Mary Ann SMITH (McNEIL), Daughter of William Smith and Mary (Hibbert) Smith and third wife of John Corlett McNEIL, kept extensive diaries. These have been gathered together, with comments in italics, by her grandson Peter McDonald. Peter is writing an account of the McNeil family. The account will reference other relatives who have accounts elsewhere; please follow the appropriate links (at the bottom of this site) to learn more about them. Especially there will be sections in her husband's account which will be linked to here.

This account begins with the diary and writings of Mary Ann Smith as she and John McNeil leave Utah for a mission in Arizona. It then continues when she returns from Arizona to Salt Lake City for a visit (in 1898), and then continues with her life in Arizona and then moving to Mexico in 1899. The diaries end in Mexico in late 1901.

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In October 1878, I was called to Arizona on a mission to help settle up the country. I left in 1879 with my wife Mary Ann Smith McNeil and 5 children. Was called and set apart by Lorenzo Snow one of the 12 apostles 9th Oct. 1878 and started November 18, 1878 and got in Kanab Christmas Day and stayed with John H. Standifird that winter. The next summer lived on one of Brother Jacob Hamblin's lots and went and did some work in the St. George Temple, had a baby boy born 6 July, died and buried the 8th, 1878.
Moved on to Snowflake and got there just at Christmas time again. Stayed a night or two with President Jesse N. Smith, then went up to Taylor 3 miles farther south, stayed a week with Brother and Sister Tames Pearce, they were very kind to us. Then we moved up to Silver creek. Then Brother McNeil built a chimney and fireplace with rock and stretched a tent over by it and lived there until the next March. Brother John H. Standifird and his family lived about a quarter of a mile south of us on his farm and we had to go there to grind our corn on their coffee mill for our bread and we could hardly get enough corn to grind on the coffee mill and Brother McNeil had to go down to Taylor with his shoe making tools and to Snowflake to see if could get some jobs at mending shoes to get us anything the people could let him have to eat.
No bread to speak of in Snowflake that year. Everybody had to live on beef if they could get it. When he left us we had just enough for one meal but I was afraid to eat it that night, not knowing just when he might get back with anything, so I coaxed the children to go to bed without any supper as it would be better to have a breakfast but Daddy came back in the night with a little corn he had got for some apples that we had brought from Kanab with us. We were told we could get a good price for them down here so we had left our stove and everything I could spare to make room for the apples but which proved a failure to us as they got frozen on the way as it seemed as though he never could move or travel only in the winter time. That winter we lost our best horse, he starved to death as there was no feed on the hills and we had no money to buy any feed with.
Then in the spring we moved again to a place called Forest Dale on the Indian reservation as some of the white people thought they could buy it but did not get permission to so we lived with the Apache Indians but some of the war soldiers came from Fort Apache by orders of a Mr. Charley Cooley and the fight was stopped and the St. Carlos Indians went back but oh, the trials and troubles that we did have. Some of it wouldn't be believed if I did tell it, starving and the children going naked for want of clothes.
So in middle of summer came back to Showlow. My husband got some sheep and goats and got a start to be a little better off but he thought he hadn't traveled enough, I guess, so in 1900 he pulled out to Old Mexico. He said he was going back to Jackson County by the Horse shoe route, that he had heard the saints would travel but when we got to Colonia Morelos, where President Ivins had bought for the Mormons, Brother McNeil had a paraletic stroke, so I left Morelos with my children after being there four years and went to Douglas, Arizona to make my own living and left Bro. McNeil in care of his son, John E. McNeil and in 1909 Brother McNeil took worse and died.
Then I and my children came back to Showlow to live in 1913. Brother McNeil is buried in Colonia Morelos, Mexico and now I am living here in a nice home my son Ephriam built for me. The first nice home I ever had and Ephriam takes care of me. Thank the Lord for a nice home and a good son to take care of me. I am 85 years old in July next on the 2nd. (signed) Mary Ann Smith McNeil

Mary Ann Smith McNeil’s Account From Her Diary:

My husband having been called on a mission to go to Arizona, we left our home on the 18th day of November (1878) to come to Arizona. We had a hard journey of it, my baby being sick most of the way and I was sick most of the time myself. We got into Kanab on Christmas day, my husband leaving me the night before in the canyon about 11 or 12 miles and went into Kanab to brother John H. Standifirds. The next day he came back with Brother Edward Noble and his team and helped us down the canyon. We then lived a little while in Brother Standifirds cellar, then moved to Brother Jacob Hamblin's house, took one of his lots on shares, raised lots of apples during the summer, went to St. George Temple and had Endowments for my husband's mother and his first wife Margaret Cavendish, also for my aunt Ann Smith and for two more of his friends. on the 6th of July 1879 was delivered of a fine large son but he only lived two days. We named him Angus.
In November the same year we started again on our journey to Arizona, arriving in Snow Flake sometime in Dec. Went up to Taylor and stayed a few days with Bro. James Pierce then moved up on Silver Creek where my husband built a chimney and fire place of rock and stretched a tent by it and we lived there until the March following. Brother Standifird and his family lived about a quarter of a mile South and East of us on his farm and we used to go over there to grind our corn on their coffee mill for bread, as we had none of our own. (that is what little we had.) We could hardly get enough to grind on a coffee mill. Brother Standifird's folks had some wheat ground. They ate the flour, then the shorts, then the bran. Then they got some barley ground and it made some of the blackest bread I ever saw. The beards would stick in your teeth and gums till you could hardly chew it. Pa. went down to Taylor one day to see if he could get something for us to eat. We had just enough for supper when he went away but I was afraid to eat it for supper for fear we would have no breakfast so went to bed without supper. But Pa. came back with a little corn that he got for some green apples that we brought from Kanab with us. We had left our stove there and lots of other things to bring the apples, which after wished we had not done. So in the winter sometime we lost our best horse, old Prince, he starved to death, as there was no grass whatever and the snow was over a foot deep all that winter.
Then we went to Forest Dale and lived with the Indians all summer. After we got there Pa. got some corn off Old Man Thane, paid .$05 per pound for it. We had to husk it and grind it on a hand mill ourselves for that price but worse than all it was musty and moldy and it made me so very sick to bake it that I could not eat it. After everybody had got there crops in the Chief of the Indians that lived there then tried to scare the white people so that they would leave the place. One morning before noon all of the families left except us. While they were all talking about the scare and the women folks were nearly all scared to death, Pa came to me and asked me what I thought about it and if I felt like going too. He said that he did not feel like going and leaving his crop and thought The Lord would preserve our lives if we stayed so I said I would consent to stay and we stayed all summer and raised our crop and kept The Indians horses out of other peoples crops also and most of them came in the fall and gathered it.
We were going to stay there all winter but when the authorities heard of it they sent Brother John H. Standifird to tell us to move and so we moved over to ShowLow where Brother Moses Cluff then lived and it took Pa nearly all the winter to haul his corn out of Forest Dale. I forgot to state about that while in Forest Dale we had a very hard time of it to live. There was one family of Moses Cluff's that stayed with us until sometime in July when Moses had to move his family over to ShowLow where his other wife lived. He had sisters for wives with their mother, for she was very sick. She did not live but a few weeks after they moved her over there.(Note from Peter McDonald-3 May 2002-This Moses Cluff had two wives listed that are sisters, the first is Eliza Langman Cluff and the second wife is Rebbeca Culey Cula Langman Cluff. Their mother who is mentioned here as being sick and dying is Rebecca Woodward Scoular Langman and interestingly, she was once married to a Moses “M” Cluff but not this Moses Cluff who is married to her daughters. Moses “M” Cluff was born about 1801 in England. The Moses Cluff that Rebecca Woodward Scoular Langman’s daughter’s are married to here in this part of this account was born in 1828 in New Hampshire.)
While living in Forest Dale we had nothing to eat for six weeks but green corn and garden stuff. We had plenty of milk and butter. We milked some cows of Bro. Edward Adairs but it was not like bread. We had to eat so much green corn that I thought I never could eat green corn again while I lived. I quit the corn and took to eating the curd of the sour milk with cream in it but that did not agree with me either as it was too binding and I had to quit it or it would have killed me. I went for three days that I did not have a passage and suffered such agony that I thought I would die for I had no kind of phizic to take. We could not get any either for the nearest store was 50 or 60 miles from us. I felt at the time that if I could only get a cup of tea and a biscuit I would give all I owned. Pa sent me and Dan one day up to a Mr. Robert Scott. He was a sheep man. When we arrived at Mr. Scotts it was after dinner. He had just had his dinner but said if I wanted, he would get some for me. I wanted it bad enough but would not say so but he got some anyway. He made a cup of tea, fried some mutton and had biscuits, just what I had been longing for so I had a good dinner and felt as though I could have kissed him for it if he had asked me. I thought he was one of the best men to be so kind to me. I also did a great deal of sewing for the Indians. They bothered me so much that I got tired of it for I had to use my thread to do it that I had brought with me.
After moving over to Cluffs, in Dec. Ben was born and we had lots of ups and downs there. I think if I had kept my record in full, it would be astonishing to read. Bro. Cluff moved away from there to the Gile (Gila, pronounced hela) and Edmond Ellsworth bought him out for a very little and a more disagreeable family I never lived by. There boys were the worst. They used to throw rocks at my little ones every time I would send them after water and mash up their buckets so that I had to take to going.

Another Account of the John McNeil family:

He left Bountiful November 18, 1878 and reached Kanab, Christmas Day amidst a raging blizzard. Faced with financial and other problems he stayed here the rest of the winter. In the following summer he did some farming, earned a small wagon, and worked in the temple at St. George. Here a baby boy, Angus, was born July 6, 1879. It was later found be was born with three cysts. Augus was a husky baby and John did everything in his power to save him, performing two minor operations to prolong his life. He died on the 8th of August 1879, and was buried in Kanab, Utah. John grieved sorely at his death.
John McNeil was often referred to as Dr. John. He made his own tools from bone.
The McNeil's resumed the trek to Arizona in November 1879, in company with two other families, Nobles and Peels. They were delayed three days at the Colorado because of high water. Here they were ferried across the river by Emma Lee and the two Johnson brothers who planned to take over the Ferry a little later.
The Hole in the Rock was just large enough to allow a pack animal and pack to pass. At the Hole in the Rock, John helped the other families through, who were anxious to be on their way, so by himself he took the large wagon apart and lowered it through the Hole in the Rock with a rope and parts of the harness. He sat in the blazing sun all the next day with a hammer and chisel, pecking away at a point high above any one's head. Just before sundown the huge rock tumbled into the hole widening the gap and filling the cracks, but leaving much to be cleared away. After making steps the horses could navigate, he let the little wagon down, keeping it upright with ropes. One team was hitched behind to keep it from descending too fast.
They arrived in Snowflake in December 1879. They stopped at the James Pierce home in Taylor, then lived the rest of the winter on the Staniford Ranch above Shumway on Silver Creek. The living quarters was a tent with a fireplace in one end and a covered wagon for a bed room.
On account of the hard struggle for livelihood they received permission from President Wilford Woodruff to move to Forest Dale in the spring of 1880. Here on the Apache Reservation, he planted a crop. It was here they probably had the greatest hardships in their frontier life. There was no flour to be had, so they had to make their bread out of meal made from corn a neighbor had raised and cut green the year before, which was moldy from being exposed to the storm all winter. The corn was ground on a coffee mill. When the green corn came on, they ate corn three times a day. As the corn grew harder, it was grated on a tin lid punched full of holes with a nail, and made into mush. They were glad when the corn was ripe enough to be ground.
During the summer there was a war between the San Carlos Indians and the Indians at Forestdale. The Indian chief, Petone, wanted John's daughter, Sarah, for his wife; but was killed in the war. Here again Dr. John's skill was called to use, for the Indians called on him when they were in trouble.
The disgruntled Indians forced most of the people to leave Forestdale. They told Bro. McNeil he could stay, however they frightened the children many times, so after the harvest in 1880, they moved to Cluff's Ranch at Show Low. Here his son Benjamin was born December 16, 1880.
(Note from Peter McDonald-21 April 2002-The account above cites John going through Hole in the Rock which I have been told is an inaccuracy in the account. So, take it as you will. However, I have heard also that there is a possibility that he did take a wagon apart at one point of the journey as mentioned in the portion that talks about the Hole in the Rock, so I thought I would leave the account as it was written.)

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Following is the Diary of Mary Ann Smith McNeil, beginning with a trip in late 1898 to Utah, then continuing with her life in Arizona and Mexico until about 1901. According to Peter McDonald: "I found an interesting excerpt from Mary Ann Smith's journal. She talks about going to Salt Lake City. She left on a train so I imagine she went there on a train. At the time, 1898, her and John McNeil had not gone to Mexico (From what I read in the journal) but were living in Arizona. On November 25th (should be 29th), Mary Ann records about Jane and Harriet McNeil. Harriet Jeannette McNEIL (Bradshaw), born 1877 (shown here with her sister Elizabeth)(see chart below) would be the daughter of Mary Jane QUINN MCNEIL (the other wife of John Corlett McNEIL). She would have been about 22 and Jane, who was named Mary after her mother and Jane after her grandmother, but who may have gone by Jane, would have been 58 (see chart below). This may or may not be the same people. There is record of a Mary Jane McNEIL, but she passed away in 1892. On Sunday it mentions Will and David McNeil, who are the brothers of Harriet. Wednesday, December 7th Mary Ann mentions something John McNeil is settling and it seems like it is with his family up there in Utah. There are other things in there that kind of cross over the other McNeil family. Here is the excerpt, following which the journal continues until late 1901:"

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THE DIARY OF MARY A. MCNEIL

No. of sheep for Mexico, July 1898
Ewes 465
weather 165
Goats Ewes 485
Weathers 335

October 4th, 1898 Got in Salt Lake City 12:20 A.M. Pa got in 10:00 P.M. Joe McNeil met me at the station. My brother Will Smith came to see me in the evening. We all went together to the station to meet Pa. Stayed in town till Sat. then Will went with me on Sunday morning, 9th, to see Father and Mother. Got to Morgan at 9 A.M. Went to my sister Hannah's and got breakfast then Hannah got a wagon and team and we all went up to Mothers. Will stayed up until Wednesday 12 and went back to Mercur to work. (Need to find out where Mercur is and who lived there. Found Mercur city in Tooele County. 1900 Census lists Helena Hall living there at the time. Here is Helena Hall’s pedigree: Hannah Brown Hibbert>Hannah Hibbert Dalton>Helena Dalton Hall>)

(Joe McNeil is probably Mary Jane’s son Joseph Henry. He is in his 38th year at this point. He is shortly to be married, on 21 December. Will Smith, Mary Ann’s brother is in his 32nd year and is not married at this point. He marries later in his 39th year. Mary Ann’s visits her sister Hannah. On the 1900 Census it lists Mary Ann and Hannah’s Aunt Hannah Hibbert Dalton living in Mercur which is in Tooele County Utah. It appears from the above entry that Will works in Mercur.)

October 12th Went to see Cousins Hibberts. Father, Mother, Will and I stayed all night and went home the next day. 14th Friday. Pa came over the mountain to see Father and Mother. 15th Sat. We went to Morgan to buy some things. Father got some presents for the children. I got them a couple of satchels to carry their clothes in.

Sun. 16th Came down on the train with Father and Mother to work in the temple with them. Got off at Woods Cross. Pa told me he would meet me at the station but when I got off there Pa was not there to meet me so then I thought he was lost in the mountain. I had to hunt a man to take me up to Thom McNeils. The boys all went to look for their father, the next morning and found him coming over. He had been lost but he went back to Porterville where father lived and stayed with my sister Hannah. So Monday morning I went to town on the train to tell Mother and Father. Came home and found that Pa had got home all safe so the next morning, Tues Ruth, we, Pa and I went to Town and went to the temple and mother was overjoyed to see us.
(Thom McNeil is Mary Jane’s son who was in his 43^rd year.)

Sat. 22. Father and Mother went home to Morgan. Sat. Sun. Mon. Tues., stayed at McNeil’s. Wednesday 26th went out to Mercur to see my brother Will Smith but I had not been their only a few hours when Pa telephoned to me to come right home, thought we might go through the Temple but he did not get Jane's recommend in time so we did not go through. It made Will so mad and I was not very well pleased over it either.

November 2nd Jane went out to Navado with Elizabeth and stayed until Thursday 24th.

Sat. 26 Pa went to Town to get the tickets extended. Jane and George went to Farmington on a water trial. Margaret's husband came here on the 24th.

Sat 26th I made a baby petticoat for Nannies baby then went down to the Coop store to talk to my brother Will through the telephone.

Sunday 27 went to meeting then went to see Aunt Annie. Stayed all night with her. She sent Eph a ______ for a present.

Monday 28th Got a letter from Sarah to say that Hannah had gone home and that she had the two children, Don and Fred. I got a letter from my brother Will with ten dollars. I am going to write to some of them. As we came up from the Settlement (Mc and I) called on Nephi Duerden, one of Jane McNeils teachers.

Tuesday 29 rained and snowed all day. I finished Nannies baby’s shirt then darned some stockings for Jane then sewed on Margaret’s baby dress. John Smith and Jane and Harriet McNeil went to the theatre. I wrote a letter to Alice and Ephraim. Picture is of Harriet (standing) and Elizabeth McNeil.

Wed. 30th. Pa went to Town to get the tickets extended. It rained and snowed nearly all day. John Smith, Aunt Jane and I went to Town in George's buggy.

Thurs. 1 Dec. 1898 The folks washed and I stayed and helped them.

Dec. 2nd Helped to do up the work then went up to Nell's awhile. Had dinner with her then came back and helped to iron. Went up to Prescot's with Tom and Nell in the evening.

Sat 3rd Went to Town with Pa, Charley and John Smith. Pa and I went to see the city and County building. It is a grand structure all around the lower part of the walls and down the sides of the stairways is inlaid with polished Onyx. The janitor told us that it cost over a million dollars. By his consent we went up to the great clock tower 8 stories high. It is a great curiosity. It has a large bells or chimes and strikes every quarter, half and hour. We bought a trunk and a few toys for the children.

Sunday 4th. Went to Sunday School and stayed to fast meeting. Had a most enjoyable time. After the meeting we went over to Brother Alma Heardy's with the Patriarch, Brother Keniston to get my blessing then went with him up to his daughters Emma Barlum's to supper. We were going to walk home but we were brought home in a one horse rig. I was very glad for it was quite a long way to walk. When we got back to McNeils, the boys had got home. Will and Dave McNeil.

Mon. 5th. Went to visit Sister Sarah Ann Sessions. I stayed all night with her. Then Tues 6th went to Relief Society meeting. Saw quite a few sisters that I knew and had a talk with them. Left before it was out and went home with Aunt Annie Hibbert and had supper with her then we went to a lecture given by B. F. Grant in behalf of the Y.M.M.I.A. He gave a history of how he came into the church. Jane and Charley came to the lecture with the team and I went home with them.

Wed. 7th It was Ward conference. Pa, Jane and Charley went to the meeting. I stayed home to pack up my things preparatory to starting home for Arizona. At night Pa had the teachers of his family to come and help to settle the difficulty amongst his family. They were all there except Joe and Elizabeth. They seemed to settle it all right.

Thurs. 8th. All the family came together for dinner and to bid us goodbye. About 10 in the morning my cousin Eugene Hibbert and my brother-in law Mike Harrington came in to see me. Mike went to Maland's to get his azuther (?) to play for us. I thought he played very nice. Jim Banttan and his wife came in to see us also. Mike was going out to Mercur to work where my brother Will works. He had just come in from the east, Waterbury, Conn. and left my sister Alice there till fall.

Well at half after 2 P.M. Charley McNeil got his team and wagon ready to take us to town to the depot. The east wind was blowing to beat time and he had to put the cover on the wagon to keep us from freezing. Harriet and another young lady friend came with us. It is now 20 minutes to seven and at 7:40 we have to start. I have had to pull my shoe off my foot hurts so bad. Train 25 minutes late 8:45

Fri. 9^th Woke up this morning with a very bad headache. It was a very cold night and I took cold in my ear. There was not much fire in the heater.

Have just arrived at Tennessee pass 11:35 and just emerged through a very long tunnel making the fourth one this morning. We have been ____ the mountains it is very rough. I can hardly write at all. Sick headache all day. 7:30 P.M. arrived at Pueblo. Had to go and find a room to stay over night.

Sat. 10th Left Pueblo at 7:30 this morning. Changed cars at Trinidad at 10:30, two engines in climbing up. (Arr. Las Vegas 3:05 P.M.) the mountain. Went through a very long tunnel. Changed cars at Albuquerque 8:25 P.M. Traveled all night, got into Holbrook 6:50 A.M. Sun 11.

Sun. 11 Snowing and very cold. Went over to Mrs. Amma McCarly's and stayed with her all day. Went over to the Coop to sleep. Bro. Murry A. Schtchman and a clerk there gave us plenty of Navajo blankets to sleep on. Slept very warm.

Mon. 12th Nice morning, don't know whether to snow or not. We are waiting For Eph to come bring us home. I wrote him yesterday to come down after us.

Tues. 13th Still at Mrs. McCarly's helping her to wash dishes and sweep.

Wed. 14th No news from Eph

Thurs. 15th Made a night shirt for one of Mrs. McCarly'e boarders by the name of Philips. Quite a nice young man. He was working on the Courthouse in Holbrook, Arizona. He is a good carpenter. He paid me $.50 for making his shirt. Ephraim came about 4 P.M.

Fri. 16th started for home but first we went to the Co-op and got some things to take home. Thursday night we went to the Co-op to sleep where we did every night while in Holbrook as Mrs. McCarty could not furnish us with beds but was very good in giving us our food every day. While in the store Mr. McCarty came in and bought me a nice dark green outing flannel dress with buttons and trimming to match for a Christmas present. Friday night stayed at Am Willises

Sat. 17th started for home again. When we got up to Taylor 4 miles on our road we went to Sister Mary Standifirds to get some apples for the children for Christmas. Had to pay $.06 lb. Arrived at my daughter's Sarah's, stayed all night. Sunday 18th they all came up home with us in the morning. Took dinner with us. Will Goodman, our son-in-law came in from Pinetop 15 miles south of us where he had been working. He was on his way home.

Mon. 19th. I did not do much of anything but unpack things.

