1926 January 17th Sunday

Bright, nice day. The men chored and then stayed indoors. William took letters to Tom’s in the evening to mail. I was sick, so could hardly get the meals. Louise wrote letters this p.m. Fred Menz went to the store.

1936 January 17th Friday

Snow tonight, continued from N.E. in a.m. The men shored. Will fixed coop windows, made a trough to feed chickens and put new manure around the outside, for LeMoyne and Frank cleaned barn in p.m. for in forenoon LeMoyne got our cattle from Wagner and Frank hauled a load of hay and came to them. Henry painted at the woodwork in front room and went home early because was cloudy and snow on ground made it look so stormy. I got meals, laid down a while in p.m., then looked at catalog and wrote down things but made out no order. Ben Clausen walked over in p.m. to see Henry about buying his cows and went home in time to chore on account of the weather.

1946 January 17th Thursday

Fair day. Van Epps and Will gave calves and bulls hay and Will is tired from a cold and trip yesterday. My cold still hangs on and I have to get up and start fires every hour or two after midnight in order to clear my head and throat so I can breathe but in day I get meals, play solitaire, listen to radio and read some. The men saw a car go to Van Epps, so W.D. went home before noon.

1956 January 17th Tuesday

Some snow last night and cold this a.m. but Chester took Darryl to school and he and Will fed cattle hay. Will and I washed our clothes and put on line, the sun shone and some wind. Will hung clothes on line but froze so still brought in, in eve, and I started to dry indoors. Chester got Darryl and David and Jimmie and his car balks. Cora brought our mail. Ellen was up and got meat. This is Joe Wade’s sale.

1926 January 16th Saturday

Another nice day, freezes at night, but nice day. Rena and children and Claude Giroux family stayed all night and went mid-day. Mr. Retzac who owns Hidden Timber and the Apple land was here with 2 other men. Louise cleaned the house, I was all in so didn’t do much but the meals. Will cleaned the coop thoroughly but he was all in, also William has a cold in his chest. Mr. Menz looked for his hogs. The Elshires went to O’Kreek. Our 8th wedding anniversary.

1936 January 16th Thursday

Cold, cloudy S.E. wind, snow before evening but not so bad. 18 years ago to-day, Will and I were married in this front-room during a blizzard, by Fr. Grothe, St. Francis, in presence of Wm Whiting and Phoebe Bordeaux Whiting. Those here then were Jake, Cora, Lawrence, Mabel Nevea, Vivian, Dave, Phoebe, Nellie, Mary, Jeanette, Harriet, Nellie Larmer, Lee & Boyd, Jasper Simpkins, Ed Whiting, Sr., Wm Whiting, Wm Whitcher and myself, Harriet Whiting until 8 o’clock change to Whitcher, so much so good.

After choring Frank went to Tom’s in his car and he and Stanley brought a load last eve so Will and Lemoyne packed the first layer, also 2 other ones and last layer was just put in. I got meals, laid down in p.m., no sleep so cut out two more everyday dresses for myself. Henry started to varnish the front room wood-work after finishing the walls. Mr. and Mrs. Tell Wade and baby brought the insurance on cattle this p.m. Roy Landeaux stopped on way home from store.

1946 January 16th Wednesday

Was 18 above this morning and got to 38 above in p.m. Sun shone and appeared nice but I guess chilly in N.W. and North breeze. This is our 28th Wedding Anniversary and Will chored and went to a Sale at Nebraska / S.D. State line south of St. Francis to get a plow to break sod if he can. Van Epps gave calves hay and went home, for Billie is still very sick with cold, now is in neck or back of head. Stanley Whiting is trapping up My Creek, was here yesterday and at Van Epps this a.m. I washed some of my clothes. Will brought 2 qts. ice-cream from Mission but no plow.

