Location, Location, Location: Finding Records Look EVERYWHERE Part 2
Posted on October 20, 2021 1 Comment
In my last post on locations I failed to mention a few things that caused me some frustration today. I only had a couple of hours to photograph records when I was in South Kingstown RI. While I was there the clerk mentioned the earliest records were actually in North Kingstown which I did not have time to visit. So today I went to my local Family Search Library affiliate to see what I could find in North Kingstown Records. It was very frustrating to say the least. I also mentioned in my last post that Family Search had finished digitizing their microfilm records—wonderful. But their records, are digitizations of old microfilms, and there may be many items on the same film and they are not always in order, nor are they intuitive. I could not find several records I had looked at in person! I will have to go back and look through page by page. There is an advantage in looking at records page by page as I did in person, as sometimes records you don’t expect are found in odd places.
But here is a happy accident. The records for North Kingstown were badly burned and water damaged in 1870. However much earlier in when South Kingston began their records they copied the united Kingstown records (held in North Kingstown) into their ledgers. So this record is the Will and Inventory of John Sheldon from the South Kingston Record Book 1.
Looks like this in North Kingstown where it was originally recorded:
So if you are looking for early records of Kingstown you are better off looking in South Kingstown rather than North Kingstown even though the records are supposed to go further back in North Kingstown! I don’t know about you but I think the South Kingstown is more complete and easier to read! This also points out the difference between Photographing the original records versus looking at a copy online!
Which brings me to another issue which I have seen many times (especially in Massachusetts) there are often many copies of early records and/or transcriptions. Sometimes it’s good to use both originals and later transcriptions. Sometimes it is hard to figure out which is the oldest. So here are some things to keep in mind while researching early records
FINDING & COPYING EARLY RECORDS
- Visit in person when at all possible
- Photograph records rather than scanning old records (less handling & less chance of harm)
- Look in nearby communities—records aren’t always where you think they might be
- Look in every old record you can find—Births can be recorded in Town Meeting Records books or in Probate Records. Land Records may be in Probate books etc.
- Later Indexes do not always refer to the page numbers of the original records (especially early ones)
- Digitizations in black and white are harder to read than the originals
- If you photograph records you can later adjust exposure and contrast to make the records easier to read
- Be persistent, if you have time look at every record page by page
- Photograph front covers and first pages when possible
Happy hunting!
Kelly Wheaton Copyright 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Amid the company of Happy Maidens: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 21
Posted on October 18, 2021 Leave a Comment
July 23 1917 Since noting the past events a number of things have happened. I finished Fannies things $6.00 also a dress for Mrs Fish $6.00 a skirt and waist for myself w white dress for E. [Eilene] and other things. On the 16th E. [Eilene] was sick and I had all the work to do for a week which put off our trip. At last we are on the way, got started last night on July 22. Frank made a present of a handsome black Cathy suitcase, Frank [Hoffman] is one of the most generous souls I have ever met.
We are rocking along at a lively clip. The long train giving the huge engine plenty to do is belabored throbbing and choo-chooing comes back to us in our superheated Pullman set 13, and its heated breath blows in our little screen window making the atmosphere almost unbearable. We have stripped the baby down to the limit. All day long through Montana and the Milwaukee road have passed the sage brush and are going through rocky hills covered with scrub pines green grass and alfalfa in the little valleys with occasionally a cultivated field, a stream of water and trees, cotttonwoods and willows. More sage bushes which I thought we had passed, train is balanced hand an hour or so and trying to make it up. Will be glad when we cross the Rockies. Lavina [Montana] a pretty village with several pretentious buildings. A place [illegible] Large gray hay barn set in the [Illegible] a old of its with great [Illegible] Field. All aboard suffering from the heat.
Harlowton end of division, beginning of electric line odd comfort, for with the steam engine gone there is no smoke or cinders so we open up the windows right and left and the relief is truly grateful. The scenery has changed to broad ? And alfalfa and other folds, a densely wooded stream occupies til middle distance beyond which are slow rolling hills while far against the evening sky looms the cool purple mountains. Supper over sun nearly done, cooler.
Just left Ringling a scattered hamlet with comfortable buildings , a good schoolhouse, a Catholic church etc. A splendid herd of cattle and the most magnificent string of mountain peaks I have yet seen off to the South East.
Deepening disk. Magnificent scenery pure covered Hanglets[?] rise to the sky so close they it tires the neck to gase [gaze] at their summits. Rock bordered pools reflecting the green trees on their banks.
Tuesday July 24 Dewey’s birthday. En route just passed St Marys, Idaho. The river has broadened the pines are larger and thicker and greener than back in Montana, the beautiful hills and streams and tiny valleys infold to our view in an entrancing panorama.
Plummer Idaho Railroad Junction de Lux Rocks and Rills and wooded Hills. Mica with its brick and tile factory and now Spokane pronounced with a “can’. We are on the Western slope. The Reapers are busy cutting grain. Kelley S Garden paved streets and other first signs of the big city. What a trolley Car! Spokane the once green city with ?? residence parks are behind.
We leave now passed the lumbered Hills and come to the barren sage covered rolling lands with ….a field to show…..regrows to carve a livelihood. The conductor has ….up order Some today. I was real cold last night I had on two woolen blankets. It has grown quite warm again. Ellensburg and 4 oclock. Clouding over and wind rising. Everything green and growing prosperously. Irrigation as transformed the barren waste fields into wheat, flax, alfalfa and wild hay. Fruit orchards in and on thru tunnels over trestles cuts and fills and every other form of road building. Lofty mountains looming snow crowned high, tiny rivulets cascading down the cedar slopes telegraph poles in the making right where they grow stretches of stumpage where they have been cut down gaunt stark trees that perished in the forest fires and a blue huge front are now raging, this all and much more we pass as we near Seattle.
Dec 8, 1917 At home in San Francisco. It seems strange to me that after writing those last lines before arriving at Seattle, I should become so averse to writing in my diary. Or the least thought of it even that I should neglect willingly and contentedly until this moment, when I feel impelled to record a few of the happenings that have grouped themselves around me. From that cold foggy day in July until this beautiful sunny Dec day.
The seasons seemed reversed. Every thing bears a strange exotic impression. The mysteries of life and death and the details of existence in between weigh heavily upon my soul. The Eternal questions went I and what for? have insistently intruded their unanswered presence upon me. I seek the solution. Such wonderful thoughts come crowding in upon me that it is inhospitable to record them. Some day I trust, pray, the Lord will clearly show the way that leads from darkness unto day to even me.
And thus it is and so it will ever be when mortals attempt to think out the unthinkable, explain the unexplainable. Trite staid phrases fail utterly to convey an impression of the state I’m plunged into by the sudden death of my sweet dear young friend, My almost daughter Lois Fryer. [Lois died 4 Dec 1917 daughter of George and Irene Shoup Fryer]
I have mentioned her often in these pages the last few years. I have revelled in her glorious vitalizing personality. I have gloried in her very evident musical talent and proudly showed her much sewing and dressmaking. A quaint old fashioned way she had that at 15 or less she could cook and serve a full course dinner. She had a full powerful voice which rang true. She loved music and learned it without effort, playing at recitals music from Peer Gynt, the Erl King etc.
Full of the joy of life she pressed it every where the baths, the ice place, the beach and automobile tours. Often she would run into my humble room that was glorified by her presence and throwing arms around me would pipe out in her high keen voice O I am so happy. And glowing fair, bubbling over she would tell me how she was going to see Aida and her Alice Gentle sine and then she would sigh and wish she were 17 when the great voice trainer Anthony Juro had promised to take her as a pupil.
O my Lois girl that fate should be so cruel. On your 17th birthday you took sick and less than a week after that you lay a beautiful waxen image of yourself in your white coffin. And so swiftly the harrowing events followed each other after that. Till all that was mortal of you my hearts delight, my pride and pet was consigned to the inexorable fate of the crematory.
Surrounded by heart broken friends, covered by beautiful flowers, the rarest flower of them all, you passed out an angel too heavenly for earth, a spirit of joy and love too fine for this gross planet. They needed you in Heaven with your glorious gift of song to complete the heavenly angel’s choir. Your loving adorable nature soul to pour out anthems of love and adoration to the God of love.
I can see you, my vanished joy, amid the company of happy maidens gathering exotic flowers in the gardens of paradise. Thou are but just gone ahead. We’ll follow soon and join you in the realms if joy forever secure in this love and can never again know the anguish of parting.—–
Kelly Wheaton Copyright 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Location, Location Location: Changing Names and Jurisdictions & Finding Records
Posted on October 18, 2021 1 Comment
My recent trip back to Massachusetts underscored the SUPREME importance of understanding a Town’s history. It is not just the names that often changed, but their jurisdictions and sometimes their ACTUAL location.
What do I mean by knowing a Town’s history. Specifically nothing will serve your genealogy research and your family history writing more than understanding the broad historical outlines of a Town’s past. The older the town the more this matters and this is true of European as well as North American Town’s. And one must realize that we sometimes have both civil and ecclesiastical jurisdictions and within those we have different levels of jurisdiction.
I live in California and yet even with a seemingly shorter written history it was a part of Spanish holdings, then Mexico, before becoming part of the United States. Then within California we have Federal, State, County and Town records. In New England and elsewhere we have the addition of Townships in between Counties and Towns. All of these entities have changing jurisdictions and sometimes overlapping ones.
I am going to write about two Town’s I recently visited to give you an idea of why knowing a Town’s history is imperative. First off we have the Town of Rehoboth which currently resides in Bristol County, Massachusetts. Before the arrival of European settlers the area was known to the Wapanog natives as Seaconcke now spelled Seekonk. It was claimed by the Plymouth Colony and the Plymouth Colony included the Southeast part of what later became Massachusetts. So if you are looking for the earliest records of Rehoboth they would be in the Plymouth Colony records. In 1643 the “township” of Rehoboth was organized. So as of 1643 most records were kept by the town of Rehoboth and those records are found at the Rehoboth Town Hall. The formation of Bristol County Massachusetts in 1685 means that Land and Probate records then moved to the County Courthouse in Taunton, Massachusetts; while vital records (births, deaths and marriages) and Town Meeting records remained in the Rehoboth Town Hall.
However the Town of Rehoboth and its Town Hall are not even in the same state or location as the “original” Rehoboth. Furthermore the original township of Rehoboth has been divided into several new Townships including Seekonk, Swansea, East Providence, Attleborough, Cumberland and Pawtucket. The location of the original Seekonk/Rehoboth was the small circled 2 on the above map. The current location of the Town offices are in that little tab in the Northeast corner (adjoining Taunton); a distance of about ten miles as the crow flies. So if you were, as I did many years ago, to take a trip to Rehoboth and did not know its history you might miss the Ring of Green which is the center of the original Rehoboth and it is located in Rumford, Rhode Island ( a part of the township of East Providence) and not in Massachusetts!
Where to find records for REHOBOTH:
- Before 1643: The Plymouth Colony (transcriptions) original in Plymouth (some images here)
- After 1643: Rehoboth Town Hall Rehoboth for Land, Vital, Probate, Town Meetings etc
- After 1685: Probate and Land records move to Taunton, MA
- For that part of Rehoboth that became Swansea, Proprietor’s Records begin in 1667 and Town records begin in 1670 and and so forth for each town that broke off from the original Rehoboth
- After 1862 for records of the original lands on which the “original Rehoboth” resides including Deeds, probate, lands, and town meetings will be found in East Providence
So if you want to make a search of any of these original early records you are going to be visiting many places. However with the completion of the digitization of Family Search’s collection from microfilm you can see the filmed records at any Family Search library or affiliate.