Tues. 20th Wrote a letter to Mrs. McCarty and sent her a turkey for Christmas.

Wed. 21 Wrote a letter to my father and mother and sent Jesse to the mail station with some letters and some of Sarah's mail that Jesse brought here from the Post Office in a mistake. In the evening about 6 P.M. Frank Ellsworth and Israiel Laxton came to see us as teachers. They were instructed to gather donations for some of our Brethren who are on a mission in Denmark and are in very poor circumstances and need help badly. I gave them $.25 all that I had to spare. I wish that I could have given them a dollar. They took supper with us and we spent a very enjoyable evening together. I was telling them some of our experiences on the railroad going to Utah, about Pa getting left at Leadville and getting locked out of the room we had got to stay in when we were run up to LaJunta 85 miles farther east and then getting lost on the mountain when he went to see my father and mother in Porterville.

Thursday 22nd Dan Mills and Sarah and the children came up 11 A.M. Dan came to help Eph to kill our pig. It weighed 265 lbs. Israel Laxton came to get Eph to go out with him to hunt horses, so stayed and helped to kill the pig and then they went out and Eph found our horses.

Friday 23rd Pa went this morning as teacher up to Ellsworth's place in company with Bro. William E. Oliver. It was a very cold day to day. Thermometer below 20 this morning. Ephraim cut up the pig and helped Jesse to haul up some wood with the Jinney and hand sled. Althera was packing up to go over to Pinedale for Christmas. They, Eph, Ben, and her are going to a dance and I was making an apron to send to Annie. She is staying with my daughter, Lilley to go to school. When Pa came home he brought the mail. In it was a nice white silk handkerchief sent to me by Harry A. McCarty, Holbrook, Arizona.

Dec. 25th. This morning the children were nearly wild over their presents that Santa Claus had brought them. Freddy got a new pair of shoes, a new Fire Wagon and horses with ladder, nuts and candy. Don, the baby, got a trotter cart and driver, nuts and candy, new shoes. We were all alone today, did not get up until 8 A.M. When I was getting dinner the old stove tipped over and upset all my dinner. I had some peaches stewing and suet dumplings boiling, a teakettle full of hot water and a brass kettle full of water. I had been melting snow. All fell off the stove and made a terrible mess but we gathered up the things as best we could, set up the stove, and got the things to cooking again and finally had dinner at 5 P.M. Wrote a letter to Nell.

Mon. 26th. Jens Petri and his wife came down, he to go to the post office while she stayed and did some sewing on my machine. They stayed and had dinner. All I did besides cook was darn some stockings and knit a heel in one of Pa's. Wrote a letter to Harriet McNeil.

Tues 27. Melting snow, making ditches to run the water off the door yard, rendering lard. Jesse came home
alone from Pinedale about 11 A.M.

Wed 28. Melting snow, done chores, Wrote letter to Tom McNeil and to Harriet McNeil. (shown here)====>

Thurs. 29. Made Pa a night shirt and fixed my black satteen waist. Took out sleeves and cut the arms larger.
At six P.M. started to wash. Rubbed the clothes out once.

Fri. 30 Finished the washing. Was awful tired. My hips hurt so bad. Pa fixed a picture in a frame today.

Sat. 31. Did some ironing and mending. Althera got home at 5 P.M. I was awful vexed at her for staying so long away. Ben came home also. The first I had seen him since we came from Utah.

 Sun 1 January 1899 New Year's day fine and clear. Fast day. We all fasted and went to meeting. After meeting we went to my daughter, Sarah's and had supper. Left Jesse, our 11 year old boy with her to go to school.

 Mon 2nd Althera scrubbed one of the floors and I did some ironing. In the afternoon Dan McNeil brought his girl, Miss Emma Hendricks and Hannah Goodman, my daughter, over from Linden to get ready for his wedding. Hannah had a very sore foot. She had stepped on a nail and run it nearly through the ball of her left foot. She could not step on it.

Tues. 3rd. Pa hitched up the team for me and we went to the store, Hannah and me, to get some things, some raisins for the wedding cake, but they did not have any. I bought knives and forks for Emma, (They did not have the half dozen) for a present. Went up to Sarah's to invite them to the wedding and to get some hay for Dan McNeil's team. When we got home at 3 P.M. I had the cake and all the pies to make. Althera and Emma had been washing and scrubbing the kitchen floor. It was 12 o'clock when I went to bed. I was so tired I could hardly sleep.

Wed. 4th of January 1899 Awful hard work to get up. I felt so tired and worn out. Got dinner ready but I was awful mad when I saw so many coming. Dan would not tell me how many he had asked to come so I did not have quite enough cooked. There were 42 to dinner, including men, women and children. Just at 2:30 P.M. Mr. Willard Whipple performed the ceremony then they sat down to dinner. I don't know what I would have done but for a Mrs. Hopen (?) that came. She was such a help to me. She helped in everything she could do. Shivereed Dan and his girl at night because they did not act up, with drum, flutes, cowbell, old tin pans, cans etc. etc. had a pretty laughable time at their expense.

Thurs. 5th Dan, Emma and Hannah went home. Started to make an apron for Annie and to get ready to go to Pinedale to see Bro. Frost, an old friend of Pas. He wanted Pa to tell him all the news about Utah and Bountiful, the place where we had been visiting.

Fri. 6th. Done a little of everything. At 1 P.M. started for Pine Dale. Went 7 miles and stayed at Hannah's for dinner. As soon as we ate, we started for Lillies. Got there after dark. They had given us up coming and were going out to spend the evening but turned back when they heard us coming.

Sat. 7th Brother came and spent a few moments with us, then we got ready and went out to an old Folks Dinner given in honor of the old people of Pine Dale at Mrs. Cherney's residence. Had a very enjoyable time. Had music on the organ and some singing by two young girls and Brother Alen Frost. Had a dance at night in the school house. Most of the old folks participating therein.

Sunday 8th went to Sunday school. I did not go to meeting for I felt quite drowsy and ill. Stayed home with the children. Bro. Frost came and took supper with us and spent the evening.

Mon. 9th Got up feeling very miserable. While washing myself, I felt my cheeks feel full of lumps and my eyes very full and heavy. I asked Pa how my face looked and he said I was all broke out in a very red rash. They said I looked like I had the measles.

Tues. 10th Pas birthday. Dave had asked some folks to come but we thought we had better go home. as fast as possible. Called at Hannah's to tell her I was sick. Got home about 3 P.M.

Wed. llth I did not get up until after breakfast. Althera melted snow to wash with.

Thurs 12 Jan, 1899 Althera washed Fri. 13 Sat. 14 Sun. 15 Dan and Sarah came up to see me and brought Jesse home, he was sick too.

Mon. 16 Cut out a dress for Althera. Dan Mills,came and cleaned out the well.

Tues 17 Sewed on Althera’s dress

Wed. 18 Ben melted snow for to wash with. Don Carlos was sick with a very hot fever for two days.

Thurs. 19 Washed, Ben and Althera. I sewed on her dress. Freddy took down with the fever. They did not eat anything and were sick to their stomachs and vomited.

Friday 20. 1 had to help put out the washing as Althera took down with the fever also. Ben hauled two loads of wood. I took more cold and felt worse myself.

Sat-21 Finished Annie a dress.

Sun. 22 Went to meeting and to take Jesse down to Sarah's so that he could go to school again. Went in to Grandma Adair’s and wrote a letter to the Co-op for a pound of yarn and for Jesse some new school books, a geography and arithmetic.

Mon. 23 cut out Jess two new shirts and made one. Then went to bed for I could hardly sit up I was so bad with the neuralgia in my head and neck. Fixed some cayenne pepper and whiskey to put on my head.

Tues. 24 did not get up this morning. I did not feel much better. Pa got some hot flat irons and put to my neck and head, did not feel much better until I got him to lay hands on me. Then after dinner I got up and mended Ben a pair of drawers. Jens Peter Hansen came in at 6 p.m. to get some potatoes.

Wed. 25 very bad and in awful pain again.

Thurs. 26 Ben went out to help Eph to spot the sheep. I was in better in the morning. In the afternoon I got up and tried to fix some stockings legs for Grandma Adair to foot for Jesse but did not get them done.

Fri 27 Did not get up today at all. Was very bad with my head again. Dan Mills came up for some wood and some potatoes and to see how I was. While he was here I had him and Pa lay hands on me. Then I began to feel a little better. In the afternoon Pa went over to the Post Office and called at Mrs. Adair's to see if she had any liquor of any kind for me. She did not have any but she gave me some Quinine and one headache wafer. While Pa was away there came a man here by the name of Roe to get his shoes fixed. He waited until Pa came and got it fixed. He said he had three pills of quinine that I could have. Jesse came up from Sarah's at night with a bottle of milk and to stay until Sunday.

Sat. 28 1 got up this morning feeling much better of pain but very weak. After I had been up awhile, I felt the pain coming in my neck and head again so I took the headache wafer and it seemed to dim the pain away but I was so sick I had to lay down again about 2 o'clock. Dave and Lillias and the children came over from Pine Dale to see us.

Sun 29th I felt a little better today but Annie, my little daughter, cried with her eyes and head hurting her. She was coming down with this bad cold. About 2 P.M. Dan Mills and family and Sister Brewer of Pine Dale came up to see us. Stayed until night. Dave and Lillias were going home but stayed to visit with Dan and Sarah.

Mon 30 Quite cold today, very cold north wind. David Calton and family went home today. Moroni Adair came up on horseback to get some tithing potatoes. He bought 50 lbs, one dollars worth. I sent some knitting by him to Grandma Adair (his mother). I sent by Lilly to Sister Dalton of Pine Dale (840 (?) of lace to sell for me.

Tues 31 Maria Johnston came over from Pine Dale to stay with me until my daughter, Sarah should need her in her confinement or to work for her. Sister Ann Brewer was down at Sarah's waiting but on the first of Feb. she was sent after and had to go away.

Feb lst 1899 Looked very stormy

Feb 2nd Bear day. It was very cloudy and snowed some, so the bear did not see his shadow today.

Feb. 3rd Althera and Maria did the ironing.

Feb. 4th Althera wanted to go over to Pine Dale to go to school but it was cold and stormy. Jess came up on one of Dan Mills’s horses bringing with him a bottle of milk and a note from Sarah asking how I felt. Jesse was to stay up until Monday. We sent a note back to Sarah, tying it on the horses' mane and sent him home. He went home alone.

Feb. 5th Sat. snowed very hard all day

Feb 6th Sun. We thought would go to Sunday School but it snowed very hard until noon. The snow was about two feet deep.

Mon. Feb. 6 It blowed and snowed until it was all most impossible for anyone to go out. Jesse could not go to school, it was so cold. Ephraim came in from the sheep camp to get some things and some clean clothing.

Tues. 7 Feb. Pa went to the settlement with Jesse to school and Ephraim went and got us a load of wood. Pa brought home a parcel of things I had sent for to Holbrook. It came up on the buckboard from Holbrook from the A.C.M.T.

Wed. 8 Feb. Ephraim and Althera went over to PineDale on horse back. Him to camp and her to school. I sent Lillias 12 yards of cotton flannel and 6 yards of outing flannel, pink and white check for baby dresses.

Thurs. Feb. 9 Maria Johnson washed for me. It was a nice, fine, warm day. Will Oliver came up about 4 P.M. to get Pa to go to the Young Men’s M.I.A. as the Missionaries were up in behalf of the YMMIA so he went down. They wanted us all to go but Don Carlos was sick and I could not go. About 11 A.M. Dan and Sarah came up.

Fri. 10 Feb. 1899 Bro. Vance and Bro. Kartchner, the Young Men Missionary's, came up this morning to pay us a visit. Stayed and had dinner with us then Pa went with them up to Jens Peter Hansen’s to visit them before they went away. Bro. Vance sang a song that he had composed himself in their travels. Maria scrubbed both the floors.

Thurs. First of June 1899 My Brother William Smith came out to Arizona to pay us a visit but he did not like the place and was quite cross and found lots of fault with us because Bro. Mc could not go on to Mexico to look at the place as he intended doing on account of my poor health and Althera leaving home.

Sun. 4 Bro. Mc, Will and I went over to PineDale and Linden to pay the girls a visit.

Tues. 13th of June. 1899 Bro. McNeil had a paralytic stroke, taking all the use of his right side and his speech also and was very sick for 3 or 4 days.

Tues. 27th of June. Bro. Mc, and myself went to Snow Flake (he feeling somewhat better so that he could walk a little, to do some business and to get our check cashed (500 90) We also sent a bill to Montgomery Ward and Co. of One hundred and 40 dollars. Called at the Doctors and got some medicine for Pa. We also went to President Jesse N. Smith and Bishop Hansen as they were going to start the next morning, 28th, to Salt Lake City to attend the Special Meeting of all the Presidents with their Councilors and all the Bishops of their respective wards in the Holy Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah.

28 June. Spent the day in Snow Flake. Went to the Co-Op but could not get the check changed so went to Flake Bros. store. Had to wait until he could send and borrow some Revenue stamps, then he could only get 3. We went to see Bro. Allen Frost but he and wife had gone to Springerville to see her Brother so we went to Sister Annie Camels to dinner. She is Bro. Frost's daughter. When it got cooler in the afternoon, went to the P.O. and sent some letters off. Then went to Amasa Willis to sleep.

29 Came home and on the way home we called to see Aunt Mary Standifird and bought some dried plums. My brother Will was fixing to go home.

2nd of July Brother William went down to Sarah’s to go down to Holbrook on the buckboard. Left that night. Went to Fast meeting then went to the creek to get Annie Frances baptized. A young man from Pine Dale, Vego Peterson, got baptized, also Althera rebaptised. Daniel Mills officiating.

8th Saturday. It rained quite a good shower the best we have had. Dave and Lillias came over.

9th Sunday. Will and Hannah Goodman came over. I sent Althera and Dan's wife over to Frank Ellsworth's to get some ice and a load of water. They just got home as it started to rain. After dinner we had ice cream. We sent down after Sarah and the children and they got caught in the rain.

10th Mon. Rained again. Jens Peter Hansen's wife left him. Went off with a gentile.

Tues. llth. I wrote two letters. One to Selz Shwab for Shoes enclosing $10.00. One to Cushing and Co. $2.25. Althera took them to the P.O. when she went after water. I felt sick all day and did not do anything.

12th Wed. Pa and I went to the Hollow to get some water and him to see about his wagon. Went to Sarah's and got caught in the rain again. Stayed at Sarah's two hours, got home in the rain.

13th Thurs. Althera washed. Ben went after water. I did not feel well.

14th Fri, Dan Mills and Sarah came up to hoe the potatoes and Sarah to quilt Nelly a bonnet. Ben fanned out the wheat to go to the mill as we were out of flour. It rained after dinner so that they could not hoe. Ben went after water and it was very muddy. He went to the P.O. and got a letter from my Brother Will. He was in Central, Graham County on the Gila. Said he liked the place very much.

15th Sat. Pa and Ben went to the grist mill with the wheat he fanned out yesterday. They will go to Snow Flake before, then come back. It rained a little today again. I cut out Annie a white dress and sewed some on it. Got a letter from my Father saying that my sister Alice was very sick. The way he explained it, it must be mumps.

16th Sun. Althera and Annie went to Sunday School. I did up the work and then went to bed being tired out.

17th Mon. It rained all day. A fine, good rain. Finished Annie's white dress. Dan went to Pine Dale for his wife.

18th Tues. Looked very cloudy but cleared up in the afternoon. Sent Althera to the store for dress lining. Pa and Ben came home at night from Snow Flake. I cut out Althera’s Dress. Got a Ladies Belt Electric from New York.

19th Wed. Dan Mills came up to hoe out the potatoes. I sewed on Althera's dress.

20th Thurs. Dan Mc and Ben went after horses over the creek found Ben's gray, Jen mare. It rained quite hard today. Andrew Hansen was here for dinner. Althera ironed. I sewed on her dress.

24th Mon. Dan and Ben went to Pine Dale in the morning to the horse races. Vego Peterson went to the Post Office and our shoes, one pair for me, one pair for Althera, two pair for Jesse, one pair Patent Leather Oxfords for Vego and 3 pair of shoes of Lilliam, in the afternoon. Althera, Vego, Emma, and I went over to Pine Dale in the wagon and got caught in a rain storm. We went to the dance. After we left home and Eph and Jesse came in at night from herding the goats and sheep and got their horses to go to the dance, Pa went down to see them saddle up. One of them was a Bronco and when they threw the saddle on it, it kicked Pa on the right leg just below the knee and he has had an awful bad leg.

25th. came home and doctored Pa’s leg, Got breakfast then laid down awhile.

27 Thur. Dan and Sarah was up.

28 Friday. Went to the Hollow to get water and to see about the other wagon, if it was fixed. Took the cartwheel down to get new spokes put in. We got home just in time to miss one of the biggest rainstorms of the season. It filled the little dam full to running over and nearly washed Emma out of her tent.

29 Sat. The girls tried to put out the washing but it rained again in the afternoon.

30 Sun. The girls had to put out the clothes this morning in order to get them dry before the afternoon rain. Ben went after water and to the Post Office. Got a card that the express was at Holbrook. Also invoice from Montgomery’s. The express was from New York. Went to see the boys run their horses in the afternoon up in Harrop's Old Field. Dan's Johney horse beat them all. Pa was in bed all day with his leg. It’s very much swollen and looked as though it might break. I had to poultice it.

31 Mon. Poulticed Pa's leg again this morning. Emma's Father and Mother came over to see her and stayed all night with us. Ephraim went to look for his mares so that he could go to Holbrook after the freight. Dan and Eph, Ben put Eph's Bronco on the wagon and drove him around to see if he would work to Holbrook. Killed a mutton to take some to Snow Flake to the Dr. 16 lbs.

Tues. 11 of August. Eph got up and fixed the spring seat to go to Holbrook with. Had one of the springs broken off. Mr. Allen, Emma's Father, helped him fix it. Althera was busy cooking to go with Eph as she had never been to Holbrook before. Emma's Father and Mother went home about 11 O’clock. Emma wanted to go home then but Dan would not let her so she had to have a crying spell about it so Dan had to take her to Holbrook with them. Dan Mills and Sarah came up to look at the wheat to see if it would stand until he would go to Holbrook and back, thought it would, stayed and had dinner then went home. It tried to rain but didn't do much.

Wed. 2nd of August 1899 Dan Mills did not go to Holbrook because Frank Ellsworth came to get him to help dig a grave for Dicy Adair, a girl of 13 years. She died of heart trouble. Was only sick 2 days. After doing the chores I sat and mended the boy’s clothes. The sow had 7 pigs early in the morning.

Friday 4 Dan and Sarah came up with a barrel of water to us. I was very glad of it for we were nearly out of water. I was feeling quite poorly all day. Did a little mending. John Readhead and Mr. Worthington came up to see Pa. His leg was feeling worse.

Sat. 5th Aug. 1899 Myself and the children were feeling very miserable with a bad cold influenza. Annie Frances scrubbed the floor but she grunted a good deal about it. I did some ironing and got some dinner for our Indian and his squaw. He paid me $.25 for it. The boys and girls got home just after dark. We looked at the express package and there were a dozen handkerchief's missing.

Sun. 6 Opened the box of freight. Some of the goods were quite damp as it had rained on them nearly all the while they were in Holbrook. Bro McNeil and I went to meeting, the house was full. They all came to hear the Bishop preach.

Mon. 7 Dan Mills came up to cut the wheat. I fixed some screen cloth up to the windows to keep out the flies and Emma did some of her sewing on the machine. Dan Mills wrote a letter to the Bishop for himself and Dan Mc to see about our ward Recommends and also to the President to get him his certificate of Citizenship to go to Mexico with.

Tuesday 8th of August 1899 Cut some wheat today. Pa and I went to the Hollow to get the wagon the blacksmith had fixed for us and to pay him. On the way home we had to stop in to Will Oliver’s to get out of the rain. We had to stay there over an hour. Finally, got home without getting wet. Got supper then wrote to Montgomery Ward. Was dissatisfied with some of the goods.

November, 1899 I have neglected to write as I should have done to keep my diary in proper shape but it is because I have both been sick and busy in trying to get ready for the move to Mexico. 15th of November. We started on our Journey and got as far as Jens Peter Hansen’s field about a mile and a half from home. We had quite an exciting time in getting started. Ephraim drove six and one of his wheel horses, nigh one, laid down on the wagon tongue and broke the end off. They patched it up somehow then at night sent Jesse to settlement after an iron off Dan Mills’s old wagon. Dan Mills and family of four children and Dave Dalton and family of three children started with us. Dan McNeil's wife and baby were with us also. He and Vigo Peterson started on the 8th of November, with our sheep and Goats because they had to go around by Springerville, the Indian agent not allowing us to go across the reservation unless we paid one-and -a- half cents per head on the sheep and goats. The horses we are taking with us through Fort Apache. There are three of our wagons and two of Dan Mill’s and one of Dave Dalton’s, making six in all.

16th of November. We came up as far as Scott's Flat, a distance of about 6 or 7 miles, and camped for the night. Getting here about 6 P.M. The horses being tired out and nearly choked for water, not having any the day before. We had to drive the horses to the creek Show Low for water, a distance of four miles. We had to haul water in barrels for our own use. The boys had herded the horses for nearly a week in the night so as to keep them together. There is 45 head all told in the outfit.

Friday 17 Last night the boys were tired out and did not herd so this morning they got up minus lots of the horses. Finally they found all but four head, three of ours and one of Dan Mc's. The boys have hunted all day and not found them yet. I am writing this by lamplight in the wagon. I did not state that we had an awful time to get this far yesterday. The road being so winding through the timbers and up and down hill so much and the horses not being used to work together was a kind of a see-sawing job. Old Noble fell down twice and I was so scared he would hurt Eph, as he was riding him. They had to drop trail three times. It is 9 P.M. I am going to bed as the smoke from the campfire is nearly blinding me.

