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.”