January 1868

1. New Year’s Day. Very cold. Our boys went to Mr. Mackey’s and killed their hogs. They are very large and fat.
2. Still cold. V. took B. home today. M. helped me with the work, I got on well too with it.
3. More moderate. Thomas and A. Bankson dined here. Finished the souse and sausage-meat tonight.
4. Pleasant. I went to church. Mr. Chandler and family, a relation of ours, stopped to see us and dined here.
5. 1st Sabbath. Went to Church. A tolerable congregation. Jane came.
31. A long and I think the coldest January is now closing. We have had the deepest snow I ever saw; five inches deep on level ground. Mrs. Mackey and her daughter-in-law visited me a few days ago.

February 1868

1. Very cold and the ground still covered with snow. Did not go to church; T. came by; there will be no preaching there tomorrow as the snow is still round the house.
2. 1st Sabbath. More pleasant. Parson Hood came to dinner; he had been to church, but found no one there.
5. Still cold. L. came and helped me in with Virginia’s jeans.
8. Cold. L. came this evening as T. has gone to Mt. Lookout.
9. 2nd Sabbath. Showery. L. and myself spent this day at Mr. Mackey’s most pleasantly. Hard rain tonight.
14. Pretty day. With the assistance of Virgil I sowed a good many seeds today. Valentine Day.
15. Fine day. Mr. B. and Berenice came this evening.
16. 3rd Sabbath. Fine weather. The boys and Mr. B. went to Concord this evening. M. went with him to Mr. Hale’s. B. and J. went to see Lizzie, but she was not at home.
17. Pretty day. B. left this morning taking the last of her things. She has had a letter from Mr. Yarbrough in which he says times are hard in La. that they have missed two cotton crops; that land will neither sell or rent, and that our place is going down very fast. He has made out to collect enough to pay tax so far, and is doing the best for us that he can. I received a letter from Maggie yesterday in which Olivia was delivered of a still-born child on the 10th. A very fine large boy; that O. was doing very well at that time (11th and 12th). She has had some time previously two spells of old complaint. I am very uneasy about her, and would like to be with her. She and Jos. are of course grieved at the loss of the babe.
22. This has been a week of fine weather. I finished the jeans today. As I have heard nothing more from O., I presume she is doing well.
23. 4th Sabbath. Cloudy. The boys went to Cedar Hill; John, V. and the children came home with them. They have quit chilling and are looking very well, the children especially.
24. Inclement. Commenced wool-spinning.
27. Cloudy. T. and V. started to mill at Nobles Foundry. Cleared off this evening very cold.
28. A severe morning. The boys got back this evening; found the roads very bad and the waters high.
29. A hard freeze; I went to church; few there. T. came to dinner. Moderating this evening. M. went to John’s.

March 1868

1. 1st Sabbath. A day of constant rain, consequently no church going.
2. Still inclement; M. came home this morning; he brought bad news from John’s. Mattie last week swallowed some pounded glass; they had the doctor with her, who gave her an emetic but they fear she did not get rid of it all. If she did not, her doom is sealed.
3. Cool weather. Virgil’s birthday. Very busy.
6. Planted more peas today, as my others failed to come well.
7. We have had pretty cold weather this week; this evening three numbers of Peterson’s Magazine came to Marcellus.
8. 2nd Sabbath. Fine day. Lizzie and Sis. Whitton came this morning; Miss I. Patterson this evening. M. went off with A. Means yesterday evening. The wind was very high and a spark of fire caught in the sill of the house and had commenced blazing when M. came in time to put it our. V. and I were both here, but it had been so rapid we had not perceived it. Such as this frightens me very much.
14. I have suffered a great deal this week with my teeth. I suppose I took cold which settled in them. My face is swollen.
15. 3rd Sabbath. Rainy; my teeth getting better.
16. Still inclement; T. here this evening. My face is painful.
17. Rainy; the boys are working the road; T. started this evening to Madison County; Bettie Williams is to stay with L.
19. Clear windy day. The boys finished the road and this evening M. is helping in the blacksmith shop at Patterson’s to get his work done. Mr. Everett spent the night here.
20. Cool. Another stroke of bad luck. Our bay mare was found dead in the stable this morning. She was perfectly well last night; cause unknown; this is a serious loss at this time of the year and it will, I fear, be difficult to get another.
22. 4th Sabbath. Fine day. The boys went to Cedar Hill; few persons there. John and family were there. They said Mattie was looking very well; I hope she will get along; M. went there this evening.
23. Cloudy with high winds. I went over to see L. yesterday evening. She and Bettie are getting on very well by themselves.
24. Fine day. M. went this morning to try for another horse, but was unsuccessful; neither can he hear of a spare horse. L. came about 12:00 to let the boys know that she has their hogs up. They have been gone sometime and as they are fat, we were somewhat uneasy about them. V. went and got them home.
25. Fine spring weather. I never saw the peach trees prettier; the boys commenced planting corn; with only one it is slower work than they have been accustomed to. I put my joint today in paper instead of ashes as usual.
29. 5th Sabbath. Cold day. Virgil unwell; he has been puny some time. Mr. Davis dined here and spent the afternoon. V. took pills.
30. Fine day. V. and I gathered willows this morning.

