Tue. Oct. 1: Fair and cold. Mama and I washed today had a big wash. Got done about one. Papa went to the PO this afternoon got me a postal from Susie and some from Marie to Ola and I.
Wed. Oct. 2: Fair. Papa and Mama went to Walton today. Papa is about sick with a cold and he went after some medicine. I did the ironing and washed my hair today after they got back Papa went to bed and Mama and I did the chores alone got through at quarter of eight was awful tired.
Thur. Oct. 3: Fine. We cleaned the kitchen and after dinner I washed the carriage then came in and helped Mama mop then we went up where papa was working in the buckwheat for a few minets. I got a letter from Walter this morning.
Fri. Oct. 4: Fine. Mr. and Mrs. Eveland was over today. We had a fine visit. They went home about four. We baked bread had 6 loaves and 3 apple pies and a cake befor they got here. Will drove up with Baker for a few minet took old Zeb back with them. Ola is coming home tomorrow morning I hope, it is awful lonesome without her. She is going to a show to Franklin tonight with Maud.
Sat. Oct. 5: Fair. Ola came home today. Papa meet her part way. I baked 3 marble cake 4 fruit cakes and a batch of cookies to have when Ralph is here. After dinner Ola rode Ned up to John Strong’s and got some plants and her and mama took up some of our plants.
Sun. Oct. 6: Fair. Walter came over about 1:30 we took a walk to the woods to find some pretty leaves for trimming Wednesday. He is going to stay all night. Ola went to church today.
Mon. Oct. 7: Fair. Edna and James came today. Walter meet them at Franklin Station. Papa and Ola went to Walton this morning got back about two. I baked cakes amost all day made 3 rolls jelly and 3 chocolate and 3 fig cakes feel awful tired. Edna made me a present of a bed spread. Ralph a stand cloth. Papa a pretty cold meat fork. Ola half a dozen sauce dishes. They are all very pretty.
[Getting ready for the wedding, and family arriving, with the first presents. Sauce dishes were small bowls that would hold such things as rhubarb sauce or applesauce, or a little jelly for the table. It’s possible the 3 little pressed glass dishes I use every day are those same ones, and I may have the meat fork in my silver chest.]
Tue. Oct. 8: Rainy in forenoon. We went in the woods after poles to put between the horses tomorrow and Ola and I got vines for trimming while James and Walter cut the poles. It was awful cold and rainy we nearly froze. This afternoon we trimmed the parlor and cleaned the dining room.
[At this point it is Grandpa’s handwriting again.]
Wed. Oct. 9: Fine grand. Arose at five o’clock hurried around with the morning work. And dressed before the guests arrived they began to arrive at 10:30. We proceeded to the parlor at prompt 12 o’clock where Rev. Miles performed the Wedding ceremony after which we partook of a bountiful repast. At 1:45 we drove to the Northfield took the train for Sidney where we stopped at the Hotel Sidney for the night. About fifty guests were present.
[Grandpa was waxing eloquent on this his wedding day. “Grand.” “Bountiful repast.” And off for their wedding trip by train.]
Thur. Oct. 10: Fair. Breakfast at 5:30 took train for Oneonta. John Stewart Jessie and Susie went to the Depot and riced us good. We enjoyed the ride fine. Left met us to the train. Had a very nice time. Left on the 4 PM train for Schenectady. James riced us a little at Oneonta. We arrived at 7 PM. Tired as we could be. Retired early.
[No sleeping in for the newlyweds, as they had to get the train to Oneonta to continue their trip. But first some friends met them and threw rice at them. And off to Schenectady, because they would be staying at Grandma’s older sister Edna’s for their wedding trip.]
Fri. Oct. 11: Fair. Breakfast 8:30. James and I walked down to the RR yards, and back by the Erie Canal. We all went to Albany. Went through the capital and then to a Restaurant for lunch. Had a good lunch. Then to a ten cent store purchased several artical. Then went through the museum. It was something grand we enjoyed it fine. Returned at five o’clock tired and glad to get home.
[Sightseeing day in the state capital. Ten cent stores (also known as five and dimes) in those days sold everything for 5 or 10 cents. This was something they would not have seen in Walton or Franklin at this time.]
Sat. Oct. 12: Fine. James and Edna went down town and we took care of Ralph in the forenoon. In afternoon we took a walk downtown and went to the 10 cent store and made some purchases.
[And another 10 cent store in Schenectady. And they gave Edna and James a chance to go out alone.]
Sun. Oct. 13: Fine. Jessie Miss Chafee and I went to the Methodist church. In afternoon we went up to McFrank to meet James when he came from work. Went down to Mr. Wills to hear gramophone in evening.
[Mr. Wills had a record player!]
Mon. Oct. 14: Fine. I went out with James on the engine in forenoon. We all went up to the aqueduct in afternoon then came back downtown and walked home. I carried Ralph all the way.
Tues. Oct. 15: Fine. I picked grapes for Edna and Jessie washed in AM. In PM we went up and through the hospital came back down and then took a car home. Jessie finished her ironing and then we packed as near as we could.
[Grandma’s writing again.]
Wed. Oct. 16: Fine. We came home today. Started from Schenectady at 7:15 and arrived at Northfield about noon nearly tired out where Father meet us. When we got home found my folks here. It was a happy supprise. We stayed till about four when we all drove over to my home. We stayed there till after supper when we started for Walton, got to Aunt Sate’s at eight. It has been a lovely day.
[Home at this point was with Grandpa’s family as he no longer had a job that would allow them their own place, although they went around visiting various relatives for some time. While Grandma called her own father “Papa,” she called Grandpa’s father “Father.” But Grandma’s folks came to meet them and visit.]
