Passage from the Diary of Louisa Wylie Boisen, June 23, 1881

Title

Passage from the Diary of Louisa Wylie Boisen, June 23, 1881

Description

On June 23, 1881, Louisa, now the mother of two, miscarried during her fourth pregnancy. Family letters during this time vaguely remark the health of Louisa, referring to her as being “sick”. Noting the event in her own journal, Louisa simply wrote, “Finale—little boy”. 

Dates found in Louisa Wylie Boisen's diary indicate that it was used from 1880 to 1883. 

Full Transcription of the Journal:

1880

Thurs., January 1: Day dark and gloomy in the morning, clearing off towards noon, in the afternoon clouding up again. Hermann had New Years calls from five young ladies. Took Baby and Anton down to Mrs. Fee’s. In the evening H and I went down home. H. Received letter and document from Christian.

Friday, Jan. 2: Day gloomy and rainy, no sunshine during the whole day. Quite warm. Been teaching Anna D. to paint photographs. Received card from Mrs. Wilson. Letter from Mag. Anton coughing again.

Sat. Jan 3: Alternate cloud and sunshine. So warm that a cloak is uncomfortable. Wylie and Charlie arrived. Sede and Brown up this eve.

Sun. Jan 4: Raining all day, very dark and stormy. Went to church, heard Mr. Bower

Mon. Jan 5: Another rainy day. Pa up in p.m. Letter from Germany

Tues Jan 6: We have had some sunshine today and it has been very warm so that no wraps were needed outdoors and no fire indoors

Wed. Jan 7: Gloomy and misty, no sunshine. Finished Millie Hoss’s picture. Went down home in the evening.

Thurs, Jan 8: Sun trying to shine. Rain in afternoon

Fri, Jan 9: Rain in the morning, sunshine in afternoon. Took children in to Mrs. Seward’s and not finding them at home went to Mrs. Fee’s, then afterwards went over to Mrs. Newkirk’s and in the evening went down home.

Sat, Jan 10: Clear and beautiful. Rachel went home. In the evening Aunt Lizzie came and stayed with the children and H and I went to hear Mrs. Scott-Siddons.

Sun, Jan 11: Morning cloudy. Got up about 7 or after, had breakfast ready before 9. Was getting dinner when Rachel came. After dinner Anton and I went down home to see Brown and Sede who were sick. Went to Chapel and just as it was out a heavy rain came up.

Monday, Jan 12: Snow on the ground and on the trees and shrubs. Snow about 3 in. deep and still snowing. Everything looks beautiful. Rachel washed.

Tues. Jan 13, Clear. In afternoon Anton and I went down home. Found Brown and Sede better. Anton tired out when we got back. Rachel attends church every night now.

Wed. Jan 14: Bright in morning, clouding up towards evening and raining some at 10 p.m. Took the children to Mrs. Seward’s in the afternoon. Anton not well all day. Some fever at night. Baby crosser than usual.

Thurs Jan 15, Beautiful bright morn and not cold. Anton and baby better.

Friday Jan 16, Anton seems deaf. Went down home and took Anton

Sat. Jan 17, Anton’s throat is swollen and he is still deaf

Sun, Jan 18: Anton quite deaf. Took him to chapel. Afterwards he complained of his right ear hurting him. Slept well.

Monday Jan 19: In the morning complained still of his ear and is very cross.

Sunday, Jan 25: Beautiful day. Went to Chapel. Pa lectured.

Monday Jan 26, Misunderstanding. No sleep, no rest, no happiness. At Aunt Emma’s

Tues Jan 27: Hermann left for Indianapolis. At home

Wed. Jan 28: Clear and cold. Sad, sad days

Friday Jan 30: Hermann came home. All is gladness except for an unfortunate arrangement with Prof. Anderson.

Monday Feb 9: Beautiful day. In afternoon made calls

Tues, April 6: Rachel went home

Wed. April 7: Commenced taking dinner at Aunt Emma’s

Thurs. April 8: Miss Hight finished sewing. Contest, Dixon victorious. Prof Clark appointed to Prof. Hoss’s chair.

Friday April 9: Carr reinstated. Mrs. Hoss terribly excited.

