Notes from my Fathers Dyary
(Copied into the Diary of Delia Miller Colby)
Transcribed by Mary Lane, 4 Dec 2008 with original spelling, punctuation.
1850 –
May 15 – 1850 – Cemetry clearing
Sat 28 July1. “Went to Gus2 Tompsons after school mony3 Paid Miss Beebe $10.00.
Aug Sat 17 Attended inspectors meeting at McEwens4 which proved the disolution of the
union of our heartszone5 prosperous school distric and probably destroyed.
March 19_ 1851. Traded a yoke of oxen, plough, chane-wagon& 10 blo potatoes for span
graye mares & harness & wagon
April 19. Went to Daddy Thomas to get a pup Named him Zack
Sat May 31_ James6 took my mares & went to Courtland
Aug 11 Traded my mares to horse for 2. yoke oxen & 30.
Oct 2 – 1851 Jannett went East7
1852
May – Sarah Platt school Teacher I had barn & log kitchen & wood house
Sep 12 4th son born (Duncan)8
Nov 13. Traded steers – cow & 8 bus wheat for black mare 6 yrs old & (“That was old
Doll) paid Fairchild for teaching music
Dec – Worked on log kitchen
Dec 6 – 36 birth day (marishes9 passed)
1
Unknown if this is error? On-line calendars show 28 July 1850 to have been a Sunday.
Transcriber note: Could be Jers?
3
Transcriber interpretation. See scanned photocopy.
4
1855 Landowners Index and Kent County Plat Maps should P. L. McEwens in northwest quarter of
section 2 of Caledonia Township.
5
Writing unclear, alternative word possible.
6
Transcriber’s interpretation, alternative possible.
7
Jannett McPherson Miller, wife of Jared, born 27 January 1823 at Wheatland, Monroe County, New
York. Jared appears to be referencing upstate New York as “back East”. Jannett’s parents, Duncan and
Catherine (or Isabell on 1860 Census) are enumerated as living in Wheatland, New York in 1850, 1860.
8
Duncan Wolcott Miller.
2
Jan 1853 – worked on Kitchen
Jan 14 – Dave & Jim Campbell came by will fit10 dear & shot the dog “Zacaria Taylor”
“Poor Zack
March 1853 – Traded Jack & Jill for a 7 year old bay horse (old Jim) & paid $25
toboot11.
Oct. 1853
Engaged lumber of waterman for frame barn
Dec 1853 – Hired Jim McDermid by the year
Dec 1853 Taxes $8.12 (160 acres)
Jan 30 - 1854 – Resolved to take up the cross & folow Jesus.
May. S 6th – 1854 – Went after Miss Beebe. School teacher.
June. Sat 17 – 185412. Self & wf went to Elder Fairchilds to organize a Baptist Church.13
Thurs 22 barn raising at home
S 25 Baptised
Sep 22 – 1854 – Father & Mother McPherson & Libbe came from East
Oct 2 1854 James Mallock & Kate came
Sun 26 – Nov 1854 My second daughter born about 7 oclock (Mary)14
Dec 27. 1854 – Started for Battle Creek for appls William McPherson sent from New
York.
Feb 21 – 1855 – Bought 40 of Jack & John Stark for $205 – 40 acrs. Tinkler cow 1855
Aug 23 – 1855 – Attended Nathan Morses funeral
9
Transcriber: difficult to read, faint pencil and very small.
Very faint and unclear.
11
Should be ‘to boot’?
12
This date does comport with modern calendar reckoning, unlike day and date at footnote 1.
13
Per records of Alto Baptist Church, first organizing meeting of the church was held at the Miller house
on Timpson Avenue.
14
Mary Miller.
10
Oct 22 1855 – Attended Sopronas weding
Nov 7 – 1855 – Stones family from N Y.
20 Went to Battle Creek for Stones goods.
Thursday Nov 29 – 1855. bought 40 acrs of James Campbell (The East 40) $320
Dec – 1855
5 went to Flat river for Dr for Mrs Millr
(Had a run of Typhoid pneumonia serious) Mrs. Fairchild took the baby home with her.
(Mary a year old)
20th Father & Mother McPherson from the East to see the sick one. Went home the 2 of Jan
1856.
May 1856 – Helen Fairchild comes to school & boards here.
Sterling Suft OS S S 1856
Aug 7. 1856 James Stewart sick – 9th died
Sep 27 disolved the district
Nov 3 – 1856. 3rd daughter born at 9 am Monday15
Oct Bought horse of Blakesly – bar geldings (Prince & Frank) sold Old Jim to Stewart &
Jan 1857 Elder Fraser protracted mulings Mr & Mrs Stewart converts
Feb 7 – 1857 Appointed Dea16
May 6 – 1857 – Attended Jack Van Notus funeral. Elder CLutz in 1857
Oct 13 – 1857 Hired a railroad paddy (Owen Logan) McVean died Au 28
D 20 Nizzer Lenord preached
Jan 1858 comenced clearing East 40
April 11 - 1858 Mrs. Dea Campbell died.
15
16
Jessie Elmina Miller.
Deacon?
Stones school house built in 1858