James Dobbins HILLHOUSE Diary, part 6

James Dobbins HILLHOUSE Diary, part 6
DECEMBER 25, 1888

I will make some statements of the past. We left the old home on Honey Creek where we had lived 51 years. Made 50 crops and moved to Aurora on the 13 day of April 1888. We sold to Rev. S.G. Elliot for 3,060 dollars and bought lots 1-2 and EŤ of 3 in block 3 Rinker and Elliot additions to Aurora from E.B. (F.B?) Walts for 850 (350?) dollars. It was a butiful sunshiny day. Everything appeared to be inviting and harmonious. The health of this town is very good and has been since we have been here. Our health has been fine. Now this Christmas day and as rainy a day as ever I saw. John Will and Knox Hight is here today.
31. Last day of year. Clear and warm. No freeze to amount to anything. W.R. Gibson is here tonight. Will ship 4 carloads of sheep tomorrow. I come into Barry county which is now Lawrence county December 25, 1836 on Sunday. I located on Honey Creek and staid in one place till I moved to Aurora. I lived there till November 1895, then moved to Hiram Holts.

JANUARY 1889
10. We went to Ann Young's birthday dinner. Had a fine dinner and a extry (extra?) good time. All of her children was present except one and many old friends, 14 between 60 and 80 years. The most of them had known her for 40 years. Many others was present. It was quiet a treet for so many old pioneers to meet together.
16. Well we have an interesting meeting going on at the CP church. We had rain to interfear with our meeting but it cleared off today. The moon shines bright tonight. The church is crowded tonight. 16 professions to date. Interest still increasing. Rev. Jiff Mtgummery and wife is with us tonight. Levi G.Hillhouse and girls with us today.
25. I will write a few lines. No winter yet. We had a spite of snow but is gone and left mud in the place. Raining muddy for winter. The meeting still going on 33 accessions good interest and crowded house.
29. Meeting is closed. 50 professions and 38 accessions to the C.P. church. To us be the benefit. To God be all the glory. Aunt Polly Irby died today.
31. January '89 is gone and no winter yet. Very soft muddy weather. Good health. People are prospering in spirits and wealth.
FEBRUARY 1889
I and wife have been to Zion protracted meeting, I got sick. We have returned home. (We had to return home?) I have cold on the lungs and have been laying round for ten days. No particular insidents to pen down. The weather is remarkable fine. The mud has dryed down wondefully. The weather fine clear now, frosty some ice up to the 13th. Now inch thick yet.
13. Mr.Elliott sold 15 acres of mining land for one hundred thousand dollars. $100,000.00 today. His agent got one half $50,000.00. That is big money is it not?
19. Snowed all day melted all day 6 inches deep. Warm for snow. Sister Springer and Gib Hillhouse is with us today.
20. Snow melting fast. The sisters of the Sewing Society for the poore are at work here today. They put up quite a good job.
26. Snow most all gone. Fine weather and health.
28. February gone, snow gone, big rain last night. No winter scarsley but rain and mud. Health and prosperity and quietude appears to prevale in the church, in state, in the nation. So mite it bee.
MARCH 1889
1. Cloudy and foggy. Court going on. One Duchman sent to the penetenchery 99 years for killing his wife.
3. Sunshine today.
4. Harrison takes seat in the white house as President of this nation. Nice pleasant morning but foggy. Farmers is sowing oats.
15. Fine day. John and Ida Holt has a son born today. Calls his name Arl Clinton. All happy.
16. We are at John Holts seeing the fine boy.
17. Big rain this evening. We all came home this morning. Honey Creek swimming. A boy named Davis was drounded at Pharis ford today.
19. Enoch Trolinger died today.
21. I had my garden plowed. Rain again. Well is 8 foot of top. The ground is fuller of water than has been since I have lived in Aurora. Miners can't do much.
28. Planted some potatoes and corn. Sowed beets.
29. Made garden generally. More like spring. Warm.
30. we have had a fine warm wet March.
31. This is Sunday and raining as usual. Big rain this morning.
APRIL 1889
1. I and wife went to Marion Howards to their chinee wedding. Had a fine crowd, plenty to eat on which was good. They recame to Knox Gibsons for the nighnt.