Sat. 18, Nov. 1899 This morning was snowing. It was quite cold and awful bad for the babies. Last night they tied the Jinney's colt up so she would stay and eat. The little thing wound itself up in the oak brush and choked itself to death, so the children milked her for Lillias' baby. The men folks decided not to go back after Queen and her colts but to go on. We drove four or five miles and stopped at Mr. Wm. Scores Store and bought $7.00 worth of corn for Bob Gillespie(the boy that Eph hired to go as far as the Gila with us) and $.60 for rope; grapes, $.25, cheese $.50 candy $.20; Rice $.25; then went a mile further to another store and bought a pair of gloves for Eph. We then went on until about 5 P.M. to a rocky, muddy draw they called Cooley's Draw and just as we were going into it, Ephraim’s lead mare turned out of the road and broke the wheel of the trail wagon so we had to camp for the night.

Sun. 19th This morning Eph had to go back to Pine Top about four miles to see if he could get an Ex for the wagon. He got one (he did not get back until 2 P.M.) and then it was too big for the wagon so they had to cut it down to make the new thimbles fit we had for it. The boys did not fill up the water kegs as I wanted them to, so we had to carry water on a horse a mile and-a-half in a gallon keg. Went two times through the day. Our Jinney went back last night to where her colt tied and Jess had to go after her. He got back at 4 P.M. Will Goodman, our son-in-law drove up at sundown and camped with us. He is on the road to the Fort Apache with freight. He is going to help the boys tonight to herd. It is half past nine and I feel awful tired tonight, jumping up and down in the wagons all day.

20th Nov. This morning is bright and warm but quite windy. The boys had quite a job to fit up the new Ex and put on new Thimbles and Boring. We happened to have them along with us. It took them until 2 P.M., then we had to load up and harness up. It was just four P.M. when we got started from Cooley's Draw. We went a mile and a half to Mr. Cooley's and watered the teams and filled up the water barrels. While they were doing that, Bro Mc and I went in and bid Mr. and Mrs. Cooley and their girls goodbye. Then drove to the head of Black Cannon and camped. The oak trees were very thick and we had bread and coffee and cold baked chicken for supper. Eph buried a bake oven full of beans for breakfast, the first I ever saw cooked that way. It is 20 minutes after nine.

21 Nov. 1899 It froze quite hard last night, was very cold to get up this morning. Our bake kettle of beans that Eph fixed in the ground last night for breakfast was a failure. When he went to uncover them for breakfast he dug the lid off too soon and peppered them good (or bad) with dirt. Some of the beans were eaten, but the soup we had to throw away. While we were at breakfast we had a happy surprise, Dan McNeil and Vigo Peterson came riding up on their horses. They came all the way from the Gila to meet us. We were so long coming after them they did not know what was the matter. All the horses could not be found when we were ready to start. Dan, Jess and rob went to look for them. They found them, then it was 11 A.M. when we started. We drove 14 miles from the head of Black Cannon to what they call the Big Bend and camped by some Indians. They were some of our old friends and came to bid us good bye and asked us why we were leaving this country. Freddy has got an awful sore eye and can't sleep well because of it. So has Lillias's baby. 20 minutes to 10.

Wednesday 22 Nov. 1899 We got up at 4 A.M. this morning. Had breakfast by daylight. Then it started to snow half after 10 A.M. Just going in to Fort Apache up an awful steep hill. It is raining and the road is sticky and muddy and the horses can hardly pull up. Dan Mc has just come up, but he had quite a bad time to get up with his mules. They are balky. We stopped at Schuster Store and I gave Eph $5.00 to buy grain with. I bought two cans of condensed milk $.15 - $.30. Drove on over by the Post and gave Dan Mc a $50.00 check to change. Dan Mc, Dan Mills, Vigo and Dave Dalton went over to the Post also. (Dan could not get the check changed. He got a case of tomatoes.) Pa went to see our Bishop (He is working there) to see about our tithing recommend. Half past 1. It has started to rain again and makes the road very sticky. If it was not for the rain, the road would be good. We traveled until 3 P.M. We came to a sharp bend in the road and when Eph was going over, his front wagon tipped over, his hind wheel going in the gully. It was a lucky tip, nothing tipped over, only a brass kettle that was hanging behind got mashed. It took all the men to lift on the wheel and a horse to pull it out. We camped tonight on splendid feed.

Thurs. Nov. 23 1899 We went to the foot of seven mile hill. Seven miles from Fort Apache. Camped for noon. Emma did some washing for the baby. I made some salve for it. It has such a sore belly. While we were here, Bob Gillespie and Dan McNeil took a wagon tongue of an old broken down Indian wagon and put it in Eph's trail. Bob said we might need it to put on the trail wagon going down the Black Cannon, but they were not as smart as they thought they were for there was an Indian and his squaw coming down the hill and they saw them. They were going to Fort Apache. They met two other Indians and told them I guess, for pretty soon they came up and began asking about the wagon tongue but they pretended to know nothing about it but the Indians got mad and began to search the wagons for it and found it. Then they missed the burrs off the wagon and accused the boys for taking them. The boys did not take them for there was none on it but they would not believe them. They got so mad about it that I began to get scared. They went to take the burrs off Dan Mc’s wagon but he would not let them, so one young fellow went to Eph's wagon and took his off and tried to fit it on to his wagon, but it would not go on but that made no difference, he would not give up the Burr and said they would go to the Post and send the Police after us. Then Dan Mills got rather warm and jawed the boys so Pa said the boys had better pay the Indian for the Burrs so that we could go on rather than to have any trouble with them. So it cost Dan Mc a nice yearling colt. We started to go up the hill at 3 P.M. and it took us until after dark before all the wagons were got up. They had to take one wagon at a time and put six horses on it, it was so steep and such large rocks. They had to put 8 horses on one of Eph's wagons and then it was awful hard to get up. We camped on top for the night. They boys were so tired out and the horses also, they just turned them out without hobbling them. Good feed, had to take water up the hill.

Friday 24th of Nov. 1899 10 head of the horses lost this morning. The boys wished they had hobbled them. Dan Mc went out before breakfast. Looked all around, came in while we were at breakfast with his horse just as wet as if he had been in a river, didn’t see any horses. He ate and then started to look for his mules tracks. Found them going south. All hands went out. About twelve o'clock the two Indians came in from Turkey Creek that we had the fuss with the night before and told us they saw the mules and horses on Turkey Creek four miles. So the boys started out and came in with all. It was just 2 P.M. when we pulled camp and drove to Turkey Creek. Camped for the night at 5 P.M. on account of water and wood. No wood for 10 miles.

Sat. 25 Drove to Black River 10 miles over some awful bad road over nothing but rocks. Eph lost the barrel off that had the fruit trees in. Bob called it the orchard and lost his coat and drum. We picked them up. Dan Mills' little Nellie fell down and cut her left eye awful bad. They told us it was a buggy road to what we would see. Got to the river at 3 P.M., grained the horses and had a mite of dinner. Filled up the water barrels and pulled up the rockiest hill I ever saw. One wagon at a time with six horses. Camped at a flat half a mile up. Good feed.

Sunday morning 9 and 30 minutes started to pull up the hill. It just took one hour to pull up a wagon with six on. It was 7 P.M. when the last wagon got up. We had quite a bad time with the last wagon. The little black mare that Pa. drove started up the hill just ahead of the last wagon and when he got a fourth of the way up, she balked back with him and ran him off the dug way. If it had not been for a live oak bush he would have gone down the Black River again. The boys took her out of the buggy and put another, our mare Topsy, in and put Bess in the wagon but she was the balkiest bitch I ever saw. I thought the boys would break her ribs and then she would not pull so they had to take her out and put my team in. We went on then for 15 minutes over and down another hill and now 20 minutes to 2 P.M. they are having an awful time to get up another one. It looked like we would never get to our journey's end. I forgot to say that Friday 24th Dan Mc left us at 10 A.M. to go back to the sheep herd. He said he ought to have been there long ago, as he only hired the man for three days (John Oliver) one of our old friends. He said he would come back if possible to help us down the Black Cannon. Just 3 P.M. and we are at the top of one more hill and Oh, I am tired of rocks, rocks, rocks. The poor animals are nearly pulled to death. Well we are going to camp for the night as Eph's wagon has to be fixed. After supper I went to Eph's wagon to get a five- gallon can with some molasses in that Will Goodman let us have. It had jolted on to the edge of a box and had a big ding in it and a hole. If it had not been as thick as candy it would have been all leaked out but we had some left, two lard pails full and a syrup can full. When I was emptying it Vigo said, "It comes as slow as we have come." 8 P.M. and I am going to bed. We only came four miles today.

Monday Nov. 27 1899 Eph had to fix the wagons this morning and I baked light bread. It was 11 A.M. before we got started and we had not gotten very far when we had to go up another awful steep, rocky hill. It was 3 P.M. when we got up the top of it and the poor horses are nearly pulled to death. I feel so sorry for them. We have not come more than three miles today again. I hope I never see this road again. There are the most awful, biggest rocks to pull over. The road is nothing but rocks, no dirt whatever. Pa said today when we was hung up on a rock that he would never advise anyone to come on this road. We are camped at the foot of another hill tonight. Water here in the rocks and good feed. If it was not for that I don't know what we would do. Our grain has given out. Just one more feed, and not half way yet. 20 minutes after 8. Good night and May the Lord help us tomorrow for I begin to feel discouraged. A team with four men passed us today going to St. Carlos. They were also out of grub and wanted to buy some from us, but we had none to sell. Dan Mills let them have a piece of meat. It was half past 2 when we got to the top of the Rim or top of the Cannon. Vigo lost his mare. He went back after her, but could not find her. He came back without her. He thinks she has gone back home to Pine Dale. We missed the spring at the top of the hill and did not get any water. Vigo did not catch up with us in time to show us it. It took us until night to get just half way down the rocky cannon. Just did have room to camp and that was all I said before I was tired of rocks but now I am more tired. Oh! this road isn’t safe for anyone to come alone on foot, let alone for teams and wagons. I believe it is the worst place on the planet. They say the Cannon is two miles long but I think it is nearer six. I have got the days of this business down wrong, but the travels are right.

Wed 28th This morning we started down the Cannon at 11 A.M. It was just 2 P.M. when we got out making it 8 hours to come down. Drove out to Ash Creek about five miles. Could not find any water as the boys thought they would, so they had to go back all the way nearly to where we left camp this morning for water. They took a 10 gallon keg strapped on the burr and a five and all the jimi____ in camp and the other horses. Back to water. 10 O'clock when they got back.

Thurs 30 Nov 1899 half after 9. This morning we had come about 20 minutes to the foot of a hill and Eph broke a single tree and his break so all men folks helped him to fix up. Had to make a new single tree. Just 11 when we got to the top of the hill 20 minutes to 12 Dan Mills has just been up a side Cannon to the left and east and found water good enough for the Horses so they are taking them all up (20 minutes to water) traveled quite a ways up a gradual slope. Came to water in a wash. The boys took the shovel and dug holes so they could dip up the water. It was pretty muddy at that. Seven miles to Green Hill from where we camped last night. Up to the top at about one hour of sun then down an awful rough road to a short and dangerous dug way. Dan Mills and Dave Dalton and my wagon got over but it was after dark. Ephraim's two wagons came near slipping off, they had to leave them and Emma's wagon until morning. We are camped in the roughest place. It is almost impossible to find ground enough to build the fire in for rocks. I felt like crying and swearing altogether but then I thought the Lord had been merciful to us so far that we had had no one hurt, so I ought to be thankful for that although I said I wished I was back in my old log house. Eph was very good, he made the bread and baked it for supper and Vigo fried meat and made gravy. We had to get flour off Sarah and meat off Dan for supper as ours was at the top of the hill. Lilly has been very sick all day with the cramp in her stomach, she had to ride in my wagon. We got Dave supper.

Friday Dec lst. The boys got up and had to make toad and lift the wagons on the road again. It has taken them all the morning to do it. It is 1 o' clock and I can hear the last wagon coming down the dug way. 1 did not go up to see them for I got too scared last night in seeing how near they came to tipping over and the road is washed out so bad that they will have to make road before we can get out of here. We have to go down and then up again and then down to the Gila River. Oh! I will be thankful when we get over these horrid roads. We have been two weeks on the road now and we ought to have come in one. No water here and the poor horses are nearly to choke now for a drink. 7 P.M. not quite on top yet. This is all the far we could get. No water. The boys, Eph and Rob have took the horses back to where we nooned yesterday about six miles. We have lost Jess or else he has gone back home. The burro came up missing when we were ready to start and his Father sent him to look for her. After we had started and come a mile or two, Vigo went back and got her. Emma heard her bay. Oh, I am nearly beside myself. I am afraid the boy is lost, but Pa is mad at him and thinks he has gone back home, but I don't see how the child could have grit enough to without a canteen, bread, or quilt. Oh dear, when will my troubles end. Went on over the longest, roughest old bent back bone about 2 P.M. Our lost boy came up to us and I was glad, I tell you. We went on and on. I thought we never would get to the river. Finally we did and in crossing a big ditch the Indians had made, Eph broke his trail tongue short off. We all crossed the river at 6 P.M. and camped. No feed but willows for the poor horses. But they drank until they looked like toads.

Sun Dec 3rd 1899 This morning ice in all the water buckets, I thought it was not cold on the Gila River. The boys had to make a Trail tongue. It is 12:00 o'clock now just about ready to start. Did not come very far. Camped for the night in the morning, Monday 4 Dec. left the Tom Adair mare. She had to be lifted up. Drove through the Old Fort Thomas then six miles to Curtis and camped in the street at Bro. William Oliver’s. Pa slept in the house on account of his arm hurting him so.

Tuesday 5th Dec.1899 We washed in sister Oliver's yard by the well and used their wood. Wood is scarce as hen teeth. Lilliam and Dan left us to go to Bryce where his sister lives.

Wednesday Dec 6 we ironed, went up to John Oliver’s to dinner and made me a new red flannel petticoat. Got it in Brother Will Oliver's store at $.30 per yard. We gave him our $50.00 check to change and before we left we spent it all. We had to buy our flour, hay and grain, pay herd bills and blacksmith bills. They charged us $6.25 for some ___ and a new draw bolt and 60 head of our sheep is lost. It makes me feel rather blue.

Thurs. 7th Dec. 2 P.M. I wrote to Hannah today. We have come about five miles over the river coming west with the sheep and goats. The wind blows fit to blister up your hair tonight and there is plenty of sand. No water and very little brush for wood. The sheep went to lay down so Jess is staying awhile to watch them.

Friday Dec 8th 1899 We are camped about 18 miles from Curtis. The first water since we left the river, but the boys had to go up a side cannon about a mile to get to it, but the horses would not drink it, it was to cowey. There are a great many stock waters there. We are in a box cannon. The boys had to get the horses up on the top of the hill to get grass. We have pulled through heavy sand all day and gradually up hill as we travel along. There is no Cedar or Pine, but a kind of a thorny brush and all kinds of oose and cactus. Everything has a thorn on it, even to what little grass there is. Two of our goats are sick or crazy with something. They have eaten. Eph had to put them up on his wagon to ride. One got off at noon and went to the herd, but the other one is sick yet and up on the wagon.

Sat 9th Dec. This morning three more of our goats are sick. One of the best billies, so they have put him on the wagon. The other two are young weathers. The boys came to a man by the name of Wily Holaday who is camped just a half mile above us. They are working in the mine and prospecting. The wind is blowing very hard and cold as the duce. Came up the Cannon two miles and went down a side Cannon and watered the horses. Got water for the barrels free from the pump that is there. If we had got water for the horses, it would have been $.05 a head. Half past 12. Pa went on with the sheep this morning and we have not got up to him yet. Vigo has taken the buggy to him. Camped at 4 P.M. and ate a bite of dinner. The wind was blowing cold enough to freeze us. No wood but some oose stumps and they burn like a wool sack. Drove about four miles farther, camped in a big hollow. Plenty of mesquite brush. We put beans on for breakfast. Cold as the Old Nick. The children set the ooses on fire and they look pretty, all standing up burning, they make such a bright light.

Sun. 10th Dec 1899 This morning it is awful cold. Ice two inches in the water pail. Our billy goat is some better. I fed him some beans. Pa. said to leave him, but I said to haul him again today. Dan Mc went on about 3 miles and watered the sheep. When we got there, we watered the horses, had to take them about a mile off the road. Drove to Eureka springs, a Big cattle ranch of about 5,000 head, a big company. It is a nice looking place. A nice old lady came out and talked with us and gave us some pomegranates to eat that she had brought with her from Salt River. She and her husband were keeping the place. They came there for her health. She told us it was 36 miles to Wilcox. We got water free to fill our barrels but none to water the horses. It is all windmills out here and we have to pay for the water $.05 a head. Drove about six or seven miles and camped. Good grass for the horses, but no kind of wood or brush, we had to make a fire of cow chips. Eph went about a mile away and got a cedar post from a fence or I could not have baked my light bread. I am writing this now sitting in the spring seat while the bread is baking, with the candle a-flickering and my back nearly freezing. Everybody in camp has gone to bed.

Mon 11 Dec 1899 Awful cold this morning. I had to put on a coat and a shawl too. Traveled until we came to Mr. Hooker’s ranch, another nice looking place with three windmills and a race track. They must keep sporting horses. It is 14 miles from Eureka springs. We watered the horses here at 3 P.M. I believe they call this valley Sulphur Springs valley. It is the nicest place I have seen since I left home. It looks to be about 50 miles wide and 80 to 100 miles long with acres of dry grass as high as the knee and hundreds of acres wire fenced for meadow with lots of hay stacks stacked in the fields. About every 10 or 15 miles there is a ranch. Camped at 5:30 P.M. on splendid feed but no wood. Have to haul wood all along this valley.

Tues 12 Dec. 1899 This morning was fine, not so cold.. Left camp at half past 3 o'clock. Went to Mr. McKittie’s ranch, two windmills. Watered the horses here but had to pay $.75 for all the horses, 11 miles from Mr. Hooker’s. 11 miles now to Wilcox, nooned at 2 P.M. Here two hours. Pa went on with the sheep while we got dinner. Camped for the night in plenty of mesquite brush and close by a ranch but did not learn the name. A girl told Dan it was three miles to Wilcox.

Wed 13 Dec. 1899 This morning drove in to Wilcox and did some trading. I gave Eph 10 dollars to buy grain with. I spent $2.50 for Althera a pair of shoes; $.50 for sugar. $.75 for canned milk; $.35 pair of gloves; sardines $.25; apples $.50; paid Sarah $1.00 we owed. It is quite a nice little town. We had to pump water for the horses and it took Dan a quite a while to find out where to water the sheep and they came near getting run over by the train. We left town and drove out 7 miles to a deserted ranch with a windmill and corrals and got wood and water there.

Thurs 14 Dec. 1899 This morning it was awful cold. Drove 5 miles to Mr. Johnston's Ranch. The old lady came out to talk to us. She was a pleasant old lady and gave us some papers and a book to read. It was 12 o'clock. Drove 11 miles to the grand Sulphur Springs. Just a hole (and camped for the night) had been dug in a field. Went to it over steps on the fence. 4 or 5 yards from the fence. It is someone's deserted ranch. A nice looking place, I would not mind living here.

Friday 15 Dec. 1899 This morning was quite cold but pleasant in the sun. Drove six miles to Pierce, a mining camp with a big quartz mill with a great pump that forced 500 gallons per minute to run the mills. Got there at 12:30, camped until 5 p.m. and went to the great pump to water the teams. Had to pay $.05 a head. Paid for 8 head. Drove out 5 miles and camped without wood about 9:30.

Sat 16th Dec 1899 This morning was cold but pleasant. Today is my son Ben's birthday. 19 years of age he is left behind. Dan Mills and Sarah quarreled with me over the campfire. We drove on to a man’s ranch 11 miles and watered the horses 12:30 P.M. Camped for dinner. Pa and Jesse are left behind with the sheep every day to drive them. I don't see how Jesse stands it to walk so far every day. Old billy we hauled so far got no better and the boys left him the other side of Johnson's ranch and atuck sheep before that we lost four goats with loco weed on the road 3:15. Pa has just got here for his dinner. Plenty of mesquite brush for wood. I have been sick all day long with a sick headache and then a stiff neck. Drove to a ranch they call Soldier Hole and watered the horses from a camp there. There was a quartz mill but not running. A man told me it had not run for about 7 years. Drove about a mile and camped.

Sun 17th Dec. 1899 This morning about 10 head of the horses were gone and one of Dan's mules was gone. He went to hunt them. Vigo went too. They did not find them until noon. We drove a ways and camped. Got dinner when they came up. Drove about a mile and watered the horses at a nice looking house and windmill. Drove out until dark and camped. Came 10 miles today. In coming through the sheep, we ran over a goat and hurt it.

Monday 18th Dec. 1899 Drove 15 miles today. Just as we were hitching up, Joseph Paulson came along, a man we used to know where we used to live in Show Low. He was going into Bisbee to peddle port and turkeys. He stopped and the boys had quite a talk with him. We had a hard day's drive today.

It was sandy and uphill. We camped about 5 o'clock up on a hill without wood. Had to burn oose tops. They make a fine blaze, but no coals to make bread with, had to pay for water for the horses. If we got from the pumps but there was an old well or shaft by the side of the road on the left, so we turned to go up the hill. Joe Paulson told us about it. The boys watered the horses out of it, but they had to go in to the windmill close by for water to drink and cooking. We got that free. The old well had a couple of drowned rabbits in it.

Tues 19 Pa. and I went up to Bisbee. It is 2 miles up a Cannon. Houses were built on the hillside and any place they could get to put one. It is quite a nice looking or curious looking place. The trains run in and out again .There are lots of stores, but the one in the center of the place is a fine large one, two stories high, lit up with electric lights, and has anything you can ask for. We bought a new range with six holes and a reservoir for 36 dollars and what furniture I put with it, it cost $48.90. We bought flour 600 lbs. 3.00 per hundred and one sack of sugar, coffee, rice and other things, a pair of shoes for Dan, Eph, Jesse and Annie cost $10.00. It was nearly dark when we got to camp. Had supper and went to bed.

Wed. 20 went up to town again, had to unload part of my wagon to go after the stove. Did some more trading.

Thurs. 21 Dec 1899 Went up to town again. Did some trading for Althera and Emma. Althera went with me yesterday, also the children to see the sights. Emma went with me today. We got some more groceries and bought Jesse a new suit of clothes and Freddy one and some new windows.

Friday 22 Dec. Dan Mills came along from Naco. He went there on Tuesday ahead of us, but came back with another man to see the American Counsil that lives in Bisbee, so Dan Mc and Pa went up with them while Eph and us packed up He brought me a new washing machine. Packed up the rest of the day and it was a job. Don't hardly know where to put things.

