diary5
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
Sept/Oct/Nov 1896
Sat Sept 12
Finished timothy seed on field of rye sowed yesterday. Got on about 1 1/2 bus of seed. John boarded it over after the seed ws put on. Frank took load to Scranton, tomatoes 14c; apples 75c a bbl; sweet corn 40c per hund; cabbage --. Brought manure from McCann's and paid them $4.00 for a bbl of superlative flour. Hubbard's Mankaton, Minn. We got load for Monday. Rained some from noon on. Very warm, before rain. Frank "Madge" to Snovers for new shoes. tonight the P.O.S. of A have a picnic in Joe Lacoe's wood. It was ajourned from last Sat night.
Sund 13 Sept
I and wife went to Ina's crossing the river at Ransom. Left there for home 20 minutes after 4.
Mond 14 Sept
I & John cut corn along fathers lane to Atens East side in forenoon and got up a load for Frank tomorrow for Market. Frank took load to Scranton. Tomatoes, 15c; sweet corn 60c per hund; cabbage---; apples 75c per bbl.
Tues 15 Sept
Frank took load to Scranton. Toms, 14; cab ---; apples 70 per bbl; market dull. Came home at 8 o'clock and put on load for tomorrow. Lift cucumbers to Mr Winters for Mrs E Winters. John and I cut 2 rows of corn by fathers lane. Tonight Hobbs of the Repub was here and Frank stopped the weekly and paid him for the daily for three months to Dec 23 next.
Wed Sept 16, 1896
I and John cut corn at fathers till noon. Came home, picked 45 baskets tomatoes. I went back and cut one row while John helped Frank load. Frank sold his tomatoes to W H Pearce for 12 1/2 c, apples 75 a bbl. We are picking about 40 baskets daily and can't catch up. They ripen too fast for us.
Thurs 17
I & John picked 51 baskets of tomatoes and cut 3 rows of corn where we have been cutting. In an hour more can finish field. Frank took load to Scranton, 45 baskets of tomatoes, got 12c for them. Took Mrs Sullivan a bbl of apples gave them to her for 20 bags. Took the woman the next door a gal crock butter.
Frid 18 Sept
I & John finished cutting corn. Did it by odd spells. All the week we had to spend half of the day geting a load - mostly tomatoes for Frank. Picked tomatoes &C today - fixed drive way west of hayhouse to go in field across the road. Frank to Scranton; tomatoes, 11c; cabbage 3c; market flat for tomatoes. Rec'd tonight registered letter from D McMustine, Moosic. Containing 18 dols. int. money on wifes mortgage against his Pittston house. A yr was up on the 16 Aug and rec'd 18 dols once before this.
Sat 19 Sept
Raining this morning. Frank left for market just before the rain began. Tomatoes, 11c; Cabbage 2 to 3c; apples 70c per bbl;. I fixed bar(?) way at uper end of buckwheat field. Our folks attended funeral of Dr Richards child - the last one of a pair of twins. Now 3 1/2 o'clock and raining and blowing. Frank has been to Scranton every day this week. Every thing in market very low. The lowest I ever know them to be. Aunt Jane C here.
Mond 21 Sept
Got load for market and threshed 13 loads of buckwheat in my barn.
Tues 22 Sept
Frank took load to Scranton; tomatoes 10c; cab 2 & 3c; apples 75c a bbl. Brought manure from Italians. Got load for market and cleaned buckwheat.
Wed 23 Sept, 1896
Frank to Scranton, tomatoes 10c; cab, 2 to 3c; apples 75 a bbl. He came home empty.
We picked about 75 bas tomatoes, ripe and green, were afraid of frost. Threshed a little of buckwheat with Jim and Jen; the first time for Jim on the machine.
Thurs 24 Sept
Frank to Scranton, tomatoes 10c; He brought Aunt Jane C. Coal and a bbl of flour and $1.00's worth sugar for us. John & I thrash load of buckwheat in morning, and set up machine to fathers. Got in small load buckwheat for tomorrow.
Frid 25 Sept
This morning we put on a load of tomatoes & cabbage. At 8 o'clock went over hill and threshed buckwheat on knoll field. Paid mother $4.54 for butter.
