February 27

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.

February 26

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.

February 25

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.

February 24

1926 February 24th Wednesday

A beautiful day until middle afternoon clouded and colder, was quite cold in evening. William and Will went to look for horses and didn’t find any of Haisch horses, home in evening without a bite to eat all day. Louise to school and in evening peeled potatoes, as I cut my finger, so only got the meals and made bread today. Will’s cold is better, and William feels better after feeling bad yesterday. Mr. Geo. Menz and Fred came to get a load of bones as Mr. is going to Winner in the morning. They brought the mail. Rena, Lemoyne, Leo, Edward and Charlotte came today and stayed until evening. Ray Carr and Mr. Jackson, who owns East Camp, were here in evening and settled for the shell corn Will got.

1936 February 24th Monday

Bright, warm, nice until about 2:30 p.m., was a real wind from N.W. and some clouds but no snow, clear at sun-set. I got meals and finished my aprons, put buttons on after supper. LeMoyne and Henry Arcoren got a load of hay in a.m. but too windy in p.m. so LeMoyne helped Frank, and Henry went home. Frank in a.m. fixed the hog-house that he started last Friday and got 1 sow shut in for the two will have pigs soon but other one not locked in yet. Will left at 9:30 a.m. via Hidden Timber, Mission, Rosebud, Crookston and Valentine, Nebr. where he stayed all night so the boys did all the chores.

1946 February 24th Sunday

Bright but strong South wind. I got eats, for Will took Hank and I to 10 a.m. Saturday church and he waited in car outside, read the mail as it was in Van Epps car. Took Hank to Furreys to have papers made out to sell his land and he will go in with Furreys to Winner and stay for the night. We came home to chore and eat. Saw Claude and Mr. Van Epps.

1956 February 24th Friday

Sun shone so Men gave cattle feed and we rested and ate usual Eats as Meatless so Fish and Oysters and vegetables and fruit. Janis’s were up here and went to O’Kreek to Show at Catholic basement church given by Fr. Greeter and they came home 10:40 p.m.

February 23

1926 February 23rd Tuesday

Was cloudy and a strong south wind all day and very cold a.m. and a little warmer in p.m. Will came back from Mission with Haisch Horses at noon, and hauled hay in p.m. William picked some seed-corn but didn’t feel good this day. Louise to school and in the evening gathered cobs. My lungs are still sore, so I only got the meals and cooked some apple-sauce. Elshire hauled a load of their things down to the new house and worked at same.

1936 February 23rd Sunday

Was very warm, sun shone until towards eve clouded in west but no snow at bed-time and clear again. I got meals, visited with Ben Clausen for he came at 11 o’clock just as Will, LeMoyne and Henry Arcoren left in our car for Hidden Timber, first time in car for several weeks and had to go out through the alfalfa by Jamison’s to Store. They, with Thomas and Stanley and Tom’s truck went to Manhursts and opened road by shoveling snow and they ate a lunch at Store of Coffee, crackers and wieners, back at 5 p.m. Ben waited for them until 4 p.m. then walked home for he has a new calf this a.m. The road to Bert Roundy’s is passable but none too good so Tom goes to Winner when things are needed these days.

1946 February 23rd Saturday

Bright, beautiful day. Will and Van Epps gave cattle hay and came in for dinner and I broke support to everyday glasses.We went in p.m to Winner, left shoes to be fixed, right heel lower, left one nearly an inch difference so I maybe can walk easier, got glasses fixed and maybe can get a locker later, got groceries, ice-cream and home to chore but they were finished, all but small calves gone that were in barn so let them go for the night as Hank Arcoren, who with Fr. Grether this late p.m. was here and did chores. We had supper, read and retired.

1956 February 23rd Thursday

It snowed last  night and some to-day so was Dark but not so cold. Men fed cattle and Will to Abbotts to ask if they would take Will and I to Winner Saturday. Men got mail and Will and I played pitch. Ate our usual eats and rested some.

February 22

1926 February 22nd Monday

A bright Washington’s Birthday and quite warm. Will went to Mission after some Haisch horses via Roundy’s and is not home this night. William went to Carr’s pasture and got some of Jake’s and his horses. Louise to school and in the evening made a brown cake. I did only ordinary work for was sick, so slept in p.m. Mrs. C. Elshire came for some eggs this morning.

