Union Diary - BINGO - Diarist Identified!

After finding that 1880 census record, I did a little more root digging and believe I can now confirm our diarist was a farmer from Williamstown, New Jersey, by the name of JAMES McMASTER TWEED.

James McMaster Tweed (Sept 1852, NJ - 1938), a farmer in Camden and Gloucester counties in New Jersey, was the son of Irish immigrants Samuel and Rosanna (McMaster) Tweed. He married 7 January 1880 in Camden County, NJ, to Priscilla C. Godfrey (b July 1858, NJ). Their children were:

1. Stewart Leroy Tweed (21 Oct 1880 - 2 Aug 1963, NJ).

2. George Godfrey Tweed (b 26 Dec 1881), a mold maker by trade.

3. J. Richards Tweed (b June 1883 - evidently died soon after the last diary entries mention he was ill).

4. Samuel Finley Tweed (24 July 1884, NJ - Jan 1965, SC). Note the diary entries skip for several days following his birth.

5. Florence Anna Tweed (1886-1887).

7. Emma G. Tweed (1890), a public school teacher.

8. Rose Anna Tweed (26 Aug 1893, NJ - Aug 1986), a stenographer

7. William Godfrey Tweed (31 May 1895, Williamstown, NJ - 29 March 1964, SC).

References:

• 1860 Census, Camden Co, NJ, p 365.
• 1870 Census, Camden Co, NJ, p 226B.
• 1880 Census, Gloucester Co, NJ p 475A.
• 1900 Census, Gloucester Co, NJ p 206A.
• 1910 Census, Gloucester Co, NJ.
• 1920 Census, Gloucester Co, NJ, p 28B.
• International Genealogical Index, www.familysearch.com .

Union Diary - finding people in the 1880 census

Still trying to identify the 1884 diarist . . . and, I think I'm getting close.

Since the diary entries were made only a few years after the 1880 Census, I decided to take a few shots in the dark.

I started by searching records that year for one of the more unusual names from yesterday's list of people mentioned in the diary: Jeff Eldridge.

My search quickly produced a Jefferson Eldridge in Williamstown (Gloucester County), New Jersey -- right in the middle of the area I GoogleMapped. Looked like a definitely possibility, so I pulled up an image of the actual census record. I'm including a copy with this post.

What's most interesting is not just the Eldridge household, but note the names of the folks in the two adjacent households.

After the Eldridge's is a household headed by a fellow named "Casper Kanick," which is very close to another one of the names in yesterday's list: Kasper Kenict.

But, what is MORE interesting, at least in terms of this quest, is the household BEFORE the Eldridge's, transcribed here:

*Tweed, James M. - head of household - age 27 - b NJ - farmer - parents born in Ireland.
*Tweed, Priscilla - wife - age 22 - b NJ - keeping house - parents born in NJ.
* Tweed, Samuel - father - age 74 - b Ireland - parents born in Ireland.
* Wilby, Albert - other - age 19 - b PA - works on farm - parents born in Italy.
* Smith, Mary - other - age 15 - b PA - housework - parents born in PA.

I believe James M. Tweed is a good candidate for being our diarist, but not just because of his proximity to the Eldridge and Kanick/Kenict families:

(1) His wife's name is Priscilla. The diarist mentions going to church with a Priscilla.

(2) His elderly father is living on their farm.

I need to see if I can find out more about the Tweeds to confirm this hunch. So, stay tuned.

Union Diary - From places to people

Here is a list of some of the names mentioned in the diary entries, should be clues to the identity of the diarist:

Only 4 specific kin relationships:
* Cousin Jim and his wife Jennie.
* Uncle Hugh
* Uncle Hiram
* Father - died 27 August 1884

5 specific life events:
Lizzie - had a boy 19 Jan 1884
Emma - married 20 Feb 1884
Nathaniel Smith - funeral 13 April 1884
Richie Tice - funeral 24 June 1884
Mr. Taggart - buried 30 August 1884

Others mentioned with complete (or near-complete) names:
* Addison, George
* Alderman, Oliver
* Alderman, Strat
* Bateman, Henry
* Bodin, C.
* Duffield, Jos.
* Eldridge, Jeff
* Firth, Sam
* Gaunt, Lill
* Gerling, Aaron
* Harper, Charlie
* Harper, Jacob "Jake"
* Ireland, George
* Johnson, James "Jim"
* Kenict, Kasper
* Lawson, John
* Mallett, Sam
* Miller, Bob
* Miller, John
* Nicholson, C.
* Hires, S.K.
* Tweed, John/Johnny
* Tweed, Sam

Mentioned by first name or surname only:
* Addison, Mrs.
* Bugbee, Mr.
* George
* Godfrey, Fr.
* Halsey, Dr.
* Harry
* Haven, Mr.
* Mame
* Murph
* Richard
* Rob
* Rodgers, Rev.
* Ross, Mr.
* Stewart, Mr./Capt.

