L. A. Miller Diary of 1911

(Excerpted by Ron Wiley; clarifying comments by Fred Lindley)

• Sat. Jan. 1 - Darrtown Pop - 120. People mostly old. Settled around 1810. Was prosperous for many years or until Railroads ruined its commerce. Situated on an old lakebed near the Talawanda River in Butler County, State of Ohio.

• Mon. Jan. 2 - I took Arnold to Oxford O. to work for Mr. Barrown in electrical work. I went down to __?__ Manrod's and fixed telephone. i bought $15.75 worth of fur of Thos. Shears this PM.

• Sat. Jan. 7 - I went to Hamilton this AM with fur and eggs. 5 and 1/2 doz. at 40 cents per doz. The fur shipped was worth between $35 and $40.

Shipped to H. L. Pence & Co. of New York, NY. Home at 11:15. I attended horse meeting. I then went to Oxford O. for Arnold. I attended the Milford Twp. Assurance Burial Association as President. Reelected. Also appointed a committee of one to revise by-laws.

Wed. Jan. 18 - This PM, drove to Morning Sun and saw some fur people. Bought $4.50 worth of __?__ . Attended lodge this PM. Our neighbor, Issac C. Bromley, was seriously hurt this PM by getting caught in circular saw at his mill. The doctors have taken off right hand at wrist. He also had a deep gash across his back. A sad affair.

• Thur. Jan. 19 - Arnold and Bell went to Hamilton this AM. I worked at exchange most of the day.

• Tue. Jan. 24 - I went to Hamilton this PM. I took along 11 1/2 doz. eggs. They sold for $3.18. Mr. Fr. Glardon went along with me.

• Wed. Jan. 25 - At home assisting at exchange work. Our neighbor, Mr. Bromley seems to be getting along very well and will recover from his injuries (see Jan. 18).

• Thurs. Jan. 28 - Went to Hamilton‚ Arrived home 7 PM. Changed horses and went to Oxford after Arnold (son). Arrived home about 10 PM. Roads fiercely muddy. I made out deed for Mary A. McVicker to Anna E. Ramsey and (__? Wm or W.N.?__) Ramsey.

• Mon. Feb. 6 - I took the kid to Oxford to work this AM. I attended to some biz.

• Thur. Feb. 7 - I drove over to Chas. Meredith's and looked at some fur this PM. I rec'd check from H. L. Pence & Co. for $78.88 as commission on fur, less $3.60 paid to F. M. Chrismer.

• Wed. Feb. 8 - At home this AM. Chas. Meredith called up for bid on fur. I got his bunch at my bid of $40. I met him at Wallace Ford on Talawanda above Lane's Mill and rec'd fur and paid him $40 for the same.

• Thur. Feb. 9 - I went to Hamilton and attended to some telephone biz. I also bought some fur of a Mr. Birgel of Coke Otto, Ohio - $15.00. Returned home about 7 PM.

• Mon. Feb. 27 - Eva & I went to Hamilton this AM. I took some fur - about $75 worth and shipped it to H. L. Pence and Co. Eva got her teeth fixed. We got home in good time.

• Fri. Mar. 3 - At home. Arnold changed phone at Chas. Krebs Jr. = $1.50 & fixed break in line. I attended to chores about premises & called at McVicker's new house in course of erection on East Road.

• Mon. Mar. 6 - ‚Ķ I received a letter from Mr. Fr. L. Beam of Columbus, O., Pres. of Ohio-Indiana Telephone Association asking me to come to Columbus, O. for a private conference in regard to Govt. telephone bill now pending.

• Tues. Mar. 7 - Mr. A. Cunningham went with me to Hamilton and will drive rig home. I took 2:20 PM C. H. & D. to Dayton, O. and Big 4 to Columbus, O. I met Mr. Beam, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Cable, and Mr. McVey. We had quite a lengthy conference in regards to the Indiana telephone situation. The facts and explanation have been entirely satisfactory.

• Wed. Mar. 8 - We finished our conference at 2 AM and went to bed. Rose at 7:30 AM and ate breakfast with Mr. Beam and Mr. Cable. I called at capitol building and met with Mr. Cullen Smith who invited me to go with him to the Judiciary Com. __?__ room. We afterwards had a conference on Mr. Younts' Bill. Mr. Smith will champion the Bill. I also held a conference with Mr. Issac Huffman and he gave me to understand that the Bill would be reported out probably in __?__ . Returned this PM via Oxford, O.

• Sat. Mar. 11 - At home doing chores. I have not heard from Mr. Yount's Bill on telephone proposition, as yet. Being held up by Huffman's Com., no doubt.

