Hiram E. Leonard Diary, February 21 - 27, 1872
CONTENT WARNING: This week’s edition of Hiram’s Diary discusses allegations of sexual abuse and threats of violence. We understand this material may be upsetting for readers. Hiram diary entries have been transcribed exactly as were written and are shared each week for an educational purpose of our community’s history.
“21st Wednesday A fine winter day I did my choars choared round the office closed up at 8 & went to bed at 10 nearly sick Wm McNelly here [in margin] folks went to Naperville.
“22nd Thursday rather a fine day & evening & thawed I did my choars choared round the office closed up at 8 & went to bed at 10 ½ nearly sick Emma Stone went to Perrys to a Ball with George Danels I had men a cutting wood.
“23rd Friday rather a fine day but some cloudy rather a fine thawey day I did my choars choared round the office some closed up at 8 and went to bed at 10 tiard & nearly sick with a cold that I have had for weeks [in margin] Caroline went to Naperville again.
“24th Saturday some cloudy & sprinkled a little and spit snow a little near night & grew cold I did my choars choared round the office some closed up at 8 & went to bed at 10 nearly sick Grant came in the stage at noon Wm McNelly went to Watsons & took dinner Barrus tried to abuse his girle by sexual connection but did not as she got away & came down to my house & told of it and he came down.
“25th Sunday cool & some cloudy in morning ground frozen quite hard cleared off & was a pleasant thawey day I did my choars choared round home went to the farm etc I went to bed about 10 [in margin] William McNelly & Emma Anesworth went to Wm Anesworth & Roots started about 10 had Barruses horse & T Jones buggy, and damed us to a terable ________.
“26th Monday rather fine weather for the season of the year I did my choars choared round some went to the farm & back closed up at 8 & went to bed about 10 tiard perplexed & nearly sick was up last night till one oclock George Barrus had a bad day yesterday a Sunday by drinking cider and trying to abuse his girle Emma in a sexual way Emma left and came to my house & told Caroline and Barrus sent Charles down several times and Charles said that Barrus threatened to kill Emma & Caroline and give me a damed whipping, Barrus came down about 5 oclock in the afternoon a Sunday and damed us all & called us every thing he could think of, & went home, he kep sending Charles & Jo Wademan down, twice after we went to bed & called us up & threatened us all sorts if Emma did not come home, the boys came down about 12 oclock at night & William McNelly went with them & got R Manning Esqr to go up & talk with him & cooled him down a little so that we went to bed about one & was not disturbed any more that night.
“27th Tuesday fine weather for the season, I did my choars choared round the office some closed up at 8 & went to bed at 10 nearly sick Barrus was rather rought but he had sobered down conciderable.”