1884 Union Diary - Mapping places mentioned

Hoping to narrow my search geographically, I employed GoogleMaps to pinpoint some of the places mentioned in the diary entries.

With the exception of Philadelphia, PA, they all appear to be in southern NJ: Blackwood, Camden, Cross Keys, Glassboro, Gloucester, Hammonton, Malaga Mill, and Woodbury.


View 1884 Union Diary in a larger map

Union Diary - August/September 1884

Aug 15, Friday
Jake quit working for us. I was carting out manure today.

Aug 16, Saturday
Carted out the rest of my manure for wheat.

Aug 18, Monday
Warm. Hired George Addison to work at 14 dollars per month for 3 months.

Aug 19, Tuesday
I went to Markell last night, was late of getting home tonight.

Aug 20, Wednesday
Warm. Went to Blackwood & took my truck body to be fixed. Brought home my new one-horse wagon. Daisey cow with calf.

Aug 21, Thursday
Warm. Father was taken sick last night.

Aug 22, Friday
Doctor Halsey came to see Father about noon today.

Aug 23, Saturday
Doctor came today, said Father had dysentery.

Aug 26, Tuesday
Warm. Was in Markell today. Things very dull.

Aug 27, Wednesday
Pleasant. I was up with Father all last night & stayed with him all day until he died at 5pm. Uncle Hugh & Sam Tweed here when he died.

Aug 28, Thursday
Warm. Cousin Jim & Jennie came over today to help a little while.

Aug 29, Friday
Pleasant. Lizzie came tonight, alone.

Aug 30, Saturday
Warm. Lizzie went back this morning. Had a very heavy shower about 7pm. Mr. Taggart was buried today.

Aug 31, Sunday
Pleasant. Richard was taken sick yesterday with dysentery.

Sept 1, Monday
Pleasant. Father’s funeral was today. Richard very much worse today.

Union Diary - July 1884

July 1, Tuesday
Warm. Began cutting wheat today. Charlie & Jake were binding.

July 2, Wednesday
Warm. Finished cutting wheat this morning about 10am. Was cutting rye in the afternoon. Sold a calf to Bob Miller for $10.00.

July 3, Thursday
Warm. Carted in our wheat today. 8 loads. Johnnie Richards came tonight.

July 4, Friday
Warm. I bound some rye this morning, then went to Williamstown in the afternoon with George & John. George & Rose & their family came this morning. Jake went to Woodbury.

July 5, Saturday
Warm & cloudy. Finished replanting my tomatoes this morning. Planted some sugar corn this afternoon, then shocked up some rye. Jake finished the corn the 3rd time today. Had a heavy shower last night.

July 6, Sunday
Pleasant. Went to church & SS today. Stewart & George went to church, then George went home with Cousin Jim’s. They brought him home in the evening. We had a hard shower last night, and some hail.

July 7, Monday
Pleasant. Bound up some rye & carted in 3 loads in the afternoon. Jake began the corn this morning & worked til noon.

July 8, Tuesday
Cool. Jake cut a piece of rye this morning & bound it up. We carted it in this afternoon. Father went to Blackwood with 1cwt of flour.

July 9, Wednesday
Pleasant. Jake was working in the corn all day. I was working in the truck. Ploughed the watermelons, citrons, etc.

July 10, Thursday
Warm. Jake finished in the corn this morning, then we were working in the cabbage & tomatoes. I went to church at night.

July 11, Friday
Warm. Jake was helping Jeff thresh in the morning, then we threshed our wheat & rye rakings in the afternoon.

July 12, Saturday
Warm. Jake was working in the cabbage in the morning & I harrowed down my late potatoes. In the afternoon, we cut some rye.

