1926 March 4th Thursday

Quite strong south wind, bright but not very warm. Mr. Geo. Menz came this a.m. for a hog to butcher, stayed for dinner. Will, William and Clayton Haisch got in horses for Haisch and Will helped Clayton get started and home via C. Elshire’s and got saw and square. William started round corral but so windy went to the store and in eve they worked at corral. Louise to school and tired in eve. I worked at the meat but not much done on account of my shoulder pains so much so only the choring work. The Lattimore moving teams went by to their place where Elshires left.

1936 March 4th Wednesday

Bright, warm until late p.m. clouds and a sprinkle of rain just as men finished chores in eve. Will chored and soldered in a new sieve on milk strainer and gave pigs new bedding and took the cattle to State Land to graze on windrowed ray. Frank and LeMoyne took 4 head of horses on hay-rack and put 2 loads of hay in stack-yard on Hampl land and brought one home in eve. I got meals and laid down in p.m. then baked cookies. I churned butter yesterday and ironed a few pieces. Henry Arcoren came in car to creek, got a rope and brought it back in eve, he helped Jake Wisenberger raise a poor horse also Bill Smith helped them.

1946 March 4th Monday

Bright, nice day. Will and Van Epps fed cattle and Van Epps and Will only drank coffee, helped Bud Whiting unload cattle cubes, 3 tons from Mosher and Bud went right back home. I got something for Will and I to eat but none too smart. Will went to Mission to fix A.A.A. Papers as was a mistake and ordered locker at Winner Ice Plant over Phone from Mission. Van Epps and Will had only coffee but Will ate more when Van Epps had dinner at home, then got mail and put this letter with mistaken in mail, so Will to Mission for a quick trip, brought home ice-cream for our supper. Roy and Babe Drey came to see about buying a saddle horse and they visited awhile while Dreys here but after they left, I put cold water on my head and neck and it got better, so we enjoyed ice-cream in eve after Will chored.

1956 March 4th Sunday

Bright warm day. Chester gave cattle hay and they stayed home to-day. Louise, Mary and I are alone. Ellen, Darryl and Elaine took Chester to get the Ferguson Tractor and then on to Thomas’s to take eggs and some things that Ellen got at O’Kreek such as corn-meal and ice, etc. They caked cattle this a.m. Louise and Mary cleaned at Heater in Kitchen and Chester came in at last end of this and they got heater to burn so was nice in Kitchen. We had a dinner of all kinds of good things. We played cards in p.m. and had an Oyster Supper.

1926 March 3rd Wednesday

A bright cold day and N.W. breeze. Mr. Clarence M. Wheeler and Mr. A. L. Elshire came and Will went along via Menz’s to Winner. They came home at 8 p.m. with coal for Elshire and posts for Whitcher, and Clayton Haisch came along to get some horses, they had supper then Elshire & Wheeler went home. William helped cut up the hog and in p.m. went down South to look for horses. Louise to school and gathered cobs in the eve. I cut up meat and my shoulder still pains so was slow. Will has another cold and William feels bum also.

1936 March 3rd Tuesday

Strong S.W. wind, bright and warm, wind changed to N.W. quite strong at times and some clouds in late p.m., no snow here. I got meals and boys got in water so I washed clothes and Will hung out white clothes and towels before he, Frank and LeMoyne went to Frank Rohloffs Sale, west of O’Kreek. They chored and Frank went to Lattimores and got some money so he could buy a cow but they are too high at Sale. LeMoyne and Will cleaned the coop in a.m. I hung out rest of clothes and brought all in.

1946 March 3rd Sunday

Sun shone, was warm. I got meals but was sick this day and had to lay down a lot, visited with Mr. Chauncey Sr. and Will in p.m. Bus McKee and Jesse Lewis came to tell Will about cattle cubes at Mosher. They went to look at calves, windmill on Moore Creek, Sundquist’s field, home to eat, then to their home. Mr. Wm. Chauncey Sr. came to see about fence on Banks Land. Dolly Furrey on way to Furrey School stopped to find road to Elmer Chauncey’s to stay for the night as Dorothy Furrey has the mumps and she will stay away until they are better. She said that Oliver Walcutts died at 2 a.m. Saturday morning and were we shocked. She went East to Highway. Mr Chauncey went home in eve. We did not see Van Epps today.

