JOURNAL OF MARY ANN PAYNE WILSON - 1858
JOURNAL OF MARY ANN PAYNE WILSON - 1858
January 1st, 1858
A beautiful day indeed. Nelson & Mr. Newell killed each a hog this morning. R. Knott C. Allen C & S Knott
came here today and Nelson went with them rabbit hunting. C. Allen killed 7. R Knott 2 and Nelson 1 rabbit.
L. Paulding & E. Lambert called today.
January 2nd
Another fine day. R. Knott took supper here this evening. Been fussing around all day.
January 3rd
Very pleasant today. Nelson & I took a walk.
January 4th
Fine weather continues. Romine Knott and Savina Paulding were married today. Been washing.
January 5th
Not quite so pleasant as yesterday, but still fine weather, ironed this evening, finished my cloak.
January 6th
Partially clear and moderate.
January 7th
Cloudy this morning, but clear this evening. Visited Mrs. Newell this evening.
January 8th
Rather pleasant today. Been mending.
January 9th
Very fine weather today. Been baking.
January 10th
Cloudy this morning and soon began to rain.
January 11th
Cloudy this morning but cleared off before noon and has been clear the remainder of the day and
evening. Washed today.
January 12th
Quite pleasant today, been fussing around all day, ironed this evening.
January 13th
Partially clear and more moderate than yesterday.
January 14th
Spelling school this evening
January 15th
Cloudy and got cold
January 16th
Cloudy and cold all day, more pleasant this evening, singing tonight
January 17th
Clear & very pleasant, colder this evening. Been writing.
January 18th
Cold & clear but very pleasant washed today.
January 19th
Clear and more moderate today and pleasant for the season.
January 20th
Warmer than yesterday and clear. Called on Mrs. Newell this afternoon.
January 21st
Pleasant weather still continues.
January 22nd
Not so clear as yesterday but warmer. Very fine day thought. I never saw so much fine weather
in the winter.
January 23rd
Cloudy and threatens rain. Nelson went to Ononwa this afternoon. Rained hard during the evening.
January 24th
Cloudy all day. Went to the schoolhouse to hear Reeder preach. P. Knott & C. Allen took dinner here.
January 25th
Weather was variable all day. Clear, cloudy and rain alternately was today.
January 26th
Cloudy and rather cooler than yesterday. Nelson and Mr. Newell butchered today.
January 27th
Cloudy most of the day.
January 28th
Cold and cloudy with high wind and a little snow.
January 29th
Quite clear today and more pleasant than yesterday.
January 30th
Partially clear today but not so cold as yesterday.
January 31st
Quite moderate and cloudy most of the today.
February 1st
Cloudy and colder than yesterday. Washed today.
February 2nd
Clear this morning and quite cold. Some snow fell during the night. Cloudy this afternoon.
February 3rd
Very cold all day and clear. Nelson has gone to Shanghai to spelling school.
February 4th
Mostly clear today and not quite so cold as yesterday.
February 5th
Quite pleasant today though cold. Mrs. Newell visited us today.
February 6th
Warmer today and cloudy.
February 7th
Partially clear today. Quite moderate. S. C. Lambert, A. Musser & (H. or N.) Musser
spent the day with us.
February 8th
Colder this morning. Snowed since during the night and has been snowing fast all day.
Storm is coming from the N. E. Washed today.
February 9th
Cloudy all day and colder than yesterday. Cleared up this evening.
February 10th
Clear and very cold. Did not thaw in the sun at all.
February 11th
Cloudy most of the day and not so cold as yesterday. The cattle got into the corn today and
Mr. Newell and A. Paullin had quite a hard time getting them out. Spelling school tonight.
February 12th
Clear today and quite pleasant but cold. Washed some today.
February 13th
Cloudy and snowing this morning. Wind blew had from the N. E. and drove the snow into the
? chamber. We had a great time getting it out. Cloudy this evening and does not snow.
February 14th
Partially clear today and more pleasant. Mr. Newell & Lady & Mrs. Paullin spent the day with us.
