Diary of Jeremiah White Graves, Volume 2, Book 12

1856 June 19 Doct thompson here yesterday to see Sandy, Nannie gone to Mrs Hunts this morning

20th Beding & Planting Lot of Tobacco fine season to Plant Tobacco – finished planting Lot

21st Laying by Corn in Johns fresh Sewed Peas there, choping out Corn on Branch & weeding Tobacco on Branch Johns.

23 began to Cut wheat Hired abram Crews he is cutting to day fine day – Jordan Lowry & Buck choping about in Potatoes etc - Just getting out very Hot weather –

24 Fine growing weather cutting wheat when we can working new ground tobacco this morning & then to cutting wheat as soon as Dew gets off Replanting by Bee Gums this morning Jordan & Buck going to mill 6 Bus car^d & will bring back 8 there

25th Cutting Rye & wheat weeding Tobacco on Branch & new ground ¬

25th Plowing some in Corn Lila & Lowry Bal Balance all cutting wheat except Fed Buck & Jordan began to cut wheat mondy & this

26. & 27 Cutting wheat & finished about 12 oclock Arch alse & Eliza stayed 1½ days replanted Lot & mountain to day. Shearing sheep – – –

28th Replanted over our Tobacco working out new ground Plowing corn 4 Plows to day F. W F & myself are going to Riceville to day Doct T ^yesterday here

30th Laying Buy Corn 4 Plows. Jordan Plowing or Harrow Lot Tobacco weeding Lot Tobacco Doct Thompson here^{see Sandy} to 25 times he has been I reckon, ^{in all since March}fine weather

July 1st clear morning Sent Henry to Mill 1½ Bushels wheat for flour Halled up Rye this morning Lila Plowing at stony pint Balance Plowing corn on Branch etc. Weeding Lot Tobacco

1856 July 5 I have this week been to Bottetourt School Bro^t Kate Home from Hollins Institute - at home they have been weeding tobacco choping out Corn & Laying by corn Sandy still very Low Doct Thompson here yesterday to see him etc etc,- they are this evening finishing at stony pint weeding Tobacco

9th Since the 5th we have Plowed a little been trying to Cut Oats Since Monday & Rained nearly all day yesterday Tuesday Bro Hunt Sent Henry & he cut ½ day Monday & stayed till Tuesday & Rained So I sent Him home Fanny W F. Sent Arch Monday Cut ½ the day monday none yesterday but striped Tobacco, this morning cutting Oats Abra ham Crews come too,- Jordan & Lowry Plowing Fed & abram weeding Tobacco at Stony Point cleared off

10th Henry, arch & Abram Crews Cut Oats yesterday & Henry Abram Crews & Jacob Cutting this morning & trying to get done by 12 oclock very raining Lowry & claiborne Plowing all the rest in Oat field,- cloudy & likely for Rain Mr Hunts Henry Cut Oats ½ Arch Cut Oats 1½ day 1 day striped Tobacco & ½ weeded not do much on acct of its raining, ground very wet Finished Cutting Oats 12 oclock ¬

11th Lowry & claiborne Plowing Balance hilling up Tobacco on Branch & new ground Henry gone to Mill 8 Bus corn& 3[?]^1½ Bus wheat for flour Bro Hunt Sent this morning to help us Cut oats & we are done, ¬— Doct thompson came to see Jordan again.- Alex Goodman stayed

11th at night warm & cloudy

12 Hilling up new ground Tobacco & trying to finish Laying by corn a little after 12 oclock to day

1856 July 12th Finished Laying by corn with Plows, this evening - & nearly done hilling up new ground, Tobacco ¬– –

14th Plowing & Hilling up fresh ground next to Crews Doct T. came again to see Jordan clear hot Day

15th Finished Plowing fresh ground by Crews and Hilling it up & expect to finish to day

16 Sent Buck to Shop have Henry clay & Pompeys Shod Halling up wheat Plowing & Hilling up Lot Tobacco Have had a fine Day tho very Hot