Showing locations of places mentioned in this Blog post.
The second Town, is that of South Kingstown as it is now known, but was originally known as Kings Towne before it was split in half into North and South Kingstown in 1722. And before that it was part of Narragansett Country, the name taken from the tribe who lived their. The Township of Narragansett was carved out of South Kingstown first as an enclave in 1888 and incorporated in 1901. The Township of Kings Towne was founded in 1641 but the records do not begin until 1692. The Town Hall for South Kingston is located in the village of Wakefield, in the township of South Kingstown (sometimes spelled Kingston). Are we confused yet? When it comes to locations and jurisdictions it can get very complicated.
Where to find records for South Kingstown
- Earliest records for the area are going to be in Providence which was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams who purchased land from the Narragansett tribe.
- Next area to be populated that has records pertaining to South Kingston is Portsmouth. Roger Williams helped Anne Hutchinson and followers to purchase Aquidneck Island, where Pocasset (later Portsmouth) was founded in 1638. Portsomouth’s vital records began in 1636 and Town Records in 1638
- In 1639 William Coddington (Quaker) & eight other prominent families left Portsmouth to found Newport. Some of the early inhabitants of South Kingston were from Newport but their early records start about 1647, So before that check Portsmouth.
- The records of the united “Kings Towne” before its split in 1722 are located in North Kingstown. Although founded in 1641 the records do not begin until 1692 for Town records and probates and for vitals 1700. So again you’ll need to check Newport or Portsmouth.
- And finally Land Records begin in 1696 in South Kingstown, Town Meetings in 1704. Within the Land Evidence book are some vital records in the 17th C.
Rather than go into every detail of every place that your ancestors lived please consider taking a deep dive into the history of several places your ancestors lived. I promise you it will be rewarding, especially in terms of writing with more understanding of your ancestors lives.
Please note that early records may contain more than what it says on the title. As above they often contain vitals and other miscellaneous records so if you have the time read through all the earliest records. You may find some gems as in my early post.
PART two of this post is here.
Kelly Wheaton Copyright 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Foxes, Wild Cats, Crows & Woodchucks – Negros, Indians & Servants: The Battle for Control in Early Rhode Island as reflected in South Kingstown Records
Posted on October 17, 2021 1 Comment
The joy and horror of reading original colonial town records is the discovery of everyday life in the Colonies. On a recent visit to South Kingston, [Originally named for the Naragansett Indians and later known as Kings town], Rhode Island Town Record office I stumbled upon these records, which were both illuminating and disturbing. What comes through is the constant fear of survival and the need to subjugate others who they feared, whether they be man or beast. Placing our ancestors in context is important to telling the full story. That means sometimes confronting the uncomfortable truths.
American Crow by John J. Audubon courtesy of Brooklyn Museum 
Woodchuck Wikipedia Commons courtesy LadyCamera
1723/24
“Voted that any parson or parsons befound brenging of any heads of any part of the head of either of foxes, wildcats woodchucks or Crowes to any officer in town in order to have a receipt or note for the same denoted to the town treasurer and if it should appeare be done any assist. or Justice of the Peace of this town that the sd heads ware killed in other town that then it shall be Lawfull for the asst or Justice or any of them to cause any person or persons so offending to payment of twenty shillings with cost of prosecution and any person or persons that shall informe against any person so offending and make [illegible] shall have ten shillings out of the fine and the other half shalll be put in to the town treasury and so this town meeting is disolved.”
1726
As much as I might be unsettled by the killing of wildlife the following view into early colonial life is a reminder of man’s inhumanity to man and the brutality with which judgement was rendered.
“Whereas it hath been A Custom For Several Years Past for Indians and Negroes servants and others to Meet to Gather on the Third Week in June Annually In this Town Under the Pretence of Keeping a Sort of Faires, Which hath Proved V ery Prejudicial to the Owners of Such Servants as well as other people , It is therefore voted and enacted by this Town Meeting that For the Future If any such Indians, Negroes Do Meet to Gather in and place in the Town On any of the Days of sd Weack Under a pretence to uphold sd Faire or scandalous Meeting that it shall be Lawfull For any constable to sease such offenders and Carry them before Authority for sd offences Shall be Publick whipd and any One Justice of the Peace May order such offenders to be whipt at his discretion Not exceeding Twenty Stripes, And the offenders to Pay ye Lawfull charge of free persons and if slaves then their Masters to Pay sd charge. ”
“At a Quarter Meeting held at the house of Ichabod Potter Sheffield in So. Kings Town by adjournment of the 13 day of June 1726.“
1739
“In a Town Meeting held at the County House in South Kingstown On our last Tuesday in August being the 28th day of said month Annon Dom. 1739. Ephraim Gardner Esq chosen moderator of said Meeting...
“Voted that Isaac Sheldon Esq. and Wm. Jeffrey Watson be chosen Deputys to sit in the Govt. Assembly to be held in said County House within and for the Colony of Rhode Island on the last Wednesday in October next...”
“Whereas the inhabitants of South Kingstown have suffered great Damage by having their corn pulled up and destroyed by the large sort of Black Birds, which are called Crow Black Birds. And in order to further prevent their doing such vast damages as herefores For the future the Freeman of said Town, have thought proper to endeavour to have them destroyed. Therefore it is voted and enacted by the Freeman of said Town, at their meeting and by the Authority of the town it is enacted, That from and after the first day of March next, And untill the Twentieth day of June next after, And yearly between the said times of the first day of March, and until the Twentieth day of June, if any Person or Persons being inhabitants of said Town, shall kill any of the old Birds of the aforesaid Black Birds, shall receive as a Reward therefor the Sum of three pence pur head for every such old Black Bird as they shall kill as aforesaid in said Town in the aformentioned times, To be paid out of the town treasury os said South Kingstown. Provided the Fact be proved by the Oath or Engagement of the party or otherwise to the satisfaction of the Asistant or Justice of the Peace of said Town. And that such Birds were killed in said time and within said times, And upon its being proved the Asistant or one of the Justices of the Peace shall give a certificate to the Town Treasurer of said Town of the Number of them, which shall be sufficient for him to pay the same Reward.”
“Whereas the Woodchucks is found to be very prejudicial to the inhabitants of South Kingston by eating and tangling their grasp for the preventing weherof for the future Be it voted and Enacted by this Town meeting, And by the Authority of the same, It is voted and enacted that any Person or Persons of South Kingstown that shall kill or destroy any of said Woodchucks as above said, Shall have Six Pence pur head for same. To be paid out of the Town Treasury of said South Kingstown, They first producing a Certificate from some of his majesty’s Justices of the Peace in said Town, And that said person or Persons shall carry said heads of said Woodchucks as they shall Kill, to the Justices as abovesaid, And then make Oath, that they was killed in said Town or some legal Proof equivalent to said Oath or to the satisfaction of said Justice or Justices that the abovesaid Justices shall give a Certificate to the Town Treasurer or as abovesaid in order to receive their pay, And that the Certificate shall be affidavit for him to pay the same. This Town Meeting is disolved. God Save the King.”
The date specific sanctioned killing of crows is interesting as it reflects the days that newly planted corn would be most vulnerable, but also shows a curious acknowledgement that their intention was not to kill all crows, only those that had the misfortune of being caught between the first day of March and the Twentieth day of June. The poor woodchuck had no such reprieve and the bounty was twice as much as that of a crow (3 vs 6 pence) and year round. I would suppose they were a bit harder to find too!
[Note: The Isaac SHELDON3 (1686-1752) noted above was of John1, John2 SHELDON. He is my 7th great grandfather. More on this family in the future]
Kelly Wheaton Copyright 2021. All RIghts reserved.
The Very Best 50th Wedding Anniversary Gift of All
Posted on October 14, 2021 2 Comments
Sometimes we must tell our own family stories.
Back in February of 2021 after we received our first Covid-19 vaccines, we began talking about a trip to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary. I did lots of research and came up with 20 or so places we might go. They ranged from Vancouver Island, BC to Bar Harbor, Maine, as well as places in between like Glacier National Park or a return to the Tetons. I bookmarked many places and to my surprise my husband picked the same place I was thinking I would most like to go, although I didn’t tell him so; a lovely house in the woods in Swansea, MA.
I was a bit surprised, but then I thought we have lived together so long that we like the same sort of places. I was surprised because he usually likes places by the ocean or water. There was a bonus in going back to this area as we both have early roots in Rehoboth and Swansea. I even got an invitation to speak at the Rehoboth Antiquarian Society at the Carpenter Museum and I said, ” I will be back in your area in October if that would work.” I spoke on the YDNA of the Rehoboth Proprietors.
We had a lovely trip visiting Cape Cod on our first full day. I had gone back and forth about visiting the Hall Family Cemetery in North Dennis. The reason being, there are no stones for my particular ancestors but it is likely located on the lands of one of my two William ALLENs. Find a Grave had the wrong location but a friendly walker pointed the way. (Across the Street, down a driveway to a footpath in the woods.) A charming cemetery in a very lovely area of Cape Cod). Mushrooms everywhere. We had lunch on Mayflower Beach, not by plan but by happy accident.
Then we made our way out to Provincetown where the Pilgrims first landed. And to Herring Cove Beach, all under sunny skies, a mild breeze and warmer than usual autumn weather. We saw native blueberry and cranberries growing in the abundant sand dunes which to my surprise were rather wet and sometimes swampy. Lots of mosquitos.
During our trip we wandered through graveyards and I spent a couple of hours at the Carpenter Museum doing a tad bit of research. My husband has always enjoyed the gravestone hunting and we agreed it takes us to some beautiful, out of the way places. However he does not enjoy museums, libraries and such so I tried to limit my time there, remembering it was “our” anniversary! We visited the Blithewold Estate in Bristol, RI where we ate lunch while gazing across at Bristol Bay and Hog Island.
He dutifully drove me to Anawan Rock and Sabin’s Plain and to Greenwood Ave and Wheaton Ave where we scouted out Robert Wheaton’s originally land holdings. (Both of us are descended from Robert.)
On the very last day, when I had an appointment with the Town Clerk for South Kingston (Kingstown, originally Narragansett) I had the greatest gift of all. I again remarked that I was surprised that of all the places he had decided to come here and he softly said, “I did it for you. This is what brings you joy. This is what you love.” He said we can go to the other places anytime. A man I married at seventeen, knows me so well, and he kept that secret since February, is the man who still has my heart. Thank you Michael. Here’s to as many more years as Providence sees fit to give us.
Kelly Wheaton Copyright 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Once Seen & Heard, Never Forgotten: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 20
Posted on September 30, 2021 Leave a Comment
Mar 17 Cut Agnes’ black satin skirt. Started “Jane Eyre”. Cleaned up the house and finished a successful day tired but satisfied. [Transcriber’s note: this was the favorite novel of my youth so I found it delightful that my great grandmother was reading it.]
Sun Mar 18 Agnes had to work at the telephone exchange so I did not get to go to service which made me rather bitter towards conditions that did not give me at least one day in 7. Allie was rather inclined to resent my attitude and hinted at me being the cause of all his troubles both marital and business. O! Adam Wilt thy seed the like Abraham’s live forever. Allie is a good boy and I love him but he is apt to be too optimistic and it leads him into trouble sometimes. He and I went to the Baptist Church in the evening and enjoyed a sermon on Rest by Dr. Haynes and a concert by Muriel Anderson’s class of a young girls and boys orchestra. The ‘sing smile slumber’ on the organ was very good but hardly appropriate, I thought. But the opera music seems to be invading the church and indeed how many of us would ever get to hear it all but for that. Miss Shain shook hands with me after church and seemed gland to renew old acquaintance. The day ended happily.