July 13, Sunday
Warm. Went to church in the morning & took Stewart & George. Did not go to SS. Went to Blackwood in the evening.

July 14, Monday
Cool. We finished our new ground rye this morning, then Jake began in the corn. I cut off my hedge in the afternoon.

July 15, Tuesday
Warm. Jake was working in the corn. I went to Blackwood & took 1 cwt of flour. Got some corn & bran at the mill.

July 16, Wednesday
Warm. Jake finished working in the corn before dinner. I was working in the tomatoes. We went down to Williamstown in the evening.

July 17, Thursday
Cool. I took Hebe home this morning. Uncle Hiram & I went to Camden & bought a horse. Jake worked in the cabbage with the gang plow.

July 18, Friday
Cool. Jake tried to cut the oats with the reaper, but had to give it up. They were so short. We sowed some flat turnips in the afternoon.

July 19, Saturday
Warm. We put the manure in for our rutabaga turnips today.

July 24, Thursday
Sowed our rutabaga turnips today.

Union Diary - June 1884

June 7, Saturday
Warm. Henry Bateman & I went to Paulsboro & got our new carriages. I traded our old one in part pay.

June 8, Sunday
Clear & warm. Floral gathering.

June 9, Monday
Warm. Went down to the town hall to clear away the remains of the festival.

June 10, Tuesday
Warm. Father went for Emma this morning.

June 11, Wednesday
Cloudy & rainy. Finished setting out cabbage plants today. 7,660.

June 12, Thursday
Cloudy & warm. Went to the city & got a woman to work. Got home at 9:30pm. Flora was taken sick & died about half past 11.

June 13, Friday
Warm. Buried Flora in the field back of the house.

June 14, Saturday
Warm. Finished putting out tomatoe plants today. Jake finished going through the corn the second time. Went down to Father Godfrey’s in the eve.

June 15, Sunday
Pleasant. Went to church in the morning, did not go to S.S. Went to Mrs. Ross in the evening.

June 16, Monday
Cool. Heavy frost last night. Got 500 bran today.

June 17, Tuesday
Warm. Jake carted out some manure for potatoes.

June 18, Wednesday
Warm. Began mowing this afternoon. I got a calf from Kasper Kenict.

June 19, Thursday
Warm. Began casting in hay today. Jake went to Cross Keys picnic in the afternoon.

June 20, Friday
Very warm. Working in the hay today. Charlie Harper helped.

June 21, Saturday
Warm. Finished one field of hay today. Had 8 loads on 15 acres. Went to Blackwood in the evening & got Hebe. Charlie Harper was here.

June 22, Sunday
Warm. Went to church in the morning & SS in the afternoon. Took the children.

June 23, Monday
Very warm. Finished cutting our hay today. Had 2 small loads on 4 acres.

June 24, Tuesday
Warm. Was hoe harrowing in the afternoon. Went to Richie Tice’s funeral in the morning.

June 25, Wednesday
Warm.

June 26, Thursday
Cool. Raining hard from 3am until 10. Was setting out tomatoe plants this afternoon.

June 27, Friday
Cool & pleasant. Jake plowed for potatoes & I replanted cabbage. Father got a calf from John Tweed.

June 28, Saturday
Pleasant. Planted pumpkins today, then put out some sweet potatoes.

June 29, Sunday
Cool. Went to church & S School & took George & Steewart. Sam Mallett was here for supper.

June 30, Monday
Pleasant. Planted potatoes today. Charlie Harper was helping.

Union Diary - May 1884

May 1, Thursday
Warm & dry. Cutting hedge in the morning. Went down to get a plow point after dinner. Jake finished the sod field & began ploughing the cabbage ground. Went to church in the evening.

May 2, Friday
Very warm. Sowed some cabbage seed in the morning. Planted corn in the garden & some beans. Cut some hedge in the afternoon.

May 3, Saturday
Rather cooler. Father went to the mill, took 4 bsh wheat for flour. I was cutting hedge nearly all day.

May 4, Sunday
Pleasant. Went to church in the morning & took Stewart to S.S. in the afternoon.

May 5, Monday
Warm & dry. Went to the Cross Keys in the morning. Took my big harrow to get it fixed. Began harrowing down my potatoes. Jake finished the cabbage field & began the truck field.

