diary8
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
Mar/Apr 1897
Mond 1 March
Frank was to Head of Canal and got load of Manure, 1.25 per ton. I worked on Town Book accounts.
Tues 2 March
Frank went to the Head of Canal for manure.
Today at 11 o'clock, J B RICHARDS (Jacob, son of Peter and Fanny) is buried from the Pres. Church.
John took wife and I to Ransom after the funeral and we went to Ina Lloyds.
Wed 3 March
Wife & I started for WBarre about 10 o'clock. Rained in morning so we could not go sooner. Went on the West side St car - fare 20c each - landed at the "Square". Went Ed Klipples got there at 11 0'clock. Stayed there till 2 o'clock. Went to City hospital along the Pittston street car track. Saw Mr L B Ayres who has had an operation performed. He appeared to be doing well. From the hospital we got a transfer ticket and took the East End Car through Scott St to Worrall St. where we got off and went up the hill about 10 rods to Amos Ayres - No. 51 Penn St. Went back to the square. Went to E Klipples; walked up North Hammpton St to Peter Hines. no. 266. got there about 4 1/2 o clock; left there about 7 1/2 pm; took the "Height" car that runs through North Hampton st on the hill; came to the square; then to E Klipples; left the square for West Pittston; arrived at John Lloyds 9.15 pm.
Thurs 4 Mar
Started from J Lloyds about 9 0'clock. Took the Scranton Street Car by the Miners Savings Bank; Went over the hill to Avoca, to Moosic; Stopped to D. McMurtries, Butlers Corners on the St Car line - waited for McMurtrie 3/4 of hour but did not see him. Arrived in Scranton at 12 o'clock noon; ate dinner with Uncle Adams; at 4 o'clock went to Mrs Roths on Franklin Ave; at 7.30 went to Uncle A Thompsons.
Frid 5 March
Took the Pittston __?__ for Moosic. Saw McMustine. He could not pay int. on mortg. but said he would send it - 18.00 to Milwaukee in about a week. He gave me a note to got to Jos Heleman insurance agent to get police on his property on Vine st. i got it and brougnt it home. We were to Ina's for dinner. At 4:58 PM left for Pittston - Ransom. Frank brought us home in rain.
Sat 6 Feby 1897
Not doing much. E Ward was here. I promised him 12.00 on the 1st day of April at 5%.
Mond 8 March
Met with Twp. auditors W A Hice, B F Reed, & F H Cooper auditors. settled with H S Beemer & J M White sups. Beemeer had 47 3/4 days. White 53 3/4. I get rebate on Hopkins duplicate where he had paid 150.00. The multiplied the 150 by 100 and divided by 95, i.e. the amt paid was 95% of the amt on duplicate $157.89. Hence the rebate was $7.89
Frank Reeds family was here.
Geo Biesecker, Dr. Cooper, Joe Kirchen, G Whitlock and John Coon were to Scranton , Lisense court, to fight Sol Van Sickle who has applied for lisense.
Tues 9 March
I righted up the Town Book - but could not make auditors statement until C H B pays orders out. Geo Garey, Lew Gareys boy was here this afternoon.
10 March 1897
I was to Newton. Had an all day meeting at Baptist Ch. Mrs EDIE ROSENKRANS, nee Decker was buried at Newton. Her home was in Hoboken, New Jersey. Was agoing to take Geo Garey to Ransom, but he was sick.
Thurs 11 March 1897
Geo Garey was here and went home this morning. Frank went to depot with him. He went to Dr Quicks, Pittston to get impression for set of teeth. Repaired hot bed. Nice weather.
Frid 12 March 1897
Wife sat up with Mrs Winters last might. Raining some in morning and forenoon. Was to our folks. Talked with mother about money for Ward's boys.
Learned that MRS COLLUM is to be buried from the Pres Ch to morrow at 2 o'clock.
Our folks are quilting on quilt.
Sat 13 March 1897
I & folks attended MRS SARAH COLLUM'S funeral (__?__ of Horace Collum. deceased). She was buried from the Pres Ch. Rev G G Smith conducting the service assisted by Rev Jacobs, Methodist. Her body was brought from near Elmira, NY from her son's home, Geo Collum. Burial at Newton Cemetary.
Mond 15 March 1897
Snow on ground, not much. Fixed straw for P J McCann.
At 2 o'clock this afternoon, MRS "DOC" BROWN, mother of MRS AMOS LEARN , was buried at Newton Cemetary. The funeral services were in West Pittston at the home of her son, Ed Brown, where she died of Paralysis.
