10. Wed.  Had some fun with Effie Spencer.  Mother at Shindoll's .

11. Thur.  Letter from Lida  ??? etc.

12. Fri.  Cloudy & ????hy.

13. Sat.  Institute over.  Saw Kittie Q   All went out to DeVore's.  Mother feeling fine at DeVore's  I stayed with Ernest at night.

14. Sun.  Ernest & I went to Joe Kinney's & Burkhart's.

15. Mon.  Went to Nursery & talkt with Jim & Hurlburt.

16. Tue.  Got some mineral watter at McPeasants(?sp) near Old Plymouth for mother.

17. Wed.  To Burkhart's & to Hedges' to sing in eve.

18. Thur.   Went to store.

19. Fri.  Stayed today at Jim Lewis's while he went to town.  Pickt & sold grapes.  Stayed all night.
 

( Page #136 )

1898
Aug 20
Sat.   Town & took exams.

21. Sun.  Went to Nursery    boarding house in eve -  to work.

22. Mon.  Workt.  Wrapped  (beds)

23. Tue.     "               "             "

24. Wed.  Helpt Thresh.  Hot.

25. Tur.  Pruned, Kickt, Wrapped.   Went out to see Mother.

26. Fri.  Burned cherry pits.  Pkt grapes

27. Sat.  Bad cold & some fever.

28. Sun.  Feeling better at DeVore's

29. Mon. Budded in big peach.

30. Tue.  "    small  "

31. Wed.  Went out to see Mother.

Sept.

1- Thur.  Go deirled(?sp?)  hay.

2. Fri.  Hoed mulberry & osage.

3. Sat.. Pickt grapes.  Laid off for week.

4. Sun.  Mother is in town.  Rooms at Rowland's.  To Burkhardt's to play & all night.

5.  Mon.  Went to town.

( Page #137 )

6. Tue.  Win, Tressa, & I went to town to work on father's celler.
 

7. Wed. Father has taken mother to Saline sanitarium at Lincoln or Omaha
but they couldn't help mother much.  Sent Mother $ 10-

8. Thur.  Working in cellar.

9. Fri.  Perry (?) & Win went after stone.  Al & I workt about cellar & leaveling out. ??
Cold & rain P.M.

10. Sat.  Rained all day.  Got feed for hourse.  Read & wrote.

11. Sun.  Cleared off.  Played games.  P.M.- Music in eve - at Curtis's.

12. Mon.  Win & I played churches.  Wrote letters.  Win & I to Bower P.M.

13. Tue.  Let Win 5c for Tressa.

14. Wed.  Joey & I went to work at nursery.  Muddy. Cut Raffee(?sp)

15.  Thur.  Ditto  Win & Father out here.

( Page #138 )

Sept.  1898

16. Fri.  Win & Father went to farm.

17. Sat. Workt on dam & cultvated.

18. Sun.  Dresst warmer.  To Burkhart's

19. - 20  Mon. Tue.   "      workt

21. Wed.  Went to Burkhart's.  Dick Kantz- man & harp there.

22/24  Thur.  Sat.  workt

25. Sun.  Joey & I went to town.  Visited with mother.  She feeling better.
 

26/30  Workt all week.

Oct 1.  "             "

2. Sun.  Win came after me.  Heard of farm matters.

3. Mon.  To twon & helpt more   Mother too-   To social at Fairley's

4. Tue.  At nursery to work.

5. Wed.   ''   "  cut raffee(?sp)

6. Thur.  Father & Harmon Rinear came out (cousin)

( Page #139 )

7. Fri.  Cool & damp.  Stript apples

8. Sat.  Quit early & went to town with Win & Willie.  Mother worse.

9. Sun.  Win & I went to Rose Creek & visited Tibbett's.   Saw the quilt they made for me.  Sang & visited with Lura.

10. Mon.  Folks got ready to go to Omaha & I to Bower.

11. Tur.  Spaded & ?? apple.

12./15.  Workt.  Went to town with Lura - Cold.

16. Sun.  Storming.  Took team to town & left then at DeVore's.

17. Mon. Cool - Snow.  Rainy.   Quit 5 P.M.  Washt up & dried.

18. Tue.  Snowed, blowed, Rain & freeze.

19. Wed.  Cool, Snow. Mist.  To Store in Eve.

20. Thur.  Cool.  Pulled Seedlings;  tired.  Played Whist in eve.
 Ralph Butt  ???????  &  gilmore's
 

( Page #140 )

21.    Fair  Cool & warmer.  Stitpped.     Beat Carlisle at checkers.

22. Sat.  Nice day.   Went to store.

23. Sun.  Popt corn at DeVore's

24. Mon.  Cold.  Pulled osage..

25. Tue.    "    Feeling sick.   Fired. Paid off & quit work.

26. Wed.  Went to Chapman's & Tolleth's. & to Town.

27. Thur.  Saw Tressa.   Went to Bower & to Tolleth's

28. Fri.  Shuckt & loaded corn.

29. Sat.   ditto  ( at Tolleth's)

30. Sun.  Walkt over to DeVore's   Fixt mittens (husking)

31. Mon.  Nice day.  John Decker & Osborne helping.
Had good time at Tolleth's in evening.

Nov.
1. Tue.  55bu.

