The Diary of Abba Owen

Newest chapter in an ongoing serialization of the 1888 diary of Abba Owen, daughter of Ypsilanti mineral water baron Tubal Cain Owen and Anna (Stowe Foote) Owen. The Owens lived in a now-vanished house near the current day Roosevelt School building on EMU, where Tubal also had his magical and very profitable well.

Friday Aug 3rd: This has been the hottest day we have had the thermometer stood at 100' in the shade this afternoon about half past three. Mama took the baby again tonight for Aunt Kate was not able to take care of him.

Saturday Aug 4th: Mama was up pretty nearly all the night with the baby for he was sick, this morning she took him down to Grandma's and he had a very high fever Dr. Henston came three times today to see him. To-day has been not quite as hot as yesterday it was 96' in the shade.

Sunday Aug 6th: Mama slept at Grandma's last night and took care of Charley his fever went down and he is gaining. I was the only one that went to church. Rev. Wm. Galpin of Ann Arbor preached to-day and I liked him very much. This afternoon Papa, Richard [Abba's other brother] and I walked up to the upper pasture to take some salt to the horses, this afternoon. This evening Richard took me riding with his new horse "Molly [Baron]" and I liked her quite well.

Monday, Aug 6th: Eber arrived home this morning at nine o'clock from [Grose Ieal] Isle. He said he had a lovely time, went up to see Prof. Sudner, who is spending his vacation there with his family. he was very much surprised to see him, wanted him to stay but Eber could not, so Prof. [Suder] made him promise to come again and bring Richard to make It has been quite warm today. To-night was city counsil meeting and it was decided that Papa should [hear]
Papa's proposition was acceppu'd for water works and a comitte of aldermen one from each ward was appointed----report for next meeting to city council.

Tuesday Aug 7th: It rained quite a little during the day. Mama has been down to Grandma's all the afternoon and Mabel has been up here.

Wensday Aug 8: To-day has been quite cool. Mama went down town this afternoon to see about what time the train because Aunt Kate starts for St. Paul tomorrow. Mabel has been up to see [Nora] nearly all day. Eber and Richard are busy getting ready to start for Grose Ieal Isle tomorrow morning.

Thursday Aug 9th: This morning we all got up early and the boys started for Grose [Zeal] Isle to visit Prof. Suderer. They drove over with Eber's colt "Jessie" and started at eight o'clock. Mama and I were down to Grandma's pretty nearly all day and Aunt Kate started for St Paul at half past two. Mama and Grandpa went with them. It has been cold to-day and we had a fire.

Friday Aug 10th: To-day has been quite cold, the thermometer stood at 64' this morning and we had a fire all day. Grandpa and I went down town this morning and it rained before we got back. Mama received a letter from Eber today saying that they were having a splendid time and they arrived there at one o'clock and Prof. Sudner was over to Trenton to meet them and he also said that they were invited over to Miss Gray's to spend the evening. To-day mama, Grandma, myself and the girl canned a bushel of huckel berries to-day and it was a job.

Thanks for reading! Tune in next Tuesday for another week of Abba's diary!