Sat. Dec 31, 1898

Cloudy, rainy and began to hail towards evening then turned into snow.

In market.

Thurs. Dec. 29, 1898

Clear or nearly so. Warmer.

Smoked meat.

Wed. Dec. 28, 1898

Cold and stormy

At Issac Beiderman's for dinner.

Tues. Dec 27. 1898

Clear

Thrashed wheat

Mon. Dec. 26, 1898

Clear and cold.

At Issac Gottshalk's for diiner.

Sun. Dec. 25, 1898

Clear and pleasant yet cold.

At Meeting in Worcester. B.C. Wismer read Matt. 2. H. Wismer intro. He said that if the members would have their mind burdened as we ministers they would not come as light minded as they do. As we stand between God and man, etc.

I spoke from Isa. 42 -9.
Paul and Mrs. John Hunsberger were here for dinner.

Sat. Dec. 24, 1898

Clear and pretty cold.

Thurs. Dec. 22, 1898

Partly cloudy and rain in afternoon.

A.M. Sawed up cherry tree.
P.M. Spread manure.

Mon. Dec.19, 1898

A.M. Clear P.M. Cloudy and began to rain.
Took ice away.

A.M. Plowed ice and got ready.
P.M. Hauled 13 loads. Nearly half full.

Sun. Dec.18, 1898

Clear and warmer.

At meeting in Skippack. B. Wismer read Luke 9. H. Wismer intro. Jacob Mensch spoke from Luke 9. 62.
At Irwin Landis' for dinner.

Thurs. Dec.15, 1898

Clear and cold.

Done away butchering. Cleaned ice house.
("away butchering" means he butchered for someone at their farm)

Tues. Dec.13, 1898

Slight snow during night. Clear and cold.

Mon. Dec.12, 1898

Clear and cold.

Cleaned up oats.

Henry Wismer and I visited. John Metz, Samuel Jones. John Metz stooped at G. W. Reiff, Mrs. Krieble and Mrs. John Hunsberger.

Mon. Dec 5 & Tues. Dec. 6, 1898

Mon. Dec. 5, 1898
Clear and cold.
P.M. At cow sale in Skippack. Bought two cows for $111.25.


Tues. Dec. 6, 1898
Clear and cold.
Hauled manure.

Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 1, 1898

Tues. Nov. 29, 1898
Partly cloudy warmer. began to hail in the evening.
Shoveled snow
A.M. I shoveled      5 hours
     Charlie shoveled 4
P.M. I shoveled       2
                               11 hours
A.M. brought load of coal.

Wed. Nov. 30, 1898
Snowed during the night and morning then clear.

Thurs. Dec. 1, 1898
Clear and pleasant.
Mrs. John Metz got buried at Worcester. I spoke from 2 Cor. 17 -18. Henry Wismer offered prayer. I had service at the grave. My first one.

Mon. Nov. 28, 1898

Clear or nearly so.

Shoveled snow
A.M. I shoveled              3 1/2
"   "    Charlie shoveled    3 1/2
P.M.  Charlie shoveled    3
"  "    I shoveled               3

                                     13 hours

Sun. Nov. 27, 1898

Very Stormy.

Our time at Worcester, but the snow drifted so that we could not go.

Sat. Nov. 26, 1898

Cloudy and snowed greater part of day and night.

Thurs. Nov. 24, 1898

Cloudy with slight rain in morning, then turned into snow and continued all day. Quite a snow, very unpleasant.

Thanksgiving
At meeting in Skippack. B.C. Wismer read Rom. 13 Chris. Hunsberger, intro. Henry Wismer spoke from Matt. 22. 22. He brought out the different feast days of the jews, etc. and that we have a right to resist if against our dictates. Mensch - also brought about the same and sighted as instances David, etc.

At Reuben Reinford's for dinner.

Wed. Nov. 23, 1898

Cloudy with rain in morning.

At the funeral of Catharine, widow of the late Levi Reiner. Age 67 yrs. 5 mo. 25 days. Buried at Providence. I had services at House and at church. John Latahaur read 1 Cor. 15 and spoke from the 58 verse.

Tues. Nov. 22, 1898

Partly Cloudy.

A.M.  Smoked meat and also hauled manure. H. Wismer and I visited the following: Mrs. Rahn, Mrs. G. Bean, Mrs. Mary Landes & Rev. Kulp, Mrs. Stauffer, Abram Bean's.

