1926 April 22nd Thursday

Bright and real hot mid-day and in p.m. still a little smoky. Will was sick in a.m. with pain in chest and I still have a cold but we got incubator ready and light and Will set out strawberries. J. R. Martin and Dr. Malster inquired on way to Elshires and Clausen who owns school-house land stopped today.

1936 April 22nd Wednesday

Cloudy, cold until in p.m. warmer. I got meals, sewed on my nightgowns and slept in p.m. The men chored and LeMoyne and Thomas took the hay-stacker to Schmidt land and Will hung some smoke meat on kitchen porch to dry, then he went in car. They came for dinner and put up 3 stacks and LeMoyne and Will got in to do the chores and Thomas brought the horses home. They got the mail this noon. Lawrence Wright and Plenty Horse brought us 5 corner posts and 50 other posts this eve. Thomas and LeMoyne got in at midnight from the Van Epps chivaree but was on the job to-day. Will has a cold these days.

1946 April 22nd Monday

Bright, beautiful day. I got breakfast and supper. Will chored and went to get Wm Abbott to help him feed that calf and we took him home, looked at a cow in River Pasture that got out when Will left gates open when he went to Abbott. Will and I on to Winner to get fresh beef out of locker at Ice Plant, groceries, chick feed & had dinner at Margarets Cafe, and went to Sweet Shop for Malted Milk, etc. but Will got in a sweat so we came home, left a lb. of butter at Abbotts and brought Cora Ann home from school. Will saw Bill and Elsie and Billie at Abbotts for they took Marjorie to school and she is to stay at Abbotts until school is out, which will be in 4 weeks, also Chas. McCormick came to Abbotts. We looked through cows after we got home then unloaded the car. Will fed the chicks as I was writing down the transactions from trip to Winner and was slow in doing the work. We saw Mr. & Mrs. Lew McKee in town but never got to speak to them for they were too fast for us, as we turned corners they were gone.

1956 April 22nd Sunday

Bright, nice day. Athel brought bread and spark plug. Johnson car came to Tenant house and went away and in p.m. a green pick-up, ours, and Johnson’s car brought all their things, they got table at Vere’s. Leslie & Bob came up here. We knew Bob when 6 yrs. old, used to come here with folks. Fr. Helmuller came after 12 o’clock Mass. Vere, Will and I to look at cattle.

1926 April 21st Wednesday

Real smoky so that could scarcely see a mile away although sun shone bright. Will & William sowed barley after Will got the seeder and home late dinner. William got in horses and Will plowed for straw-berries. Louise to school and I was all in with a cold in my head and George & William still have colds and Louise starting to have a cold.

1936 April 21st Tuesday

Bright, nice day but quite cold in a.m. and chilly all rest of day, some clouds in eve. I got meals and baked bread yesterday so gave old bread to chickens this morning, also canned the pickled head-meat, soaked some of the salt so as to dry it and rubbed salt on the meat in cellar and slept in p.m. Will chored, looked at cattle and another calf and E.R.A. cow was on her back in old road on State Land so he got her up, helped Stanley Whiting get 1st load of corn in barn, for Stanley brought 100 bu. from A. E. Brown for us and he had dinner here, then unloaded last load and went home. Thomas feels none too well but he and LeMoyne bunched hay on Ed Schmidt Allotment and Will got them for dinner and took them back and they brought a load of any for cattle in eve. Will fixed stacker and worked at Turkey-Shed in p.m. and chored in eve. He took Thomas and Lemoyne to the store after supper so they could go with crowd to chivaree of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Van Epps at Lattimores. Frank was here in p.m. for a plow to put in garden.

1946 April 21st Sunday

Easter. Bright, nice until evening it rained a real rain, after we went to bed was more than the first shower. We had a chicken this day for meat is gone now. Will got Thomas, Athel, Doris and David in eve, so Thomas could help Will feed a calf that won’t suck. I went back with them before the rain as they hadn’t milked their cows yet. We looked through cows on way home. Will had to deliver this calf that won’t suck and spent this Easter Sunday fussing with cows and I would get my duds out to put on for we were going to Big Pasture to look at wells and horses and on to Hank Haukaas’s to see about alfalfa seed.

