February 1899

  Buttons Camp

Wednesday Feby 1, 1899

8.p.m.

Cold again but pleasant, all day and growing warmer this evening.

Chet went to city and drew cool to Essex and brought home 14 chairs: has a sore throat to-night.  Didn’t get a very early start this mng.  As none of us woke up to get into gear until half past 6 this mng.  The cussed dog woke us all up a little after two and kept us awake until after 3 this mng.  I had just got ready to go down and kill him as he stopped barking.  I got back into bed and almost asleep again when he started another spell, but soon Cass sailed down and quieted him and after a time we all went to sleep again and came near not waking up until noon.

Cass went away with Chet up to Hines, broke his axe helve and got back here just as we were through dinner.  He put  a new helve in his. And helped scrub floor , paint, and do chores.

He rode broncho up to Hines after supper and hasn't got back yet. (8.30)

Cow kicked Frank Ferrand and lamed him.  Miss Carey the “School- marm”  is to be  married in the spring to Jesse Thompson whoever he may be.  Mr. Barstow called this evening for advice.  Mr. Barstow called this evening for advice regarding a stray black dog that persists in staying there at the house.

Two gentlemen with horse and sleigh stopped him this P.M. for information about reaching Sugarbush Pt by way of ice.

They wanted to investigate the location of the new R.R. that is soon to be built.  We finished our carpenting,  cleared everything out, and as soon as painting is finished we shall be settled I hope for a time, at least.

           

Thursday 2d February 1899 Buttons Camp

Another cold but very pleasant day.

Chet went to school.

Cap had sore hand and staid in the house tinkered.

Cass and I drew 3 loads of manure and A.M.    and he went to city with Porter after his things from York state came by freight.

I fixed trap doors over mangers in the tool room.

Evening Chet and I went up to p.o. and called school ma'am.  Played old sledge, Uncle Willard and I against Miss Carey and Chet.  Two games.  We won both. 

Looked over their library; Quite a nice lot of books.  Had popcorn and it was very nice.

We wished we had sweet cider to go with it.  But we didn’t. 

We did have a nice time though and left for home at 10:30

Friday 3rd

Still another cold day 4 inches of snow in the p.m. Crocker Osgood of Milton hear at dinner. Like him first rate.  Chet went to school. Cass and I drew 3 loads of manure this A.M. He painted sitting room PM.  I partly made more trap doors for other mangers and did chores.

Genie had a great time with me up in the room this evening.  Reading and counting.

Fingers and thumbs all cracked and sore.

Sampled cake of frozen perfume from M. Young, and inducements to start in a mail order business.

 

Saturday 4th February 1899 Buttons Camp

Cold again, with 3 or 4 inches of snow in the forenoon.

Chet at home, all day.

Cash made a bedstead and covered it with boards for himself to sleep on.

Cap tinkered around the horse and attended to his hand and visited with Porter.  I finished the traps for feeding the horses.

Cash and Chet went up to Cash’s shanty in P.M. fishing.

I called at Mr. Barstow in the evening.

 

 Sunday 5th

8 P.M.            

 Still cold weather but thawing a little in the sun in the middle of the day.

Chet got home a little before 9---- 8:30 I guess, got no fish

Cass has not come yet.

I did most of chores

Cap went out to farm few animals this mng. Still doctoring his hand.

Have made up my mind to send for a book of instructions how to do mail order business.

 

Monday the 6th

Cold but thaws in sun in middle of day.

Frost all over trees this mng.

Chet at school all day.

Cass came about 3 p.m.

Cap helped wash.

I dug sawdust out of ice house all a.m.

After dinner Cap and I drew load of wood to Coon, Cap stopped to see Dutton while I went up and unloaded the wood.

  Porter came along and was trading for Coons celery when I came away

Got home and found Cass here, and helped me finish the sawdust job and do the chores.

Old hog half out of the pen when we went to milk and finish the chores.

 

Tuesday 7th

Still cold this morning looks like a storm tomorrow. 

But this evening it looks as if we might have a good day of it.

Chet went to school this A.M. the rest of us, Cap, Cass and I got ready to cut ice and pulled up two or three loads before dinner.

