1881 This year proved to be one of extremes. It ocmmenced during the coldest weather that I have ever experienced. On Monday morning January 10th the thermometer stood at 30 degrees Fr. below zero. This was about 1 oclock A. M. The oldest inhabitant was for once puzzled as the cold weather continued so long. A great amunt of snow fell which drifted over staked rail fences in places and closed roads for weeks. The drifts in our yard did not melt away until the last of March and ice formed two inches in thickness in a single night during the first week in April. There was no January thaw common to most winters. The freeze up commenced about the Middle of November, closing the canals much soner than expected, and for five months therwewas no mild weather. As a result the spring was very late and the remark was common that summer followed close on the heels of winter. The Missouri river overflowed its bottoms and rose higher than ever known before, doing much damage. The summer, like the winter, bothered the oldest inhabitant also. The weather was very hot and continued so with but few exceptions till late in the fall and gave us but little autumn. The drouth of -81 will never be forgotten by the present generation. The crop of small grain and hay was very fair but corn, potatoes and things needing rain in summer was very poor. In southern Ilinois, corn was so poor that in many places it did not yield as much in the fall as had been planted in the spring. Potatoes and cabbage were so scarce that they were imported from the old country, which was never before known in the history of the republic. The former sold in Stanberry for $2 40/100 per bushel during the winter. Cattle suffered very much for water and a ride through the country during Augsut was made unpleasant by their bellowings. Cyclones were common and did much damage. One on June 12th passed through the southern part of Gentry and the northern part of DeKalb killing several persons and much stock, besides rendering many homeless. There was great excitement during the summer over the shooting and consequent sufferings of President Garfield. The result was a heavy blow to the Republican party in particular and the whole country in general. But few had confidence in his successor. As may be supposed, my summer's work on new land did not amount to much. But I was best off in comparison to town people as we had plenty of provisions, though everything was so scarce and dear. During the winter I taught school at my old school house near home where Minnie and I first became acquainted. +++++++++++++ Note: it's interesting he doesn't give the "oldest inhabitant" a name. Also that he refers to "the old country". My mother heard Henry Walters state that Pres. Garfield was a distant cousin. Garfield's mother was Eliza Ballou, Henry's mother was also a Ballou.