2. We came home to the city and school election. Fine weather yesterday and today.
3. I received a letter from Georgeann Williams. She writes the sad news of death of Elizabeth Williams, her mother in law. Died February 11, 1889.
6. I received 3 cherry trees, two early Richman on the south end of the row, the one on the north end was not labeled but a little later cherry.
8. Rain this morning. There is about four brick buildings going up besides many frames. Great improvement going on in the city.
11. It is raining.
12. I and wife went to the gallery had our picture taken. Warm day. E.B. and Ann Hillhouse was to see us yesterday. Jesse H.Taylor moved out. Messer moved in, pays 4 dollars per month rent.
15. William P.Gibson and Nora is visiting us. I am covering side room to my little green house. I am finishing it. Good job.
17. John and Ida Holt and boy visited us, fine weather for business.
19. Rain big again. Trees getting green fast. Looks now as every kind of fruit would be plenty. Our corn, potatoes and garden look well. Everything early if no disaster.
21. Easter Sunday. Fine warm sunshiney day. John and Ida Holt Hiram and Mat and children all staid with us last night. John and Ida still with us today.
22. Now the dash is made into old Oclehoma for land. Fine clear warm day. I worked out garden. All looks well. Trees green. Wheat looks fine. Good health. Town still spreading.
23. This was the day we brothers and sisters was to meet to have our picture taken. Jane [Lain?] and E.B. did not come. Brother Robert, Brother John, and Demaris, Sis Boucher and daughter Mary Adkisson are with us. We will wait til tomorrow.
24. We are all present that still live 4 brothers 2 sisters at my house setting around my table as we used to around the old parental board in our fathers house, as follows:
Jane Springer, the first born, age 81, weight 119.
Elija B. Hillhouse, number in birth 4, age 76, weight 168.
James D. Hillhouse number in birth 5, age 74, weight 141.
Mary Caroline Boucher, number in birth 8, age 67, weight 127.
Robert S. Hillhouse, number in birth 9, age 65, weight 150.
John R. Hillhouse, the babe, number in birth 10, age 62, weight 127.
We all had our picture taken in a group. We all live here in Lawrence county, Missouri and have bin here from 36 to 52 years. Almost all our posterity is here in Lawrence county. This has bin a fine day and very injoyable one to us all with many other relatives and friends. We went to Verona to church and to see John White. He is thought to be better. Came home, found all rite side up.
MAY 1889
1. A little frost 2nd, 3 and 4. Spoiled gardens on the lowlands and some fruit hurt. Nothing here about our home. Fine weather now. Everything appears growning since the shower.
8. The show came in today. It was not much.
9. We went to John Holts and to John Wills. The worms is cutting plants, potatoes.
10. The Bald Knobbers was hanged in Christian county today.
16. I and wife and Margaret Hillhouse started for Arkansas this morning. Nancy got off the train at Fayetteville. I and Margaret went on to Morison's Bluff, attended to our business of getting affidaveds on penchon claim. Started for home by way of Van Buren.
21. Reached Fayetteville. Stayed with our children till Wednesday evening 4 o'clock borded train for Aurora. Reached home at 9 p.m. found all things rite side up.
26. We went to Zion to church had a good service. Saw many old friends and brethren. Had a plesant time. Spent the night with E.B. and Ann.
27. Returnded home Monday. We felt much refreshed. It is quiet cool, some frost in places. None here in town to hurt anything.
30. Cold. We went to the Grand Army dekoration to Marionville. So cold Nancy got her a shall to fend off the cold wind. Cost $3.25.
31. So this finishes spring. Generally wet and warm but several cold snaps with frosts. This is a cold day for my share.
JUNE 1889
1. I am writing a letter to Iowa sending a picture to relatives there.
2. We visited Walter Moore and family. His wife is very sick. It has turned warmer.
3. The sheriff is selling Bird's goods.
4. We went to E.W. Medlins visiting. Lige has returned from Washington well satisfied.
John Vermillion brought in his new wife this evening.
