1926 January 27th Wednesday

Another sleety, snowy day. I hung out a few pieces and they were covered with ice on the north side in the evening. I also made bread and cooked Beans and sauce. The Men went to Tom’s after hauling hay. Louise to school and ironed some clothes in the evening. Mr. Menz went by Tom’s and home with men early evening. C. Elshire got our large wagon to haul hogs to Valentine. Louise brought mail Elshires got at O’Kreek yesterday.

1936 January 27th Monday

Sun shone but was so cold. A N.W. breeze changed to S.E. and was cold in front-room. I got meals, baked bread, wrote letters and took a bath in p.m. Will chored, went to store and started to paint molding in kitchen green, also varnished book-case. Frank and LeMoyne chored, gave cattle hay and got loads hay North Strids in p.m. and the horses could scarcely pull the loads on account of drifted roads, they cleaned barn in a.m.

1946 January 27th Sunday

Bright, nice so Will chored, took junk to hole on Wagners and jars to Van Epps but no one home. He fed calves and bulls oats, we then went to Harry Furrey’s, had a nice dinner. Will, Harry and Harley went to look at a dam at pasture north of Schuppan’s that Roundys used to have and Furrey now has. Kenneth Nelson visiting Billy Furrey this p.m. We met Dolly Furrey going horseback to Furreys.

1956 January 27th Friday

Men fed cattle then a snow from S.E. caused Chester to get Darryl & David & Jimmie at noon, he went to McKees and got their Grinder to make sausage from Pork in Freezer, cut the lard and make hamburger. Billie Abbott helped. Ellen & Elaine & Darryl up to have Ellen wrap hamburger and Sausage. Abbotts home about 5 o’clock. We cleaned meat things and put all meat in deep freeze.

1926 January 26th Tuesday

Snowed in night and stormy at times all day. Will went to Menz’s and got his sleigh, then to Tom’s at noon. William had dinner and went to Tom’s on Sapa. I hung out the clothes but brought them in late evening as it was stormy, but the clothes were not dry. The men came home late evening. Louise to school and home early as she had only 6 pupils on account of Coyners dance last night, the children went.

1936 January 26th Sunday

Sun shone but was real cold. I got meals yesterday and to-day and made mince-pies to-day and 3 curtains last eve and they are not dry to-day. After choring and cattle had their hay, LeMoyne pulled Frank’s car until it started and he went to Lattimore’s, back to chore late p.m. Tina is home from Short Jamison’s so he went back before supper and back at 10:30 p.m. and we are still up for Roy Landeaux came for the eve and just went home then. Ben Clausen came and talked about Gran’s fire for they lost everything but radio, a cot and pair of scales and had very little clothes to wear. Henry Arcoren was here in p.m., so LeMoyne, Will, Henry, Ben and I played cards. Will and LeMoyne went to Ed’s in a.m. and Ed will winter our bulls. Stanley Whiting was at Arcorens horse-back and Paul Pawnee went by horse-back also.

1946 January 26th Saturday

Bright and not so cold. Men gave calves, bulls and Big herd hay by sledding it from stacks in field. Will chored and not much else for Van Epps and his Dad brought the mail so we had something to read. I got meals, laid down in p.m., read, listened to radio and played solitaire. Will took 2 cows to Van Epps.

1956 January 26th Thursday

Bright day so Chester gave hay to cattle as Will is sick, very sick, but I gave the relievers so Pink Pills help. Chester and Elaine cut the beef and Will helped a little. I just wrote the names on packages but p.m. Will wrapped some late p.m. They ate a lunch in p.m. The Wm Abbotts stopped to get Will to Dr. but he is in bed so they went on, got their Tractor at Winner this day.

1926 January 25th Monday

Bright, warm day until towards evening clouded and colder. Will unloaded oats and took Schmidts’ wagon home, via Ed’s and Carr’s and got ice tongs and plow and saw and left them at Tom’s as he went to the store and home without any eats, so he and Mr. B. Wagner, who came just as Will got home, ate together. William stretched coyote hides and chored. I washed the clothes but did not dry them, and was so tired in evening. Louise home from school and cold a little better.

Note: The following silent video from the 1930s shows large-scale ice cutting. Click here for more information.