1956 April 21st Saturday

Bright day and Will & I to Thomas’s to see if they go to Mission R.E.A. Meeting this p.m. to vote on Office to be at Valentine, Mission or White River. Lillian brought Doug, and she and Victoria Prue went to Mission. Doug finished leveling on Scisson and brought Tractor home. Will & I to Thomas’s but no one home. Leslie Johnson, wife, son, daughter came to put things in house west over hill, they took our Pick Up to bring more things tomorrow. Vere and Doug moved things to North House and put table in house but Johnsons want it back tomorrow.

1926 April 20th Tuesday

Bright, hot day and late eve clouded and Lightninged and Thundered south of here. William a little better so in eve to Tom’s and drove out cattle. Will set out trees and rhubarb and went to Wisenbergers in the eve. George disced in barley and home late eve to do the chores so late supper. Fred brought Louise at 8:30 a.m. from Leo Furber’s north of Winner where they saw Bess Angel and spent the night. Rose at Winner Hospital with new Lorraine Rose so not home. Fisherman went by here.

1936 April 20th Monday

After a real warm night, wind changed from S.W. to North, was cooler and wind strong and dusty. I got meals and slept from 12 to 5 p.m. just so sound I never heard a bit of noise, for LeMoyne filled water-pails and I never heard him come in house. Thomas and LeMoyne gave cattle alfalfa, then worked at Turkey-Shed for the men are fencing the open side so as to lock turkeys in, to get the eggs. LeMoyne chored alone in eve for Will got back from Winner just at supper-time for he left this morning to take Frank Van Epps and Tina Lattimore to Winner to be married.

1946 April 20th Saturday

Bright nice day until in p.m. got warm. I got breakfast and we had dinner at Carl Gehlsen’s. Will chored and he and I went to Wm Daniel Van Epps as they are loading their things to take to their place 4 1/2 miles west of here. Carl Gehlsen with his truck made 2 trips. Mary Chauncey took Marjorie and a load of things in their car. Lawrence Klein had their car and trailer so he hauled all of Van Epps stoves. We took breakable things in our car such as clock, dishes, etc. Wm, Elsie and Billie took a trailer of calves, and some breakables in their car. Wm, Delores, Billie Abbott and Elmer Chauncey took Van Epps’ milk cows and heifers to calve up there and they got there shortly after we all did. Will and I took Carl Gehlsen and Elmer Chauncey in our car and Lawrence Klein took Wm and Elsie, Wm, Delores and Billie Abbott. Mary Chauncey went right on with Marjorie and Billie Van Epps to help get dinner. They had beef-steak, gravy, mashed potatoes, beans, peas, relish, bread, butter, cream, coffee, kolaches (rolls with prune center), homemade bread, apricot sauce. I had to choke just as I was enjoying the meals. Elmer and Carl came in truck. Klein with his car. Van Epps came back to load in p.m. The Abbotts came back horseback just as we got back to west of Wagner Place from McKee’s where we went after dinner and leaving folks at Van Epps, so we took Wm Leo with us and looked through cattle. Home for tools to fix well near Strids, had to go to old Mill in hills at Cement Tank to get bolts and finished the Mill so it is pumping water. Had oranges and cookies for lunch. We took Abbott home and it began to cloud. We got the mail and it started to rain, so we came home to eat and Will only chored, partly on account of rain.

1956 April 20th Friday

Bright day. Will and I went to Stanley’s to see if we could use their oil stove to put in tenant house for Vere to use to cook meals and Lillian when she brought Doug and got their dinner, then she went home to take folks place, Winner, Rosebud, White River different days and all kinds of business. Will and I also mailed letters, one to Wards for underground trench wire from barn to north tenant house. Saw Tom Colombe and he said a meeting at Rosebud on 25th or 26th to stop taxes on Indians if possible. Vere is hauling out hay butts and looking about calves.

1926 April 19th Monday

Bright but such a strong wind, a real dust-storm from the south. Mr. Hugh Smith & son Wm and Will went via O’Kreek to Rosebud and back at 1 p.m. and Smith right on home to Dallas. Will went to the prairie fire that raged East and N.E. of here between Baileys and Nelsons and home at 9 p.m. George disced in barley as William still has the flu. William Pierce was here twice on way to Rosebud and return. Dick Schmidt and Cousers went to fire in the eve. Fred Menz came and Louise on return of school went with him to Winner.

