February 7

1926 February 7th Sunday

A bright nice day but water still in Keya Paha and Antelope. Ed and family came and nearly turned back but we called so they came and stayed for supper. Will went with Mr. Penny and Uncle Walt and Geo. Chihak to Tom’s, that is at crossing, and Tom brought gas on account of water. Fred Menz and Colombes came to see Will as Mr. Davis was to take up his horses, so Will went over to drive out before dinner. Will, Louise and William and I were alone for a chicken dinner.

1936 February 7th Friday

Snowing from N.W. real cold and in p.m. was a real storm. Sun shone in south for awhile in a.m. I got meals and sewed on an everyday dress but it was cold, the men chored, gave stock hay and cane and chored in eve.

1946 February 7th Thursday

Sun shone and cool N.W. wind, a few clouds but no moisture. Van Epps fed cattle hay and left a load on Hay rack that he used to feed big herd and tractor to get a load for barn yard. I got only Breakfast and Supper for Will and I went to Abbotts, got W. L. and came home so he and Will to Valentine. Will took him home and back here before dark. Abbott went to Nebraska State Bank, also got some clothes. I did usual work, played solitaire, read, listened to radio.

1956 February 7th Tuesday

Bright Day so men fed cattle and they caked them and again in 2 days. Athel stayed with me yesterday p.m. as Chester and Will took hay-sled tire to Mission to get fixed. I was in need of Bananas but none in town. Chester took Darryl to School and got him this eve. Athel was here Yesterday. Will and Chester got our Sprayer at McKee’s. Ellen and Elaine stayed home as her brother Ted, 2 yr and 4 yr Sons came from Rapid City, also Della, Jean Marie of O’Kreek. Lou and Vere of Crazy Hole at Whitings and after supper to see their mother at hospital.

February 6

1926 February 6th Saturday

A bright nice day and water gone down in our creek but Antelope is high, water north of Tom’s bridge, for I went up there and afraid to cross after got Thomas and Harold to measure water, so came home. Messrs. Penny and others got theirs out of water and home after dinner. Mr. Menz and Will took a load of our hogs to Winner and home late. Fred Colombe got Gas at Tom’s for Mr. Menz before they went to Winner. Louise cleaned clothes and the house to-day and I only got meals and made a cake. William still under the weather.

1936 February 6th Thursday

Sun shone and was very cold. Will went to the store in p.m. and Bud Whiting said that was 38 below this morning after sun-rise. Will chored, milked cows, fed hogs and chickens, put some paint touches to bath-room in a.m. and varnished the floor late p.m. for he mopped and gave it a first coat last night before supper. After supper varnished it. Frank and LeMoyne got 2 loads of hay on Old Lodge Land and put a load of cane on a rack and took it home after boys got in with Hay. Ben Clausen walked over and got soldering iron, solder and some beef. Will to store on Tennessee and Stanley freights coal from Winner these days. Bill Smith went to Lattimores yesterday in wagon.

1946 February 6th Wednesday

Bright but real drifts in place so Van Epps in late p.m. went to get a road so Marjorie could go to school and he saw Wm Abbott and told Abbott he would haul a load of hay to put in barn but first Will and Van Epps fed cattle hay and after dinner, they started to Abbotts via Highway and saw Mr. & Mrs. with Mr. & mrs. Chas. McCormick at Klein’s Store and W. L. asked Will to come over to-morrow, so Will will, then go to Abbotts. I did usual work but it is cold and I have smothering spells so don’t lay down in p.m. in our room, have time enough at night.

1956 February 6th Monday

Bright day. Men gave cattle hay and Ellen, Elaine, Darryl, Della and Jean Marie to Rosebud, their mother is very sick. Sissie La Point was buried this late p.m. at St. Francis. Ellen came back with children but Della & J. M. stayed at O’Kreek home as they expect Ted from Rapid City to see his mother at Hospital and he will stay at O’Kreek.