Mon Mar 19 I hemmed the skirt and got the machine ready for the man, who took it out later. It was rented. I finished Jane Eyre by Charlot Bronte. It is a quaint tale of Old English life told in a ready forcible style many of the words and phrases of which are now obsolete. Jane Eyre narrates the history of her life from a despised and abused orphan through charity school days to respected governess teaching. Through bitter sorrow—in finding her “Master Mr Rochester a married man at the alter on her wedding day, her flight, her rescue from death from starvation and exposure by kind people who later prove to be her cousins. Her access to a fortune by the death of her uncle and the return to the Hall to find it burned by Mr Rochester’s mad wife and him blinded by the fire in his vain efforts to save her life. Free at last to love legally and morally they marry and enjoy such happiness in mutual regard and peace through perfect understanding. That under its genial glow sight is restored to one eye and he is able to behold his little plain wife made beautiful through devotion and the lovely son he gave him as an added bond to their happiness. Adele the little French protege is not forgotten and the story comes to a satisfactory end.
Tuesday 20 I got a letter announcement from Royce of his marriage on the 13 to Miss Sara Alta Howard of North bend. I met her when I was in Neb and liked her very much.
The fire is out and it is rather cold. But think Spring is on the wing. O am baking bread and other work. Allie has commenced work nights and is now sleeping soundly is is 11 oclock in the forenoon.
Wed Mar 21 Sunny and warm. Snow Melting fast. Agnes gone to visit her mother. Allie asleep in bed. I have just been reading a book called Music and Culture by Karl Merz. It is composed of essays on different subjects and their relation to music. He valiantly defends music from every foe on every point. He urges a through musical education for the masses. Went to choir practice. Enjoyed it very much and learning much. Agnes came home with me.
Thu Washed clothes etc.
Friday 23 Spent the day reading psychological works by Atherton and Larson. They lay great stress on the power of the Will.
Sat Mar 24 Agness is in a huff because Allie and I discuss the war situation. She won’t be home this evening and maybe not the next week either she says. So it seems as if I’m to be the goat and stay home and be good and do the work. We’ll see. I’ve written to Jessie, Eilene and Jessie K and intend to start for Cal. Or rather Eilenes by the 7 or 8 of April if I can get the money by that time to go on .
Sun Mar 25. I went to church on the morning. Agnes came and got some things and went home to her mother intending to stay until Allie came after her.
Mon Mar 26 Allie got good kind brotherly letter from Leo. Also one came for an me under same cover.He is still in Fargo working nights and perhaps his being tired accounted for its being so quiet at 4 oclock in the morning.
27 Walked over to Lake St and mailed a birthday parcel to Jessie and a letter to Leo. AM baking bread.
Mar 31 The last few days of mo were spent at very quiet hum drum tasks. Nothing of importance happened.
Apr 1 Sund Went to church to hear Riley preach and sang in choir morn and eve.
“The Seven Last Words of Christ.”
Apr 2 Went downs town and bought goods for white dress.
Apr 3 Worked on dress and other work about house.
Wed Apr 4 Last rehearsal before Cantata
The Apr 5 Sewed on dress etc.
April 6 Good Friday Went over to Newmans and stitched white dress in aft– went down town and bought a pair of white shoes and silk stockings and a hat and gold Lavalier chain. Came home and dressed and went to church to sing in the Cantana. The seven last words of Christ by Dubois. It went off with a great swing and they took in nearly $100.00.
April 10 Went over to Mrs Newmans and sewed and crocheted in morning and in afternoon called on Hilda in her pretty bungalo at 20 Pilsbury. Mer her husband Mr Jesse Rowland. Afterwards we came back and got Frances and Vincent and we went out for a pleasant drive in North Minneapolis hills. Returned to Allies and washed up dishes while they went down where he works for his tools and came back about 11 oclock.
Apr 11 Wed Day cool and cloudy in contrast to pleasant day yesterday. My head aches and I am depressed I must go to Mrs Newmans and finish up my work there.
Apr 15 1917 On board the Chicago Milwauke to St Paul train “Chieftain” Enroute from Minneapolis to Ipswich S Dak. To visit my daughter Eilene Hoffman and family. On April 12 visited Mrs Spain in Col. Heights [Columbia Heights in Minneapolis] had a pleasant times. On Fri Apr 13 visited Larkin Fashion Show with Mrs Newman. On 14 I stayed home and got ready to go west and on Sunday morning Allie and Agnes saw me off. Here I am.
5 clock Just discovered that we are in S Dak. The place is Milbank eastern S. Dak and Western Minnesota are beautiful farming regions. It is early evening. I am anxious to get to Ipswich which we are due to reach at 9.
[No posts in interim]
May 19, 1917 Ipswich So Dak at the station waiting for the train to take me to Fargo to see Leo. Eilene will accompany me as far as Aberdeen. I had been at her home in Ipswich So Dak for a mo and 4 days and too busy to write a word in my diary. This interval was filled by boarding train and changing at Aberdeen . I had a very busy and happy visit at Eilenes. The baby is a lovely child. I went to church once and met some nice people. I went to a class play which was well acted by the high school scholars. I visited Mrs Smilovich and Mrs Stevens in their homes and enjoyed it very much. The people are very hospitable and kindly. My son-in-law Frank Hoffman is a grand good boy sober industrious honest and faithful to a degree not often attained. In all the time I was there I never saw him lose his temper. I was sorry to say good bye to Eilene and Aberdeen but couldn’t help it. I was also glad to be on my way to see my dear son Leo. We are too scattered. It breaks me all up to have the family so widely separated. The time is gliding smoothly along in the cool spring evening. The sun just setting a ball of red behind untold miles of cultivated farming lands just showing their first blades of spring.
Ladonia? Park is a peculiar little town situated in a ? of low thickly growing trees. They are a wash of the most fresh and a vivid green, and grow in a long narrow park on either bank of a small river. A most ideal spot in this rather monotonous region of level fields.
Fargo N.D. May 20 Arrived at 4 oclock and remained snug in my berth sound asleep until morning when I peeped out of the window and I spy a Fargo sign on a building when I knew I had safely arrived. Leo is somewhere in this town unawares of my close proximity. How surprised and delighted he will be when I come in and how sad all this war news will both he and Albert—will have to register [for the draft].
1 oclock I got up and made my toilet in the sleeper inquired my way of the attentive porter and came out on the street and took a street car for Leos. I found the place with the aid of a little girl and found them both so sound asleep in bed that it took me nearly an hour to get them up. I stood in the hall outside about 30 min. or so no less and read the Fargo Daily Courier News. Finally the janitor came up for the garbage and I explained matters to him and he knocked on the door with the earnestness of purpose that Carrie came to the door when a request to know who’s there. I said Mrs Mosier, Leo’s mother which doubteth she repeated and mingled ? of incredulity and astonishment at the same time opening the door apologizing for her appearance in a hastily donned boudoir cap and bath robe. I was joyously welcomed by her and Leo who got up presently Awakened out of his sound sleep (for he works nights). We spent a most pleasant Sunday. Several people called. Mervin who I met in Minneapolis several years ago when Jessie was cashier in the Minneapolis Dry Goods Store and Leo brought him in to introduce him to her as I was there. Leo and him have remained fast friends ever since and also Paul Wiggan who is the son of the man worked for in Wadena. He is a fine looking young man with a very sad expressions who is ambitious to be come a singer and is disappointed at not being able to continue the cultivation of his voice.
Later in the day Leo went to work and Carrie and I went to the Methodist church which has a very large congregation. Rev. Frank Hullet gave us an interesting sermon.
May 26 I have spent a very pleasant week at Leo’s. Carrie and I have walked out daily going in different directions exploring the city. One evening we crossed the river the red river of the north in Moorehead, Minn. Last evening we walked down town and dropped in to a fee lecture by a reformed socialist David Goldstein who was introduced by Judge Pollock, a pillar of the Methodist Church. The lecture was supposed to be on peace and war. His harangue soon veered around to the family, to the strife therein with resulting divorce and offered is the solution of all evils the Catholic Church, and its teachings. What nonsense.
This morning is cold and windy and the steam heat is very welcome. Leo is sleeping in bed and Carrie is getting breakfast, We has three messes [meals] Of dandelion greens this week. We parboiled them in plain water which extracted the bitterness. They were the best dandelions I ever ate. The town is infested with them. Every lawn is blazing yellow.
May 27 Memorial day. Accompanied by Leo’s wife Carrie I attended the large mass meeting at the armory in Fargo. The speech by Rev Frost of the Methodist Church was of a high order of patriotism. In the afternoon Leo accompanied us and we snapped some pictures in the park. In the evening Mrs. Wigham, stopped in and Carrie played while we sang some lovely sacred solos.
May 28 Morning like all others since my arrival in Fargo. Leo and Carrie are not up yet. He worked last night and it is now 9 oclock.
29 Later in the day I went down town and bought some embroidery for a collar and to meet Leo which I failed to do through a misunderstanding came home tired and found him there. I might as well say in writing this en route to Fargo to Ipswich Nice to Oaks to Aberdeen. It is now nearly noon at Lisbon which seems to be quite a little town . All morning we have flew along smoothly thru fields of spring wheat beautifully green in the light showers while fell this forenoon. Leo and Carrie & I got up and after a light breakfast, we walked to the N.P. Station where Leo left us to chase after some apples. He got back just before the train started to say good Bye, O! Yes we had to say it—my Leo I wish I could have you nearer. He thinks may be he’ll come out West to see me very soon may be in a year but I do not dare hope such joy. Carrie is a good daughter and will make him happy even as he does her.
The last I saw of them as the train pulled out they were standing on the platform talking soberly together. I had a very pleasant trip to Aberdeen. Changed cars at Lamour and at Oakes also at Aberdeen bane of traveling North and south. The through lines seem to run in an easterly and westerly direction with the exception of the shore line. At Aberdeen I carried to [two] heavy cases nearly a run from one station to another and waited from 4 oclock in the afternoon til 8:18 in the evening to take the train for Ipswich. Arriving there saw Fanny Ingrtice? And Joyce who helped me up at Eilene’s with my girls. She was not looking for me but I was glad to be back.
June 1 This is the day Leo starts to travel selling his adding machine.
June 3 Got a letter from him saying he had been having real good success but would have to wait Awhile for returns.
June 4 Audry Kendrick’s wedding day. She is to be married tie Roland Hamilton. I sent mother some wild Minnesota ferns to plant.
June 5 Registration day So many of my dear boys have to register today. Allie, Leo, Frank, and Sylvester and O but all the others. I hope the was will end before they are called out.
June 6 Eliene bought herself a new mustard color poplin dress or suit in addition to some muslin for longerie [lingerie] and some gingham for the baby and two silk for her waist. I’m very busy all the time sewing ——–no end and never done. But there is a respite for I have written home for money to go back on and Eilene is going with me I guess.
June 7, 8, 9 Busy sewing and caring for Leo Arnold [grandson] who is anything his false eye teeth (what a stupid blunder) and has begun threatened with convulsions again. We had a splendid rain all which filled up all our utensils. Everything is fresh and green at this late date in Spring. Lilacs are in bloom.
June 10 Was awakened by the sound of heavy teaming looked out the window in time to see the elephants and the dromedaries go by. Hooray for the circus has come to town and I have a grandson to take to see the animals what more could mortals want. The day is very hot and windy and dust flying, clouds promising rain.
