Diary 1862: The complete text

This is the text of a diary for the year 1862 by my great-great grandmother, Catharine Sutton Siglin, who lived in Willow Creek township, Lee County, Illinois, on the traditional land of the Potawatomi people, near the current location of the Mendota Hills Wind Farm.

Catharine was born on 15 October 1833 in Pennsylvania and married Amos Siglin on 19 October 1851, a few days after her eighteenth birthday. She and Amos, with two small daughters, moved west to Illinois in 1855, as did many others from their area of Pennsylvania.

After her diary entry for August 18th, Catharine stops writing. I arrived at a theory for why she might have stopped, but after working to track down all the people she names, I’ve changed my mind somewhat. Of the 22 men she mentions, seven of them joined the 75th Illinois infantry in August and marched off to war. I still think that losing her employee and friend John contributed to her loss of interest in writing. But John’s absence was just one part of a larger gap. Catharine chronicles constant interactions with neighbors and friends. They came many miles to pitch in with farm work; they held dances; they stopped by to give an impromptu flute concert. And after August, many of them were gone.

I hope you enjoy Catharine’s voice as much as I do.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4

brout one load of
wood from maluginsMalugin’s Grove, a wooded area on the border of Viola and Brooklyn townships . About 8 miles from the Siglin home.
in the after noon
went over to GoblesThere was a Goble family in Wyoming Township, the next township to the south of the Siglins:
Chas Goble 37 Farmer
Ezekiel Goble 39 Ditto
Margaret Goble 35 Servant

avisiting

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5

all day at home
snowed in the
after noon

MONDAY, JANUARY 6

brout one loade of
wood from malugins
clear beautiful slaing [sleighing]
hitched the colts
brought the childernMary Elizabeth (b. 14 Sep 1852), Dollie (b. 13 Aug 1854) and William (b. 25 Aug 1857). A fourth child, Barbara, would be born on 05 Sep 1863. from schoolPossibly the Vroman school mentioned in . It would have been about 3 miles from the Siglin home.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7

went to the grove with fatherWilliam Sutton, b. 20 Aug 1810 in New York, d. 10 Oct 1879 in Paw Paw, IL. His property was adjacent to the Siglin home in Willow Creek Township. He served as the township’s assessor in 1860 and 1862 . . brout
the childern from
school. LottyCharlotte Jackson, age 17, is listed as a servant in the 1860 census record of the Siglin household. She is also listed as the daughter of Joel Jackson, a blacksmith and a neighbor in Willow Creek township. had the
ear ache. JohnJohn Singler[?], age 21, Farm laborer, is listed in the 1860 census record for the Siglin household. See part 4 of the series on this diary for more about John’s identity. went to

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8

singing.
brout aload of oats
from argravesSamuel Argrave owned property in Willow Creek and Brooklyn townships . He was married to a Martha Miller, who may have been related to Catharine’s mother Barbara Miller . He helped organize the Episcopal church to which Catharine’s uncle Adam Miller also belonged . went
to alonsProbably Allen’s Grove, a wooded area in Willow Creek township southeast of the Siglin home . notes, “The Indian trail from Ottawa [Illinois] north to the hunting grounds in Wisconsin ran through Allen’s Grove. The Indians were once paid their annuities by the government at this place.” brout aload
of wood a misty thawing
day

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9

went to the quarry
brout to loads
went to FeatherleesProbably the George Featherby family of Brooklyn Township listed in the 1860 census:
Geo Featherby, 30, Blacksmith
Sarah Featherby, 24
Andrew Featherby, 5
Yates Featherby, 3

to the Dance had
aquarl with AlfI have been unable to identify Alf.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10

Avery cold blustry
morning Sawd wood
in the shop

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11

amisty blustry
morning went to
malugins brout
aloade of wood

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12

avery cold windy
day Meritt and
Elment MillerMerritt (b. about 1842) and Clement (b. about 1843) were the sons of Adam Miller, Catharine’s mother’s brother, who lived across the way from the Siglins. was
here John Sick
All day at home

MONDAY, JANUARY 13

took aload of stone
to the flat brout
aload of wood
Jim Jo and MatI am unable to identify Jim, Jo and Mat. Catharine refers to Jim Vosburg as “Jim Vosburg”, making me think that this Jim, the default Jim, is someone else; but that’s as much as I can infer.
was here