5. I planted sweet potato slips, or set them. Fine growing weather.
7. I wrote a letter to Georgeann today.
10. We went to John Holts and John Wills. Rain, rain.
14. I sent a letter and pictures to Uncle Jo Gibson to Tennessee and one to Andrew Gibson. Also one of myself and wife.
17. J.W. Curtis is here. Warm.
18. Thermomiter run up to a 100 today.
19. Cooler today, wheat is being cut.
20. Harvest is in full blast.
21. Big rain last nite. Very pleasant today. Cutting wheat is the fun now. Oats looks fine. Grass never was better. Corn is small not as tall as the wheat but have been well worked. Bids fare for good yeals [yeald]. Health is good.
30. Last day of June. We went to Zion to children's day. Very nice exercises. To Hiram's for dinner and home. All crops look fine. So this ends June, 1889. Has been cool and wet.
JULY 1889
1. Warm but pleasant. Quite a stir fixing for the fourth.
2. I am working on my house up in the corner.
4. This is the great day of independence. The selebration was just north of our house in Elliotts' grove a butiful shady place. Almost too cool for ice cream and lemonade. We had good speaker and good behavior considering the vast crowd. No fiting no quarling very few drunks and no accident of any note. It was thought to be a success.
7. Mr. Jones got possession of the Hains house. 3.00.
8. J.S. Drake got possession of the Elliott house at 6 dollars per month. We went to John Wills to spend the day.
9. We are at Gib's today. They are cutting oats. Warm, we go home today. Warm, warm.
10. I am hoeing my late corn between potato rows. It is nee high. Planted 20 June. Needs rain.
15. Warm, 99 degrees most 100 it appears if it was hot enough.
17. We canned 3 gallons blackberrys. Got them from old lady Card at 15 cents per gallon.
19. I got a letter from A.P. Givson. He writes sorry crops in Washington.
20. Mr. Friend got his leg broke falling 40 feet in a shaft. It is cut off. We went to church. Warm dry up to 100.
22. We visited Friend. He is doing well I recon. We helpt to things needful. They poor folks.
23. Jones skip out, left us to get the rent the best we can.
24. I rented the house to Frank Griffy 3 dollars per month. It rained fine rain last night.
25. I sowed turnips.
28. We went to Zion to church C.C. Hillhouse done the preaching. Spent the night Uncle Jack Holt. Hiram moved back to Aurora yesterday.
30. Lizza Gibson brought us 4Ť gallon black burys [blackberrys].
31. We made jam.
AUGUST 1889
1. I dug 3 bushels Irish potatoes, layed by corn.
2. Brother John and his daughter is here today.
3. L.L. Holt and Ida is here.
4. I went to church. Nancy is not well. I went to Mt. Vernon to court and home. Dry, dusty.
7. We went to Zion to county S.School convention. Had a fine turn out. Good discussion of the different toppicks. We stayed with John and Ida.
9. I went to Springfield to the reunion of the Second regiment light artilery. Stayed with George Cassidy.
10. Well I have been 2 days in town have saw but persons that was here the first I was here. That was in the year 1836. There was 2 small stores one blacksmith shop, one schoolhouse, no church hose. Population light. Now they claim 40,000. Great change in the appearance of things. We arrived safely at home at sunset. Found all well.
11. We went Congregational church. Rev. Woodard Brown. It rained a fine shower.
12. We went to John Holt's to get crabbs.
13. I sowed more turnip seed. It rained fine.
14. More rain. Glad to receive it. Health is good. I received a letter from Georgeann Williams and one from Sister Swendle. They are to meet me at the depot this evening on their way to the reunion. They met me according to appointment and spent the night.
15. We all went over to E.B. Hillhouse to the appointed ground and was called to order by G.F. Hargrove as marchal of the day. After religous sevices conducted by the Rev. Witherspoon E.B. Hillhouse gave a welcome address. S.G. Elliott responded at some length after that dinner came. We had fine musick by the Aurora band. Interest through all the excersies. After dinner short speaches by many and the bestowing of presents not a few. This is E.B. birthday. He is 76 years old. We had plenty ice cream, lemonade and as good a dinner as Hillhouses and Gibsons combined can make.
