diary2
A Glimpse of Life in
Newton-Ransom Twps., PA
in 1895/1897
Kindly provided by Paul Thompson
William is 53; his wife Lizzie Klipple Thompson is 47
Ina is 27; Frank is 23; Kate is 18; John is 15
Aunt Jane Thompson Courtwright is 84
Sarah Jane Thompson, wife of Bezaliel Garey, is 60
William's father, John Thompson is 87
DEC 1895
Mon Dec 2, 1895
Rained till noon. I fixed up stove to put in sitting room.
PM I went to Taylor town making register of voters. Came around by Atens (Paul) home.
Tues Dec 3, 1895
Did some work at home till noon when I went to Post Royal Corners over hill by Geo Beiseckers through Ridge home. Cold weather.
Wed Dec 4
I went to Square Top to Schultzville to poorhouse to L G Franklin's and across Beemers hill home making Register. Got "Mage" shod. Frank got 500 meat at Falls - 75c per hund.
Thurs 5 Dec
At 10 0'clock I attended the farmer's Institute at the Baptist Church/ Heard J L Stone, Waverly, PA on the "Winter Care and Management of Farm Stock" which I considered very good. And H W Northrup, Glenburn, PA on Practical Experience with Silo. Mr. Northrop is a very interesting specker.
Afternoon session."Timely Topics for Farmers" by Mrs Samuel Decker of Falls. "Potato Culture" by N B Critchfield, Summerset Co, PA. "Clover Plant and Nitrogen Supply" by Wm L Nesbit, Lewisburg, PA.
I did not attend to evening session. This is the first Institute ever held in our Township and people seemed to be much interested and a goodly number was present. Weather all that could be expected.
"Took Deeds of Newton Center lot and gave them to Mrs Aten". She had deed from P Aten to Chas Aten. I did not have that.
Dec 6, 1895
Drove to A Rosenkrans' to Lew Cosners, to D W Hunters, to D Cosners to H Smiths to P Finslist (?) to C V Deckers and home. Stoped and saw Mrs Adam Thompson at Hice's who is sick.
This finishes the making of the Register. Have spent about 3 days. Cold weather
Sat 7 Dec
E A Richards sent Elmer here this morning and I gave him deed to Ayers farm and also deed for strip of ground in front of Pres Church from Trustees to Chas Aten.
I copied one a a half of my register books so now I have them read for the Com when I have to return them on the 18 of this month.
Mond 9 Dec
I helped do work in house and was to Milwaukee. Paid Sherman 50c for molasses barrel.
Tues 10 Dec
Frank want to Scranton to get suit of clothes. I was to Chris Klipples - got 10 1/2 lbs beef and brought _____ Wm Zrsi'(?) sausage grinder and made our sausage. Took it to __lwa__ &C.
Wed Dec 11, 1895
Culled apples in cellar. Went to N G Reeds and was sworn to make the state
assesssments. When I was there with Register and regular assessemnt I neglected to take my book for state assessment.
Did notions about the house. Told W E Klipple to get a woven twine bed spring - to be $3.00. We salted hams and shoulders according to the recipe stuck on here.
For Hams & Shoulders
Salt 9 lbs
Sugar 3 lbs
Salt Peter 3 oz
This is for 100 lbs meat, but found that 6 gals of water would not cover the meat and added 4 gals more of water and about 5 lbs of salt i.e.about 14 lbs of salt and 10 gals of water. 2 lbs sugar and 3 oz of saltpeter.
Brought cabbage from barn and put it into cellar. It was frozen.
Thurs 12 Dec
I first went out to assess. Started in at fathers, went to C S Richards, to Geo Belks, to Ira Drakes, dinner, south to Necomans, down the mountain a foot to Wm Scotts, home by way of Leod Coons. Cold.
Frid 13 Dec
With horse went by was of Hice's to D W Richards, to Shooks to Shelly's, to Dave Kresges, to Leod Coons's to DWR, dinner, to Amos Learn's, to O B Richards, (Orrin B. Richards, b1843) to P Atens to M Winters, to Arthur Alin's, home. Left most of State papers out. Cold.
