Hiram E. Leonard Diary, November 25 - December 1, 1869

“25th Thursday  rather a fine day & thawed conciderable  I did my choars was at the office all day came home at 8 ½ & went to bed at 9 ½ sick & nearly tiared out  Sister died this morning at the insane hospital at Jacksonville  the attendant went into Sisters room this morning to see what sister wanted for breckfust  She said she did not feel well, the attendant went & eat her breckfust & returned in about 15 minutes onlocked the door & found her ded laying partly on one side of the bed as though she died without a struggle, was willing.

“26th Friday  rather a fine day  I did my choars was at the office all day came home at 8 ½ and went to bed at 9 ½ nearly sick  I received a telegraph dispatch from Jacksonville by Naperville that my sister died yesterday morning  I got the news at 10 ½ this forenoon unexpectedly.

“27th Saturday  rather a fine day & cool  I did my choars was at the office all day came home at about 7 ½ & went to bed at 9 ½ about sick & worne out with trouble & forteague my sisters remans arrived here at about 7 ½ & I came from the store with them at night  L V Ressegue brought them from Naperville.

“28th Sunday  A fine pleasant cold morning but rained some in afternoon & evening  I was round home a choaring till after one oclock when I went to my sisters funeral which was at the Methodist Church between 1 & 2 oclock, She was 65 years old last October the 30th day, born 30 Oct. 1804  we opened sisters coffin about 9 oclock & found that she had been laid out in the coffin plain neat & tidy Quaker like, she looked calm quiet and peaceful like one in a quiot sleep  She looked verry natural as when she was herself, funeral sermon preached by a young man by the name of McGregor  Text is found in Romans 6th chapter and fifth 5 verse a verry good sermon hims sung in Methodist book.

“29th Monday  rather fine winter weather  I did my choars was at the store all day came home at 8 ½ & went to bed at 9 ½ sick.

“30th Tuesday  fine for winter  I did my choars was at the office all day came home at 8 ½ & went to bed at 9 ½ about sick.

“December 1st Wednesday  rather fine  I did my choars was at the office all day came home at 8 ½ & went to bed at 9 ½ nearly sick.”