Diary of Jeremiah White Graves, Volume 3, Book 4

1873 April 29th Took down all our Lugs & about 10 Oclock Davy Ditching Kit Mary & Molley Miller Planting Corn, my old Sow not come up

30 Still planting Corn Davy Ditching, Hauling Rails around Lot by ^old prize Barn I went Mt Airy Cleaning up in piny old field May 1stPlanting corn Davy Ditching Sarah & Milton Cleaning up old field above new ground

2ndMay 1st planting corn & laying off corn ground below House began to rain at 12 oclock Davy went to Miss Martha Neals to help Dig Grave for Mrs Compton this morning quite cool

2nd Rained all night & this morning still raining. Turned cows out etc etc Raining more or less all day got in one Stack fodder above Granary ground very wet Kit & Mary went to Mount Airy done but little this evening. Let Turkey Hen in old Kitchen

3rd May ground Very Wet our folks will fence to day out Side fence I will Hunt my Hogs Sow & Pigs Cleared off this morning[unclear] [unclear] [unclear] Some of my wheat looks very well & some badly

4th. Went to Edge Hill to meeting- Cloudy & cool

5. Davy coltering in new Kit & Mary Hauling out Manure to day on Lot. Sarah & Mollie Cutting & Cleaning up in old field next to fresh field Mr Mattherly here making Plow to day Sword & screws ^2-14½ ^{& Taps}Inches long 2 Screws & taps 7½ & 2 Screws & Taps 3¼ or 3½ Inches long. draught for double Shovel Plow 14 Inches Hoes 6 Inches wide & as long as Common finished the wood work,

6 Planted Corn to day & Snaps below Black Smiths Shop Davy Coltering in new ground Sarah & Milton & Mollie Miller at work in old field Burned the Brush last evening Mr Wm Moses came here & we went around 2 mountain trails Land & blased trees on him

7th. Raining this morning Turned Mitch [co?]ws next to Henry Templetons made hog pen

1873 May 7 Still Raining Kit making Side Boards for for waggon & fencing some when it dont Rain

8th. Rained all day yesterday & last night & this morning Wind from N East ground very wet. & cant do any thing Davy went yesterday to Mr Woodings after Bacon Have not finished planting corn yet nor have not planted any Peas nor any flat Land in fact cant do any thing but Sit in the House, we have not hauled out much manure nor finished breaking our new ground & several places thats for Tobacco & the is in a Complete float of water every Where, my old Sow & Pigs came up 2 or 3 nights past & they are all Jumbled up together & will Kill my Pigs I fear Rain; Rain; Rain; for Several days

9th. Cloudy but not Raining uncovering Plant Bed " Hauling Leaves for Stables, - fencing. Davy has not Come back yet; got back at Dark -

10th ground very well fenced to day Mostly. Turned My old Sow with 9 Pigs in woods Pasture next to Mountain yesterday. will make a Shelter for her this morning - Hauled up Stack Oats & last we have I went to meeting S.S. Hauled wood & worked some on old field Rain Rain & Hauled to this evening Smartly

11th. I went to S Stone to meeting

12th My waggon Started to Lynchg about 9 oclock our folks Cutting malling up here in old field, I am going with Kit pt of the way up to Bridge Only went to Cedar Hill Kit went on very well let Kit have $1 for toll of & if that not enough wrote to Mr JM Moses to pay balance of any shelling corn in evening

13th. Sent Milton to Millers Mill I sent 2½ Bus Corn for Meal Kit Sent 3 Bus Corn lent Davy 2 Sarah & Milton 2 Bushels Corn all lent them as we first Started 1½ Bbls at fall for 1 Bbl now Fixed cotton Patch Planted & Plowed Pea Patch Burned Brush in old field next to new ground

1873 May 14th. Raining a little fixing now to plant a little Cotton Patch. Planted it this morning [unclear] Planted yesterday morning Planted corn by Bars ¹⁴ Mary Plowed a little in garden & worked up ground & Planted Tomatoe & Beets screan, Davy has been from 10 oclock till night night draining plant Beds & Branch he Says Sarah & Mollie Miller Say they are done Cutting up Pines, but they they Could not cut up the balance, burned Brush & trash in evening Milton Cutting