1956 January 16th Monday

Our 38th Wedding Anniversary. Cloudy, cold and snow in eve, and we looked at Billie Abbott’s pictures of Germany and Holland. He has a new projector and were clear views of all pictures on a Sheet on East Side of Front-room. Mrs. Inez Abbott was at McCormicks to organize Extension Club. A Mrs. Peterson of Murdo, Jackson Co., S.D. and Mrs. Smith of Rosebud, S.D. to 4-H Club. Mrs. Abbott, McCormick, Chauncey, Klein, Drey and Josephine Klein were there. They had a lunch and will carry on in this work. Abbott and Billie had a bite to eat with Will and I, roast pork, potatoes, bread, butter, tomato juice, apple-sauce and Anniversary Cake with white nut icing. Athel and Lois Deerfield here this eve to get eggs as took a 2 lb. coffee can home, also a ham bone to boil beans. Abbotts went home 11:30 p.m., a lot of snow-birds came to Yard Light this 8 p.m. to Midnight, Hundreds of them.

1926 January 15th Friday

A nice day, but evening clouded a little. Carl Anderson brought corn. The Men cleaned hog shed and fixed pigs, Louise to school and William took water over and they mopped in the evening. I made bread, pie and cleaned the downstairs. The Dick Schmidt, Abe and Curt Elshire families, also Tom Whiting and Clarence Wheeler, Rena and children, Claude and Agnes Giroux and daughters Marie and Evelyn came to spend the night.

1936 January 15th Wednesday

Snowed early morning, cloudy, cold and snowed again in eve. I got meals, slept in p.m., baked bread and cinnamon rolls and put buttons on one every-day dress. Frank took 4 horses and wagon to Tom’s. Will went in car and LeMoyne went after dinner for he got our colts that strayed to N.E. Wisenberger’s. They finished Tom’s ice. Henry painted front-room walls.

1946 January 15th Tuesday

Nearly zero last night but bright and warmer to-day. South wind got strong. Men gave calves old hay and what was on Rack. Van Epps stayed for dinner then took oats to calves and on to home for Billie is still sick with cold in his head. I got meals, laid down in p.m., played solitaire, read a little, listened to radio and to Bus McKee and Will visit in eve for Bus brought us beef they butchered, a 2 yr. old corn-fed Steer and will put it in locker at Winner. He stayed for supper and went home in moonlight. Will chored and helped Van Epps in a.m. My cold is worse and Will rested this p.m.

1956 January 15th Sunday

Sun shone in a.m. but cold, cloudy in p.m. We are alone and Chester is at home. Ellen, Darryl and Elaine went to O’Kreek to phone hospital and Dr. will not take Darryl’s tonsils out tomorrow as 3 nurses short, so Della and Jean Marie came with them. Julia & Bill Fronek came about 4 p.m., ate a lunch and visited until 8 p.m. We are alone and went to bed about 10 p.m.

1926 January 14th Thursday

Nice day. Will went to Roundys and hauled straw in evening. William built a fence from Garden to corral. Louise to school, and I sewed and made pie. Jake Wisenberger, Sr. was here to get wagon, and had dinner to-day.

1936 January 14th Tuesday

Snowed early morning and was cloudy, cold all day. I got meals and laid down awhile in p.m. but no sleep, so sewed on everyday dress, talked to Ben Clausen and Henry, for Henry came at noon to paint, put undercoat on front-room mop-board and started to paint the walls. LeMoyne, Frank and Will went to Tom’s to put up ice. Will after choring went in car to Tom’s. LeMoyne went in cart with a team and Frank took 4 horses on wagon and Will and Tom packed 2 layers of ice and Frank and Stanley hauled and Thomas and LeMoyne sawed the ice. They all got in, in time for chores.

1946 January 14th Monday

Bright, nice day. I got meals for cooked chili and Van Epps and Will fed calves hay. Will took salt to Big herd on Wisenbergers. Van Epps fixed stall in barn, they then ate dinner and Will fixed fence south side Roy Scissons Place where men cut to go through to haul or sled in hay. Van Epps finished stall and he and Will got the mail. Van Epps had to stay up nearly all Saturday Night as Billie had the earache and again last night as he still has cold in head. My cold still bad, had to lay down in p.m., played solitaire, read and listened to radio. Will’s cold is better so he can sleep at night. I get up a lot.

