W.E. Costley at home near middle Bosque creek
Tuesday September the 11th AD 1900 hundred opened up quite a cloudey
Still morning wind earley in the morning was from the South but
blowing feble much like falling weather Thermometer at an earley
hour this morning registers 76 Degrees tempature about 15 minutes
of Seven o clock the morning the Sun Shown out very bright with
much force and power. It was rather late in the morning when my
wife and my Self a rose from our bed of repose as neither one of
us was very well both very dull there fore we did not care a bout
getting up soon. but eventually we made out to a rise from our bed
then clothed our person washed our hands and face, after drying of
them we proceded too our dailey work again i to prepareing Stove
wood to cook our mornings meal by whilst She was attending to her
young fowls and feeding of them when She was through. with her
fowls, She Kindled a fire in the Stove then began to prepare the
mornings meal whilst i fed my horse and the hogs turkeys and
chickens. when i was through with our earley mornings work i then
went to work to record the begining of our days labor and the
weather but in a Short while i was called by my (wife) to come
too my morning meal as She had Served it and placed it on the
table readey for to be eat we then taken Seats too the table
then portaken of our meal as we usualy do. Still a lone. After
we were through with our meal my wife milked he (the) cow whilst
i walked up on the Railroad to See a bout the turkeys after
arriving near the Railroad i found a bout 30 of them they appear
to be doing So well i let them graze for a bit i then taken the
north end of Said road and walked over in too Coffmans pasture to
look for more of them i was near the Culvert in Coffmans pasture
i then turned back too where my Turkeys was feeding and pulled up
a lot of Johnson grass roots and other noxious groath too numerous
to mention and as the turkeys was enclined to feed back in the
direction of the house i did not disturb them i then walked back
to my house caught curried then Saddled Walker mounted on him rode
out in too the pasture after a animal too work i come a cross Old
Judeor brought her up then fed and curried her. then put a covering
on her to keep the flyes off of her i also put one on Walker as they
cut up so severe afterwards i then come in doors Seated my Self at
my desk then began to take a minute of our labor perfomed up to half
past eleven o clock of the forenoon of to day . my wife is not
feeling well to day Shes is lying down the most of the time in
the fore noon of too day i am feeling much better than i did this
morning earley Since i have been Sturing around for a bit at or
near twelve oclock i geered Walker and Judy hitched them too the
wagon then mounted in the wagon then drove for middle Bosque to
water my teem and to hall a barrel of water after they drank i
then filled my barrel a bout too thirds full of as nice water
as ever run down the a river or a creek of any Streem as the
Bosque had a rise of a bout half banks and has become clear So She
looks beautiful to behold it reminds me of an earley day of my life
before the Soil was torn up by the farmers that it were no trouble
to See fish Swiming fifteen feet deep in any of the rivers and creeks
in texas that afforded a great deal of water or of any note but not
the case now as the Streems are in fested with the mud from the farms
from all quarters and direction. now after arriving at my place with
my water i ungeered my teem then taken them too my upper field to
graze as they appeared to be So hungry for the want of grass and
weeds. After turning of them in the field and tying of the gate i
walked back too my premise Seated my Self down by my writing desk
and began noting down what had been done to day by my Self and wife
up to too oclock to day. as we have just finished our noons meal and
at the Same hour the thermometer registers 89 Degrees tempature this
evening. we will take our rest a gain as we feel that we nead it very
much as old people this has turned out to be a very nice day to what
it had appearance of this morning. After taking of a rest i then
walked up too the upper field and brought my horse down the (then)
put my Saddle on him then rode over to the Crawford mill to See if
my turn of corn was ground. my wife is feeling Some better this
evening to what she felt in the fore part of to day. before i Started
to Crawford i Salted the Sheltin poney and peet (Pete) as they had
just come up as they had been out Several days and had no Salt. this
is a bright loveny (lovely) evening So far as the wind is blowing nice
and Soft from the South east very brisk but not So brisk as it blew on
the last Sabbath day of our Lord AD 1900 hundred After i returned from
Crawford and had taken my Sack of meal off of my horse i then fed him
calculated to go out in my pasture and drive our cows up after he eat
and i brought old Judy mare up and watered and fed her but it was So
warm when i got through that i declined on going after them although
it was Six oclock in the evening when it Seem like it ought to have