2. Wed.

3. Thur  Oyster Supper at N. Nash's   We walkt over & back.

4. Fri.

( Page #141 )

5. Sat.  Played flute in eve.  Mable Played & Ethel sang.

6. Sun.  To DeVore's.  Popt Corn.  Wrote to Annie G-

7. Mon.  Fine day.   Eve to DeVore's.

8. Tue.  Tressa & I went to town.  Lookt up law & swore my vote in.  Saw Quinn's

9/12  (left blank)**

13. Sun  Went to DeVore's.  Took team to Tolleth's.

14/15. (left blank)**
 

16. Wed.  Went to town & out to Tibbetts to quilting. ( mine)
Back to Fairbury & to Curtis.  Mother home.  Went up to see her.
Went up to see her.  She's about the same.   Went to Bower & to Tolleth's

17./19.  (Workt I quess)*

20. Sun.  To DeVore's.  Cold Wind.  Took Violin to Tolleth's.
 

( Page #142 )

1898
Nov.
21.  Mon.  Storm raging from North & Snow & Sleet.   Blizzard before noon & worse over night.

22. Tue.  Clear.  Cool day.  Not (?) work  Went to store & to DeVore's

23. Wed.  Shot rabbit & took it to town.  Rode in with Higgins.  Cold- mother worse.
She took cold, her pains were bad.

24. Thur.  Poor thanks giving.  Mrs. Moulton to see mother.

25. Fri.  Mother told us she could not live long and was ready to go.  All she wanted to do now was be comfortable.  I cried.  Mrs. Moulton & Mrs. Slater came P.M.  I couldn't
talk to them.  At 5;15 she could scarcely breath.  She bid Tressa & Win goodbye.
  Tressa burst out crying but calmed down.  Sent Win after Mrs. Mrs. Moulton
Just before worst.  We Kissed Mother. She revived during.  I sent for Ora Hardy &
telephoned Jim Carlisle t go tell Aunt Hattie.
Uncle George & Aunt Hattie came.  Called Dr. Clarke.  Mrs. Moulton & Aunt Hattie
Sat up with Mother.  Mother spoke of such a nice sun shinny day.

26. Sat.  Blustery day. Cleared Eve.  Mrs. Barnes?, Broche? & Vivian? Holiday (Y//Wyatt)? called.  Mrs. Moss. Mrs. Slater came to stay all night.  Mother got dilerious''.'"Got tired of papering overhead"  She thirsty.
I sang some last songs for her.
 

( Page #144 )

1898 Nov.

Sun.
27.  Mother dies at 12.26 a.m. Breathed easy & peaceful.  Friends came in to help.
Win took Aunt Hattie out home & to get things for me.  Wearns(?sp) McSucas(?sp)
Came & stayed all night with Father.  Tressa at Thomas P.M. & night.
In Eve we talkt affairs.  To pack up & rent house.  Tressa & I to have what we
wanted.   Arranged that Tressa was to go to Aunt Hattie's & live with them.
Tressa to have Mother"s organ.  I gave Tressa Mother's purse and some change;
Also watch chain.
 

( Page #145 )

28.  Mon.  Preparations for funeral made.  We took last look at Mother.  She looked nice restful and pleasant.  Just like she use to when she was well.  The best I had seen her in years, but asleep.
  Funeral at church.  Small crowd of old friends there.
Sang "Asleep in Jesus."  "Sister thou art Smiles & lovely"
We met Aunt Lou as we started for Cemetery.  George & me ate dinner at Orra's.
At home. We changed things & made it look pleasant.  We lookt over things in eve.
 

( Page #146 )

1898.
Nov.
29. Tue.  Lookt over and arranged things more.  Tressa & I sang & played some.
(Note this storm & snow stayed on & lasted all winter)*

30. Wed.  Wallace came & we went to Rose Creek & stayed at Tibbett's.  Heard about quilting.

Dec. 1.
 Thru.  Gave Lida T-  $ 2 -   Called on neighbors.  We took dinner with Uncle John & Auntie Quinn.  Back to town  & home.   Uncle George & Aunt Hattie in.
Lookt over things in eve.