February 5

1926 February 5th Friday

Was a nice day. Will Smith and Will went to Bailey’s as Smith went home with some horses, and Will returned via Menz’s. The water came up in the creek near barn and Mr. Penny, a man from Council Bluffs, and Chester Carsner of Clearfield drove in and got stalled as car broke through ice. They stayed all night. Louise to school. William feels bum, and I did ordinary work and made bread, but still am so tired, every exertion a forced one. Will tried to pull Penny out but water too deep, couldn’t do a thing, there is water everywhere this day.

1936 February 5th Wednesday

Sun shone and N.W. wind rose and in a.m. snowed some snow. The boys chored and got a load on Lily Old Lodge Land north of here 1 mile and gave the cattle some cane. Will chored and started some more border in bathroom. Henry came for milk and had radio playing and was painting at border some.

1946 February 5th Tuesday

Started to snow last night, was 10 above, got to 14 above, blowing Northwest wind and snow for it fell fast at times and quit at 3:30 p.m. so Will went out to give cattle hay, for he and Van Epps got cattle in this morning before breakfast. Drifts got real deep, then would be nearly bare spots. Will chored and stayed indoors. Van Epps brought milk and cream, went right back to feed cattle later. I did usual work, played cards and wrote in dairy. Van Epps came on Sheik to help Will feed cattle late p.m.

1956 February 5th Sunday

Bright and warm. Will washed dishes and laid down, got his pancakes and fried eggs between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. and I took water, bread and apricots. Dressed and stayed up in chair but Will went to bed and stayed until 8 a.m. Never got any news this a.m. Will swept kitchen and hauled junk to west place in Ravine in Wheat Grass. Della & Jean Marie came last night with Janis’s and Chester stayed home to hunt Rabbits, got 2 cottontails and 2 jack rabbits and no Billie Abbott to hunt today. Harry, Harley, Billie, Mary and Louise here this p.m. I got cottage cheese out of separated milk from them but just enough separated milk to make oyster stew. All Janis’s and Della & Jean Marie got back from Rosebud this late p.m. as Furies leaving for home. Will and I played cards in day and night. Janis’s will go to Rosebud tomorrow.

February 4

1926 February 4th Thursday

A Fair day and not so cold. Louise to school. Anderson and Sears hauled corn and Sears stayed here. Dick Schmidt and wife brought a load of corn in evening. Noble Moore came for the night. Will and Will Smith looked for Horses today again and late dinner. William still feels punk, and Louise and I all in from trip.

1936 February 4th Tuesday

Another cold clear day and a lot of snow. I got meals, rinsed new dress. Will painted bath-room border and chored. Frank and LeMoyne got hay on Old Lodge land and chored.

1946 February 4th Monday

Was cold last night about 18 above and real warm this afternoon for sun shone all day except clouds would pass around here to N.E. so no moisture here. It was in fact just hot as Will and I came home from Valentine in p.m. where we went this forenoon to get radio wires fixed, got new batteries for it, an A one, so when Will got home he fixed radio together and it was loud and nice so we listened to radio in eve, played cards and Will read some and I played some solitaire. I got breakfast and supper, had dinner at Valentine, for Will and I went there before noon. Saw Thomas, Athel, Doris and David, who were there in Whiting truck to get a load of coal and Athel went to Dr. Farner for he is treating her for pile operation. We had a flat tire south of bridge west of here.

1956 February 4th Saturday

Bright, nice, got to 36 above in p.m. Men gave cattle a stack in a.m. and 1 p.m. so no feed tomorrow. Ellen came last p.m., cleaned ink off the front rugs, swept floor front room & kitchen and washed dishes, took the wash water out as no drain. Will put this washing on line and got in, in eve this day. I got eats, played solitaire, wrote in diary. Lew Wright came in his car and brought 100 lbs. beans to deal to Thomas’s. He had dinner there and all went to Whiting Store to tell that their Mother real sick at Hospital at Rosebud. Bud Whiting is in Sioux City for cake and went to O’Kreek this eve.

February 3

1926 February 3rd Wednesday

Cloudy and not very cold most of day, bright at mid-day. The Menz’s and Louise and I came home from St. Francis via Rosebud, where we saw Red Cross Nurse, and on way to Mission, where we passed Guy Bailey, stopped at Mission to mail letter, home at 2 p.m. William still sick. Will and Will Smith of Dallas, who came last evening looking for horses. Laurence Sears and Carl Anderson hauling corn. Fred Menz made biscuits here and were good.