been cooler but i Sufferd more with heat at that time than i have
today. it Seem right late in the evening to be deathly warm as the
wind went down and but little air Sturing at night fall. So it
become very oppressive that is the extreem heat. I then taken up the
Waco Paper and red (read) the distruction of life and property caused
by the heavey Storm on the Gulf on last Saturday night the ninth and
tenth of September AD 1900 hundred where there was at least one
thousand persons lost during the Storm on the galveston bay by the
over flowing the iland (island) with water from the ocean and also
the distruction of lives and property caused by the Storm and land a
way from the water it was a tearable disaster that befell the people
of the country but however we are warned by the higher powers that
Such will be the case and all we can do is to try and aid and assist
the neadey if it is in our power charity to begin at at home and if
you have any more to Spare Send it too the neadey and desolate a
broad that is my religion Strait out do unto others as you would have
them do unto you is a Safe road to travail through this trouble Same
world. Now as we at home have red (read) the news of the great
distruction of live and property of our fellow men woman and children
off of our land and county we all could offer up no better a pray to
night than to ask the Lord to gard and protect up through the present
night as he has through the day just passed and gone and when done
with our frail worn out bodys here on earth to hand us down to our
grave in peace with the (Thee) and all man Kind and in heaven Save
us is my prayer for one to night - Amen
W.E. Costley at home near Middle Bosque creek
Wednesday September the 12th 1900 hundred opened up nice and clear
wind from the South west at Seven oclock AM but not very Strong. The
thermometer Registered at the Same hour at 74 Degrees tempature. my
wife and my Self were out of bed tolerably earley for old people this
morning after getting on of our clothes i built the fire in the Stove
whilst she let the chickens out of the coops we then washed our face
and hands and went to work my wife then went too prepareing our
mornings meal whilst i fed the fowls after getting through i then
come in doors Seated my Self down by my writing desk and began to
record the beginning of our days labors but in a few minutes i was
called by my wife to come and eat the mornings meal that she had
just prepared and placed on the table we then taken our Seats too
the table then eat our mornings meal after we were through my (wife)
in turn taken care of her breakfast table and put her Kitchen and
dining room in good repare also her dwelling house then too her out
door work She went to looking after her well fare in the poltry line.
and i walked up too the upperfield to See a bout the turkeys. that
have left the place and also to bring any teem down to the house.
there was a part of the turkeys that had passed over the Railroad
in too my upper field. So i met with Brother Louis Anderson that
lives on the Gys Blacks old place and him and i had a long chat in
regard to the great distruction at the city of Galveston on the ninth
and tenth of September AD 1900 hundred of property and life. and other
matterS of importance to our Selves individually after we were through
with our argunt (arguments) he went his way too the woods for a load
of wood whilst i caught up my horses then Started for my house. and
befere (before) leaving. the field i drove the Turkeys down near the
house then walked back too the field for my teem after arriving at
the house i fed Judy then Saddled Walker mounted my Self on him then
rode out in too the pasture after my cows after a teagious Serch i
found them they we (were) a great deal of trouble to drive as they
had there calves with them. but however with help of my Shepard dog
i brought them in and with the help of my wife we put them in the pen.
i then unsaddled my horse then put him in the Stable and fed him by
that time it was nearing 12-oclock noon day. I then come in doors and
taken a rest for a bit then began to Record the labors performed up
to one oclock to day at that is the time that we eat our noons meal
that my wife had prepared. After we were through with the meal my
wife taken care of her dinner table then put every thing pertaining
too the table ingood Shape again then went for a good rest in her old
days. After i had rested i then Saddled my horse mounted on him and
rode over to Crawford and led Judy mare to have her Shod i taken her
to Edwards Shop and young man by the name of Cash. After getting of
her Shod. i then walked up in too the buisiness part of Crawford
and baught me a peck of Sweet yam potatoes i then mounted my horse
led judy then rode for my place of a bode Stoping on my horse a few
minutes to talk to one of my old neighbors that moved a way a great
while a go by the name of Mrs Mullins and her Daughter they was at
Mrs Brooks and will leave for Sanagelo (San Angelo) on to morrow
for there place of abode as they live at that Town on the Santafe
railroad Some one hundred and Seventy five miles west from my place.