May 6, Tuesday
Hard shower in the morning. I went & got my harrow, then finished my potatoes. Began rolling my cabbage ground. Began raining hard about 4 o’clock.

May 7, Wednesday
Rainy & disagreeable. We went down & got 2 loads of lime in the morning. Jake harrowed corn ground in the afternoon. I went down to the cars after some bran, but did not get it.

May 8, Thursday
Cloudy. I got a load of lime & Jake finished harrowing one way. Jake & I began casting out manure for cabbage after dinner. I went down in the evening and got my bran.

May 9, Friday
We had a good rain last night. Carted out 15 loads of manure today.

May 10, Saturday
Pleasant. Carted out 14 loads of manure today. Sold a load of hay to a man from Hamonton. Jake went away about 4 o’clock.

May 11, Sunday
Cool & clear. Went to church in the morning & took Stewart. Went to S.S. in the afternoon & church at night.

May 12, Monday
Clear. Jake has carted 3 loads of lime. I have been putting in manure fore watermelons, citrons, etc.

May 13, Tuesday
Clear & cool. Jake & I each carted 3 loads of lime today.

May 14, Wednesday
Cloudy. Had a good shower in the night. Jake carted 1 load of lime, then began harrowing. I began to mark out corn ground after dinner.

May 15, Thursday
Clear & cool. Began planting corn about 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Had Lill Gaunt & Charlie to help drop. I covered with the corn coverer.

May 16, Friday
Clear & cold. Planting corn all day. Jake got through marking today.

May 17, Saturday
Clear & warmer. Finished planting corn about 10 o’clock. Jake was rolling & harrowing. Carted some hay down in the afternoon from the other barn.

May 18, Sunday
Pleasant. Went to church & S. School & took Stewart. We all went over to Cousin Jim’s after supper & stayed a little while.

May 19, Monday
Warm. Jake & I went after 2 loads of street dirt. Stopped at Blackwood and got our dinner & got 2 horses shod.

May 20, Tuesday
Warm. We had a very nice rain last night. Jake took 4 horses after street dirt. I planted watermelons, citrons, cucumbers, squash, cabbage seed & tomatoe, etc. Went down to church in the eve.

May 21, Wednesday
Warm. Jake brought another load of street dirt. Father, George & I building fence all day. Put our cows out on pasture this afternoon for the first.

May 22, Thursday
Warm. Jake went after street dirt & took Father Godfrey’s horse home. Sam Firth came & bought our calves. 544 lbs @ 7.25 = $39.50.

May 23, Friday
Warm. Jake went for the last load of street dirt, took the calves down to S. Firth. George & I have been [illegible] greening potatoes all day.

May 24, Saturday
Warm. Jake carterd 2 loads of marl from halfway. I have been hoe harrowing early potatoes.

May 25, Sunday
Warm. Went to church & S. School & took Stewart. John Miller was here in the afternoon & stayed for supper. Charlie Harper was turning manure all day.

May 26, Monday
Pleasant. Jake began plowing cabbage & tomatoe ground over again. I finished harrowing potatoes. Charlie Harper turning manure again.

May 27, Tuesday
Pretty warm. Jake was ploughing. I have been putting in manure for tomatoes & building fence, etc. Charlie Harper finished turning manure.

May 28, Wednesday
Began raining about five o’clock this morning & rained nearly all day. Henry Bateman & Father & I went to Paulsboro to see some carriages at Cox Bros.

May 29, Thursday
Cold. Jake & Charlie Harper have been putting in manure for cabbage all day.

May 30, Friday
Cold. We were putting in manure in the morning. Set out 2,000 cabbages in the afternoon. Jake was ploughing in the pm.

May 31, Saturday
Cold yet. Putting in manure for cabbages. Father & I went to church in the afternoon.

Union Diary - April 1884

April 1, Tuesday
Snowed a little this morning. Finished harrowing stubs & began ploughing for oats about 11 o’clock.

April 2, Wednesday
Raining nearly all day. Went over to J. Harper’s in the afternoon to see about getting Jake to come work for me. He agreed to come tomorrow morning and try it for 1 month, promised him 14 dollars per month.

April 3, Thursday
Clear & cold. Jacob Harper came as he promised, has been plowing for oats all day. I turned 2 of my cowposts today.

April 4, Friday
Very windy. Jake has been plowing all day. I have been carting stalks off the oat ground today.

