Armstrong's left[. I]kill­
ed 7 roosters (The first [batch].)
Fa[ther was] at Andy Dunkin's [in] Varna
& [at] G[eorge]Baird’s[.The] Boys finis­
hed] Ned’s [at] noon & [were] at Will's
P.M. Foster Andrews, [the] Nursery Ped-
ler, called[. I] Made 2 Jell[y] Cakes &
Hermits[.]
[The] Boys cut Rape & R[ye] and Oats P.M.
Bella [was] at Grants P.M. [and John &]
Adam [were] there [in the] even[ing. I]
baked pies, shanty cake & washed some[.]
Fa[ther] & I[were] in Clinton A.M. Mrs &
Jessie Wig[ginton were here] P.M.& [the]
Jas.[Stewart] girls were here in the ev­
enting.] S, Reid called[this] evenfing.]
Us Kids etc.,[were] at[the]Bayfield pic­
nic [.] Fa[ther] walked to C[linton[. A]
Tramp called [in on us.]
[We] Finis[hed the] Harvest [and have] 3
jags of Green feed[.] Ned & Will [Glen
were here] for tea[.] Jno. took Bella to
[the] station[in the] even[ing.] A. Dun-
kin [was here] for dinner[.]
A[g]& 1 [went to church in the]
morn[ing]
(McMillan-Gunn’s brother-in-law.) [John,
Fenwick,] Ned & Ja[ne went in the] even­
ting while] I minded [the] Kid[.]
18
Warm
28
26
25
Warmer
Slight Showers
24
Slight Showers
Dull & Cool
21
Beautiful
& Cool
21
21
Warm
26
Sunshiny &
Pleasant
39
Jno. [was] at Jno. Cluff’s* seeing about
threshingf.] Jno., Ned & Ja[ne were] in
Clinton P.M.[and] left [the] kid here[.]
Tho[ma]s Frazer(sic) called [. I worked]
at making Fa[ther's] p[an]ts[.] *The 1878 Atlas
shows an R.J. Cluff
on part of Lot 18, the
Bayfield Con., Goderich
Township.
[I]Finis[hed] making Fa[ther]'s ducks[.] 20
The] Boys [are making a] Russell fence
next Mac’s bush and U[ncle] Jno.'s [back Cool
fifty. I] wrote to Mrs McMillan, Gertie
& Aunt Janet[.]
[I] Mended Er[nest]’
s shirts & Darned
socks[.] Ned [worked] at [the] fence P.M,
Beauti- 18
ful but very
dry
Mother & I[were] in Clinton P.M. N[ed] & 15
J[ohn were] fencingf. We] Killed[a]Shrop Hot Day
lamb[.]
N[ed] & J[ohn worked]at fences [and]Jane 20
was in all day[.] S. & Ida Isard [were
here] P.M. (went to Jane's 1st.) Erfnest
was] hauling stones[. I was] making [Jim
Barkley•s] woolen p[an]ts[.]
August, 1894 184
25 . S .
26 . S .
27 . M.
[I] Made pies, biscuits & ironed [the] 20
wfhite] pett[icoat] etc. A[g] walked to
C[linton] P.M. (broke T)* Jno. [has been]
fencing with N[ed and] Er[nest has been]
hauling stones & rails[.]
A[g], Jane & I[went to church this] morn- 24
[ing](Henderson.) Jno. & A[gnes], Ned & Cooler but dry
Annie S[tewart went to the] even[ing ser­
vice^] Aunty [is] home[.] Jane [was off]
seeing Aunty Ellen[.] A Billy died[.]
Ida [was] up for pears A.M. Er[nest],A[g] 21
& I [were] at Scott's [this] even[ing. I
worked] at making Fafther's p[an]ts[.] Warm & Dry
Lizziefis making] Mofther an] apron[.]Er-
[nest was]hauling stones[.]N[ed] & Ja[ne]
went to Stonehouse's[.]
28. T. [I] Washed[.] A[g] pulled & cooked plums- 16
3 3/6 q[uar]ts (Gems.)* A[g] & [our]cous-
ins [were] in[the] river[.] Fafther & Jno.
[were] trimming sheep[.]
*Gem glass sealers
29. W. [I]Killed 6 Roost[er]s[.] I[was] in Clin- 25
ton P.M. E[rnest was] hauling gravel to Slight Showers
[the] steps[. Ernest] bought a horse from Dull, Warm
W. Elliot[.]
30 T. [I] Baked Cup Cakes, Cookies & 3 Jell[y] 16
cakes- 1 [was] a failure - no soda[. I] Cool & Dullish
stitched Jno's present apron[.]* Jno.[has
been] asking hands for threshing[. I]
Killed [a] Shearling ewe[this] even[ing.]
* See Monday entry;John appears to have
enlisted the help of Lizzie Glen and
his sister Eliza to make an apron for
his mother.
31. F. [We began] threshing P.M. [I]made 13 pies Dull &15
(I think.) A[g was]in Clinton P.M.to post Smokey
letters to Fox[.]* *Possibly
Robert Fox, a Clinton cooper(barrel
maker)
September, 1894
1. S. [We had] 21 men for dinner[and]finis[hed] 13
threshing about 1/2 past 2 P.M. Jno.moved Warm, dry &
them over to W. Elliot's[.]Ned helped rid Smokey
nips[. I] made 5 pies A.M. The Advocate
ads man [ was here] for dinner[,] W.Isard
[was] killed [while riding] on [a] bi­
cycle [.]