2. Fri.  Straightening up.

3. Sat. Storming again.   Tressa & I spent evening at Curtis's.

( Page #147 )

4. Sun.  Cleared.  Had buckwheet Cakes for breakfast.  Read.

5. Mon.  Feeling Knocked out.  Tressa went home with Uncle George. & I with
Frank Gage & to DeVores.

6. Tue.  Went over to Tolleth's   Music in eve.
 

7. Wed.  to DeVore's

8. Thur.  Suned & read.

9. Fri.  To Burkhart's for night.

10. Sat.  Lillie & I went to town.   Win wants to go west straight away.
Think I'll go west.   To DeVore's

11. Mon.  Tressa started to school at East Bower.  Win & I went to town.
Pickt up things & went back to Bower.  Got things all ready to start
To farm in Morning for a while.
 

( Page # 148 )

1898.
Dec 13
Tue.   Started ( Win & I ) west at 2 P.M.  Stopt at store.   To Daykin @ 5 P.M. & to
Mr. Acon's @ 8.  & all night.

14. Wed.  To Bruning 11 A.M.   Pretty good roads.  To Carlisle  2 P.M.   To Edger 6.30 & out to Al Westering's  all night & good visit.

15. Thur.  To Fairfield  10.30   Stopt over night at Riggs.   Visited about Town & Friends.

16. Fri.  Got to Armstrong's by Blue Hill (East) @ 5.30.   Had a good time,  Jim & Marsie(?sp)  Marrie(?sp)- nice little girl.

17. Sat.  On for Paradise ?ale(?sp)  thru Blue Hill.  Got to farm 5 P.M..   Schenck away.
(We mailed a Post Card to Tressa nearly every town we stopt or went thru)
 

( Page #149 )

18. Sun.  Lookt over place.   Alfalfa gone from field - some eaten.

19. Mon.  Wrote Schenk - Fixt barn.

20. Tue.  Saw Carpenter & talkt about renting place to him.

21. Wed.  Rain.  Talkt with Carpenter.
 
 

22. Thur.  Wrote letters.  Win & I went to Carpenter's  & figured.
We went to Riverton. Saw E. Hunter about lumber for house.
Got back to farm & found Schenk all gone to Orleans.
No 23)** Left no word with me. For.

24. Sat.. Sat. Sent Win to town.  Wrote Letter to Schenck to vacate.

25.Sun.  Win went off alone.   Had Oysters for dinner alone.  To Church (North) with Pollard's.

26. Mon. Went to town.  Got my teacher's certificate an 86 3/4.  Notified Schenck to vacate.   (2nd)  Lookt up farm matters.

( Page # 150 )  Blank
( Page # 151 )  Blank

( Page # 152 )

1928 ???
Dec.

27. Tue.  Workt around.   To Pollard's in Eve & Sang.

28. Wed.  Scott Polly up.  Rented house and part of farm to Carpenter.  Onions etc.
Kept part for myself.

29. Thur.  Went to town.  Wrote Father to Send ??? machine & other Stuff.  Storm P.M.

30. Fri.  Shot rabbit & cookt it for supper, but no bread & potatos.  Fried mush, bk food & Crackers.

31. Sat. Cleaned out foat(?sp) log.    Cut wood.  Shot two rabbits.  Got milk at Pollard's & sang.  Win went to town & got mail etc.  He went to New Year's dances.
Woke me with "Happy New Year"
 

( Page #153 )

1899.  Jan 1.
Sun.  Moved Schenk's stuff into Kitchen and we moved into frontroom & bed room.
Got some wood.  Dressed up in eve & had Flute & Picelo.

2. Mon.  Got 3 loads wood.  Made foot log / cut tree.  Mr. Marshall called.
 

3. Tue.  Went to town.  Got a wood saw.  Letter from Schank.   He would settle &  Move before Mar.!   Met Dr Spencer.

4. Wed.  Win went to town after goods Father sent.

5. Thur.  Unpackt & put our stove.

6. Fri. Cleaned up house.  Hunted.

7. Sat.  Sawed wood & hunted.

8. Sun.  Swept & straightened up.   Went to Danker's in eve. -
Big time  Singing & Music.

9. Mon.  Hunted but  n.g.

10. Tue.  Took up Schank's carpet & put mine down.

( Page # 154 )

1899 Jan.
11. Wed.  Went to town. (Schenk ? )    Went to Pollard's in eve  &  had good time.  Miss Wilson there.   Got Pollard to Singing old Lumber Camp Songs.

