The Diary Entries of John Geddes of Washtenaw County, MI - 1859
1859
Jan 1st - Went to Grandmothers, Rachel Read Savage to day with Sarah + Rachel in the Buggy. Roads middling. Open winter but cold so far. No Sleighing Christmas or New Years. It began to Snow Jan 6 about 11 O'Clock A.M. and two days snowed about seven inches.
Jan. 8th - 2� below Zero in the morn. 11� above at Noon.
Jan 9th - 4� above Zero in the morn. 13� above at Noon
Jan 10th - 20� below in the morn. 18� above at One O'clock P.M.
Jan 12th - The Snow melted and Sleighing ended this month.
Feb. 2nd - It began to Snow about 3 of the Clock A.M. and kept at it Thirty hours. 6 inches Snow fell and Sleighing commenced.
Feb. 9th - Sleighing poor. Feb 11th - It began to Snow again.
12th - Middling Sleighing.
7th - Rachel Savage died about Six O'Clock A.M. Disease, a hard cold. She was born Nov. 8th 1773. She was buried next day in Pebbles burial ground. Three runs of Sleighing this Winter and no time first rate.
24th - Peter Wychoff and his Wife + two Children Started for Romulus Seneca Co N.Y. February has been a warm month for Winter.
March 19th - This day I am Fifty eight years old. My health has been good the past year. This morning the Ground was white with snow. Some of it left at night. It was a windy day. Thermometer 32� morn, 35� at Noon, 29� at nine P.M. The roads are bad and have bad all this month so far unusually so. March was a warm month. The coldest day 26�. 17�� next coldest, 20�. It was a very muddy month.
Mach 31st - Charles Barnes + Caroline Mansfield were married in Ypsilanti. He is 23 years and she is 21 years old. Sarah + John were at the wedding. Rev. Mr. Foster officiated.
May 22nd - Edward Grenin Died about One O'Clock A.M. Aged about 65 years. He lived in this County 25 years, on the W. � of SW of Sec.30 T2S.R7E.
May31st - Mrs. Fanny Rash Died this morning about five O'Clock. Age 77 years, 7 mo, 26 days. In the 42 years of her age, She was the wife of George Rash and one of the first settlers of this School District having come here in the fall of A.D. 1824 + resided on the NW � of Sec. 23. She was buried in the Botsford burial ground along side of her husband next day.
June 1st - John Geddes + Julia Ette Savage were married to day (Wednesday) about Six O'Clock P.M
5th - Thermom. 31�, 11th - 28�, 12th - 36� Wheat $1.50
July 4th - Ther. 35� at one quarter after four in the morning. Frost. I set this morning down as the Coldest I ever knew here for July. The next coldest was July 3 1840 - 39�, July 5th 40�
July 11th - Robert Geddes began to cut wheat. Wheat good. Robert Geddes bought a Combined Reaper + Mower. It is called Buckeye. And cost 150 dollars. It mows well + Reaps well but not so well as it mows Wheat. Robert L. Geddes is half injured by Frost. Robert Geddes Wheat but little injured by Frost Mediterranean Wheat. Wages in Harvest 1.25. Wheat this year good. Berry plump.
July 28th - Wheat .85. Aug. 10th - Wheat 1.00, Aug 22nd - Wheat .85
Aug. 22 - Oats .25, Wheat Flour $2.50 pr hun.
Aug 21st - Mrs. Greenins Died. Wife of Edward Greenin
27th - Wheat .90, Oct 10th Wheat .90
Aug 29th - Thermom 37�, Sept 2 Therm 35�, 6th - 34�, Oct 3rd - 33�
Oct 6th - Therm. 30�, 7th - 32�, 10th - 28�
Oct 10th - Sold the Land I bought six years ago on Sec. 24 to Asa Rice for 750 dollars except what is on the West side of the Road.
17th - The Thorp house was sold to day to William Kinnear for 250 dollars.
25th - Cyrus Barnes sold his House to George Hill for 350 dollars. Wheat is 1.00 per bu.
Oct 30th - James F. Rash and Helen Mac Randall were married. It was Sunday evening. James is 32 years + Helen is 21� years. There was none of the neighbors invited to the Wedding but Myron Rash + his wife.
Dec 17th - It began to Sleet + Snow to day about eleven O'Clock A.M. And kept at it all afternoon and since in the night until the Snow was about 5 inches. It was a good foundation for sleighing.
Dec 31st - Therm -17� below in Morn, 06� above two O'Clock
Dec 27th - John Geddes Jun'r weighs 110 lbs, gain 7 lbs, Height 4.10 in
Sarah weighs 100 � lbs, gain 5� lbs, Height 4.11� , gain 00
Rachel weighs 68 lbs, gain 6 lbs, Height 4.7�, gain 2 in
Ann Botsford 119 lbs, gain 7� lbs, Height 5.2�, gain 00
Celia Botsford 116 lbs, gain 00, Hight 5.3, gain 3/8
Mary Botsford 118lbs, gain 16lbs, Hight 5 3/8, gain 3/4
------tia Botsford 99 � lbs, gain 15� lbs, Hight 5�, gain 2 � in.
Henry Winslow 60 lbs, Hight 4.1�
Julia Ette Geddes Hight 5.7in
My own weight is 157 lbs.
