Isaac Fero's 1887 Diary December

Thurs 12/1
Pleasant-but a cold wind. I went to Arsa Breece’s funeral and served as one of the pall bearers. Old Mr. Breece buried at Hornellsville

Fri 12/2
Cold southeast wind. I went and drawed a load of corn for Mr. Weller from Ed’s barn with Ed’s team, then went to see james about helping butcher tomorrow. Found him to Frank’s. Charley nd Annie when I came home.

Sat 12/3
James and Alida here today helping butcher. Jason came to inform us of Lucy Clark’s death.Then I went to Melvin’s and to Frank’s. Ed Moore is here avisiting. Very muddy.

Sun 12/4
I went to Lucy Clark/s funeral in the planes? In the new church. James and Alida went also. Very muddy, rain just morning.

Mon 12/5
Home all day and done chores.Colder and the ground froze again.

Tues 12/6
Frank’s folks called here on their way to Gene Bennett’s and I went along to see Daniel Gardner. Found him some better and about again. I called to Gene’s aspell. The roads quite ruff.

Wed 12/7
Home all day, done chores as usual and not very well, but fixed the sheep shed.

Thurs 12/8
Weather mild. I cleaned the pork barrel and done chores as usual. After noon U went to Wm. Stevens’s, and to the store and post office. Fred Lee came home with me and stayed all night.

Fri 12/9
A fine day, I done chores. After noon went up to see Albert and found him very sick and not so well today. I went up across through the woods. I salted my side pork on the top of Ed’s and put the old pork on it.

Sat 12/10
Cleaned and put 7 bushels of oats in box and barrel for Kit, making 9 in all for me. Rainy day. Arthur came up and stayed all night.



Sun 12/11
We all went to Beaver Dams to church. I rode down with Arthur and went over to Frank’s and found Rhobia sick and rode home with Ed from Aaron’s. warm day and roads very muddy.

Mon12/12ery muddy I went to mill with Ed’s team, took 2 bags of buckwheat and 4 of feed and left it to Beecher’s mill. Then went to see Robia and found her a little better. Getting colder

Tues 12/13
Fine day I went to see Albert and dound him some better. Then went down to see George and Minnie. Went afoot and stayed there all night. We drawed a load of hay from the lower barn today.

Wed 12/14
Came home from George’s across the fields and woods, got home at 11:00 a fine day. Ed and Mart went to Monterey, he got his new clothes from P. Sharp’s.

Thur 12/15
Home all day put the first wood in the woodhouse. Morris Preasant here to dinner. I bought a set of tea spoons for Carrie Colger. Allie got a pickle fork. I went up to Ben’s in the evening.

Fri 12/16
Colder I done chores as usual. After noon I went to see Robia found her some better. Then I went to a literary entertainment at the church and came home afoot. Roads hard and very rough.

Sat 12/17
Home alone all day. And went to the grange at night. Elected new officers. Ed went to get his horses shod and Allie went home. They had a bee to cut wood for the Beaver Dams church in North woods. Snow at night. I went to Frank’s and stayed all night. Old Mrs. Ham died.

Sun 12/18
Came from Frank’s to church and came home afoot. Snow 3 or 4 inches deep and roads very rough.

Mon 12/19
Fine day. I went to old Mrs. Ham’s funeral and served as one of the pall bearers.

Tues 12/20
I went to Monterey and got my new clothes from Sharp’s, and paid my tax and had Kit shod at Bennett’s. Snow again at night.

Wed 12/21Home alone all day. Ed and Allie went to Eddie Saylor’s wedding. Sleighing fine. George came and got Jameses bob sleigh. Annie came home with Ed and Allie tonight.

Thur 12/22
Home all day and done chores. Ed Moore called to sell butter. Frank and George Wilover here. I took Annie home and stayed all night. Sleighing fine.

Fri 12/23
I came home from Jameses to Beaver Dams and traded butter with Winfield. Fine day Goerge Moore and wife drove in here

Sat 12/24
Home alone. Ed and Allie gone to Mr. Rolason’s – The Moore family all meets there today.

Sun 12/25
I went to Beaver Dams to church. After church took Isaac Moore over home, drove Kit to new cutter. George and Minnie there over Jameses I went to Frank’s and stayed all night but left Kit to James’s. Sleighing fine. Ed and Aliie went over to Mr. Anthony’s.

Mon 12/26
I and Isaac went to Corning on the train and he went back to Avoca. I came back at night and went to the Christmas Tree at church. I went home with James folks and stayed all night. I got a diary and new overshoes for me, and buff buttons and pin for Carrie Hall. A pin for alida Olmsted and a pocket organ for Iva.

Tues 12/27
Beautiful day, sleighing fine. I come home and Arthur come along. James and alida came here and James and I went up to see Albert, found him very sick. Edand Allie went up to Mart’s this evening. Mrs. Ellis died last night.

Wed 12/28
Squally day but mild. After noon I went to Mrs. Lee’s and got the ? with the cutter. It turned cold just at night.

Thurs 12/29
I went to Mrs. Ellis’s funeral and served as one of the pall bearers. Awfully cold and blustery day. James carried the bearers, Taylor preached and she was buried at Townsend. I went home with James and stayed all night. Mr. Beers house burnt at night.

Fri 12/30
Cold day. I come home, called to Frank’s aspell and also at Beaver Dams. Rode up on bob sled with Aaron Moore Elder Carnes moving to Monterey.


Sat 12/31
I went to Penn Yan to make a report and to settle with Farmer’s Reliance insurance co.
New Insurance 8300
Premium paid to see $32.30
Went to Frank’s and stayed all night. Stormy day and night, but getting warmer.