April 5, Saturday
Cold & windy. Jake finished plowing & harrowing the oat ground today. Have been turning manure all day.

April 6, Sunday
Clear & cold. Went to church & S. School & Church at night.

April 7, Monday
Clear & not quite so cold. Jake drilled in the oats then began plowing the potatoe ground. Charlie Harper helped me turn manure in the forenoon.

April 8, Tuesday
Cloudy. Began raining about 4pm. Jake was plowing until it came on to rain, finished turning my manure today.

April 9, Wednesday
Rainy in the morning. Went down to the store before dinner. Began snowing at noon & snowed hard all the afternoon.

April 10, Thursday
Clear & cool. About 2 inches of snow on the ground. Jake went to the mill in the morning and brought back a load of marl. Scraped roads in the afternoon.

April 11, Friday
Windy. We were scraping roads al day. Had Jeff’s horse

April 12, Saturday
Very nice day. Scraping roads again today. Got home about 4pm. Had Jeff’s horse today.

April 13, Sunday
Pleasant. Went to church in the morning. After dinner, went down to Nathaniel Smith’s funeral, then went to S. School.

April 14, Monday
Clear & very nice day. Went for a load of marl half way & brought my feed from the mill, too. Harrowed my potatoe ground in the afternoon with Flora & Jeff’s horse.

April 15, Tuesday
Raining in the morning, stopped between 10 & 11. Jake finished plowing the tomatoe patch this afternoon. I went down to Bodine’s Mill. C. Harper was chopping wood this pm.

April 16, Wednesday
Clear & warm. Went to C. Nicholson’s after some oats. Jake harrowed & drilled in the oats this am. Planting potatoes in the afternoon. C. Harper helped us. He was chopping in the morning.

April 17, Thursday
Clear & cool. Planting potatoes all day. Charlie Harper helping us.

April 18, Friday
Clear & some colder. Planting potatoes again. C. Harper helping. Planted all the potatoes I had.

April 19, Saturday
Clear & little warmer. Went down to the mill. Got 1 ½ bush pota from Bodine’s, finished planting today. Jake began ploughing for corn. I went to Glassboro after guano this afternoon.

April 20, Sunday
Pleasant. Went to church in the morning. Rev. Mr. Rodgers from Hamonton preached. Went to S. School in the afternoon.

April 21, Monday
Clear & warm. Jake was ploughing. I ploughed the garden & sowed some peas. Kade Sharp. Got a pair of pigs & took a pair for Mrs. Addison.

April 22, Tuesday
Somewhat cloudy in the morning, but came out nice. Carted some stalks in the morning then went down & helped Rob & Sam put up Mame’s tombstone & fixed our own lot.

April 23, Wednesday
Warm. Was working in the garden all day. Sowed some tomatoe seed & some cabbage seed. Father went to the mill, took 1 cwt flour to Blackwood & brought Father Godfrey’s horse home.

April 24, Thursday
Warm, cold & cloudy towards evening. Was harrowing out stubs with Flora & Hebe, casting fence away in the afternoon. Jake was ploughing all day. John Lawson came & got Harry’s pigs.

April 25, Friday
Cloudy in the am & rainy in the afternoon. Began raining hard about 6 o’clock. I was carting rails all day. Jake was ploughing with 3 horses this afternoon. Charlie Harper turning manure today.

April 26, Saturday
Clear & pleasant. Went to the store in the morning then carted out some manure. Jake was ploughing all day. Sold a load of hay this afternoon.

April 27, Sunday
Very nice day. Went to church in the morning, to S. School in the afternoon. Took Stewart with us, then went to Ch in the evening. Stopped at Mr. Bugbee’s coming home.

April 28, Monday
Warm. Finished carting rails for fence. Jake was ploughing all day.

April 29, Tuesday
Warm. I ploughed & harrowed the peach lot today, then put in the sweet potatoes for hot bed. Jake is still ploughing.

April 30, Wednesday
Warm. Sowed some more tomatoe seed. Began cutting off my hedge in the afternoon. Jake is ploughing.

Union Diary - March 1884

March 1, Saturday
Clear & cold. Went to the mill & marl pits. Took 1 cwt of flour down to Father Godfrey’s. Got 2 horses shod in front. Brought home a load of marl.

March 2, Sunday
Snowing nearly all day. Went to church in the morning. Snowed too hard to go to S. School.