All us brothers and sisters that live, six of us present. 3 of my wifes brothers and sisters and many other relatives and friends. We had a pleasant time. We all went home happy as could be under such surcumstances.
16. We are at home all day. Fine day. Elizabeth went home on the morning train.
17. Mathew Williams and I took in the sites of the mines with our wives. Saw many strange things. We explored the city throughout.
19. Williams and wife left for Arkansas this morning. That thorn in my nee is hurting me bad. It is swelled bad. Cant walk a step cant set on a char. It has bin in there 40 years next month.
21. Ida Holt came here this morning. She has a bad catarrh on her hand. My nee doesn't pain me so bad but can't walk.
22. My nee is a little better, not swelled so big. Ida not much better though running some. Conel [Connel] McNatt paid me a years interest on his note $100.00.
23. The invaleads are better.
24. Two horses and a buggy were stole from a livery barn last night.
25. I am still on the bed.
26. I can set upon a chair. I am writing some. I sent a picture and letter to Uncle Jo Gibson.
28. I can walk with my crutch [cruch] and staff. They caught the thief got the horses and buggy. His name is Fergy. That is all I know.
29. I am mending slowly. Perhaps you would like to know something about this thorn in my nee. 40 years ago next month I was in Giles county Tennessee with my family visiting my mother and family and other relitives. I was helping catch a chicken. It ran in the corner of fence where a potato bed had been the spring before. A pile of plumb thorns was left there. I stretched out my leg to head off the chicken pitched over caught it. A Damson plumb thorn run rite into the joint of my knee on the inside clear up to the line a water spread. The other thorns on the sprout was near two inches long I took holt and pulled it out leaving about of and inch behind it clear round the oval of the bone. So there I was six hundred miles from home with my wife and children and could not walk a step. The Doctors said if he cut it out he would insure me a cut off leg or a stiff leg. So I did not walk a mile at a time for 6 years. It swelled often ever since. I have not had such a spell as this in 20 years but some pretty bad.
SEPTEMBER 1889
1. We went to Hiram Holt's, took dinner. George Alexander was buried today. Cancer was the trouble.
2. Fine rain, much needed. Turnips could do no good.
3. I walked to town for the first time two weeks. I received a letter Ben Hensty old friend baring the sad news of the death of wife. We went to Bob Hillhouse.
4. We are here this morning. Rain. We can't go to the memorial, too damp for my leg. My nee is better but swelled considerably.
5. We came home canned peaches. Cool after rain. I finished digging Irish potatoes. Clear and cool, nice weather, for business.
7. Our supply is as follows: peaches 25 quarters, 3 quarters cherrys, 14 quarters blackberries, 12 quarts blackberry jamb, 2 quarts crab preserves, 3 quarts huckleberrys, 6 quarts rasburrys, 2 quarts peach preserves, 1 quart tomato preserves, 2 quarts apple preserves. Total 70 quarts.
8. John and Ida is to see us. Brought a fine million rain today. Griffy moved out of the McCarthy house and Wilkinson moved in.
10. My birthday 74. Rain. Morrison and Gib is here. Fine for all fall vegitables.
11. Kate Browning and Dick Grace was married today. The carpenters is at work on C.P. church building.
13. Gib and Alsy are with us today. My nee got so I can walk over to the mines.
15. We went to the Baptist church today.
16. Cool today I bought 50 pounds patent flour from Beachs mill for 90 cents. It is cheaper.
18. We went to the annual memorial at the graveyard. We had a pleasant service led by G.W. Rinker.
19. We went to John White's. He is dying.
20. Stayed with brother Bob. Went to the funeral. We visited children. John, Ida, John and May, Sarah and her children. She got her house most ready to finish. We spent the night with her.
22. We came to church today C.C. Hillhouse.
24. We had memorial services at Zion simetry today. A.A. Young led the exercises. Had a peasant service after which the bord of directors of the Zion church come and among other business past resilutions to recover the building.
