Jan 18 1883 Thursday Last day of my fifteenth term of school. My attendance during the term was good. Several visitors were present. Made out my reports and returned the books to the district clerk F. S. Adams. Jan 26 1883 Friday Left my family at Mr. Fishers, and went down on horseback to see my mother and brothers in DeKalb Co. Took dinner at King City and fed my horse at Clarence Brays. Arrived about 7 P. M. The day was cold and misty. Found all well. Feb 1, 1883 Thursday Left DeKalb for my home in Gentry. A cold raw day with an east wind driving the snow against me all the way home. Had to walk about half the distance to keep my hands warm. Took dinner at Brays and got to Stanberry at dark. May 22 1883 Tuesday Another heavy frost doing much damage. Last year there was one on the same day. This caused me to give up my plan of following market gardening, as our land lies too low. For two years my early plants have been destroyed by frost. There is not much inducement to raise early vegetables on land where ice will form as thick as windows glass at thie time of the year. The freeze was general over the Mississippi valley. Only on the highest ridges did plants escape being cut down. In some places, potatoes were so far advanced as to be entirely killed. In most cases they sent out new tops however. ++++++++++++