1936 February 3rd Monday

Sun shone until towards eve clouded and was real cold. I got meals and baked bread, cinnamon rolls, and Saturday I baked Fruit-cake and made a beef loaf. Will chored and painted side walls of bath-room a mixed gray. Frank and LeMoyne chored and got a load of hay on the Lily Old Lodge land and gave it to the cattle.

1946 February 3rd Sunday

Was 4 above in night, got to 50 above in p.m. Sun shone so was nice. There is Open House at Chas. McCormick’s for Neil and Dick (Roy) Chauncey who are home from Pacific and European War Theaters. They are discharged. Never saw Van Epps today. Will took the cattle to Winter Pasture and chored. I did usual work, we played cards.

1956 February 3rd Friday

St. Blaise Day, Blessing of Throats. Bright, nice. Chester fed cattle, got load on Sled and Abbott came in his Car to drive ours to Winner to Dr. Stoats to have eyes examined and Dr. Jensen, a vertebra set in back. Got the jack at Smith Garage in Witten and took old one back, paid $10.00 on new one, cost $15.25 so we have it home now. We keep a tire, refunded or adjusted for $6.26 for our Mercury from Texaco Winner King Service (Merle), also groceries, drugs, dietetics for me. Billie Abbott and Little Tommy Colombe came in Colombe’s Green Pick Up to hunt Jack Rabbits out in our trees and Billie came in, got his dad’s car and went out, came back and left it in eve. Chester went out in Pick Up but no see Rabbits. Will & Abbott in to eat Supper of Potatoes, Side Pork, Hamburger, Gravy, Tomato Juice, Tea, Salmon & Apple Sauce. Abbott went home.

February 2

1926 February 2nd Tuesday

Quite a bit of fog and frost in night and early morning cloudy, but at mid-day brightened, and cloudy again towards evening and cold. The relatives and friends who stayed up last night had a little rest, and we all got ready for the funeral at 10 o’clock. All marched from the home to the church, where Mass was held, then marched to the cemetery, and the band played beautiful music on the way and at the cemetery. A large crowd, and interment sad. In p.m. we visited Sisters and bade good-bye to all, and Mr. and Mrs. Menz, Ada, Delila, Louise and I spent the evening at Dave’s.

1936 February 2nd Sunday

Snow from Southeast continued to fall so fine that sifted into our door in bedroom and continued until evening. I got meals, the men chored and fed stock cane then Frank went to Lattimores to spend day, back at chore time. Will and LeMoyne went to Otto Rothley’s in p.m., got 3 bu. shriveled wheat and priced oats which he wanted 27 cents per bushel, came home to chore in eve. This is Candlemas Day, Feast of Blessed Virgin.

1946 February 2nd Saturday

Bright, quite nice after a cold night. I got meals, laid down in p.m., played solitaire, listened to Radio, read some for Will got the mail from Van Epps as he and Billie were coming from Kleins and got the mail. Will met them in Klein’s pasture as he went to Whiting Store to get bread but none there so got Syrup and Coffee. He chored and read and we played rummy in eve and some pitch. This is Ground Hog Day and he saw his shadow so 6 weeks more of Winter. Candlemas or Purification of Blessed Virgin Mary but we have no Mass.

1956 February 2nd Thursday

Candlemas Day. Fair and cold. Men gave cattle hay and went in Car to ask Mr. to drive W.J. to Dr. about Eyes at Winner. They brought Darryl and David & Jimmie home. I got eats and we didn’t do much. Janis’s were up to get meat etc.

February 1

1926 February 1st Monday

Cloudy morning but bright and cold in the day. We all went to Communion as Father Buechel came to Dave’s last evening to hear Confessions. Mrs. Menz made her first Communion this early Mass. Mrs. Menz, Louise and I cooked and fed old Indian women who came to see Phoebe, until out of grub. Other relatives arrived to-day, Mrs. Winnie Heacock from Texas and Oliver Prues from O’Kreek. Will and William are at home batching, and we are so busy at St. Francis.