Sat 23rd Dec. 1899 Drove to Naco. They say six miles to the American custom house. Dan Mills and Dan Mc went to the Mexican custom house five miles to see if our pass has come. I think they said it was, but we don't know what to do until in the morning. Pa is having quite a serious time with his lame hand. It is swollen quite bad tonight and pains him very bad. He can hardly sleep for it. It is 10 o'clock and very cold. I guess I'll go to bed.

Diary of Mary Ann Smith McNeil {With notes in these { } parentheses from Peter McDonald}

DIARY OF MARY ANN SMITH MCNEIL

In 1901 at Colonia Oaxaca, Sonora, Mexico

January Tuesday 1, 1901 New Year I had a quilt on and the frames were borrowed from Mrs. Annie Nelson. She sent Joseph, her little son, up to get them. So I had to quilt as fast as I could to get it off, so I sent him home with them at 2 P.M. Mary Ann and Rose Beacroft came up for a walk. I gave a small piece of mutton tallow to make salve off.

Wednesday, 2nd I went over to the river to wash, as it was a little too far to carry the water and brother McNeil cleaned some sheep wool. Althera got dinner and baked light bread. It was 1 or 2 o'clock before I started to wash and was dark before I got done.

Thursday 3rd I washed again not getting done the day before.

Friday 4th I ironed and cleaned up. Pa went up to the sheep camp and Freddy went with him, he thought his pa could not find the way. It was about 7 miles from here. They went to get some mutton to take to Ephraim our son and Vigo Peterson our son-in-law. They are on the Battafitto 25 miles from here in the New Colony in Mexico. He thought he would be back that day but did not get back.

Saturday, 5, Jan. I darned stockings all day. Pa and Jesse and Freddy got back from camp about noon, then after dinner Pa went down to Bro. Johnson’s to get us some sweet potatoes. 33 lbs.

Sunday 6th fast Sunday But we did not fast because we had to go down to town 7 miles to get some things for Ben McNeil and his wife Edith. Pa stayed at John McNeil’s, his sons place in Colonia, instead of coming with me so that he would not have so far to ride tomorrow. He is going with meat to the boys in the Battapitto. They are down there to plan and fence the city lots, and get ready for us to move down. In coming home I lost my purse with 6.50 cents in money and $.50 worth of stamps. When I got as far as brother Sextes Johnson’s, I stopped and asked one of his boys, Joel Johnson, if he would go back in the morning before anyone else showed up come along the road to pick it up and he told me he would, so I came on home, It was very dark then and I could not go very fast for I had a can of coal oil and quite a lot of things in my lap. I felt awful bad about my money for I thought it was a judgment on me for going to town on Sunday to get the things, but we could not help it very much, the way we are situated here without any feed for the horses. We have to go just when the horses are down here and then they wanted their supplies sent back with Jess and we had to go to town for them.

Monday Jan, 7, 1901 1 packed up the things for the children, Jesse and Annie, to go in camp while they went for the horses, but they could not find but one of them, so they had to pack the old mare Sally and walk themselves. Then Joel Johnson came in and said he could not find my purse, but he brought my trunk key and the $.50 worth of stamps that was in my purse, he said that was all he found and don't know how that could be unless the purse came unclasped and they fell out which they must have done and then I must have dropped the purse in some of the crossings of the river, for I had to cross it four or five times. I don’t feel very well today. I have such a bad cold. I wrote a letter to my daughter Lillias Dalton. She lives on the Gila, 3 or 4 hundred miles from here. Sent it with the mail carrier as he came by, he stopped and asked me if I could let John E. McNeil have a bottle of Mescal, it is a liquor the Mexicans make like alcohol, so I sent it by him. We had just bought a gallon of it a day or two before. The small pox is in town. Just in one family at present by the name of Haymore. They found it out on Christmas day, so they did not have their Christmas tree like they thought they would.

Tuesday Jan. 8th I did not feel very well this morning, my cold seems to be worse. About 1 o'clock Ben and Annie came down from Camp. He came after more flour. The Johnson’s boys went up early this morning to work on the ditch. It is raining this morning.

Wednesday Jan. 9th Started to make me a rug out of old stockings. I have had them raveled a long time. My cold does not get much better. Pa came home from the Battafito, got here after dark. He had lost his hat just below brother Johnsons.

Thursday 10th Pa's birthday today, he is 78 yrs old. Went to look for his hat while I got dinner. We had peach and orange dumplings. Mutton and sweet potato soup. Peach and Apple pie and ginger cakes. Sewed on my rug.

Friday Jan. 11, 1901 It has been very cold all day. I had to take the sewing machine over to Althera’s tent to finish my rug because it was so cold in this shed. Got the first Desert News of the year today. Althera is not very well today. She had to wash some yesterday for the baby and it was so cold. She has taken cold in her breast and it is quite enflamed tonight.

Saturday Jan. 12 1 was going over to the river to wash. I had the cloths already in soak, but just as we were finishing our breakfast Sister Julia Rencher and Annie Nelson came up to see me. They road up with the men folks, they were going up on the ditch to work. So I stayed and visited with them. Then at night Eph and Vigo came home from the Battafito. Eph was very sick with the Cholera Marbus. I gave him a hot mustard foot bath with a good dinner and whisky sling. But that did not seem to ease him very much, until I gave him two or three doses of aamphor and laudinum.

Sunday Jan. 13, 1901 Eph did not cramp so bad but was very sore. He laid in bed most of the day. I wrote a letter to Bishop Hansen, he was in Jaurez, Chihauhau. He was our bishop in Show Low, Arizona and I wrote to him for Eph’s recommend. I also wrote a letter to my daughter Hannah Goodman. We had some good beer to drink. I made it last night.

Monday Jan. 14 1 went over to the river to wash but I did not feel much like it. Vigo and Althera and the children went up the river to get some cain leaves to feed the horses and Eph walked up as far as the ditch to see the men work.

Tuesday Jan. 15 Sister Johnson and sister Lena Nelson came up to see me. Darned one stocking this morning and went up to the ditch with the sisters to see how much they had got done on the ditch. Then had to get sacks ready for the boys to go up to the Battafito to get flour. I had to patch four sacks.

Wednesday Jan. 16 Pulled the table apart to fix it. It was one we got off Annie Nelson and was very rickety. Ephraim started up to Bavispia with four horses and wagon to get flour and corn. I patched and darned. Got a letter from my daughter Hannah Goodman in Linden, Arizona. Althera was sick all day with the cramps and pain in her side.

Thursday Jan. 17 Fixed up an old night gown for Annie to wear. Pa went down to brother Johnson’s to get some small nails and a pod bit to fix the table with. I did not feel well my self so went to bed early.

Friday Jan. 18 Pa finished mending the table. Althera washed for her self. I got dinner. Jesse came down from the Camp to get some flour and other things. He had quite a sore foot. He had stepped on a broken deer horn just under the toes. It was swollen quite bad on the top of the foot. I had him bathe it in some Carbolic acid. I darned stockings all the afternoon.

Saturday Jan. 19 Ephraim came home today, we were not expecting him so soon. Could not get his wheat ground, the mill was under repair. I darned stockings all day. Pa and Vigo and the children picked cockle burs out of the goat’s wool. I wrote to Hannah Goodman, my daughter in Arizona.

Sunday Jan. 20 1 wrote to my daughter Hannah Goodman in Arizona and read in the compendium. Pa went down to Al Nelsons to gee if he could get some sweet potatoes from him. But he had sold them all. I thought the day was very lonesome. Eph and Vigo pitched horseshoes in the afternoon. Then Eph went down to Johnson’s, I think to see Olive McNeil. As Joe Nelson and Hilton Johnson came up to here on some Burros and told him, they had just came up to pass the time away.

Monday Jan. 21 1901 Wrote to Col. Kosterlitzley in Magdelena Mex. concerning our wool, to see if he could help us to find a market for it. Put a back in Pals vest. The children, Pa and Vigo picked at the goats wool. Althera quilted on her quilt and Eph went to Camp.

Tuesday Jan. 22 1 put a new back in Ephraim’s vest. Helped Althera to quilt on her quilt in the afternoon. Bishop Nagless called to tell us that 3 of our buck sheep were in brother Scotts corral.

Wednesday Jan. 23 Vigo went after the sheep down to brother Scott’s and got back by 7 o’clock. When he was trying to cross the river with them in Johns boat, two of them pulled him into the river, so he had a ducking. Cloudy all day and looks as though it was storming all around. Pa and the children picked at the goats wool. Althera and I quilted on the quilt and got it out. Eph has not got home yet from the camp. Eph came down from Camp to get the ox to help Ben to build a corral to put the Lambs in. He said they had 70 lambs. I washed and was so tired I could not rest at night and my hands hurt me so bad.

Thursday Jan. 24 1 emptied flour in to the meat barrel, to get sacks for Eph to go up to Bavispia with and ironed the cloths and darned stockings. Pa and the children picked wool. It was very cloudy all day and looked like rain, no sun.

Friday Jan. 25 It was very cloudy. It started to rain. Rained all day and did nothing to the wool today.

Saturday Jan. 26 1 went over to the river this morning and colored my old dress and put a pair of pa’s old pants in the kettle to take up the rest of the dye. I had to hang my dress up in the house to dry for it rained so hard this afternoon. I halved sleeved Eph a shirt and had to take a piece of my new black sateen, that I had to make me a dress of and I am afraid it will run me short but I had nothing else that was suitable. It is still raining. Now that the river is up, Eph can’t go up to Bavispia.

Sunday Jan. 27 Vigo, Althera and I went down to brother Johnson’s to spend the afternoon. The mail boy brought us a paper. While we were at Johnson’s, Eph came down from Camp. Walked home with us. On the road home we met Bishop Naglie just coming for Bavispia. And he was only in the nick of time. He gave Eph an order for some bran for him when he should go up.

Monday Jan. 28 1901 It rained hard all day and all night. I mended a pair of overalls for Fred. I did not feel very well, I could hardly sit up do any thing. In the morning a Mexican came to see if he could buy sheep to take to the river for mutton. Ephraim could hardly understand him so they went up the ditch where Wallace Johnson was working, to get him to interpret for him. I think they made a bargain. The Mexican went on his way and Eph went up to camp. Ellis Johnson brought us a few sweet potatoes and carrots for soup that we had bought from him. Another Mexican came about 4 o’clock and we bought some Pinolia of him (parched corn ground). Still raining hard and the river raising.

Tuesday Jan. 29 This morning I felt awful miserable and would have liked to have laid down in bed, if I could have done so. It was still raining. About ll o’clock it came down the wash close to the house and tonight it is higher than it has ever been since we have been here. This evening Eph came down from camp with a mutton and some deer meet. He came for flour for the camp. I mended Eph’s underclothes, was all I did today.

Wednesday Jan. 30 In the morning, we all went up the river as far as the old mill to see how far the water had rose. It had come up as far as they were close to it. Came back and got dinner. Althera settled water to wash with. I darned stockings and the children picked goats wool, also Vigo and Althera after they got their washing done. Eph went back to camp with flour.

Thursday Jan. 31 Althera washed today, I mended aprons for Annie. Pa mended Tawas for Annie. Vigo and the children picked wool. The river went down until it stopped running in the wash. The children gathered wood and piled it up ready for a rain storm. For it is miserable wood when it is wet and we had no ax to cut it with as Eph had taken it up to camp to help build the sheep corral.

Friday Feb. 1 Vigo went after the mare so that pa could go to town and get us some things. We are out of nearly every thing and worst of all, light. It is like being in prison to be without light. Pa started about noon but when we got as far as Nelson’s, the wind blew so hard that he came back. He said he was afraid to go up over the hill. It started to rain this afternoon, after the wind went down. We all picked wool in the afternoon, except pa and he looked after the bucks and trying to fence them in.

Saturday Feb. 2 This morning the river was up again, it rained hard all night. We all picked wool and there was more picked than there has been any day yet. We picked 3 boxes. It is an awful job to pick, for there are so many cockle burrs and cactus in it. It makes any one feel very careful for fear of getting pricked.

Sunday Feb. 3 This morning we got up to see the river higher than we ever saw it. It sounded terrible in the night just like we might be washed away. It nearly covers the whole valley. Even trees are covered. It looks terrible to look at. We did not eat breakfast because it is fast day. So after dinner we all took a walk to look at the river and we had to go around and up over the hills as the water is deep where the road used to be. In coming home we went up a deep canyon and saw some curious things and saw some pretty rocks. The river went down some this morning, but it is up again this morning. Cloudy again and looks like more rain.

Monday Feb. 4th 1901 We all picked goats wool today. Jesse came down from camp to get some things for them.

Tuesday Feb. 5 We all picked goats wool today. Jesse and Don went down to Johnson’s to get some molasses and vegetables for Ben. Flax fell down with them and bent the canteen with the molasses in it. Jess has a sore foot and should not go to camp with them.

Wednesday Feb. 6 We all picked goats wool today. It was very cold and cloudy. But we managed to get it done and was glad of it for it had been a very tiresome job. Jesse went to camp this morning. Told him to come back tomorrow if he could with flax so pa could go to town and get us some things for we were out of nearly every thing.

Thursday Feb. 7 This morning Vigo went up on the hills to get old Topsy so Pa could go to town, but it started to rain and I told Pa that he had better give it up and let Vigo go as he could go and come back in the same day and it looked as though the river would be up before night. So Vigo went and he got back at 4:30 P.M. all wet and cold. Jesse had come home as I had told him. It is still raining prospects of the river up in the morning.

Friday Feb. 8 It started to rain in the night. Raining this morning. Jesse went out and got his horses, then went down to Ellis Johnson’s to get some tobacco for Eph while Pa put a sole on one of his shoes. When Jesse came back he went up to camp with some things for Edith. I knit a little. It rained all day. River up.

Saturday Feb. 9 1 did not get up today, my ears and head hurt me so bad. Sunshine and wind and very cold. Althera washed a few things for her baby. Annie did up the work.

Sunday Feb. 10 1 got up this morning not feeling very well. Late breakfast. The children went up on the hill to gather rocks. They brought home some very nice ones. 1:30 P.M. it is raining quite hard and is very cold. River up again.

Monday Feb. 11 Pa and Vigo went down to brother Sextus Johnsons to see if there was any mail there. Got one paper and one magazine and three letters. One from Bishop Hansen with a recommend for Eph, One from Dan and Emma McNeil and one from Lillias Dalton. Cloudy and cold. In the night it snowed on the hills close by, also rained and leaked on us in bed.

Tuesday 12 Feb. 1901 It blowed very cold and rained a little, raised the river again. Went over to Althera’s tent to keep warm.

Wednesday Feb. 13 The sun shined but the wind blew very hard and it was very cold, 52 degrees. We tried to make the old shed a little warmer by banking up with dirt and paper and Vigo put more dirt on the roof to keep it from leeking. Had to sit in Althera’s tent to keep warm. Did sums in arithmetic.

Thursday Feb. 14 This morning was very fine, so we washed. But towards night it got quite cloudy and cold. Looked like more rain.

Friday Feb. 15 Pa went to town this morning to get us some things. Jesse came down this after noon with the dry herd and to get some more flour and molasses and pants for Eph. Jesse said he thought he fell down and split his amplest part and showed his sunday face. They are having quite a time with the kids in the cold. They are leaving quite fast. We ironed today and made soap.

Saturday Feb. 16 Vigo went to town to get Eph some overalls and some bull hide to make Tawas, as they were all barefoot up to camp. It was a good thing Vigo went to town, for on the way home Pa slipped over onto old topseys neck, the saddle came unhooked and would have fallen and been kicked if Vigo had not have been there to help him up. It happened on the steepest part of the trail. They brought a little pup home with them for the boys up to camp. Jesse took Fred up to camp to help herd goats and lambs. Patched and darned.

Sunday Feb. 17 Vigo went up to camp to take the things up to the boys. Althera, Annie, Don and I went almost half way up the trail to camp to a large rocky hill to get some pretty rocks. They were volcanic marbles. We would throw them on another rock and break them. They were hollow inside and, oh the pretty things I ever saw. The outside was brown or chocolate candy. We brought all we could carry home and some to break down here to show Pa, as he stayed home to give the mail carrier some letters. It being the first time he had come in a month, on account of the flood.

Monday Feb. 18 Vigo went up to camp to get us a mutton as the herd was out when he was up yesterday. He had to get up early and go without his breakfast so as to catch the herd in. He walked up and carried the mutton back, as poor old topsey is about used up. I did some darning.

Tuesday Feb. 19 This morning looks like more storm, very cloudy, thermometer full. Pa tried to solder a wash tub for Al Nelson. I feel awful stiff and sore, don’t feel like getting up when I get down. Think it is the long rough walk we took last Sunday. Darned stockings. Althera put the cloths to soak tonight.

Wednesday Feb. 20 1901 We washed. Vigo went to town to see if he could get some lye to wash wool with. No lye but got 100 lbs of sugar. Pa spent the day trying to solder a tub for Al Nelson.

Thursday Feb. 21 I washed out a few more pieces as we did not get them all done yesterday. Althera and Annie ironed. Pa soldered at the old tub and mended the clothes wringer, one of the legs are posts split so he had to put a bolt through it. I darned stockings.

Friday Feb. 22 It is Don Carlos’s birthday, He is five years old today. He wanted to know what I was going to fix for his dinner today. I asked him what he wanted and he said a pudding. So I made a rolly polly for him. Pa went up to the camp to see how the boys are getting along with the lambing. He is anxious to go to Battafito to put in the garden. Vigo got up some of the wire fence, what the flood had left. Freddy came down from camp after flour and salt. Haven’t done much of any thing today, feel too stupid.

Saturday Feb. 23 1 made a pair of pants for Freddy out of Eph’s old ones. Alvin Nelson came to see if Pa had his wash tub fixed. Vigo went to look for a fishing pole so that he could catch some fish.

Sunday Feb. 24 Annie and I went up to the rocky hill again to get some more of their pretty rocks. Pa said he would meet us there, but was not there when we got there. So we started up the canyon to meet him and we kept on until we nearly got to camp when we met Pa and Freddy and Don coming. Oh, I was so disappointed, for I was so tired I did not want to go a step farther, but of course had to turn back. Well when we got to the rock hill we got some nice ones but did not have time to stay long as it was late and it rained on us. So we started home and it was sundown when it started to rain again. Just as we were nearly home we were wet through and we also met Althera to tell us to hurry for Vigo had cut his foot and was bleeding to death. She was half scared to death, but by the time we got to the tent it stopped and Vigo looked pretty bad and tired.

Monday Feb. 25 Pa went down to brother Johnson’s to see if one of the boys would go down and see and tell John McNeil to come up and see Vigo’s foot, as we were afraid to undo it for fear it would start to bleed. But John did not come and Vigo could not stand the pain so we undid it and bathed it in hops and salt and it looked pretty good considering, and I don't think it will need sewing up as the worst cut is right between the toes on the left foot, big and little one. When Pa came from Johnson’s, he got the mail. A paper and a letter from our daughter Hannah.

Tuesday Feb. 26 This morning Pa went again to Johnson’s to see if he could get Flax shoes, she is so tender footed. Wallace Johnson shoed her for him.

Wednesday Feb. 27 1 was busy all the morning getting Annie ready to go up to camp with some flour and molasses to the children. Also, sent Brother Hansen and Will Goodman letters to read to Eph to read. Pa went down to Annie Nelsons this afternoon to attend to the Bee Hives. Freddy and Don went with him.

Friday March lst 1901 Sewed on my waist and it is awful tedious to Kahi, because I can’t see good, it is a Navy blue. We sent Fred up to camp this morning to get us a mutton, because I had forgotten to tell Annie. So they both came home together tonight alright, and with Fanny and Lizzy the mares for us to go to town tomorrow.

Saturday Mar. 2 This morning I got up early to make the sleeves in my waist for I did not get it finished yesterday. Well, got ready about 12 o’clock and started, when we got as far as Nelson’s, we stopped to inquire the way to get over the slew. Pa got in the mud with Fanny. I was afraid she was going to get in so deep she could not get out. Pa got off her and got his own feet wet and muddy half way to the knees. He pulled her out by the bridal. We turned around and went up over the hill, a terrible rough hill we could hardly get up at all. Well we got to John McNeil’s and found that the President and Apostles had not come. Was delayed through Apostle Heber J. Grant being called to Japan on a Mission. Stayed to Johns all night.

Sunday Mar. 3 Went to meeting it being fast Sunday, we had such a good meeting any way if the expected ones were not there. Went with sister Dillman too and had dinner. Went to evening meeting. Stayed at Johns all night.

Monday Mar. 4th Went down with John McNeil to the river to row us over in his boat. Went to the store and done some trading. It was 12 o’clock before we served an account of summary, customers, John came and put us over the river and helped to carry some of the things, then went back to the store. We came to the house, got some ( )and the children had the horses

there, saddled up and came home.

Tuesday Mar. 5 Got ready to go to camp, but just as we were eating dinner Ephraim came down from camp, so we did not go.

Wednesday Mar. 6 1 went up to camp. While we were getting ready the Johnson’s boys came up to work on their ditch and brought our mail, 3 letters and 4 or 5 papers. Our letters were from Ben and Edith so I took it up to them. One of my letters was from my father and one from my brother William.

Thursday Mar. 7th 1901 1 brought the horse down so that we could go to Conference. When I got home Eph was tanning a goat skin and a lion skin. It turned out to be very cloudy and cold.

Friday Mar. 8 1 did not feel well this morning, so I got Althera to wash for me and Vigo is sick in bed also. The wind blew cold all day. Pa and Eph went down to Annie Nelson’s to fix our bees.

Saturday Mar. 9 Ephraim went after the horses and at noon we started to town. Went to the store and got some trading. Went to Johns and stayed all night. Pres. Ivins and councilors were in.

Sunday Mar. 10 Went to Sunday School. President and Pratt also Orson Brown our supposed Bishop of the Battafito Colonie were present and we heard some very good council. Went to dinner with brother and sister Nichols. Went to meeting at 2 P.M. Pres. Ivins, Pratt, and Brown gave some very good instructions. The growing of the Church and the spreading of the Gospel. New Mission opened in Japan and the enormous tithing paid by the Saints in the Jaurez Stake of Mexico. Surely the Lord will bless his people in this new colony, also that the President has laid up means to buy land in Jackson Co. Went to evening meeting. Stayed all night with brother and sister Nichols.

