Emma and Tell are still in Glidden, IA, at the home of their friend Nell Malen. Emma’s sister Linnie is visiting from Beresford, SD. Many of the people mentioned in the first part of the month are family or long-time friends who have been introduced in previous entries.
Thu 1. It has been rather lonely here today. We are glad Linnie is here with us. We will be anxious to hear from Betty. Tell has been putting up a clothes line & making a cover for the cistern. We were so disappointed to not hear from Ruth today. It has been over a week.
Fri 2. Glidden. Linnie, Tell & I did the washing today. We accepted an invitation from Rev. Johnson to go to Ft. Dodge to the Annual Conf. Started at almost 1 & got home at 11 p.m. at night. We saw a number of folks we used to know. Rev. & Mrs. Muhleman, Rev. Liming, Rev & Mrs. Waterman, Mrs. Evans, etc. We went to Grooters for supper. Picked up Stella. We had such a nice time. We had a lovely ride home. Saw Mrs. Krewell. She is living at Vinton with her sister.
Sat 3. We worked around home today. Ironed, etc. We decided about noon that we would go to Beresford. Started about 2:25 arrived in Beresford about 8:30. Found Gerrit busy.
Sun 4. It is cold & rainy this morning. I do not know whether we will go anywhere today or not. I weighed 165½ lbs today.
Mon 5. Dad, Linnie & I went to Sioux Falls today. Harry says my mouth is not ready for teeth. It is quite sore. Mildred traded hats with me for which I am very thankful. The other looked fierce on me. We plan to go home tomorrow. Could find no tires.
In last month’s entry, Emma had all her upper teeth out and nephew Harry made her a denture, but it needs to be redone.
Tue 6. Dad & I drove home from Beresford. Had a flat tire before we left town—no more trouble. Stopped in Soo City for lunch. Also stopped in Denison. John had been sick for a week or ten days. We went to the Bible Study class last night at the church. It was interesting. It is pretty cold tonight. Sent my grey hat to be cleaned.
Wed 7. Today is John’s birthday. We think we will drive down today. I will take him some cookies. We are now in Jefferson with a flat tire. Picked up a tack. We have been gone from home about an hour. Now 1:45 PM. Got into Eldora about 5 PM. John & Alice were glad to see us. John likes the cookies. They want us to stay longer than we planned.
Thu 8. Tell & I went to Hubbard today. I called on Mrs. Robertson, Mohler, Reed, Lottie, Gladys, Liebenstein & Mrs. Swallum. Ate dinner with the Swallums. Got somewhat interested in selling neck ties. Bought back my rug frame. Will stop when we go back home to get it.
Ties in a wide range of patterns and colors became an essential part of men’s fashion starting in about 1920, when New York necktie manufacturer Jerry Langsdorf came up with an innovative method of cutting fabric on the bias. 1936 was a big year for neckties—it was the year the Duke of Windsor introduced the Windsor knot.
Fri 9. Tell went to Hubbard today to dig a ditch around Alice’s hill lot. I did not go along as she wanted me to go to the Circle meeting at Kadulfs with her. About 50 there. In the evening she took Tell & me to the church to a play given by one of the circles. They want us to stay over Sunday.
Sat 10. Eldora. Tell & I are staying over till next week to go with John & Alice to Marshalltown, to have John see Dr. Meyer for medical examination. He does not feel very well today. I have just baked two pies & some little cakes. We may go after some nuts today. Have had no mail yet, but will surely get some in the morning. Got a half pumpkin to take home with me.
Sun 11. Eldora. This is a lovely morning. Heard from Ruth & Katharine & Chris. Got anxious last night about Gerald.
Mon 12. Tell took John & Alice to Marshalltown this AM to have John examined. An X-ray shows his shoulder and knee in bad shape. Alice will probably have him to care for in a wheeled chair. After dinner Tell & I drove to Walthals, saw Mable & got our magazine rack. Went to Iowa Falls & got some sacks of rags. Then called at Rogers & old Mrs. Meekers before going back to Eldora. In the evening Alice & I called at Mrs. Bean.
Tell’s brother John was about 81 years old at this time, and starting to decline in health. Here’s a wheelchair from the ‘30s/’40s. In 1933, Americans Herbert Everest and Harold Jennings invented the first portable folding wheelchair—a lightweight steel X-frame, which revolutionized the industry—but I doubt these would have been in everyday use in rural Iowa.
Tue 13. Dad & I came home to Glidden today. Stopped in Hubbard for some apples and Swallums insisted on our staying for dinner. Came via Roland but did not get to see Boyds as they were not at home yet. Heard Dorothy had had an operation for appendicitis on Saturday. Found a letter from Linnie and one from Miriam. We got home about 5 P.M. We will probably go to the Bible study class tonight.
Wed 14. We went to the church last night. Today I have started a hooked rug. Was so glad to get my rug frame back. Made some mince meat & canned it. Also canned some apples. Worked on my rug.
Thu 15. Have been home all day. Worked on my rug. Baked a prune cake this evening. Think we got our first coal today—5.00.
This prune cake recipe looks yummy!
Fri 16. Dad & I went to Carroll today to see what it would cost to sell ties there. It would be $5.00 per day, 10.00 per week. We bought a few groceries. Am going to the Missionary society today.
