1872 Diary of John Webster Davis (1861-1930) of Fairlee, Vermont

Small 1872 diary kept by John Webster Davis (1861-1930) of Fairlee, Vermont, son of Benjamin Webster Davis (1816-1887) and his second wife Susan Adelaide (Young) Davis (1833-1907).

See another post that features the 1867+ diary of John's father, Benjamin Webster Davis.  Whereas Benjamin's entries are brief, John's entries give more detail on the staggering amount of work they did on a daily basis.

John's days were filled with work on the farm and in the woodlot, harvesting ice, keeping the varmints in check, with a few stretches for school, skating and palling around.  

John's entry for Saturday, January 20, below: How pleasant is saturday night when I have tried all the week to be good, not spoken a word that is cross and pleased everyone that I could.

John lapsed in his diary keeping by the end of June but did make an entry on December 27, 1872 to mark the death of his great uncle Absalom Davis (1800-1872).

The January 10, 1872 entry notes 6th birthday of John's sister Mary Susan Davis (1866-1917)

John Webster Davis was born 11 July 1861 at Fairlee, Vermont, son of Benjamin Webster Davis (1816-1887) and his second wife Susan Adelaide (Young) Davis (1833-1907).

I didn't find a marriage record for John or any children for him. It appears that he farmed but also did work as a land cruiser or timber surveyor, and that was his occupation at the time of his death. 

He spent his life in Fairlee, Vermont and died at the Cottage Hospital in Haverhill, New Hampshire, on 5 December 1930, after a short stay.

People mentioned in the diary - some of them multiples of times - if you notice a misinterpreted name or if you have a theory as to the identity of the person named, please leave a comment.

• Kate in Bradford - Mother and Father went to visit her
• Mr. M. V. B. - delivered a lecture; not sure of last initial
• Charles - possibly Charles Baldwin
• Olin - possible Olin Baldwin
• Uncle William
• Mr. Abbott - John and his father took a 1716 pound load of hay to Mr. Abbott
• Mr. Baldwin - perhaps George Peters Baldwin (1808-1977)
• Mr. George D. Brown in Boston, Massachusetts - John and his father sent him 19 tubs of butter
• Uncle A. Davis died today, Friday, December 27, 1872. Referring to John Webster Davis' great uncle Absalom Davis (1800-1872). Absalom married Emily Parks Kelley and had several children.
• Benjamin Webster Davis (1816-1887), father of John Webster Davis, diary owner
• Francie Davis - not sure of given name
• John Webster Davis (1861-1930) of Fairlee, Vermont; diary owner
• Mary Susan Davis (1866-1917), sister of John Webster Davis, diary owner
• Susan Adelaide (Young) Davis (1833-1907), mother of John Webster Davis, diary owner
• George Foster
• ? Goodwin - possibly J or I - possibly John M. Goodwin (1820-1920) or relative
• Frank Hackett - perhaps Frank Moses Hackett (1856-1897)
• Ira - presumably Ira Jenkins (1852-1918), son of Leander Jenkins, Sr. (1807-1889)
• Ira J. - presumably Ira Jenkins, son of Leander Jenkins, Sr.
• Mr. Jenkins - possibly Leander Jenkins, Sr. (1807-1889)
• Mr. Renfrew - possibly Alexander Nelson Renfrew (1827-1923)
• John Richardson - borrowed the oxen
• Irving Smith - perhaps Irving G. Smith (1862-1936)
• Mr. Stebbins - perhaps Benjamin Stebbins (-1873) of Fairlee, Vermont
• Mr. Stratton - perhaps John Stratton (1826-1882) or a relative
• Mr. Ware bought sheep

1867+ Diary of farmer Benjamin Webster Davis (1816-1887) of Fairlee, Vermont

An 1867 diary, with entries also from later years, that was kept by Benjamin Webster Davis (1816-1887), a farmer in Fairlee, Vermont.  

Another post features the 1872 diary of Benjamin's son John Webster Davis (1861-1930).  John's diary gives further details into his father's labors of farming, logging, ice harvesting and trading. John, then eleven, was no slouch either.