17 Kate & me went to Rices to day very hot & dry Halling up wheat & working Lot Tobacco

18 worming Tobacco this morning & expect to try to finish getting up wheat to day Sent to Mill 2 Turns Corn for meal & to get 4 or five Turns there —

21 Plowing & Hilling up Lot Tobacco & p^s over on the mountain Henry & alse halling up & stacking Oats —^{or making reads for stacking} I went to Court this day

22nd Halling^{Doct T. came here Sunday call visit} up & stacking Oats this morning Kitty Sick, fine Rain last Friday evening

23rd Hilling up Tobacco on mountain Halling & stacking Oats to day my wife gone to Mrs Hunts Kitty sick yet. Took down Some of Our striped Tobacco this morning fine weather – I went to Court last monday – – – –

24 Finished yesterday stacking Oats put 10 stacks up & halled one Load in House finished Hilling up tobacco on mountain & pulled up flax clear & Dry – choping tobacco on Johns Branch & choping out cotton Henry Halling Rails & fixing fence & putting hogs in [water stain] Toped Tobacco on Johns branch & ^{to day}new ground [water stain] by Crews this evening

1856 July 24 Kitty Taken Sick last Thursday 18th or 19th & is sick yet Jordan & Sandy getting better, - Halled up Our fodder put 2 stacks in old prize Barn for Mr Anderson sold & put 2 in new cutting House, Hot Dry weather

25th Hung out Tobacco this morning worming Toping Tobacco in fresh ground to day choping out cotton to day, sent for Doct Thompson to see Kitty to day

26. Loaded waggon with Tobacco for Riceville cleaning up around negroes Houses etc Branch etc, worming new ground this evening, - etc etc etc Went to Riceville with Load Tobacco 1347 lbs Balance of our hands cleaning up & fixing about their houses & worming new ground Tobacco, this evening, - clear & dry —

28 working on Tobacco in morning Toping new ground Henry going to Mill for meal & to Dews for weather Boarding Sent 4 Bushels Corn & 2½ Bushels new wheat to Yates to grind for meal & flour

30th Henry at work on Granary shed Balance of them choping at Turnip Patch & corn field clear & dry — Went to Riceville yesterday & car^d all of our Tobacco we have striped Toped over our Tobacco

31st Doct Thompson has been here ^{to see Kitty}to day Henry has floored Granary shed & weather boarded it in 1½ days balance of them been choping in corn till 12 [water stain] choping grass off Plant Bed [water stain]

1856 Augt 1st & 2nd Striping tobacco & finished all on halled up about 2 oclock 2nd Rained 2 little showers of Rain about this time —

3rd Clear & dry day Jacob gone to Green field to meeting – very hot & dry —

4th last night it rained tremendous hard & we striped Tobacco to day & finished, & hung up all this day I never Saw it rain harder in my life, and we could hardly Keep dry in Barn back of Garden, fireing this morning

5th moderate weather Plowing Turnip Patch ground very wet, Halling Rails for cow pen toping & worming Tobacco over to day – went to Fannies myself Come back to Mr Hunts Sale on the 5th Augt Choped over & wormed new ground & second years Land & commenced Plow ing & Hilling up Our Lot put out Our Tobacco the next day – say

7th Augt Put our Tobacco out Plowing & Hilling up Lot took Bus at this time

9th Beeting cider this morning Henry fixing Granary, carried last of our Tobacco to Mr andersons yesterday Rained in evening Doct Thompson came to see Kitty & says she is better Doct Thompson gave me a fine Hog yesterday in bringing him home & he Died somehow clear this morning Beet Cider to day & then went to Shrubing corn field fence at fresh field, Henry finished Granary to day & Sewed Turnip Patch, - etc Fair & clear, Dan^l R Hunt here the 10th Augt

11th Plowing & Hilling up Lot Tobacco, Toping Tobacco at mountain this morning