Hiram E. Leonard Diary, January 23 - 29, 1873
“23rd Thursday snow pretty deep in drifts pretty hard winter weather I did my choars choared round some closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ nearly sick with a cold Mrs Stephens died today at Hiram Fowlers in Naperville.
“24th Friday A cold winter weather with conciderable of a boddy of snow on the ground I did my choars choared round some closed up at 8 & went to bed about 9 ½ tiard & nearly sick with a cold etc.
“25th Saturday more fine but pretty winterey I did my choars choared round some closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ nearly sick with a cold.
“26th Sunday a pretty fine day but some cloudy and pretty good sleighing & drifted I did my choars choared round some here and up to the farm went to bed about 9 tiard & nearly sick with a cold old Mrs Stephens was buried today at Naperville.
“27th Monday fine cold winter weather I did my choars choared round some closed up about 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ nearly sick with a cold.
“28th Tuesday cold winter weather I did my choars choared round the office some closed up about 8 & went to bed about 9 ½ nearly sick.
“29th Wednesday verry cold winter day I did my choars choared round some closed up about 8 and went to bed about 9 ½ nearly sick the thurmometer stood at 31 degrees below zero in the morning.”