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.”