Mon. Nov. 21, 1898

Clear and pleasant.

Thrashed old oats stack.

Sun. Nov. 20, 1898

Clear

At meeting in Skippack. B.C. Wismer read Matt. 9 I made intro. H. Bower spoke from Col. 2. 6, 7, 8.

At Chris Steigner for dinner.

Tues. Nov. 15, 1898

Clear or nearly so.

Finished hauling corn fodder.

Sun. Nov. 13, 1898

Partly cloudy

At meeting at Providence. B.C. Wismer read Matt.22. I made intro. H. Wismer spoke from Rom 8-1.
In afternoon I was at the closing exercise of Worcester Sunday School.

Wed. Nov. 9, 1898

Partly cloudy at times.

Jonus Rosenberger got buried at the Upper Skippack Mennonite Meeting House.
Amos Bean and Henry Wismer preachedfrom Ps. 90 - 15 which the deceased selected.

Tues. Nov. 8, 1898

Clear
Hauled corn fodder.

Mon. Nov. 7, 1898

Mon. Nov. 7, 2011
My apologies for the week long absence. We lost power for eight days on our farm due to the snow storm on Oct. 29. Living without electricity made my daily chores seem much closer to what Warren's chores might have been although I'm sure he had systems in place (like pumping water without electric) to do what he needed to do. 

We haven't missed very much. Warren spent most of the week husking corn.

Nov. 7, 1898

Clear or nearly so. Cold and windy.
Went to mill 2 times. Thrashed some oats. Hauled some  nubbins.

Fri. Oct. 28, 1898

Clear and pleasant.

Husked corn. Hauled 3 loads home.

Thurs. Oct. 27, 1898

Clear, windy and cold.

Husked corn

Tues. Oct. 25, 1898

Partly clear.

A.M. Husked corn
P.M. Henry Wismer and I went to see Mrs. Henry Tyson.

Mon. Oct. 24, 1898

Clear and pleasant

A.M. Husked corn.
P.M. Seeded 2 acres of rye back of orchard.
Thrashed a little.

Sun. Oct. 23, 1898

Clear and pretty cold.

At meeting at Skippack. A. Kulp read Rom. 12, Christ Hunsberger, intro. Michael Moyer spoke from Mark 10 - 46 - 52.
Joseph Hallmans, Harvey Buckwalter, Abram Bean, and James Hilburns, were here for dinner.

Sat. Oct. 22, 1898

Cloudy but cleared up. Cold

P.M. Brought stove.

Fri. Oct.21, 1898

A.M. Cloudy. P.M. Rainy

A.M. Got corn ground ready.

Thurs. Oct. 20, 1898

Clear and pleasant.

Finished plowing and then rolled, and began to harrow.

Did away butchering.

Wed. Oct.19, 1898

Rainy in morning then clear.

Killed hog.

Tues. Oct.18, 1898

Cloudy windy and cold.

Thrashed 200 sheaves of oats in morning.
Plowed
Bought 3 pigs from I.K.G.

Mon. Oct. 17, 1898

Clear and pretty cold.

A.M. Hauled corn fodder home. P.M. Began to plow.

Sun. Oct. 16, 1898

Clear and pretty cold yet pleasant.

Communion in Worcester. I made introductory. Bishop henry Rosenberger officiated. Spoke from John 3 - 16. 68 members communed and 3 more that it was brought.

Sat. Oct. 15, 1898

Clear windy and cold.

In market.
Preparatory service in Worcester. Intro by me. Textfro Eph. 4 - 1-6 by Jacob Mensch.
Jacob Myers, Abram Kulp, and Mrs. Sam Detwiler were here over night.

Fri. Oct. 14, 1898

Partly cloudy with heavy rain in afternoon.

Prepared for market.

Thurs. Oct. 13, 1898

Clear and windy

Finished husking corn in orchard. Hauled the same home.

Tues. Oct. 11, 1898

Clear windy and pleasant

Husked corn. P.M. thrashed 150 sheaves of oats. 1 load of corn home.

Fri. Oct.7, 1898

Clear and pleasant

H. Wismer and I brought the report of conference to Henry Heebner, Geo. Reiff and John Krieble.

Thurs. Oct.6, 1898

Clear and pleasant

At Conference

Wed. Oct.5, 1898

Partly cloudy with rain in the afternoon.

