1856
1856 March 6th - Chloe, Robert Geddes second wife died this morning fifteen minutes before one O'Clock, Aged 37 years, 7 mo + 11 days, of Consumption.
13th - James Geddes of Macon County Illinois came here. He is a half brother. Born, Dec 12, 1810, weighs 122 lbs. He came here to get his half Brothers + half sister to sign to him their right on some land in DeWitt County' Illinois taken with his brother Thomas' name. They signed away for nothing.
19th - I am Fifty five years old to day. It was a fine day. Thermometer 28° in the morning, 48° at Noon + 28° at Nine P.M. My health was good the past year. Sleding winding up at last. We have had 12 weeks continuous sleding without a thaw. We have had a very severe winter. The better part of it, the roads were in many places impassable from Snow drifts. March 18th may be said to be the last day of Sleding.
29th - The Vansickle premises were sold to day at Auction to Myron Rash for $645. one third down, one third in a year + one third in two years with interest.
April 1st - March was a cold month with little snow + no rain. April 1st, a passage through the ice in the Mill pond for the first time this winter. Dec 14th 1855 it rained: from that time to April 1st 1856 we had no rain. The snow last winter was never 24 in deep.
April 11th - A light rain
May 5th - Elvira Randall + George W. Twing were married. Quite a number were invited to the Wedding. Sarah, Jane, Maria + Robert L. Geddes were there. Elvira was 22 years old the day she was married.
May 31st - Thermometer 28° at Sunrise + some ice.
June 2nd - The M. C. R. Road Co. put up another wire on the Telegraph poles for their own use past Geddesburgh. The wire is to extend from Detroit to Chicago.
July 4th - A fine day (Friday) But little doings with in Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti. I was at home attending Sawmill.
July 2nd - Insured My House $600, Furniture $150, Barn $150. Insurance 11.25. Policy 1.50, total $12.75 Cash for five years. In the Empire Co. Cayuga Co N.Y.
July - I overhauled my House this month. It cost about $140. Siding, Making a new Cornice + Painting. First rate hay + harvest weather. Wages $1.75 pr day in Harvest, + 1.25 in Hay making. Grass good. Grain middling crop only.
July 9th - Wheat .81 Aug 13th - 1.25
Aug 3rd - Lemuel Foster + Mrs Green of Salem were married Sunday Aug. 3rd 1856 in Northville. Mr. Foster is 63 years old + Mrs Green 55 years.
Aug 26th - Frost, Thermometer 36°, 30th - 35°, 31st - 40°, Sept 1st - 38°. August has been a cold + dry month.
Aug - John Shatford + Mary Ann Keedle were married.
Sept 6th - Wheat in Ypsilanti is $1.31, Corn .62½
Sept 20th - Last night The Eagle Mill of Ypsilanti was burnt. Insurance $8000. It was found on fire about eleven O'clock at Night. The Mill was running. It took fire above from the Machinery.
Sept 30th - Nathan T. White + Mary Lovina Porter were Married. He is 19 years + 8 mo old + she's 22 years old.
Oct 22 + 23 - About 1½ inches Rain two days after is enough more. These two rains made water enough for Sawmill + Paper Mill. The first week in Sept I sawed but half a day before + since mostly every afternoon I sawed.
Nov. 11th - The Paper Mill of Ann Arbor does not water to go yet.
Nov 9th - Thomas Keedle + Sarah Green were married.
Nov 11th - School District No. Eight, Thirty one voted for ------, Two voted for Buchanan, Gillespie + Ladore, One voted for Fillmore, Dan A. Kelly.
Nov 27th - bought a New Cooking Stove (Excels) Price Without Furniture $28.00
Dec 27th - John is Fourteen years old to day. Weighs 85 lbs, gained 14 lbs, Height 4 feet 7 in. gained 3½ in.
Sarah, height is 4' 11½, Weight 93 lbs
Rachel, height is 4' 1¾, gained 1¼ in. Weight 51½ lbs. gained 1½
Ann Botsford, 5' 2½, gained 1¼ in. Weight 114 ½ lbs, gained 6½ lbs.
Celia Botsford, 5' 0½, gained 00, Weight 104½ lbs, gained 7½ lbs
Mary Botsford, 4' 10 ½, gained 2½, Weight 88 lbs, gained 10 lbs.
Amelia Botsford, 4' 5½, gained 2½, Weight 69 ½ lbs, gained 6 lbs.
Charles Powell, 5' 11½, Weight 141½
Charles Ewers, 4' 7½, Weight 93½
Jane Ewers, Weight 109½
Dec 2nd - It began to snow and may be called the first day of Winter. In two days the Sleding was good and continued until Feb. 6th First rate. Two days in Dec. -2° - -6° below Zero, the rest above Zero.
21st - Delia Alexander weighs 140 lbs. My own weight is 156 lbs. Health good the past year.