November 1892

Josephine Jordan was my great, great, grandmother. She lived the
life of a common farm wife in northern Maine. She kept a line-a-day
diary. I have her complete diaries from 1892 to 1898. You can
learn more about Josephine, her diaries, and some historical
perspective by going back to the first installment of this series.

Your questions, insights, or comments about this month's diary
entries are welcomed.

November 1892

--Tues, Nov. 1
Snow on the ground. It makes me feel sad.

--Wed, Nov. 2
Clear and cold. Butchered a cow. Mrs Varnum here.

--Thurs, Nov. 3
Went down town. All well, thank the good Lord.

--Fri, Nov. 4
Got the bottom of a hogshead. Lots of molasses.

--Sat, Nov. 5
Lovely & fine, but very busy. Wrote what i could.

--Sund, Nov. 6
All went to church but Laurie. He and Frank went in the evening.

--Mond, Nov. 7
Laurie commenced to go to school. Very fine.

--Tues, Nov. 8
Election day. Husband went and voted. Did not stay.

[Note: Josephine did not vote because women could not vote in
1892. Her husband probably voted for the incumbent Benjamin
Harrison in the Presidential election. Aroostook county and the
whole state of Maine went for Harrison. Nevertheless, he lost to
Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland. 44 states voted in the election that year.

Another interesting bit of information regarding the election that
year was the rise of the Populist party. One thing the Populast party
advocated was inflation of the money supply by putting more silver
coinage in circulation. Cleveland was a hard money advocate and
not in favor of inflating the money. This information is from
Wikipedia]

--Wed, Nov. 9
Made soup. Went over to Mrs. Shaw's in the evening.

--Thurs, Nov. 10
Cold & freezing. Got ready to go to the village. Found it too cold.

--Frid, Nov 11
Hubby went to look for a cow. I went part of the way.

--Sat, Nov. 12
Nice & fine. Men are hauling out rails. Am baking.

--Sund, Nov. 13
All went to church but Laurie. He and Frank went in the evening.

--Mond, Nov. 14
Lovely & mild. Went down to Mrs. Wallace. Sold a lot of land to
Grimes.

--Tues, Nov. 15
Men stumping & ploughing. Still mild & lovely.

--Wed, Nov. 16
Raining. Hope it will fill the wells. Brother Arch came to see us
today. Dr. Luce died this afternoon.

--Thurs, Nov. 17
Men are ploughing. Are nearly done.

--Frid, Nov. 18
Men are ploughing. I am making mince pies.

--Sat, Nov. 19
Raining. Butchered our hog today.

--Sund, Nov. 20
Mild & muddy. All went to church today but Blanche & Laurie.

--Mond, Nov. 21
Husband & Arch gone to the woods.

--Tues, Nov. 22
Frozen real hard. Hubby & Arch gone down town.

--Wed, Nov. 23
Snowing. Hubby & Arch gone to look at a farm.

--Thurs, Nov. 24
Frank's going after dinner. Hubby and I went for a ride in the
sleigh.

--Frid, Nov. 25
Men in the woods cutting & sawing wood.

--Sat, Nov. 26
Went to auction at Mrs. F. Got some things.

--Sund, Nov. 27
Lovely & fine. Husband and I staid at home.

--Mond, Nov. 28
Lovely & fine. Did the washing all myself.

--Tues, Nov. 29
John Spaulding married today. Should like to have gone to
dedication at Mapleton.

--Wed, Nov. 30
Men are busy in the woods. Quite dull.