Benjamin's diary includes entries about his dealings with customers and other farmers, including the services of his bull to others. He was also apparently involved with taxation issues as at least two entries include his time spent in preparing town taxes. One page, shown near the end of this post, lists the school taxes owed by himself and neighbors.

Benjamin was married twice:

1. Mary (Holman) Davis (1826-1859) - I didn't find a record for children
2. Susan Adelaide (Young) Davis (1833-1907) - at least four children; John Webster Davis and Mary Susan Davis already mentioned and a subsequent son and daughter 

The BWD scrawled on the inside cover below may have been done at some point by one of Benjamin's children; his daughter Mary Susan Davis (1866-1917) scribbled and wrote entries in other places throughout at a later time, presumably around 1878, as an image farther below notes.

John was a man of few words, it appears, but the entry of Tuesday, January 8, 1867 was particularly poignant. He recorded the death of his father, Charles Davis (abt 1782-1867) and mentioned the earlier death of his mother Sarah (Kelley) Davis (1788-1864), "Sally".

Benjamin took an interest in court cases, as evidenced by the page below.

Below, an example of an entry made by Benjamin's daughter Mary Susan Davis (1866-1917) in 1878:

School tax for the Summer of 1872:

People mentioned in the diary - some of them multiples of times - if you notice a misinterpreted name or if you have a theory as to the identity of the person named, please leave a comment.

