May, 1898 290
1. s . A[g] & Bella & Fl[uker [werejin
C[hurch.] Jno. & A[dam went at
night[.]
Fine, Rain. 26
2. M. A[g] & I washed[.j Jno, [with]
horse,[has]gone with Ab Nottf.j Fine & Warmer
23
3. T . A[g wasjat U[ncle Jafmesj's P.M. Rain 20
4. W. Fa[ther] & Will cleaned [a]load
[of] wheat A.M. & took [it] to
C[linton] P.M.
Dull 25
5. T . Fa[ther] & W[ill werejin C[lint­
on with a] load[this] morn[ing]
& another P.M. Kate & Lizzie
McTavish [were] here P.M.
Dull & Cold 23
6. F . [I] Took chaff out of hives &
stood frames in its placet.] Fa-
[ther & W[ill] planted some pot­
atoes[.The]
Rev.
Mr.Stewart,[his]
wife & 2 boys calledf.
]
Fine & Warm 22
7. S . Jno. returned & Ab Nott[stayed]
for dinner[.] Fa[ther]walked to
Cflinton,] & A[g] & I planted
some onions
C[old] W[ind] 33
8. S . Fa[ther],Isafbel] P. & I [were]
in c[hurch] (Rev. Douglas Fraz­
er.)Text "Lord,teach us to pray."
36
Fine, C[old] W[ind]
.
9. M. A[g] washed[.The] Men sowed car­
rots P.M. I [was] in C[linton]
P.M.
Fine & Warm 6
10. T. [We] Laid[the] platform in[the]
w[ood]-shed, etc. A[g] & I plan­
ted five rows[of]onions & I fin­
is[hed] pi[anting] flower
seeds[.]
16
11. W. [I] Raked[the] chip yard,sorted
apples, etc., etc. A[g] cleaned
K[itchen and]bed-room & B[ella
cleaned the] pantry[.] Jno. &
Will[were] in C[linton this eve­
nting. ]
18
Slight Rain Showers
12 . T . A[g] & B[ella] cleaned[the] kit­
chen[. I] Took out [the] Double
Windows, peeled Ap[ple]s & made
pies[.]Fa[ther was]in C[linton]
P.M.[and got] Summer’
s seeds[.]
[The] Boys planted mangolsf.]
Fine 19
13 . F . A[g] & B[ella were] in C[lin-
ton[. A] Feather bed cleaner
called[.
] Fa[ther] planted cu­
cumbers, beets, etc.[I] Planted
6 gladiolis (sic) etc. A[lex.]
Innis & D[uncan] McEwen [were
here this] evening] collecting
for manse repair[s.]
17
14 . S . Fa[ther was] at Brucefield etc.
Ab for noon [Father] planted
corn,beans etc.Will sowed field
corn[.I] Planted Morning Glorys
& peas[. I] Made pies [at]night
[in the] woodshed[.
]
Fine & Warm
18
Hay, 1898 291
15. S.
16. M.
17 . T .
18 . W .
19 . T .
20 . F .
21. S.
22 . S .
23 . M.
24 . T .
Bfella] & I [were in church.]
Will walked early [to Clinton]&
came home P.M.Jno. & A[dam went
at night. The] Bees swarmed 1st
[time. Ag got badly] stung -her
arms & hands [are] badly swell-
ed[.]
Fa[ther] & I[were] in C[linton]
P.M.
A[g] & I washedf.
] Jno. [went]
fishing P.M.[and caught a] big
fish[.
]
A[g] ironedf.] Fa[ther] walked
to C[linton.]
Jno.[was]in C[linton this] mor­
ning shipping [a] ram to Penn­
sylvania.] A[g was] cleaning
[the] boys' room[.
] Will [was]
in Varna A.M.[with] Dewdropf.]
A[g] & B[ella] & Jno.[were] in
Cflinton] P.M.
A[g] scrubbed [and] wiped out
[her]room[.] 2 swarms came out
& returned[.] Harry & Tilly
Quaid [were] here P.M.[In the]
even[ing] Bella & them went to
T. Baird1
s[.]
2 or 3[swarms came out]& hived
together[.
^ Fa[ther was] in
C[linton this] morn[ing] for
eggs[.We] Planted 18 rows [of]
potatoes........ Q[uai]d left
P.M. Will went to Cflinton in
the] even[ing.
]
Fa[ther]& A[g were]in[church.]
Jno. & Ad[am went at night[.]
I [was] in Cflinton this] even­
ting and shipped [bees]
wax[.]
16
Fine & Hot P.M.
Fine, Cool W[ind.]
25
24
Rain P.M. 26
Very W[arm] P.M. 21
22
Very W[arm] 27
21
31
Rain Showers P.M.
even[ing.]
26
Celebration in Clinton*Will Dull, Fine
[was] away P.M. & Jno. in the
evenfing.] Ned's washed sheep
P.M. [I] Papered Fafther's] &
Mo[ther's] Bed-room[.]
*The 24th of May, the Queen's
birthday,a public holiday, was special this
year. Queen Victoria was beginning her 80th
year of life, and, one year after the Diamond
Jubillee, she now had reigned the longest of
any British Monarch at 61 years- Her grand­
father, George III (1760-1820) previously held
the record at 60 years. These are the probable
reasons why Clinton decided to have official
celebrations.
25. W. [I] C[leaned the] H[en]
Hfouse.] A[g] washed Moth­
er’
s tick & tick cover[- The
Quaid's[were here] for dinner
& tea[.
]
27
Fine & Wfarm.J
&
May, 1898 292
26. T. I [was] in Cflinton] P.M. and 25
fetched home 2 bee - boxes[.]
Swarmed [I] Wrote U[ncle]
J[ames.]*
*Eliza-Ann has chosen May 26r a month to the
day of her Aunt Mary's death, to write a letter of
condolence to her widowed Uncle. One wishes that
letter had survived[.]
27. F. A[g] & B[ella] cleaned [the]
cellar[.] Mo[ther is] making
soap these days[.] Fa[ther
was] in C[linton.He and the]
Snell's sent eggs to Dan­
ville[.] [There was a] 2nd
swarm off [the] 1st one that
swarmed[.]
28. S. [I] Cut out green & white Sprinkled
print waist[
. I] Mended some
bee frames etc. Fa[ther has
been]killing black-birds[and]
digging post-holes[along the]
side of [the] orchard[.]
29. S. B[ella], Will & I [were] in
C[hurch](Rev. Stewart.) Jno.& Misty Rain
A[dam went at night.]
30. M. A[g]& I washed[.]Fa[ther was]
replanting some corn[.] Fine & Cool
31. T. B[ella] & I [were] in C[lint- Beautiful
ton A.M.
25
32
25
37
18
1. W.
June, 1898
Will got [a] bykef. The] Boys
dipped lambs[.] A[g] & B[ella
were] in C[linton] P.M. Fa-
[ther] & willl [are]restreadl­
ing (sic) lane wire[.] 3rd to
N[orth hive] swarmed[
. I was]
fixing bee frames [and at]
nightfl] Mended 2 p[ai]rs[of]
p[an]ts[.
]
20
Very Warm,
T[hunder] & Lfightning)
& Rain.
2 . T .
3. F .
4. S .
[Father and Will continued Fine & Warm 21
the restretching of lane
wire and I fixed some more
bee frames.] Fa[ther] planted
some cabbage[.] Jno. [was] in
C[linton this] even[ing. The]
Girls [were] at U[ncle
James’
s.
]
Mo[ther] & I [were] in C[lint- Fine & Very Warm 15
on at] Church[.] (Mr Dickie-
Seaforth.)
[I] Fixed some frames & star- 35
ched collars etc. [The bees
swarmed again. The] Ayrshire
calved[.
] Will went home on
his "wheel.
"
5. S. Fa[ther], Jno. & I [were] in 22
C[hurch](Rev. Stewart.) Jno &
Ad[am went at night. More
bees] Swarmed[.]
June, 1898 293
6. M.
7. T .
8. W.
9. T .
10 . F .
11. S.
12 . S .
13 . M.
14 . T .
15 . W.
A[g] & I washed[.]A[g] & B[el-
la were]in C[lintonj P.M. Ned
[was here] for dinner & shear­
ing his sheep [on the Rob[ert-
son place.]
[I]Sewed some at[a] blouse[.]a[ther
Jno.[was]in Bruce[field [and]
McIntosh [came] for dinner[.j
Will [wasjin Varna [with] Dew-
drop[.]
A[g] ironedf.
] Jno. sowed tur­
nips[
. I'm] Making [a] blouse
[and] Fa[ther is]picking bugs
these days[.] He & Will [are]
fixing lane fences[.]
[I did more work on the
blouse and] Made 10 but[ton]-
holes & starched & ironed
cuffs & collars etc.Jno. gone
to go with horse tomorrow for
Ab [Nott.]
[Mother & I]went to Guelph[.] Rainy, A.M.
A[g] drove Mofther] & I to
[the] station [in the] morn-
[ingj got [the] extractor &
came for us at night[
.
26
16
21
25
22
[I] Mended[my] print skirt[.]
Ab [Nott]took Polly & went to
Jno.[this] morn[ing.] Ab[was]
here for dinner & tea[.]Annie
Stewart & [her Uncle,R]obert]
Reid, [were] here P.M.[I] Set
3 hives forward [in the] even­
ting.]
16
Poured, T[hunderJ &
L[ightning]
A[g], Will &
C[hurch] (
Rev.
ville.) Ad[am]
night[.]
I [were] in
Shaw, Egmond-
& Jno.[went at
21
A[g] & I washed[.
] Bella dyed
cotton P.M.
A[g]washed off[the]cellar A.M.
Howson,a pedler,called[.] We
extracted [honey] P.M., [the]
1st we ever done[.]
A[g was] in C[linton] A.M. [I
was]fixing honey [and I scrub­
bed [the] Pari[our.] Carrie
[Grant was here] all night[.]
Like Rain,
Rain
Light Rain 23
12
Fine,
Cold, Misty.
Fine & Cool
16
16. T. Carrie [was here] all day[.] 17
Fa[therj & I[sabella] P[earlj Colder, Fine
[were] in Brucefield P.M.
Road -work*
*Eliza-Ann's shorthand for Statute Labour.
17 . F .
18 . S .
Will [has gone home] on his
wheel P.M.[The]road work[was]
finis[hed]A.M.[I jarred]honey
etc.
A[g] & B[ella were] in C[lin-
ton] A.M.[and]fetched home[a]
bag [of] flour, [the] Dining
Room carpet etc. Ab [Nott was
here] for dinner[.I] c[leaned
the] H[en] H[ouse.]
20
F[ine] & Warmer
26
June, 1898 294
19 . S .
20. M.
21. T .
22 . W.
23 . T .
24 . F .
25 . S .
26 . S .
27 . M.
28 . T .
29. W.
A[g] & B[ella] & Ifsabella]
P[earl were] in C[hurch.] Jno.
[went in the evening.] Will Fine & Cold
came back [in the] even[ing.]
18
A[g]
P.M.
& I washedf *] Will gone Rain P.M.
Fa[ther was] in Brucefield
[with] I[sabella] P[earl] A.M.
Will [Fluker] came after his
trunk A.M.[Father]& A[g were]
in C[linton] P.M...........
[confused account of bee swarms]
12
15
Fine & Cool
[as above] Stitched waist
Fa[ther was] in C[linton] P.M.
[and] got harness mended[.]
Swarm bees(two to-gether.)Ada
[Stewart was] here P.M. Dew-
drop, [the] heifer cow,calved,
I think[.]
[I helped] pack wool[.] Ned &
Fa[ther] took [the] wool to
Brucefield[.
] Ab Nott [was
here]for dinner[.More swarms]
A[g] & I [were] in C[hurch]
(Rev. Millyard Methodist.)
Jno. & A[dam went at night[.]
17
16
11
Fine & High Winds
23
Heavy Rain, Fine
Fine, Cool Wind.
Ag & I washed[. The] Fellow Fine, Rain Showers
that was here with McFarlane
[stayed] for tea[.
] W. Cooper
& [an] American bought 7
sheep[.] Fa[ther was] at
Snell's [and] bought 3
sheep[*
]
20
18
16
Fa[ther was] scuffling etc. T.
Frazer [called] A.M. I [was]
in C[linton at] noon meeting Fine, Misty Rain P.M.
Mrs [John] McMillan & Annie
from Shakespeare*[.I]stitched
facings on [a] skirt[.]
*The 1878 Atlas for Perth
County shows a John McMillan on Lot 28,Con IV,
South Easthope Township, served by the Shake­
speare Post Office.
[I was]extracting[honey.
] Mrs
McMillan [was] in bed P.M.
30 . T . 17
July, 1898
1. F. A[g], Mrs McM[illan] & Annie 36
[were] at McGregor’
s P.M * Very Hot.
Mag[gie] McEwen & Mamie were
here P.M. [I] Finis[hed the]
skirt[.] *The annual Dominion Day
community picnic held in Neil McGregor'
s
grove (Lot 26 Con III.)
2. S. Mrs McMillan, A[g], B[ella] 20
& I & kids [were] in [the]
river P.M. Ab [came] for din­
ner! .] [I]Made sleeves & col-
lar[.
]
July, 1898 295
3. S. Mrs McM[illan], A[nniej & I
[were] in c[hurch(Mr Daniels
from Chicago Syrian.
) Jno. &
A[dam went at night[.]
4. M. A[g] washed, Jno[was] mowing
[and I] greened 26 1/2 rows
[of] potatoes[.] B[ella] & I
[were] in C [linton] P.M.
5. T. Mrs McM[illan,Annie,A[g],Bel­
lia] & I were]in Bayfield[.
]
Jno. [was] mowing, raking &
coleing hay[.]
6. W. [After]
Raking hay,[We]Hauled
in 6 loads[.] A[g] took[the]
McMillan's to [the train]
station P.M.
7. T. Jno. [was] mowing A.M. [We]
Hauled in 5 loads P.M. Fa-
[ther was] in C[linton] P.M.
buying a mower[.] Jno.[went]
after it [in the] even[ing.]
8. F. Jno.[was] mowing [and I did]
some raking A.M. [We] Hauled
in 7 loads P.M. Jennie Grant
[was here]all night & day[.
]
9. S. [I] Raked etc.[and we hauled
in] 4[loads.] Fa[ther] finis­
hed] thinning nips[.]Ab for
noon[.]
31
20
Cold & Dull
Beautiful & Cool
Fine & Warm
22
20
15
Very hot even[ing.]
31
Sprinkled,
v[ery] h[hot] e[vening]
Windy & Cool 12
10. S.
11 . M.
12 . T .
Jno. & A[dam went to
in the evening.]
church
Frost
[I] Killed [the] 1st 2 ducks,
pulled cherries etc. A[g] &
pulled some for Jane[in the] Fine, Cool Wind
even[ing.]* I [was] in C[lin­
ton] P.M. Jno.finis[hed] mow-
ing[.
] *Jane is nearly 8 months
pregnant.
[I]was raking nearly all day Fine
[and We]Hauled in 6 loads[.]
[There was a] Swarm in [the]
New box[.]
17
31
16
13 . W .
14 . T
15 . F
[I was raking nearly all day
and we hauled in 9 loads[.]
Adam & Fen[wick were] here
all day[. The swarm] left[.]
Ned[was here] a while P.M. &
for tea too[.
] Bella [has]
gone to Bayfield with [the]
Grant'
s[.]
Jno. [was] cutting wheat P.M
Fa[ther] & Ned [were] stook-
ing[.
] Mo[ther was] visiting
Jane[.] A[g] & I washed[.
]
Bella[
came] home[at] noon[.]
[I] extracted a little [in
the] even[ing.]
[We] Finis[hed cutting and
stooking] wheat[
. I was] in
C[linton this] morn[ing],
pul
ling cherries P.M. [and tend
ing] bees[in the] even[ing.]
Jno.gone to Varcoe’
s(heifer)
noon(walked.
17
Fine & Hot
13
14
- Cool Wind
July, 1898 296
17 . S .
18. M.
[John] came back with Ab at
noon[.] Elsie Thomson fetch­
ed b[lac]k currants and
stayed for dinner & tea[.]
[We] Hauled in 6 loads [of]
wheat P.M., all but [the]
rakings
Bella,I[sabella]P[earl] & I
[were in church](Rev. Stew- Rain Morn[ing,J
art.) Jno.fand Adam went at Very Hot,
night[.]
12
11
*Two of the four sentences in today's entry are so
ambiguous, that they are presented completely un­
doctored.
Put off load,lifted end of Rain P.M, 35
barn [I] Raked [in the]
even[ing]etc. A[g] & B[ella
[were]in C[linton.](2 ducks)
Jno. even Baked even etc
19. T. [We] finis[hed]raking[this]
morn[ing] & hauled in [the
gleanings.] Then Jno. went Fine & Hot
[to] help Adam [with his]
wheat[.] A[g] & I washed &
B[ella] & I extracte[d in
the]even[ing.
] Fa[ther was]
hoeing with Ned[.
]
20. W. A[g] & B[ella were] at Jno.
Thomson’
s for goose— beri- Fine & Hot,
ies[.I]
Picked 2 3/4 lbs[of] Shower P.M.
berries at [the] fence[. I]
Made rubarb pies[.]
21. T. [I] Picked 4 1/4 lbs of Fine & Hot
berries at the fence on the]
Rathwell[
place[.I]
Helped put
off the rakings & take in[a]
jag[of]green feed[.I]greened
11 rows of potatoes [in the]
even[ing.
]
22. F . [I] Finis[hed greening the
potatoes this] even[ing.
]
[I Killed 6 ducks[.] A[g
was] in C[linton] P.M. Jno.
[hasbeen] hauling manure[.]
Jennie Grant [was here] all
night & to day[.]
23. S. A[g] & I pick[ed]27 lbs[of]
berries[
. Jno. was hauling
manure.] Ab [was here] for
dinner[.]
24. S. Fa[ther]& I [were in church
(Rev. Stewart.) [John & Ad- Fine & Very Hot
am went at night.
]
21
13
30
37
17
24
25. M. [I was]Mending dresses &[I] 23
pruned [the] front path[.]
Fa[ther] & Jno. [were] lab- Like rain, cooler.
elling lambs[.]Jno.[is]haul­
ing manure these days[.]
26. T. [I]Cut out[a]blue dot print
dress skirt [and did some]
bee tinkering[.
] Fa[ther Fine & Cooler
was] in C[linton] A.M. A[g]
& I[were] in[the] river P.M.
19
16 . S .
July, 1898 297
27. W. I [was] in C[linton this]
morn[ing.]A[g]washed[.
] Cut Fine & Hot
out moreen petticot(sic) &
part blouse[.]
28 . T .
29. F.
30 . S .
Took lambs from ewes herd- Slight shower
ing them at barn(clover)[I]
finis[hed]cutting out [the]
print dress etc.
Jno. [is] cutting oats[.]
herding even sundrys all day
[The] Bay mare foaled[.] Jno. Like Rain, Fine
[is] reaping & stooking[.]Fa­
rther was] at Woon's thresh­
ing all day[.]Herding hauled
some wood etc.
31. S. A[g] & B[ella were in church] Fine & Cool
(
Rev. Stewart.
)
August, 1898
1. M. Jno. Dunkin, Charlotte & Cor- Fine
delia[were here]for dinner[.]
Jno. & Fa[ther are] at [the]
oats[.] Herding taking....etc.
2. T. [A] Pedler [was here] for din- Fine & Hot
ner[. I] milked sheep......
horses etc. [We] finis[hed]
cutting & green feed[.
]
3. W. [We]Hauled in 2 loads oats at
[the]barn & 1 [load from the]
big Rathwell field P.M. B[el-
la] & I [were] in C[linton]
Noon time[.]
4. T. [We hauled in] 6[loads oats.] ClearfCool Wind.
5. F. [We hauled in] 6[loads oats.] Fine & Warm P.M.
Jane & [the] kids [were] here
P.M.
17
19
23
21
19
19
15
18
15
6. S. Fa[ther] & A[g were]mowing[.
] 8
[We hauled in] 6 [loads oats
and used slings today[for the]
1st [time.]
7. S. A[g]&B[ella werejin C[hurch.] Shower Rain 15
(Rev. Matheson supplying for
Muir Brucefield.)
8. M. Our Jew [came] for dinner[.
]
Bella went to Grant's[in the]
even[ing. We] Hauled in 1 1/2
[loads],all [that remained in
the large] Rathwell field & 3
1/2 oats & peas mixed [loads]
from [the] little Rath[well]
field
15
Misty & slight Rain
9. T. Women selling lace[called]etc. Fine & Warm 14
Jno. mowed oats [for] green
feed[.
] A[g] & I washed[
. I]
Mended Jno.'s P[an]ts P.M. Us
Kids [were] at [the] school-
[house this] even[ing]hearing
Dr.
Jas.Butchart from China[.]
August, 1898 298
10 . W . [I mended] Fa[ther]'s [pants]
A.M.[We] Hauled in 1 load[of]
g[reen] f[eed] P.M.
Cool & Fine 16
11 . T . 13
12 . F . Jno.(on byke) & A[g], B[ella]
& I [were] at Bayfield[for a]
picnic[.] Jno. Elliiot's took
away cows Horney & Bessie[.]
Beautiful 13
13 . S . [I] Killed 6 ducks[.] Jno. &
A[g were] in C[linton] P.M.
Shower,
Fine & Cool
16
14 . S . A[g], I[sabella] P[earl] & I
[were] in c[hurch (Rev. Hamil­
ton, Londesboro.)
Fine.
Shower [at] noon.
26
15 . M. ....cooked some[of] our early
peaches[.] Jno. Elliot [was
here] looking at steers[.]
Fine 21
16 . T . Cleaned room, bled horse, Cut­
ting out print dress etc.
Sprinkle
Fine & Hot
18
17 . W. [I] Finis[hed cutting out the
print dress and] Peeled
app[le]s A.M. [I] Washed etc.
[and did the] shirt-waist[.]
W. Perdue [was here this]even-
ling. The men [were] pulling
peas[.]
Fine, Cooler. 21
18 . T . I [was]in Cflinton] P.M.[and]
was at[a]Women’
s Miss[ionary]
meeting too[.
] W. Cooper(book­
store) [was] buried[
. I] Got
[an] Eaton box[.
]
Fine & Warm 14
19. F . Threshing Mrs Wigg[inton] &
Stella called[this]even[ing.]
14
20 . S . A[g was] in Cflinton. I] kill­
ed [the] 1st 2 R[oosters] & 4
ducks P.M.Jno.[was]at U[ncle]
Jno.*
s threshing[.]
21
21. S . B[ella], Ifsabella] P[earl] &
I [were] in C[hurch](Rev.Stew­
art. )
Fine & Hot 20
22. H. Jno. Elliot[was here] for din-
ner[.
] Carrie Grant & Miss K.
Henderson[came]for tea[.] Jno.
[was] at U[ncle] Jno.’
s &
U[ncle James's] threshing[.I]
Finis[hed....on the] p[rin]t
blouse.] B[ella] washed for
Jane, etc.
18
23 . T . [John was] at Mac's threshing
A.M. A[g was]in C[linton] P.M.
[I] Killed & dressed 6 roos- Severe Storm W[ith]
23
ters (which] Jane's fetched[
. T[hunder] & Light[ning]
I] sheep dipped [the] H[en] Raining, Hail (Large
H[ouse] P.M.A[lex.] Innis’
s stones.)
& [the] Graham* s barns
[were hit by lightning &]
burned[.]
August, 1898 299
24. W. [I] Cleaned out [the] H[en] Dullish 14
H[ouse], scalded & white­
washed it.* Jno.[was]in C[lin-
ton P.M. [and]plowing[in the]
even[ing.] *There must have been a
severe infestation of
chicken lice - see tomorrow's entry.
25 . T .
26 . F .
27 . S .
28 . S .
Fa[ther] walked to C[linton] Fine 20
A.M. A[g] & B[ella were] pap­
ering at Ned's[.I] Washed[my]
lousy clothes A.M., mended a
belt etc.[and]worked a little
at [the] print blouse[.]
[I] Killed 5 ducks [and] Mend- Rain, Cold, 19
ed [a] dress[.] A[g was] in Fine P.M.
C[linton]P.M. H.Thomson & Mrs
Beatie called[this]
even[ing.
]
Aunty[is]home from Green'
s[.]
Fa[ther] & I [were] at Var- Fine, 39
coe's[.] Mrs D[uncan] McEwen Cool E[ast] Wind
called [and a] Manitoba gent
called[.]
A[g] & B[ella] & I[sabella] 15
P[
earl were in church.
] Jno. Fine
[went at night.]
29 M. A[g] & I washed[.]B[ella]wash-
ed & scrubbed at Jane'
s[.]Jno.
& I [were] at [a] plebescite
meeting [at]school,[addressed
by Messrs.] Scott & Houston[.]*A plebescite to be held
on the question of res­
tricting the sale and
consumption of liquor in
Canada. A Dominion-wide
vote hade been called for
September 29. See below
30. T. A[g] & Bfella have] gone to Fine & Hot
Hullett to visit[.]Jno.[was]
at Mac’
s threshing A.M. Aun­
ty [was here] all night[.]
31. W. [Aunty was here all] day &
[night.]
7
14
September, 1898 300
1. T , A[g] & B[ella came home this]
even[ing.] McIntosh [came] for
tea[.
]
12
Fine & a little rain
2. F . Pickett fetched 50 apple bar­
rels [and stayed] for dinner[.]
Jno. [was] sowing wheat P.M.
Very Hot 11
3. S . Fa[ther was] at Wigginton's P.M.
[John] finis[hed [sowing wheat]
A.M. [and was] Rolling P.M.
[Very Hot] 8
4. S . Fa[ther],I[sabella] P[earl] & I
[were] in c[hurch.] Jno. & Ad-
[am went in the] even[ing.] Jno.
& Adam left on bykes for Toron-
to[.]
[Very Hot] 12
5. M. A[g] & I washed[.
] Bella[was]at
Jane's washing & scrubbing[.]
Ned & I[sabella] P[earl stayed]
for tea[.Bella] mowed [the]lawn
[in the] even[ing.
]
Heavy Rain, 39
T[hunder] & L[ight-
ning], Fine P.M.
6. T . [I] Re-bound [a] flannel pett[i-
co[at] dress etc at Jane's P.M.
Fa[ther was] at Sturdy'
s[.]
Rain A.M.,
Fine P.M
15
7. W. [I] Finis[hed Jane's dress all
but[the] frills[.Father was at]
T[om] Frazer’
s A.M.[I] C[leaned
the] H[en] H[ouse and my] B[ed]
R[oom] A.M. Mrs [Ned] Rathwell,
Winnie,Cora & Aunty [were here]
P.M.William James Glen [was]
born[.]
Dullf Fine,
C[ool] W[ind.]
13
8. T . Ag [was] in Clinton[.] Windy 9
9. F . Mrs Ferguson & Churchill [were
here.
]
Frost, Cold
at Night.
10 . s . Uncle James called[.] Frost, Cool 25
11 . s . Polly [has a] sore foot[.]Aunty
[has] gone to Green's[.]
Fall[like] 11
12. M. Andy Duncan [and] Jno. Thomson Warm
[were here.] Mo[ther was] at
Ned'
s[.]*
*This entry and ones that follow suggest
that Jane was suffering from post-natal com­
plications .
9
13 . T . Young Ervin [came] looking for
fowl [and stayed] for dinner[.]
Mo[ther was] at Ned's twice[.]
Warm 25
14 . W. A[g] & B[ella went] after but- Warm, Cloudy 4
ternuts*[and got]4+pailfulls[.]
*Butternuts and black walnuts are closely
related. The nut meat of the butternut is
tastier. Butternut trees grew in profusiuon
along the banks of the Bayfield and, if one
could beat the squirrels to the ripened nuts
scattered on the ground, one could lay away
a delicious winter treat.
September, 1898 301
15 . T . John Thompson left this morn­
ing^ ] Fa[ther has gone to Lon-
14
don[.
] Jno [was] at Mac's[.]Mo-
ther was at Ned's’ all week but
Thunder Showers
yesterday[.]
16. F . Ducks weighed: 3 lbs - 6 oz 22
3 " -14 "
4 " -10 "
A[g was] in C[linton.]
17 . S . Fraser called[.
] W. Snell & J
Wigginton [came] for dinner[.]
Fine 8
18 . S . A[g] & B[ella were] in C[hurch
(Shaw.)
Fine 9
19 . M. Chas. Avery [was here] for din­
ner[. I was] Hunting [up] show
Windy 8
stuff[.]
20 . T . Lib*[was]in Clinton with "Truck." Fine 8
*Eliza-Ann appears to have done most of this month'
s
entries on the run and days later. She briefly tried
(like Caesar) referring to herself
reverted to her usual style.
in 3rd person and
t
o
•
W . Fair Lib [illegible]
22 . T . Rev.A.Stewart & wife called[.
] 35
Jno. [was] in town[.
] Dull & Rainy
23 . F . Chas. Middleton [came] for din-
ner[.]Jno.[was after pig peas[.] Rainy 9
24 . S . A[g] & B[ella went searching]
for butternuts[.] Jno.[was] at
Wigginton'
s threshing in after-
noon[.
]
Rainy, Dull 10
25 . S . A[g & Bella & Isabel,Ned & Lib
[were in church{
Hamilton.)
Fine 11
26. M. Ned [is] working at corn[.]Jno.
[was]at D[uncan]McEwen'
s thres­
hing in afternoon[.]
Fine, Windy. 9
27 . T . A[g] & B[ella were] in Clin-
ton[.
] 10 chickens @ 40[cents]
a p[ai]r[.] Annie Stewart
called from Glen’
s[.]
Fine 9
28 . W . Beautiful 10
29 . T . Uncls James [was] here for 9
tea[.] [The] Plebescite vote
[was] taken[• ]
Warm, Hot
30. F . Hales, from Mt Sterling, Iowa,
came last night[.] Ada, A[g] &
B[ella [were] at Ned’
s [and]
pulled[snow apples.]Jno.[went]
after flour[.]
October, 1898 302
1. s . Fa[ther] & [Mr] Hales [were]
away[.
] Ned’
s [were]threshing
[so] Ed[ward] J[ohn was sent]
back [here.]
1 8 - 7 spoiled
Very Wazm
2. S . Big flies coming in thick Warm 6
3. M • B[ella was] at Ned’
s thresh­
ing [with the]kids here[.] Fa-
[ther] & Hales [were] at Wigg-
[intonj's, Clinton & A. Dunk­
in's[.j Will Glen [is] thresh-
ing[.
] Wigg[inton] called at
noon[.
]
11
Boiling
4. T . Hales [was]in Clinton alone &
then [was] ordering out his
sheep[.
] Will Glen finished
[threshing] about 10 [A.M.] J.
McG[regor was] threshing P.M.
9
Hot
5. W. [I was]sick [in the] night[.]
Jack McGregor [was] threshing
A.M. Jno. & Ned took up loads
of sheep [to the station.] Fa-
[ther] & Hales went [in the]
buggy [this] morning[.]
