January 1902

Tuesday, January 7, 1902

Henry has started going to Northampton again today. He has been out since the middle of Nov. with bronchial trouble.

The town schools commenced yesterday.

Frank and I called on Mr. Watson and his son-in-laws family. They have bought the Hiram Nash farm.

James McBride was married in July 1898 went to Glasgow in the fall returned in April ’99. In June a little daughter was born to them.

In Oct. J. went to Glas. again. Came home again in Oct. 1900 – went to Camden, N.J. as draftsman and from there to Phil. Pa. for the Cramps Ship-building Co. Earns $4.00 per day.

Mrs. Geo. Warner and Mrs. Lyman Graves called this P.M. Also the Dr. came to see Grandma. He does not talk very encouraging about her.

Emma and Prescott have gone to meeting this eve. Union meetings this week. Sun. Tues. Wed. and Fri. evenings.

A missionary talks to them tomorrow night.

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Note:

This is the last entry in the journal. Emma Tilton Richards died on March 22, 1902 at the age of 44.

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September 1901

Sunday, September 8, 1901    

Cooler and pleasant. We all went to church except Pa. He did not feel very well.

Grandma went to Chartly Mass with John Hussey. He came up to visit his relatives and she went home with him to see his mother.

Henry commenced attending school in Northampton last Tues. He enters as a senior. Florence starts attending the village primary.

Pres. McKinley was shot last Fri. P.M.

June 1901

Sunday, June 2, 1901    

Sunshine part of the day. We all went to ch. Grandpa stayed alone. Mr. Pierpont preached – subj. The Fatherhood of God. “Our Father who art in heaven.”

Susie stayed down with Clara Hawks.

I have written a letter to Grandma this eve.

May 1901

Thursday, May 2, 1901   

Mrs. Hiram Nash (Lucinda Hitchcock) was buried today. Mr. Pierpont made remarks. Services at the house. Only neighbors and relatives present. Commenced raining at noon – but it did not rain when we went to the house or when we went to the grave. Mrs. N. was 93 years old. We called at the “Wright” farm that Frank bought for $375.00, plus insurance etc. $396. They have set out some cherry trees there and fixed the fences.

Sunday, May 12, 1901

Cloudy this morn. Cleared off before noon very pleasant. 4 yrs. ago today father was buried. 3 yrs. ago today Uncle John took his life. Today has been a very helpful one for me in ch. Deciding to live for Christ has been the theme in ch. and S.S. 14 young people decided to take a stand on the Lord’s side.

Mrs. Kendall was at church today. It seemed good to see her. She is staying at Hattie Nash’s for a few days.

Emma and papa stayed at home with Edw. and Grandpa.

Mr. Morse papered my room Friday. It commenced to rain so he could not do the white-washing.

Henry leads the C. E. meeting tonight. Prescott and Emma have gone down.

Sunday, May 26, 1901   

Pleasant today but the day before was very rainy and Fri. we had heavy thunder showers and rain.

Grandma came home with Frank last Sun. and has gone back today.

Prescott went down with her.

We all went to ch. and left Grandpa alone. Mr. Chester Williams and his son Charles came with Mr. Oliver Munson.

Mr. Pierpont had a sermon appropriate for Memorial Day. 18 G.A.R. men were present. The ch. was decorated with flags and flowers.

Text was “Tell it to your children” etc. referring to the war of the Rebellion and what it did for the country.

Uncle Barrus’s son William died last night soon after midnight – his funeral will be Tues.

 

Wed.29                                Rain – every day and night since Sun. Grandpa went to the Haydenville ch. 50” anniv’y celebration this P.M.

Prescott, Emma and Henry went this eve. School kept ½ day.

Mr. Oliver Everett died last night.

Mrs. Elijah Luce died last week.

Mr. Deacon Langdon had a tumor removed today. Dr. Hayes and Dr. Belden performed the operation.

 

Thur.30                 We did not celebrate by going away it was too cold and rainy.

The men worked on the south st. land. Henry did some painting and took up the hall carpets.

 

Fri.31                     A little sunshine today. This P.M. I went down to attend the meeting of the library association. The librarians from the Forbes library, Amherst College, Springfield, and some of the hill towns were present.