2. S. A[g] & I [were in church](a youth [named] 17
Cameron.)Jno.[went to church in the]even­
ting.] Jno. Thomson[was] here[.] A[g] & I Very Warm
[were] at Isard's [this] even[ing.]
3. M [I] worked at making p[an]ts[.] Fafther], 7
Mofther] & Jno. [called] at Isard's[this]
even[ing.] Erfnest was] away [for the]
"Labor Day" celebration in Clinton[.]
4. T. Jno. [was] helping N[ed] take out stones 9
[from the] river[bed] A.M. Jno.& I [were]
at [the] funeral P.M.[.] Mr & Mrs A. Dun- Rain A.M.
kin called this even[ing.] Er[nest has Very Warm
been] hauling out manure[.]
September, 1894 185
5. W. Fa[ther was] in Clinton for tile P.M.[.] 18
[I] Finis[hed the] p[an]ts, all but [the] Some Rain
pressing!.] Fa[ther has been]putting wood Fine & Warm
in [the] shed these days[.]
6. T. [I] Killed 10 Roosters[• I was] in Clint- 18
on P.M.[with] evaporator app[le]s [which] Fine
A[g] & I picked up P.M. Jno. [has been] Windy & Warm
draining the cellar[.]
7 . F ...............................[I] made pies 14
& pressed Fa[ther]'s p[an]ts[.] Slight Rain A.M.
Fine P.M. & Heavy
Rain, Tfhunder] &
L[ightning at night]
8. S . [I] Darned socks [and was] picking up Ap- 14
pies & limbs etc. [The] Boys [were] haul- Fine & Windy &
sand A.M. and plowing P.M. (I think.) Very Warm
9. S. Fa[ther] & I[were in Church](Geo.Law [of] 12
Stratford [who preached on] "Peter's Den- Very W[arm]
ial".) Adam [Stewart} & Jno. [went in the Thunderstorm
evening.]
10. M. [I] [was] picking a[pples] A.M. Jno.[was] 9
in Clinton P.M. [He] took A[g], who got a Thinder Shower
bar [ ? ] lime[.] Cook called [this ev- Then C.W. then
en[ing] to see Er[nest.] fine & Warm
11. T. A[gJ & I [were] at R. Thompson's[.]Finley 8
[McEwen] called [this] morn[ing.] C[old] Wind
12. W. [I] Took Fa[ther] & Jno. to C[linton] en- 15
route for Toronto Fair[.] Jessie Wigfgin- Cold & Fine
ton[was here] P.M. A[g was] at N[ed]Rath- C.W.
well's[.]Jennie [Rathwell came] back with
her[.] Mac [was here this] even[ing.]
13. T. Jennie[Rathwell] & A[gnes were] at Jane's 10
P.M. & [at] Mac's [in the] even[ing.] Mrs Heavy,Heavy
Isard & Mrs Cartwright [were] here P.M. Rain, Tfhund-
[I]] Met Fa[ther at [the] night train[.] er] & L[ight~
[He was feeling] sick[.]* ning]
*James MacFarlane died of
prostate cancer on October 1,
1899 at age 66. This may well
one of the early signs, five
years before.
14. F. [I] Stayed with [the] baby P.M. Ned took 6
our horse to a funeral[.]* A[g] & J[ane Fine & Warm
were] at U[ncle] Jno's [this] evenfing.]
Jno. came home [to]night with Adam[.] *She doesn’t
tell us who died.
15. S. J[ennie] R[athwell] went home[. I] Made 12
pies [and was] Picking Apples P.M. Cook R[ain] Shower
called[.] Jno. [was] in Clinton with Er- Fine
[nest.]
16. S. A[g] & I [were in Church] (G. Law.) Jno. 12
[and] Fen[wick went at night.] Nice & Pleasant
17. M. [I] Took Fafther] to the station enroute 17
for London[,I]was Sorting Apples near[ly]
all day[.] Er[nest] finish[ed] sowing
wheat[.]Jno.[was] trimming sheepf.]Finley
called[in the morning.]
18. T. Er[nest was] at Mac’s threshing!. I] Put
[a] tail on[the]gazie & turned[the]flan­
nel pettic[oa]t[.]Aunty & Ja[ne were]here
P.M. Jno. [went] in [the] wagon with ap­
ples to C[linton.] P.M. Fa[ther]home [in
the] even[ing.]
September, 1894 186
19. W.
20. T.
21. F .
22 . S .
23 . S .
Fa[ther]drove A[g]& I to Brucefield[and] 11
Ned met us [in the] even[ing.We went to] Cool &
London [Fair.] Er[nest] & Jno. [were] at Pleasant
Mac’s threshingf.]Fa[ther was]in Clinton
[where he] expected[the arrival] of [Mr]
Hanna[.]10
Fa[ther was]in C[linton] A.M.to meet[Mr] 11
Hanna,[who he] took all round with him[.
The visitor spoke in the] Hall [at]night.
Jim Cooper and A. Dunkin calledf.] Er-
[nest was] at D[uncan] McEwen's thresh-
ing[.]
Fa[ther] took [Mr] H[anna] to[the] stat- 9
ion [this] morning[.I] Finis[hed]hemming
[a] 2nd hanky etc., etc.Jno.went up to J.
McDonald’s P.M.Er[nest was] at D[uncan]
McEwen's threshing[.]
Sturdy [was here] for dinner[.] Jno.went 10
back with[him] to another Sturdy's [and] Nice &
they fetched down [the] R[am] Jno.had Windy
bought[.].....Jno. pulled beans[.]
