Diary of Jeremiah White Graves, Volume 2, Book 15

1862 Janry 30 Mr. Edmonds negroes stayed here last night Mr Wyatt cant do any thing this morning – Rounded & Jointed shingles in evening –

31st All hands tore down Shed room & moved it round towards Kitchen to day saved nails etc Mr Moses Kate Fannie all here to day Raining about dark again to night & has been raining hailing or snowing nearly all this month. Henry compla[in]ing yet – have not heard from Jacob Since Christmas –

¹⁸⁶²Febry 1st Rained last night & this morning & we are shelling Corn Mr Wyatt gone got out nails & cleaned up this morning very pretty evening - I went to Wallers for Fannie

2nd Tolerable good day, Prayer meeting at Bro. H place clouded up some & looks like more falling weather

3rd Snowing this morning & last night we are striping tobacco

4th Still cloudy this morning snow melted Smartly. Sent to Mill Twice to day Striping Tobacco & trying to finish whats in prize Barn Took down & Halled to prize Barn ½ the Tobacco in the Barn on the Road, to strip I went to aspen Grove to day & they are striping in Barn back of Garden another sheep Dead there, 11 Lambs there 1 hear[here] — brought from there. Clem sick & has been for 2 or Three weeks —

5th cleared of[f] in evening. Jerry came here soon in morning & Sallie Mattie & him gone to CH to Nannie clements wedding. We are malling to day Mr Wyatt came here in evening. Halled up stack Oats Halled out some chaff & straw this morning cleared off about dark.

6th Raining this morning striping Tobacco Mr Wyatt cant do any thing he is at^{went home} barn Mrs Hunt Came down with Sallie from CH this evening; much worse than when she left still cloudy to night & like for more falling weather, - Roads Horsed bad.

7th Feby 1862 Mr Wyatt here this morning ^ ^{at work} took down all the Tobacco in Barn on Road & moved to Prize & carried plank to Barn Henry putting up Pillers to day – Malling in new ground I went to old place & to see Glenn to day Raining again to night, Did not finish Pillers,

8th Finished Pillars to Room & Porch striping tobacco till 12 Oclock & then Halled wood & Light wood Mr Wyatt left in evening – I did not go to meeting

9. Sunday I went to meeting Mrs Hunt sick & Sent for Doct Wooding to see her, came in evening Mrs Coleman came here to day to see her Twice

10th Mrs Hunt no better lent T. Owen at old place 1 pr. Iron wedges. this morning Halling wood malling in new ground Looks likely for Snow or rain, quite cold I have been to aspen grove, dont get 1 Bag cotton sent from there to Millers to Pick weighing 55 or 60 one Mr Wyatt came here in evening to work –

11th Tolerable morning Mr Wyatt at work on room - Cutting & malling wood for Dove then expect to raise shed room, Mrs Coleman staid last night. Mrs Hunt very sick. Sent 2½ Bus. wheat to Yates for flour shed room raised, still cloudy -

12 Mrs Hunt very bad off did not sleep any last, Mr Wyatt at work on House Henry helping him this morning malling little Plowing awhile this morning

13. clem sick yet, & Mrs Hunt. Wyatt at work to day. Henry Plowing balance cutting & malling Mr Chumbly come up & bro^t corn sheller & going to work in shop some, going to get Bran & Pen Hulls –

14 Mrs Hunt very bad, clem yet sick. Mr Wyatt at work, Henry Plowing balance cleaning up in old field next to Mrs whiteheads, looks likely for falling weather

1862 Feby 15th Rained Hailed & snowed a little last night hailing this morning. Mr Wyatt gone home firing plank. Sett brush on fire in old field this morning. Mrs Hunt very bad off have to sitt up with her every night this week. Nannie & myself clem a little better this morning – Mrs Sallie T Hunt Died this night about 8 Oclock very easy almost without a struggle, Mrs Coleman Mrs Stanly & Mrs Dove here to night –

16th wrote to Mr Hargrave & Daniel Hunt to day snowed some last night cleared off this morning

17th This morning Raining Hailed nearly all night. Digging Mrs Hunts Grave & a most desperate morning, quite cold Sent for Mr. Bibees Daughters Mrs Hancock & Miss Mary Faris to sit up with Mrs Hunt last night ^nobody Came but Geo. Coleman & Miss M. Faris they are striping Tobacco here to day Mrs Hunt Buried this evening it has been raining & freezing nearly all day till about when the Coffin Came & started, did not rain much while we were gone to old place but the muddiest sloppy time I most ever saw in all my Life. - Ice on trees very heavy

18th Striping tobacco to day, Icicles falling fast I went down to Mrs Pannills after shoats bot for Estate JD Hunt 5 in number for $7.50.

