Oct. 1, 1881
Still raining, mercury 67° this morning.
Glover returned last night on late train. Mr. Gray, the waterworks man,
urged him to go to Palestine, Texas and he expects to, Monday next.
Thus changes come inevitably. This rain has been very extensive,
storms in many places west of us. It still rains now at 2 o'cl
p.m. Fred took supper with us. Raining very hard tonight.
Oct. 2, 1881 Sabbath.
Cloudy and warm, soon commenced raining and is still
raining now after twelve o'clock. Very few at church today.
Arthur came up this morning. It has rained nearly all day and
warm.
Oct. 3, 1881.
Cloudy, warm and raining still this morning. Arthur
went off on the early train. This is an eventful day for us.
Glover left us this morning for Palestine, Texas perhaps never to return
to live with us again. How painful this is to us. He has
been with us nearly every day since he left college five or six years
ago. He is a noble fellow but he has struggled here in vain to
accomplish anything. This leaving is a necessity. He, perhaps,
made a mistake in studying law. Providence seems to have directed
his way to Palestine through Mr. Gray, the waterworks man.
We can only hope that the Lord will guide to the right
place and open a way of usefulness for him. He goes with our prayers
and blessing. At 2 o'cl p.m. very warm and raining again.
Everything damp and moulding. A dispatch came to Glover from Mr.
Gray at Palestine saying no opening there for him but he is in St. Louis
on his way and he will go on, not knowing what awaits him. The
Lord may open some place for him there or he may be directed to some
other place. Fred came to supper. Heavy thundercloud west
and north about 10 o'cl at night. Had potatoes dug today, yield
good, the Burbanks very fine. Great many tomatoes rotted.
Oct. 4, 1881.
Cloudy and raining still. This is the fourth rainy
day, Mercury 72° this morning at 6 o'cl. This is ruinous to
the St. Louis Fair. Grass and rye grow rapidly, our yard is very
green again. My poor, poor pine and Arbor Vitae look sadly brown
and dead. Wind changed about 11 o'cl a.m. and heavy clouds came
over with a heavy shower at 12 o'cl. It got a great deal colder by 3
o'cl and by 5 o'cl the mercury was down to 60°. I went with
Fred to Mrs. Watson's this evening. Wind in the north and very
cloudy. The roads very bad. The shocks of corn very seriously
injured by long rain and warm weather.
Oct. 5, 1881.
Clear and cool, mercury 48° this morning early.
The wind dried off everything very much during the night. I was
very sick during the forepart of the night with pain in the stomach
and bowels with purging like the operation of medicine. I expected to
have gone to the St. Louis Fair with Mary Johns today but not well enough.
This promises to be a very fine day, so drying. William
Morgan called on his way home.
Oct. 6, 1881.
Cloudy and cool, mercury 52° this morning. Mary
Johns left this morning for St. Louis and then to Texas this evening.
Fred went down with her. She is a very vigorous woman now
at sixty-six years. She idolizes Bonnie. Her son Claude
has done well, he supports his mother and sister. I gathered my Irish
potatoes and there were three barrels. The Burbanks very fine.
Oct. 7, 1881.
Partly clear, warmer, mercury 62° in morning, signs
of rain. Called to see Mrs. Hodgeman and Mrs. Ferguson to have
some statement corrected about Mrs. Watson. Called at William Parks,
four of the family sick with malarial fever, better now.
Oct. 8, 1861.
Cloudy and warm, mercury 70° at 6 o'cl a.m., sultry
and signs of rain. George received a letter from Glover at Palestine,
Texas. He had just arrived there. Gray thinks fine opening there for
a newspaper. Fred and Annie here to supper. Very heavy rain in evening.
Oct. 9, 1881. Sabbath.
Clear and cloudy, mercury 62° at 6 o'cl a.m. The rain
continued till midnight. It was the heaviest rain we have had, washed
a good deal, cool, delightful day, wind north. George saw Mr. Gray just
from Palestine, Texas. The newspaper scheme had fallen through.
Oct. 10, 1881.
Clear and cool, mercury 55° at 6 o'cl a.m. My cabbages
are growing finely since the rains, will make some heads. Everything
looks green, the yard is a little spotted, some spots, grass killed.
