Tue 1. Did my ironing today. Had a lot of Gerald’s children’s things. We went to Eldora to stay all night. Ans was there. John asked us to drive them around on the Republican tour on Friday.
The 1932 presidential election was in full swing! See the entry on the 4th for more about this event.
Wed 2. Have had a busy day. Got my kitchen floor ready & Dad gave it its last coat of varnish. I went to Swallums in the PM and to Wardles at night to prayermeetings.
Thu 3. Did a piece of work today which I’ve wanted to do for a long time—polished all my upstairs floors. Had the missionary meeting at night. Lottie led the lesson.
Fri 4. Went to Eldora this AM early. Took John & Alice on the county drive. We got tired at Radcliffe & came home as Dr. Johnsons were to eat dinner with us. We also asked Mrs. Robinson & daughter & Mrs. Purcell, but they did not come. Wanted to, but had their minds changed. Louis & Ora called in the PM.
Here’s an excerpt from a family letter John T. Boylan wrote on the 6th, and a map of Hardin County so you can see the towns they went to. This would have been about an 80-mile drive.
Friday morning [Tell and Emma] came over and with our car joined a caravan of 40 or more cars in a visit to every town in the county in the interests of Hoover and the state, congressional, and county candidates. Every Republican county candidate, with a band, big elephant, etc. etc., constituted the party, about 150. We went to Ackley, Iowa Falls, Alden, Buckeye, Radcliffe, and Hubbard, then account of rain dropped out and came home, after dinner. Big time in Eldora. No use to write a word about politics. Tuesday is the day for passing judgment and if the will of the majority is the voice of God, that matter will be settled right. What a great thing has been the radio for getting pure and undefiled political gospel! And then s o m e.
Sat 5. Ruth went to Iowa Falls in PM so she could go to Waterloo and Hampton tomorrow.
Sun 6. Tell & I went to Eldora to hear Bishop Lee speak. We ate dinner with Alice & John. Did not go out at night as there was no church at our church. Louis & Ora & Vic spent the evening here.
John’s letter mentions this visit, and says that they all listened to Ruth play with the Iowa Falls Congregational Choir in a program on W.M.T. Waterloo. John and Alice had a radio, so Emma and Tell listened with them in Eldora.
Mon 7. Wash day. Went to Iowa Falls with Ora Reep.
Tue 8. Election Day. Very rainy. Tell & I have voted for Hoover. Went to Eldora.
The 1932 presidential election was a watershed moment in American politics. Roosevelt defeated Hoover in a landslide.
Wed 9. We came home from Eldora this AM. Did not got to prayer meeting as we were so tired. Went to Mohlers in the PM.
Thu 10. Took Mrs. Wardle’s hand lotion to her this AM.
Fri 11. Armistice Day. Tell went to the farm today. Ruth got home tonight. I have been painting the bathroom.
Sat 12. Have not been well today. Ruth is home.
Sun 13. Another Sunday has gone. Ruth went back to Iowa Falls. I did not go to church this AM as I was sick. Mrs. Hornung called today.
Mon 14. I managed to do the work today tho’ I have not been well. Tell went out and picked corn at the farm. Mrs. Mohler called in the afternoon. Check came.
Tell and Emma received royalty checks from an oil lease in OK that Tell’s brother Berne Bunyan Boylan had invested in a number of years back. I have some of the original paperwork showing a legal transaction with a member of the Cherokee nation, and several certificates issued to family members in 1916 for shares in a family corporation. The one below was issued to Tell’s sister Margaret Manora. While the checks were not large, they were regular, and they turned out to be a lifeline during this period of financial hardship.
Tue 15. Cold & Wintry. Tell went to the farm.
Wed 16. Tell was not very well today.
Thu 17. Went to Iowa Falls this PM with Troy R. and his grandmother. Saw Ruth for a little while. Did not feel like going to the SS Board meeting.
Fri 18. They are shredding at the farm today. I was not well enough to help. Ora & Louis came here today to stay & help pick corn. I went to Lottie’s to make out our Missionary Calendars.
I learned that corn stover is the leaves, stalks, and cobs that are left in the field after harvesting, and that it is shredded for use as fodder and bedding.
Sat 19. We have been trying to finish house cleaning. The last few days have been sick days. I have had a sore throat. Ruth did not come home this week.
Sun 20. We have had Ora & Louis here since Friday. Colder today.
Mon 21. Made head cheese & turkeys out of cones for the Thanksgiving table. Mrs. Mohler helped me.
Head cheese is a jellied meat dish typically made from the head of a pig or calf. Here’s a recipe if you want to try it yourself!
And pinecone turkeys!
Tue 22. Washed and took care of meat today.
Wed 23. Awfully hard day. Have been taking care of meat & getting ready for Thanksgiving.
Thu 24. Ate Thanksgiving dinner with the Grooters. Boyds & Petersons were there. Stayed till 8 PM. Went to church in AM. Rev. Wardle preached at Zion church.
Fri 25. The day has been had. Got up at 4:30. Ruth is home. Dad, Louis & Ora are picking corn.
Sat 26. Got up at 4:30. Ruth gave a lesson. I kept busy.
Sun 27. Went to church. Made ice cream. Too tired to go at night. Louis took Ruth to the Falls.
Here’s a 1930’s ice cream freezer. The mixture went into the middle, which had a dasher with paddles that moved when the crank was turned. The outer area was filled with ice and rock salt. Here are instructions and 47 recipes (I haven’t decided which is my favorite…but they’ll work in an electric ice cream maker, too!)
Mon 28. A lovely washday. Did a big washing today. Cleaned up the house. Ona & Louis still here.
Tue 29. I was too tired to do much.
Wed 30. Ora Reep went to Art Nymeier today. Louis left yesterday for Fred Millers. It is lonely since they are gone but 4:30 is pretty early to get up. I ironed today.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for December 1932.