1926 April 3rd Saturday

Bright forepart of day but clouded middle p.m. and got cold and late eve spitted some snow or mist. Glen McEachran went home with horses. Will & William fixed fence west of the barn. Louise finished her dress and I dressed 6 chickens to take to St. Francis then finished on my dress. Will waited patiently for Menz’s to come, they came at 3 p.m. and Louise, Will and I left for St. Francis via Tom’s and car balked so Mr. Clarence Wheeler who was helping dig a well west of Clausen land helped fix but the trouble caused us to stop at Mr. John Neiss’s and we got warm and Mose Marshall pulled us up the Rock Creek hill and car trouble punctured tires, got to St. Francis at midnight and slept on floor at Dave’s. John Kirwin, Paul Meyers and Joe Gordon family there. William at home.

1936 April 3rd Friday

Sun shone but clouded at 4 p.m., was cold and N.E. wind. Will got breakfast, for these days I can scarcely move for pains in right side of my back. I got dinner and supper and not much else but laid down in p.m. Will went to Whiting Store and Tom went along to Mission where they met the highway board and bid to maintain roads and Will was home before supper. LeMoyne and Thomas chored and hauled 2 loads hay from North of Strids.

1946 April 3rd Wednesday

Snowing and rain. Will chored and Van Epps came, they fed cattle and calves, then Van Epps went home and Will came in to eat. I got meals, laid down in p.m. as I am on unsalted diet and not much to eat at that so I cannot work much, also iodine capsules. I fed chickens on east porch.

1956 April 3rd Tuesday

Snowed last night and terrific N.W. wind but snow got worse today. Men gave cattle east of trees at Janis’s stack of hay. Some calves come day and night, we now have 26 of them. No go to school and Will did not go to Valentine, Nebr. with Thomas’s on account of snow but not too cold. I got eats, laid down in p.m. Will slept also. I played solitaire. Electricity went off 1 to 5 a.m. so no juice.

1926 April 2nd Friday

Cloudy and bright at mid-day and cold east wind. Will took the blacksmith to store and had tongue for buggy fixed and in p.m. he visited with Jesse Haisch, Glen McEachran and William Whiting who returned from St. Francis via Rosebud. Glen came for his horses that strayed in and he & Will brought them to corral. Carl Anderson brought back bridge-plank. The blacksmith, Mr. Kaiser, came for old iron. Louise to school and in eve sewed on her dress. I made cakes and we had fish so fried it and was tired in the eve.

1936 April  2nd Thursday

Sun shone but was cold. I got meals and looked over old letters and papers to discard some of them. Will got his Adjusted Compensation Receipt, he slept in p.m. as his cold on chest still a nuisance. He chored in a.m. and eve. Thomas and LeMoyne got one load hay on Old Lodge and took some to Henry’s cattle at noon when they went to N.E. Strids and got a load to feed tomorrow to stock here at Home.

1946 April 2nd Tuesday

Was quite nice, fair after South and West wind of yesterday. Will chored, took lunch and he and Wm Abbott finished discing in wheat on Strids for us but not so warm. I laid down in forenoon, again in p.m. for am all in from trip of yesterday. Played solitaire, read some and listened to Radio for Van Epps did not come today.

1956 April 2nd Monday

Was a little cloudy but not much moisture until eve. Men gave cattle hay and Vere and Elaine and Ellen went to O’Kreek and Winner but did not get Driver’s License on account of fog and threatened rain, so got groceries and came home. No doubt her mother along from O’Kreek. Chester took Darryl to School, also David and Jimmie and got them in late p.m., also the mail and Athel here this a.m. to say they will got to Valentine tomorrow and Will can come along to have eye tested for glasses. Wm, Elsie and Ralphie, 3 yrs old, here this p.m. We had a lunch of ham sandwiches and apple pie.

