diary7
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
Jan/Feb 1897
Frid Jan 1st
Did not go out to assess. Helped John get up a grist. Jos Kirchin was here and paid me $416. Mother's money.
Sat Jany 2nd
Was out assessing. From E Kern's to Wellie Franklin's, to Slatus(?), to Lew Cosner's to Pulver place - home afoot. John took me to Stone, Comm.
Mond 4 Jany
Started with John Coon's and worked by the poorhouse down to J S Butterfields. Did not take in the poorhouse.
Tues 5
Worked on Dersheimer's Creek. Warm and no frost in ground.
Wed 6 Jany 1897
Worked making assessment in Schultzville. Was to Cornells. Cold and ground freezing.
Thurs 7 Jany
Was to Square Top and to Sid Beemer's(?). Finished all except the Poorhouse. Frank came hone today. He had been visiting to Ina's and to Dallas.
Frid 8 Jany
I did the work at the poorhouse. J F Williams helped me copy the birth and death record for the year.
Sat 9 Jany
Had return day for the state papers to my house. D W Shook, Dave Kresge and Joe Kirchin were all who came.
Mond 11 Jan
I & Geo Beisecker attended the Fire Association meeting to Clarks Green at 1:30 pm. Geo drove his rig. The following officers were elected.
Freman Leach, Pres
A I Akesly, Vice Pres.
J L Stone, Secty
W S Davis, Treas
Directors;
Geo W Beisecker
M H Coon
W S Frace
J W Miller
E G Carpenter
Horace Seamarus
W M Swallow
R P Parker
John Stone said he would retain me to do the work the same as he had done - i.e.I could do the work that offered itself, that he would soon arise through here and do some work leaving for me the unexpired policies.
Tues 12 Jan
I copied state assessment and wosrked on books. Frank drew logs from swamp.
Wed 13 Jan
Worked about 1/2 day on books and finished them. Have put 10 3/4 days on books. Frank 105 ft props to Silby and brought father 1 ton chest coal - 2.50.
Thrus 14 Jan
Frank took 106 ft props to Silby and brought father 1950 pea coal. I was in swamp and cut three trees for props. Snowing a little but does not amount to much.
Frid 15 Jan
Helped Frank get out some props. PM Went to E A Smith's and got his returns for state tax. Elias and boys were up the creek, get out down lumber.
Sat 16
Took assessment to Com. Office. Had 76 births and deaths for the year - 54 deaths & 22 births. Recd $3.80. These births and deaths were nearly all from the Hillside Home.
Recd pay for 12 days @ $2.00 oer day - $24.00.
I was to expense of geting names copied at Hillside Home of $1.00
Took butter & eggs. Sold for 20c in each case and brought manure from Stetters. Very little snow on ground. Good wheeling. We rough locked wagon down the mountain this way.
I saw Byron Akerly and ask him about collecting road tax. He said after the taxables had been notified to work and had neglected or refused to do so. The supervisor might then put said delinquents taxes into the collectors hands and give him their want and he could go on as any other tax. He said also concerning the money tax levied by them that they must give a warrant to collector. He thought the Supervisor like the Coms. should calculate at the beginning of their year how much it would be necesssary to have to pay expenses for their year and make a special levy for the same. He thought it was legal.
Mond 18 Jan
I & Frank were in swamp & cut dead hemlock trees. I took saw to D Davis to have it filed. Told him to figure up my account.
Tues 19 Jan
E M Ward came for Frank to help them thresh. Cold. Thermometer near zero.
Wed 20 Jan
Frank helped Ward's thresh oats till noon. I bagged 20 bu pots for P F__?__, 101 Grant Ave. Am to have 35 cents. I and Frank were back in swamp and skidded some logs. Last night I paid C Klipple $1.67 for 1/3 of cabbage cutter that Geo Sherman bought for us. Snowing & blowing tonight.
Thurs 21 Jan
Frank got horses shod and took P F Moran 20 bu of potatoes @ 35 cents - starting from home about 11 o'clock. mountain icey.
22 Jan Frid
Frank took 60 bundles of straw to P J Moran, Grant Ave - @ 7c. He brought manure. Snowed towards night.
Mrs Winters is sick. D Richards says she has pnuemonia. Was taken yesteerday morning. There was a S.S. Entertainmeent at the M E Church at Newton. Admission 10c. Children 5c. Received $4.70. It stormed about the time for people to come - hence small attendance.
Sat 23 Jan
We did not do anything except load 73 bu straw to go to McMann's. Ina came from Pittston - walked from Ransom. She sent a card but we did not recieve it. Some snow on ground, but we have had no sleighing this winter. Wife is to Ben Winters - Mrs Winters is pretty sick.
