One of the the many treasures that I found among Clarissa’s papers that were left at Homewood was her father’s farm labor log covering the years 1912 through his death in 1929. This book is a fascinating and revealing look into all that went into operating a farm of this nature; from cutting ice to young girls working on the hog slaughtering crew; from the cost of flour to the Laundry bill from the Harrisburg Steam Laundry (probably in Warrenton).
I have highlighted the farm (under RBLF) and house staff (under Mrs RBLF) through the course of the book. I have also included the “Extra Labor” for the first few years to give you a sense of the work that involved hiring on extra hands.
From the Green Mont Farm “Labor Book” 1912
1913
Hissiciah Kilpatrick Farm $10/mo feb-may
Thornton Roberson Farm $11/mo nov-
Lucy Lacey House $7/mo
Ella House $10/mo
Hannah Lacey Laundry
Extra
Bernard Tibbs
Clarence Carter
Henry Carter
Elmore Ball
Turner Carver
Moses Lacey
Henry Glascock threshing?
L. Ball Boarding (for hired hands)?
Joe Thompson cutting corn
Ball’s son
Jeff Woodson shucking corn
1914
H. C. Ball Farm $200/yr
Thornton Robertson Farm $11/mo left Sept
Milton Farm $10/mo sep-
Alfred Hillim Farm $12/mo jul-sep
Edward Casen Farm $12/mo nov-
Ella House $10/mo left Sept
Lucy House $7/mo left Sept
Mary Pinket House $8/mo sep-dec
Anna Hillim House $8/mo dec-
Abby Lacey House $8(up to $10)/mo oct-
Hannah Lacey Laundry
Chas. Carter’s wife Laundry
Lucy Hall Laundry
Extra
Lin Hall killing hogs
Brook Carter
Hannah Lacey
Lucy and Ella farm
Gilbert Glascock harvest
Carlin Ball carrying water .50
Martin Munn?
Grunt Bolds killing hogs
Sweeny
Hanah
Moses
Edward
Grunt cutting ice
Bernard
Sweeny
Clarence
Grant?
Elmore
1915
H. C. Ball Farm $200/yr
Edward Casen Farm $12/mo feb-mar
Thornton Robertson Farm $12/mo mar-jul
Aldridge Farm $12/mo jul-
Clifford Ball Farm $15mo mar-aug
Abby Lacey House $10/mo left Jan
Anna E. Lee House $8/mo jan-may
Abby Lacey House $10/mo may-
Mary House $10/mo feb-aug
Anna Jackson House $4/mo sep-
Frances Carter Laundry
Hanah Lacey Laundry
Extra
Boarding extra hands Several days to several months $51.38
Sweeney (Swaney) cutting ice
Grant
Hurdlers?
Hurder shucking corn
W Morrison trimming trees
Cliff Ball
Martin Muses? weed thinning
Bill Daw house cleaning
Sarah Gant ?
Mrs. Abner Glascock
Sweeney ditch
Norman Payne cutting corn
Ball Children cutting corn
Bailey Carver
Turner Carver
Hurder
1916
H C Ball Farm $200/yr
Aldridge Thomas Farm $12/mo
Abby Lacey House $10/mo jan-may
Winnie Jackson House
Bert Roberson House $10/mo aug-oct
Florence Jackson House
Anna Jackson House $4/mo
Georgy Jackson House oct-nov
Alma Booger House $10/mo nov-
Lizzie Morris Laundry
Hannah Lacey Laundry
Extra
Sweeney cutting ice
Grant
Woodson
Baker
Payne
Grant
Jim Wade
E E Ball
Robert Glascock
Makinley Tibbs
Howard Ball
Carling Ball
Jack Wallace
1917
H. C. Ball Farm $200/yr
Alexander Green Farm $12/mo
Alma Booger House $10/mo left nov
Georgie Jackson House $10/mo apr-may
Marthii Carter House $14/mo jun-nov
Winnie Jackson House $4/mo feb-jul
Rose Carter House $6/mo aug-
Lucy Lee House $12/mo nov-
Lizzie Morris Laundry
Mittie Carter Laundry
Extra
Haney killing hogs
Jack Wollmer
Grant Bulis
Bill Daw