Sat 26 Sept
I went to Falls to get the price of buckwheat. They are paying only 30c. Have paid 35. The lowest price I ever knew. We drew out the buckwheat straw, put it around trees in young orchard. Ina came up to Ransom and rode her wheel up.
Frank to Scranton. Butter to Stetters for 18c. Cabbage---; toms, 10c; apples 65 a bbl.
Sund 27 Sept
I went on B Mt. with John Lloyd,(from Pittston) Wm Jones and Dentist by the name of Quick. After dinner Menzo Williams, Will Lloyd and family came with a two seated rig. Went to ME Churchat might and out by the sheds gave G W Beisecker five dollars for Rev Jacobs, having counted the same by light in church.
Mond 28 Sept
Got 30 baskets of tomatoes, 2 bbls of apples and cabbages for Scranton. Gethered 5 or 6 bbls of winter apples - the first picked. In morning finished cleaning buckwheat in my barn. Threshed here 116 bus. - from field adjoining Arthur Aten's woods.
Thus ffar have picked 625 bakets of tomatoes. Had about 350 vines.
Tues 29 Sept 1896
I and John cleaned buckwheat on father's barn. Had on the two fields, 200 bus. Fields along Arthur Aten's line - hill field and one above it. Ought to have 300 bus.
Frank to Scranton. Butter 18c; toms, 12c a bskt; cabbage 2 to 4c; Brought coal for us. raining & blowing tonight - 8 o'clock.
Wed 30 Sept
Frank took 57 measured bushels of buck for father to the Falls. Sold it 50 lbs to the bushell for 30c, the lowest price I ever knew. The 57 bus weighed 2480 lbs. I & John picked about 50 bus of winter apples that blew off the trees last night.
PM Got up a load for market. Picked 36 bas of tomatoes.
Thurs 1 Oct
Frank took load to Scranton. Tomatoes, cabbage and apples.
John picked some apples and took Lizzie and I to Ransom. We bought a ticket to Dallas and return for 84c each.
Left Ransom in time to get to WBarre at 9 o'clock. Staid there till 10 when we took a Dallas train which was croowed, arriving in Dallas about 1045. Took a hack paying 15c each for the fair ground. It cost 25c each to get in. The exhibits did not amount to much, very little stock of any kind. Some graded Jersey cattle. The association evidently makes its money out of gambling and those who run the stands.
We left the ground about 4 o'clock. Jane Garey walked down with us from the corner at the road where John Garey lives. Mary Richards was at her house. Lizzie and I went on to Dallas where we took the 6 o'clock train for WBarre. The train was more than crowdid. Arrived in WBarre and took the 705 for Pittston. Reached Lloyds at 8 o'clock.
Fri 2 Oct
Frank went on E Wards wheel to Dallas fair.
Wife & I took the morning train for Ransom where John met us. Picked tomatoes and got Frank a load for tomorrow. Cold wind. I fix up CHB's check for eight dollars to W E Lott, E Lemon for blade bit. Will send it tomorrow.
Sat Oct 3, 1896
Frank to Scranton. Had 40 bas tomatoes. Sold 25 or 30 of them for 15c & the rest for 10c, apples 60 per bbl, cabbage 2c; eggs 17c per doz. Brought manure from McCanns.
John & I finished gethering apples in front orchard & drew in wagonhouse about 80 or 90 baskets.
Sund 4 Oct
We were to Pres Ch this morning. Peter H Brooks preached, it being the anniversary (8th) of G G Smith's preaching. Mr Smith is now too feable to preach and has been for some time.
Mond 5 Oct
I & Lizzie gethered apples over to our folks - about 35 bus. We brought home about 11 bus.
Frank took 20 bags of buckwheat to Falls for flour.
John dug potatoes along ditch in father's front meadow. The pots were middling good. Paid Frank this morning one hundred and five dollars on his work.
Tues 6 Oct
I and boys threshed 780 sheaves of rye for father and got a load of tomatoes, cabbage &C for market. C H Klipple sent me his insurance money. I have paid it to the company, $9.50 sent.
