Canadian Diary 1897

Irwin Bedford

Dresden

Ont

CALENDAR

Note to Transcriber: You don't need to transcribe these pages full of print provided by the publisher.  You can begin your transcribing where the handwriting begins.  Thanks for your work so far.

Memorandum From 1896

W. Hazzard

May 12 to June 12 Paid

June 12 to July 12 "

July 12 " Aug 12 "

Aug 12 " Sep 12 "

Sept 12 " Oct 12 "

Paid {overwritten diagonally}

A Daniels

May 12 to June 12 Paid

June 12 to July 12 "

July 12 " Aug 12 "

Aug 12 " Sep 12 "

Paid {overwritten diagonally}

W. Fretz

May 17 to June 17

Paid

Memorandum From 1896

E. Adkins

May 15 to July 1st

$2.25

H. Hildorth

June 19 to July 19th Paid

July 19 " Aug 19 "

Aug 19 - Sep 19 "

Sep 19 " Oct 19 "

Oct 19 " Nov 19 "

{page 2}

January Friday 1 1897

Rained some Cleaned cloverseed in the morning. Emma and children went away after dinner Took 10 bus Corn to Mr Hazard

Saturday 2

Fine but muddy Cut up one porker Picked over the apples Went up town morning and evening

Sunday 3

Fine day Clara & I went to church Bertie kept Verna Mr & Mrs Huff & Walter here in afternoon

{page 1}

January Monday 4 1897

Rainy in the morning colder at night. Voted in moring went to Chatham in afternoon up town at night. Reeve Wm Elger

Deputy Reeve Jas. Crufts

Councillors. J. Budder R.J. Boylan. I. Smith

Tuesday 5

Cold & Blustery Got money for hay $163.70 Helped Uncle Amos Clean oats in afternoon Went to lodge at night

Wednesday 6

Cold & stormy  Jobbying around all day

{page 2}

January Thursday 7 1897

Fine but cloudy Got lumber and finished cow stable

Friday 8

Fine and clear. Jobbing.

Saturday 9

Fine and windy Clara went to Chatham paid Geo. Stephens & Co $40 on buggy.

January Sunday 10 1897

Fine, Cold. Clara went to church in morning. We went down home in afternoon. I went to church at night

Monday 11

Snowy, Cold. Cut some wood Clara went up town in afternoon

Tuesday 12

Cold, roads good Got horses shod in the morning. We went out home in afternoon and to uncle Fred's in evening to Hills & Eddies wooden wedding

{page 2}

January Wednesday 13 1897

Cold. Roads good We got home about noon John Burns here and told us they had a youngster at their house

Thursday 14

Cold, Roads good. We went up town in morning. Grace came over. I went up to trial in afternoon between A.T. Ripley & N. Waffle

Friday 15

Cold. I got a load of wood off Downs

January Saturday 16 1897

Milder. Thawed some Got a load of wood off Downs

Sunday 17

Rain with thunder and lightning. Home all day.

Monday 18

Cold strong N.W. wind Charlie here for dinner Hauled a load of hay for George Prly in the afternoon

{page 2}

January Tuesday 19 1897

Cold. Jobbing Alex to lodge

Wednesday 20

Milder. Snowed all the afternoon. We went down to see Stella in the afternoon

Thursday 21

Colder. Sleighing Up town in the afternoon.

January FRIDAY 22, 1897 Cold and blustery. Good sleighing. Clara and I down to Stella’s. Stayed all day.

SATURDAY 23 Cold. Good sleighing. I got a load of timber for H. J. French from his barn.

SUNDAY 24 Very cold. Clara went to church in the morning.

January MONDAY 25, 1897 Very cold. I got a load of wood from Cartier. 1 1/4 cords @ 60 per cord.

TUESDAY 26 Clear but very cold. Choring all day.

WEDNESDAY 27 Cold, some snowfall Grace here for dinner Aunt Selma, Clara & I went down to Stella’s in the afternoon.

THURSDAY, January 28 Cold. Got a load of wood from Cartin — 2 1/4 cords stove wood at 50 cts per cord.

FRIDAY, January 29 Milder but still cold. I got a load of wood off W. J. French’s lot.