• H. Tolmore - not sure of surname
• Wilbah M? - possibly Joel Wilbur Morris (1834-1924)
• Thomas H? - perhaps Holland 
• E. M. S. - not sure of last initial
• E. B?
• William L. Ch? - perhaps William L. Chase or another short name, as it runs off the page
• Frank ? - possibly Frank Beckett - school tax for Summer 1872
• Benjamin ?  - school tax for Summer 1872
• Richard E? - service of Benjamin Webster Davis' bull
• Howard ? - service of Benjamin Webster Davis' bull
• George Baldwin - perhaps George Peters Baldwin (1808-1877)
• Bouman vs. Bancraft - court case - perhaps Bowman vs. Bancroft
• Frank ? - possibly Frank Beckett - school tax for Summer 1872
• Bouman vs. Bancraft - court case - perhaps Bowman vs. Bancroft
• Bowman vs. Brockwell - court case
• Bowman vs. Brockwell - court case
• Walter Buchanan - presumably Walter Buchanan (1831-1914)
• A. Chamberlan - presumably Austin H. Chamberlain (any 1826-1901)
• Austin Chambalin - presumably Austin H. Chamberlain (any 1826-1901)
• William L. Ch? - perhaps William L. Chase or another short name, as it runs off the page
• C. Cobourne - perhaps Royal Cutler Coburn (1834-1914)
• G. W. Cook - perhaps George Washington Cook (1801-1872)
• John M. Corlis - presumably John Moore Corliss (1830-1887)
• Coros - service of Benjamin Webster Davis' bull
• Craig
• B. C. Curier - perhaps Bagley C. Currier
• John S. Dailey, Newbury
• ? E. Davis [not sure of first initial, could be S or F or ?]
• A. W. Davis - [perhaps Alonzo W. Davis (1848-1872)
• Benjamin Webster Davis (1816-1877) of Fairlee, Vermont; diary owner
• Charles Davis (1786-1867); Benjamin Webster Davis' father, whose death is noted in entry of Tuesday, January 8, 1867
• F. Davis - school tax for Summer 1872 - perhaps Francis Davis (1810-1844)
• John Davis - perhaps John Everett Davis (1850-1894) or perhaps Benjamin's son John Webster Davis (1861-1930)
• John E. Davis - perhaps John Everett Davis (1850-1894)
• Mary Susan Davis (1866-1917) - occasionally wrote in her father's journal at some point later on
• Milton Davis - presumably Milton H. Davis (1846-1907), Benjamin's nephew
• P. L. Davis - perhaps Prescott Davis
• Sally (Kelley) Davis (1788-1864); Benjamin Webster Davis' mother, whose name appears with the entry of the death of her widower, Charles Davis (1786-1864)
• Lougee vs. Dickamon - court case - possibly Lougee vs. Dickerman
• R. Everett - perhaps Richard Everett (1804-1881)
• Richard E? - service of Benjamin Webster Davis' bull - perhaps Richard Everett (1804-1881)
• Richard Everett - service of Benjamin Webster Davis' bull - perhaps Richard Everett (1804-1881)
• Hartwell Farr moved in to my House - presumably Hartwell L. Farr (1822-1891)
• Haraman vs. Fifield - court case - possibly Harriman vs. Fifield
• Calvin Flint - not sure of surname
• B. Freeman - perhaps Benjamin Freeman (1808-1879)
• B. Freeman - service of Benjamin Webster Davis' bull - perhaps Benjamin Freeman (1808-1879)
• D. Freeman - school tax for Summer 1872 - perhaps Daniel Freeman (1817-1874)
• A. C. Fuller - school tax for Summer 1872 - perhaps Albert Clark Fuller (1844-1926)
• Edwin Fuller - school tax for Summer 1872 - perhaps Edwin Fuller (1800-1887)
• Haraman vs. Fifield - court case - possibly Harriman vs. Fifield
• S. B. Hays - school tax for Summer 1872 - possibly Stedman B. Hayes (unk-1875)
• Thomas H? - perhaps Thomas Holland 
• Jason Horner - presumably Jason C. Horner (abt 1808-1889)
• C. & L. Jenkins - school tax for Summer 1872 - perhaps Charles Jenkins and Leander Jenkins
• Charles Jenkins - perhaps Charles Jenkins (1834-1905), son of Leander Jenkins (1807-1889)
• G. Jenkins - presumably George W. Jenkins (1850-1930), son of Leander Jenkins (1807-1889)
• Ira Jenkins - Ira H. Jenkins (1852-1918), son of Leander Jenkins (1807-1889)
• Julia A. Jenkins - possibly Julia A. Jenkins (1843-1937)
• L. Jenkins - possibly Leander Jenkins (1807-1889)
• L. Jenkins, Jr. - presumably Leander Jenkins, Jr. (1841-1927)
• Leander Jenkins - presumably Leander Jenkins (1807-1889) - school tax for Summer 1872
• Charles Kemp - perhaps auctioneer Charles Kemp (1815-1886)
• Kimball - purchased turkeys from Benjamin Webster Davis
• W. A. Libby or W. H. Libby
• Lougee vs. Dickamon - court case - possibly Lougee vs. Dickerman
• Wilbah M? - possibly Joel Wilbur Morris (1834-1924)
• Olive Ormsby - perhaps Olive (Sampson) Davis Ormsby (1821-1901). Her first husband, Edwin Davis, was a brother to diry owner Benjamin Webster Davis
• A. Osbourn
• Packard
• A. N. Renfrew - presumbly Alexander Nelson Renfrew (1827-1923)
• Everett Rich - service of Benjamin Webster Davis' bull
• H. Richards Store - not sure of name
• Riley
• C. Riley
• C. Sanburn
• Enos Savage - service of Benjamin Webster Davis' bull
• Alden Stevens, Bradford - perhaps Alden Stevens (1811-1896)
• C. Stevens - perhaps Caleb Stevens or his son Charles Stevens
• W. ? Stevens
• W. B. & C. S. Stevens - perhaps the Stevens & Bagley store
• J. Stratton - perhaps John Stratton (1826-1882)
• John Stratton - service of Benjamin Webster Davis' bull - perhaps John Stratton (1826-1882)
• T. Stratton - perhaps Thomas Stratton (1794-1872)
• H. Tolmore - not sure of surname
• Emiline Whittney - service of Benjamin Webster Davis' bull
• Wiggins - purchased hay from Benjamin Webster Davis
• Wiggins
• Willard Bros [a store, presumably]
• Assa Woodward - service of Benjamin Webster Davis' bull - perhaps Asa W. Woodward (1820-1896)

Diary of Events of 3 Weeks Following Bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941 - presumably kept by a Young Woman from Perry, Maine

Small diary from 1921 that was used for the on the spot observations of someone reacting to the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and for about three weeks after. The diary was apparently then set aside.