Called at Ross' in afternoon. Beautiful day.
Oct. 11, 1881.
Clear and cool, mercury 54°, cloudy and warmer, light
rain in afternoon. Called with my wife at Dr. McIlheanny's. He is past
82 but quite active. The apples are said to be nearly all ruined by
the late rains, the skins have cracked and many have fallen. This is
a year of failures in nearly everything.
Oct. 12, 1881.
Cloudy and warm, mercury 72° in morning, windy and
looks like rain. I sowed Timothy seed on the little pasture. Warm today.
Fred and Annie took tea with us.
Oct. 13, 1881.
Rainy and cool, mercury 55° this morning, very heavy
rain in forenoon, cool, wind north. Received a letter today from Glover
at Fort Worth, Texas.
Oct. 14, 1881.
Cloudy, dark and warmer, some fog, mercury 57° this
morning. This is very trying weather on the farmers in sowing wheat
and on the corn shocks, the apples too are in very bad condition from
cracking and falling. It has been a warm, cloudy, damp day, mercury
went up to 80°. County Sunday School Convention met this evening in
Jefferson Street Church. Had a good address from Reverend William Marshall,
St. Louis. "Every christian should do his work well and improve
every opportunity of doing good."
Oct. 15, 1881.
Cloudy and warm. The Sunday School convention met
this morning, only seven or eight present. Commenced raining soon after
noon, colder, wind west, continues to rain in afternoon and night. This
is very hard on all farming interests. The grass and rye have grown
rapidly.
Oct. 16, 1881. Sabbath.
Cloudy and cool, mercury 55° this morning, cloudy
all day, warmer. The Sunday School Convention in afternoon and night
was well attended and very interesting. Hope it will result in stirring
up more interest on the subject in this community and excite to an effort
to gather in more children in the schools. Fred was here to supper,
he expects to start his journey tomorrow.
Oct. 17, 1881.
Mercury this morning 70°.
The Texas travelers start about 11 o'cl a.m., two wagons, seven men
and six extra horses. A heavy cloud rose in west and very heavy rain
fell. It rained several hours this evening.
Oct. 18, 1881.
Mercury this morning 48°, cloudy and cooler. It has
been cloudy and cool all day. Clearing this evening.
Oct. 19, 1881.
Clearing and cool, mercury 42°, bright, clear day,
cool. This is the centennial of the battle of Yorktown and the surrender
of Cornwallis and the end of the war for independence. It will be celebrated
today in grand style at Yorktown. A large delegation of French, some
of the descendants of Lafayette have come to join in it and Germans
too.
Oct. 20, 1881.
Cloudy, foggy and very damp, cool, mercury 46° this
morning. Built a shed next to the chicken house to roost in, in cold
weather, repaired some fences. No signs of clearing off. Went to Mrs.
Durfee's place yesterday afternoon. The wheat that has been sowed looks
fine. The ground is very wet, a good deal to sow yet. Apples very badly
injured, cracked and rotten. Called to see Mrs. Alf Stonebraker, not
at home. Called at Dr. Johnson's on Mrs. Fant.
Oct. 21, 1881.
Very foggy and cool, mercury in morning 43° by 9 o'cl
a.m., clear, very pleasant day. Called at Ross' and on Reverends McMonray
and Blakey of the Methodist Church.
Oct. 22, 1881.
Partly clear and cool, mercury 52° in morning,
mild, delightful day, rather warm. Went out to Mrs. Durfee's place with
Billy Collins to get some apples, Dietrich just finishing seeding wheat.
Oct. 23, 1881. Sabbath.
Rain in night and raining this morning, warm,
mercury 58°. Arthur came last night on accommodation train. He is in
fine health. It has rained most of the day. I went to the Methodist
Church tonight and heard a good sermon by Mr. Blakey, their new preacher,
on the special Providence of God over his people.
Oct. 24, 1881.
Cloudy and colder, mercury 50°, wind west, it
has been a damp, cloudy, cool day. Got a load of corn and a load of
wood.
Oct. 25, 1881.
Clear and cool, mercury 44°, bright fine day.
Oct. 26, 1881.
