Monday, September 2, 2019

February Entries in the 1900 Diary of John Foss & Isabelle (Huff) Foss of West Hollis, Maine


February entries in the 1900 diary of John Foss (1860-1934) and Isabelle (Huff) Foss (1869-1929), "Belle", who farmed at West Hollis, Maine.  From the entries, it's plain to see that they were a hard working couple.

The couple made use of a blank diary for 1894 to record their 1900 entries.  Fortunately, the days match up.



John and Belle, who married in 1890 at Hollis, Maine, had two daughters:
  1. Myra Helene Foss (1892-1976), who would marry George Woodbury McKenney 
  2. Annie Evelyn Foss (1900-1988), who would marry Lewis Isaac Woodman
From a collection of five of their diaries covering 1899, 1900, 1902-1904 and John's 1913 account book.  See an overview post that features:
  • family history of the Foss family
  • links to entries for the rest of January 1899 and other diaries from 1900, 1902, 1903 and 1904
  • an alphabetical list of surnames in the diary and an approximation of how many different people of that surname were mentioned in the diaries
  • an alphabetical list of individual people mentioned in the diaries, some countless times

1894 diary used for 1900 entries

The person making the entry is identified in brackets.  Throughout the diaries, John made occasional entries, but Belle made the majority of them. 

People mentioned in the entries below are identified or tentatively identified the first time they appear. If you have corrections, alternate identities or additional information on anyone mentioned,  please leave a comment or contact me directly.



Sunday, January 28, 1900 - [John]  It has been warm today and I went over to Jed Benson and we went up to James. He was in a peck of trouble. He wants to sell ____
  • Jed Benson - possibly a nickname for Jeremiah Benson, brother of James Benson
  • James - presumably James Benson, brother of Jeremiah Benson, and husband of Maud (Nelson) Benson
Monday, January 29, 1900 - [John]  It snowed last night and then it rained this forenoon. I have been putting on finish up in Myra's room.
  • Myra - John's daughter Myra Helene Foss, born in 1892
Tuesday, January 30, 1900 - [John]  It froze up last night and we went toggin [toboganning or logging ?] today. It has been cold. Paid Ida Sweat board.
  • Ida Sweat - presumably Ida Swett or Ida Sweet
Wednesday, January 31, 1900 - [John]  It has looked like snow all day and has snowed some but we have worked all day.

Thursday, February 1, 1900 - [John]  It has been very cold today. The wind has blowed very hard but we went two times. Bryan spoke in Portland last night.
  • Bryan - presumably Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska, who would lose to Republic William McKinley of Ohio in the election of November 6, 1900
Friday, February 2, 1900 - [John]  It has been very cold today. I have been three times. It is very good sledding.



February 3, 1900 - [John]  It was cold today but fine sledding. We went three times.

February 4, 1900 - [John]  It snowed today. I have been up to Con Smith today.
  • Con Smith - perhaps Constine D. Smith (1851-1917)
February 5, 1900 - [John]  It rained last night and snowed this forenoon and cleared off at noon and I went to center. It is cold tonight. The wind blows very hard.

February 6, 1900 - [John]  It was cloudy in the forenoon and snowed a while in the afternoon. We was logging all day.

February 7, 1900 - [John]  Was fine today. We have been logging. Went three times. Got home at seven o'clock.

February 8, 1900 - [John]  It has been warm today. We have been two times with logs and it rains tonight.