March 3, Monday
Cold with snow nearly all day. Put new runner on the stalk sled, then got a load of fodder on it. Went to Mrs. Addison’s in the evening with the clothes.

March 4, Tuesday
Very cold. Went for a load of marl. Brought some stalks after dinner.

March 5, Wednesday
Moderated. Began snowing at 7 o’clock & snowed all day. Brought a load of marl. Stopped snowing in the evening.

March 6, Thursday
Clody. About 2 inches of snow on the ground. Went for a load of marl today.

March 7, Friday
Cloudy & rainy. Brought a load of marl today. Roads are getting soft.

March 8, Saturday
Cloudy in the morning, began raining hard about noon. Went to church in the afternoon. Brought a load of marl from halfway.

March 9, Sunday
Went to church in the morning. It was our communion. Began raining at 11 o’clock & kept it up until 2. Emma and her husband came this morning and stayed until evening. I did not go to S. School.

March 10, Monday
Clear & cold. Went for a load of marl. Got a load of fodder in the afternoon. Had 3 different men to see me about hiring them. Hired James Johnson at 15 dollars for 9 months & 14 for 3 m’s.

March 11, Tuesday
Pleasant. Went to the mill & brought home a load of marl, then went down to town meeting in the afternoon. Rosie cow had a calf last night.

March 12, Wednesday
Warm & cloudy. Brought a load of marl today. Took 1 cwt flour down to Father Godfrey. James Johnson began working for us today. Threw out the manure out of the hog pen.

March 13, Thursday
Cloudy & looks like storm. Carted 2 loads of lime & spread it. Went to church at night. Father got a rooster from Murph’s today.

March 14, Friday
Snowed a little this morning, then it turned to rain & has been raining all day. Began raining at twelve o’clock last night. Jim shelled a bsh. Corn this afternoon.

March 15, Saturday
Pleasant. Carted 3 loads of lime today. Jimmie turned 4 cowposts. Old sow had pigs today.

March 16, Sunday
Pleasant. Went to church in the morning & S. School in the afternoon.

March 17, Monday
Clear & cold. Went down after a load of lime. Stopped to see the committee. After dinner, spread my load of lime, then went over to Smith’s after the new pennock scraper.

March 18, Tuesday
Clear & pleasant. Scraping roads all day. Cousin Jim was helping me.

March 19, Wednesday
Raining hard all day.

March 20, Thursday
Cloudy. Olliver Alderman came up to see me. Brought a load of stalks before dinner. After dinner, cut some wood, then went up and loaded a load of Mr. Stewarts mooving.

March 21, Friday
Cloudy. Took a load of mooving up to Gloucester, then came around by Woodbury & got a load of cancerine. 2,240 lbs. Started at 4am. Got back at 7:30pm.

March 22, Saturday
Pleasant. Unloaded my king crab in the morning & went to the tin smith’s sale in the afternoon.

March 23, Sunday
Clear & warm. Went to church & S. School.

March 24, Monday
Warm. Rained hard last night. Carted some stalks, then harrowed out corn stubs in the afternoon. Then had another load of mooving in trade for a calf.

March 25, Tuesday
Pleasant & warm. Scraping roads all day with my 3 horses. Jeff helped me until 3pm.

March 26, Wednesday
Cloudy. Rained hard nearly all night. Chopping wood. Went down with my claf to the station. It weighed 224 lbs at 7-cents, brought back some coal 880lbs. Got Mr. Stewart’s calf.

March 27, Thursday
Pleasant. Went up with a load for Capt. Stewart. Brought my oats, 10bsh @ 56 - 15 bsh rose potatoes @ .75, 2 bbl Beauty of Hebron @ $1.25 per bbl, ½ ton bran @ [illegible] per ton Got home at 11pm.

March 28, Friday
Clear. Harrowing out corn stubs in morning. Began sowing clover seed after dinner. Father went to the mill for cow feed.

March 29, Saturday
Very nice day. Sowing & harrowing clover seed all day. Finished tonight.

March 30, Sunday
Cold & bright. Went to church in morning, S. School in afternoon & church in the evening to the missionary concert.

March 31, Monday
Clear & cold. Unloaded my potatoes & got a load of wood in the forenoon & harrowed out stubs on the oats ground in the afternoon.