1936 April 19th Sunday

South-west wind real strong, very warm and continued warm in night. I got meals and mended boys’ clothes. Will washed breakfast dishes after he chored and I churned butter and baked biscuits for dinner and visited with Louise and Dorothy while Lee, Harley, Ben Clausen and LeMoyne went to Moore Creek, for Will took them in our car to fish but no fish so they brought Harry and Fred back here and they went home after eating a bum lunch. Stanley came and Thomas and Lemoyne went with him to Show at Winner. Ben Clausen paid Will for the pasture of MacKay Land. Frank Van Epps came this a.m. and told Will he and Tina would get married to-morrow so Will will take them and some of Lattimores to Winner tomorrow. He came back in p.m. with Pearl, the horse he borrowed to work, and Furreys then knew he was to marry.

1946 April 19th Friday

Sun shone, a Northeast wind quite strong and cool indoors without fire. I had to put cobs in heater once in awhile. I laid down this forenoon and played solitaire, read some, wrote in diary, got 2 meals for Will left with Ranger from Rosebud to inspect McKees, ours, and Willie Ross’s pastures. Hank took his wagon and horses home this morning. Ranger and Will did not go to Ross’s. We took boxes to Van Epps and had supper there. They are packed to move. Mary Chauncey is helping

1956 April 19th Thursday

Kelly and Rainier’s Religious Marriage. Bright, nice warm day. Doug is leveling ground and Vere feeds cattle hay. He gave them hay butts and turned them out on wheat grass and State & Wagner. Will & I went to Jim Hawk’s and Mrs. went along to Molly Eagle Horn land where Jim, Karen and July were setting or filling in trees at Southeast Corner. July went back with us. Jim & Family to Wessington Springs, S.D. tomorrow eve to 46 yr. Wedding Anniversary and after next week will wire tenant house.

1926 April 18th Sunday

Bright but cold N.E. & East wind. George went home with Zeitner boys from Mission and back in eve with his car. Mr. Hugh Smith and Son William came at mid-day and stayed for the night. Mr. & Mrs. William Colombe came for some eggs. Rena, Charlotte, Helen, Edward & Leo came this p.m, also tree men brought our trees and Wm Welch and another man were here. William still has a cold. I have sore throat so not much done but the meals and some cake and pie made. Will stayed indoors until p.m. when all the men went fishing. The Menz’s were here in eve and Louise and Fred went to the store.

1936 April 18th Saturday

A S.E. wind and changed to S.W. Will got in water and he and I washed clothes after he chored and he hung them out and brought them in, in eve. I turned a few of the heavy ones over so they all dried. Thomas disced for oats west of the alfalfa all day Lemoyne helped Henry Arcoren, who came horseback last eve and stayed all night, get started with his 9 head of cows and 2 horses to go back to St. Francis, their home. LeMoyne gave cattle alfalfa and he and Will fixed windmills. Will went to Pierce’s for Ernie & Billie said they have oats to sell, then to A. E. Brown’s to get 100 bu. corn and cream at Ben Clausen’s.

1946 April 18th Thursday

Bright, warm with South wind, some clouds in eve but no rain here. I got meals, laid down in a.m. and p.m. Will chored and he and Van Epps cubed cattle and Van Epps goes to his place with their hogs to-day, after supper he and Elsie came for boxes to pack things into as they move on Saturday. Hank helped Elmer Chaunceys dehorn their cattle so came back this eve, got in his horses from River Pasture and stayed for the night. Will planted garden and looked at cows, took eggs to Whiting Store. I washed my feet, read the mail, played solitaire and listened to Radio. Mr. Joe Iddings and Mr. Dick Adrians of Winner came yesterday to see if Will would sell horses and Monday Tell Wade was here but Will is waiting for Big Hank of Hastings, Nebr. to sell to.

1956 April 18th Wednesday

Prince Rainier married Grace Kelly. Bright warm day in fact hot. Lillian brought Doug and got him in eve. I roasted beef and Vere took some home. Lillian fixed the rest of their eats. Herman, Mrs. & Beverly Larson came to see about moving here but we will get Johnsons and Vere is here, also Doug in day. Will and I to Furreys in p.m. Mary on bike at school and we met her going home, and Billie is harrowing ground Northwest of home place. Harley and Harry were fixing fence and letting out cows and calves to graze as hay is short, 3 stacks left. Saw Athel, Jimmie & David Whiting, Lillian & Doug Janis, Vere Wright. Will and I came home via pasture & Pierces on the South side, also went that way. Doug leveled ground on Scisson and Vere gave cattle hay.

