Bright and a strong N.W. wind and dusty for awhile early a.m. then wind went down and was a nice day, about 48 above. Will chored and started to help Fritz put hay-rack together and a burr didn’t fit so he (Fritz) went to Wm Chauncey’s and fixed it and in p.m. they put wagon together and Fritz hauled a load of alfalfa for the calves, then the men fixed track in barn. Ben Clausen came with some butter and got an old soldering iron so he could fix his separator that the Cihak boys sold him and he helped Will fill and smoke sausage. Will had a slight cold so he rested at noon and in p.m. he helped Fritz put alfalfa in calf Rack and the other work as mentioned. I mixed more salt in the sausage and put it in the press for Will and Ben and worked at my receipt-book and rested in p.m. and fried sausage paddies late p.m. and took a bath in eve. Maggie got meals, all the other necessary work and cooked 6 1 lb. coffee cans of sausage in the oven and sealed with lard, a novel idea. We played rummy and pitch after supper. Lawrence Arcoren and 2 white men came for Henry’s horses.
Sun shone but Northwest wind blew strong and was chilly but got to 20 above in p.m. I got meals, laid down in p.m., cut out 8 bloomers for myself, made out [of] soft muslin. Will has a bad cold but he helped W.D. chore and they gave cattle at Wagner Shed hay and watered horses and Van Epps hauled 3 loads hay for bull-pen and 1 here and got a load of sudan for here. He still has a cold and Will laid down in afternoon on account of cold in chest and head. This is St. Patrick’s Day but quite calm for noise.
1943 March 18th Thursday
Sun shone until late afternoon clouded and began to snow. The men caked cattle and watered horses. Their colds are still bad and my lungs and shoulders pain but I sewed at panties for self and laid down in p.m. W.D. took Margie to school and she walked home 3 p.m. so he went to school and Abbotts not knowing.
1943 March 19th Friday
Sun shone and was 4 below zero but rose to 32 above in p.m., snow is settling now. I got meals, never laid down as I sewed on panties, played solitaire. Will’s cold is bad but he chored and went to Hidden Timber in p.m. and got stuck, had to shovel out 3 times, so had to come east road via Highway, and laid down as evening work finished. W.D. cleaned the barn and cold is still bad.
1943 March 20th Saturday
Was zero at 8 o’clock but sun shone and began to rise in a hurry. W.D. came this morning and he said Margie walked home last night and this morning has the measles. Will sweated a lot last night and never coughed from mid-night until 4:30 a.m. but last night was a steady cough so I hope he is getting better now. My lungs don’t pain so bad this morning but I am sick all over. W.D. has a sore throat but is better now. We did the usual work, meals, chored, feed stock.
1943 March 21st Sunday
Sun shone but was cold. I got meals but my lungs are sick for that same old feeling is worse to-day and I have to have a fire so towards evening I thought I couldn’t breathe. Will felt better so he wanted to go some place all day so towards eve I mustered up courage, wrapped well and we went to Wm Abbotts to tell them that we butcher Tuesday and started to play cards, Mr. and Will against Mrs. and I, and played 500 until got home near midnight, saw a light at Wm Van Epps for Elmer and Mary are there. They took Neil Chauncey to Presho. He to enter Army at Rapid City. W.D. and Will chored to-day. W.D. then home.
1943 March 22nd Monday
Sun shone and got warmer but had to have winter wraps after choring. Will and I went to Winner, got Wm Abbott and we ate at Ryan Cafe, did our trading, especially jar covers and rubbers and got pork chops at meat-market for we will butcher to-morrow and it may be last meat we can get before rationing next week. Wm Van Epps staid home and fed cattle hay and hauled Sudan to bull pen and here at barn yard and chored. We got home before supper and are feeling better for colds.
1943 March 23rd Tuesday
Sun shone, was a nice day so men chored and W.D. took Margie to school and said Abbott to come over after awhile to butcher and he, Mrs. and Cora Ann came. Will, W.L. and W.D. butchered our fat cow and Wm Van Epps’ Big Fat Sow. So Margie walked home and Delores and Billie came horseback. All went home after supper and we have a lot [of] meat now. Mrs. Abbott wanted to make Cora Ann a dress out of an old [one], so a blue skirt with straps and it is nice.
1943 March 24th Wednesday
Bright, nice day. The men chored, got in beef and pork to shanty. W.D. brought Mrs. and Cora Ann to his place so she, Elsie and Billie and Cora Ann came late to cut meat and wash jars and cook meat. We finished Cora a new blouse. W.L., Billie, Delores brought Margie home, took Mrs. and Cora Ann home after supper.