Clear and milder, mercury 48°, very pleasant
day, too warm for the season. Having some of the oak trees in the yard
trimmed and topped. Called on Mrs. Salveter this afternoon.
Oct. 27, 1881.
Cloudy, rainbow in the west this morning, warm,
mercury 54°, strong appearance of rain. I went out to Mrs. Durfee's
farm this morning to see about apples, most of them gathered. Wind in
east.
Oct. 28, 1881.
Cloudy, and very damp, rain during the night
and sprinkles some now, wind in east, mercury 50° this morning. We had
a postal from Fred yesterday evening from Franklin County, and dated
nearly a week ago. He had greatly improved in health, appetite fine.
Another postal from Fred today, well and gained 6 lbs. Went out to see
Jerome White and E. C. Cunningham and then went with John Stonebraker
to the Prairie to see a cow at Antion Dortorgue's, bought her for $35.00.
The Wheat looks very strong. Thunderstorm last night.
Oct. 29, 1881.
Clear and spring-like, mercury 60°. This has
been a bright, pleasant day, too warm for the season. This month nearly
gone and no frost -- wonderful fact. My cow came today, pure white Durham
breed from Frank Boschert's, sold my cow for $27.00. George went up
to O'Fallon and Wentzville this morning. George went to St. Louis on
the evening train and saw the Baron Stubens at the Southern. He came
home on the ten o'clock train.
Oct. 30, 1881. Sabbath.
Cloudy, heavy day, cooler. James White buried
today. Cleared in evening.
Oct. 31, 1881.
Heavy fog, cool and damp, mercury 45° this morning.
By noon clear and pleasant. Annie had a letter from Fred today from
Lebanon, Laclede County -- well and fat. Sold my cow today for $27.00.
She has been a great disappointment, gives only a gallon at milking
and eats a great deal.
Nov. 1, 1881.
Clear and mild, mercury 46° in morning. October
has gone and no frost, very remarkable, everything is growing like spring,
the hickory leaves are yellow but the oaks are green. Got 6 bbls apples
from farm yesterday, many of them cracked. Received letter from Arthur
today, says he received one from Glover, saying he had secured a situation
with Brown, the wholesale grocer as corresponding clerk. Quite warm
in afternoon, mercury 68°. George went to St. Louis this afternoon.
Called on Mrs. Robert Parks, she is in bad health.
Nov. 2, 1881.
Rained in night and raining this morning,
colder, mercury 50° at 6 o'cl a.m. wind west. George returned on late
train. Heavy, cold rain today, wind from west and got colder all day.
In the evening at 5 o'cl, mercury 42°. Mr. and Mrs. Meyers came early
this morning to Fred's he returned tonight. Cunningham took my calf
this evening.
Nov. 3, 1881.
Clear and cold early this morning, mercury
38°, white frost, the first we have had. It has clouded up now at 8
o'cl. During the day alternate cloud and sunshine, cool, afternight,
clear and bright. This day was appointed by the Synod as a day of prayer
and fasting for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our churches and
revival of true religion and that the religious destitutions in the
State may be supplies [sic] by sending out evangelists. We had a letter
from Glover today saying his engagement with Brown had fallen through
at the end of one day. This has cast us in the depths. But we are in
the hands of the Lord. He is our help in time of trouble.
Nov. 4, 1881.
Clear, cool, white frost, mercury 38°. Tomato
vines not hurt. George went to St. Louis on accommodation train. Milder
during the day. Had an interview with Miss Charlotte Shaw this morning
on the subject of troubles between her and brother on money matters.
Family troubles are the worst of all troubles to heal. I could do nothing.
We are all in great trouble about Glover. Our new cow gives about 2-3/4
gals a day. This has been a bright pleasant day.
Nov. 5, 1881.
Clear, bright and milder, mercury 48° this morning.
The weather looks more settled. This has been a splendid day, cool and
bracing.
Nov. 6, 1881. Sabbath.
Bright day, milder. Dr. Irwin preached for us
today, good sermon on the love of Christ. Dr. Martin went to Columbia
to preach for Mr. Wilkie. A young man named Thomas from Texas, a student
at the college, was buried today from the Methodist Church. George went
to St. Louis this evening and returned on the late train.
Nov. 7, 1881.