February 15th
Clear today and quite cold. Been washing and cleaning up.
February 16th
Not so cold as yesterday & snowed a little
February 17th
Cloudy this morning but soon became clear. Spent the afternoon and evening at Mrs. Newell's
February 18th
Cloudy and snowed a little all day
February 19th
Clear most of the day and rather pleasant. Joseph came here today.
February 20th
Very pleasant all day and not so cold as yesterday.
February 21st
Very cold and high wind all day.
February 22nd
Clear & cold but still. Froze harder last night than it has this winter. Washed today.
February 23rd
Quite cold though milder than yesterday. Mostly clear.
February 24th
Clear most of the day and quite pleasant
February 25th and 26th
Both days clear and unusually pleasant. Also very warm for the season. Snow
fast disappearing in the road. On the evening of the 25th J. McCormick &
family
February 27th
Cloudy most of the day and colder. Wind blew hard all day.
February 28th
Cloudy and cold with high wind. This evening
March 1st
Clear and cold. High wind this evening.
March 2nd
Clear and more moderate than yesterday.
March 3rd
Cloudy all day and rather cold.
March 4th
Weather about the same. Rather cloudy
March 5th
Partially clear today became cloudy this evening and thundered.
March 6th
Cloudy this morning but cleared up toward noon. Quite moderate this evening.
March 7th
Cloudy and rather warmer than yesterday. Mrs. Foster and children came here today.
March 8th
Clear part of the day and rather pleasant but cold. Been washing. Nelson went to Ononwa today. I washed.
March 9th
Cloudy this morning but cleared up toward noon. Mrs. Knott & Mrs. Mason spent the day here had a pleasant visit
March 10th
Very pleasant today and warm, been baking
March 11th
Quite cool this morning and some cloudy but cleared up and became warm toward noon. Went to J. McCormacks and had a good visit.
March 12th
Very pleasant indeed today. Thawed a good deal.
March 13th
Cloudy this morning and high winds. Rained hard this afternoon. Nelson went to Hutchinson
and got a good ducking. Joseph went to Ononwa and got sprinkled on.
March 14th
Partially Clear today and very warm, has rained a little this morning.
March 15th
Rather cloudy all day with high winds. Washed today. Weather very warm and threatens rain.
March 16th
Showery all day and quite warm
March 17th
Cloudy with high winds. Been baking today.
March 18th
Clear most of the day and very pleasant. Been sewing.
March 19th
Almost beautiful day. Cloudy this morning and threatened rain. Warm like spring.
March 20th
Cloudy all day and warm. Clear this evening and some colder.
March 21st
Rather pleasant but cold. R. Knott & Lady spent the day with us.
March 22nd
Clear and pleasant. Joseph found a cat in the well. It had been there about four weeks.
He drew out the water and then went down and cleaned out the well. Washed today.
March 23rd
Very pleasant today. Been baking and ironing.
March 24th
Another nice day been sewing.
March 25th
Weather the same. Went to see Amanda Reeder this afternoon found her very poorly.
March 26th
Threatened rain this morning but became clear this afternoon. Went to P. Knoll’s today.
March 27th
Very pleasant but the wind blows hard. Been working hard all day and worked till ½ past 11 o'clock
this evening.
March 28th
A most beautiful day. Been walking around some. Went to Mather Musser’s and this evening went with
Nelson to the old house we used to live in.
March 29th
Partially clear and not cold but the wind has been high all day. Been washing.
March 30th
Weather much the same as yesterday. Perhaps a little warmer
March 31st
Cloudy and warm rained a little been mending.
April 1st
A beautiful day, clear and still quite warmer. Went to Mrs. Musser’s today.
April 2nd
Clear, pleasant all but the wind which turns everything topsy turvy. Commenced cleaning
the large room.
April 3rd
Weather much the same as yesterday. Threatened rain this evening. Finished cleaning up our
room today and am awful tired.
April 4th
Clear and the wind blows like a hurricane. Went to singing school this afternoon.
