16 November 4. Martha leaves for New York to visit Fannie’s. Jason is to keep the diary while she is away. [Note: handwriting changes]. This is the first time Martha has been away from the farm for an extended visit during the 27 years of marriage. She did not return until January 2, 1895. An account of this visit is in the back of the diary. [Smaller pages are sewn into the back of the diary dated Nov. 6 to Jan. 2] December 29. Fred home from Monmouth for visit. 1895 January 11. Fred returns to Monmouth College. January 16. Simon Debro, a colored man from North Carolina stops at the farm and stays. January 26. Martha’s birthday - 51 years old. Clara and Homer attending Cedarville College. Spring. James Little, Uncle Joe Caldwell, Simon Debro and Noah Smith help on the farm. May 14. Cold, a little snow early in the day; continued cloudy and cold until May 19th. July 17. Fred home from Monmouth for a visit, returned to Monmouth Aug. 29. September 9. Homer goes to Monmouth to help Fred with the local newspaper; Fred would finish college. September 10. McMillan School opens-Clayton and Jason attend. September 18. Cedarville College opens in their new building–Clara will stay at Aunt Jane’s in Cedarville to attend college. December 16. James’ birthday - 62 years. These few notes do not indicate a lack of activity on the farm. Every day was filled with work for each one. They were busy with church–school–and community affairs. 1896 January 1. Martha tells who is at the farm, and tells the whereabouts of the ones away from home. January 11. Sold 51 hogs at $3.75 per one hundred pounds; hauled them to market in wagons. January 25. Homer returns from his work in Monmouth. February 27. [James and Martha] made a visit to Wilmington, O.; it took about 5 hours each way by double team and carriage. March 1. Homer attending Cedarville College. March 20. Clayton’s birthday-16 years old. March 22. First time the local Reformed Presbyterian Church had communion at the close of the morning service instead of at a 2:00 p.m. service. Also, in these years they had preparatory services on both Friday and Saturday afternoons and a closing service on Monday at 10:00. There were only two communion services during the year–Spring and Fall. April 5. Jason’s birthday–14 years old. May 27. Fannie arrives from N. Y. with her two sons, Donald and Malcolm MacKenzie. June 3. James and Martha go to Monmouth, Ill. for a visit and for Fred’s graduation on June 11. [A program for this graduation was located between pages 124 and 127. Pages 125 and 126 have been torn out.] June 9. Homer goes to Pittsburgh, Pa. to attend King Oratory School. June 17. James and Martha return from Monmouth. June 25. Fred takes a job in Chicago with Mr. Shountz. July 14. The MacKenzies return to New York.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=