PM I went to D W Richards and brought to my house Delilah Snover. She came to DWR's last Monday from Scranton. She arrived there with her daughter Hattie on the 27th of Feby last, from Iowa. She visited us before 8 years ago last summer, leaving for home on the 19 Nov 1888. See diary of that date.
March 16 Tuesday
I and Frank were to Scranton. Took 68 bun straw to McCann's at 7c. Settled with him. Had taken 73 before. Before today I got $7.00 in trade. Bought 46 nails at 3 1/2, $1.50 worth of sugar & 25c worth of oat flakes.
Mrs Walters paid me 73 cents and ordered one barrel of apples. Sold Mrs Stetter and Mrs Sullivan butter. Drew money $27.75 on C H Biesecker check.
Went to B T Akerley's office. "Dic" Holgate said i would find him at the Westminster hotel. A political convention quartered there controlled by G W Beemer & Griffith Davis for a convention at Harrisbury. Paid Akerly $15 money rreceived of the township Treas for Mr Akerly's service for Twp. Took his receipt but see he failed to give the place where it was paid. At Bethel Ch they have tonight a donation for the Rev G G Smith. John has gone.
Brought Aunt Jane Courtwright $14.00 pea coal from WSP.
Wednesday March 17
Very nice day. Loaded straw to go to Fairchild's at $12.00 per ton. Wife & Deliah Snover were to "Gran" Thompson's visiting. I am 55 years old today. Money counted for M. Three packages in gold of $100 each, 1 package gold - $55, 1 package $10 gold & $10 bills, bag silver $50 in dollars, halves, 1/4 dols.
Brought away from house $384.00 all in paper, except $6 #. Mother has now in my hands $800. C S Richards 126+425 = $1350. $50 to Levi; $50 Jane.
Thurs March 18
Frank intended to go to Scranton with straw, but on account of a rainy look did not go. Wife and Delilah Snover are over hill a visiting. Have an invitation to Wm Shelly's to a party tonight.
19 March Frid
Frank took 1950 rye straw to Fairchild at $12.00 per ton. Broke reach going down mountain. Rained some during day. I was to Lew Coon's. wrote an application for $2500. He paid me $10.80. Ate dinner at DWR's. PM Drove to J C Richards for insurance, Found no one at home.
Took Delilah Snover to DWR's and brought Aunt Jane C. home with me. Very muddy. Kate took her first lesson in music of Prof David at C. Klipples.
Sat 20 March
I and John were to G W Biesecker's and got calf. Drove colts. Frank went to Pittston to get his teeth. Sent Lew Coon's insurance paper from Milwaukee. Rained last night.
Mond 22 March
Frank began working by month today. Took wagon to Davis Bros and got new reach in. Fixed hay rigging. I was to Davis, got 7 bolts - 2c each and got 2 stakes made for hay rigging. Nice weather, but very muddy.
Tues 23 March
Wife, Kate & I attended C H NEWMAN funeral at the house. Revs Smith and Jacob conducted the service. Burial at Newton Cemetary. Roads very muddy. Frank picked stones of plowed ground and started plow.
Wed March 24, 1897
Raining. Afternoon went Ira Drakes sale, but on account of rain it was adjourned to the first of April. Roads are very bad. I was also to J C Richards again to see about insurance, but did not find him home.
Thurs 25 March
I and Frank worked in the swamp and after dinner went to Johnsons sale at Milwaukee. They sold stone goods and all. They intend to move away on the first of April.
Got a check for Eighteen dols. of D McMurtie Moosic. It was in payment for int on mortgage at WBarre, let by Lizzie K Thompson.
Frid 26 March
Frank worked on creek in swamp trying to turn it over on our ground.
PM Worked on wood for summer.
Sat 27 March
Frank took 4 1/2 pots. 100 oats, straw, butter & barrel of apples to Scranton. Mrs Walbers got apples, 3 pots to Mrs Sullivan & butter. Brought father 12.00 pea coal from Mt. P.
I was over hill and took copy of mothers notes. Father gave me $12.00 for suit of clothes.
Mond 29 March
Drew to loads blocks out of woods for wood. Took cutter to father. Frank took 156ft hemlock to D VanBuskirk @ 1100 per M. Embershide bought one calf of for $4.50. Nice weather.
March 30, 1897
Sent John to Hice's this morning. Got 1 bu clover 6.50 x 2 1/2 bu timothy @ 2.50 pr bu, 6.25 and one bag 15c. John paid 12.90 cash.
I sowed in lot next to Mr Winters, about 4 a of it. Some of ground was in with tomatoes & sweet corn.
Talked with E R Ward about yearling herfer &C. under barn by his mothers.