1943 March 25th Thursday
A very hot day, got to nearly 90 above and sun shone but not much breeze. I got meals, laid down in p.m., also Billie Van Epps took a nap for W.L. and Elsie, Will and I canned beef. Men cut in pieces and put in jars and these days Elsie washes all jars for we have a dusty place for them in basement. We cook in cooker and oven. Men also chore and cake cattle late p.m. Mrs. Abbot came to-day.
1943 March 26th Friday
Another hot day and fair but we canned meat as usual and men chored and looked at cattle. Margie walks from school. W.L. took her in morn. and said Abbotts going to Winner.
1943 March 27th Saturday
Bright late p.m. for clouded in forenoon and looked like rain but Will got in water and he, Martha Whiting and myself washed clothes. Seth, Ed and Jim Gunhammer brought Martha and Carol Jean, Norma Fay and Helen Marie this forenoon as they went north of Mission to cut posts. Seth came in eve for Family. Martha got in clothes and folded them. I also got meals, laid down in p.m., visited with the folks. Martha washed the dishes, swept front-room and mopped kitchen. W.L. hauled a load hay to bull pen and one here and the Wills went to Whiting School-house to an A.A.A. meeting.
1943 March 28th Sunday
Was a nice warm day. Sun shone hot. I got breakfast. W.D. and Will chored. Will took me to 11:30 a.m. Mass and he went to Jay Tate’s. We then went to Furreys, at a lunch, then to Wm Fronek’s west of O’Kreek about 4 miles. Mr, Julia (Mrs.), Donna the teacher of Haukaas School their daughter, twin sons Robert and Ronald were home. Men breaking a broncho, then men for we took Harry, Louise, Harley, Dorothy and Billie along, brought them home and ate some more, came to Abbotts to ask for wide mouth jars, had only 2. Home to find chores finished and Van Epps gone to Chaunceys and Claude Van Epps, also Wm Abbotts family went there in eve. We went back to John Boyds and staid until 9:30 p.m.
1943 March 29th Monday
Bright, warm day. W.D., Elsie, Billie and Rita Marie Gehlsen came so we canned their pork to-day and Elsie cooked a lot of lard last few days. Men gave cattle cake and chored.
1943 March 30th Tuesday
Bright, warm. I got meals and Elsie and I canned meat, she fried steak and we canned it in oven. Men chored and went to Hay Stack Butte but men gone so they on to Mission and no see Spring Development. Came home in p.m. Rita & Billie played. Margie here in eve, walked from school.
1943 March 31st Wednesday
Another warm day. I got meals. Elsie, Billie and Rita Marie Gehlsen came and Will and Van Epps helped us, also men chored and fed cattle cake. Margie went to school [on] foot and walked home with Cora Ann, Delores and Billie for Wm Abbott came this forenoon in their car and he waited most of forenoon while Van Epps and Whitcher cut and put meat in jars. Elsie got jars ready, helped me with meals and cooked the meat in jars in boiler, Van Epps cookers and oven. Margie and Abbott children came at 2 p.m. and went home before supper. Men vaccinated 34 head of our yearling calves and castrated Van Epps and Abbotts pigs in p.m. Cora Ann put Billie Abbott in kettle of coffee grounds in the hall, then upstairs, they were using matches so Elsie sent them outside.
A very windy dusty day but bright until eve cloudy and warm. The men took care [of] hogs all day. I fried sausage and had a headache so not much else.
1933 March 2nd Thursday
Bright, nice a.m. but clouded in p.m. and a S.E. breeze. I got meals and cut meat and cooked lard. Will got 2 loads hay in hills and Ben helped him in p.m. and they got cane in eve. Wm and Narve drove a broncho. Rena & Lemoyne got roosters and Gobblers.Mrs. Len Haukaas and Themla got Harness.
1943 March 2nd Tuesday
Bright but cold. The men chored and picked iron. Elsie and Billy came, she cleaned front room and dishes, I got meals, laid down. She got Margie at school and brought our mail. Robert Meyers, Sa’l Agent, Winner, came in p.m. Mr. & Mrs. E. Gran, Illaine and Elizabeth came to sign Farm Program for 1943, went to Dreys from here.
1953 March 2nd Monday
Snowed this day some so Men fed cattle and worked some at Shop. Dan is putting a Cover [on] front Ford Tractor and Will Staid in house in p.m. and Laid down and Read some. I have my everyday dresses finished but am planning to clean some black one to wear on chilly days if I go places. Have some underwear to fix, Slips & Nightgowns or Rather to make new also have the meals and solitaire to play, all writing so takes time.