Rainey
6. T. A[g] & B(ella were] pulling
Apples (Holland Pippins)[.]
Fine
7. F . Jno. [was] at Bayfield Fair
[with a] load [of] sheep & Fa­
rther followed in the]
buggy[.]
Lizzie [Glen] got home with
him[.Jno.
] came home P.M.
Beautiful
8. S . [I] Washed some things for
Jane P.M. A[g] & B[ella were]
pulling a[pples.]
9. S . Fa[ther] & A[g were in church
(Crossley.)
10. M. Fafther was] in C[linton]& at
Sparling's[on the]Cut Line[.]
Elsie Thomson [was] here [in
the] morn[ing.] A[g] & B[ella
were] pulling a[pples.]
Fine & C[ool] Wfind.]
11 . T . A[g] washed[.
] T[om] Frazer
[came] for dinner[.]
Rained
12 . W. A[g], B[ella] & I [were] pul­
ling Baldwins,Talman & Bailey
sweets[.]
Nice
13 . T . Fa[ther] & A[g were] in C[lin-
ton] A.M. Bella [was] washing
at Jane'sf.] J.J. Cook & Jim
Ferguson [were]packing apples
[this] even[ing.](18 Barrels)
Raining
14 . F . [Cook and Ferguson packed
more apples] A.M. [I] Pulled
Spys P.M. Ab & Ellie [Nott
were] here [this] even[ing.
]
Raining
15 . S . [I pulled spys] & Talmans P.M.
C.
Middleton[came]for dinner[.]
Raining
October, 1898 303
16. S. [Ag and Bella,] Jno.& I[were]
in c[hurch this] even[ing to Nice
hear Hunter & Crossley[.]*
*The Rev. H.T. Crossley and The Rev J.E. Hunter
were Methodist clergymen who had exceptional skills as
Christian evangelists. "
Crossley & Hunter" held revival
meetings all over eastern Canada in the three decades before
World War I.
17. M. Fa[ther was] in C[linton in
with the]buggy A.M. & Jno.[fol­
lowed with] 18 barrels [of]
Apples[
. I]
Pulled 2 trees of
Talmans & of Ben Davis[.] Fa-
[ther]& Jno.[were] lifting po­
tatoes P.
M.
,[
doing] 5 rows[.]
T[homas] Frazer came here
this] evenfing.]
18. T. [I] Pulled the] other 2 B[en]
D[avis trees.
]
19. W. [I] Took Fa[ther] to[the rail­
way] station [this] morn[ing]
enroute for Guelph [and the]
Model Farm sale[. He]bought a
calf[.] B[ella] & I [were] in
C[linton at an] even[ing]meet­
ing[
. I] met Fa[ther] too[.
]
Case[was here] all night with
sheep[.I was] pulling[apples]
P.M.
20. T. Fa[ther was in C[linton]
A.[M.] & at[the]mill P.M.[We]
finis[hed] pulling app[lesj
A.M. [and the] packers [fin­
ished] P.M. Jno.,A[g] B[ella]
& I lifted 8 rows [of] pota­
toes P.M.
21. F. [The apple packers]went [off]
to the Glen's[.They were]here
all night. T[om] Frazer[came]
for dinner. Father & he went
to Sturdy's P.M. Jno., Bella
& I [were] in C[linton to-]
night[at a Crossley & Hunter]
meeting[.]
22. S. Fa[ther] walked to C[linton.]
Jno.[was] in C[linton with a]
load [of] apples (19 barrels)
[and he]fetched home the calf
& 8 more [barrels, which we]
packed[.] G.O. Sturdy [was
here] P.M. & J. McNaughton
bought a colt[.
]
23. S. Fa[ther] & A[g] & I[sabella]
P[earl] & Ned & Jane([her]1st
meeting) were in Cfhurch to
hear] Rev. Hunter[
. I] minded
[the] kids[.] Jno. & B[ella
went in the]even[ing to hear]
Crossley & H[unter.]
Fine
Raining
Rain A.M.
Fine
Raining,Pouring.
Raining
Fine,
C[ool] W[ind.]
October, 1898 304
24, M. [I]Moved hives back to box[.]
A[g] scrubbed[.]B[ella]washed
at Jane'
s[.]Fa[ther]& I[were]
picking pot[atoes] P.M. [We]
Finis[hed] all but [the] har­
rowing[.]Ad[am Stewart] & Jno.
C[uming came over this] even­
ting on their] bykes[.]
25. T. A[g] & I washed[.]Mother[was]
at Jane'
sP.
M.Ida[Stewart was]
here P.M. B[ella] & I [were]
in Cflinton to-[night at a
Cfrossley] & Hfunter] meeting
[and the] Boys wheeled[.]
26. W. Fafther is] pulling nips-[He]
started yester[day.]
27. T. A[g] & I [were] in C[linton]
P.M.[I]Killed 10 roosters A.M.
& the 4 pigs P.M. Ned, Will &
Mac [were here] for tea[.]
28. F. Packers [were here] P.M. Jno.
[was] in C[linton with a]load
[of] app[les.] A[g] & I[were]
carrying in app[le]s P.M. Jno.
& Adam & Us Kids [were] in
C[linton to]-night[.]
29. S. [The packers were here]A.[M.]
& part of P.M. [We] Finis[hed
packing [with a] Total [of] 72
[barrels.] Jno. [was] in C[lin-
ton] A.M. [with a]load [of]app-
[les. We were] hauling in nips
P.M.
30. S. A[g] & Bella [were] in[church]
P.M. & even[ing](C[rossley] &
H[unter.])[They]had tea at Fin­
ley'
s[.]
31. M. A[g was]in C[linton] with 450
lbs. of evap[orator apples.
]
Fine & Warm
Beautiful & [the]
roads dried up.
Raining
Snowed & Cold
Heavy Frost
Fine & Cold
Beautiful
November, 1898
1. T. [We worked at] picking & haul­
ing in App[les and then] at C[ool] W[indf] Fine.
nips[.]A[g was]in Cflinton]A.M.
with 450 lbs.[of] evap[orator]
app[les.]
2. W. Carrie Grant's wedding day.l
[We were] Pulling nips all day
& Fa[ther] & Jno.[were]hauling Beautiful
them in[.j B[ella was] picking
evaporator apples at Ned'
s....
... A[g] & I (& Jno.[on his]
byke) [were] in C[linton at]
night [ttending a C[rossley &
H[unter] meeting [in] Ontario
St. C[hurch.]
November, 1898
3. T. [
We]Finis[hed the]nips at noon,
all but [a] load to haul in[.]
A[g] & Bfella were] at Ned's
[helping with the] appfles.]
Jno.[was] in C[linton] P.M.[on
his] byke[. I] Picked up some
pears and straggling app[le]s
4. F. Fa[ther] & Mother[were] at Dun-
kin’s (Varna) P.M. A[g] washed
& I picked up boards etc. in
[the] orchard[.] A[g] B[ella &
I [were] In C[linton at] night
[attending] C[rossley] & H[un-
ter meetings [at the] Ratt[en-
bury Street][.] Church
5. S . [I] Helped clean 2 bags of
wheat[.] Fa[ther was] in C[lin-
ton.].........
6. S. Fa[ther was] at U[ncle James's
and then] U[ncle James came]
here[.I] went to C[1inton]
with
Ned P.M. [to hear] C[rossley]&
H[unter at] Ontario [Street]
C[hurch.
]
7. M. [I] Took Fa[ther this] morn-
ting] to Brucefield Station
enroute for Thorndale [and] J.
Dunkin's sale[.] A[g], B[ella]
& I [were] in C[linton this]
even[ing attending a C[ros-
ley] & H[unter meeting at the]
Ratt[enbury[Street] C[hurch[.]
8. T. Jno. [Bella and I were in Clin­
ton this evening at Crossley &
Hunter's] farewell meeting[.]
Jno. [was] at Mac's threshing
P.M.
305
Beautiful
Raining
Showers
Fine
Fine
9. W. [John was at Mac's threshing]
all day[.]J. McNaughton [came]
after the colt he bought[
.
I was] Choreing[.]
10. T. Jno. Dunkin & J.Sparrow [came]
for tea[.
] Mother started to
twist yarn again[.]
11. F. Fa[ther] & A[g were] in C[lin-
ton.]
Jno. & Ned [were]in C[lin-
ton] with wagons [of]
evap[
orat­
or] app[les. In the] even[ing]
after sheep...........
12. S. [I was]Killing bees all day[.
]
A[g] started for McT[avish]’
es
P.M.[but]stayed with kids[while]
Ned, Jane & I[sabella] P[earl
were] in C[linton.]
13. S. A[g] & I [were]in C[hurch](Rev.
Stewart.
)
14. M. A[g] washed [here and] B[ella
washed] for Jane.] C.Middleton
[came]after 3 heifers he bought
P.M. [I] Killed 4 hens[.]
Rain, Colder.
Snowing, wet...
Fine
Snowing, wet.
November, 1898 306
15. T. [I'm] making [a] smock[.] Jno.
went[in]Ned's cart to Varcoe's
for [a] heifer.] Mo[ther has] C[ool] W[ind]
finis[hed] twiisting yarn[.
]
16. W. A[g] washed blanketsfquilts &
scoured yarn[.I]Packed bees[.] Frozen, Fine
17. T. Bfella] & I [were] in C[linton
this] evening [at the] Annual Fine, Bad roads
meeting[of the] W[omens'] Ffor­
eign] Missionary] Sfociety.]
18. F. [I] Tryed (sic) to double 2nd Beautiful
to Nforth] hive & finis[hed]
killing bees[.J Fafther] &I
took in cabbage[s] to barn[.]
19. S. G.O.Sturdy brought [Mr] Wind-
land here for dinner & tea[.] Fine,Sprinkled P.M.
I put in double windows in
[the] kitchen etc.
20. S. B[ella] & I [were]in Cfhurch]
(Rev. Stewart.) Manassah's Fine, Roads drying up.
reign [was the] Sfabbath]
S[chool] lessonf.]A[dam]& Jno.
[went to church at night.]
21. M. Fa[ther] & Win[dland were at
Frazer'
s, [then they] drove
to Cooper’
s[and] Reids[.]B[el- Windy, fine
la] washed for Jane[.] A[g]
washed & went to McTavish'
s &
Innis['es looking] for a
drake[.]
22. T. A[g was] in C[linton]P.M.with
5 killed geese [and she] got Snowing
Doll's lame foot shod[.
]
23. W. Fa[ther]& W[indland]walked to
Varna[.] Andy [Dunkin] drove
them [back] over & stayed for Frozen, Fine
tea[.] A[g] & B[ella were] at
U[ncle James's] quilting P.M.
24. T. [We had] Turkey & Drake for
Thanksgiving[.] Ida, Aunty &
Ned's Wind[land]were here for Snowing
dinner & tea[.] Bfella], Isa­
bella] PfearlJ & I [were] in
[Sabbath] School P.M. [Examin­
ing were] Rev. Stewart, Muir,
Lawyer Scott & B. Higgins[.]*
B. Higgins was a harnessmaker in Varna
25. F. Fa[ther] & W[indland were] in
Cflinton] & at Sturdy'
s[. I] Fine, a little warmer.
cleaned [my room etc.
26. S. B[ella] & I [went to] C[lint-
on] in [the] buggy[
. We saw] Snow, Fine.
cutters going too[.
]
27. S. A[g] & B[ella were in church]
(Rev. Stewart.) Jno. & A[dam Fine
went to church at night[.]
A[g] stayed with [Jane's]kids
[in the] even[ing.]
November, 1898 307
28. M. [I] Killed 4 geese[.
] A[g] &
B[ella went to] C[linton] P.M.
in [the] buggy[.] G.W. Sturdy
[came] for dinner [in his]cut­
ter [and] bought a Ram[. Mr.]
Wfindland] went home with
him[.] T[om] Frazer [was here
in the] even[ing.
]
29. T. [Ag, Bella] & I pull[ed] old
paper off [the] kitchen & pap­
ered [the] ceiling P.M. Alb-
[ert] Sturdy & Win[dland arr­
ived for] dinner [on a] sleigh.
Jno.[was]at W[illiam] G[len]'s
P.M. cutting[.]
30. W. Papering almost finished
December, 1898
1. T. [I] Took Fa[ther] & W[indland
to [the] station [in the]morn-
[ing and] went[back] for[them
at] night[.] Case [came] for
dinner & [a] sheep[.] Irwin
[was here this] even[ing and]
bought [a] rooster[.We] Finis-
[hed] papering[.] A[g] scrub­
bed etc.
2. F. Mo[ther] & I [went to] C[lint-
on] in [the] cutter[.](Church
Rev.Shaw Egmondville.)B[ella
went in the] even[ing] with
Ned's, Mac's Jno. & Adam
3. S. [I C[leaned the]H[en]H[ouse.]
Cutting a little P.M. Fa[th- Soft
er] & Mr W[indland were] in bare
C[linton this] even[ing.]
4. S. B[ella] & I[went to church in
the] cutter [and] Jno. [took
the] buggy[.] (Rev. Stewart.)
A[g] minded [the] kids[.]
5. M. Fa[ther] & Windland [were]in
C[linton] fixing [a railway] Snow,
car[.
]
6. T. W[indland has] gone. We sold
him] 49 [sheep.]Jno. took up
2 loads [to the station] &
W[m] G[len] took 1 load for
us[. I] Killed 6 geese[.]
7. w. B[ella was] teaching for
[The]Master [and] broke[the]
cutter[.] Ned took grist for
us to C[linton.] A[g was] in
C[linton] with him P.M. Jack
Elliot [was here] for tea[in
the] even[ing.]Jno [was] at
Fenwick's wedding[.]
8. T .
9. F. [I am]Making Fa[ther]2[pair
of] p[an]ts[.]
Snow, Warmer.
Fine, Snowing.
Beautiful
sleighing.
Stormy
December, 1898 308
11. S .
12. M. A[g] & I washed[.] T[om]
Frazer bought [a] lamb[.]
J. McNaughton brought [the] People broke roads.
mare back[. I] Killed [a]
goose & Jane's duck[.]Aunty
[was here] all night[.]
WEDDING PHOTO
Fenwick Stewart & Alice Emmeline Rathwell
.... On Wednesday last, at the residence of the
bride's parents, by [the] Rev. Mr Shaw, Mr Fen­
wick Stewart,of Stanley,was united in holy bonds
of matrimony to Miss Alice Rathwell of Goderich
Township. The groom was ably assisted by Mr Adam
Stewart,while Miss Addie,sister of the bride,per­
formed the duties of bridesmaid. The bride was
made the recipient of a large number of valuable
and useful presents. We join with their many
friends in wishing them much happiness and pros­
perity.
The New Era December 9, 1898
13. T . Jno. Cuming drove Kate up
[at] noon[.] [I am] Making
[the]2nd.p[ai]r [of]D[airy]
p[an]ts for Fa[ther.]
14 . W.
15. T. Cutting P.M. Adam [stayed]
for tea[.] B[ella] & K[ate]
C[uming were] gone[for the] Fine
even[ing] at Ned'
s[.] Jim
Barkley called [this] even­
ting]on [the] way back from
Iowa[.]2Making under waists
darning[.]
December, 1898 309
16 . F .
17 . S .
18 . S .
19 . M.
20 . T .
21. W.
22 . T .
23 . F .
24 . S .
25 . S .
26 . M .
27 . T .
. [I] Finis[hed] waists & men-
ding[.] Fa[ther] walked to
C[linton.]
. Fa[ther is] sick[.] Jno.
[was] at Ned’s P.M. Chop­
ping[. I] Chored A.M. [and]
C[leaned the] H[en] H[ouse]
P.M.
. A[g]stayed with[the]
kids[.]
Fine
Nice
Beautiful
. A[g was] in C[linton in]
Ned's cutter[.] Ned [was]
killing pigs[.]J.Isard call-
ed[.] Jno. [was] in C[lin­
ton] P.M.[with a] load [of]
corn for Mac'
s[
.]
4
C[old] E[ast] W[ind]
Silver Thaw [in] even
[ing.]
. A[g] & I washed[.] B[ella] Raining
made [a]cake for Jane's P M.
Jno. [was] at Ned’
s cut­
ting[.]
. [We]Killed 7 turk[ey]s &[a]
heifer[.](Ned & Will [were]
here[.]) A[g] & I cleaned C[ool] W[ind],
insides P.M. Ned [went to] Thawing Slightly.
C[linton] in [the] cutter
[with] Polly[.]
2
4
[I] Cleaned [the] kitchen
stove pipes [and A[g]scrub-
bed[.
] B[ella has] gone to Raining P.M.
Grant'
s [this] even[ing.
]
[I] Finis[hed] making...
...pett[icoat at] night[.]
3
T[om] McMillan* [was here]
for dinner[.]
*A Seaforth area
McMillan M.P.
Frozen 5
farmer and son of John
(
Huron s.)Ned'
s
[I] C[leaned the] H[en] Snow Flurries 3
H[ouse and] Killed [a]
goose[.] A[g] & Mary, Bess­
ie & Mag[gie] McEwen [rode
to] C[linton with Ned's[on
the]sleigh[.]I stayed with
E[dward John] and baby
[James.
]
. I [was] in C[hurch] with C[old] W[ind] 4
Ned’s(Rev. Stewart.) A[g]
stayed with [the] kids[.]
B[ella] was] in cfhurch]
with [
the] Grant'
s
Ned’
s & Aunty [were here & 7
have]gone to Green’s* Chry-
stal wedding [this] even- C[old] W[ind]
[ing.]A[g]stayed with[the]
kids all night[.]
Fa[ther was] at [the] mill 7
P.M. for chop[.
] B[ella] &
Jennie arrived P.M.[I work- Stormy
ed on an]old country petti-
[coat.
]
28. W.
December, 1898 310
11
29 .
30.
31.
[Bella and Jennie]went back
[
to Grant'
s in the] even­
ting.] Fa[ther was at [the
annual] school meeting A.M. Snowed some
[I] Pasted up missed edges
on kitchen [wall]paper [and
I pasted]old Psalm books in
[the] even[ing.].........
T .
F .
S .
Mr & Mrs & [?] Sturdy [were Thawing 8
here for]dinner & tea[.]A[g]
washed[.J
A U INttU ~ L j w . w * * L jv.
[at] the school[.] Fa[ther
was] in C[linton for a] noon
meeting[.]Mr McGill from bey-
Guelph[was]at Frazer’
s[this]
even[ing.
]
Killed goose [and] Made pies
S[now] & C[old]
W[ind]
Very Cold,coldest
all year
The five households - those of James Stewart, John
Stewart, Ned Glen, James MacFarlane and William Glen- were
part of a very effective extended family. One has also to
mention the maiden Aunt, Agnes Stewart (called Aunt Nancy or
Aunty) who spent her whole life serving others and was in
turn sustained by her brothers and sister. This comfortable
and stable universe changed profoundly for Eliza-Ann in her
35th and 36th years. In 1898 Aunt Mary Stewart died and
within 2 years her 4 children had left home. Fenwick married
in 1898 and he and his bride lived in a cottage away from the
big house. He paid his father an annual rent and took over
the farm. Aunt Nancy came to live with James out of
compassion and agreed to keep house until James and the
family adjusted to the loss of Mary. But the arrangement
became permanent. Ada bailed out and went to be a housekeeper
in New York city. Ida left home and took a nursing course.
In June, 1900, Annie maried Harvey H. McBrien of Hullet
Township, a carpenter and employee in Clinton's Piano and
organ factory.
As we will see, in 1899, the Grim Reaper
carried off, a day apart, James MacFarlane and John Stewart.
In December, Adam Stewart would marry Christena, daughter of
Malcolm McEwen,and take over the John Stewart family farm.
In late 1900, John MacFarlane woultj marry
Isabella (or Bell), daughter of Malcolm McEwen. Eliza-Ann and
Agnes would gladly have taken their widowed mother and her
sister Agnes to live in Clinton. Agnes felt committed to
keeping house for brother James and Eliza was not going to
leave her sister alone on the IV th Concession. The
MacFarlane stone house was partitioned to accomodate two
households. John and Bell in one, and John's widowed mother
and maiden sisters in the other.
7
6
311
THE DIARY OF ELIZA-ANN MACFARLANE:1899
FAREWELL TO MANY THINGS
January, 1899
1. S. A[g] & I [were] in C[hurchj(Rev, 6
Stewart.) Bella[came] home with Snow Flurries,
us[.] Very Cold.
2. M. Ned,I[sabella] P[earl],E[dward] 3
J[ohn] & Aunty [were] here for
dinner & a[fternoon]tea[.1]Done A little Milder
a few stitches at Embroy-sic[.
]
3. T. B[ella] & I [were] in C[linton] 11
P.M.Doll[was]shod behind &[her]
right front [shoe was] rework- Sunshiny A.M.
ed[.] A[g] washed[.
] Mr & Mrs &
Stella Wigg[inton were] here[in Fine
the] even[ing.] Mr H. Barsantee
[was here] all night[.] Raining
4. W. [Mr Barsantee] & Fa[ther were] 9
at T[om] Frazer1
s[.] Jno.took T.
Cairns to C[linton & back] from Raining
Ned’
s cutter[
. I] C[leaned the]
H[en] H[ouse.]
5. T. Put yokeon (turned 0[ld] C[ount- 8
ry] Pett[icoat.] Jno. [was] at Slight Flurries,
Ned’
s P.M. [I] Started extract- Frozen & Fine.
ing P.M.
6. F. Jno. [was] at Ned's all day[.] Snowing 5
B[ella] & I [did extracting]all
day[.
]
7. S .
8. S .
9. M.
10 . T .
B[ella] & I [did extracting]all
day[.]
Snowing some.
Very Stormy.
9
Jno. [went to church at night.] Cold 10
A[g]& I washed[.]A[g] & I[visit-
ed] at U[ncle James’
s[this]even- Fine & Cold
10
[ing. We] called on the bride
too[.i*
*With Aunt Nancy now keeping house at
for James Stewart, the MacFarlane sisters and
their mother got accurate and detailed reports
about what was going on there. Fenwick was run­
ning the farm, and in the spring, he and Harvey
Mc$rien would build a cottage for Alice and him­
self. Until the snow went, Alice & Fenwick’s
first five months of married life were spent in
the farmhouse with Fenwick’
s father and 3 lis­
ters. Aunt Nancy reported to the MacFarlane women
that Annie & Ida, but especially Ada w^rs wording
overtime to make Alice feel unwelcome, (^da had
nourished hopes of Fenwick marrying Bella Cuming,
with whom she was close friends.) One senses that
Agnes and Eliza made this visit .
t
o give Alice some
moral support. I expect they commandeered the front
parlour and made it clear they wished to have the
bride to themselves.
tl] Killed 7 turkey hens & 3
Roosters[and]
Got leg bands[.]
A[g was]in C[linton] P.M. G.O.
Sturdy [came] P.M. after the
sheep he bought[.]
6
Below [Zero F.]
Cle[ar]
C[old] W[ind].
January, 1899 312
11. W.
12 . T .
Fa[ther was]at Jno. Elliot's
P.M. after [the] Dakota let­
ter[. A] Tramp [was in our]
Dr[iving shed] all night[.]
A[g] went to [Ellie Nott's]
P.M. B[ella] & I finis[hed]
extracting [the] frame
boxes[.]
10
8 [degrees] below [F]
Clear & C[old] Efast]
W[ind.]
B[ella] & I [were] in C[lin- 7
ton] P.M. A[g came] home [in Dull & little wanner,
the] evenfing.] C[old] W[ind.]
13 . F .
14 . S .
Cutting honey out of box- Raining
hives[
.] MistyP.M.
[I]Dyed Black Mitts & yarn & Pouring R[ain]
Navy Blue Yarn P.M. & [I A.M., Sleet.
threw [a] p[ai]r [of] s tock- Frozen.
ing[s] in after[.I] C[leaned
the] H[en] H[ouse.]
12
7
15, S. [I] Walked to c[hurch.] {Rev. Fine & Soft
Stewart)
7
16 . M. A[g] & I washed[
. I] Cut out Thawing
a box [of] honey[.] Springlike
9
17 . T .
18 . W.
[I] Mended gloves, cut honey
out of a box etc. Jno. [is] Frozen,
helping W[illiam] Glen get Light snow.
his Wind-mill pole[.
]
Cutting P.M. I [was]in C[lin-
ton] P.M. [in the]cutter[.We
had] both rigs going on the Frozen
roads[.] I[sabella] Pfearl],
Mamie & Abby [Glen were]
here[.
]
16
11
19. T.
20. F.
21. S .
[I] Starched collars[.] Ann- Fine 10
ie Stewart [was] here P.M.
Making muslin apron[.] A[g] Snowing 16
& I[were]at McTavish'es P.M.
Jno.[was] at [the] mill for 7
chop P.M. Rosey calved A.M. Snowing & Drifting,
[I] Emb[roidered] a little Soft snow
P.M. etc.
22. S. A[g]& B[ella were in Church Fine
John & Adam went at night.
]
I stayed with Jane's kids
[and] Got from Jane 3 1/4
lbs [of] oatmeal[.]
23. M. A[g] washed[.I] cut out pan
honey[.] Jno.[was]at Will's
cutting P.M. Ned's kids Snowed, soft
[were] here[.]Fa[ther was]
in [the] house all day Raining
sick[.]Jno.went for[Dr.]
. Gunn [in the] even[ing.j
24. T. [John went] to C[linton]
P.M. [for Dr. Gunn.] Mac,
Jane & Will Glen [were] Fine
here [this] even[ing] to
see Fa[ther. I] C[leaned
the] H[en]H[ouse,I]think[.]
13.
9
11
January, 1899 313
25 . W. U[ncle] Ja[me]s & Jno
Elliot [came] for din-
ner[ .
] I [was] in C[lin- Fine,
11
ton] P.M. [and] Got Adam
[Stewart] to bring [a]
chair* home [for me] in
[his] sleigh[.
]
C[old] W[ind]
* Probably an invalid's chair or com-
mode chair.
26 . T . Snow etc.,
Stormy P.M.
Near Zero.
9
27 . F . Jno[was] in C[linton this]
even[ing.
28 . S . [Doing] Embroi[dery] P.M. 6
t
o
v
o
9
S . A[g] & I [were in church 2 below 9
(Rev.) Stewart.) Jno & A[d- late morn[ing,]
am went at night[
.] Snowing a little & stormy,
30 . M. A[g]washed[.]I helped some[.]
[I] Wiped out [my] room P.M.
5 below 13
31. T . [I] Cut out pan honey[.] Mac
& D[uncan] McEwen [were here
this] even[ing.] S. Smith
2 below 6
bought 2 steers[.]
February, 1899
1. W. [I] Finis[hed] facing Ned's
mitts P.M. Ida [Stewart[was
5 below, Cold. 9
here] P.M. Jane [was] here
this] even[ing.]Adam took up
[the] steers with Jno.[this]
morn[ing.
]
2. T . The Master [was] in [at]
noon to see Fa[ther.] I
9
[was in] all day[.] A[g] & 7 below, Sunshiningt
f
B[ella were] in C[linton] P.M.
Ned (Jane & kids) P.M. saw­
ing! •]
a little warmer.
3. F . U[ncle] Jno. & Jim Barkley
called[this] evening[.]A [g ]
& I drove down there* [in the]
even[ing.]
*"ThereM probably
means Riverview Farm ( Uncle John Stewart’
s.)
4. S . 1st Pair [of] lambs[from sheep Zero 9
#3 289[.]* Jno [was] in C[lint-
on] with Ned P.M.[for] salt[.
] *purebred registration
number
5. S. B[ella] & I [were in Church.] 8
(Rev. Stewart) Jere[miah] VI, Zero
16-"Thus saith the Lord, Stand
ye [in the ways, and see... ]
A[dam]& J[ohn went at night[.]
M. Cutting P.M. T[om] Frazer[was
here]for tea[.I] emb[roidered]
P.M.
6. 15 below 9
7. T
314
10
8 . W.
February, 1899
[The]Master [called in at]
noon[.] Tene Baird & Sarah 15 below,
Dunbar [were here] P.M.Jno. Bright sunshiny
& Ned [were] in Seaforth P.M.
[I] Cut out pan honey
A[g] & B[ella were] in C[lint- Cold 4
on] P.M. [I] emb[roidered] P.M. Zero Direction
Jno.fwas] at [the] Dr's [this]
even[ing.]*
*John probably went in alone to hear
Dr Gunn's conclusions about his father's con-
condition. James MacFarlane had cancer of the
prostate gland. A century ago, this was untreatable
and always fatal. I expect that Dr Gunn told John
that James MacFarlane had at best 6 to 8 months to
live. About this time, MacFarlane's took aboard
another hired man. The only clue is Eliza-Ann's
resumption of "The Boys" in her entries.
9. T . [The] Boys [were] helping put
up W[illiam] Glenn1
s(sic) Wind­
mill Mast* A.M. Adam went for
[news]papers[in the] even[ing.]**
Bfella was] at Jane's making
[herself a] dress[.I was]fixing
old slippers P.M.
10
13 below 0,
a sizzeler(sic)
wind.
*See Jan 17 entry. A long wooden
shaft connected the wind - driven drift shaft
with the water pump's plunger -converting circular
motion to vertical motion. One could save money by
fashioning one's own mast. Cedar poles gew in abun­
dance along the Bayfield River. **The several
households had an aggreement to empty each other'
s
mail boxes and fetch all mail and daily and weekly
newspapers. MacFarlane's with their frequent forays
into Clinton, did most of the fetching.
10 . F . [I]em[broidered]about 2 h[ou]rs
P.M. Ned [came] for tea[.
] Dr.
Smith & lady called [this] even­
ting.]
23 below 0 10
Bright, Sunshiny
11 . S . A[g was]in Cflinton] P.M. Mag &
I[sabella] Pfearl were]here P.M.
[I] em[broidered] P.M.[and have
been lining[the] old red & blue
horse-blanket etc.
8
31 below 0
12 . S . A[g] & B[ella were in Churchf.
]
(Rev. Stewart) 'Anniversary'[I]
Stayed with [the] kids[.] J[ohn
went to church at night.
]
8
32 [below 0]
13 . M. A[g] & I washed[.
] 31 [below 0] 7
14 . T . 1 lamb (2nd [from #]327 Bfella
was] at Jane's [a] half day[.]
"Yes Missus" [was here] for din­
ner[. I] finis[hed] lining [the
8
15 below 0
old horse] blanket[.]
15. W. [I] cut out pan honey etc. Liz­
zie [Glen was over this] even­
ting.] Jno. [was] in Brucefield
with Ned [and] at [a] Tupper*
meeting [thisq even[ing in]Clin-
[ton.] *Sir Charles Tupper, the aging Father of
Confederation, now in his 70's, continued to
lead the federal Conservative party after his
defeat at the hands of Laurier. Tupper and
the Conservatives convinced themselves that
the Canadian electorate was eager to vote
them back in power and in 1899 and 1900 waged
a vigorous and spirited campaign throughout
the Dominion.
February, 1899 315
16 . T .
17 . F .
18. S
19 . S .
20. H
21. T .
22 .