There are a couple mentions of Eastport, Maine, and the handwriting looks very similar to that of Rachael Virginia (Golding) Pottle (1915-2013), "Virginia", long time resident of Perry, Maine, and daughter of the iconic Rob Golding (1875-1969), who was a mentor to Maine humorist Marshall Dodge of Bert & I fame.

Transcription - bold font and links mine - you can feel the shock, uncertainty, hope and resolve

December 1941, Sunday 7

At dawn today the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - the U.S. Naval & Air Base there.

Pres. Roosevelt sent a message to Emperor Hirohito over a week ago - it requested that Japan withdraw from China & cease hostilities - it also made generous concessions of trade between U.S. and Japan. The answer to this message was not delivered until twenty minutes after the Japan attack was launched.

Monday 8 and Tuesday 9

Japanese representatives have been discussing the "Far Eastern situation" - in Washington for the last few weeks. Even while discussion was going on Japan's ships & planes were on their way to bomb Honolulu.

3000 casualties including 1500 dead were reported in Hawaii.

The warships Oklahoma & W. Va. were reported sunk.

The liner Pres Harrison is thought to be either sunk or captured near the Yangtse river.

Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, England & China have declared war on Japan or all the Axis.

The Pres. of the U.S. spoke to Congress at noon today (Monday). The House & Legislature declared war on Japan 43 min. after Pres. R. spoke.

The whole nation was shocked & enraged at the underhandedness of the attack by Japan.

Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11

Monday night there were air raid alarms in San Francisco & the whole West Coast was ordered blacked out. Some thought it was only a test but the Army said that enemy planes came within 1/2 hour of the Golden Gate bridge. Some stores left their neon & show window lights on & had them promptly broken by people in the street.

Tuesday afternoon New York City had 2 alarms. Both were thought to be tests. Boston stopped all street traffic & all cars entering the city at the same time.Sheriffs & other law officers were notified to be alert for aircraft all along the Atlantic coast as far as Eastport [Maine]

Wednesday morning San Francisco had an early alarm & fires were found burning in the shape of arrows pointing to Seattle. Fifth columnists are sought.

Friday 12 and Saturday 13

Japanese sunk 2 British ships near Hongkong - the Prince of Wales (on which Pres. R. & Winston Churchill held their conference in the Atlantic last summer) & the Repulse.

Thurs. morning Italy & Germany both declared war on the U.S.

Germany  says that because of the weather she has given up the idea of taking Moscow This winter. The Russians have been winning consistently around Moscow for the last few weeks.

It is rumored that Hitler is planning to strike on the Atlantic coast next.

The government has ordered work to be resumed on the airport at Eastport & that one runway must be completed in 3 weeks. Work will be continuous - 7 days a week. 

Japanese have landed on Luzon island about 250

Sunday 14 & Monday 15

miles from Manilla, but American troops are "mopping up" the remainder now.

Our Navy has sunk the Jap. 29,000 ton battleship Paruna & put another out of control - the Congo [Kongo].

Friday morning San Diego & Los Angeles had a brief alert.

The Manilla reporter said that people stood in the street & cheered an American aviator as he had a dog fight with a Jap. plane almost directly over the city.

Some Phillipino natives brought in 3 Jap. av. - trussed up like wild animals.

I heard the eye witness account of the sinking of the 2 British ships by the C.B.S. reporter Cecil Brown who was on the Repulse as was torpedoed. He said there were about 87 planes attacking & he mentioned no protecting British planes in the vicinity although the action took place only 150 miles from the great British airbase at Singapore.

Sec. of the Navy

Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17

Frank Knox arrived safely in Honolulu yesterday where he went to see for himself what was the extent of the damage done at Pearl Harbor last Sunday.

Saturday - he returned to San Francisco but would make no statement until he had talked with the president.

The Navy has been unable to communicate with Guam either by cable or radio today & it is thought that Japs may have taken it.

Midway & Wake Is. are still holding out however. 