Monday Mar. 11 Had breakfast with sister Nichols, then went up to the boat to see if any one was there to ferry us over. No one there so we went to the Bishops just in time to see the Pres. and party off to the Battafito. Went to the store and found John McNeil there. Got him to take us over the river and Ephraim met us with the horses there. Went to Ellas, got our things and started home. Got home in good time. Vigo is no better and seems worse.

Tuesday, Mar. 12 Was busy all morning getting ready to go to the Battafito to put in some garden. Pa and Ephraim went taking all the garden seed and a sack of Irish potatoes to plant. Riding two horses and packed one for they will have to go all around the hill to miss the river. Could not take any wagons for the river is too high yet. It rose again on Friday night the 8.

Wednesday Mar. 13 Sprinkled down the cloths and ironed. We sent Freddy up to camp with some things to Ben and Edith and to get some goats to milk.

Thursday Mar. 14 Annie Francis came down with 13 goats and kids for us to milk. Fred did not come back with her, so she had to walk all the way and drive them her self. We were awful glad to get them so that we could have a little milk to use. Ellis Johnson came and told us there was 2 letters for us down to his fathers for some of us. So I went and got them. They were for Vigo.

Friday Mar. 15, 1901 1 had the children to rake all the leaves in the garden and they burned them at night. I patched all day.

Saturday, Mar. 16 After breakfast I had all the things taken out and I had the floors sprinkled and all the bed cloths shook and aired. Changed mattresses on the children’s bed. After breakfast I wrote to my father and mother.

Sunday Mar. 17 1 started to write to my brother Will, But did not finish it. Vigo went for the horses and we went to spend the day with sister Nelson. While I was down there I got a parcel and a letter from my daughter-in-law out in Naco. She had sent it in by one of sister Nelsons sons (Baley Nelson)

Monday, Mar. 18 The children cleaned out the cellar and sprinkled it, then we watered the garden. I bound a quilt I had laying around for quite a while. Alvin Nelson came up with some molasses and peaches for some wool. Ephraim came home from the Battafito.

Tuesday, Mar. 19 Althera worked for her self today. Ephraim was out all the morning looking for the horses but did not find them. Freddy went up on the hill to look for the burros and he found the horses too. While the little boys were out this morning getting some wood. Fred cut Don on the leg with the ax about an inch long. We did it up in the turpentine, but he cried so much that we took the rag off and put sweet oil on it and it eased it and then he went to sleep. Oh Eph brought home four letters from the P.O. One for me, one for Pa and one from Aunt Jane and one for himself from Sarah, one for Althera from Lillie and Sarah. Pa did not come home. Eph said he stayed to a meeting they were going to hold on Wednesday to see if they were allowed to take the sheep there or not. While there, they went to Olive Nelsons wedding.

Wednesday, mar. 20 Ephraim went up the river to get our grist that he left in January as we are about out of flour. He had quite a time in finding the horses and believe he borrowed some burros, 2 or 3 of our own, making 7 in all. Washed today, my hands being very sore when I cut down my finger nails, being so thin they broke off leaving the ends very tender. Vigo shod his horse that he got from Eph.

Thursday, Mar. 21 Vigo got up the horses and hauled up some wood. I ironed my clothes and taught Althera how to do the Kensington stitch in her handkerchief, also the Byock stitch to knit her baby some shoes. This afternoon the children watered the things in the garden. I did a little steam boiling. There is a Mexican staying with us tonight, He is traveling on foot, going up to Battafito. We call him, "after the ball", because he sang, "after the ball", for us when he passed by and stopped in for lunch.

Friday, Mar. 22, 1901 Pa came home from Moralos (Battafito). I wrote to the girls and braided a yard of braid. Pa told us that they would not allow any sheep and goats down there. I don’t know what we will do now. And also that our son Dan could not have a lot there. Because they heard that he did not carry himself quite straight.

Saturday, Mar. 23 1901 1 went to town to mail some photos to my father, brothers and sisters. Called at Ella’s and got my cape.

Sunday, Mar. 24 We were getting ready to go the Battafito, digging up plants and trees and so forth. Eph went up to camp to get Queen mare. I wrote to Emma McNeil.

Monday, Mar. 25 We sent Annie up to camp early this morning to get us a mutton to take with us. It is now 3:15 P.M. and she isn't here yet. We don’t know what is keeping her. Eph has gone on with a wagon, and Vigo and I are waiting for her to come. I feel so uneasy for fear there is something wrong. The mail boy has just called, the first time for about six weeks, on account of the river being up. Just as we got down the ditch going away, she came down the hill with the meat. So we went down as far as Johns and camped.

Tuesday, Mar. 26 We stopped in town to get some things to take with us. Matches, beans, lard, sugar and wagon grease and so forth. Then we went down to sister Naglies and waited for her to get ready to drive down with us as she did not like to drive alone. We got in Moralos at sundown and it blew very cold.

Wednesday, Mar. 27 The boys worked hard all day to level the lots with scrapers.

Thursday, Mar. 28 The boys borrowed a small plow to furrow off with so we could plant melons.

Friday, Mar. 29 Plowed and scraped and planted out small trees, pie plant, and so forth. But, oh how the wind does blow, blow, blow. I led the mare while the boys scraped and it very near buried us up in dust.

Saturday, Mar. 30 1 got dinner for the men folks. Then went over to sister Rays to wash out some towels and aprons. The wind blew as hard as ever.

Sunday. Mar. 21 This morning it is very cold and looks very stormy. We got ready and went to Sunday School and meeting and had dinner with brother and sister Bowler. But it was very cold and during the meeting it started to rain, and Vigo had to go and take in the bedding. It was very cold that night.

Monday, April, 1, 1901 This morning it is very cold and there is snow on all the mountains. Vigo went out with Bishop Brown to help survey. I tried to knit on my lace, but was so cold it made my hands ache. So I went over to sister John Naglies to get warm. At supper time she gave me a small bucket of milk. So we had milk for supper.

Tuesday, April, 2, 1901 A nice warm day. Eph cut some fence posts in the morning, then went to look for a cow but did not find one. Vigo went with the surveyors again.

Wednesday, April, 3 Wind is blowing again today. Eph dug post holes. Vigo went to survey. I went to sister Hunsaker’s to bake my bread. Pa planted garden seed.

Thursday, April, 4 Today the wind blew harder than ever, it almost blew the wagon bows and cover off. It is all I can do to cook at all. When we eat our dinner we just have to raise up the pot lid and dip out the beans as we eat them. I was kneeling down by the spring seat we had for the table and the dust blew so that I had to stand up. Then when I stood up the wind blew so strong that it blew the beans right out of my spoon. So when I was putting them in my mouth I had to turn my back to the wind and as I sit now inside the cover now to write the sand just slips up in my face and all over the paper.

Friday l April 5 Wind blowing again today. The boys are busy putting up fence. They got Wilford Ray to help them.

Saturday, April, 6 The boys fenced and they had another of Ray’s boys to help them. Pa planted garden seeds.

Sunday, April, 7 Fast Day. Did not get up very early. Eph went to look for the horses. Pa, Freddy and I went to meeting. Eph did not find the place, said it was very rough country.

Monday, April, 8 The boys finished putting up fence and watered the lots. Oh, dear we have been here so long that I fear the children at home will be uneasy about us. But it has taken so much longer to work the lots than I thought it would. They had to do so much scraping and leveling. But think we can start home in the morning.

Tuesday, April 9, Vigo got the horses. Pa and Eph finished watering the lots. Started for home about 9 A.M. Eph went to look for his little gilsy mare, she had been gone for nearly a year. He found her and she had a nice mare colt just a few days old. We did not get home until sundown.

Wednesday, April, 10 Vigo, Pa and Althera went to the colony to get lumber to shear on. Eph went up to camp to tell Ben to come down with the sheep. I did not feel well today. Took a bath and changed my cloths. Was about all I got done.

Thursday, April,ll, 1901 Ben and Edith came down from Camp. Eph and Jess brought the sheep and goats. Vigo and Johnny McNeil built a shearing pen. I cut out pants for Don Carlos.

Friday, April 12 1901 The boys started to shear. Althera washed. Edith and I made wool sacks, cooked and so forth. Sheared the goats first.

Saturday, April 13 Boys sheared and we made wool sacks.

Sunday, April, 14 Boys sheared. Edity went down to Johnson’s to get some eggs and bickls.

Monday, April, 15 Boys sheared sheep. Edith made one wool sack. Althera sick with the lagrippe.

Tuesday, April, 16 The boys finished shearing the sheep. I wrote a letter to Dan and Emma. Johnney took it down with him to post it for me. A Mexican brought a new wagon here to leave for a while.

Wednesday, April 17 -The boys made a box to dip the sheep in, and started to dip the sheep. It is cold and windy. We ground salt while it was clean.

Thursday, April 18 The boys dipped sheep and Edity washed for me. I felt very miserable. Could not do much. Pa and Eph went to Annie Nelson’s and got our Beehives, three of them.

Friday, April 19 Pa went to Battafito to water the garden. I went as far as town with him and got some things. Had to get some Cresylite to finish dipping the sheep. Ben got some shoes and Edith a dress. The boys hadn't dip to go on dipping the sheep so they went up to camp to get some that was up there and to look for some sheep.

Saturday, April 20 The boys went up to camp to look for some sheep. Jess and Fred herded the sheep. I washed clothes and Vigo washed goats wool. Edith and Althera ironed and baked bread.

Sunday, April 21 The boys thought they would finish dipping.

Monday, April 22 Cut out Edith’s dress and made Dons pants. Boys looked for sheep but did not find any. Vigo washed wool.

Tuesday, April, 23 1 went to town to mail a letter to Chihuahua to see if we could find a market for the wool. Got a letter from Dan and answered it in sister Leaths. Left it for them to send out first chance. Vigo is sick again.

Wednesday, April, 24 Eph made Don and Annie some tawas (shoes). Sewed on Edith’s dress. Edith cut out a pattern for her May dress.

Thursday, April 25, 1901 Sewed on Edith’s dress. Pa came home from Battafito while we were eating dinner. Eph went to town to see the Bishop about getting his flour up at the mill that the miller cheated us out of. Jesse and Annie washed wool and broke the cloths wringer. Vigo is pretty sick.

Friday, April, 26 Ephraim is fixing up the spring wagon to go up to Basaras to get our flour. The children and Pa are washing wool. Wallace Johnson came along about 5 o’clock to go up with Eph. The herd came and Eph caught goats and kids to take up to Joseph Stalian’s. We had been getting mescal from him. Don Carlos went with Ephraim.

Saturday, April, 27 Jesse and Annie herded for Ben while he and Edith went to town to get some things. I went also. Althera sewed on her dress. Vigo is still sick. Pa worked with the bees and turned the wool to dry.

Sunday, April 28 1 wrote a letter to Hannah Goodman. Ben and Jess went up to camp with the sheep to see if they could find any of the sheep they had lost. Althera cut out her dress because she was in a hurry to get it made to go to Moralos with the folks and she wanted to make it on the machine before she went away. Annie and Freddy herded the milk goats.

Monday, April 29 Pa and Edith washed wool all day and Vigo helped a little. Althera made her dress. I braided straw for Pa a hat. Annie and Freddy herded milk goats.

Tuesday, April, 30 The girls washed today. Pa washed a little wool, but gave it up. I braided on Pa's hat. and got dinner. The children herded goats again. Ben and Jess came home tonight with them but only found 3 head. Ben killed a lamb that had got hurt.

Wednesday, May, 1 Althera and Edith ironed and were getting ready to go to Moralos. I sewed on Pa’s hat and Pa washed a little wool. Vigo packed up the wagon. I did not get Pa’s hat finished, as I had to undo some of it.

Thursday, May 2 Well the folks got ready about noon to start. We had a bite of dinner and I went as far as town with them. I got some shirting and some sugar and started for home. Got as far as brother Hanie’s store when sister Nichols came along and said that brother McNeil had got thrown from a horse. So I tied up my horse and went back to see what was the matter. He had got shook up pretty bad. Ben was sent for and he changed horses with Pa, so they started on again.

Friday, May, 3 Annie and I washed wool until we were nearly give out. Eph and Jess are herding for Ben, while he has gone to Battafito. He has gone to look at the country to see if he can find a suitable place for the sheep and Edith went to be baptized into the Morales Ward.

Saturday, May, 4, 1901 Me and the children washed wool in the morning and in the afternoon. I washed out a few clothes to change the children for tomorrow. Oh, I was too tired to read well when I went to bed.

Sunday, May, 5 Washed and changed the children’s clothes. Got dinner for the boys, as they came for their dinner today. I tried to rest a little this afternoon. Had a short nap. I had to get up and bake bread for supper.

Monday, May 6 Well this morning the children were anxious to go to the May day doing they are having in town today. It is the Mexicans day of Victory. Like our Fourth of July is to us and our people help with it. But the children could not go as we had no team here. And I believe too that Jesse and Eph lost some sheep yesterday. The children and I washed wool again today and I am awful tired tonight. Put my cloths to soak and made cheese today.

Tuesday, May, 7 Today I washed and, Oh such a dirty washing and when I got done I was so tired I could not eat any supper. After we had gone to bed and gone to sleep, Ben and Edith came home from Moralos. She told me she got baptized on the Saturday before the 4th of May.

Wednesday, May, 8 The boys went up to camp, Eph to look for Queen and Ben to look for sheep. Killed a wild pig. Jesse and Annie took the herd. I sewed on my dress. Edith ground salt, pepper and spice. Pa got home from Johneys.

Thursday, May, 9 Today Eph went up to Bavispie to look for his mare. Ben went up to Camp with the pack, he did not feel very well. Jesse having gone up to camp with the sheep. I did not do much but get the boys ready for their trip. Oh, we set a cheese, but got it scalded so we could not make one. Sewed a little on my dress.

Friday, May, 10 1 sewed a little on my dress. Edith ironed for me. I have felt so miserable since I washed.

Saturday, May, 11 Edith washed and the little ones herded the milk goats. Eph and Ben came down from camp together. Eph did not find his mare.

Sunday, May 12 Did up the work and sprinkled the floor and laid down a while to read.

Monday, May, 13 We had a few pieces of denim to wash out. So Edith washed them and I sprinkled the cellar and swept the door yard. Eph finished washing the goat’s wool. Al Nelson came up to work on their water ditch dam and his wife and mother came up with him to pay me a visit. It was the old woman’s birthday, 69 years old.

Tuesday, May, 14 1901 Eph washed some dirty sheep’s wool and we had to see how much it would wash away. We found out it would wash away half. Edith did some patching and did her ironing.

Wednesday, May 15 Ben and Edith just got ready to go up to camp again. Thought they could make some cheese while there was water up there as it is drying up quite fast. I made a shirt for Eph.

Thursday, May, 16 1 cut out some garments for Fed and Don and made them each a pair and washed the children. More work than I have done in a long while. Eph set fire and fixed wagons.

Friday, May, 17 Pa has been trying to fix the spring seat up to go on the mountain with. Eph fixed the wagons up. I mended a pair of drawers for Jess. He was to have been down last night, but did not come and has not come yet tonight. I do not know what is the matter. I felt awful miserable again today. If I get much weaker I won’t be able to do my work at all. But I do want to live a little while longer yet.

Saturday, May, 18 Made Eph a shirt today. Eph loaded one wagon with wool. Pa mended the old spring seat. About 2 P.M. Jess came down from camp with old topsey and flax. He told us that Lizzy had a colt this morning the reason he did not bring her. The little boys herded the milk goats over the river again today. We wanted to go to town tomorrow but having only the one horse we can’t go very well. Eph went down to Brother Johnson’s to see if he could borrow a horse. They said we could have the old gray mule if we could find her.

Sunday, May, 19 Well this morning Jess went out to look for the old gray mule but did not find her, and I was rather glad he did not for I do not like to do business on Sundays. So we spent the day in reading. Towards evening Eph and Jess went down to Johnson’s. This afternoon the boys and Annie caught a bull lizard by the neck. They lassoed it with a string up in a tree. We were keeping it for the little boys to look at and it got the loop off some way.

Monday, May, 20 This morning Ephraim came to the conclusion that it would be better to wait until he could go up to Bavispia to look for queen again and come home by way of the camp and bring back a team as we could take the tithing wool down and brother Nicol’s grindstone home. So Jess went up to camp with some things for Edith. I soldered a five gallon can for her to use. I made a shirt for Jess today and put my clothes to soak whether I am able to wash or not. I feel pretty weak.

Tuesday, May 21 Well I started to wash this morning but it was very hard work. I feel just like I did before we left Arizona, too miserable to live. Patched a pair of overalls this afternoon for Jess and sprinkled down the clothes.

Wednesday, May, 22, 1901 1 had just starched 3 shirts and 3 pillow slips to iron when Eph came down from camp with Fanny and his mare Doll and asked me if I was ready to go to town. So I hurried up and got ready. We went but Doll was so weak, that it was with difficulty we got along at all. We had to keep stopping to rest her. It was nearly 9 o’clock when we got home.

Thursday, May, 23 1 have done nothing today but read a little and lay on the bed. I feel so miserable. Pa made some bee frames. Eph went up the river to get a stick for a cradle handle.

Friday, May, 24 This morning we helped Eph to bend a stick for a scythe or cradle handle. I patched two of my dresses and Pa worked on the new beehives. Eph made Don a pair of Tawas.

Saturday, May 25 Pa washed himself and thought he would try and walk to town. He is lonesome up here without any one to talk to. He wanted to see Alcout when he could get a team to take out the wool. When Pa said he was going to town I thought I would write a letter to my daughter Hannah Goodman in Linden Arizona to see if they were really coming out here and send it down by him to the office. The mail carrier does not come by this way any more and I was told he was not allowed to carry letters any more unless they were in the mail bag.

Sunday, May 26 After breakfast Ephraim went up to the sheep camp to take some things up to Edith and to get the horses to go down to Battafito tomorrow. But just about 7 o’clock here came Ben with the horses and he had not seen Eph. He brought the three cheeses, 5 lbs each, and he wanted more cheese colve and butter colve and other little things. A very sad thing happened that made us feel very sad. We had a very nice little milk cow that belonged to a brother John N. Rencher. We had turned the calf out to feed and a cow came up feeding around. The children were trying to keep the calf from the cow as the cow was much bigger and they were afraid the cow would hurt the calf. When the children could not get the calf to move, they called to Ben to help them. The calf was in some brush when Ben picked up a rock and threw it at the calf to scare it out of the brush. But the rock happened to hit it in the forehead and killed it in a minute. He felt pretty blue about it and so did we all. I don’t know but what the man may make us pay pretty smart for it, but it could not be helped. It was not done intentionally. It thundered and sprinkled a little this afternoon. It’s quite cold and cloudy. I wish it would rain, we need it so bad. The water is drying up in camp. Ben told us that the river had taken lizzie’s colt, our mare and one of Dan’s old Sally a nice black one. That is three colts gone. It looks as though we are not to be prospered any more in this life. I don’t know but that the Lord is trying us to the utmost. But I do hope that we endure faithful to the end through it all. I feel quite sad and lonesome this afternoon. For all are away. The little ones are away herding the milk goats and trying to fish. They have caught 2 very small bat fish.

Monday, May, 27 Eph came in with the horses and I went to town to see brother Nichols, if he would take out a load of wood for us. Said he could not tell until the Bishop came home from Jaurez to see if he had any of the goods for the store.

Tuesday, May, 28, 1901 Pa and Eph went to the Battafito and set out 400 sweet potato plants and watered the garden. I sewed on a shirt for Jess.

Wednesday, May, 29, I washed and could hardly get it done, I was so weak. I washed a pair of my blankets and I had to cut them to handle them. In the afternoon I stitched the end of one of them and sprinkled down the clothes.

Thursday, May, 30 I ironed and finished Jesse’s shirt and made a pair of garments for Don and an underwaist for Annie so they could bathe and change their clothes in the evening. Pa and Eph came home from the Battafito.

Friday, May, 31 Jesse came down from camp for supplies. Had to send him to town for some. A Mexican came down with Jesse. Bringing queen that has been gone so long. She has a nice little mare colt. We had to pay him $5.00 for bringing her down. He got her up in Basaras. I made Freddy a pair of pants.

Saturday, June, 1, 1901 Jesse went for the corn and then helped Freddy to find the goats. Then came and packed and went to camp and took Don with them. I was sick last night with the cramps and Annie had to get up and get a fire so I could have some hot water. Pa fixed Fred’s Tawas. It is awful hot and cloudy. Sewed some on Don a pair of overalls. I had another weak spell before going to bed. I could hardly eat a bite.

Sunday, June 2 1 did not feel any better when I got up this morning. I had to bake bread. I tried to fast but felt so weak and trembly I thought it best to eat a little, as I don’t eat any thing to speak of any way. Pa went to meeting. He started to talk, I don’t know whether he got a ride with brother Johnson’s folks or not. Ben came down about noon and brought the horse in place of Jess. He said that Jess got the horses and topsey fell on him and he thought he had his leg broke. Ephraim then went to town to see if he could get John McNeil to go up there and set it or look at it. I started to write to Lillias today. John and Eph got here at 7 P.M. and left at 8 for camp after getting bandages and so forth.

Monday, June 3 John and Eph got down here before we were out of bed. John did not come in. Eph said that Jesse’s leg was not broken, but was badly bruised. They fixed him up as comfortable as possible. We sent Fred after Lizzy the mare to go to town to bring Pa home. I was busy as I could be all day getting the folks the wool. I finished a pair of overalls for Pa. Packed up their grub boxes and valice. One of brother Frank Scott’s boys came up after the wool. It was just about sundown when Eph got started from here. But they wanted to get as far as town from here tonight.

Tuesday, June 4, 1901 I got the children to go up on what they call Bowley mountain with the goats to see if they could see the mare, lizzy, that I might go to town and get some things for Ben. I must get him some shoes as he is just about barefooted. I will finish writing to Emma and Lillias today. The children did not find Lizz. I made Fred a pair of pants.