Wed Oct 7, 1896
Frank did not take his load to Scranton - rained at starting time. Drew the pumpkins - 2 load, one for me and one for father. Cleaned his rye we threshed yesterday - 42 bu from 750 sheaves. Frank took 11 bags to Shooks for chop and brought the flour & feed of 40 bu of buckwheat from the Falls. Had 875 of flour. Finished picking Ben Davis apples &C.
Lizzie was to Chris Klipples and helped Rachael paper room.
I borrowed 12 bu rye of father - 8 bu to sow hill field and 4 bu to mix for feed.
Thurs 8 Oct
Frank to Scranton with last tomatoes, sold them for 15c. Cabbage very dull. Brought coal for us. I and John dug the first potatoes in flat meadow - 7 acres. They are not very good, but fair and smooth.
Frid 9 Oct
Sowed rye in buckwheat stubble - round hill on fathers 8 bus. Drove two teams. Plowed the rye under. Was to Milwaukee and ordered C Snover to make me 2 potato hooks for 30c each. M W Petty told me that Lew McCloskey wanted me tocome and insure him in the Abington Mutual
Sat Oct 10, 1896
I went to Milwaukee. Took papers to insure L McCloskey. He claimed to be very busy and told me to come down some night.
Got 2 potato hooks from C Snoovers. Paid him 60c for them.
Got 3/4 bu timothy seed from J Hice. Paid him 2.07 for it. Went to fathers's hill field and began to sow on the furrow.
Boys finished plowing at noon. Drug and boarded it over and sowed seed on it.
At noon John Garey and wife came along and went to fathers for dinner.
Mond 12 Oct
Rained all day. First rain we have had this fall to wet the ground. Expected 2 men from Scranton to dig potatoes but they did not come.
Put up stove in front room. C Snoovers boy got butter crock weighing 14 lbs but we did not have weight of crock.
Tues 13 Oct
Rained nearly all day . Was to Milwaukee. Stopped on the way and paid Milt Petty 45c for 6 sections that John got of him the beginning of haying. Took L McCloskey's ap for ins for $600 3 yrs and N G Reed's on his barn & cont., 1250 - 1000 on barn alone, Col from them $3.30 + 7.12 = 10.40. Charged each a fee of $1.50.
John got 17 apple trees from N P Smith for $2.00. Paid min for them.
Wed 14 Oct 1896
Sent from Milwaukee N G Reed's & L McCloskey's papers for insurance. Raining more or less during the day. Frank 25 25/56 bus rye to Falls for father @ 35c per bu. Brought him 1/4 bbl flour (rye) paying 70c. I and John set 16 apple trees in back orchard - all baldwins, except 4 , 2 N Spy & 2 Greenings in middle of 5th row beginning on south side. These trees were bought of N P Smith @ 12 1/2 c a piece - sock that he had __?__ in from last spring.
Thrus 15 Oct
I went to Noah Smith's and got 28 apples trees @ 12 1/2 C each, paid $3.25. The trees are baldwins, N Spys and greening.
Frank put on a load of cabbage & potatoes for marker. Cleared up last night after a rain beginning on Sund night and lasting full 3 days and night. Bagged two heaps of potatoes - 29 bu for tomorrow and next day.
Frid 16 Oct
Frank took potatoes to Mrs. Stetter @ 35c - 14 1/2 bus cab - butter 18c. Brought coal for us. Bought Zinc for stove in setting room for 60c, but it was to small and took it for parlor stove.
I & John dug potatoes. Ground wet. We have onlly 33 rows across the flat meadow dug and the ground is very wet.
Sent check ($8.92) to Stone for McCloskey's & Reeds insurance.
Sat Oct 17, 1896
Frank to Scranton, pots 30 cents for cellars. Cab ---, butter 18c. Brought manure from Italians, We dug potatoes in flat meadow. Took 2 crocks to our folks and brought from them 3 crocks of butter.
Mond 19 Oct
Dug potatoes. Frank got load potatoes and cabbage for market. At night I went to P Corselius place and wrote him an application for insurance on his house & contents for $1500, $1200 on house.
Tues 20 Oct
Frank to Scranton, pots to Mrs Stetter for 35 - 15 bus of fathers. rained in forenoon some. We brought in potatoes along ditch to keep them from getting flodded with water. Dug 25 bu of poratoes.