Pulled up and reset peach trees where we have 2 rows north of barn. Hale Garey, Lew's boys came here at noon. His brother Geo Paine to C S Richards to work yesterday.
Tues 6 April 1897
Heard this morning that Aunt Jane Thompson died yesterday. Hale Garey is here. Came with his mother from Dallas. Came last night.
Finished bridging apple trees that were girdled and gave them a through trimming, hoping to save them. Frank is plowing. John took grist chop to mill and did not go to school, but is driving colts, "Jim & Harry".
Wed 7 April
I was to Dr Richards, made a survey of property of Mrs Hopkins - house & barn. Went with Dr Richards to D Hopkins, wrote $7.00 insurance - Rec'd pay $3.83. Jane Garey here. Wants to go home but raining and thunders, she will not go. Was to our folks and got 2 rolls of butter.
Thurs April 8, 1897
I and Frank finished piling lumber that was sawed at J A Lacoe's mill. At noon we went to Newton. John & Ina Lloyd with us to attend the burial of AUNT JANE THOMPSON, Scranton, who died on Monday night. They had short services here. They had service at Scranton before coming. Rev G G Smith was the officiating clergyman in the Baptist Church. They all went to Mr Hice's for dinner. They had a stone reseptacle, about equal to a stone coffin in the grave. Buried above the old ground on their lot.
Frid 9 April
We intended to goto Scranton, but found it raining this morning. E R Ward got roll butter, 2.14. Boys greased harness.
Sat 10 April
Frank and I were to Scranton; potatoes 35c; Straw 7c; Bought books @ 3.12 for supervisors duplicate, 3 for 38cents. Bought ink and stationery.
Bought goods at 4c, store soda 3c per lb; Corn starch 4c &C at Clark Bros. Pair shoes for father, 1.44.
E R Ward was with me to Courthouse. He placed his deed on record. He went with me to the "prots" office there he signed two notes, Lizzie K Thompson $1000.00. In two payt: Five hundred dollars on the first Jan 1990. Five hundred dollars on first Jan 1901. Harriet Thompson $800 . Three hundred dols on first Jan 1898. Five hundred dol on 1st Jan 1899. He paid costs.
Mond 12 April 1897
Frank took 20 bu potatoes to Mrs Moran at foot of B__?__ Hill, Grant st. 30c per bu. 23 bundles of straw @ 7c. Barrel apples 80c. I got 30 eggs of Ed Ward to set. Paid 32c for them. John got Jim shod & Harry shod in front at Snovers. Nice weather, ground wet. Cold wind.
April 13 Tuesday
Plowed ground above my back well for potatoes. I spread manure and Jjohn drew stones with his colt - about the first work the youngest colt has done. Cold wind from the south. W E Larue here to see me. Supervisoring.
Wed 14 April
Frank finished plowing field above my back well for potatoes. John with colts hauled off stones from field where Frank plowed and picked and burned shumachs from horse field.
D W Richards was here to collect membership fees for the Pres Ch as he was going to attend Presbitery next.
Uncle Adam Thompson, Scranton was here an hour or so. Franks girl Hellen was with him. They were to fathers for dinner.
Sund 25 April
Wife and I attended the funeral of MYRON LAME'S boy (2 yrs old) at Milwaukee today. Rev G C Jacobs conducted the service at the house. Burial at Newton Cemetary. L H Winters undertaker.
Mond 26 April
Plowed my garden. Planted 2 qts of Casay corn back by beans. Two teams plowing, finished flat meadow for oats.
Tues 27 April
Wife, Kate and I were to Scranton. Eggs to Mrs Stetter at 11c. Bought dress and hat for Kate. Mrs Sullivan paid me $3.00 . Brought books to make registration of voters and of school children. Boys dug ditch back of barn, finishing it.
April 28 1897
Boys plowing for oats in lot next to Arth Atens. When jacoby boys took off wood I filled up ditch. John & I were to J Frank Lacoes and got 2000 tomato plants, (estimated) that had not been transplanted. Am to pay him $200 pr M.
Thurs 29 April
Sowed flat meadow by hayhouse with oats. Seeded the ground. used the drill for the first that I bought of Ira Drake.
Set out the tomato plants that I got last night of Frank Lacoe.
Frid 30 April
Finished setting tomatoe plants that I got J F Lacoe, 1975. Amt to pay 200 pr M. Frank plowing over hill sod ground.
John went to board over the oats ground, flat meadow. Colts got away, went to fathers, did not get quiet down. Suse Lesh was brought here this morning to make Kate a dress.
Sold Chris Klipple hay, 1500 for $7.00.
Last day of school at Newton. Miss Essie Smith teacher. John has not attended for a month past.
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