1936 February 1st Saturday

Sun shone until towards eve clouded in S.E. I got meals, mended and painted wash room curtains and Will put it on new roller. He put another coat on bath-room ceiling of 1 coat paint and went to the store where he got week’s mail, for Lester Lamreaux brought it horse-back, first mail since Monday on account of snow. Will went to Otto Rothley’s but no one at home. Frank and LeMoyne chored and went to North hills east of Dorian land and got 4 horse loads of hay and in p.m. gave cattle cane and put a load on the rack. Henry Arcoren got some of this potatoes in our basement.

1946 February 1st Friday

Sun shone and was nice so Will and Van Epps gave cattle hay but first made an end-gate to sled so as to pull hay on sled easier. Van Epps stayed for dinner and Will got most of it for I am sick at stomach but do usual work and play solitaire. The men cleaned barn, banked toilet with manure

1956 February 1st Wednesday

Bright cold day. Men gave cattle hay and Janis’s, Ellen, Chester and Elaine to Winner as Darryl at School and Carmen Harp took Darryl, David and Jimmie back to Thomas’s this p.m. and Janis’s got Darryl this eve. Will and I alone, and this is Bud Holsclaw’s Sale but Will had to stay with me as I am alone and we don’t feel good but Will can see better now.

January 31

1926 January 31st Sunday

A little cold and cloudy in a.m. but p.m. bright. Dave and girls, Louise and I went to early Mass after a short night of rest. This day one of respect to Phoebe, for all of six hundred people with children from school came to see Phoebe, and the folks of St. Francis prepared lunch and set up. Jake’s are well. Mr. and Mrs. Menz are certainly welcomed on my part during this trial. Will and William are at home, so I phoned John Carr’s to-day to let them, Ed’s and Tom’s know of funeral as Cora and I went to Father Zimmerman’s.

1936 January 31st Friday

Sun shone and was warmer than has been of late. I got meals and washed the clothes. Will got in water and carried water out after washing, hung dark clothes on line. He finished kitchen walls and painted bath-room ceiling. Frank and LeMoyne got load of hay north of Strids and gave cattle their feed and hauled out black cow that died in corral last night. Will Smith of Strids place went by last eve from Lattimores in a wagon, just enough wind to fill tracks so boys open one every trip.

1946 January 31st Thursday

Was 10 above this morning and got to 42 above in p.m. but 6 above last night. Sun shone and a west to S.W. wind. I am still stick at stomach from those capsules but did the ordinary work with Will’s help of meals, laid down in p.m., played solitaire, listened to Radio. The men gave cows, calves and bulls hay by sledding from the stacks in old field where wheat grass is now. Billie Van Epps stayed at Winner but they broke car east of Pierce’s and had to have Pierces bring them home. They took Marjorie and she stayed at Abbotts until they came in eve and she stayed home yesterday and to-day. Will and W.D. went to get his car and fix the axles for a burr came out and Van Epps brought it home. Will took check to Abbott for oats and they gave him a piece of beef.

1956 January 31st Tuesday

Moon shone last night but was so cold, 8 or 10 below when Chester got up at 6:30 a.m. He couldn’t start even the M Tractor, had to put in a New Starter, then he and Will gave cattle some alfalfa. They had dinner then he took Darryl to school. Came home to finish giving stack alfalfa to cattle, then he got Darryl as Dave and Jimmie not there.

January 30

1926 January 30th Saturday

Foggy, cloudy and some sleet this day.  Will went to Menz’s with gas and they came over and took Louise and I to St. Francis, as Tom came late last night and Coyners brought word that Phoebe died at Pierre, so Will and I took Menz’s sled home, got our buggy, went to Tom’s and got gas and oil and home at 11 p.m., and Louise and William still up, but William sick to-day, so he never went, and Will stayed home also on account of the chores, and Carl Anderson hauled corn to-day. The roads bad to St. Francis. We had a puncture at Rosebud Hill, so walked to the hospital and waited until Mr. Menz fixed it. We got to St. Francis at 4 p.m. and found Dave, the girls and a few of their companions at home, and the relatives getting ready to go to Kilgore to get Phoebe’s body, which arrived from Pierre via Rapid City at 7 p.m. They got to Dave’s at 9 o’clock, and the friends and relatives stayed up all night. Mrs. Gary and Mrs. Ben Bordeaux dressed Phoebe beautifully during the night.

