Hattie's Blog: Ordinary Work

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:50:00 +0000

Dec. 25, 1929, Wednesday

A lovely day, warm and bright and didn’t freeze last night. Merle Hutchins came in at 9 o’clock in Weidner’s truck and left at daylight to do the chores and left Will a neck-tie and me a box of fancy stationery. Will and Roy chored and shod Ginger in front and Roy went on horseback, and Will and I in wagon to Harry Furrey’s. Louise had a delicious Christmas dinner of chicken, gravy, dressing, potatoes, cranberries, squash pie, chocolate-nut cake, fruit salad, bread, butter, cream & coffee & pepper & salt and water. It was their first big dinner in their new house and since their marriage, and we enjoyed it, and the Evers table looked nice. Roy started back to look for horses and we ate candy and nuts, then came home just at dark. Ate more candy, nuts and apples, and Will drank coffee and retired. Christmas spent pleasantly in a lumber-wagon and one bronco, Dick, and Ginger to pull it.

A Request for Old O'kreek Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:00:00 +0000

I am reposting here a request that came into my other blog. If anyone can help Corey to obtain photos, please let me know (lisarivero@sbcglobal.net), and I'll pass the info along to her.

"My name is Corey Flood. My grandparents were Bernard Flood Sr. and Ada Flood from O`kreek, South Dakota. If anyone out there has any photos of the old town of O`Kreek, churches, stores etc, before the fire pretty much destroyed the town, I would sure love to see them. My grandparents had pictures of the old O`kreek when it was a moving town. Hope to hear from someone out there Thank You,"
~ Corey Flood

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

November 18-19, 1922

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 13:33:00 +0000

November 18, 1922
Boyd County, Nebraska

A nice forenoon but p.m. clouded and rained a little, but clear evening and very windy from N. W. Will took Knolls’ spreader home, did chores, and Raymond Peterson came taking subscriptions to Country Gentleman. Will came up town for dinner. Billie and I went up early for Mr. J. T. Wood’s funeral at 10 a.m. In p.m. Louise and I also went to Roy Smith’s funeral, son of Claude and Annie Smith. After Will attended Mitchell sale, we came home.

Read More November 18th Entries

November 19, 1922
Boyd County, Nebraska
A cold N. W. wind and cloudy. Will chored and I fixed rabbit and made pumpkin pie and in p.m. Will went to Abledingers to help Mr. separate calves to wean. I took a nap as have a cold in head, throat and chest miserable. Will has a cold also but not as bad as mine. While up town yesterday, I saw Mrs. Charles Sinclair (nee Edith Brownfield) and twins, Gerald and Harold, and they all were O.K.

Read More November 19th Entries

November 17, 1923

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:33:00 +0000

November 17, 1923

A bright warm day. Ed, Rena Seth, Leo and Edward Jr. came last evening and Ed fixed car and William and Will got hay, as Will got Jake’s rack last evening, and they got Jake at noon, and castrated pigs in p.m., and Rena and children went along when they took Jake and our male hog over there. 3 men from Ocorna, Dallas and Gregory stayed for night. Rena and I put junk up stairs

November 14th Entries

November 15th Entries

November 16th Entries

More November 17th Entries

November 13, 1921

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:06:00 +0000

November 13, 1921

Was a nice warm day all day. William got Bonnie at Brads, then they put stock in cornstalks then went hunting for one rabbit. We all went to Spencer in p.m., had supper at folks as Louise rode out with McDuffee. Will had a headache this a.m. and we all are tired, so glad Sunday is here.

More November 13th Entries

November 12, 1923

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:31:00 +0000

November 12, 1923

Yesterday was Armistice Day. Today is cloudy and cold N. W. wind at times bright and evening brighter. Rowland went to look for boys and I came down on Buck to Milk cow and feed calf. Jake, William Whiting, Rowland Wilcott, Antoine Cutchall and Will came in from Jake's in evening. Jake and Will broke down near Carter Sat. evening, so all were a time coming.

Be sure to read more November 12th entries.