Hauled stone in the forenoon. Thrashed with a flail. Got Florry shod.

Tues. Oct.4, 1898

Partly Cloudy

Finished cutting corn.

Mon. Oct.3, 1898

Partly cloudy

Cut corn

Sun. Oct.2, 1898

Partly cloudy.

In meeting at Worcester. H. Wismer intro. A. Hiestand spoke from Heb. 13 - 1  Examination.

Were at I.K. Gottshall's for dinner. Then went to Sunday school. it closed.

Wed. Sept.21, 1898

Meeting at Landisville or Reading road where we had a good attendance. John Lefever and Noah Landes officiater Deacon David Leamy.

From church we went to John Lefever for dinner where Benj. Warner and Noah Landes and Mrs. Grider were also there and from there we went to Deacon Leamy where we were again met Wismer and Gander, sister Detwiler, pre. John Lefever.

John Hess ask the question why there is such a difference in opinions in the ministers? He takes his ground from 1 Kings says that he was mistaken 4 times yet he ascended to heaven in a firery chariot.

We drove along the trolley line from Lancaster to Litiz where we were all together except for sister Wismer and then went to Lancaster  where we had meeting, full house. From here Bro. Hartzler took us and Wismer to his home where we stayed over night.

Tues. Sept.20, 1898

At meeting in Stumptown. From there we went to Pre. David Buckwalter for dinner. He sends love to Michael Moyer Clemmer, Isaac Leaman also sends his love. His wife died about 4 months.

From here we were taken to John S. Landes where we were all together. Here Henry Heller, deacon, took the three sisters to sister Annie Brubaker and then came back again and took Joseph Hallman to his place overnight.

Pre. David Buckwalter took us to Noaa Landes.  41 years was ordained on the 9^th of June and seems to be disheartened.

On our way from John L. Landes we crossed a pike leading from New Holland to Lancaster. We also passed through Cadfish, went over the creek Conestoga, village of Barrd.

Mon. Sept.19, 1898

Starting today, Warren spent the rest of the month traveling for the church. He kept a separate note book for this.

We left Phoenixville at 11:35 o'clock arrived at Frazer at 12:03 noon. There we laid off until 1:57. Then took accomidation for Lancaster arriving at Bird-in-Hand at nearly half past 3 o'clock where we were greeted by Pre. David Buckwalter, Pre. Sanford Landes, and also bro. Adam Landes who took us to the home of Pre. Sandford Landis where we took supper.

Bro. Sanford Landis took me to Samual Hershey's and found sister Hershey sitting in a position where she had been for 5 years. She seems to be wholly given up in the will of God. Seems to be contented in her position. I read 23 Psalm and given a few encouraging words as well as Bro. Landes. We sang a few songs and offered a few prayers which she desired.

Sun. Sept.18, 1898

Clear with slight rain in afternoon towards evening.

At meeting in Providence. Abram Clemmer read from Matt. 6. H. K. Wismer, intro. Michael Moyer spoke from John 3 - 16.

Sat. Sept.17, 1898

Clear and warm
Cut corn

Abram Clemmer, Decan and Michael Moyer were here over night.

Fri. Sept.16, 1898

Clear and warm.

Prepared for market.
P.M. cut some corn.

Thurs. Sept.15, 1898

Partly cloudy with slight rain at times.

cleaned up 11 bus. of oats. Went to mill.
P.M. thrashed 95 sheaves of rye.

Wed. Sept.14, 1898

Partly cloudy

A.M. I went to fetch wheat from Collegeville. 12 1/2 bus.
Plowed potato patch.
P.M. Thrashed 250 sheaves of oats.

Tues. Sept.13, 1898

Partly cloudy.

Cleared potato patch.
P.M. took potatoes out.

Mon. Sept. 12, 1898

Clear and Pleasant
Finished plowing.
We were at Towamencin Meeting. Jacob Woolner made introductory. Elias Weber then spoke from cor 13 -13. Eli Hallman spoke from 1 Peter 2- 9.

Sun. Sept. 11, 1898

Clear and Pleasant

At Meeting in Skippack. Luke 17 was read by B.C. Wismer. Intro by Chris Hunsberger. Text by Henry Wismer from Matt. 13 - 24, 25. I then spoke a little on the same topic.

Evening
Meeting at Providence by Eli Hallman who spoke from Pro. 40 - 2. "He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings."

