Diary of Laura L. Sampson
1876

donated by Elizabeth D. Smith

Laura Sampson, age unknown - Photo submitted by Wendy Deakins

Little Red Excelsior Diary year 1876.

NOTE: from Elizabeth D. Smith
     I have transcribed this diary as it is written by a young girl who lived in Hillsdale County. She is believed to be Warner Sampson's sister, Laura L. Sampson. She was 12 years younger than Warner and from the writing it is apparent that Warner is married to Emma and they all live together during some of this time. It can not be Myrta’s since she is talked about in the diary the years of birth/death don’t make it possible. The father that is mentioned so many times in the diary has to be John W. Sampson, my great great grandfather. “Father” is going to Addie’s early in the diary. The writer is also going to see “Addie” in one of the later pages of the diary and that would have been my great grandmother “Adeline” and sister of Laura. This has been a labor of love for me to live one year of this young girl’s life and see some of history through her eyes.

Monday, January 3, 1876
Father gave me .25 & gave Warner .19 cents

Tuesday, January 4, 1876
Mother came home today from Grand Rapids
The singing school met here to-night

Friday, January 7, 1876
Father gave me .10 cents

Saturday, January 8, 1876
We have been having very good revival meetings this week.
They will continue next week

Tuesday, January 11, 1876
The signing school met here again to-night

Saturday, January 15
Father bought me a pair of shoes price $2.00
And gave me $.75 to buy a veil with

Tuesday, January 18
The signing school met to Hattie Smith to-night
I fell down when I was getting in the ditch

Thursday, January 20
I took my first music lesson to-day.
Of Mrs. Knickerbacker.
The church pays for one term if I will play for churchs

Sunday, January 23
Uncle Jim Sampson & Mrs. Green was married this evening.

Monday, January 24
They are going to have singings again this week and I am going to-night.
Warner is going to Marcellas to-night. Father gave him $10.00

Tuesday, January 25
The siginig school met to-night at Killo Book

Wednesday, January 26
Father gave me cents .2

Thursday, January 27
I took my second music lesson to-day

Friday, January 28B
I stayed with the children to-night and let Emma go to church.
They are going to continue with meetings

Sunday, January 30
Father gave me 5 cts.

Wednesday, February 2
I was invited over to Jimmie McQueen’s this afternoon.
There was 9 of us and we had a very nice time.

Thursday, February 3
It is snowing today. This is the first day this winter
that there has been and sleighing what ever.
Some sleighs are out to-day.

Friday, February 4
I took my third music lesson yesterday.

Saturday, February 5
We have got some new singing books for the choir.

Sunday, February 6
Today is quarterly meeting the second for this year.
Father gave .05 cts.

Monday, February 7
Father and Mother went to Amboy to-day in the buggy.

Tuesday, February 8
Mr. Blackeman’s little girl was buried to-day.
Our choir went she was the prettiest corpse I ever saw.

Wednesday, February 9B
It has been very icing to-day.

Thursday, February 10
I received my fourth music to-day.

Friday, February 11
I stayed with the children and let Emma go to church to-night.
(This has to be Emma Allison that married Warner)

Saturday, February 12
The meetings have now closed last night were the last.

Sunday, February 13
4 jointed the church last Sunday and 5 more joined to-day.
Father gave me .10 cents

Tuesday, February 15
We had no singing school to-night.
There was only 4 of us there.

Thursday, February 17
I did not take my music lesson to-day because
I had not had time to learn my last lesson
& Mrs. Knickerbacker was cleaning house
and could not give me a lesson.

Friday, February 18
Warner and Father shingled the south part of the wing today.

Saturday, February 19
Warner & Mr. Mafthy shingled the north side of the wing today.

Sunday, February 20
Father gave me .05 cents
We forgot to take up any collection in our church to-day.

Wednesday, February 23
We decided last night to have no more
singing school with Mr. Bryant as teacher.

Thursday, February 24
I am not at school to today on account of having very sore eyes.
I did not take my music lesson to-day
since she has not got through with house cleaning.

Friday, February 25
To-day the school is to be examined for the centennial.
Warner and Henry shingled the west side of the upright to-day.

Saturday, February 26
Jessie is 8 years to-day

Sunday, February 27
To-day is Mr. Bryant’s last day as leader of the Methodist choir.
Mr. Sampart is to be our leader.

Monday, February 28
Father started to-day at eleven o’clock for Addie’s
He gave me (.2) cts yesterday

Wednesday, March 1
Warner and his family started last night at eleven o’clock
for their new home in Marrettns(sp)
(This is when Warner and Emma moved from Hillsdale, MI)

Thursday, March 2
I did not take my music lesson to-day on account of my eyes.
Rose Sheppard died this morning at Mr. Bucks.

Friday, March 3
Father came home from the Rapids and brought Myrta with him.

Saturday, March 4
My eyes are so sore that I will not be able
to go to choir meeting to-night.

Sunday, March 5
I could not go to church on Wednesday on
account of my eyes. Mife (sp) Cheeny played.

Sunday, March 12
I went to church this morning but could not play.
Wednesday, March 22
The singing school met to-night over to Jennie McQueens
and went Mr. Wrightman is leader.

Sunday, March 26
I took my place in the choir to-day again.
My eyes are nearly well again.

Thursday, April 6
I received my fifth (5) music lesson to-day.
Jennie and Jimmie were over here to tea.
Ritla (sp) came but did not stay sent for

Friday, April 7
Had one of my teeth pulled to-day by Mr. Black.

Saturday, April 8
Had another tooth filled to-day.
Father gave me $2.00 got my Mother fanned (sp) for .65

Sunday, April 16
Easter Sunday. Stella sang with the Episcopal’s to-day.

