Bright, hot day but N.W. breeze comfortable all day and dusty when breeze stirred the dust by driving cattle or autos passing, for Ed, Rena and Yvonne came and took Will, Henry Arcorne and I to Rosebud Beef-Issuing Day* and we passed the herd at Soldier Creek going from Boarding School to Rosebud and was issued in p.m. but we didn’t get ours, so came home and Tom and Henry Arcorne staid. Maggie and Elmer made Fly-trap and did all the work. Elmer and Ben Clausen got in Jack, and Elmer rode the new saddle-horse. Maggie got meals for Ben, Ed Haisch, Chas. Mieder and Ben McKathnie, the latter three came to see about their cattle. Noble walked over again and Elmer took he and Harry up but Harry thought there was too big load with Tom, so came back and went with us.
Note from Lisa: The Emergency Cattle Agreement of 1934 was designed to address the extreme drought in the Great Plains and elsewhere and the resulting lack of suitable grazing land. The agreement allowed farmersand ranchers to enter into an agreement with the government to receive cash for cattle. County and state officials worked with federal employees to inspect cattle to determine whether they were fit for production or Would need to be destroyed.
In addition, a separate program provided cattle to Indians. Harley Furrey notes that these cattle were brandedERA (Economic Relief Administration) but that some referred to the brands as “eat right away.” He writes, “Some cattle evaded slaughter and were kept for breeding or sold to white operators. One operator got some of these cattle and tried to sell them at auction. When asked about the ERAbrand, he said it stood for Eagle Creek Ranch Association. The cattle that weren’t given away were shot and buried in ditches.”
The following is from the 1935 report The Drought of 1934(click on the title to view or download the entire document):
“The drought took its heaviest toll during July. The rapid expansion of the drought area, due both to absence of moisture and intense heat, caused an enormous increase in the number of cattle offered to the Government under its Emergency Cattle Purchase Program.
By the end of July, most of the western cattle producing country had been classified in the emergency area, except the western part of Montana and a small strip running down through the high mountain areas of Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. In Missouri and southern Iowa, where conditions were relatively favorable the first part of June, continued hot weather and lack of rainfall during July caused heavy deterioration of the com crop, and a serious water shortage in many localities.
The original tentative estimate of cattle purchases, set on May 29, 1934, was 50,000 head per week. This number, of course, included: (1) Those condemned on the farms, (2) those assigned to local relief committees for immediate relief distribution or canning through local work relief projects within states of origin, and (3) the remainder, those shipped by the Federal Surplus Relief Corporation to processing plants in all sections of the country.
Unforeseen and unexpected proportions in drought development are reflected in the fact that purchases passed the half-million mark in seven states before July 1, with an average of approximately 200,000 head per week.
In spite of the fact that the drought area almost doubled, the purchase level of the last half of June obtained during the first half of July, due to limited processing facilities.
Increased drought continued to wipe out great quantities of livestock feed. Cattle were starving for want of feed and water. Spurred by pressing demands, the number of purchases were more than doubled during the second half of July…”
“By the first of August nearly 2,000,000 cattle had been purchased in 19 states, at an average cost of about $13.54. Approximately 240,000 or 12 percent, had been condemned as unfit for food, and about 1,750,000 had been turned over to the Federal Surplus Belief Corporation for relief purposes.
During the last week in July instructions were issued to all state directors that in all cases priority in the purchase of animals should be given those areas which were in most distressed condition on account of the drought.”
Value of Inventory Personal Property Jan. 1st 1934
[Note from Lisa: I’ve transcribed Hattie’s inventory to the best of my ability below, and you can refer to her handwritten page at the end of the post. Note that the subtotals don’t add up correctly, but, even so, this is an interesting snapshot of their farm and ranch in 1934, during what was one of the toughest years of the Great Depression. An inflation calculator shows that their total worth of $6566.20 would have a buying power of $115,046.19 in today’s dollars.]
January 10, 1934, Wednesday: An exciting act at the last
Bright, lovely, thermometer raised to 34 above at 11 a.m. and [at] 2 p.m. was 46 above zero. I staid in front-room and worked at receipt book, played solitaire and to kitchen awhile when Maggie was making the cream-cheese, which was an exciting act at the last as it got thick, but Maggie stirred it smooth so was fine and put to get ripe in 5 days. Maggie also got meals, the sweeping and bed-making but first she aired all the quilts and finished ironing the week’s washing. Fritz hauled 2 loads of hay from near Jackson School-house and gave one to the stock and left one to be put on big stack. Seth Whiting came from Moore Creek where he counted the cattle, had dinner and went home. will went to where Fritz got hay and helped me put on a load then to O’Kreek, where he had dinner and took Zella or Big Tail to Wood, Mellette County, S.D., where they got a permit for Will to cut 100 poles on Zella’s Land on Oak Creek, N.W. of Carter, Tripp Co., So. Dak., and they came home via this place, so Will was late, came in at dark. Fritz brought in 3 eggs yesterday and Maggie looked several places but found none to-day.