23 .
W.
T .
24 . F .
25. S
26. S
27 . M.
28 . T .
Ned & Jno.[were] at[a] Liberal* 7
meeting [this] even[ing.] Sunshiny & thawing
*her emphasis
Jno. [was] at [the] mill for
chop[.] Ned & Jane [were] in
C[linton.] A[g] stayed with
[the]kids[.1] em[broidered P.M,
U[ncle]Jno*[was here]P.M. & Ab
Nott & Mr & Mrs Andy Dunkin
[came] for tea[.] Jno.[went to
the] mill with chop[.I}em[broi-
dered] a little [and] C[leaned
the] H[en] H[
ouse[.]
Ned [went to hear The Rt. Rev.
Maurice S.] Baldwin,[Anglican]
Bishop [of Huron.]1 Jno.[went
to church in the] even[ing.]
Jno. [was] at U[ncle] Jno.'s
P.M.Mr & Mrs Foster[were here]
P.M. & even[ing.]
Will & Lizzie
[Glen were here also this]even­
ting. ]
Bob Holmes[won the by-election
for the federal riding of Hur­
on West[.I] em[broidered a[lit-
tle. Bfella] & I [were] at U[n-
cle] Jno’
s [this] even[ing.]
Fine & Soft
Sprinkling
Thawing
Snowing
Soft & Sunshiny
11
Kind of Misty
Raining
T[om] Frazer [came] for tea[.] Snowed,freezing 8
Rev. Stewart & Wife called.Jno.,
B[ella] & I [were] at [a] pray­
er meeting [this] even[ing] at
Jno. McGregor's[.] W±ll[±am]
Ja[me]s Glen & Mary Smith
[were] baptized[.]
A[g]& I washed[.]Ned[drove to]
C[linton] P.M. [in the]cart[.]
Aunty [was] at Ned’
s P.M.
Jno. & Ab [were] out P.M. [I]
Mended p[an]ts & ironed etc.
U[ncle] Jno., Glen*, & Ab Nott
[were] here for dinner.]Ab[was
here] for tea too[.
]
Mamie[was here this]even[ing.
]
Mac [came this] even[ing.] Jno.
came after him[.
] Helen Butch-
art and her man [were]there[.]
A[g was] in C[linton] P.M. [A]
sick ewe [which] had lambs
died[. The] Master [called at]
noon, [Mr] Graham called P.M.,
[and] U[ncle] Jno[was] here af­
ter dinner[.] Extracting
pieces of combs that I cut
white comb honey off[.]
] 14
Fine, C[old] W[ind.]
14
Fine & Dull
Slight melt to sun
20
23
Thaw,Light Rain.
24
Blustering & Snow
27
Snowed P.M.,
Sleet,
Frozen night.
6
6
6
7
March, 1899 316
A[g]washed[.I]ext[racted] P.M.
Jno. [was] at [the] mill P.M.
for chop[.] Bob McMillan call- Fine
ed in[.
] E.& W.Wise[came] P.M.
looking at stock[.] H. Reid’s
[came] after[the]Billy [they]
bought[.] Ned [was here for
tea[.
]
26
[The] 3rd. lamb [from] ewe # 23
338 died[. The] shearling ewe
[from] Diehl['s] died[. I]
Washed[the]extractor P.M. Mrs
Mac,Jane and [the] kids [were
here] P.M. [and] U[ncle] Jno.*
[Stewart] called [in the]even­
ting. ]
* John Stewart was a driven workaholic who
seldom went visitng and who put any company that
stayed more than half a day to work. His son Adam
had now taken over the operation of the home farm
and John himself knew he had heart disease. John
Stewart and James MacFarlane spent a lot of time
together in their last 6 months of life.
[The]Master[called in at]noon,
Aunty[was here] P.M. [and]Ned
[came for] tea[.I] embroider­
ed a little.] Jno. hauled in
the last of [the] corn stooks
A.M.
22
Raining P.M.
Jno. & Ned [were] at Mrs Whit­
ley’s sale[. I] Stamped [a]
Beaura mat[.
] Wigginton & Dr.
Gunn [were] here P.M. [and]
Jane [came in the] even[ing.]
20
Dull, Soft.
29
Snowing & Blowing;
Big drifts.
A[g] & I washedf.
] Jno. [was]
at Ned’
s P.M. Snowing some.
A[g] & B[ella were] in C[lint-
on] P.M. Ned & family [were] C[ool] W[ind.]
here A.M. (cutting a little.)
23
21
Jno. & Ned[were] in Cflinton] 28
P.M. [I] em[broidered] a lit-
tle[.]B[eHa] & i [were] at Sunshiney &
U[ncle] Jno.'s [in the] even- singey W[ind.]
[ing.] Ned's [were] at Fen-
[wickj's [and left the] kids
here[.
]
A[g] & Aunty [went into]C[lin- 19
ton] in [the] cutter[.
] Jno.
[was] at [the] mill[.] U[ncle Fine & Nice
Jno. [was here] P.M. & Ab,Wise
& [the] Stapleton gent [were
here] for tea too[.
] Jno.[was]
at [the] mill[.]
[I]C[leaned the] H[en]
H[ouse.
]
[Edward]Glen [Sr.was here] P.M.
& Aggie & Johnny Butchart[came
in the] even[ing. John was at
the mill for chop.]
Cherry calved[
. I was] scrap­
ing out honey boxes
20
Raining a little.
Thawing,
Bees out
18
1
. w.
2. T .
3. F .
4* S.
5. S.
6. M.
7. T .
8. W.
9, T .
10 . F .
11. S .
March, 1899 317
12. S. B[eila] & I [werein C[hurch]
(Rev. Rumball with Rev.]Stew­
art there.
)
13. M. A[gJ washed [and I] scraped
some frames etc. [Mr] Tough,
[the tax assessor, was here]
all night[.
]
14. T. A[g] & Aunty [were] in Clin­
ton] P.M. [The] Master [call­
ed in at] noon[and T[om] Fra­
zer [in the] evenfing.]
15. W. Nficholas] Cuming [was here]
for dinner[.] U[ncle] Jno.
[was here] P.M. [I] emfbroid-
ered and] Jno. [was] at Jno.
Avery's sale P.M. Jane fetch­
ed her turkey in[at] noon[.]
16. T. Jno & Adam [were] in C[lin-
ton] P.M. [for] grist[and a]
p[ai]r [of]lambs[were born.]
Soft, Snowing 13
Stormy.
Frozen, 22
Dull & Cold
14
C[old] W[ind,]
Sunshiny
18
Raining, Showery,
Snowing.
22
C[old] W[ind],
light Flurries.
17 .F . Jno. [was] at Ned's P.M. cut­
ting[.] Aunty [was] here P.M.
A[g]& I went to U[ncle]Jno's
[in the] evenfing.]
Blustery 21
C[old]] E[ast] W[ind.]
Snowing
18 .S .
19 .S .
Jno.Middleton [came by] cut­
ter[and]bought 2 2-year-old
steers[. Ewe #] 378 [had] 3
lambs[.]
20
Raining,
S[un] Thaw
A[g] & I [went to church in Very H[igh] W[ind,] 30
the] buggy (Rev. Rumball.)C[old] N[orth]-W[est]
W[ind].
20. M. [I]em[
broidered]a little P.M.
21. T. A[g] washed[.
] Ab Nott [was 30
here) for dinner & tea[. Ab] Snowing & Very
& Jno.went over to W[illiam] Stormy.
Beacom’
s* sale- posponed [on
account of the weather.]
*William Beacom was
farming in Goderich Township, Lot 30 the
Bayfield Concession. He married Annie Rath-
well, sister of Alice (Mrs Fenwick Stewart)
in 1894. Bill Beacom was good friends with
Fenwick, Adam and John. Bill and Annie had
decided to quit farming and move into Clinton
where they would go into the grocery business
with Bill's father Thomas Beacom. The couple
had 2 children Elmer,b.1895 and Cela, b.1897.
William died in 1902 from pneumonia. He had
assisted in fighting a hotel fire in Clinton
in bitter cold weather. Cela Beacom and her
husband Fred Sloman operated as teachers in
a C.N.R. School-on-Wheels in northern Ontario,
1927-64. Alice and Fenwick took a special
interest in the Beacom niece and nephew.
22. W. Jack Elliot started work[.]* Misty, 24
Mr & Mrs Wigginton & Jessie's Raining, T[hunder]
kid [were here]for dinner[.Mr & L[ightning.]
& Mrs]Finley McEwen[came] P.M.
for tea[. I] filled [a] honey
pan[,
] *hired man
March, 1899 318
23 .T . Dewdrop calved red calf &
Black cow[.](Sic) Jno. [was]
at [Beacom’s] sale P.M.
31
Snowed some,
C[old] W[ind.]
24 .F . A[g was] in C[linton] P.M.
[The] Buggy [made for] good
sleighing with shoeing off[of
the] cutterf.
] B[ella] & I
[were]at U[ncle]Jno.’
s [this]
even[ing.]
25
C[old] W[±nd],
Fine.
25. S. [I]C[leaned the]H[en]H[ouse.]
[The]Boys took steers to[the]
Middleton's P.M. [on] horse­
back[
. I] emfbroiidered] a
little[.]
29
Stormy & Snowing,
S[outh]-E[ast] W[ind.]
26 .S . [I] Stayed with the kids A.M. Sunshiny 27
Sun Thaw
27 .H. A[g] & I washed[.
] 4 pairs
of lambs
Sunshiny 20
Sun Thaw
28 .T . [Ed] Glen [Sr. was here] for
tea [and] all P.M. Mr McFar-
lane [from] Shakespeare [was
here all night[.] A[g is] mak­
ing white pett[ipoint]Crochet
Lace & Insert[.I]
Made sleeves
(puffs) smaller in old brown
waist & Set a piece in front
lining of B[ac]k (waists.)
32
Snowing, Drifting.
29. W. 21
30 .T . [I] Mended Jno.’s D[uc]ks &
his shirt [and] em[broidered]
P.M. Jno. [was] in C[linton]
with [the] horse[.]
25
Fine,
C[old] W[ind.]
31 .F . I [was] at Hunter's (Carrie
Grant's) P.M.[John] Woon[was]
here[.
]
23
April, 1899
1. S . A[g] & B[ella were] in C[lint-
on] P.M. [in] Ned's Cutter[.]
JNO. & [the] Glen’
s [went in]
Will G[len's] sleighf.
]
30
Snow Flurries,
C[old] W[ind.]
2. S. A[g] & B[ella went to church
in] Ned's cutter(Rev.McDonald,
Seaforth.)
Jno.[went at night.]
B[ella] & I [were] at U[ncle]
Jno.'s [this] even[ing.]
17
3.M. A[g] & I washed[.
] 26
4.X, U[ncle] Jno.[was here]P.M.[I]
em[broidered a] little[.]
Sun, N[orth] W[ind.]
5.W. Jno.Tomson[and] E[dward] Glen
Sr. [were here] for dinner &
Tea[.] A[g] & I [were] clean­
ing [the] milk-room P.M. [We]
Put milk down [in the] even­
ting.]
19
Sunshiny
April, 1899 319
6. T . [Ag and I] scrubbed [the milk
room] A.M. [I] took pork to
[thejgranery (sic) and C[lean­
ed the] H[en] H[ouse] A.M.
Milder & Dull
S[outh-] E[ast]
7.F . [I was] Mending [a] dress
[and] em[broidering.
]
Raining & a
little dull
8. S. Aunty [was] up [here.] A[g] &
X[were] at U[ncle] Jno.'s [in
tfe] evening.]
9.S. I [went in the] buggy [to]
C[tiurch](
Rev. Stewart.
) S[ab-
bat|r] S[chool] started[.]Bess­
ie Orfeu & I [were] off this
Sun[.&jy. ]
Fine
10 .M. A[g] & I washed Fine
11 .T . A[g was] in Cflinton] P.M.[I]
Sent Eaton order[.] Pouring P.M.
12 .W. [I] Washed, Brushed & ironed
[ajblue serge skirt etc. Alex.
Elliot [was here this] even­
ting. ]
Fine Snow
13 .T . [I]Cut out [a]skirt lining[.]
A[g] & I [were] at U[ncle]
Jno.'s [this] even[ing.]
Beautiful & hot
14 .F . [I] Basted [the] skfirt.]£[g]
& 33[ella were] in <}[linton]
P.M. Aunty went to G[oderich]
T[ownshi]p[.
]
Beautiful
15 .S . [I worked] at [the] skirt[.] Fine, Colder
16 .S . A[g] & B[ella were] in
c[hurch[.The] B[lac]k Heifer
Calved[.]
17 .M. A[g] & I washed[.
] Beautiful
18 .T .
'
H
19 .W. I finis[hed] serge skirt[.]
1 Eaton box arrived[.] Uncle
Samuel from Kansas arriv­
ed at U[ncle] Jno.’s [in
the] even[ing.]
20 .T . [Uncle Sam] went to S[lin-
ton] with Jno. [The]other
Eaton [box arrived.] [Uncle
Sam] & Aunt Jessie drove
home[.] Jno.came with Adam
[and] fetched [the] Eaton
boxes home[.] Wilson Elliot
fetched in a sucker[.]
21 .F . Uncle Samuel & I [were]
in C[linton] A.M. Finley
[McEwen was here] for din-
ner[.
]
22. S. Mother & Aunt Jesie [&]
A[g were] at Lizzie's &
Jane's P.M. [1] Sent Jane
out [some] eggs[.] Fa[ther]
& U[ncle] S[am were at U[n-
cle James'es] for dinner &
21
W[ind]
21
32
18
31
19
SO
35
35
43
33
36
40
40
25
38
32
Slight Shower
April, 1899 320
23•S .
24 •M *
25. T.
26 .W.
27 .T.
28 .F .
29 .S .
30 .S .
1. M.
2. T.
3. W.
4. T.
Aunty [Nancy was] up P.M.
[for] a short time[.] B[el-
la] & Aunt Jfessie went]
down [to] U[ncle] Jno.'s
[in the]even[ing.J
B[ella] & I [were] in C[hurch] 26
(Rev. Stewart.)
A[g] & I washed[.] 50
[Ag & I] Cleaning boys stair[.] 33
Aunt Jessie & I [were] at
Ross's for dinner & tea[.]*
*Lot 27-2
A[g] cleaned [the] boys room[. 39
and I]took out Double windows
[and] put down [the] platform
[in the] wood-sheci[. I] Raked
[the] y&rds, Flower beds etc.,
and helped fill [theJleech[r]*
* a large funnel-like
contraption made of wood, into which wood
ashes would be poured. Then water would be
poured through the ash to “leech*' out the
lye to make soap.
U[ncle] S[am] & Aunty went 32
to Wiglginton* s] to go visit
[the] House of Refuge[.] A[g]
ironed[
. We] Killed [the] lump-
jaw steer[.
] Lizzie McTavish [was]
here P.M.
Jno. & I took off tallow off [of 34
“Lump Jaw'*] A.M. A[g was] clean-
ing[while I]Half dug flower bed[.]
I [was] in C[linton] P.M. [and] 40
fetched [Edward] Glen [Sr.]home[.] Rained a little.
A[g] & B[ella were in Church](Rev. 40
Stewart.)U[ncle Sam] & Aunty
[were] back [this] even[ing[.]
May, 1899
A[g] S
t I washed[.] Jno. [was] away 27
with Ab [Nott[.j B[ella was] clean­
ing her room,took up[the] carpet & Fine, Sprinkle.
put[it] down again etc. Aunty[was]
up P.M.
[Bella cleaned the] Dining [room, Fine 35
took up the carpet and put it down
again. The] Cows [were] out all
night[.]
B[ella was] cleaning Mother’
s & 22
A[g]'s B[ed]room[s] & [the] clos-
ets[. I] Churned A.M. [and was]Rid- H[igh] E[ast] W[ind]
[ding] at stairs, woodshed etc.P.M.
[This] Even[ing] R. Marshell (sic)
[called and] Jno. [came] home[.]
Jno. [was] home [this] even[ing] 23
working at[the] broken pump[. I]
sorted out old shoes etc.
5. F .
6. S •
7. S.
8 .M.
9. T .
10 .W.
XI .T ,
12 .F .
13 .S .
14 .S .
15 .M.
16 .T .
17 .W .
18 .T .
19 F .
May, 1899 321
[I] Finis[hed]dig[ging the]big gar- 22
den[and]sowed sweet peas[.I] Finis- Rained
[hed] (in a way)[the] wood[shed] & Fine
[the] stairs[
.
Ellie & Asa [Nott] drove in P.M. Ab 19
[came in the] evenfing.)
A[g] & B[ella were]in C[hurch](Stew- 15
art- Rev. McDonald - Sesforth pro­
claiming pulpit vacant.)
Jno. [was] in C[linton] A.M. A[g] & 18
I washed[.] Mekin [was here this]ev­
enting] for potatoes[.] U[ncle]
Samuel & Aunty went to Hullet P.M.
from U[ncle James's, to visit at
Elliott's and Cuming's.]
[I] Put frames in for bees(ones [I] 14
took out [last] fall) etc.
B[ella] & I [were] in C[linton] P.M. 40
A[g] cleaned her kitchen..... [and] Rained heavy
B[ella] cleaned [the] pantry[.]
[We] Washed [the] buggy in [the] riv- 17
er [and I did some] mending[.] Mo[th-
er [worked] at soap[.]A[g]washed blan­
kets etc.
A[g] & B[ella were] cleaning [the] kit- 34
chen[.
] Fa[ther] planted some pot....
[and I was] Melting bee's wax. G. Elliot
[was] here today in Jack's place[.] U[n-
cle] S[am] & Aunty [came] back [at]
night[.]
[Uncle Sam & Aunty] went to U[ncle] 31
Jno.'s [thhis] morn[ing and were]
back [at] night[.] Jno. sowed man-
gols[.I was]Cutting off frames A.M.[and]
put[a] navy band on[a] green sailor[hat]
etc.
B[ella, Jane & I [were] in C[hurch](Rev. 25
Stewart.
) Jno. by [night.
]
A[g[ & I washed [and I've been] melting 23
wax[.] Ufncle] S[am] & Aunty [have] Fine & Cool
gone to go to Ned Rathwell's and
Gabey's[.]
[I'm still melting wax.] Jno. [is pain- 20
ting [the] buggy these days[. Uncle Sam
& Aunty] came up from U[ncle] Jno's Raining,
with me [this] even[ing.] Showers.
Jno. [was] in Cflinton] P.M. [with] Ned Rain & Cold
[and I worked] at wax most of [the] day.
[I worked t wax] all day[.] A[g was in Cold & Dull
Clinton P.M. with] Fenfwick.]
B[ella] & I [were] in C[linton]P.M.[at] 27
Church (Rev. Wade.) [Bella drove U[n-
cle Sam] & Aunt [Jessie] to Ross's
[in the] even[ing.]
Jno. [was] in C[linton] P.M. with Ned[.
]
[I] lengthened sleeves & legs of Jno.'s
new suit etc.
20 .S . 14
May, 1899 322
21. S ♦
22 .M.
23. T.
24 .W.
25 .T .
26 .F .
27 .S .
B[ella] & I [were] in C[hurch]-Jno. by 19
byke-(Rev. Stewart) "Lovest thou me"etc.
U[ncle Sam] & Aunt [Jessie]went to Fine,
U[ncle] Jno.‘s[this] morn[ing]& to C[ool] W[ind.]
Goderich T[ownshi]p [in the] even­
ting.]
Jno. helped W[illiam] Glen to C[linton] 17
with cattle[.]Jno.left for Montreal P.M.
A[g] washed[.] I[was] at Mrs [Robert]
Coats‘funeral[.]
*Robert Coats was a grocer to
whom the MacFarlane's gave their business.
The Coats family lived in an ornate
Victorian white brick home, just outside town
limits in Goderich Township at the
corner of the Clinton-Bayfield Road and the
Telephone Road. The son, Robert Hamilton Coats
(1874-1960) was Canada's founding director of
the Dominion Bureau of Statistics (renamed
Statistics Canada) and is widely considered
to have established that agency's sterling
reputation for accuracy and analysis. Bella
MacFarlane would marry the widower Thomas
Fraser in 19Q6 and the couple were destined to
buy the Coats house when Thomas quit farming
and sold the Fraser home place. It was in the
possession of the Holland family when they
took posssession in 1919.
[I] Scooured & cleaned wax dishes etc. B[el- 10
la stopped] at Grants for [her] parasol[.]
Ned & Jane[were] in C[linton this]even[ing] Fine
for our peas etc. Mr & Mrs Brigham stay­
ed] all night[.]
[Mr and Mrs Brigham] & Fa[ther] & Mo[t- 29
her]called at U[ncle] Jno.'s A.M. [The
Brigham's were] gone P.M. U[ncle Sam] &
Aunt [Jessie] called in [this]morn[ing]
to dress, on [their] way to C[linton.
I] fixed [Aunt Jessie's] hair[.] Ned[was]
hdre [this] morn[ing] sowing corn[.] Jack sow­
ed green feed (peas & oats.) New Lamb
Fa[ther was] at U[ncle James's] P.M. Jack 14
[was] pcking stones [in the] clover[field.]
P.M.
Jack[Elliott] took [horse] Polly to Ab [Nott's 26
in] Holmesville [this] even[ing.I]Washed [the]
plaster [on my] B[ed]room [wall.]
[I washed my bedroom] floor[and] paint[ed the]
door[. We] planted 20 rows [of] potatoes -Jack
[did the] most[.]Jno.[was]home with[the] horse
for dinner[.] A[g],Aunty, & Jno.[were]in C[lin-
ton] P.M. Aunt Jessie arrived [home this]
even[ing.]* Uncle [Sam drove] in[to]C[lin-
tom] for her[.]
*1 understand that Jessie had numer­
ous Campbell relatives in the wider Clinton.
It’
s probably safe to say that she went off to
visit these relatives while Sam and his sister
Agnes visited Stewart relatives[.]
May, 1899 323
28. S. Fa[ther & U[ncle] S[am were] at Jno.Thom- 18
son’s[.] A[g] stayed with Ned’s kids A.M.
Aunt Jessie & I [were] in S[abbath] Heavy Rain
S[chool.] Fen[
wick]'s Kid [Harvey Adam
Stewart was ] born[.]
29. M. A[g] & I washed[
. Ag & I werejat Will's[this] 32
even[ing.] U[ncle Sam,] Aunt [Jessie & Fa- Rained a
[ther were] at Ned's all day[.] I drove little.
I[sabel] & Wfilliam] & E[dward] J[ohn]
to T[om] Frazer’s A.M.
30. T. U[ncle Sam] & Aunt [Jessie] went to Fen- 24
[wick's.] 1st Swarm P.M. Ned[was] in bid­
ding & cutting potatoes[.]A[g]washed out[the] Fine
cellar again[
. I] Finis[hed] cleaning [in my]
B[ed]-Room & washed [the] curtains & [washed]
& refilled [the] tick[.
]
31. W . 5
In the immediate neigh­
bourhood,the humbler farm dwellings
were seldom photographed.For ex-’
ample, Ned and Jane Glen1
s
frame house on”
Old House Hill,"
on the sideroad near the grav
el pit,in which they spent
the first 10 years of marri
life,was never photographed
and was torn down shortly
after the present imposing
farmhouse was finished in
1902.
In early 1899, as
soon as weather permitted,
Fenwick and Harve McBrien
worked almost around the
clock to get the cottage
built. Alice wanted to
get away from her in-laws,
and the couple were moved
in by the time the first
child was born on a rainy.
Sunday, May 28, 1899. He
was named Harvey,probably
in tribute to Harvey
McBrien'
s speedy construct­
ion of the cottage. While
it was lived in, it was in
the field south of the lane.
When James Stewart and his
sistejr Agnes died in 1911, the
family moved in to big farm
house and the cottage became,and
remains a hen house.
Harvey Adam Stewart
1899-1971
This snapshot of
"The Henhouse" was taken by
me in July,1958. K.F.S.
June, 1899 324
1. T. U[ncle] Samuel's called [in this] 27
morn[ing. They are] going to G[oder-
ich T[ownshi] to visit[.] Jno. [was] Fine
at Graham's P.M. [I] cut out most of a
print dress[.]
2. F. [Jno. was at Graham's barn] rsaising[.I] 29
Ironed bed-rom drapes etc.
3. S. U[ncle] Sam[uel’s]drove Polly [home 29
this] morn[ing.] Jno. [drove them]
down to stay with U[ncle] Jno. They-
Aunt Agnes etc.[are]going to Green's[.]
4. S. A[g] & B[ella were]in C[hurch](Rev.Stew-Fine & Hot 18
art.)
5.M. U[ncle] S[amuel]& Aunt[Jessie were]21
gone to Isard's A.M.[with] Polly[.]
A[g] & I washed[.] Elsie Thomson[came on
her] wheel[.] A[g] drove her to[the] Bab-
elyon line [this] even[ing.[We went] P.M.
[to] Jimmie Baird's funeral with U[ncle]
Jno.'s horse & N[ed] Rathwell's [rig.]
6.T. [Uncle Sam and Aunt Jessie have 23
gone to]Wigg[ihton's in]Clinton,[to]
A[lex] Innis1s for dinnner,tea here
[and are] at U[ncle James's] all
night[«] Fa[ther] & Jack [Elliott]took
[a] bull to Thomson's[.] Dewdrop
7.W. [1] Drove U[ncle Samuel] & Aunt[Jes- 18
sie]to C[linton]P.M. U[ncle]Ja[me]s Heavy Rain
& Aunt Agnes [were] here A.M.too[.] Fine
Jack [Elliott] went home sick[. I]Washed Heavy Rain
[my] hair[.]
8.T.
9.F.
10. S.
11 .S.
12 .M.
13 .T.
14 .W.
15 .T .
Jno. & A[[g were] in C[linton] see- 23
ing folks off [for Kansas. ]Jno. [rode Fine & Cool
his] byke[.]
B[lac]k heifer cow See below-June 15. 23
Geo. Elliot [was] here[.] 22
B[ella] & I [were] at C[hurch](Rev.Shaw
Egmondville) & [at] Mr Houston's Bible
class[.]
A[g]& I washed[.]G[eorge] Elfliott was] Sprinkled 15
here[.] Jno. sowed rape[seed.] Fine & Hot
Fa[ther] & I [were] in C[linton] A.M. 11
Aunty [is] at Lizzie's[.] Gfeorge] E[ll- Hot
iott] went home [this] even[ing.] A[g]& H[eavy] R[ain
B[ella were] at Elliot's [this] even- morning and
[ing.] evening.]
Adam [was] here for dinner[.
] Jno. & he Hot, 18
took [the] Horse-power down P.M. Abby [Heavy Rain]
G[len was here] all day[.
] Even[ing.]
Ned, Will & [his hired] Man, Fen[wick] 13
[and] Adam[were] here P.M.Friday sawing
wood[.
] Adam [came early] for dinner[.] Cold,
Jno. [today was] sowing at U[ncle] Slight Rains
Jno's[. I] Cut out most of Pique
blouse[.] Joe Isard & Fergueson [were]
here [at] noon seeingg a horse[.] Aunty
[was here] P.M. Mary foaled[.]
16 .F .
June, 1899
Aunty Cold
325
18
17 .S .
18 .S .
19. M.
20 .T .
21. W.
22 .T .
23 .F .
24 .S .
26. M.
27, T.
28. W.
29 .T .
Jno. & A[g were] in C[linton.]
[was] at Jane'sf.]
3rd Swarm (a 2nd off 1st that swarmed 16
[X] Finis[hed the] blouse all but the
fastenings[.] I[sabella] P[earl] & E[d- little wanner
ward] J[ohn were] in [the] bush with Fa-
[ther picking] strawberries[.] Mac,D[un­
can] McEwen, Neil McFarlane & [his] son-
in-law [came] for tea[.]
A[g] & B[ella were in church.] (Rev.Mun- 22
ro.) Mr Stewart's holidays begin [soon.
He was] in C[hurch this morning.
]
A[g] & I washed[.
] Road Work 3 swarms
lit to-gether - 2 lsts & 1 2nd[.
] The 2
Sturdy's [were here] for dinner[.] Jno. Hot
S
t Ned [were] in C[linton] P.M. Wiltse
[was] here[.]
[Mr]Howson,[a]pedler,[was here. Jack is 14
road work.] Jno. [was] at R[obert] Pear­
son’
s shingling P.M. Cronyn's bull[was] Cool, Windy
in [our] stable last night[.]
Monday'
s 2nd swam same box again [I]
Starched print collars etc. Jno. [was]
with wool [A.M. and] U[ncle] Jno.'s P.M.
[I was] At Lime Light Views* in [the]
school [house this] even[ing. I] bought
[a] ticket from [Mary Glen.]
*Magic lantern show
[The same bee box swarmed]again[.] Jno.
[was] in C[linton. I] Finis[hed the]
Pique Waist,[all] but starch [and did]
Mending etc.
12
Cold [A.M,]
Warm P.M.
A[g] S
t B[ella were]in C[linton]P.M. [I] 27
Starched & ironed [the] waist etc.[and Fine, Hot
I was] Mending Jno's drawers P.M.
Mac’
s [went] picnicing (sic) in Bay- 16
field[. I] Fixed some [bee] boxes etc. Fine & Nice
[and] Wiped out [my] room[.
]
B[ella] I [were] in C[hurch] & Bible
Class{Rev.Wichart.) Mr St[ewart was]in
C[hurch.] Jno. [went at night.]
A[g] & I washed[.I was] extracting part 18
P.M. Jno. started mowing [hay and was] Fine & Warm
in C[lintom] P.M...
A[g] went out for Mrs Nott & Asa.[this] 16
even[ing. I was extracting A.M.[and] Ra­
king P.M.
Rained all day heavy
Mrs [Janet} McGregor [was] here all day-
went home with T[om] Fraser[
. I] took
Ellie home... [and was] Raking hay etc.
P.M.
30. F. Different handwriting - possibly Ag’
s:14
A[g] took Lib & Bell to [the train]sta-
tiion [this] morning [enroute to] Mrs
McMillan’
s in Shakespeare[.We had] two
swarms of bees[.] Two men called[.] D.
McIntosh [stayed] for tea[.
]
25 .S .
July, 1899 326
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 .F .
14 .S .
15 .S .
16 .S .
17 .M.
One Swarm [A] man [named] Marshall
called [this] even[ing.]
Eliza-Ann's handwriting. B[ella] & I]
came home [at] night[.] Jno. met us[.j
Jno. & Jack were] in C[linton for] salt
& flour[.] A[g, B[ella] & I [were] pull­
ing cherries[.] Jennie Grant [was here]
P.M.
Fa[ther] & A[g were] in C[linton] (cher­
ries 3 baskets & 10 [cents.I] Raked P.M.
(only got a little [hay] in.
)
A. & Mrs Dunkin [were here this] morn-
[ing.]A[g was]in C[linton and got2 bags
[of]pot[atoes.l]Fixed comb in frames[.]
Jno. [was] mowing[. I did the] Raking
P.M.[and we]Hauled in 4 loads(all [the]
Rathwell field- all but some rakings[.]
