Sat 1. We have been having lovely weather. Finished working lard & canning meat. Have about 5 gal of lard and 20 pints of meat. It looks nice except I scorched a gal. of lard. Had so much on. We had a splendid sermon at night.
Sun 2. It is Sunday PM. Tell has gone to a Men’s meeting. Miss Malen talked to both the SS hour & the church hour. It was all so fine. It is a lovely day.
Mon 3. As this was supposed to be rest day—I did a land office business. Have washed, scrubbed, cleaned etc. etc. Daddy went to a meeting at Radcliffe at night.
This term refers to a thriving enterprise, and comes from the 1830s, referring to the multitude of applicants at government offices selling land in the Western US.
Tue 4. We—Miss Malen & I—went to prayer meeting at Mrs. Hoffs this AM. There were but a few but we had a good meeting. Went to church at night. Nora phoned that she had a chance to go to Europe.
Wed 5. We walked out to Stoffers to prayer meeting this AM. It was so hard walking in the ice. We had a fine lot of folks at church. A number from Radcliffe and the Salem folks were there. Daddy had to go to a bank meeting.
Thu 6. We went to Mrs. Eliza Knowles for prayer meeting this AM. Such a scare as we are having over chicken pox, small pox, scarlatina, & measles with nobody very sick. Have the young men luncheon tonight. Have finished my ironing & washed over some of the clothes that I hung outside. It is a lovely day.
In 1930 the lack of vaccinations for many contagious diseases led to periodic epidemics. It was very common for public health officials to quarantine households, placing placards on them, and in many cases the names were published in the paper. Here’s an example:
I found so many things in researching this that remind me of controversies and discussions related to the coronavirus pandemic, including this 1930s cartoon:
Fri 7. We went to prayer meeting at Leibensteins in the morning. Had a splendid service at church at night.
Sat 8. Ruth, Daddy & I drove to Eldora. Felt I should go to up to the hospital to see Mrs. Marshman before coming home. Poor woman—I hope she knew I was there. Heard the meetings were closed when we got home. No service for two weeks. Had a Bible study time at night.
Schools, churches, and other gathering places were periodically closed during these epidemics. As I continued my exploration down this curiosity trail, I found that people were just beginning to think about the implications of air travel for the spread of disease.
Sun 9. No church & SS today because of the quarantine. Mrs. Marshman died today—also Fred Hoelsher, Milton Hendrickson’s father, & I suppose hundreds of others. We were invited to Mrs. Van Patters for dinner. Had such a good one. We went to Marshmans to comfort them in the PM & to help arrange for the funeral that evening.
I found Mrs. Marshman and Mr. Hoelscher listed in the Hubbard Cemetery records. I was also able to find death certificates on Ancestry.com for all three of them. Out of respect, I will not include them here, but it was interesting to note that none of them died of any of the contagious diseases mentioned above, but from more ordinary medical issues.
Mon 10. This is another washday. I put most of the clothes out doors. Miss Malen & I went up at Marshmans at night. She talked & prayed with them. It was beautiful. She & the Rowleys were invited out to Ted Recks for supper. Mrs. Taber spent the afternoon here. Tell gathered up the money for Miss Malen. Got $84.00.
$84 in 1930 would be over $1300 in today’s money.
Tue 11. Mrs. Marshman was buried today. It was a beautiful funeral—had at the home because of the small pox scare. Rev Muhleman preached. He called on us a bit ago. Miss Malen is spending the day at Mohlers. She sang at the funeral.
Wed 12. Miss Malen and I went to up to Marshman’s in the evening. Miss Malen read & I prayed.
Thu 13. Miss Malen called on Mrs. Walters today. I have stayed at home for several days. Have not felt very well.
Fri 14. Have spent most of the time reading. We have enjoyed Miss Malen.
Miss Malen played such a significant role here (and later on in Emma’s life) that I got curious about her. H. Nell Malen was an evangelist born in Iowa; among other things, she played a significant role in saving Faith Bible College from closing in the 1940s. On their site I found these images.
Sat 15. Have felt better today. We got Miss Malen’s room ready to be fumigated. In the evening we invited Vic over. He was converted. Louis was here. Miss M talked on the Second Coming. Gerald’s wedding anniversary! John Wickham died in Des M today.
Fumigation was thought to prevent the spread of infectious diseases at that time. It involved burning sulphur or evaporating/spraying formaldehyde or other disinfectants.
John Wickham was a cousin of Tell’s.
Sun 16. Today is Sunday. Still no church. Miss Malen is still here. She will go home tomorrow. Mrs. Knowles & Louis were here this PM to sing. We had a lovely chicken dinner. Vic & Lois came over today to sing. Louis Rup is here tonight.
Mon 17. I helped Miss Malen pack her fumigated books etc today. Rev. Rowley took her to the train. Gerald took Will & Nora to Des Moines to John Wickham’s funeral today. Miriam went along. They stayed here all night. Daddy & Gerald went to a meeting at Radcliffe at night.
Tue 18. Gerald just phoned that Mrs. Taber has small pox. He has gone to take Will & Nora home. Mrs. Taber spent the afternoon of Feb 10 here. I took some vegetables & fruit to Mrs. Thomas. Told her I’d see the Social Service worker about a nurse for her. Called on Mrs. Albert Walters. Daddy went to a school board meeting at night.
The incubation period for smallpox is 10-14 days, so it sounds like they may have been a bit concerned.
Wed 19. Did a big washing today. About eleven Dad drove me to Iowa Falls to attend the Community Club luncheon. I was invited as a member of the Social Service League. Came home. Took in the clothes. Had a visit with Mrs. Robertson. Planted some tomato seed today—extra early ones.
Extra-early tomatoes ripen very quickly and are desirable in climates with a short growing season.
Thu 20. Did a little sewing today. We are reading along In the Twinkling of an Eye. Rev. & Mrs. Rowley called at night.
This is a novel by Sydney Watson about the second coming of Christ and the “rapture” set in early 19th-century London that has been compared to the “Left Behind” series. Although it’s been republished recently, it’s in the public domain and you can find it here. Here’s an interesting review of the book.
Fri 21. We went over and got Nora today to have her hear Ruth speak again. She stayed all night.
Sat 22. We took Nora home today. Did some cleaning—Whitney dog dragged my coat across the street.
Sun 23. We wrote a family carbon letter today. Also wrote Katharine. It has been a long day. No church service here. This is the third Sunday. Betty was here for dinner. We have sung, read, visited, written letters, etc.
Mon 24. Went to the shop & posted the books today. The weather is so mild. Things are starting to grow.
Tue 25. Have been doing a bit of sewing—fixing up my Spring clothes. Daddy took me to the Falls one day last week. I got blue georgette enough to make a pleated ruffle.
Georgette is a sheer lightweight crepe fabric popular in the 1920s and 30s.
Wed 26. I did some cleaning today. Washed and ironed my front room curtains. Mrs. Culver called in the PM.
Thu 27. I went with Daddy to Cedar Falls today. Bought me a black felt hat trimmed with black straw. Looked for a coat but did not find one.
Fri 28. This was the night of Pre-Dist Contest at Union. We were glad to have Ruth get first in Dramatic. Gerald, Miriam, & Miss Nelson went with us.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for March, 1930.