April 5th
Cold and partially cloudy. Washed today. Wind blows very hard.
April 6th
Cloudy and cool. Wind not so high today. Cleared up the yard and ironed today.
April 7th
Cloudy and been raining all day. Rained hard most of the night. Got our bedclothes wet in
consequence of the roof leaking.
April 8th
Cloudy all day with high winds. Rained some this afternoon. Mrs. Newell & I went to P. Knott’s
after dinner. Mrs. Knott has a young Prairie breaker 3 days old.
April 9th
Partially clear today and much more pleasant than yesterday. Mr. Newell and Nelson went to
Opossum Hollow to mill this afternoon.
April 10th
Cloudy this morning and began to rain about ½ past 8 o’clock and rained until afternoon, part of the
time quite hard. Nelson & Newell came home in the rain, looking like drowned rats. Began to rain again
about sunset and poured down good nearly all night.
April 11th
Raining some this morning. Became clear awhile about the middle of the day but soon clouded up and
rained hard towards night.
April 12th
Cloudy and drizzly all day.
April 13th
Weather much the same as yesterday.
April 14th
Partially clear today and rather pleasant. Nelson found a bee tree. Washed today
April 15th
Quite a pleasant day. Mr. Newell butchered today.
April 16th
Clear and pleasant. Made a gaiter today.
April 17th
Clear most of the day. Cloudy this evening and appears like rain. Got our bees home this evening
and finished the mate to the shoe I made yesterday.
April 18th
Rather cloudy all day and rained all the evening.
April 19th
Mrs. Newell and I went to Mr. Paullin’s today. Nelson commenced with haying today. Took the carpet up today.
April 20th
Cloudy all day.
April 21st
Rather pleasant today. Nelson went to Wappelo. I washed.
April 22nd
Clear this morning but became cloudy before noon. Made soap today at Mrs. Newell’s.
April 23rd
Rather pleasant today
April 24th
Another fine day. Cleaned out the cellar
April 25th
Rather cool but clear.
April 26th
Very pleasant today. Went to Mrs. Newell’s and twisted yarn today.
April 27th
Clear and pleasant.
April 28th
Quite warm and clear. Mrs. Nyat called today.
April 29th
Partially clear with high winds. Mrs. Newell and I went to the Paullin’s today. Nelson commenced
with haying today.
April 30th
Quite warm and appears like rain. Went to Mr. Lambert’s today and had a good visit. Rained hard this evening.
May 1st
Cloudy and cool. Showery all day. Went to Mr. Shoup’s and stayed all afternoon and all night.
Came home this evening morning early.
May 2nd
Cloudy all day and rained some.
May 3rd
Rainy all day. P. Knott & M. Reeder took dinner here.
May 4th
Cloudy all day and rained some.
May 5th
Cloudy all day but did not rain. Been washing.
May 6th
Still cloudy but more pleasant yesterday.
May 7th and 8th
Partially clear and quite warm.
May 9th
Clear most of the day. Called on Mrs. Dildine today.
May 10th
Quite pleasant. Almeda Musser & Hannah came here today.
May 11th
Partially clear and quite cold. Been washing.
May 12th
Clear and quite pleasant. Been ironing. Mrs. Bridge called today.
May 13th
Partially clear and tolerably pleasant. Mrs. Newell spent the day here. Planted some peas and beans today.
May 14th
Rather pleasant this morning but did not remain so long. About 4 o’clock it commenced raining and the
wind blew very hard. The rain beat in and drenched us badly. Altogether was the most powerful storm I ever
knew. A great deal of fence was blown down. Rained hard about 10 or 11 at night and hailed a good deal
in some places.
May 15th
Rather cool this morning and partially clear, soon became cloudy. Rained some and froze in falling
rain this evening.
May 16th
Mizzy all day. W. Musser spent the afternoon here and spun long yarns. S.S. organized today.
May 17th
Cloudy and Mizzly all day. Nelson went to Ononwa and subscribed for a paper.
May 18th
Clear and quite pleasant all day. Been washing.