• Tues. Mar. 14 - I went to Hamilton & saw to unloading of 80 25-foot poles for Hamilton Home Co. & ordered car sent on to its destination at Collinsville, O. I attended to some biz & returned home this PM.

• Wed. Mar. 15 - A cold blustery day with snow flurries. I went to Collinsville, O. & unloaded car of tel. poles. Jack Grau helped me.

• Thur. Mar. 16 - I went to Collinsville, O. and helped load up tel. poles:

Geo. Harris 22' - 9

Alva Harris 25' - 8

Jim Harris 22' - 11

Schumaker 25' - 13

J. C. Bromley 29'  

• Fri. Mar. 17 - Tired and sore from lifting poles this week. I went to Oxford today and sent Bank draft to the Davidson Gallmeyer Lumber Co. of Toledo, Ohio as payment for car load of telephone poles - $246.90

• Sat. Mar. 18 - I went to Hamilton today. I had a little mishap. The nut came off the left hand wheel of my buggy and let me down in the street. People helped me straighten things up and I got Mr. Crooker to put on another one. I sold 17 doz. eggs at 18 cents per doz. This makes 43 doz. this week.

• Sun. Apr. 9 - A fine day. Eva and I started for West Chester, O. by horse and buggy at 1:15 PM. We arrived at 5:15 PM. Father & Mother were away, but soon arrived home. We found them enjoying good health. They informed me that they had closed deal with "Big Four" R.R. Co. in regard to right of way on their farm for $3560, which was not bad, but ought to have been better by $1000 at least. They took advantage of the old people.

• Wed. Apr. 12 - Arnold and Belle went to Jos. Davis' to attend a little surprise party - it being the birthday of one of his daughters.

• Tue. May 2 - I(went to Hamilton). On reaching home, I learned of a very unfortunate fatal accident that resulted in the untimely death of one of our Bro. K of P's. Mr. Chas. Snyder - Run over by a loaded wagon - breaking his neck and causing death in a short time.

• Wed. May 3 - I am getting to build an exchange or rather an addition to the house that we will use as an exchange. But the same can be used as a sleeping room, when exchange is not in it.

• Sat. May 6 - I received a letter from Mr. L. Beam requesting me to come to Columbus May 9 - to be there a day or so. I wrote him that I would be on hand.

• Tue. May 9 - I took train for Columbus, O. from Hamilton, O. on 11:02 AM. Freight engine 2d86 ran between 204 and depot, while 204 was discharging and taking on passengers at Hamilton and several people had narrow escapes - a flagrant violation of R. R. rules. Conductor No. 54 of 204 said he would report same to J. J. __?__ , Trainmaster. Arrived in Columbus, O. about 3 PM and got busy.

• Thur. May 11 - Finished work at 11:00 AM and left for West Chester, O. on 12:20 PM. I found folks (father and mother) well. The Big Four are busy on new cuts near Chester - from Maud to Gano.

• Sat. May 13 - Father took me to Rialto, where I took train for Hamilton, O. I met Eva at Miami Bk. We arrive home at dark. Glad to be home again.

Wed. May 17 - This PM, Arnold & I put in a new pole at Harry Bradbury's & fixed drop. I attended K of P lodge this PM.

• Sat. May 20 - Arnold & I went up to Jerico and reset a pole on Geo. Manrod's line that had rotted off (a locust that had been in about 7 or 8 yrs.) A shower of rain came up, while we were there, but did not rain much.

• Sun. May 21 - At home. Sunday is a dry day. I read some in Victor Hugo's Les Miserables - A great work indeed.

• Mon. May 22 - At home. We are not making much progress with our work. There are too many Cooks or Bosses at this Ranch.

• Tues. May 23 - Arnold took Red Craig and buggy to Brookville, Ind. to spend a few days.

• Fri. May 26 - I went to Barnum & Bailey's Circus today. Jas. D. Wycoff went with me. A great show. Had a call about midnight for Dr. Wilkie for Mrs. Elvira Abry, our neighbor. Stomach trouble and general debility.

• Tue. May 30 - ‚Ķ Mrs. Alivra Abry, Widow of Fred Abry deceased, was buried this AM in Darrtown cemetery.

• Thur. June 8 - I hauled some brick today for the foundation of the new addition I am getting ready to build. They are from the old Broadbury farm house on Talawanda below Darrtown.

• Tue. July 4 - Busy setting in foundation. Geo. Kolb was to haul some sand. But, J. C. Bromley was threshing‚ Geo. got caught up in threshing. Threshing wheat on the 4th of July does not often happen.

• Wed. July 12 - At work on cement walk today; we are putting in walk from house to office.

• Sun. July 16 - At home. John F. Mee and I will get out the annual report for the Darrtown Tel. Co. to Tax Commission of Ohio on the morrow.

