Sept. 1 1884 Monday Commenced my seventeenth term of school. with an attendance of 39. Boarded at my home in town walking out to my school and back each day. Distance 3 1/2 miles. Oct. 17, 1884 Friday Ed came up and spent a few days with us. He took home 25 bushels of potatoes as we had plenty and they had none. Nov. 4, 1884 Tuesday Dismissed school for two days and served as clerk during the election. Cast the first ballott. There were 684 ballotts cast. The Republicans had a plurality of 36 over the Democrats and Prohibitionists and 41 over the Democrats alone in this precinct. The entire Democratic county state ticket and national ticket was elected. We counted tickets till 3-30 the next morning and then adjourned till 8 oclock. Finished about noon. There was a great deal of betting done and of course much excitement attended it. I made no bets as I never favored the habit. The election was very close on the national ticket and resulted in the defeat of Blaine and the election of Cleveland by a small plurality in New York. Dec 23 1884 Tuesday Dismissed school for the remainder of the week. having taught for two days of the present week to make up for the time lost during election week. Spent my vacation at home. Minnie was sick during the month and was confined to her bed during the greater part of the time. We had a servant for nearly 4 weeks. With this exception, the health of the family during the year was excellent. ++++++++++ Note: A book of Gentry Co., MO records states that there was a stillbirth during December 1884. This was the cause of Minnie's confinement.