[I] Fixed comb in frames & part made [a
white] collar[.] Ned's [were in C[lint-
ton. ]
B[ella] & A[g were in Church.](Rev.Wich.
art supply.) Jno.Thomson [brought us]
t[w]o pail’
s black currants & U[ncle]
Ja[me]s [was here] for dinner[.
]
Fa[ther] drove A[g] to[the] berrie bush
& [later]went[back]for herf.She picked]
12 lbs.[. I was] Rak[ing] etc., P.M.
[I was raking etc P.M.] A[g was] preser­
ving all day[.
]
A[g] washed [and I was] Raking etc. [We
have] finis[hed] haying[.]
Jno.[is]helping Adam finis[h his]hay[.]
Jack[was]at home all day[.
] A[g was] in
C[linton.] Harding from Wisconsin [was
here] all night[.] Cooper fetched him
[here at]night[.I did some]extracting[.]
Jno. took [Harding] to Biggin's [this]
morn[ing & to catch [the] early train[.]
A[g] helped [me] today [with] extract
ing[.
3
Jack[went]home P.M. Ab[Nott was here at]
noon[.] Fafther was] at Sturdy’s[.] Ned
was here] for tea [and] J[ohn] Butchart
[in the] even[ing.
]
B[ella] & I [were in church] & B[ible]
C[lass](Rev. W[ichart.]) [I] Stayed with
the kids [this] even[ing.] Alex Wheat
stook around edge[.]
A[g] & I washed[.]I picked 3 1/2 lbs[of]
berries [at the] Shanty fence A.M. A[g]
& I [picked] 7 lbs P.M. [at] McEwen’s
[fence.]
18
Rain storm,
T[hunder &
L[ightning.]
Fine
10
Rainey
8
32
Raining,
T[hunder] &
L[ightning. ]
12
Rainy
Fine, 11
Dry & Warm
26
Damp like rain
10
Fine
22
Rainy
July, 1899 327
18 .T . A[g] & B[ella were] at Jno.
Thomson'
s for 18
gooseberries[
. I] picked 3 lbs [of ber­
ries at the] Rathwell [fence and] Made 5 Fine
pies[. I] Washed [a] pa[ir of] ganzies
with wool soap* [for the] 1st [time.]
Aunty [was here this] even[ing.]
*probably soap made
from lanolin.
19 .W . Jno. [was] away all day[. I] Picked ber­
ries [at the] Rathwell fence[and]finis[hed
with] 7 lbs & little more.
20 .T . [I] Washed [the] 2 blankets [which] came
with Bull & Horse from Quebec & Scot- Rained
land[.
] B[ella] & I[were] in C[linton]P.M.
Jno.wheeled[.] Ned's & Tene & Bell McEwen
[were here this] even[ing.]
21 .F . A[g] & I [were] picking berries [in the] 18
corner of D[uncan] McE[wen]'s bush next
ours A.M. [I]Greened [the] potatoes [with Fine
the] sprayer P.M. [and] Made 2 pies [in
even[ing] etc. Ned & Jno. fixed [the] dip­
ping tank arrangement & dipped our lambs
& his & Will’
s [in the] even[ing.]
22 .S . Fa[ther] & Ned [in the] wagon & Jane & I 15
[in the] buggy [were] at Ben Miller[.]Ab Beautiful
noon last
23 .S . A[g] & I [were in Church]((Rev. Wichart.) 26
Fine & Hot
24 .M. A[g] & I washed[.
]
25 .T . [I] Raked wheat stubble[.]Insurance men & Dull & Cool,
Mr Peavey,[an]Am[erican]sheep-buyer,[were Sprinkle.
here] for dinner[.] Fa[ther] drove[Mr Pea­
vey] to Jno. Thomson’
s etc. P.M.
26. W. [I was]in C[linton] A.M. Read returned[Mr 28
Peavey] P.M. Bull Horning etc. Jno...
wheeled to Blythe[.] A[g] & I picked ber- Fine & Hot
ries P.M. [I] Stayed with[the] kids[this] T[hunder]
evening [while Jane & Ned were] at Shower
27 .T .
Isard's[.
]
Jno. drove Mr Pfeavey] to [the train] sta- 21
tion [this]] morn[ing. Mr] Innis[was here
[this] mornfing.] Mr Case [was here] for Fine & Cool
dinner[.
] J. Swan called P.M. [I] Cleaned
[a] room & put Jane's things in a box[.]
Cut out p[rin]t aprons & petti[coat and
did] mending etc. P.M.
28 .F . [I was] in bed nearly all day[. The] Boys 16
washed lambs P.M. Aunty, Jno. Innis & Jno. Fine
Cuming [were here this] evening[.]
29 .S . [Jack Innis was back here this] morn[ing. 14
I] milked [the] Guernsey last time [and] Rained morn-
Finis[hed the] pett[icoat] & aprons[.] [ing,] Fine.
Fa[ther is] sick[.
] D[ougald] McTavish
[was here this] even[ing.]
30 .S . A[g] & Bella[were] in C[hurch.](I stayed
with [the] kids.
)
31 .M. A[g] & I washed[.I]Mended Jno.'s p[an]ts
[and in the] even[ing I] Made 3 Rhubarb
pies[.]
August, 1899 328
1. T
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.
Fa[therj & I [were] in Bayfield [with]
Ned’
s, Will’
s, Mac’
s & Dunk’
s[. We] cut
[the] 1st oats[.
]
24
Beautiful
Jennie Grant & Miss Henderson [of] Sea- 5
forth [were here] all day[. The] Master Heavy R[ain]ear-
[was here] for dinner[.
] budding ly mornfing.]
Tfhunder] &
L[ightning,] Big
hail.
Fine
A[g] & B[ella were in C[hurch]& B[ible] 9
C[lass] A.M. [I] finis[hed]mending blan- Fine & Warm
kets[.]
[I] Cleaned [up] chips[in the]wood-shed 10
[and] cut weeds etc.[in the] back yard[.
I cleaned the] potato buds etc. out of Fine
[the] cellar P.M. [I] Cut oout sleeeves
[of an] old blue serge[.]
B[ella]] & I [were in church] & B[ible]
C[lass] (Rev. W[ichart].) Mrs Smythe &
son (Maggie Aikenhead) [were] at Stab-
bath]] S[
chool.
]
A[g] & I washed[.
] Sarah Isard[is visit- 14
ingj at Jane's[.
]
[The] Boys [were] reaping & [we] Hauled 12
in oats P.M. A[g]. B[ella] & I [were] Cold Nights
at the "Masters’
* [this] even[ing.]
Jack [Elliott has been] gang-plowing[.]
Jno. [was] at Mac’
s threshing P.M. [We
had]2 Young men for dinner P.M.*S[arah]
I[sard was] here all night[.]
12
Rain,Wann
*Probably Jack
and Jimmy Glen,
A[g was] in C[linton] for Mrs Jno. Dunk- 25
in [coming from] London[.] Mr & Mrs Wig-
ginton [were here] P.M. Mrs D.McFarlane, Fine
Miss J. MCFarlane & Irene McFarlane &
Jennie Grant [were here] all night[.]
Ed Wineland [of] Awer, Wis[consin] ar­
rived A.M. [He] & Fafther were] at Fraz­
er's, A.Dunkin’s etc. P.M. [The] McF[ar-
lanej’
s left P.M.
A. Dunkin [was here this] mornfing.]Mrs
Jno.Dunkin went back with him. Fa[ther] Hot,
& W[ineland were] at Sturdy’s[.] Jennie Cold at nights
went home [this] even[ing.
]
A[9] & I [were in church] & B[ible]
class](Rev. W[ichart.]) Ed W[ineland
(going to Webber's) went to Town with
us[.] Ab, Ellie & Asa Nott [were here]
for tea & [for the] even[ing.]B[ella] &
I minded kids [this] even[ing.]
A[g] & I washed[
. The] Boys [were] cut­
ting oats & green feed (oats & peas)P.M.
12
Fine &
Cool Nfights]
Fine & L6
Cool NfightSr]
9
August, 1899 329
15. T. A[g] & B[ella werejin C[linton]P.M.[We] 8
Finis[hed]cutting oats & green feed[at]
noon[. We] Hauled in oats P.M. I [was]
mowing loads [of sheaves] with Jno.[.j
Aunty [has] gone to Green'
s[.] Jennie
[came this] even[ing[.]
16 .W. A[g was] in C[linton] P.M...... Carrie 10
[arrived] P.M. Gabe Elliot called[.]* Fine & Hot
*Mary Glen's future husband.
17 .T . Jennie[has]gone home by Clinton[on her] 18
wheel[.] B[ella has] gone to Grants[.]
U[ncle] Ja[me]s[came]for dinner[,]T[om]
Wigg[inton] called P.M. Wineland return­
ed P.M. Hauling in oats P.M.- [I was]in
the] mow P.M.
18 .F . Win[eland] shipped sheep -(37 lambs & 2 9
billys [came] from us.) Bella[came]home
[and] Webber [was here] all night[.] Very Warm
Jack cut flax A.M. Hauling in part P.M.-
I [was] mowing[.]
19. S. [Webber] went A.M. [He] bought 3 ewes & 11
1 billy lamb[.
] Jack [Elliott]took home
14 lambs he bought for Geo[rge.]Hauling
in- [we] finis[hed the] little Rathwell
field & started [the] Shanty field[.]
20 .S . A[g] & B[ella were in Church ] & B[ible] 10
C[lass](Rev. Wich[art.]) I stayed with Very [Warm]
kids[.]
21 .M. Hauling in oats & green feed-I [was] now- 10
ing[.] Pickett fetched 60 apple barrels Slight Showers
[and stayed] for dinner[.]
22 .T . [I was in the mow. We hauled in] 2 loads 9
[of] oats & [the] flax [and] Finis[hed]
Harvest[.]* Jno & I milked sheep P.M.**
[We started]Pulling strawberry apples[.]
Mr & Mrs Ed. Rathwell [were here] P.M. &
even[ing.
]
* an expression meaning that the sheaves
were all in the barn awaiting the thres-
man and his outfit. **Lambs had been
weaned from the ewes.
23 .W. A[g] & I washed[.
] Packers [picked] 6 bar- 18
rels P.M. [I was] At Kate Pearson's with
Jane & kids [this] even[ing.]
24 .T . W[illiam] Glen & Jno. [were] in C[linton] 10
[and] took up our app[le]s[.] A[g] & I
[were] at U[ncle] Ja[mes's] & Fen[wick]'s
[this] even[ing.]
25 .F . A[g] & B[ella were in] C[linton] A.M. Jno. 16
[was] away wheeling[.
]
26. S . Mother, A[g]] & B[ella were] at [a] picnic 12
[in] Bayfield[
. John] returned [this] even­
ting.]
27 .S . B[ella] & I[were in Church] & B[ible]Class 22
too(Rev. Wichart.) A[[g] stayed with [the]
kids[.]
28 .M. Chored [I]Finis[hed the] button holes in 19
[the] serge basque etc.
August , 1899 330
29 .T .
30. W.
31. T .
1. F .
2. S .
3. S.
4.M.
5. T.
6.W .
7. T .
8. F.
B[ella] & A[g] [were] in C[linton.I] wiped 16
room, chored some, etc.
A[g worked] all day
Jane's crab apples[
.
of water to wash[.)
preserving Plums &
I hauled up a barrel Beautiful,
Rain all night.
A[g] & I washedf.
] Wilson [of] Seaforth
& [his] kid were here] looking at hens [.]
September, 1899
[I] Killed 4 ducks[.] A[g was] inC[linton] 18
P.M. Bessie McGregor & Ella[were] here P.M. Fine
Smith[on the] Parr Line [came] for tea[.
]
[I] Washed Jno.’
s sweater & hat [and] Iron- 18
ed pique waist 1st time etc. Afisty
A[g] & I [were in church](Rev. Murr[a]y, 11
Kincardine.
) Fine & Cool
Ned,Jno. & I went to Toronto[.]* A[g]drove
us in[to the station and]Jno.wheeled in.[.]
*to go to the Exhibitiion.
[Ned Jno. & I] Returned [
to]night[
. We]got Rain A.M.
to Cflinton]about 1/4 past 12 O’
c[loc]k[.] Hot, Fine.
A[g] & B[ella were] at [Ned] Rathwell*
s[.
] 30
Jennie returned with them[.] Fine
A[g] & Jennie [were] at Mac's [this] even- Rain
[ing.]
Fa[ther and] John went to Brucefield
with [the] horse [and have] gone to
London Fair[.]* [I] Picked 7 ducks[.]A[g Fine
[was] in Cflinton this] even[ing.] Mo[ther C[ool] W[ind]
was at U[ncle]Jno.'s P.M. Jennie went with
her [on the wayj home[.]
♦This is the last
reference to James MacFarlane in the diary
before his final illness. John MacFarlane passed
this recollection on to his son John, about
this period in 1899:
It was in 1899 that Adam Stewart made a buzz saw
(he had never seen one). My father had a 2 1/2
Gold Shaply and Muir gas engine (possibly my
grandfather bought it)
; when the make and break
ignition points wore down, he made new ones out
of a 2 1/2 inch nail. My grandfather and Adam’
s
father were sitting on Adam’
s veranda not too
long before they died,though neither would admit
the other was sick. When father and Adam got
the saw set up and cut the first block, the old
gentlemen jumped. One headed for the steps, the
other couldn’
t wait. He went over the side about
2 feet high. The other stopped and said, ”Haw,
there is nothing wrong with you or you couldn’
t
do that!” Thy both died shortly after. Adam said
the saw wasn't much good, but he soon made a bet­
ter one.
John MacFarlane, MacFarlane History
and the Fourth, pp 9-10
as told to his grand daughter
Michelle.
9. S .
September, 1899 331
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 .
A[g] half oiled [the] kite[hen] floor[.* 26
I did]some Ridding [in the] wood shed[.
]
*Glen's &
MacFarlanes preferred to oil the hardwood floors
in kitchens rather than varnish them. An oiled
maple floor had a sheen and it was waterproof,
allowing it to be scrubbed with soap and water
on a regular basis.
A[g] & B[ella were in church](Rev. Mur- 35
r[a]y.) [and] I minded [the] kids[.]
A[g] & I washed at U[ncle] Jno.s [this] 22
even[ing.] A[g] visited at Fen[wick's.] Shower
[I] Took Mo[ther] & B[ella] to Bruce- 24
field for London Fair [and I] went for Fine, S[ight]
[them i the] even[ing.] Shower.
[I] Cleaned [the] Hen House & sheep- dip- Fine 17
ped roosts etc. A[g] washed Blankets,Com- H[eavy] Rain
fortfer] & tick[.]
B[ella] & I [were] in C[linton] P.M. [I]
Took up [a] piece ]of the] pump to Jake
Miller[.]Gurnesy(sic) Calved,[I]think[.
]
I[was] in C[linton] P.M. [to pick up the
pump part.
]
[I] Spent P.M.& even[ing] in Bruce-
field waiting for Jno. from London[.]
T[om] Frazer [was here this] even[ing.]
B[ella] & I[were in church](Rev.Shaw[of]
Egmondville exchanged [with] Rev. Stew­
art.) A[g] minded [the] kids[.]
[I was]Fixing potatoes etc. A[g]& Bella]
pulled app[le]s P.M.[to show at Clinton] Poured Rain.
Fair[.] Fa[ther is] sicker[.]
A[g]& I Took up things to Clinton Fair[.
]
U[ncle] Ja[me]s [came] for dinner[.]
All [of us] but Fa[ther] & Mo[ther
[were] at C[linton] Fair[.] B[ella]&
I went to Prayer meeting & Rev. Stew­
art's Reception [to welcome him back]
after 3 mon]t[h]'s holidays[.] Jack
[Elliott] took us up & back[.]
A[g] & I washed[.] Aunty [was] up - [she] 16
came home [from Green's] yesterday[.]
2 in Fine,
C[linton] P.M. [I attended a] Women's F[or- C[ool]
eign] Missionary] meeting[.]Hector Reid & W[ind.]
a Yank [came] for tea[. I]Stayed with[the]
kids [this] evenfing.]
A[g] & X [were]at Mrs W[m.] Pearson's 14
funeral P.M.3 Jno. [was] at Charlie
Stewart's sale P.M.4 [i was at Jane's
A.M. picking 6 Roosters for [the Pear­
son funeral.]Mr_ & Jake Miller[came]
for dinner[.] Rev.Stewart called P.M.
and Mac in the even[ing] to see Fa-
[ther.]
T[om] Frazer & other man [were here.] Dr_
[was here.] Carrie called for 2 lbs [of] Fine,
honey[.] C[ool] W[ind.]
A[g] & I [were in Church](Rev.Stewart’
s re- Raining P.M.
turned.) Poured Even[ing.]
September, 1899 332
25 .M.
26 .T .
27 .W.
28 .T .
29 .F .
30. S.
A[g] & I washedf.
] T[om] Fraser [came] af­
ter Billy[
. The] Master [came at] noon[.
]
[I] Worked ends on [a] p[ai]r [of] blan- 8
kets[.] A[g] [was] in C[linton.j C[harles]
Middleton called [and]Mrs Scott & Maud
called [in the] even[ing.]
[I worked the]end on 1[blanket and did] 6
knitting[.The]Dr.[came this morn[ing.] 2 spoiled
...... [The] Dr [came] late P.M. & Fin- 6
[McEwen] & Rev.Stewart[.Malcolm McEwen H[igh] Wind
[came] P.M.& [sat up] all night[.* We] C[old]
Moved Fa[ther] to [the] Dining-room[in
the] even[ing.]
*In this period, family
members and close friends sat up with a dying
person to keep him or her company as far as one could
on their last journey.
D[uncan] McEwen [sat up] all night[.] about 3
a day
Mac & The Master [sat up] all night[.] Heavy Snow
Rev.[Stewart] & Finley[McEwen and T[om] Storm -
Fraser [were here] P.M. & even[ing.] broke a
Uncle John [Stewart] died [this] even- lot of
[ing•
3
October,
trees.
1899
1. S .
2.M.
3. T .
4.T.
5. T .
6. F .
7.S .
8. S .
9. M.
10 .T .
Father died at 1/4 to IV 0'Clock[.A.M. ] Fine &
People here all day[.] Cold
Mr McTavish even[ing] etc etc etc.
Uncle John [was] buried P.M. Madames Fine
Brigham & Elliot [were here] all night
[and] Mrs McMilan [from] Shakespeare
came[.]
Mrs [Nicholas] Cuming & [son] Freddie Light Rainf
[were here] for dinner. Father buried Dull.
P.M.
Aunty [is] staying [with us.] A[g] & I Beautiful
washed & aired a lot of clothes etc.
Jno. took Mrs McMillan to [the train] 3 eggs
station P.M. Jack [Elliott was]at D[un- these days
can] McEwen*s threshing[[.]
[Jack was at Duncan McEwen's threshing[.]
A[g],B[ella]& I[were] pulling Apples(Seeks.
)
Jack [was] at Butchart’
s thresh[ing. We] fin­
is[hed] pulling Seeks [and started pulling]
Baldwins & Bailey Sweet & Spiitz'
s[.]
A[g] & 1 [were in Church(
Rev.Stewart.
) I[was
in S[abbath] S[chool.] Charlie's at Ned’
s[.]
Pulling Apples[.]
B[ella] & I [visited] at Hunter's[this]
even[ing.]
Beautiful
& Hot
11. W. Ag & I washed[.]B[ella]baked cakes A.M. B[el- 8
la] & I pullled some apples P.M. [The] Boys
[were] at Fen[wick]’
s threshing[.]Ned’s took Slight Rain
in their potatoes[.] T[om] Frazer [was here
this ] even[ing.]
October, 1899 333
12. T. [The] Boys [were] at Fen[wick's for an[hour 8
and then]at U[ncle]Jno.[s]*threshing[.] Bel­
la[was] baking bread,buns & pies all day[.]**
Packer called[this] morn[ing and]Annie Stew- Beautiful
art [called] P.M. after peas[.We]Finis[hed] & Hot
pulling Talman'
s, Ben Davis......& started
Swarrs[.]
* She should have said "Adam’
s.”
** To feed the threshers tomorrow.
13 .T .
14 .F .
15 .S .
[The Boys were threshing at Adam's] A.M. &
part P.M. [Our] Threshing started about 4 O'
c[loc]k[. I] Killed 10 hens [which we] had
for supper & dinner - 1 left & lots more[.]
[We] finis[hed and the] threshers went to Cool
Willie Glen’s[.] B[ella] & I [were]in C[lin- W[ind]
ton. ]
A[g],Jane & I[sabella]P[earl were in church 6
(Rev. Ross Gunn’
s brother-in-law from [the]
old country.)
16 .M.
17 .T .
18 .W.
19. T .
20. F.
21. S .
22 .S .
23 .M.
24 .T .
[I] Pulled 2 Spys trees [and got a] sore 3
back[.
] Bella [was] at Ned's morn[ing]& P.M.
W[illiam] Glen finis[hed] early noon, [and Rained
threshers were] at Ned's P.M.
Threshers finis[hed] at Ned’
s [in the] morn- 3
[ing. I] Pulled a Swarr[.] Raining
B[ella] & I [were] in C[linton] A.M. [and 7
then were] Pulling Spys[.]A[g] washed 2 com- Fine
fortables etc.
Thanksgiving: S[abbath] S[chool] exams
[
Examiners were:
] Rev. & Mrs Stewart,Scott &
Henderson & Forest [of]Clinton & Higgins[of] Fine
Brucefield [I] Pulled Spys [and the] Boys
lifted pot[atoes] A.M.
[The] Cantelon lad & _[did] 20 barrels pack- 3
ing apples[. We] Finis[hed] pulling app[le]s Fine,C[ool]
all but some Rosshire Grimms etc. [The] Boys W[ind.J
[were] lifting potatoes[.]
JackfElliott] finis[hed lifting potatoes]P.M.
Jno.[was] in Cflinton] twice with 44 barrels Fine,Good
[of]
Apples[.] 3 packers packed 30 bar[rels.] roads.
Mother & A[g were] in Cflinton] A.M.
I [was] in S[abbath] S[chool.] 4
Raining
A[g] washed [and X] helped a little[.] Jack 5
[was]at Wigg[inton’
s]threshing [and]Jno.[was T[hunder] &
at] Mac's [threshing.] Hector Reid [was here Lfightning]
this] morn[ing.] Ab & Fred Nott fetched "Bal- Heavy Rain
bogie Stamp* home [this] even[ing.] Fine & Warm
P.M.
* probably a stallion,bull or
ram lent or rented out for
stud fees.
[The] 3 packers, Cantelon, Adams, & D. Liver­
more packed 32 [barrels. I was] Sorting App-
[le]s[.] Jno [was] at Mac's threshing till Fine & Hot
past P.M. [At] night,Jno.borrowed Adam's rig
[and went]after[more] barrels-[he picked up]
5[-l
October, 1899 334
25, W. A[g] & I[were sorting apples] P.M. Jno.[was]
in C[linton with a] 25-barrel load [of] App-
[le]s [and] got 6 more bar[rels.The] Packers Beautiful
packed the 7 bar[rels this] morn[ing] & came
back [this] evenfing] & packed 3 more[. We]
finis[h with a] Total [of] 92 barrels & 6
be[tte]r [than the] fall before[.] Rev.[Stew­
art] & [his] wife called[.] Lily Stewart
married [John Cuming this evenfing.]
26. T. A[g] & I A.M. & B[ellaJ too P.M. [were] sort- 6
ing & taking in App[le]s[.] Rain
Evenfing.]
27. F. Ridding wood-shed A.M. A[g] & Bfella were]
in C[linton] P.M. Jno.[was] in C[linton] P.M. Light
with grist & 3 barrfels of] Apples[.] Rains
28 .S . Raining
29. S. B[ella] & I [were in Church](Rev. Stewart.) Fine,C[ool]
Wfind.]
30. M. [I] Walked to Ned's [this] morn[ing and] kil- 2
led 8 Roosters[. I] Washed Jno.*s & my Gan-
zie[s] P.M. & Sorted some app[le]s P.M.A[g]
S
t B[ella[were] in Cflinton] P.M. [in the] bug­
gy & [at] Aunty's [at] night[.]
31. T. [The] Thorough-bred Varcoe Heifer Calved[.
]
November, 1899
1. W.
2. T . T[om] Frazer[was here this]evenfing.]
3. F . [I] Killed 8 Roosters[and the] 1st goose[.]
A[g was] in C[linton] P.M. Rainy
4. S. Aunty [was here]] for dinner [and then was]
gone to Green's[. I was] at Ned's A.M. to
see R[ooster]s[.
]
Fine
5. S. A[g] & B[ella were] in C[hurch.] Jno.[went
in the evening.
]
6. M. A[g] & I washed at Jane's P.M. Beautiful
Ned and Jane Glen lived in a nondescript frame
house over on the sideroad. The barn and other
outbuildings fronted on Concesssion III. Ned's
son E.J. "Jack" Glen told me that his father
put off building a farm house until he had a
a secure water supply. He tried to find water
with standard 10 to 20-foot dug wells,without
success. In desperation,he tried new technolgy-
a drilled well. Peterson,the contractor hit an
an underground river or stream at well over a
hundred feet. In 2004,this well is still going
strong in its 105th year. In 1900 Ned raised
the main barn and in 1902 built a substantial
white brick farm house.
November, 1899 335
7.T .
8. W.
9. T .
10 .F .
11. S.
12 .S .
13 .M.
14 .T .
15 .W.
16 .T .
17 .F .
Jane & I [were] in C[linton] P.M. [I] Took
frames out of hives & some Sat[urday] (I Beautiful,
think.) B[ella] cleaned [the] veranda[.]Jno. C[ool]
[was]at Wfilliam] Gflen's] shingling[.] Mrs W[ind.]
Wig[ginton] & Mrs Hodgins & kids [came] for
tea[.] Peterson's 3 men & well borer
outfit arrived at Ned's-(1 man sleeps
here)[.]
Mo[ther] & A[g were]in C[hurch P.M.& B[ella]
& I [in the] even[ing, [to hear] F.H. Barron,
[a] Graduate [of] Knox College[.] Jno.[was]
at [a] shingling bee [at] Will[iam] Glen's
housef.] At Jane's [I] Killed 4 Roosters[.]
P[eterson] started boring at Ned’s P.M.
[I] Killed 5 geese[.]A[g],Mo[ther] & I pick- Beautiful
edfthe] feathers off[.] A[g was] in C[linton
this] even[ing.
]
Killing bees Doubled 2 Hives Rained
[I] finis[hed]] Killing bees, etc.,& carried
[the] boxes to [the] cellar A.M. & [was] at Fine
Jane's P.M. A[g] set up her stove[.]
Mofther],A[g] & B[ella were]in C[[hurch](Rev. Fine,
Stewart.) I went with Ned'sf.] Maggie McEwen C[ool]
minded [the] kids[.] W[ind.]
Borers struck the water [in] Ned’s well 1
[this] morn[ing.] Geo[rge] Elliot[came] in
Jack's place to-day[.]A[g] & I washed cows[.] Fine
Jno. [was] in C[linton on his] byke[.] G. Mid­
dleton called[.
] Bella [was] at Hunter'
s(
Car­
rie's) P.M.
Borers finis[hed] Ned's well after din­
ner[
• I] Killed 5 geese[.] A[g was] in C[lin-Rainy A.M.
ton] P.M. Scott McMillan [was here] for din- Fine &
ner[.] Geo.[Elliott] Bought [a] Billy & 3 old Sunny P.M.
sheep from Jno. [George also] bought [sheep]
from Adam a few days ago[.
]
Jno. [was] in C[linton] P.M.[for] Pig Feed[.
] 1
Jack finis[hed] plowing!. My] sick pet lamb Light
died[.
] Ridding up-stairs wood-shed[.] Rain
Jack[was] filling in Ned's well P.M.A[g] 1
B[ella] & I filled 15 bags [of] evap[orated]
app[le]s[.]] Jno. [was]in C[linton] P.M. with Fine,
them[and got] 25 [cents] a bag[.] Tene & Jane C[ool]
[were] here [this] morn[ing] for [a] tub [of] W[ind]
butter[
. We had] Mrs Cartwright & Martha & 3
kids for dinner[.]
Jno. Thomson [stayed for] dinner & tea[.]Jack Fine 1
[was] plowing at Ned’
s[. I] Finis[hed ridding H[igh]
the] wood-shed etc. W[ind]
Rain [at]] night.
18. S. [I] C[leaned the]H[en] H[ouse] A.M.[and] made &
7 pies P.M.Jno.& B[ella were] in C[linton]P.M.Beautiful
Jack [was] plowing at Ned's[.] & Warm,Bees
flyingl9.
S.A[g] & I [were in Church](Rev. Stewart.)(Kids 1
here.
) Showery
20. M. [The] Boys at Ned's finis[hed] filling 2
in [the] well etc.A[g] & I washed[.I also] Dull &
washed [the] extractor!.] Fine.
November, 1899 336
21 . T .
22 . W .
23 . T .
24 . F .
A[g] & B[ella were] in C[linton] P.M. Mrs
Scott & Mrs McEwen [were here] P.M. for Beautiful
tea[.] Mr & Mrs lssard[called this] even­
ting[.I was]Packing Bees[.]
[I]Finis[hed packing bees and]Washed wool- 1
ens etc. Fen[wick]& Adam & Ned P.M.[were]
sawing woodfen fence] rails[.I] Stayed at
Ned's all night [while] Mr & Mrs [were]at
a supper at Cfharlie] Stewart's[.] *
*Probably a farewell
supper. Charlie went to Exeter, then London
and finally Claresholm,Alberta as a Massey-
Harris impliment dealer.
[I was] Piling wood in [the]Wood-Shed[as] 1
Jack [was] hauling [it] in[.] B[ella] & I
[were]in C[linton] P.M.Annie Stewart[was]
here P.M.Jno.[was]at Ned’
s killing pigs[.]
[I] Raked up chips & wood around where 1
they sawed [and] put saw-dust in [the] Fine &
H[en] H[ouse.] I broke and took in a lot pleasant
of branches etc.
25. S. [I] Mended p[an]ts, shirts etc.[and] P.M. 1
Cleaned furnace into leech[.] Jno.[was]in Slight R[ain]
C[linton] P.M. [with] Adam [and] Jack[.
] & Frost, Fine.
26. S. B[ella]& I[were in church](Rev.Stewart.) 1
Jno & J[ac]k [went at night.]
27. M. A[g] & I washed[.] Jno. [was] in Varna 1
[paying the]Taxes & [fetching] gravel[.]
Jack [was] away on his own busi[ness.]
28 . T . Adam [Stewart was here]P.M. Crushing his
C[orn] & stuff & ours[. I] Lifted Gladi-
[oli] bulbs[.I]started extracting P.M.[;]
B[ella] helped[.We had] callers - D.Chur­
chill & Jim Swan[.]
2
Fine,
Some W[ind.]
29. W. Jno.[was] at Ned's & Will's A.M. putting Fine, Beauti-
machinery away[.