May 19th
Clear part of the day. Rained and blew hard this afternoon but roof did not leak on us.
May 20th
Partially clear today. Baked some today, sewed this afternoon.
May 21st
Weather continues unsettled. Been sewing today
May 22nd
Cloudy with high wind all day.
May 23rd Partially clear. Went to Sabbath School for the first time. Rained very hard this evening
and continues all night. We got a good ducking.
May 24th
Partially clear and did not rain today
May 25th
Cloudy all day and rained a good deal. Had a good deal of thunder. Cleared up just before sunset.
May 26th
A beautiful day, been washing and fixing up generally.
May 27th
Quite pleasant and very warm. Nelson plowed the sugar cane patch and the horses ran away
just as he got done.
May 28th
Some appearance of rain. Planted the sugar cane patch & roasting ear patch with some potatoes
and got gloriously wet. Rained very hard. The wind blew hard from the S.E. Our seed cabbage
was broke off entirely and quite spoiled.
May 29th
Very pleasant and warm today. Got gloriously tired today.
May 30th
Commenced raining hard about 9 o’clock and continued cloudy and mizzly.
May 31st
Partially clear today and rather pleasant.
June 1st.
Quite a fine day. Washed today. Nelson helped Mr. Newell plant corn today.
June 2nd
Threatens rain. I planted some peas and beans this morning began to rain toward noon and kept
drizzling the rest of the day. (She inserted a comment between lines – and poured down hard during the night)
June 3rd
Partially clear today. Baked and ironed today.
June 4th
Rather pleasant today though not clear.
June 5th. Clear and pleasant.
June 6th
A nice pleasant day. Had a fine S. School. Went to Mrs. Newell’s frolic this evening and before daylight
she found a little boy baby.
June 7th
Partially clear and rather pleasant. Nelson helped Mr. Newell plant today.
June 8th
Cloudy and rained hard this morning. They planted until this afternoon till the rain drove them in.
I had a stiff neck today. Rained very hard this evening. Got wet to the skin milking.
Wet
June 9th
Cloudy and unpleasant all day. Rained all night
June 10th
Still cloudy but has not rained any today. Appears like clearing off.
June 11th
Clear most of the day. Threatened rain some but did not storm any. Been washing.
Found a few strawberries this evening.
June 12th.
Weather much the same as yesterday. Been doing Saturday’s work and this afternoon helped to
replant part of the sugar cane.
June 13th
Weather still the same. Some appearance of rain at times. P. Knott & family & R Knott & Lady
& Joseph Knott were here today.
June 14th
Rather a fine day and warmer than yesterday. Been Washington
May 15th Clear and pleasant today. Been helping to plant corn and replant sugar cane. Clouded up this
afternoon and rained a little this evening.
May 16th
Cloudy this morning. Hoed in the garden some. Nelson finished planting potatoes this morning. Planted
pumpkins this afternoon and some corn and beans.
May 17th
Pleasant and warm this morning. Finished planting the corn & beans we began to plant yesterday. Been
baking & ironing and churning. Nelson plowed some this afternoon.
May 18th
Very warm today. Nelson finished plowing and marking out today. I have been baking and scrubbing.
Mary Musser and Elisabeth Newell washed here today.
May 19th
Been dropping and covering corn today. Got very tired. The weather still rather warm.
May 20th
Warm & pleasant. Went to Sabbath School today.
May 21st
Weather the same as yesterday. S.E. Lambert is here today.
May 22nd
Very warm but a fine breeze all day. Been washing.
Mary 23rd
Some appearance of rain this morning and did rain this afternoon.
May 24th
Cloudy this morning Been threatening rain all day and has rained but little.
May 25th Partially clear this forenoon. Rained some this afternoon.
May 26th
Variable, some clear, some cloudy & some rainy.
May 27th
Clear & warm
May 28th
Mostly clear all day. Atmosphere at boiling heat all day.
May 29th
Not quite so warm as yesterday and rained a little about noon.