A bright warm day and p.m. just hot, uncomfortable to have a fire in cook-stove. Large flies were everywhere. Will took Ray and Biddy and went for corn and William hauled manure out of barn. Mr. C. Nelson came with last load of corn, they all had dinner and went to Howard Ware Sale. I cooked hog-head and ground & seasoned sausage and went to spring for water and it [was] warm.
1933 March 1st Wednesday
Bright, nice until in p.m. a little cloudy and S.W. breeze. This is Ash Wednesday but I cooked meat for will, he hauled hay from Hills and Wm fixed pens for calves and cows in barn. Narvin Boyd came to help break horses. I got meals and cut meat.
1943 March 1st Monday
Those at church yesterday were Mrs. Elmer Gran, Caroline, Jimmie and Willis, Tom Whiting Sr. and Dickie, Hank and I, Wm Van Epps, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Turgeon, not many but more may come. This day was cold N.W. wind but men caked cattle for they never [did] yesterday and I got letters ready and Will mailed them at Hidden Timber, 1 to Federal Land Bank Collector of Internal Revenue, Aberdeen, for Income (National) Tax Division, Pierre for State Tax Report. Leases paid to Aug. Hempl, R.S. MacKay, MaxM. Koetz, Voltz Abstract for Lincoln Land. J. L. Carr paid him Seed Loan in full at Martin, S.D., Roy Scissons. Will went to have gas cards returned at Mission O.P.A. Board for coal oil B. Cards and Farm Gas for six months, changed oil and had car greased. Wm Van Epps did the work and we had a warmed over dinner before Will left.
1953 March 1st Sunday
Moon shone last night but cloudy and snowy to-day from the East. Men fed cattle and Will staid indoors. We played Canasta in p.m. Wales are at Home this p.m. Usual meals and Pastime for me. I wrote in diary in a.m. Dan brought Milk up this eve.
Another day as usual, clouds passed over before dinner for awhile like storm but clear p.m. and warm. Will fenced alfalfa stacks and hauled a little. Floyd Crawford stopped to ask about road via Mill. In p.m., we got water at B’s and then Will went to Sherlock’s and got a couple pipes tobacco and brought home bedding for hogs. I canned 15 qts apples and have a dull headache. Will is so-so.
Jan. 11, 1923
1933 Jan. 11th Wednesday
Bright, cold day. Will chored and fed stock and put rest in field. Wm has the flu but he and Ben packed hides and Ben took [them] to the store to mail also some letters. Roy and Ben & Wilbur Fitch went to Ross’s to trade in p.m. and stopped at corral to see Roy’s calf on way home. I got meals and was sick last night and none too spry to-day.
Jan. 11, 1933
1943 Jan. 11th Monday.
Northwest wind quite strong and was chilly but sun shone. I still have a cough from the flu but Elsie and I got meals, she washed some clothes, mopped kitchen, swept floors and ironed some of wash that she did last Friday at Gehlsen’s. I also baked bread. Laid down in p.m. Elsie put [bread] in oven and finished it. Henry Arcorne, Wm Van Epps and Wm Abbott came this morning while Will was getting breakfast. I felt bum so laid in bed until 9 a.m., they butchered a yearling heifer and finished in a hurry, the men brought it in, in eve cut in pieces, hung in shanty. W. D. and W. L. fixed the clutch on Abbotts Car as it broke coming over here this morning and he came on 1 shift. After dinner, we went home via Stores and the men went to cake cattle and put joints in east half Wagner House.
Jan. 11, 1943
1953 Jan. 11th Sunday.
Bright, beautiful day so Men gave cattle a Stack of hay and then Wales went to Thomas’s and they all went to a Dam North of Haukaas School house and fished, got 40 Perch. Came home to chore and Back to Thomas’s for a fish fry in eve when Will and I came in from Furreys, where we went in Pick Up this noon. Had Potatoes, Boiled Back Bone, Beans, Corn, Pickles, Bread, Cinnamon Bread, Apple and Chocolate Pie, Strawberries, a half gallon, crushed frozen with sugar. Gerald, Anthia and Loretta Furrey were there and brought the Strawberries. Cream and Coffee made in Electric Automatic Percolator we gave them for Christmas. Gerald’s followed us out to Kriz Road and went on North to 18. Stanley, Pearl, Gary, Curly and Eileen came when we got home and we played Samba and Canasta and had a bunch of Bananas, Ice Cream (Choco Chip), Cookies and Water. They went home at 12 p.m. Will got in clothes. He put [them] on line this a.m. before we went to Furrey’s and got them in on return. I washed the new Sheets, pillow Slips, Towels and Will’s night Shirts and all other clothes yesterday before we went to Valentine. Hung Rack full in front-room and they dry. Had to fill it again this eve as those on outside were damp.
