19th of 4th 1852 - school house

Makes the end of the first year on the 2nd half of the 2nd century. Oh! that I may not live in vain the residue of time that may be alloted to me. I went to mill got some shorts that was due me for wheat flour. Came home drawed up an oak plate for the school house that I had taken to build this year. In the P.M. Ira and I routed up 3 sticks for sills & a main plate for the school house and Ira & I scored 2 of them the remainder of the P.M.

19th of 4th mo., 1853

Closes my 52nd year. I drawed 3 loads of wood for Gideon to the village from the Willis land and one from home to the Widow Warners. Called at Mark Arnold's office at 1 o'clock and joined issue with Samuel Smith who I had sued for a settlement of old accounts. I begin to feel the infirmities of age this year crawling slowly but surely upon me & afterwards settle.

19th of 4th mo, 1854

Closes my 53rd year. Today Ira & David Galt and I drawed on 3 ash logs before the sawmill and drawed home 8 main post for the horse barn and roof boards. My health at this time is unusually good about entirely clear of lameness or rheumatism But my teeth are all but 3 out of my upper jaw. Our meetings are small this year. The Moores had moved away last year to Ypsilanti. But Savil Aldrich commensed coming to meeting the fore part of last winter after an abscence of 10 years. Mother Payne and Reuben Payne have died last month. The ranks of our friends and relatives are thinning.

19th of 4th mo., 1855

Brings my 54th year to a close. More persons have died in our town last year than any other since it was settled, of the low typhoid fever. Otis was very sick with it in 10th mo., last so that we did not expect his life. Today Patience & I went to our 5th day meeting. Stephen Laphams & wife & Savile