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14

brout aload of
wood from alons grov
very cold and snow
alittle in the evning

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15

clear cold wind
blowing snow flying
rubed the harness
and choped wood
snowed at nite

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16

went to lane“Lane” was the former name of Rochelle, Illinois . It is about 25 miles from the Siglin home.
clear plesent
winter day snowd
at nite

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17

tended domestick
afars at home
snowed at nite

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18

went to shop
sawed and choped
wood went with
Jim to old nosysI wish I knew who “old nosy” was. I don’t know if it’s a name or a characteristic.
rained anite

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19

warm and fogy
to day
went to AdrinsEvins Adrian owned the 1300-acre Glenwood Farm in Viola Township, just northeast of Malugin’s Grove . When Viola Township was organized in 1861, Evins Adrian was appointed its first “poor master” , with the responsibility to distribute public money to the poor . I expect it would have been intimidating for the poor people in the township to approach such a wealthy man for help.
to Church

MONDAY, JANUARY 20

All hands went to
the debateSee part 4 of my series on the diary for more about this series of debates.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21

VanpatterYates Vanpatter owned land in Willow Creek township kitty-corner from Catharine’s uncle Adam Miller. His household appears in the 1860 census as
Yates Vanpater, 29, Farmer
Maria, 28 VausburgSardis or Sardias Vosburg or Vosburgh owned land in section 23 of Willow Creek Township . There is also a Samuel Vosburg listed in the 1860 census for Brooklyn Township . James and Nancy Vosburg(h), whom Catharine later mentions by name, appear in the 1860 census in Shabbona Township, DeKalb county, next door to Sardias, who was 11 years younger than James , and, like James, was born in Pennsylvania. Maybe Sardias and James were brothers or cousins?
was here and
wee made asled

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22

went to EarlvillEarlville, Illinois is in LaSalle County, about 24 miles southeast of the Siglin home.
with aload of
wheat went to
JacksonsPresumably the family of hired girl Charlotte Jackson. in the
evning oister supper

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23

brout aload of
wood from malugins
grove

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24

whent to the Stone
hill
Nancy vansburg[?]
came home

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25

all at home Golector[?]I can’t tell if this is a name or, maybe, a reference to a bill collector.
here A^dom Miller
here and settled

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26

went to vousburgs
in the evning

MONDAY, JANUARY 27

the wind blows
the snow flies
in the evning it
rained

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28

Still rains drawed
hay in the barn
recieved an order
of Fetherbee to pay
tax

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29

dredful cold
went down on the
flat

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30

John and i went to
twinTwin Groves, a wooded area in Willow Creek Township about 10 miles southeast of the Siglin home . to
singing

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31

went to Vanpatter
went to School
went to Vausburg
and shoveled
snow

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1

brout aload of wood
from alens grove
skined acalf
had bet shod

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2

avery pleasant
morning uncle was
here
all day at home

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3

John greeced harness
brout aload of wood
from malugins grove
went to the debate

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4

NickPossibly Nicholas Knapp, listed in the 1860 census for Willow Creek Township:
Nicholas, 26, Farmer
Elizabeth, 24
Anna, 2
Carrie, 6/12
John Miller, 7
. According to the census, Nicholas and Elizabeth were both born in Germany.
helped draw
wood alens grove
Vanpatters and us
to Lanes[?] avisiting

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5

aload of wood from
malugins grove
recieved forty dolars
from the flat

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6

John went north
bought aload of
wud from malugins
started for donationi.e. a benefit. describes a donation for “old Mr. Warriner,” a well-loved preacher. When his friends wanted to round out the amount of money raised on his behalf, they suggested raffling off a cake, “but old Mr. Warriner was opposed to anything like a lottery” so they found another way to raise the money.
broke down

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7

brout aloade of wood
from malugins

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8

brout aload of wood
from malugins
JewettProbably the Samuel Jewett listed two households after Adam Miller in the 1860 census:
Samuel Jewett, 38, Farm laborer
Ann, 39
Lydia, 11
Joseph, 9
Almina(?), 5
Alvina(?) L, 5
spent the
evning