A[g]& I[were in Church](G. Law.)Ada[m] & 11
Ffenwick went at night.] "Judge not that Rain, cold &
ye be not judged[.]" In a blank space at very Windy
the bottom of the page Eliza-Ann continues
her train of thought: [I] Resolve...To take
[a] text (example "Judge not...etc...) &
think & practise continually till it is
part of us[.We should]Have our root with­
in ourselves,not depending on outward
things, preachings, etc.
24. M.
27 . T.
28 . F .
29. S.
30 . S .
Mr & Mrs Earl Graham[came] for dinner[.] 12
for Ned[.The stone] Mason went home[.]
[I] Hemmed 1/4 handkerchief[.]
[I] Killed 10 R[oosters.]A[g] & I[were] 12
in C[linton] P.M. Jno. & Er[nest were] Warmer & Fine
threshing all day at W[illiam]Glen’s[.]
[I] Hemmed 1 side of [a] handkerchief 12
A.M. Er[nest was] threshing P.M.[while]
I [was] at Jane's[.] Threshers arrived Beautiful
[there] about 1/2 past 4 o'clock[.] Jno.
[was] in C[linton this] evenfing.]
[I was] at Jane's all day[.]
A[g],J[ane] & l[were] in C[hurch](G.Law,
Rev. Stewart back.) "Sower & seed" Any
one showing any desire to understand
teachings were alway gladly helped(Seek-
to know.)
11
10
Light showers
nice P.M.
H.W. & Cold
1. M.
2. T.
October, 1894
[I] Hemmed side 4 [of the handkerchief]
A.M. & Finis[hed] P.M. [I] Took honey
from[the] Bees A.M and fixed the B[ath]
Mat [in the] eventing. I] Hunted up Ap-
p[le]s[. The stone] Mason [came] back[at
noon[.]
10
Beautiful
Cool W[ind]
Jane & I [were] in C[linton] A.M.[with]
things to show[.] A[g] stayed with [the]
Kid[.] Jno. [was] up [in the] evenfing]
for a barrel of cement[.]
13
Dull, C[old]
W[ind]
October, 1894 187
3. W. All but Mother [were] at Cflinton] 7
Fair[.] Jane left [the] Kid with Moth- Raining
er[. Some] Hens[have been] killed - 2 on Nice & Sunshiny
Tuesday[.]
4. T. [We] Started pulling App[le]s P.M. Adam 10
Elliot, Foster Brigham and Bella Cuming Dull,
called}.The] Men have been at the river Rain Even[ing]
getting stones for [the] cellar[.] Cook
called.
Eliza-Ann omits to mention the death to­
day of Isabella, widow of Stanley pioneer John Innes.
See below Footnote # 11.
5 . F . A[g] & I[were] pulling a[pples] till af­
ter 6 P.M. Fa[ther was] in C[linton]P.M.
for[news]papers[.]E[rnest was]plowing[.]
10
Showery
6. S. Jno. & I [were] at [Mrs Innes's] funeral 10
P.M.11 Jock went home[.] A[g] & I [were] C.W.
pulling app[le]s P.M. Fair
7 . S . Fa[ther] & I [were in Church](Stewart.)
Jno. [
went in the] even[ing.]
Fair 8
C.W.
8. M. A[g] & I [were] pulling Ap[ples] all
day[.] Er[nest was] plowing[. The] Mason
came back [at] noon[. We] Finis[hed the]
cellar[by] taking out[surplus]stones[.]
6
High Cold Wind
9. T . A[g] & I [were] pull[ing apples] all
day[. The] Mason & Fa[ther were] tak­
ing stones out of [the] river[.J Thomson
took down[the] front steps to strengthen
[them and] went home [in the] even[ing.]
Cool 10
Wind A.M.,
10. W . Fa[ther] & Jno. & Er[nest were] at Bay-
field Fair[.] Jno. & Ned load[ed] the
sheep [being entered in the Fair[. They
called on Finley [McEwen], W[illiam Glen,
George Baird, Mr Copeland & Mr Barber[.]
A[g] & I[were] pulling app[le]s[.IJkil-
led 2 box hives [of] bees[.]
1
DullfCooler
11. T . A[g[ & I pull[ed apples] all day[.] G.
Baird [came] for tea[.] Cook called on
A[g] & 1 [in the] orchard[.]
C.H.W. 5
Very Dull
Pleasanter P.M.
12 . F . A[g did a] washing[. I was]in C[linton
P.M. Jno. [has been] making a potato bin,
etc.[I]cut the honey out of 1 hive box[.]
Pleasant 7
Dull, Raining
13 . S . I killed 8 Roosters [and was]in C[linton]
P.M. Fa[ther] & Jno. [were] taking stones
out of [the] river[.]
Raining 1
Showery
14 . s . A[g] & I[were in Church](Stewart.)"Christ
washing disciples' feet" Humility etc.
Dull 7
Snow, Hail
15. M. [The] Men [were] lifting potatoesf.] A[g]
& I [were] pulling ap[ples on the] 3 Spy
trees[.] Ad[am and] Jno. [were at church
[in the] evening.]
Fine 8
between Dull
& Bright
16. T . A[g] & I [were] pulling ap[ples] all
day[. The] Men [have] finis[hed] lifting
potfatoes.] Er[nest] & Fa[ther were] pul­
ling Mangols P.M. John [was] in C[linton]
P.M. for [a] bar[.]