Sat. April 10: Hermann and Prof Dudley went out to the [cars?] Got back at about eight o’clock. Mattie came

Sunday April 11: Snow on the ground. Fruit not yet all gone. Did not go out all day.

Monday April 12: Beautiful and bright but cool. Last night very cold. Still some fruit left.

Tuesday June 8: Hermann left for Kansas to take charge of State agency for Granger, Davis and Co.

Sat. June 26: Hermann came from [Wms’town?] [This may be from 1881]

Sat. July 3, All up from home. Took dinner and staid all day. Sede staid till evening and then went home with Pa. Anton went down town with Mrs. Seward to see the fireworks. Was delighted.

Monday Nov. 1: Hermann arrived from Wms’town

Sunday Nov 7: Went to Chapel in afternoon, to church in morning. Staid to dinner with Aunt Emma. Anna and Aunt E. gave baby a beautiful sacque. Dr. Moss lectured

Monday Nov 8: Getting ready

Tues Nov 9: Started for Wmstown at 12 m. Left B. with the feeling that it would nevermore be my home, that I would never live near my dear parents again. It was veryvery hard to leave them. ]

Wed. Nov 10, At Cleveland at 7 a.m. Staid all night in Albany

Thurs. Nov 11: Left Albany at 1, arrived in Wmstown at 3:15 o’clock. Most kindly received by Prof Dodds and family

Thurs, Nov 25: Thanksgiving. Heard splendid sermon from Prof Prath in the M.E. Church. Dinner with Prof Dodds’ family

Sat. Nov 27: Went to N. Adams took Anton

Tues. Dec. 7: Snow on ground, trying to snow. Writing to Ma. Anton not well this morning.

Thurs. Dec. 30: Coldest day so far -8 Unpacked box at Goodrich Hall.

Fri Dec 31: Cold and clear. 0 In p.m. took children out, horse wild, fell down no one hurt. Went over to N. Adams and back in about 1 ¼ hrs. Took Anton. In eve went to social at Mr. Sewall’s. Afterwards went to Prof. D’s new house. Now at 11:10 not in bed.

 
1881

Jan 1: At Prof Dodds’ new house, Wmstown. Clear and cold. Letter and cards from Pa

Jan 2: At Cong. Church heard Dr. Sewall.

Jan 5, Sent letter to Sede

Jan 12: Sent letter to Ma. Christian arrived

Jan 15: Mrs. Dodd quite sick. Wrote to Pa. No letter from home for more than a week.

Jan 16: Sabbath. Heard Dr. Chadbourne at Chapel. Clear and cold but very pleasant. H. has taken Anton to evening prayer. Mrs. Dodd sick.

Wed. June 15, 1881: Left Wmstown. Hermann very sick

Thurs June 16: N.Y. Saw the European part sail. Afterwards went to cousin Wylie’s then to Central Park. [H?] sick that night. Christian went to Germany as Herm could not go.

Sat. June 18 Herm went to Wmstown

Thurs. June 23: Finale—little boy [she miscarried]

Sat. June 25: Brown arrived from Philadelphia

June 26: Hermann came from Wmstown

July 2: In Philadelphia. Garfield shot. Excitement intense

July 3: In Philadelphia. Went out to Trenton with Pa, Maggie and Anton. Saw balloon ascension. H. misunderstood Pa

July 4: [one word indecipherable] H. unwilling to let Anton go until I bring him back in a week. Cannot promise.

July 6: We leave. My dear Hermann and I always—no I am always making some mistake. And yet I could not give up my boy. I could not see what to do but to come.

July 7: Arrived at home at 5 ½

 
1882

Jan 30: In Bloomington. Morning clear and cold. Went up town. Mrs. Murphy here to dinner. Her trouble seems about more than she can bear. Anton and Theo played outdoors for several hours.

Feb 10: Beautiful bright day. Weather so pleasant that wraps are scarcely needed. In afternoon took Anton and Theo to hear Miss Brace. Came home and took Baby up town. Received letter from Germany.

Feb 11: Anton not well, tonsillitis. Dr. M. ordered for him 4 drops of Aconite in two tablespoonsful of saturated solution of Chl. Of potash dose. 1 teaspoonful every 2 hours. It has helped him very much. Dore came home. Has resigned and goes to Dakota.

