Diary of Jeremiah White Graves, Volume 2, Book 12

1856 22nd Oct Sewing wheat cutting down corn Mr Wyatt & Jacob at work on Barn fine weather

23rd I moved Mr. Adams this day & took nearly all Balance sawing shingles Blocks & hanging Succors & Sandy & wyatt at work on Barn

24th Sawing shingle Blocks Sewing wheat Sandy & Mr Wyatt at work on Barn balance cutting down & shucking corn the 21st this months I agreed to give him at the rates of $80 pr year for him to atten[d] closely to the hands —like for rain

25 Sewing fresh ground in wheat next to Johns Spring, cutting down & stacking corn next to orchard halled up Load corn for Hogs & then Halling wood etc

26th I started for the fair at Richmond this morning & arrived at Mr Overbys left my horse & started 27th for Richmond where I arrived Just before night stayed in Richmond that —

28 In Richmond at Fair grounds --

29th In Richmond at D^o said to be near ^Poeple 15,000 at night about started for Orange & Green got to Gordonsville at 12 that night

30 Hired horse at $1 pr day went to see Cousin Charles Graves found him sick went from there to James W Graves & found him Just alive, went from there to Bro Johns stayed ^night that

31 Returned to James - went to see cousin charles & went to Gordonsville that night. —

Novr 1st started from Gordonsville at 12 Oclock & arrived in Richmond at 4 Oclock in morning stayed in Richmond at James Hunts & uncle Crenshaws till Monday morning & then started for home got to Mr Overbys 12 Oclo[ck] got my horse went to Mr McCullocks that night

1856 Monday 3rd Rained as hard as I ever I saw it but Once in my life stayed & Tuesday Election day it Rained in morning I arrived at strait stone by 12 Oclock acted as Commissioner & then got home by night in the rain found all well at home Thanks be to God

4th Election over at S.S. F. & A J D 22 Buchannon & B. 50 — Worked done in the above time

27th Faned out wheat Fed & Sandy fired Toba the rest commenced working on Ice ^pond pomd Henry Jordan & Lowry Plowing - Henry got out Guano & wheat say

28th Fed etc opening Drains, claiborne etc Picking out cotton —

29th Fed etc Grubing in new ground Henry & Plowing finished picking cotton

30 Lowry etc Plowing Jordan gone to Mill finished sewing other Johns Branch alse etc grubing claiborne etc cutting

31 Fed etc grubing Jacob etc cutting Henry etc Plowing — Wyatt & Sandy getting Shingles all the week Henry Sewing wheat sawing etc — this evening

Novr 1st Henry Jordan etc Plowing balance Corn, Halled Load corn shucked it out & put it Halled wheat etc —

2 Sunday Pleasant day

3. Shoemaking making Brooms etc etc

4 Striping Jacobs Tobacco - etc -

5 Cutting & Grubing in new grounds Shoemaking Mr wyatt getting shingles with Henry. Cleared of[f] very cold this morning ground very wet

1856 Novr 6th I went to Republican Grove, to See Mr Prindle, alse & Kitty grubbing Jerry went to Miss Sarah McCullocks Henry helping Mr. Wyatt Jacob & Balance pulling off corn by Bars

7th Moving & fixing Corn Jordan plowing Fed & Sandy Shoe Making, Halling up & shucking corn plowing up cotton Patch Henry & Mr. Wyatt finishing Tobacco Barn this evening - etc Picked out Cotton to day

8th Shucking & housing Corn Sewing wheat in Cotton Patch & by Lilas House etc Fed & Sandy Shoemaking Rainy a little Turned cool in evening etc etc

9th went to Fannies & she came here Jacob went to Riceville —

10 Sent Henry to Mill 2½ B. W 4 Bus Corn & 1 Log for flooring for Porch Jordan & Lowry Plowing Fed & sandy Shoemaking Balance pulling off Corn fine day clear — fine weather

11th Sewing Wheat & getting up Corn

12th Sewing wheat & getting up Corn fine weather about this time

13th Sewing wheat putting up Greens & then for getting up Corn etc etc Finished sewing wheat sewed 32½ Bus. Henry gone to yates mill with Log for sheeti =ng 4 Bus Corn for meal 1 Bushel wheat ^F for fine weather = Halling corn this evening

14th Finished sewing wheat I went to Fannies sold Top to JD Hunt for $85 due now to be pd by or before X Halling up & shucking out corn fine weather. Henry Jointing shingles

1856 Novr 15 Halling up & shucking out Corn Henry Jointing shingles etcno no meeting at S S In House Saturday ^Sunday nor

16 fine day clear & cool

17. Halling up & shucking out corn Henry car^d Log to Mr Dews Saw Mill for sheeting, expect to carry ^{Large 2 & 1½ Inch there} 1 more to day If we can JD Hunt moves about this time, — — — — fair weather

18th Sent Henry to Dews Saw Mill this morning 1 Large Log upwards 16 feet flooring Putting & shucking corn filled cutting House full shucks clear fine weather Mr wyatt at work to day

19th Mr Wyatt & Henry at work on Hs house Balance pulling up & halling corn Halled up plates wood etc etc took down house

20th Shingling H^s house pulling & halling corn Went down to shop myself fine weather

21th this morning unexpectedly raining Henry & Lila Out of Door or rather had to move in Kitchen, Fed & sandy shoemaking balance spining picking cotton etc – – –

22nd cleared off & we have a beautiful day Mr Wyatt & Henry shingling House Jacob Halled up & pack down his Tobacco. Finished halling up & shucking corn Jordan & Jerry went to Mrs Hunts after Sow & Pigs. Car^d 2 plows to shop

23rd Rained in evening I went to strait stone^{pray meeting}

24 Jordan & Sandy getting wood Henry & Wyatt finished his house & went about Clems covering North side balance striped my late Tobacco in new prize barn till 12 oclock & then till night finishing Jacobs Halled 2 Loads of wood for Mr Neal

1856 Novr 25th Mr Wyatt worked till Tuesday 10 Oclock about 1¼ days & then it rained & he went to the wedding balance striping Tobacco at mountain field Barn rained nearly all day

26 Striping Tobacco at mountain Barn Jacob went up to Fannies to see about measuring Corn for Henry & Sandy fixing hog pens killed sheep etc warm pleasant weather etc etc

27 Housing corn & finished & then Halled rails & began cow pen & Did not finish it, Killed Ram,- put Plank in Barn to fire, Mr Wyatt came this morning & in morning fixed gates & then him & Henry went to hewing Sills & Plates for Porch etc tolerable good day, moderate,

28th this morning striping Succors Jordan halled rails a little while in morning & then it began to rain & Rained all day — Mr Wyatt & Henry & Sandy went to hewing till 9 Oclock when it began to rain & stoped Henry & Jordan cleaned out new Barn & put some fire under Plank — still ^{at night}raining very wet & cool rain, desperate weather

29th Mr Wyatt left this morning still raining we are striping Tobacco at Mountain & fixing Hogs pens cow pen etc halling wood with cart Jordan with cart claiborne Cutting wood etc - Jerry Smith gone to Post office this morning — Rec^d a letter from My Bro John Graves Exr of my Fathers Est. etc Striped Tobacco till 12 Oclock finished cow pen Halled wood

30 Fine morning Sunday very windy last evening Fair this morning & moderate.