Russia has declared herself on the side of the U.S. against Japan.

The U.S. is in a much better atmosphere on the home front now than in the last world war because of the change in attitude of some of our southern neighbors. Mexico was the cause of much trouble in the last war but is now in complete accord with us against Japan & G. & I. Most other South and Central American countries have either declared war on one

Thursday 19 and Friday 19

or more of the Axis partners or are giving the U.S. use of their air & harbor facilities.

The Polish government declared war on Japan today.

Russia says that she will observe her neutrality pact until the Allies have the upper hand in the Pacific - because Russia does not want to divide her forces but wishes keep her Troops concentrated on the European front.

The Germans are still retreating from Moscow with great loss of life.

In Serbia it is rumored that the Germans have picked the wrong "Quisling" to head the Loyalist forces & that he (Neditch) [Milan Nedic] is fighting with the Russians instead of against them. Gestapo agents sent to investigate are mysteriously killed.

Alan Hale [presumably Arthur Hale] in the newscast "Confidentially Yours" said tonight that Navy experts seemed to feel that the bombers which attacked Pearl Harbor

Saturday 20 

Sunday did not come from an aircraft carrier but from a land base somewhere near by which has not been suspected by the outside world.

Images of the pages, in order

1893-1895 Diary of a Student in Hancock County, Maine - possibly Penobscot, Blue Hill or vicinity

1893-1895 diary of a school aged person near Blue Hill, Maine, if not in Blue Hill, then a surrounding town, perhaps Penobscot, Maine.

Sample pages:

The diary mentions the diarist's school days, teachers, friends, entertainment doings, weather, several deaths and a marriage.

Clues:

Both parents were still alive in 1895, and the father occasionally went to Boston. I was told that the diarist was Lottie Leach of Penobscot, Maine, but her father, Francis Connor Leach, died in 1888.

1893
Wilma Bowden, teacher
Ed Harriman got hurt Sep 30, 1893; is all right
Dosia [perhaps Theodosia Robinson Leach ( 1766-1963), who would marry Charles Wecott Gray; see below*
John Gray
Husking bee at George’s
Georgia, teacher in November 1893
Richard, Fred
Fred H., Fred S., Ed H.
Father home from Boston on Nov 22, 1893
Diarist’s birthday on December 18

1894
Alton Perkins sick, Jan 1, 1894
Lou or Lon Cox, teacher, May 1894
Ida & Guy hung May baskets
Pertie
Lynwood
*Dosie and Charlie married June 5, 1894
Allie - a male
Fred Soper
Nora
Henry (spelled Henery)
Lucy Quin - Quinn
Effie died 4 years ago today, Sept 19, 1894
Hat and Abbie & George went to Blue Hill Fair
Aunt Ruth
Offie
George Bowden
Will Dunham to speak [perhaps a speaker from outside the area]
Nora and I
Herman
Eugene Marks
George Leach
Ned and Foss
Hat is home to N. ? , maybe North Haven

1895
Lou [or Lon] is keeping school, staring April 29Emma C? was at school
Horse trot at Mountain Park
Mrs. Blodgett
Georgia, teacher, starting Sept 2 - got home from the island [Deer Isle ?]
Chester ? is going to school
Frank Herrick and Herman Gray boarding at our house
Ross Patten is home
Herman has gone to Bar Harbor
Mr. Milliken is at the Bay
Ned
Herman
Sydney Gray
Mother was sick
Ned & Hat
Abbie
Perk went away today
Ned sent deer hunting
Dick came home with the team
Ed, Dick & Ned went to the Bay
Lyn got into the muck hole
Ned and Mr. Herrick went deer hunting
Ned’s sloop sunk
Ida
Abbie went to the Cove
Leon wrote to Herman - presumably Leon Lanson Leach (1885-1950)
Sadie B. is going to have a baby

If you have a theory as to the diarist's identity, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

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

May 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.

 April 28, 1900 - [John]  Went over to James Benson with wood.

• James Benson - James Benson worked occasionally for and with John; married Maud Nelson

April 29, 1900 - [John]  Settled with Had this morning. Went up and payed Mrs. Manson for the lading.