Phoebe Bordeaux and Maude Cutschall

Phoebe Bordeaux and Maude Cutschall. Phoebe married Dave Whiting (Hattie’s brother), and Maude married Tom Garcia.

1936 January 30th Thursday

Sun shone all day until towards eve some clouds and was cold but warmer than last few days. The men chored and Frank and LeMoyne gave cattle hay that they got North of Strids. Will put one coat on kitchen walls and in p.m. they all went to the store, but there wasn’t any meeting of Indian group so they came back and Will put more paint on Kitchen walls and boys chored. I got meals, painted and mended front-room window shades.

1946 January 30th Wednesday

This is Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s, deceased, Birthday and Harry Hopkins, Roosevelt’s Pal, is dead, died yesterday, will be buried Friday. The March of Dimes for Infantile Paralysis is on. Men fed cattle by sledding, for they had to get them in this morning as it is snowing and windy from N.W. and cold but quit in day. After dinner they went to Whiting Store to get mail. I did usual work.

1956 January 30th Monday

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Birthday. Bright, nice day. Will has pains of all kinds so had to stay in bed. Chester fed cattle. Ellen drove Pick Up to cake them. Geo. Klein came to collect $1.00 from Janis, $5.00 from W.J. Ellen came up to say that Darryl had to fill a card of 20 dimes so I gave them to her, I guess to take to school by Mrs. Larson (Cora) at Klein School. I had to have milk this eve from Thomas’s separated.

January 29

1926 January 29th Friday

Another real nice day and snow melted so much the creek near the Barn is full. Louise to school and I did ordinary work. Mr. Menz and Tom and Joe Story, who stayed last night with Will, and William finished ice. A car brought Roland Wilcott and he went on to O’Kreek, another car went on to Mission. Mr. Totton here today.

1936 January 29th Wednesday

Sun shone but was very cold. N.W. wind brought some clouds in p.m. and moved the snow into deeper drifts and was real stormy for awhile but sun set clear and cold. I got meals and made fudge, also churned 2 batches of butter. Will and LeMoyne put the strips on kitchen ceiling and Frank gave the cattle hay and a load of alfalfa and in p.m. LeMoyne and Frank took 4 horses on one rack and went in the moving snow to North of Strids for hay, they got in at 3:30 p.m. and came indoors to get warm until chore time. Will painted strips on kitchen ceiling and started to put on side-wall one coat paint.

1946 January 29th Tuesday

Bright, nice day. Will chored and I got meals. I wrote 17 Valentines or addressed them so we mailed them and went around to Abbotts but he is at Winner with Roy Dreys in their new Pick Up, also Van Epps are at Winner with their cream, for Kleins and Whitings don’t buy cream these days on account of an inspection for this or that. They came home in eve. Will and I ate a lunch at noon and took salt to The Stallion and Mares and colts in Winter Pasture, also came home via the cows in Wisenberger’s Pasture. Will got in cobs from Porch in eve and chored. I have to cook him something and my meal is light. Those Hunters from St. Louis are hunting around here these days.

1956 January 29th Sunday

Bright, cool day. Fr. Lawrence Helmuller of St. Francis here yesterday a.m. and said he would be here at 10 a.m. this day so I fasted but drank Milk & water and last night at 10:30 p.m. took crackers and hot Milk. He brought Communion and I went to Confession first, then he left at once for 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Therese, Hidden Timber. Sadie fell and broke the small bone in her left leg, wrist 2 places so Tom Sr. took her to Winner to have set and put in cast. Yesterday p.m. Janis’s went to O’Kreek and had dinner there and Chester and Percy Red Buffalo, O’Kreek, went to Wood, S.D., Mellette Co. and Chester came back, played cards with Billie. In p.m. while Billie hunted 20 Jack Rabbits from Trees west and north of our house, W. J. and Abbott and Inez and I played pitch. We had Oyster Stew, Bananas and Ice-Cream.