Sat 17. Dad & I have cleaned house today. It has been a lovely day. We took out the rugs, washed curtains and windows. I am very tired tonight. We got a card from Miss Malen saying she expected two friends to visit her this week. She will be home on Monday.
Sun 18. I joined the church in Glidden today. A lovely Sabbath! Wrote Linnie, Katharine & Ruth. Went to E.L. Rev. Johnson asked me to sponsor it.
The Epworth League was the young people’s association within the Methodist Episcopal Church. Here’s a picture of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Glidden. I am so amazed by how quickly Emma connects with the church every time she makes a move. And she often ends up in a leadership role almost immediately—here as the sponsor of the Epworth League, the young people’s program in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mon 19. This is a lovely Fall day. I waxed the floors, dusted, etc. Miss Malen came home on the noon train. We met her. She will go to Griswold, Iowa for her next meeting. Am working on my rug. We wrote a letter to John & Alice this evening asking them to help us get back in the implement business.
Tell and Emma were in the farm implement business in Hubbard until the Great Depression hit. John and Alice have long been financially helpful to them in their times of trouble.
Tue 20. Dad & I did a big washing today. It started out lovely this morning but turned cold & rained some this PM. Miss M. led the prayer meeting this evening. It was cold & disagreeable. I worked a little while on my rug. Dad is writing Katharine. We sent the letter to John & Alice today.
Wed 21. This has been a cold day. I have ironed and worked on my rug. Miss Malen went to Carroll. Dad has been putting up the window shades. He went to bed terribly tired out tonight.
Thu 22. Mrs. Walling from Clarinda, and Mrs. Flemming from College Springs came to visit Miss Malen this PM. In the evening they went to hear Dorothy Smith preach and Dad & I went to the class party at Supt. Moore’s. We had a pleasant time.
Fri 23. On Friday we went down town & I had my hair waved. Went to the Ladies’ Aid in the P.M. at Mrs. Faber (Mrs. Wareham & Mrs. Short are her sisters). Miss Malen & her two friends went to Coon Rapids to get a picture taken. Miss M. gave me a card to get one free. We had a nice evening at home. The folks decided to wait till morning to go back. Miss M. is going with them to Griswold.
Sat 24. Glidden—Spent the morning getting the Sat. work done etc. Miss Malen and her friends left this A.M. This P.M I worked on my rug. It is fun to hook it.
Here’s a video that demonstrates the art of rug hooking, including some of the elements used in older hooked rugs such as those that Emma was making.
Sun 25. Tell & I went to church & SS this AM. We both taught SS & sang in the choir. Rev. Johnson asked us to go to Atlantic with him on Tuesday. I am going to lead the League tonight. Got along OK. Nine were present.
Mon 26. Instead of washing Dad & I decided to can the apples & pumpkin today. Made 12½ qts of apple butter. Canned 9½ qts apple sauce and 6 pints of pumpkin. I am glad it is done. Gave the preacher some apples & Tell took them a pint of apple butter. We are baking some beans and a cherry pie to take to Atlantic tomorrow.
Tue 27. Today Dad & I went to Atlantic to a “Preaching Mission.” We went with Rev. & Mrs. Johnson. Took Mrs. Emery with us (from Dedham) Her father went to Audubon. We took our dinner and enjoyed the day very much. In the evening I went to Mrs. McNaught’s to a SB meeting and party and Dad went to prayer meeting.
It’s hard to keep all these church groups straight! Based on a later entry, this is likely the Standard Bearers group, which I believe was a youth group for girls who fell in age between the King’s Heralds (young) and the Epworth League (young adult).
Wed 28. Wash Day & a big one! We got it out rather early. Had a lovely day & the clothes dried nicely. Did a bit of ironing in the afternoon. Am working on my hooked rug. It is gay & pretty.
Thu 29. Today a Unit meeting was held in our church. I took a pumpkin pie & plum jam. Dad came to hear Miss Ada Lauck in the PM. She had spent 44 years in India. She was not so very interesting. Rather disappointed us. I helped in the basement all morning as the appointed com did not show up. It was a splendid group of women. In the evening Dad & I went to Miss Bell’s to learn how to crochet a rug. Dad wrote the Family letter today.
Although I found a brief newspaper article about Ada Lauck’s talk, it wasn’t nearly as hair-raising as this account of her life as a missionary that I found in a 1920s newspaper from Davenport, IA.
Fri 30. Another lovely morning. I am planning to iron. Finished the ironing and we drove to Carroll to find some 2nd-hand ties but could find none. Bought some castor oil & rubbed it in my hair tonight. Am going to see what I can do for it. Went to Leonard’s to try to hear Bob & Ruth over Radio but with no success. Sat up & worked on my rug.
Sat 31. Have baked pies today. Also made some “Magic Advice” slips for the Halloween party tonight. Wrote them with lemon—50 or more. Hope the kids like them. Got a letter from Berne today. Sent for $3 worth of neckties today. Hope I can sell them.
What fun! Did you know you can use lemon juice as invisible ink? The message is revealed when the paper is held up to a source of heat, such as a candle.
Special Feature: Poetry Postcard from Uncle Chris
In the family files I found a postcard written to Ruth in Denver on Oct. 31, 1936 from her Uncle Chris. It includes two poems translated from the Japanese that were published in Asia magazine. The magazine was edited by Richard Walsh and his wife Pearl S. Buck, a renowned American writer on Asian life and culture..
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for November 1936.