Hiram E. Leonard Diary, May 17 - 23, 1871

“17th Wednesday  A fine pleasant day & dry  A heavey shower went each side of us, & a verry light sprinkling here  I did my choars was round the office all day a choaring closed up at 8 & went to bed about 9 sick  A heavey shower with hail & wind at Chicago & this side with hail Lo Pinney at Austin was struck with lighting & nearly killed, but was brought to it  tore his boots & watch all to peaces he was about 40 rods from the house.

“18th Thursday  A fine cool day & dry  I did my choars was choaring round the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 tiard & nearly sick  Griffeth built chimney on new part of house.

“19th Friday  fine cold morning with a pretty heavey frost  I did my choars choared round the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 nearly sick  Lewis Baly had a ball at his house & got drunk [in margin] Griffeth finished chimney.

“20th Saturday  A fine hot day & dry  Some cloudy & looks like rain  I did my choars choared round the office & house all day mooved the stove into the New part & cleaned it up closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 nearly sick  Col Warren came from Chicago & a Mr Berry came with him.

“21st Sunday  A fine warm rainey morning a nice rain and cloudy damp day  I did my choars was a round the house all day choared some put up a leach tub in the celler etc & choared round  Ducks were a hatching went to bed at 9 nearly sick.

“22nd Monday  A fine warm growing day  I did my choars was at the office all day a choaring round the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 nearly sick & worne out.

“23rd Tuesday  A fine warme day & growing weather & rained tonight  I did my choars choared round the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 nearly sick.”