Wednesday, June, 5 I churned this morning. After breakfast I sent Fred to see if he could find Lizz. He got her about 2 o’clock, then I sent him to put her on the big west hill. But I thought I saw her going off to the south about sundown. I was in hopes I could go to town tomorrow and get Ben a pair of shoes and then I could go up to see how Jess was getting along. I made Don Carlos a pair of pants today and this morning I pieced one of my old blankets so that I could keep it down under my feet covered. It kept getting up around my neck and something has taken my little chick hen. She was such a good little mother to her chickens. She was only 7 months old and had 11 chickens. We have not seen her today, so I sent Annie to put the little things in the coop. They are only 3 weeks old. I patched a pair of drawers for Annie and a waist for Don this morning.

Thursday, June, 6 This morning I sent Freddy to get the mare. He got her in a couple of hours, so I went to town to get Ben a pair of shoes and overalls. I left Annie to put the clothes to soak and told the little boys to go after the goats when it got time. But when I got home at sundown Annie said they had only just gone and I sent her after them. Now it is pitch dark and they are not here yet. I have just been out to call them and they answered me. But no goats or cow. Oh dear, we have sad times of it lately. It seems as though everything goes wrong. I am awful discouraged and I have no home yet, nor I don’t see any show or prospects of one very soon.

Friday, June, 7 I washed today and it nearly used me up. I am so tired. I have darned one stocking. I could not sleep. Annie went and got the goats this morning.

Saturday, June, 8 I’m not fit for one thing today. I am so sore and tired. I have darned one stocking today and that is all I have done besides baking and churning. I sprinkled down the clothes. I sent Annie up to camp to see how Jess was getting along.

Sunday, June, 9 1 had to get up and milk the goats, for Annie was not here. It was about 10 o’clock when we had breakfast. I washed the two little children all over and was just getting them dressed when Annie and Jesse came down. I went and helped him into the house. We carried him on a chair. His foot was quite swollen and he said it hurt him to ride. The little boys could not find the goats tonight.

Monday, June, 10 1 sent Annie up on the hill to get Lizzy so that I could go to town. Ben sent word to get Johney McNeil to come up and help him move the sheep down for the water had dried up. So I went to Johney McNeil and asked him if he could spare little Johney to go up and help Ben. He said he did not know how to spare him, just like he always talks, but finally he said he could go. I went and had a talk with the Bishop, while I was in town about our position with sheep and goats. He was getting ready to go to Jaurez and said he was glad I had come down so that now he could have a talk with brother Pratt about us, and perhaps get us a place over in Dublan if not here.

Tuesday, June 11, 1901 Our cow is gone and we can't find her. I have sent Annie down to brother Rencher’s to see if she has gone home and they said she was down there Sunday night. I am afraid she will dry up.

Wednesday, June 12, 1901 1 sent Annie down to see if she could find her but she came home without her. Rencher’s told her that the cow had gone down on the Anerson flat, her old range. So she will do us no more good. She must be dry by this time. The little boys went up the river to herd the milk goats. I sent some wool down to old sister Nelson today for her quilt and got some peas to eat. So we had a good supper.

Thursday, June 13 Joseph brought our cow home for us. We milked her, but her milk was very yellow and salty. Sewed and patched. While Joe was here. I got him to help me to cross the ditch with Jess. Then I carried him over to the river so he could fish.

Friday, June 14 Ben came down with the cheese and while he was here we found that the red and yellow birds were taking our Bees. So we got all the cartridge we could find and tried to kill them. Jess killed 2 birds. He wanted me to go to Brother Johnson’s to see if I could borrow a gun to kill them with. But I could not. I had not been home more than an hour when Pa and Eph got home from Dublan.

Saturday, June 15 Ben and Edith came down from Camp. There was a Mexican came here with graham to sell. We bought 200 lbs from him for 9.00 dollars.

Sunday, June 16, Pa went to town to go to meeting and to see when brother Haynie could come up to sell the boys a portion of his land. They thought they might, but brought word that he might be up.

Monday, June 17 Did a little of every thing today. Eph is busy making cradle scythes to go up to Bavispia to cut wheat for the Mexicans.

Tuesday, June 18 Eph still working at his scythes. Edith washed.

Wednesday, June 19 1 washed, Eph went to round up the horses. Ben came down from camp after dark and brought some dried deer meat.

Thursday, June 20 Ben got ready and went up the river with brother Haynie to look at some range land. Thought we might buy it for the sheep, but it did not suit us. Eph went up to camp to take care of the sheep for Ben while he went with brother Haynie.

Friday, June, 21 Ben went up to camp and Eph came down and was busy making swaths for the cradle. Pa made me a new bread board. Something I never had before.

Saturday, June 22 1 have forgotten what was done today. I did not put it down. Oh yes, Pa went to the Battafito, went as far as John McNeils and passed some Mexicans and Topsey’s colt followed them. So he had to come all the way back after it. He ate dinner and started back after it. I did some ironing. Eph went to town after some things to take up to Bavispia with him.

Sunday, June 23 Eph thought he would start to Bavispia and then gave it up. Thought he would do better to wait until Monday and not break the Sabbath. But I broke it by washing him out a shirt. He has only the two and I wanted him to take them both for he expected to be gone quite a number of days.

Monday, June 24 1901 Eph got started pretty early this morning. He hired little Joe Nelson to go up with him as he had no one to help him with his team.

Tuesday, June 25 our cow has left us again. Brother Johnson came up from Battafito and brought a few potatoes for us that Pa had sent up.

Wednesday, June 26 Sent Annie out to look for the horses. She brought Gillsie in and Jess went to see if he could see the cow but did not find her.

Thursday, June 27 Jesse went again today but did not find her, but heard that she had gone back to Rencher’s. Jodie Nelson came down from Bavispia and said that his Pa had come out from Jaurez and had sent for him to come home and that Eph wanted Jess to come up there just as soon as he could and to take up another team. Pa has not come home yet and I don’t know what to think about it. I am afraid there is something wrong. It has thundered all the afternoon and now it is trying to rain. I washed today and Ben came down from camp with the sheep. Pa was so long coming home from the Battafito that we had made up our minds to send for him in the morning. But about 12 o’clock in the night Pa and Dan McNeil came into the house. They said they would have been home sooner but someone had changed the bur on the wagon wheel and it kept coming off and they had quite a time with it in getting home. Dan had just come in from Naco, to go up to Bavispia to cut wheat and had left Emma in the Battafito.

Friday, June, 28 We had a visitor this morning from a gentleman from Bavispia. He is called Dr. Hone. He was very kind to us. He wrote out a couple of documents for us so that we could get the papers for the wool so that we could ship it out of the state. Ben and Dan were here nearly all day. There was a young man who came up from Battafito and stopped while he ate dinner. Then they went up to Bavispia. Edith found a sheet of mine that had been lost for a long while, between the wall and some boxes, at the head of the children’s bed.

Saturday, June, 29 Edith did the ironing, and I did quite a bit of patching. Sent Jess over to the river to bathe, and change his cloths. Pa fixed some on the Bee Hives.

Sunday, June 30, 1901 1 thought I would lay down to rest after breakfast. Little

Johney McNeil came here to eat dinner with us. Pa went up to the mescal or Vanata, a place where the Mexicans make mescal.

Monday, July 1, 1901 Edith washed and I felt awful tired. So went to bed for awhile. Then I went and helped Edith rinse out her clothes. Then, in the afternoon I braided some for Don a hat.

Tuesday, July, 2 1 washed today and it is my birthday, 48 years old today. I had a big wash. Edith helped me and we got it out 20 minutes, after 11 o’clock. I got dinner and went to bed and had a sleep. But it was so hot I sweat until my clothes were sopping wet. So I went and had a bath. But I did not feel very well after it. I have not been able to do any thing this afternoon. I have such weak spells. So I undressed and went to bed. Then thought of my journal and got up and wrote in it. Ben brought Lizzy from the camp. So I think I will go to town tomorrow, that is if she can be found.

Wednesday, July, 3 1 felt quite miserable this morning, but as the children have got the mare I thought I had better go to town. So while in town I took the Bishop some money that Dan had brought in from Naco. From Bishop Jessie N. Smith, also Dan’s recommend and 15 dollars for his tithing. I also got a chance to get him a cradle to cradle wheat with and sent him word in Bavispia by mail. I got $12.70 merchandise for me and $11.05 for Edith.

Thursday, July, 4 1 did not feel very well today after my ride to town yesterday. I cut me out a gown and braided some for Don Carlos a hat. Edith sewed some on the machine. Pa worked at the bee Hives and Ben herded the sheep. The little boys as usual, herded the goats.

Friday, July, 5 Cut out three pair of garments and braided for Dons hat. Edith sewed on the machine. Pa worked on the bee Hives. Ben herded the sheep. The little ones herded the milk goats. Annie tried to keep the cow at home. She had been away again until she was nearly dry.

Saturday, July, 6 Pa went to town this morning. He was going to walk, but when Freddy was going up the cow trail with the goats he saw lizzy the mare coming in to water and called to Annie to come and get her. So Pa rode lizzy to town. I sewed on Don’s hat but did not get it quite finished. I was so sleepy I had to go and lay down awhile. The mosquitoes bother us so bad at nights and it is so warm too that we can hardly sleep at all.

Sunday, July, 7 It is fast day and I do wish we could go to fast meeting but we did not fast for Ben could not fast and climb the hill after the sheep and not eat. Well I felt as though I would like to fast, but it is hard work when I have to cook breakfast for the rest. A Mexican came here while I was asleep. So the girls woke me up to talk to him. The Mexican came after cheese.

Monday, July, 8, 1901 We missed the water this morning, the ditch has gone dry. So we have to go to the river to carry water to drink. But we managed to wash with the water that was left in the hole.

Tuesday, July, 9 1901 We washed the colored clothes today.

Wednesday, July, 10 Edith ironed today. I went to town to get Edith some things, but I felt as though I could hardly do it. I have not put anything down like I ought to have done. I have been so tired I have neglected to write in my book. And I did think I would not miss a single day when I started it. I cut out baby clothes for Edith.

Sunday, July, 14, 1901 Edith and I went down to brother Johnson’s to get some melons to eat. Don and Fred went with us and Annie went with the milk goats. We ate dinner with sister Johnson. She went to the Colonia to meeting with her boys. Then we went as far as sister Nelson and had some grapes to eat.

Monday, July, 15 Jesse came home from Bavispia on Glesie, Ephs mare. The boys had got through cutting wheat and started to haul. I finished a pair of garments I started and Edith cut out her a new night gown.

Tuesday, July, 16 I sent Jess to town after the mail and some things from the store. Also with two cheeses for some Mexicans for some potatoes in exchange. I sewed on me a new gown yoke. Edith crotched and braided straw. The water came down in the ditch.

Wednesday, July, 17 We washed all the white clothes today. In the afternoon sewed. Ediths night dress yoke. Put Jesse and Annie to rubbing the colored clothes.

Thursday, July, 18 1 sent Freddy with Ben to get Lizzy so I could go to town. But they did not get here until 11 o’clock. I had to iron me a shirt waist to go in. I made starch and did up Eph’s shirts, one bonnet, one white shirt, then got dinner and went to town. Pa got a note this afternoon from brother Haymore saying that we had to move the sheep right away. And if we did not we would be put off the colonia. Freddy and Don lost the goats today so there is no milk for tomorrow.

Friday, July, 19 Annie and Freddy went after the goats. Got them about 11 o’clock. Edith is ironing. Jesse has sifted the graham, it had weevils in it.

Saturday, July, 20 Pa started to go town to see if he could go to Dublan with brother Langford, but just as he was starting we heard a wagon coming down the hill and we waited to see if it was our boys and so it was. Pa waited then until after dinner. Talking over matters and etc. then went down to town.

Sunday, July 21, 1901 The boys laid around all day. Jesse was not feeling well. He complained of a stiff neck and headache. I straightened up the house and got dinner.

Eph were out in the storm, as they had not come home yet from Dublan where they had gone to get goods for the store. Ellis Johnson came here this morning and brought me some cucumbers and a dozen eggs that he owed me for a hen.

Monday, Aug. 5, This morning Ben took most of the big kids in the herd so we now will have plenty of milk. I thought the water would be up this morning, but it was more clear than it had been for a long while. So we dipped and filled all the things that we could.

Tuesday, Aug. 6 Edith cut out her dress and I patched some underclothes for Pa and Eph, and cut out some patch work and made a block but did not like it.

Wednesday, Aug. 7 1 helped Edith to make her dress.

Thursday, Aug. 8 The mail boy came by here today and told us that Eph was very sick over in Dublan, the reason they had not come home. I was washing when he came by, I was washing out my dress, I thought I would go to town tomorrow but now I won’t go.

Friday, Aug. 9. This morning Edith got worried about Ben and started to walk up to camp to see what had become of him because he had not been down for a day or two. I told her he was alright and not to go, but I could not prevail on her to stay. So after she had been gone an hour or two, Ben came down for some grub and he was alright. We just had got the mare up to send after her so Ben got on her and started off as fast as he could go. I did both washings and was awful tired, just the white clothes. I sent Annie to Johnson’s to see if there was any mail, but she did not get any but heard that brother Frank Scott Sr. had been killed by lightning the night before or Wednesday night and that brother Johnson had gone to his funeral. Brother Scott was up in his field to work all day and had started home when it came up a very heavy thunder shower and he stopped under a tree out of the rain when the lightning killed both him and his horse. He was a splendid good man and beloved by all. It was a shock to me. I could hardly sleep that night.

Saturday, Aug. 10, 1901 1 washed again today as I did not get done yesterday. But about 2 o’clock there came up an awful rainstorm and flooded the place all over, nearly scaring us out of our wits. My two little boys were out in it and I was so afraid they would get struck by lightning. But, in they came just ahead of the flood. It ran down in the cellar, filling it full with such a roaring noise, I thought everything would be washed out but all was safe after the water went down. I pulled my shoes off and out I went with my clothes pinned up, britches and up to my knees in water making ditches or trying to make ditches to turn the water but it came in the house in spite of me and I had to dig a ditch to let it out. Oh it was a terrible flood. It made gulleys everywhere. Ben and Edith came down just after the rain.

Sunday, Aug. 11, I got Ben and Annie to work at the cellar to dip out the water so we could put the milk down in it again and they dipped out 400 buckets full and there it was still nearly a foot deep. Then Jeese and I got ready and went down to Alvin Nelsons to get some melons and grapes to eat and while there, Brother Johnson came in and I asked him to lay his hands on his head for his health as he had been sick for over two months, just puny and pine away. Don’t know what ailed him particularly. We had a good time and got home just before the rain.

Monday, Aug. 12 Annie and Don herded the milk goats, while Fred and I cleaned out the cellar and, oh my, it was a job. It took us until noon. Edith ironed and after dinner put out the wheat to dry that had gotten wet. 3 big sacks of it and fixed the stove pipe, it had blown down. And I had such a job for it had nearly all rusted away being in the rain so much. We finished the day catching flies. I guess we must have caught a hundred or more with molasses on the table.

Tuesday, Aug. 13 Edith, Annie and Dan went down to Nelsons to get a treat of grapes and melons but they got fooled, they told me they never got any. I cooked a mess of greens for supper. Jess took a cheese up to the mescal Ranch and got me a bottle of mescal for it. The river is up very high again. It thundered and rained every afternoon until everything is nothing but mud, mud, mud, until I am tired of it and I am sure that Eph and Pa will have an awful time of it getting home. I heard today that they were on the road, but that they had to make road, all the way. They had been there four days. I fear he is sick again. Well it is nearly 10 o’clock and I am so sleepy. So I guess that I will go to bed. It is thundering and raining again.

Wednesday, Aug. 14 I waited all day today to hear news from the mail carrier but he did not come.

Thursday, Aug. 15 I got ready to go town to see what was the matter with the folks, got to town about 4 o’clock, went into the store and saw Ephraim. He looks very bad and he was sick. Could do nothing at trading or they had not opened up the goods yet. So I stayed all night with sister Haynie and Eph slept there too. I was surprised not to see Pa. He did not come in with Eph. He said Pa had gone to El Paso to see about the wool.

Friday, Aug. 16, 1901 Did some trading and started home about noon. We came up with the horses packed, as far as John McNeil’s boat. Put the things in and swam the horse over. Little Johney ferried us over.

Saturday, Aug. 17, 1901 1 did not do much of any thing only wait on the sick folks. Eph is sick in bed with the chills and fever. Jesse is no better. Edith feels sick today. In the afternoon she did a little washing.

Sunday, Aug. 18, 1901 Eph is no better but seems to be worse. Jesse is better. Edith feels better today. I feel very tired but can’t get any rest. I made a few cakes to see if Eph could eat anything. It rained quite hard. Then tonight about 8 o’clock Ben came in wet as a drowned rat. Had to lend him some clothes to put on.

Monday, Aug. 19 I cleaned out some wool this morning to take down to a man in town to get a few potatoes for us to eat. But it was too late for us to go when we got done so I thought I would not go until morning. Eph was not much better. Ben put shoes on Eph’s mare for him then went back to camp about noon.

Tuesday, Aug, 20, I went to town this morning with the wool and took Annie with me for an out, she not having been out since Christmas. When we got to town we were surprised to see Pa there. He had come in with the Scott boys from Dublan. So we brought him home with us. Just 4 weeks today to the day since he left home. Got a letter from Hannah today, the first one for two months.

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 1 have neglected my books again, having so much sickness to wait on so that I don’t attend to it as I should, being so tired at nights that I want to get in bed just as soon as I can. Today Annie came down with the fever too. Put my clothes to soak tonight.

Thursday, Aug. 22 Edith helped me wash today so that I can go to town tomorrow as we did not get what things we wanted, they did not come yet. And the children are all sick now. So she will stay until I go and come back as I don’t know when I can go and leave home again. Freddy came down today.

Friday, Aug. 23 Went to town crossing the river all the way down. The first time since it started to come up. I brought home some potatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes and honey to see if the sick folks could eat any better.

Saturday, Aug. 24 Ben and Edith went up to the camp today to make cheese. Did not do anything today but wait on the sick and help them get away. I tried to make a crotched pattern for Edith. Pa went to borrow some flour. Got 48 lbs. from Brother Nelson.

Sunday, Aug. 25, 1901 Pa went up to Bavispia with the mail boy to see if he could get new papers for his sheep wool as he had spoiled the other one. Had to have it to pass the wool out of this state of Sonora into the state of Chihuahua.

Monday, Aug. 26, Pa came back today alright with his papers for the wool. The sick folks no better, but seem to be worse and I feel very miserable myself.

Tuesday, Aug. 27, 1901 1 wrote a letter to my brother A. V. Call sending the papers for the wool to him in it as Pa had got him to see to it for him. Pa took the letters to brother Johnson so the mail boy could get them as he passed.

Wednesday, Aug. 28 Sick one is no better, except Jess, he seems to feel better. It is his turn to do the milking while Annie complains. Pa put a sole on one of Freddie’s Tawas. The little folks lost the goats today. Can’t find them to milk. I have been trying for two days to make Don a waist but have not done it yet.

Thursday, Aug. 29 Jesse went after the goats and found them on the hill. He milked them while I got breakfast. Eph seems to get weaker instead of better. Pa is cleaning out wool today for the mail boy. (Charley Scott) Sometimes I feel as though we are being tried to the very utmost. We are out of flour. Eph is sick and can’t go to get any. We have no place for the sheep. Don’t know what to do. No home and don’t know when we will have one. But I do hope the Lord will open the way for us pretty soon.

Friday, Aug. 30, I washed the white clothes and finished Dons waist. Pa cleaned out wool.

Saturday, Aug. 31, I finished my washing today. Sister Hudson visited with us awhile in the afternoon while her husband went up to the mescal Ranch. She brought me 25 lbs. of potatoes in payment for a mutton. Pa cleaned out wool. The children are all about the same.

Sunday, Sept. 1, 1901 Pa was getting ready to go town to go to fast meeting. Dr. Hone from Bavispia came in and said to hurry up and go to the Colonia with him. So Jess got on a horse and went and got our horse and Pa and I went to town with him. Pa and I went to fast meeting. Got a bottle of oil and had it blessed for the sick. Jesse is on the mend and I think Annie is too.

Monday,Sept. 2 Did not do anything much, felt too tired. But just as we were sitting down to dinner Dr. Hone came from town and stayed the rest of the day and overnight with us.

Tuesday, Sept. 3 I felt sick most all day, did not do any thing except cook and wash dishes, which was a misery to me.

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1901 I don’t feel much better today and Ben came down from camp with 10 cheeses and Pa had to go town after flour. And he took 4 cheeses to the store for Ben. I fixed a bath for Eph this afternoon. Brother David Johnson came to take me to help sister Langford with her daughter as she was in such long and tedious labor.

Thursday, Sept. 5, We were up all night with the girl. Her baby was born about 1 o’clock in the morning, then all was not right. So I feel no account all day today. Pa brought a letter from Lillias last night. We had not had one for a long time before.

Friday, Sept. 6 I was sick all day today, could hardly crawl around. I tried to answer Lillias’ letter but felt too bad. Pa and Jess went to town today again to get some more things that he couldn’t carry the day before and Jess went for some honey but did not get any. The woman was not home where I sent him.

Saturday, Sept. 7th Pa was taken with quite a bad diarrhea, laid in bed all day. I felt as though I wanted to go to bed. But I had to wash the sheet and a suit of clothes for Pa. I tried to sew on a waist for Don, but did not do much at it.

Sunday, Sept. 8 We thought part of us would go to sister Henderson’s to eat melons today, but Jess could not find lizzy. So Eph went to Alf Nelsons to see if he could borrow some white flour as the graham made Pa sick and himself also. He was successful in getting some. Pa doesn’t seem much better tonight. I thought I would write to my daughter today but I felt too stupid and tonight the bugs of all kinds and the millers of more than all kinds are so thick they keep me busy batting them off. So I guess I’ll go to bed with the hopes that I'll feel better tomorrow.

Monday Sept. 9 I went to town to get some things and I took Annie and Don Carlos with me to a neighbors to eat melons, sister Hudson’s halfway to town. I left them there while I went to town. I thought I would take a shorter cut by crossing the river a little higher up where there used to be a crossing. But when I got nearly to the opposite side, down went the mare up over her back in the water or in a hole rather and I’ll tell you I was pretty scared. I turned her around quick as I could and she got out pretty good. But I got wet nearly to my waist. Well, I went to town and went to sister Langford’s and she gave me a dry flannel petticoat to put on and we did not get home until after dark.