After i arrived at home i unsaddled my horse then come in doors for
a good rest but i was Sorley disappointed as my wife put me to work
fixing a door to her wash Stand after working at it for a while we
quit off before getting of it finished to turn the cows out to grass
and to ty (tie) up a calf as it was So wild that it could not be
Kept in a pen . after getting of it confined i then fed my teem but
old Judy mare would not eat as She appeared to be Sick i then fed
the hogs after walker was done eating i taken them too my upper
field then turned them into graze i then walked back to my house
prepared Stove wood for my wife to Serve our evening meal by and
when She was readey with the meal we then Seated our Selves too the
table and eat the Same we had for a part of our evening meal Some
nice yam potatoes raised near Waco in McLennan County Texas. they
Some what beet these dry weather potatoes. After we were through
with our evenings meal my wife taken care of her Supper table and
put evry thing in good Shap again we then Seated our Selves too in
our bedroom and i red (read) a religious pamphlet for ever So long
and She did the listening untill i closed the reading of the Same,
then She taken the book or rather a pamplet and red (read) the
contents of the Same whilst i finished recording of our dailey
Labors and the changes of the weather. during of the day it is
quite cool and Still to night to what it has been here too fore
Now as we have completed our labors for too day we will depart to
our bed too rest by asking the lord to gard and protect us through
the present night as he has through the day just passed and gone.
And when done with our frail bodys to hand us down too our grave
in peace with the and all man Kind and in heaven Save us is my
prayer to night - Amen
W.E. Costley At home near Middle Bosque creek
Thursday September the 13th AD 1900 hundred. Opened up quite a nice
morning rather cool but not So cool as to crackle the Skin Thermometer
registers at Seven Oclock this morning at 74 Degrees tempature.
we were late rising out of our beds this morning as we did not care
to be too earley as it is too warm these days to do much. but however
eventually we a rose dressed our person then washed our hands and
face then my wife went to work to prepare our mornings meal whilst
i fed the hogs and fowls and did other work a round the premises,
about the time i was through with my work my wife announced the
mornings (meal) on the table readey for to be eat we then Seated our
Selves to the table then portaken of our morning meal, after we were
through my wife attended the milk pen then milked her Cows after
getting through Milking of the Cows She then put a way the milk and
attended too her dining room and put her Kitchen and dining room in
good Shape for the day whilst i walked up across the railroad too my
upper field and brought my teem down too the house and fed them.
after they was through eating i caught curried then put the bugy
(buggy) geer on walker hitched him too the buggy then my wife and
my Self mounted in too the buggy then drove for Doctor Compton at
Crawford to See Mrs Mullins and her Daughter that lives at Balanger.
(Ballinger) after we arrived at Doctor Compton, my wife alighted
from our buggy and remained with Mrs Mullins and daughter and also
Doctor Comtos wife until i could go down and See Sam Clary and
familey as he was Sick and had been for Several day. after
remaining for quite a while i bid the famely (family) good by
i mounted in my buggy then then drove for Doctor Compton again
to get my wife where I had left her after arriving at the Doctors
and exchanging So some few jokes we then mounted in the the Buggy
then driving for our place of a bode Stopping at old Lady Brooks
and exchanging a few Kindley greetings with her and her Daughter
Miss Mattie Books (Brooks) for but we onley made a Short Stay with
them then drove home. after arriving at home, we dismounted from
our buggy i then ungeered my horse then put the wagon geer on my
teem hitched them too the wagon i then mounted in my wagon and
drove for middle Bosque creek to water one of my animals as the
other one had water and to hall a barrel of water as we were out
entirely, with the exception of a little my wife had to cook her
noons meal after arriving at home i ungeered my teem then tied
them up a while before feeding i then come in doors and taken a
rest as i were very warm. but after i had cooled for a bit my
wife announced our noon meal Served and on the table we then ]
Seated our Selves too the table then portaken of our meal having
nice white head cabbage and nice yam potatoes and the finest of
corn bread for our noons meal to day and it well cooked then
Seasoned to the taste of anyone desire or taste, after the meal
was over with and the dinner table cared far my wife layed down
on her bed and taken a good rest whilst i was Seated my desk
recording what had been done on and off of the premises to day.