Note from Lisa: Before getting to today’s diary entries, I want to share some news about a new publishing venture. For a while now, I’ve wanted to launch a small publishing company named, in honor of Hattie, Hidden Timber Books, and I was waiting for the right book to come along.

That book is a delightful children’s picture book titled The Adventures of a Sparrow Named Stanley, written by Betty Sydow and illustrated by Carolou Lennon Nelsen. The paperback just became available on Amazon this week, and the hardcover will be listed early next month (ebooks to follow as well).

I love everything about this book. The fable-like story of Stanley the sparrow begins when Stanley leaves his mother’s nest and is on his own in the world. He tries everything he can think of to be famous and get noticed, thinking this is how he can make friends. Finally, a wise gray owl gives him the advice he really needs. Stanley’s tale offers lessons in friendship, persistence, and being true to who we are. The read-aloud book will be enjoyed by ages 3-11 and the young at heart of all ages, and the independent reading level is grades 3-5. Easy-to-read typeset makes the book perfect for grandparents to read to grandchildren. The book’s Amazon page has “Look Inside” pages for samples.

The first-time author and illustrator team are themselves inspiring. Betty stumbled upon a creative writing class after she retired from a 30-year nursing career, and she was hooked. The story of Stanley began as a fable and over a year’s time grew into a children’s book. She asked her artist friend Carolou if she would illustrate Stanley’s story. Carolou, who has a master’s degree in social work, was immediately drawn to the book’s message of the strength of individuality.

For a chance to win a free signed copy of the book, click here (you will be taken to my personal blog, where you can leave a comment to enter the drawing). You can also visit Hidden Timber Books’ website and Facebook page.

1926 April 17th Saturday

Real smoky around horizon, otherwise bright, cold and North wind quite strong, changed to N.E. in a.m. and east wind in p.m. Will & George disced in barley all day and William stayed indoors on account of the flu. Louise cleaned the lamps and up-stairs then went via the boys with Mr. A. Elshire in our buggy to O’Kreek and home early eve. I cleaned the down-stairs a little but a cold in throat so not pert. John Wisenberger came for harrow and Jake came for Jake Jr.’s eggs. E. Elshire family went by all dressed up to the store.

1936 April 17th Friday

Bright, nice day. I got meals and sewed or rather finished a rug I started over a year ago. Thomas disced west of alfalfa for oats. LeMoyne gave cattle alfalfa, fixed gate on State Land and got the cattle in there, some were to Lundermann Land. Will went to Valentine in p.m. to cattle sale for he and Lemoyne fixed Big Pasture fence in a.m. Plenty Horse and Lawrence Wright brought us 71 posts but had to unload at hill west of the place towards store and they came in just as Will came from Valentine, so he came in and had checks made out to them and took it back to them. Will brought Will Morrisey’s bird-dog here.

1946 April 17th Wednesday

Bright, warm and wind from west quite strong and chilly when out in it. I got meals, laid down awhile near noon and got up when Narvin, Donna and Johnny came. We had dinner. Men looked at cattle and when Boyds went home late p.m., Will and I went around cattle and got our mail at Van Epps. Will had to turn Hank’s horse out of barn to where Horses we work in River Pasture are. Donna has tooth-ache so will go to Valentine tomorrow to have it attended to. Johnny likes to feed chickens and he is 3 years old, a large boy and live one.

1947 April 17th Tuesday

Bright, nice day. Lillian got Doug and brought him and he took Cat to Scisson Land to lease bought field ground and Lillian got dinner and went away to take some folks to White River. Chester and Ellen got their cook stove and a tank of Skelgas in their car and Vere’s bedding so we had to give him something in eve, also an electric plate to cook meals. Will has to rest but he and I to see Doug getting a start on leveling Scisson land. Vere fed cattle and worked at fixing things at Garage. Lillian cooked meals and took eggs home this eve. Will talked to Abbott and Billie as they got our plow. Athel was here this p.m. I got eats and not much else but played solitaire.

