Volume 15

Containers:

Box 1, Folder 7

Scope and content:

June 1, 1883: "Colored boy died of scarlet fever [age 16] and buried in colored graveyard."

June 24, 1883: Dr. Folensher preached.

June 25, 1883: "A great many persons harvesting today-wheat very good."

June 30, 1883: "Burn and Elam fought a duel near Wainsborough. Elam got a flesh wound; the other was not touched."

July 1, 1883: Preaching by Rev. Waters

July 8, 1883: "Our choir sung for the colored people today at 11:00. Rev. B. Smith preached-a colored man." [Sunday]

July 11, 1883: "The Wizard men came to our town this evening and will stay until next Sabbath."

July 12, 1883: "Mr. Allemong and family gone to White Sulphur Springs to stay for 3 weeks."

July 14, 1883: Talks about a "wizard man" being in town for the week selling medicine.

July 25, 1883: "Hanger and wife joined the M.E. Church to night."

July 29, 1883: Henry Smals granddaughter Sallie Miller married Samuel Boselmen.

August 4, 1883: "My Birth day. I H. Smals was born on the 4 August 1810 Saturday in afternoon at 3 oclock near the head of Muddy Creek about 2 miles of the head of Linville Creek and Bowmans Mill."

August 20, 1883: "George E. Dunnell killed a Negro. Shot him in self-defense."

September 20, 1883: "Mr. George Murry's ondley daughter [age 11] got killed at a cane mill. The shaft caught her clothes and thread her around and beat her head soft."

November 8, 1883: "Dr. Brown and Robert Whitescarver have a Quarrel in our Shop this morning, but Did not come to blows."

November 12, 1883: "Dock Van Pelt moved to Sangersville, he has moved 18 times in 6 years."

December 28, 1883: "A black man from Rockbridge County came to our town and married Black Maria Huldey yesterday in the African Church."

December 31, 1883: "Watch meting to night in M. E. Church. Oyster supper by the colored people in Odfellows Hall."

January 1, 1884: "Oyster supper by the Odfellows tonight in Odfellows Hall. Everybody invited. Uncommonly cold; scarlet fever very bad in the area; ice 6" frozen."

February 4, 1884: "Mrs. Young was laying out a woman who had died and got some gastric juices on a sore on her hand and now suffers very much in consequence of it." [She was sick for about a week; Smals doesn't mention her after that.]

February 26, 1884: "Dr. Jones Drugstore caught on fire and burt up all his drugs and medcane [sic]. Did not burn the store house."

May 11, 1884: "Colored people had their first Quarterly meeting at this place today."

May 24, 1884: "William Fishback and a black man had a fight. Fishback struck the negro in the head with a rock and Fishback had to pay a fine and cost which was $4.45."

May 31, 1884: A great "bass ball" game. Bridgewater 28 Harrisonburg 25 and 2 whitewashes.

June 11, 1884: "David Hooks whipped his sister with a yardstick this morning and left marks on her boddie."

June 13, 1884: "Brady and Wine killed their first beef this evening. Going to butcher all summer."

June 15, 1884 : "Lighting struck Rev. Raley [Lutheran] near Mt. Crawford and knocked his horse down but did not kill either of them."

June 18, 1884: "All the presses and other tools to Bridgewater this evening to make cigars." [sketch of cigar]

July 19, 1884: "Nute Fry commenced butchering and selling beef in Bridgewater this morning."

August 1884: [Several mentions of a cigar/tobacco factory.]

August 6, 1884: "Old Jimmie Coakley, colored, died today near Rushville at the age of 110 years old."

August 10, 1884: "Sabbath Morning, Warm Cloudy. Rained some last night. This is Childrens Day with the M.E.C.S. The collection amounted to 10 dollars. Preaching by Rev. Waters at 11 oclock. Exercises at 2 oclock, also at night."

August 16, 1884: "Professor Hoover and Professor Hulvey came to our town. Spoke in the Old Town Hall as Democrats." [At this time Rev. Campbell was preaching in the Lutheran Church and Rev. Clark in the Baptist Church. Smals usually mentioned the services in Lutheran and Baptist Churches].

August 30, 1884: Cigar boys played and beat Bridgewater boys in baseball.

September 3, 1884: "Uncle Jake Hesberger raised a watermelon that weighed 47 ¾ pounds."