Was 30 above early morning, cloudy, sleet and snow until mid-day quiet for thermometer dropped to 28 in a hurry and was cold rest of day and sun never shone. I wrote some letters and also wrote some receipts in book, fixed collar smaller on Will’s work shirt and made 2 outing flannel slips for small pillows that we use to keep bedding from being too heavy on my game leg. Maggie got meals and cleaned the rooms up-stairs and mopped front room and kitchen and cleaned our room and mended a dress for herself. Fritz hauled 2 loads hay and fed to the stock and after supper he went to Lattimore for the night and to spend Sunday. Will chored, gave the calves water and went to the store and got the mail and parcel post, which we have been looking for, for a long time from Montgomery Ward & Co. St. Paul, Minn. He is sick at stomach so laid down in p.m. and slept awhile.
Cold night, foggy morning, bright and warm, thermometer rose to 28 above and cool in eve again. I got up late, about 9 o’clock, had breakfast, then Will and I took an inventory of our property and I will copy it later into the Diary and I also worked at receipt book and played solitaire late p.m., after supper Maggie and I played 2 games [of] 500 rummy and it was nearly a tie. Maggie got meals, the other necessary work and ironed clothes. Fritz got a load of hay in the hills in a.m. and Ben brought us 3 lbs. butter and a real large hen’s egg, so he helped Will fix a feed-rack and they all put 54 calves in round corral to wean, then Ben went home and Will still fixed more at feed-rack and Fritz got a load of alfalfa to feed the calves. Carl Sundquist and 2 sons of Dallas, S.D. stopped at corral and talked to men. They went to John Sundquist’s where they have 40 head [of] steers wintering.
Cloudy, rainy, cold all day and a foggy morning. The men chored and all but Will branded and vaccinated some of Hugh Smith’s calves. Will’s foot hurt so bad, he stayed in bed. Wm went to Lattimores before breakfast to see about getting crutches but has none. I got meals and made lemon & raisin pie. Hugh and Cliff Smith and Guy Parish left with team, wagon [and] a saddle horse for Dallas and to Carter to-nite. Knute Strid, Chas. Carpenter and John Sundquist bargained for a gray mare on way to store.
1933 May 12th Friday
Some clouds, sun shone at times and a shower at noon. Ben came and went with Wm and Narve to big pasture and also sold gray mare to Strid and they took it back in late p.m. Harold Whiting, Pat, Violet, Dorothy, Reuben and M. Lattimore here and Will has gone to Winner with Mr. Curt Elshire along and not home at bed-time and foot still painful. A Totton and Allen boy brought mare to breed.
1933 May 13th Saturday
Bright, real nice until towards eve clouded and some wind. Wm went to pasture and fixed chicken pen in p.m. Narvin hauled some manure from house banking. Will got in at 1 p.m. and mailed letters and in p.m. took Narvin, saddle and bridle to Boyds, and Narve was to stay all night and bring Swede up tomorrow but Joe Iddings and Claude Sully came and wanted to see horses so Will went right back to Boyds and Narve came in eve. Wm got in water and I got clothes on line as Will turned ringer and they dried nicely before north dusty wind towards eve, also the meals and mopped floors, but I am all in.
1933 May 14th Sunday
Bright, beautiful Mother’s Day. We got up at sun-rise and after choring and breakfast the men separated horses and put in corral and Joe Iddings and Claude Sully came in p.m. to look at them and bought 3 of Will’s and 5 of Wm’s. Wm, Narvin and I went to church and home at 2 p.m. and they went horse-back to Elshire ball-game, then on to John Boyd’s and home at bed-time. Will and I to game, stopped at Wheelers and Tates. Met Ora Daywitts leaving here on way back home. Will’s foot hurts this eve.
1933 May 15th Monday
Beautiful day, but a few clouds and a shower in p.m. then sun shone. The men chored and Wm and Narvin took horses to Claude Sully’s west of O’Kreek and back for dinner. Mose helped them up with Boyd’s 2 horses, got in at 11 p.m. and Mose went to Elshires this morning to work. I got meals. Will started to clean cellar and Narvin helped when he and Wm got started to plow for garden and Wm finished. A Totton boy came to breed mares in eve and stayed for supper. Will, Narvin and I went to Mission Graduating Class Play, “A Man Higher Up,” was put on nicely by the seniors and we [got] back at 11 p.m. and Tottons’ wagon was west of store minus a team.
1933 May 16th Tuesday
A lovely forenoon but not p.m. and some clouds and dust from south-west. The men chored and Wm and Narvin planted garden and got own meals for Will and I went to Furrey’s. L A. J. Josiak 2 miles south of Carter and Thomas Whiting caught us near Furreys so Fred Larmer rode with him as he went with us from Furreys and Harry and Bechstel came later so he came back with them and Will and I went to Rumolfson’s, Murphy’s, back to Winner, got rhubarb and tomato plants, to Witten where we ate ice-cream, to Chas. Storms north of Witten, to John Jansen’s, Mosher, to O’Kreek, to Tom Sazama’s, to O’Kreek again but no trees on Martin load Sioux City truck so home, and Will, Jerry Bowlin and a boy for John Sundquist cattle, B. J. Wagner here. He drives sorrel team named King and Queen.