Union Diary - February 1884

Feb 1, Friday
Clear & ruddy. Brought a 3-horse load of marl. Went around to the mill & got my cow feed.

Feb 2, Saturday
Clear, roads very rough, brought a load of marl. Began using corn out of the crib in the wagon shed.

Feb 3, Sunday
Pleasant. Went to church in the morning & S. School in the afternoon.

Feb 4, Monday
Cloudy. Roads weren’t fit to go after marl. Carted out 6 loads of manure, brought in a sled load of stalks.

Feb 5, Tuesday
Cloudy in the morning. Chopped some wood & shelled 10 bushels of corn.

Feb 6, Wednesday
Warm & cloudy. Took my corn down to Bodine’s mill & got it ground in the morning. In the afternoon, I helped pick 3 pairs of chickens.

Feb 7, Thursday
Showery all day. Sharpened wood saw & hand saw before dinner. Afternoon, went down to Bob Miller with the chickens, then went to Mrs. Addison’s after the clothes.

Feb 8, Friday
Rainy, disagreeable day, very muddy. Fixing up my cow stables. Put in new polls. Carted 3 loads of gravel.

Feb 9, Saturday
Raining nearly all day. Carted 2 stacks of corn stalks in the afternoon.

Feb 10, Sunday
Clear & muddy. Went to church in the morning, and afternoon to S.S.

Feb 11, Monday
Rainy & very disagreeable. Roads are very muddy. Snowed some last night. Went to Mrs. Addison’s with the clothes.

Feb 12, Tuesday
Rainey & bad roads. Finished fixing cow stables, carted 2 loads gravel.

Feb 13, Wednesday
Went to the store in the morning, took Stewart with me. Carted 4 stacks of corn fodder in the afternoon.

Feb 14, Thursday
Chopping wood at the wood pile. Went to church at night.

Feb 15, Friday
Somewhat colder. Ground frozen this morning. Carting out manure today, 6 loads. Went to church tonight.

Feb 16, Saturday
Ground frozen hard this morning. Carted out 6 loads of manure today. Sold Jeff 20 quarts of milk today.

Feb 17, Sunday
Very stormy day. Went to church in the morning & S. School in the afternoon.

Feb 18, Monday
Clear & pleasant in the morning, showery in the evening. I went to church at night. Carted a load of coal pit bottom & put in the hog pen.

Feb 19, Tuesday
Foggy & cloudy all day. Carted another load of stuff for hog pen. Put 15 cartloads of gravel in front of cow stables.

Feb 20, Wednesday
Clear 7 cold. Went to the mill in the morning & Capt. Stewart’s sale in the afternoon. Bought drag chain & long chain & platform scale.

Feb 21, Thursday
Clear & pleasant. Went after a load of marl. Took some wheat to the mill. Went to church in the evening. Emma was married last night.

Feb 22, Friday
Pleasant. Brought a load of marl today. Went down to the Station & got ½ ton of bran from Camden, $1.20 per. Went to church in the evening.

Feb 23, Saturday
Raining in the morning with thunder & lightning, with snow squalls after dinner. Clear & cold in the evening.

Feb 24, Sunday
Clear & pleasant. Went to church & S. School. Johnny Tweed was here for dinner & supper. Cousin Jim & Jennie came in the afternoon & stayed for tea.

Feb 25, Monday
Cold in the morning, but clear. Strat Alderman & I went down to Olliver’s hog killing today. Killed 18. Weight 4,513.

Feb 26, Tuesday
Cloudy & looks like rain. Rained last night. Carting out manure today. Took out 5 loads.

Feb 27, Wednesday
Pleasant today. Carted out some more manure. 7 loads. Went to see Jacob Harper about working.

Feb 28, Thursday
Raining in the morning, but soon cleared. Went after the clothes. Went to see Aaron Gerling but he could not promise. Getting cold.

Feb 29, Friday
Cold & very windy. Carted some fodder & went to the store.

Union Diary - January 1884

Jan 1, Tuesday
Cousin Jim and Jennie came over and spent the day. John and self helped him build a sled. It was very disagreeable, rained nearly all day.

Jan 5, Saturday
Snowing in the morning. John was at home. Afternoon, carted wood & stalks.

Jan 6, Sunday
Clear & very cold. Went to church & S. School.

