As this month begins, Emma and Tell have daughter Katherine and grandson Jerry with them on the farm, and are expecting a visit from granddaughter Betty.
Tue 1. The day began at 5:30 for me. I did a lot of ironing—helped Katharine sew a little. We planned to meet Betty at Glidden but a telegram came saying her mother was being operated for appendicitis & asked me to come down. We decided it would not be best as there was little I could do. I felt so sorry for Betty. We got her card saying she would be here & then she could not leave. We got a letter from Ruth. She thinks they will move to Media. I am canning 8 qts of apple butter made out of Whitney for Linnie. We are all pretty tired tonight. I have to help serve at Aid tomorrow.
Betty’s mother Miriam, in the process of divorcing Gerald (who was in the Missouri penitentiary for writing bad checks) already had her hands full with a one-year-old son along with Betty (16), Peggy (14), and Jerry (11).
Wed 2. Katharine canned chicken today to take to Cleveland with her. Of course I helped her clean them. We kept busy all forenoon and this afternoon I helped serve Ladies Aid. We had about 40 there. I was pretty tired this evening.
Thu 3. Today Gerald is 38 years old. His little boy is so sweet and such a comfort to us. How we do enjoy his being here. He is surely a worker. This morning I peeled apples—Jerry climbed the tree and shook them down. We had 7 qts when canned. We all have felt so tired out today. It has been hard to work. We made Katharine a pair of panties out of the silk goods she got last summer. Think we can make her six more pairs. Florence phoned today. They plan to come down Sunday—six of them—Marvin & the Lehmans & Florence. Besse brought us some pork today.
Here’s a 1938 pattern for panties/tap pants. With World War II on the horizon and most silk being imported from Japan, its availability soon becomes very limited.
Fri 4. We cleaned up the house today & Katharine & I went to Carrol. We wrote Betty to come in time to go with Katharine to Cleveland. Jerry went with us. Katharine bought me a rug frame & we came home & worked awhile on it. Dad & I went to the church to a meeting to plan for fixing the church. Nothing was done because the contractor found it too big a job to figure on in such a short time.
Sat 5. Today we have been getting ready for our company. Got cookies baked, cleaned chickens etc. We went down town with Besse. Guessed on the number of links in a chain but did not get anything. Got two pints of strawberries from the locker. The days go by so fast.
Sun 6. It is so cool today we built a fire in the cookstove to get dinner on. Dad Jerry & I went to SS. Katharine watched the chicken. We had dinner about 1 P.M. Chicken, potatoes, corn, tomatoes, strawberry shortcake, coffee, pickles, etc. “It was a good dinner,” Dad said. The Lehmans and Florence & Marvin came about 12:30. Left about 7:45. Jerry was real entertaining.
It seems like Emma and Tell’s farm work yielded bountiful meals, even at a time where they had very little money.
Mon 7. We sewed all day today. Aunt Linnie wrote that she would be here today and she and Gerrit came after dinner. They offered us their car for us to take to Eldora which we plan to do. We want to get the sewing done for we have to take Alice’s machine home. She thinks she will be using it.
Tue 8. Katharine, Daddy, Jerry Jr. & I went to Eldora today. Started about 5 A.M. & came back about 7 P.M. It rained on us all the way over and was so cold coming home that I went to bed with chills. Found John in very poor shape. His eyes are in bad shape. We drove Gerrit’s car and got just a little past Rockwell when the fan-belt broke.
Tell’s brother John, who lived in nearby Eldora with his wife Alice, was in his 80s.
Wed 9. Betty came today. She came to Glidden. Her bags did not arrive. She will get them Friday when they leave for Cleveland on the bus. Aunt Linnie, U. Gerrit, Jerry Jr. & Dad drove down after them. I did not feel well enough to go. Jerry will go home Sept. 29.
Thu 10. It is still cold and rainy and I feel punk. Guess I have a touch of the “Flu.” It was so cold we used our “down comforter” to keep warm the last two nights. We feel concerned about Miriam. She was operated the last day of July. Got home yesterday. She can not work for a long while. Will get her last pension Sept. 10. Laura is not so well. We are having our birthday dinner today. Betty is 16 on the 12th. I am 60 tomorrow. Since Betty & Katharine leave tomorrow we will have our dinners today.