1933 May 17th Wednesday
Bright and real hot everywhere, even indoors, first real hot day of season. The men chored and Wm, Narvin, Will and Noble Moore, who came this a.m., set out rhubarb and tomato plants, and Will and I took eggs and got groceries at store and I got meals and men branded and vaccinated our calves in p.m. Walter Ross came this a.m. Will got oil-stove down from up-stairs and cleaned a little at basement. Ben Clausen came in eve, brought lister lay.
1933 May 18th Thursday
Bright, hot, 88 in shade at mid-day and a N.W. breeze. I got meals and wrote some letters. The men chored and Wm and Narvin got in horses and took some stock to big-pasture. Will hurt his foot yesterday so can hardly walk but sprouted potatoes, visited with a man from south towards Valentine who came to see if Mike could be bought. Will went to Earl Allen, west of store, and they will bring down their cattle to-morrow. Being so warm the men couldn’t work hard in p.m. but took it easy in late p.m. and put some 2 yr. old horses to corral as they separated mares from geldings and kept old mares close in. Have orders for underwear nearly finished but I quit. Mr. & Mrs. Boyd stopped on way to store.
1933 May 19th Friday
Cool N.E. breeze and bright until towards eve real cloudy in west but passed south. The men got in water and I washed clothes and got them dry, also the meals but I can hardly walk in eve so all in. Will, Narve and Wm castrated colts in a.m., then Will went in wagon to Furreys, got their car and he and Fred went to O’Kreek but no trees there and he brought lister back. Narvin & Wm met Allen boy with their cattle and after dinner he went home and they took to big-pasture and brought in young steer calves to castrate that belong to Hugh Smith. Oscar Ross and son Alf brought 9 bu. potatoes for R. F. C. workers and they have 10 bu. at home. Roland Wilcutt went by with a team of white horses.
1933 May 20th Saturday
Bright but cool N.E. wind. I got meals and baked bread and mopped floors. The men chored and got lister ready and near noon William started to list corn out here at home. Jay Tate and Dickie were here in a.m. after lister repairs. Will got seed-corn at Tony Martin’s, and Narvin a load of hay at Moore Creek and he and Will put it in barn in eve. John Sundquist stopped on way to the store, he drives some team they got from the Hutchins named King and Queen.
Cloudy and N.E. breeze cool. The men chored and John Wisenberger brought John Wisenberger Sr. his uncle in truck and Wm took him to Crookston, Nebr. where he stayed with his daughters Kate and Leona as he is very sick with bladder and heart trouble and will stay a week. Will took a team of horses to O’Kreek and sold to No Heart and home in p.m., a long horse-back ride. Ben Clausen came to smoke sausage and fix horse-radish. Mr. Lattimore came in wagon to see about bringing his cattle here to pasture and he hauled box to smoke meat from barnyard to yard.
1933 May 2nd Tuesday
Cloudy all day. The men chored and Will went horseback to get Sazama and Pitt cattle, and Donald Pitt helped him, and Mr. and Roy brought calves in truck and Will and Fritz Van Epps brought Lattimores in eve. Wm went [to] Wisenbergers to tell John what John Sr. wanted done and in p.m. cleaned barn. I got meals and looked over lease papers. Claude Sully and Mr. Joe Eddings here early a.m. to see about buying broncho-mares and will return later. Pat Karnes stopped on way to Guy Bailey’s to help build house as Legionnaires will help him.
1933 May 3rd Wednesday
Cloudy, rainy and cold. The men chored and Will went to Winner and Jordan and Witten to see about getting cattle and took Pat Karnes along. I got meals and not much else as it is damp and cold on my rheumatism in left knee, can hardly move it these days. Wm took cattle to pasture and as it was rainy, stayed indoors except to set turkeys. Will back in time for supper.
1933 May 4th Thursday
Cloudy and damp but in p.m. a little brighter. The men chored and I got meals and went to store with Ben, who came this a.m., also Will took eggs and got garden seeds. Will went to Ed Anderson’s and got their cattle in p.m. Narvin & Hinlay Boyd came in late p.m. for night and Anderson cattle got out so they with Wm got them back at 1 p.m. Will is sick with cramps in stomach this eve. I baked bread and slept in p.m.
1933 May 5th Friday
Cloudy and cold but no rain. I got meals and boys got in water as they chored for Will sick in bed all day and they went for horses and late p.m. Mose went home with gray mare he traded from Wm, and Wm and Narve went to store horseback. I started to wash clothes but not finish. Ben came for lumber, posts and meat.