SATURDAY, January 30 Milder; thawed some. I got a load of wood off Cartin — one cord of four-foot wood @ 60 cts per cord.

SUNDAY, January 31 Clear and cold. I went to church in the morning. Clara went down to Stella’s in afternoon. I drove Clara & Mrs. McTavish down to Stella’s at night. Clara stayed all night.

MONDAY, February 1 Cold and frosty. I drove down and got Clara. Mother, Jennie, Jos. H. Lawrence here in afternoon.

TUESDAY, February 2 Cold and cloudy. Home all day. Clara went down to stay over night with Stella.

WEDNESDAY, February 3 Milder. Clara came home in the afternoon.

THURSDAY, February 4 Milder. Hauled some corn stalks.

FRIDAY, February 5 Mild. Started to snow about dark, turning to rain. I went with Belford & Charlie and got a load of logs off H. J. French’s lot in [Bawn].

SATURDAY, February 6 Rained all forenoon. Took the logs over to Mr. Dean’s mill in the morning.

SUNDAY, February 7 Mild. We went to church in the morning and to Olin Hicks’ funeral in the afternoon at the church.

MONDAY, February 8 Froze a little last night; snowed some in forenoon. I went over and got my lumber from Mr. Dean’s — 578 feet at 13½. Took a load of fodder to Mr. Hazzard.

TUESDAY, February 9 Cold. I went over and helped F. Deacon kill 2 hogs in the morning. Delivered 5 head of cattle.

WEDNESDAY, February 10 Cold. Hauled some fodder.

THURSDAY, February 11 Cold. We went down to J. James in the afternoon. Started to snow about dark.

FRIDAY, February 12 Cold and snowy. Snowed all forenoon. I got the horses shod.

SATURDAY, February 13 Cold. Good sleighing. I went with Belford and Charlie and got a load of logs off H. J. French’s lot in Dawn.

SUNDAY, February 14 Milder; thawed some. Clara went to church in the morning.

February 1897

Monday 15 Snowy. Killed one pig. We went to the tea-meeting at night. A splendid success.

Tuesday 16 Mild. Sleighing poor. We went out and I got a load of wood.

Wednesday 17 Mild. Sleighing gone. We went up town in afternoon.

Thursday 18 Cold. I got a load of wood from Leathier [sic]. 1 cord @ 65 cts. Clara’s mother here.

Friday 19 Cold and clear. I helped W. J. French haul timber for his barn.

Saturday 20 Cold raw wind; starting to rain in the afternoon. I got my lumber shooks from the mill. Attended lecture at Farmers’ Institute meeting in Dresden.

February 1897

Sunday 21 Cold. We went down home in the morning & went to church in the evening.

Monday 22 Stormy. Jobbing.

Tuesday 23 Cold and windy. I paid J. Brown [amount unclear] for threshing charges. Brought a load of logs to mill; got flour, salt, and some [item unclear]; paid $1.60 for same.

Wednesday 24 Cold. Home all day. Cut some wood.

Thursday 25 Cold north wind. I got a load of wood off F. Deacon’s lot in Dawn.

Friday 26 Cold. Snowed a little. Helped W. J. French haul timber for his barn.

February–March 1897

Saturday 27 (Feb.) Cold west wind. I was up town in afternoon to [—] Sale [illegible].

Sunday 28 (Feb.) Stormy. Snow. We went to church in evening. Rev. Mr. Kennedy of Thamesville preached a missionary sermon.

Monday 1 (Mar.) Snowed all forenoon. Jobbing.

Tuesday 2 (Mar.) Cold. Snowed in afternoon. I went with W. J. F. and got a load of wood off F. Deacon. Went to Lodge at night. Rained in the night and froze.

Wednesday 3 (Mar.) Colder. Mrs. Shipley and Bertie here. I was up town; got [—] lbs of flour [illegible] … Mr. Cranmer [illegible].

Thursday 4 (Mar.) Milder. Getting wood. Clara was up town in afternoon.

March, Thursday 11, 1897 Fine. H. L. Franch helped me saw wood all day. Mrs. Franch and May here.

Friday 12 Strong west wind. Hauled logs in the morning. Cleaned clover seed in afternoon.

Saturday 13 Cold. Took a load of fodder to J. Haygood in morning. Sold my clover seed for $3.50 per bu[sh]. Bart here.

