Diary of Jeremiah White Graves, Volume 2, Book 13

1861 March 20th Mr Chumney clem & Smith in new ground at work, Bob claiborne & Henry (little) gone to Plantation to finished Rolling logs Henry halled 1 Large Log Hart to Millers 15 feet long for Palings, & come back & we shelled out 15 Bushel Corn & carried it to whiteheads mill 2½ of which for overseers; we will carry another Log hart for sawing the one carried to day 20 Lambs there to day cool day snow ^gone Henry is to bring from mill 2½ Bus meal

21st Bob has gone after Mrs Hunt she has been at the CH about 2 months We are halling wood & Rails to day out of new ground & at work there cleaning up Claiborne gone to Mr Kelleys to Roll logs. I have down to day to work on my road

22 overseer went to aspen Grove & fix chimney claiborne Halled rails Henry halled wood in morning ground ^{sewed over Plant Beds here to day}hard frozen, cleaning up in new ground they went to sewing oats & finished next to whiteheads; Mrs Hunt Came home in evening - fine day -

23rd Sent Sally her Box of clothes by mail Cart. Ferguson carried it letter etc I went to old place Mr Miller got a Barrel of Cider - Doct Thompsons store Our folks Sewing oats in Peach orchard Balance fencing & Halling out wood.

24th I went to Prayer meeting to day

25 I went to Cap^t Fitzgeralds with Fannie & settled with him for her to day & went to Riceville - Sewing Oats & fencing & cleaning off new ground here to day. Sewed over Plant Beds last week, weather moderate now

26th Halling rails out of new ground & about done Piling wood Sewing Oats etc upper Lot Bob [trim] up apple & Peach trees, etc 

1861 March 26th. weather moderate, Mrs Coleman & family & fannie W Fitzgerald here to day —

27th I was writing letters to Bro Garret & Cousin Ch to day they finished Sewing Oats here & claiborne halling rails. this morning it rained Snowed & hailed a little & the wind blew tremendous hard, we set some trash heaps on fire early & thought they were about out, but about 12 Oclock the broke out & was soon nearly all over the new ground & we had hard work to save our wood & fencing, but none did not get burned, blew down some of our fencing fire also got out over at Mr Hunts place but did not do much damage. We planted our Irish Potatoes on road in wheat Lot & prepared ground in garden to plant Corn Snaps etc etc etc.

28th Went to Plantation to day nearly done breaking up Corn & Tobacco Land except new ground coltering that & Raking balance, 28 Lambs there & 39 old sheep at this time, - we have been fencing here to day & coltering new ground Crossing Halling stuff out of our new ground & raking Fine day. Went to shields Barksdales & mount airy for Mr Grastys business —

29 I went to Chalk Level to day got a letter from Toot stating he had sold my Tobacco in Lynchg 2 Hd^ds Halling out Trash out of new ground began to Hill, Plowing for Corn, paid off Tate to day for myself & Estate John D Hunt,

30 Plowing for ^^Corn Halling out Leaves out of new ground began to Hill yesterday in new ground next to road; took up our Irish Potatoes to day & Beets Kept very well Kate & Mr Moses Came here

31st March Sunday Fannie & Jacob came [faded] cloudy

1861 april 2nd Started at 3 Oclock in night after Sallie got to Lynchg by 12 or 1 oclock Started from there in Carrs ½ past 3 Oclock got to Institute about 8 at night stay there wednesday 3rd staid at Institute Started to Salem with Sallie in evening did not sleep much started in the Carrs at 1 Oclock for Lynchg got there about day Break, & started for home about 9 Oclock. Our folks had been plowing Hilling Halling Rails, while I was gone, fine weather, -

april 5th to day Hilling coltering other new ground Halling up Timbers for carriage House

6th april Sent Jerry Smith to Chalk Level after Papers & letters, Carr^d to Faris's mill 1½ Bus wheat for flour, - Coltering, & Hilling to day – Took down this morning of Bacon ^H23. ^S23. ^M2— like for Rain moderate weather -