12. Thur.  Moved Schenk's things out of bedroom to kitchen.

13. Fri.  Cleared & Trimmed trees.  Oyster supper at Tupper's.

14. Sat.  Fixt pen in barn.  Win to town.  Wrote to Lida.

15. Sun.  Joe visited a while.    Bud & Faye Danker came.
Fay stayed for dinner - good visit.

16. Mon.  Sawed wood & cleaned.   Hauled in wood.    In eve took Miss Wilson &
Mrs. Pollard to meeting.  Rearranged barn yard.

17. Tue.  Put alfalfa in barn.

18 Wed.  Washing - baked biscuits.  Joe & I went to Frat Aid banquet in Riverton.  Fine time.  Letter from Father.  He says Schenk's time was more than out.

( Page # 155 )

19. Thur.  Made Fence.

20. Fri.  Went to School  A.M.

21. Sat.  To town.  At Pollard's in eve & went to Peter's late. 5 girls & crowd boys there.

22. Sun  Walkt to Polly's  Shot a mink.

23. Mon.  Baked biscuit & bread.   Joe Billar(?sp) left or Colo.

24. Tue.  Dragged weeds with team.

25. Wed.  Fixt fence.  Win to town.

26. Thur.   Win took team & started for Jeff Co  for visit etc.
A  Dr. Harloch (Vetrinary) from Hebron stopped over night.

27. Fri.  Schenk & some came & packt up some in Kitchen.  Etc. & took them away.
Scott Polly with them.  Good riddance.

( Page #156 )

1899 Jan

28.  Cold & blowing.  Cut wood & Kept Stove warm.  Earl Danker called.

29. Sun.  Cold night & everything but bread frozen.  I danced seven horn pipes to keep warm.  Slept eve at Pollard's  Cold night again.

30.  Mon.  Wrote letters & Kept warm.

31. Tue.  Split wood.  Baket biscuits.  So. Wind.  At Pollard's in eve.
 

Feb.
1. Wed.  Snow & sunshining.  Cut dogwood & wrote letters.

2. Thur.  Chopt wood.  Fixt fence.

3. Fri.  Schenk came & we had Pollard arbitrate.  He said call it square & quit.  O.K.

4. Sat.  Went to town.  Saw Hunter @ bill lumber $ 65.  Carpenter to help me build a 14 X 14 house.

( Page # 157 )

5. Sun.  Hunted.  Eve went to Danker"s   Had big time & stayed all night.

6. Mon.  Drove to a sale and bot 25 chickens $ 5-.  Pollard's in eve.

7. Tue.  Went and got chickens (24)

8. Wed.  Cool.   Danker's in eve.

9.  Thur.  Drove Carpenter's team to town.  Moved bed into front room.
Brot . bill (load) of lumber.

10. Fri.  Snowed all day.  Boiled potatoes.   Don't feel well.
Got in wood.   Blizzardy P.M.

11. Sat.  Bad day.  Boil bad & Shoulders pained.

12. Sun. Boil opened - feel better eve.  To Pollard's P.M. & Eve  Made rabbit trap.

13. Mon.  Weather broke & warm.

14. Tue.  Got load lumber & hdw.

15. Wed.  Got last load lumber $ 62.10

16. Thur.  Cloudy. Froze.  Hunted Ducks.  Wrote Hurlburt for nursery stock.

17. Fri.  Commenced building my house.   Went to Spelling school

( Page #158 )

1899 Jan// Feb.
18. Sat.   Workt on house.  Win came at 9 P.M.   Was cold and I was glad to see him.
He Got my trunk.

19. Sun.  Went to meeting  P.M.   Met Neal Marshall.

20. Mon.Workt on house - siding.

21. Tue.  About finished outside house.  Went to supply party on Neal Marshall.
40 there.   Good time. -   Music, games, Eats,   Tom & Neal sang minstrel songs.  Cold

22. Wed.  Cold  N. Wind.  Went to town for door, lime & hdw.
Young blizzard in full force P.M.

23. Thur.  Warmed up.  Workt on house.

24. Fri.  Shingled some.  Didn't sleep well.  Heard boys yell at 1 A.M.

25. Sat  Misty & snowed.  Shingled.  Stormy.

26. Sun.  Bright & warming up.  Went to Tuppers(?sp) & Polly's

27. Mon.  Shingled  etc.

28. Tue.  Floored & put in Window.

( Page # 159 )

March.
1.  Wed.  Moving day.   Win put in door.  Talkt with Carpenter.

2. Thur.  Moved stove bed etc my into new house and slept there.

3. Fri.  Moved rest of things.  Carpenter moved into old house P.M.
Windy and Colder.  Baked bread.  Win put up pictures.