1936 February 22nd Saturday

Bright and warm to-day, warm enough to open door at times as it would get too hot cooking. I got meals, baked bread and cut some of the pork, the boys butchered yesterday and cooked a batch of lard. Will chored and went to the Whiting Store on Tennessee in p.m. and there was mail there so he came back and LeMoyne took a team and saddle horse, for Stanley Whiting took Clarence Sell’s wagon up there Thursday and Sell brought our dump-cart there and LeMoyne brought a lot of groceries and potatoes, B batteries, so we have radio going after 2 weeks of no music and it was good. Frank and LeMoyne got 2 loads of hay on Old Lodge Place and Henry got a load of hay for his place and loaded a load of cane for our cattle, the boys gave it to them in eve. Henry took part of a ham home for he went home in p.m. This is Washington’s Birth-day.

1946 February 22nd Friday

Bright nice day until some clouds, a shower of snow, then fair again. Men fed cattle and Will went to Valentine to see about selling horses but no deal so came home with ice-cream late p.m. Van Epps cleaned barn and went home for dinner so I got only breakfast, lunched balance of meals, not much work for I am still all in with stomach trouble and smothering at night but play solitaire, listen to radio, write letters for now we have to pay for deeded land leases.

1956 February 22nd Wednesday

Washington’s Birthday. Bright but clouded and got cold but Men gave cattle hay and Chester took Darryl to school and got him in eve. Stanley came with a chute and Abbott and Billie came in car so with Chester and Will, they vaccinated 23 last Summer heifer calves for Bang. Mrs. Abbott came along and Billie, Chester, Mrs. Abbott and I played pitch. Ellen watched. We had lunch of Oysters, Boiled Ham Sandwiches, and Coffee. We beat Men 1 game, then they went home. Ellen washed clothes so all was nice. Will and I don’t play much cards but I play solitaire.

February 21

1926 February 21st Sunday

Strong Northwest wind during night and early morning. Cloudy a.m. but during most of day nice and bright, and a cloudy evening. Will hauled a load of hay and his cold still has a hold of him so that everything goes wrong, but after he drove horses out of C. Elshire’s hay, he rested and felt better in the evening. William Welch came, and he and William Whiting went to Tom’s and Ed’s and had dinner at Ed’s and back here in the evening. Louise went to Tom’s and she rode home with William Elshire. She took letters up there to be mailed. I did only the ordinary work for was sick and felt so bum with a cold on lungs. Lemoyne and Seth came horseback and stayed for dinner. Mr. Henry Wagner now of Lakeview, S.D. but formerly of Spencer and Bristow, Nebr. and son Henry and Mr. and Mrs. Abe Elshire and Noam and Howard were here in p.m.

1936 February 21st Friday

Sun shone and was cold enough to freeze clothes, for boys got them in and I washed clothes. Will hung some out and brought them in, in evening, and took waste water out. Henry and LeMoyne butchered a hog. The boys got a load of hay north on Old Lodge in a.m. Frank worked on the hog shed and Will visited with Bill Pierce.

1946 February 21st Thursday

Bright and warm. I got meals with Elsie’s help, she also mopped kitchen and put cobs in basement, for Will and Van Epps fed cattle in a.m. and Will went to Stanley Whiting’s to see if he would help vaccinate for abortion this p.m. He came horseback and they vaccinated 47 heifers coming yearlings in p.m., we had lunch of sandwiches, cookies and lemonade after they finished. They also castrated Van Epps small bull calves. Otto Enisphar of Mission and Gary Whiting came to see Stanley, they ate lunch also then all went home. Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Gran here yesterday to see if they could buy our place but we are not selling now.

1956 February 21st Tuesday

Bright cold day so Abbott came and he & Will in Pick Up to Valentine, back in eve as did not fix Pick Up. Will saw Dr. and Will’s left eye has 2 cataracts in upper part and right eye has an artery and must go to Omaha soon. Chester took Darryl to school and got him late p.m. His throat is sore from having tonsils out. Men got groceries and paid our insurance on farm buildings. Chester gave cattle hay alone as Will wanted to go to town early. I was alone but Ellen came up. I read, got eats and laid down some and feel so so.