Thur. Oct. 17: Fine. I helped Aunt Sate some this forenoon and this afternoon we all went down street stopped into Lockwoods and left my ring. I have lost two stones out of it. Aunt Sate and I went up to see some house hold good that is being sold out and Walter and I drove down street about five and went in and looked at them again we bought 3 pair of lace curtains a table and washbowl and pitcher. Got back just in time for supper.
Fri. Oct. 18: Fair but cool. We got up this morning expecting to drive to Granton this morning. But when Walter went to give Flora her breakfast he found her sick and not able to go. After I had my breakfast I took Uncle Geo. to his work over by the depot and when I got back Walter and I walked down street and when we came back walked up to Josphine’s school and stopped a few minets then walked up to Howland’s mill and took a boat ride. Father came on the noon train to see the horse. And Walter and I drove her home started 1:45 and got here at 6 nearly froze.
[Granton was where Grandpa’s uncle Edd lived, with his parents, Grandpa’s grandparents. Uncle Edd lived in the Granton area, about 15 miles south of Walton, all his life. Flora was their horse. Apparently after Grandpa’s father came to see about the horse it was determined she could get home safely so they went back to the farm.]
Sat. Oct. 19: Fair and cool. We are over to Father DuMond today. I helped Mother a little with her work this forenoon and this afternoon did a little sewing and took a short nap. They had a Doctor for Flora today she seems a little better today. Walter helped his father dig some potatoes this afternoon.
[And while her own mother was “Mamma,” her new mother-in-law she called “Mother.”]
Sun. Oct. 20: Snowed all day. Ola came over after us this morning got there before we finished breakfast. We got here about ten. I wrote a letter to Anna to Aunt Mate and Walter wrote to Edna and James. I got up with an awful dizzy headache this morning and it has ached all day. Will was up a little while today.
[Grandpa again.]
Mon. Oct. 21: Fine. Father and I drove some cows to Walton to Jenk’s they drove pretty good. We only stayed a few minutes in town we got pretty cold coming home got home a little after four. Jessie and Mother did a big washing, Ola had the nerualigy in her face.
[Grandpa called Grandma’s parents Father and Mother now, so that is what each called their inlaws, although Grandpa called his own parents Ma and Pa. Neuralgia was nerve pain.]
Tue. Oct. 22: Fair. I went with the milk and cleaned the cow stables for Father. Father Mother and Ola went over to Wollcotts. Jessie and I staid at home. We went down after the mail and some oil in the afternoon. We all went to Dan Northrups to a party in evening had a good time.
[Wollcotts would have been Grandma’s mother’s family, as that was her maiden name, so either her grandparents or more likely aunts and uncles, as I haven’t heard of her grandparents so they may not have been living. They must have been staying with Grandma’s family now for a few days.]
Wed. Oct. 23: Fair. Helped Father dig his potatoes laid down on the couch in afternoon and had a good nap. Jessie and Ola went after the mail tonight. They are making some candy and I must stop writing so to eat some of it. [Grandma note:] Walter 23 birthday.
Grandma again.
Thurs. Oct. 24: Fair. I did the rest of my ironing this morning and Mama brought me over to Father DuMond’s and Walter walked over. We drove down to Geo. Sanley’s after dinner to find out more about the place haven’t decided what to do.
[Looking for a place of their own to live in, and work as a hired hand.]
Fri. Oct. 25: Fair. Father ate his breakfast and went to Franklin with some apples befor milking so to git back in time to go to East Brook this afternoon. Before we finished milking Papa drove in on his way to Mt. Upton. I took him most to Franklin station and Walter and I took the horse up to Merrickville tonight to meet him he came home on the flier.
Sat. Oct. 26: Fine. Got up at five and did the chores and mopped and sweep. Ola came over about ten and we all went to the village. We drove Ned and took Walter’s wagon. Got back at 3:30 had a nice time. Ola went to see Dr. White about the neuralgia in her face.
[The village being Merrickville.]
[Grandpa again.]
Sun. Oct. 27: Rainy. Got up half an hour late. Hustled around and went over to Father Hartwell’s to dinner. Didn’t get there until afternoon came home early to do chores it rained so hard we did not look for my folks.
[Grandma again.]
Mon. Oct 28: Rainy. Father and Mother came home this forenoon got home at ten. It was so rainy we didn’t wash.
[Grandpa.]
Tue. Oct. 29: Hard wind. Went up to the tunnel and I paid my insurance dues. Jessie and Mother washed. This afternoon Pa and I cut some saw logs. Jessie did her ironing. In the evening we went over to Father Hartwell’s.
[This explains the dues he pays periodically, it is an insurance payment. But unclear what kind of insurance, as there wasn’t health insurance in those days, he didn’t own property to insure; maybe he had a small life insurance policy now that he was married. Or even it was maybe some kind of policy based on his periodic work in the tunnel. At any rate, that is where he went to pay it, to the man who seemed to be in charge of the tunnel.]
Wed. Oct. 30: Cold wind fair. Got up helped milk got ready and started on our long drive to George Vanakin’s arrived 12:15 hungry after dinner we borrowed some guns and went hunting. Jessie shot one red squirrel and three chipmunks.
[More relatives, not sure on which side, but I do remember the name.]
[Grandma.]
Thurs. Oct. 31: Fine. We came down to Grandpa DuMond today befor dinner. This afternoon Walter and Edd went hunting got three gray squirrels and two red and Mabel and I drove Flora to Granton after dinner had a fine time.
[Their visit to Grandpa’s grandparents and Uncle Edd had been spoiled before when the horse got sick, so they tried again.]