25. Rain yesterday, cool with some frost on the bottoms.
26. W.R. Allen and Sarah Hillhouse and Ones is here, nothing to end the month worth penning.
OCTOBER 1889
1. This is a fine day. Mr Cunningham is painting the inside of my house. Sarah Hillhouse and her family, W.B. Allen and family is with us to dinner.
2. We finished cutting my late corn. It is better than the erly. We have rosten ears yet. Don't know how many dollars this little patch had made. We are going to Hiram Holt's tonight.
3. We are at Hiram's. All well. Go home, fine day. E.B.H. is here. I received a letter from George D. Hillhouse, Dunklin Co. today.
4. We are finished our painting today. We are at Wes parker's this morning.
5. We go to Hiram's. John Hight and all his first children and their families are here.
6. We go Congregational church.
7. We went to Roark's funeral to C.P. church Rev. Northcut conducted the service. We settered our potatoes made crout, chow chow, set up our heating stove. I received 2 loads of wood for the wood house. Not much frost.
10. Butiful day. Nan Card went home.
11. We are taking up our carpet, dusting it, putting it down again. We went to J.A. Gibson.
12. We went to W.K. Gibsons to Zion to a meeting of the bord of directors.
13. we went to the Hall to hear Williams farewell address.
15. Big rain, turned cold I bought a heating stove from Parson Wilson. Wilson stayed with us last night. His friends swarmed us here altogether. Left him $10.00 better off than they found him. They are going to Illinois
16. I am chopping wood and filling my wood house.
18. Brother Bob and old brother Calliston is with us today.
19. I received 6 loads of chopped wood this week, filled my wood house pretty full.
20. We went to the hall to hire a new preacher, Low. Digging sweet potatoes. Tolerable good.
22. Rain today. Pleasant this morning. Banion Pruit and family visited us. Ida and Arl is here. John is gone to the sawmill. I bought up some ceiling plank to fix pantry. Fine weather.
27. We went to Zion to church took dinner at John Wills and home. Fine health. I am ceilling my little green house. We got 4 bushels of apples from Parker. Finished my house. Rain to finish the month. Nothing of importance.
NOVEMBER 1889
1. I received a letter from Tennessee telling of the death of Uncle Joseph Gibson, my wifes uncle. He died 23 September las 1889, born Dec. 24, 1800. Most 90. Rain, cool.
2. We went to Zion to church and to E.B's.
3. We went to church and to brother John R.
4. We had a very pleasant stay. Came home at night.
5. Quite cold I wrote a letter to our children. Cold enough to snow and looks that way.
6. I got my horse shod. We are going to Barry County.
7. We are at Sister Hewlett's. Rain all day.
8. More rain Saturday.
9. Nice day. We came home. Had a pleasant visit. Lila Moor's man left her here in Aurora. She took arsnake and died today.
10. We went to the hall to church and went to the funeral of the poisoned woman.
11. We stowed away turnips, cabbage, apples and beets.
12. A little rain last night. No frost to kill tomato vines yet. Fine fall weather. No freeze yet. I give price list, corn 25 cents per bushel, wheat 62 cents per bushel, hogs 3Ź, beef 3Ť, all other trade in portion [proportion].
13. I sent off a club for the Observir.
14. Fine frosty morning for the first of any note. Levi S. Hillhouse and Sarah Neil married today. We went to our sons's Levi Gibs.
15. We came home. Fine day. Nothing of note.
16. Snow 3 inches deep this morning all melted this evening.
17. I went to the hall to church. My wife is sick. The church is not finished yet. It goes slowly.
18. A little ice this morning. Coldest we have this fall. I paid state and county tax. $45.00.
19. I received a letter from Nanie Card. Collected $6.95 for her and sent it to her by post order. Parker stabbed Montgumery at the saloon. They arrested him and took him to jail. Montgomery is badly hurt.
21. We went to Charley Gibsons to --------- Henry he officiated.
22. We are at home J.W. Curtis is here to spend the day.
23. I sent a dollar to Peirce City Epuer to renew sub.
24. We went to the new church, heard a good sermon Rev. Low.
25. I bought 60 pounds beef from Gib. 4Ť cents hind quarter and rented my Sargent house to J.F. Brown at $4 dollars per month.