Sat. Sept. 10, 1898

Clear and pleasent

Plowed

Fri. Sept. 9, 1898

Clear and warm
Plowed

Thurs. Sept. 8, 1898

Clear and warm
Plowed

Wed. Sept. 7, 1898

Clear and warm until the afternoon about 2:30 o'clock we had showers good rain.

A.M. Plowed
P.M. Went to mill

some of the days entries are empty. Seems in September, Warren traveled on church business.

Sun. Sept. 4, 1898

Clear and warm

During night at John Ehst. Then went to Hereford Meeting. I made a short address before Sunday School.
Henry Wismer made Introductory. I selected from John 5.39 and spoke a short time then Josiah Clemmer continued it.
At Andrious Mack for dinner. Started for home at about 3:30 o'clock and arrived home at about 7:30 o'clock.

(note: this trip from Hereford to Skippack would take about a 1/2 hour by car today)

Sat. Sept. 3, 1898

Clear and warm

Willie (his son) took the 3 brothers (preachers staying with them) to Samuel Jones' and then Ben. Wismer took them to Henry Heebner.

They had a meeting in Worcester in afternoon in which Eli Hallman spoke.

Henry Wismer, Mrs. Hunsberger and we went to Boyertown for dinner at Daniel Bower. Afternoon held Harvest service there. Henry Wismer spoke from Cs.50-14. I also spoke awhile then went to Eshback's for supper.

Thurs. Sept. 1, 1898

Clear and warm

Meeting at Skippack. Intro. by Eli Hallman. Text by Jacob Woolner from John 8 -  47. Elias Eshleman read John 10.

Then went to Wismer's for dinner.

Pre. Eli Hallman and Fanny Horst and Ester Eshleman were here overnight.

Wed. Aug. 31, 1898

Clear and warm

At Geo. Reiff's to notify them that there would be meeting on Saturday afternoon.
P.M. made butter, plowed

It just so happens that Eli Reiff (descendant of Geo. Reiff mentioned here) and I participated in a PASA workshop on Eli's farm the same day that 103 years earlier, our descendants had met! 

Tues. Aug. 30, 1898

Clear and warm

Picked 270 cucumbers. Harrowed and went to mill and store.

Mr. and Mrs. Gotwals were here over night.

Mon. Aug. 29, 1898

Clear and warm

Made cider, boiled apple butter. P.M. Harrowed

Sun. Aug.28, 1898

Clear and pleasant

At meeting in Skippack. I offered prayer for Sunday school. Henry Wismer, introductory, Jacob Mensch spoke from II Peter 1 - 19. We where at Romanus Garges for dinner.

Sat. Aug.27, 1898

Clear and pleasant

Oliver Bergeys were here for supper and over night.

Fri. Aug.26, 1898

Clear and warm

From Warren's Account book:
How to destroy worms in Apple trees. Bore a hole into the center of the tree then fill the hole sulphur then drive a wooden pin in said hole and will kill all worms thereafter.

Thurs. Aug.25, 1898

Clear and warm

Made little fence in lower meadow. Thrashed and cleaned up some oats.
P.M. Mowed briers

Wed. Aug.24,1898

Clear and very hot.

Tues. Aug.23, 1898

Clear and warm

Cleared strawberry patch and plowed the same. Went to mill.

Mon. Aug.22, 1898

Clear and warm

Dug part of the hill off on the road leading to Providence Square.

We went to meeting at Providence in the evening. Brother Samuel Shettler from Somerset Co. spoke from Gen. 3 - 9 Where Art Thou.

Sun. Aug.21, 1898

Clear and warm

At meeting at Providence. Jos. Grander read Luke 18. Henry Wismer, intro. Text by me from Matt. 6. 26.

At H. M. Halteman.

Sat. Aug.20, 1898

Partly cloudy, cool.

Feed formula for hens from home and farm Germania Milwaukee, Nov. 22, 1901

50 lbs. ground corn
50 lbs. ground oats
25 lbs. wheat bran
25 lbs. wheat middlings
5   lbs. linseed meal
Mix the whole together

Fri. Aug.19, 1898

Rain during night and morning. Creek was pretty high.

Prepared for market.

Thurs. Aug.18, 1898

Heavy showers and heavy rain. Skippack was exceeding high.

At Plumstead Harvest meeting. Jacob Rish intro. John Latehaiver had text. from Ps. 33 - 12.

