Emma #108: June 1936
More time with family, Gerald in jail, cherries, and trying to figure out where to go
As we begin this month, Emma and Tell are on the road back to Iowa after a year of living in Grants Pass, Oregon. They have stopped in Beresford, SD to visit her sister Linnie and family. They have no idea what they will do next, or where they will live.
Mon 1. We went to Sioux Falls today—Dad, Linnie & I. We had a nice day. I went to get my teeth fixed but one was not healed so had it opened up & Harry took out a piece of a tooth & that will be all that can be done now. We have had some nice letters from Ruth-Bob and Katharine.
Harry, son of Linnie and Gerrit, was a dentist and had done work for Emma on previous visits.
Tue 2. Today I drove Gerrit’s car to Parker so Linnie could attend the Dist. Convention. It was about 39 miles and I was glad to do it for her. We did not stay for the evening service. We had a nice dinner at the church. Mrs. Lockridge is the Dist. Pres.
Wed 3. Linnie & I washed this morning and we & Dad went to Sioux Falls in the afternoon. Had Harry look at my teeth & we have decided to have my teeth finished up right away—putting in an “immediate” denture. Dad is getting anxious to go home. Do not know just what day we will go.
An immediate denture is a temporary one inserted on the same day as the removal of natural teeth and used while a permanent denture is being made.
Thu 4. I spent the day sewing. Did not quite finish a new lace suit. Got it all done but the hand work. Gerrit took us for a nice ride around town. Harry has not phoned yet.
Here’s a lace suit from about 1935-36.
Fri 5. It rained here (Beresford) again last night. I leaned over in a chair & fell back against the furnace and got a terrific bump on my head. We have been waiting for a phone call from Harry. We decided to not get the teeth fixed now—even tho Harry had them made. We plan to start for Eldora in the morning & come back some time later. Linnie went to a Missionary meeting at the church. I stayed home and finished my dress. We all drove to Canton, S.D. to take a load of chickens. Gerrit broke the car window and it rained hard going & coming. The trip was worth while financially.
Sat 6. We left Beresford early this AM and drove to Denison. Got there in time for dinner. They persuaded us to stay over night. Had a nice visit. Got all stirred up about a second-hand stove. Florence is trying to find a job for us.
Denison is about halfway between Beresford and Hubbard/Eldora, IA (former home of Emma and Tell, and still home to many of the Boylan clan).
In December 1934 I figured out that Florence was the wife of John Boylan Sullivan, a relative of Tell’s.
Sun 7. Left Denison this AM. Drove as far as Glidden where we stopped for church. Met Miss Malen. She asked us to go out to Smiths with her which we did. We drove on to Eldora for evening. Saw Caroline Hall, Dorothy Smith, Mrs. Lang & others. They want to see Ruth.
As Emma and Tell come back into Iowa, we are seeing a lot of familiar names from the journal entries before they left for Oregon. Miss Malen was an evangelist and long-time friend who lived in Glidden, Iowa. There’s more of her story in the February 1930 post.
Mon 8. We got a nice letter from Ruth today. They may come to Ft. Dodge on Friday. We drove to Conrad. Saw Mrs. Daggett & her sister. We went to Waterloo to see the Allen Land Co. to try to buy a farm but it looks pretty hopeless. Came back to Eldora for night.
Tue 9. We went to Hubbard today from Eldora. Saw a lot of our friends. Heard from Mr. Strother that Gerald is in jail for forging a check—for sixty days. How much sorrow he has caused us. How can he do as he does? It is surely bitter for his mother.
Gerald is Emma and Tell’s oldest child. He’s married to Miriam, and they have three children—Betty (13), Peggy (11), and Jerry (8). They moved to Mexico, MO while Emma and tell were in Oregon. He has previously had problems with drinking, and is an ongoing source of frustration for Emma.
Wed 10. Dad & Uncle John drove over to the Cemetery. I sat around the house doing nothing all day. Listened to the Republican Convention in the evening.
Tell’s ancestors were among the early settlers of Hardin County, Iowa, and provided land for the Boylan Cemetery. Although most burials were in the late 1800s and early 1900s, there are a few more recent ones, including some of Tell’s siblings. The latest I found, from 1994, was a guy named Orren “Putt” Mossman, who was billed as the “undisputed world’s champion stunt motorcyclist.” It looks like he was a distant cousin by marriage to the Boylans. This article includes more pictures as well as videos of him doing stunt practice and pitching horseshoes through Johnny Carson’s legs (!!)