Sent P Corselius' paper to J Stone - ch p $4.50, p & C $1.50 = $6.00.
Wed 21 Oct
Dug potatoes in flat meadow and put 90 bu in cellar.
Have now about half that field dug.
Thurs 22 Oct
Boys dug potatoes.
PM I was to Geo Becks sale - big team brought $222.30.
Frid Oct 23, 1896
I & John dug potatoes. Frank to Scranton, potatoes 35c; He had cabbage. Georgia Winters here for dinner.
Brought father 12 chest coal 140 x 90 = 230. Rained middle of afternoon.
Sat Oct 24
Rained last night. Frank took 1200 coal to father. At 9 o'clock we went to potato field. G W Smith came up from Wards as their ground was too wet to dig. He helped us 3/4 day. Took one load to father & brought one home. Mat Thompson was here. Sent mother three dollars for butter. Cold tonight. (Note: Mat is Martha Thompson Bogart)
Mond 26 Oct
Dug potatoes and put them into cellar. Frank put on load for market.
Tues 27 Oct.
Frank to Scranton. potatoes 35c; We dug potatoes. Frank took the last of the cabbage and had on 4 bbls of apples.
Wed 28 Oct.
We finished potato field on hill - flat meadow - 7 acres. Had about 700 bus. - not much more. Bagged 24 bus pots belonging to father. Gave him a third. and dug them.
Had nearly all busbanks on field. Used about 25 hundred of wood ashes at a cost of 10 to 12 dollars. Don't think the ashes were good, not full strength.
Thurs 29 Oct 1896
Frank took load potatoes to Mrs Sullivan and others at 35c.
I and Lizzie, Kate and John were over (to Scranton) to buy things. Bought over coat, $9.98 for me, shirt cloth for John, $6.37, hat $1.98 and other things to Clarks. Got two hats of Mrs Sax for $3.00 & $3.29. Bought
things at the 4c store. A screw of Himb & Connell for 50c. Halter of Friz for $1.00 with stem. Weather very fine.. Drove Jim, the 2nd trip he has made to Scranton. Bought zinc for sitting room stove for 75c, 32 x 32 at John's in Hyde Park.
Kate got dress ready made for $7.00 at Globe
30 Oct 1896 Friday
Frank went to Pittston. Took 16 young roosters to Floyd Richards. They weighed 80 lbs, got 9c per lb live weight.
Took Ina 6 bu pots., 2 bbls apples, 50 buckwheat flour and took W Lloyd 8 bu pots. @ 35c. I husked corn in afternoon.
Sat 31 Oct
Frank husk corn. I came home at 10 o'clock and brought father & mother over. Adam Thompson & wife were here from Scranton. At night they went to Mr Hice 's. Drew a load of corn in for father.
Sund 1 Nov
C V Decker (Charles)and family came here. Charley wanted me for clerk on Election board. He went and got D W R.
Mond Nov 2nd 1896
John started in the Newton school for the first. Frank & I are husking corn for father - his share of lot along Aten's lane, East side.
Nov 3 Tues.
Election for president, for County Coms., Auditors, &C.
I & Frank husk corn in forenoon. Frank bagged potatoes after dinner. Doc Ayers & wife were here for dinner. I was to Elections in all the afternoon. At night was to Milwaukee with Geo Beemer. It was 12 o'clock when he got the returns. Rode home with him. Wm McKinley.
Wed 4 Nov
husk corn till noon. Drew in fathers and some of mine. Rained after dinner, but not much. Heard tonight that McKinley is elected by an over whealming majority.
Thurs 5 Nov
Frank intended to go to Scranton, load of pots @ 35c. Rained hard last night and is raining hard now. Culled apples & pots. Ground very wet.
Frid 6 Nov
Frank to Scranton, pots 35c; butter 18. Brought 1400 pea coal for father $1.90. I husk corn afternoon. Ground very wet. Paid father $1000 on potatoes. Got circular from J Stone. Farmers Institute.
Sat 7 Nov 1896
Boys & I husk corn - 55 shocks. Ground very wet.
Mond 9 Nov.