1926 April 1st Thursday

Cloudy morn and bright but cold East wind until eve warmer and cloudy. Ed Penny went to Tom’s and no work so went home. Will got a load of hay and in p.m. he and I went to the store and Ed, Rena, Leo, Edward, Charlotte, Abe Elshire, Mr. Lattimore, the two Couser young men were there. Mr. Lattimore came home with us and he and Will seined the fish-hole and got over 60 fish. Fred Menz brought Louise back in time to go to school as they got as far as Carter and all buildings north of Hotel burned down, so they stayed and fought fire all night. Louise to school and sewed on her dress in eve. Fred went to store and brought our things from home.

Note from Lisa: Chuck Lucas recognized the name of Ed Penny and forwarded the following photos. If anyone has information about the unidentified men in the second photograph, please leave a comment or drop me a line.

1936 April 1st Wednesday

Cloudy, cold, the sun only peeped through clouds before noon, some snow from N.E. fell. I got meals, played solitaire, slept in p.m. for the men went to a meeting of Sioux Association at Whiting Store, Hidden Timber. In the forenoon they gave stock hay for got a load on Old Lodge and loaded a load of Alfalfa to feed tomorrow and gave Henry Arcoren’s cattle some alfalfa as they went to Old Lodge for they had a load on rack to give this morning.

1946 April 1st Monday

Bright, hot day, wind was in west most of day and very Strong, it blew my hat off at Clinic in Valentine but Will got it. I was so sick last night, started to feel bad when we got back from White River as I gathered cobs and fed chicks but went to Abbotts thinking it would help but when I got out of car on return I got oozy in head. Will helped me to house. We ate Raisin Bran Flakes and retired. Will waited on me for awhile, he went to sleep and I lay awake until 3:15 a.m. last time I looked at the clock, just dozed off for an hour or so but at 5:15 a.m. awake again. Couldn’t get breakfast so Will got his own and chored. Van Epps came and they gave cattle load of hay. I got ready. We went to Valentine but cafe so crowded, on to Woodlake, had dinner at Stockman’s Cafe, on to Johnston, on to Ainsworth which is 46 miles from Valentine. Arabia first place to load cattle from Valentine, is just a Ranch Home now, school-house and Stock yards. We took Bachman’s Harness to Art at his mother’s home at Ainsworth and got Van Epps. No Osteopath there, back to Valentine Clinic. Saw Dr. Degan and he advised a no salt diet. Ate supper and home via Abbotts. He will disc in Strid wheat tomorrow. Van Epps put chicks in boxes for the night and disced on his place today.

1956 April 1st Sunday

Easter. Was bright, nice. Janis’s went to O’Kreek at 9 a.m. to Catholic Services. Saw so many folks, Furreys, Mrs. Fronek, Sullys, Garrys, News, Phillips, etc. This p.m. Lew Wright, wife, 3 girls, 1 small son, Mrs. Alec Wright, Grandma, Della & Jean Marie stayed for Supper. Very stayed home this a.m. Wm Leo and Billie Francis Abbott came this p.m. and had a lunch with Will and visited. Mrs. is at Winner, S.D., has been since last 2 or more weeks. Will and I alone this eve but Janis’s stayed home.

1926 March 31st Wednesday

Bright but cold. Will worked on narrow gate for yard at coop and to Wisenberger for seeder in p.m. I made bread and sewed on my dress. Jack Arcoren was buried today. Louise to school and in eve to Winner with Menz’s. Ed Penny went to Tom’s and he was at Winner so came back for the night.

1936 March 31st Tuesday

Was real cloudy, cold until 9 a.m. started to snow and continued all day. LeMoyne and Thomas took lunch, went to put hay in stack on Hampl land but brought one home and gave to cattle, also loaded a load of alfalfa for tomorrow. Lemoyne got Arcoren cattle to feed and they went back to the shed on Wagner’s again. Ben Clausen came this day to see what to do about a coughing horse and stayed for dinner. Will chored but his cold is still with him so he visited with Ben and stayed indoors until chore time in late p.m. I got meals, dressed a rooster, made noodles, mended a pair of socks for Will and played solitaire. Bruno Richard Hauptmann of Bronx, New York was to be electrocuted this night for murder of Baby Charles Augustis Lindbergh but Grand Jury gave 48 hours Reprieve for an investigation of crime.