• Mon. July 17 - John F. Mee came down this AM & we worked on Report to Tax Commission until 2 PM. We finished same and think we are correct.

• Tue. Aug. 8 - I took train to Danville, Ind. to attend Commencement and Alumni meeting. We arrived safely in Danville in time for supper. We met Prof. Chas. __?__ (Hargimers?) and a few others this PM. We put up at Towles House; a very good place. Miss Jessie Stewart, who runs a book store in Danville, Ind. and an old flame of my cousin, J. Harold Miller, took me in charge. And saw to it that I should become a guest of the Scientific Class. So few of the teachers of the class of 1882 being present of which I am a graduate that nothing could be done in the way of a good time.

• Wed. Aug. 9 - I was invited to attend Banquet at Mrs. Jennie Craven Ralston's at Lebanon, Ind. Being the guest of the Scientific Class of 1881. We went to same by auto. A good time for everyone. Rev. Beck of Greencastle, Ind. delivered the Alumni Address in college auditorium. Alumni banquet followed, at which I became a party - as an invited guest.

• Sat. Aug. 12 - We bid farewell to Old Danville this AM at 8 o'clock. Prof. Powers accompanied me as far as Indianapolis. I arrived in Oxford at 1 PM. Eva came after me this evening. We got home around dark.

• Mon. Aug. 21 - I commenced on building this PM. Dr. A. B. Wilkie is chief carpenter. I am first assistant.

• Tue. Aug. 22 - At home doing some work on addition. Dr. Wilkie helped some this PM. We are getting along very nicely, but slow. I went to Oxford and got some lime and timber frames.

• Sat. Sept. 2 - I picked plums and grapes. Also did some work on the addition. We will soon be ready to put in windows and doors and weatherboard.

• Mon. Sept. 4 - At home doing chores and trying to carpenter a little. My head carpenter does not stick to the job very steadily.

• Fri. Sept. 22 - Coal came in to Collinsville this PM. Car of white ash - ordered by a bunch of us through J. C. Bromley.

• Tue. Sept. 27 - At home busy at a little of everything. I learned some few days since that my Brother Otto is very sick. He never sends me any word or has any __?__. Father usually notifies me.

• Tue. Oct. 3 - I rec'd a letter from Mother Miller in regard to Bro. Otto and he is very low. Cannot get well. She thinks and wishes me to come down and see him. I left at 6 PM. Eva and I for West Chester, O. We arrived around 9 PM. Father had gone to Otto's for the night. We put up and went to bed at about 11 PM. A warm night.

• Wed. Oct. 4 - Father came home this AM. Brother Otto's wife thinks that my coming to see him might be a shock to him and cause him to die. Father thinks also that I should not go. I have therefore decided to go home this PM. I cannot write here my thoughts. We went home arriving 7:30 PM. We found folks well at home.

• Thur. Oct. 5 - This 6 PM, I rec'd sad news from Rev. Miller of West Chester, O. stating that my Brother Otto had passed away‚ my only brother.

• Sat. Oct. 7 - At home AM. Eva & I went to West Chester, O. this PM to be ready to attend the obsequies of my late Brother, O. E. Miller.

• Sun. Oct. 8 - We were present at the last sad rites of Brother Otto and laid his body to rest in Mason Cemetery near the close of the day.

• Thur. Nov. 2 - Dr. Wilkie put in windows this PM. I put in partition and helped lath and other stuff. We will soon be ready to plaster.

• Sat. Nov. 11 - Our exchange girl, Belle Wilkie, quit us today. She has been with us a few days over four years.

• Thur. Nov. 30 - At home today. We had company for dinner. The Wilkies. The Dr. & Mrs. & Belle. Also, Miss L. A. Moulton of Seattle, Washington - a sister of Mr. Wilkie. Dr. & I worked on finish to addition.

• Tues. Dec. 5 - Arnold took Miss Belle Wilkie and Miss Lillian A. Moulton to Oxford Bag and Buy __?__ bound for Seattle, Wash. The Dr. came down this PM and helped do finish work.

• Fri. Dec. 8 - The exchange work requires our constant attention. Someone must be on duty at all times.

• Mon. Dec. 25 - The guests arrived in due time & we all sat down to the turkey feast. Dr. & Mrs. Wilkie; Jas. I. Wycoff; & Miss Essie Shears. Cranberry sauce, candy & nuts & etc. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves & went home filled and happy.

• Sun. Dec. 31 - At work on books. Some fur in sight. Politics warming up throughout the U.S. This closes this Journal forever. Goodbye old diary and the old year that you record. I have no complaints to record. You have treated me very well and I have no bitter recollections of you having been here.