Hiram E. Leonard Diary, December 19 - 25, 1872

“19th Thursday  A cold winter  fine winter weather & dry  I did my choars choared round some closed up at 8 and went to bed about 9 tiard & nearly sick  Doct Phil Pratt died tonight with complaint of the __________ & water.

“20th Friday  A cold day & snowed some  I did my choars choared round office some closed up about 8 & went to bed about _________ Melancthon Ferry’s wife was buried at the Big Woods today.

Sarah Ferry’s grave at Big Woods Cemetery to the west of Warrenville, wife of Melancthon Ferry

“21st Saturday  A cold windy day with about 6 to 8 inches of snow winter like day  I did my choars & choared round the house some closed up at 8 & went to bed about 9 nearly sick with a cold [in margin] 14 degrees below zero.

“22nd Sunday  A verry cold Morning & forenoon was mild in afternoon  I did my choars home & at the farm & went to bed about 9 nearly sick with a cold etc.  Doct Phill Pratt was buried in Elgin today.

“23rd Monday  pretty cold winter weather thurmometer stood at 35 degrees below zero in the morning  I did my choars choared round some closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ sick  Emma Stone came here.

“24th Tuesday  pretty cold winter weather  I did my choars choared round some closed up at 8 & went to bed about 9 ½ tiard & nearly sick with a cold  Emma Anesworth & husband came to Roots to Christmas.

“25th Wednesday  cold winter weather & quite good sleighing  I did my choars choared round some closed up at 8 & went to bed about 9 ½ nearly sick with a cold.”