September 7, 1884: Rev. Linch preached in M.E.C.S Church.

September 13, 1884: "A fellow going to walk on a Rope started from J. Dinkles to the top of the old Tavern."

September 20, 1884: "The colored people have a local Preachers Convention here-will continue over Sunday."

September 21, 1884: "Preaching at colored church by colored preacher. Fifteen local preachers present at the Convention. Large crowd of colored people present. Collected $30."

September 22, 1884: "Jacob Bierly and son were killed in the well by foul air."

October 5, 1884: Rev. Ross preaching at M. E. C.

November 1, 1884: "Mrs. Showalter Beat a little child today Black and Blue. She was arrested and had her trial. Paid the Corporation $5.00 and $25.00 to the County Court."

December 6, 1884: "A negro shot another negro in Harrisonburg last night. He was caught and lodged in jail to await trial."

December 25, 1884: Thursday Morning Clear. "Very cold this Christmas Day, Plenty of ice on the River Boys skating and shooting."

December 26, 1884: "I H. Smals Eat a fine Dinner at George Hangers."

December 27, 1884: "Oyster supper to night by the Masons at Will Areys."

January 12, 1885: "The Cigar Boys commence making cigars today." [Smals makes frequent references to the "cigar boys" working in the cigar factory in Bridgewater]

January 18, 1885: "Old Mr. Hailman fell through the Bridge and Caught himself before he got to the water." [Smals had been writing regularly of work on the bridge]

January 24, 1885: "William H. Grove finished the Bridge today. Got $56 for his 16 days work."

February 21, 1885: "21 below zero."

March 11, 1885: "Nuten Smals came here from Hampshire County. Brown Smals and Thomas Smals came to my house to day from Berkley County near Williamsport W.Va. to purchase cattle."

March 18, 1885: "Our Preachers have come from Conference to day. Rev Dice the Presiding Elder and Rev Lynch and Prettiman [Prettyman] the Senior and Junior Preacher for one Year."

March 21, 1885: "Dam frozen over to night, never was known to freeze over in March before."

March 22, 1885: Preaching by Rev. Reade [Reid?]

March 24, 1885: "Old Miller Areys sale today on Muddy Creek."

March 25, 1885: "Hales engine went through our town this morning."

March 27, 1885: "A Degarion [?] car came to town today." [sketch of train car, maybe an early photo studio?]

March 28, 1885: "The dogs killed a parse of sheep for John Allemong this morning. John Allemong discharged 6 of his cigar men. Only 4 rollers left and 2 packers."

April 3, 1885: [Good Friday.] "This is the day our Savior was crucified nearly 1900 years ago." [sketch of cross]

April 10, 1885: "The old Brick Shop that I Built 1840, 44 years ago, they are taring down to Build Drivers House."

April 12, 1885: "Bettie Brown joined the M. E. Church South."

April 16, 1885: "John Fisher rented the Lower Room of the Odd Fellows for the sum of Two Dollars per month…"

April 18, 1885: "The first Quarterly Conference held in this place. Presiding Elder present and both of the preachers on the Sircuit present and a good many of the Official Body present. Brother Lynch gone to Spring Hill to hold a Quarterly meeting for the presiding Elders. Brother Prettyman preached at night at 7 ½ oclock."

April 21, 1885: "Burk Sellers cow had twin calves."

April 22, 1885: Moses Stickler had been recommended as Post Master in Bridgewater.

April 26, 1885: "Two bysicles in our town. Came from Harrisonburg in 52 minutes."

April 28, 1885: "J.W.S. commenced getting new milk of Mrs. Jenkins today at 6 cents per quart."

May 6, 1885: "Dinkel hired a bisicle in Harrisonburg to learn to ride on."

May 15, 1885: "My Daughter Annie Died to night at 10 oclock. She was 42 years and some month old."

May 20, 1885: "Richard Berlin put a whistle on his engine today."

June 8, 1885: "Shifflett stabbedd Riddle 2 times in the side. The one stab is supposed to be fatal."

June 13, 1885: "Dr. Johnson's cow had 2 calves this morning."

July 1, 1885: Post Office opened and first day of mail service in Bridgewater area. Carriers going to Stribling Springs and Harrisonburg.

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