Thu 11. Dad brought me down to Daggetts this AM after I had the washing done. I am going to stay awhile. He went back to Eldora. I helped with dishes, separator and the washing. Lots of work on the farm. Tell plans to drive Alice to Ackley tonight.
Fri 12. Mrs. Daggett & I picked 19 qts of strawberries this AM. I am going to make 12 pints of jam today. Tell came after me about 4 PM & loaded up my berry jars & brought me home to John in Eldora. I was sick when I left.
Sat 13. Was sick most all night & here it is noon almost when I am getting up. A nice letter from Katharine greeted me. She is not finding the camp work so hard. Spent most of the afternoon in bed. Alice thinks my strawberries did not pay me. We are in Eldora.
Katharine’s school year in Cleveland is over, and she is spending the summer working at Mont Lawn camp in the Poconos.
Sun 14. A beautiful morning. We plan to go to Hubbard to SS & Church & are invited to Hornungs for dinner. We had a lovely chicken dinner. Called on Mrs. Johnson at Alden then on to Ft. Dodge. They were ready to go to Twin Lakes so we came along.
Twin Lakes is a recreation area and state park near Fort Dodge. Among its features is a stone day-use shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, one of the New Deal programs.
Mon 15. It is beautiful here. Robert & Ruth, Donald and Bernie, Stella & Helen, Dad & I & the little fellow Milton staid all night. Mr. & Mrs. Grooters & Howard and his friend went home. We will stay here till tomorrow sometime & go to Ft. Dodge. Six of us drove to Lake City to see “Grandma” Weston who stays with “Aunt Emma.” After we got home, Stella & the boys & their wives went to Ft. Dodge. Helen & Milton staid here with Dad & me. We are at Twin Lakes, five miles north of Rockwell City. Ruth & I & Dad went to Rockwell City this AM to buy a dress for Ruth.
This is a pretty good introduction to the family of Robert Grooters, who recently married Emma and Tell’s daughter Ruth (my grandparents!). Bob’s siblings were Estella (25), Donald (24 and recently married to Bernie), Helen (17 and still single at this point—I’m guessing Milton was a friend of hers), and Howard (14). Bob’s grandmother Flora Goodell Birdsall Weston was twice-widowed and living with his aunt Emma Birdsall Vogel in Lake City. Here’s a picture of this section of the family tree.
Tue 16. Twin Lakes. It is lovely and quiet here. We have had our breakfast and have done up the work. It is very warm. Think we will go in the water by & by. We left Twin Lakes for Ft. Dodge about eleven. Got to Grooters for dinner—Helen, Milton, Dad & I. After a rest Bob & Ruth & I went to town. Ruth got some shoes and some towelling. We had a “song fest” in the evening.
Wed 17. Dad, Bob, Ruth & I left Ft. Dodge this AM about seven. We stopped at Johnson’s in Alden for a short time. Stopped several places in Iowa Falls. Then on to Eldora for lunch. A visit with Gladys in Hubbard & then to Radcliffe where we left Ruth & Bob to go with Don to Ft. Dodge, and we came on to Hubbard where we picked cherries. We came on to Eldora for supper and over night.
Thu 18. We looked over the cherries this morning and canned them. After dinner Alice & I went to the church to help get ready for a rummage sale. I wrote Katharine and Miriam. Do not know what we will do about going to Glidden or Mexico Mo. Miss Malen wrote us that we are welcome in her home. Ruth & Robert, Don & Bernie got to Denver about 8 AM today.
It sounds like they were considering possible places to live—near Miss Malen in Glidden, IA, or near Gerald and his family in Mexico, MO.
I was interested to learn that the word “rummage” comes from 15th-16th century Dutch and French, referring to the stowing of items in the hold of a ship. According to this article, when a ship came into port the sailors took the cargo that was left over or damaged and held a sale on the pier. “During hard times in the 19th century, churches and charities began holding events where unwanted or unused items were sold to those who couldn’t afford much of anything. These sales would be held in any space large enough for people to rummage through piles to find what they need.” It wasn’t until the 20th century that the “yard sale” as we know it became popular.