Frank [Hoffman] drove up in a spanking new machine and took Eilene up to Mrs Smilovich I didn’t like to take the baby out so stayed at home with him.
June 17 Spent the past week at Eilene’s place very much at home and hard at work. Frank took us auto riding out into the country. Met Mrs Fish who went along. Also Mr Smilovich at who’s place we stopped upon on our return and the supper. Spent a pleasant evening during which time a heavy wind came up followed by rain. Frank [Hoffman] came up about 10 oclock and carried his little son Leo home.
June 18 First day of the Chautauqua. Frank [Hoffman] had bought season tickets for Eilene and me and we attended every day during the week. The programs were filled by new talent each day and it was all of a high order, very entertaining and uplifting, amusing and edifying . I have a detailed list of programs in another book. The week ended on Sat night with a performance by the Kiltie band in full regimentals whose star performer was Wee Jamie Clark bag pipe major once seen and heard never forgotten.
Sun 24 Stayed at home and rested up.
Mon 25 At it again harder than ever.
Tues 26 Got a nice letter from Lolita who is glad we are coming home soon. Fannie Smilovich brought me material for a new coat.
Wed 27 Working and sewing hard.
Thu 28 Got a letter from Leo with $20.00 enclosed. Wrote to him and Mrs Newman , Fannie is very pleased with her new coat. Eilene is buying new things right and left for her trip. [Lulu and daughter Eilene are going to San Francisco] Frank [Hoffman] is very generous. She made me a present of silk for a new waist.
[Editor’s NOTE: I will be on holiday and Lulu’s Diary will return mid October. Coming up her trip back to California and the close of 1917]
Kelly Wheaton Copyright 2021. All Rights Reserved.
A Fairy Land of Snow Embroidered Dreams: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 19
Posted on September 27, 2021 Leave a Comment
Jan 1 1917 Monday Came back to Allie’s this morning and accompanied him to see Mr & Mrs. Jacobson where we will live for a few mo. Allie having rented it furnished.
We were received very graciously by them both and I think will be satisfied out there for the winter mo.
Came back to the room at the Stratford and Allie and Agness went out to see her mother. I remained to change my clothes post up my diary and write some letters.
Jan 2 Tuesday Packed up trunks and traveling bags and went out 2 Jacobsons. Found the house deserted, had a key, walked in and made ourselves at home.
Jan 2 Wed. My slight cold worse. Busied myself with becoming acquainted with the place. Picked up our wash.
Jan 4 Thu. Cold and especially the fever came to a climax last night. I was burning up alive. Finally I broke out in a sweat and felt better. (O me I see I can’t write good today) sick through and through. Seems to be the grip [flu].
5 Fri. Albert and Agnes got breakfast. I cough terribly am consoling myself by reading Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. Oh what a wonderful story and oh wonderfully told. and Oh but the misery of God’s poor world. This night I wept bitter tears for Fantine! No for myself because I did no get to see Leo, and Fantines unsatisfied longing to see her daughter Cosette brought it all back to me poinently [poignantly].
Sat Jan 6 Still weak, hot and cold and sweating by turns an weak and have a very bad cough. Got up at 10 Al some breakfast, swept and dusted the whole house, washed and wiped the dishes, took a bath and went to bed. Had a good nap, Agnes called up and later Allie who had down to meet her. I have to get supper for them yet. The movers have come in and another day has gone. Tomorrow will be my third Sunday here and through no fault of my own, I have not been to church.
Jan 21 The biggest snowstorm for 40 years.
Jan 22, at 3240 Harriet Ave. so. This is Alberts 27th birthday we celebrated by having the home made bread. The first he had had in a long time. He spent the day shoveling snow. The sidewalks resemble marble tunnels.
Since the last time I wrote in this book, I have been staying at home not going out at all excepting one day last week when I went down with Agnes to pick out a sewing machine. I am over my bad cold but feel under the weather. My heart beats tumultuously and I am homesick in a submissive sort of way. The mail didn’t come today every sort of traffic is snowed in. On the 18 I mailed letters to all my folks and more anxiously awaiting replies. The storm dominates all conversation. The city of Minneapolis had a fall of 17 inches yesterday which broke all records. It drifted badly in places and men shoveled hard all day yesterday trying to clear away paths to get to and from their places in. Give me the rains of my California.
Jan 28 During the week last, I remained at Allies home at 3240 Harriet and so doing all the housework except sometimes the roomers breakfast. I was unwell during the week. I got a letter from Jessie K encouraging me in my musical aspirations. I made Agnes blue dress which she likes very much. I answered the letter from J. K. [Jessie Kendrick her sister] Agnes got a letter from Jessie Fri they are doing well at home, I guess . I went downtown to meet Allie and do a little shopping for Agnes on Sat. in the morning they went to her mothers Mrs Daveys. This Sunday morning it was so much warmer that Allie and I decided to go to church. We went to hear Dr Riley. He spoke on covetousness and miserlyness and selfishness denouncing them bitterly. The sermon was a masterly one. He preaches in a straight forward style with a splendid choice of words spoken rapidly with few gestures and no grimaces or acting . The direct opposite of Billy Sunday. We walked around after church. The snow was melting and the mud was getting pretty bad so we came home and had dinner ready for Agnes when she came home at 5 o’clock. It is now bedtime and I am going to bed.
Feb 8 I am still at Alberts and have been since my last entry. The weather has been and is cruelly cold. The sun shines warmly today and it has been thawing some in places out of the wind which is bitterly cold.
Today I walked over to Lake and Violet and mailed letters to mother, Frank and Jessie also a photo to mother. I got lost as usual and retraced my steps several blocks only to find I was right and had to go back again making 6 or 8 blocks more of a walk than necessary. I shouldn’t have minded on a pleasant day but the sidewalks were so slippery, I had to go in the street and the wind was so stinging cold, I came nearly freezing my cheeks. To enjoy this climate one should have warm furs.
Feb 9-10 Fri to Sat Usual routine.
Sunday Feb 11 We had Agnes relations over for dinner. I love to see the 3 sisters of them. Josephine, Minnie and Agnes all sitting on the same stool at the piano paying and singing. We had a very pleasant time. Mrs and Mr Davy and Minnies husband was with them. Minnie has lately undergone an operation for cancer of the breast. I sincerely trust it will prove successful.
Mon Feb 12 Lincolns birthday. I was pleased today to see so many American flags displayed. The majority seems to stand by the president in this crisis. I got a letter from Jessie and Lolita in S. F. and Allie got one from Les in Fargo. This is a very cold day. I turned the heat in the dining room and studied the Etude (back numbers for several years) for 5 hours. In the evening I answered my letters.
Tues Feb 13 It is much warmer today. I was feeling depressed and nervous also a little anxious from waiting for word from Rogers, Neb. I forgot to mention that last Sat I received a package containing a tray from Lolita and handkerchief’s for all of us from Jessie and Grandma Mosier for our belated Christmas.
Feb 14 Spent quietly at home thinking of my last years Valentine in California.
Feb 21 Nothing much in importance has happened since my last entry. Agnes sent a pretty cap to Eilene all crocheted and pink beribboned and lined with sheer white organza and she sent a beautiful picture of the baby Hoffman. I had a letter from Jessie Mosier and today and the 21[st]. One from Jessie Kendrick. I have answered them all. And tonight if it isn’t too cold I think I will go to the Baptist prayer meeting and see if I can get into the choir that has been work on a cantata called the “Seven last words of Christ.”
Sat Feb 24 I did not go to the prayer meeting Wed eve, it was so cold and cheerless out and it looked so lonesome to go alone. Then I was tired and Fri I went down town , payed some bills for Allie and selected a set of civet furs at the Leader store. Today, Sat, I am doing housework and will iron the clothes I washed then when the mail came and nothing in it for me I headed to the bookcase for something to read and on my knees before it-the better to see the titles, I read them over Hugo and Dumas and Eugene Sue. O but life is too short—I would love to read The Wandering Jew by the latter. So as a compromise I selected the Inside of the Cup by Churchill. Was my choice a good one! I will wait until I have read it and will know.
Sunday March 4 My Lolita’s birthday 16 think of that! Soon now she’ll be grown up and taking her place in the world. I wish all you wish for . Could I wish you more. I should wish you might always wish the best.
This is Dr. Riley’s 20th anniversary here [First Baptist Church of Minneapolis].
I was at church this morning to hear his sermon which was very good and Rileyesque like the fine efforts of John Haddon who so nobly graces the pages of the inside of the copy which I have. finished and which so coincided with many views I have always held that it was almost startling . Much of it was along lines that were bitterly thrashed out in Ministerial circles in S. F. several years ago when Dr Aked [Dr. Aked spent much of his life advocating for peace; he was a founder of the Passive Resistance League] preached his views on the Virgin birth. I hope I may know the truth some day.
Last Wed eve on the last day of Feb. I attended choir practice and got started on some very hard music which I think I can learn. It will try my mettle and I’m glad it’s difficult for then I will have to work all the harder which will be good practice.
Tue March 6 Just finished the house work. Made a pretty thorough job of it too. I opened up all the windows and doors for a good airing. How delightful to feel the fresh purity of it after being hermetical sealed in the house so long. Yesterday the 5th was the most disharbingering day of the winter. I was short of coal and the wind blew relentlessly all day chilling me to the marrow. I kept the furnace with sifted ashes, waste Paper and coal and had the house warm when the folks came home at night. This morning I ordered coal and it was not yet arrived hope it will be warm soon. It has clouded up but still warm and yesterday Allie got a letter from the dear ones in S.F. saying uncle was there and that they were all glad. Indeed so are we. I worried about the poor old [Horace?]
John McCormak sang to a record breaking house last night at the auditorium. I wanted to hear him so very much. Why is it that some have so much and some so little? I may desert the politics of my fathers and be a socialist yet. Who knows.
Sat March 10 Colder and cloudy but not so bad at that for the icicles are growing longer and that’s a sign its above freezing. I just wrote to Jessie, Leo and mother. I didn’t go to choir practice Wed for it was storming and I had a splitting headache. 11 in. of soggy snow fell covering the city into a fairy land of snow embroidered dreams. But that same city is wondering in dismay where it is to get the money to hire that afore said “beautiful” off the down town streets which have already, in two months cost the city 2000.00 dollars.
March 11 Got letter from Frank which I will keep and let it speak for itself. It was very unkind Blaming me for staying so long at Albert’s and telling me of Milo’s sick spell. I ans the letter also wrote to Milo. Am worried about him. I am reading the French novel called The Wandering Jew by Eugene Sue to keep my mind off of things which I cannot help or alter in the least by worrying. The story is a strange tale of the intrigues of the Jesuit church in the year 1830. And the mysterious appearances and disappearances of a man and woman who meet once in a 100 years at the extreme points of North America and Asia and exchange silent greetings across the Bering Straight. Then onwards and onwards doomed wander to expiate their sins. The Wandering Jew, for refusing the tired Savior to rest on his bench outside his cobblers shop. The print of the nails in the soles of his shoes leaves this mark wherever he goes. [That of the cross]
The woman’s sin was demanding the head of John the Baptist and they both try by all their power to make Reparations forever for their sins by doing all the good they can while they are allowed to remain in one place.
March 12 Just a year since Frank and I went to see K.C.B in the Christian Church in S.F. its snowing again here in wintry Minneapolis.
March 13 Still snowing steadily.