1933 May 6th Saturday
Nice awhile in early a.m. then a strong S.E. wind, cloudy, damp and cold. I got meals, finished washing and a time to dry but managed somehow for wind was terrific, also rested in p.m. Will sick all day but managed to chore in eve and get in water, cobs and carry out a pail of slop. Wm and Narve got tools at Baileys and fixed wells and wind-mills and took tools back to Baileys and went on down towards Carter to see if any cattle coming for pasture.
1933 May 7th Sunday
Cloudy, rainy, cold day–Wm and Narve got in at 2 a.m. from Carter so Will felt well enough to chore in morning. The men stayed indoors until in p.m. Will went with Roy and a young nephew of John Carr’s to pasture and they went to Sundquists. In eve Jerry Bowlin, Fred Daughterty and George Chihak got stuck in creek south of house and men had a time to get them out and Will and Daughterty got dumped in creek on account of Pat Karnes 2 wheel wagon, which they had team on, got broke in bolster so they came to house to get warm and stayed for supper. I got meals but feel bum all day. I guess it is rheumatism and damp weather ailments. Ben Clausen here in eve.
1933 May 8th Monday
Partly cloudy until eve real cloudy and looked rainy but no rain at bed-time. I got meals and not much because I feel bum. Will and Narvin fixed fence between us and Elshires and Wm went to help Ben fix his well then onto where men were fixing fence, them home to late dinner, then fixed Pat’s 2-wheel wagon and Wm and Narve got a Frezno at LeRoy Koepp’s and Will smoked meat and they all chored.
1933 May 9th Tuesday
Rained in night and continued in a.m. cloudy, cold until sun came out for a short time. I got meals and started to wash clothes yesterday and still they stand in tub as not much done to them to-day. The men chored and Wm and Narvin tried to break sod but no success so men cleaned corral and Fritz Van Epps came for Frezno but no get to-day. Hugh and Cliff Smith and Guy Parish of Dallas and Iona brought in 112 head of cattle and helped clean corral. Mr. Smith, Will and I and Pat, Violet and Dorothy and Reuben went to Legion Meeting at O’Kreek. Ben Fitch and Wilbur came to breed mares.
1933 May 10th Wednesday
Rainy, cloudy, cold all day and last night also. The men chored and Will, Cliff and Hugh Smith and Guy Parish went to Mission and back for dinner and men played cards in a.m. and also in p.m. Ben was here in a.m. awhile. Late p.m. the men went to barn and trimmed horses’ hoofs and Scotch, of the saddle horses, ran Will in corner and he slipped and hurt his foot, and it is real painful and swollen so had it doped and put in hot water. I got meals and fixed a chicken dinner but no wash clothes as they are still in washtub.
A bright, nice day until in eve some clouds and a N.E. breeze in fast, blew quite hard all day but mostly in north. The men chored and N. & H. Boyd came for a horse and Wm helped them get it and when they took it home in p.m. he went to feed horses hay on Moore Creek, and he chored in eve. and Fr. Martin helped him as he came for night. A horse-buyer of Valentine here to buy horses in p.m. I got meals, finished washing, mopped floors, and baked bread. Roy here and took car to store, and Wm and he went up there and he cut Will’s hair and they brought down Roy’s hogs and Thomas got them and Will and Tom went to Winner with a truck load of Roy’s hogs, Ora Daywitts’ 4 more, 14 cases of eggs and 6 cans of cream. Fr. Martin here for night and Will in 11 p.m., so we now retired.
1933 April 9th Sunday
Some snow until ground is white but quickly thawed in a.m. but was chilly N.W. breeze. The men chored and Will and Ben who came fed stock alfalfa and Wm and I went to church. Fr. Martin got up and went to the Boarding School for 8:30 Mass and back to H.T. for late Mass. Geo. O’Connor along so we came home and Will and Ben went up and got him and Fr. Martin came later for dinner, they went home to Mission and St. Francis in p.m. I got meals. Kenneth Whiting here after church and Geo. Kelin and 2 men in eve.
1933 April 10th Monday
Bright, but cold day, a N.W. breeze chilly. The men chored and Will got a load of hay at Roy’s for stock and Wm worked at barn. I got meals and slept in p.m. L. Lattimore here in p.m. Ben got Brownie to get in Jenny the mule but Fred Rahn of Witten came to deal for his 4 horses or rather colts for a team so he went to Witten and bought Brownie back in eve. Will went to store and got coal that he and Tom got at Winner Saturday.
1933 April 11th Tuesday
A strong N.W. breeze and was chilly but bright. The men chored and Will got a load of hay at Roy’s. Roy stayed here last night as he moved Maggie and Clyde to Dan’s yesterday and came for another load and took it this a.m. He is working for John Carr and will move to Parmalee later. I got meals and visited with Ben in p.m. for Wm went around fence of big pasture and Will disced in p.m. on Wm’s place. Wm fixed disc in a.m. Jay Tate and Iner Sorensen brought fanning-mill and Mr. Lattimore and Fritz Van Epps, Jerry Karnes and Pat Karnes came and fanned Lattimore’s speltz, stored in our barn and took 4 loads and Allie Walton got 1 load. Chas. Pierce and Dudley, U. Dow of Valentine was here in p.m. selling McCarron’s Products of Winona, Minn.