after i had finished the work. i then fed my teem after they were
through eating i caught then Saddled my horse mounted on him then
rode over to Crawford to See merchant Marks about Selling him Some
turkeys, he wants to by (buy) but wants the people to give them to
him there fore we did not trade after getting my mail i then
mounted my horse then rode for home after arriving at home i
unsaddled my horse tied him up for a while untill i could bring
my Saddle in doors and hang it up then examine my paper for the
news that i had just brought home in reading of the Houston post
i find horable news about the Storm at galveston on the ninth and
tenth of Sepember AD 1900 hundred were very bad Such a great loss
of life and property it was reported in the number of the Houston
Herald paper that the loss was Some ten thousand probably more
persons. being the worst Storm that ever come or visited Said
iland (island) from the first Settling of the same also the loss
of property of all Kind. After getting through looking over the
paper i then fed my teem after they were through eating i then
watered the old mare at the Barrel afterwards taken my teem too
the upper field then turned them in to graze. i then walked back
to my corn field gathered Some corne (corn)and brought too my hogs
that i had in the pen. i then gave them watered them come to the
house and began my work to wind up recording of our days labor and
the weather of to day it was not but a Short while untill i was
called to my evenings meal by my wife we then Seated our Selves
to the table then portaken of the Same. after getting through and
evry thing portaining to the table ware put a way in neat attair
then we begain to read over the distruction of the galveston
disaster and distruction from a terable Storm or cyclone on the
ninth and tenth of September A the AD 1900 hundred from which it
caused great distructions of property and life. after a boutto
hours engagemen in reading of the different news and experence of
Some of the flood Stricken people of galveston we then laid evry
thing A Side and departed ot our bed of repose by first asking the
Lord to gard and protect us through the present night as he has
through the day just past and gone and when done with our frail
bodys here on earth to hand us down to our grave in peace with
the (Thee) and all man Kind and in heaven Save us is my prayer
this night - Amen
W E Costley at home near Middle Bosque creek
Friday September the 14th 1900 hundred Opened up a very clost warm
morning wind rather from the South west very clear not clouds to be
Seen in the Elements that is quite earley in the mornng. The
thermometer at 8-Oclock is the forenoon registered 76 Degrees
tempature getting up warm. we were quite late this morning getting
out of bed as we did not feel So well, but when we did a rise from
our bed of Slumber we went to work in earnest after washing our face
and hands. my wife Kindled her fire in her Stove then went to work
to prepare a bite for us to eat whilst if (I) fed the fowls and hogs.
and after getting our little might (bite) Served and on the table we
then Seated our Selves to the table then portaken of the Same. after
we were through with our meal my wife milked her Cows whilst i
other work a round the premises after getting of her cows milked
and her Smallest fowl cared far she then went to work to claring
off her breakfast table and putting evry thing a bout the Kitchen
and dining room in order for the day. also her dwelling house then
to other work She went as She usually do through life She began to
churn the milk at nine Oclock in the morning. as the wind had rose
higher and appearantly it was pleasanter as it appeared very warm
in the earley part of the day at near half past nine i (o)clock i
taken a walk up too my upper field as it is called by the familey
and brought my teem down too the house then fed them. after they
were through i put the wagon geer on my teem i then greesed my wagon
with the help of my wife after i was through i hitched my teem too
my wagon then we both mounted in the wagon then drove too the Bosque
to water the teem and to hall a barrel of water. after they had drank
and i had filled the barrel with water i then drove up on the first
bank of the creek then come to a Stop. i then alighted from my wagon
i then taken my ax and cut my road out Some better than it was as the
brush from the over flow in the Spring made the road a difficult
matter to travail. after getting of it cut out i then drove up on the
top of the Second bank passing through E.D. Costleys field gate then
made a halt to get Some Sand to mix with my turnup Seed to Sow, as i
intend to try to Sow them this evening, if it gets cool enough. my
wife Since She has got through with her dinner table is occupying her
time in reading the Sad fate that happened to the inhabitants of the
cost (coast) Suffiers in this recent Storm which is a terable a fair.
now, it is a past too Oclock in the after noon and thermometer at
this writing registers 94 Degrees tempature and appearantley growing
warmer althouth the wind is blowing nicely from the South West but yet
the heat is very disagreeable it being So oppresive to man Kind. and at
half half past five Oclock The thermometer Registered 94 Degrees
tempature as the wind is Shuting down as the day passes a way I have
been passing the Eavening off by reading the history of the flood both
land and See (Sea) and then part of my time i have been engaged in
patching up my yard fence. which has Kept me buisey both ways and as
i have fed my teem and they are through eating i will take them too
the bosque to water and when i return back i will turn them in too my
upper field to graze too night after i turned them in i then returned
too the house fed my hogs then fed my wifes fowls after getting through
i come in doors washed my hands then lit the lamp i then went to work
to wind up recording of the days labor of my wife and my Self and to
give a discription of the weather during of this time that i was doing
the above work my wife was very buisey all the while prepareing our
evenings meal and taken care of her little chickens. after the evenings
meal was prepared and on the table we then Seat our Selves too the
table then portaken of the Same after we were through with the meal
my wife taken care of her Supper table and put a way evrything in
good Style then for reading the flood Stricken news untill i finished
up my recording for to day. and the Statement of the weather for too
day this has been a bright clear day all the way through although it
has been Extreemly warm all the way through and is very warm to night.
