5 1871 (2 volumes) January 29. Martha states her opinion on Psalms and Hymns. “The more I read the Psalms the more I love and appreciate them and feel confident that they will endure forever while all hymns and works of men will be swept away and be burned up and will never be able to abide the day of His coming.” [Note: This entry was not included in the notes] March 23. Martha and children Fred & Fannie, all sick with measles. April 8. Dan and Jane McMillan’s 25th anniversary. (They lived on farm next to James & Martha’s). May 6. Started corn planting; finished on May 20. May 19. Started sheep shearing; finished June 10, 1000 sheep sheared. July. Hay and wheat harvested. August 19. McMillan clan picnic in Haney’s woods. September. James showed sheep at Jamestown fair; also at Clark County fair at Springfield, and at Greene Co. Fair, Xenia. September 19. Started cutting corn, put into shocks. October 5. James and Martha take the train to Cincinnati to attend the Paris Exposition. November 3. White washed the dining room and put the heating stove up for the winter. November 20. Made a year’s supply of soap. Also, dug a cistern at back of the house. November 23. Sold 78 hogs at 4 cents a pound, average weight 330 lbs. December 4. First good snow. The children: Fannie was 3 years old on Feb. 18, 1871 Fred was 1 year old on May 19, 1871. 1872 Not much to record from this book–mostly a good picture of farm life. This year, the children, Fannie & Fred were 4 and 2 years old. March 14. On March 14th, a third child is born and named Harlan. James had a large number of sheep, hogs, milk cows, chickens, bees. Crops were corn, wheat, hay, pumpkins, apples, potatoes. How many acres of his farm he had at this time, however, I note that he did have sheep on pasture on four other farms besides this one, so he had several hundred head. December 12. James’ mother (David McMillan’s widow and my [Rankin] great-grandmother) died. The funeral was held on December 14. Martha records Rev. Morton’s funeral oration which is interesting to me. (See pages 180 - 185) “......This departed Mother was born in South Carolina in 1795, 78 years ago. She was married in 1812, 61 years ago. With her husband and family she came to this country in 1831, 42 years ago. She was left a widow with a large family in 1856, 17 years ago. She lived 78 years, raised a large family, all of whom survive her except the late Rev. S. K. McMillan. She was a consistent member of the church, spent a long life in the service of Christ and now like a shock of corn falling ripe in its season, she has been gathered who can doubt into the great granary above.” [Note: This entry was not included in the notes]
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