At Aaron Lethermaw's for dinner left for home about 3.30 o'clock.

Wed. Aug.17, 1898

Showers in the afternoon but not much rain.

Finished plowing.

P.M. We and Benj. Wismer started for Bucks Co. Took supper at Rev. John Walters then started for Isaac Kulp's. Stayed there over night.

Tues. Aug. 16, 1898

Clear and warm.

I and the children went to the city.
Plowed.

Mon. Aug. 15, 1898

Clear and warm. Plowed.

Besides his diary, Warren also kept an account book where he not only kept a few financial records, he collected information of interest such as feed recipes, wine recipes, and some of his poultry records. I will add entries from his account book to these blog entries. I think it gives an interesting look into the ag economy of the late 19th century.

I recently found a receipt from the Perkiomen Dairyman's Association for milk and butter test Warren had sold in 1913. He sold the association 4836 lbs. and received $94.36 which comes out to around $1.95 per cwt.

In the following entry, you'll notice that hay is sold by the cwt. (hundred weight) where as today, hay sold either by the bale or by the ton.

Hay sold from crops of 1898
Sept. 2350 @ .35  $8.22 one half $4.11
         2550 @ .35  $8.92 "      "    $4.46

Sun. Aug. 14, 1898

Clear or nearly so.

At Norristown meeting. Henry Wismer spoke from 1 King 17 - 16.
We were at Mrs. Boorse's for dinner and for supper at Jacob Fretz's.

Skippack, Chris Allebach, John Ehrst.

Sat. Aug. 13, 1898

Partly cloudy.  P.M. Plowed

Fri. Aug. 12, 1898

Partly cloudy and began to rain towards evening.
Plowed.

Thurs. Aug. 11, 1898

Cloudy
A.M. Thrashed rakens and 145 sheaves of oats.

Wed. Aug. 10, 1898

Partly cloudy and heavey rain.

Tues. Aug. 9, 1898

Partly cloudy with slight rain at times.

Harvest Home Dinner at Worcester. Jacob Godshall read Deut. 11, Jacob Mensch intro. I had the text from Heb. 9 -14.

Joseph Gender, Issac K. Gottshalk were here for dinner.

Mon. Aug. 8, 1898

Clear and warm.

At Worcester. Intro by me. Henry Wismer had text from John 15 - 1, 2.

At Jos. Hunsberger

Sun. Aug. 7, 1898

Clear or nearly so. Warm.

Plowed

Sat. Aug. 6, 1898

Clear and pleasant.

A.M. Hauled manure and spread. P.M. Sowed turnips began to plow oat stubble.

Fri. Aug. 5, 1898

Clear and pleasant.

Hauled and spread manure.

Thurs. Aug. 4, 1898

Clear and more pleasant.

Harvest meeting at Providence. Henry Krupp read Deut. 11. Henry Wismer intro. Henry Bower text from Deut 11 - 10 - 17. Jacob Hunsberger took part in the same also led prayer.

At Issac Kratz for dinner.

Wed. Aug.3, 1898

Partly cloudy with slight rain at times. Good rain at noon and heavy rain during night.

Hauled manure

Henry Krupp: were here over night also Benj. Wismer for supper.

Tues. Aug. 2, 1898

Clear and very warm.

Harvest Meeting at Skippack. Intro by Henry Bower. Text Deu. 10 -12 by Jacob Moyer.
Jacob Moyer, John Krieble, Henry Heebner, Jesse Mack, Wm. Fuss, Henry Musselman & Mrs. Musselman were here for dinner. Also John B. Gottshall.

Mon. Aug. 1, 1898

Clear and very warm. Very slight rain in evening.

Hauled and spread manure.

At Harvest Service at Salford. Introductory by Jacob Stover, I chose text and spoke awile and then Christ. Hunsberger taken it up in German. Michael Moyer offered prayer. Text 51 - 15,16,17.

At Henry Bowers for dinner.

Sun. July 31, 1898

Clear and very warm.

At meeting in Skippack. Introductory by me. Text from cor. 6 - 16 - 17 by Christ. Hunsberger aided by D. Mensch.

Sat. July 30, 1898

Clear and warm

Fri. July 29, 1898

Clear and warm.

Hauled manure and took a little oats in that was not got.

Thurs. July 28, 1898

Partly cloudy with slight rain at times.

Hauled and spread manure.