1926 April 16th Friday

Bright but real warm west and S.W. breeze and in eve a little cloudy. Will sowed barley but broke chain so was slow work. George disced in barley. William has the flu so in bed most of day. Will’s cold is better but he has a real hoarseness in throat, couldn’t speak out loud at noon but better in eve and I am sick and throat so sore. Louise to school and in eve sewed on her blue cambric dress I just got the meals and made a cake. The Arcoren boys went to Elshires and got some oats. Fred Menz went to the store.

1936 April 16th Thursday

Was cold in night. North breeze cool all day. I got meals and towards eve ground sausage with Will’s help, for the men chored and branded Rahn colts, and in a.m. while Thomas and Will got things ready to brand, Lemoyne went to State land and got in the cattle to give them mineral and salt, they also gave cattle a load of cane. I slept in p.m. for I was all in and so tired.

1946 April 16th Tuesday

Some clouds would pass in bunches but sun shone so the clothes dried in a hurry as was strong wind, for Will chored and got in water, took it out and hung clothes on line, brought them in before he and I went to Big Pasture to see what horses were there. 6 of Abbotts so we went to where W. L. was discing in oats and told him to get them out before April 19th when Ranger comes to inspect range. I gave Abbott a cookie and an orange and Will and I ate ours in car. Hank got in his horses and also left Van Epps in River Pasture. He went horseback on his saddle horse to Elmer Chauncey’s and came home this eve.

1956 April 16th Monday

Bright, nice. Men fed cattle. Doug dug out stack butts and after dinner Vere, Will and I to Valentine to get Will’s glasses from Dr. W. J. Slusher, optometrist, eye glass man. We got groceries, a tire pump as ours is not found. Lillian brought Doug and I roasted beef but we had beef sandwiches and pie at Buttercup Cafe on 20 in Valentine and got groceries at Council Oak Store. Got Vere’s overalls, razor, and several things we need. Buckwheat Pancake Flour and Syrup. We came home to Mission to Boarding School and Farmer George Jones was at Teachers Meeting at School so we waited. He said that he will not let Leveler go to lease so we came home to use Cat to level ridges on Scisson Land. Lillian was here and Doug to go home but first to house down hill and Chester was there. He came out with mailman and walked from bridge. He went to Ellen and Darryl and Elaine at O’Kreek and stayed. They are to get a house to live in.

1926 April 15th Thursday

A strong W. and N.W. wind so quite dry and dry, bright and warm. Louise to school and in even went with William and I to the store. I made bread and so sooty in the stove. Will felt bad but had to clean the stove and I am sick so was a nuisance. Will went to field and George and William came in from discing and George to Wisenbergers and got seeder. Jake Wisenberger, Mrs. A. Elshire & Dan Wagner here to-day. A real bad prairie fire S.E. of here this p.m.

1936 April 15th Wednesday

Wind blew quite strong from the north but was warm and sun bright. The men chored and Thomas got Fritz’s bridle and saddle blanket before breakfast so he and LeMoyne went to Hansen corner in Tripp Co. to get 71 head Rahn Horses but three of these belong to William Abbott or rather sold to Rahn so they got them at Abbotts. Robert Rahn and another young lad brought the horses from Witten to Hansens. The boys were back at 3 p.m. and Will went to Valentine and he came in early, also we had an early supper and just as we were eating Lawrence Wright and Plenty Horse brought 155 poles so Will bought them and they ate supper. I got meals and slept from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for I never got dinner and Will and I got in from O’Kreek near midnight last night. Mr. Lattimore went with Will to Valentine.

1946 April 15th Monday

Bright, windy from South East and chilly then warm again. Will chored, we went to where we met Lew McKee at his pasture gate and Will talked to him about number of cattle he wanted to put in Winter Pasture after Nov. 1st, 1946 for winter months. We passed McKees, went to Highway, on to Rosebud. Got gas at Rosebud, had only a lunch there at New Cafe of hamburgers, milk and ice-cream and coffee. Will brought Frank McKenzie, Rose Herman’s husband to our car parked near office at Rosebud and he wanted our address for may get Milk Camp Association of Indians to buy Scottie the Stallion. Henry Arcoren was at Rosebud. He came home with us to get his wagon and horses. Will & Hank had malted milk and I a beef sandwich and milk at Hoffine Cafe, Mission. Chas Lunderman was visiting at our car, and Mr. George Cortier of O’Kreek to ride to Mission but Fred Rahn took him and Lucy Little Money to O’Kreek. Rain and Tom Whiting and Dickie ate dinner at Rosebud Cafe when we did. Whitings are getting some cattle into Rahn’s pasture this summer. Will went to Selective Office and we saw Narvin, Donna and Johnny Boyd at Whiting Store. They are here from Seattle, Washington for a visit.