8
Nice & Warm
17 . W. A[g] & I[were]pulling ap[pies.]Jno.Thom­
son came [this] morn[ing and was] fixing
[the] front steps[. The] Boys [are] pul­
ling & hauling in Mangols[.] Jno[was] in
C[linton] for lime[.]
1
Beautiful
October, 1894 188
18. T. A[g] & I [were] in C[linton] A.M. [and] 6
pulling a[pple]s P.M. Jno. T[homson]left
A.M. [and] fixed Mac's chimney[.]
19. F. A[g] washed [and] I[was]pulling[apples.] 5
Jno. shot [a] hawk[in the]orchard[. The]
Men finis[hed the] Mangols[.]
20. S. [The Men pulled] & hauled in Carrots[.] 4
A[g] & Ifhelped] A.M.[and] I [helped P.M.
Finley [McEwen] called[.]
21. S. Jno. & A[gnes were]in C[hurch](Stewart.) 5
Jno. & Ned [went in the evening.]
22. M. A[g] & I finis[hed] pulling a[pples] & 4
pears[.] Cantelon peddlers drove in [to Dull, Rain,
get] out of [the] rain[.] Apple packers Tfhunder] &
arrived[in the] even[ing.The] Men finis- L[ightning]
[hed the] carrots[.] Warm, Fine
23. T. Jno. & Erfnest were] at Wig]ginton's] 4
threshing till 2 o'clockf.] Lizzie & I Misty, Fine
[were] in C[linton] A.M. [I had to] post .Rain
[a] letter[. We] Packed 37 bar[rels and
have] finis[hed with apples.]
24. W. A[g] & I [were] picking culls all day[.] 18
Er[nest was] plowing[.]Fa[ther was] pul- Dull,
ling beets & house carrots[.]Cook called Fine, Warmer
etc.Bell May[McEwen came]after applesf.]
25. T. A[g] washed [while] I [was] sorting a[p- 4
pies.] Fafther was] in C[linton] P.M. Dull & Pleasant
26. F. I [was] in Church(McAllister.)[The] Cal- 3
der's came as Jno. was going[.The] Cal-
der's, Fafther], Mo[ther],Jno.,Adam, etc.,
[gathered] at Mac'
s [this] even[ing.]
Finley [was here this] morn[ing for ? ]
27. S. Jno.,[Ernest,]& Ned hauled out applesf.] 15
I [was] sorting a[pples] all day[.] Beautiful
28. S. Fa[ther],Mo[ther] & Ifwere] in C[hurch.]3
Ag minded B[ella-P[earl] & Lizzie’s
kids[.]
29. M. [I was]Sorting a[pples]A.M. Ned & Ja[ne] Warm 3
[were] in C[linton] for cider [and] took
up evap[orator] apples too[.]* J. Scott,
Adam & Mac’s [were] peeling [this] even­
ting. ]**
* In this period, most towns in the area had a
small factory or mill where you could take
apples to be dried or made into cider.
** Usually bruised or pitted apples were made
into cider. Apples for drying were first
peeled and cored. While you could dry them
yourself over several days in the sun, it
was a lot speedier to take them to the
evaporator and fast-dry them in a warmimg
oven while you waited.
30. T • [We were] Making apple butter [and then] 4
Jno. took back the kettle[.]* Er[nest Raining
has] finis[ed for this year] & [is Jgone
to night with Jno. *rented from evaporator?
31. W. [I]Partly packed 4 hives[.]U[ncle] Jno’s,
Jno, & both Glen’s have gone to Green's
[this] even[ing. I] peeled some apples
this even[ing.]Ned had a runaway [horse].
November, 1894 189
1. T. [I was] at Jane’s A.M. helping to 14
churn[.] Jno. [was] meeting Ned at Jno. Windy
Middleton's[this] morn[ing. I] loosened Beaut[iful]
frames in 2 bee boxes [that I'm getting]
ready to unite[.]
2. F. Fa[ther was]piling furnace wood in [the] 14
cellar[.] (yesterday too) Mo[ther & I
[were] in C[linton] P.M. [We] took pears
[and] app[le]s [to the] wigg[intons.]
Jno. [was] hauling out manure[.]
3. S. [I] Picked [a] goose,put bees together & 3
[was] bagging onions etc. Fa[ther] pul- Showery & Windy
led 4 rows [of] turnips [which] Jno.took
in[.]
4. S. A[g] & I [were in Church](Stewart.) Jno. 3
[went in the] even[ing.] Fine & Dull
5. M. Jos. Isard [was] here [this] morning[.] 18
[I] Finis[hed] packing [the] bees[.The]
Men [worked] at [tur]nips[.] Jno. [was] Fine
plowing A.M. [I] peeled apples [in the]
even[ing.]
6. T. [The] Men [have] finis[hed tur]nips[.]
[I was] Cleaning [the] hen housef.] A[g]
is building [a] goose house[.] Jno.[was]
in C[linton this] even[ing.] The Master
[was here] after sheep[.]
12
Light Snow
showers;
Ground White
7. W. Carrie & Jennie [Grant] called, hunting 3
[for] apples[.] Wiley [was] here & Jim Dull,Softish
Swan called[.I] Finis[hed]cleaning [the]
hen-house, sorted at onions, etc. [The]
Cows [were] in all night[.]
8. T. [I] Killed 3 Turk[ey]s[.]Fa[ther] walked 3
to C[linton] A.M. I [was] in C[linton] Cfold] E[ast]
P.M.[and brought Father] home with me[.] W[ind]
Finley [was here in the] evenfing.] Slight Flurries
9. F .
10 . S .