Mond 25 Jan
Zero Weather. Brought 2 crocks of butter from fathers. Pd them $2.00 on it. Boys and I in swamp. Cut dead hemlocks into logs. (18 3/4 # butter).
Tuesday Jan 26, 1897
Frank took 73 bundles of rye straw to P J McCann @ 7c. Brought load of manure from Brown's the drayman. Not so cold tonight.
Cora Vandeburg was here with a paper raising money for (Rev) J C Johnson. The lacked $21.50 of paying him his salary when he went away.
Wed 27 Jan
Boys & I cut and skidded logs in swamp. At night we all went to the entertainment to M E Ch.
Thurs 28 Jan
Snowed all night and is snowing at noon today. Have the most snow we have had this winter. It has been zero weather all the week.
Frid 29 Jan
I and boys were back in swamp. Cut and drew out logs - Fixed sticks to prevent sliding - Six inches of snow on ground.
Mrs Winters has been sick but is better. Mat Thompson and "Joe" Bogart are there. (Note: "Mat" is Martha Thompson Bogart and "Joe" is Josephine Thompson Bogart)
Thurs 11 Feby
Frank to Sibley with last props. Brought from there a ton coal (Pea). Was to Milwaukee, sent out circulars for A.M.F A.. Hat Lesh came here with Mr Baker. Weather nice.
Frid 12 Feb
Snowing & blowing. John did not to school. Went to Pittston to get his teath(sic) fixed. Aunt Jane Courtwright with us.
Sat 13 Feb
First sleighing this winter. Frank hauling logs to J A Lacoes mill. John went to Pittston last night to get his teath (sic) fixed. G W Biesecker was here with circumstance against Sol VanSicle getting a lisence to restart legion.
Mond 15 Feb. 1897
Frank hauling logs to J A Lacoes mill. I was to Mr Hices, got oil.
Joe Bogart & his girl went home today. They have been to Mrs Winters since Mrs Winters has been sick.
Tues 16 Feb
Election. I drove up and came home in hour or two. Frank intended to go and get his teeth pulled but found there was not train going and went to Newton to Election.
Wed 17 Feb
Did but little. Dr Cooper came here, got assessed valuation of Jos Jenning Est. for three yeaars - '94, '95 & '96. I went Milwaukee & swore to it for him. It is for the purpose of getting a pension for Mrs Jenning - widow.
Thurs 18 Feb
Helped Frank draw rest of logs from woods to by barn. Snow is gone on road.
PM Wife & I were to AL RICHARDS funeral - Milwaukee. He was brought from Mehoopany.
Frid 19 Feb 1897
Baged 20 bu pots for P F Morace, 101 Grant Ave.
Sat 20 Feb
Boys, R Ruger & boys threased oats and cleaned them. Paid Rob. $1.00 ch. O Van Buskirk was here and got 500 ft hemlockboards @ 10.00. He did not pay. Storming from the ease some.
Mon 22 Feb
Frank took P F Moran, Scranton 20 bus potatoes & 19 bundles of straw, pots 35, straw 7c.
I wrote cards to officers-elect to meet, Sat. night and be sworn in.
John took Mat Thompson to Summit on her way to Scranton. She intends to come back to Mrs Winters tomorrow. Raining from the east tonight.
Tues 23 Feb
Attended SELAH ROSENKRANS' funeral. Buried from Baptist ch, Rev G C Jacobs officiating. Brought Susie Lesh over to make wife's dress. Cold wind but muddy. Mr Rosenkrans was buried in Newton Cemetary.
Wed 24 Feb
Finished thresing oats. Robb Ruger was to have come, but did not. I went to Milwaukee and got Harry Snover. C Klipple came after dinner. Finished about 3 0'clock and cleaned it up. Chris helped till threshing was done. Susie Lesh here making wife's dress. Had big crop of oats - more than usual. Perhaps 300 bushel.
Thurs 25 Feb 1897
Was over hill to DWR's. He has been sick but is now better. Came across the swamp - saw C S Richards drawing logs from Dersheimers.
Last night about 10 o'clock MRS THOS JOHNSON died at her home in Milwaukee of pneumonia.
Frid 26 Feby 1897
Not doing much except chores. Susie Lesh who made wife's dress left here last night. Shw was here 3 days - paid her $1.50
Sat 27 Feby 1897
I and family were to Mrs Thos Johnson's funeral at Milwaukee. Rev G C Jacobs officiated. House more than full.
At night I was to Newton. G Whitlock sworn 8 township officers.
Sund 28 Feby
J B Richards died last night at his home in Brinktown (also known as Square top) or rather at one o'clock this morning.
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