1956 April 15th Sunday

Bright, nice day. Vere looked about cows and calves and chored, did milking and fed stock in Barn lot and Bulls & calves and chickens and got his meals. I got eats and read some, laid down after lunch. Will sept a lot. A Willcut young man and family and several others came in a Washington State car to see if we need help but we don’t need it now. Also Mr. Fairchild (Howard) Pardner as Jack and Cherrie Parker call him. Also Dave Parker and they came up from Broadwater, Nebr. last night but had car trouble so rested awhile in the car. They drank coffee and Dave asked about job and we will decide later and let him know. They went back to Thomas’s and Doris gave them lunch as Athel and Jimmie are at Ainsworth, Nebr. so Thomas, David and Doris are at home. Wm Leo and Billie came to get or ask about plow. Mr. & Mrs. Leslie Johnson, 2 yr. old Billie and 9 mo. old daughter. We gave them coffee, ice-cream and strawberries. Abbotts went home and Johnsons to Chet Weavers late p.m.

1926 April 14th Wednesday

Bright but cool and a very still day as a fire S.W. to Carr’s and Neiss’s and it burned slowly. Louise to school and Will went to Pierce’s but home at noon and took William’s horse in p.m. Mr. & Mrs. Ed Anderson & Ilene were here for hens & eggs. William & George disced barley. Mr. Fred Kaiser was here in eve, also B. Smith for wire stretcher. Will feels quite bad with cold and I did only ordinary work.

1936 April 14th Tuesday

Bright, warm. I got meals, laid down to sleep in p.m. then cut 1 quarter pork for Will cut the rest and went to Clarence Sells in p.m. for LeMoyne was at Schmidt hay, got a load for cattle, and he went along. They bought Sells’ saddle. Thomas disced west of alfalfa all day and he and LeMoyne chored in eve and Will and I salted the pork, put it in the 30 gal. jar we cleaned this a.m. and put it in cellar, for Will took the paper off the door, also our door. LeMoyne and Thomas stayed home and Will and I to Legion Meeting at O’Kreek in eve. Frank Van Epps came yesterday, got his saddle-horse and helped men get the hog for Ben shot the ear and it got away so they got it in the alfalfa. Ben accidentally killed a fat hen in the fricassee and to-day he got one of our horses to put in his oats.

1946 April 14th Sunday

Rainy early forenoon but sun shone and nice p.m. but chilly indoors, a N.W. breeze. Will chored, took me to 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Therese’s Chapel, Hidden Timber. Fr. Gibbons, St. Francis, and another man were there as Fr. Grether is sick.

We cared for chickens and fixed place on porch so they cannot get out, left them after Will took a bath and we went to Littleburg to American Legion Meeting. After a lunch in large school house we auxiliary members went to small school house to meet. Mrs. Sazama, our secretary brought articles and I got butcher knife, pillow top, picture and doilies for dresser. Some dues were paid for 1947 and we will make wreaths for Memorial Day. Was quite windy when we got home and I made a fire and stayed indoors and we only lunched at night. Van Epps were home this day after they came from church. Will chored, for we looked at cattle on our way from Littleburg and he was late to get in milk cows, etc. I have a cold in head and this chilly damp weather doesn’t do me any good for I cough a lot.

1956 April 14th Saturday

Bright nice day. Doug and Vere gave cattle hay and Vere gave to those in lots while Doug, Will and I went to Mission. Got a battery for M Tractor, back to Boarding School, saw Mrs. Jones, Co. nurse, and her husband George Farner at school, to Winner. Mrs. Doug came for Doug this eve. She fixes dinner for Vere & Doug. Usual eats, rest, solitaire, read on my part.