1936 January 25th Saturday

Wind blew from N.W. in night and piled the snow in drifts, sun shone but was so cold, one nearly froze outside. I got meals, swept front-room and mended and painted 3 front-room curtains. Will put 4 panels ceiling flat paint on kitchen ceiling and said a fire at Gran’s Store, so Will took off paint clothes in double-quick time and the boys got out team and pulled the car until it started and Will and Frank and LeMoyne went to Wallace Gran Store at Oscar Ross old place and it was burnt to the ground. Hilbert Gran got face, head and hand burnt, so Jay Tate took him to Doctor. Will took Mrs. Gran, small daughter and son to Wheelers, back to Ben’s, got Mrs. Elliott, took her to Jamison’s. Henry to fire horseback, stopped here for dinner.

1946 January 25th Friday

Was stormy and cold so Will and Van Epps got in cattle from Wisenbergers and put some hay at stack east of shed here near barn and I guess they did this a few days back but finished the cart for hay sled, went to Chaunceys Sr. to get cable, for they have to feed cattle hay now. We had a dinner of potatoes, hominy, deviled eggs, custard, angel-food cake, bread, butter, coffee, cream and jell. I am drying damp spots on clothes, glad they are washed. Van Epps here at noon.

1956 January 25th Wednesday

Bright, warm so Men gave cattle hay and went to Abbotts to eat dinner, then they came back here to say that Wm, Leo, Wm Francis, Mrs. Inez would come over this p.m. to butcher our yearling steer beef which they did. Ellen and Elaine up and she fixed lunch and we played cards. Mrs., I, Chester and Billie. Mrs. and I won some in pitch straight. We gave Liver, Heart and Tongue to Abbotts, to Janis’s Liver and Kidneys, and Will and I liver. They brought beef in before bed time. Abbotts went home to chore, also Chester got Darryl after school, also Thomas’s. Abbotts will come tomorrow.

1926 January 24th Sunday

Cloudy and cold S.E. wind, started to snow in p.m., but quit in a little while. William chored and Will unloaded oats and got oats and corn at Roundy’s. Louise has a sore throat and a cold but tried to cure it this p.m. and evening. I did only ordinary work and in the evening made Pop-corn balls and some toast, as toast our only eats in evening. Louise to bed early on account of cold.

1936 January 24th Friday

Snowed in a.m., bright p.m. The men chored and Frank and LeMoyne got 2 loads hay north of Strids in a.m. and p.m. Frank got a load cane after feeding cattle. LeMoyne got horses in north hay field, fixed gate and got yearling colts in Jamison’s cornfield, he got Polly in Tuesday evening to use in place of Pearl. I got meals, put a coat varnish on book-rack again and painted 2 front-room curtains.

1946 January 24th Thursday

Cold night but sun shone most of day, a few clouds at times had appearance of showers but no moisture here so Will put clothes on line and they were quite dry when he brought them in, in evening. He got in water and took out so I got clothes washed and it was a big washing for 4 weeks ago today Mrs. Wm Abbott and I washed theirs and our clothes and since I have had flu so a few pieces washed in pan. I am very tired to laid down in p.m. but cold is a little better. Van Epps fed calves hay and went home for dinner, not much cooking but we had plenty eats. Will worked at something fixing hay sled and helped me this day.

1956 January 24th Tuesday

Bright day so Chester and Will fed cattle as usual. I got eats and we played cards and read and in evening looked at mail. Janis’s took Darryl to school and Thomas’s boys and got them in eve and came up to get what meat there is in freezer, also other things as Plum Butter, etc.

1926 January 23rd Saturday

Warmer but cloudy most of the day after a real cold S.W. wind in the night, was cold. I chilled in bed. William and Louise at Fitch’s box-social at Wagner’s, had a punk time, so home early in morning. Will went to Wisenberger’s and got a male hog, and Mr. C. Roundy came and on to Wisenbergers and told Will to get oats, so he had dinner and went up to Roundys immediately. William helped Will start and chored. Abe Elshire came late p.m. Louise cleaned the rooms but had a cold and I didn’t do much on account of getting up late.

1936 January 23rd Thursday

Cold and cloudy. Frank and LeMoyne did the chores and got 2 loads hay north Strids and fed the stock. Will never went outside all day for he put Wall-size [primer] on the ceiling in kitchen. Henry came, stayed for dinner and took screen home to screen his coal. I got meals and put varnish on new book rack that Frank put together and we got at Montgomery Ward.

1946 January 23rd Wednesday

Not such a bad day for sun shone. Men fed calves hay and Will chored. I still have a cold but it is getting better so I took a bath after supper while Will read and he scolded for fear I would take more cold but I kept real warm until I got to bed. Will feels bum this evening or has a low spirit for no speak-um and I don’t what is wrong unless cold not so good. I got meals, played solitaire, listened to radio and read some, also mended some clothes.

