The Journals of Martha E. McMillan

day. Mr. Will Mitchel called this A.M. This afternoon Mrs. Mary Townsley wife of the late Newton Towsley died. This Eve Russell & Clayton at C– The rest of us at home. Luella and I both busy all day. 9 April, Saturday. Blowing a good deal & quite cloudy. Casey sick today & off duty. Russel & Clayton making a full [track?]. Uncle Joe and Jason & Paul around. Mr. Will Mitchel here again [tacking?] up [tracks?] This afternoon I took Uncle Joe home and made a brief call in the city. I met Mrs. A_____ Morton at Aunt Mary’s. This Eve Mrs. McLain came over in great trouble. Her husband came home drunk and tried to kill her. Clayton & Russel took her to [Salem? Solon?] – they did not get started until nine. Directly after dinner Mr. Mc. went by way of [Joe?] Cans & took Luella along and left her there to stay with them until Monday. Mr. Mc. went on to Springfield but is not home yet. We are expecting Harlan to come back with him. What a busy day we have had. Clayton was so very tired; I was sorry to see him go – it will be late when they get back. Mr. Mc. is home and Harlan came with him. 10 April, Sabbath. A nice day, but cloudy. Clayton & Jason and Paul at Sabbath school & church. Mr. Mc. and Harlan and I at church. [St.? H?] Carrall White preached - he is just from the seminary. Alex keeping house – he made the ___________ in the school house as usual. Paul and I at the class there. Had nine only, but they were interested and behaved nicely. The boys at home this evening. Mr. White’s text: “Give glory to the Lord your God.” Harlan was with us tonight. He is here so seldomly these times. We so much enjoy having him here. 11 April, Monday. Very much like Spring. Clayton took Harlan back to Springfield early this morning. He came home past the late & old Casey home and brought Luella back. They reached here after one. I have had a busy day. We had four sheep shearers home from the vicinity of [Doley Varden? Daley Varden?]. Jason home helping them.Near noon Mr. Mc. at C– and brought Uncle Joe out. Casey and Russ hauling in hay. Alex around helping. Our sheep shearers here for supper again. Luella at the work meeting at the schoolhouse to elect two [over?] directors. Mr. Mc. is still in. They are going back to the old way now – having three directors in each district to attend to the business. I attended the meeting for the first time and cast the first ticket ever cast by a woman in this school district. I hope & pray the day is not far distant when they can vote on every question from the highest to the lowest. This eve Clayton & Jason took the clothes to Mrs. P and expected to visit Elbert Dallas. Jim Little came out with Uncle Dan this evening and is here tonight. Paul was at school today. This was his birthday – he is eight. “Happy hours of Childhood.” I must state here that Mr. John Kyle and Mrs Charlie Barber were elected to the office of school director last evening. This is the first time a woman has ever been granted this right in our district. How long we have all been asleep – it is now high time for the people to awake out of sleep on this subject. 118