“ 13 I was reading away while outside the snow fell in steadily persistently, Piling up more on top of much. The phone rang and called for Mrs. Mosier. I ans’d the person said it doesn’t sound like you. I assured her it was indeed and in truth it was myself. I said who do you think is speaking. I collected my wandering wits and said slowly gaining time to think. O Mrs Newman.
Mrs Mosier said she now could you tell and I replied I knew your voice. I haven’t forgotten you. She was tickled to death and asked me over at once and I went. I was walking distance and I went in all that snow. I was greeted joyously and entertained royally and I came back in all that snow and more which had fallen in time to let Agnes in. She was more upset than I was I had walked about 8 long blocks and she 1. The Newmans have adopted a boy Vincent. They bought a place at 27201 Aldrich and are very nicely situated. She is anxious for me to reenter the lodge.
March 14 The morning is clear and windy. Tonight is choir practice night. I hope to go.
March 15 Last night I went to choir practice and enjoyed very much. I seem to get along as well as any of them. today is cloudy, cold and dreary to an extreme. I have not had much fire and that of course adds to the cheerlessness of the lonely day. I have bread rising slowly. My washing is hanging to dry in the basement and the groceries are ordered for dinner. Agnes will go out to see her folks and so Albert & I will dine alone. I watch with amusement the growth of the ice crystals on the eaves of the house next door. It is now fully 4 feet long and the top is composed of a mass of smaller ones run together into a solid sheet of ice aft across. Water is trickling down by the points of them showing that it is thawing but I am very cold here in the house. No letter again today.
March 16 1917 Minneapolis Minn 3240 Harriet Ave. A blizzard is raging. The air is filled with fine particles of snow driven by a high wind. It is cold and dreary. Here on this residence street everything is quiet—no body passes and silence reigns supreme save for the howling if the wind and the rattle of the storm windows and the clicks of ticking sounds loudly through the deserted rooms.
I am alone with my household duties my sewing and reading writing and thoughts, the latter hardest perhaps of all. No letters came for me in the mornings mails to brighten my solitude. A glance out of my window at the writing prospect. My icicle has stopped growing. It almost reaches the top of the first floor window below it. More snow to shovel, more coal to shovel and a railroad strike threatened which will boost prices again and reduce our already reduced supplies. May the Lord temper the wind to the shorn lamb. I must now see after the furnace fire.
Kelly Wheaton Copyright 2021. All RIghts Reserved.
Start with a Title: Appeal to Your Audience
Posted on September 27, 2021 8 Comments
Do you Want People to Read your Family History Story? Or maybe not. If your title is “Mable Anne Jones,” or “Great Grannie Sally Mae Lawson” or “Frederick Adamson” or any other such thing, no matter how great your story is, I won’t be reading it. And sad to say even your intended audience (family) may not either. A person’s name is not enough: it’s BORING. It tells the reader Nothing. If it is an unusual surname, and it’s one of yours maybe…If your title is Ancestor #21 (as in the 52 week challenge), what can I say? Nope.
Please, please, please, you can do better! Granted not all stories are going to generate great titles but as family historians we need to up our game. At the very least give us a hint of who or what you are writing about. A name is not enough.
So what is enough? That’s up to you. Johan Martin MOSER: Bavarian Shoemaker. [That’s a bit better.] The 3 Marriages and 17 children of Adam MOSER of Ulrichausen, Bavaria. Gold Mining on the Trinity with Milo & Carrie MOSIER. Here’s a secret: the tighter the story the easier it is to title it. Question: do you need to tell their whole life story? Would a short story be more powerful and more informative? Should you break her life into chapters? If no one is reading it what are you doing wrong?
I may not be able to improve your writing but I can help with your titles. Here are a few ideas for Titles and some examples.
- CHANGE THE ORDER: “John Jones Bounty Hunter” or “The Tale of John Jones: Bounty Hunter”
- ALLITERATION: Faith & Fury
- HUMOR: Ice Cream Melons & Foxes: It’s the Mouth Watering Details that Bring an Ancestor to Life.
- QUOTE: snatch a quote from a passage in your story. A Fairy Land of Snow Embroidered Dreams: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 19 (I love this title!)
- MYSTERY: The Case of the Mysterious Birth Certificate
- DESCRIPTION: Family Heirlooms: Dog Tags
- ANALOGY: Moving Days: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 10
Perhaps I am an anomaly but I tend to scroll by simple name titles. Pique my interest and I will read further. If you are simply going to rehash your ancestors vitals, who cares? And if that is all you are going to do, can you at least be a bit more creative with your titles?
Did his wife die and leave him with 6 young children? Did her husband die in a tragic accident while she was pregnant with his first child. Were they born rich and died dirt poor? Or the other way around? If you can find nothing interesting to write about ancestor X, “STOP.” WAIT, until you find someone with a good story. If you are answering me, “but none of my ancestors were interesting….” My reply: “Everyone’s lives are interesting.” if you haven’t found the story you need to do more research. If they were just poor farmers what droughts, floods, crop failures did they live through? Was her life punctuated with tragedy or success? Even if the newspaper did not mention “your” ancestor—it did mention what was happening. Did they lose family members during the 2018 Spanish Flu? Yout story might be: “The Year the Locusts Came Back,” or “The Day We Buried Grandma.” I guarantee there are stories you know or that you can discover.
HINT: Whenever I have an idea for a story I want to write I put it in my Parking lot. Often it’s just a Title to start. I might add a couple of sentences. But Titles often sit in the Parking Lot for quite awhile until there ready for a spin. And I will often have 3-4-5-6 or more Titles waiting for me. I find that helps take the pressure off.
So you have written a half dozen pieces and you titled them by the ancestor’s name. So what to do? You can go back and re-title or subtitle already written pieces and/or you can jot down some possible titles of stories you want to write. If you wish to share a title in the comment section please do! Titles are fun. They can’t be too long—and you can mull them over for days until they feel just right! Writing is fun and so are TITLES!
Kelly WHEATON Copyright 2021. All RIghts Reserved.
Back to the Heartland: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 18
Posted on September 26, 2021 2 Comments
Oct 25 1916 Wed Up bright and early getting ready to start on our trip to Neb. Uncle accompanied us down to the [Salt Lake Railway] Depot. [It operated from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City Utah] I bought a magazine and was glad to get started. I so got my first sight of the orange groves they stand out plainly on account of their dark glossy green leaves and orange fruit. They are most beautiful in their lovely valley with the snow capped mountains beyond which is most picturesque at Riverside and San Bernardino, a very pretty town at the foot of the Sierras. Later we have just finished our first lunch on the cars. The lovely orchards and palms have vanished in the rear. And cactus and sage brush have taken their place in our range of vision.
At summit I washed up the canned milk which had leaked out. From her we traveled through miles of level country covered with a sort of grotesque palm of which I not-not.
Turning northward we come to a hilly rocky lonesome region boasting a little townlet called Victorville where they manufacture Portland cement. The scene is enhanced with cotton wood and other trees ad a pleasant stream of water flows through the town.
Leaving the rocky ridge we pass on through sage brush and bunch grass sparingly, mostly weeds and bare sand.
Barstow a pretty station ouse built in mission style with this inscription over the portal Casa Del Dieserto.
From here on for several hours, we saw no life of any sort nor human habitation just the sage covered valley with the hills against the distant sky. About sunset we came to Kelso which is a row of small cottages with its cottonwoods typical of al other little towns of this region. South eastern Calif. to South Western Nevada. it is now getting dark and cooler which is very grateful.
Oct 26 Thurs Somewhere in Nevada. The scene which greeted us upon arising this morning was much the same as the one upon which we last gazed before retiring last night. The monotonous yet restful landscape with out a sign of human or animal life, yet even as I write a tiny bird flew past the window winging its way whitherward. A couple of hours we past Lintie a tiny mining town with its small evergreen trees. We are within a couple of hours of Salt Lake City.
An hour later we are passing through a beautiful valley with rows of cultivated trees. We are near Salt Lake now. The mountains are nearer and the highest peaks are covered with snow. I see a little white school house in a little grove. Off to the east larger groves appear . Salt Lake has been out of sight for several hours. The white mounds along the shore I suppose is salt from the Lake which will reach our tables eventually.
Now I notice a peculiar thing about this lake which I notice 8 years ago when we crossed the north end on the U.P.R.R. [Union Pacific Rail Road] going west. It was the vivid color. Just now appears green then it was red with other colors.
We have crossed another R.R. and a town in the distance shuddering over and on. It is a pretty picture enough to satisfy the most exacting. The meadow hay of Oct day the shadowy snow crowned mountains in the near background. The cozy comfy houses among the stately poplars willows and cottonwoods. The sere and yellow is over all like a beautiful mantle. Salt Lake with its long wide streets and metropolitan air. The first city since leaving Los Angeles. I got off the train and walked up and down the Depot platform.
I couldent see much but should have liked to stay awhile and visit brother Charles and his 3 little boys graves. [Charles Paden is Lulu’s younger brother. He and his sons: Dallas Ivan, James Irvin, and Charles Rendell all died in 1907 They are buried at Mt Olivet Cemetery in Salt Lake City]
Ogden, wait 120 min. Wrote to Lolita and Milo. 4 oclock just passed devils slide which is a peculiar double wall of gray rock extending up and down the side of a steep mountain peak. a little station is named for it.
A little further on at Hefner [Henefer] the soil is a bright red. At last we come to the land of grass and cattle. It is very pretty in the valleys and grand in the mountains west of Cheyenne. Newsy just held Mother up for a picture book and some jewelry. 5:30 the sun is setting behind the hills. For hours we have been running along a tiny valley in the center of which the tiniest stream of water flowed. Here the U.P. Rail Road is building a new track which has an easier grade . As the train turned to leave the little beauty spot I looked back upon a lovely scene, far down the valley and among the hills. The construction gang of the R.R. was camped along a tiny running brook and behind were the hills piled upon hills to the sky line blue gray in the distance.
We are now leaving behind the Rocky hills and continuing to low rolling ones which afford grazing for cattle.
It is dark now we are whizzing away to the eastward clatterly bangs. Ot evening meal is over. Our lunch holds out amazingly. Mother seems to be standing the trip away. The last town we saw was Evanston Wyo. The porter will soon make our beds and then good night.
Oct 27 Friday Up and dressed just peeped out and I believe thats Cheyenne . I slid up the other blinds and sure enough it is. We stopped at Cheyenne 10 or 15 min. then roll along again. Patches of snow is seen along the way. The porter is making up the berths.
Hillsdale We had a long wait here at 9:45 oclock we passes the wreck. Wreck piled up on both sides of the track where two trains ran into each other and a brakeman was killed. Passed through Julesburg. There’s a freight and a passenger ahead of us we are 3 hours late on account of the wreck.
We have come into the land of wild hay and some corn and fenced pastures. Passed North Platte while back changed, crossed the Platte river. First time I leave had the good fortune to go through western Neb in the day time.
7 oclock Had our last lunch on the cars of hot cocoa and at 9 oclock arrived at Schulyer, was met by Jessie and Mell who took us on a delightful trip motor ride int heir new Maxwell, 12 mi out to the old home.
[Oct] 28 At Jessie Kendricks [her sister] on the old Paden farm [where Lulu grew up beginning about 1874 when she was 6], busy as bees. Had a most beautiful delightful day Clair brought his new wife over to see us. They have a fine baby girl Mildred.
BACKGROUND:
The Paden Homestead was standing in 1975 but was subsequently torn down.