June – missing
July 20th
Cloudy this morning but became partially clear this afternoon. This month so far has been rainy and
for the season has been rather cool. Mrs. Newell visited in the A.M. and Mrs. George, Mrs. Clark and
Mrs. Woodward in the P.M. Rained hard that afternoon and the wind blew some.
July 21st
The Good Templars had a celebration in Grand View. Last evening it threatened
rain but did not rain till 4 o’clock. It just poured down for a few minutes
and the wind blew. Joseph came here on the 16th. Nelson went to working steady
at Mrs. George’s 20th
July 21st
Washed bed tick, baked bread, moved, aired the carpet. Weeded the potato patch Chored around generally
and got very tired.
July 22nd
Rained hard this morning and continued drizzly all day.
July 23rd
Cloudy and appearing like rain.
July 24th,
July 25th
Rather a fine day
July 26th
Appears like rain. Mrs. Knott was here today. I washed.
Tattered rest of the page. ----Nelson helped Romine ---Knott rest appears to be weather conditions.
August 2nd
The sun rose clear but in a few moments, it cleared, became cloudy and rained hard for about an hour.
About 11 o’clock Nelson and I went out for blackberries & got back about 3. we got about 6 quarts.
August 3rd
Appears some like rain. Washed today.
August 4th
Partially clear today, repatted my butter today & baked.
August 5th
Very warm today. Went after berries and got 3-4 quarts. Like to give out coming home.
August 6th
Very warm and clear today.
August 7th
Another scorching day. V.C. George plowed our corn for us today.
August 8th
The warmest day this year. The sun boils hot on our heads and not a breath of air to move the
leaves even all day.
August 9th
Excessively warm all day but not so sultry.
August 10th
Weather much the same. Been ironing & baking.
August 11th
Quite cool and pleasant this fore noon but very warm after noon.
Visited Mrs. Clark & Mrs. Woodard today.
August 12th
Very warm, indeed.
August 13th
Another scorching day. Washed again. Nelson went to Columbus City.
August 14th
Very warm this morning.
August 15th
Quite a fine day. R. Knott and ? spent the day with us.
August 16th
Rather warm today.
August 17th
Quite comfortable today. Did washing. Rained a little during the night. Thundered hard.
August 18th
Clear most of the day and warm.
August 19th
Clear this morning but became cloudy and began to rain about noon. And mizzled all the rest of the day.
We had our first ripe melon this evening.
August 20th
Rained hard this morning between 3-4 o’clock. Been cloudy most of the day. S.E. Lambert visited us today.
Pulled ___ ripe melons.
August 21st
More pleasant today. Been baking
August 22nd
Rather pleasant today. Did not go to S. school today.
August 23rd
Weather still pleasant, but rather cool.
August 24th
A fine pleasant day. Been sick all day.
August 25th
Rather cloudy and looks like a storm. Has rained some.
August 26th
Looked some like rain today.
August 27th & 28th
More pleasant. Emma was one year old the 28th
August 29th
Cool and pleasant. Every body went to Camp Meeting today. Mother & I went to Mrs. Newells.
August 30th
Still pleasant. Washed today.
August 31st.
Weather still the same. Eliza Knott came here today.
September 1st
A fine day. Nelson went to Washington on the freight(?) I went to Dildine’s and Pearson’s.
September 2nd
Looked like rain. Went to Foster’s today.
September 3rd
Pleasant and warm. Went to Musser’s today.
September 4th
Still pleasant. Been baking and been choring all day.
September 5th
Still pleasant. A little cool. Nelson came home today.
September 6th
Washed today. Been rather pleasant.
September 7th
Looks some like rain, choring all day.
September 8th
Rainy. Been shoe making a little
September 9th
Still cloudy and a little cool. Been ironing.
September 10th & 11th
Weather more pleasant especially the 11th.
September 12th
Very cool this morning but clear and pleasant. Nelson & I went to P. Knott’s today.
September 13th
Still pleasant today.
September 14th & 15th
Rained some (inserted above line 14th) Weather much the same has been rather cool.
September 16th
Still pleasant. Been fussing around all day.