7th Rained, stayed at home Mrs Hunt went to Mrs C^olemans

8th Rained again, finished striping Tobacco here Mrs Hunt Came home again –

9th drawing & fixing shingles that come of[f] our Kitchen for Carriage House & Granary ¬ I went to aspen Grove to day ¬–

10th At work On Shingles, fixing Rope works little Henry halling wood Jerry Smith Piling chip manure, did not rain much ¬

11th Halling out trash of new ground, cutting Hop Poles & slab tree & fencing this morning ground wet, & then Mr Chumney & Bob at work on shingles they went down to Creek & fixed water gap or [R]

12th Mr Christian Doct Fletcher & Aaron Simpson stayed all night. Simpson owes 50 centsbalance Paid. Hilling Coltering & Halling out manure till 12 Oclock & then Rained hard till night Shelled corn & made Brooms & spining ¬

13th went to meeting, got slabs cut down Trees at overseers House worked on shingles etc.

14th Went to Meeting pretty day Mr H went Mr Moses & Kate Came here last night, -

15th working on Road to day & Hilling I went to court Rained before got back

16th Raining this morning, cutting wood in woods after morning, dont rain much Cut down Pines in evening to stop Gulleys

17th ground too wet to do any thing with Cutting down Pines in field next to Cap^t Whiteheads for another year, I am going to Plantation to day

18. Hilling Halling out manure & Coltering in new ground, took up Bybees Sweet Potatoes Sweet Seed,

19th this morning taking up balance Sweet Potatoe Seed, working on Carriage House & Coltering & Hilling etc

20 Planted Sweet Potatoe Patch, Seed Keep prime, & Irish too, Coltering in fresh ground & Hilling in new ground, claiborne halling out manure, very cool Sal & me & Doran went to Fannies yesterday & to Mr worshams & vaughans & mrs Hunt went up to Kates & Mr Moses

22nd Began to Plant Corn down below new Barn, claiborne & Smith Halling out Manure, little Henry & Clem Hilling in new ground, I planted Snaps myself & Simblings fine day Planted p^s Corn by Shop

23rd Nannie & all going to Mrs Colemans I am going to Chalk Level Laying off for corn & expect to Plant on to day^{Chick Corn} ^ Halling & Coltering in new ground to day –

24 Planting Corn to day & finished Chick Corn I went to Mr Pannills, & Settled up with Geo.

1861 West & Mr Panill about money coming to J D Hunts Est. & W^m Smiths Est under Deeds of Trust from James B Faris property sold 31st March 1860 & Due in Six months. say 31st Augt 1860 & Geo West is to pay me for the above Estates awarding to Statement, Rained this evening, Mrs Hargrave came here this evening, great excitement & men are starting to Richmond to War with the North. Many are gone, many are going, Halled up stack fodder this evening & last in far field ¬next to Whiteheads Coltering Hilling & planting Corn finishing all at home to day ¬– fine weather Sent to Mill for Chumney & 1 Turn Corn for Ourselves this day – ours at mill yet

25 Hilling in new ground & Coltering Henry Harrowing Corn Land here by cow Pen & finished planting at home Planted snaps etc Put Guano on our Plant Beds

26 Halling out manure this morning & coltering with steers in evening & hilling, Henry halling rails down on creek to day –¬ etc I went to aspen Grove to day they wont get done planting corn this week –¬ they are hilling there they have 30 Lambs to this time

27 Halling out manure & Rails on creek next to McHaneys coltering in new ground till 10 Oclock Hilling in new ground, I went to Riceville Settled with Doct Thompson for Est & nearly paid my account too,- 28 Raining this morning

28th Showery this morning, put my old Sow in pen

29 Finished Coltering & laying off new ground Beding up Creek Land for Corn, Hilling halling out manure & nearly done, overseer [faded] digging holes for Post at Carriage House did not finish there