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

March 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.

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

March 5, 1900 - [John]  It has been cold today. I went up and got Nell this morning and have been to Clarks' this afternoon with logs. Town meeting today. It went Republican.

• Nell - perhaps a family member or friend who came to help with the Foss's newborn daughter Annie Evelyn Foss.  The entry of April 1, 1900 notes that John took Nell home.
• Clark - presumably the establishment of lumber dealer Charles Franklin Clark (1844-1917)

March 6, 1900 - [John]  It has snowed all day and it hails now. Belle is getting well.  

• Belle - John's wife Isabelle A. (Huff) Foss, who had a baby two days earlier

March 7, 1900 - [John]  It has been very windy today. I have been to Clarks' with logs. I went to the lodge. Cecil took his first degree.

• Cecil - possibly Cecil Leighton Haley, who would marry Eva Mahala Smith in 1903

March 8, 1900 - [John]  Went with logs today two times and went up to Coen Smith's tonight.

• Coen Smith - presumably store owner Constine D. Smith (1851-1917)

March 9, 1900 - [John]  Have been to the Ctr with shingle los [logs ?] this morning and went to Buxton this afternoon.

March 10, 1900 - [John]  It has been warm today. We began logging today on mine.
                    

March 11, 1900 - [John]  I went up to had's and over to James Benson's. Elmer West was down today.

• Had - possibly Had Smith or Hod Smith
• James Benson - James Benson (1863-1917); worked for and with John Foss many times; husband of Maud (Nelson) Benson
• Elmer West - perhaps Elmer Frank West (1883-1951) of Waterboro, Maine

March 12, 1900 - [John]  It has been very cold today. We have been to Clarks'. I went over and bought James Ben [presumably Benson] cow tonight.

March 13, 1900 - [John]  Commenced on Cecil today. It has been warmer today.

March 14, 1900 - [John]  It has been warm today. I have been two times with logs.

March 15, 1900 - [John]  It has been pleasant today. We have got done on Cecil's. It commenced to snow at seven o'clock tonight.

March 16, 1900 - [John]  It has rained all day and cleared up tonight and is cold.

March 17, 1900 - [John]  Everything is covered with ice. The fields look like a pond of ice. We went to Clarks' this morning with logs, had hard work to keep in the road.

March 18, 1900 - [John]  Have been over to Benson today. Burt Bradbury came up and got two boxes of butter.

• Benson - perhaps the home of James Benson or his brother Jeremiah Benson or the home of their parents, Joseph L. Benson, perhaps deceased by this time, and Olive (Gilpatrick) Benson), who would die later this month.
• Burt Bradbury - perhaps Burt Allen Bradbury (1877-1949)

March 19, 1900 - [John]  It snowed this morning and cleared off. It was warm and tonight it rains.

March 20, 1900 - [John]  It has been very warm today. The snow has gone very fast. It is getting bare in the road. We finished logging today.

March 21, 1900 - [John]  It has been cold today. We went to the center and got our shingles.

March 22, 1900 - [John]  It has been warmer today. I have been drawing manure to the Mason place. Myra went, too.

• Mason place - a farm of fields and timber that John Foss either leased or took care of
• Myra - John's older daughter Myra Helene Foss, born in 1892

March 23, 1900 - [John]  We have been up and got our logs back today and have left them to Charles Hally [presumably Haley] to turn in.

• Charles Hally - presumably Charles E. Haley (1857-1939)

March 24, 1900 - [John]  It has been cold today. The wind has blowed very hard. I have sold the Benson Cow to W. B. Deering today. He is to pay for her May the 1st $30.

• W. B. Deering - presumably William Brooks Deering

March 25, 1900 - [John]  It is pleasant today.  Olive Benson died at 3 o'clock today.  

• Olive Benson - Olive (Gilpatrick) Benson (1828-1900), widow of Joseph L. Benson]

March 26, 1900 - [John]  Cut wood for Ceas all day. It was warm.

• Ceas - presumably Cecil Leighton Haley

March 27, 1900 - [John]  I have been to Warrens' with Dollie this morning and to West Buxton with corn to grind.

• Warren - several possibilities, but presumably related to Charles Elmer Warren and Frank Warren, who are named in other entries in the diaries.
• Dollie - perhaps a draft horse

March 28, 1900 - [John]  Olive Benson was buried this afternoon. I went to the Ctr this morning and got some grain.

 March 29, 1900 - [John]  Went over on Johnson and cut wood today. Came around by Tarbox as he had a nice cow.

• Tarbox - perhaps James Blaisdell Tarbox (1841-1917) or a relative

March 30, 1900 - [John]  Cut wood for Cecil. We cut two cords down by Joseph Gilpatric.

• Joseph Gilpatric - perhaps Joseph Googins Gilpatrick (1832-1908) or Joseph Henry Gilpatrick (1874-1924)

March 31, 1900 - [John]  Cut wood for C H.  It was cold and the wind blowed.

• C. H. - possibly Cecil Leighton Haley

April 1, 1900 - [John]  It has been warm today. I went up and carried Nell home this morning. I have been over to James B this afternoon.  

• James B. - presumably James Benson

April 2, 1900 - [John]  It is warm today. I have been to the center and got 3 axes upset and got some pork.

April 3, 1900 - [John]  It rained this morning and snowed some in the afternoon.

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 April 1900 or return to February 1900.