October 11, 1924

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:07:00 +0000

October 11, 1924, Saturday
(visiting Spencer, Nebraska)
Was a strong south and a little S. W. wind but bright until evening a little cloudy. Louise cleaned all the downstairs and Mrs. Dimsdale cleaned upstairs. Nellie helped get dinner and run errands and I, also, at dinner. Went to Ellsworth and got 4 roosters and Mr. took them to depot, and on my return I went downtown for first time and got to see a lot of old neighbors. Mamma is a little better, so sat up awhile. A lot of callers to see Mamma, and I get to visit with them, also all kinds of flowers sent to Mamma. Julia Fronek seriously ill at Angels, has a baby girl. Will at home and batching.

Read More October 11th Entries

November 10, 1924

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:23:00 +0000

November 10, 1924, Monday

Was cold in morning and evening but day nice. Last night at 10 o’clock Messrs. John Carr and Harve Williams brought Miss Esther Winne here to teach school, so I went with her and took kindling to school. Will painted on house and Jake went to O’Kreek and got a load of poles for us. Lawrence and Mabel came for cobs and went home and Mabel came back for rest of day.

Read More November 10th Entries

Jake Whiting's son Lawrence & Ed Whiting's son Kenneth
(Hattie's Nephews)

November 9, 1925: A beautiful warm fall day

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:24:00 +0000

November 9, 1925, Monday

A beautiful warm fall day. Will, Glen McEachran, Hugh Smith rounded in Smith cattle and McEachran horses. Glen went home in p.m. with them, and Will and Mr. Smith finished gathering Smith cattle in the p.m. Louise went to school, and came home in evening and gathered cobs. I did only ordinary work, fixed chicken and cherry pie.

Read November 8th Entries

Read More November 9th Entries

Aunt Hattie's aunt, Sophie Herman (born in 1872),
and Sophie's husband Jim Schweigman

November 7, 1925

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:52:00 +0000

November 7, 1925, Saturday

Was cold but bright today. Will started to fix storm windows, and Jesse Haisch and son Vernon came, so in p.m. they rounded in cattle after they went to Menz’s, but Fred was at Winner, so they did not get home until late evening, so Louise fed hogs and milked cows. We cleaned some and I made bread and cake and Jelly. Abe Elshire went to O’Kreek and got our mail and groceries.

Read More Nov. 7th Entries

November 6, 1925

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 19:19:00 +0000

November 6, 1925, Friday

A beautiful forenoon but wind got strong from N. W. at noon, and got around to N. E. and quite cold. Louise to school. I had a sore throat, could scarcely speak out loud. Mr. Wheeler, Bill Smith and Fred Menz were here today. Will went to cornfield and got 28 bu., and 12 bu. yesterday and 25 bu. Monday. I ironed clothes, cooked beets and rendered lard.

Read More November 6th Entries

November 5, 1925

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 15:25:00 +0000

November 5, 1925, Thursday

Bright, thawing day. Will went to cornfield and it was so wet. He husked 4 rows and came home early after dinner. Ed and Leo came on running gears to get his hay-rack, and in p.m. he went and got a horse, so they skinned it for the hogs, and went home late in evening. Louise went to school and is all over her cold now, but I have a sore throat, did only ordinary work. Dick Schmidt went to O’Kreek and got our mail and groceries.

More November 5th Entries

Coffee break while loading cattle sometime in the 1950s. Whitchers used to sell their calves to a feeder in Illinois. The calves would be loaded on trucks, hauled to Valentine, NE, and then loaded on the railroad. The feeder said that it took the calves 90 days after the trip to get to the condition they were when they left the ranch.

Bill Whitcher is on the left with a cup of coffee; Stanley Whiting is wearing a hat with his back to the camera.

