diary3
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 1896
Wed 1 Jan 1896
We attended Kate Thompson's funeral. She was buried from the Baptist Church. Rev G G Smith officiating. She died on the 30 Dec.
Thurs 2nd Jan 1896
Today was a return day for papers for State Tax. Levi Coon, Ira Drake, E G Coon, Mr & Mrs Dorsheimer, John Shook, Ed Snover, Geo Shelly & Grace Shelly and Wm Hice came. Levi Coon wanted 12 a land assessed to Ira Drake 10 a __?__. When Ira Drake came he claimed 10 a of improved was too much. In the mean time Everett came and he agreed with Ira that about 6 acre imp. would be about right. As Ira had already too much improved I made it 5 a.
Frid 3 Jan
Did nothing. Was agoing to C Decker's but it was very cold. At night the young people made a surprise party for Kate. Corena Beisecker got it up, thirty of forty went.
Sat 4 Jan
About 10 o'clock, wife, Kate and I went to C Decker's. Staid till 4 pm. Very cold weather.
Sund 5 Jan
John took Kate to Ransom for the three o'clock train on her way to school in Pittston.
Mon 6 Jan
Got E Ward and we killed our black cow. E Ward got 95 lbs @ 5c. Took 98 lbs to Pratt @ 5c. He did not pay. Tool 80 lbs to father __c per lb. E A Smith brought his papers and M Finn came with his. Got also Mr Hice's paper. Promised Mr Hice a hind quarter of a beef I am to kill in a month @ 5 1/2 c. 10 below zero this morning, the coldest morning this winter.
Tues Jan 7 1896
Did not do much today. Storming some. Snow. Worked in afternoon on state assessment. Entered names and amount into book.
Wed Jan 8
Was around home till noon when I went to the Scranton Poorhouse. Left papers for State Tax. Worked from L F Franklins to Geo Guyers. Found J D Hopkins at Poorhouse. He went with me to Franklins.
Thurs 9 Jan
Stormed nearly all day, intended to finish the assessment. Snowing.
Frid 10 Jan
I want to poorfarm. Got State papers. Williams, Clerk, made list of births and deaths for me. They found fault about the attendants being assessed $75. Williams I suppose put them on it. Went to D Dersheimer's to A D D's Fitzsimmons to Jas Roach's. Finished up with P Hopkins. Stopped __?__ to I Vosburg's and did not find them home.
Sat 11 Jan 1896
John, wife and I threshed 500 600 sheaves of oats
Mon 13 Jan
Got letter tonight from F W Lasned (?), WBarre saying that he had satisfied the McMur___ Judgt. on the 20 of Sept last. ps got this letter Saturday instead of tonight.
Wife and I cleaned up the oats that we threshed Sat. Had about 70 bu.
Wife and I were to "Gran" Thompson's. I was to Sol Vansickles.
Tues 14 Jan
Did not do much. Wife and I attended MRS E BENNETTS funeral at Milwaukee. She died over the mountain. An unknown man preached. Some said his name was Brown . She was Sixty eight years old
Wed 15 Jan
Cold today. We finished threshing oats - about 150 bu today. Robt Ruger helped. Paid him one dollar. Jennings Drake was here with a man to buy a beef cow. I would not sell because I had 1/3 of my beef promised.
Thurs 16
Wife and I cleaned oats. Finished - Had about 180 - now. Have fed some up.
Frid 17 Jan 1896
A man by the name of F D Ransom was here for dinner from Forty Fort. I bought a ton of wood ashes of him to be delivered in March @ 8.25 per Ton. Len E Garey came here at noon, said his mother wanted me to come down there as she wanted to see me on business. He wanted me to take 2 tons saying they would be $15.50.
At night I went with John to Ransom, took the train for Ina's - Kate came up where I intend to stay till next day and then go to Dallas.