4. Sat.  Cleared yard & burned trash.   Blizzard at night.

5. Sun.  Fixt up in house.

6. Mon.  To Pollard's in Eve.

7. Tue.  Baker bread.  Visited with Miss Wilson at Pollard's in eve.

8. Wed.  Fine warm spring day.   Washt.  Wrote to Annie.

9. Thur.  Hauled sand & wood.

10. Fri.  Letter from Father.  He is to marry his "First Love"  Banked af around house.   (af=alfalfa)**

11. Sat.  Cool N wind.  Went to town & gave Hunter note for $ 70-
Blake gave me credit at store.

 ( Page # 160 )

1899.  March

12. Sat//Sun.   Fair -  To Danker's in eve.

13. Mon.  Sore throat.  Better eve.

14. Tue.  Rainy.  Fixt overcoat.   Baking bread.

15. Wed.  Cut wood.  Cold Morn.   Spent eve at Pollard's

16. Thur.  Took Hog to town.

17. Fri.  Made ladder.

18. Sat.  Dragged my nursery land & burned off.

19. Sun.  Baked bread  etc.

20. Mon.   Chopt wood & workt around farm.

21. Tues.  Took Win to Riverton to work at blacksmith shop.

22. Wed.  Cleaned & Fixt & Darn.

23. Thur. Took Miss Wilson to Social at school house. Ate lunch with (Little)   Margaret Danker.

24. Fri.  Went to town.  Went with Carpenter's young folks to a spelling school.  I pronuunced.

( Page # 161 )

Glycerine   50%  )  d/ or   chapped
Myrrk         50% )      hands
 

25. Sat.  Cut trees & hauled.  Stormed.

26. Sun.   Slept late.   Planted seed.

27. Mon.  Snow.    Lookt up colts.

28./31   Washt & other work.

April 1.
Sat.   Made mittens & went to town.

2. Sun.Put my mail box at road.

3. Mon.  Cut wood.

4. Tue.  Workt on harrow & hen house.

5. Wed.  Rained.  Made fence.

6. Thur.  Straightened in Granery.

7. Fri.  Plowed a field & harrowed.  ( First Plowing in community)*

8. Sat.  Bernett got a load of dogwood.

9. Sun.  Got Danker's planter.

10. Mon.  Boiling chicken.   Planted onions.  Got par boots (gun)

11. Tue   Took boots back-

( Page # 162 )
a    b    c    d    e    f    g    h    I    j    k    l    m   n    o    p    q    r    s    t    u     v    w    x    y    z
.-  -…  …  -..   .   .-.   --.  ….  ..  -.-.  -.- -   -- -.  ..   …..  ..-.   . .. …  -   ..-  …-   .--  .-..  .. ..  … .

&        1     2     3     4        5     6         7     8       9       ?          ,     .
. …    .--.  ..-..  …-.  ….-   ---   ……   --..  -….   -..-    -..-.   .-.-   ..--..

 ( Page # 163 )
                Passages.

   Chp       Verce
Exodus  22 - 16
II Kings  18 - 27
Genesis  39 - 10
I Cormthins   7 - 14
Galations   3 -  3
Proverbs  23 -  9
St James   5
John    3 - 23
Hebrews   7

 12.  Wed  Spring week.   Wrote to Annie.   Played & sang.

13. Thur.        "            "                     "           eve.

14. Fri.   Seeds in house @ coming up.

15. Sat.

16. Sun.  Baked Bread.

17. Mon.  Shot rabbit.

18. Tue.   Went to town.  Ate supper at Polly's

19. Wed.  Went to luar(?sp) lecture.

( Page # 164 )

1899 Thur.
Apr 20.  Put Ponies on alfalfa.

21. Fri.  P.M.  Went to Arbor & Friday exercises at school  ??

22. Sat.

23. Sun.  Put plants out doors.

24. Mon.  Hot day.  Went to town after nursery stock.

25. Tue.  Hot & windy.  Spr in eve.   Set out nursery stock.

26. Wed.  Rained.  To Pollard's in eve.

27. Thur.  Went to town.  Wrote letters.

28. Fri.  Burned off south bottom.

29. Sat.  Ponies picking up fine.

30. Sun.  Sprinkled.   Workt.

May
1.  Mon.   Nice day.  Sent picture to Annie.  Saw Tupper(?sp)

2. Tue.  Tom Marshall called.   Hailed P.M.  Put up fence.

3. Wed.  To town P.M.

4. Thur.     Drove to Bennett's

5. Fri.  Olie Delinger got up a surprise party on Miss Will/son in eve.

( Page # 165 )

6. Sat  Went to school - Closing exercises.  Real nice.  School maam went home.
 "Good bye my lover good bye"   ( ??)**(a song title,  my wifeCheryl says)**
(note:  maam is a contraction of madam, a title of courtesy used to address a woman)**

7. Sun.  Fine day.  Went to S.S. & church.   Apple trees blossoming fine.

8. Mon.  Drove to Cline's  A.M.

9/10. Tue. Wed.   Wheel hoed.

