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 Sept. 14th: Papa, Grandpa, and the boys started early this morning for Plymouth and arrived homem at six o'clock. It has been quite cool to-day and very [?] it very nice for their journey. They saw three saddle horses but none suited them. They also visited fish hatchery at Northfield and all together they had a very nice time. They rode about 50 miles by the time they got home.

Saturday, Sept. 15th: Our second girl went to Detroit last night for a visit and said she would be back Monday but we hardly think she will come back to stay so Mama and I do her work. We got a letter from Grandma saying that she would start for home Tuesday [visit] if not [happens] between now and then and we will all be glad to see her home.

Sunday Sept. 16th: It commenced raining early this morning and rained until noon. Eber went to church to hear our new minister Rev. M. N. Woodruff and he said he likes him pretty well. It is the first time he has preached here. This afternoon Rickey took me for a drive with his horse Robin and we had a nice ride. Dr. Huston was here this evening and says Mama is better.

Monday Sept. 17th: It rained this morning. This afternoon Mama and I went down town and drove up to the fair grounds for this week is the Fair. It looked rather lonesome up there for they were just beginning to [fin] up and then its raining made it look dull.

Tuesday Sept. 18th: To-day has been a very cloudy bad day. It looks rather dubious for the Fair but is better to have the first days bad and the rest pleasant which I am in hopes will be. Mama and I went down town this afternoon and the town seemed very lively.

Wensday Sept. 19th: Grandma arrived home last night at 12 o'clock after having a lovely visit. She came up this morning and had a great deal to tell us and we were all very glad to see her. This afternoon Mama Rickey and I went up to the Fair and went through all the halls and saw everything. Mrs. [Stephens] from Adrian who is a friend of Mrs. post's had a beautiful display of embroidery I ever saw. We did not think the fair was as good as formerly. They did not have any machinery or any Band which always makes things lively. It has been a pleasant day and everybody is pleased on account of the fair.

Thursday Sept. 20th: Grandpa Grandma and Mama went up to the Fair this morning and Eber took me up with his colt and we all met on the grounds. This afternoon we all went up again to see the races. Eber took Miss Gray up and they got a seat for us on the grand-stand. Mrs. Albom and Alice Henderson were there and also got seats near us so we all had a nice time.

Friday Sept. 21th: We went up to the fair again this morning. This afternoon Mama was not going to the fair but I persuaded her to go and she was glad she did. Up on the grandstand we met Mrs. Albom, Alice Henderson, Mrs. Stebbins from Adrian, Miss Post and Mrs. Ainsworth and we all had a jolly time and did not get home until six o'clock.

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