Wed. July 27, 1898

Partly cloudy with slight rain at times especially in evening.

Took wheat away and got flour.
Planted 2+ beans and began to haul manure.

Tues. July 26, 1898

Partly  cloudy with very slight rain.

Plowed for turnips then finished cutting oats and bound up and hauled home what we cut yesterday.

Mon. July 25, 1898

Partly Cloudy

Reaped oats and bound up about 820 sheaves and took it home.

Sun. July 24, 1898

Cloudy in morning then clear and warm.

At meeting in Providence. Wm. Good read 15th John. Introductory by me. Henry Wismer had text from Mark 8 -4.
At Henry Detwiler for supper.

Sat. July 23, 1898

Partly cloudy at times with slight rain in morning.

Bound up 440 sheaves of oats and took the same in.

Fri. July 22, 1898

Partly cloudy

Mowed briars. Turned oats.

Thurs. July 21, 1898

Partly cloudy very warm. Rain in the evening.

A.M. At mill. Turned oats. P.M. turned oats reaped some. Bound up 400 sheaves and took that home.

Wed. July 20, 1898

Partly cloudy with showers in evening with some rain.

Turned some oats
Thrashed some rye
Harrowed truck patch.

Tues. July 19, 1898

Cloudy in morning then partly cloudy with a good shower in afternoon.

A.M. Cut pile of oats off.
P.M. Bound several hundred sheaves up and took home.

Mon. July 18, 1898

Partly cloudy in morning then clear and warm.

Cradled oats. Cleaned up rye and wheat rakens. 7 bus. wheat rakens 2 of rye.

Sun. July 17, 1898

Clear and warm.

At Meeting in Skippack. Jacob Godshall read Matt. 5. Jacob Mensch introductory.I had the text from 1 cor. 3. 9 - 10.
At I. K. Gottshall's for dinner.

Sat. July 16, 1898

Clear and warm
P.M. Cut partly around oats field.

Fri. July 15, 1898

Clear and Warm
Succored corn.


Here is another interesting page from the front of the diary, it's a page of weights and measures.

Measure of Length

4 in. make 1 Hand

7.92 in. make 1 Link

18 in. make 1 Cubit

12 in. make 1 Foot

6 ft. make 1 Fathom

3 ft. make 1 Yard

51/2 yards make 1 Rod or Pole

40 Poles make 1 Furlong

8 Fur. make 1 Mile

Avoirdupois Weight

27 1/2 1/2 grains make 1 Drachm

16 Drachms make 1 Ounce

16 ounces make 1 Pound

28 Pounds make 1 Quarter

4 Quarters make 1 Hundred-Weight (cwt.)

20 Cwts. make 1 Ton

2240 Pounds make 1 Ton

Thurs. July 14, 1898

A.M. Partly cloudy with slight rain. Clear
A.M. Succored corn
P.M. Cleaned the cows watering place.

To help with some questions I've been receiving on the term "succored", I've asked a few colleagues here at Penn State Extension. In 1898, everyone used open pollinated corn. Open pollinated corn would send up "suckers". So, to maintain the quality of the corn, one would have to remove these suckers, especially since you would need to save ears to have seed for next year.

BFM

Wed. July 13, 1898

Cloudy greater part of day with few draws of rain in morning.

Succored corn.

At Samuel Kulp's for dinner.

Tues. July 12, 1898

Partly cloudy.
A.M. Thrashed rakens.
P.M. Succored corn.

Mon. July 11, 1898

Clear or nearly so.
Raked rye and wheat stubbles. Put the same in barn. 2 loads.

Sun. July 10, 1898

Clear and very hot.
At meeting in Worcester. Introduction by Henry Wismer. Text by me from Peter 4.2 to 6.

Sat. July 10, 1898

Clear and very warm.

Cleaned up hay rakins in field grass meadow. P.M. Finished putting away rye. Unloaded load of rakins.

Fri. July 8, 1898

Clear until twords evening when a shower passed to the north of us very slight rain here.

Finished cutting grass taken it all in. 4 loads.

Thurs. July 7, 1898

Clear and pleasent.

A.M. Mowed grass and put 5 loads in.

Wed. July 6, 1898

Clear or nearly so.
Hauled wheat home. 2825

Tues. July 5, 1898

Clear and pleasent
A.M. Finished cutting wheat
P.M. Picked cherries at I.K.G.

Mon. July 4, 1898

Clear and pleasent. Slight rain in the evening.