] All in C[linton] P.M. ful Roads, No
J[a]ck [was] picking clover[field]stones. Frost.
30. T. Jno.[was]helping Fen[wick]& Adam to kill 3
their pigs[. I did some] Extracting[.] Rain.Fine.
J[ack] hauled 2 loads [of] gravel to the
barn pump[.
]
December, 1899
1. F .
2 . S .
[The] Boys[were in the] bush cutting fur- 2
nace wood[. I did some] Extracting. ] S[un], Rain.
[I] p[ac]k[ed bee]boxes all day[and was]
[extracting] P.M. Tene, Bell, Mag[gie Raining
McEwen,] & Jane[were over here this]even­
ting. ]
December, 1899 337
3. S. A[g] & I [were in church](Rev. Stewart.) 3
[We] Called at Alex Frazier's -Mary [is] Light Snow
dead[.]*
*In the 1861 Census, Alex & Mary
Fraser are listed as occupants of Lot 29 Con V, just
north of John Stewart's. They sold this small river­
front lot to John Stewart and his sister Agnes (Aunty)
lived in the Fraser shanty until she went to keep
house for her widowed brother James in 1898.
4. M. Fen[wick], Adam & W[illiam] Glen [were]
here A.M. killing 3 pigs[.] Cattle[were]
all in [at] night 1st time[.] Old Billy
died [in the] night[.]McIntosh [was here
this] even[ing. I] Finis[hed] extracting
[and in the]even[ing I] Carried in a lot
[of] furnace wood etc.
4
Frozen,
Light Snow.
5. T . A[g] & I washed[.
] Stormy & 5
cold & snowy,
Windy.
6. W. Fixing Honey etc. Washed Ext[ractor in
the]even[ing] etc.
Snowed some 4
Fine [in]
even[ing.]
7 . T . A[g was] in C[linton.]
8. F .
9. S . Jno.S Bella [were] in C[linton] P.M. [I]
Made 7 pies P.M.
10 . S . Rainy, Fine,
Rainy
11. M. [I] Ceaned Bed-Room P.M. [The] Boys lift­
ed [the] river fence[.]
- Pouring & 3
H[igh] Wind.
December, 1899
12 . T . A[g]& I washed & 2 Grey blankets in[the]
veranda[.] Adam & Ned [were] here crush­
ing A.M.
1
• C[old] W[ind]
13 . W. I [was] in C[linton] P.M. & A [ g ] & I &
Jno. [were] at Adam's [this] even[ing.] C[old] W[ind]
14 . T . [I]Took Jno.to C[linton station enroute
for London [to attend the] Fat Stock
Show [and went] for [him in the] even­
ting. ]
3
Fine, C[old]
W[ind]
15 . F . A[g] & I[were] at Mac's this] even[ing.]
J[a]ck [was] at Ned’
s[.]Adam[came] after
[the] horse-power[.]
Snowing & 2
Drifting,
Fine [in]
even[ing. ]
16. S . Mo[ther]& A[g],Ned & Jane[were] in C[lin-
ton] P.M. I stayed with[the] kids[.] Jno.
[was] at Adam's all day cutting etc.
3
Fine
17 . S . Mo[ther] & A[g were in Church](Rev. Stew­
art.
) I stayed with Ned’
s kids[.]
December, 1899 338
18. M. A[g] & I washed[.] Carrie Hunter[called] 3
P.M. Pouring R[ain]
even[ing,J
19. T . [I] Killed & picked 6 Turkeys (hens)
, 9 Fine 3
geese, & 4 Ducks & 1 Rooster[.]
20. W. A[g was] in C[linton.]....Ned [was] here Fine
cutting A.M.fand] T[om] Fraser[was here]
P.M...... Hens all out these days[.]
21. T. [Aunty is] Sick with [a] cold[.
] Scott 4
[was here] after sheep[
. I did some] Men- White H[ard]
ding[.
] Jno.[and] Ned[were] in C[linton] F[rozen]
P.M. B[ellaj & I [[were] at the Master's Fine
[this] evenfing.] Mrs Baird [is] sick[.
]
22. F. [I] Put away clothes in [bureau] drawers 5
[and did] mend[ing where I found] Moths Fine
in them[.
] J[a]ck hauled up furnace
wood[.
]
23. S. Ab Nott [came for] dinner[and then] he & 7
Jno. [went] away P.M. [I] Washed kitchen
windows & put up valences etc.J[a]ck & I Fine & Dull
put in furnace wood [in the] even[ing.]
24. S. Bfella] & I [drove to church in the] 5
buggy] (
Rev. Stewart.
) Slight Snow,
Stormy & Snowy P.M.
25. M. I [was] at Ned’
s for dinner [and] Ned's 8
[were] here for supper &[the] evenfing.]
J[a]ck [went] home P.M.
26. T. I [was] in C[linton] P.M. [with] Ned,[us- 4
ing] our hforse] & his sleigh[.
] Jno.
went with Adam & Alice Bought cutter &
sleighs[.] Jennie Grant came P.M.
27. W. Adam Stewart married [Christena Mc-
Ewen [this] eveningf.] A[g], Jno. & Fine & Dullish
B[ella were] at [the] wedding[•] I
stayed with Ned's kids[.]
28. T. A[g] & I washedf.
] B[ella has] gone home 6
with Jennie[.] Mac & Mrs Speare called
here [this] morn[ing.] Mrs H. McGregor &
Mrs W. McFarlane [were] here P.M.
29. F. Aunt Abby & Alice [were] here P.M.* Snowy, Cold. 6
♦Abigail Stewart is bunking in at
her daughter's (Alice Parke) to allow Adam
& Tene to have a honeymoon period in the
stone house. She lived with Adam and Tena
until her death December 15, 1908.
30. S. Jno. [was] in Brucefield & C[linton.] Mo[th- 5
er] & I picked our 2 "New Year" geese[
. I]
Made pies & bisc[uits] P.M.
31. S. A[g] & I [were] in C[hurch](Children's Ser- 4
vice - Rev. Stewart.) . Snowed,
Text "Be not proud" Face pride Stormy.
Place [pride]
Race [pride]
Grace [pride]
(or Religion)
339
Mr & Mrs Adam Stewart
THE
340 .
LOG BOOKS OF ELIZA-ANN MACFARLANE
1900:THE LAST FULL YEAR
January, 1900
1. M.
2. T.
Bill Elliott & Ned’
s [came] for dinner[.
] Snowing, Heavy
A[g] & Jno. >ere] at Adam's [this] even- D r i f t i n g ,
[ing] in Mac s sleigh? -4^- _
_ Piles of Snow.
3
Snow
3 . W .
4. T .
A[g] & I washed[.The] Boys[were] at [the]
bush P.M.[and] hauled up trees[.] B[ella]
[returned] home [this] evening[.]
2
Light Snow,
Fine.
A[g went to] C[linton] in [the] cutter & Fine 2
Jno.[took the] sleighffor] flour & J[a]ck
went too from home
5. F. Jno. [was in] Brucefield P.M. [at an] Ins­
titute Meeting [with] C. Avery[.] J[a]ck Fine,Soft,
[was] at Ned's P.M. crushing[.]
6. S. Jno. [was] in Cflinton] P.M. & Aunty went
down to her house[.] Green’
s[were] at Liz­
zie’s [this] evenfing.I] Picked [the]last
goose. Cleaned ashes out of [the] cellar,
[and] p[ar]t cleaned[the]H[en] H[ouse etc.
7 . S . Raining Morning
8. M. A[g] & I washed[.] Old[Edward] Glen [came] 1
for dinner [and we] Ate[the] last goose[.] Fine
Jack [Elliott was] away all day getting
teeth fixed[.]
9. T. Aunty* & A[g] drove down to U[ncle James's 2
P.M. [and] Annie & Ida [Stewart came] here Fine
[in the] even[ing.]
*An inter-generational conference
about what to do about Aunt Nancy ("Aunty”) appears to
be in progress.When she went in 1898 to keep house for
brother James, the arrangement was supposed to be
temporary. Now pressure from 3 different points forced
her to make a choice. Ada, Annie and Ida Stewart
were planning to "fly the coop" and wanted to be sure
their cantankerous 75-year-old father was looked after
and would eat properly. Fenwick and Alice were happy in
the new cottage. Alice detested her father-in-law and
was not moving into the big house to look after him.
Nancy and her brother got along well. If she stayed with
James she could be lady of the house, have her own cow,
and be in charge of the pantry. Adam wanted the
Fraser shanty for a hired man to live in. Isabel Glen
recalled that the first hired man Adam had was a young
man, Billy Atwood. "He had a wife and a young son and
they had a kitten tied to the table leg for the
child to maulI" Adam eventually demolished the decrepit
shanty. John MacFarlane was shortly to marry Bell McEwen
and his widowed mother Eliza was willing to buy a house
in Clinton and take her sister with her.
Nancy chose to stay with James. Her sister
Eliza refused to leave her sister "all alone on the
4th," and thereby hangs a tale......
10. W. A[g was] in C[linton] A.M. [The]Boys[were] Rained,Frozen
in [the] bush[.] Will & Lizzie [Glen were Fine,Flaking.
here this] even[ing.
]
«#c
January, 1900
r » .ft .if*
Jno. [was] at Fen[wick's] Wood-beef.] A[g] Snov^n9
r
& Aunty took some of her stuff P.M.to
Ufncle] Jfames's.]
Ag[was] with Aunty moving [using] Fen-
[wick's] sleighf.]
Jno.[was]in C[linton using]Will’s sleigh[.] 2
Ned's[were] in C[linton] P.M. I stayed with
[the] kidsf.J
A[g], Jno. & B[ella were] in Church](Rev. 3
Stewart.) I stayed with [the] kids[.] Snowing
A[g] & I washed[.]Case came for dinner[and] Misty, Soft
bought 3 ewe lambs[
. I] Washed [my] hair[.
] snowingrSnow
Mo[ther has been] carding wool[.] on trees.
[Mother]Finis[hed carding wool for Ag's Com- 3
fortfer. We] tacked [the] comfort[er] P.M. Fine & Warm
Ned's here cutting P.M.[with] Will & [with]
Adam's team[. I] Fixed caps etc.
Jno. [was] at Will's cutting[.]
Jno. & I [were] in C[[linton] P.M.
H[igh] W[inds] 3
Slight Rain, 3
Soft & Warm.
[John was]in c[linton with]Will’s sleigh[.]
Jno.Middleton bought 2 steers[.]Aunty [was]
here P.M.
[The] Case boys [came with a] sleigh after
[their] lambs[.] Ned Marshall called[.
]
J[a]ck [was] at Neds cutting P.M.
B[ella] & I [were in Church (Rev. Acheson- 4
Kippen.) Jno. [went at night and] I stayed Fine,Windy
with [the] kids[.] Thaw
A[g] & I washed[.
] Jno. bought [a] heifer 2
[from] Fen[wick] & Ned's lambs[.] Jno.went FinefWindy
to Lily’s* [in the] even[ing.]
* John & Lily Cuming
lived on a rented farm in Goderich
Township before they bought a farm
north of Clinton in Morris Township near
Blyth.
A[g] ironed[.We]
Crushed [oats,using] Adam's
& Ned's teams [on the horse-power.] Jimmie
Ross called [this] evenfing.]
Aunty [is] here[. Edward] Glen [Sr was] at 3
U[ncle] J[ames’s.] Jno. [was] in C[linton]
ton] with Ned [for] salt[.] Kate & Lizzie Hard Frozen
McTavish [were here] P.M. Mo[ther [and] A[g
were] at Wigg[inton's[.]
Bell [McEwen] fetched [news]papers [from H[igh] 7
the post office.] C[old] W[ind]
[The] Boys took 2 steers to Jno.Middleton's 9
A.M. Jno.[was in] Cflinton this] evenfing Snowdy,
at] church(Rev. Larkin-Chatham.) [I] Mended Blizzardy &
bags, put top quilt on bed & [a] collar on
[a] barn-jacket
Jno. & Adam [were] at J.Reynolds [and they]
bought [a] bull[. I] Hemmed [the] facing on Cold
Mo[therj's skirt[.] W[ind]
6
11 . T .
12 - F .
13 . S .
14 . S .
15 . M.
16 . T .
17 . W.
18 . T .
19. F.
20 . S .
21 . S .
22 . M .
23 . T .
24 . W.
25 . T .
26 . F .
27 . S.
341
w i t *
t
Janua^nr, 1$O0
Afg} & I went to morn[ing] cfhurch.... Rev.
».ijS^ewart[.] Jno. & I [went in the] even[ing
to] Rattenbury Stfreet] Methodist [Church]
H 3
\
>
Cold &
Snowing.
Below Zero.
29 . M. A[g was] in Cflinton] P.M. [The] Boys have
been] sawing wood at [the] house[.I was]Men­
ding at [a] petfticoat] & [a] coat[.]
Below Zero
30. T. Ned [joined the Boys sawing wood at house[.]
Tene [was here this] even[ing while] Ad[am]&
10
Zero & Snow
31. W .
February, 1900
1. T .
2. F . Daisy calved [a] steer.......
3. S . Jno.S I [went to]C[linton] in [the cutter[.]
J[ajck [went] for corn [in the] sleigh[.
]
Snowing,
Milder.
4. S . 3rd Pair lambs 1 lamb hard teated ewe Snowing & 1
Stormy
5. M. A[g] & I washed[.]
6. T. [I was] in C[linton] P.M.[for] Honey[pails &
cans] etc. A[g] & I [were] at Adam’
s [this]
evenfing.]
4
Beautiful
7. W. [I was] at [The] Master's P.M. to see Mrs
Baird[.]
1
Raining
8. T . [I]C[leaned the] H[en] H[ouse] etcetc.
Adam
[was] in C[linton on] horseback P.M.
Big 1
quick Thaw
9. F. Fen[wick] & Aunty [came] for dinner at Liz- 2
zie's[.] Fenwick fetched [the] heifer & they Fine,
killed her P.M. Sparrow & Mac McNaughton[called] C[ool]
P.M.Jno. sold Daisy's calf to Adam & he to W[ind.]
[
McNaughton.
]
10 . S . Jno.[was] at Adam's P.M. hauling in straw[.
]
Jno. [was] in C[linton] A.[M. in the] buggy
[with] hides[.]
6
11 . S . A[g] & I [were in church](Rev. Stewart -"An­
niversary" )[We went in the] buggy;[the roads
were] very good[.
] Jack [Eliott] went home
sick[.
]
Fine
12 . M. A[g] & I washed[. I] Sawed some furnace wood E[ast]
P.M. etc. Jno. & I cut beef [at] night[.] N[ind,] Rain
13 . T . [I] Took [the beef] in [this] morn[ing.] 9
lambs today (4 p[ai]r)
Snowing &
Stormy
14 . W. 1 [lamb] dead A[g was] in C[linton] A.M.[in
the] buggy[.]Annie & Ida[Stewart] & Ag[were]
at Ned’
s [this] even[ing.
]
15 . T . 2nd Shearling(p[ai]r)
16. F. Sheep dead A[g was] in C[linton] A.M. 10 Below [F]
17. S. Mending dress
18 . S . A[g] & B[ella were in church](Rev. Ache- Fine, Snowed
son-Kippen.)A[g],B[ella]& I went in the a little.
eve[ning] with Ned (
Rev Grant,St.
Mary'
s,
[speaking about the] "Twentieth Century
Fund."
1
February, 1900
19. M.
20 . T .
21 . W.
22 . T
23 . F .
24 . S .
25 . S .
26. M.
27 . T .
28 . W.
1. T .
2. F .
3. S .
4. S.
5. M.
6. T,
7. W
8. T.
9. F .
\ I
S
* >
*
■
343
F
♦ * ,
A[g] & I washed[.
] Arthur Mason call- " 9
ed [at the] Barn[.] 5 below [at]
mid-night.
Jane & kids [were here] P.M. Ned [is] 10
hauling stones[.]* Jack [Elliott], Ab C[old] W[ind].
Nott & brother-in-law C. Mason & [Arth- Fine.
ur Mason] called[.] 2 lambs died[.
]
* for raising the barn.
A[g] & I [were] in C[linton] P.M. Jack 4
Elliott [came] back [to work this] morn- Fine, Snowing,
[ning.] E[xtremely]
C[old] W[ind]
I [was] in C[linton] P.M. 11
[I was] Fixing front of B[lac]k Dress & 8
waist[.] A[g] & B[ella were] at U[nclle]
Ja[me]s's [this] even[ing.]
Jno. [was] in C[linton] P.M.......... Stormy & 10
Snowing
Very [Stormy 10
& Snowing]
[I] Finished waist & mended gloves[.] 5 below Zero 10
A[g] & I washedf.]Ab[Nott came]for tea[.] 9 [below]] 7
Jno. [was] hauling logs with Adam P.M. [I
wrote M[aggie] Lang [and cut] out cape[.]
Jno. [was] in C[linton] P.M. [I] Darned Snowing 8
Jno'
s mitty[.] & Stormy
March, 1900
Big celebration in C[linton] 1/2 hoi- Stormy
iday etc. [to mark the] Surrender of
[Boer General] Cronjie & [the]Relief
of Ladysmith at Cape [Colony.] Lavis
brought [us] out [a news]paper.....
Will'
s[were]in C[linton] P.M.[by]sleigh[.
] Drifting 12
some yet.
B[ella] & I [were] in C[linton.] Adam & 9
Will's [were] here cuttingf.] Fine
B[ella] & I [were in church](Rev.Stewart.) 9
Full consecration, "I beseech you... pres-
your bodies a living sacrifice etc." Stormy P.M.
A[g] washed[.] I got [a] cold [on] Sat[ur- Stormy, 12
day. I worked] at cape[.] Very Cold.
[I] Finis[hed] cape[. Today was] Mrs Hun- 15
ter's ([of the] London Road) funeral[.]Jno. Very Cold,
took a load [of] oats to [the] mill[.] then thaw,
Raining
[I was] Sewing sleeves in [an] old water- 8
proof again etc. Jack went for chop P.M. & Frozen,Fine.
took over another load [in the] even[ing.]
I [was] in C[linton] P.M. 1
Aunty[stayed here] all night[.I]finis[hed] 18
fix[ing the] water[proof.
] Jno. [
was] at Soft,Raining,
Will’s P.M. killing pigs[.] B[lac]k Cow even[ing]
Calved [a] purebred heifer[.
] W. Cooper &
Hamner Sr. called[.
]
March, 1900 344
10. S. [I] C[leaned the] H[en] H[ouse. The] Boys 15
[were] in [the] bush[.
] I[was]in C[linton] Fine
P.M. [and] Got [an] Eaton cat[alogue[, I
was at] Ned’
s P.M. awhile with Jane's kids
7 Mag[gie.]
11. S. &[g] & I [were in Church](Rev. Stewart"Lin- 19
nen Girdle") Jno. [went at night.I] Stayed Snowed Some,
with [the] kids[.] 5 Below.
12. M. A[g] & I washed[.
] Jno.[was] in C[linton.] 17
L. McConnell & J. Stewart* called looking Fine
[at] horses[.] I wrote Mrs McM[illan] &
Gertie [Stewart.] *probably "Bayfield Road John
Stewart” -no relation.
13. T. B[ella] & I [were] in C[linton.] Jno [was] 24
at Ned's cutting A.M. [and the] boys [were sleighs
in the] bush P.M. Aunty & B[ella were] at Fine
Ned's for [a] turkey dinner[.] D[uncan] Mc-
Ewen & D[ougall]McTavish called[about the]
Century Fund
14. W. [I] Started emb[roidering] a little P.M. 16
Jno. [was] at Sturdy's & [the] McCartney Fine, 9 [de-
[auction] sale[. John] Tough [stayed] all grees] bel-
night[.] ow z[ero] at
midnight.
15. T. Rosy calved [a] b[lac]k steer[. The] Boys 33
[were] in [the] bush P.
M.[I]
Emb[roidered] Fine,
a lit[tle] P.M.Rev, Stewart & wife, R. Mar- very Cold
shall & Bill Elliot calledf.
]
16. F. A[g was] in C[linton] P.M. [and got] Polly 27
shod[.] Jennie Grantfwas here]all night[.] Light Snowf
Jno. & Adam [were] killing pigs P.M. G.O. Cold Zero
Sturdy fetched Billy down P.M. Weather
17. S. [Jennie Grant] went home [this] eventing.] 25
Cleaned [my] room, [did] Darning etc.
18. S. A[g] & B[ella were in church;] Jno.went at Light Snow,
night[.] Fine, Wet
Snow
19. M . Jno. [was] in C[linton] A.M. A[g] & I wash- 34
ed[.
] Young Lavis[came] after old iron[and Raining A.M.
stayed]for dinner[.] L.McConnell & Cameron Snowed,Free-
[passed the] evenfing] at [the] barn[.] zingr
20. T.
21. W. 18
22. T . I [was] in C[linton]P.M. 20
23. F. I [was]at Hunter's P.M.[The] B[lac]k Heifer 22
Cow calved[.] Aunty [was here.] Jane [was] Sunshiny
at Mrs McGregor's Rag bee P.M. Jno. stayed
with [the] Kids[.]
24. S. [I] C[leaned the] H[en] H[ouse.] Last sheep 22
lambed (71 total.) Jno. Thomson*, at Ned's
for dinner, [was here] for tea[.
]
*stone mason
25. S. A[g] & I [were in church] (Rev Howson, Meth- Fine 28
odist.) Jno. [went at night.] Sunny E[ast]
W[ind]]
March, 1900 345
26. M. A[g] & I washed[,] Jno took [an] elm log off 18
Smith's flats to [the] mill[.] Light Snow.
Melting
27. T.Jno [was] at H. Beacom’s sale P.M. L.S.Dun- Sun 29
ham[was here at] night[.] Jno was]after lum- Thaw,[Cool]
ber A.M. [I] Finis[hed] duck p[an]ts for Jno. W[ind]
28. W. Minnie Isard's wedding Jno.took L.S.[Dunham 21
to]Frazer'
s,Reed's A.M.,Wigg[inton'
s & C[lin-
ton.] P.M. [I] em[broidered a] li[ttle.]
29. T. I [was] in C[linton] A.M. [and] fed polly at 25
Ned's[.] Jno. & Ned [were] at Tomlinson's
sale P.M.
30. F. Jno.went to C[linton] P.M.[for]Clover seed[. 23
I] em[broidered.] Aunty [was] here[.
]
31. S. Jack threshed flax[.
] Jno. [was] shearing 18
yearlings [at] Ned*s[.]
Got flour from Ned(March 30th)
118
119 {Bags included)
111
109 1/2
457 1/2
Got 100 lb bag before
100 Aug 4, 1900
100 Sept.7
April, 1900
1. S. [I]Walked to Cfhurch](Rev.StewartJer[emiah] 21
13 "Can the Eithiopian change his skin etc. Fine
and last verse of Chap[ter.]
2. M. W[illiam]Glen fetched Dr.to Abby[.]McNaught- 23
on's man C[ailed.] L. Cree drove Hanmer out Fine
to..... [I] Took soot out of [the] kitchen
chimney hole [and]Cut[the] head off[of the]
rot-crop hen[.]
3. T. A[g] & I washed[.] Cutting P.M. Adam [with] 20
Ned took [the horse[power home[.] Fine
4. W. [I] C[leaned the] H[en] H[ouse and]cut[the] 19
head[s] off 2 more hens[.]Jack[Elliott has]
gone home[.] Edna Green died[.J*
*Eliza-Ann's first cousin, Isabella M. Stewart mar­
ried John B. Green of Goderich Township in 1883.It
was a happy marriage but medically ill-advised.The
mothers of both Mr and Mrs Green came from famil­
ies (the Bettison's and the Tweedy's) with low re­
sistance to TB. In genetic terms, the weakness for
TB was doubled in John and Bella Green’
s six chil
dren. Deaths:Edna 1900 Appendicitis 15
Stewart 1907 TB 20
Abigail 1908 TB 18
Mr Green 1908 TB 47
Mrs Green 1911 Heart Attack 53
Lulu Green 1930 TB 42
The two youngest Green children did live to an
old age Nettie 1896-1982 -85, and
George 1899-1974 -74,
April, 1900 346
6. F .
7. S.
8. S
Jno. [was] at Adam’s cutting P.M. Hanmer 21
bought 24 shearling ewes[.] Rumball [was]
out here P.M. for Jno. to ans[wer] tele­
phone[.]* Jno.& Fen[wick were] in C[linton
[this] even[ing.
]
* MacFarlane's and their neighbours did not get
telephones until 1909. Clinton had phone service
in the early 1890’
s. MacFarlane's may have had
an arrangement with Rumball to receive long dis­
tance calls from livestock buyers and relay mess
ages and replies.
A[g] & I [were] at E[dna] Green's funeral 15
P.M. B[ella was] writing pedigrees[.] Light Showers
Choreing - [I] swept [the] milk-room etc.Ned 13
& Jno.[were] in C[linton] P.M. Cherry calved Beautiful
[this] morn[ing.] Cronyn steer
29
Windy
9. M. A[g] & I washed[
. I] Swept down [the] milk- 14
room etc. A[g] washed shelves etc. [We] put Sun Thaw,
milk in [the]cellar[this] even[ing.Not named] C[old]
bought [a] fat sheep & took [it] with him[.
] N[orth]
W[ind]
10. T. Jane & I [were] in C[linton] A.M. & P.M. [We] 23
Sent Eaton order[.
] Jno. stayed with [the] Light snow
kids[.] A[g] & B[ella visited] at Ufncle] Softened a
Ja[mes]’
s [this] even[ing.] a little,
C[old] N[orth W[ind]
11. W. Jno. [was] at Don[ald] Smith’s sale P.M. [I] 23
cut out p[ar]t [of a] skirt P.M. etc. C.N.E.W.
Icy snow
night
12. T. [I]Basted [the skirt. I] Took hens off Mother 18
hen. Jno.[wasJin Brucefield at night[.
] W[m.] Slight
Glen [has] bought Albert Wise's farm.* Bain
C.S.W. W.
*The Wise farmn was - in Goderich Twsp.
fronting on the Bayfield River, right ac­
ross from the "Rathwell place."
13. F. Good Friday Mr Wigg[inton] & Jennie Grant 16
[came]for tea[.] Jno.[was] at [the] mill with
with chop P.M. & cleaned seed oats[.]
14. S. [John was at the mill]for[chop this] morn[ing. 23
That] McGregor fellow called P.M.* Jno.[was] C[old]
in Cflinton] P.M. Eaton goods shipped W[ind],
Beautiful P.M.
15. S. Jennie Grant & I [were in church] (Rev Gold- Fine,
smith, Seaforth,retired) [I was] in S[abbath] Bad Roads
S[chool the] 1st day[.
]
16. M. Ag & I washed[.] [Mr J.B. Hoover of] Clin- 29
ton Monuments [called.] Mo[ther] ordered Fine,
one[.
] Jennie [went] home P.M. Slight Rain
17. T . Mrs Woon & J Wigg[inton were here this] morn- 29
[ing. John... ] shipped 24 Shearling ewes to Fine,
Hamnerf. The]Livery drove Mr Draper from Iowa Pouring.
here [this] even[ing.] A[g] & B[ella were]
papering [the] kitchen at Jane’s[. I] Mended
[the] meat box & tacked panes in cellar win­
dows[
.]
5. T .
April, 1900 347
Jno. took Mr Dfraper] to Sturdy's A.M, & Fra2- 28
er’
s P.M. & Frazer took them to Varna[,] B[el-
la was] papering [at] Jane's[.] Woon[was here Fine
this] morn[ing] after seed[.
] Jack [arrived]
here P.M.
A[g] &B[ella were]
papering Jane's bed-room[.
]
Jno took Draper to Cflinton this] morn[ing.] Fine
Eaton goods arrived[.]
[I was] in C[linton] P.M. [and] fetched home Good roads
[the] Eaton box[.]
Jno [was] at Adam's P.M. a while [and was] in
C[linton this] even[ing.] Rainy even[ing]
A[g] & I [were in church] (Rev. Stewart.) Misty 38
Fine, Slight Rain
Young Lavis & Lindsey [of]Bayfield called for 25
J. Stewart's* clover seed[.] Beattie [from] Fine &
London & Wisconsin man,McKilvin, [arrived by] Warm
Brucefield livery[and were here] all night[.]
*See entry for March 12.
[Our visitors]bought 20 shearling billys[and] Fine 39
left [this] morn[ing.] Jno. started sowing[.]
Lavis[was here this] morn[ing.] A[g] & B[ella
were] in C[linton] A.M. Aunty[came] back from
Green’
s[.]
Jno. [was] sowig A.M. & [was] at [the] Bruce- 34
field show P.M. [I] Fixed shoes soles[.] B. Fine &
Marshall [called this] even[ing.] cooler
[I] Cut out....sleeves etc. J[ohn was] sowing 35
at Nott's [this] even[ing.] Jim Reynolds & a
McConnell [were here] A.M.
Jim Reynolds & Me[Connell were here] P.M. re 29
[the] colt bought last summer[.] B[ella went]
to Jennie's P.M. [I was] at U[ncle] Ja[mes]’
s
[this] even[ing.]
A[g] & I [were] in C[linton] P.M. 35
A[g] & B[ella were] in church (Rev. Stewart.)
Jno.took 20 Shearling billys to Brucefield[.
]
A[g] went to C[linton]....... McGregor & Jno.
[were] out P.M. [and] here all night[.]
May,1900
James Elliott (Old Man Hullett) died[.
] 40
[I] Took out D[ouble] windows[*] A[g] & I A little
washed[,] Jno. & McG[regor were] out [this] Warmer
morn[ing;] Jno. [was] meeting R. Marshall in
C[linton] A.M,
Jno [was] at T[om] Frazer's[at] noon for seed 32
peas[. I] Hauled in some old boards & stuff Raining
from around[the] barn P.M. A[g] cleaned [the] even[ing],
boys' stairf.] T[hunder] & L[ightning.]
B[ella] papered wood-box. flour box etc.Fine,
Mc[Grefor was here] for dinnner[.
] A[g] did H[ard]
ir[oning.] A[g] & I [were] at Mac'
s[this]even- Frost,
[ing.] C[old] W[ind.]
18 . W.
19 . X .
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 .
May, 1900 348
4. F . [McGregor was] in C[iinton A.M. getting [hisj 32
horse shod[.
} McGregor [was] gone P.M. t
* Jno.
[was]yetting bills pxiiiteuf .] A[y]& 5[eilaj
cleaned [Lhej kitchen[-j
b. S . l[wasJ in C[iinton] p.m. Mr M[aicoim] McEw- 34
left for[the] Ola Country with cattief.j A Lictle
j
v
a
x
i
i
i
e
x
6 . S . B[eiiaj & 1 [were in church] (Rev. Stewart.) Fine,
C.i
v
.
/. M . Milch cows [were] out 1st ail night[.J A[gj & Fine &
1 washea[.
