Missouri Memories
Willard H. Mendenhall (1832-1910), Diaries, 1853-1864, n.d.
Willard Hall Mendenhall was born on January 7, 1832. He married Mary Margaret Kavanaugh, nicknamed Mollie, and they would have five children. Mendenhall owned a farm and operated a store in Lexington, Missouri. Volume 1 dates from 1862.
Tuesday, March 18, 1862 Cloudy, rained in the morning. I worked on the assparigus bed. Wm. hauled two loads of manure. I went to town after dinner no news from the army. Mr. Straughn died this morning. The soldiers in town burried one of thare men this evening. There is a report that they are dieing with the smallpox. A large number of infantry and near all of the cavalry have gone in the country fore some purpose.
Wednesday 19 Cloudy and a fine rain all day. I went to town in the morning. No news of importance. Wm. made fence all day.
Thursday 20 Cloudy, snowed near all day. I went in town in the morning, had a new arrival of cavalry abought one hundred & fifty. John N. Johnson was arrested to day. D. Tully was here to dinner. Wm. lost all day.
Fryday 21 Cloudy, snowed all night the snow is abought two inches deep. That is very remarkable in this climate at this season of year. Mollie & I went to town we heard no news, we brought Julia Fanie out with us, the roads are very mudy. Cleared off abought dinner time. Wm. cleaned out the last years hot bed, after dinner he and I finished the grape vine trellis. Then finished the day working on the asparigus bed. We are planking it with oak plank then fork up the bed, sprinkel salt over it then spread the rotten manure (that come out of the hot bed) over it abought four inches thick. The snow that fell last night, all dissapear'ed through the day. Saturday 22nd. Clear and quite cool frose hard lasth night. Wm. spread manure on the yard in morning. After noon finished asparigus bed. I went to town in morning no news of importance. The jail took fire in the ceiling. Moved Sawyer, Limerick, Withers, and Bluett to the Bourbon House. All the cavrly and infantry that went into the country a few day's ago, returned to day.