DIY History | Transcribe | Iowa Women’s Lives: Letters and Diaries | Robert Walker Byington diary, April 3, 1883 - August 2, 1884 and Iowa Byington Reed diary, September 20, 1886 -December 31, 1892: Part 1

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Robert Walker Byington diary, April 3, 1883 - August 2, 1884 and Iowa Byington Reed diary, September 20, 1886 -December 31, 1892: Part 1

Page 41

Sunday, July 15th, 1883 A bright and beautiful summer day. After breakfast, rode "Nellie" out to the West Farm and took a look and the crops. Found everything in first rate condition. Home via the lower road. Stopped and took a look through [evgendees?] need barn and house- dressed before dinner. Spent a delightful afternoon at home reading and resting. Frank Fletcher here to supper. Read awhile and looked over portfolio of pictures. Put on old clothes and did the milking. At home tonight reading. Hattie and the children over yesterday & today. Monday, July 16th, 1883 A rainy day, and gloomy in the extreme. Did chores and helped with the milking. Then came over to the office and spent the forenoon at work writing letters. Collected rent for the House property. Home to dinner. Spent the afternoon in the office and at the Court House. Home at 4 o'clock and worked before and after supper at fixing a platform around the North cistern. Did milking and chores and spent the eve pleasantly at home. A fine cool night. Tuesday, July 17th, 1883 ( Began [illegible] meadow A bright, beautiful and immeasurably cool morning. Did chores and helped with the milking. Got to work at platform around N cistern and worked in the office till noon. Home after ordering a bill of lumber. After dinner came back to town and ordered more lumber and some hardware. Went out to  [Karns?] and bought his hay rake for $18. The carpenters tore the old shed down this afternoon. Cleared up rubbish and finished North [porch?] Did chores & milking.

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Sunday, July 15th, 1883 A bright and beautiful summer day. After breakfast, rode "Nellie" out to the West Farm and took a look and the crops. Found everything in first rate condition. Home via the lower road. Stopped and took a look through [evgendees?] need barn and house- dressed before dinner. Spent a delightful afternoon at home reading and resting. Frank Fletcher here to supper. Read awhile and looked over portfolio of pictures. Put on old clothes and did the milking. At home tonight reading. Hattie and the children over yesterday & today. Monday, July 16th, 1883 A rainy day, and gloomy in the extreme. Did chores and helped with the milking. Then came over to the office and spent the forenoon at work writing letters. Collected rent for the House property. Home to dinner. Spent the afternoon in the office and at the Court House. Home at 4 o'clock and worked before and after supper at fixing a platform around the North cistern. Did milking and chores and spent the eve pleasantly at home. A fine cool night. Tuesday, July 17th, 1883 ( Began [illegible] meadow A bright, beautiful and immeasurably cool morning. Did chores and helped with the milking. Got to work at platform around N cistern and worked in the office till noon. Home after ordering a bill of lumber. After dinner came back to town and ordered more lumber and some hardware. Went out to [Karns?] and bought his hay rake for $18. The carpenters tore the old shed down this afternoon. Cleared up rubbish and finished North [porch?] Did chores & milking.