February 25 thru 26, 1894

 

I will not be transcribing each entry since most of Bert's diary is pretty clear. You can read the original more easily by clicking on the image above to view a larger version. I will be including this paragraph, or something similar in each entry so that new readers will know they can click the image to enlarge it for easier reading. Also, there will be some links to the right of the page with relevant information that may be of interest.  If you follow Bert's diary regularly, you can skip this paragraph. My notes will include the basics of what Bert talks about each day, along with my own personal thoughts, research, information gleaned from past or future entries, etc. If you have information or suggestions that may help my research, please e-mail me.
------------------------------------------------
Sunday, February 25, 1894 ---  "cold enough to shave a hog this morning and the wind is in the south and the snow was flying to beat grant" (the reference to shaving a hog might have come from the fact that cold weather was necessary for butchering pigs in those days to quickly cool the meat.  Shaving the hog was part of the process.  The meat would cook better with the skin on, but the hair burning would ruin the flavor!)  (The reference to "flying to beat Grant" may have been a reference to the campaign slogan from the 1872 presidential election between Horace Greeley and Ulysses S. Grant ---- "Anything to beat Grant")

Bert does not mention a specific temperature today.  Bert did the chores at Russell Dye's that morning.   After breakfast Bert and Herman went over to Mr. Hiler's.  They came home and got dinner.  Bert then went back to Russell's to do the evening chores.  He then went back to Herman's for the night.  (This is as good a place as any to say I don't really understand exactly what Bert's life is all about at this point.  He travels back and forth between John Babcock's - his father-, Herman Babcock's - his brother, and Russell Dye's whom he seems to work for?  He has also visited and stayed overnight at Milo Dye's - Russell's father.  I don't know if Leman has his own place, or if he lives all the time with his father John.  Bert keeps at least some of his clothes at Russell Dye's place, and take his meals wherever he happens to be?)

Monday, February 26, 1894 ---  Bert does the chores at Russell Dye's, and then goes over to William (?) Hiler's place and picks up Alida Hiler who is going to work for Herman for a week.  (according to 1880 census records, Alida is 26 years old in 1894.  Bert then goes back to Russell Dye's and hitches up a bob sleigh to haul two loads of firewood to Milo B. Dye.  He then takes the sleigh back to Russell Dye's, does the chores, and then returns to Milo Dye's to spend the night.