September 17th
Cool and pleasant. Went to Mr. Lambert’s today.
September 18th
A fine day.
September 19th
Very pleasant. Went to P. Knott’s today.
September 20th
Very pleasant. Ebenezer Musser and S. E. Lambert came to see us.
September 21st
The weather is pleasant and threatening rain.
September 22nd
Weather much the same
September 23rd
Still looks like rain. The men all or nearly all from this patch went fishing.
September 24th
Still threatens rain but rains not. Washed today.
September 25th
Looks more like clear weather.
September 26th
Rather cool but pleasant.
September 27th
Partially clear. Been washing today.
September 28th
Quite pleasant. Been ironing.
September 29th
Joseph left today.
September 30th
Weather much the same. But rather warm.
October 1st.
Pleasant day
October 2nd
Warm but windy.
October 3rd to October 8th Tattered.
October 8th
Still cold ground and water. Something to make up our sugar cane today. Ground cane this afternoon.
Nelson had a chill this evening.
October 9th
Clear and more pleasant today. Finishing grinding and boiling our cane today. Looks like rain this evening.
Emma went to sleep about 4 o’clock P.M. and slept till 10.
October 10th
Raining this morning and continued all day. Nelson had another chill this afternoon.
October 11th
Cloudy and rainy all day. Finished making molasses today.
October 12th
Weather much the same. Election came off today. G. stone & J.C. Stirling took dinner here.
October 13th
Partially clear and quite pleasant, rather windy.
October 14th
Very pleasant today. Mrs. Pierson & Mother & Mrs. Dildine visited here today.
October 15th
Very pleasant today. Helped Nelson cut corn.
October 16th
Another fine day. Worked hard today. Nelson had another chill.
October 17th
Very pleasant but windy. Went to the schoolhouse to meeting. Mr. Thompson preached.
October 18th
Rainy nearly all day. Nelson missed the ague today.
October 19th
Quite pleasant. Mr. Paullin cut corn here today.
October 20th
Cloudy most of the day. Been washing.
October 21st
Rather pleasant today. Been ironing.
October 22nd
Another pleasant day. Preserved tomatoes today.
October 23rd
Clear most of the day. Became cloudy this evening.
October 24th
Cloudy all day with high wind from the east.
October 25th
Rainy this morning and continued to mizzle a little nearly all day
October 26th
Still cloudy and rained some toward night.
October 27th
Weather still cloudy and rained at intervals all day.
October 28th
Rained quite hard this forenoon. The sun shone today a few minutes at a time. The first sunshine since the 23rd.
October 29th
Cloudy all day. A fine mist fell at intervals.
October 30th
Weather still the same.
October 31st
Clear and pleasant this morning. Saw the rising of the sun for the first time . in the past week.
Clouded up towards noon.
November 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th
Cloudy & rainy all the time. Washed the 1st and my clothes are still in the tub. Have not seen the sun
rise for the past week.
November 7th
Still cloudy but colder the sun shone two or three times today. Quite cold this evening. Went to hear
Reeder preach today. S.E. Lambert took dinner here.
November 8th
Still cloudy and threatens rain and has rained some this afternoon and snowed. I made Emma
a pair of shoes.
November 9th
Cloudy this morning but cleared up toward noon and the sun shone awhile but became cloudy
toward night. Nelson went to mill today. R. Knott brought us some beef today.
November 10th
Cloudy and rainy all day. Been ironing.
November 11th
Cloudy all day but did not rain. Nelson went to mill and after he came home we put our vegetables in the cellar.
November 12th
Weather the same this morning. I rose at ½ past 2 and washed before daylight. Snowed and rained nearly all day.
November 13th
Clear and pleasant. Saw the sun rise the first time for 2 weeks. Clouded up toward night.
November 14th.
Cloudy all day and snowed some.
November 15th Clear all day and cold. The sun set clear the first time for more than three weeks.
November 16th
Clear most of the day. Sunset clear
November 17th. 1958
Cloudy all day and been snowing. Jim Beard was married the 11th of this month.