1956 March 3rd Saturday

Bright, nice day. We got home at 10:20 p.m. from Valentine, Nebr. via Mission and sky clear and stars shining so Mrs. Abbot made coffee. I put sandwiches out to eat and Mrs. stayed with me last night and Mr. went home. We retired, not to sleep until 12:40, past midnight, and to-day we are all in but baked 2 cakes and cooked potatoes, gravy, hamburger, coffee, bread, butter, jell, salad of carrots, apples, lettuce and French Dressing, 4 kinds of cake, white, chocolate, yellow with chocolate icing, yellow with brown and powdered sugar, butter and flavors. Athel, Doris, Jimmie Whiting, Patsy & Danny, Bud’s children came. Janis’s went to Mission, here to chore. Harley Furrey brought Louise and Mary to stay with me for some time while Will is at Omaha in Hospital. We had dinner and women all washed dishes. Athel washed her clothes and Doris helped her hang out on our line. They went home about 4:30 p.m. to dry some clothes at house. Harley went home and said he would come back in 2 or 3 days. we had oysters for supper, etc.

1926 March 2nd Tuesday

A very cold night, bright but cold N.E. breeze and turned to S.E. in p.m. The Men hauled hay and got ready to butcher a hog which they had done up in a hurry in p.m. Some men moving to Mission in a truck inquired the way. Louise to school and got gathered cobs in the eve. I did ordinary work and baked bread after water was warm to butcher. The Menz family came in eve and played cards.

1936 March 2nd Monday

Bright, nice, warm, a few clouds in p.m. I got meals and not much else but sewed a little and finished an every-day dress. Frank and LeMoyne chored, got a 4-horse load of hay N.E. Hampl Land and Will walked in, in eve as they pulled him out where he got stuck in field N.W. of house, he went to Winner to get car number for 1936 and on to Rosebud where he asked Mr. Hansen, the Range Unit man, if any chance to get cattle to pasture this summer.

1946 March 2nd Saturday

A nice bright day. The men gave cattle hay, enough so as not to have to feed Sunday. I gave them dinner, then they cleaned the barn and Van Epps went home and to Kleins in p.m., brought a card saying Schlaikjer, Mosher, as 3 ton cattle cubes so Will and I went to Whitings and Bud will get it Monday forenoon.

1956 March 2nd Friday

Some clouds here and there and Showers of rain, then Sun would shine, was a real rain on us when going to Mission, turned South and Sun shone towards Valentine. Mr. & Mrs. Wm. L. Abbott came and we went in our car to Valentine, got some groceries, a few things. I ate a beef Sandwich as I am diabetic and get sick when don’t have meat. Abbotts came at 1:30 p.m. Will and I ready in our car and Abbott drove, Supper time at Home Cafe and Main St. South then on No. 20. Mrs. and I ate Shrimp, French Fries, Lettuce and a Tossed Salad, Rolls, Tea & Butter. We waited 2 hours for rain from west, left at 8:45 p.m. for Norfolk and Omaha, Nebr. Will had a Pullman Berth, he is going for cataract removal of eyes. Janis’s to Winner and back to chore and get dishes washed.

1926 March 1st Monday

A very cold night, in fact got cold last eve and cold this day, wind blew some and a little cloudy. Will went to Bailey’s and N.E. of here to look at pasture and home in eve. William went to Tom’s to help move a shanty to use for a blacksmith-shop and was home for dinner. They hauled hay before they left this a.m. Tom was here to ask for team to move shanty. Fred Menz’s horse came by from Tom’s and Fred got him in pasture east of house. Fred turned him loose at Tom’s last eve and went off with E. A. Elshire. Louise to school and has 4 pupils for beginners. Emma Schmidt, Ernest Elshire, Perry Wheeler and Gary Elshire. I did only the ordinary work as my shoulder pains but fixed chicken to-day.