• Mrs. Manson - either a Mrs. Manson as spelled, or perhaps Mrs. Mason, owner of the Mason place

April 30, 1900 - [John]  Hauled manure and went up to Elmer's.

• Elmer - possibly one of the following: postmaster Elmer E. Abbott; Lewis Elmer Burnham, if he went by his middle name; Elmer Haley; Elmer E. Tufts of Waterboro; Charles Elmer Warren

May 1, 1900 - [John]  Plowed in the morning; went up to the Mason place.

May 2, 1900 - [John]  Went to center today, got some grain.  Planted peas. Settled with Ceas 

• Ceas - presumably Cecil Leighton Haley

May 3, 1900 - [John]  Rained hard all day. I piled wood in the shed.

May 4, 1900 - [John]  I went over to Will Deering and got 20 dollars of what he owed me.

• Will Deering - presumably William Brooks Deering

May 5, 1900 - [John]  It rained in the morning. I went up to C. W. Smith; went up to the Mason place in the afternoon; Planted potatoes. It snowed some.

• C. W. Smith - possibly Charles W. Smith
• Mason place - the farm and woodlot that John either leased or worked 

May 6, 1900 - [John]  The ground froze last night. It was very cold for the time of year.

May 7, 1900 - [John]  Planted potatoes. It was cold. Painted the sleds. My trees come in the afternoon.

May 8, 1900 - [John]  Set out apple trees and spread manure up on the Mason place.


May 9, 1900 - [John]  It has rained this morning. I set my peach trees.

May 10, 1900 - [John]  Went to West Buxton; got Dot shod. Went to the Ctr in the afternoon. Got my springs.

• Dot - John's draft horse

May 11, 1900 - [John]  Plowed for James B. all day 

• James B. - presumably James Benson

May 12, 1900 - [John]  Laid down the orchard up to the Mason place. Uncle George came today.

• Uncle George - presumably John's paternal or maternal uncle or by marriage

May 13, 1900 - [John]  It was warm today. We went to ride.

May 14, 1900 - [John]  I carried Uncle George to the Center.

May 15, 1900 - [John]  Hauled manure and harrowed.

May 16, 1900 - [John]  plowed for Huff all day.

• Huff - presumably referring to the place of George P. Huff and Sarah E. (Bean) Huff, parents of John's wife Isabelle (Huff) Foss, "Belle"

May 17, 1900 - [John]  Laying down ground to home today. We had a thunder shower tonight.

May 18, 1900 - [John]  It rained last night and this forenoon. I went up to the Mason place and hauled rocks. We had a thunder shower.

May 19, 1900 - [John]  It has rained hard all day. There has been the most rain fell today that we have had for some time.

May 20, 1900 - [John]  It was pleasant today. I went up to the Mason place.

May 21, 1900 - [John]  There was a thunder shower today. I planted sweet corn.

May 22, 1900 - [John]  Went to West Buxton and harrowed for James.

• James - presumably James Benson

May 23, 1900 - [John]  Got James Benson's woman and picked rocks

• James Benson's woman - presumably Maud (Nelson) Benson

May 24, 1900 - [John]  Picked rocks all day. B. Gilpatric and Jed.

• B. Gilpatric
• Jed - presumably John's draft horse

May 25, 1900 - [John]  Harrowed all day.

May 26, 1900 - [John]  Been to the Ctr and got Jed shod today.  There is a meeting up here today.

May 27, 1900 - [John]  It was warm today. Quarterly meeting up to the meeting house.

 May 28, 1900 - [John]  I worked for Ed Tarbox today.

• Ed Tarbox - presumably Edward A. Tarbox, husband of Jennie B. (Hooper) Tarbox
• Mrs. Hill - presumably Hannah (Seaver) Hill, daughter of James and Mary (Bean) Seaver and widow of Jeremiah Hill. Mrs. Hill would die on November 7, 1903, as noted in the 1903 diary.

May 29, 1900 - [John]  Planted up in the Mrs Hill field.

May 30, 1900 - [John]  Planted up on the Mason place.