1933 April 12th Wednesday
N.W. wind strong, dusty, cold and some clouds. This is Jake’s and Leo Whiting’s birthday. The men chored. Will and I have headaches. Wm went to Moore Creek to disc his land and Will started to take Ben’s horses over there and met truck so men walked back across river and they bought Steel and Girlie, a gray team from Will, and Will took them with Ben’s [team] to Ben’s to load in truck. Fred Rahn, Witten, also John Storms bought team. Will to Moore Creek in p.m. and brought a load of hay back in eve. I got meals and not much else but get out goods to make everyday dresses. Mr. Albert E. Brown walked in to see about R.F.C. funds and walked down to Loren Walton’s after dinner. Erban Brown had his arm operated on and wants to come back from Omaha now with family and his mother as soon as funds available.
1933 April 13th Thursday
Bright but cold, was snow 100 miles east [of] here yesterday but none here. Will had a headache so he chored late and Wm chored early and he and I went to church at H.T. Fr. Martin came in in the night and we never heard him but he went up to bed. I had a headache in night and continued most of day. Wm went to look for a colt in big-pasture in p.m. Dr. Smith and Bob Jones here about R.F.C. funds. Will and I to Legion meeting in eve.
1933 April 14th Friday
Will and I went to Ross’s and Whiting’s last eve to give R.F.C. purchase order blanks, got Pat, Violet Karnes and Dorthy & Reuben, Tom and Margaret Bergin and Tommy and we went to Legion meeting and back at 1 a.m. so I am all in to-day but got 2 meals as Will and Wm took lunch to Moore Creek and I washed clothes. Will got in water, fed stock oats-hay and he and I went to the store early a.m. before he went to Moore Creek to disc. Wm drove horses to big [pasture] and put a load of hay on rack for Will to bring in eve. Ben Clausen got a load of barley at John Wisenberger’s in p.m. and he was here yesterday with his new team and had them to-day. Mose Boyd here in p.m. and went to Moore Creek to see men, he broke his stirrup strap so fixed it here. Bud Whiting here for eggs late p.m. but I no have any to spare. The clothes dried but underwear.
1933 April 15th Saturday
Bright, nice day. I got meals and mopped floors and ironed and mended some clothes. Will got a load of hay in the hills for stock and went to Lattimores and store late p.m. Wm finished discing his land on Moore Creek for oats and they will sow the oats later. Rena, Kenneth, Lemoyne, Clarence and Yvonne were here in late p.m. and they brought a pail of cream and got 1 gal. of eggs to color for Easter.
1933 April 16th Sunday
This is a bright warm Easter Sunday, in fact hot at mid-day, a south wind quite strong. Will and Wm chored and fed mare that had 2 dead colts yesterday and I got Will some breakfast and he then took Wm and I to Louise and Harry’s, and he stayed there and Harry, Louise, Harley, Dorthy Mae, Fred, Wm and I went to church at O’Kreek to 9 o’clock Mass by Fr. Goll and we all went to communion and back to H and L’s for Breakfast at 12 o’clock and home in p.m., visited with John Wisenberger and gave Clarice Brewer of near Hidden Timber an order on Dr. Smith for R.F.C. Order, as he and 2 other young men here, then Wm stayed home and Will and I went to Pat Karne’s to borrow a seeder, stopped at store, then to John Boyd’s to look at a harness that Mose Boyd wants to trade for horse he is breaking. Mrs. Boyd gave us seeds and flower plants. The men chored and we ate supper and retired for am all in.
1933 April 17th Monday
Bright until in eve a cloud in west horizon but got no farther and a strong south wind all day. The men chored and got that mare, who had colts in barn, then Wm fixed a place for flowers south of house and set out lilies and went to Ben’s, fed stock oats-hay and chored in eve for Will went to Witten, Hansen’s and Winner and took Mr. & Mrs. Tom Bergin and Tommy along with him on his long trip and they in at 10 o’clock p.m. Mr. & Mrs. Geo. Smith’s daughter Mary Lou is near death’s doors at Winner General Hospital.
1933 April 18th Tuesday
Bright, warm and dusty, strong south wind, a little to S.E. at times. I got meals and went with Will to Pat Karnes and Tom Bergein and got Karnes’ seeder and Tom Bergin brought it down as he came for 35 bu. speltz from Lattimore, had dinner, also Henley Boyd came and Wm, Will and Stanley Whiting came also so with Tom Bergin and Boyd, they dehorned calves and yearling and are all in, in eve, but Boyd and Bergin went home. Mr. Lattimore came with Jim Fisher and Vern Couser, and Couser got 60 bu. speltz. Mr. Earl Allen and son came to see if they could get 25 head cattle in pasture this summer. Mr. H. E. Cady and son came to get R.F.C. Orders and seeds. Lloyd Totten also came for same. I cut out an everyday dress.