19th Raining this morning striping Tobacco It has been wet & disagreeable ever since the early part of Janry 1862 Very disagreeable weather its either raining snowing or hailing every week, clem getting better — finished striping Tobacco here to day & making Bars & Basket in evening, Rained all the day nearly

20th This morning cleared off windy, Mr Wyatt here at work on steps claiborne & little Henry cleaning out stables & then malling & Halling wood to day

1862 Feby 20th. Bob triming apple orchard to day. Mr. Dove gone to Mr Hancocks to Roll Logs my wife gone to Mrs colemans & Pride.

21st I went to Mr Glenn not at home then went to Millers Mill had Hester shod before, got my Bag Cotton missing which was sent Home chumbly - had then I went to aspen Grove, Mr Wyatt at work here Henry Plowing claiborne gone to Scruggs to Roll Logs, balance Piling wood & Burning Brush in old field next to Mrs Whiteheads

22nd Raining hard last night & all day to day weather moderate very wet. making Bars Baskets & shelling corn etc etc etc Raining all day

23 I started to CH to have Bills arm put did not get it place Martin & White both worked on him monday I got back Mond ady -ay night ^24th Malling & Halling wood & the wind Blew this day tremendous

24th. Feby - Blew down Ragsdale Tobacco Factory & other Houses at CH –

25 Putting up fences Henry plowing for Oats balance at work in old field, Smith gone to mill for Dove & to get Robin shod at Millers – Wyatt at work

26th. At work in old field, Henry plowing. Halling out chaff. Halled up stack Oats for seed Wyatt at work this morning – began to Rain about 10 Oclock, & continued all the evening & night I went to Plantation, to day

27 cleared off in the night last night. & to day windy & cool. Halled up stack fodder on the Creek I made ropes & Bed Cord malling & setting up wood in old field, Henry plowing for Oats to day – I went to blanks Susan Roarks & old place this evening –

28th. Fast Day - I went to meeting House to day

1st March 1862 I went to Riceville, Henry plowing, Balance at work in old field. malling & cleaning up etc etc.

2nd. Sunday cloudy & drizling rain to day.

3rd. Sent Jerry Smith to Mill this morning all our hands gone to aspen Grove to Roll Logs, misting rain a little not much. Charles gone to Chalk Level after papers & letters, - Wyatt has not been here since last Thursday. very likely for rain this morning Did rain from 12 Oclock till night hard & I want in it Coming from aspen Grove they only made 4 or 5 heaps before it rained

4th. Send all down to plantation to Roll Logs again except Henry. cleared of[f] last night. Henry Halling leaves malling wood Wyatt here to day at work, - very cool

5 March 1862. Mr Alex. M. Dove my overseer here has^{Wyatt went off this morning only worked 1 day or a ps} volunteered in the Army, Dyers Company & quits my business to night. we have been halling malling wood to day. Henry Plowing till evening when it began to snow & is at it in the night, Milly Ann sick to day – sore throat

7th. Snowed not Deep. cleared off this morning. Snow melting, quite cool. we are thrashing Out Oats to day – Milly Ann sick -

8th. I went to meeting. Henry Plowing Balance at work in old field yet, I went to Mrs Hunts place & to W^m Vaughans stayed at home, nannie sallie Kate & Fannie went to meeting & Jerry too, Milly Ann very sick yet & Charles to[o]. clear pretty day, Jerry has quit Chalk Level & has Joined T.S. Flourneys Company in the army

9th. I stayed at home nannie Sallie etc went to meeting, Milly Ann & Charles both sick yet. Doct Wooding been Twice to see Milley Ann & he look at Charles too & give him something too