L. A. Miller Diary of 1916

(Excerpted by Fred Lindley)

Thurs. Jan. 6 - At work on lines. I cleared a case of trouble on 14 this a.m. Jos. Pherris greased harness all day.

EXCERPTOR NOTE: DURING SEVERAL WEEKS OF JANUARY AND EARLY FEBRUARY, MR. MILLER EXPERIENCED POOR HEALTH (THAT HE DESCRIBED AS THE "GRIP"). THIS SEEMED TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF NOTES THAT HE RECORDED DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

Mon. Feb. 7 - Shirley Corbin came up this P.M. & pd. interest on $200 note & $25 on Principal out of pocket money in his hand belonging to owners of Miller- Phillips farm.

Tues. Feb. 22 - Wm. Nelly called to make arrangements about putting in telephone. I drove over & looked over the ground & gave him instructions as to setting of poles & etc.

Thurs. Feb. 24 - Roads some better. Teams & men are out at various places, dragging the roads. Milk truck goes when roads are frozen. Heavy loads are not allowed on roads, when not frozen or dry.

EXCERPTOR NOTE:

THROUGHOUT THIS EARLY PART OF 1916, MR. MILLER MADE NUMEROUS NOTATIONS ABOUT THE WAR IN EUROPE. HE DESCRIBED THE HORRIBLE CONDITIONS AND LOSS OF LIFE.

DURING LATE WINTER AND EARLY SPRING, MR. MILLER DESCRIBED FINANCIAL AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE "MILLER-PHILLIPS" FARM ON SCOTT ROAD, WHICH MRS. (EVA) MILLER AND HER SISTERS OWNED IN PARTNERSHIP. SOME SIBLINGS WERE IN FAVOR OF SELLING THE PROPERTY.

Sun. Mar. 12 - I went to Wm. Wiley's & installed line & made connections on No. 2. We got done about 4 P.M.

Wed. Mar. 15 - European war gets fiercer and more of it.

Mon. Mar. 27 - Verdan is still held by the French. The Germans are going to be the losers in this scrap is my guess and have been from the start. The defeat at the River Marne was their Waterloo.

Wed. Apr. 5 - I called at Pherris' & we had a game of Pedro.

Wed. May 10 - War in Europe still rages as usual. No close of struggle in sight.

Fri. May 19 - I drove to Hamilton & took train to Dayton, O. to attend the 5th & 6th Dist. meeting of the Telephone men of said districts. I am Sec. and was, for many years. Pres.

Sun. May 28 - Arnold & I went over to take a look at J. M. Doty's auto. Buick & a very substantial machine. Ask $250. I think we will buy it.

Mon. May 29 - Mr. J. M. Doty came over this A.M. and we went over to farm. I traded in cow & two calves for $100 on auto. I gave him check for $140. He, paying $10, on telephone rent. Auto stands at $250. Buick 1910 model - original cost $1000. Has been run less than 10,000 miles. We went to Hamilton this P.M. I on biz., in regard to farm & the folks to have a ride in auto.

Sat. Jun. 10 - Teddy Roosevelt was nominated on the Progressive ticket & Hughs of New York on Republican ticket today at Chicago, Ill.

Thurs. Jun. 15 - Arnold & Bell Wilkie went to Hamilton this A.M. I went down and got the rig this P.M. They were married in Cinti. this 6:30 P.M.

Tues. Jun. 20 - This P.M., I went to Oxford to meet Mr. S. H. Allen on Tel. biz. On way home, the left front wheel of buggy came off at S. L Herzog's .

My horse, Dirk, became unmanageable & ran away - upset me and left me - the shaft coming off. Walked home. Horse not hurt much - stopped running, as soon as he freed himself of shaft.

Sun. Jun. 25 - War in Europe is still raging; the most awful war in all time.

Sun. July 16 - Arnold worked all day on auto; but, did not get it fixed - putting in new transmission. Lewis Teckman helped him.

Mon. July 17 - Arnold worked on auto, but did not get it fixed - had to send trans. in to Hamilton, O.

Tues. July 18 - The Phillips farm sold this P.M. at Sheriff's sale. Mag. bought it in sat $91 per acre. I bid $75 per acre, which was $5 more than it was worth.

Fri. July 21 - Arnold came in this P.M. with his uncle, Wm. Moulton from Seattle, Wash., who has been attending the Rotary meet at Cincy, O.

Sun. July 23 - Arnold and Lewis Teckman worked on auto all day & then fell down. Stuck on high - transmission.

Mon. July 24 - The Allies are now driving the Germans. Also, the Russians are defeating Austrians & Turks. Also, Germans.

Tues. July 25 - Arnold and I went up to Bud Hansel's & put in phone - or rather connected phone - drop had broken.

Fri. July 28 - I went up to Jerico & looked after some trouble. I was invited to eat supper at Scott Thompson's & of course, it being a thresher's supper, I could not resist the urgent temptation.

Sat. Aug. 12 - I went to Collinsville, O. & got magneto repaired by C&D Electric Co. Cinti. O. 7th & Walnut St. Charges $11.83 Auto is an expensive luxury. Not yet reached a practical stage.

Sun. Sept. 24 - Allies are doing the driving now on all fronts of European war.

Sat. Oct. 14 - I went to Hamilton today to attend to some biz. We had to go by Robin Hood's Barn to get in the back door now on account of the State of Ohio building a mile of macadam on Hamilton & Darrtown Pike.

Mon. Nov. 27 - At home. The folks went to Hamilton, O. this P.M. Emma Weiss took the PM trick. I attended to some work in office & chores.

Tues. Nov. 28 - I attended the sale at Kyger Bros. & McVicker today. A fair crowd and Holstein cows brought from $90 to $167 per head - record prices for this section.

Fri. Dec. 8 - This P.M., I drove out to Lane's Mill on some Tel. biz. & watched operations on new bridge for a while.

Sat. Dec. 9 - … Bucharest, the capital of Rumania, has fallen into the hands of the German Army.

Tues. Dec. 12 - We went to Seven MIle, O. this P.M. for a rabbit roast. K. of P. - a good time. Gus Bufler went along & Harry Teckman drove the car.

Wed. Dec. 14 - Germany has asked for Peace, on her own terms. The Allies, I think, will name the terms, when the time comes.

Thurs. Dec. 21 - European war is still raging - not much indications of Peace.

Sat. Dec. 23 - I went to Oxford this P.M. with Fr. McVicker, in his new Studebaker - 7 passenger car.

Sat. Dec. 30 - I went to Hamilton, O. with Wm. Keppler today: he is trying to rent or buy Phillips farm. Prospect does not seem good for either.

Sun. Dec. 31 - The last day of another year. A sad year, for the most of humanity. The Great War in Europe has claimed its tens of thousands - by every known method of destruction, as well as starvation. The U. S. has had a troubled peace. Fortunes being made, by a few only.