May 31, 1900 - [John]  Planted up on the Mason place.

June 1, 1900 - [John]  Went to Clarks' in the morning. Built fence in the afternoon.

• Clark - presumably the establishment of lumber dealer Charles Franklin Clark (1844-1917)

June 2, 1900 - [John]  I have been harrowing and hauling rocks. Bought a Cow of Ed Tarbox $25.


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 June 1900 or return to April 1900. 

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

April 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.

 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.

April 4, 1900 - [John]  We have been cutting wood for C.H. It has been warm.

April 5, 1900 - [John]  Have been cutting wood for C. H.  

April 6, 1900 - [John]  Have been cutting wood on the Mason place.

• Mason place - a farm and woodlot which John may have leased 

April 7, 1900 - [John]  Cutting wood up on the Mason place.

April 8, 1900 - [John]  It was pleasant. I went over to Johnson.

• Johnson - either the Johnson home or the woodlot, which John occasionally leased

April 9, 1900 - [John]  We cut wood up on the Mason lot. It was cold.

April 10, 1900 - [John]  We have been cutting wood today for C. H. It has been warm.  Went to Clarks' and got sawdust in the morning, cut wood in the afternoon.

• Clark -  presumably the business of lumber dealer Charles Franklin Smith (1844-1917)

April 11, 1900 - [John]  Went to Portland to see the steamers and had a good time.

April 12, 1900 - [John]  Went to the center and got some grain.

April 13, 1900 - [John]  Went up to Corn Smith and bought a barrel of flour and some meat.

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

April 14, 1900 - [John]  Went up and helped Len Saw wood in the forenoon and went up to the river to see about the logs in the afternoon.

• Len - 

April 15, 1900 - [John]  Turned in logs all day. We had 60370 feet.

April 16, 1900 - [John]  I have been grafting today.

April 17, 1900 - [John]  Cut wood today. It rained in the afternoon.

April 18, 1900 - [John]  Went up to Had's this forenoon. Cut wood in the afternoon.

• Had - possibly Had Smith or Hod Smith

April 19, 1900 - [John]  In the wood in the forenoon and plowed for Frank Benson in the afternoon.

• Frank Benson - 

April 20, 1900 - [John]  Cut wood in the morning. hauled out in afternoon.

April 21, 1900 - [John]  Went to Ctr in morning, got the horse shod and got some grain and went and got Dot shod in the afternoon.

• Dot - John's draft horse

April 22, 1900 - [John]  Went up to the Mason place.

April 23, 1900 - [John]  Helped Cecil saw wood. It rained some.

• Cecil - presumably Cecil Leighton Haley, but possibly Cecil Frank Clark

April 24, 1900 - [John]  Plowed all day. The wind blowed and it was cold.

April 25, 1900 - [John]  Plowed in the forenoon and went to Clarks'. The wind blowed. I settled up with C. F. Clark.

• C. F. Clark - lumber dealer Charles Franklin Clark (1844-1917)

April 26, 1900 - [John]  Plowed. It was very cold for the time of year.

April 27, 1900 - [John]  Cut wood all day. It was cold.

 April 28, 1900 - [John]  Went over to James Benson with wood.

• James Benson - James Benson worked occasionally for and with John; married Maud Nelson

April 29, 1900 - [John]  Settled with Had this morning. Went up and payed Mrs. Manson for the lading.

• Mrs. Manson - either a Mrs. Manson as spelled, or perhaps Mrs. Mason, owner of the Mason place

April 30, 1900 - [John]  Hauled manure and went up to Elmer's.

• Elmer - possibly one of the following: postmaster Elmer E. Abbott; Lewis Elmer Burnham, if he went by his middle name; Elmer Haley; Elmer E. Tufts of Waterboro; Charles Elmer Warren

May 1, 1900 - [John]  Plowed in the morning; went up to the Mason place.

May 2, 1900 - [John]  Went to center today, got some grain.  Planted peas. Settled with Ceas 

• Ceas - presumably Cecil Leighton Haley

May 3, 1900 - [John]  Rained hard all day. I piled wood in the shed.

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.

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