11 July 6. Began cutting wheat, finished on the 12th. Purchased a stacker to use in hay harvest; then made hay the last two weeks of July. September 29. McMillan school opened. October. New shingles were put on the front part of the house. Removed the roof from dining room and kitchen and built a second story above them, plus an outside stairway to them, and a porch. Finished all but painting on them by Nov. 14. December 11. First heavy snowfall. December 13. Notes there are 1000 sheep on the farm and on rented pasture. Note: At this time all interior walls and ceilings were whitewashed each year. They used carpet on the floors only in winter. Took them up in April, and put them back down in November. All heating done with wood and some coal, either in fireplaces or heating stoves. 1885 The parents, James and Martha, are now 51 and 41 years old. The children are Frances (Fannie)- 17, Fred-15, Harlan-13, Homer-11, Clara-9, Clayton-5 and Jason 3. January, February, March were cold and wet, no plowing done until April 21st. May 15 - 25th. Corn planting. June 1st - 6th Sheared sheep. July 12-14. Cut wheat July 15-29. Made hay. July 29-30. Cut oats. September. Daughter Frances and cousin Lizzie Murdock took a room in Xenia, so they could go to school there. During August, September, and October son Fred with James Caldwell made many trips to Springfield by horse and wagon taking sweet corn, tomatoes, later apples and pumpkins to sell at the market. They could leave home at midnight to be there by morning market hours, and would get home about 4:00 p.m. October. First frost. November. First snow. They had a good potato crop; hauled several loads to Springfield in November. December. Martha got a new cooking stove, and a new sewing machine. 1886 James and Martha are 52 and 42 in this year. Their children: Fannie-18, Fred-16, Harlan-14, [sic. Homer-12], Clara-10, Clayton-6, and Jason 4 years of age. April 4. A new baby arrives, a little girl whom they name Florence. April 20. Started plowing May 19. Began corn planting. Finished the 30th. June 1. Cedarville High School commencement is held in the new Opera House, the first meeting in the new building. June 17. Fannie and Lizzie Murdock completed a special one year course at Xenia High School. July 1. James bought a new wheat binder; started cutting wheat on July 1, ricked the wheat to be threshed later. Spent the last two weeks of July making hay–put part of it in the barns, and stacked part in the field. September 6. Fred started school at Selma. Fannie left for a year at Monmouth College.
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