1936 March 1st Sunday

Some clouds early morning. Bright and wind from S.W. until towards evening was real quiet and a beautiful eve. I got meals, played solitaire and read a little and looked at catalogs. Frank after choring and giving cattle hay went to Lattimores, back in time to chore in eve. Will and LeMoyne after choring shaved and went to the Store, then on highway to A. E. Brown’s to get him to sharpen the saws, they came back via Elliotts but was plenty of water and mud. LeMoyne read in p.m. and Will laid down and read.

1946 March 1st Friday

Fair day, in fact nice so Van Epps went to Winner, took Wm Abbott along and Wm Chauncey, Sr. took Van Epps’ hogs to sell and 1 to butcher. Van Epps home after dark for they had car trouble going in to Winner. Will chored. I got meals, played solitaire and am doping for smothering spells for I feel none too well, listened to radio, read some. Will fixed Nests and set 4 hens this afternoon.

1956 March 1st Thursday

Bright day and men gave cattle hay and cake. I got usual eats and Janis’s went to O’Kreek. Will and I were alone and all his clothes packed in Bag or Gladstone. We had Radio on and sat in dark as Will’s eyes hurt. Kitchen light on, I played solitaire and read.

1936 February 29th Saturday

Bright, warm. I got meals and mopped the front-room and took a bath. Will chored and dug trenches to drain water also put roof on ice-house, for he packed ice yesterday a.m. LeMoyne helped him in p.m. for he and Frank got a load of hay north of Strids in a.m., and in p.m. Frank got one on Old Lodge. They all cleaned hog-house and drained water in same and gave 2 sows & 17 little pigs new hay.

1956 February 29th Wednesday

Leap Year extra day. Bright, warm day and Will & Chester gave a stack of hay in early a.m. and 1 late p.m. so will not feed tomorrow. Mr. & Mrs. Wm Leo Abbott and Billie Francis came to see about getting Nerve Block for cow that has wethers out, also some penicillin for this cow. Billie went to Hidden Timber P.O. to mail letters. Janis’s to O’Kreek last eve and back early. Lyle Bartleson came from Jim Dowd’s to see about getting 20 cows in our pasture but I guess will not as he takes over Bus McKee’s place for one year as Bus will doctor the elbow joints of both arms at Sioux Falls or some other place. Judy, Betty and Patsy stayed home with Bartlesons until school is out then the Family will go to Oregon to live for 1 yr. and back home here if Bus’s arm is better.

1926 February 28th Sunday

A real strong N.W. wind and oh! such dust all day, and some clouds but bright awhile toward evening, but still the wind blew. Will threw some tumble-weeds over the fence and tried to haul some hay in the evening. William had a cold so stayed indoors. Louise was tired from the dance but helped all this day. I only cooked a little grub for I felt bum and had a lame shoulder. Ed and family came and the wind blew so much dust, they all washed their faces when they got here. They went home via Hidden Timber Store. Fred Menz stopped and went on to the Store, also Curtis Elshires moved to their new home on Moore Creek to-day.

1936 February 28th Friday

Warm, sun shone and under clouds at 9 a.m. but bright p.m. I got meals and baked bread and mopped Kitchen Floor. will chored and Frank and LeMoyne got a load of hay north of Sundquists and in p.m. Frank took Pete Karnes Hay-rack home via Store and brought some groceries that Will bought, for he and LeMoyne helped Ed and Thomas Whiting take 4 of our bulls and 2 calves Stanley bought from Henry Arcoren to Tom’s, then Will & LeMoyne helped Ed, passed John Carr with our bulls. Henry hauled hay for himself in p.m.