February 20

1926 February 20th Saturday

Nice and warm until p.m. clouded and looked real stormy. William went after a horse in p.m. Will, Mr. Menz and Fred went to Hidden Timber Store and Mrs. Ada and Delila stayed here, and they went home in p.m., so I went up to the store and got oil and groceries and home late p.m. Will shoveled the shell corn back in the hay mow and was all in when night came. Louise had school and nearly all the pupils were there. Frank Snyder hauled 2 loads of Ray Carr’s shell corn and had successful trips today. Curtis and Will Elshire got a hammer today and said they would have a dance at their new house this night. Tom’s store is nearly finished.

1936 February 20th Thursday

Sun shone but was cold. The men chored and LeMoyne and Frank went to Old Lodge Place and got a load of hay, they had a time on account of the deep snow but got through. Will couldn’t do much on account of his back but managed to chore a little. I got meals and made an apron for myself.

1946 February 20th Wednesday

Bright, nice day for it still remains dry. I got meals, for men fed cattle hay and in to eat dinner when they finished. I did the usual work. I played solitaire, listened to radio, and read some. Will had his tooth filled at Valentine.

1956 February 20th Monday

Bright cold day so men fed cattle and Ellen and Elaine stayed at O’Kreek last night. Chester got them and Darryl at O’Kreek where Lou left them after coming from Rosebud. Will went to Abbotts, also Chester to see Abbott.

February 19

1926 February 19th Friday

A little cloudy in a.m., but rest of day bright and warm. William made 2 trips to Roundy’s and got the rest of the corn. Ray Carr and father-in-law came this morning to see if Will would take some shell-corn which was beginning to heat, and Will took 300 bu. and at once fixed the west end of the hay mow to put it in, as Frank Snyder brought a load in p.m., he and Will had some time to get the load up. Louise to school. I made bread and had a cold on lungs, was a nuisance to work. Will’s cold still a nuisance also. Cars passing these days as roads are better.

1936 February 19th Wednesday

Bright but cold and snow is so deep but after feeding cattle, Frank and LeMoyne took 4 horses and dump-cart and went to Clarence Sell’s and they had dinner there. Will chored and shoveled snow and cut water-holes for stock to get water and hurt his back so could hardly move so never went to chore in eve. I got meals and cut out some aprons for myself.

1946 February 19th Tuesday

Bright, nice day until some clouds. Will partly chored. I got up at 5 a.m. so had breakfast ready and Will left here at little after 8 a.m. so to have brakes fixed on car at Ford Garage, Valentine. He came home about 9 p.m., brought ice-cream so we had a nice lunch. I had already had lunch and ready for bed. Van Epps took Marjorie to school and Wm Abbott is back from Sioux Falls Hospital and he is feeling better, came home Monday eve. Van Epps fed cattle then went home, again in eve came to put stock in barn.

1956 February 19th Sunday

Bright day but men did not feed cattle. Stanley, Pearl, Gary, Curly and Eileen came this eve to tell us of Bang vaccine, so they went home at 10:30 p.m. We will vaccinate Wednesday, about 23 heifers. Chester was up here and visited with Boys & Men this eve. Pearl, I and Eileen in front-room. They had cake and coffee.

February 18

1926 February 18th Thursday

Bright, cool a.m. and didn’t get very warm all day, a N.W. breeze dried the clothes which I hung out at noon. William hauled a load of hay and Mr. C. Roundy came and wanted corn hauled, so he went with 2 wagons in p.m. Will feels better, but is still weak, and tried to clean the yard around granary, but went all in so took a nap and snored to beat the band. Louise to school and examination over again. I have a cold on lungs and feel bum. John Carr and a Ford Salesman were here this p.m. Elshires are putting a house on Moore in a hurry.

1936 February 18th Tuesday

Still cold and was cloudy. The men chored and gave cattle hay from north of barn. I got meals and sewed on my dresses for every day. Frank and LeMoyne filled the racks with hay from north of barn and put cane on a rack also.

1946 February 18th Monday

Bright, nice day. Will and Van Epps fed cattle hay and Van Epps had dinner here. In p.m. Will took eggs to Whiting Store and I got meals, read mail, played solitaire, listened to radio.

1956 February 18th Saturday

Bright, chilly. Men fed cattle and Bus McKee came so they welded a piece on Cat to make it solid. Will got mail. Janis’s did not go to town this week end. They got our things at Mission for over week end.