11 . S .
Fa[ther], Mac & Ned killed Ned's & our Stormy & 5
pigs[.] Jno. [was] in C[linton], B[ruce- Snowing
field] & Varna getting a barrel[. The]
Colts and all cattle[were]in to night[.j
[I was] cutting honey off frames this
even[ing.]
[I cut honey off of frames] all day[.]
Fa[ther was] at [the] mill for chop,1st]
[time with the] sleigh[.] A[g], Jno. & I
[were] at Glen's [this] even[ing.]
4
C[old] W[ind]
Snow Showers
A[g] & 1 [went to church] (Stewart)[in Fine 6
the] buggyf.] Jno. [went in the] even- Snowed a little
[ing.]
12 . M.
13 . T .
14. W.
[I] Churned[.] [We had] Callers-[The] Fine 1
Rev. Mr & Mrs Stewart[.] Dickson (Goder- Dullish
ich) bought the Shearl[in]g Ram[.] Nan­
nie [and] Adam [Stewart] & B[ella] Cum­
ing [were here this] even[ing.]
[I] Killed 6 Tu[rkey]s & 8 chickens[.]
[I was] in C[linton] P.M. Dickson’s man
[came] for[the] Ram [and] Greaves [came]
after his sheep[.] Jes[sie]Wigg[inton] &
her cousin McGregor [were here] P.M.
3
Softish
Snow Showers
[I] Washed[.] Jno. [has been] hauling
earth to the barn steps these days[. I
was] at Ned’s [this] even[ing.]
Snowed 3
Some, Softish,
Dull
November, 1894 190
15. T. Mo[ther] & I[were] in C[linton] P.M.[-We
went in the] buggy[.] Fa[ther was] at
Dyke's sale[.]
Fine, Soft
16 . F . Jane [was] here[.] I [was] sorting honey
all day[.j A[g] [was] washing[the] k[it-
chen] windows[. The] Master [was here]in
[the] even[ing[.]
1
Fine, Dull
Slight Showers
17 . S . Washed hair(mine)[.] Fa[ther] walked to
C[linton] P.M. Jane went to C[linton] in
[the]cart P.M. A[g] washed kitchen plas-
ter[.]
1
Slight Snow
Showers, Fine,
Dull
18 . S . [The] Horse [is] minus a shoe[.]Jno.walk­
ed [to church in the] even[ing.]
21(Rotting)
Snowing
19. M. [I] Made pies, mended p[an]ts etc., [and],
hemmed[a] p[ai]r[of] grey flannel sheets
[in the] even[ing.]
2
Snowing
20. T. I [was] in C[hurch] A.M. [We] Killed &
plucked 10 geese & 12 Turk[ey[s[.]
1
C[old] S.E.
Wind
21. W. [I was] in C[linton] A.M. Sturdy [came] Soft
for tea[. I] Killed and picked 2
geese[.]
22. T. Thanksgiving A[g] & Jessie & I [were] at 1
the [Sabbath School] examinations P.M.
Houston & Scott [were the] examiners[.]Mr Fine, Dull
& Mrs [Wigginton],Stella,& Jes[sie],Ned &
Jane [came for] dinner[.] Jane went [out]
for & returned with ufncle] J[ame]s &
Aunty Mary[.]
23 . F .
24. S .
Jno. & Ned [were] up at Porter's Hill etc. 1
A[g] & I[were]at Grant's P.M.& even[ing.] Dull but
Jno., Adam, Ned & Jane [were] at Grant's pleasant
[in the] even[ing.] Grainger [was] here
[and he] bought [thee] Grey cow[.] Aunty
[is] home[.]
Fa[ther] walked to Clinton[.] Aunty [was] Snowing
up[.I] Put [the] remainder of [the] hon­
ey in jars[.]
25. S. A[g] & I [were in church] (Stewart.)..... 2
....Jno.[went in the] even[ing](Day-Tor- Frozen, a
onto.) S[abbath] S[chool] Anniversary* little C.W.
*My educated guess is
that this is the 20th
anniversary. The school
probably commenced at
Easter, 1874. Eliza
would have been 10 and
able clearly to recall
it.
26. M. Fa[ther] & I put in D[ouble]Windows [and 2
I] Cleaned[the] H[en]-H[ouse. I] took in C[old] W[ind]
some cabbage to [the Rev.] Mr S[tewart.]
27 . T . Aunty & I [were] in C[linton] P.M. A[g]
washed blankets[.]
7
C.CN. W.W.
Snow Flurries
28. W. [I] Darned Fa[ther’s] & Jno.'s mitts & Snow Flurries
Fafther’s] ”socks"[*.I] Washed [and] A[g] C[old] W[ind]
ironed[. The] G[len] kids[were] here P.M.
[while] Lizzie [was] in C[linton.] *euphemism for
long underwear?
November, 1894 191
29 . T .
30. P.
1. S .
2. S .
3. M.
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 .
Jno. [was] in C[linton] P.M. [I] Killed C[old] 1
4 geese & 7 Turkeys[.] E[ast] W[ind]
Blizzardy
A [g] & I [were] in Cflinton] P.M. & [at] Fine, 1
Wigg[inton's in the] even[ing.] Dull, Warm
December, 1894
Jno. [was] at Will's crushing P.M. Jane Fine, a little
[was] in P.M. Softish
A[g] & I [were in church](Stewart.) Jno.
