Wed 1. Dad was at the farm all day. We went to prayermeeting at night. Wardles got home yesterday. I went out collecting today. Got a little.
The customers of Tell’s farm implement business who owed them money were probably friends and neighbors. It must have been agonizing to go out collecting.
Thu 2. We cleaned the sleeping porch today. It was a big job.
Fri 3. Did a big washing. Washed the two porches. Dad was at the farm for dinner & supper.
Sat 4. Have been washing the windows on the outside. Vic took off the storm windows for me. Just a week till Katharine will be home. We got two letters from her yesterday. She is going to Detroit on a boat today.
Here’s a map of the area around Cleveland and Detroit—K’s boat would have gone across Lake Erie and along the US/Canada border.
Sun 5. As Rev. Wardle was sick Mr. Rowley preached this AM. There was no service at night. The children were here last night. Gerald & Miriam came in for dinner. They left the kids again at night.
Mon 6. Gerald & Miriam came in. Got their washing machine fixed up. Dad & Harry went out to plow. A show set up here yesterday. We had a very hard rain today.
According to this fascinating article, traveling medicine shows, which combined sales pitches for “miracle cures” and elixirs with staged variety shows for entertainment, were popular from the 1850s through about 1930. The English language has incorporated many terms that were used by traveling medicine men, including ballyhoo, grifter, pitch, shill, and spiel. I found this Iowa newspaper story (sorry for the lousy print!) that described the revival of the medicine show during this period.
Tue 7. It rained again today. Dad was at the farm. Came home for supper. Did not go to Ladies’ Aid.
Wed 8. Dad went to the farm. Came in early. I went to prayer meeting. We are cleaning the room ready for Katharine. I went to Robertsons to our prayer circle.
Thu 9. Have spent most of the morning out doors. Mowed & worked in the garden. Got some aster plants of Mrs. Byam and some iris of Ollie Marshman. There is a Medicine show on the corner north of us. Vic fixed my machine last night. Ruth went with Petersons to Iowa Falls—she & the Grooters young people will go to Twin Lakes tomorrow.
Fri 10. I spent this day mostly on the couch & in bed. Dad went to the farm & I was real sick all day. Katharine’s school is out today. Wish Ruth were with me.
Sat 11. The farm was sold for taxes today. Uncle John got it. Was better today but so weak yet. Vic is fixing my kitchen.
A couple of months ago the bank foreclosed on the farm and the business. It was likely sold at auction, and it sounds like Tell’s brother John was able to buy it. There were hundreds of thousands of foreclosures during the Depression, and I was interested to read about some of the movements that farmers organized to try to help one another avoid this catastrophe.
Sun 12. We had a Children’s Day program today. Delaney had their baby baptized. Geralds were in for the service—the first time they have been in since they moved to the farm & I don’t know how long before. They stayed for dinner & went to the ball game. John & Alice were over in the PM. We were so frightened. We thought they had been hurt going home.
Mon 13. We are waiting for Katharine. Dad has gone with the truck to get her. It is raining. Dad went to Iowa Falls to meet Katharine. She brought me a perennial ageratum. It carried nicely.
Katharine hadn’t come home this past Christmas from her teaching job in Ohio, so I’m sure they were very glad to have her back for the summer. Perennial ageratum is a hardy plant.
Tue 14. The washing today was so big. Was glad to get it done. Am enjoying Katharine. She is glad to be at home. John & Alice, Cal & Clara, Betty & Peggy came in the PM. The children will stay in for Bible school.
Wed 15. Have Dale picking cherries. Dad has been to the farm. Hoover was renominated today. Mrs. Hoff led prayer meeting.
Herbert Hoover, who was born in Iowa, was renominated as the Republican candidate for President at the national convention in Chicago.
Thu 16. Finished canning 33 pints of cherries today. Will send a half pail to Mrs. Wardle in the morning. Had WFMS at Wardles in the evening. Only a few were there. Gladys led the lesson.
Fri 17. Spent most of the day cleaning. Have been canning cherries this week. In the evening Katharine, Ruth & I went to the Alumni Picnic at the Review office. About 40 were there. Ruth was one to be initiated. Dad took Betty & Peggy home.
The Hardin County Review was a weekly newspaper published from 1924 to 1973. As a recent graduate of Hubbard High School, Ruth was initiated into the alumni society.
Sat 18. It is cool & sunny after the hard rain storms last night.
Sun 19. The girls were in. Betty, Peggy & Jerry were here over night & for breakfast. They went to the Strother reunion today but will stay in again tonight. They have another week of Bible school. Ruth stayed at home & went to bed. Katharine went over to the Zion church with Miriam to hear Rex Bateson.
Rex Bateson was from Eldora, and the County Attorney at this time. He went on to become a state senator from 1947 to 1955.
Mon 20. Did a big washing today. Got some strawberry plants at Olmsteads and took them out to Miriam to set out. We all stayed for supper. Gerry came in too.
Tue 21. It has been a long day. I got up early and did most of the ironing. Then went and picked some cherries—after cleaning up the house. Dad has worked all day at the farm.
Wed 22. Betty & I went to prayer meeting this evening. I went to Mrs. Robertson in the afternoon. There were just four at the prayer circle. Mrs. Baker got an announcement of Helen Manner marriage.
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Thu 23. Went to the country this PM with Mrs. Mohler to pick wild gooseberries.
Fri 24. The three children went home today. They have stayed in for Bible school. Jerry says such cute things. Ruth said she loved him more that “tight”. He said “Do it”. Bob came down today. Stayed for dinner and supper. He is some singer.
I have no idea!! Jerry was four years old. As you’ll see in future posts, Emma loved capturing the cute things the kids and grandkids said.
Sat 25. Dale is picking my late tree of cherries. Ruth is going to a shower for Margaret Sater. Katharine is sewing. Dad is at the farm. Am pretty tired. Have some “ornery” hives.
Sun 26. We went to SS. Had a Demonstration program by the Bible school—also stayed for church. In the PM it rained very hard. The Yeager boys drove down & Ruth went home with them. Got to see Marie. Katharine spent awhile at Gladys’.
Mon 27. I washed and went with Mrs. Mohler & Lester after mulberries. Canned them and the cherries Dale picked for me. Have canned about 50 pints. Set out some late cabbage plants tonight.
So much to learn! According to this site, there are early cabbage plants, which grow quickly to a small size in tight spacing and produce delicate heads, but don’t handle cold well. Late cabbages, sown in June or later, take 90-120 days to develop and are grown for storage and making sauerkraut. And then there are overwintered varieties that are planted in early September and harvested in April or May.
Tue 28. Have not felt very well today. Guess I did too much yesterday. Ruth got home from Dayton today.
Wed 29. Ruth & I went to the farm to stay while Miriam & Katharine took Margaret to the Falls to have her tonsils out. Dad & I went to prayer meeting in the evening.
Thu 30. Katharine & I spent the morning getting willow for baskets & it wasn’t satisfactory. Dad is plowing. Ruth is in bed.
Here’s an example of a hand-woven willow basket that might have been made during this period.
As Tell and Emma say farewell to the farm implement business, I wanted to share this poem that I found in the archives, published in Farm Equipment Merchandising magazine. Based on the photo, I am guessing it predates the beginning of these journals.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for July 1932.
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