Feb 12: Sabbath. Anton better. Did not go to school. Beautiful weather

Feb 13: Went up town after meat. Air was so fine and bracing that it seemed like mountain air. Anton better

Feb 14: Still most beautiful weather. Anton much better. Mrs. Maxwell and [Mamie?] called

Feb 16: Dory left for Newport at 6 a.m.. Anton cross

Feb 17: Dark day. In p.m. Rachel was over. Went up to Mrs. Hunter’s and Mrs. Barth’s and afterward up town.

Feb 19: Warm, cloudy in p.m., sunshine. Took Theo and Anton to hear Billie Taylor. In evening it rained. Mrs. Hunter and boy here.

Feb 21: Sabbath. Rainy day. Did not go to church this morning.

March 2: Today a little son was born to Brown and Sede. Both are doing well. Children are delighted, especially Mary. Theo is shy. Anton wants to know what kind of sick Aunt Sedie has and I heard him telling Theo that he thought God had given Aunt Sedie a little baby for (because) she was sick.

March 3: Ten years ago last night at about 1 o’clock Anton died. The new baby grows and thrives. Our little Anton is in love again. This time with Miss Winans. Mama I think she is pretty. I like her very much. So he says over and over again.

Wed. March 8: Received good letter from Herm.

Friday April 21: Went up early to Dr. [Cran?] and had all my upper teeth extracted. Hard work.

May 14: Sabbath. Have had rain more or less for about 2 weeks. Cold and raw. Have not heard from Herm. For nearly 8 weeks. It is dreadful. I know not what to think. If only he would write. It is now nearly time for me to go to him but his silence takes away all heart.

May 17: Eight weeks without a letter

May 19, Friday, Still no letter

Thurs. June 22: Anton fell from the portico upon the stone steps of the cellar and cut his head dreadfully. We are all terribly frightened but he has borne it bravely and patiently and is getting along well.

June 30: Left for Philadelphia

July 9: Sabbath. Went to Pres. church, heard Prof Ballantine

Monday, July 10: Left home at 12 midnight

Tues. July 11: Reached Ind. at 4, left at 4:30

Wed. July 12: Reached Albany at 8 or thereabouts. Met Hermann. I had taken wrong road. Got ticket changed and went to Wmstown staid all night. Found all well and in the new house.

Thurs July 13: Left Wmstown, reached Boston at 9 p.m. Met Christian

July 14: In Boston

Sat. July 15: Boston

Sabbath, July 16: Went to Trinity Church, out to Cambridge in p.m.

Monday July 17: Left for Cottage City at 12:30. Reached here at 4. Cottage life

Wed. July 19: Christian came

 
1883

Feb. 3: Cambridge, Mass. Taken sick when I first got up. Very faint. Sent for Dr. Wellington in evening

Feb 4: Worse in eve. But glad the worst is over before Mag comes

Feb 5: no word from Mag.

Feb 6: Mag came walking in very unexpectedly in the evening having found her way here alone

Feb 12: Mag left at 3 o’clock p.m.. Have enjoyed her visit though no able to be up. Hermann so kind and good

Feb 17: Dr. McKenzie came. We hope for a better place but I dread my part in it.

Feb 21: Hermann took Anton and left for Phil. stopping on the way at Princeton and Lawrenceville

Sat. March 17: Trunks packed to go home. Delayed till Monday, then told to wait for Christian.

Thurs. March 22: Christian came to our rooms soon after supper. He had had a hemorrhage. All of us much frightened and worried

For more information contact the Wylie House Museum and for more information about the collections at the museum visit Wylie House Museum: Collections Overview.

Source

The Wylie, Boisen and Bradley Families' Papers & Ephemera, 1802 - 1991, (bulk 1870 - 1920), Collection 2005.003.1848, Wylie House Museum, Indiana University, Bloomington.

Date

June 23, 1881

Files

louisa diary june 23, 1881.jpeg
louisa's diary.jpg
louisa journal.jpeg

Citation

“Passage from the Diary of Louisa Wylie Boisen, June 23, 1881,” Wylie House Exhibits, accessed March 29, 2024, https://collections.libraries.indiana.edu/wyliehouse/items/show/175.

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