Chet came home at noon and he and Cass drew ice while Cap cut and I packed.

We put 62 cakes on the bottom layer.  

I couldn’t buy stamps with my odd coins. So Chet was kind enough to put a half dollar in place of them and sent my letter all right, Cass has gone up street on horseback.

Soaked my feet in the chilblains cure tonight as they have been feeling pretty sore for a day or two.      

The cussed dog barked and kept me awake nearly three hours last night. I went down and interviewed him after a while and so did Cap.

I have got him fixed to night I guess , so that he will be where  I can reach him if I have occasion to go down to night, but I hope I shall not, I think it is pretty nearly time for sister Mary to be writing me again and sending me a few more papers. 

 

Wednesday 8th February 1899. Button’s camp

7:20 p.m. 5° below this morning.  Snow all day.

Must be 10 inches now in all I think

Chet went to school, Carr + I did chores + drew 2 lbs. of water.

Cap sick all day with one of his headaches.

Porter brought over a 20ft eave trough and a wheelbarrow load of ash cordwood, and left them in the wagon shed

Cass is loading up his gun for dogs tonight but I don’t think they’ll be in much danger.

 

Wednesday 9th

Cold as blazes.

Chet went to school in a.m. come back home at noon + helped get in ice p.m.

Cash, Cap + I cut and packed ice.

Finished 2nd layer of 62 cakes + 15 beside.

In evening all 4 of us went to Will Coates’ to carry home ice tongs and pick.

I didn’t care to go again however until we have a thaw.

Saw two big nice Tiger cats that were beauties.

Got letter from Will Dague.

 

Friday 10th

Chet at school all day.  The coldest yet, Cass + Cap went to city.  I cook dinner at Barstow's, and borrowed a couple of papers.

Cass got me another at city.

2 Books from M. Young sent for last Monday.

Sent letter to P.O. By Chet to Sister Mary.

 

Sunday 11th  January 1899 Button’s camp.

16° below Ø this morning and cold all day accordingly.

Chet went to Fairfax after Bertha.

Expect him home tomorrow night.

Cap thought it too cold for himself and Cass to go to Essex so the didn’t go.

Cap put down carpet in sitting room and moved in the secretary. I helped him draw the water and do the chores. Cass shot the big black dog at Barstow's and skinned it. He and I went up to Hines at 11 and went there at dinner. Elma was feeling quite badly and seamed quite discouraged. Frank and Burt have to do the work.

Burt hitched up his colt and the add horse together and after driving around half and hour or so brought me home. Cass came down too and got his axe.

Commenced giving bran to the cattle this morning.

Called at Barstow's this evening.

 

Sunday. 12th

14° below Ø this morning.

Cold all day.

Chet + Bertha came this morning.

Bertha + Cap’n singing.

Cash isn’t here at all.

Nothing of any interest to write.

Chet sleeping on Cash’s board bunk tonight.

 

Monday 13th February 1899. Buttons Camp

4° above Ø this morning and didn’t get any higher all day.

Snow + wind from north all day.

 Chet went to school.

Cash got here to breakfast.

He + I killed picked + dressed 11 roosters.

They weighed alive 5.8 lbs

“          ”  Dressed  4.9 Ilbs.

Barstow called awhile this P. M

A very rough night outside wind + snow.

Cap + Bertha singing.

 

Tuesday 14th

Warmer today.

Chet went to school.

Cap had a headache.

Cass + I filled a straw bed at Barstow's this a.m.

This PM we went with Cap to help made an ice sled for Porter and broke out the road with sled + harrow to the 4 corners.

Nothing of special note to-day except I got the third pamphlet “How to get a patent.”

 

Wednesday 15th 1899

Not quite Ø weather, but not warm enough to thaw.

Chet went to school. Rode up to corners with Cap and Cass who went to city with chickens + came back with load of coal, and some lumber. I made door for hole under roof + frame to hang clothes on upstairs. Hung 4 curtains and did my part of the chores.    Letter from C. W. Evilsizor. Mfr. of Rag Carpet Looms. Springfield Ohio.