1946 March 31st Sunday

Bright, northwest wind blew strong and dusty in places and was about the hottest day this spring so far. Will chored, fed calves and we got ready to go to Two Kettle 7 miles west of Highway between White River and Westover. As we crossed Little White River Bridge and went west 2 miles, we could see Westover north of Big White River and it was only a few miles down the River. We got sandwiches at Horst Cafe, Mission, of prepared meat, hamburgers and ice-cream cones at White River on way up and on return we drank a chocolate soda with ice-cream for no malts at White River but got some at Hoffine’s in Mission and another hamburger. We looked at cow to calf when we left and Will went horseback on return and found calf, chored. We went to Abbotts for a small chain in eve. Van Epps not home until eve. No McKenzie at Two Kettle to buy our Stallions.

1956 March 31st Saturday

Bright day. Men gave cattle hay and hauled out Old Stacks to South Hill. Ellen, Darryl, Elaine and Vere to O’Kreek to Baptism of Cecil and Snooky Haukaas’s baby boys and Lew Wright’s 4 mo. old son Benjamin Charles. They came home at Sunset and had supper at O’Kreek. Athel, Doris, David and Jimmie in Pick Up this p.m. and Athel & Doris washed dishes. They brought Milk and Cream. Will & Chester went to Mission to get lights tested. Doug Janis & wife Lillian were here. Tom & Will had lunch and I ate meat also.

1926 March 30th Tuesday

Bright, nice forenoon but clouded in p.m. and spitted snow. I hung out the clothes, that is white ones, and they dried before clouds. Will burned thistles all day and had a headache in eve. Noble Moore here for dinner looking for horses. I sewed on my dress. Louise to school and in eve ironed all the big washing.

1936 March 30th Monday

Partly cloudy, thawed some snow. I got meals, baked bread and cookies, cooked pickle for head-meat and Will sealed it for me. He is sick with a cold on lungs and stayed indoors all day and helped me in eve with supper for I have pains in right-side of back and hip so could barely walk in eve, so slept in p.m. and played solitaire in p.m. Thomas and LeMoyne gave cattle cane in a.m. then got a load of hay on Old Lodge Place and gave cattle hay in eve.

1946 March 30th Saturday

Bright, warm day. Will chored Van Epps came and they gave cattle hay and cubed before dinner, after they ate dinner they fed calves and Van Epps went home, then Will rested awhile and took eggs to Whiting Store and got the chick 1 gal. waterer, started and Germozone for drinking water that mailman brought from Valentine. I got meals, laid down, played solitaire, read some.

1956 March 30th Friday (Good Friday)

A beautiful day and not cold. Athel came, left their car as Thomas, Doris, Jimmie, David, Athel, Will and I went to Winner. Thomas and Will got license for our Mercury and Thomas’s Ford. Sent for Pick Up Certificate as original lost and we will wait 2 weeks to get license. I saw Dr. Stoats and Athel went with me and I have to cut down on starch foods so my feet may be better. We went to 5 Spot, no room, to Holm Cafe and Athel brought a tray to me, a Fish Dinner. Julia, Mary and Jerry sat with me while I ate dinner. Saw Bill Fronek, Louise and Mary as I sat in car as feet hurt. Never saw Nellie and Old People’s Home. Louise was to get Mary a New Easter Coat. We got Easter eats, drugs and 1 small bottle for Will’s left eye. Prescription given by Dr. Stoats. Doris and Jimmie had dinner with Evelyn Whiting. We came home and Thomas’s stayed home and Athel brought us home and got her Pick Up. Janis’s are home. No School today as is Good Friday.

1926 March 29th Monday

Bright, cold day. N.W. wind quite raw as I washed the clothes and blankets dried but colored clothes hung out later froze. Louise to school and in eve sewed on dress. Will didn’t feel good, a cold on lungs but drove out horses in eve and on to Wisenbergers and ice on pond so went around on Billy. Fred Menz here and asked for eggs for his uncle. I was all in on account of washing clothes, could barely walk in the eve.