1956 January 14th Saturday

Cloudy and some snow at times and wind from N.W. quite strong so when snowing was real stormy, but Chester gave cattle hay and got up at 6 a.m., fed chickens and chored in a hurry. He came to say that they to Winner this morning, went off to Winner, got groceries, back to O’Kreek 1 p.m. Elaine & Ellen to Catholic Church basement to buy old clothes and Chester to Council Meeting. Will and I alone. Janis’s came home and Chester wanted to go Horseback to get cows from East fence but Will took Pick Up and made him go that way.

1926 January 13th Wednesday

William looked at traps as this was a nice day, bright and warm. Will went to Carl Anderson and bought some cord. Louise to school, and I dried clothes. Mr. and Mrs. Menz, Ada and Delila were here in the evening.

1936 January 13th Monday

Sun shone and was warm. Frank and LeMoyne chored, cleaned ice-house, put brush in bottom, unloaded hay they got Saturday p.m., went via Elliotts in p.m. on account could not cross river to Ben’s for rye-straw to pack ice, they got 2 loads, came back west bridge. I got meals, laid down in p.m. and sewed a little on an everyday dress for myself. Will is better so chored a little, went to Ben’s in a.m. to ask for straw and in p.m. he loaded manure on cart, also one in a.m. and boys unloaded. He went to store, took salt to cattle in p.m. Henry went with Stanley to Winner so did not come to work at paint to-day.

1946 January 13th Sunday

Some clouds but no snow and mostly bright and cold in forenoon, then warm afternoon, got to 50 above. I got only breakfast and lunched at noon, in eve we had poached eggs and toast and some oatmeal left from breakfast. I laid down awhile this p.m., played solitaire, read some and listened to radio, still a bad cold. Will chored and went before noon to O’Kreek to Wilbur Miller home to Legion and Auxiliary Meeting. There was a large crowd and World War II vets joined about 17 there. Will came home at dark. I never saw Van Epps to-day.

1956 January 13th Friday

Bright day and may get a change soon. Men left a stack that Chester got at Sturdevant across River to feed tomorrow, it is a large one, may be 8 or 9 tons. Will stayed indoors and Darryl no go to school. They are home and getting ready to go to Winner tomorrow. Just read and played cards and got eats and no one here this day.

1926 January 12th Tuesday

Cloudy at times, but warm enough to thaw, a very strong N.W. wind all day, so strong I couldn’t hang out clothes which I washed yesterday, but made bread and dressed ducks and cooked them. William took horse to A. Elshire’s. Louise to school and home early evening. Will had a headache so cleaned box-stall and visited with the Clarence Wheeler, Ed Anderson, who brought us a load of corn, and C. Elshire, who brought cattle back also LeMoyne and Claude Giroux who brought buggy home.

1936 January 12th Sunday

Sun shone bright and was warm enough to thaw ice in yard. I got meals and laid down in p.m., also finished writing letters and one to Boy’s Home Birthday Party. Frank came this 8 a.m. from Daywitts Dance, all stayed and danced no more after 4 a.m. He went to Lattimores at noon, back in late p.m. to help chore and Tina came along so he took her to Shorty Jamison’s after supper. Frank and LeMoyne chored and took the cattle to B. J. Wagner’s in a.m. and Seth and Roubideaux came to see LeMoyne so they went back west to the store. Will laid down in p.m., nearly all day for the cold still hangs on his chest. LeMoyne listened to radio in p.m. so no go places.

1946 January 12th Saturday

Was 2 above this morning and never got over 28 above so was chilly. Bright until in p.m. clouded. Van Epps and Will fed calves hay and Will to Carter to have Income Report made out by Jack Martin, while he waited a couple of hours at noon he went in to Winner to get groceries and had lunch at Joe’s Cafe. After Report made out and mailed to Aberdeen, S.D., Internal Revenue Collector, he went to Mosher, paid Schlaikjer for 5640 lbs. cobs gotten by Harold Whiting and a sack of Bonemeal. I finished copying the amounts of expenses before Will went to Carter. Got 2 meals, played solitaire. Have cold in head, throat and lungs, very much so.

