Hiram E. Leonard Diary, September 23 - 29, 1874

“23rd Wednesday  A fine pleasant day with some clouds  I did my choars was round home in forenoon in afternoon I went to Naperville with Joseph in stage got back at 3 ½ closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ nearly sick  Dunham near Wane had his barn burned tonight about midnight  supposed to be set by a Frenchman that he brought from France with his horses 4 work horses burned.

“24th Thursday  A fine day but some cloudy  I did my choars was at the office all day closed up at 8 and went to bed about 9 ½ nearly sick with the rheumatism.

“25th Friday  some cloudy & some squalls of rain  I did my choars was round the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ nearly sick with the rheumatism  Hough here.

“26th Saturday  A cloudy damp day with a heavey shower towards night & several lighter ones before cleared off in the night  I did my choars was round the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ nearly sick  Hough went home with his photograph waggon.

“27th Sunday  A fine day but some cloudy  I did my choars was at home the most of the day was at the farm between 9 & 10 choared round some wrote some etc went to bed about 9 nearly sick with a cold & the rheumatism.

“28th Monday  fine weather warm dry day & cold night verry dry for the season  I did my choars was round the office all day closed up at 8 and went to bed about 9 ½ nearly sick with a cold etc  Mrs Bridges & Mrs Hendrickson was down with Abel & called at the door a few minutes.

“29th Tuesday  fine dry weather  warm days & cold nights  I did my choars was round the office all day  closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 ½ sick with a cold  Dan Martin & a Miss Pratt were married today.”