26. Rain till noon then we went to J. Wills and John Holts.
27. We came home and I went to E.B. cloudy, cold enough to snow.
28. This is Thanksfiving day. We went to the Baptist church Rev. Wooderd (Congregational church) red scripture, (Camalite church) prayed. Rev. Low (Cumberland church) prayed Rev. Caton (Baptist church) delivered a discourse. The congregation sung Prais God from Blessings Flow. Rev. Humphree of Christian church gave short talk. Thanksgiving Day Matta Holt, Girtty and Fred, Ida and Arl Holt are all here to dinner. We had a large fat hen, stuffed beef steak, fruit cake, coffee tea and many other good things and best of all good health.
29. Cold as whizz 20 above zero. Clear this evening getting warm fast.
30. This is my wifes birthday 70 years old. Fine day. Gibs to dinner. So this ends the fall months. Has been pleasant and healthy.
DECEMBER 1889
1. Nancy has a very soar nose. We fear it is boilin. Old Sister Todd was with today for dinner.
2. A livery team run away with a little boy today. Throed him out after 3 hundred yards run did not kill him but bruised and shook him up.
3. We visited Parson Gardner. He is bad off with comsumption.
4. I am painting my little houses green.
5. Nice weather for the time year. James Stewart and George Holt was before the cort and fined $5 each for disturbing the singing school. Gib was here for dinner. Two Wooldrige boys an one Bolen was indited for braking into Shaw's store.
8. We went to church. Fine weather
9. John Holt brought me a load of corn 31Ť. Ida had 8 teeth pulled today.
10. A drunk man was run over and killed by the train.
11. We went to J. Wills and to Margarets and home.
12. We went to James Reas. Spent the day.
14. John Holt brought me 30 bushels and 15 pounds corn, 61Ť at 25 cents. I have 12 bushels old corn and my hogs fat.
15. We went to Zion to church. Took dinner at Aunt Young's and home. Had a good service.
16. Fine weather. I sent Nanie Card 4 dollars and 50 cents rent collected to Monett. Sent Nan Moore 3 dollars to pay her way on train Christmas.
17. No cold weather of any note but warm. Wm.K. Gibson was with us last night.
20-21. We received a letter from our daughter, Nan Moore. She is coming to see us Christmas. Nan Card moved back to Aurora. We went to church at 11 and to Parson Gardner's to prayr meeting in the evening. He is low in body but strong in spirit and hope with great assurance happy over the prospect of a better day shortly.
24. Nan Moore and the boy, Roy, come up on the train from Fayetville this morning. We had a grand selibration today. Brother Bob, Gib, Boys, Nan, John, Will, Ernest, Hardy, Roy, and Clint Hillhouse all took dinner with us.
25. Christmas. We wnt to Hiram Holts for dinner and helped to eat turkey. John MacDonald and family, Nan Card and family, Nan Moore and Roy, and Knox Hight. We had a pleasant day.
26. I and wife, Nan and Roy went to John Holts for dinner today then to J. Wills then to Gibs and home.
27. Nan and I took a ride over the town to see the sites.
28. We all took a ramble throught the smelter and crusher washers etc.
29. We all went to church. Parson Low preached. We went to James Rea for dinner then to John Wills. There I left Nancy and I and Nan and Roy went to G.H. Moores and to meeting at Zion at night.
30. We all came home today. Quite cold. Several is killing hogs. The first weather that looks like it would do this year. Some hogs killed and lost their meat. We are alone tonight. We went to see Dobby Card. He has rheumatis can't walk but is a little better. Not suffering so much.
31. Very clear, nice sunshiney day to finish the year. We have had the warmest winter I think I ever saw so far. I have saw 53 Christmases in Missouri. The first was as cold as it ever gets to be the last as warm. People is very healthy thruout the country and the city is 5,000 strong but little complaint. So this ends 1889. It is past.
Copyright 1999 Elaine Fyr and Roger Hillhouse.

Introduction and Obituary **Diary Years 1844 through 1848 ** Diary Years 1850 and 1858
Diary Years 1877**Diary Years 1880 and 1886

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