Sabbath, Jan. 31, 1864

Rev. Mr. Wakefield preached today for Mr. Curtis who is holding a series of meetings in Belpre with very encouraging results, quite an interest is manifested by the young there, may many be truly converted.  Mr. Wakefield preached from the text “Take heed how ye hear” a very good sermon.

Talked with William  -- he feels Annie’s death very deeply.  God sanctify it, and all his dealings with him to his eternal good.

Saturday, Jan. 30, 1864

Kate went to town to see the dentist and the mantuamaker.  She wants to get a traveling dress of princess cloth made, also a brown corded silk which I gave her.  Miss Lucy Brigham engaged to do them.  Her bonnet, shawl & gloves and dress trimmings came by express from Cincinnati and are very handsome.  William got her spoons in the city, the best I ever saw, the large ones were 25 dollars for six, the small ones $10.  Mrs. Lizzie Walton & Mrs. Clarke did her shopping.

As usual there were a great many in to see William & do business.  Col. Moore, A. S. Bailey, Isaac Hopkins, Joe Skipton & etc.

Maggie was here and helped Lucy on the quilt which is being quilted for Kate.

Peggy's comments:

A mantua was a kind of dress.  Kate's wedding was to take place in about two weeks.

Friday, Jan. 29, 1864

William arrived about midnight last night.  The weather is still warm.  Mr. & Mrs. Greenwood made us a call this afternoon to express their sorrow & sympathy for our late bereavement.  Mrs. G. gave Kate a beautiful Photographic Album -- Mrs. Blackinton called and was very kind, she expressed a great deal of sympathy for Lizzie, having herself lost three children.  

Longstreet has attacked our forces at Knoxville, Tenn.

Thursday, Jan. 28, 1864

Thermometer at 62^o above zero in the shade.  I sat in my room with the window open, and found it very pleasant, much less ice running today, two or three steam boats passed.  Mr. Franklin came and got three horses & a mule for Railroad work, these animals have been kept here during the winter.  The little black mule is quite a character, very vicious, and has been boarded up in his stall for some weeks past and food and water given him there.  He was pastured awhile on Hocking where the people had a perfect terror of him.  He got out of the field and into some of their houses & performed some antics, which made him decidedly unpopular.

A dispatch from William saying a heavy slide west of Big Run will detain the train until midnight.

Wednesday, Jan. 27, 1864

A very pleasant day.  Ice running all day.  I think the river must have broken up to its source.  Maggie Voris here to dinner.

Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1864

Another spring-like day.  The river has risen three or four feet, and the ice is running out, one steamboat passed down.  Lucy is here helping Kate get ready for her wedding.  She is getting her things nicely done.

Monday, Jan. 25, 1864

Mrs. Dawes came on the train & returned again this morning.  Rufus & Mary arrived safely in Milwaukee.  

A beautiful sunny day -- like June.  Mrs. W. D. Bailey called and Mr. Burgess, but he is here every day to get the Gazette.  Kate has gone to spend the night at Mr. Burgess’s.  No paper this evening.