Georgie Jackson
Howard Ball
Haney Sweeney cutting ice
Joe(Jack) Wallace
Bir Styles
Payne
Sweeney hauling wood
S. Carver
Julian Grifith
C H Butler chimneys
Sarah Gant
Jess Wade whitewashing
B Francis harvesting
boys work paid to H C Ball
Page Howdershall thrashing wheat
1918
C. Ball Farm $200/yr
Alex Green Farm $15/mo
Annie Green Farm
Lucy Lee House $12/mo left oct
Dealia Williams House $12/mo oct-
Rosa Lambert House $6/mo feb-apr
Lucy Lee’s boy House $5/mo may-aug
Mattie Strawer House $12/mo nov-
Mittie Carter Laundry
Lucy Hall Laundry
Georgie Jackson Laundry
1919
H.C. Ball Farm $200/yr
Alex Green Farm $15/mo left nov
? Green House $12/mo nov-
Dealia Williams House $12/mo jan-feb
Annie Green House $12/mo mar / sep-dec
Jerry? $8/mo aug-sep
Lucy Hall Laundry
1920
C. Ball Farm $300/yr
R. B. L. Fleming Farm from July 1, 1920
Olin Payne Farm $20/mo feb-oct
Carlin Ball Farm $25/mo apr-
Marria Payne House $20/mo feb-oct
Walter Wright House $20/mo nov
Martin Hilome House $20/mo dec
Lucy Hall Laundry
1921
H. C. Ball Farm $300/mo
Walter Wright Farm $20/mo left jul
Carlin Ball Farm
Mercer Farm $20/mo aug-
Martha Walker House $20/mo mar-aug
Marthii Bell King House $15/mo may-jun
Nanncie Jackson House aug
Annie Green House aug-
Lucy Hall Laundry
1922
C. Ball Farm $300/yr
Carlin Ball Farm $300/yr
Mercer Farm $20/mo jan-sep
Annie Green House $20/mo jan-apr
Alex Green House $20/mo may-
Olin Paine House $20/mo sep-
Lucy Hall Laundry
1923
H. C. Ball Farm $300/yr
Carlin Ball Farm $300/yr
Olin Payne House $20/mo
Alex Green House $20/mo
Lucy Hall Laundry
1924
C. Ball Farm $300/yr
Carlin Ball Farm $25/mo
Olin Payne House $20/mo
Alex Green House $20/mo
Lucy Hall Laundry
1925
H. C. Ball Farm $300/yr
Gilbert Glascock Farm $250/yr
Lizie House $20/mo
Alex Green House $20/mo
Lucy Hall Laundry
The last year that the labor record listed “cutting ice”; the coming of rural electrification and refrigeration.
1926
C. Ball Farm $300/yr
Gilbert Glascock Farm $250/yr
Alex Green House $20/mo left April
Accie Mitchel House $20/mo started April
Lizie House $20/mo feb-mar
Rosa Lambert House $20/mo apr-aug
Corrie Edmonds House $20/mo sep
Mittie Carter House sep-dec (on and off)
Lucy Hall Laundry
1927
C. Ball Farm $300/yr
Gilbert Glascock Farm $275/yr
Acie Mitchel House $20/mo left May
Gus Carter House $20/mo may-
Annie House $20/mo jan-jun
Burt Hall House $20/mo jun-jul
Dasie House $12/mo jan-jun
Burt’s daughter House $12/mo jun-sep
Fannie Long House $20/mo oct-
Ida R? House $20/mo nov-
Lucy Hall Laundry
1928
C. Ball Farm $300/yr
Jenkins Farm $2/day jan-may (part time)
Robert Ball Farm $1/day may-dec (part time)
Fannie Long House $20/mo left nov
Ida R? House $20/mo left June
Rose House $20/mo jun-aug
Gus House $20/mo
1929
C. Ball Farm $300/yr
Robert Ball Farm $30/mo
Gus House $20/mo left April
Last entry April 1929; $14.00 to Gus.
Richard Bland Lee Fleming died on May 10, 1929
I wonder what happened to Clarissa’s father’s earlier ledgers? Perhaps the reason this one was saved was because it was his last.
Mike Harris 2/25/17: I recognize Mr Ball’s name. I think he lived in the house nearest the dairy, later occupied by Bunks Waddle. The Glascocks were a large tribe, around when I was a boy.
as remembered 