Mrs Irene Scott Hamilton wrote in 1934 Busbes Blackcaps, Barbs & Berries; ” The sale of the Old Paden farm by Alex Legge to George A Oberg of Schulyer brings to mind pictures of the good times Purple Cane folks have enjoyed in that rambling old house. The house itself is a contemporary of the Legge and Funk houses in the same neighborhood, it having been built by “Singing’ School” Louis Paden in the same era, and after the same grandiose style of architecture. Folks had many children in those days and hired help was inexpensive and easy to get, and hence a house that spread all over one forty acre was quite a thing.
The outstanding feature of the old Paden house was its cupola or lookout tower on the roof, from which both the Maple Creek valley to the north and west, and the Platte valley to the south and east, could be seen (a panoramic view). To get up to the cupola one climbed the narrow stairs and from there mounted a ladder to a trap door in the roof. The windows were full length in the cupola and one could stand erect as he “viewed the landscape o’er”. Characteristic of the “golden era” was that cupola.
When Mr Legge purchased the place from the Paden heirs, after three generations of Padens had lived in its many rooms, slid down its long staircase railing (of rosewood), and played beneath the shade of its cedar trees, the old cupola was deemed unsafe and was removed. It did modernize the house considerably, that piece of work; but it cost the old house much of its charm. Fortunately Adele Kendrick Black possesses a large picture of the house of her forebears, cupola et al.
To the present generation –the third since old Louis —the old Paden place is especially remembered for the days when Jessie Paden lived there. Jessie was a hospitable soul, if ever there was one, so that it was a spiritual impossibility for her to refuse the use of her many roomed domicile for any person or organization needing a local for activity. Ladies Aid bazaars, choir practices, Halloween parties, weddings, they all came in for their share of Jessie’s hospitality.“
Oct 29 Bright Bracing Sunday. Went to Church morning and evening. Old church looks and is very dilapidated.
Oct 30 Cleaned house for the bazar.
Oct 31 Miss Dunn and Miss Edmondson came over to decorate. Later in the evening minister Smith came with his little red houses made of tissue paper with a lamp inside and black cats and bats. They lighted the house with pumpkins made into Jack o lanterns and fancy paper one hung by black and yellow ropes made of tissue paper. With apologies to Shakespeare the girls gave us the witches retreat. The lights were dimmed and alcohol fire lighted under an iron pot suspended by a tripod in the center of the room the witches bent and old and draped in black did a kettle chanting their incantations and tossing their evil potions into the brew. It was unique.
Nov 1 Jessie, Audrey and I went to Fremont in the car and did some shopping bought some music. “The end of a perfect day.” O that we two were saying and Dust and the Shadows falling. Also a beautiful silk dress for Audrey.
Nov 2 Went to the Ladies Aid at Hamilton.
Nov 3 Friday. Cut Audreys dress
Sat 4 Housework of all kinds. First letter from S. F. since I came.
Nov 5 Brother Ed and family came up in their Overland had a fine visit with all of them.
Nov 6 Went to Fremont to hear a great Debate between the Wets and drys. [Prohibition for and against]
Nov 7 Sewing on Audrys dress
Nov 8 Went to visit Claire’s
Nov 9 Audrey Chester & I went to Schulyer in the car/ The town is absolutely dead could find nothing we wanted dress trimming line.
Nov 10 Worked on Audreys dress. Got a letter from the boys and Uncle Rufe posted up my diary from our start at S.F. from notes taken on the way.
Nov 11 Mailed letter to Boys and card to Jessie for Ladies Aid. Finished Audreys dress.
Nov 12 Cold snowy blowy Sunday. my first taste of real writer. Passed most of the day playing and singing out of Royces song Book entitled the Abridged Academy Song Book, Livermore 75¢ for use in schools and colleges. This book contains most of the songs the children have been working on for years in the graded schools.
Nov 13. Bitter cold Monday. Spent the day crocheting by the fire as sister Jessie have made a doily pincushion top and crocheted wrist bag since I came.
Nov 14 No letter from home this morning. It is very cold so admitted by the native Nebraskan. Everything’s frozen in the Etude that the “la Dolce Campana” [The sweet bell] by Sarah is the finest air known.
Nov 15 Last day of my 48th year am feeling fine and fit for which I thank the Lord. We visited brother John Paden and his family today and had a good time. Got a letter from Jessie and answered it. Will go out and mail it now.
Nov 16. 49 years old. Very dull quiet day. Auto ride to Rogers in afternoon. Passed the old Thrush Place where a Mr. O Hare has built a fine modern house.
Nov 17. Got a big fat letter for Allie announcing his marriage to Miss Agness Williams on Nov 9.
Nov 19 Sunday. Another week has passed into the realm of the irrevocable. Today is the most beautiful sunny pleasant and enjoyable. We went to church this morning and driving in the auto in the after dinner or rather lunch time and returned in time to get dinner and go to the evening service. We got stuck in the mud and backed out with a crippled car but got safely home as stated. Rather think the car won’t take us to church tonight.
Nov 20 Colder with a lonesome wind. Borrowed sugar of Mrs Gless. Finishing blue silk dress begun in San Francisco.
Nov 21 Cloudy and the glinting storm. Stayed at Jessies and crocheted nearly all day. Jessie, Audrey & I went to Rogers and got some eats and material for some cushions which I did not make a note of then.
Nov 22 Wed. Snowed last night and awhile today but it thawing tonight. Spent the day crocheting some buttons for mother and some wisteria colored roses for a cushion top. This evening we had some music and it always brings on the old sadness that I could not have had my voice trained. Instead at 49 I have not a penny in the world figuratively speaking. Is it Gods will?
BACKGROUND: from Elsie Paden McMenany’s “Personal Glimpses” her grandfather was James Lewis “Louie” Paden who was Mary “Lulu” Paden’s father. “Grandpa was noted in his family for obedience and perfection in many activities, although a church man I am sure he was not cruel. As proof if his addiction to duty and perfection, he organized and directed a “Singing School. His children sang in it, those who could carry a tune. His oldest child “Lulu” was his lead soprano. Mama said Lulu’s voice was so beautiful they she could listen to her sing all day, although Mama disliked her sister in law. Grandpa had perfect pitch as did Lulu…Grandpa played the violin by ear…Grandpa could detect the slightest deviation from perfect pitch and if Lulu deviated, he scolded her to a fare- the-well in front of the entire “school,” reducing her to tears… Grandpa’s insistence for perfection paid off, for after Aunt Lulu, her husband and family moved to Minneapolis years later, she became the lead soprano in the Minneapolis Civic Opera Chorus.“]
Nov 23. Flossie Kendrick’s birthday. We were all over to their place to a birthday party. Had a pleasant time eating chicken dinner and exchanging crochet patterns. Are home again and the long lonesome evening before me. I am just crazy to see some of my own children.
” 24. Friday Jessie & I went to Fremont and she bought herself a beautiful silk dress pattern and trimmings (this looks like surplus of Erna’s).
“ 25 Sat. Crocheted on wisteria lace in the forenoon. Walked out to Royce’s cornfield in afternoon and tried my hand at husking corn. Jessie was along and we helped him thru 4 rows. Royce selected a fine ear of corn for me for a souvenir.
” 26 Sunday Kendricks Mother P. & I motored down to Ames to see Ed Paden and family. We has a pleasant afternoon/ Georgie had a fine dinner consisting of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, lemon Pie , apple salad , beet pickles ect. After dinner we had some music on the phonograph and piano and looked thru several albums of snapshots. Came home around 5:45. Dinner at six. Church at the usual hour. Good night Hope the morning brings a letter from some of the folks.
Nov 27. Not very well. Crocheted most of the day and helped with housework.
Nov 28. Worked on Jessie’s dress. My head aches some and do not feel very lively. Got a good letter from my daughter Jessie and ans’d it. Will mail it in the morning. It is nearly bedtime.
Nov 29. Spent the day sewing.
Thur ” 30 Thanksgiving day. Working hard. Everything to do. Jessie K’s dress to finish , mine to finish also. Salad and cake to make also candy for the bazzar at Ferguesons. Hurry is the order of the day.
Dec 1. First day of the last mo. Beautiful weather. Feel fine after the bazar. the Ladies aid took in about $115 The doilie I contributed brought $1.00. I bought a collar for Lolita that Mrs Hamilton crocheted for .50 and a clothespin sack for .30 also some delicious candy for 10¢ .
Dec 2. Just 7 years today since I came home to visit –my mother who was recovering from a paraletic stroke. She is apparently as well or better now than then. She is never well and our fount of sympathy has to be inexhaustible. I have to forget or ignore my own aches and pains and listen to a tale of hers 49 years of it. Contemplate it.
Dec 3. Sunday again. I did not state in yesterdays note or rather entry that I went to Schulyer with Jessie and saw her take an osteopathic treatment she seems to think it does her good. I mailed letters to Leo, frank, Mrs Schnee and a card to Jessie. This sunday morning it is cloudy and a little cooler. The cornhuskers finished yesterday and will leave today which will make two less to cook for. (Sun Eve.) We all went to church this morning and after a lunch at home we started to Dodge in the car at 3 oclock. Arriving there after a pleasant spin through the prosperous country scenery. We called upon Frank and Fannie Black and invited them down to dinner next Sunday. On our way home we stopped at Elsie Black Harris place and chatted a few moments before resuming our way homeward. where we arrived safely at 6 oclock. Again a hurried lunch and off to church , which I enjoyed very much.
Dec 4 Monday a wash day.
Dec 5. Tuesday & Ironing , baking, dressing pork and going to Schulyer. I bought for 5 ¢ a crochet Book. Met Mrs Roberts of Calif.
Dec 6 Wed. Tried out new Irish lace pattern. Jessie finished caring for the pork made sausage & lard & mince meat.
Dec 7. Stayed at home and sewed all day.
Dec 8 Same. Also got a letter from Leo telling of his early marriage. I ans’d it also wrote a card to Agness.
Dec 9. Cleaned house. Went to Schulyer with Jessie & Audrey. Met Mrs Washburn and had a nice talk with her on the street.
“ 10 Sunday stayed home from church looking for Frank Blacks folks to come but they failed to do so.
11 Rather a flat dull day spent several days crocheting some edging for a Christmas present.
12 Tuesday looking for the letter that didnt come got several letters from Al, Leo and the bunch at home ans’d them.
13 Same as the others.
14 Thurs. The day my little Lolita big date was to graduate and I suppose she did.
15 Fri. Claire and Family moved. We had them to dinner and supper. We all went over and helped them unpack and set things up.
16. Sat. Jessie, Audrey, Adele and myself went to Schulyer to do some shopping for Christmas. We called on old Mrs Washburn who was out.
17 Sun. Went to Purple Cane Church in morning and to Mrs. Belle Hughes in afternoon to dinner enjoyed it very much. Went to church again in the evening.
18 Mon Sewed last night. Went up to John Paden’s to take Bro Horace up. he & I went out in the woods to hunt squirrels but dident get any. Dot cooked us a fine dinner of fried rabbit etc.
Jessie, Audrey & I played on Bertha Parker Paden Blacks old organ and sang many songs out of a song book called Heart songs given by the Fremont Tribune for a premium. Beautiful trip home.
Heart Songs published in 1909
19. Tues. Cold and snowy spent day sewing on Christmas aprons and crocheting.
20 Cold as ever can be. Crotched lace for pillow slip. Did out some washing which froze stiff as soon as hung up. Heard of poor Old Mrs Washburns death.
Fixed up Goldies Christmas Box. Got a letter from Lolita also one from Frank sending me 5 dollars.