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9

avery clear cold
morning A went to
millers

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10

brought aload of wood
from malugins
went to the Debate

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11

astormy day Jim
Vausburg cleened
wheet
John came home

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12

went to pawpawPaw Paw, Illinois is in Wyoming Township, Lee County, about 15 miles from the Siglin home. It is named for the pawpaw (Asimina triloba) trees that grew there when the white settlers first arrived. Catharine Siglin’s grandson Frank Smith, my grandfather, grew up in Paw Paw, where his father was an undertaker and furniture dealer. came
home sick with the headacheCatharine’s expression here – the headache rather than a headache – makes me wonder if she suffered from migraines. Of her descendants, her daughter Mary certainly had migraines; so does my mother, and my sister and I have also had them.
Vanpatter and wife Vausburg
and wife was here

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13

dreadful cold worked
on the wood pile

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14

dreadful cold another
calf work around the
house whent to school
in the after noon

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15

still cold as ever
worked on the
wood pile

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16

aplesent winter day
went sleying to the
ofice and all around

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17

ablustry day worked
on the woodpile
and ablow at nig
ht and dredful cold

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18

worked on the wood
pile all day uncle
yates Fetherbee whare
here paid Fetherbee

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19

cleaned oats chaped
wood
and went to Vanpatter
at night and it snowed
like fun

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20

abeautiful morning
whent to mendotaMendota, Illinois is in LaSalle county, about 20 miles from the Siglin home.
John whent with
Vansburg to alins
grove Mr Tomas I am unable to identify Mr Tomas. He’s the only person to whom Catharine gives the prefix “Mr” in her diary. and
lib JonesI am unable to identify Lib Jones. was here

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21

whent to pawpaw
had a good time

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22

misty and fogy

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23

still misty fogy

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24

clear winter morning

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25

the last day of
school very windy
and cold

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26

whent to the grove

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27

whent to the grove
John helped Father
John huntPossibly the John A. Hunt listed in Wyoming Township in the 1860 census: John A. Hunt, 34, Farmer
Sarah Hunt, 33
Mary Hunt, 11
Nancy Hunt, 6
He appears in the Lee County plat book index for 1863 on section 22 in Wyoming Township . Like other men mentioned in Catharine’s diary, he served in Company K of the 75th Illinois Infantry in the Civil War . After the war, he and his wife Sarah moved to Allendale, Missouri and were baptized into the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was here
with a cumpeny describes surprise parties in which “Someone that had a team and sled or wagon would get a few friends or perhaps a whole load of them and drive to friends without sending any notice that they were coming. If they were late in getting there, sometimes part of the young folks would be in bed before the company arrived; but they were generally so glad to see their friends that they would get up and welcome them and visit and play games or sing for a few hours.” I wonder what would happen if we tried to bring back this idea now….

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28

whent to lane
whent to sicamoreSycamore, Illinois is the county seat of DeKalb County, about 35 miles from the Siglin home.
Charles Goble was
here with adrove[?]

SATURDAY, MARCH 1

come home from
Sicamore
whent to singing
it rained hailed
and blowed

SUNDAY, MARCH 2

astormy morning
whent to Adrins
rained hailed
and snowed whent
to fathers paid MotherBarbara Miller Sutton (25 Dec 1812-12 Nov 1879) was one of seven children of Frederick Miller and Catherine Brown or Brong. Born in Pennsylvania, she came to Illinois with her husband in 1855 . Her brother Adam followed in 1857
30

MONDAY, MARCH 3

The most dredful
day i ever saw the
wind blew the snow
flew in adredful way
Featherbee was here

TUESDAY, MARCH 4

bad as ever to blow

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5

alittle better the
sun peeps out
now and then
whent up to Feathers

THURSDAY, MARCH 6

aclear morning
drawed in hay home
drawed in for Father
whent to the donation

FRIDAY, MARCH 7

aplesant morning
whent to lane
brougt lumber home
John worked for
Father

SATURDAY, MARCH 8

whent to pawpaw
brought home a bell[?]
John went to alens
grove

SUNDAY, MARCH 9

a wet and Slopy
AmosAmos Siglin (04 Apr 1826-22 Aug 1900) married Catharine Sutton on 19 Oct 1851 in Pennsylvania . By 1880, he and his family had moved to Paw Paw, where he and Lester Potter built the Siglin and Potter block of office buildings. and John went
to singing but was non