] Alice Woon [was over this evening] Warmer
paying [lux the] ciovex seeu[.j B[eiia & I
[were]in C[1inLon this] even[ing]aL[Lhe]"Local Showery
Tl— J A , , ^ . f 1 #. TT— J-
unxui; nccuiiiy u u j _ u j _ y o r c m o uuuobun
O t i v» A n » ^ 4 - v * t * * r» l i A A / N r * D A « » U r~\*. a a
v / u x w u u i i u i j h_r i v w w n w v r u w i i
Onr Pnnnfr
*
t
r'
c Hlonr Harm.rol 1
w « — w w . . . . ' ----- J w — *
*
—-*
*
” —
8. T . [Ij Swept up [the] granary & carried out rotten 40
app[iejs[.I] Planted cabbage & lettuce seeed[.j
Jno. [was] in Cfiinton] P.M. Cuws(youny & ail) Fuuriny
[were] in all nighL[.
]
9. W . [Cows young and all were] out [all night.] Jno. 35
put up [the] river fence[.] C.W., Fine
10 . T . Sheep [#] 340 died[.
] Young cattle[were] put to 23
Smith's[.j Jno., Jno. McEwen & Aunty went to Fine,
Green's[.j Went to J.Stewart's raising P.M. [I] a lit-
Sowed morning-glorys,sweet-peas & 2 & 1 pasture tie
[and] swept [the] door y[ar]d etc. warmer
11 . F . Melting at wax these times[
. I] Finis[hed] hoe- 33
ing up Mo[ther's] gardenf.] [I] Pulled wool Raining.
off sheep P.M. Dull P.M.
12 . S . B[ellaj & I [were] in C[linton] P.M. Rev. McDon- Fine &
aid [of] Seaforth [was] buried in Cflinton. I] some
Finis[hed the] wax-almost 5 lbs[.We had]McG[reg- Warmer.
or for tea,[and] Ab [Nott over this] even[ing.]
13 . S . A[g] & I [were] in C[hurchj (Rev. Stewart.) 40
Fine & Warm
14 . M. A[g] & I washed[.
] Jno. [has been] plowing Very W[arm]
these times[.] Adam & Tene [came this] even­
ing but] had to go home for company[.]
15 . T . A[g] & Janefwere] in C[linton]P.M Mofther] Cool
stayed with [the] kids[. I rak[ed the] chip
y[ar]d [and] mowed grass at [the] Bee's box­
es etc.
16 . W. [I] Raked off[the] garden & hoed up part of 29
xt[.] A[g] scrubbed [the] milk-room A. [M.] Colder &
& ironed P.M. [I] cleaned out [the] fur- Windy
nace[.
] Jno. sowed some rape[.] Ned & Jno.
[were] in Cflinton this] even[ing.]
17 . T . [John] Finis[hed sowing rape. I] finis[hed]
hoeing [the] garden[.]
18 . F . [I] Finis[hed] sowing[the] flower-garden[.] Showery
A[g was] in Cflinton] A.M. Jno. [was] haul­
ing out manure [and he was] at Fen[
wick]'s
for oats[.]
19 . S . Jno. [has been] shearing[
. I] wiped off[my] Fine, 29
room[.] Jno & I planted 2 rows [of] pota- C.N.E.W.
toes & some onions[.]
19 .
May, 1900 349
A[g] & B[ella were in church. [The]Ayrshire C.W.
calved[.j
A[g] & I washed[.
] Jno. [was] shearing[. I] 30
Planted some more onions, cucumbers & 2 or
3 [rows of] beans
[John] Finis[hed]shearing[.He helped] W[m.] 32
Glen [do] fencing P.M. [on the] river [at] Warm P.M.
Wise’
s [old place. I] Cleaned [the] wood­
shed platform & fix[ed] bee-frames etc
A[g was] in C[linton] A.M. -Jno. [has] gone
to Kincardine[.] P.M. [she] took Jane &
Edward[
John]in[to Clinton.I] Planted onions,
chased sheep, etc. Jennie [came over this]
even[ing.
]
Jennie went home[in the] even[ing. We were] Rained
at Ned's for tea[. They're] washing their
sheep[.] 1st swarm left[.]
28
Very Warm
old McGregor stayed
B[ella] & I[were] in C[hurch](Rev.Stewart.
) Raining,
Cleared.
A[g] & I washed[.
] Dull
B[ella] & I [were] in C[linton] P.M.
Jno. & I [were] planting pot[atoes] P.M. Mo-
[ther] &B[ella were]cutting them[for seed.]
A[gnes] Butchart [came] visiting P.M.
[John planted potatoes and A[g cut seed[.
] Slight Show-
J[ohn] finis[hed] P.M. [with the] Rows in ers. Fine.
front of [the] house[.] Bella] & I [were]
in C[linton] P.M.(teeth.) Clinton [was] cel­
ebrating the surrender of Pretoria[.]
June, 1900
Mo[ther] & A[g were in C[linton] P.M. [at] Poured P.M.
Church (Rev. Sawers, Brucefield.)
Jno [was] at Ned’s raising all day - 55
jacking up [the] barn[.] B[ella was] Misty, Fine
helping Jane[. I] took Polly out [to]
C[linton at] noon[.
]
Mother & Ag [were] in C[hurch] (Rev. Stew- Cool W[ind]
art) & Jno. [went] with Adam & Tene[ .
]*
*Tene is doing her bit to help enhance the image of her
future brother-in-law as a faithful churchgoer. Malcom
and Ann McEwen had watched John grow up and must have
had mental reservations about a union with their daugh­
ter. He had an easy-going contempt for formal education,
organized religion and the Protestant work ethic. Eliza-
Ann appears to have been "keeping score" on John's
church going, to help her brother convince his would-be
lsws that he had changed for the better.
20. S.
21 . M.
22 . T .
23. W.
24 . T .
25. F.
26. S.
27 . S .
28. M.
29 . T .
30. W.
31 . T .
1. F .
2. S .
3. S .
*
June, 1900 350
4. M. A[g] & I washed[.
] Jno. [was] at Ned’
s A.M. Fine
[for the] raising[.] B[ella] was at Ned’s
[and] I[was]in Cflinton] P.M. getting teeth
filled[.
] Jno. [was] in Brucefield [in the]
even[ing.
]
5. T. [I] got 1st [tooth] filed [with gold[.
] Jno. 22
dipped lambs[
. John ] & W[illy] Glen [were Warm
in Brucefield] P.M.[getting] 10 [cents a lb
for] wool[.
]
6. W. Jno. & W[m.] Glen [were] in C[linton A.M. Fine & Warm
for salt[. My] tooth that got filled ached S[light]Rain
all day & night[
. I] Mended Jno.’
s p[an]ts
& my Dress[.]
7. T. B[ella] & I [were] in C[linton] P.M. Very Warm
H[eavy] Rain.
8. F. [My] Face swelled & quit aching[
. I] clean­
ed rotten app[le]s & some pot[ato] buds etc
out of [the] cellar[.
] B[ella has] gone to
Grants’
s.]Mrs Brigham cameffor the]night[.]
Fine
9* S .
10. S.
11. M.
12 . T .
13. W,
B[ella came] home [in the] even[ing. Mrs Fine &
Brigham] & A[g were at U[ncle] Ja[mes]’
s & C[ool]
Adam’
s & A[g] took [her] to [the] station Wind
[in the] even[ing.] Jno drilled up for nips
[and] Mac & Mrs [McEwen were here] in [the]
even[ing] awhile[.] [I] Packed part of[the]
wool for Ben Miller[.* My] Face [was]as bad
as ever
*A small community north and east of Goderich,
it had a water-powered blanket factory.
A[g] & B[ella
boil broke P.M.
were] in C[hurch, My] Gum
A[g] & I washed [and I] Finis[hed] putting
[the] wool in [a] sack[.] Flyn,Jane & Kids
& Belle & Mag[gie] & Manie[were here this]
even[ing.
]
[I] Cut out p[art of
& Tucked it[.] Jno.
the] even[ing.]
a] Sateen blouse
[was] in C[linton in
[I] Cut out sleeves etc........ 2nd swarm
Jane [was] shut in their sheep shed[.
]
Poured
14. T. Ned, Jno. & Will shore [the sheep[
. I] Car­
ried a lot of earth out of[the] cellar etc.
[I] lifted[the] old stone-boat from beside
[the] gate [and] Washed [a] piece [of the]
cellar[.
]
15. F. B[ella] & I [were] in Cflinton] P.M.[I]got
[the] Extractor mended, sent wax away etc.
...3rd swarm....Jno.[is]doing road work[.
]
Lizzie [Glen] & Manie went to Guelph[.]
16. S. [I] Cleaned [the] Goose & H[en] H[ouses] &
picked bugs [off] 2 rows [of potatoes &
planted a few beans[
. I] Took [the] meat
block & boards out of [the] cellar[.] Car­
rie & Jennie [came] for tea [and] McGregor
stayed over[.
]
17. S. Bfella] & I[were]in C[hurch](Rev.
Stewart.
) Fine &
Sprinkled
June, 1900 351
18. M. A[g] & I (some) washed[
. I was] in Bruce- Cool
field[.
] Jno. [was] at Adam's sawing all
day[.I was] in Brucefield[.
] Jane & Mother
called at U[ncle] Ja[me]sf
s & had tea at
Adam's[.] Jno.[was] at Ho[l]mesville[this]
. even[ing.]
19. T. [We were] Sawing[
. We had] Adam for dinner
& [Will] Potter, W[ill] McEwen, Fen[wick & Fine
W[m.] Glen for tea[.] I [was] in C[linton
P.M..... treating[the tooth]....that was
filled[.I] Washed [a] piece of[the] cellar,
[the] extractor, etc. [and in] even[ing I]
planted a few beans[.]
20. W. [I] cleaned [my] room, etc. Aunty & An- Beautiful,
nie Stewart [were here] A.M. [Today Warm
was] Annie's Wedding[.]* Jno. A[g] &
B[ella were] at it[.]
*She married Harvey H.
McBrien, a Clinton carpenter. *
21 . T .
22 . F .
23 . S .
24 . S .
25 . M.
26 . T .
27 . W .
28 . T .
29 . F .
30 . S .
1. S .
2. M.
I [was] in C[linton] treating [my] t eeth[.
1 took] 3 bags [of] pot[atoes to] Cantel-
ons[.]
A[g] & B[ella were] at Jno. Thomson's[for] Slight Rain
2 pigs S
t strawberies[.]
Aunty[was here] P.M.
[I] Finis[hed]dusting down cellar & p[ar]t
swept[.]
Carried out[of cellar] some pot[atoes] & a Fine &
lot [of] buds & earth & [I] Finis[hed] Warm
sweeping & mop[p]ed p[ar]t[.]
A[j & B[ella were in church.]
I[was] in C[linton] P.M.- Got 2 front teeth Very Warm
filled (all gold.)
A[g] S
t I washed[.] Planted Cabbage[.] A[g], poured
B[ella] Jno. & I [were] at [a] Prayer meet­
ing [at the] school[house with] Rev. Stew­
ard .]
[I] Finis[hed] planting beans & hoed [a]row Rained
[of] onions A.M. [I worked] at [the] waist
P.M. Jno. Thomson & H. Parker called P.M.
[The] Road machine [is] on this road from
[the] corner up to here[.]
A[g was] in C[linton] P.M. [and] met Albert
Brigham at [the] station[
. I] made the] Sat- Cold,H.W.
een waist wearable[.] McGregor [has] gone
home on Jno.s wheel[.]*
*McGregor must be
the current hired man.
July,1900
Swarm B[ella & I [were in church] (Rev.
Stewart.) C.W.
Ida [Stewart]took A[lbert]Brigham to C[lin-Cool W.
ton.] Jennie arrived [this] morn[ing.J Jno.
started mowing[
. I took] sticks off bee
frames[.]
July,1900 352
3. T .
4. W.
5. T .
[I] ext[racted] comb pieces etc. [I was]Ra- Very Warm
king P.M. [while] Jno. [was] mowing[
. We]
took in 1st load(what I raked in the after­
noon[.]
Ag & I washed[.
] Jennie [has] gone home[.]
Jno. [was] mowing all day[. I] Put strings
for Morning Glorys etc.
, etc.
Shower
[I did] Raking & drove the team all day[.] Very, very
Jno. hauled in 3 loads [of] hay[.] warm
6. P.
7 . S .
8. S .
9 . M.
10 . T .
11 . W.
[I did raking & drove the team all day.Jno. Very Very
hauled in] 6 [loads of hay.] warm & H.W.
[I did raking & drove the team all day.Jno.
hauled in] 3 [loads of hay[.We] finis[hed]
middle P.M. McG[regor] wheeled home[. I]
Greened 5 rows[of]1st pota[toes with the]
sprayer[.]
A[g] & B[ella were in church](Rev.Stewart)
(
Rev. Robert Craig even[ing.])
Cool
A[g] & I washed[.
] Jno. [was] mowing all Rained
day[.] B[ella] & I [were] in Cflinton] P.M.
Jennie Came home with us[.]
B[ella] went home with [Jennie] A.M. [I]
....Greened all [the] Potatoes A.M. [We]
raked & hauled in 2 pretty green jags P.M.
B[ella [came] home[. We] Raked & [hauled]
3 loads,finis[hed the] big Rathwell field
[and in] even[ing] started raking [the]
shanty field[.]
Dull
12 . T.
13 . P .
14 . S .
15 . S .
16. M.
17 . T.
18. W.
[We]Finis[hed raking the Shanty field A.M. Dull & Cold
[and] Hauled in P.M. Jno. [was]mowing A.M.
[We hauled in] 6 1/2 loads - all[but the]
rakings[.]*
*gleanings
Jno. finis[hed] mowing A.M. [We]Hauled in
1 load [of] rakings & 2 others[.] Raking
A. & p[ar]t P.M.
Fine
Will McEwen [was] here A.M. [helping] at Fine,Poured
[the] hay[. We] Hauled in 4 loads...... P.M. a while.
MG] pulled [a] kettle of b[lac]k cur­
rants[.] McGfregor] wheeled homef.j
[The Rev.] Mr Stewart’s [22nd] Anniv- Very Hot
ersary[.]
Jno.started [at the] wheat[
. We]Finis[hed
Haying [when I] Raked & took in [the] hay
rakings[.] A[g] & I washed[
. The]Youngest
Ayrshire's calf died[.] McG[regor] took
Polly[.]
A[g] & I finis[hed] pulling bl[ac]k cur­
rants A.M. A[g was] at Wigg[inton]'
s P.M.
[to] see [about] b]erries for Jane[.]
[I] Pulled weeds out of 4 rows [of] potat­
oes A.M. etc. Jno. finis[hed] cutting &
stooking wheat[.] A[g was] pulling goose-
beries & preserving[.I] Washed Flannels &
[my] Hair[.]
Heavy Rain
P.M.
Fine
19 . T .
July, 1900 353
Jno.separated sheep & lambs A.M.[and was] Fine
At [Alex.Innis'
s raising* P.M. [I was] ex­
tracting P.M. Aunty[stayed] all night[.]
Polly [is] home[.
]
20 . F . Aunty,Bella,and I [were] in C[linton] P.M. Very Hot,
Jane & Jimmy, Bell [McEwen] & Miss Robb Heavy Rain
[were] here [this] even[ing.] Jno. [has even[ing.]
been] thinning nips all [during] spare
times[.]
21 . S . [I] Finis[hed the] Satteen waist[.] Herd- Fine & Cool
ing* etc. McG[regor] finis[hed work [and]
went home[.
]
* Eliza-Ann'
s euphemism for the practical
procedures involved in getting animals to breed.
22 . S . B[ella] & I [were] in c[hurch] Rev. Stew­
art's holidays (Rev. Laidlaw supply)
23 M. A[g was] in C[linton] A.M. Wilson Elliott Fine & Warm
[was] here P.M. & thinned the last 5 rows
of nips & done (sic) mowing[
. We] Hauled
in 8 loads of wheat
24 . T . [We hauled in ] 1 [load of wheat] all but Pouring P.M,
[the] rakings[. I worked] P.M. at making
[a] print dressfwith] polka dot b[ac]k[.]
25 . W. A[g]& I washed A.M. I greened 26 rows[of] Fine
potfatoes P.M. [and] Started raking wheat
stubble [in the] even[ing.
]
26 * T . [We] Finis[hed raking wheat stubble at] Fine & Cool W.
noon[. I] Changed [a] vent..in[the dress]
& sewed to waist etc.
27 . F . Jane, E[dward] Jfohn] & I [were] in C[lin- Fine & Warm
ton] P.M.
28 . S . Making at p[rin]t dress
29 . S . A[g] & I [were] in c[hurch] (Rev.Laidlaw.) Rained P.M.
30 . M. A[g] & I washed etc. Jno. [was] cutting Fine
green feed[.
] Bella Cuming [arrived here]
A.M. [Bella Cuming and Bella MacFarlane
were] at Jane’
s P.M.,at Lizzie’
s [in the]
even[ing] & Adam’
s at night[
. I] Cleaned
[my] room[.
] Young Irwin [was here this]
morn[ing.] McPhee called peddling wind
mills[.]
31 . T . [We] Raked green feed P.M.[and] hauled in
[a] jag [in the] even[ing.] Jno.[is]gang-
plowing where [the] wheat was[. I] Hemmed
towelIs.____
1. W.
August, 1900
Straightening rows A.M. Jno. finis[hed] Fine
cutting g[reen] feed A.M. [and we] Hauled
in 4 loads...P.M.
2 . T . [We] Hauled in 1 load[of] rakings A.M.[af­
ter raking] them[this] morn[ing. We]Raked
[the] field below [the] watering place &
Hauled in 4 loads[.]
3. F. [We] Finis[hed] hauling in green feed[at]
noon (3 loads.) Jno.[was] at Mac’s thresh­
ing P.M.
August, 1900 354
4.
5.
6.
7 .
8 .
9.
10 .
11 .
12 .
13.
14.
15 .
16 .
17 .
18 .
19 .
20 .
2 1 .
S. A[g] & I[were]in C[linton] P.M. [This mor-
n[ing] Jno. started reaping oatsf.]
S. A[g] & B[ella were] in cfhurch.] A[g] & I Very hot
[were at a] school [house] meeting [this]
evenfing to hear] Dr Hugh Ross[.]
M. Jno.[did]reaping [and] A[g] & I washed[.
]
T. [John] Finisfhed reaping A.M. I [was] in
Cflinton] P.M.[and] got[a]tooth filled[.
]
W. [We were] Hauling in oats {5 loads.)
T. Jno.[was] at Woon's threshing A.M. [I was]
Ridding[the] mow etc. A.M. [We] hauled in
3 loads P.M.
F. [We hauled in] 2 [loads] A.M. & 3[in the]
even[ing. We] Finis[hed] harvest but
[must] take off [last] load[.
] Jno. [by]
byke & Jane,A[g], & I [by] horse[were] at
Gregor McGregor’
s* fineral P.M.
*Gregor McGregor pioneered on Lot 26 Con 3, a much-
respected longtime neighbour in the school section.
S. [We] took off [the] last load, mending Very Hot
hose etc. Jno. [was] in Cflinton] P.M.[on Raining
his] byke[.]
S. B[ella] & I[were] in church(Rev.Laidlaw.) Rain P.M.
M. A[g] & I washed[.
] Jno. [was] plowingf.I Misty, Rain.
was] fixing honey P.M. Uncle James & Geo.
Mitchell came for dinner[.]
T. A[g was] in Cflinton] A.M. [I worked at] Rained
Ridding [the] platform, mending Jno.'s
p[an]ts,[and I]cut burrs around[a]field[.
]
W. Finis[hed] fixing honey[.]Irwin’
s came for Rained
tea & bought [the] old Rooster[.
]
T. A[g] & Bfella were] in Cflinton] P.M. Jno.
[was] hauling out manure[.]
F. Carrie [Hunter] called A.M.[to get] 5 lbs
honey[.] B[ella] & I [were] at Ruby Rath-
well’
s funeral P.M. A[g was in Cflinton
[this] even[ing.
] Ada [and] Ida [Stewart
and] Miss Anderson [were here this] even­
ting. ]
S. [I]Started cutting out skirt-lining,finis-
[hed a] tie [and] Mended a glove[.] Woon
kid [was around] asking [for] threshing
[help.]
S. A[g] & I [were in Church] (Rev. Laidlaw.) Rained P.M.
M. A[g] & I washedf.] Jane &[the] kids [were Fine,
here] P.M. Poured evening.
T. A[g] & B[ella were]in Cflinton] P.M. Em &
Frankie Stewart came out with them... Mr
Hoover [stayed] for dinner
August, 1900 355
22. W. Lizzie & Em & I went to Ben-Miller with Beautiful
wool(10 [lbs] § 13 [cents].)A[g] & B[ella
have been] papering up Jno's stair[.] Mo­
ther [was] at Ned's P.M. & all night-
William James is sick[.]*
*Jimmy had "Summer Complaint"- dysentery aggravated by very
hot summer weather. Described by the Oxford Dictionary as:
"a disease with inflammation of the intestines, causing sev­
ere diarrhoea with blood and mucus.” There is no known pho­
tograph of Jimmy, but his sister Isabel, going on 7 at the
time, told me he was a nice-looking child with normal in-
teligence.
23 . T
24 . F .
[I was at Jane's in the early hours.Fine,Sprinkled
William James]died 20 after XII [and
was] Buried 4 o'c[lo]ck P.M. Hoover
put up Father's Head-stone [and]
called[at the house this] even[ing.]
Lavis fetched out [our] new plow A.M. Two
Americans, Mr Wallace & Mr Maine, stayed
for dinnner[.]
[Ag & Bella]
Finis[hed papering[.]A[g was]
in C[linton] P.M. Jno. [has been] hauling
manure these days[.]
Fine
25 . S .
26 . S .
27 . M.
28 . T .
29 . W.
30 . T .
31 . F .
[I] Scrubbed P.M. Jno.fixed [the] leak in
[the] pump P.M. Granger called P.M.[and]
bought Jno.'s Glen-cow[.]
Very Hot
A[g] & B[ella were in church] (Rev. L[aid- Heavy Rain &
law.)Fenwick's 2nd boy [was]born [Ken-Severe Tfhun-
neth Barkley Stewart.] Jno. Thomson & der] & L[ight-
Ned [were] here for tea[.
] Mrs Scott's ning.]
house [was] struck [by lightning.]
B[ella] & I washed[.I] Scrubbed p[ar]t[of Streamed Rain
the] platform boards etc. A[g] & B[ella for a long
were] in C[linton] P.M. time near noon.
Jno. drove Agnes to [the railway] station
enroute to Manitoba[.]* At Skirt
*Agnes is going to
Oak Lake to visit MacFarlane Aunts, Uncles and cousins.
Mrs Hugh McGregor Sr. [visited us.] Hugh Beautiful
drove here down here [this] morn[ing and]
B[ella] & I took [her] home [in the] even­
ting. I] Made [an] apron out of [an] old
pelt[.
]
Jane & Edward Jno. [were here] A.M. after
Rhubarb & Pears[
. I] Mended [a] blouse
sleeve [and worked on the] skirt[.]
Jane & E[dward] J[ohn] & I [were] in C[lin-
ton] A.M. [I] Cleaned [my] room etc. [A]
Gent peddlingfstereoscopic]views[was here.]
September, 1900
1. S. [I] scrubbed, and cut some weeds [in the] Beautiful &
b[ac]k y[ar]d etc. Very Warm
2. S. B[ella] & I [were in church]](Rev.Stewart.
) Very Hot,
H.W. & Like rain
3. M. [Bella and I] washed[
. I] Helped clean seed- Rained a
wheat P.M.[and did]a little at[the]skirt[.] Little
September, 1900 356
4. T. [I] put velvet binding on the skirt[.] Jno. Beautiful
[was] at W[m.] Glen's theshing- [the Wise
place] A.M. [and the home place] P.M.
5. W. [I] Skinned & buriedfa dead] lamb[.]B[ella] Warm
& I [were] in C[linton] P.M. Jno. went to
Toronto Fair [this] morn[ing.
]
6. T . [John] returned[in the] even[ing.]Jimmy Mun- Cooler
roe[was here] all night[-] Mary Emma[Stew­
art Ross]and kids arrived at Adams from
Denver[.] *
*Mary Emma Stewart, eldest child of John and
Abigail Stewart, married Donald M. (Dan) Ross, son
a Brucefield area family, in 1887. Dan Ross was
a prospector in Denver Colorado, and he returned
there with his bride. In their 12 years of married
life, they had 4 children: Stewart b 1891, Donald
b. 1893, Hugh (d. in infancy) and Bessie, b. 1897.
Dan Ross and a partner operated a silver mine high
on a mountain. In September, 1899, if one believes
newspaper accounts, Dan Ross died in Denver of pneu­
monia, a week or so after his father-in-law died
up in Stanley. Brown Stewart, Mary Emma's nephew,
days before his own death in 1978, told Rosalynd
Ross: "My dad told me that Uncle Dan was stabbed to
death in a bar room brawl. His partner made off
with the title to the claim and Aunt Mary was left
destitute." But her familly rallied around her.
She bought a house in Clinton , kept boarders and
educated her children. When Stewart, her oldest,
finished Upper School, and was accepted at U. of T.
in Engineering, Mary moved to Toronto and kept
boarders. Stewart earned his B.App.Sc.and went into
Education. He retired as chief co-ordinator of
Industrial Arts for the city of Windsor. Donald
went to U.. of T. earned his M. D. and was a medi­
cal doctor in California.
7. F . Jno. drove J[immy] M[unroe] to [the train]
station[. I] washed flanelf.]
Fine
8. S.
9. S.
10. M.
11 . T.
12 . W.
13 . T .
[I] Finis[hed the] b[lac]k skirt-[all] but
[the] pressingf.] Jennie Grant arrived[at]
noon[.] Mary Emma and Bessie [Ross came
over] for tea[.]
B[ella] & I [were in church]{Rev.Stewart.
)
Jennie went home [in the] even[ing.]
A[g] & I washed[.
] Mrs McGinnis, Ella Very Warm
McGregor & Jessie McFarlane (Kate’
s girl), P.M.
[visited] P.M.
Ned & Jane [were] at London Fair[. I] Cut High Hot Wind
out waist lining & aprons[.] Two horse buy­
ers [arrived] P.M.
I [was] in Clinton P.M. ["Bayfield Road"]
Jno. Stewart [was over this] even[ing and]
bought 4 yearling steers[.]
Jno. took cattle over to {Bayfield] John’
s,
up through Reid's A billy lamb died[-]
Jno. met Mr Wright this even
Fine
September, 1900 357
14. F. Jno. expressed a lamb for Mr Wright & took [Fine] & Cool
him to [the] station [this] morn[ing.] Jno.
was at Mac’
s cutting corn all day[.In the]
even[ing he was] with Ned & Will [hearing]
Hon. Mr Fraser, Dr Johnson & [former M.P.
John] McMillan [speak] for Holmes[.]*
*A Dominion election was in the offing. Parliament would be
dissolved October 9 and Laurier's Liberals would win hand­
ily a second term. The "Scotch Grit” vote in Huron County
made for 3 safe Liberal seats in the Commons. Dr. P. Mac­
donald, Liberal M.P. for Huron East would be re-elected for
a 4th term in 1900.In Huron South(in which the MacFarlane'
s,
Glen’
s and Stewarts lived), longtime Liberal M.P. John
McMillan successfully campaigned for George McEwen, a Lib­
eral successor. Robert Holmes, publisher of The New Era,
had retained the seat for the Liberals in a by-election
19 months earlier and would win a full term in 1900.
Ned, John & Will went to a Liberal rally in the adjacent
riding, out of general interest and probably to hear their
good friend Thomas Fraser speak. I’
m fairly certain that
Eliza-Ann was making a tongue-in-cheek comment on the heavy
involvement of her future brother-in-law in local Liberal
politics. She calls him "the Hon. Mr Fraser", implying
perhaps that he should be running. Fraser was not only
in the Huron South Liberal executive, he was self-educated
in the field of taxation. A cogent speech on the topic has
survived. Fraser actually did run as a Liberal in Huron
South in the 1904 election, and was narrowly defeated by
an otherwise undistinguished Conservative opponent named
B.B. Gunn..Fraser married Isabella MacFarlane in 1906 and
was not a candidate in the 1908 elections.
15. S. Jno. [worked] at Mac’
s corn all day[.J warm
16. S. B[ella] & I[were in church](Rev.
St[ewart].) Fine & Cool
17. M. B[ella] washed[.] Irwin A.M. bought[a] year-Raining some
ling Roost[[er] & [a] young Ro[oster & [a]
pullet[.]
18. T. Jno. [was] at Exeter Fair[;] W[m.] Glen Fine
drove to Brucefield[.
] Ab Nott & [a] cousin
called [in the] morn[ing and ] Ab [was back
in the] even[ing. A] Lame man selling writ­
ing paper called [this] mornfing.J
19. W. Ab Nott & Jno. drove to "Goderich Fair.”Jno. Fine
bought all[of] G.O.Sturdy's sheep(29.)Ellie Raining
& Kids [were] here all day..... ......... Even[ing. ]
20. T. [I] Took nPolly”out for Jane to go to C[lin- Fine &
ton] & stayed & got dinner for [the] men[.
] Warmer
Sewed hooks on [the] waist[.]
21. F. [I] Took Polly out [at] noon[for Jane to go C
.
i
V
.
to Clinton[.]Cut out yoke & velet for waist,
etc. T[om] Frazer [came] for tea[. A] Fel­
low from Brussels called[;he] thought there
was a C[linton] Fair to-day[.
]
22. S. [I] Scr[ubbed,] washed & took in Primroses Finne
from ver[andah] to house [[and] washed flan-
nels[.] Jno. wheeled to Sturdy’
s A.M. & to
C[linton in the] even[ing.]
23 . S . B[ella] & I [were] in C[
hurch(
Rev.
Stewart.
) Dull, Fine,
September, 1900 358
24. M. [Bella & I] washed[.
] Geo. Harris from Dun-
gannon[was here] all night[.] Aunty[is]back
from Green's[.] A[lex] Innis,F[inley]McEwen, Fine
& W.Robison called P.M. Mother [had] tea at
U[ncle] JafmesJ's [and] was seeing the two
babys P.M.[.]* Mending bags P.M.
* Kenneth Barkley Stewart, born Aug 26 to Fenwick & Alice.
Annie Stewart, born Sep 12 to Adam & Tene
25 . T . [I was mending bags] all day[.] The 2 Stur•-Slight Rain,
dy's [were] here with loads of [the] sheep Fine
Jno. bought[
. I took Polly out to Jane [in
the] morn[ing.]
26. W. Aunty [was] up [here. We] Cleaned chips out Fine & Hot
[of the] wood-shed & B[ella] & I hauled in
4 big [stone]boat loads of [cordwood at]
night[.] Young Reid called P.M. Cut out
sleeve linings etc. P.M.
27 . T . H. Reid & Son [this] morn[ing] bought 1
B[illy] lamb & 5 2 yr old steers
28 . F . [I] Killed 8 R[oosters [and]I [was]in C[lin- Beautiful
ton] P.M. Jno. [was] at D[uncan] McEwen's
threshing[.] McIntosh [was here this] even­
ting and] Jennie Gfrant] arrived[.]