1933 April 19th Wednesday
S.E. wind blew strong all night and to-day partly cloudy. About 10 o’clock last night Bud and Thomas Whiting came in truck and said that a lighted candle on dress in bed-room caught things afire and a 22 shell exploded and hit Tom on side of neck and he bled terribly so they got Will to go up in our car to Rosebud Hospital with him last night. Not knowing seriousness of the wound, Wm and I worried terribly so Wm started to store after choring but met Stanley fixing fence so he came back, he had a headache but went to Moore Creek in p.m. and got a load of hay for stock. I got meals but was worried so baked bread, cinnamon rolls and made choke-cherry jelly all before 12 o’clock, for I got up at daylight and Wm later so we had breakfast early. Will came back from Rosebud at 3 p.m. and he said Tom was quite well as he had piece of bullet-steel taken from neck and bleeding stopped but to stay at hospital until to-morrow. He brought Noble Lindermann and a Miller boy to John Wisenberger’s from Rosebud, they went up with Dr. Reneston of Bonesteel as they live at Pawnee Reservation.
1933 April 20th Thursday
Partly rainy all day and cool. The men chored and got in small calves in barn. Ben came and he rode to store with us for Will and I went to Rosebud and got Tom at Hospital. On way up stopped at Pat Karnes, drove to B. Place, told Carl Bergin to tell Tom Bergin not to work on road, to Sazama’s and Mr. went with us, had dinner at Mission.
1933 April 21st Friday
Cold, cloudy, north wind and a sprinkle of rain at noon then brighter awhile in p.m., cloudy again in eve. I got meals and washed clothes but it rained so I put it off or to soak. Will went [to] Armbrusters, Tottens and Pitts where he had dinner. Wm went [to] Ben’s to see about butchering his hog but Ben has the tooth-ache so no butcher and in p.m. Wm cleaned west side coop and set a hen and Will oiled harness, one of them he got from Boyds.
1933 April 22nd Saturday
Bright, nice day but cool indoors, a south-west breeze. I got 2 meals for Will and Wm after choring took oats and disc and sowed on Wm’s place on Moore Creek so took lunch at noon and home late eve with a load of hay. I finished washing clothes and got all dry but left out one underwear and mopped floors and made butter out of our own cream. Rena, Lemoyne, Charlotte and Yvonne brought us meat on way to Mission. A man and wife soliciting for Samaritan Army was here yesterday and Wm gave 50 cents and one old hen.
1933 April 23rd Sunday
Bright, nice day but cool indoors. I got breakfast for Wm and Will. Fr. Martin came last eve and stayed all night so I went to communion at 8:30 a.m. at St. Therese Church, H.T. and Harold Whiting came back with Wm and I after church and Thomas came later in truck and he got a hog at Totten’s.
1933 April 24th Monday
Bright, nice but in p.m. some clouds and towards eve quite cloudy and a N.W. wind blew quite hard but no rain. The men chored and Wm took lunch and disced all day at his oats on Moore Creek. Will and I went to John Wisenberger’s, he not home, went to O’Kreek, on to Clarence Sell’s to see about pasturing cattle, no cattle, to John Hauff’s, gave him R.F.C. Garden Seeds, to Joy H. Tates, talked Legion Convention at Winner tomorrow, on to Pat Karnes and he said Convention Wednesday, our mistake, so to Tom Bergin and Mrs. said they go, so back to Tates and he knew date, to store, home. Frank, Jr. Prokop of Spencer, Nebr. came and he and Will gave cattle alfalfa, had dinner and he went home. young Totton brought 2 mares to breed to Mike. Mrs. Tommy (Louise) Colome here about pasture agreement.
1933 April 25th Tuesday
Bright except a few floating clouds and S.E. chilly breeze. The men chored and Wm went to Moore Creek and finished discing in oats. Will fed cattle alfalfa. Rena, Kenneth and Yvonne came to sell Lemoyne’s share of corn or rather corn taken for rent on his place but Will no buy. I got meals and baked bread and clothes ready to go to town to-morrow. Wm went to John Boyds in p.m. and took Noble Moore, where Farmer Brown and Agriculturist McKenzie of Rosebud put in a garden and he no home at bed-time. Will worked around place in p.m.
1933 April 26th Wednesday
A real snow-storm before we got up and continued until 10 a.m. and after men chored Will and I got Pat, Violet, Mrs. Bergin and Tommy, went to Legion Convention [at] Winner, no snow down there and sun shone in p.m. but cool. Will went on to Dallas and he and Hugh Smith looked for cattle to pasture south of Dallas but no find, he came back to Winner in eve but no convention, the rest of us went and Pat and Violet to Banquet, then we came home. Saw Mrs. Elmer Grans at Wilson Hospital, Winner, also Baby Boy and Mrs. Jim Hornback and very ill sister Fancis D. of Wood. Wm chored, went to store and Ben Clausen’s.
