Hiram E. Leonard Diary, December 25 - 31, 1873

“25th Thursday  fine winter weather snowed a little towards night & in the evening  I did my choars was at the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ tiered & nearly sick with a cold  Emma Stone was here  Hoyt Brown came here about 4 ½ PM.

“26th Friday  A cool winter day snowed a little in afternoon & evening  I did my choars was round the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ sick  Norman Gossetts wife died this afternoon in Chicago & Jud Graves came out at night to Naperville & came up in evening  Emma Stone & Caroline went to Gus McKelllips to dig tonight & got home tomorrow morning at 6 in morning  Burton Bollard mooved to T. Manning.

“27th Saturday  A cold snow squalley morning but more pleasant in afternoon & evening  I did my choars was round the office all day closed out at 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ nearly sick with a cold  Emma Stone & Caroline got home this morning about 6 from McKellips dig  Emma Stone & Caroline went to Wheaton started in stage  Hoyt Brown stayed here tonight.

“28th Sunday  rather a fine cool morning but some cloudy during the day  I did my choars eat breckfust about 9 then went up to T Manning place with Willa to get rabbets came back wrote some went to bed about 9 nearly sick with a cold  Emma Stone went to Gus McKellips after meeting tonight with the minister.

“29th Monday  fine winter weather for the season  I did my choars choared round the office some closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ nearly sick with a cold.

“30th Tuesday  fine winter weather not cold  I did my choars was round the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ nearly sick with a cold.

“31st Wednesday  A cloudy damp day  I did my choars was round the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ nearly sick with a cold.”