29 . S . Scrubbed[.]* Cleaned milk-cellar etc. P.M. Raining
Jno. [was] at McEwen's threshing[.]
*In all respectable farm homes, the kitchen
floor had to be scrubbed of the week'
s build-up
of dirt, to be clean for Sunday.
30 . S . B[ella] & I [were in church](Rev. Stewart). Beautiful
Jennie went home [this] morn[ing.
1. M.
October, 1900
B[ella]& I washed[.]Jno,[was]at Butchart’s Beautiful
threshing[.] Jno.Thomson [is] paving Ned's
stable[.] T[om] Frazer [came] for tea[.]
2. T . [I] Took Polly out to Jane & helped clean
wheat A.M. Aunty [was] at Jane's P.M. [We]
Hauled in 4 boat loads[of sawed rails to-]
night[.]
3. W. [I] Helped clean [a] load [of] wheat A.M.
[I] was] at Ned’
s P.M. for [a] tick[. I]
swept[the] stair & made beds for threshers
etc.. Three threshers stayed all night[.]
Will Glen [was] at Bayfield Fair[.]
4. T . [We] Finis[hed] threshing P.M. At Adam's
threshing P.M. Aunty [was] up[. We] Fin­
ished] hauling sawed rails [at] night
with 3 big [stone]boat loads[.]
5. F . Jno. [was] at Adam's threshing all day[.]
6. S . [John was at] Fen[wick’
s threshing] A.M.
[and he] took steers to Reid's P.M. [I]
scr[ubbed], mended shirts etc.
7 . S. Raining: warm- got
colder P.M.
8. M. B[ella] & I washed A.M. Aunty [was] up[.] C[ool] Wind,
I [was] out P.M. at Ned's threshing[.] Beautiful.
8 .
October, 1900 359
9. T. B[ella] & Jane[were] in C[linton this]mor-
n[ing. I] Lifted 10 rows [of] pot[atoes
[and] Jno. lif[ted] 2[.]* [I] Took some
frames out of [the] hives[this] morn[ing]
& cleaned Ned’
s potatoes[.] Rev. Stewart
called A.M. [I] wrote Ag [in Manitoba.]
*In this diary entry we find a mathematically accurate
contrast. Eliza-Ann does most of the work,and supplies
most of the leadership, while John does what he feels
like.
10. W. Jno.[was]at Blyth Fair[.
] I[was] in C[lin-
ton this]even[ing delivering]5 Roosters[.]
11. T. Jno. [was] in Cflinton] A.M. [for] bran[.] Beautiful
Uncle James[was here] for dinner[.I]lifted
about 4 rows[of] potfatoes] P.M. B[ella] &
I [were] at Mac’
s [this] even[ing.]
12. F. [I lifted] 8 [rows of potatoes] P.M. Aunty
[was] in C[linton] with Ada [Stewart.] Ada
[was] here all night[.]*
*Bella, Jennie Grant and Ada
Stewart were the same age and were longtime friends.
13. S. Jno. [was] at Mac's threshing all day[.
]
Jane [was] in C[linton] A.M. [I] Scrubbed,
shook out rags & sorted P.M. [I] Cleaned
Jno.'s desk [at] night[.]
14. S. B[ella] & I [were in church](Rev. Stewart).
15. M. [Bella & I] Washed[
. I] Beat[the] Hall-Car­
pet P.M. & [was] picking potatoes etc.,etc.
Jno. [was] at Mac’
s threshing A.& part P.M.
16. T. Jane, B[ella] & I [were] in C[linton] P.M. H.C.W.
[I]Picked pot[atoes] A.M. B[ella] put down Slight Shower
[the] hall carpet[
. We are] Lifting [the] A.M.
dining-room carpets[.]
17. W. [We] Finis[hed the]potatoes A.M. B[ella] & H.C.W.
I [were] pulling & picking app[le]s P.M. Fine
Aunty [was] up all night[.]
18. T. Thanksgiving B[ella] & I [were] pulling Beautiful
app[le]s A.M.[and were] at [the] S[abbath]
S[chool] Examination P.M. McPhearson from
Glanworth [was here] for dinner[.]
19. F. [I] Took some frames out of hives [this] Beautiful,
morn[ing[.] B[ella] & I [were] pulling Heavy Frost
app[le]s[.] Aunty pulled P.M. E.A. & Mrs at nights.
Isard, Mrs Hayden & son, & Miss May Dunbar
[were here P.M. & for tea[.]
20. S. [I] Finis[hed] ridding desk, book case etc. Fine
B[ella] housecleaned[the] veranda[.
] Aunty
went home [in the] even[ing.
]
21. S. B[ella] & I [were in church]](Rev. Stewart)
"Making broad phylactrus etc."
22. M. B[ella] & I washed[.]Aunty & E[dward J[ohn Raining P.M.
came for a] goose dinner[.] Mrs [Lily] Cum­
ing [was here] P.M.
23. T. [Lily Cuming] & Aunty [were at] Jane's A.M.
I drove Lily down to Adam's P.M. [I was] Rainy night
cleaning [the] cellar [and] B[ella was]
baking & ironing[.]
October, 1900 360
24.
25 .
26.
27 .
28 .
29.
30 .
31.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6 .
F. B[ella] & I [were] in C[linton at] church
(
Rev.
Stewart.
) A[g]returned from Manitoba
[and] walked home at mid-night[.]
S Jno., B[ella] & I [were] in [Church]
(Rev. Stewart.)
M. B[ella] washed[.
] A[g] washed [the] kitch- Rain towards
en paint(all but [the] windows.) I [tended even[ing,]
to] sundries[.] T[om] Frazer [came] after
[a] Billy lamb[.] Fenfwick] & Ad[am were
here this] even[ing.
]
T . [I] Cleaned Jno.’
s stair etc., etc., A[g] Raining
cleaned out [the] parlor [and] B[ella did]
bakng[.] McDougal[of] Glanworth [came] for
dinner [and] bought 20 Shropshire sheep.]
W. B[ella] & I [were] in Cflinton] A.M. Mrs W. Raining A.M.
Perdue[was here] for dinner[.] A[g] helped Beautiful
her pick 6 bags [of] app[le]s[. Bella & I] P.M.
filled 2 ticks [and] A[g] scrubbed [the]
kitchen[
. We] Washed[the] K[itchen] window
[and] scrubbed [the] veranda etc., etc.
John married [Isabella R. McEwen at]
half-past six [in the] even[ing.]
November, 1900
T. [I] Cleaned [the] milk-cellar & [a] piece Rained some,
[of the] wood-shed floor etc. A[g] & B[el- Heavy Frost
la were] in C[linton] P.M. at nights.
F. Jno. shipped [a] lamb to McDougal[in]Glan­
worth[.] Mo[ther] churned[
. I] Killed 2
geese[.] A[g], B[ella] & I hauled in
app[le]s[. I was] at Lizzie’
s P.M. Aunty
[came] for dinner [and] for all night[.]
S. A[g was] in C[linton] P.M. [for] flour[.
] Frost, Fine
[Aunty was here for] din[ner. I] Killed 5
hives of bees, hauled app[le]s & [in the]
even[ing] darned stockings[.]
S. Jno & Bell, A[g] & B[ella were in C.W.
church](Rev. Stewart.) Beautiful
M. A[g] & I washed[.
] Jane[was]here P.M. pick- Rain, Windy
ing up app[le]s[.] Webber [came] for din­
ner & [stayed] all night[.]
T. [Webber] bought lambs[.I] Cleaned & Put up Fine,
again [the] furnace pipes[.] Pulled 30 Cold W.
pails Ben-Davis’
s P.M.* Mr & Mrs A.Dunkin
[came] for dinner[.]
*probably pails to hold honey she
sold to customers. See p.57 and 78. Davis sold stoves,
furnaces and probably did tinsmithing as well.
w .
T
F .
S .
November, 1900 361
8 .
9.
1 0 .
11.
1 2.
13 .
14.
15.
16.
17 .
18.
19.
W. Bell* & I picked 2 geese[that] I killed[.
] Showery
[We] Moved our stove into [the] furnace
pipes[.]** A[g was in C[linton] P.M. [The]
Scott's[were here]looking at ewe lambs P.M.
Voting at School to-day(Laurier & Tup-
per)
* Bell is Isabella Robertson McEwen, John's
new bride. ** A process of partitioning the farmhouse
is underway. John and Bell get the
big farm kitchen* The MacFarlane sisters
will cook in the cellar in cold weather.
T. [I] cleaned [the] H[en] House and] Sheep-dip- Fine,Cold,
ped hen roosts[.] Snowed.
F. Aunty [was here] for dinner, etc.[I worked Snowing etc.
at a] jacket[.] B[ella] went to Grant’
s[.
We] Put cows in [all] night 1st [time.]
S. [I worked on the jacket.] Is[abel] & E[d- Snowed a few
ward]J[ohn were sent] after butcher knifes [flakes.]
(sic) [and stayed] for dinner[.]
S. S[abbath] S[chool is] closed for the sea­
son[.] A[g] & I[were in church](Rev.Sawers,
Brucefield.) B[ella was] with Jennie [who]
drove[her] home[in the] even[ing.I] minded
[the] kids[.]
M. A[g] & I washed[.] A[g] & I picked 2 geese Snow,sleet.
[that] I killedf.
] Cattle[are] all in [for
the]1st [time.] Scott [was] here P,M.[and]
bought 2 ewe lambs[.] At Ned’
s [last] even-
[ing for] pork, I slept with I[sabel.]
T. Jno. [was] in Cflinton] P.M.
W. B[ella] & I [were] in C[linton] P.M. Very Cold Windy
raw day,etc.,etc.
T .
F .
Kate Pearson & Jane [were] visiting Bell Blustery
P.M.A[g was at U[ncle]J[ames]'
s P.M. & all
night[
. I] made [a] mat for around [a] fur­
nace pipe [and] fixed patches for shirts
[in the] even[ing.] J[ohn] & B[ell visited
at Adam'
s [this] even[ing.
]
[We] killed 2 pigs[.] [We] Washed double Some Milder,
windows & helped Jno.put[them] in[.] Aunty Thawed a
[was] up. The Girls cleaned out [a] room little.
for [their] parlor etc.
, etc Adam & Fred
Cuming [were here] P.M.
S. Jno. [was] in C[linton this] mom[ing] ship- light Rain,
ping [a]p[ai]r[of] lambs to Wright[.]Hiram Snow.
Hill drove Smith Rogers (Mich[igan]) here
A.M. Jno. & Yank[were] at Cooper’
s etc.P.M.
T[om] Frazer[was here in the] even[ing. I]
Finis[hed] fixing [the] jacket[.] A[g] &
B[ella] beat [the] parlor carpet & put [it
back] down upstairs [and] put [a] stove up
etc. etc.
S. B[ella] & I [were in church](Rev.Stewart.
) Raining P.M.
"Last verse 23rd Psalm"
M. A[g] & I washed[
. I] Hoed slush [and] mud Raining
away from[the] front[of the] H[en] H[ouse]
[this] morn[ing etc., etc. [and] Brushed &
put away summer hats[. I] Mended [a] shirt
[in the]even[ing.
]
17
7 .
November, 1900 362
2 0 .
21.
22 .
23 .
24.
25 .
26.
27 .
28 .
29.
30.
T. A[g] & I washed [an] old bed [this] morn- High Wind,
[ing.]............... Poured
W. [Today I] Mended [a] ahirt, cleaned [our] Poured
parlor A.M.,cleaned [my] room P.M.etc. Mrs
McEwen called on us [this] even[ing.] Mr &
Jno. [were] in too[.]
T. [I] Carried in some app[le]s etc., [and] Fine,Dull
Started Jno.'s pants P.M. Jno. [was]] in
Bruce[field] P.M. McIntosh [came in the]
even[ing to see the] young mare[.
] Geo.
[went] after Mclnftosh a] 2nd time after
night & to Clinton for Blackal. Both [vets
were here] all night & for breakfast[.]
F. Isabel & I [were] in C[linton] P.M. [I] H.W.
Picked & carried in some App[le]s etc. Fine P.M.
McIntosh [was here] for supper[.
]
S. [The] Mare died [this] morn[ing. I] packed C.W. East
Bee's (6 hives.) Mo[ther is visiting at
Jane’
s[.
]
S. A[g] & B[ella], Jno. & Is.[were in church] C.W.
(Rev. Stewart.) Adam & Tene & baby [were
here] P.M. W.Elliott called at[the] stable
[this] even[ing.
]
M. A[g] & I washed (summer flannels too.) Jno. Fine,S[now]
was at Adam’
s killing pigs A.M. [I] worked part melted.
at p[an]ts [in the] even[ing.]
T . Jno. & Ned [were] in C[linton] A.M. [They]
hitched Ned'
s horse in our buggy[
. I was]
mending ganzies A.M [and worked at the
p[an]ts P.M. A[g] & B[ella[were]at Wigg[in-
ton]'s P.M. Ada & Ida[Stewart were here in
the] even[ing.
]
W. [I] Rid around [the] bees........... etc.
B[ella & I [were] in C[linton] P.M. Jno.
[was] at Adam's all day cutting [with] Per­
due's engine[.]Marshall & Dave Elliott[are]
cutting wood[.
]
T . [Marshall & Dave Elliott are cutting Raining some
wood.] Jno. [was again at] A[dam's] all
day[.
] Is. [went] home,([her] Mo[ther is]
not very well.) A[g] gave [the] men their
meals*...Geo.went home....Jane [looked in]
P.M. [I worked] at p[an]
ts[.]
♦This is the first docu­
mented occasion of Bell running off somewhere on the spur of
the moment and her sister's-in-law covering for her unasked.
Isabel Glen explained it this way. " Aunt Tene and Aunt Bell
both had 'social butterfly' tendencies.Uncle Adam nipped them
in the bud. Tene understood that housework came first and
that she had to generate housekeeping money from the sale
of eggs and creme. Adam was a fastidious man who would pull
his weight in the operation. He helped keep the place tidy,
was quick to do repairs, and to keep the wood shed full.
Uncle John was too casual and undisciplined to lay down the
law and Aunt Bell never learned how to be much of a manager."
Come to think of it, why bother to learn when the 3 single
sisters-in-law did these tasks so well?
F. [I] Mended gloves A.M. &[worked]at p[an]ts Fine
P.M.
December,. 1900 363
1. s Jno. & Is [were] in C[inton] P.M. [The] Some Rain,
boys [were]cutting wood[.] Adam [was here] snow.
P.M. cutting [a] trap door[.
] T[om] Frazer
& Ned [were] at Jno.’
s [this] evenfing. I]
2. S . A[g] & I [were in church] (Dr Taylor New Chilly, W.
York.) "From henceforth expecting” Heb[-
brews] 10-13" Tene left baby [Annie] with
Is [this] morn[ing for the 1st tirae[.]
3. M. A[g] & I washed[
. I] drove Adam & Jno. P.M. Fine, Some
to C[linton] enroute for Chicago Fat Stock Bees out.
Show[.] Adam [was] up [this] morn[ing and Bad Roads.
put hinges and latch on [the] trap door[.
]
G. Middleton called[.] Mofther was] at
Will’
s P.M.[with his news]
paper[.We]washed
[a] p[ai]r [of] blankets & [a] guilt[.
]
4 . T . [I] Rid and washed off [the] floor in our Fine,Rained
cellar & carried hives in [and] washed out a little
[my] bed-room etc. D. McFarlane from Shake­
speare [was here] all night[.] w. & Dave
Elliott, 2 Deeves,Connell & Billy Marshall
[were here] cutting [wood.]
5. W. Ab Nott called P.M. Put a front like dress Snow,Sleet.
in old basque[.]
6. T . Mo[ther] & A[g were] in C[linton] P.M. [I]
made sleeves smaller[.] Marshall & [a] Neg-
re [were] splitting wood...............
7. F . A[g] & I drove [to] McTavishes P.M. I met C.W.
Jno. at [the] 7 o' c[loc]k train[.]
8
. S
. [I] fixed new coat[.]Jane,[her] kids & Mag- Hard Frozen.
[gie were here] P.M. Geo.[has]gone home[.]
9. S . B[ella] & I [were in church](Rev.Stewart.
) Snowing &
Cold, Blowing.
10 . M. A[g] & I Washed[.]Is went to C[linton]P.M.
with her mo[ther.] Jane [came] in [the]
even[ing. I] Made [a] Galeta Pettic[oat.j
11. T . B[ella] & A[g] [were[ in C[linton] P.M. Snowing & Storm­
ing
12 . W. Mending a little A.M. [and] Cut out Grey Cold
flannel P.M. [for] drawers
13. T . Finis[hed drawers, all] but buttons[.]...
14 . F . Finished working bottoms..............
Mo[ther was] at Ned’
s carding wool[.] Ned Cold,Crispy
came for her[.] Bell was home P.M. & even-
[ing.]
15. S. A[g] & B[ella are] helping [to] make [a]
comforter[.
] Jno [was] in C[linton] P.M.
[I] Cut out [the] other p[ai]r of drawers
P.M................
16. S. A[g] & B[ella went to church
gy[.] There is good sleighing
field road[.
]
in the] bug-
on [the]Bay-
•
a
•
f
-
r
l
A[g] & I washed[.
] Is & I [were]
ton] P.M... ...........
in C[lin- Fine
18 . T . Choreing some these times[
.
the] H[en] H[ouse] P.M......
I] C[leaned Soft
December, 1900 364
Mending etc. [I was] at [the] school IV Beautiful
P.M. Bessie Glen*, Myrtle Pearson &
[? were] saying Catechism[.
]
Killed 4 geese
C[linton] P.M.
A[g] & Bfella were]in Frozen,Fine.
B[ella] & Is [were] at W. Baird's exam & Frozen
entertainment even[ing. I] made gathers
in [the] B[ac]k of [the] skirt & finis­
hed] ............. it....
Jane & I, I[sabella] P[earl] & E[dward] Frozen,
J[ohn were] in C[linton] P.M. Tene[[went Beautiful
to] C[linton and] left [her] kid [with]
Is [.]
A[g] & I [were in church](Rev. Stewart.) Pouring
Jno. [was] sick P.M. Fine, Raining
even[ing.]
A[g] washed[.
] Is [was] at Tene’
s P.M. Colder
Jno.McE[wen was] hauling wood all day[.]
Jennie Grant came [this] evemfing.]
Jennie went home [in the] even[ing.] Hei- Colder &
fer calved [a] heifer[.]Ned‘
s & Magfgie] Blustery
McEwen [were here] for dinner[.] Jno. &
Is ]were] at Adam’
s [this] even[ing.]
Is, Jennie & Bella [were] at Aunty Mag-
ie's P.M. [Jennie] returned [this] morn-
[ing.]
A[g was] in C[linton P.M. & Is [went]
home[.] Jennie & B[ella] [were]at U[ncle]
Ja[ P.M.mes]’
s
Is had her Fa[ther] & Mr & Mrs (Hubert &
Kate) McDougal for dinner[.] Jno. & Is.
[
were] out [for the] even[ing.
]
I [was]in C[linton] P.M. Jno & Liz McEwen Fine,
[came] back with Is [this] even[ing.] Good Roads.
Is & I [were in church.](Rev. Stewart.) Started,
Snowing
A[g] & I washed.... Ned & T[om] Frazer Snowed,
[were at] Jno’
s [this] evenfing.] Softish.
19. W.
20. T.
21. F .
22 . S .
23 . S .
24. M.
25 . T .
26. W.
27. T.
28. F.
29. S.
30. S.
31. M.
1. T .
2. W.
January,
'
» 1901
[I was a
t
]
' Ned’
s for dinner[.] Adam &
Will [were] here P.M. Killing [a] HetLf-
er[.]
Mr Stewart & [his] neighbour [from]
Mich[igan were]here[this]morn[ingjs for
dinner[
. They] bought lambs[.] Is[abe*l-
la] & A[g-were] in Church [this] even­
ting] (McLeod.) Jno. went P.M. [with
our American visitors] to Chas.Mason,’
s
[and] A[g was] at Elliot’s P.M. after
Geo. [was] here.--- -
3. T. B]ella] & I[were in church]](Rev. Wade).
Jno. & Ned & T[om] F[raser] shipped
lambs(24 X think.)[They] walked them up
[to] Ned’
s[. He has a] sleigh with a
box[.
]
4. F. I [was] in C[linton] P.M. (got a ride
up from Ned’
s with Will [McEwen.I]visi­
ted Mary Emma [Ross] p.M.Ag and I were]
in C[hurch thisleven[ing](Rev. Stewart)
.
5. S. Is[abella was] home all day[.] Gurnsey
calved [a] heifer[.]
6. S . [Ag, Isabella and Bella went to church
in the] buggy(Rev. Stewart.) I went in
Mac’s sleigh [and] came home in Ned’
s
buggy[.
] Is[abella came home] in [the]
sleigh[.]
7. M. Is[abella] & B[ella] in C[linton] R.M.
(cutter 1st time out.) A[g] & I wash-
ed[.
] Jno. [was] at Ab Nott’
s [this]
evening^] A[g] went with him[.I] men­
ded [a] coat[.]
8. T. Is[abella was] at Tene’
s P.M.
9. W. Jno. [was] in C[linton] P.M. [I] Clean­
ed [the] H[en] H[ouse.]
10 T . Is[abella was] at home P.M. & even[ing]
& Jno.[was home in the] even[ing.]T[om]
Frazer was here in the] even[ing. Jane
and I went to] C[linton] P.M. -
i
n [the]
buggy[.]A[g]came home[in the]
even[ing.
]
11. F. Jane & I [were] at Butchart’
s P.M. Mr &
Mrs McDougall & kid [were] there. Kids
[were] here[.]
12. S. Jno.& B[ella went to] C[linton] P.M.[in
the] buggy[
. They] Bought [a] new pump
for [the] barn well[.]
13. S. A[g] & B.[ella] walked to Ned’
s [to get
a ride to church in the] cutter[.I]men-
3 p[ai]rs [of] p[ain]ts[.]
14. M. A[g] & I washed [and] ch[umed] P.M. [I]
Mended [the] last p[ai]r [of pants.]Jno.
[was] in C[linton] P.M.[I was at] Ned’
s
A.M. [and] got E[dward] J[ohn’
s] Cap
r[ead]y[. I was also] at Ned’
s [in the]
even[ing.
]
365
Snowed
Soft
Raining
Big Wind
storm [at]
night,snow
etc.
Light Snow
Not cold,but
I felt cold.
Snowing,soft
j !%
?
., u >
15 . T .
16. W.
t-
17 . T .
18 . F .
19. S.
m ; i
20. S.'
21. H.
January, 1901 , .
•
*
*
« ,' 3$«j ,
[I was] Scraping "Propoi&£!
| '
’
off;- bee ; Sbft, Dull
(making re^y to exjfapity )
,’ J <
•
'
* yr l ► *
! T 1 ' " t i '
1
was
frames
[I]
A[g]
P.M.
' ’
■M 'v j e
finis[hed [cleaning b$ejframes]
'
■A.M Vtery H[ighJ
.
& B[ella w
e
r
-
e
>
]at D[
uij&Ln]
(Wgffwen1
s | v
f
[ind] &
B[ella
i
u
l
i
v
i ; (
'
t ; >. ' 4 * I 31^*- *
4J.
Extracting all day[.] AMI h Bfellap (
1
[were] in C[lintqjh-] .
P
.
M
.
' | j
Extracting all, day.] j
.
f
f
j
'' ■ ' f
;
- • i\
Exftracting] Finisthed.]- war
{ind]
J [ J
j
^
L
g
h
t Snow
Ex[tractm g ] Finis[hed.]
•
713 f
m
B[ella] & I [went to churchman, the]cut—
'ter (Rev. Straith.) '
■
% U,
jj
U
t
r
*
' l
i ,
m f*
r •
A[g] & I washed[.] Ned
back A.M.(He & Jno.fixed
Ned
even!
stair
even[.
]
22 . T .
23 . W.
24 . T .
25 ‘F •
26 . S .
27 . S.
’
s & Mag[gie]McEwen[we^e here this]
n[ing.]
[I] Finis[hed] melting hdjpey -etd. etc.
Aunty [
was] here[*] Is[abeailaand] Jno.
[went] in[to] C[linton] w
d
j
j
j
h Her P.M.
, A . I "
[Aunt Agnes ] went to Clinton .[to Mary
Ross’
es] with Bfella] & I
*
'Y&PiM.*A
•Ah i
. .
.
.
Fixing honey[.] Jane [was.jjPhfer^all day
making Edward [John's] 0[{^egvat[. ]
[Jane was here]P.M.[makingthe cravat.]
- /Wf , t
Jno. [was] at Old Wise’s fifqteral P.M. [He
took the] colt [with theJ\&uggy[
.
.]Is[a-
bella] & I [were] in C[licfeon] P.M. [in
cutter to deliver] Honey[jr % finished
mending John's] ganziersf’
^
*■
’7 ■
.
*
A[g] & 1 [were in church.PRev. Stewart
[preached about] Jesus walking in Solo-
man’
s porch-’
What His thoughts would be.” j
H. Woodyard’
s baby [was] baptized[
.]
(cutter) '
■
* r -
* !
ery Cold
£jpft P.M,
,1* * f
*
i
.r
i-
1
.
Snow
28 . M.
29. T
30. W
31. T .
[The] Thoroughbred heifer\!$alved[. Her] Stormy
1st calf [was a] helferf*^ A[g] & I
washed[.] Jno.[was] at fFenwick’
s kil­
ling pig's[.] -
Bell & I [were] in C[linfc£n] 1*.M. Aunty
went uptown with me[.] M$7& Mrs McEwen
[were here in the] even[i$g.]
"
Jno. [was] in C[linton] P^M. for corn[.i
[I] Darned stockings e t c [and the]holes
around the bottom of[my]k^!lac]k skirt[.] '
Is[abella was]at Adam's p
j
.
M
. Jane & [Ed- Stormy
ward] J[ohn were] at Carrie’
s P.M. Ned &
I[sabella] P[earl] went pgtfin the]even­
ting.] 7 .
February, 1901
1. F .
2. S.
Is[abella is staying] at gene’s[.]
[was] at [the] mill[.]
Jno. Stormy &
Cold
[I] Walked tp Clinton $,M. [to attend]
Queen Victoria’
s funeral,
7sevice in our
Church[.] The town ministers[present in- Light Snow
eluded Revs. Stewart (Presb.) Smith(Eng­
lish), Howson (Meth. Ratt[enbury] St).
Dr. Gifford & Son (Meth.!
Ont[ario] St.) )
February, 1901 367
3 . S .
4. M.
5. T.
6. W .
7. T.
8. F .
9. S .
10. S .
11 . M.
12 . T .
13 . W.
14 . T .
15 . F .
16. S .
17 . S .
18 . H.
19 . T .
20. W.
21. T.
22 . F .
23 . S .
Dunlop(Papist),[and] Wade(
Retired.
) Jno.
[was] at [the] mill[.] Carnahon [came]
loooking for [aa] colt[.]
Polly [has gone] lame[.]
A[g] & I washed[.]Is[abella came] home
[in the] cutter [with the] colt[. I]
Washed [the] extractor etc., etc. Bezzo,
Ab Nott's boy,[was here] P.M. after hon-
ey[.]
Jno. & Bell [were] in Clinton P.M.
Anniversary 1st lamb (one)
A[g] & I washed[.
] Young Gibson & [the]
livery man called A.M. Jack McGregor
[was]at Jno’s for dinner & all night[.]
Aunty [is here] Jno. & she [went] call­
ing P.M.
Fen[wick], Adam & Fred Cuming [were] up
[this] evening[.]
Aunty went home P.M.[.]
Bell & Is[abella were] in Clinton A.M.
[driving the] colt[.] B[ella was] out
home P.M.
A[g is] sick[.]Jane & I [drove]Polly in
[to] C[linton] P.M. ([her] first trip
since foal bealed) [and]Jno.stayed with
[the] kids[.]
Mo[ther] & I [
were in Church](Rev.Stew­
art.
) "Thou art not far from the king­
dom of heaven."
Jane & I [heard] Dr. Moffatt [of the]
Tract Society [this] evening[
. I] took
honey to 01
Neil[.]
I [was] in C[linton] P.M. Jno. [was] at
Ned's killing [the] lump jaw heifer[.]
Jno.fi Adam [were] in C[linton] P.M.(2nd
lambs) 1 p[ai]r [of] lambs
1 [was] in Clinton P.M..... ....[Lambs]
2 p[ai]r, I think.
[I] finis[hed a] bureau mat[.
] H. Reid
[was here this] morn[ing.]
[I] Knit ends for a tie[.] Jno.[was] in
C[linton] P.M. [with[] Mac's outfit[.
]
A[g] & Mrs [drove] Polly [to] Gordon's
looking up U[ncle] William[MacFarlane.]
Reid fetched [a] lamb up [this] even­
ting.]Ida [Stewart was] here for tea[.]
Cold,
Stormy night
W[hite] F[rost]
Fair, Cold
W[hite] F[rost]
Cold
Fine
Fine
Softish
Colder
Stormy
Roads near
Blocked
Roads were
broken A
.
AT.
Very Cold
Very Cold
368
February,1901
A[g] & I[were in church](Rev. Stewart.)
A[g] & I washed [and were] choreing[.]
Jno. [was]in C[linton] with lambs (15 +
1 [for] Reid's A.M. Ned [was] along [as
well.] Mr & Mrs McEwen [and] Mr & Mrs
Jas. Aikenhead [came in the] even[ing]
for tea at Jno.'sf.] Lamb [from] Lady­
smith -this is the 8th lamb[.
]
Uncle William [MacFarlane] came in the
even[ing.]
Jane and E[dward] J[ohn were here] P.M.
Mac,Ned & Adam [were] at Will's killing
[a] pig[.] Jno. went to C[linton] with
Fred Cuming [in the] sleigh[.] A[g was]
at U[ncle] Ja[me]s's A.M. with U[ncle]
William[. They] called at Adam's too[.]
Jack McGregor [came] for dinner[and he]
& Jno. [were] out P.M. [I] Took Uncle
down to H[ugh] McGregor’
s P.M.[.]
Doz Sold
Dec 11 •
0
0
Jan 12 1/2 2.25
Feb 30 4.90
Mar 29 3.41
Apr 31 ' 3.33
May 51 5.09
March, 1901
Jno.[was] at [the] Mill P.M. Mrs &
B[ella were] in C[linton] P.M.
Jno. [was] in C[linton] P.M. Choreing
I [am] sick[.
]
[I am sick.]
Ag] & I washed[.] A[g was] in C[linton
P.M.
Jno.,A[g] & I[attended a] prayer-meet­
ing at Scott's [this] even[ing.] Annie
Stewart (Adam's [baby daughter] & Jane
Nevin McGregor [were] Baptized[.]
Kate, Lizzie & Douglas McTavish [came]
for tea & [an] even[ing visit.]