Dec 21. Went Schulyer today and looked upon the dead face of an old friend Mrs Washburn 77 years old. In the same house she entertained me and my little brood of youngsters, when Milo was a baby 17 years ago. I was waiting for a train to take me to Colorado and my father James L. Paden carried Dewey who was the next oldest. Father took us to the train later in the evening and held Dewey until the train started. He named Dewey after the Manilla hero [Admiral George Dewy is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manilla Bay during the Spanish American War].
This morning I got a friendly letter from Allie urging me to come on.I have finished doing up some Christmas parcels and intend starting for Minneapolis tomorrow If I can get off.
Fri Dec 22 Well I got off. Mell gave me $15 and brought down my trunk to see me off. Jessie and Audrey came also. They put me up a very fine lunch. Now I, off. I watch for Ames and Bro Eds house and dont see any body. Good bye my old home tears blind my eyes what rarely shed them. Mother hated to see me go. I am afraid I’ll never see her alive again.
Speeding onward through prosperous eastern Neb. so peaceful and beautiful but not for me. What freak of fortune made me a wanderer on the face of the earth– I, who so loveth a permanent abiding place?
Got to Omaha 3 hrs late. Paid porter 25¢ to carry baggage to depot. He hunted me up with difficulty and put them on the train. We leas another long wait and when we finally get started we crawled along slowly. When we got to Sioux City we were told to take another train. which we did. And after a tiresome hot crowed ride arrived in Mankato Saturday.
Dec 23 Without mishap. The rest of the journey to Mpl’s was more enjoyable altho very crowded. I arrived at the North W’m Depot. Checked my hamper left check for trunk and took Como- Harriet [street] car for the Stratford Hotel 84 So 12 St. The Lady told me how to find Allies room. I went up and rapped—no answer, rattled knob. No ans. Walked in, No one home and a now waiting for them to show up. The room is in the 3rd floor front on the corner. It is large and well furnished and neat as a pin. I see the post card I sent Agness on the wall and Allies photo on the chiffoneer [dresser or side board] but still they do not come. Christmas shopping I suppose.
Dec 24. Spent the day in Albert and Agness room visiting & getting acquainted. Did not go to church because I didnt have my baggage. later in the day he got the trunk and hamper.
Christmas Dec 25 very dull but not unhappy day. In the evening went to a party at Mr & Mrs Lillgrens, they are certainly a hospitable family. We sang and listened to the player piano and the boys played athletic games. A nice banquet was served.
26 Went to see Mrs Schnee where she put me up for a few nights.
27 ” “
28 went to see my newest daughter Mrs Carrie Tschudy Mosier and enjoyed the visit very much. I like her immensely.
29 Back to the Schnees. Got a lot of mail and a silver thimble from my sister Goldie Mathews.
30 Ans. some letters, went to see Carrie off. I felt bad to see her go but Leo will be happy. In the evening of the same day Al, Ag and I went to her mother’s and had a nice visit and dinner. I have already met them at Lilligrens. Came home and slept at Mrs Schnees.
31 Sunday Morning I came up to Allies room got ready and went to spend the day with my old friend Mrs. Whitney. I had a lovely time. In the afternoon we went over to see Leona and Geo Heller at their honey moon flat. They welcomed us warmly and we had a nice supper. They are happy as is possible to be and have a beautiful home. Stayed all night at Whitneys.
Kelly Wheaton Copyright 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Busy as a Beaver: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 17
Posted on September 25, 2021 Leave a Comment
Aug 13 Sunday I baked a brown stone front cake and carried ½ of it to church in the afternoon and helped Beth Hildegard get the girls that went out to the Florence Crittenton house to hold a religious meeting for them, a supper at the church, I enjoyed very much. Afterward I attended G. E. and church. Jessie was not present at either services which was most unusual. After church I left at once I was tired and anxious to get home. I cut across to No L 2 car and missed one, and while waiting for the net one Jessie came frantic up all out of breath. She had been over to the Garage where Syl was overhauling his new old Chalmers, and got back to the church to late to catch me there and so ran to get me at the car. I was so glad to see her coming for it dispelled my lonliness to a degree and I had jolly company home.
Frank had worked that day and was in bed when I got home.
Monday got a letter from Leo and bumped my head on the stair door causing a big bump, coming down to get it. Later in the day I washed the window curtains and other things.
Aug 15 Tuesday I ironed the cloths and put up the curtains. Met Jessie down at the market got some groceries and came home alone she going over to see how her Syl is getting on with the auto.
Aug 16 I wrote to Leo, Albert, and Eilene. Jessie quit Pragers for a week or so.
Aug 17 Thurs. Jessie went down town and found out that they could not start on their on their trip to Tahoe until Friday. She is busy as a bee getting ready while I am blue and depressed because I hate to see her go.
Aug 18 Sylvester came yesterday and took Jessie and a great raft of blankets etc to his home to stay all night so they could get an early start this morning. Frank was fixing the toilet when Syl called up Jessie or so Mrs Gray understood. Jessie was gone so I went. Syl was at the phone and said he had called for Dewey.
Seems as if he wanted something of him when Jessie took the phone from him to explain that it was his (Syls) coveralls that they had left behind and they wanted Dewey to bring them down. So when they finished the toilet Dewey went and found them busily engaged packing
This morning at breakfast Dewey told his father of the proposed camping expedition and he said not a word. But he vented his uncontrollable wrath on poor me for emptying the peelings in the toilet which clogged it up so it wouldent run and flush out. The sink is not connected with the sewer which makes it very bad for me.
I spent most of the day resting in bed and brought this chronicle up to date at 9 oclock in the evening. Frank is just home and I hear him but have not seen him yet. He is quite talkative. I will now retire for tomorrow is Sat which means pleanty to do.
Aug 19 Sat Mother baked a full batch of bread. Lolita and I did a big wash and I ironed it all but one of Lolitas dresses which she did herself. It is all put away and supper is over for the day or night rather. Milo caught a rabbit that had strayed away and brought it home. Today I bought a crate for him and now Milo has a pair of them real Belgian hares. He worked all day fixing up their quarters. I got a card from Jessie and Syl. And I am Dear mother Jessie and Hello mother Syl. They had got as far as Stocton [Stockton] on their trip all safe and sound and enjoying themselves.
This is a beautiful warm evening I am tired out but not so blue and downcast as I was the day Jessie left. Lolita and the boys have gone to the movies. I do not feel so very well. I am all keyed up quite nervous to a degree. I try to overcome it and to a certain extent, succeed.
Aug 20 A warm sunny calm & restful Sunday. F. S. and I had our usual Sun. morning differences. We simply cant and dont agree. He fixed the sewer outlet to the sink which helps considerable to lighten the labor of the kitchen. Later he dressed up and left and has not returned at 10.10 o’clock. I rested around all day and am going to retire soon good night
Milo and Dewey who are upstairs getting ready for bed.
Aug 21 Another beautiful day has come and gone. Early this morning old Mt. Diablo showed sharply dark against a pinkish sky. An hour later I couldn’t see beyond the first houses for the fog. Then the sun came out radiantly.
I went down to Haight St and bought Lolita a pair of new shoes. Then I went to the Affiliated Colleges [UC San Francisco] and got a treatment for my skin [psoriasis]. I then went down to the Pacific E and Gass Co [Pacific Gas & Electric] and paid my bill which is much lower out here. Then I shopping around down town and then came home. I am tired but not ½ so blue and downcast as I was yesterday.
I have almost made up my mind to go home with mother in a mo. or so. I got a card from Jessie and a letter from Jessie K.
Frank has just come in. He scarcely ever comes home to dinner.
Aug 22 Tuesday Last night after Frank got home he scolded me cruelly because I let Jessie go. Calling me low names and hinting at untruths and deceit threatened Syl again. This morning I got up stiff and sore I did breakfast made up their lunches and mended a little. Wrote to Jessie and got a letter from G. Schnee took a hot bath as mother was baking and went to bed Did not rest much as I was too hot Got up and dressed used the new salve on my skin. Went down stairs felt very cold and feverish inside. Have come up stairs to go to bed for I am feeling worse all the time Lolita called me to supper and I’ll go down to see how things taste to a sick woman.
Wed Aug 23 Pretty sick very high fever all last night. Fever gone down considerably and sweating easily. Pains in my muscles or more properly aches. No cough or cold, stomach well bowels all right. Taking quinine.
Thu. 24 Developed a very bad sore throat and tonsils. Neck swelled on both sides didn’t sleep much and when I did my mouth would open and I’d breathe through it until my tongue was parched and dry and rough. I am not accustomed to sleep breathe through my mouth while sleeping and, involuntarily my jaw would close with a snap that always wakened me, when I would discover that I had bitten my tongue severly. I did this so often that I had a sore bump on each side of my tongue. I have taken about 5 quinine capsules and a large dose of asafoetida [an herb of the celery family] and also a cup of herb tea. I don’t know what ails me. I came down to dinner and ate some chicken and tea etc. Not very hungry (tossed I went to bed and tumbled from side to side in pain in my ovaries and sciatic nerves. Lay awake nearly all night. Am gargling with a mixture of wich hazel and peroxide of H. which I happen to have on hand.
Friday Aug 25 As I write this date something says to me its one of the childrens birthdays My sick befuddled mind hardly knows whether its Leo or Milo. I’ll ask him. My throat is better but still sore. I hope to be well again soon.
Friday Aug 25 is Leo boys birthday He is at present in Minneapolis. I may see him this winter who knows. Frank has been good while I’ve been sick
Sat Aug 26 The day begins cloudy and still. I am up early, feeling fairly well excepting my sore throat and mouth and a little shaky about the knees.
Went to bed again after breakfast and got up at lunch, cooked it and scrubbed the kitchen. Cooked up beans rice and beans. Mother roasted the meat. I rested awhile and got up to help about dinner.
Soon after dinner Jessie and her Syl came. They had a most wonderful trip and enjoyed every bit of it. Syl was sorry to hear I’d been sick. He only stayed long enough to unpack and bring in Jessies stuff. Am feeling better.
27 Sunday Aug 27 It is still cold and foggy dreary to a degree Jessie was up early and after breakfast went to S.S. and phoned that she was going across the bay and wouldn’t be home until after church, which means another lonesome day. Her music and pleasant chatter allways brightens things up. Dewey took Milo out and gave him some instructions in driving a truck.
Frank finished connecting the sink drain pipe to the sewer which makes for easier kitchen work and more sanitary conditions all around.
Mon Aug 28. A very foggy rather cold day. I am feeling better but not quite well. I made up some rhubarb cordial and some hair tonic. Jessie is getting dinner with grandmas help. Lolita did the shopping “marketing” would be a better word. I did the ordering. Soon Dewey and Milo will be here. I wish I could be as sure of Friend Husband.
Aug 29 The day passed quietly Jessie & I went up to the Affiliated Colleges and I took my skin treatment, then on down town shopping and home again.
Syl called up that he was sick so Jessie decided not to go to the Barracca entertainment at the church but went to see him instead. So Dewey accompanied me to the show which passed off hilariously. Got home about midnight. F.S. was asleep in bed and said nothing then or at any other time about it. He seldom comes home to dinner any more.
Aug 30 Milos birthday. Hes 17 yrs old Jessie & I did a 2 weeks wash. Very foggy weather clothes dry slowly. Gave Milo 1.00 for his birthday He will buy a ticket to camp Taylor [now Samuel P. Taylor State Park] and back for his labor day vacation.
Aug 31 Thurs. Jessie & I ironed and put away the things. She made a party cake and a birthday cake for Milo. Took her cake to a party in honor of Eva Coe at Millers. Stayed all night.