1956 January 23rd Monday

Bright and Men gave cattle hay and caked them also. I usual Meals and played Solitaire and read. Chester took Darryl to School and got him. They come up once in awhile. Insulin 5 units, don’t know what is wrong, also both feet hurt at times with pains.

1926 January 22nd Friday

Another cold Bright day and real cold in evening. Will went to Elshires and got some corn and had dinner there. I made cake and fixed chickens and cut out a waist and when night came was so tired, could hardly move. Louise to school and home in evening to help fix supper and basket, as she and William went to Wagner’s. William got a coyote when he went to O’Kreek, and to-day to Menz’s another one. Cecil Roundy was here this evening to sell Will some oats.

1936 January 22nd Wednesday

Cloudy, cold. The men chored and took Pearl’s shoes off yesterday on account of broken-hoof and to-day they fitted Polly’s feet so Will and Henry took them to O’Kreek to get fixed. The men had to put new battery in car first. Frank and LeMoyne gave cattle cane and cleaned barn and put some manure under front south window. I got meals, laid down in p.m. and sewed on everyday dress. Roy Landeaux came in p.m.

1946 January 22nd Tuesday

Was 20 above and got to 50 above. Sun shone and a southwest breeze. Van Epps walked down last 2 morning, fell and broke 1 qt. milk this day so we have no milk but he didn’t break the cream. We get cream and milk there for Barney feeds a calf that mother’s bag spoiled so we sold her last Dec. I just warmed up boiled beef and chili for dinner and Will and Van Epps and I were eating and I choked so bad, couldn’t get my breath for awhile, but finally got over it and spoiled my dinner. Men went to Wm Abbotts in V8 for Bud Whiting was there in their truck to get us a load of oats and Van Epps and Bud brought them here, unloaded and went home, then Will came later for he and Wm Abbott went riding in Roy Drey’s New Ford Pick Up, Green Color with Tan Trimmings and New kind of Springs. I got meals but still have a cold and not much finished but read, played solitaire, listened to Radio. Billie feels very bad with cold in head and a stiff neck. He cries all the time but still does not talk and 5 years last June 1st but knows everything he hears and makes signs to perfection and at times says a word now and then.

1956 January 22nd Sunday

Bright but cool. Men gave cattle Hay and Janis’s to O’Kreek to call Dr. at Rosebud but no Dr. to take Darryl’s tonsils out. Mass at Noon so Van Epps and Will, Elsie, Mary and Ralph came from Church. We had a lunch, ice-cream with chocolate, Sandwiches, coffee. They went home 4:30 p.m. to chore and in eve Stanleys came and stayed until 10:15 p.m.

1926 January 21st Thursday

Bright, very cold in day, also nights. Mr. Wheeler brought Dick Schmidt yesterday morning and Will went to Roundys and got oats. William went to O’Kreek and mailed letters. Louise to school. Mr. Menz went to the store. I made pie and churned butter.

1936 January 21st Tuesday

Cloudy and some snow fell but was very cold in p.m. The boys chored and went to N.E. hills and got 3 loads of hay and sun shone at mid-day. Will hung out rest of clothes and brought them in after dinner as it started to snow and was a real snow-storm from N.E. before dark and continued snowing at bed-time. LeMoyne got the cattle in yard and Will and Frank unloaded hay in a stack west-side of wind-break. Henry came in car for potatoes and beef.

1946 January 21st Monday

Bright, nice day, got to 10 above in night but warmer in day. I got meals, played solitaire, read some for Will got mail in eve. He and Van Epps put hay in feed-rack east of Shed in Barn lot, they had dinner, then finished and Will took Van Epps home and on to see if Bud Whiting would get a load of oats at Abbotts and he will tomorrow. Stanley, trapping up My Creek, ran out of gas up near water hole on Jesse Buffalo Chief Place that was Noel Lunderman Place, he traded to this man at Lucas, Gregory Co., S.D. so Will took gas and Stanley back to his car in a.m. Art Bachmann, Ainsworth, Nebr. here in eve. He and Will looked at Trailer at Van Epps and had supper. He took their horses to Witten, S. Dak. after supper.

1956 January 21st Saturday

Cloudy, cold day, never got above 14 above in p.m. and in eve real hazy. Men fed cattle and gave them cake. Have to let Bulls & calves to Big Tank for water while rest of herd eats hay, then put back in Bull pen. Yesterday Hens ate all the eggs but 1, and Janis’s to Thomas’s in eve to have Darryl’s and Chester’s hair cut so they then sent 1 doz. eggs when Chester got Darryl at School so to-day got Oyster Shells at Mission where Chester and Will went this p.m., also paper and tape and saw blade to butcher a beef this coming week. Janis went to O’Kreek this eve. Will and I alone.