April 1868

1. Warm. Fine day. V. no better. M. went tonight and brought Dr. Matthews to see him; he says it is bilious fever he has; gave a large dose of calomel and left other medicines; Mr. P. stayed with us while M. was gone.
2. Showery. V. badly off today, but will not lie in bed, but goes about in a distracted-like manner. M. went again to see the Doctor as V.’s medicine is not doing well.
3. Pretty day. The Dr. came about 12:00. He thinks V. is doing very well. He is clear of fever. Left more medicine for him. I think he is salivated, but the Dr. says not.
4. Fine day. V.’s mouth is very sore; he is badly salivated; Mr. B. and Berenice came today, Mrs. Rudd this evening. V. suffers very much with his mouth.
5. 1st Sabbath. Cold day. V. still has fevers and his mouth is very sore; L. came and went to church with B. Parson Hood came to dinner Leah and her daughter Jane here today. B. has consented to stay this week with us. Mr. B. went home.
6. V. seems a little better today. T., who returned last evening came over this morning with Mr. Whitton and Judson. He has made arrangements to remove to Athens. There is not a Baptist minister in Madison County. It will no doubt, be the best for them to go, but it will be leaving me very much alone. Miss E. Patterson here this evening.
7. Pretty day; T. came this morning looking for his mare, he thinks she is stolen; I went over there this evening, was glad to see the mare at home; he found her at Mr. Battles. I gave V. oil and turpentine this morning and it is doing very well with him, bringing a great deal of bile away.
8. Virgil better. I think now if his mouth was well that he would soon be up, but it still is bad. B. went to Mrs. Bearden’s and got honey for him.
9. Fine day. Did up the washing. V. as usual. Miss T. Rudd here this evening. L. spent the night here.
10. Cool day. B went over to L.’s.
12. 2nd Sabbath. Fair day. T. and L. came this morning; M. and B. started home. T. went to the mountain church and returned this evening for L. Mrsrs. Patterson and Mans here. V. sat up some today, but his mouth is still very sore.
13. Tremendous rains this morning. I never say the creek higher. I fear it has done great injury to the farm.
16. Fine day. V., who has been slowly improving went with me this evening over to T.’s. He complains of the same bad feeling yet, which at times almost distracts him. I went to help L., as they expect to move next week.
17. Warm. L. came over this morning for one of the boys to go and attend the measuring of their corn. V. rode over.
19. 3rd Sabbath. Showery. M. went to Concord. V. still troubled with that bad feeling. He describes it as a feeling of leadenness in his bowels. L. came this evening and T., who returned from Mill Creek came tonight.
20. Still rainy. Set out cabbage plants this evening.
21. Showery. V. no better; he is at times almost crazy. John and family came today; they had heard of V.’s illness; they got him off home with them. T. came this evening to let me know that he will start tomorrow, so I went to making cakes and biscuits for their journey; I fear he will find high waters in his way.
22. Fine morning. I rode over this morning and saw them off. L. not well, but I hope it is only fatigue; several of the neighbors there helping pack up. V. came home this evening instead of staying till Sunday. He is still badly off. John took supper here.
25. Fine warm day. Dr. Sparks came to see V. this evening. He thinks he will soon be over it.
26. 4th Sabbath. Pretty day; the boys went to Cedar Hill; a small congregation; Sis came up this evening, also. A. Means came here. V. seems better.
28. Fine warm weather. I finished my jeans this evening. O. came with her uncle Joe. Her breast is not well yet, but she looks tolerable well. Left all well at home.
30. Warm day. This evening they went down to take Vivia home. She has been away 5 months, I think.

