Mon 1. Spent the fore-noon cleaning. Went to Mrs. Walkers awhile in the PM. Miss Haven called in the evening. Wants to be re-elected.
Tue 2. A letter from Katharine says she did not get out of Iowa Falls till 1 AM and she was three hours late in Chicago. I spent the afternoon working at the shop. Washed this AM.
Wed 3. Ironed a little today. Worked at the shop. Raked a little bit.
Thu 4. Finished the ironing. Am tired tonight. Went to the club. Had a talk on my jury experience.
Fri 5. Set out a strawberry bed today—Everbearing. Went to the WCTU at Mrs. Swallums in the PM.
Here’s a little guidance on growing everbearing strawberries, which do well in cool to mild climates and produce two or three crops of berries in the growing season.
Sat 6. Went to the Granner sale this PM. Finished The Case of Sergeant Grischa by Arnold Zweig this evening. It is long—and while it is well written gives a phase of the war that is not usually brought out.
From what I could gather, Henry Granner, from a pioneer family in the area, died earlier in the year. I’m guessing they had an estate sale.
The Case of Sergeant Grischa was a 1927 German novel and satire set in WW1. It was published in English in 1928. It focuses on how innocent men are sacrificed in war.
Sun 7. Peggy is four today. She was in the postponed Easter program this AM. Betty has the whooping cough. Daddy & I drove to Alden this PM. She gave me a lot of stuff for my garden.
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. It is largely preventable by a vaccine that first became available in 1938. One of its developers, Dr. Leila Denmark, was one of the first female pediatricians in Atlanta, and was the oldest known practicing pediatrician until her retirement at 103 years old.
Mon 8. It is lovely out today but there is so much to do. I have been working in the flowers. Set out a daylily, some spirea, a few roses, a cherry tree, some yellow primroses & three other kinds of flowers.
Tue 9. Got word that Margaret’s new girl arrived last Saturday. (—Mrs. Sharp)
Margaret Boylan was Tell’s niece; his brother Christian’s daughter. Sharp was her married name. A little digging around reveals that the little girl, Sacha, grew up to be a competitive swimmer, art lover, and sailor, and at her death in 2019 at age 90, had 25 great-grandchildren.
Wed 10. Had Hazel Nehring yesterday & today to wash & iron & help do a little house cleaning. Was real sick in the PM so I could not go to prayer meeting.
Thu 11. Had the WFMS for Mrs. Baker today. We had a good meeting.
Fri 12. Nora phoned that she would be over today. She came with Mr. Paine. We took her back in the evening.
Sat 13. We had the woodpile sawed today. Was so glad to get the yard cleaned up. Had a spell with my stomach today. Had one on Wed. Hope it gets better. Went with Gerald & Miriam to Eldora this evening. Ruth & Ruth Bogardus went along. Bought some new hats.
Here’s a great image of 1920’s fashions, including hats, that I found here.
Sun 14. Went to church & SS this AM. We had 102 there. I taught Mrs. Rowley’s class as she was sick. John & Alice came over for dinner. We drove to the cemetery & then to the farm. My stomach is off & Tell’s back hurts. John will have Mrs. Parker Davis write to Chicago U to her nephew who is at the head of the placement bureau.
Mon 15. Had Hazel Nehring help me wash & clean up today. The folks—Luther, Lucile, Bobby & Linnie came today. Got here about 8:30 PM.
These were some of the Troutmans—Emma’s side of the family.
Tue 16. Visited today. Went for a little ride. Tell had a telephone meeting. Ruth got first prize in the WCTU essay contest. Got $3.00.
Wed 17. Luther, Linnie, Lucile, & I were planning to go to Des Moines today but I was too sick to go. Had Dr. Brubaker. He said I had some infection of the gall bladder & duct which was causing the gas. We drove to Eldora in the evening.
Thu 18. A lovely day. We dug up a lot of iris, rose bushes, grape vines, Boston Ivy, Delphiniums, etc. for Linnie & Lucile. Had a spell about 8 pm to 10.
Fri 19. Had another bad spell this PM but the heat packs helped after awhile. Am not going to eat any supper and see if that helps. Tell went to Eldora and Miriam came over and helped me. The kiddies are so sweet. The folks left this morning.
Sat 20. Had another spell but not so bad. I am still hoping to go to Eagle. Daddy came home early tonight.
Sun 21. Felt too weak to go to church this AM. Felt much better this PM. Dr. & Mrs. Johnson were down. He left some medicine which made me better. I felt pretty blue. John & Tell went to Ft. Dodge today. Alice is staying with me.
Mon 22. Felt much better this morning. Drove to Eldora after dinner with John & Alice. Took Mrs. Walker. I got to feeling pretty badly before I got home. Was in terrible pain until about ten PM. Have had to give up going to Eagle Grove in the morning. Rev. Rowley, Mrs. Beck & Mrs. Walker went.
Tue 23. Did not get up till eleven o’clock but have felt pretty well today. Have written six letters. We got our invitations to the school board banquet today.
Wed 24. I got a lovely telegram from Eagle Grove. WFMS convention today. My, I hated to miss it. My perennials from Charles City came today. Daddy sent the Kodak in to be repaired. Mrs. Walker called this morning.
Here’s a picture of a Kodak camera from this era. I have some old negatives from the family that I am scanning, and will share some images as we go along.
Thu 25. Such a cold windy day. WCTU at Mrs. Van Patters but I felt too bad to go. A Cemetery meeting at night.
Fri 26. Went to the school house to the exhibit this evening. John & Alice are going to Cedar Rapids in the morning. The exhibit was fine. We are talking a bit of trading for Luther’s car. Gerald & Miriam took all the kids to the school house.
Sat 27. This is another cold cloudy day. Have slept a lot today. Get so tired when I try to work a little. Went down town twice yesterday. Some things are too sad to write down. I haven’t got well enough acquainted with you, my Diary, to entrust you with real heart secrets. Guess you are for the glad days only.
I have no idea!!
Sun 28. The sun is shining this AM. Jim Shultz died yesterday. Have just made two pies to take down there. Went to Eldora for dinner. Took Ruth Bogardus with us. Took the folks for a ride. Went to church. Weighed 186½ yesterday.
Mon 29. Went to the school board dinner at the school house this evening. Every body there that was invited. Had a nice time. Got stung or poisoned this PM on my left hand. It has bothered me some.
Tue 30. Went to Jim Shultz funeral. Lot of lovely flowers, a lot of mourners. My finger is swelled. Had our garden plowed in the PM. Gerald & Daddy bought a Jersey cow today.
How now, brown cow?
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals! See you next week for May, 1929.