Sat 18 Jan
Left John Lloyd's at 9 o'clock; went to Doranceton where I took the train for Dallas: 10:17, fare 25 cents. Reached Dallas at 11 o'clock, went to Jane Gary 's, found Lew Garey there and Jim Garey. Jane sent for me "to do some business for her" but as I intended to go away on the 7:45 train at night, she thought we would not give time to do it and I was glad of it as I did not want to be mixed into her business. She had been sick but was better. Came that night to Doranceton and took the trolly car for Ina's reaching there about 9 o'clock.
Sund 19 Jan
I came home on the 10:43 train. Walked from Ransom. Got home about 1 o'clock.
Mond 20 Jan
Took Kate to Ransom. Talked with P Bedell about the Farmer's Alliance. Promised him I would studdy the matter. They want to get up a division here. I worked on assessment about 1/2 day fixing up books and papers.
Tues 21 Jan
I was to fathers and cleaned about 40 bu rye for him. Levi Garey and wife were there.
Wed 22 Jan
Was to Milwaukee. Got "Jack" shod with new shoes. Paid C Snover $2.00 on account. Nothing for shoeing "Jack". Borrowed "By laws of Farmers Alliance".
I got a letter tonight from A Courtwright, Colisville NJ and answered with 5 pages tonight. Gertie Thompson came here from school. They have gone to protracted (?) meeting tonight.
Thurs 23 Jan 1896
I went to Scranton. Bought father 16.50 Ches coal from the Oxford. 3.10 charged. About 3 o'clock it began to rain and snow. The mountain was slippery and I returned by the notch.
Fri 24 Jany
Did not do much. A severe storm from the East. Wrote Frank a letter to Lebanon. Got a new neckyoke from Davis Bros. Ira Davis said it would $1.00. They charge it as they owe me for lumber.
Sat 25 Jany
It was still thawing this morning. I & John took 60 bundles straw to Fritz Bros, Hyde Park . They paid me 7c per bundle. I got 100 meal on it and told them that I would take something next week. Did not ask them the price of the meal. Load 15.80 of Chest coal at the Oxford for father. paid 180 - hauling $1.17. Stopped at Cosners and got his return for state tax.
Mond 27 Jany
I went to C Deckers. Got wife's work left there. Came with Charly to Milwaukee. W P Smith came home with me. Ordered $4.25 worth trees &C.
Tues 28 Jany
I made my returns of assessment of Newton Twp.
drew pay for 12 days at $2.00 per day. Had 38 births and deaths. And got paid for 2 affidavits administrative by E G Reed The total amt drawn is as follows:
12 @ 2 24.00
38 births & deaths 1.90
affidavits .50
------ $26.40
Wife went with me and Gertie(?) Thompson along with us. Trade out straw that I took to Fritz Bros last week.
Recd on Register returned Dec 18, 1895 $22.94
Recd on Register May 18, 1895 $18.24
Recd Set 6 3 days on Reg. copying $1.20 - 46 births and deaths @ 5 230
Reg 6.00
Copying 1.20
B & deaths 2.30 9.50
Recd May 25 1895 for delivering appeal notices and a day at the Courthouse - $8.00
Recapitulation for year beginning with May 1895:
May 18 1895 18.24
Sept 6 1895 9.50
May 25 1895 8.00
Dec 18 1985 22.94
Jany 29 1896 26.40
Total amt for year $85.08
Wed 29 Jany 1896
I fixed the wells.
PM Drove to falls to sell rye for father. They would take it the last of next week at 40 cents per bu. They are fixing dam that washed out. Weather warm, no sleighing this winter.
Thurs 30 Jany
I and wife were to fathers. I got 10 bu oats and 10 bu of rye of him to make chop for myself. Took it Johnsons mill. Fixed the wagon for a load of straw.
Frid Jany 31
This morning went to Ransom brought Kate home from the eleven.
PM Went to Milwaukee got Dick shod. Paid C Snover $2.00 the ant due him on book and for work done on Dick. Owe him nothing now.
At one o'clock a Mr Edwards, Forty Fort, came here. He left a pair of spectacles for me. They are to be Brazilian pebble glass. The glass is a counted $2.00 and he put them into a twenty-five cent steel frame. I did not pay, but he told me to send him the money.
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