11. Thur.  Baked P.M.  Harrowed & floated strawberry bed.

12. Fri.  Went to town and got Strawberry plants.  Set them out in eve. - Rained.

13. Sat.  Set more strawberrys.

14. Sun.  Workt.

15. Mon.  Win came home from Franklin.  -  Threw up his job.  Letter from Annie.
Nice.  She's all right.    Workt P.M.

16/17  ------------

( Page # 166 )

1899.  May.
18. Thur.   Herman Motter stayed in (Old Fairfield College boy).

19. Fri.  Big rain  P.M. -  High water.

20.  Sat.  Fizzled all day.

21. Sun.  Went to Church  3 times & home safe.  Motter Preacht.
I corded organ for singing.

22. Mon.  Pollard lookt over nursery.

23. - 29.  ------  Just workt.

30. Tue.  Surprise Party at xx Pollard's aboyt 70 or 80 there.

June.  4.  Sun.   Met Miss White  ( A Kansas Zepher)
Stopt at Pollard's & had visit with her.

5. Mon.  Win & I went to town.  Got groc. etc.   Saw Jennie Wilson.

10. Sat.  To Party at Brown's  Surprise on Myra White.  Had a good time with her.

13. Tue.  Thunderstorm.  Pollard's  Started on wagon trip to Mts.

17. Sat.  Getting up a 4th of July celebration.   Was Miss White.

( Page # 167. )

18/25   Workt.  Visited & rained.

26.  Mon.  Heavy rain last night.  North Creek up and all over bottom.  Highest in 4 years.

July 4.  Tue.  Had local July 4 celebration.  I helpt run stand.

9. Sun.  To S.S.  We got the lesson off track to start with and Chas G-  Kept it off.
Walkt home with Miss White.

 X         Bernett & boys came one day  & helpt clean out onions.

16. Sun.  Called at James and Danken's.

20. Mon.  Went to see Miss White.

23. Sun.  Pickt Early Harvest apples.  Saw Miss White.

25. Tue.  I took Mira May  Threasa(?sp)  White to a social.  Good ride.

31. Mon.  Put young chickens out in coops.

 X  Wrote to Father he could have farm back anytime.
 

( Page # 168 )

1899
Aug 2.  Wed.  Win & I went to Woodman Picnic in Riverton.  Got with band boys and had some fun.  Played fife & drum.

7. Mon.  Quit Claimed to father.  Feel like I'm a free man again & no heavy debts.

13. Sun.  Win & I went to Dankin's & Bennett's.  Ate Melons.
Played church with Geo Marshall.

15. Tue.  Went toTom Marshall's  Melons.

18. Fri.  Pld  checkers with Geo Marshall.  For dinner & had a good time.

27. Sun.  Went to Bernett's & got some musk melons.

Sept.

3. Sun.  Went to Tom Marshall's a while. A.M.  Mr. Patton building near   Pretty girls.
(Onions  garden & plants growing O.K.)

( Page #169 )

Sept 5. Tue.  Took Tomatoes to town.

6.  Wed.  We took trip with onions.

7. Thur.  Rained.  Took Chickens to town.

8. Fri.  Pulled onions.

10. Sat.  State Supt Irrigation called.  He said I had best onions he had seen in the State and better than any on Exposition at Omaha.

X3. Wed.  Took load onions to Upland.

X .  Helpt hay & thresh.

19. Tue. (Went to school house in eve.  Epworth League.  Icorded organ)

22. Thur.  Took Tomatoes to Town.

23. ////  Out with Onions by Campbull.

24. Sun.  Wrote to Myra White, Tressa & Annie.

25. Mon.  Went Frat. Aid banquet in Riverton.  Good social time.

26. Tue.  Traded Onions for pigs (big)  Also bought severl more.

28. Thur.  Dug Celery, cut corn & pickt tomatoes.

( Page # 170 )

1899
Sept: 30 Sat.  Took Onions & Tomatoes to town.

Oct. 4. Wed.  Sold cabbage @ 5c   Pict 8 bu Tomatos for Town.