1946 February 28th Thursday

Some clouds but no moisture, sun shone until late p.m. Will and Van Epps gave cattle hay and they came in for coffee, then Will and I went to Abbotts, got Mrs. and her mother, Mrs. Anderson, went to Winner, left Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Abbott and I to Dr., got Rx, medicine, groceries. Home to eat in eve and chores. Mrs. Abbott to see Dr. next week.

1956 February 28th Tuesday

Bright, warm. Men fed cattle and after dinner went to Abbotts to tell them he goes to Omaha Friday p.m., and Billie cut his hair again. They came home to have Chester get Darryl and David & Jimmie in his car. Elaine went along. I got eats and played solitaire. Will played a little pitch late p.m., also rested. Ellen came up then she ironed clothes. Some men came to see about leasing the Archibald allotment as they are heirs but Will gone so no do.

1926 February 27th Saturday

The wind blew some but was a nice, warm day. Will and William hauled hay and cleaned the barn, and William drove the horses out of hay. 3 teams of C. Elshire movers and cattle and wagons passed going to George Smith place. Louise cleaned the rooms and felt bum, so did only ordinary work and made a cake and ironed a few clothes. Louise went to a dance at Geers on George Smith place with E. A. Elshire.

1936 February 27th Thursday

Bright, nice day, clouds in west and east but clear at bed-time. I got meals, cooked head, rendered lard and cleaned fruit jars and kitchen-table to Will could fix it and he took the sway out of it so we have a level table again and Will chored and picked seed-corn. Ben Clausen walked in and rode Tennessee to Ostergrad who in hills N.W. of Wisenbergers and he bought 50 bu. good corn. Frank and LeMoyne got a load of hay on Old Lodge and put it in barn and in p.m. they went N.E. to north of Sundquists or Strids and got a load for the cattle. Henry came in a.m. and wanted hay for his cattle so he will haul some to-morrow and he went right back.

1946 February 27th Wednesday

Bright, warm day. Hank and Will chored and when Van Epps came, he and Hank gave cattle hay and Will hung clothes on line and I helped him, then I washed all the dishes and Will and Hank just ate what was cooked and I got ready to go to Mission, Rosebud and St. Francis. We ate at Mission. Van Epps went along so he and Hank paid and saw about their leases. We took Hank to his home at St. Francis and I stayed at Jake’s. Cora and Raymond, George, Paul and Mary Ann were home alone, for Jake is clerking at Serby Store. Sydney, Pat and Barney working at the School Farm. Loretta, Cora May are at school for they stay there. We spoke to Jake.

1956 February 27th Monday

Bright, nice. Chester fed cattle and Will to take Darryl to school but Chester ready so they went in Pick Up to Thomas’s and got David & Jimmie and left them at school, on to Valentine to get Pick Up oil seal fixed but none there so got Luggage Bag for Will, brushes, gloves, pipe. Had dinner there and home early p.m. Athel came with milk & bot els and we packed Will’s bags to take to Omaha, Nebr. as he will go March 2nd in eve from Valentine. Ellen came up and cleaned Will’s clothes. Elaine was up also. Athel & I ate a lunch of grilled beef-steak, lettuce and sauce and tea.

1926 February 26th Friday

Nice forenoon but wind rose from N.W. and clouded but clear evening. William went to Menz’s and got Sapa, and Will was all in from trip to Winner yesterday, home after mid-night with a load of lumber. Louise home from school and gathered cobs in evening. I did ordinary work, for cold made me cough so much. Tom came for some logs to move a shop. Leonard Eversleigh and Abe Elshire went to O’Kreek and got our mail.

1936 February 26th Wednesday

S.W. wind in night and changed in morning and bright and cold from N.W. I got meals and cut the lard, and Frank, Will and I made sausage. Frank and LeMoyne got a load of hay in a.m., and p.m. the men cleaned the barn and cows’ shed at barn.

