~ Boyd County, Nebraska
September 4, 1920: Was a fair day so Will and Howard each got corn and then moved the hay-stacker and sweeper to our hay south from Dave’s after Chas. Hines went home. We had fried chicken and custard pie and the other necessaries for dinner. The men fixed the sweep then Brad did his chores. We took him to depot on way to Butte. Orville Ernest brought our saddle home while we were away. We are well.
September 4, 1921: Was a rain at 7 a.m., cleared about 1 a.m., rest of day bright. We went to Spencer, had dinner at folks, and in p.m. went to H. Bradstreets for visit, had lunch of cake and peaches. We returned home in evening tired. We have our own watermelons these days so took some to town.
~ Hidden Timber, South Dakota
September 4, 1923: A bright hot day and quite windy, too windy to have a fire for dinner, which we ate near trees east of Dorian Buttes, 7 miles after passing through Millboro, South Dakota Got to Ed’s in evening and Rena, Helen, Lemoyne, Kenneth, Seth, Leo and Edward Jr. and William Whiting were at home, also Agnes Fallis was here.
September 4, 1926, Saturday: In the evening, George, William, Bess and Louise, who came this evening, went to Tom’s dance, no music, so they came for gramophone.
September 4, 1929, Wednesday: Bright, cold day. I had a fire in the cook-stove all day and made bread and pumpkin pie and made the meals and sewed a little. Will and Roy made hay on Moore Creek. Harry and Louise were here in late p.m. and got their cedar chest. George Smith came for the night. Orville Elshire brought in 3 truck loads of Dave’s oats for Pat and Tates.
September 4, 1930, Thursday: Strong south wind early a.m. but not so bad in the day, but hot and bright. The men finished hay on Moore Creek and brought home machinery in evening. I mopped kitchen floor, got 2 meals, took a bath in the river and fixed a chicken supper.
September 4, 1932, Sunday: After a cold night, was a nice day. I got up at 9 a.m., and Narve, Will and Wm slept until noon, so we had dinner instead of breakfast. Lemoyne, Kenneth, Clarence, Seth, Harold and Percy Wheeler came in Ed’s car, and Seth took Lemoyne’s horse home before dinner, but rest of the boys stayed here, and in p.m. Wm and Narve went along to Boyds where they ate melon and came back to Elshire ball diamond, where neighbor-hood had a jolly time playing ball.
September 4, 1933, Monday: Wm stayed at Furreys last night, and came home on Scotch from Rosebud Council, left a week ago Friday.
September 4, 1934, Tuesday: Cool night and morning, had to have fire in the heater early morning. Bright and nice day. Will went to bunch alfalfa, and Fritz and Elmer drove the black bawl-face broncho to Ben’s, and got the hog they butchered last evening. Maggie and I cut it, rendered lard, made liver-wurst sausage, canned 15 quarts, and fried 6 gallons.
The men stacked the alfalfa, and Dutch Enders came to take Will to thistles, on to Relief Workers, but could not get them to stack Will’s thistles, so Will had the boys take the hay tools over there and he went to the store and got them later, for they left the horses at Noble’s.
September 4, 1939, Monday: Bright, warm day, a south breeze at times. I got breakfast, Will chored, and we went to Winner to Labor Day Celebration, got them in time for Parade. Lots of men at Winner let their whiskers grow, so had an old time stage coach, old-fashioned buggy with horses, also very modern ways of travel.
The Hastings, Nebr. Drum and Bugle Corp of American Legion Members, the Junior Members of Pierre American Legion Band in Scotch uniforms, and the Winner Band with Cowboy Hats and Red Bandanas and White Suits. The Hastings bunch had white trousers, Silver Helmets, Red shirts and bright Purple Blue Jackets. We had dinner at the Park on the blue grass with Harry, Louise, Dorothy, Harley, Billie Furrey. Went to Fair Grounds, got in grandstand, saw it all.
September 4, 1946, Wednesday: Bright, hot day after cool night, was 94 above and clouded in evening. I got meals, lay down in p.m. Will took a lunch as it rained last night, so he helped get washer ready, put tub of ice water in machine, and got a couple of pails in, and I put clothes through 2 waters, for I emptied machine as it ran and got in more water, took those that I got three second lukewarm water to Will, and rinsed and put on the line.