Cut wheat

Sun. July 3, 1898

Very warm

At meeting at Plain. Abram Kulp read Luke 6. Henry Godshall made intro. I had text from Luke 14-7.

Skippack
Chris Hunsberger intro. Henry Wismer text.

Sat. July 2, 1898

Clear and very warm

Finished hauling rye and unloaded load of hay.

Fri. July 1, 1898

Clear and very warm

Hauled rye and 4 loads of hay.


The diaries then, as now, have all kinds of handy information in the front of the book. What is most interesting is what was considered useful and important information for someone in 1898 and how certain terms or units of measure or weight are no longer used today. I'll post some examples of this when Warren's entries are on the sparse side.

WEIGHT PER BUSHEL OF GRAIN, ETC.
"The following table shows the number of pounds per bushel required , by law or custom, in the sale of articles specified , in several States of the Union."

Pennsylvania: Barley-47, Buckwheat-48, Corn shel'd-56, Oats-30, Potatoes-56, Rye-56, Wheat-60, Salt-85, Clover seed-62.

Thurs. June 30, 1898

Clear and warm

AM. mowed raked and unloaded 2 loads
P.M. hauled 6 loads of hay.

Wed. June 29, 1898

Clear and pleasant

AM. Mowed grass and turned hay.
P.M. Cut rye 2 acres in field at barn, then one load of hay.

Tues. June 28, 1898

A.M. Clear or nearly so. P.M. Partly cloudy with showers.

Mowed grass and turned hay. P.M. took 1 1/2 loads of hay in until showers came.

Mon. June 27, 1898

A.M. Clear and warm. Cultivated corn.
I and Henry Wismer went to see Mrs. Henry Tyson. Not very favorable.

Sun. June 26, 1898

Clear and very warm.

At meeting in Providence. Introductory by Henry Wismer. Text by me from Matt. 11-28-30.

Sat. June 25, 1898

Clear and very warm with slight rain in the evening. Shortly after 5 o'clock showers.

A.M. hauled 1 load of hay in.

Fri. June 24, 1898

Clear and Warm

A.M. Prepared for market

P.M. Hauled 5 loads of hay in from field at home.

Thurs. June 23, 1898

Clear and pleasant.
Went to Creamery for butter. Suceored (?) corn and mowed and turned hay.
P.M. Mowed some more turned and cultivated corn.

Wed. June 22, 1898

AM. Clear pleasant. PM. Partly cloudy with rain in evening about 5 o'clock.

Cultivated corn and pulled
PM. I mowed some grass in field at barn.

Tues. June 21, 1898

AM. Cloudy with slight rain in morning.
PM. Clear

AM. Went up to clean meeting house and mow grass on ground.
Cultivated corn, potatoes, etc.

Mon. June 20, 1898

Clear and pleasent

AM. Prepared truck patch
PM. cultivated corn and planted truck patch.

Sun. June 19, 1898

Cloudy at times with showers in afternoon.

At Meeting in Skippack. Henry Clemmer read 14 chapter of Luke. Jacob Minsch, introduction.
Henry Gottshall had spoken from Luke 12 - 37.
Henry Clemmer, Jos. Hallman, Issac Gottshalk's for dinner.

June 18, 1890 & 1901

1901
Clear and pleaseant.

Began to cut meadow grass. Cut about 1/2 half.

1890
Today harrowed hay. Put 2 loads in and harrowed again fo G. Schweitzerhoff.

June 17

This is the first of what I hope will be day entries from the diary of my great grandfather, Warren G. Bean. Warren was a farmer and a Mennonite Bishop in Mongomery County in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

The diary entries are usually short, sometimes only a single sentance, and always the weather. The entries will come from diaries he kept in the late 1800's and early 1900's. There will be entries from his daily diaries that usually have his farming activities and from his diaries of his church work.

This will be (hopefully) the only time I will comment in these entries. I do not want to influence what anyone takes from these entries. Therefore, what appears here will be directly from Warren's writing unless noted otherwise. I will only say that for me, the interest and connection (besides blood) is that we are seperated by 100 years and are roughly the same age (Warren was born in 1866, I was born in 1963), and both of us are farmers in Southeastern Pennsylvania.   B. F. Moyer

Mon.  June 17, 1901
Clear and Cool. PM Bought Cow of Alen Imis for $38.75. Paid cash.