Dec 14, 1895
Took wife and Kate to Scranton. Bot Kate coat & hat @C. (Don't know what @C means. jpt). I look around for stove but did not buy. Told them Gunster & Forsyth would buy on Tuesday next. Took 9 butter to Mrs Ribent ($2.00) was to Com. Office and got transcript of Mortgages & Judgements.
Mon 16 Dec
Went to Newton for registration of voters. Richard Parks came here from fathers and began work in my barn about 3 1/2 o'clock. Weather fine.
Paid Doc Smith $2.00 for attendance on Kate immediately after Thanksgiving - 2 visits.
Tues 17 Dec
Loaded straw from fathers barn for Fritz Bros. Attended the polling place of our district in middle of day and at night. Rich Park threshing rye.
Wed 18 Dec
I and John went to Scranton made return of register. Had 242 names @ 6c - 14.52, Coping 2 books $2.42 2 days at polls 6.00 and one return day. Total amt $22.94
Bought of Gunster and Forsyth, Penn Ave a Palace Novelty Stove $25.00. Pipe and register box $1.75 or $26.75. Paid cash and took receipt.
Bought 1500 Chest Coal for father, 1.88 and took for him 86 bundles straw to Fritz Bros, @ 7c. I expect to pay him 5c for straw. Brought father 1 bbl of flour from Fritz Bros @ $4.00.
Thrus 19 Dec
This forenoon put up stove in sitting room. Had to cut a new hole for the Register pipe. It took me till noon.
PM took assessment. started in at Lacoes, C S Bieseckers to J A Lacoes to Sam Walters to ____ Cooper to Ed Hunsinger's to P Findle's to Lacoes, to Amos Rosenkrans, home
Frid 20 Dec
Went to C E Lacoes. Gave him a ten Dollar order on Township for scraper & for paying B Akerly for Atty services.
Went on to access. Began with Lalon Rosenkrans, to Tarbrake's to Z Smith, to D Cosners, to E Walvers (did not find anyone) back to Washburn place, to Hat Leash's and stopped. Did not stop at Ed Smiths. He being gone. Found Kate Thompson near dieing, D Parks threshing rye.
Sat 21 Dec 1895
Went to assess. Started with E A Smith after assessing Lloyd & G N Singer. Went to Ken's saw Ed. Talked about transferring land butleft it as he wanted to talk with the other owners. Went to _____ to Geo Reeds and across hill by Al Goodwins to Selah Rosenkrans to P Mchome. A Rosenkrans was away.
Mond 23 Dec 1895
Began to assess at Geo Snovers to Jos Rischin, to Ed Winters Est. to J B Leshes to D H Bedelts, to Will Smith's , home. Was a dog to Geo Snovers. Geo was gone. They claimed it belonged to John but had been there 2 weeks. Transferred 34 a from Busteed to John McMann area. They did not know whether both of the gray horses were four years old.
Dec 24, 1895
Did not go out this morning but helped clean about 40 bu of rye. At 9 o'clock Dick Parks did not feel good, went to see his mother in Luzerne borough. Frank took 10 bags, 7 rye, to Milwaukee for chop.
PM Frank took me to John Coon's from there I walked home making assessment. An entertainment at Milwaukee tonight - Christmas.
Wed 25 Dec 1895
Ina and John Lloyd came this morning. Johnny went for them and took Miss Coleman to Bowens, Ransom.
Wife and I took Ina & Lloyd to Ransom. Johnny brought Miss Coleman home in afternoon. Rev G G Smith has a donation tonight. Children went.
Thrus 26
I went to Wm Cornell's place, to John Cooks, to John Fords to John Roache's, home to J D Hopkins.
Frid 27 Dec
I and Frank were to Scranton. Bought of Mom's Bros a trunk for Frank paying $4.50. Drew from the 1st nat Bank $100 and paid Frank $50 of it. Bought shirts &C of Fords.
Sat Dec 28, 1895
Worked on assessment in afternoon from Jos White's to the Ringdorf's property. Had a bad cold.
Mond 30 Dec 1895
Frank and Eugene Fuller started this morning for Lebanon Ohio to attend the National Normal University there. John took them to Ransom where they intend to take the morning train for Pittston. They expect to pay $15.00 for ticket over the Penn C RR by Harrisburg & Pittsburg.
Tues 31 Dec
I helped Dick Parks thresh rye with flail.
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