Cloudy and threatens rain, win in east. I am
feeding hogs on tomato vines and green tomatoes. My cabbages are heading.
Went with Henry Lackland to see the part of Mrs. Durfee's land that
runs back of towards Dardenne, the Van Meter tract. She proposes to
sell it to him as it joins his land.
Nov. 8, 1881.
Raining this morning, cool, continued to rain
most of the day and get cooler, wind in the west. Annie got postal from
Fred near Arkansas line, great improved, gained 9 lbs. George went to
St. Louis this afternoon.
Nov. 9, 1881.
Clear and cool, mercury 37°, white frost. Got
some of the coarse meal from the Hominy Mills for my cow to mix with
wheat bran.
Nov. 10, 1881.
Cloudy and cool, mercury 40°, in afternoon commenced
sleeting and then rain. Our new cow does very well, gives 3 gals a day
and good rich milk.
Nov. 11, 1881.
Rain, rain again this morning and in the night,
cool, mercury 42° this morning, heavy rain most of the day, very hard
on farmers. Letter from Glover today, he can find nothing to do in Fort
Worth.
Nov. 12, 1881.
Clear and cool, mercury 42°, stong southwest
wind. The election in Virginia was carried by The Republican party vs
the Democrats.
Nov. 13, 1881.
Sabbath.
Clear and cool, mercury 38°. Arthur came
last night, he is in very fine health. The opening concert in the new
Mittleberger Hall came off lastnight, full house and quite a success.
The violin and flute make beautiful music in the hands of masters. Mrs.
Scott is a very superior elocutionist. Communion was held in our church
today. Arthur and George went to St. Louis this evening.
Nov. 14, 1881.
Clear and cool, mercury 36°. Putting manure
on my asparagus today. Cooler in afternoon. The last word fromGlover,
he was still at Fort Worth, Texas, had found no regular employment and
but little prospects there and was thinking of going further west on
the railroad. We feel deep anxiety about him. He has gone out into the
world at the age of twenty-six to start anew at some new business. "The
heart of man deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps."
Nov. 15, 1881.
Clear, coldest morning this fall, mercury 25°,
made ice 1/2 inch thick. All tender, green things killed. My cabbage
and cow beets out but not hurt. Gathered my Hangel Wentzel beets today,
very fair crop after the dry summer. Had a letter from Glover today
at Fort Worth. He has no situation yet, working at little odd jobs till
he can find something permanent. Seems to be in good spirits. We learn
through him that Claude Johns was defeated in the last election in Austin.
Nov. 16, 1881.
Clear and milder, mercury 40° in early morning.
Our servant girl, Lizzie Poser, is sick and we have to get another.
The servant business always a very troublesome one, good ones are very
hard to get. Those we have had thought they knew a good deal and wanted
high wages from the start but had to teach them nearly everything about
cooking and washing. We have generally been fortunate with our servants
and kept them a long time. We keep them because we treat them kindly,
pay them punctually and give them a good many privileges, never scould
them, correct them kindly. Mary Gobert, who stayed with us about two
years, is anxious to come back to us.
Nov. 17, 1881.
Very cloudy and warm this morning, mercury 60°.
In afternoon commenced raining.
Nov. 18, 1881.
It rained heavily all night and is now pouring
down. This is the biggest rain we had had for years, all low lands flooded,
the river rising rapidly. For two months it has rained a good deal,
most unprecedented in the west and northwest. It is colder, mercury
now at 3 o'cl p.m. 34°, wind west and signs of clearing. A trunk came
from Philadelphia today. George went to St. Louis this evening and stayed
all night.
Nov. 19, 1881.
Very cold this morning, cloudy, mercury 25°,
very windy all night and still strong wind from the west. The papers
report heavy sleets and the heavy rains did great damage to railroads.
My cabbages are out, froze. I gathered them and put them in pots and
covered them - poor heads. Boynton, the noted swimmer, passed our town
today at noon all the way from Omaha to the mouth of the Missouri River.
He floats in a dress of cork and rubber. Clear in afternoon, mercury
25° at sunset.
Nov. 20, 1881. Sabbath.
