on West Chicago Street
in Tecumseh

pictured are probably Ethyl and Otto
The first entry is a transcript of the journal of Gurdon B. Garlinghouse, born in 1854 in Lenawee County, Michigan. He married Minnie Gates in 1879 and they had four children: May, 1881; Ethelyn, 1882; Otto, 1885 and Arnet, 1888.

The journal is being transcribed by Holly Wilson Sweet, great-grand-daughter of Gurdon and Minnie, beginning January 2005. Notes are in brackets are Holly's.

© copyright 2005 The Garlinghouse-Wilson Family


The house on West Chicago Street
in the 1980s
Gurdon B. Garlinghouse's Journal

view January 1893 entries


view February 1893 entries


view March 1893 entries


view April 1893 entries


view May 1893 entries


view June 1893 entries


view July 1893 entries

view August 1893 entries


view September 1893 entries


view October 1893 entries


view November 1893 entries


view December 1893 entries

February 1893

1 Wed            I put the Hams and Shoulders in the Pickle to day, and packed the side Pork. It snowed quite hard this P.M.  I went after the children this P.M. from school.

2 Thursday            Minnie, Arnie and I went up and took dinner with Mother to day. Minnie staid and went to the social. I came home and done the chores and then went back to the social. It was very stormy, hail and sleet

3 Friday            I chored around this A.M., went over to Mr. Cupples this A.M. It was snowy and quite cold and the wind blew very hard.  Otto and I went up to Town this P.M. a little while

4 Saturday            I chored around this A.M. This P.M. May, Otto and I went up to Town.

5 Sunday            Minnie, Ethelyn and I went up to Church to day.          

6 Monday            It was stormy to day all day. I helped some about the washing, done some chores, husked a little corn and went after the Children at school.

 Tuesday            It was quite a cold day. I done chores, went over to Mr. Cupples a little while this A.M. This P.M. I went up to town, walked up and came home with Mr. Cupples.

8 Wed            Minnie, Arnie and I went up Dan Garlinghouse’s to day and made them a visit.  This Eve I went up to Chapter Meeting 5th work.

{Dan was Gurdon’s cousin, the son of David Garlinghouse – Gurdon’s father’s brother

9 Thurs            I went down to the woods and got a load of wood to day. It began snowing when I had got about 1⁄2 way to the woods and snowed very hard all the rest of the day.          

10 Friday            I chored around to day. This P.M. I made a door between dining room & kitchen and hung it on rollers.          

11 Saturday            I took the Sheep up to town to day, sold them to F.C. Rector. 24 wethers weighed 2440# @ 5¢ pr lb and 60 lambs 5225# @ 5 ¾ ¢ per pound.   F.C. did not pay for them promised to pay  for them next Tuesday. F.M Bryant, wife & son were down and took dinner with us to day. I went up to town this eve bought of McNair Stock of clothing 1 (skotch?) overcoat (6.67), 2 pr Overhalls (.50) 1 over jacket (.50), 2 pr socks(.20), 1 collar (.20), 3 pr cuffs (.50), Tie (.25) Total $8.55

12 Sunday            The Girls and I went up to Church to day.  This P.M. I drove Heifer Fannie down to Aaron Taylors.

13 Monday            I went down to the woods and got a load of wood and took it up to Mother. I stoped at the C.Y Annual Meeting this P.M. at G.A.R. hall.

14 Tuesday            It was rainy to day. Minnie, Arnie and I went up to Uncle John Benedicts and made them a visit. This eve Minnie and I went up to Lecture course entertainment – N.Y. English Ballad Co. -- F.C. Rector, Wife & Daughter were at Uncle Johns also.

15 Weds            I scattered some straw around the yard. Was over to Mr. Cupples a little while this A.M. This P.M. I went up to town.  F.C. Rector paid me for sheep $422.43. I put $400 of it in the Bank. The Lilley State Bank.

16 Thurs            I went down to Holloway and had the shoes reset on their hind feet, and bought a load of oats of C.W. Benedict 61 1⁄2 bu. @ 35 ¢ per bu. Paid him Twenty one and 50/100 Dollars

17 Friday            I went down to the woods and got a load of wood that Mr. C.C. Clark cut for his furnace. It commenced snowing about 2.30 P.M. quite hard. I went over to the school after the children this P.M.

18 Saturday            I fixed spout so to run oats down from bin in Grannery to day.  This P.M. I went up to town after the mail.

19 Sunday            Minnie, May and I went up to Church to day. It was very blustery this P.M. The wind blew the snow from the N.E. and piled it up very much.

20 Monday            I helped Minnie wash this A.M. This P.M. I chored around and shot sparrows.  I went and sit up with Mr. Bramble to night, he being very sick.

21 Tuesday            Alvah White, Mr. Cupples, O.B.F {Finch} and I shoveled snow out of H.W. down near the bridge on S part of road dist{?} 1½ hours each.  It snowed this P.M. most of the time. I went after the Children at School this P.M.

22 Weds            I chored around to day. Went down to the mill and sit a little while.  This P.M. Mr. Kyle came after a small load of straw. This Eve I went up to Chapter Meeting. work in M.E Degree. 7 candidates (Banquet)

23 Thurs            I chored around to day. This Eve Minnie and I went up to J.K. Waldron’s to an Evening Party.

24 Friday            I did the chores and went down to Dr. White’s and fixed fences so that it was possible for Travel as far as school road.  This P.M. I went up to town and this eve I went up to Lodge Meeting.

25 Saturday            I chored around some this A.M. and husked a shook of corn in the Barn, went over to Mr. Cupples a little this A.M.  This P.M. I went up to town. The Girls went with me and went to a meeting at Mr. Osborns. I paid J. Bond for cutting ½ of 23¾ cords stove wood @ 40¢ per cord $4.75

26 Sunday            The Girls and I went up to Church to day.           

27 Monday            I went down to the woods and drew a load of wood home about 1½ cords – 2½  ft wood.  This P.M. I went up to town to a Trustee Meeting.  This Eve Minnie and I went up to Mr. Chilsons to a party – 25th Aniversary.

28 Tuesday            I chored around and fixed castors on Secretary Desk this A.M.  This P.M. Mrs. Cupples came over here and I rode up to town with Mr. Cupples.