Images in the following video (a promotional trailer for the book The Last American Highway: A Journey Through Time Down U.S. Route 83: The Dakotas, will be familiar to many readers. Thanks to my friend, Patsy, for posting it on Facebook.

1926 January 20th Wednesday

Bright but cold. Louise went to school. The Men shoed horses and Will went to store in evening and William got cattle from Elshires. I made bread. Ed Gran was here selling hog dope.

1936 January 20th Monday

Bright, cold and a few clouds in p.m. Will brought in water, hauled it out, hung up 3 tablecloths and 4 outing-flannel sheets and churned butter, drove the cattle to hay on State Land, visited with Jim Horton, who came to see if Will would buy some corn, he walked from home 5 miles N.W. of here and back via Hidden Timber, also Ben Clausen walked in with the mail. Clarence Pettitt came for Ray Carr’s ice-slip or shaver. I got meals and all clothes washed but it was 6 p.m. when I finished, so Will had to wash dinner dishes and set table for supper. He was sick so had to go to bed after supper. Frank and LeMoyne made a fence between hay on Lily Old Lodges and State land.

1946 January 20th Sunday

Snowed some last night but sun shone bright, was cold but no breeze so didn’t mind the cold. Will chored and he shaved for I swept floors, combed my hair and put on clean dress for I washed dresses and towels yesterday and dried indoors, but my cold is a nuisance but got meals, played rummy with Johnny Haukaas and Will in eve and Hank, Vivian, Johnny, Henrietta, Patty and Peter. Peter will be 1 yr. old, Tuesday, Jan. 22nd and this day is Johnny’s Birthday. They came at 1 p.m. and went home 4 p.m. We never saw Van Epps to-day but they are home.

1956 January 20th Friday

Snowed last night and this a.m. cloudy, 10 above this day. Men gave cattle hay under hill and filled Tank for Bulls & calves to water so shut cows out until the Bulls & calves got water at Big Tank, also caked cattle. I fried oysters for lunch and got sick as too rich. Started to fix cottage cheese out of sour milk but cooked too much. Ellen and Elaine up to get several things out of deep freeze. Chester fixed some welding on sled. Will washed all dishes and slept in a.m. and p.m. I played solitaire and wrote in diary and got eats.

1926 January 19th Tuesday

Snowed in night, real strong early morning, but a bright, very cold day. Will went to Elshires, Dick Schmidt’s, John and son Jake Wisenberger were here for dinner and a visit. I pressed out the cracklings and was sick, so not much else. William hauled a load of hay. Louise to school and in evening played cards.

1936 January 19th Sunday

Bright until in p.m. a few clouds, very cold. Frank went to Lattimores last eve and never went to the Women’s Extension Club Dance at Hidden Timber so was home at 10:30 p.m. We stayed up and listened to radio until after midnight so ate breakfast at 9 o’clock then LeMoyne and Frank gave cattle cane, and Frank put another carburetor in his car, ate dinner, went to Shorty Jamison’s to see Tina Lattimore, back before bedtime. Will did his chores, milking cows, feeding hogs and chickens, then put up curtains on double door and laid down until noon and in p.m. he visited with LeMoyne and Ben Clausen who came from Henry Arcoren’s where he went to try to buy his calves. I got meals, slept in p.m. Joe, Adeline and Anna May Elliott walking by to Jamison’s stopped to get warm as it was too cold to go any farther. Roy Landeaux, Mrs. Arcoren’s brother, came in eve, and LeMoyne, Will, he and I played pitch. Will and I won 3 games, they won 2 games. When he went home, it was so cold that every step he took sounded a long way in the night.

1946 January 19th Saturday

Cloudy, frosty and S.E. breeze cold. I got in some cobs, the meals, played solitaire, read some for Van Epps brought mail and he fed calves and bulls this a.m. but went home before noon. Will chored and went to Mosher to get some iodized mineral salt, 10 blocks and took to cows at Wisenbergers late p.m. He saw Wm Abbotts hauling hay on road east of his place so told him that we get oats next week.

1956 January 19th Thursday

Cold and sun shone some but eve was looking stormy. Will and Chester gave cattle hay and went in car to take Darryl to School. Thomas’s had to take David and Jimmie to School right behind them. They on to Valentine, repairs for Janis’s car and got tire for Pick Up fixed and groceries. Athel here to wash clothes as her machine broke and the drain froze so had to carry water out, mopped floors. Took what needed to basement and brought up some old eats and took a sample of them home.