Rev. Calvin Keyser gave the address this P.M.

Supt. of Schools in Northampton gave the opening add. in the eve. – followed by the librarian from Northampton.

April 1901

Sunday, April 26, 1901   

A very wet time this month, but we have had 3 pleasant days now.
Grandma and Prescott went to Springfield. Prescott returned – at night. Emma stayed with Edw. All the others went to ch. Mr. Post of Westhampton preached – very earnest sermon.

Frank went to hear the new M. E. min. His name is Hull.

Mr. Quartus Warner has moved to the Hannum house in the village.

Sold his farm to a Mr. Stone. Mr. W. is quite sick at his grandson’s. Mrs. Hiram Nash is just alive.

Rec’d a letter from sister Florence last night. They are all well as usual.

We visited the cemetery after church and carried flowers to Mattie’s grave – arbutus – also sent a box full to Springfield.

October 1900

This book has been sadly neglected this summer. We have had a pleasant but very dry summer – nearly all the wells and springs are dry. We are getting our water from the well down to the cider mill. We have enjoyed having Edw’s and Arthur’s family here this summer. Mrs. Raymond stayed here two weeks in July. Grace R. came later and stayed two nights.

Mary Guilford’s father died the 24” of July in Covington, Pennsylvania.

Our family numbers 14 – three hired men Ernest Rice of Chesterfield, John Geeser and John O’Brien.

We have had wet weather for about ten days. Frank is buying apples for a firm in Philadelphia. Already sent off a number of carloads.

Henry, Emma, Susie and Florence went to ch. It rained so hard they did not all start.

Prescott is having trouble with neuralygia.

June 1900

Friday, June 1, 1900

Frank went to N. for a load of bls. P. cut brush over east and worked a little wood. Prescott churned. E. worked up butter had 15 lbs. I have made out to sew enough to keep up the mending.

Grandma got pretty tired yesterday.

Saturday, June 2, 1900

Quite warm. Emma made buns and did up starched clothes. Grandma made pies. I made burwick sponge cake.

Prescott set out tomato plants. Frank went to village, then they took dinners and went onto Walnut Hill. Showery. E. did not have a nap.

Sunday, June 3, 1900  

Rained most of the time. Merc. at 60.

Frank, Prescott, Emma, Susie, Geo. & Flo. went to ch. Edw. did not sleep any today but has felt pretty well. Frank did not go tonight. P. E. & H. went. Henry was to lead the C. E. meeting.

I have been interested reading about the Boers by Rev. Chas. Phillips, also about Alaska by Mr. Wirt a missionary that is to return there. Mr. Wirt was in N. last Sun. eve. Prescott and Henry went in to hear him.

Friday, June 22, 1900       

Henry graduated under difficulties but he did his part nobly. The evening was rather rainy. I stayed down with Aunt Susan. Geo. went home with the older ones, but Geo. Susie and Florence stayed down with me. The hall was crowded and many had to go away without getting in at all.

Mr. Wright the Prin. does not leave many friends behind him.

Prescott went down in the P.M. to help them decorate the hall.

May 1900

Saturday, May 5, 1900  

We have a cold windy week since Tues. Grandma went to Mr. F. Sanderson’s Tues. morn. and Frank went for her tonight. Florence went with him.

Sunday, May 6, 1900  

Cold, windy and showery. They all went to ch. except Emma. Grandma enjoyed her visit. Edw’s cold is some better.

Monday, May 7, 1900  

Pleasant and a little warmer. Mrs. Alvord did our washing. Emma has a sick headache this P.M.

Frank went to Gents club meeting.

Aunt Susan is 57 years old today. Henry and Susie take turns going to school. He was at home today.

Tuesday, May 8, 1900

Showery. E. could not be around much today. Susie has worked nicely to help the others along. Grandma made dried apple pies and bread.

Wednesday, May 9, 1900

Showery again today. Frank has stayed indoors with a hard cold. Henry home – did most of the ironing and helped in other ways.

Rec’d card from Nettie. She rec’d may flowers all right. I am better now so I do not have to lay down as often and can exercise more without causing serious trouble.

Sunday, May 20, 1900   

Cleared off after two days rain & thundershowers – quite cool.