March, Sunday 14, 1897 Cold and blustery. Charles and Alice here all day. Rob Sherburn over. I went to church in evening.

Monday 15 Cold but smothly [smoothly?]. Wm. Welch & P. P. Haff got a load of corn.

Tuesday 16 Mild one. P. P. Haff got two loads of corn — got 173½ bu[sh]. Anna Seely here in afternoon. Hauled wood and spread 25 bu[sh] barley. Hitched calf to sledge at night.

Tuesday, March 23, 1897 Stormy. Snow & Rain. Jobbing

Wednesday, March 24 Stormy. Rain & Snow. I helped W. H. French drive his bull to station. Went up town and got some beef 63 lbs.

Thursday, March 25 Cold. Went up town and got a few timothy seed 88¢.

Friday, March 26, 1897 Cold. I sowed clover seed on field back of barn in morning. Did wood in afternoon.

Saturday, March 27 Cold. I cut some wood in the morning, was up town in afternoon.

Sunday, March 28 Fine. Roads muddy. We went to church in the morning, and over to Mr. Holt’s in the afternoon.

Monday, March 29, 1897 Fine. I was cutting wood all day. Finished sawing. Advertised in the morning. Aunt Libbie.

Tuesday, March 30 Fine. Cutting wood all day. Clara went up to Mrs. Wires’s in afternoon.

Wednesday, March 31 Fine. Went up town in the morning. We went down home in afternoon.

Thursday, April 1, 1897 Fine. Roads good. We went out home. All was well.

Friday, April 2 Fine. Trimmed the orchard in the morning. Hauled some poles from A. J. Ripley’s.

Saturday, April 3 Fine. Went down to Cooper’s mill and got our grist. Hauled two 55 of clover seed. Clara went up town in afternoon.

Sunday, April 4, 1897 Rainy. We went to church in the morning. Ralph and Ida here in the afternoon.

Monday, April 5 Fine. I was plowing all day. Bert came to stop overnight.

Tuesday, April 6 Rain in the morning. I went up town and got letters + papers. Helped H. J. French raise addition to his barn.

Wednesday, April 7, 1897 Cloudy. Snowed and rained a little all day. I helped H. J. French finish raising his barn. Plowed some in afternoon.

Thursday, April 8 Fine. Jobbing in forenoon. I got 33 bu. of barley from H. J. French. We went up town.

Friday, April 9 Stormy. Snowed all day.

Thursday, April 22, 1897 Warm. Jim plowing all day. I worked at the big pen most of day.

Friday, April 23, 1897 Warm. Jim plowed until it rained at 4:30. Clarence [???] for dinner. I worked in the garden all day.

Saturday, April 24, 1897 Warm. Went down home and got 22 quince and some plum trees and we set them out in the afternoon. I gave A. $1.00 for a pair.

Sunday, April 25, 1897 Showery. We went down home for dinner.

Monday, April 26, 1897 Cold and windy. We hauled wood and worked at pig pen.

Tuesday, April 27, 1897 Warmer. We put roof on pig pen. Clara and Jess [stayed/stop?] a night.

Wednesday, April 28, 1897 Fine. Jim plowing all day. I went to Lynn Mills to H. Marsh’s funeral. Working at pig pen rest of day.

Thursday, April 29, 1897 Cloudy. Jim plowing. I finished roofing pig pen.

Friday, April 30, 1897 Showery. Jim finished plowing for oats. I finished the roof on pig pen.

Saturday, May 1, 1897 Rained all day. Cleaned some oats and made two gates.

Sunday, May 2, 1897 Rained all day. Home all day.

Monday, May 3, 1897 Bright in morning. Showers in afternoon. I started on furnace. I set 60 quarts. Sarah at pot luck.

Monday, June 21, 1897 Fine, a hard frost last night. Jim cultivating corn. I was hoeing all day.

Tuesday, June 22, 1897 Fine day. We all celebrated in town all day.

Wednesday, June 23, 1897 Warmer. Jim cultivating corn & I hoed corn all day.

Thursday, June 24, 1897 Very warm. Jim cultivating. I was hoeing corn. Clara went down home and picked some strawberries.