February 9, 1900 - [John]  It has rained all day. I have been to home. Joseph Dyer was over this forenoon.
  • Joseph Dyer - perhaps Blacksmith Joseph A. Dyer (abt Aug 1850-July 19, 1904), son of Joseph A. Dyer and Jane (Gerry) Dyer and husband of Eldora (Gilpatrick) Dyer.  His death and burial in July 1904 are noted in the 1904 diary.
February 10, 1900 - [John]  We have finished logging up to [Bea's/Ben's/Bid's ?] today. It has been very pleasant today. Had is sick. Joseph Linscott chopped for us today.
  • Bea/Ben/Bid ?
  • Had - possibly Had Smith or Hod Smith
  • Joseph Linscott - presumably the same Joseph Linscott who would go hunting with John in November 1900; presumably related to the Clara Linscott mentioned in the diaries
February 11, 1900 - [John]  It has been cloudy today. I went over to Johnson and up to Benson.
  • Johnson - perhaps the same Johnson who sold timber stumpage to John
  • Benson - presumably related to brothers Jim Benson and Jeremiah Benson, who frequently worked for John
February 12, 1900 - [John]  It has rained all day. I have been over to William Gilpatrick to see if I could buy his timber. I went in to Edgecombs'.
  • William Gilpatrick - perhaps William Gilpatrick (1843-1920) of Hollis, Maine
  • Edgecomb - perhaps related to Sarah Edgecomb, mentioned elsewhere in the diaries
February 13, 1900 - [John]  There has been the most terrific rainstorm that has passed over here for two years. It has come by the pails full all day. The snow is about all gone.

February 14, 1900 - [John]  It has been a warm day but the wind has blowed very hard. It is all ice in the road. I went over and bought W Gilpatrick's timber this morning.


February 15, 1900 - [John]  We began cutting the Gilpatrick timber today. It was fair this morning but it snows tonight. Had helped this afternoon

February 16, 1900 - [John]  I commenced hauling Gilpatrick's timber in the forenoon and went up to see our logs in the afternoon. The river was high. Some of the logs had gone.

February 17, 1900 - [John]  It has been very pleasant today. I have been to the center and got some grain.

February 18, 1900 - [John]  It has been a very bad day. It commenced snowing last night at ten o'clock and has snowed all day and the wind blows bad tonight. It is the worst storm we have had.

February 19, 1900 - [John]  Broke roads in the morning and went to moderation in the afternoon.

February 20, 1900 - [John]  Hauled manure today. It was pleasant.


February 21, 1900 - [John]  Have been to Clarks' with logs and am going down to the lodge tonight to give Cecil the [grad hop ?]
  • Clark - presumably lumber dealer Charles Franklin Clark (1844-1917)
  • Cecil - possibly Cecil Leighton Haley, who would marry Eva Mahala Smith in 1903
February 22, 1900 - [John]  It has snowed and rained all day. There is six inches tonight. I went up to Con Smith today.

February 23, 1900 - [John]  It has been overcast today and warm. We have been to Clarks' with logs and brought back boards.

February 24, 1900 - [John]  It was warm and pleasant and we went to Clarks' with logs. Edgecomb was taken sick. The Tompson house blowed tonight.
  • Tompson - could be Thompson
February 25, 1900 - [John]  It rained very hard last night, thundered very heavy. The snow went very fast. It is all slop today.

February 26, 1900 - [John]  It has been very cold today. The wind has blowed very hard. I went up to Huffs' and went with the team to Clarks' with logs. I have cut wood this afternoon.
  • Huff - presumably referring to Belle's parents George P. Huff (1830-1913) and Sarah E. (Bean) Huff (1841-1909)


February 27, 1900 - [John]  It has been very cold. 14 below 0. I have been in the woods.

February 28, 1900 - [John]  It has been warmer today. We went to Clarks' with logs. I broke my peavey.

March 1, 1900 - [John]  It has snowed and rained all day. The little peddler was here this morning.

March 2, 1894. [John]  It was overcast all day, but it did not rain. I was to home all day.

March 3, 1894 - [John]  I went to the Ctr and bought a bedstead for Myra and went to West Buxton in the afternoon.

March 4, 1900 - [John]  It has been warm today. We had a little girl born today at eight o'clock P.M.  
  • "little girl" - The Foss's younger daughter, Annie Evelyn Foss, born March 4, 1900

Again, if you have information to share on any of the people mentioned, including the Foss family itself, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Advance to March 1900 or return to January 1900



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