Fri 19. Washing! Cleaning! Cherries! Rummage Sale! A busy day. Got a card from Ruth. Said they stopped in Denison. Went to the Rummage sale in the PM and listened over the Radio to a boxing match between Max Baer & the German Strubling. The world was astonished when Baer was down after 12 rounds. A brutal thing. Terribly hot this PM. We are still in Eldora.
I am guessing that Emma got the names wrong, and that this was actually the famous match between Max Schmeling and Joe Louis, which was fought in Yankee Stadium on this date. Schmeling knocked out Louis after 12 rounds.
Sat 20. Eldora! I spent the morning ironing. It is so hard not to have a home of one’s own. It has been so hard to live & live & live with other people. I need more grace for my daily needs.
It was April 1934 when they moved to the farm after losing their house in town, with Gerald and family already living there. So other than the short time they lived at the Rainbow Ranch, they haven’t had a place of their own to settle into for over two years.
Sun 21. We went to church & SS this AM. John & Alice did not go. We went to the Baptist church at night. I taught a Woman’s SS class in the morning. It was rainy today.
Mon 22. We went over to Hubbard today—Alice, Tell & I to pick cherries. We picked enough to can 18 qts. We looked them over after dinner but since Alice was going to a picnic for Clarks we did not get them canned.
Tue 23. We worked awhile canning cherries today. Then Tell & I drove to Stratford to look at a farm. It was not what we wanted. After getting home we (Alice & I) attended a reception for Leona Boeke Rathbone. After supper we drove out to Mrs. Huchens to have Alice plan for the circle meeting “eats” for next Friday. In the evening Tell and John listened to the Dem. Keynote speech while I called on Mrs. Paine. She is going to Denver to live.
We are in the run-up to the 1936 presidential election. They are listening to the opening speech of the 1936 Democratic National Convention, held in Philadelphia, which resulted in the nomination of President Franklin D. Roosevelt for reelection. The 1936 Republican National Convention, which Emma mentioned on June 10th, was held in Cleveland, OH and nominated Kansas governor Alf Landon for president.
Wed 24. Another cherry day! Tell & I got up about 4 AM. Got our breakfast and drove to Hubbard to pick cherries. We got back about noon & worked the rest of the day on them. After the cherries are done I wonder what next! We got no mail today. Am afraid Katharine is working too hard.
Thu 25. We drove to Hubbard again today—Tell, John & I. I picked some cherries while John & Tell went to Boylan Cemetery to “si weeds”. We finished canning cherries & made some Cherry Surejell this PM. Got a long letter from Miss Malen today which I answered tonight. She wrote us about a house on Mr. Irwin’s place at Larrabee. Tell does not want to leave Eldora now.
Here’s a recipe for cherry jam using Sure-Jell, a commercial brand of pectin.
Fri 26. I helped Alice make little cakes for her Circle or Auxiliary meeting which was held out in the country at Mrs. Huchen’s. There were perhaps 20 there. We called on Miss Carrie Fouts after we got home (that is Tell & I did) to ask her about renting or buying her farm. She will think it over. It has been hot here today. 97° in the shade. It cooled off this afternoon & evening. I wrote a carbon letter to Katharine and Ruth.
Sat 27. This is a beautiful morning. I have done up what little work there is to do. I am so anxious to get settled in a home somewhere. Dad & Uncle John are attending the Rep. Co. Convention. In a note below this entry: Mrs. Robert Grooters, 2390 S. Fillmore St., Denver, Col.
I found a picture of this house, where Bob and Ruth lived in a basement apartment, on Zillow.com. It was built in 1913.
Sun 28. Went to church & SS today. Tell taught the Cumdubble class. Wrote the family letter for John & Tell. John said my description of the trip was good enough to be printed.
What a strange name! All I can figure is that it was a couples “come double” class.
Mon 29. I washed today. Made six towels for Alice. In the evening we drove out to look at a farm & over to Hubbard to see Gladys. They plan to send the money for Betty & Peggy to come to Hubbard. Peggy is to go to Lucille & we will provide for Betty. Called on Hoffs a minute.
I’m guessing that with Gerald in jail, Miriam is having a hard time taking care of 3 kids, so the two girls are coming up to stay for a while.
And here’s a guide to making your own towels.
Tue 30. I did my ironing today. Tell found we had a spring broken on our car. We had meant to leave tomorrow. I wrote Gerald a long letter & sent him a book of John. In the evening we called on Charlie Norris. He is very much interested in collecting stamps.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for July 1936.