Thanks for reading Emma’s journal! Subscribe to receive a new installment each week.
Fri 11. Today I am sixty. I don’t want to be old. Today Katharine and Betty left for Cleveland. I have been sick and did not feel equal to riding with Dad to Carrol when he took them to the bus. Surely Katharine has a lovely unselfish spirit. She gave up her round trip ticket on the train and took the bus for Betty’s sake. They could both go back on bus for one train fare. I wanted to go to Carrol but did not feel strong enough. Katharine bought some pills & sent back to me. She bought some shoes for Jerry & gave Dad $5.00. They left about 4 P.M. I could not sleep for thinking of them. Was awake so many times. They would be in Chicago about 6 A.M. Have an hour and a half wait and then on to Cleveland by 6 P.M. tomorrow.
Emma and Tell’s daughter Katharine was teaching school in Shaker Heights, OH, an affluent suburb of Cleveland.
Sat 12. Today Betty was sixteen and she spent the day riding from Chicago to Cleveland. I do hope this move is for the best. I have felt much better today tho’ I get dreadfully tired. Both Bess & Thelma called today. We canned three hens for Linnie today—7 qts. Think we will can some for me on Monday. Besse brought me a lovely pork roast today and Gerrit bought a veal one so guess we should not starve this week. Jerry’s sores are a lot of bother. Poor little fellow—he has a lot of them to doctor.
Betty was heading to Ruth and Robert’s house in Philadelphia to help out with her new little cousin Roberta Ruth.
Sun 13. This has been a beautiful day. Dad found a dented ear of corn today. I have felt better today but am not myself—did not go to SS and church today. Linnie & Gerrit are here today. We had a beef roast Gerrit bought & a pork roast that Besse brought in. Dad went to church this A.M. at the Christian Church. Attended a wedding.
According to this article, the dent (or R5) stage of corn development is a normal part of the maturity process. The timing can vary somewhat, so it looks like Tell was keeping an eye on things to start to figure out when it would be ready for harvest.
Mon 14. Bernadine went visiting today. It has been a beautiful wash day and I am glad it is done. Linnie, Dad & Gerrit all helped me. We churned & did a lot of dish-washing, cleaning etc. Bess & Billy were here today. Dad & Jerry walked to Gerent’s with Bernadine. I am getting tired. Must stop.
At the top of the page, Emma made this note about Bernadine, one of their cows. My guess is that they took her to breed, and that the note was made to help Emma predict when a calf would be due.
Tue 15. Dad & Jerry got some soy bean hay today from Pitmans. Gerrit cleaned three hens & I canned them in 8 qts. Of course they were nice looking tho’ they did not quite fill the can. The three hens weighed 15¾ lbs. When ready for oven they weighed 12 lbs. 30% loss in dressing. Bess was in tonight. I gave her some tomatoes. Mr. Grooters was here this P.M. We paid him. Gerrit & Linnie thought they would go home this P.M. but decided to go tomorrow morning. I am feeling much better tho’ not well. Katharine, Besse & Betty would start from Cleveland for Phil. today.
I learned from this article that before World War II, most soybean production was for forage (hay & silage). Soy bean hay is high in protein.
Wed 16. Gerrit & Linnie started for home about 9:30. I gave her plums, apples, cabbage, cream, canned apples, canned chicken, a kimona, etc. Hope she can make use of it all. It seems to not be able to stop raining. After the folks left (in the rain) I baked some cookies and two custard pies. After dinner I slept a couple hours & Dad & Jerry did the dishes. I may be able to can some corn tomorrow. Jerry wants to stay all year. We hardly think it best.
Thu 17. This has been a sort of off day. I have not felt like doing much. Was waked up by the calves scooting past my window so called Jerry to get up to help put them in. Grandad was milking but we soon got them in and since I was up so early the work got done early. Got the check from K’s ticket—15.64.