1933 April 27th Thursday
Bright nice day, only a little cool. The men chored and Wm went to Ben’s with some wood and helped him butcher a hog and home middle p.m. and Ben came along and Wm took oats out to Will to sow as Will helped John Wisenberger get started to drill in oats north of alfalfa, then he disced in oats he sowed Tuesday p.m. Mr. Lattimore and Mr. Deneker got speltz in bin here. I got meals and as we got in at 12:30 .m. from Legion Convention, I am all in as usual but rested in p.m. and feel better in eve.
1933 April 28th Friday
Bright, nice, until toward eve clouds and rain in eve. The men chored. Wm finished discing in oats, also John Wisenberger finished at late noon and took tractor back to John Wisenbergers where he works as he is Canadian John. Ben Clausen has a swollen jaw but Will and he managed to make sausage and cut up hog as Will got it and the barrow this morn. Mr and Mrs. John Boyd here to see about selling a horse so Will went to O’Kreek this eve and Mr. Bechstel here and said that Guy Bailey to build a house, so Will let Pat, Tom Sazama and Carl Anderson know and had supper at Andersons’. Home via Boyds in the rain storm after dark and some wind.
1933 April 29th Saturday
Partly cloudy until in p.m. real cloudy and rain towards eve and continued at bed-time. The men chored and Will waited for Farmer Brown and Charles No Heart to come to buy a team and after they bought it, he left for Winner and Colome and not home at bed-time. Wm went to pasture to see horses and in p.m. he and I went with Rena, Lemoyne, Charlotte, Yvonne to track meet at school-house. I had a head-ache all day but managed to fix some lard and mopped floors in eve. Will and I salted sausage in casings in a.m. but I am all in, just managed to drag around. John Boyd brought his horse up this morn. Noble Moore Jr. came and went to school-house with us.
1933 April 30th Sunday
A cloudy, damp day. The men chored for Will came in at 11 o’clock from Winner so all in. Wm and I went to late church and brought Geo. O’Connor back with us and Fr. Martin came later. Ben Clausen, Noble Moore, Erban Brown here to-day and all ate dinner but Erban, he came for garden-seeds and has a real-bum T.B. left arm and just got back from Omaha, Nebr. I got meals and visited with men in p.m. and washed dishes in eve while Will and Wm went to John Boyd’s to see if Narvin is back from Bad Nation.
Bright day but N.W. breeze cool. The men chored and Will took Narvin, Wm and I to church and we went to Communion and Will went to Allen’s and Sydney Pitt’s, after dinner Will and I went to Geo. Smith’s, on to Brewer’s, Joe Kuontsky’s [?], O’Kreek where Will saw Hans Paulson about road work for R. F. C. [Reconstruction Finance Corporation] men, back to Furrey’s, no one home, on to Bechstels, on to L. Walton’s, Rock Creek Store to see Mr. Ross there, and to Wheelers and home to chore and get supper. Wm and Narvin went to Curt Elshire’s in p.m. on horse-back and read magazines in eve.
1933 March 27th Monday
Bright, nice day. A S.W. breeze. The men chored and Will had a cold in head so rested in a.m. then went to Jim Dowd to look at R.F.C. Road-work, home to a late dinner. Wm and Narve went to Moore Creek to feed Horses hay and brought back wagon home in p.m. drove a Broncho for him and brought back a wagon-wheel from between the Rivers. Roy went along to Ben’s and he was here in a.m. also. Ben came in a.m. and he helped me dress roosters that Wm and Narve killed. We dressed 7, and Wm picked 2 Turkeys, so have a lot of meat.
1933 March 28th Tuesday
Bright, nice day. The men chored and Will got a load of hay for stock in hills and was all in when he got back on account of cold and he went horse-back to cane on Ben’s, on to see Wheeler about threshing cane, home via store but Leroy Koepp had brought our mail and wanted [to] see Will so met him at store on way back. Ben came in wagon to get some lumber in p.m. as he is hauling corn from Jim Horton’s in a.m. Ben Fitch and Wilbur came to sell 50 bu. of shell corn in p.m. Wm & Narve drove Bronchos in p.m. I got meals and roasted a turkey. Isaac Afraid of Bear and wife Elsie Bad Whirlwind came to lease their land south of place to us.
1933 March 29th Wednesday
Bright, nice day. The men chored and Will gave cattle a load [of] alfalfa, fixed a gate and went to Pat Karnes and Allen just to town to-day so no oats. Wm and Narve drove 2 bronchos to Moore Creek one in a.m. and one in p.m. and took poles over there. I got meals but am all in with a cold in throat and head, also Wm and Narvin have it now and Will is better.