 

Buttons Camp

Thursday 16th February 1899

Very much warmer. Showed considerably in the sun

 Chet drove "Possum" to school this morning and brought back Cap's ice saw to-night from Will Coates. I finished making door for the hole under the roof this A.M., and we then started in again on the ice, and worked at it all the P.M. Chet brought me several papers that sister Mary sent me, and a letter that had been to the dead letter office.

 

Friday 17.

Quickly warm and thawing all day. 

Chet drove Barstow's to horses to school. 

Cap, Cass + I cut + drew ice in A.M. They went to Essex this P.M. + I did chores Chet + I went over to Hardy's this evening and got half a bucket of potatoes.  

Porter + his men cut ice all day.  

Saturday 18.

warm again.

Cass + Cap gone all day to Essex, got home about 9 in evening with piano and looking glasses and a lot of other plunder.  Chet + I cleaned out cistern and did the chores.  

Sunday, 19

warm again, all of us around home all day. Shaved Chet.  Thought I would go over to Hardy’s and get my hair cut but didn’t.  Homesick as the devil all day.  Talk at night with Chet about building shanties etc.              

 

Monday 20th February, 1899 Buttons Camp

Still warm. Finished filling icehouse.  4 layers, 62 cakes each 248 in all.  Chet went to school all day, and he and I drove Possum to post office in evening.

We had a very pleasant visit with Uncle Willard.  Elno and the “school ma'am” Miss Carey.  Will Coats and Tom Morrison were both there.  There was a good moon and sleighing was fairly good and the drive was as pleasant as the visit.  We carried a bushel of apples as far as post office and Cass took them from there on horseback to Smalley’s.  He came home when we did and we were here ready to go to bed at midnight. 

I trained the dog a little today: hitched a rope to him and when he started to run away I turned him over two or three times.

 Picked half a bushel of cedar twigs for solution to kill lice on cows and hens.

Ice was rather rotten to-day.

           

Tuesday 21st

Warm weather continues.

Went to city with Porter and Captain to attend meeting of horticultural society.  We got there an hour late if there had been a meeting but there wasn’t.  I went downtown with Cap and got something to eat and then he went back and I got my haircut  and whiskers trimmed.  Got a pair of overshoes for $1.00.  Left horse at blacksmith shop, to be shod and tramped around the city until I was nearly tired to death.

We got home at 5:20 and  not a chore was done.  Cass had been away chopping and Chet had only just arrived from school.  Another lovely evening outside, and now at 8:20 all have gone to bed but me.

 

Wednesday 22nd,

Washington’s Birthday

Still continuing warm and ground is fast showing in all directions.  This morning Chet went to city and brought Mr. Hall, a young man to tune the piano.  It took him four hours and he charged $5.00 for the job.  I took Chet as far as Coon’s on his way to school then went the rest of the way with Handy and Frank Gilmore who overtook us at the corner, as old Possum was not very swift.

Eight or Ten loads of rails for the new Rail Road came along just then.

Cap cut corn fodder for Porter, from about noon until tonight.                                                                                                                                     

Cass helped Barstow fill cistern A.M. and carried Hall home P.M.

I got 1½ bushel of potatoes at Barstow’s for Edson’s heifer and did chores.

Miss Carey and Elno came down this evening, stayed until 10:20.  Chet took them home.

 

Thursday, February 23rd 1899 Buttons Camp

All hands promptly on deck at 6:00pm. Chet went to school, and passed an examination in geography and arithmetic today, and will finish-up tomorrow.

Cap, Cass and Sid and I went over and cleaned sawdust out of Watkin's ice house on the island and out of Stones on west point, and got home about 1:30 P.M. 

May pulled or nearly pulled off a shoe and I finished it and set it again.  Went up to Barstow’s and got another bushel and half of potatoes for Edson’s, and did chores.

 

Sunday 26

Chet and I took Cutter and went fishing off “Hogback” and then to lighthouse.  An awful Southeast wind made it almost impossible for us to make headway home.  Took us ¾ of an hour to come from lighthouse to West Point another hour to reach home.

Got 4 Perch and  had a good time.

 Return to Previous Month             Return to Home Page               Proceed to Next Month