Clear and coldest morning of the season, mercury
18°. Annie had a postal from Fred at Van Buren, Arkansas. He expected
to go to Fort Smith with the wagons and then return to Alma and stop
with Mary a few days and come home. It has been cloudy during the afternoon
and win southeast and looks like falling weather. We had a letter from
Mattie today. She has been made President of a Dorcas Society in her
church.
Nov. 21, 1881.
Snow on the ground and still snowing, mercury
33°. The trial of the right to Frank King's child between the Parks
and the Kings is going on to Probate Court. We had a letter from Glover
today, saying he would leave Fort Worth that night for Sedalia with
a view of getting a situation in St. Louis or Kansas City. He could
find nothing in Fort Worth. He is having a hard time of it, and gives
us much trouble on his account. I went to Sunday School Teacher's Meeting
tonight. These meetings are very poorly attended but they are profitable
and interesting. The snow is light and it has cleared off tonight.
Nov. 22, 1881.
Cloudy and Foggy, mercury 30°, damp and chilly,
murky day.
Nov. 23, 1881.
Cloudy in morning, mercury 32°, cleared
up early in forenoon and colder, wind west. In afternoon much colder
and wind strong from northwest and mercury down to 26°. The trial
of Guiteau, the assassin of President Garfield has been going on since
last week. His brother-in-law, Scoville, is his only lawyer - Robertson
having withdrawn on account of disagreement as to the mode of defense.
His acts since trial begun are those of a crazy man. No man would in
the circumstances do such a deed unless he was at least partially insane.
He ought to be defended by one of the ablest lawyers in the land. Insanity
is the oft repeated plea to clear criminals but it would be a terrible
thing for a really insane man to be executed merely because his victim
was the President of the United States. Our cow is doing very finely,
giving about 3-1/2 gals daily and making 5 or 6 lbs butter weekly. The
corn this year is of very poor quality, not fit to fatten hogs, a great
deal of it.
Nov. 24, 1881.
Clear and very cold, mercury 16° above zero.
This is Thanksgiving Day. Although this has been a year of disasters
to the farming interests, drought and then floods and long continuous
wet weather, yet we have, as individuals, and as a people, a great deal
to be thinkful for, There is abundance in the land and great general
prosperity, money abounds, great demand for labor at high prices. If
we only fear and honor Good in all our ways what happy people we would
be. The Methodist ladies gave a dinner and supper down town today for
their church. George and I took dinner with them. Very cold day.
Nov. 25, 1881.
Clearing in morning, mercury 20° at 6 o'cl.
Annie had another daughter this morning at 4 o'cl. Both very well. Cloudy,
now in the middle of day and warmer, wind south. We looked for Fred
today, he may come this evening. Annie had a postal from him today at
Alma. got a load of corn and corn fodder today from Duerker.
Nov. 26, 1881.
Cloudy but looks like clearing, milder, mercury
40°. Fred returned this morning, been absent six weeks. He brought
John Pearce with him, his mother was very anxious to send him here so
he could go to school. He is a very remarkably fine boy. Fred says they
are very poor and that is a miserable place (Alma, Arkansas) and sickly
too. Fred says Mary has very fine children but Tom Pearce is a lazy,
trifling fellow. This has been a delightful day, wind west. Had my raspberries
covered.
Nov. 27, 1881. Sabbath.
Clear, beautiful day, mercury 40°. Fred
came up in afternoon with little Mary Glenday. Jane and I went down
to see Annie and the little stranger, baby. George went to St. Louis
on the early train.
Nov. 28, 1881.
Clear and frosty, the weather looks settled.
Our new servant girl, Emily, came this morning. We received a letter
today from Sedalia saying Glover is very sick with Typhoid Fever. His
mother will go up tomorrow morning. This is a dark cloud over us. If
we only had him at home where we could help nurse him but we are very
thinkful that he is at his sister's and not way off among stranges.
In such a time as this we can only look up to our Heavenly Father for
help and strngth to bear whatever he may, in his wisdom and mercy, send
on us. Oh! God, for Jesus sake spare this dear boy. What greatly aggravates
this trouble he is engaged to be married to a very lovely young lady
here, Eleanor Martin. What a trial to her, may the Lord comfort her
heart.
Nov. 29, 1881.
