Amanuensis Monday - JC Hawver's 1878 Diary - August & September

These are the last few entries from JC Hawvers diary. I wish I had more to transcribe. Maybe someday I will find more from another diary.

8-12 Went to Damascus by having Young our landlord wake us early. We had packed all we could last eve. So we were soon ready to start after breakfast. I gave a team a quarter to bring our valise up at it was coming today. The place is a cool one being in a ravine with north side hill so steep that the sun does not shine over the hill until eight oclock. It must be dreary in the winter. Met a friend who, in 1873 drove the store team from McKillicare and for the last twenty years. But at present is not paying expenses.

8-15 Drove down to Iowa Hill to get the mail as there seemed to be no prospect for anything to do today. We started at about eleven and reached there about one. It was very cloudy going down so it was very pleasant. But coming back it was very sultry until a thunder shower started. It came near giving us a wetting but did not as the top of the buggy is good. About nine of us turned out with a large saw and went for the big bee tree in earnest, then we had to send for wedges to get it down. Lots of cross bees, but little honey.

8-19 In the evening we went to Iowa Hill, got there just about dark after a splendid ride of about ten miles. This forenoon I put on some old clothes and rode into a mine through a tunnel over a mile long. The ride was nice and the mine extensive being drifted but the walk back out alone through the water was tiresome.

8-20 I have been around town all day trying to get something more than promises and talk. But have nothing to do. What a pile of mail mother sent last night. Among the rest we got our cards to Order of I.O.G.T., a letter from home and from Luties home also.

8-21 Got through work by a squeeze and started for Sunny South about four pm. It was good and dark when we got to the boundary house at the foot of a hill steeper than a house.

9-6 We attend the school party and dance it being in the house where we stop. It being the first dance Lutie and I have attended since our marriage. I may ask her to attend another but hardly think it for she will take no interest in the dance and requires more coaxing than the pleasure justifies.

9-12 Packed our traps up to the buggy and started to leave, but we were persuaded to remain to dinner. On settling with Abrams, his bill was fifty cents more than mine which was $59.50. We have been in Sunny South about three weeks. I cleared while here about $50.00 having done some good work. Now tonight we spend our first night in Towers Hotel, Michigan Bluff.

12-26 Auburn-1 granate dish pan, 1 corset #22 without pads, 3 prs ladies woolen hose and 1 pr #4 C shoes. Sacramento-Yardage & findings for dresses.

Lutie = Lucretia Backus, JC's wife
Stasia = Anastasia Hawver, JC's sister

Henry = Henry Hawver, JC's brother
Prince = JC's horse
Dr. JC Leonard = JC's teacher of dentistry