7. Sat.  Went to kissing play party.

9. Mon.  Workt on road.

12. Thur.  Settling up accounts.

 X  Got some hay (mowed. cut)

14. Sat.  Traded alfalfa for hay.   Dance at Chas James.

16. Mon.  Sold Bennett 25 bu Onions @ 60c

20 Fri.   Father seems to want me to stay on with farm deal.

21. sat.  Helpt neighbors build Tom Marshall a new sod house.

23. Mon. Father came about 11 Oclock - walkt out from town.

24. Tue.  Visited A.M.  Father leaves everything for me to run.  Got team up for him & he took them away.       ( The last time I saw him alive)
 

( Page #171 )
25. Wed.  Settling up a/co in town.

28. Thur.  Saw & heard Bryan feel for first - in Riverton. ???
Win sold a load of onions $ .20

31. Tue.  Trade corn for pigs & sow.

Nov.   Weather colder.   Fixt barn etc for winter.

5. Sun.  Traded my horse to Chapman for two Colts & $ 10-

8. Wed. Dug 7 bu potatoes.   Traded for straw. (Have corn)

11. Sat.  Had stag party.  Sold more Onions.

17. Fri.  Woke up in night with malaria fever.  Sick all day.

X8. Sat.  Misty & damp  5 1/2 days.  Caught a cold.

24. Fri.  McCraken wants to buy farm.

25. Sat. Pd last o/c-  Don't owe anybody in Franklin Co.
 Sent $ 25 to Fairbury for Father.

26. Sun.  Sold off house goods -    Sold Celry  etc.
 
 

( Page # 172 )

1899
Dec.
Made a deal with Carpenter to take care of my stock & feed them till spring.  I left enough feed for them.
 

Dec.  Weather colder.  Closing up other deals & arrangments.
4/  More rain.

11. Mon.  Rest of house things gone.  Good letter from Annie.

Backing on Thompson creek at an end for Frank & Win.

I had planned to board with Tupper or some one & work out some next year & let Carpenter have more ground.  I to keep nursery part.

Also  I was going to Kansas  Cawker City to visit the Gordon's before
I went to Fairbury & Bower to visit.,  the winter
 

( Page # 173 )

I took my trunk & personal things to Tupper's and stayed a day  2 or  3.  Then I left trunk etc there and started for Kansas visit.    Took my small trunk along tho.

Mr. Carpenter was to have my chickens on shares.

 X X X  X X

Took train and went to Cawker City  Kans  and out to Gordon's =  Mrs. Everett & Annie
Dec. 22, 1899.  They have a new house & just moved in.   Neighbor Coad & Anna Dochstater
(Everetts girl) -(Regular Sochdolager)????   Xmas dinner & Company.
Xmas Entertainment & a big time at house afterwards.
Had a big time rest of weekend.
 
 
 
 
 
 

( Page # 174 )

1900. New Years.

Spent a week or so visiting & having a good time.  To Band practice parties etc.
Rifle shooting.  Shuckt some corn for Everett,   Helpt E- prospect for water.
( To get a well in dry country).  We went to "Spirit Springs"  (Waconda) one day in
breaks(?sp) of Republican///Solomon river.
One Sunday Annie & I drove to town to church.  We talkt of some nice things.
Out love seemes to be reciprocal & O.K.  Later we talkt of our ideal homes
And about what we, might, could, would, or should do.  Talked of our love
And marring.  Both believed we could live happily together and expected to
Marry if we kept getting along alright.  But no promises.  Wait & see.
(But it never materialized.  We always thot a lot of each other &
corresponded.  I went to see her two or three different summers.)*

( Page #175 )

Feb.  1  Thur.  Went to town & took train for Fairbury.  At Belleville  talkt with  Dr. Lutes  Our old family physican in Nebr.  Surprised Curtis' at Fairbury.
Lura tickled & I kissed her.  Found Orra, Sick and little girl cousin (Lela)
Real pert.  Out to country and walkt in on DeVore's.
George wanted to kno where was the rest of me.  Tressa looking well & big.
This mo. = Visited friends at Bower & Fairbury.  Also, Rose Creek.
Had some old time music at Burkhart's.
Played churches with Chas Hughes.

13.  Tue.  I have been thinking of Annie nearly all day. Very vividly sometimes sometimes.  Wonder if there isn't something the matter with her.  She had tonsil
trouble etc.  (Sorry to say that years later she died of cancer.)*
 
 

( Page # 176 )

1900
Feb.
9. Fri.  Went back to Riverton (for some reason)*  Visited around and saw most every one I knew, except the Marshall's  Saw will & Joe Mac'Cracken about farm deal.
Father sold to Joe - Mc-  took up & sold some nursery stock.
Went to lodge & acted as chaplin.

