March the 1st 1856
A Journal Book
The old cow we got of John Bevans at 35 dollars had a calf the 10th of march was dry only 25 days our old Sure cow had a calf the 8th of april She was dry 1 month and ole bet had a mare colt on the 10th April and Mr. ( )oliny moved the Same day.
december 12 1856 butchered our hogs and the boys went to James bevans to a dance that night.
december the 19 1856 the weather was warm and raing in the morning and in the evening it turned cold and blowed and Stormed so that we could not See one hundred yards it was alful in deed.
Wilson was at School and I was uneasy About him he went to James Bevans and stayed that night and on the next Sunday
the ------ it was fair and the sun shine in the morning & before Sundown it began to snow and blow and the wind and Snow blew So that we could not see 50 yds and was very cold cyrus Bevans and his wife and webster came to our house the night before & they could not go home for the storm
I was uneasy About Wm and James for feare they was on their road home and was in the Storm and Wilson had gone to pella and did not get home that night he had got lost in the storme and came verry near freesing to death and at last he found his way to Mr. garosons and Stayed there til morning the 22 and Riley took cyrus Bevans and his wife home that day
went to town the next day to get the horses Shod but it was to cold to shoe them went again the next day I went with him to Mr. porters
on A visit did not get the horses Shod that day too many in ahead of him got the promise of Shoeing them the next day which was christmas
Riley went to town christmas morning and got the horses Shod & went from there to the timber and got a load of wood and came home and him and the girls went to Mr Meaber to a dance that night the girls complained of not being verry well that that day perhaps they will be better when they come home but I doubt it
I am sitting here all alone the little children is all Asleep and Samull & Wilson is gone to Mr. garisons it is about 9 o'clock at night I should like to See my william come home
george couch left here last monday 22 and went to newton with a load of corn for his brother I think I must quite writing and go to work - the boys and girls got home from the dance at 3 o'clock they was cold - charles bevans and webster came home with them and the next day the boys went to town and came home in the evening and Riley brought nancy bevans home with him & Webster came also - and the next day the boys and girls went to mr garisons to A quilting and mat bevans came for nancy in the afternoon and webster left also and we are Seting here to night listning at the wind blowing and I am wishing Wm and James was at home but I must stop for the night
Sunday the 28th has come and gone and I must write A little more it has been clear and cold to day and I went to See Mrs. Walker - She is sick - riley and Lydia went with me & they went to James bevans & brought Mat fox and his wife home with us
our children caused me Some trouble to night but I love them and must bear with it and hope for the better I think Some day they will See different - Some day So I must Stop for the presant
Monday verry cold mat fox went to town his wife stayed here he came back at night - They stayed here all night in the morning the boys was going to the timber but riley had to go and take mats to James bevans then they went to the timber and while they was gone Wm and James got home from illinos which was the 30 of december he brought 52 pounds of coffee and 3 boults of calico and one boult of ticking and 1 of pants stuff I was glad to See them I was
March the 8th it is snowing fast
- Note: 1857 date is mixed in with 1856 entries - possibly written left/right side of book or added in empty place because of shortage of paper.
January 1857 turned cherry dry feb 21st and turned Sure dry 25th and liney had A calf the 6th of march. and pride the 10 of the same lucy had a colt the 29 of the same
- Additional note: much of the journal is compressed as several large paragraphs; perhaps Susannah was writting one sentence after the next to save space - spaces and dashes have been added instead of sentence breaks solely to aid in reading.
From the 1856 census Lake Prairie Marion co., Iowa
William George 41
Susannah George 42 {written by}
Riley George 20 { killed in action CW}
Lydia J George 18 { Lydia m. Nathaial Walton brother of Susan Bevans}
Rebecca George 16 { m. Samuel Baty}
Wilson George 14
James George 12
Founton George 10
Abel George 7
Jacob George 7 {twin Jacob (drummer boy) died of sickness during CW}
Marion George 4
Adeline George 1/3 { m. Adelbert Washburn}
Samuel H Beaty 26 {Baty}
William Garrison 33
Louisa Garrison 25
John Garrison 14
Mary L Garrison 13
Sarah E Garrison 6
Cynthya A Garrison 4
William H Garrison 1/3
& in nearby Lake Prairie< about 8/10 miles distant >Black Oak Black Oak mahaska co. Iowa
James F Bevans 44
Mary Bevans 45 { Grady}
William Bevans 22 { m. Samantha Walton sister of Susan and Nathanal}
Charles Bevans 18
Nancy Bevans 16
James M Bevans 14 {mat}
John W Bevans 11 {webster}
Asher Bevans 9
Centty N Bevans 6 {Cynthia}
Harriet A Bevans 4
next door
Cyrus Bevans 24 { died during CW}
Susan Bevans 19 { sister of Nathanal Walton}