1936 March 29th Sunday

Cold and N.E. wind, snowing all day, ground is white. LeMoyne, Thomas and Will chored, shaved and went to the store to mail letters, got mail and groceries, back for dinner. We played cards in p.m., then the men chored and back to store to see if Tom was going to bid on maintaining roads, back to eat supper in half an hour. I got meals, wrote letters and played solitaire.

1946 March 29th Friday

Bright, warm. Will chored and fed calves and he and I fixed 2 crates with pasteboard so hens could roost in them with chicks at night, then Will ate a lunch and went to Strids to finish discing in Rye and started on the wheat to cover the stand that was left in field. I got eats and cared for chicks. Van Epps went to Winner. Mr. Ernest and Marjorie along. No school for 7th and 8th graders on account of lower grades having achievement tests.

1956 March 29th Thursday

Sun shone and was nice, got to 43 above in p.m. Men gave cattle hay and usual work all around. Eats for me and played solitaire. I visited with Will as he does not see very good. Janis’s come for water for the chickens, Ellen to insulin me and clean Will’s eyes. My feet cause me trouble and we will go to Winner tomorrow to see Drs. about it. Athel here to say they will go along.

1926 March 28th Sunday

Cloudy early morn and some snow fell but sun shone later a.m. and went quickly but very cold North wind all day and bright. Will didn’t feel good so chored and stayed indoors. I made apple-pie and white butter. This is Palm Sunday and very quiet. Will read all p.m. Louise went with E. A. Elshire in the p.m. We got up late so day went quickly. Mr. & Mrs. Geo. Men took Ethel, Gale, Marcella back to the Boarding School in the eve and it was quite cold so they traveled fast in the Ford they got Saturday.

1936 March 28th Saturday

A few clouds early morning, then a strong dusty southwest wind, changed to west and N.W. and dust quit about 11 a.m. but wind blew and got real cold in p.m. I got meals, ironed a few pieces, slept in p.m. and cooked head-meat. LeMoyne went tot he N.E. of Wisenbergers and got a load of hay and he then got in range-horses, left running mare in yard and took rest to river pasture. He helped Thomas and Will put batts on Shed-roof, then got Henry Arcoren 6 New Mexico cows here, and he and Thomas gave cattle hay and cane. Will chored.

1946 March 28th Thursday

Bright and warm. Will chored and when Van Epps came, they gave cattle a stack of sledded hay and came in to eat dinner, fed calves and caked cattle in p.m. Van Epps went home and Will took eggs to Whiting Store and got the mail. Will got mail so I read.

1956 March 28th Wednesday

Snowed last night and wind from N.W. strong at times and continued off and on all day. Mostly blowing snow but wasn’t cold, got fair in eve. I was all in but fried fish and fixed a meal at 4:30 p.m. as we ate Lunch at midday and breakfast O.K. Ellen fixes Will’s eye and my insulin, and Will’s eye is better tonight. Darryl did not got to school to-day. Will and I rested and I played solitaire at times. Chester came in often on account of Storm but Cows O.K.

1926 March 27th Saturday

Cloudy and ground covered with snow but sun shone mid a.m. so snow went quickly, very cold but bright rest of day. William went to St. Francis via Hidden Timber. Will, after choring and fixing window upstairs, took a load of hay to the H. Davis flax field and got a load of hay for here in eve. Louise and I cleaned the rooms, she the upstairs and front-room and I kitchen and my room. We started to cut out her dress. Mr. & Mrs. Geo. Men, Fred, Gale, Ethel, Marcella, Ada & Delilia came to spend the eve and Will went with the men to the store. C. Elshire got his saw and E. A. came late eve to visit L.E.