MONDAY, MARCH 10

the 4 year
butcher hog
George Featherbee John
SnoverJohn Snover of Lee Centre enlisted in the 75th Illinois Infantry in August 1862 and deserted from the hospital in Louisville in February, 1863 . According to his military record, he was 5’10” tall, with brown hair and hazel eyes. was here
we went up to
LamoinsProbably Eleasar Darby Lemoin and Rebecca Lemoin, who appear in the Wyoming township census for 1870 . Darby was born in Hawley, Massachusetts in 1800 . Rebecca was three years older. in the evni

TUESDAY, MARCH 11

drawed stone and
manure made
sausage John
went to the black
shop

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12

drawed straw to
the cows sheled corn
the rest of the day

THURSDAY, MARCH 13

Featherbee helped
shell corn avery
nice day in the
evning thunder and
rained before
morning

FRIDAY, MARCH 14

raines and freeses
whent to Adoms

SATURDAY, MARCH 15

modrate again
took home the sausage
stufer and agut
Father was down in
evning for his mail

SUNDAY, MARCH 16

aplesant day whent
to singing school
Vanpater and wife
came home with us
we took them home

MONDAY, MARCH 17

beautiful morning
Father brout saw
Nick was here
John work at stable
fix the porch

TUESDAY, MARCH 18

beautiful morning
went to lane with
Father yates help John
shell corn

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19

John and Amos helped
KimplerPossibly the Peter Kimpler household listed in the 1870 census for Willow Creek township:
Peter Kimpler, 46, Farmer, born in Prussia
Theresia Kimpler, 35, Keeping house, born in Prussia
Jacob Kimpler, 19
Theresia Kimpler, 17
Mary Kimpler, 15
Catherine Kimpler, 13
Peter Kimpler, 12
Henry Kimpler, 9
Elizabeth Kimpler, 7
Joseph Kimpler, 5
Christina Kimpler, 3
All the children are listed as having been born in Illinois, so the Kimpler family was certainly in the state at the time Catharine was writing. husk corn
rained hailed and
frose Jewitt stoped
fluted for us

THURSDAY, MARCH 20

still rains and frees
made a dragA harrow or a sledge. describes a tool called a “split-log drag” used for road maintenance, which was typically the responsibility of local residents at this time. for
nick uncle Adom
here snows like
fun

FRIDAY, MARCH 21

whent up to Adoms
brout home the ham
cleard off nice warm
built apig pen got
young hors

SATURDAY, MARCH 22

tied up the bull
Joseph MillerMost likely the Joseph Miller listed in the William Miller household in the 1860 census in Brooklyn Township:
Wm Miller (45) Farmer born Pa
Eliza (44) born Pa
Jacob (21) Farm Laborer born Pa
Joseph (20) ditto born Pa
Samuel (18) born Pa
Permilla? (16) born Pa
Wm H (10) born Pa
George (7) born Pa
Emma (4) born Ill
A Joseph Miller of Willow Creek township joined the 75th Illinois Infantry on August 11, 1862 and was killed at the battle of Perryville three months later ; he is the right age for the Joseph Miller of the census, but with such a common name, it’s impossible to be sure. The Joseph Miller Catharine mentions may have been a relation of hers through her mother Barbara Miller Sutton. here
Judson BeemerThe 1860 census for Brooklyn township lists
Alexander Beemer, 50, Farmer, born Pa
Asenath, 50, born Pa
Judson, 24, born Pa
Levi, 23, born Pa
Asenath, 17, born Pa
Franklin, 9, born Il
here
Silas LazresThe 1860 census for Brooklyn township lists this household one entry down from the Beemers:
Silas Lazarus, 32, Farmer, born Pa
Mary, 30, born Pa
Lenora, 8, born Pa
Marcella, 6, born Pa
John, 4, born Ill
Andrew Fuller, 20, Farm laborer, born Pa

SUNDAY, MARCH 23

Father ClementThough this looks like a reference to a priest named Father Clement, I believe it refers to two people, “Father” (William Sutton) and Clement (Clement Miller). here
whent to singing
whent up to Vaus
burgs got turkeys