( Page # 177 )
(Looks like Frank got something out of order here when recopy 1934)**

Christmas Eve 1899   V//
Everett & Anna D & Annie & I went to a Dutch (Hollander) Entertainment - Sat in one seat.  Had a time.  Thompson Creek.   Singing night over and I gave one whoop
But Annie chocked me off.  We had a young spree & blow out when we got home.
The spirit struck Everett & he blew the stuffin out of his horn.
Amma D - broke her heart on the corner of the table and didn't get over it all eve.
Annie G- got tired laughing but was able to  get into a little scuffle over a tune
(a horn pipe)   A time(?sp) was no name for the evening  efent(?sp?)
Old Santa Claus wasn't  in it. ??????????  (what's this about???)**

27.  Wed.:  Everett wasn't able to start home with Miss " Hsteller" till after dinner.
But finily got away and a First Class Xmas time saw the beginning of its end.

( Page #178 )

1899 -
Dec  30.   Sat,  night Everett & I went to Dispach & band practice.
We found team had broken loose.  Borrowed lantern & tracket them home.
Found the going round in a circle in the barn yard.  We didn't tell the folks.

31. Sun.  Everett & I were in smiles   Annie & her mother smiled too.  (at us)  They thot something was up   but was afraid to sa mary L's,  they guesst we were not at band practice much but went some place else.  Haha!
Thot we were going to have dance or were just fooling.
Everett & I drove the Dispatch A.M.
  The mother discovered a lot of buggie tracks in the barn yard.  And coundn't
Imagine how they got there.  But would like to kno.  They thot we were just trying to
Be funny or fooling them.  Casting sheep's eys & inquiring glances all P.M.
I took Annie out & showed her the buggie tracks.  We all thot there was something funny  about them.    Mrs b- would just like to know how they got there.
Thot maybe we had a run off - tng got unhooked or somwthing.

1900
  Jan 1.  Mon.   Annie & Mrs -  got it dreamed out that we were just up to fun & nothing was up. But didn't half believe it tho.

3. Wed.  Amos Forsythe called.  He nearly told on us about Sat. night.  But we gave him hint and he stopt. He had askt where we found our team.  And Annie & mother liked to have a fit.

4. Thur.   A.M.  Bartlett called.  Women folks "Tickled to death" because Bartlett told something he heard about on Sat. night affair.  Some parties had askt him if the team smashed up anything. -that our team was gone when we went out agter band practice.  Folks Knew then that  someone had taken team and we had walkt home. That the teamwould have smasht up everything if they had run away.  That we went after the horns Sun. Morn etc.  ha! ha!          (sounds like they had a few)**

5. Fri.  Anna Dochsteter & Daisy Stopt & told all they knew.  That team ran home and nothing was hurt.  Annie told them that the team didn't come home alone  Nit!! Ye beet!!

7. Sun.  Told Annie the Straight of it.  Quite an episode  Spirit Springs
(Waconda)  is 3 mi.  East of Cawker City, Kana.  It is a little lake on top of a noll in the
head of a can you up from Solomon river.  It's about 50 ft across.  It is nearly as high
as the surounding country.  Water is salt & mineral -- yellowish color.
It seeps thru the sides and runs down to the solomin river.  Doesn't freeze.
The lake mound is hard stone.  Like lava formation.  Carving & breaking off on sides.
Clay dirt around on all sides.  Big hotel & Sanatorium there.
( Sanatorium = An institution for the treatment of chronic deseases)**
 

( This is the last ruled page of Frank's Private Diary)**

 (???  What happened next  ????)**
(We have more work to do, but we do have some pictures with dates.
Frank & Tressa 1901 Picture
Original 3 Letter Carriers appointed Fairbury, Neb.  Dec. 7, 1903
(#1.  C.H. Kruges,  #2.  F.F. Johnson,  #3.  J. F. Hulka)   See hat#s
Frank & Bessie wedding picture 1906
Johnson Family picture including Martin & Francis as baby about 1912 or 1913
Diary for Lawrence written by Frank, about 1917 thru 1922)**
 

 (Last page inside cover  plain paper  light blue reads):**

Jessie James is a girl   on the heads of Thompson Creek.
A fine little girl  I declare.   Wita sparkling eyes   and dimpled cheeks.
Red lips and waving hair.

She's a fine little girl   as sure's You're  alive.
O'yes She'll take the cake.
She's a buxom little lass   Don't let her pass   And you'll make no mistake.
 

Research and Transcription ;
Started November 1999 by:
Charles L. "Chuck" Johnson
12956 Hamilton Street Omaha, NE  68154-3607
402-493-1606home;   800-409-9789biz;    402-493-5482fax
xjohnsons@home.com

Completed  December 7, 1999