1956 January 12th Thursday

Bright, warm. Chester went to get a large stack hay (new) on bottom north side Sturdevant’s across River, went around Road west and South and Will out to see if he can get home and all O.K. so they left on sled but fed feed stock at home and late p.m. strung out in bull pen. LeMoyne Whiting came in Ed’s car this p.m. and visited, he wants a job to help here but we don’t know yet as so many have asked to come but will [decide] before long. I got eats and read and played solitaire and cards, casino and pitch, and it keeps us awake in eve. Ellen is caring for Darryl and they went to O’Kreek in eve to see her mother who is sick.

1926 January 11th Monday

Bright but real cold after a night of strong N.W. wind and was snow, so a small blizzard. William went hunting yesterday and today in a.m., got one duck yesterday and 2 to-day. Will being at Spencer, Nebr., came to Winner Saturday night, out to O’Kreek with Ed Anderson this forenoon and home in p.m. on Billy which he rode over to O’Kreek Thursday. He stayed Friday night at John Ableidingers, had 2 meals at H. Bradstreets and saw all the old neighbors and everyone well, but a few deaths as of late, Grandma Schmidt, Perry Skelton and Mrs. Franz Kaye. I did the work and washed clothes but hung out only a few. Mr. Geo. Menz came for his cow. Louise to school and all the scholars there, but Margaret Schmidt, who had a swollen face.

1936 January 11th Saturday

Cold, cloudy, frost until towards noon, frost gone, clouds remained. Will is sick with a cold so laid in bed nearly all day, got up before noon and went to mail letters and was too late so brought them back. Henry gave the front-room wood-work a coat of under varnish to make it lighter color and he stayed in evening to hear Jesse Rogers of Eagle Pass, Texas, so went home at 8 p.m. Frank and LeMoyne got six loads of hay from N.E. hills but never unloaded last 3 loads. I got meals and in p.m. picked out more words from Boy’s Home Birthday Party. Frank went to Daywitt’s Farewell Dance for Tony Martins as leave soon for Idaho, where Sinclairs live. Bill Smith went to Lattimores before sun-rise and led a team back home in eve still leading the team but he helped Lattimores butcher.

1946 January 11th Friday

Northwest wind strong and cold and a few clouds so not pleasant as some snow fell. Will chored and got in cobs but he has pain in his face and head from cold so had to stay indoors until chore time in eve. I got meals, made out income report, played solitaire and read some. Seth Whiting, Carol Jean and Fay, Levi Leighton, Seth’s brother-in-law were here last eve. Levi wants a job working for us but we do not need anyone now. Van Epps came and gave calves hay and went home before noon,

1956 January 11th Wednesday

Bright nice day. Men gave cattle hay and cake, then brought pork from garage in house. Chester and Ellen cut meat. Will helped wrap first half, it’s in deep freeze. I wrote names and we went home to eat as Darryl in bed, had to take him to Rosebud for shots and pills this eve. Elaine along. They cut other half pork and wrapped in p.m. I wrote names. Will slept as all in. I am not too well but we played cards late p.m.

1926 January 10th Sunday

Cloudy, stormy forenoon, bright and thawy until towards evening clouded. We stayed indoors, Louise and I and William, until he went to Tom’s at noon and stayed until evening. Louise and I read and not much else but played cards.

1936 January 10th Friday

Bright, nice, clouded towards eve. I got meals, baked bread and cinnamon rolls and started to pick out some words from Boy’s Home Birthday Party, Fr. Edward Flanagan’s Boy’s Home Contest at Yankton, S.D. but Will is sick with a cold and LeMoyne got something in his eye so had to dope it in eve so we all went to bed early for we get up before six these mornings. Henry started to put first coat on front-room ceiling and he helped Will, Frank, LeMoyne, Thomas put cattle through chute for Will got them from State and Wagners Land in forenoon for he first went north of Wisenberger’s and found a cow that had been gone and she had a month-old calf so he brought them home after the cattle were inspected and no T.B. this time. Dr. Russell, Presho, S.D. and Wm Hartman, Mission, did testing, they had dinner here. LeMoyne and Frank got 3 loads of hay from N.E. this a.m. and unloaded late p.m. Thomas came horse-back and went home after testing. Roy Landeaux of St. Francis, who is staying at his brother-in-law’s, Henry Arcoren’s, came with Henry and got potatoes and coffee cans for Mrs. A. to put tallow in. L. Lattimore came from N.E., walked home this a.m.