May 1868

1. Pretty day. Uncle Joe and Babe returned this morning. Vivia they said hardly knew the two youngest children. I went to Dublin this evening.
2. Fine day. O. and her Uncle left early for home; it is such a busy time they could not stay longer. J. and M. went to church. Elder Hood, who is to take the pastorship met a small congregation there. One received by letter.
3. 1st Sabbath. Rainy day. Consequently no church-going.
13. Fine weather. Since writing last we have received letters from T. and L. They are well pleased at Athens and find the people very friendly. They had a severe time out, owing to the great rains; L. says if she had been on the road a few days longer she would have had her things ruined. Wrote to her today. V. unwell, has fever and is light-headed. M. has Mac. Whitton to work in his place. The Locusts have returned to visit us after a 13 years absence, and the woods resound with their peculiar song. It reminds me of a great number of sheep-bells running at a distance. They visited us last in 55. This is the 3rd Locust-year I have ever known.
17. 3rd Sabbath. Pleasant day; the boys went to Concord this morning. I went with M. to afternoon-service; we called at Mr. Rudd’s.
22. Have had good rains. Virgil, who has been improving went this morning to see Berenice. Mrs. Whitton called; the boys captured a turtle today and found 16 eggs in her. I must try my dressing tho’ I never saw it done. This one is very fat.
23. Pleasant. We had our turtle and turtle dressing for dinner and it is really very delicate meat; the eggs are the richest I ever tasted. I could not sufficiently however, overcome my prejudice to eat it with a very good grace. V. returned this evening. Left all well at Mr. B.’s. B. spoke of coming down soon.
24. 4th Sabbath. Warm. The boys went to Quarterly Meeting at Cedar Hill. V. soon returned not feeling well. I went this afternoon with M. a good congregation. V. and her family there. Mr. Potter preached the concluding sermon. We received letters last mail from Tenn., announcing the death of my sister-in-law with the cancer which has so long troubled her. I was sorry for she was a good woman and very kind to M., while he was with her.
25. Fine weather, but the nights still cool. I cut and commenced making the dress I got at Hale’s on the 8th. V. took medicine tonight.
27. Pleasant. V. took oil and turpentine, which did finely, but he has high fevers and is out of his mind, while the fever is on.
28. Still fine weather. V. badly off today. He must have chills, but they are so slight he does not notice them. M. went to Centre for the Dr. He will come in the morning. V.’s fever always goes off about sunset and he then rests well at night. He was worse distracted this evening than he has ever been.
29. Fine morning. The Dr. came and stayed till 3 o’clock, but V. has no fever today. He says it is only a periodical return of the chills, or rather Intermittent fever and by taking proper precaution may be prevented, but V. has got so low down in mind we can hardly do anything with him.
30. Getting dry. Leah came today and brought the spinning I gave her to do. She lives with her daughter and there is a large family of them. I fear they have a hard time, tho’ they seem to be industrious. My father raised her and gave her to my sister. She looks quite natural to me for we have played and worked together many a day while children and girls.
31. 5th Sabbath. And last day of as pleasant a May as I think I ever knew; M. went to Cedar Hill; they are about organizing the Sabbath school again. Mrs. Milhollen, Mrs. Rudd called this morning. V. had a little fever today.