Jan 7, Monday
Clear & cold. John carting ice for C. Bodin. Went to S. & Boody’s mill. Went to church at night.

Jan 8, Tuesday
Rainy & drizzly day. Went to George Ireland’s sale in the afternoon. Bought church & horse for 75; scythe & sheath, 15.

Jan 9, Wednesday
Rained in the morning. John did not go away with team. Measured up wheat in the afternoon. Sold Amy’s calf to Bob Miller. 225lbs & 8oz. Went to ch. at night.

Jan 10, Thursay
John took 60 bushels wheat to Malaga Mill. I tweight 61 5/6 bsh. $1.15 per bsh.

Jan 11, Friday
Rained hard in afternoon. John got a load of marl.

Jan 12, Saturday
Cold. John got a load of S. dirt chopping wood at the woodpile. Snowed a little last night.

Jan 13, Sunday
Clear & cold. Went to church in morning, S. School in afternoon.

Jan 14, Monday
Clear & pleasant. Went to Phila. & Camden, engaged my pork to S.K. Hires. Got home at 10:30pm. Began snowing about 11pm.

Jan 15, Tuesday
Snowing all day, about 4 or 5 inches.

Jan 16, Wednesday
Snowed last night. John went to mill. Clear & cold.

Jan 17, Thursday
Clear & cold in the morning, coldest night this winter yet. John brought a load of street dirt today. Priscilla & I went to church tonight.

Jan 18, Friday
Clear & present. John got a load of dirt, chopped wood all day.

Jan 19, Saturday
Rainy day. Went to the store in the morning. Helped John get a load of wood in the afternoon.

Jan 20, Sunday
Priscilla & I went to church in the morning. I went to S. School in the afternoon. Snowing a little nearly all day.

Jan 21, Monday
Very cold this morning. Chopping wood all day. John got a load of S. dirt. I took the clothes up to Mrs. Addison’s . Nellie cow had a calf.

Jan 22, Tuesday
Clear & not so cold as yesterday. Settled with Jos. Duffield. Cut a load of wood after dinner, then went to the store. John bought a load of dirt.

Jan 23, Wednesday
Pleasant day. John got a load of S. dirt then went to Brooks Hurf for sale. I cut a load of wood in the woods after dinner.

Jan 24, Thursday
Began raining about 7am, has rained hard all day. John has been over home since last night.

Jan 25, Friday
Cold & somewhat cloudy. Went after a load of S. dirt myself. Roads are quite slippery. John has not come back, yet.

Jan 26, Saturday
Clear & cold. John got a load of S. dirt, came back last night. Had a letter from Mr. Haven. Lizzie had a boy born last Sunday.

Jan 27, Sunday
Clear & pleasant. Went to church in the morning & S. School in the afternoon.

Jan 28, Monday
Snowy & rainy. Killed our hogs today. Jim & Strat & Jeff were here. John brought a load of marl from half way. 288+258+200+154+188=1,088.

Jan 29, Tuesday
Very changeable. Snowed hard in the morning. Started for Camden at 5am with my pork. Sold it to S.K. Hires @2 ½ for 1,072 lbs. Jeff Eldridge began selling milk, engaged ours at 4-cents per qt.

Jan 30, Wednesday
Cold & slippery. John got a load of street dirt, had his horses sharpened at Blackwood.

Jan 31, ThursdayRainy, very slippery. Went to help Strat Alderman kill hogs. John took 1 cwt flour to Father Godfrey, brought back a load of marl. John has left tonight to go home & farm for his father. 195+223+255=678.

Union Diary - 1884

This little bit of ephemera is a definite mystery, as I cannot figure out who the diarist was! Nowhere does he (or she) give his (or her) name. So, I'm going to try to use some of the clues in the daily entries to figure it out.

Here's what I know so far:

1. The diary was produced by Siebeling Brothers, Blank Book Manufacturers, 5th & Walnut Streets, Philadelphia.

2. Places in southern New Jersey are mentioned (i.e. Camden and Glassboro).

3. Entries begin 1 January 1884 and were made almost daily thru 1 September 1884, and mostly give accounts of farm life.

4. The diarist's father died on 27 August 1884. This may be an important clue. Diary entries come to an end the day of his funeral.

Posts to follow will give transcripts of actual diary entries (by month). Maybe, you blog readers will spot a familiar name or other clue that will help identify the person who kept this diary.