Fri 1. My SS class had a plant sale this AM. Made almost $5.00. Tell & John went to Aledo today. Alice was over for dinner. They (John & Tell) drove. Gerald & Brubaker went after cattails today.
The cattails were probably for the pond Emma and Tell have been building. They are ornamental plants with many uses.
Aledo, Illinois was established in the 1850s, and had a population of about 2200 in 1920s and ‘30s. It was about a 200-mile drive from Hubbard.
Sat 2. Have been at the shop all day. Cleaned it up and filed invoices for hours. Tell called up to tell us to cover the pool.
Sun 3. We went to church & SS this AM. Ate lunch at Gerald’s.
Mon 4. Daddy got home from Ill about 10:30 AM. Alice brought him over & stayed for dinner.
Tue 5. Tell & I took Katharine to Cedar Falls today. Saw Mina Quigley Brown at Daisey’s. Bought goods for my slip for cellunese dress. Ruth stayed at Miriam’s because she did not feel well. Did not take her music lesson.
Wilhelmina Quigley was Tell’s cousin, and would have been about 64 in 1928. It’s interesting that Emma referred to her as Brown—she was apparently divorced and remarried in about 1905, and would have been Mina Edwards at this point.
Celanese was a rayon jersey fabric that was softer, stronger, and cheaper than satin or taffeta.
Wed 6. Daddy has been making a flag stone walk around the pool. I did a big washing with Mrs. Knowles’ help—have been cleaning my down stairs.
Thu 7. Made me a new dress today—or rather worked on it. Ruth went to the Falls with Miss Reece.
Fri 8. We attended the Alumni banquet this evening—elected me president for the next year. Katharine came home today. Gerald & Miriam went after her in the truck.
I’m guessing this was for the alumni of Hubbard high school, where Emma graduated in 1898. I found the program from her graduation!1
Sat 9. Canned greens today—7 qts, 12 pints of tame lambs quarter & mustard.
Sun 10. Katharine went back to Cedar Falls today. John & Alice came over—we got some ice cream. Mr. John Strother & Gerald ate with us. Ruth started to the Salem League as we are to have none this summer.
Mon 11. Tell made the shelves in the pool today. I have been busy with washing, cleaning, etc.
Tue 12. Got the ironing all done. Picking a few strawberries these days. Ruth went for her lesson. In the evening Tell & I went to Eldora to Rotary Club & to hear Dr. Steiner—as guests of John & Alice. Had a nice time.
Wed 13. We put the goldfish in the pool today—they seem lost to us. Gerald, Brubaker & I went after yellow water lilies & put them in too. Set out some snapdragons.
Thu 14. WFMS met at Mrs. O.W. Taber’s. I sang a “solo”—Pass It On. Ruth played for me. We had a nice time.
Fri 15. Katharine came home with John & Alice today. We went to Eldora after her. Gerald & I got a load of rock—for the pool and the walk. Tell is making a walk.
Sat 16. I cleaned the church today. The Aid is taking care of it. It is so dirty. Cut out a dress for Katharine today.
Sun 17. The first Union service was held this evening. Rev. Rodenbeck preached at the Salem church. Katharine went to the Falls with Miss Reece & Snowmeier.
Mon 18. A big washing. Daddy & I went to the farm awhile. I took some mending while he fixed henhouses. Whitney asked to put their car in our garage.
Tue 19. Got the ironing done. Went up to Mrs. Olmstead & got a lot of flower plants to sell. Took my girls to the woods for some ferns.
Wed 20. Worked out at the pool this AM. Turned out the water to let the scum go off. Went to a Steward Board meeting this PM. Put some rosebush cuttings in sand to root. A little daughter arrived at Charlies today—6 lb 10 oz—red haired.
It looks like this would have been Emma’s niece Gertrude Troutman, daughter of her brother Charles. I think they were living in Washington DC at this time.
Thu 21. John & Alice spent a while with us this PM. Ate supper before they went back. Cherries are almost ripe. I have been picking about 2 qts of strawberries a day.
Fri 22. Finished a green linen dress for Gladys Strother today. It looks nice on her. Rained hard again today.
Sat 23. Twelve years ago today Mary Margaret came and went away. Canned 20 pints of cherries today.
Emma had a 4th child—a daughter named Mary Margaret who lived for about three hours. Here’s an entry she wrote in an older family journal:
Sun 24. We went to Eldora for dinner today. Was asked to join the DAR. Visited Mrs. Newcomer’s pool. She gave me some iris-roses & silver leafed foliage. Rev. McDade ate supper with us.
Mon 25. Mrs. Johnson came to spend the day with me. Brought Miss Golisch—She goes back to China in August. My water lily ”August Koch” came from California today.
Here’s what the August Koch water lily looks like. Beautiful!2
Tue 26. Ironed awhile & then went to the church to help clean it. Worked all day so am very tired. Will picked cherries today. Alice brought him over & came after him. My water lily and aquatic plants & two snails came from Tricker today. 13 plants—all in fine shape.
Tricker is an aquatic plant supplier established in 1892 and still in business today.
Wed 27. Am through ironing. Have picked & canned 7 pints of cherries. Talked to Mrs. Marshman a while.
Thu 28. Today was the day for our SS picnic but it has rained almost all day. Picked about 2 qt of strawberries today.
Fri 29. Went to a WCTU meeting at Mrs. Huffs. Mr. & Mrs. Bock. Returned a book to Mrs. Robertson—A Present Day Claimings to Prayer. Katharine came home in the evening.
Sat 30. Attended the Co. Rep. Con at Eldora as a delegate. Ruth & Katharine went over with me. Ate dinner with Nora, Will, & Daisey. Got some hydrangea—and some Bread & Butter plant. They are beautiful.
A comment on this post:Aunt Katharine told me in later years, that she had been the one to wash Mary Margaret's body to prepare her for burial. Because of that, she said, she was not afraid of death.
Emma's granddaughter, Roberta (Bobbie) Grooters Hoopes
I hope you have enjoyed this week’s journal! See you next week for July 1928.
