15 December 25. Homer, Harlan, Clara get home for Christmas. 1893 As this year began; at home, parents Martha and James, sons Clayton, Paul, Jason. Fred and Homer are at Monmouth College. Harlan is working at Carson’s Wholesale Grocery in Springfield, and Clara is staying in Springfield to attend high school. Oldest daughter Fannie, married to Tom MacKenzie, lives in Pine Bush, N.Y. with little son Donald, born May 7, 1892. April and May. Wet months; corn planting delayed. June 9. Homer home from college; spent 2 weeks at World’s Fair in Chicago. July 7. Fannie and baby Donald arrive from N.Y. State, and stayed until Sept. 13, when Clara went home with her. Home helped on the farm all summer; returned to Monmouth on Sept. 5th. September. Clayton goes to stay in Cedarville with Aunt Mary Murdock so that he might attend Cedarville High School. September 16. Harlan has been at Carson’s in Springfield for 1 year. September 18. McMillan School opens; Jason only family member in attendance this year. October 23. Fred home from Monmouth to visit. October 26. Clara will stay at Fannie’s and attend school. November 3. Fred returns to Monmouth. December 3. Sleet storm, stayed on ground until Dec. 10. December 21. Homer home for Christmas vacation from Monmouth. 1894 In this year- James is 60, Martha is 50. Oldest daughter (married) Fannie is 26. Fred is 24. Harlan is 22. Homer is 20. Clara is 18. Clayton is 14. Jason is 12 and Paul is 4. January 15. Martha mentions the hard times in the nation and on the farm; also that this is their 27th anniversary. Homer returns to Monmouth. Then he returns in April to help on the farm. Clayton in school at Cedarville till early May, then home to help on the farm. May 15. Clara, Fannie, and son Donald arrive; Clara has been at Fannie’s in school since September. Home, Jim Little and Walter Murdock shear sheep this year. May 26. Jason made his first public speaking appearance at the Cedarville Opera House. June 16. Fred home from Monmouth College. Tom MacKenzie arrives for a visit. June 20. The MacKenzies return to N. Y. State. July 2. Fred returns to Monmouth. September 19. An account of the opening of Cedarville College. Homer and Clara enrolled; will stay in Cedarville at Aunt Mary Murdocks. [Note: the entry below was not included in the notes] “I began the experience of the day by taking Homer and Clara to the opening of Cedarville College. It opened at the old residence of the late Dr. Hugh McMillan. Who can foretell the end.... We came home and had supper and went back to the opening exercises of the College at the Opera House. We had addresses from the President–Rev. M Kinney–Steel of N. Y. Waters of Pittsburg and from our much esteemed Prof. McChesney. Music fine and audience large. The occasion grand. Everyone pleased.” Sept. 21 “....the first week of Cedarville College has past into history.”
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