Warm and somewhat cloudy. This morning early
my wife left for Sedalia. George went up last night to attend the Missouri
River Convention at St. Joseph as a delegate. No word today from Sedalia
and we are greatly disappointed. Very warm and spring-like, mercury
66° in afternoon. I have been troubled for several days with neuralgia
in my head.
Nov. 30, 1881.
Warm and some cloudy. I suffered a great deal
last night with neuralgia, slept none. We are anxiously looking for
news from Sedalia. We had a letter from Sedalia at noon. Glover is much
worse, has had several hemorrhages from bowels, which is a very dangerous
symptom. Fred has come at 3 o'cl with dispatch from Sedalia that Glover
worse and little hope for him. Oh! Lord pity us and spare the dear boy
if possible and let this bitter cup pass from us, not our will but Thine
be done. Heavy thunder shower this afternoon.
Dec. 1, 1881.
Cloudy and colder, mercury 33° this morning,
looks like clearing. I was free from neuralgia yesterday and last night
after taking colomel and blue mass. We are waiting anxiously to hear
from Sedalia. Fred and Arthur went up to Sedalia last night. The intelligence
is very alarming from Glover. Mrs. Gauss has kindly offered Eleanor
Martin money to go to Sedalia and she is crazy to go and I will go with
her tonight.
Dec. 5, 1881.
In the last four days we have passed through
sad and mournful scenes. Eleanor and I reached Sedalia about 5 o'cl.
Friday morning. We found our dear Glover still very low but in his mind.
He was delighted to see us. What a comfort to him and to her to be together.
It was like an angel's visit to him. What a noble girl she is. What
a terrible disease this Typhoid Fever is in a malignant form. What a
sad sight to see a noble strong young man bound to earth with so many
tender ties lying on the verge of death. But Oh! What a blessing that
he was here at his sister's with nearly all his family around him doing
all they could to alleviate his sufferings. Henry Gauss showed the greatest
kindness. He is a very fine nurse. Friday morning about 10 o'cl. the
doctors came and found all the symptoms worse, temperature 104°
and hemorrhages. He realised that his condition was very critical, while
he wanted to live, he was willing to go if the Lord willed it. I had
several talks with him and prayed with him, all satisfactory, his trust
was on Christ. He felt he was an unworthy Christian but he clung to
his Saviour. It was evident in the evening that the end was near, he
gradually became insensible and about half past 2 o'cl a.m. he passed
quietly away. What a crushing blow to us all, that this noble son, so
affectionate, so high in all his impulses and principles, so pure in
his life, having lived here at home with us all his life and now after
his first leaving home to go out into the world to seek a position and
a home, he comes back after two months to die. His grandmother is nearly
broken hearted, she doted on him and never wanted him to go away from
her. What a crushing blow to the dear girl to whom he had been engaged
for four years. He reached home Saturday night. The funeral was appointed
for Sunday afternoon. Eleanor came over Sunday morning and she stands
around him nearly all the time. She put a beautiful bouquet in his hand.
His is the most natural corpse I ever saw. He looks like he was dressed
for his wedding. The funeral was the largest I ever saw. The Knights
of Honor and the Military Company were out. We laid him away tenderly
in his home in our lot in the cemetery. Thus, five we have laid there
and now we begin again the duties of life with sad hearts. What a void
in our family circle but the family in Heaven is increased. The weather
has been mild, today cloudy and chilly. Our old servant, Lizzie Poser,
is back to stay till we can get another. Mr. Martin called in the afternoon.
Dec. 6, 1881.
Cloudy and mild. Mrs. Frayser called in afternoon.
Fred and Eleanor came up. She spent the evening with us and we talked
and wept over our sad bereavement.
Dec. 7, 1881.
Clear and cool, the wind went to the west during
the night. We received very kind, sympathizing letters today from our
good brother, Dr. Farris, and Dr. Gauss of Boonefille who was with Glover
during his illness. The Cosmos contains a very fine notice of Glover's
death.
Dec. 8, 1881.
Clear and mild, this is a most delightful day,
like October. Great many of our lady friends called today to condole
with us.
Dec. 9, 1881.
Clear and cool, bright bracing day. The weather
seems to be settled. This town was startled and shocked last night by
the fall of another span of the bridge and 30 freight cars with cattle
and hogs went down. The engineer was killed. What a blessing it was
not a passenger train. What an outrage such bridges are!