[went to] C[hurch in the] even[ing.]
Ned [was] here A.M. fixing[the] arms [on
the]H[orse P[owe]r[
We]cleaned[the]H [en-]
H[ouse and then John went to] B[ruce-
field[.] Grainger & H. Parker calledf.]
A[gj & I & Mac's [were] at "Master's"[in
the] even[ing. I ] sewed steels on [the]
basque & put new pockets in Jno.'s over­
coat[. ]
[I] Cleaned potato earth out of[the]cel­
lar, swept it[and I] Washed P.M. A[g was
out helping J[ane] pick 5 Turk[ey]s[.]
Fa[ther was] at A . Dunkin's[.] A [g] & I
[were] at Ned's [this] even[ing] picking
7 turkeysf.] A. Dunkin & kid [were] here
[to-]night[.I worked]at making [a] stoc­
king bag P.M.
[I] Finis[hed the stocking bag and spent
the] even[ing] a t Aunty's[. I was] in
C[linton] A.M. with Jane' s Turk[ey]s[.]
[I’
m]making Jno.’s woolen p[an]ts[.]A[g]
is washing kitchen paint these days[.]
Jno. [went to] B[rucefield.]
[The] Horse [has] lost [a] shoe[.] Jno.
[walked to church in the] even[ing.]
[I'm still] making p[anjts[.] A[g was]
at Mac's[and I was] at Ned's[this] even­
ting. ]
[I] finis[hed the] p[an]ts[.]
Jno. [was] in C[linton] with [the] grey
cow[. ] Fa[ther went]in[the] top buggy[,]
A[g] [was] cleaning [the] pantry[.]
[I] Cleaned [the] H[en-]H[ouse] P.M. [I]
Took Jane out 12 pullets and took in 2
turkeys[.I] Put new feathers[in] hats[.]
A[g] [has] gone to Ellie's (Mrs Nott's.)
[Agnes] came back [at] night[.] N[ed] &
Jno.[are] at[the] wood[.] Dewdrop calved
[a bull calf this] mornfing.]
Ned[was] here P.M. A[g was] in C[linton]
with Jane P.M.
Snowing
Wetting
Fine
Sunshiny
1
Beauteous
Raining P.M.
Rainy
Beautiful
Mild, but
cold E[ast]
W[ind], Rain.
Slight Showers
Raining, Sleet
& Snow
Fine
Dull
Slush
Beautiful
4
Beautiful
A[g] & 1 [were in church.] Ad[am] & Jno. C.W. 1
[went in the evening.] a little Rain P.M.
December, 1894 192
17 . M.
18 . T .
19. W.
20. T .
21. F.
Janefwas] in C[linton] P.M. Mother [was] C.W. 4
out minding[the]baby[.]Sawed a little at Freezing
Uncle’s old house[.] Fa[ther was]helping
Will kill[a] heifer [this] morn[ing.]Jno.
[was helping] Mac’
s[with the]farriers[in
the] morning[.] Fa[ther was] at Wigg[in­
ton’s this] evenfing.]
A[g is]housecleaning the upstairs[.]Aun- 2
ty & I [were] in C[linton.] Fa[ther was] Fine, Dull
at Avery’s[.] Ned [was] here.....
A[g is] cleaning [the] up-stair[s] hall 3
[and she] washed plaster[.] Cutting P.M.
Alex McDougall & Bride [are] at Mac's[.J Beautiful
[Our household was] at Mac’s for tea &
[for the] even[ing.
We] Baked ’
’
Christmas Cakes”r.1 A[g] & 2
Jno. [went to] Jno. Pearson's dance[.] Fine
Fa[ther was] at Wig[ginton]*s] etc.
Wylie [was] here with lambs[. I] swept
& scrubbed my room[.] A[g is] cleaning
down [the] hall [from my] room[.]
4
Slight Rain
Fine & Beauti
ful P.M.
22 . S . [I] Picked 2 geese etc.[I] Swept & dus- 3
ted B[ella's] room etc Beautiful
23. S. A[g] & X [were in Church]{Stewart.) Jno. 2
& B[ella went in the evening](McMillan.)
24. M. Ned [was] in dipping "hero lambs[.* I] 4
Swept [the] cellar & made [some] pies[.] Dull
Snow Even[ing]
* lambs born with the onset of
cold weather. Any that live
until spring will be "heroes.”
25 . T .
26. W.
27 . T •
28 . F .
29 . S .
[We had Ned & Jane & l[sabella] P[earl] 3
for dinner[.] A[g], Jane, & I [were] at Fine & Frozen
U[ncle] Jno.'s [in the] evenfing. We]
are] making Mo[ther*s]print dress[.] Jen.
Grant [was here] P.M. & all night[.]
[We] Washed P.M. [and] Cleaned chop[.] C.W. 4
[We were] Making Jno.’s print basque[.]
B[ella] & I [were] in C[linton] P.M. [I] 3
finis[hed] Mo[ther]'s basque,mended[the] very
ganzie & bathed[.I was] at schoolfthis] C[old] W[ind]
even[ing.] May Bell, Annie, Mary & Ella
[McEwen* were] trying for catechism dip­
lomas [.]
*The first three were daughters of Duncan
McEwen. Bella May and Annie died of TB
on July 27 and October 15, 1904. Mary
lived to a ripe old age, married Oscar
Paisley, and lived in Clinton all her life.
Ella was one of Finley’s 2 daughters. She
was later Mrs H. Alexander of Clinton[.]