Grandad (Tell) milking…
Fri 18. I have felt better today. My eye is still blood shot. Thought we would hear from the girls but didn’t. Got a letter from Linnie. They arrived home safely. We may can some corn tomorrow. Mr. Grooters was here today. He had taken Howard and a couple other boys to the Bible school at Scranton.
Sat 19. Can’t think of much I did today. Mrs. Brassfield was down to study awhile. She is going to be away tomorrow. Am afraid I will not go tomorrow. We churned today.
Sun 20. It has been a long day. I did not feel equal to teaching my class so did not go. Besse was here a few minutes after SS.
Mon 21. Sold 1.20 worth of cream & 14¢ worth of eggs. I have enough to send Jerry for his suit. Got a letter from Miriam & him today. My eye has felt punk. We canned a boiler of corn. It was a long job. Eva Rowe came down for a com. meeting & staid for lunch. I am going to bed early.
Tue 22. Canned another boiler of corn today. I do not get strong very fast. Am feeling a little better today. We have been married 39 years today. A long time. I don’t want to be an old woman.
Emma’s mother died at age 61, and several of her grandparents died in their 40s; I can imagine that after several days of not feeling so well, she was particularly concerned about aging.
Wed 23. Gave Bess the corn that was left. She came in & spent the day. Dad has just taken her home. My eye is some better. Dad & Jerry took Bess home. They asked Jerry to stay for supper. He rode the bicycle. We are going to miss him when he goes.
Thu 24. We got up today and washed. Baked a “triple” batch of cookies. Dad wanted to go down to the Bible Conf grounds so we took 60 cookies and he, Jerry & I drove down. Jerry crossed the swinging bridge. Mr. Whiting came after some eggs. I gave him some cookies and plums. It is true that I am very tired. We picked a basket of plums after supper.
In Katharine’s family cookbook (details in this post), she included this cookie recipe that came from Emma.
Fri 25. Have felt some better today although my eye still bothers me. Started to can peaches today but they were so poor I could not use them. Mr. Miller gave us a new crate. Besse was here and insisted that I go home with her. I said “No,” but she came back again so by that time I had my plums canned so decided to go. Was there for supper and then went to Mrs. Fell’s for WFMS. We had a nice meeting. Came home with Mary McCrary.
Sat 26. Have canned a few peaches, washed the separator, & went to bed. Did the ironing in the P.M. Mended awhile, which brought on another spell with my eye. Got better. So got supper & did up the work. Jerry Jr. does not feel so very well.
Sun 27. Got up & cleaned a chicken but spent most of the morning in bed. My medicine is nearly gone but I do not seem to snap out of it this time. Dad went to SS & church & I went to bed. Besse had a headache. Took 6 pills & went to bed & slept awhile.
Mon 28. Have felt the best today I have for a long time. Did a little washing for Jerry. Fixed apples for apple butter. Dad worked awhile at the church—cleaning the basement. Was able to quilt awhile.
Tue 29. It is 2:10 P.M. and the little boy has gone. He went on the Toonerville to Hubbard. I sent 3 cans of chicken and a pound of butter with him. It has turned pretty warm today. The little visit is now a “memory.” I canned apple butter this A.M. Dad has gone to work at the church. We had to sell chickens to pay Jerry’s way home. 77¢ to Hubbard & $3.00 besides. Dad has gone to help build a “stand” for the Ladies’ Aid. We got a letter from Ruth today.
The January 1933 entry explains Emma’s reference to the Toonerville—a nickname for the local trolley car.
Wed 30. We washed today, and I ironed. It is good to have it done. Lake City’s celebration began this evening. Dad went to town this P.M. & has gone this evening. We miss Jerry. He is a smart little lad. Letters from Miriam, Gertie, and Katharine came today. I find myself very much inclined to be blue these days. So much need, and so little to do with. My eyes are better tonight for which I am thankful.
Thu 31. Today I have taken care of a basket of grapes. I made jam and sauce out of them. It took a long while. I picked up some ground cherries this morning. Bess was here this P.M. I gave her some tomatoes and plums. She is working at the church booth tonight. Dad has gone down town again tonight. It is lonely here alone. So many strangers in town.