1946 February 26th Tuesday

Bright day and wind not so bad then some clouds, no moisture here. Will, Van Epps and Hank fed cattle, for Dick Chauncey brought Hank from Winner last night. We washed clothes. Will took water out and most of it in since yesterday, put clothes in tub for night, for I washed. Van Epps went home for dinner and he, Elsie and Billie brought mail in afternoon. Will and Hank stayed indoors and chored in eve. I laid down but got up when Van Epps came, got meals, read and played solitaire.

1956 February 26th Sunday

Bright nice day but got some clouds late p.m. Mass at 12 noon so Fr. Lawrence Helmuller came about 1:30 p.m. and he and Will talked and talked and had a lunch of Roast Beef Sandwich, Cake, Jell, bread, coffee, Pear Sauce, then he visited with Harry, Harley, Billie, Chester and Will, then went home. Furrreys came to see when Will is going to Omaha for eye operation and Billie and Louise will come here but will let them know how I get along if neighbors come in. They went home after Louise and Mary and I had a lunch. Had to come east Pierce’s then turned back at road that came South through our Pasture and Pierce’s, went to Elmer Chauncey’s on way back to Nelson School-House to 18 then west to Jansens then on our Highway to here. We enjoyed the p.m. Janis’s were home and got magazines in late p.m. We just read and played solitaire. Had Roasted Beef. Will and I baked Angel Food Cake and Mary liked it so sometime we will make one to send over.

1926 February 25th Thursday

Cloudy and sleeted at times until p.m. sun shone, very strong N.W. wind all day and continued at night. Will went to Menz’s on Sapa and into Winner with him to get a load of material for corral and not home at bed-time. William went to get Molly and John, and they were gone, found them out north towards evening and hauled a load of hay and chored, he had a cold. I did ordinary work and cold still a nuisance, but sewed on my dress, went to bed early to cough my head off. Louise went to Clarence Wheeler’s for the night after school. Leonard Evers stopped on way to Dick Schmidt’s from his shop at O’Kreek, and Dick Schmidt is helping C. Elshire hauling and building.

1936 February 25th Tuesday

Bright, nice except horizon hazy and was warm for all the snow on ground. I got meals, sewed on everyday dress and visited with Ed, Rena, Yvonne, who came in a wagon and brought us a sack of potatoes, they went home via Hidden Timber to take home some coal and a sack of chow for us to feed the bulls when they got them up there, also Paul Meyers is there waiting for mail-man but if he no come, Paul will go back with Ed’s. LeMoyne went for hay in a.m. and Henry helped him load, then went home and Frank went out in p.m. for he chored in a.m. as Will didn’t get back from Valentine until middle p.m., he came via Mission but north of Valentine to state line and up the mail-road and Fr. Stakemier, Mission, made the same route. Henry and Sonny came in their car to River and got potatoes in p.m.

1946 February 25th Monday

A real strong Northwest to S.W. wind but fair and warm and dust at times. I got meals, visited with Mrs. Chris Pfeffier as she and Chris came to see if Frank, Barbara and Family could live at tenant place and help with the work and to buy our place if we would sell. They left at 11 a.m. Van Epps got in water to wash the clothes but it was too windy so after he fed cattle he went home and Will and I ate, then laid down to sleep for awhile. Will chored and we quit for the day.

1956 February 25th Saturday

Bright warm day. Chester and Will gave cattle hay and had to watch a cow to calf. Chester got it in and we got ready for Winner. Abbott came in his Buick but men had to pull dead calves from this cow before we left. We had dinner at Five Spot, mine brought to car by Proprietor. Will and Abbott ate in Cafe. Will got overcoat, shirts, shoes, rubbers [galoshes], socks, handkerchieves. Ellen & Darryl and Elaine washed clothes here and Ellen mopped kitchen, bath & pantry and washed dishes. Will took me to 5 & 10 Franklin Store on corner south of new clinic on East Main. I got tablets, flowers, books, toothbrush & paste for Will and tooth paste for me. We got milk at Thomas’s and Jim and Leona Hawk were there.