Friday, June 25, 1897 Fine day. Jim cultivating. I was hoeing corn. Mrs. Kelsey here for supper.

Saturday, June 26, 1897 Fine day. Jim cultivating corn. I hoed corn. We went up town in the evening.

Sunday, June 27, 1897 Fine day. Eda and I passed from church in the morning. We went over to A.T. Ripley’s in the afternoon.

Monday, June 28, 1897 Fine day, a little rain in the evening. I started to get hay. Jim cultivating corn in the afternoon. I pulled mustard out of the oats.

Tuesday, June 29, 1897 Showery all day. Jobbing.

Wednesday, June 30, 1897 Fine in forenoon. Showery in afternoon. Jim and I finished pulling mustard.

Thursday, July 1, 1897 Showery. The 61st & 77th Regiment paraded in Brampton. Prince & (Duke?) attended. Sold a steer to J. McKim for $39.

Friday, July 2, 1897 Fine & warm. Jim cultivating corn. I had some hay and we hauled one load.

Friday, August 20, 1897 Fine and cool. Mr. Christians finished seeding oats in forenoon. I sprayed potatoes in forenoon. Helped Uncle Amos finish hauling his oats.

Saturday, August 21, 1897 Fine and cool. Plowed in forenoon. Cultivated in afternoon. I went up town at night.

Sunday, August 22, 1897 Fine. We went to church in the morning. Clara went at night.

Monday, August 23, 1897 Fine, cool. Frank Kreisel commenced to work for a month $8.00. Started hauling manure.

Tuesday, August 24, 1897 Cloudy, a little rain. Hauling manure all day.

Wednesday, August 25, 1897 Fine. I got a load wood for thrashing. Hauling manure balance of day.

Thursday, August 26, 1897 Fine. We helped Harry thrashing [threshing].

Friday, August 27, 1897 Fine. Helped H. G. French finish threshing. Started threshing at home. Frank quit in the morning — got [amount unclear].

Saturday, August 28, 1897 Fine day. We finished threshing. Oats — 36 bu. Barley — 83 bu. Wheat — 21 1/3 bu. [figures as written]

Sunday, August 29, 1897 Showery. Maccabees marched to English church in the morning. Home rest of day.

Monday, August 30, 1897 Fine and cool. Helped Fred Deacon thresh.

Tuesday, August 31, 1897 Fine. Helped Will Wiese thresh.

Wednesday, September 1, 1897 Fine in forenoon. Showery in afternoon. Helped W. Wiese finish thrashing.

Thursday, September 2, 1897 Fine. Helped A. J. Ripley thrash.

Friday, September 3, 1897 Fine day. Helped A. J. Ripley finish thrashing. I finished plowing and rolling for wheat.

Saturday, September 4, 1897 Fine. Helped L. Hays thrash in morning. Cultivating rest of day. We went up town at night.

Sunday, September 5, 1897 Fine. Went to church in the morning. Mr. & Mrs. Pearson came here. Mr. Pearson and I went to church in the evening.

Monday, September 6, 1897 Fine, warm. I harrowed all day. Mr. & Mrs. Pearson went home after dinner.

Tuesday, September 7, 1897 Fine. Helped A. Craig thrash.

Wednesday, September 8, 1897 Fine. Helped A. [Tyhurst] thrash.

Thursday, September 9, 1897 Very warm. Helped A. [Tyhurst] finish thrashing and F. [Keppard] thrash his wheat.

Friday, September 10, 1897 Warm and dry. Cultivating all day. [Buford] and Charlie finished getting in a field of wheat.

Saturday, September 11, 1897 Cooler. Cultivating all day. We went up town at night.

Sunday, September 12, 1897 Warm and dry. Clara went to church in the morning. We was down home in the afternoon.

Monday, September 13, 1897 Showery. Cultivating and harrowing. Cleaned some wheat for seed.

Tuesday, September 14, 1897 Fine, warm. Harrowing in the forenoon. Drilling wheat in afternoon.

Wednesday, September 15, 1897 Warm and dry. Drilling wheat and harrowing.

Thursday, September 16, 1897 Warm and showery. Cultivating all day.

Friday, September 17, 1897 Fine. Harrowing in forenoon. Drilling in afternoon. I got 4½ bu. of Dawson’s Golden Chaff wheat from H. G. French.