MONDAY, MARCH 24

whent to Adoms
ground ax got out
timber JeromeI assume this is the same person as the Jerome Benett mentioned below. Jerome Bennet, age 25, Farm laborer, born in Pa, is listed in the 1860 census for Wyoming township as part of the Abraham Rosencrance household got
sled pattern Jim got
barly

TUESDAY, MARCH 25

John whent to lane
Adom was here

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26

worked at the little hous
John chaped wood Jim
was here made astomper
built bee house John
helped Father half day

THURSDAY, MARCH 27

worked at the porch
John helped Father
split posts all day

FRIDAY, MARCH 28

sheled corn all day
Jim helped

SATURDAY, MARCH 29

Sawed posts in for
noon whent to school
meting in after noon
John whent off

SUNDAY, MARCH 30

whent to the school
house no singing
whind blew a storm

MONDAY, MARCH 31

whent up to vanpatter
whent to the corn husk
to kimplers and dance

TUESDAY, APRIL 1

whent to lection mentions “town elections” scheduled for April 1st. “As that is ‘All Fools’ Day’,” they drily remark, “any body can run and be elected or defeated without being considered ‘more fooler’ than his neighbor.” It interests me that Catharine went to the election even though she wouldn’t have been able to vote.
rained in the evnin

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2

still rains fix wire
fence

THURSDAY, APRIL 3

fix wire fence in
the fornoon John helped
sick with toth ache
father here in evning

FRIDAY, APRIL 4

whent to paw paw
had toth drawn out

SATURDAY, APRIL 5

helped John sow wheat
all day with horse

SUNDAY, APRIL 6

whent to singing
HowlittHoratio Howlett lived near Allen’s Grove in Willow Creek Township . credits him with having made the first successful arrest of a horse thief in Lee County. came home
with us uncle came
down in the evning

MONDAY, APRIL 7

Kimpler and Vanpatter
came and got some grain
it rained all day and
they staid and played
marissMy best guess here is the card game mariáš , though I don’t know how a Czech/Slovak card game came to be played in a community that, so far as I know, lacked people of Czech or Slovak descent.

TUESDAY, APRIL 8

still rains Amos chaped
baswood Jim Vausburg
com down and played
checkers snowed in the
evning

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9

cloud and cold
i took some sowing
to Featherbees
Amos and John built
the Schoolhouse fence

THURSDAY, APRIL 10

helped John sow wheat
with one horse all day
cloud wether

FRIDAY, APRIL 11

helped John sow wheat
half day with team

SATURDAY, APRIL 12

rained all day

SUNDAY, APRIL 13

dredful mudy
no singing

MONDAY, APRIL 14

abutiful clear morning
built the little hous
Sarah MillerProbably Adam Miller’s daughter, and therefore Catharine’s cousin, who was born about 1847. was
here John bought
tom colt

TUESDAY, APRIL 15

rain of courseOf course. hitch
nell Jacob SmockJacob Smuck, age 34, born in Pa, appears in the 1860 census of Wyoming township as a Farm Laborer in the household of Hiram and Sarah Terry. There were two Jacob Smucks from this area who served in the Civil War. Jacob B. Smuck of Willow Creek township, who served with the 3rd Illinois Cavalry, was the right age to be the Jacob Smuck of this census record.
was here

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16

plowed for Jim
John went to lane

THURSDAY, APRIL 17

Harvey HowardI am unable to identify Harvey Howard. was
here comenced farming
and plowing
rained all afternoon

FRIDAY, APRIL 18

Henry LewisHenry Lewis lived on section 21 of Willow Creek township . Based on , he was born in about 1830. was here
whent to Jess Koonse shows this household in Willow Creek Township:
Jesse Koons, 41, Farmer, born Pa
Eliza A Koons, 40, born Mass
Amanda Koons, 18
Ellen Stubbs, 18
Oscar Stubbs, 16
Emma Stubbs, 14
Rebecca Koons, 13
Christina Koons, 11
Lydia A Koons, 9
Wm H Dow, 28
Adeline Dow, 20
Ella E Dow, 8/12
Richard Dow, 7
Eliza A. Stubbs’ birth name was Stubbs , so the Stubbses in the household are presumably her family.
and got the colt
John plowed after
noon

SATURDAY, APRIL 19

commenced sowing
John draged
the two Smocks
was here for diner

SUNDAY, APRIL 20

avery nice day whent
to singing Lamoin
and wife was here
Samuel PierceThe 1860 census for Brooklyn Township lists
Samuel Pierce, 24, Farmer, born Pa
Sarah Pierce, 20, born Pa
Ella Pierce, 1
Jacob Rosencrans, 27
Allen Cole, 18
was
here

MONDAY, APRIL 21

sowed som wheat in
the morning and then
it rained Speelmon, 1863 plat book, lists a John Spielman on section 34 of Sublette township.
was here

TUESDAY, APRIL 22

draged in wheat
John drove the colts
to the burg[?]