Jno. & Mrs [are] at Jno. McEwen's par-
ty[.] T[om] Frazer drove U[ncle] Will­
iam up [at] night[.] 3 lambs
[I] Drove Uncle over to [Baird's] Cem­
etery P.M. [We] Fetched U[ncle James]
up with us[.] W[illiam] Glen,Fen[
wick]
,
Mrs & kid, Adam, Mrs & kid & Ned's
[were here this] evenfing.]
Ned [was] at [the] Mill[.] Uncle went
back with him for dinner. Jno.s [Uncle
were] in C[linton] P.M.
Ned took Uncle to Church [in] Bruce-
field[this] morn[ing] enroute for Gor­
don '
s[
.]
Flurries
Milder
C[old] W[ind]
Singy E[ast]
W[ind]
, Sunny
Stormy, Soft
Frozen
Hard Frozen,
Very Cold N,
Wind. some
drift & snow
Softish, Dull,
Slight Snow
Rain,Thaw
24. S.
25. H.
26 . T .
27 . W.
28 . T .
1. F .
2. S .
3 . S .
4. M.
5. T.
6. W.
7 . T .
8 S .
9. S .
10 . S .
369
March, 1901
11. M. A[g] & I washed[.] Stormy
12. T. Rev. & Mrs Stewart [came] visiting P.M. Nice
13. W. D. McTavish Sale Thaw,Stormy
The New Era, January 11, 1901
....The splendid 200 acre farm owned by D. McTavish, 2nd
Con., has been sold to Robt. Pearson of the 3rd, at the
valuation of $9000. Mr Pearson’
s farm of 100 acres is
taken in part exchange at a valuation of $6000.We under­
stand that Mr McTavish Sr. has some notion of buying a
farm elsewhere,the Pearson farm to be managed by his
son.
14. T. I [was] in C[linton] P.M. [Mr] Tough
[was here] all nighht[.]Douglas called
to tell about the funeral[;] ([He had] Fine,Warm
had dinner at Scott'
s Dr Gunn has been
seeing Mary Glen for inflamatory rheu­
matism[.]
15. F. A[g] & B[ella [were] at Jno.Thompson'
s
Mother's funeral [and] had tea at Fos- Cold Wind
ter'
s [in] Varna[
.] Aunty[
was here]P.
M. Fine
[I] Cleaned [the] H[en] H[ouse] A.M.
16. S. Jno.[was]in C[linton] P.M. [for] grist
& got corn[.] [He] took 2 bags [of]
App[le]s to 0'Neil[.]Mrs Finley McEwen
& Mary Emma & Bessie Ross [came]visit­
ing P.M. [and had] tea with Mrs[.]
17. S. A[g] & B[ella were in Church] (Lucknow
minister.) [I] saw [a] Robin[.]
18. M. A[g] & I washed[.] I [was] in C[lin-
ton P.M [with] 2 bags of App[le]s. Mrs
[is] out home[.] Mr & Mrs Wigginton &
Stella [were] here P.M. & [for] tea[.]
Beautiful
Fine
Soft
19. T. Mrs W[illiam] Graham died[.
]Aunty[was]
up[.]
20. W. Jno. [was] at [the] Mill [this] morn-
ting.] I [was] in C[linton] P.M.[with]
2 1/8 bags [of] App[le]s[.]
21. T. Chr A.M. Jno. [was] at[ the] Mill
for chop P.M.
Thaw
Raining
Sleet
Chilly Wind
22. F. Jno. & I[were] at Mrs Graham's funeral
P.M. 1st goose eggs(I think). Jno. & Fine,
Mrs [are] out home [this] even[ing.] C[oldJ W[ind]
A[g] & I & Ned’
s [visited] at McTav
ishe's this evenfing.]
23 . S .
24. S
Aunty Maggie called & Mrs Neil McGregor Fine
& Katie [were] visiting Mrs P.M. Ned's
[were] in C[linton.]
Raining
25. M. A[g] & I washedf. I] Started lace for Fine
[a] collar
26 T Bees
Flying
27 . W.
28. T. Mrs & her Jno. [were] in C[linton] P.M.
March, 1901 370
I [was]in C[linton] P.M. [I]took Polly
to Ned’
s & hitched in his cutter[.]Ad­
am & bno. cut and fitted [a] door into
[the] parlor[.]* *probably refers
to the partition
wall.
Mrs [has returned] home[.] A[g] & I
[were] at Adam’
s [in the] even[ing.]
I walked [to Clinton for Church](Stew­
art.
) [I] got home with Mac[.] Mary
Glen [was here] A.M.
April, 1901
A[g] & I washed & cleaned [the] celler
stairs, floor,etc. Bat[h] P.M.[In the]
even[ing I] washed [my] hair, 9 honey
Gems* & [a] crock[.] Adam [was here in
the]even[ing] puttingfa] latch on[the]
door[.
]
Mrs[is] out home sugaring[.]I [was] in
C[linton P.M. - [the] buggy's 1st out­
ing. ] Fen[wick] & Adam [visited] at
Jno.'s [this] even[ing.]
Mrs [is back] home[.] Jno.Murdock,[the
Dominon] Census man [was here] P.M. [I
was]Choreing A.M.& pjarjt scraped[the]
H[en] H[ouse.] Jno. [was] in Cflinton]
P.M. shipping [a] Rooster & [a] p[ai]r
[of] hens to Whistleman [in] 0hio[.]
Mary Glen & Efdward] J[ohn were] here
P.M. [I] Finis[hed the] knit collar, &
ironed collars. Cleaned [my] room, etc.,
etc.
Fine,Sunny,
C[old] W[ind]
C[old] N[orth]
W[ind]
.
Frogs Croak­
ing.
Dull,
Warmer
Jane, E[dward] J[ohn] and I went to Sunny, C[old]
Blythe(Sic) [to visit at N[icholas] w[ind]. Bad
dimming'
s[.]* Fred[Cuming] drove us up Road
[in the]buggy[.]I called at McTavish's
[in the] morn[ing.]
*Lot 22, Concession XIII, Hullett
Township. The proper spelling is Cuming. Nicho­
las was the son of a Scots pioneer, John Cum­
ing, and in time, took over the home place.
He married Isabella G. Elliott, daughter of
James Elliott and Mary Anna Stewart. Nicholas
and Isabella Cuming had a large family and
several of their children visited back and
with their Stewart and MacFarlane cousins.
Young John had married Lillian Stewart in 1899
and was living on a rented farm in Goderich
Township's Bayfield Concession.
[at Cuming'
s.
]
Mr C[umingjwent to B[lyth] after Polly
(Mrs Stewart & baby)[.]
Mrs Cuming, Jane & I walked to Blythe
Church[.We]
went[along the]
R[ail]
R[oad]
track[.]*
*The London, Huron & Bruce line of the Grand
Trunk Railway crossed the Xlllth of Hullett
a short walk west of the Cuming farm. Jt was
a handy shortcut for pedestrians. One could
follow the right-of-way north to Blyth or
south to Londesboro.
We walked to B[lyth this] mom [ing to
visit the] Brigham’
s in B[lyth.]
29 . F .
30 . S .
31. S .
1. M.
2 . T .
3. W.
4. T.
5. F.
6. S.
7 . S .
8. H.
April, 1901 371
9- T .
10. W.
11 . T .
12 . F .
13 . S .
14. S
15 . M.
16. T.
17 . W.
18 . T .
19. F .
20 . S .
21 S .
We went down to Adam Elliott’
s [this]
morn[ing.We] went to Londsborough(
sic)
with them P.M. [to attend Walter] Rid- Roads Fine
dell’
s funeral[.* We went]Home[in the]
even[ing.]Jennie & B[ella] & Ned[were]
in C[linton] to meet [us.] A[g] walked
home[.
]
* An old neighbour on the XUIth of Hullett.
Riddell farmed Lot 14, James Elliott lot
16 and the Cuming's were on Lot 22. Accor-
to the 1879 Belden Historical Atlas of Huron
County, Riddell was born in Canada and
came to Huron County in 1851.
Jennie & I [were]in C[linton] P.M. Mo­
ther [was] at Ned's[.] Jno. [is] plow­
ing [at the] front of [the] house[
. I]
Raked the yards[.]
Jennie went home P.M.
[I C[leaned the] Hen] H[ouse] etc, etc.
Mrs set goose eggs [this] even[ing.]
B[ella] & I [were in Church](Rev.Stew­
art.
) S[abbath] S[chool] started[.]
Cattle got leave to go to[the]field[.]
A[g] & I washed[.
] Mrs & I [were] in
C[linton] P.M. Jno. [was] sowing [the]
1st oats P.M.
A[g] & I [were] in C[linton] A.M. (I
[had] dinner at Mary’
s [after] getting
[a] tooth filled[.]) Jane & E[dward]
J[ohn]came to C[linton] P.M. [I picked
up some] Clover Seed[.] John [is] sow-
ing[.]
Choreing, etc,[I] Put in 2 celler-win-
dow panes & puttyed 3[.] Flynn & Rey­
nolds [weree here] P.M. Jno. [is] sow-
ing[•]
[I] Brushed clothes[and]put away [the]
fur collar, etc.
Lily Cumming’
s kid[was] born[.]* B[el-
la] & I [were] in C[linton P.M.[I] got
clover seeds & seen about peas[.] Jno.
[is] at [the] Brucefield show(Chief.)
Fine
Fine & Hot
E[ast] W[ind]
Raining &
Snowing
Fine
* I am editing this passage on May 1st, 2001.
The "baby", Edna Alberta Cuming celebrated her 100th
birthday 12 days ago in excellent health. She married
Clifford James Stewart in 1925 and they farmed lot 27
Con III, Stanley, 1925-59. All five children are still
living and there are numerous descendants. She died
November 12, 2002 in her 102nd year.
[John was] in C[linton] P.M. for seed
peas[.They cost] 76 c[en]ts a bus[hel.
I] Had to go to[the]creek for sheep[.]
A[g] & I [were in Church]Rev.Stewart.)
[The] Master [is] sick[.He was] not at
S[abbath] S[chool.
]
Snowed heavy
P.M. & H[igh]
Wind.
Slight Showers
22. M. A[g] & I washed[
.]
23 . T .
24 . W .
25 . T .
26. F
27 . S
28. S
29. M
30. T
1. W
2 . T
April, 1901
. [The] Master [is] sick [and a substi­
tute teacher named] Ball [is] teaching
[the rest of the month[
. The] B[lac]k
Heifer Cow calved [a] b[lac]k steer[.]
I [was] in C[linton] P.M.meeting Mary
Stewart (Cuming) & [her] kid Robert[.]
. Jack McGregor [came here] P.M. [and]he
& Jno. [were] away P.M. M[ary] S[tew-
art] & I [were] at Adam’
s P.M.
. A[g was] at Jno. Cumming’s with M[ary]
S[tewart] & seeing baby [Edna.] Jno. &
Jack.................. .in C[linton.
I]Transplanted[a] Chestnut tree[.
] Mrs
& I hoed & planted onions[.]
• Jack walked to C[linton] A.M.[After]
getting [the] horse shod, [he came]
home P.M. Adam, Tene & kid called [in
at] noon on [
their] cart[.] Ada & Ida
[Stewart were here this] even[ing.
]
. [I] Mowed [the] lawn P.M.[for the] 1st
time[.
] Jno. [was] in Cflinton this]
even[ing.
]
. A[g] & B[ella were in church.The] Rev.
[Mr] Stewart preached on] "Love."[The
Oddfellows[were] in Cfhurch.The] Mas­
ter [is] still sick[.]
. A[g] & I washed etc. Jno.S Adam [were]
spearing suckers [this] morn[ing [ and
got 15(1 think.)Bums came, [and while]
I went for Jno., his horse ran away &
smashed [his] buggy while here[.
] A[g]
Churnedf.] Jno. [drove] Young Grey in
[to] C[linton this] even[ing.]
. A[g]& E[dward] J[ohn were]at Jno.Thom­
son's foor pigs[. The] Cows [were] out
all night[.I Dug p[ar]t [of the] flow­
er-bed, Carried the] pot to [the] barn,
Carried [the] meat board & blocks out­
side & packed the meat away[.
] Jno. at
Leach[.] Ned'
s, Mag & Tene & Adam & T.
Frazer called [this] even[ing.]
May, 1901
. A[g]inC[linton] P.M. B[ella]& I [were]
at [The] Master's [this] evening[.]
[I] Finis[hed] digging [the] flower­
bed [and] Planted some onions[.] Mo-
[ther was]making soap[.]B[ella is sup­
ply]teaching at[illegible] school this
week[.]Mr & Mrs [Malcolm Mac[Ewen were
here this] even[ing.
]
372
Beautiful &
Showery
Beautiful
Dullish & hot
Rain even[ing]
Fine
Rain & light
Showers
May, 1901 373
3. F .
4. S.
5. S .
6. M .
[I] Finis[hed planting onions.
3 Holi­
day P.M. (Aborday)* Ada[Stewart] came Fine
up P.M. Her & B[ella have] gone to C[old] W[ind]
Grant'
s[. Mrs & A[g were] in C[linton]
P.M.[I] stitched waist[of the basque.]
*George Baird made a ceremony out of planting a
tree, generally a hard maple, on school property every
spring. The outer perimeter is ringed with them to
this day.
B[ella] & Ada [came] home P.M. Jno. 9.
[was] in C[linton this] even[ing. I]
Mowed [the] lawn (I think.) A[g] & I Fine
took [the] stove down out of[the]par­
lor[.
] Jane fetched in soap grease
this even[ing.]
A[g] & B[ella were in Church.]
Ag & I washed[.] Jack McGregor started
out with "Balboguie Stomp." Mrs Mof-
fatt died [today.] *
*The New Era, May 10, 1901,
Mrs Walter Moffatt died suddenly on May 6 of pleurisy
pneumonia aged 66.She was born Janet McKenzie in
Pus1inch Twsp, Weillington Co. 1835,married Walter
Moffatt 1861 and settled in Stanley 1862.
7 . T .
8. W. A[g] & Jane [were] at [the Moffatt]
funeral P.M. [They] called on Nott's
on [the] way down[.]
9. T. A[g was] in C[linton] P.M.........Mrs
Chas. Stewart came down to Glen's &
[brought] Frankie with her[.] Mrs Jno,
Cummings & kid [are] down home to­
night [.They were]in C[1inton.I worked]
at [the] basque this week[.]
10. F. [I] Spent A.M. tacking up [the] back-
garden fence[.] Jno. [was] in Bruce-
[field] A.M. (Adam's outfit-night on
bike)A[g] & I[were] down seeing Lily's
kid[this] even[ing.]Mrs Chas.[Stewart]
& Lizzie [Glen were here this] even­
ting.]
11. S.
12 . S .
13 . M.
14 . T .
A[g] mowed [the] lawn[.
] B[ella was]
baking[and I]
Made[
the] basque wearable[.]
A[g] & 1 [were] in C[hurch]Rev.Stewart
............ Jno.Tomson & Uncle James
[were] here[.]
Raining, Cold,
Heavy storm
while in
c[hurch] took
young leaves of trees etc.
A[g] & I washed[.We] Moved our stove &
took down [the] furnace pipes[
. We] Dull & Cold
Carried out some rotten app[le]s &
straightened that piece[of the] celler
etc.
A[g] & B[ella were] in C[linton.]
May, 1901 374
15, W. A[g] washed blankets[.]
16. T. [I] finis[hed] fixing[the basque]
at [the] waist[
. I] Beat [the]
spare room carpet [in the] even­
ting. ]
17. F. A[g],B[ella] & I [were] in Church
P.M. (Rev Stewart-expected Flet­
cher.) I stayed at Ned's & went Slight Rains
back with them at night(Dr Gif-
ford,Methodist.) A[g] & B[ella]
put down carpets[.]
18 . S .
19. S.
[I] Put frames in behind all[the]
[.]Hives[.] Washed off room even- Hot,
[ing] [?] J[ack] McGregor went turned colder
home [in the] even[ing on] Jno's
byke[.]
Jno. & A[g were] in C[hurch](Rev. Raining Morn
Stewart.) I [was] with Ned's[.] [ing]
Mrs [was] down minding Tene’
s ba- Fine
by[.]
20. M. [I] Papered Bella's Bed-room[.] Raining Morn
[ing]
Fine
21. T. A[g] & B[ella were]in C[linton]
A[g] & I washed Mo[ther's] 2 H[igh] Wind
white spreads & print quilt
too[.
]
2 2. W . [I] Papered [the] parlor [and
in the] even[ing I] set out 4
hives[.]
23. T . [I set out] the other 2 [hives
in the] morn[ing. I] Beat [the]
parlor carpet & laid it down
A.M.[I] Put down [the] woodshed
platform P.M. [and was] fixing
B[ee] Boxes etc. Jennie Grant
[stayed all] night[.]
24. F. Mrs [went] out home[. I] Finis­
hed fixing the bee boxes.]
25. S. A[g], B[ella] & Jennie [were]at
U[ncle] Ja[mes']s [this] even­
ing. I]hoed onions some,Greened
goose-berry bushes [and] Plant­
ed Gladi[oli.]
26. S. I [was] in C[hurch](
Rev. Stew­
art.) I[sabella]Pearl went with
me[. John went to church in the
evening.] A[g has] Lumbago[.]
Jennie went home A.M.
27. M. Mo[ther at soap [this week.]
Fine
Heavy R[ain],
T[hunder] &
L[ightning at]
night[.]
C[old] H[igh]
W[ind], Showers.
Fine, Cold
Raining & Cold
all week
28. T. [I] Cleaned [the] milk celler
some day this week[.]
May, 1901 375
Fixing waist
[I] Finis[hed] fixing [the]
waist[.] Jno. dipped Sheep &
Lambs & Ned helped[.]
June, 1901
Ned went for [the] D[octo]r for
his Fa[ther last] night[.]
A[g] & B[ella were] in C[hurch]
(Rev. Stewart.) [John went in
evening.] Aunty returned from
Green's[
.]
A[g] & I washed[.
] Jane [was]
helping Lizzie [with her wash­
ing.] Mrs went down with Lizzie
to see Aunt Abby[.]
Jno., Mrs, A[g] & I planted po­
tatoes (13 rows) P.M. back of
[the] barn[.] Fen[wick], Adam
Tene & kid [were here this]even­
ting.] Bella [has been] helping
Lizzie[.]
A[g] & B[ella were] in C[linton]
P.M. Edward Glen Sr. died [.I]
took up a buggyload[of] wood off
[the] road[.]Auntie[
was]
up [and]
[Bella was helping Lizzie] A.M.&
even[ing.]
B[ella] at Lizzie's A.M.
All but Mrs [were] at Glen's fu­
neral P.M. A[g] & B[ella]& Eddie
Glen went all the way(to Clinton
Cemetery.] Jno.was a [pall]bear-
er with [John B.] Stewart[.]
B[ella]& I [were in church.](Rev.
Stewart.
)
A[g] & I washed[.
] I [was] at
Hunter's P.M.
A[g]& B[ella were] washing paint
etc.
, etc.in [the] Dining room &
Mo[ther]'s B[ed]Room[.We] put up
muslin curtains [and were] mend­
ing [the] spread[.
]
Raining
Fine
Warm,
Very Warm
C[old] W[ind]
Cold Wind
Looking like
rain P.M.
slight rain
29. W.
30. T.
31. F.
1. S .
2. S.
3. M.
4. T .
5. W.
6. T.
7 . F .
8. S .
9. S.
10. M.
11. T.
iStaue, 1M3L
30. S. 2 Swarms A.M. Jennie went home P.M.
379
July, 1901
1. H. Jno. started mowingf.We] washed
off rooms in the even[ing.I]met
A[g]& B[ella at the]station at]
night[.]
2. T. [I was]raking P.M. [and we]haul­
ed in 3 loads[of hay.]
Jno.[was]
in C[linton this] even[ing on
the] Byke[.]]
3. W. A[g was] in C[linton] A.M. look­
ing for Car[.* She] got [a] bag Same nearly all
[of] flour & [a] screen door[.** the time
We] Hauled in 3 loads[.] Jno.
[was] in C[linton this]
even[ing
on the] Byke[.] * probably refers to a "dolly," the
device that rolls along the wooden track, high up in
the barn and which is the key device for off-loading
slingloads of hay and sheaves from the flat rack into
the mow. ** for their summer kitchen.
4. T. A[g was] in C[linton] A.M. for
[the] wagon wheels[.] "Billy”
Pearson here [this] morn[ing]
with Car[. We] Hauled in 4
loads[.] Jennie called [this]
even[ing. She came] alone on
[her] wheel
Rained
5. P . [I] raked & hauled in a jag Furious & Heavy
(ends etc.,)towards even[ing.
]
B[ella has] gone to Grant's
[this] even[ing.
]
Rain
6. S. "Huron Old Boys" Celebration
in Clinton [I] Washed extra
jars etc.
Fine
7. S.
8. M.
in 6 loads [from the] shanty-
field & from Ned's....[We]haul­
ed in 6 loads[from]behind[the]
9. T . barn.... We took 2 from [the]
Shanty field (ends etc.)
10. W.
11. T.
12. F. [I] Extracted[.](I think this
is the day.) [I harvested] ab-
out 97 lbs. [of] honey[.] At
least 50 lbs is clear bass-
wood[.
]
13. S.
14. s . A[g] & I [were]in C[hurch{Rev.
Stewart.) A[g] & B[ella went
in the] even[ing](Dr. Robert­
son,Manitoba. )
June, 1901 377
B[ella] & I [were in Church-]
{
Rev. Hamilton,
Londesboro-)[We]
took [the] celler stove out to
our wood-shed[.]* Swarms
*Isabel Glen told me that
her grandmother and aunts had a summer kitchen
some distance from the house. Bell used to make a
point of walking through it going to and from the
garden or barn, even though it was out of the way.
TsaJbel said also this blatant intruding more than
anything else, caused the sisters' reservations about
their sister-in-law to harden into deep dislike.
Eliza-Ann does not tell us why she shortly thereafter
stopped keeping this diary. My cousin Norah Smith sug­
gested that Eliza-Ann was probably afraid Bell would
read it. In fairness to Bell, she was mistress in a
partitioned household and the important decisions about
running the farm were made by John in consultation with
his mother and sisters. Bell's sister Tena, by contrast,
was definitely mistress in her own house. Tene had no
sisters-in-law on the premises and her aging mother-in-
law was quite passive and deferred to her daughter-in-
law.
A[g] & I washed[
. Our] W[ood-
shed is]finis[hed] but[for the]
doors[.]
Mr & Mrs went to [the] bush for
elm nuts Swarms
Swarm together 1st in square
boxes[
. Using the ] sheep-box
wagon, Mrs,A[g] & I hauled up 3
[loads of] wood from [the] Very Hot
flat[.] Jno. in Brucefield P.M.
Jno. [was] in Cflinton] P. M.in
[the] buggy[.]
[I] Extracted (I think) About
43 lbs[of] honey[.] Aunty [was]
up[.] Ned’
s & Alex Elliot call-
ed[.]
Jno. took A[g] & B[ella]to [the
railway]station Enroute for Tor-
onto[.] Jno. [was] in C[linton]
P.M. [He] took up wagon wheels
to q^t r
them] mace smaller[.]*
"Jennie arrived [in thej even-
[ing.]
* This was a common practice at the turn of
the century. In the late 19th century, hay and grain
racks were an obtuse v-shape to clear the large back
spoked wheels of the standard horse-drawn wagon.
This made for ungainly loads that tipped or fell apart
easily. Men and women on the ground had to pitch
higher. The solution involved putting the front wheels
on the rear axle, shortening the spokes of the big back
wheels, installing a much smaller rim, and putting them
on the front axle. The result was a lowslung job on
which a level platform or flat rack was mounted.
The hay or sheaves were contained by ladders at either
end,plus one in the centre if slings were being used.
These flat racks were still being used in the 1950's.
23 . S .
24. H.
25 . T .
26. W.
27 . T .
28 . F .
29. S.
July.1901 379
Jane,A[g],Mrs,Aunty & I[were]
picking berriesf.] A[g] & I
[picked] 21 lbs. (I think.)
[I] Cleaned [the]H[en]H[ouse]
etc. A[g] preserving cherries.
A[g] & Mrs Washed[.] Jennie
arrived P.M. Mrs [was] home[.
She] picked 1 1/2 lbs berries
at [the line]fence [this]morn-
[ing.] Mo[ther] & A[g were]at
Ab Nott’
s* P.M.[I]Washed[my]
hair[.
] Jno. [was] at Adam’
s
hauling in wheat[.]
* Turn right (south) on
to the London road from Stanley sideroad 30,
Nott’
s farm was third on the left or Tuckersmith
side of the road.
Jane, A[g], Aunty & I [pick­
ed] berries[
. We had 26 lbs.]
[John was at Adam Stewart's
hauling in wheat] A.M. Adam &
Jno. [were] in Bayfield P.M.
B[ella] went home with Jen­
nie[
.]
A[g] went with Mac's to [the]
berry bush picking for Mrs[.]
Jno [was] in C[linton] P.M.[I
worked] fixing [the] sleeves
in[the] Pique-waist etc. B[el-
la [came] back P.M.
[I] Finis[hed] fixing [the]
sleeves & ironed[the]
waist[.I]
made sleeve protectors and bee-
mitts[.] A[g] & B[ella were]in
C[linton] P.M.
[Bella and I were in Church.]
Rev. Stewart [held the] Anniv­
ersary[service] before leaving
[for his] holidays[.] "I seek
not your yours but you."
[I was]Mending dresses etc[and
I] helped put off [a] hay-load
[in the] even[ing.]
A[g[ & B[ella were] in C[lin-
ton and] A[g]got her new dress
home[.
] Jennie arrived[.] Jane
& Harry Patterson [were] pick­
ing berries A.M.[
I
]
[I] Think X picked beries [at We have hadlots
the line] fence A.M. of rain.
Rained
Mother & A[g,Jane,Isabella
Pearl and Edward John were]
in C[linton] P.M. getting
photos taken[.]A[g] & I wast
i
­
ed[.]Bella Cuming called P.M.
Jno. cut[the] field of oats in
front of [the] door P.M.
15 . M.
16. T.
17 . W.
18 . T .
19 . F .
20. S .
21. S.
22 . H.
23. T.
24. W.
25 . T .
26 . F .
July, 1901
[I] Picked Rasp[berrie]s at
[the] fence momfing] & even­
ing*] Jennie went home[in the]
evenfing.]
A[g] & 1 [were in Church.](Bev­
erly Kitchen.
)
[I spent time] Sorting old let­
ters[.] Mr Wood [of] Sarnia ar­
rived [at] noon[
• He is] look­
ing at [a] horse[.] Jno. & he
[were] at Tiplady's P.M.
[John and Mr Wood were at Tip-
lady’
s] A.M* [and] Jno. took
[the] gent to[the] station P.M.
[I] Washed off [a] room[. I]
Stamped a toilet mat & worked
a littlefin the] even[ing.]Mrs
& B[ella went out home [this]
evenfing. Mrs]McDougal & [Mrs]
Speare [are] there[.]Jno.[was]
reaping oats [this] evenfing.]
380
Rained
Poured
Fine
[I] worked [some more at the
toilet mat[.] Mrs McDougal,Mrs
Speare & Mrs [Malcolm McEwen] Fine & Cool
[were here] visiting Mrs P.M. 16.
Jno. finis[hed] binding oats
[and was at] Woonf’
s] thresh-
ing[.
]
Mr John McFarlane
Lyon Cottage
Strathtay,
Tullypowrie, Perthshire
Scotland
August, 1901
I [was] mowing green feed A.M.
[while Jno. finis[hed] stock­
ing[.] Jno. [mowed green feed Fine & Cool
P.M. & I raked it up in [the]
field next Mac's & Adam's
[and] at [the] 2nd field be­
hind [the] barn next [the]pas­
ture[
.]
Jno. quit mowing A.M. & haul­
ed in 2 of the loads A.M.[We]
Hauled in 9 loads [from the]
fieldf.
]
Jno. finisfhed] mowing[
. We]
Hauled in 5 loads [of] green-
feed (I think.) Bfella] went
to McPhail's P.M. with Jen­
nie Grant[.]
A[g] & I [were in Church (Kit­
chen.) B[ella was] with [the]
Grant’
s[
; she came] home [in
the] evenfing.]
Frost
27 . S .
28 . S .
29. M.
30 . T .
31. W.
1. T .
2. P .
3. S .
4. S.
August,1901 381
5. M. [We] Finis[hed the] last 4
loads[of] greenfeedf.We] haul­
ed in 6 loads[of] oats [from]
in front of [the] house[.]
Harry Patterson[was here] P.M.
helping[.]Elford called [and]
H[arry] Diehl[was here in the]
even[ing]..................
6. T. Harry Diehl was[here] all day
& Ned P.M. [We] Hauled in 1
load[and] finis[hed the]other Fine
field next [the] road & bush-
[?] loads[
. We’
re] Finis[hed]
Harvest[.]
7. W. A[g] Washed[.
] B[ella], Mag-
[gie] McEwen & I [were] in
Cflinton] A.M. [We] hitched
Billy out of our field[.I]cut
out 5 p[ai]rs [of] Shaker
p[an]ts & 2 aprons etc. B[el-
la]went to Grant's [this]even­
ting.]
8. T. [I cut out a] Latteen dress,
etc.
, & Tucked waists (I
think.) A[g is making p[an]ts.
9. F. [I] made some of[the]pa[nt]ts
dress etc.................
10. S. "[We] Finis[hed the] p[an]ts
(A[g] made the most of them)&
[I] washed them, - flannel,
pique waist etc.
The New Era for August , 1901, reveals that
Miss Eliza-Ann MacFarlane is going to Manitoba to see the
sights and visit MacFarlane relatives around Oak Lake.
11. s .
12. M. Bella's handwriting Lib get
ting ready............
13L T . Lib went away..........
Lib enjoyed her vacation. For whatever reasons, she
never again mustered the will to keep it up day after day.
In the final four months, there were barely a dozen entries.
There was no diary kept in 1902 or thereafter.
Tue. Sept 24 Started picking apples
Wed " 25 Seaforth Fair
Finished apples- Mrs Brigham & Albert [were
here.
]
Friday Oct 4
382
Monday Oct 7 Brigham's went home
Thurs Oct 10 Apple packers came at 11:30 A.M.
Fri I
f 11 " " finished about
noon[.] Jno. hauled out all entire
loads. Aggie Butchart & Jen[nie] Grant
[were here.]
Sat. Raining
Sun. Oct 13 Jen[nie] went home [in the] evening[.]
Bell(scratched out) Mr & Mrs John [were]
in church [
this] morn[in]g[.]
Mon Oct 14 Picking potatoes after dinner
Packed Bees - Dec 27. 1901
3 frames out of 1st to n[orth] end chaff
box - took out [of] mow & filled with
chaff
2 fr[ames out of] 2nd etc.
4 [frames] out of all the rest
Tuesday, July 27,2004. Yesterday I finished
transcribing 1900 and to-day I integrated
what had already been done for 1901 with the
main manuscript. From September, 1998,it has
taken five years and ten months to complete
this initial transcribing.
K.F. Stewart