June 1868

1. Pleasant. V. seems to be improving again.
4. Cloudy and very likely to rain. M. had some hands today cutting wheat; it is much injured by rust and other things. Leah came and helped me.
5. Still somewhat cloudy. Leah washed for me today and left. Marcellus birthday. Finished what wheat would do to cut.
6. Warm and dry; did not go to church today. M. went to John's.
7. 1st Sabbath. Pretty day. Went to church; pretty good congregation. Elder Hood came to dinner; Leah here today.
8. Warm days, but cool nights and getting very dry. I went over to Mr. Patterson's this evening.
9. Still dry. A letter this evening from Sam. Espy.
10. Wrote to Olivia; heard that J. Trippe is sick.
11. Warm and dry. Miss E. P. called. She has heard that John is very low. I must go down there tomorrow.
12. Started early, but when I arrived at John's had the pleasure of finding all well. John not having been sick at all.
13. Still dry and warm. V. not well this evening.
14. 2nd Sabbath. Warm; the boys went to Sabbath school.
15. We are needing rain badly. Leah came today after corn.
16. Virgil is, I think, improving slowly; he works of morning and evening when it is cool. Clouds passing this evening.
17. Very warm and dusty; basket-making; Clouds again passing.
18. Still warm. Did up the washing; a fine rain this evening, which alters the appearance of things. Set out peppers.
19. A light rain last night. V. has had a chill, for he has fever this morning and is out of his senses as usual; took oil and turpentine; Looked for B., but she did not come.
21. 3rd Sabbath. Fine day. We have not had enough rain yet, but what has fallen will do a great deal of good. The boys went to Sabbath School and M. to church at Concord. A. Means came with him to dinner. V. not well today.
22. Very pleasant. Remodeling a dress. Went below the tan-yard this evening to see Mr. Campbell, who is confined to his bed with erysipalis on his leg; has besides a cough.
23. Still cool; Virgil went down to John’s; the two youngest children having chills, Leah here today. The 8th anniversary of Mr. Espy's death.
25. Warmer. M. had Dick today helping haul wheat.
26. Clear and getting very dry again. Scalded some of our meat today and put it down in ashes. I find that nothing else will preserve it so well. Virgil improving again.

August 1868

23. It has been nearly two months since I wrote in my diary. A great many things has taken place which I cannot give the date of now. I have been sick. On the 26th July I was taken with the chills and was quite sick for a week. Then I succeeded in breaking them by this remedy: I pt. of whisky, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 do. of black pepper stewed down to 1/2 pint and taken freely before time for chilling. On the 8 August M. was taken and was very badly off for a week, when he got rid of them. Neither of us have had a return of them yet. V. seems to be gaining bodily strength. He is taking medicine of a northern Dr., which he thinks is doing him good. On the 26 July Lizzie gave birth to another boy and T. wrote that both she and it was doing well. On the 8 August Berenice gave birth to a son and at the last account was doing well. Mr. B. and his sister Sarah came to our protracted meeting this month and were added to the church. It was a good meeting, but I was not able to attend much. Leah stayed with me during my sickness. We have had over a month of rainy weather, a bad time for fruit drying. There has been abundance of it too. I have dried all I could. M. was out last week with the evaporator. He joined Patterson and Glenn in buying one. A. Means here to dinner today; he and M. rode off this evening. V. went down to John’s.
24. Virgil and I refilled the dryers with peaches.
26. Went this evening to see Mr. Jones’ child, who is sick.
28. Cloudy. Jane did house-washing for me today.
29. Very warm. Mrsrs. Dean and Bankson dined here; A. says B. and her boy are doing well. I went to see Mr. Jones’ child. It is very low. A child of Mr. Wilson died today. M. came home sick--he had a chill today.
30. 5th Sabbath. I went this morning to Mr. Wilson's; several of the family sick. M.
helping Mr. H. make a coffin and had another chill. I went to see Miss I. P. this evening.
31. Cloudy. V. not so well today; I think I had a chill this evening.

September 1868

1. Rainy. V. quite unwell. M. missed a chill today.
2. Cloudy. V. started to Ga. to stay with O. awhile. I had a light chill this evening, and fever through the night.
3. Inclement; I feel pretty well today.
4. Cloudy. Jane and daughter washed here today. Drank strong peppered coffee and missed my chill. M. sat up tonight at Mr. Jones's; the child much better.
5. Very warm. Did not go to church; M. finished working the road.
6. 1st Sabbath. Pleasant morning. No service today at Yellow Creek it having been moved to Round Mountain. Marcellus went. A. Means here. Uncle Joe arrived here this evening with the mare that V. rode. He got there in time to stay with O. while Jos. is out with the Evaporator. O. has had lately one of her bad spells. She is one, who it seems is destined to suffer; he left the rest well. She wrote that she is busy quilting and has much work in perspective.
7. Cool morning. M. has two hands helping him pull fodder. He has not been able to save any yet.
8. Cool foggy morning. Uncle Joe started back this morning. He complains a good deal and is getting much bent. I looked after him as he rode away in a fog and the unpleasant thought came up that perhaps I shall not see him again. He is a good man. May he live long yet! I wrote to O. and V., but forgot to send the letter. M. commenced stripping cane.
9. Hauling wood for syrup making. G. Whitton helping him.