I and Frank drew in 4 heaps of potatoes - 3 of them being fathers. I took the saleable potatoes from him, excepting one load, on flat meadow on hill - 118 1/2 bus. @ 25c per bu. We got for them 35c in the market.
Dr Cooper was here today and offered me his colt coming 3 - for $80.00 to match "Jim".
Tues 10 Nov
Frank and I were to Scranton. pots 35, butter 20c. Bought of Fritz Bros 3 bbls of flour, 2 @ 4.75 & 1 @ 4.50 and 1.00 worth of sugar. 22 lbs of Ex C.
Wed 11 Nov
Frank took 32 1/2 bu pots to store at the foot of Bonehill @ 32c, the first we have sold for that. Rained most of the forenoon. Got letter from R W Archbald asking for 5 foreman from Newton. Letter to him.
R W Archbald, Pres. Judge
Scranton, Pa
Thurs Nov 12, 1896
Rained some in the middle of the day. Frank & I threshed a few bundles of straw for Fritz Bros. Picked up hole of potatoes and fetched in Ben Davis apples.
Frid 13 Nov
Frank took 59 bun straw to Fritz Bros @ 7c. bought 100 sug. Brought Aunt Jane Courtwright, 1600 pea coal. Father paid for coal. I husk corn till noon when a storm came up (snow squall) and I had to come home.
Sat 14 Nov
John brought Ina from Ransom this morning. Put apples into cellar. Had them in wagonhouse. Put in about 50 bus good and poor. May (Many) of our apples blew off the trees.
Brought in 2 heaps of potatoes. Last we have out.
Cold and some snow on ground. Brought 4 bu of pots. early rose, from C Klipples.
Sund 15 Nov
John took Ina to Ransom tonight.
Mond 16 Nov
Frank and I husk corn & drew in 2 loads. Warm and ground wet.
Tues 17
Finished husking corn and drawing it in. Had about 300 on lot above father's lane to A Aten's.
Wed 18 Nov
Frank 34 bu pots to P. F. Moran on Grant Ave & Jackson St. @ 32c - Got pay but left bags. I worked on ditch by Ben Davis apple trees, leaving out the wall.
Thurs Nov 19, 1896
Frank & I worked on ditch back of my barn - above Ben Davis apple trees.
MRS SARAH PETTY died about noon today with consumption at the house of her son, M. W. Petty.
Frid 20 Nov
Frank & I ditched till noon. Attended E A Richards sale on his farm now owned by W A Hice
N P Smith ask me to come and insure his buildings.
Sat 21 Nov.
Threshed oats over the front of barn floor - 3 or 400 sheaves. Had 35 bus. of cleaned oats. Boys cleaned them and put up a grist of chop. At one o'clock I went to Petty's and attended Mrs Petty's funeral which was in the M E Ch at Milwaukee - Rev M Jacobs preached the sermon. Rev G G Smith being present. For some time this gentlemen has not been able to preach having been stricken with paralysis.
C. Klipple and family were here tonight. Chris brought 50 lbs. of beef. Paid him 5c per lb for it and 30c per bu for 4 bu of Early Rose seed potatoes., $3.70.
Mond 23 Nov.
Frank took grist of chop to mill and worked some on ditch. I was to Dr Cooper s and bought a two year old colt of him giving to him $55 in money, one ton of hay, & 100 bundles of rye straw - $75. Colt will be three years old next spring.
Tues 24 Nov 1896
We drew cornstalks. John brought colt from Dr Cooper's. Bought him yesterday for 75 dols. Cooper had gone to Scranton and John drove up tonight & paid him $55. The remaining 20.00 I aim to pay in straw & hay - one ton hay $15 & 100 bun straw @ 5c.
Today a man was here to see about buying milk for a creamery. I did not see him. H. P. Richards was here to get me to go on his bond for a bid for the mail. They require a bond of $600.00. I. D. Hopkins promised to go on as one bondsman.
Wed 25
Hauled in our winter cabbage - and built a bridge by upper end of B. David apple trees and worked on stone wall there.
Thurs 26 Nov.
Worked on wall where we were yesterday and Frank dug ditch. Thanksgiving today. Very warm weather.
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