J. Avery and Hunter called A.M.Jno.[was] 6
at Woon’s threshing A.M. [I’
m] Mending Snowing Some
[an] old b[lac]k dress[.]
[I finished mending the old black dress.] Snowing Some
[I] Picked[a] goose & [a] hen[and] darn- Cold
ed stockings[.] Jno. [was] in C[linton]
with Ned’s lambs[.]
December, 1894
A[gnes]& I[went to church[in the buggy[.
Let him that standeth..etc,Jno.,& B[el-
la went in the evening,using the]cutter
[for the] 1st time [this season[.]
[I] Made pies, Cleaned [the] hen-house,
mended [a] coat &[a pair of p[an]ts etc
Fa[ther [went to] Hensall in [the] cut-
ter[.]
Editorial Meditations;
(HEliza- Ann: 1894
On January 23,1894, Eliza-Ann went to Peter
Campbell's funeral, helped entertain Brigham
relatives from Hullett and Morris townships,
and visited her sister Jane and 4-week-old
Isabel. Though she doesn’t mention it, Eliza-
Ann had also turned 30. Matrimony was not in
the cards. No suitors of the calibre of James
MacFarlane or Ned Glen were anywhere in sight.
Had she been willing to lower her sights a bit,
with her skills and her drive and prospects
for an inheritance,she could almost certainly
have had her pick of run-of-the-mill farm boys
for a husband.But at home, she was treated as
equal partner by an enlightened father,she was
able to make her own money from the sale of
eggs, butter,honey and dressed poultry and she
had all the friends and recreation she needed.
At 30, she had taught Sunday school for
many years, read the Bible thoroughly and had
internalized the best of many sermons. In 1894,
we see her using the diary to jot down quite
profound theological insights possibly for use
in her teaching but also for self-improvement.
There is also an entry this year where she has
a bath,washes her hair and puts on her best
clothes, just to suprvise four McEwen girls
writing an exam in catechism.
She would bear no children of her**4
”'
but she would rejoice in the friendship of
nieces, nephews and neighbours’ children. She
must have given spiritual inspiration to more
than a few of these young people. And with Is­
abel,her first niece,there was immediate,life-
long rapport.___________________________________
(2) John:1894
Isabel Glen told me:"In later life. Grand­
mother and her 4 daughters blamed themselves for
the way the only son and brother turned out. They
spoiled him!"But the problem was bigger than that.
Though intelligent and quick-witted, John was fun­
damentally lazy,easily bored and prone to avoiding
work he did not find entertaining. The committment
to hard work and excellence,evident in his parents
and his sisters,fostered in him a stubborn contrar­
iness. When forced to perform uninteresting tasks,
he tended to do a hasty and slipshod job.His family
valued education? he quit school as soon as he
could. His parents and sisters took religion seri­
ously, he thought it a humbug. But had he stopped
going to church, it is quite possible that Mal­
colm and Ann McEwen would oppose his courtship of
Bell. It might also have been the final straw for
his parents. He liked living at home and hoped to
end up owning the farm. In 1892 and 1893, we find
Eliza-Ann recording his church attendance. Face
is saved by accepting his going to evening ser­
vices with friends his own age. As for work about
the farm, the diary reveals thatjj'was allowed to
drive wagons and impliments, go on the interest­
ing errands.The arrangement worked short term.
193
] 1
Snow evening
1
Finef not
so cold
30. S.
31 . M.
(31The House and Barn:1894
1894 194
i
Eliza-Ann informs us of a lot of comings
and goings of the mason, and the haauling of a
lot of stones from the river bed, without speci­
fying what is going on. I think the barn ‘steps’
to which she refers are the two gangways that
would lead into the raised 4-bay barn. At the
house,I suspect moisture was seeping up through
the dirt floor in cellar.Weeping tiles went in
and stone and concrete floors were laid.
1. See
2. Gertie is Gertie Stewart, her first cousin in Missouri. I
can’
t imagine who ”U. Jm” would be. Perhaps she really
meant Uncle Sam Stewart, Gertie’s father. Sara lived at James
Stewart's 1854-66 before moving to Missouri for free land and
to be near his future bride, Jessie Campbell. Perhaps Eliza-
Ann wrote to tell him of Peter Campbell’s passing.I don'tknow
if the deceased was Jessie’s relative, but it is possible.
Jessie’s parents William and Ann Campbell ran a hotel in
Clinton [according to 1861 Canada Census] before moving to
Missouri. Roland Stewart, Sam,s son visited in the Clinton
area in 1909 and in 1938. Don Glen clearly recalled the
second visit and had a ’
’
very strong impression’
' that Roland
went off for a couple of days to visit his mother’s relatives
in the area.
3. James McQueen settled on Lot 17, Con I, the 3rd lot north of
Brucefield on the west side of the London Road. He would be
a brother of the late Elizabeth Glen so the deceased would be
Ned’s aunt by marriage.
4. It’s not clear which John Stewart she’s referring to. It's
probably her cousin John B. Stewart, but it might also be
her Uncle John. But I have yet in the diary to see a
reference to her Uncle as simply John. I perused the rest of
the entries for 1894 and found no reference to his return
from Denver. According to Isabel Glen, Dan Ross was in the
parlance of the 1990’’s, abusive. On one occcasion, she said.