Low (Now) as we are through with our days work we will go to our bed
of repose by first asing the Lord to gard and protect us through the
present night as he has through the day just passed and gone and when
done with these frail bodys of ours to hand us down to our grave in
peace with the and all man Kind and in heaven Save us is my pray to
night-Amen
W E Costley. at. home. near. Middle. Bosque.creek.
Saturday September the 15th 1900 hundred, Opened up quite a nice cool
morning but not a great while up in the day before it become very
warm the wind is from the west. The thermometer registors at eight
Oclock A M at 73 Degrees tempature at the above time mentioned above
It is as clear as a christral not a cloud in the elements to be Seen.
after we a rose from our bed of repose and put our clothes on we then
washed our hands and face. we then proceded to buisiness as usual, my
wife to prepareing our morning meal whilst i fed the hogs and fowls
and other buisiness a round the premises that had to be done when i
was through with the morning work around the premises my wife called
for me to come to our morning meal So i Som (soon) yealded to the call
we then Seated our Selves too the table then portaken of the meal,
when through with our morning meal, after we were through my wife
milked her cows whilst i walked up a bove the Railroad track then
brought my teem down too the house then fed them. whilst they were
eating i assisted my wife in washing of our clothes. when my teem was
through eating i then geered and hitched them too my wagon then drove
too the Bosque to water my teem and hall a barrel of water and also to
bring back with me Some brushwood to use in the Stove to cook with.
after returning with my load i ungeered my teem then fed them by that
time my wife had our noon meal Served and on the table readey for to
eat as we taking our Seats to the table then portaken of the Same when
we were through with our meal my wife taken care of her dinner table
and put evry thing in good Shape for the next meal then went to her
dailey work a gain feeding of her young fowls as She is a bout through
washing, as too my Self i went to work on my dailey report as it takes
all of my Spare moments to Keep it up Strait- then Some time fail At
too oclock to day the thermometer registers 94 Degrees tempature
very warm Sunstroke heat. At or near 3 -Oclock i put the buggy geer
on Walker then hitched him too the buggy then my wife mounty (mounted)
in the buggy i then rode for Crawford to acknowledge a Deed too a
piece of land joining his on Bosque Creek. After getting it all
right. i then greesed my buggy. whilst my wife wife did Some trading
at Wesley Tadlocks Store After we were through at Wesley Tadlocks we
then Steped in at William Tadlocks Store and baught a rope to Stake
one of my wife calves as She was neading one in order that She could
tye out all three of her calves at once as She was Keeping up three
cows we then purchased from William Tadlock too tin cupps and coffepot
So that wound up the trade So She paid in the cash and left for a
nother Store to purchase Some peas after viseting all the stores we
found one that had the peas and that was Louey Leams So we taken a
few pounds of the peas payed the money over then walked back too the
buggy mounted in then drove for our place of a bode Stoping at mister
Billmans for a bit but getting out of our buggy to See how all were
after talking with the familey for a while we then drove for my place
of a bode after arriving at home i ungeered my teem then watered Old
Judy mare then taken them too my upper field and turned them in to
graze. after-wards after Securing the gate in a manner So they could
not get out. i then walked back too my house fed the fowls hogs and
calves. So that ended our out doors work as my wife had fastened her
Small fowls up to Keep the varments from Ketching of them So night
is on us again, after getting through we then Eat a cold Snack for
our evenings meal after getting through and the Suppertable cared
far we then moved in to our bed room and Seated our Selves down for
to read to days report from Galveston bay. my wife is doing the
reading whilst i am finishing recording of the labor that was done
by my wife and my Self during the day and to night, it appears that
the Sad news from galveston and other points on or near the ocean
is growing much worse than thought far from the reading of letters
that published at Houston and at Waco and the cry all the while is
for help and that on the Shortest time. Now as we are through with
our work we will go too our bed of rest by first asking the Lord to
gard and protect us throught the present night as he has through the
day just passed and gone and when done with us here on earth to hand
us down to our grave in peace with the (Thee) and all man Kind and in
heaven Save us is my prayer to night. Amen