Dec. 10, 1881.
Clear and cold, mercury 30° this morning.
The air very chilly today, wind east. Mr. Ben Pearce came down today
to see John. He will get 20 acres out of his brother's estate and he
is very anxious to buy the interest of the heirs for Tom and Mary when
it shall be sold for partition next fall. Clouded up in evening. Fred
and Annie and Mary Glenday came up to Tea.
Dec. 11, 1881. Sabbath.
Light snow on the ground this morning, cloudy,
not so cold as yesterday. We had a good sermon from Dr. Martin this
morning from text, "Be still and know that I am God". 46 Psalm,
comfort in affliction, God is our refuge. Afternoon clear and bright
out, a beautiful Sabbath afternoon but our hearts are sad. Just one
week ago we were laying our dear Glover's body in its last resting place.
We try to comfort our hearts with the thought that his redeemed spirit
is perfectly happy in Heaven with Jesus and our redeemed family whie
we are here in this world of sin and sorrow.
Dec. 12, 1881.
Very cloudy and warm, light rain in the night
and threatens strongly this morning. This has been a very warm, cloudy
day, light showers in morning, heavy thunder and lightening in southwest
and west after night. George has been engaged nearly all day with the
railroad commissions in investigating the bridge disaster. The people
are very much excited about it and feel that there has been criminal
neglect on the part of the railroad company and the commissioners too.
When the first span fell two years ago it was understood that the other
span ought to be reconstructed in the same way that one was, with wrought
iron and steel cords.
Dec. 13, 1881.
Cloudy, rainy and very warm, rained in the night
and during the day heavy showers. In afternoon, wind went to the west
and cooler. In today's Democrat is a long report by George with the
Railroad Commissioners, Pratt and Harding, on the bridge disaster. They
say the middle span must come down and be rebuilt with wrought iron
and the approaches made straight.
Dec. 14, 1881.
Clear and cold. Killed hogs today, four ten
months old and weigh about 120 lbs - Berkshire. Mary Schumpe came today.
Mercury this morning 30° above zero. Eleanor Martin spent the afternoon
with us. She feels, at times, that she cannot stay at home and wants
to be with us.
Dec. 15, 1881.
Clear and cool, mercury 28° this morning.
Cutting up hogs this morning. They are still in fine condition to cut.
Sent a draft for $86.60 to Henry Gauss at Sedalia to pay funeral expenses
for Glover. I called this afternoon on a Mrs. Faning whose daughter,
about 17 years old, is greatly afflicted with hip disease. They are
poor but very good people, Presbyterians. She is a daughter of old father
Owens of Wentzville. How greatly some people are afflicted, good people,
and how many are free from all trouble, not good people either.
Dec. 16, 1881.
Clear, milder. A great many of our friends have
called to see us in our bereavement. We find many kind people in the
world. This has been a delightful day. Our new servant is doing very
well.
Dec. 17, 1881.
Very mild, clear day. I took some books to the
sick daughter of Mrs. Faning. George went to St. Louis today and returned
with Arthur in the evening. Arthur has concluded to remain with Alkire
and Company next year. He has a very high standing in the house and
a promise of advancement in future.
Dec. 18, 1881. Sabbath.
Mild, delightful day, mercury in early morning
40°. Mr. Martin preached a very good practical sermon - "The
people had a mind to work." When the people of God, men and women,
have a mind to work and pray the Lord blesses them. The sermon had a
practical bearing on subject of repairing our church which is out of
order, the plastering in part of the ceiling having fallen. Arthur went
back to the city this evening.
Dec. 19, 1881.
Very mild, pleasant day, some signs of rain.
I took out letter of Administrator in Glover's estate on account of
his curatorship of the Van Burkleo in California.
Dec. 20, 1881.
Raining this morning, warm. It has been a cloudy,
dar, drizzling day.
Dec. 21, 1881.
Cloudy and warm, some signs of clearing in the
west. George went to St. Louis yesterday evening. get colder during
day, wind west. I went with Dr. Martin down to Prairie to see Mrs. Bart
who is low with conxumption. She is cheerful and trusting in Christ.
A case of small pox in town today.