Tuesday, Sept. 10 I washed today and it threatened to rain all day, but I guess it must have rained up in the hills. Well into the night it started to rain here very hard and in a few minutes there was a big flood and it came all through the house. We had to lift everything up on chairs and boxes for the water were halfway up to our knees and Annie and Don had to sleep on the table. Eph waded around quite a bit in the water. I was afraid it would make him sick again. He did worry all night about his back.

Wednesday, Sept. 11, 1901 I tried to write to Lillias in Aizona, but did not finish it. I had to wrap up the mutton and put a swing under them to keep the flies off. One was for a Mexican and one was for brother Langford. Then two Mexicans came in and I had to get breakfast for them. I was so tired at night I could hardly sleep. I did not do any thing but chore around.

Thursday, Sept. 12, 1901 I made Don Carlos a waist today and Annie did a little ironing. Freddy does not feel very well. He was out until after dark looking for the goats. But he got them and it started to rain. And I felt rather uneasy about him and I sent Annie up on the hill to see if she could see him coming. It thundered now 15 minutes very loud and lightning and trying to rain. The river came up today just a-booming. Tonight I went and carried all my washing utensils up on the bank for fear they would be washed away. Well today is our wedding day, we have been married 33 years today. And just a year ago today, Dan, Ben and Emma, Edith and I started to come home from the Gila. We had a pretty good trip. Ephraim went down to brother Johnson’s to get the mail. But he has not come back yet. I don’t know what to make of it unless he has concluded to stay all night on account of the rain. Oh dear, it is raining again. I would not care if it did not flood.

Friday, Sept. 13 Washed a few things.

Saturday, Sept. 14 Ironed.

Sunday, Sept. 15, 1901 Read some and chored some.

Monday, Sept. 16 1 washed some clothes out for Pa to go to Utah with. He took a notion he wanted to go this October Conference. So I had to do every thing today to get him ready as we just found out that Hunter Scott was going to leave for a mission to the Southern States and we wanted to get Pa to go with him. I ironed, baked bread and cakes and put a back in Pa's vest and packed up Pa's valise and took all of my children’s names out of his diary book. Births, blessings and ordinances and etc.

Tuesday,Sept. 17 Got up early to help Pa get on his way before it would be too late. We went to town on the horses. Pa rode lizzy, I rode Gilsie and Eph rode Doll and Queen packed Pa’s valise. We had to go on the trail on account of the river being up. Got a chance for pa to go over with Charles LillieWhite as Ben Scott’s folks were too heavily loaded to take him. We brought the harness home that Eph left when he went to Dublan.

Wednesday, Sept. 18 Ephraim went up to Bavispia to see if he could get some of his wheat ground as we are out of flour. I read the Bee Souvenir most of the day.

Thursday, Sept. 19, 1901 It was today that Eph went up to Bavispie. This evening I had some Mexicans boys as visitors.

Friday, Sept. 20, 1 did not feel very well today, but I had to wash. I went down to the dam to see if I could catch lizzy, but could not. She had got so wild since she has been running out. A few minutes after I got back, a man came to inquire the way to brother Johnson’s and I knew his voice. It was brother Bowler of Battafito, he had lost his way. So I told him he could stay with us. It is 10 minutes to 10 o’clock so I will say good night.

Saturday, Sept. 21, Last night 15 min. after 12 o’clock Jess came down from camp to see if Ephraim or I could go up with some medicine to Edith for she was awful sick with a pain in her side. He had to walk too because he could not find the horse. Just as soon as he told me I thought it was some thing else, which it proved to be. I could hardly sleep for thinking about them. But I could do nothing but say my prayers for them as it was very dark and no horse here. So this morning I sent Jess after the horses and sent him back to camp and I did not see how I could get up there. For Annie has scalded her fingers so bad with hot grease that she could not do any thing with them. But after I had got breakfast and had baked the bread, I went down to brother Alvin Nelson’s and he went with me up to the sheep camp and when we got there it was all over, with a nice baby boy being born. But the poor things must have been nearly scared to death for neither of them knew what ailed her. They had done pretty well under the circumstances and had the baby washed and dressed. But they did not tie the naval string and I attended to that and fixed them up as comfortable as I could. The afterbirth had not come yet. So, after brother Nelson had administered to her he went home and I stayed all night. Edith did not rest very well for the pain in her side and Ben’s foot hurt him so that I had to get up and make a poultice for his heel where he had cut it with a rock. I was up several times with them in the night.

Sunday, Sept. 22, As soon as possible I sent Jesse down to brother Nelson’s to see if he could go after sister Lilly Langford to come up here. The afterbirth had not come yet and I sent Jesse home to look after the children. Sister Langford got here in the afternoon and brother Nelson. But the Lord was merciful to her for the afterbirth came about noon. So we fixed her up as good as we could and all started home. Sister Langford could not stay overnight for she had a very sick baby and I went home to look after the children, not getting home until after dark.

Monday, Sept. 23 1 did not feel very well today, But I had to bake and iron and I sent Freddy to find the colts, as one of them had a very bad cut over her eye, but he has not found them yet. I am afraid it might be full of worms. This afternoon I sent Annie down to brother Johnson’s to see if we had any mail and to see if they had brought my mare Lizzy back from town as I had to let sister Langford take her to ride to town or home. They got the mare and some papers and a juvenile. I hobbled liz out but she broke them and got away. So now I don’t know what I will do.

Tuesday,Sept. 24, 1901 1 sent Fred after one of the horses. He got her and then I sent him after the milk goats, as they did not get them last night. It looks like everything happens the wrong way. He saw liz up on the hill, but Oh my, I don’t suppose we will be able to get her, she runs like a deer everytime she sees us. Well, we got her just about noon and Ephraim came home at the same time but without the flour as he had lost Queen and had been hunting her and found her nearly home here. Well, we caught liz and I went up to camp and found them all well. Had a goat killed to take home.

Wednesday, Sept, 25 After breakfast we sent Jess after the horses to go home with but he did not find them. Liz was gone. So Ben got on his horse and went to find her, got on her track and tracked her nearly home. When he met Eph coming up and he said he saw her he said she had gone home. So they came to camp and I got dinner. Eph went after our other mare that runs up in the hills as he wanted them to go up to Bavispia with so that we came home and Jess with us so he could take some things back to camp. I left Don with Ben and Edith as I had taken him up with me. He said he was going to name the baby. I asked him what and he said Hillside, because it was born on a hillside. Well we got home about 8 or 9 o’clock and Dr. Hone and another gentleman were here waiting for us. He had come to let us know that we could get some land now on the Rose Via for our sheep if we wanted it for 800 dollars, but we would have to borrow the money and as there was some difficulty about the place we decided not to get it.

Thursday, Sept, 26, We all prepared to go town this morning. Took our cheese for tithing. Eph and I got some things and some potatoes and flour or graham that was at Naglies. We inquired a little in the business and found quite an excitement about the Battafito or Rose Via claiming that Dr. Hone had no right to sell it and it made him as mad as a bumble bee because he claimed to be heir to fifty of it for his family rather. So, we are no wiser as to where to locate our sheep. I forgot to say that Jess found the goats.

Friday, Sept. 27 This morning Mr. Park, the young man that came here with Dr. Hone, helped Eph make a break beam and double trees. They had to cut down a hackburry to make them out of. Dr. and Mr. Parsons bought the rest of the dirty wool we had here to start them in to the blanket business. They are going to set up a loom in Bavispia. They stayed to help fix up the wagon so they could get some of the wool hauled up here. They took 280 lbs. It took them all day to get the wagon fixed. Jesse went up to camp this morning, but he cried, he did not want to go back. Ben doesn’t do quite like he ought to with him. I had to bake bread and some sweet biscuits for Eph to take up with him and also made a kettle full of melon preserves.

Saturday, Sept. 28, 1901 Well, the folks took off this morning and the Dr. told me they had enjoyed themselves very much. But I was tired and needed rest. After so many rangle riders and cooking for the men. I went to bed and slept two hours and a half. When I awoke I had to patch a pair of garments for Fred so that he could take a bath. While I slept, Annie sifted a sack of graham, for it was getting full of weevils. Well, I just felt so lonesome I could hardly keep from crying.

Sunday, Sept. 29, 1901 Well I don’t know whether I will have to answer for what I have done or not. After reading in the Bee journal, went out to the Bee Hive and killed over 100 drones. Oh I feel so miserable and no account I don’t know what to do with myself.

Monday, Sept. 30, 1901 This morning Jess came from camp and brought Don and also brought us some mutton. I got dinner while Annie started the washing for I did not feel like washing today. But I must, for I did none last week. After dinner I finished the washing. After the washing was done Jesse, Don and I went to Vanata to sell a piece of the meat, as we had more than we could take care of. Went to bed tired.

Tuesday Oct. 1, 1901 Annie did some of the ironing while I cut out two shirts and two aprons. We killed about 200 drones this afternoon. Jesse fixed one of his tawas and then had to undo it again because it hurt his toes. Brother Ellis Johnson came down from Bavispia this afternoon and we went out to the road to see him and asked him if he had seen Ephraim. He had, but did not know when he could be down.

Wednesday, Oct. 2, Well, I thought I was going to do lots of sewing today, but I only made me an apron. Brother Ellis brought me some tomatoes and we talked quite a while about matters and things. He brought me my mail and two appers and two letters. One from my husband and one from my brother William Smith telling me he was in California. My husband was in

Dublan. I was so glad to get those letters.

Thursday, Oct. 3 This morning I wrote to my brother William and then Jesse and I went to town to post them and to get some things from the store. I took some wool down to sister Martensen that I owed her for some gunny sacks we got from her. Just as we were getting ready to start home, the mail came in and I sent Jess after it, while I went up to sister Scott’s to hear how Pa got along, going over to Dublan. But it was Relief Society meeting and she had not come home yet. It was dark when we got home and Eph had just come from Bavispia, looking for his team, it having left him. But I am afraid the Mexicans have run off with them, it being their fiesta day. Then just as we were going to bed here came a wagon poking along in the dark and it was my daughter Althera and brother Shurtliff from the Battafito to see me. They had one of brother Langford boys to pilot them here as they were afraid they would get lost.

Friday Oct. 4 The folks stayed until 3 P.M. then started to town to do their trading before going home. Ephraim went about 11 up to Bavispia. Brother Bowler and his son went with him. As they had come about a half hour before. After they had all gone away I felt as though I would go wild. I felt so lonesome and I felt as though I would burst but I could not cry. I forgot to say that we went up to the mescal ranch so that Althera could see how they ran it.

Saturday, Oct. 5, 1901 Oh, I have felt so lonesome today and sorrowful about our situation. It is coming winter and we have no house and the way things look I am not going to get one very soon. Jesse went up to camp to get a Billy to put with the milk goats. He also brought 5 other milk goats and a kid to kill for mutton. The little boys are going half way up there to meet him with these goats that are here. He killed the kid tonight. It is now 7:30 P.M. and it has been thundering and lightning for quite a while and it is raining now quite hard. The rain is needed. But I do hope it won’t flood any more. Good night, I made two shirts today. One for Eph and one for Fred.

Sunday, Oct. 6, 1901 Fast Day. It has began to rain quite hard this morning at daylight and kept it up until about 8 o’clock. Half after 10 the sun came out and I sent Jesse and Annie after Gilsie. I think perhaps I might go to meeting. I went to meeting and got a bottle of oil consecrated for Ben and Edith. We had a good meeting and the Bishop was not there. I had dinner at brother Langford’s. They had a very sick baby which the Elders came in to administer to while I was there. It was after dark when I got home and the children were all in bed and fast asleep. I sat up and read a little while before I went to bed.

Monday, Oct. 7, Well, Ephraim has not come home yet. I am afraid his horse has been stolen. But I do hope the Lord will restore them to us. I thought I would send Jess up to Bavispia this morning to see what was the matter with Eph but he found the river too high from the rain of yesterday. So I have sent the children on an errand to brother John Rencher’s. Oh dear, I nearly feel beside myself over our situation. I have spent most of the morning in reading as I can hardly content myself to sew or anything else.

Tuesday, Oct. 8 This morning brother Ellis Johnson took breakfast with us. He came from up the river at Turkey crossing where he camped all last night to see if the river would go down enough so he could go up to Bavispia to buy flour. But it did not lower enough so he came back. After breakfast I made two bottles of ketchup. Then I got ready and went to brother Sexten Johnson’s birthday party. They had a good substantial dinner of bread, butter, sweet potatoes, boiled and baked. Mutton baked and some nice venison and a number of other things. When I got home I found that brother John Bowler and son had called to stay all night with us on their way home from Battafito to Bavispia.

Wednesday, Oct. 9, I sent Jesse up to camp with a bottle of sweet oil for Ben and Edith, as I heard at brother Johnson’s that Edith was quite sick. The lions or something else has run off with our billy goat. We heard them run off in the night, last night. I feel very bad about it for he was our best one. Well I hope that he will turn up. The mail carrier brought our mail this afternoon. 2 papers. Something he has not done for a long time and left a bottle for us to get him some mescal in from the mescal ranch just above our place.

Thursday, Oct. 10, 1901 I started to wash today, although I did not feel like it this morning. About noon Ben came down from camp for some coal oil and said Edith was not any better. I told him about the billy and he seemed quite put out about it. Brother Ellis Johnson came up to get his wagon he had left here and brought me some sweet potatoes for which I let him have butter. I made Freddy take the goats back on the hill and he found the billy coming home for which I truly felt to thank the Lord. The mail boy Willard Scott called to get his bottle of mescal, he said it was for sister Naglie, she was sick. I asked him if he had seen or heard any thing from Ephraim and he said no.

Friday, Oct. 11, 1901 I did my ironing this morning and had a lot to do. This afternoon I made button holes in a new shirt for Eph. I am afraid the river will be up to again before Eph can come home. It is getting quite cold every morning although it is quite warm in the day and we begin to need a home which doesn’t look very promising at present.

Saturday, Oct. 12 I cut out some overalls for Don. Ben came down about noon for some quinine for Edith. He said she was no better, that she could not get up at all now. Well I felt sorry for her but I cannot run up there and leave the place with the children and so many Mexicans around with no door and no nothing to fasten things up. I did promise him I would try and go up tomorrow if I could get the mare.

Sunday, Oct. 13 Well Ephraim came last night and no team. He had a borrowed horse and he said he was going to Battafito to get Davis team to go up the river to get the grist. It was ground. So he got started about 10 o’clock. I have been alone most of the day. The children went up to the vanata to play with the little Mexican children. I busied myself with reading, but oh dear, how lonesome it is. Don’t feel well either. I could not go up to see Edith either because Eph had to take gilsie to ride on to go to Battafito. Fanny mare came up in the afternoon so when the children came back from the Vanata I went down to Ellis Johnson’s and got some green corn to eat.

Monday, Oct. 14, Eph came home last night about 10 o’clock with Dan’s mules to go to Bavispia. I sewed on Don’s overalls today. This afternoon sister Johnson came up in the wagon with her boy Hilton to get a wagon tongue we had borrowed from them and brought 3 melons for a piece of cheese, but I did not have any to let her have. Then Ellis her son came while she was here, on his way up the river and to get some butter from me. I wish Eph was here to go up with him. They did not stay but only just a minute. Eph came home about 10 o’clock last night with Dan’s mules.

Tuesday, Oct. 15, 1901 Eph got started up the river about 11 o’clock. He had to shoe old Fanny before he could take her. He had to take her to help pull the load, make a spike team. The children are up at the Vanata. I sent them up with some old tawas (old shoes are moccasins) to see if they could get a Mexican to put new bottoms in them. He owed me for a cheese, and butter and I guess I won’t get my pay any other way. Well I feel so lonesome that I don’t know what to do with myself. If we had any prospect for a home and a team I might not feel so bad but it looks as though everything is working against us. Oh my, the Lord knows best, but I hope he will be merciful to us and restore our team to us and open the way so we can get a home pretty soon. I made Don a pair of overalls. I wrote a letter to Emma. She wrote one to me. I sent it up by Eph but he lost it running after the mules in the brush.

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 1901 Sewed on the overalls. The children cleaned out some wool, and I sold 25 lbs. to Antonia, a Mexican, that is I received a dollar on it and sold him a rooster for $.50. The children went up the Vanata about dark to see if Freddie’s tawa was made. He got them. But it was so late when they got back that they did not milk the goats.

Thursday, Oct. 17 I was just getting ready to go down to brother Johnson’s to see if there was any mail for me. When brother Alvin Nelson came up to work on the dam to put water in their ditch he brought the mail to me. 2 letters and 2 papers. One was from my daughter Lillias on the Gila and one in it she had just got from sister Sarah, saying they had just got back to their old home on the ShowLow Arizona. The other was from brother Welchl in Dublan, Chihuahua, saying that Pa had started to Utah that morning, October lst but that he was sick and hated to see him go and in the letter was a letter and a bill of ____ from Sanford Mills about one goats wool all they could allow us for it was 187 lbs., only leaving us 47.00 dollars instead of 200 dollars as we expected. Well it upset me so that I have done nothing all day but wrote to Lillias and cried most of the time over the situation. The wind blows just like it would storm before morning and looks like it would rain. The ditch has been dry all the week so that I could not wash, until tonight they had just got the water in the ditch again. But I have felt quite miserable all the week, not like washing or anything else.

Friday, Oct. 18 I sent Annie up to camp to see how Edith was. I finished Fred’s pants and put buttons and button holes on Don’s pair. Then I went up on the hill about sundown to see if I could see Annie coming home and to see if the children were coming home with the goats. When I got to the house Annie had come home. She said that Edith was still in bed but was not very sick, but was very weak and could not sit up. Well, I don’t know what is going to become of us. It seems as though I feel more blue every day.

Saturday, Oct. 19 I went down to brother Johnson’s to see if I could get some pickles for Edith. Did not get any but got her a taste of corn and tomatoes. I had to walk home and was nearly tired out when I got home.

Sunday, Oct. 20, 1901 I went up to camp to see how Edith was. She was pretty sick and looked very bad, poor girl. I got a little dinner for her and while I was there it rained quite a shower. Then I came home. It was dark when I got home and Dr. Hone was there and his son also. They told me that Eph was coming home and that he had found his team which I felt so grateful to our Heavenly Father for.

Monday, Oct. 21, 1901 Ephraim and Ellis Johnson came down with their loads, 11 A.M. wet as they could be. For it rained last night. And quite a lot of their flour got wet. Mr. Hone stayed all day, because it rained most all the day.

Tuesday, Oct. 22, 1901 Ephraim went after the horses so that we could go to town. He took a load of flour to town for some Mexicans that came down the river the same time he did, and got all wet and broke their wagon, poor fellows. They had a sad time of it getting in the water up to their chins. We got home after dark and it rained on us. Ephraim got a letter from his sister Sarah with a picture of the children in it and I got one from one of Pa’s grandchildren saying he was awful sick.

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1901 Ephraim got a load of drift wood to burn in the stove. I did nothing but cook and wash dishes. The Dr. and his boy did not go home because they could not find their horses.

Thursday, Oct. 24, 1901 Ephraim got up the horses and went up to camp to see Ben about the dipping of the sheep and getting us some mutton. Ellis Johnson wanted one, he was talking to Eph about one. Don Carlos got stung on the eye with a Bee. The children were catching drones. The Dr. was going to take him up to Bavispia with him, but his eye swelled up so that he could not go. Then the Dr. made Don a tawas.

Friday, Oct. 25, 1901 The Dr. ate breakfast with us this morning, now he is gone up to the Mescal ranch, where his boy stayed last night. We sent Don and Fred up there this morning to get Don’s other tawa made. I started to wash this morning but did not get much done because Eph came down from camp and brought 2 muttons with their skins on and one was such a pretty thing that the Dr. begged so for it that I let him have it. But Eph wanted to make a piece of housing for his colors. Just after the Mexicans found we had meat we were kept busy. They would have taken it all if we would have let them have it.

Saturday, Oct. 26 1 finished my washing today and ironed some of the clothes. Ephraim cleaned out some of the wool to take to town tomorrow. He was going to town today but I talked him out of it until tomorrow so that he could go to meeting. I think I will write to Pa tonight.

Sunday, Oct. 27 Eph, Don and I went to meeting today. There were home missionaries from Battafito. One was brother Jarvis, but the other brother did not come but part way. They met another brother that was on Sunday school business and had to return with him. Well, one Bishop related to us the details of President Snow’s funeral services, which were very impressive. Brother Patriarch Johnson also spoke to us on living near unto the Lord and obeying the Priesthood which was placed over us more so than we have ever done before.

Monday, Oct. 28, 1901 1 made up some tomato preserves and did some ironing. Eph made Freddy a pair of tawas. He wanted to get ready to go up Bavispia but did not know what to do. We have no money to buy wheat with.

Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1901 Ephraim went down to brother Alvin Nelson’s today on some business. I ironed a few pieces that were left from yesterday and made a little ketchup. Annie is feeling quite sick today. Brother Sextus Johnson came up to see Eph about the pay for the wagon that Eph borrowed and broke when he came down with goods last August for the store, but Eph did not come in so he went home. I don’t know what makes him so lone away. I have wrote to Pa this afternoon. I feel rather anxious about him since I heard he was so sick.

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 1901 I wrote a letter and sent it down to brother Sextus Johnson for them to give to the mail carrier and Freddy brought a Juvenile back with him and a letter from Pa and by the way it reads he has had another of his strokes. Now it is in his left side, so that he has to go on crutches now and he said his leg was very much swollen from the knee down. Ephraim got the horses and put shoes on some of them. He thought he was going to go up the river, but it was very cloudy and looked like rain, so he did not go. He and Don went to Ellese’s and picked peanuts.

Thursday, Oct. 31, 1901 Ephraim and Annie went down to Ellis Johnson’s to pick peanuts. It was very cloudy and stormy today. It rained some this morning. The sun did not shine much all day today. I had company last night. I tried to patch a quilt but did not do much at it.