15 Davy gone to put Plaster on Plant Bed Balance doing but little this morning

16 I planted Corn in Lot on Hill flat Land next to Branch for Tobacco next to fence for Corn be bedded planted Some Corn & Snaps in Irish Potatoe Patch Kit got home about 12 oclock last night. brot 5. bags Guano, Sold Tobacco as pr Statement for $44 & Some cents Carried between 7 & 800 lbs over Kit Lost his Vituals & axe in Lynchg my axe they are this morning draining branch for Corn Davy Ditching in new ground Opened seconds ^{rate Tobacco} in barn back of Garden, Still Cloudy --Hauled up Coal wood drained plant Beds. Kit Manured plant Beds & Sewed upper Bed over with Tobacco Seed As there is no plants in it sewed some Kale Seed

17 Planted Out Some Collard plants last evening etc etc etc etc etc yesterday Hauled up 1 Stack Blade fodder over the road by prize Barn Very good Stack & very good fodder

18 - Draining flat land for Corn Planting on Low ground on Branch Davy Laying off Sarah droping Milton Covering Kit & Mary Beding Some & Cutting drains, Sewed Tobacco Kale & Collard seed in upper plant Bed next to Miss Neales planted Broom Corn in Garden Manure our Plant Beds with Guano Plaster & Coal Dust, -

[folded corner]th Went to Meeting & Sunday School to hear A[?]^Brown

1873 May 19 Monday Raining this morning & Taking down Second rate Tobacco in old ^{prize Barn} back of Garden & old prize Barn, Rained in morning Planted Tobacco plants etc etc this morning

20th Rained last night & soon this morning Hauling Out Manure waggon & Cart & all hands.

21st Rain & Cloudy Misty weather all this week & Cool Not near done planting Corn have planted but little of our flat Land have not made but few Hills, yet cloudy & Rainiy

22nd Rainy. Rainy Cloudy & Cool finished halling Out Manure yesterday Packing down Second rate Tobacco this morning Scattering manure & Bedding for Tobacco in Lot in evening. Davy & Milton finished halling up Coal wood & finished halling wood out of new ground next to fresh field I went to election Mrs Estes gave me some Collard plants cleared of warm in evening

23rd Davy & Milton Scattering manure Kit & Sarah Bedding Lot for Tobacco, I am going to try & get My Horse Shod & go to Mr J M Moses to day

24 Picking Plant Beds this morning Rained yesterday as I came home up about Strait Stone Finished Bedding & Scattering Manure on Tobacco Lot. Planted Some collard plants from Dr. Estes Bedded place for Sweet Potatoes, Plowed Irish Potatoe patch & Mary & Geo. worked them with the Hoes & Mary Plowed in Garden for planting Collard plants Davy carried 15 Bushels wheat for flour to Yates Mill & Brot back slabs plank for Bridge in Corn field - - Manured plants Beds to day with Guano Plaster & Coal dust

25th. I went to Sunday School & Mr Lewis pretty day

26 Planted Plowing & Beding up branch & mine in Lot to day Made Some Hills for Sweet Potatoes Slips planted flat Dutch Collard plants from Dr. Estes's planted water melon seed & Cucumber Seed to day steers plowing on Branch etc, Bill resting to day

1873 May 27 Began to Plow Corn 2 times in a row Kit did not Pick Plant Bed till this evening replant[ed] Corn Adjoining Tobacco Kit has got all the Collard plants on road & Planted them & went to these above the House & got more & planted them this morning for I Saw him have them & give them to his wife Nailing on Boards of Cow Shelter this morning Put up the Shelter yesterday morning

28th Plowing & replanting corn next to woods by the Tobacco Lot. Davy quit Ditching & him & Sarah^Milton replanting corn there, Kit & Sarah Planting Corn Mary & Geo Worked in Garden till they finished replanting Some of my Corn Planted out my Pepper Tomatoe Beets etc. Planted Snaps & Garden & replanted Corn etc Mary Plowed in my Lot Bedding for Tobacco Where they Scattered manure 2 or 3 days ago.

29th All Planting flat Land Corn on Camp Branch Twin Corn planted on Branch Rained a little this evening quite warm & fine growing weather & finished planting Corn

30th Plowing corn below Shop Davy Coltering Mary washing to day -- replanting corn fair this morning

31st Rained last night a fine rain & Mr Lewis came here this morning early & give Me his Int in Tobacco plants at Mr Woodings & give us himself If we would help him plant to day with 2 hands and a Dropper Davy Miller Started there Soon & as Soon as we get done we will Start another hand & a Dropper We have planted all the Hills made in new ground & planted Some in my Lot & Beding the Hill in Lot, & replanted a little Corn in Lot Very Cool all day to day & cleared off to day

June 1st. I went to Sunday School to day

" 2 " Kit & Sarah Plowed in Corn

" Davy & Mary Kept Holliday