Dec. 22, 1881.
Clear and very frosty, mercury 30°. Mr.
Myers came down yesterday for Mrs. Myers and they leave this evening.
John Pearce had a chill yesterday. Clouded up in evening and commenced
raining from west. Wilson Overall and Miss Fannie Gill married this
evening.
Dec. 23, 1881.
Cloudy and not so cold, mercury 36° this
morning, cleared at noon, cool west wind. Called on Mrs. Ross.
Dec. 24, 1881.
Beautiful, mild day. This is a real southern
winter such as I have seen in Mississippi and Louisiana, great relief
to stock. The town is full of people buying Christmas things. It is
a great pleasure to make presents to children and friends, it makes
it a joyous season.
Dec. 25, 1881. Sabbath.
Christmas.
This day is observed all the world over as the
birth of our dear Saviour. It is usually observed as a time of rejoicing,
festivity and giving and receiving presents. Quite a number of presents
were made in our family. The principal things were a French tea set
and large hanging lamp for parlor for my wife. These things don't amount
to much but they contribute to making life brighter. Amidst the rejoicing
our hearts are sad for our dear Glover is at rest in a brighter world,
having higher and purer joys. Cloudy this morning but clearing. Mild,
beautiful day throughout. We had a large congregation in morning and
fine singing.
Dec. 26, 1881.
Clear, mild beautiful morning. This is observed
as Christmas Day. We had a delightful family reunion today except it
was saddened by the vacant chair at table and at the fireside. Fred
and Annie, Mary Glenday and the baby, Arthur and Eleanor Martin, Glover's
loved one, took dinner with us. The pleasure was greatly enhanced by
exchange of presents and a box came from Mattie at Philadelphia with
a present for everyone. she is certainly very kind and thoughtful and
shows such good judgement in selecting appropriate things for each one.
We are a very happy family. Mr. John E. Stonebraker took tea with us.
The weather is like the early days of October, lovely.
Dec. 27, 1881.
Cloudy and very foggy and damp. This has been
a very chilly disagreeable day. I called this afternoon to see Miss
Faning who is sick with hip disease, laying on her back and can't turn.
Dec. 28, 1881.
Very mild, some clouds but clearing this morning,
like a mild October day. Having leaves raked up and put in stable. Went
out to Mrs. Durfee's farm and sold stock hay. Wheat looks strong. John
went to Wentzville to see his grandfather. Cooler this evening, wind
west.
Dec. 29, 1881.
Clear and colder, wind west. Sent a box of clothing
to Mary Pearce today by express. Getting colder in evening and looks
like snow. Eleanor martin spent the evening with us. Mary Glenday was
here all day. Got a load of hay from Dierker. I called at Mrs. Frayser's
in afternoon. Spieker, a carpenter, was here making some examinations
of the house in reference to changes and additions.
Dec. 30, 1881.
Cold and snowing, mercury 18°, strong west
wind blew all night, light snow on the ground. We had one day colder
than this, 24th of November. In afternoon cleared off, mercury in evening
28°.
Dec. 31, 1881.
Cloudy, mercury 25° at 12 o'cl, commenced
snowing heavily. George went to St. Louis yesterday evening and returned
today. Colder in afternoon and ceased snowing and clearing up. We have
come now to the close of the year 1881. It has been an eventful year
to me. In May I went to the meeting of the General Assembly of the Southern
Presbyterian church at Staunton, Virginia. From there I visited Washington
City, then Philidelphia where I spent nearly a week with my daughter,
Mattie at Mr. Borden's. I then went down to Richmond and spent a few
days with my niece, Virginia Wooldridge (nee Cowan) and thence to my
native region, Farmville and Appomattox formerly part of my native county
of Buckingham, visiting my cousins, J. J. Walker and Thomas W. Johns.
This was a great event in my ordinarily quiet life, absence of fifty
years. It has been a year of remarkable droughts and in the Fall of
very high waters in the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and the most
unprecedented rains. Up to this time it is most remarkable mild winter.
It has been a sad year to us as a family in the untimely death of our
dear son, Glover at 26 years of age. The Foundry connected with the
car shops burned up about 5 o'cl this evening, heavy loss and will throw
a great many out of work.
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