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23

soured oats John
draged all day

THURSDAY, APRIL 24

draged in wheat
SharlotPresumably Charlotte Jackson, the hired girl. was here
Smock was here
for diner

FRIDAY, APRIL 25

draging in grain
Sharlot went to
Jims mother came
down once more

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

soured wheat
John draged
planted som potatos

SUNDAY, APRIL 27

whent to singing
yates and wife
com down

MONDAY, APRIL 28

whent to lane
comenced making
garden Jim and wife
came down

TUESDAY, APRIL 29

plowed for barly

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30

sowing barly
Jerome Benett was
here Samuel Pierce
got potatoes the
DutchmanI am unable to identify the Dutchman, though note that Nick Knapp and John Spielman were both born in Germany and so likely would count as “Dutchmen” (i.e. Deutschmen) in Catharine’s scheme of things. got barly

THURSDAY, MAY 1

raining once more
whent to the nursy[?]Possibly the Willow Creek Nursery on Section 12 of the township.
Adom whent along

SATURDAY, MAY 3

planted appel trees

SUNDAY, MAY 4

whent to sining
whent to Adrins
to meting

MONDAY, MAY 5

set out willow mentions Willow Creek residents using willow hedges as fences. Judging from the following two entries, that’s what Catharine and John were working on here.
John helped
whent to the
black Smith Shop

TUESDAY, MAY 6

whent to lane
Jerome set out willow

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7

spaded in the garden
helped Jerome set
out fence

THURSDAY, MAY 8

draged and marked
corn ground

FRIDAY, MAY 9

Jim SiscoI interpret Jim, Sisco, and Featherbee as three separate people. “Sisco” may belong to this household from the 1860 census:
Wm Sisco, 41
Eliza Sisco, 40
Orin Sisco, 16
Hiram Sisco, 14
Martin V Sisco, 12
Almeda Sisco, 10
Mary J Sisco, 2
Fetherbee
will Miller helped
plant corn half day

FRIDAY, MAY 16

whent to Mendota
Jerome worked
Father whent to
Sicamore

SATURDAY, MAY 10

helped Adom plant
in fornoon plowed
for Jim in afternoon

SUNDAY, MAY 11

whent to singing
Howlett came
home with us
whent up to
Beemers

MONDAY, MAY 12

built the coal
house at the schoolhouse

TUESDAY, MAY 13

cleaned out the siler
he

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14

helped father build
fence from 10 oclock
till four

THURSDAY, MAY 15

4 oclock comenced
working at the house

SATURDAY, MAY 17

worked at the
house 2 day

SUNDAY, MAY 18

whent to singing
Jims [one word scratched out] and Yates
came home with us

MONDAY, MAY 19

drawed hay
whent to ElickSee part 4 of this series for more on Alex Smith.
Smith funerl
ploured the garden
1 2//2 days work

TUESDAY, MAY 20

whent to Mendota
Jerome worked

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21

heavy rain worked
in the shop at
the garden fence

THURSDAY, MAY 22

worked at the house
2 days
i whent afoot up
to Jims

FRIDAY, MAY 23

worked at the house
1 3//4 days
had a horse back
ride to old bromens[?]