1933 March 30th Thursday
A bright, nice day and men chored and Will gave stock alfalfa and fixed a stall in barn and Wm & Narve took poles to M.C. I got meals and we are still all in with colds. Wm Pierce spent p.m. here. Swan Nelson’s boy got Noah Wright’s seeder. John Sundquist went to store so got our mail. A Totton boy brought L. Loyd’s road-work time. Stanley and Harold (Bud) Whiting came for a guinea rooster and spent the eve here.
1933 March 31st Friday
Bright, nice day and clouded in eve. I got meals and gathered cobs. The men chored and Will went to see men on R. F. C. work, on to Mission to see Dr. Smith, to Wood to see about oats, not home at Bed-time. Narve & Wm started a corral on Wm’s place.
Foggy but not cold and clear at noon and a beautiful moon-light night. I got meals and mopped floors and played solitaire as my feet hurt so I couldn’t stand on them much. The men chored and Harold Whiting came and said that Tom couldn’t get here in truck so Will took turkeys in wagon and Narvin and Wm drove Degan Steer up and Will and Tom to Winner and took Degan Steer to their place, managed by John Earl, got coal but no money in town and Hansen none. Wm & Narve hauled Ben a load [of] hay and fed our stock, came and shaved & chored and Drove Brochos.
1933 March 12th Sunday
Bright, lovely warm day but snow on ground and some clouds in late p.m. but nice before bed-time. The men chored and hooked up Ginger and Snip on wagon for Wm, Narvin and I went to church at 10:30 a.m. and brought back some coal that Will and Tom got at Winner last night for Will got in at 11 p.m. We came back at 3 o’clock from church. Ben here so we had dinner and Men worked with a heifer to have a calf. I got meals and read and played solitaire in p.m. Ralph Walton and a Mr. Norton of O’Kreek here this a.m.
1933 March 13th Monday
Bright, nice day. The men chored and Wm went to Moore Creek and fed horses hay and Will got cane at Ben’s and Wm and Narve hauled manure in p.m. and Will went with Loren Walton to Erban Brown’s and saw Wm Van Epps at Lewis Armbrusters about oats. He went horseback and back to chore. Loren Walton came with a load of corn and went to Brown’s. C. D. Brewer of west of store, whose address is Mission, came in a wagon to see about getting Red Cross help and working on road for R. F. C. Funds. Clarence and Fred Nelson and Mrs. Clarence Nelson came in wagon and horseback to get Rock Creek, the outlaw horse.
1933 March 14th Tuesday
Bright, nice day. The men chored and Will hauled a load of hay from hills and one from stack he got from Roy. Wm and Narve drove a broncho in p.m. and Roy went to Rock Creek store and said to get Ben at River so Narve did on horse-back and Ben, Wm and Narve drove Ben’s horse chub (?) to Moore Creek and got Ben’s harrow at Noah Wright’s place where a family by name of Long live and they took it home for him. I got meals and fried the rest of sausage and made jell and some cookies. Mr. Jamison came to see about road-work. Mr. Bert Roundy and Dell Furrey came for plow Mr Roundy bought at sale.
1933 March 15th Wednesday
Bright, nice day. The men chored and Wm and Narve drove brocho and went to Moore Creek in p.m. to feed horses hay. I got meals and not much else for Will and I went to O’Kreek last eve to Legion Meeting and home at 12:30 a.m., took Pat Karnes Family. I slept to-day for I am all in. Will went to Tripp Co. to see about oats & cattle, and he had dinner at George and Wm Chihak’s, also went to Clearfield, saw Earl Adrians, got Roosters at Mike Walters, belonging to his son and they are from Wm Welch flock. He came back at 8 p.m. and had supper alone for we ate.
1933 March 16th Thursday
Bright, nice day. The men chored and Wm and Narve went to Boyd’s, drove a broncho down there with Old Molly and took a Gobbler there and back at dark. Will got a load of hay at Roy’s and looked at a cow in field. Linferd Martin came to get Red Cross and R.F.C. help and Will and I went to Ross’s Rock Creek Store where he got groceries. Will first went with John Gall and sons Samuel and Daniel who came and got maintenance at Wheelers and groceries at store on R.F.C. funds. I went with Will also to Joe Strolls, Sydney Pitt’s and Tom Bergins, back to Wheelers where Will requested that Mr. Wheeler get a culvert at Rosebud on Erban Brown time.
1933 March 17th Friday
Misty, rainy day but towards [p.m./eve?] a little brighter in west. I got meals and not much else but slept in p.m. The men chored and Will got a load of cane in a.m. and took 2 roosters to Ben’s and in p.m. they all trimmed horses’ mane or feet. This is St Patrick’s Day.
1933 March 18th Saturday
Rainy in morning, then it sleeted for awhile, turned to snow and N.E. wind moved some snow. The men chored and Will and Narve got 2 loads hay at Roy’s and Wm got Ben on Horseback and took he and Mr. Wagner over in p.m. as Mr. Wagner walked here. I got meals and baked bread.