Friday, April 21
Got a telegram from Warner.
Uncle Eddie had broken his leg and
Emma was sick and Mother started for there to-night.

Thursday, April 27
Received my sixth 6 music lesson to-day.

Saturday, May 6
Mother came home to-day from Warner’s.

Thursday, May 11
Took my sevents (7) music lesson to-day.
Father gave me $2.00
boutht Myrta hat $2.00
and my calico dress $1.00.

Monday, May 15
How very warm it is again almost roasting.
Jimmie (sp) McQueen painted here to-day.

Tuesday, May 16
Jimmie painted again to-day.

Wednesday, May 17
I staid home to-day from school
and we papered the parlor.

Saturday, May 20
Father gave me $2.00 to get me a hat it cost me 1.75
Papered the bedrooms to-day

Monday, May 22
Frank Whitney was drowned in a river towards Adams.
His funeral was this afternoon in the church
The S. S. did the signing
The church was crowded

Tuesday, May 23
We had quite a frost last night
Went to Mrs. Sancusters(sp) concert Myrta & I
Father gave me .55 cts
Myrta went free

Thursday, May 25
Received my 8, music lesson to-day

Friday, June 9
Father gave me $2.50
Bought Myrta & I a fan for .80 cts.
Mother and I went to the college to the society

Sunday, June 11
Very hot to-day

Monday, June 12
Perry Sebring(sp)

Wednesday, June 14
Father gave me $5.00
I bought my hat. Gloves & shoes for $5.35

Thursday, June 15
Went to commencement exercises to-day with Emma Gould

Sunday, June 18
Very cool again to-day
Cool enough for thick dress and shawl

Wednesday, June 21
Went to the pioneer picnic this afternoon
& when I came home went to Mrs. Mansfields to tea

Thursday, June 22
Father, Myrta , yeomary(sp) & I went fishing to-day
we caught eight fish

Friday, June 23
We took up the carpet in the front room upstairs to-day
& put down another and pulled off the old wallpaper

Saturday, June 24
Father gave Mother $5.00 to get me a sack with.
It cost 2.81 & the trimming cost 2.95
besides the silk it cost in all 8.51

Tuesday, June 27
Father was on a stool picking cherries when the stool tipped
and he fell putting his shoulder out of joint
Drs Everette and Wheaten(sp) set it

Thursday, June 29
I received a half hour music lesson to-day
this makes 7 ½ lessons
Father’s arm is very very painful yet

Friday, June 30
Father gave me $1.00 to get silk for my sacque

Monday, July 3
Father gave me $2.00 to pay for the making of my sacque

Thursday, July 6
I took an other half hour music lesson to-day this makes eight (8)

Wednesday, July 12
Myrta is eight years old to-day.
She received a book of Mother Goose.
Molders(sp) from Mary Mansfield and a silver half dollar from Grandpa

Thursday, July 13
Mrs. Knickerbacker is sick to-day

Saturday, July 15
Father went to town to-day for the first since he was hurt
Sunday, July 16
I could not go to choir meeting last night I was sick.
I played to church this morning but could not go this evening
Mrs. Osborne played for me to-night.

Wednesday, July 19
The choir met to-night but I was not able to go

Saturday, July 22
Went to choir meeting to-night did much like it.
I rode down and back in the buggy.

Sunday, July 23
Mother took me to church this morning in the buggy
and Jimmie McQueen brought me back.
Mother took me this evening but I had to walk home.

Thursday, July 27
Received my ninth (9) music lesson to-day at the church

Wednesday, August 2
Received my tenth (10) music lesson to-day.

Monday, August 7
Myrta and I started for Grand Rapids this
afternoon with Mr. & Mrs. Nightman.

Wednesday, August 16
Myrta and I started for Warner’s from Grand Rapids

Saturday, August 19
Myrta and I reached home today at 2:30 PM

Saturday, August 26
Sara Barnard came here this afternoon she is going to stay a week.

Wednesday, August 30
Received my eleventh (11) music lesson to-day

Wednesday, September 13
Reveived my 12th. music lesson to-day

Sunday, September 17
President Durgin president of the College
preached in the Methodist church this morning

Tuesday, September 19
The choir was to meet to Mr. Lampports(sp)
I went but there was no one else there but Mr. Clark

Wednesday, September 20
Received my 13th music lesson to-day

Friday, September 22
The new minister Brother Gillitt arrived this afternoon
and he and Mr. Nightman came down a few moments.
Mr. Nightman goes to his new place to-night.

Saturday, September 23
Gave Minnie Castles her first (1st) music lesson to-day

Monday, September 25
Uncle Heman was up to-day and I went home
with him and stayed all-night

Tuesday, September 26
Uncle Heman Aunt Ida & I went down to Cambry (sp) this morning

Wednesday, September 27
Came home from Cambry(sp) this afternoon
reached here about 4 oclock

Saturday, September 30
Gave Minnie Castley her second (2) music lesson to-day
Father bought me a pair of shoes 2.50
and Myrta a pair 2.50

Wednesday, October 4
Received my 14th music lesson to-day

U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 Michigan, Hillsdale
Laura L. Sampson age 20 Place of birth Michigan, Parents born NY
died FEB 1880 Hillsdale, MI of consumption

1870 United States Federal Census Michigan, Hillsdale
131/128 John Sampson age 80 (although could be 50?)Retired Merchant born NY
Mary age 48 Keeping House born NY
Laura age 11 At school born Michigan

1860 United States Federal Census Michigan, Hillsdale County, Fayette
534/534 John W. Sampson age 41 Farmer born NY
Mary age 38 born NY
Addaline age 17 born NY
Warner age 12 born MI
Laura age 1 born MI