Saturday, September 18, 1897 Fine. Hard frost. I finished drilling wheat and cleaned the furrows out.

OCTOBER — SUNDAY 31, 1897 Fine. We went to church in the morning. Joe & Bennick & Viola here.

NOVEMBER — MONDAY 1 Rained most of day. I cleaned the clover seed.

TUESDAY 2 Rained all day. Jobbing.

WEDNESDAY 3, 1897 Fine day. Fencing in forenoon. We went over to A. T. Ripley’s to cousin Eva’s wedding.

THURSDAY 4 Fine. Put fence around wheat ground for pasture. I dug some potatoes. Eddie died in the evening.

FRIDAY 5 Fine in forenoon. Raining in afternoon. I got one load of corn in.

NOVEMBER — SATURDAY 6, 1897 Cold West-wind. I dug some potatoes and hauled some corn.

SUNDAY 7 Cloudy. We went to church in the morning and down home for dinner.

MONDAY 8 Cloudy & misty. I finished digging potatoes.

TUESDAY 9, 1897 Heavy rain last night and in forenoon. We went up town in the afternoon. Clara got a pair of shoes and rubbers and I got an overcoat.

WEDNESDAY 10 Fine. I husked corn in forenoon and hauled a load in the afternoon. John Burns here for dinner.

THURSDAY 11 Rainy turning cold. I cut a hole in the partition and put a thimble in.

NOVEMBER — FRIDAY 12, 1897 Cold. I dug some sugar beets.

SATURDAY 13 Cold, froze hard. I hauled 3 loads of corn and we went up town in the afternoon. Clara & I were over to A. J. Ripley’s in the afternoon.

SUNDAY 14 Stormy all day. Home all day.

MONDAY 15, 1897 Rainy in forenoon. I took some chops to mill.

TUESDAY 16 Cold & windy. I got chop home and some bolts for the hog pen; dug sugar beets in the afternoon.

WEDNESDAY 17 Cold, froze hard last night. I husked in the forenoon and got in some corn.

NOVEMBER — THURSDAY 18, 1897 Fine. I cleaned barn floor, covered the potatoes, and got a load of corn.

FRIDAY 19 Fine, warmer. Finished corn in the Robinson and finished hauling corn off the back field.

SATURDAY 20 Warm. I got a load of lumber to Hazard; pulled corn out of the crib. Clara went up town in the afternoon. Paid for binder twine.

NOVEMBER — SUNDAY 21, 1897 Warm turning colder. Went to church in the morning.

MONDAY 22 Cloudy. Snowed all the afternoon. I set gate posts in the back field and one in the pasture.

TUESDAY 23 Cold N. wind. I helped W. Reese kill 10 hogs.

NOVEMBER — TUESDAY 30, 1897 Cold. I put a light in the pig pen in the forenoon. I hauled some fodder in the afternoon.

DECEMBER — WEDNESDAY 1 Cold. Snowed about 3 in. last night. We went up town and paid Myers & Travis for drill. I got a pair of rubbers.

THURSDAY 2 Cold. I put a light in the cow stable and slats on the pig pen.

DECEMBER — FRIDAY 3, 1897 Milder, thawing some. I hauled some corn in the barn in the afternoon. We went up town in the evening.

SATURDAY 4 Rainy in forenoon. I went up town in the afternoon. I got some liniment for Dick’s shoulder.

SUNDAY 5 Cold, West wind. I went to church in the morning. Clara and Willie came up. Grandpa Harvey & Lottie here for dinner.

DECEMBER — MONDAY 6, 1897 Cold. [Lon/Leon] & Harold French here all day. Jobbing.

TUESDAY 7 Milder. I was husking corn in the barn all day.

WEDNESDAY 8 Warmer, thawing some. We killed a pig in the forenoon. John and Stella here for supper. I engaged [___] for threshing grain.

DECEMBER — THURSDAY 9, 1897 Very foggy. I husked corn all day.

FRIDAY 10 Rainy. I helped Mr. Huff kill one pig in the forenoon, took some chop to mill in the afternoon.

SATURDAY 11 Rained some most all day. I cut up the pig and husked some corn in the forenoon. I went up town in the afternoon.