Jack, Charley, and brother-in-law Willie Glen responded to a
distress call from Mary Ross and went to Denver ’
’
to calm
things down.” The whole matter was very hush hush,out of
sympathy for Mary Ross. Victorians were strong on
respectability and avoided getting "talked about." Being far
off in Denver, Mary could keep the lid on news of domestic
discord,as long as no one at home blabbed about it in Clinton
Dan Ross died in the autumn of 1899 in his 50th year. Mary
returned to Ontario with Stewart, Bessie and Donald and there
was a concensus by those in on the details not to speak ill
of the departed.
ton.
5. See History of Clinton:1875-1975, published 1975 by the
Clinton Centennial Executive. Assembled by the Historical
Committee: Mrs Doris Batkin, Chair: and Mrs C. Trott, Elgin
Thompson, Charles Cook, Homer Andrews, Gerald Fremlin and Mrs
Glen Lockhart pp. 160. See "Postal Service" pp. 102-03.
Thomas Fair was Clinton's Postmaster from January 1856 until
March 13, 1894. He died one month later on April 13, 1894. t
He built a frame building on Victoria Street, north of the
hotel in 1866 and operated the post office there until his
death. For Eliza-Ann, the death of the only postmaster she
had ever known would mark the end of an era.
6. History of Clinton:1875-1975 p. 103. Robert Porter was
Thomas Fair's successor as postmaster and would hold the
post until 1901. On pp.84-5, we learn that Thomas Fair’s
sister was the first wife of Thomas Jackson, one of Clinton's
pioneer businessmen. The petition is asking the Dominion, in
effect to appoint the nephew of the late postmaster to the
post. In The New Era for January 26, 1911, there is a social
item recounting a visit and social evening. Mr & Mrs James
Fair and Mr Fred Jackson of Clinton visited Mr & Mrs Adam
Stewart and Fenwick Stewart and John MacFarlane "dropped
in." This suggests that the Stewart’s, MacFarlane’s and the
Malcolm McEwen family were old friends of the Fair's and the
Jackson's.
?. In the issues for August 7 and 14 and September 11, 1896
issues of The New Era is a continuing account of another
expedition to sell cattle in Scotland. Goldie Graham and
Malcolm McEwen took 150 head on steamer Laurentian, which
sailed for Liverpool on Aug 9. William Graham went as far as
Montreal and the cattle lost a lot of weight in the heatwave.
See Robert Bruce Walker, The Barefoot Boy From Francistown,
edited by Ken F. Stewart, M.A., O.I.S.E. Press, 1989.p. 123:
"When the sheaves were dry, they were loaded onto the hay
rack and built into a load on top of rope slings. There were
four slings to a load and the slings were hooked into the
same equipment and off-loaded into the other mow using the
same procedure we had for hay. The trip rope released the
ends of the slings and the quarter load fell where you
wanted it to go. We had to mow the sheaves, a practice
consisting of spreading them out in rows from front to rear
of the mow and then tramping them down. This insured that the
entire crop would fit in the mow and that the threshers would
have a much easier time forking them back out of the mow."
Mrs Armstrong was the former Nancy Barkley. In the Glenfarm
photo archives is a carte from the early 1870’s, taken in a
Seaforth studio. On it is a caption "Nancy Barkley - later
Mrs Armstrong." She appears to be 25 to 30. Also in the
collection is a cabinet photo from the late 1880’s or early
1890’s of a middle-aged woman from Wisconsin. Isabel Glen
said that all she knew for sure was that it was a "Mrs
Armstrong." The Armstrong's were Barkley relatives. From
time to time I stumble on an unknown Barkley name in Smith's
Falls or Huron county research. Ann Barkley Stewart and her
brother David had siblings back home. I think a few nieces
and nephews emigrated to Canada and stayed with Stewart's or
Barkley's on their arrival. The photo albums in Glenfarm and
my possession indicate this Armstrong branch in Wisconsin and
a Johnston branch in LeClaire, Scott County, Iowa. On a will
or a deed in Lanark county's registry office, a signature was
witnessed by one "James Barkley - Teacher." Contact appears
to have lapsed with these American cousins.
Probably the gentleman is W.J. Hanna, a 32-year-old Sarnia
lawyer, businessman and Conservative. He was an effective
speaker and a practical politician. He would unsuccessfully
contest a Lambton seat in the Commons in 1896 and 1900 and
then win the seat in the provincial legislature in 1902. He
would be one of the leading cabinet ministers in the powerful
provincial administration of Conservative Premier Sir James
Whitney, in office 1905-14. However, there is an outside pos­
sibility that it could be the Rev. W.G. Hanna, who would be a
38-year-old Presbyterian minister, a native of Holmesville,
and since 1889, pastor in Uxbridge, Ontario. He was educated
in Clinton Collegiate, University of Toronto (B.A. 1881) and
Princeton Seminary, N.J. In his later career, he was
secretary of the Lord’s Day Alliance. See H.J. Morgan, ed.;
The Canadian Men and Women of the Time:A Handbook of Canadian
Biography of Living Characters, William Briggs,Toronto, 1912,
p. 497. Hanna the Conservative politician, is a better bet.
James MacFarlane was a prominent Conservative, educated, and
an ex-teacher.It would make sense for him to be given the
task of meeting the distinguished guest speaker and squiring
him around.
/fr
10.
9.
8.
11
See the New Era, October 12, 1894; Isabella, born 1807, Banf-
shire, Scotland, emigrated with late husband, John Innes 1846
to Zorra Twsp. They came to Stanley in 1853 and pioneered on
Lot 30, Con II. She was the mother of Alex Innes, Mrs W.H.
Scott and Mary (Mrs Duncan McEwen.)