Sep 1. Friday promises to be sunny. Finished crocheting a piece of fine lace for a collar. Milo is scurrying around gathering up his camping traps.
Didn’t go to school. Started in evening with Geo. Johnson, Don Shaw and others for Camp Taylor.
Sat, Sep. 2. Jessie and I went to the Affiliated Colleges where I took my treatment. Previously that morning I had got breakfast put up the lunches and scrubbed the kitchen floor. Then we went down to Pragers store where she got permission to go to work again Tuesday. Then we went over to the Fisk tire co and Jessie got some films from Syl. that they had snapped to and around Tahoe. Then we went down and around to the White House store where I bought the findings to make up my suit. Then I went home and Jessie stayed to develop her films.
OpenSFHistory / wnp15.1688
After I arrived home I cut out my suit had a time to get it out of the material.
Jessie came home in the evening and said Bennet had put her to work so she got her films developed for her help.
Sun Sep 3. Dewey and Frank brought up an old car from Dolans and took Grandma Lolita and I for a nice ride through the G. G. Park and down the beach, and back by the mission road through Daly City and home via Ouordaya Ave. [Orizaba Ave] and Ocean Ave. Got some dinner and then Dewey and I went to church. J. & S. came in late and later were offered the ministers tin lizzie [Model T car] so they could get there in time. We all came home on the same car together. Jessie didn’t come with us. Frank was up and grumpy but didnt say any thing.
Monday Sept. 4. Labor Day Dewey went with church bunch to Muir Woods. Jessie went on an auto ride with Syl. Mr. DeVries and Miss Cooper. Had a swell ride so they say. Grandma and I stayed home and labored as befitted the day. I made the skirt of my new suit. Lolita grieved around at being left behind.
Later in the day every one arrived home safe and happy reporting good times.
Frank came home early to dinner which was a great event.
Tuesday 5. Cold and foggy. Jessie started to work. Milo stayed home from school as he was afraid he’d be late on account of going after some flour for me.
I will write some letters to the children and then sew on my jacket.
Later in the day – Well I wrote 6 letters today. Albert, Leo, Agnes, Eilene, Grandma Mosier, Edith Ross in ans. to letters rec’d from all of them.
Sep 6. I worked at cleaning up the house all forenoon and sewed on my new suit in the afternoon.
Sep 7, Thurs. Worked on Grandma’s black silk poplin today. Edith came and I went down town with her to buy some plaid.
Sep 8 This Friday I did a large washing practically alone. And iron part of it.
9. This Sat was a most blue day. I finished my ironing in the forenoon while Jessie got ready to go down to the ferry to see the lady missionaries off for China. It was the day of the annual 1st Baptist Church picnic which they held this year at lake Merced which is near my house, but I did not go there was the work and my suit and mother never feels like going alone and I hate to leave her alone, so, the day wore on to its close.
10th Sun I remain at home and worked hard all day the time seems to fly and there is so much to do before I go east in October.
Mon Sep 11. Jessie was filled with contrition at neglecting her pore old muddie. So she stayed home from work and refitted my coat which wasn’t just right, and I put in some arrow heads, my first which gives it quite a tailored finish
Tuesday Sep 12. Edith Ross came with her cloth for her new coat We worked on it all afternoon.
*Wed 13. House work in forenoon Edith came in the afternoon to help on coat. It is a mustard colored velour delanie trimmed with black plush.
Thurs 14. I took Milo to the duropod orthopedic Dr. to examine his feet he has fallen arches the Dr advised some exercises and a certain kind of strips nailed on his shoes to throw his feet in the right angle. I took my treatment and came home Edith came in the afternoon and we sewed on the coat.
Friday the 15 I did the weeks washing in the forenoon and worked on the coat in the afternoon. I got very tired.
Sat. Edith came early but we couldn’t finish the coat. Seems as if I am a day late with these items as it was on Friday she came early and we couldn’t finish up the coat. I promised to send it sat forenoon so she could take it with her on her trip. Well I didn’t get it done until two oclock so I took it up to Rosses myself and then went down town and stopped at Pragers saw Jessie. Went down to the Emporium and paid Jessies piano bill Went over to the market and laid in a supply of groceries waited awhile for Jessie to show up and when she didn’t came home alone. Seems as if I am alone lately. The grip was heavy but I got it up the hill. Dinner was over and I ate mine and went to bed.
Sun Sep 17. When I got up this morning to get breakfast I noticed a booklet from Barnum and Baileys show on the table and I knew then why Jessie and Sylvester dident come down to the market to see me. They had gone to the show. I was glad. Syl seems to have a good influence over her she used to be afraid to enjoy life but has changed wonderfully for the better. They went to the circus and enjoyed it. Well, Frank and I talked of going and would have but his tooth got to aching so bad he went to have it pulled and we decided to go tonight. After an early dinner I read and rested and started to get ready when I found out Lolita was feeling quite sick so I give up going altogether. I fixed Deweys overcoat today and he went to see the Dr about a swelling on his foot. He says its not blood poison. Jessie and Sylvester went to Hayward today. Milo and Don and Geo Johnson have not yet returned from their camping trip down the peninsula.
Mon Sep 18. Milo and his friends came home all safe and sound. One of them shot a big hawk. Lolita and I and Grandma did up the housework and last weeks ironing and after lunch we went down town and I bought Lolita a new hat and ribbon and lining for her new coat that I am making out of some plush that Frank got at the Machinery Hall. I also picked me out a nice new hat. We came home with Jessie.
Tuesday 19. I cut Lolitas coat and worked on it all day. Helped get dinner and wash up the dishes. Frank came in late and was sore because I wanted to got through with the dishes so I could quit. I worked from 5:30 until 8.15 and am very tired tonight.
Jessie is talking to her Syl on the phone. Dewey is dressing his sore foot. Its better. I will quit for tonight.
Sep 20. Worked on Lolitas coat it is made of a heavy cotton plush of a brownish black color cut raglan and very full at the bottom it is edged at the collar and cuffs with bands of brown fur and the buttons are fur covered it is lined with rose colored flowered satteen and look very well on her.
Thurs Sep 21 Finished the coat and worked awhile on mine.
Fri Sep 22 did a tremendous wash Lolita and mother helping Mother got to tired I’m used to it.
Sat 23 took in the dry wash and hung out the rest of the wet. I finished my coat all but the buttons and button holes. Quit at 4 and went down to get the money from Frank to go marketing with. Dewey met us at the market with the truck and took the stuff home. Frank went with him and I went to Pragers store and waited until Jessie got through and dressed for the party which she was going to attend and then we went out the back entrance to the store to Golden Gate Ave. and waited for Syl to come up which he soon did and then we all got in and he brought me home. I had a lovely ride.
Frank and Dewey had been home and went back with the truck so I was free from making any report then. I straightened up the house Dewey dressed his foot which gets better all the time and then I went to bed tired but happy.
Sun 24 I got up quite early and after a generous breakfast I went to making button holes in my new coat. Jessie pressed the skirt and I put in the button holes and sewed on the buttons and we started to church. Got there in time to hear the sermon. Had a beautiful time there. After church was over and the newlyweds that had just been married had been duly congratulated and showered with rice we debated the question and Jessie said for us to wait and she and Syl would leave Lolita at Sadie Harris’s and take me for a ride I asked them to leave me at the music stand while they went out home for mother while I sat in the sweet Sep sunshine listening to the music of the municipal band the cool breezes played with the two big flags one the stars and stripes the other the California bear lazily filling up their soft folds and falling limp floating and rippling it seemed as if their silken folds were a living visible manifestation of the free and unfettered spirit of the winds of heaven.
I was vastly entertained by a little doll like creature of girl almost artificial in her perfect symmetry of feature and coloring a magnificent big wax doll come to life to enhance the beauty of this incomparable scene Sunday afternoon at the music stand in the G. G. Park. Terraced slopes marble and bronze statues gleaming through the palm and evergreens the rows of waiting automobiles the throngs of music lovers taking their fresh air in this healthful fashion. It was tipical of them all, all the pleasant Sunday afternoons I had spent there but the best and most perfect of them all. Soon I saw Sylvester crossing the plaza and I met him and we walked over to the waiting machine with mother and Jessie inside and we started for a spin around the park. Lolita got home first and gave it all away so when we finally broke down and mother and I took the street car home, Frank was waiting to give me Hail Columbia. He talked brutally and without sense or reason and caused me bitter misery for two days. He was sorry and repentenit and ready to be forgiven in 6 hours.
Monday Oct 7.Since writing two weeks of very hard work has passed Ive been steadly and surely getting ready to go by winding up my odds and ends of sewing and getting my cloths in shape the best I can with what little I have to spend. I’ve finished my new suit and like it very much. I made me a house dress and bought me some odds and did up some repairing for the family. I made a blue middy for Lolita and cleaned Jessies suit. This brings me fairly well up to date.
Tonight I had a very sweet and beautiful surprise Frank bought me a very beautiful wedding ring to replace my old one that’s wore out. So he proved his penitence at his nasty words the ring fit me perfectly and is of pure solid gold and cost $12.00. It is one of the Samuels Lucky wedding rings. It some how gives me joy to think there is still that much sentiment in him. I put it on and kissed him for it and he cried. Its too bad he has such an uncontrollable temper.
Sun Sep Oct 8. F and I went to church in the evening and in the morning (J S) we went to hear ex gov. Hodges of Kansas speak on prohibition.
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Mon Oct 9. Worked like a beaver today, planned Jessies new dress and cut two coats Jessies and Hazel Browns. I am glad to be getting through. I’m tired now and sleepy to so Ill get ready for bed.
Oct. 10, 11, 12, 13. Sewing hard on work cut out more. Jessies dress a blue and white stripe Billy Burke is nearly done and pretty. I will remodel the old Irish lace collar for it. Frank is downcast most of the time about something or other.
Oct 21 Went down town and finished up shopping for our trip. Frank accompanied me and we posed for our photographs. I bought a new brown leather bag and filled it up with groceries. Frank went home after going down to the store where Jessie works to show her the boys new pictures which are very fine We Jessie did some more shopping and then I went home leaving her and Syl who had joined us to come later. When I got home Frank & Dewey had gone with the trucks and started to get things ready for our trip on the morrow. Jessie came soon after and as she was showing S the pictures on the porch. F. S. made an excuse to go out and speak to him. She sat up all night tatting for my new brown dress.
Oct 22 Sunday morning at 8 oclock we all (but Milo) started down to the N. P. Depot to take the train to Los Angeles. We had plenty of time and bidding the family a sad little good Bye mother and I started through the gates to board the train on our way. We had a pleasant and uneventful trip down the coast. The scenery alone the way was most beautiful especially around San Louis Obispo and Atascadero. We arrived at Los. at 9 oclock where Uncle Rufe met us. Aunt Sallie welcomed is with hot supper after which we went to bed in a mood to enjoy a good night rest which we did.
Oct 23 Aunt S, Mother and I went out to Exposition Park and visited the museum. The thing I remember most was a collection or photos and personal belongings of Belva Lockwood. [Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood was an American attorney, politician, educator, and author. She was active in working for women’s rights, including women’s suffrage. Lockwood overcame many social and personal obstacles related to gender restrictions. She died in 1917]
Later in the day we went down to the P.O. to enquire about the parcel Jessie was going to send me. I remained and Aunt went back to get supper. After I was assured they the parcel had been delivered I went home to Aunt Sallies to a dandy oyster supper.
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