Mrs. Hawks and Clara took dinner & spent the P.M. Emma, Susie, Prescott & Pa went down to meeting. Heard Mr. Riggs a missionary to Turkey.

The apple trees are a perfect sea of bloom.

Cousin Chauncey Tilton died last Thurs. of blood poisoning – funeral yesterday in the P.M.

Aunt Sarah Tilton came Wed. Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Wilder came over with her and took tea. Aunt Susan walked up here that day just before dinner and stayed until eve. Sarah stayed over night and went to Aunt Susan’s next day.

Mr. Ernest Clark died last Wed. eve. Was not sick a week.

Monday, May 28, 1900  

Total eclipse of the sun commenced to come on about 8 o’c. The clouds prevented us from having a very long look at it. Quite cool all the morn.

Frosts have hurt the plums and killed most of the garden stuffs that had come up. Susie & Henry went to school.

Emma tried to sew on the rug carpet but the peculiar light gave her a sick headache. Prescott bought paint for sitting room.

Tuesday, May 29, 1900  

Pleasant. Mrs. Alvord washed here. Susie and Florence went up to a flag-raising at the Nash St. school-house. Miss Merrifield teacher.

Grandpa went down to Mr. Wm. Bardwell’s funeral – 83 years old.

He died Sun.

Grandma is painting. Prescott did some of it tonight. Henry & E. did the mop-boards.

Wednesday, May 30, 1900      

Very pleasant quite warm. Henry, Susie, Geo. and Florence carried flowers over to the cemetery. Saw the soldiers and parade but did not go to the Hall to hear the speaking. Grandpa walked down.

Miss Yeomans came home with them and took dinner, then H. carried her to Mrs. Hawks’ and brought Grandpa home. Prescott worked in the garden. Frank had a fall while picking the white lilacs but did not hurt him seriously.

Thursday, May 31, 1900    

Frank and Prescott went on to Walnut Hill to work. Prescott came down at noon and got ready to go to Northampton with Grandma to get paper for sitting room. Florence went with them. Henry put a new cover on the lounge this P.M. Edw’ has been very restless and tendsome. His teeth and head trouble him.

Edw. and I rode over to Mr. O’Neil’s with papa tonight.

April 1900

Prescott was 21 years old the 5” of this month. He spent one week in Springfield then came home to remain for another yr. at least. Frank gave him a gold ring – plain flat one. $3.00. He had also new shirt, collar & cuffs, book and pocket note book.

1900

To my dear husband and children –

I want you to know that I have faith in God and believe Jesus Christ his son was sent for our salvation if we will believe and trust him. I also believe in the Holy Spirit – even the Comforter that Christ sent after his death & resurrection. It is only by the strength that has come from above that I have borne up through various trying circumstances.

But I know that there are certain physical conditions about me that will not endure for very long under too much friction and for that reason I write this so when the time comes for the ‘cord to snap’ – when the last straw is thrown on – you may know that I was not ignorant of my condition.

It has been a long time since I first took pains to avoid all serious differences or tried to have my say about anything whatever. I have tried to get along some way and take whatever came of word or deed as lightly as possible – doing all in my power to help all the family. I have also tried to make you all happy by teaching you kindness and helping you to avoid quarrels or unkind words.

Always remember that Blessed are the peace-makers (not will be) also remember “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” I love you all most devotedly and it has been for your sakes that I have taken pains to care for myself as best I knew how.

I fully appreciate all your efforts to please me and feel sure you have tried to do right to help me as well as for your own sakes. True happiness is found by striving to do good in the world and we do not need to leave our own homes for the sake of doing good in the world.

There are many things I might tell you about all my various conflicts and trials but I will not. I am not afraid to stand before your judgments. You know my weak points as well as my strong ones & trust you will have charity for me.

I have strived so hard against worrying and hope you can all “Trust in the Lord and do good for we have the promise “Trust in the Lord and do good & verily thou shalt be fed.”

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, etc. etc.

Love to all (E.L.T.R.)

If any one reads this they need not think of me as crazy or ‘losing my mind in my sense.’ I am thankful that my head is the strongest part and has helped to bear the other infirmities of my body.