SATURDAY, MAY 24

whent to Mendota
Jerome worked

SUNDAY, MAY 25

whent to singing
then to yates

MONDAY, MAY 26

worked at the house
2 days
spent the afternoon
at Fathers

TUESDAY, MAY 27

Jerome whent to mendot
it rained
the reper
agent describes a McCormick reaper sales agent’s pitch, complete with a demonstration of the machine. was here

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28

worked at the house
x 1 2//2 day

THURSDAY, MAY 29

1 days work
whent to howlltt
howlett
and Jim and wife

FRIDAY, MAY 30

whent to Earl for
adom miller
1 days work
dredful hard rain

SATURDAY, MAY 31

2 days work
windy and rainy
Jacob SiglinsJacob Siglin (19 Jul 1810-24 Jun 1902) was Amos Siglin’s brother, older by 16 years. He lived in Sycamore. According to his obituary , he and his wife had ten children. He appears in the featured photo for part 2 of this series. was
here

SUNDAY, JUNE 1

rainy and stormy
John took mary
and me to malugin

MONDAY, JUNE 2

rainy Jacobs whent
home

[6 days blank]

SUNDAY, JUNE 8

whent to singing
whent to Alens grove
to singing

MONDAY, JUNE 9

broke prarie

TUESDAY, JUNE 10

broke prarie

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11

sheled corn
afishing party in
the after noon

THURSDAY, JUNE 12

whent to lane
had adredful wind
and rain

FRIDAY, JUNE 13

braking Yates helped
Jerome left

SATURDAY, JUNE 14

broke in the fornoon
whent to pawpaw
got the horses shod

SUNDAY, JUNE 15

whent to singing
whent to Jacksons
Sharlot came home
with us

MONDAY, JUNE 16

howed corn in fornoon
whent to twin

TUESDAY, JUNE 17

rained in the morn
broke in the after
noon

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18

Yates and Jewit
helped brake

THURSDAY, JUNE 19

Yates and Jewitt
helped brake

FRIDAY, JUNE 20

whent to lane

SATURDAY, JUNE 21

worked at the
sistern it rained
most of the day

SUNDAY, JUNE 22

whent to sing
teacher dident come
SwortwoodThere are a number of Swartwood/Swartout families in the 1860 census for the area, and I am unable to identify this person precisely. came
home with us
Beemers were here

[6 days blank]

SUNDAY, JUNE 29

whent to singing
it rained not meny
out broke the wagon
tongue

MONDAY, JUNE 30

helped Father clean
wheat

TUESDAY, JULY 1

[3 lines heavily crossed out]
whent to mendota
sharlotte whent with us

[2 days blank]

FRIDAY, JULY 4

whent to malugin with
the childern and then
the four hors load
whent to malugin
and then to pawpaw

[1 day blank]

SUNDAY, JULY 6

Bees swormed
whent to singing
and to harvey
howads

MONDAY, JULY 7

John plowed corn
worked in the garden
Father came down
John whent pawpaw
plowed corn self

TUESDAY, JULY 8

John plowed corn
dresed out hedge forenoon
whent up to Jacksons

[1 day blank]

THURSDAY, JULY 10

plowed on the
braken

FRIDAY, JULY 11

whent to mendota
for Father
i whent up to see
mother

SATURDAY, JULY 12

drawed aload of
hay

SUNDAY, JULY 13

wanted to go to woods
meting rained and
could not go

MONDAY, JULY 14

cut hay and raked
it. mother is @ sick
spent the day with
her

TUESDAY, JULY 15

whent to mendota
for Father
i spent the day with
mother

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16

whent to lane
brout ElizabethI am unable to identify Elizabeth. hom

THURSDAY, JULY 17

Jim whent to lane
and fetched henry
and the boys

FRIDAY, JULY 18

John brout Rebeca
BrittenRebecca Britton or Brittain appears in this household in the 1860 census for Brooklyn township:
Wm Britton, 60
Elizabeth Britton, 50
Hannah Britton, 30
Sarah Britton, 28
Amelia Britton, 23
Mary E Britton, 21
Rebecca J Britton, 17
John Britton, 15
George Britton, 11
Wesley Britton, 9
Oman Britton, 4
here
adredful rain

[10 days blank]

MONDAY, JULY 28

comenced cutting the
barley

[8 days blank]

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6

rain

[10 days blank]

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16

[entry lightly x’ed out]
whent to pawpaw with John
and wife Yates and

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17

[lightly x’ed out]
spent the day with
mother John and his
wife stade here

MONDAY, AUGUST 18

[lightly x’ed out]
i whent to pawpaw
saw the solders start
for dixon Amos and
yates whent with
adud

[remainder of diary blank]