1946 January 10th Thursday

Bright but not so cold. I got meals with Will’s help, for Stanley came as Will asked him last eve, also got his vaccine machine and Van Epps came so Men vaccinated calves. Arthur Bordeaux of Rosebud taking farm census or survey of stock etc. was here to check us, he and Will had coffee. Van Epps said that Tuesday p.m. when or after Will and I were at Abbotts and Dreys, 2 men hunting from Winner at Chauncey’s, one a man who used to buy butcher stuff for Outlaw died of a heart attack near Chauncey’s garden, so she took their car and got Abbott and he took body to Winner.

1956 January 10th Tuesday

Bright nice but not too warm. Chester gave hay to bulls and stock in barn yard corral, went to McKee’s, butchered 1 hog for us, 1 for McKee’s, brought ours home and paid Bus for fixing his axle on right car wheel. Mrs. Jones, Co. Nurse of Boarding School here and tested urine and I am negative, no sugar, so will use 25 units of insulin for eyes blur and all around no good. Nurse is checking school children for shots. Athel brought our coffee pot, large one, home and got a few eggs and stayed awhile and I am roasting beef ribs for lunch but she did not stay. Usual eats and Ellen was up and took Darryl to school but he has sore tonsils.

1926 January 9th Saturday

Foggy and frosty early a.m. but real warm day, thawed a bit until late p.m. a cloud passed over, but sun set bright. Louise cleaned rooms and did several jobs. William did the chores and drove horses in field. I made pie, cake and fixed chicken today. C. Wheeler has a dance tonight, but we no go.

1936 January 9th Thursday

Bright, nice day. After choring, Frank and LeMoyne got 6 loads hay and Will stacked some of it in p.m. Will got in water and between he and I, we got the clothes washed and Will hung them out and brought them in, in eve, and dark ones were frozen so he and Frank put up the new drying rack and I hung them up after supper. Henry finished front-room ceiling and he and Will went to the store late p.m. I got meals and churned butter. Rena started one batch last eve and I finished and had 7 to finish this late p.m. and got in some clothes.

1946 January 9th Wednesday

Bright but cool N.W. wind, got to 40 above so was chilly. Yesterday morning Roy and Clarice Chauncey were here and Roy 4 years in service and over 1 yr. in South Pacific is discharged. Van Epps brought our hog to butcher and Elsie and Billie came along. Elsie got most dinner for I am all in with cold on chest, had to lay down twice in a.m. and p.m. Elsie swept front-room floor and washed dishes. Van Epps and Will finished our hog in forenoon and theirs in p.m., then they went home to do chores and go to party at Chauncey’s for Dick. Will chored and we read in eve.

1956 January 9th Monday

Bright, N.W. wind Strong when one gets out of car. Men gave cattle hay and Chester to McKee’s to help butcher hog for us and 1 for McKee’s but Bus had a head cold so had to rest and no go outside but will tomorrow. Chester home to get 7 cows out of hay stacked west of trees and fix his fence and was going out to get Darryl in their car when Will, I, Elaine and Ellen coming in from Valentine. Will drove to town and when we got on hill out of town Ellen took over and drove home, was a lot of mud and water in low spot on road coming home. We met Ellen’s mother, Jean Marie and Della in Klein Pasture coming to visit Janis’s and they came on, had dinner and went home to O’Kreek. Ellen had pies baked and meat roasted so all had dinner as Chester came home. We got wrapping paper and tape and groceries at Council Oak, accounting book at Stilwell’s, flashlight and batteries for me as I am up a lot at night on account of no sleep. Will has no sleep also, his eyes bother.