Friday, Nov. 1, 1901 This morning I told Eph he had better go and look for the billy goat that he lost the other day. We sent the children with the goats to see if they could find him. Then we went up to the mescal ranch to see if the cooking pot we lent them a long time ago was there. They had burnt it up pretty bad and got all the porcelain broke off it. So I did not bring it away with me. I told them the boss would have to pay for it. Eph chored around most of the day and I patched some more on the old quilt. Got Eph to fix the old chicken coop a little as the owls or something is taking my chickens lately. I set out some strychnine in hopes I would get something, whatever it may be. Don and Freddy herded the goats today. Annie has been very sick again today. I think she sat on the cold, damp ground too much yesterday. Her head has ached and she has vomited most of the day. I am so sleepy, good night.

Saturday, Nov 2, 1901 Ephraim and I went to town today. I took my tithing chickens, butter and eggs and Eph paid his tithing money $4.10. Eph also went up on the mountain to get his wagon where he had left it when it broke down. Then he hauled freight for the store. I came home before he did on my mare lizzy as he would be very late in getting home. He brought what was left of the wagon and left it at brother Langford’s. Someone having taken a wheel and the king bolt.

So it leaves us without a good heavy wagon to do rough work with. While there in the store, a Mexican man wanted to hire a team to haul some pigs and a sewing machine to the mescal ranch somewhere by the Battafito, so Eph took the Job. Eph did not get home until 11 o’clock at night.

Sunday, Nov. 3, 1901 Eph got up early this morning, he had to fix the wagon to go up the river after those pigs. Freddy went after the horses so I let him go with Eph. He had been promised so many times he could go. Annie and Don Carlos went with the goats. I wrote a letter to send with the mailman today. He has either not passed this way are he has gone and I have not seen him. I am sorry for I wanted it to go with the mail.

Monday, Nov. 4th, 1901 Ephraim came home tonight with his load of chickens, 30 and 7 large pigs and 7 small ones. Dr. Hone also came here today to make a contract for more wool. It appears that he and his partners have fallen out and they don’t give one another a very good character. One says, let me have the wool and the other says, let me have the wool. So I don’t know what to do in the matter. But I think I will ask the Bishops advise in the matter. I washed out a change of clothes tonight or this evening for the little boys. I have done nothing all day but get meals.

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 1901 Eph went on to the Battafito with his load of chickens and pigs. I did some ironing and got ready to go to town. I took the bishop’s wife a gallon of mescal on my tithing butter and so missed the Dr. Hone and his partner. So when I found they had come home, I thought I had better come home too as Annie would not like to be here alone with those men.

Wednesday, Nov. 6, I sent Freddy after lizzy and thought I would go to town and see if I could get to see the Col. But I was too late, he was gone when I’d got there. As I went and saw the Bishop if he would please see about our wool that is over in Dublan and see if it will be sold and when it will be. Then I asked brother Peter Di11man if he would take a note to the Col. and I gave brother Dillman 5.00 dollars to get Edith’s baby a shawl if he could as he was going out to Naco. When I got home Jesse was there and he had come for flour and he brought us a mutton.

Thursday, Nov. 7, 1901 I sent Annie to town to get some Cresylie for Ben to doctor the sheep with. She could only get one can. I was taken with such a curious feeling while cutting some meat for breakfast. I went very dizzy and thought I had better sit down before I fell down. I asked Annie for a drink right quick and it scared her to see me like I was. I went so sick and weak. I had to sit still for a few minutes. I have not felt well all day. I am so stiff and sore after riding so fast yesterday. I have done nothing all day again, except the chores and read a little in the Deseret News.

Friday, Nov. 8, This morning I sent Annie and Freddy to sister Hudson’s to get some potatoes. I wanted a few Irish potatoes for soup and sent her a piece of meat but she did not have any so she sent me some beets and sweet potatoes. I started to wash, but started to fuss with 2 goat skins first which made it late for me with my washing. Consequently, I did not get done. The children did not get home until after sundown. So I had to help.

Saturday, Nov. 9, 1901 Annie and Freddy went to Ellis Johnson’s to gather peanuts. They got 11 lbs. I finished my washing and brought in the clothes and was going to iron but was too tired. So I dressed one of the goat skins and a beauty it is too. Freddy did not find the goats until after dark. Annie had to go and help him off the hill.

Sunday, Nov. 10, 1901 Both Freddy and I are not well today. Annie went after liz so that she could go to camp with Ediths lye and Bens Cryslie and to bring Don Carlos home as Jesse took him up to camp with him. Fred has gone after the goats on fanny. I have done nothing today. I feel so lonesome to do anything. I don’t see why Eph doesn’t come home unless it is that he may have stayed to work on the lots or something in Moralos or Battafito. I have had no mail for over a week.

Monday, Nov. 11, 1901 I ironed my clothes and Annie and Freddy went to Ellis Johnson’s to pick peanuts.

Tuesday, Nov. 12, 1901 The children went to gather nuts again today and they got very wet as it rained very hard toward night and I was quite sick.

Wednesday Nov. 13, 1901 It was too wet to send the children to gather nuts today. Ben came down for some salt, but there was none here, as Eph had not come home. So I said I would go to town in the morning and get some and see if there was any mail, as we had not had any for about 2 weeks. So Ben left flax down for me to pack on. I gave Ben a bottle of mescal and some potatoes to take home with him.

Thursday, Nov. 14, I went pretty early to town. I took the two nice dressed goats skins with me to sister Naglies and sold them to her for 3.00 dollars a piece. Also took sister Dillman a keg of mescal. I saw brother Jameson in the store and asked him if he knew anything about Ephraim. He said, yes I know all about him for he has been working with me for a couple of days digging a well. Then Eph and Don went to get posts and sticks for a temporary house for me until we could do better. As it was mail day I thought I would wait for the mail. But Oh, I got disappointed. For there was no letters, only 2 papers. I started home with my pack of salt and if it had not been for Brother and sister Johnson coming home with me I would have had quite a job with it for it nearly came off. He got off and cinched the pack on tighter and while coming home I found a purse with 7.00 dollars in it. It was after dark when I got home and very windy and cold.

Friday, Nov. 15, Ben came down after the salt and brought me a mutton. He also took back 107 lbs. of flour and 18 lbs of potatoes. We went up to the mescal ranch and sold 200 dollars worth of mutton and bought Annie a pair of shoes. And Ben sold 5.00 dollars worth of mutton tallow. I made soap today. The children gathered peanuts.

Saturday, Nov. 16, 1901 The children went for peanuts again today and gathered 231 lbs. Don herded the goats and cut up my soap and put it to dry. I made squash pie and swept the door yard and cleaned up the yard.

Sunday, Nov. 17, 1901 I thought I was going to town today and go to meeting but I was told by a Mexican yesterday I was going to have visitors today. It would be the Boss Frederick and his family so I thought I would stay at home and I had promised the children they could go to sister Hudson’s today to play with her children. So Annie and Don Carlos went and got me some tomatoes to make me some chow chow of. Fred stayed home and took care of the goats. My visitors came this afternoon and I entertained them the best I could by showing them the sterascope and views and also my photos. Then they took a look at the milk cellar and thought it was grand and looked at my washing machine and wringer and thought it was something wonderful as they do their washing on a rock by the side of the river or where there is any water, although these do theirs by the side of a barrel of hot water which is sunk in the ground level. The water is kept warm by a distill where they make mescal, a liquor like alcohol. The hot water runs out of the distill tank into the barrel. When they fill the tank with cold water to keep the coffee warm or hose pipe cool.

Monday, Nov. 18, 1901 1 went to town today although I did not feel very good. I got up with a kind of a cramp in my stomach which stayed with me all day but I was so anxious to get some letters that I went anyway and stayed until the mail came in and got two letters, one from Pa and one from Father. I also went to see the Bishop if he had done anything about our wool over in Dublan. He said that he had got us a market for 600 lbs of it at $.40 per Kilo, that is about $.18 a lb. So I will have to take word to Eph just as soon as I can so he can go and take it to Carlton as that is the place of sale. Ephraim has not come home yet. I think he is busy making a place to live in until we can do better. But Oh my, I cannot express my feelings lately. I feel as though I was forsaken here on the earth. I have no home in my old age to comfort me. I have no husband to comfort me and everything has gone wrong this summer. But I do hope it turns out for the best.

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 1901 The children, Fred and Annie went to Ellise’s today, to gather peanuts and Don herded the goats. I mended an apron for Annie and when I was not sewing I fretted and cried. I feel so lonesome some times that I cannot work although the Bishop called to see me this morning as he passed on the road up to Bavispia. He said he knew I was sick yesterday and thought he would call and see how I was this morning. So I thanked him very much for his call. Then brother Ellis Johnson brought my stove pipe and salt that I asked him to carry for me from the store. Eph has been gone two weeks last Monday and never sent me word of what he was doing or anything which I think he might have done as I am so lonesome here alone. Fred gathered 11 lbs. of peanuts and Annie gathered 18 lbs. I wrote to Pa tonight and to Jane.

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 1901 1 got up sick again this morning and have felt sick and dizzy all day. I fear sometimes that I may go crazy if I don’t get any better because I feel so silly when I have these dizzy spells. I have fretted and worried so much lately, perhaps that is the reason. But I do hope the Lord will spare my life in good health and sense until my little ones are grown large enough to take care of themselves. I got so sleepy writing this that I went and laid down awhile and thought perhaps a sleep would do me good, but I don’t feel much better. I have such awful bad dreams when I sleep that I just hate to go to bed. Well I got up and put some potatoes on to cook for supper and now I am waiting for the children to come home from Ellise’s. All three of them went this morning and it is almost sundown. I am afraid they won’t find the goats tonight. Well, it was sundown when the children got home and very late when they got the goats. The little lazies never got any peanuts today. All three went today and only got 15 lbs.

Thursday, Nov. 21, 1901 I sent Annie and Freddy up to camp to tell Ben to kill a couple of mutton. One for tithing and one for us to eat. I thought I could send it by the Bishop as he went by but I was a day too late, for he passed by this afternoon. So now I will have to send it the best way I can. Just after we had eaten our breakfast there came a man here to see me about some wool for the blanket business. Oh dear, I am afraid I have got myself into a mess with these fellows. Old Dr. Hone got me to sign a contract or document and now I wish I had not. Al Nelson came here today with some potatoes, a few that he owed me and he left a few that he had left for meat. I worked on a goat skin all the afternoon.

Friday, Nov. 22,1901 Finished the goat skin and then finished my washing. Jesse came home with the mutton. I sent him down to Johnson’s to see if they could take the tithing mutton to town for us, but Wallace was not going he said.

Saturday, Nov. 23, 1901 We got ready to go to town with the tithing mutton, and I also took a gallon of mescal to the Bishop’s wife. Then I went on to the Battafito to see my children that is down there. Althera Peterson, Ephraim and Emma McNeil my daughter-in-law and Jesse will come home to stay with the children while I am gone. I paid up my tithing today. For 10 lbs of butter 5.00 dollars and 5 and a half doz. Eggs, $2.20.

Sunday, Nov. 24, It was dark when I got to Emma’s and I was so tired. I found Eph there and Emma was not feeling well. She had a sore throat and had ache, she had taken cold. She has got such a nice baby boy, 3 weeks old. This morning after breakfast I went over to Althera’s. After a while Emma came over and we all had dinner together. We all spent the day together. I had the headache so I did not feel like going to meeting. I stayed all night with Althera.

Monday, Nov. 25, I thought I would start home today but Eph couldn’t find lizzy for me. I helped Emma to get her breakfast. Eph looked all the morning for her and Vigo looked for her in the afternoon. So I had to stay until morning. Stayed with Emma all night again.

Tuesday, Nov. 25, 1901 Eph went and got his doll mare for me to come home on as he could not find lizzy for me. I helped Emma to get her breakfast and then I went over to Althera’s and ate my breakfast. I went for some tea for I thought I would stand the ride better as Emma did not have any. So Althera made me eat there. So when I went back Eph had doll saddled up

for me. Before starting I went over to sister Jameson’s to see if she had any dress trimmings. I got a piece of brown gump braid to trim a waist with. While we were up there Emma got a letter from Dan. It was about 11 o’clock before I got started and it was dark before I got home. I don’t know when I was ever so tired, Doll was so hard to ride. I would not give my lizzy for all the horses I have seen yet to ride.

Wednesday, Nov. 27, 1901 Worked on the goat skin and colored one a nice brown and it is a beauty. At night we went up to the Vanata to see if we could get some mescal on what a man owed me. But I could not. I am so stiff and sore today I don’t want to do anything after riding the horse.

Thursday, Nov. 28 1901 I sent Jess and Fred up to the sheep camp today and couled out my calved skin and washed the two others that I had stretched out. I looked for Eph tonight but he did not come yet. 8 oclock. Annie is mixing bread. Oh, I made soup today.

Friday, Nov. 29 I am so tired tonight. I washed today. Emptied out my soap and cut it up. Tore down a part of the old shed that was so low that we could hardly walk under it without pulling out our hair. Fred came home from camp. I sold 13 lbs. of wool today to a Mexican for 23 lbs. of graham.

Saturday, Nov. 30, I ironed and combed and dressed two goat skins getting them ready to take to town tomorrow. About 4 o’clock Eph and Emma came up from Battafito. In the evening we had some Mexican company. Eph brought 2 letters and a paper, one from Lillias and one from a friend.

Sunday, Dec. 1, 1901 Eph went and got the horses and hitched them up for us, and Emma and I went to meeting. I took the goat to brother Dillman and sold one to him, then went over to the Bishops and paid 1.00 in money for fast donation. Then I went to the store for some coal oil because I did not have a bit at home and didn’t want to go back again so far. It is 7 miles.

It was after dark when I got home. We found the Dr.Hone there and Ben had come down from camp but I could tell by their faces they were full of liquor and it proved to be so. For the boys fell out and had quite a few hot words of which I was very sorry that it should have happened.

Monday, Dec. 2, 1901 Emma washed today as she had no diapers for her baby. I helped her as she had such a bad thumb. The Dr. went to town and came at night again and stayed all night. He had come down after some wool. He said he wanted to start the Mexican boys to work to make blankets. I read a sermon of President Joseph F. Smith to the folks on tithing.

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 1901 We all went up to the mescal ranch while the Dr. was here so that he could interpret for us as Emma had a stone bottle up there that the Mexicans had borrowed and had never brought home and she wanted pay for it. But they would not only give her 1.00 for the use of it and it was used up pretty badly. We came home and I ironed. Eph made a spring seat. Freddy and Don got a burro and hauled some wood.

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 1901 Ephraim went after the horses and went up to camp. I went with him to get a mutton. He went to see about getting some wool for Dr Hone. We did not know how Ben would be and I was afraid to have him go alone. But when we got there Ben was alright. We stayed all night because it was too late after they had killed the mutton for me to go home alone.

Thursday, Dec. 5, 1901 1 got up sick this morning with the sick headache. Eph saddled the horse for me and I started out with my mutton. But I had an awful sick time of it. I could hardly get home and I had such a time tying the mutton on. When I got home I took a dose of quinine and went to bed awhile while Emma got dinner. I feel better tonight but not well. I think I will try and write a few lines to pa for I have not heard from him for two weeks and I fear he is worse. Emma and I wrote to Pa and sent him Mary’s negative.

Friday. Dec. 6, 1901 Eph came down early this morning with a mutton for us as tithing and Emma and I washed our clothes.

Saturday. Dec. 7,1901 Eph went after Gilsie to send Fred up to camp, to stay with the place while Ben and Edith came down to Conference. They got here about 10 A.M. I was trying to fix some ruffles for my black skirt, but did not finish it for Edith wanted to make the baby a dress to go to meeting. So we cut it and I made it for her while she pressed out her dress and ironed Ben’s shirt.

Sunday Dec. 8, 1901 We did not get the goats last night so Eph got up and went after the horses and found the goats. So we got ready and went to meeting. Drove up to sister Scott’s just in time for dinner. Went to meeting and listened to an instructive sermon of President Ivins. His subject being most on tithing and the statistics of different wards, showing that Oaxaca Ward was far in advance of other wards, except one; in paying tithing. Bishops Naeglie, Dillman and Beacroft bore testimonies to what had been said and encouraged the Saints to do their duty and honor the Priesthood. Just after meeting, while the young men were assembling the boys and I had a talk with President Ivins about one shed and the wool. Took a mutton to the bishop for tithing and had supper with them. Then went to an evening meeting. President Ivins spoke again on the government of children and the overcoming of our own passions. Went to sister Scott’s and stayed all night.

Monday. Dec. 9 Went to the store and did some trading. Started for home about 10.

Tuesday, Dec. 10 Ben went up to camp to see how the children were getting along. Ephraim and I packed a lot of things to take to the Battafito. Edith an Emma washed out diapers. I had another of my bad headaches today and was quite sick.

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 1901 Eph started for the Battafito with the things. The girls washed my clothes for me while I tended babies and got dinner and Oh, such music that I had some time with them.

Thursday, Dec. 12, 1901 The girls did not get the washing done, they had too many things so they finished today and it was good we were in the house, for it blew a hurricane all day and filled everything full of dust. I cut out another dress for Edith’s baby and sewed some on it. Towards night it turned out to be very cold. We were trying to get ready to go to the party they were having in honor of the Conference visitors Friday evening.

Friday, Dec. 13, 1901 This morning when we got up every thing was covered with snow, something unusual for this country. About 4 inches deep. But it was a beautiful sight to see it on the trees and then partly green with yellow leaves. Ben came down this morning with two muttons, one for us to eat and one for tithing for himself. But did not stay as he said it was too cold to go to town with the babies so he went back to camp. Eph got home just as Ben left. It was bitter cold and we all had bad colds ourselves. It was so cold that it killed some of the lambs.

Saturday. Dec. 14, 1901 We all took a walk up to the Vanata. Eph, Edith, Emma and I. Took up piece of mutton to get some mescal with. When we got back Eph and I did some packing up. Emma patched flour sacks and bran sacks that the chicken had picked holes in. Edith ironed some, but it is not much that can be done with these musical babies for they had a cold and they are cross.

Sunday, Dec. 15, 1901 Eph went after the horses and I went to town in the buggy to get some things before Edith went up to camp and to take some letters to mail. I went the most to take some goats wool to Pres. Ivins as a sample for him to get us a market. But I was too late, he had gone to Battafito to the Conference. He left Oaxaca ward about noon. So sister Naeglie told me. I went to meeting and heard the missionaries preach that were traveling in behalf of the Y.M.M.I.A. was very beneficiated for myself. Took Ben’s tithing mutton to the Bishop. It was very cold and late when I got home. Eph went to town to look for a horse but did not find it.

Monday, Dec. 16, We packed up all day. Ben came down before we had breakfast. Then he went to Ellis Johnson’s for potatoes. When he got back Edith got ready and went with him. As he said he could not come down any more on account of the lambs. I hated to see them take the baby, it is so cold. Harl Carlton came here to get wool for the wagon Eph broke of brother Johnson’s. We let him have it.

Tuesdayl De. 17 Eph went after horses while we got breakfast and just as he was hitching up to start, Dr. Hones Mexican boys came after the wool. So by Eph letting the Carlton boy have that yesterday, he had to send the boys up to Ben to the camp to get some more wool. Then he started to Moralos with his load of things. Annie and Don went with him as far as brother Johnson’s to get some quinine as I had packed mine away, forgetting to leave it out. I have had that nasty neuralgia headache today and have not done anything today but look at some of my accounts and write in my journal. Annie and Don Carlos carried 12 lbs. of potatoes and some carrots and some onions from Ellis Johnson’s, then went after the goats. My head is a little better tonight but I feel quite sore in my lungs. Emma is copying a knitting pattern, while I write and I thought I would see who would sit the longest and not put any wood in the stove. But she froze me out and I had to make a fire. When I was asked Emma what we did last Saturday and Annie said I went down to Ellise’s and stole some potatoes.

Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1901 This morning I got up with such a sore throat I could hardly swallow and I felt sick. I did think I would wash today but felt too sick. So we, Emma and I sat by the fire and read in the Juvenile until it was nearly 10 o’clock. Then I said I would go up to the Vanata and get some mescal, to make some bitters with. Then when I came back I mended my old corsets. Emma finished a pair of garments for Don Carlos. Then after dinner I washed a goat skin that had been stretched out and put my clothes to soak. Annie went after the goats but did not find them.

Thursday, Dec. 19 1901 This morning Don got up and got the cow bell and went around and rang it just as hard as he could to wake us up. Then he came in and asked Annie if it woke us up. Then I told him to make a fire and I would get up. We washed today and tonight worked some on the goat skin. It does look pretty, for I got a good wash on it. One of the Mexican boys came down with 8 sacks of wool, he was going to go back to camp again but Annie did not find the goats. She had been out nearly all day so the man kindly offered to go and look for them for me, and he found them for which I thanked him very much and was so glad for I don’t know how we would have got them if he had not got them for us. We brought part of our clothes in and Emma ironed while I wrote.

Friday. Dec. 20, 1901 1 did not feel so smart today as we sat up so late last night. But I did some more washing clothes, as we wanted every thing clean to move with and I also washed out another goat skin. Emma made molasses cookies for us to eat on the road. The Mexican boys came down tonight with the rest of the wool and I weighed it out for them, there being 346 lbs. of it. Dr. Gaing also sent a man for 20 lbs. of wool for a mattress. The wind also blew again today just like it did a week ago yesterday filling everything with dust. It has been extremely cold since it snowed last Thursday night and I have been told by some of the old settlers that this is the coldest spell they have seen for seven years. After writing in this diary I wrote to Lillias and Emma wrote to her also. I wrote to the two Drs. about their wool and the price of it and Emma joshed me about having two strings to my bean and thought I ought to get well sure. It was after 1 o’clock when we went to bed.

Saturday. Dec. 21, This morning I did hate to get up I was so sleepy. Don rang the cow bell again and woke us up. I did not hear the children get up and make the fire. We got up and got breakfast for the two Mexican boys.

A complete timeline of the John MCNEIL family may be found at http://www.oocities.org/iflk/mcneiltime.html. Other links may be found at http://www.oocities.org/iflk/mcneildiary.html, and here:

This history was collected by Peter McDonald; you may contact him at Pete4000@covad.net for more information. If you are related to any of these people, please contact Peter or the webmaster of this site, (who is the great-granddaughter of Harriet Jeannette McNeil BRADSHAW), at confwriter@writeme.com or dakuhns@hotmail.com