1936 March 27th Friday

A Southwest wind, quite strong and some clouds passed and was real dusty for awhile so Will brought the clothes in, in p.m. He helped me was clothes, got in water and turned the machine for all the clothes and hung them out also and was finished at noon. I got meals and mopped front-room and kitchen in p.m. and slept awhile. Will put batts on roof of shed in p.m. and chored, did mostly all of them, for Thomas and LeMoyne took lunch and put 5 loads in big hay-stack on Hampl and brought one load in, in eve, and we had an early supper.

1946 March 27th Wednesday

Bright, quite warm day. Will chored and he and I fixed the 4 hens and 80 or more chicks on east porch, then Will ate some Raisin Bran and took a lunch, went to disc in the rye on Strids. Back in eve to chore so I got 2 meals, played solitaire, read some and never laid down because I am nervous. Van Epps came so they gave cattle a load of hay early and Van Epps went home to disc on his own place.

1956 March 27th Tuesday

Partly cloudy and a strong wind from N.E. then clouded but no Moisture so I washed the clothes and Ellen put them on line and on Porch. I put some on Porch and got cold as N.E. wind blew cold out there. Ellen got all clothes in, in eve. Chester took Darryl, David and Jimmie to and from school. He looked for a Gate of ours at Thomas’s, no find, so will make one to use at Barn for calving. He and Vere fed cattle and gave them some butts from S.E. stacks in p.m. Ellen got clothes in, in a hurry and put dilating medicine in Will’s eyes and he slept. She came up after supper and it was real stormy.

1926 March 26th Friday

Bright but very cold N.W. wind. Will cleaned the barn and when he finished I took some benches  that William made this a.m. to school-house. In p.m. William nailed the ice-house and Will helped him. I made bread and burnt the last oven-full but we can eat it. Louise to school and cleaned in eve so didn’t come with me. Mr. B. Wagner came looking for a calf. Mr. Menz went by in his truck. Will thinks he is terribly abused.

1936 March 26th Thursday

Some clouds and was chilly. I got meals and Will and I ground sausage in p.m. I made custard pies in a.m. The men chored and finished the shed in a.m., all but bolts on the roof, so boys cleaned the shed at barn in p.m. and gave stock feed. Stanley Whiting went to Henry Acorn’s on Wagner land and loaded their things and took them to their new home south of Rosebud towards St. Francis, and Mr. & Mrs. Henry Jr. (Sonny) and baby left in their car to follow Stanley to Rosebud, then Henry would lead them to Good Elk place where they will live, they left at mid-day.

1946 March 26th Tuesday

Bright, nice day and was warm and Northwest breeze. Will chored and Van Epps came so he and Will gave cattle hay, then he went home and Will ate some potatoes and fried eggs and we got ready to go to Valentine. We ate hamburgers and malted milks in town, got 52 chicks, got some groceries and home in time to feed these chicks, got in 2 hens from chicks hatched at coop yesterday so Will took them off the nests, around 30 chicks this morning. We left chicks and 2 hens in kitchen that we got at Valentine. Van Epps hauls things from up here to his place, west of highway about 5 miles from here, where they will move some time in near future.

1956 March 26th Monday

Bright day, in fact, nice, was windy last night but none today. Vere and Chester gave cattle a stack of hay from on wheat grass west of trees and took Cat on haysled to Stanley and Buffalo Land up My Creek, brought to cattle in p.m. Ellen and Elaine took Darryl & David and Jimmie to school and got them. Brought our mail, a get well card from W. L. Abbott Family. Last a.m. Bus came with Lyle Bartleson and 10-year-old son Leanard to see Will and to find out his condition. His older son Doug went to California. They stayed awhile, went home as I was getting dinner. Today Athel came before dinner but did not stay, she swept floors, took eggs and 1/2 cherry pie. She and Leonard will take us to Winner to get No. for car Wednesday, weather permitting. Ellen cares for Will’s eye and gives me my shot. Mr. & Mrs. Herman Larson came to see if they could move here to help with work but we don’t know who will come yet. Harry and Harley came this p.m. to see Will. Harley made coffee. They had cherry pie. I got eats and rested this p.m.