October 22, 1921

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:27:00 +0000

October 22, 1921
Boyd County, Nebraska

Was a bright day all day and not much breeze, so nice. Will husked down row and 2 others on new land in forenoon. Mr. B. Ellsworth, Papa and Billie came after dinner on way to Bristow. Mr. P. Wilson came and helped Will fix buggy tongue before noon and also stopped on way to Spencer. We went to Spencer in p.m. and had supper at folks, first time in a long time, also in buggy. as tongue partly fixed. Mrs. O. Ernest, Mrs. T. Ernest. Havalin and Lorin were at folks, and Aldena was in Town. I had a headache but Will is quite well this evening.

1917
HIDDEN TIMBER RANCH
ED L. WHITING SR. & SONS

October 21, 1924

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 23:21:00 +0000

October 21, 1924, Tuesday

Threatened to rain as wind changed to S. E. Will went around cattle, and he and George Smith came late to dinner. Wm Welch and Uncle and Cousin from Omaha came to hunt and stayed for dinner. Jake came and put shingles on roof and ridge roll where hail shattered. I started to wash clothes but did not finish. Fred Menz came in evening, also Mr. and Mrs. Menz stopped to give us mail on their way home.

Fire

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 22:43:00 +0000

First, I apologize for the unnanounced hiatus! Our family was traveling last month, and I've been easing my way into the school year and busy with other tasks. Hatti's Blog resumes today with a post that, while not from today's date, is in keeping with the theme of fire.

April 1, 1926: Mr. Lattimore seined the fish-hole and got over 60 fish. Fred Menz brought Louise back in time to go to school, as yesterday they got as far as Carter and all the buildings north of the Hotel burned down, so they stayed and fought the fire all night.

Read October 5th Posts

Rosebud Fair Grounds, 1913

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 23:04:00 +0000

Rosebud Fair Grounds, 1913

September 10, 1925

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 23:02:00 +0000

September 10, 1925, Thursday

Was a bright warm day. Will and George started to stack hay and I drove stacker team for one stack and in p.m. they got hay ready to stack more. Jake, Cora, Sydney, Pat, Vera, John and Louise Jr. came, and a letter for Louise Sr., so Cora and I took her to Davis threshing crew and she went in to Winner with Mr. D. March in truck as they are hauling flax. She expects to visit Bess and Rose and Leo. Lemoyne came this noon and stayed in p.m. Cora and I drove to Menz and got a sack of flour, and Jake and Lemoyne got corn.

Read More September 10th Entries

September 9, 1923

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:32:00 +0000

September 9, 1923

A bright hot Dusty day as wind from South so strong. We all went to church and in p.m. after Bronco Riding looked at land S. W. west and South St. Francis towards Kilgore, Nebr. and in eve went to Mission. The Jarboe family visited in p.m.

Read More September 9th Entries

September 8, 1920, 10 Qts Pickles

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:27:00 +0000

September 8, 1920
Boyd County, Nebraska

Was damp in morning so Will sharpened sickle at Brad’s and I went along. When Howard came back from taking Harlan and Billie to school they started to mow hay on our place and our mower broke so Will went to Spencer, came at noon just before an awful shower, so in p.m. after nap, he went to Knoll’s and sharpened axe at Brad’s, got corn in evening on his return. I baked bread and canned 7 qts. and put 3 qts. in stone jar, so 10 qts. pickles.

Read More September 8th Entries

September 7, 1925

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:47:00 +0000

September 7, 1925, Monday

Rainy forenoon but p.m. bright for Labor Day and a cool evening. George came home early morning and he and Will fixed shed roof and went to Wm Pierce’s and came home in p.m. George sharpened sickles and went around cattle, and Will, Louise and I went out to field. During day we oiled and varnished front room floor, and Louise put curtains upstairs.

Glen McEachran and Uncle fished and had car stalled, so ate a lunch. Tom, Sadie, Thomas, Stanley, Madge and Harold stopped awhile when they got Victor Pearson, started home with hay rack. Mr. Horst and Wm Smith were here this p.m.

Read More Sept. 7th Entries

September 6, 1925

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:50:00 +0000

September 6, 1925, Sunday

Another hot day but clouded in the evening, wind, no rain. Wm and George Pierce, Cecil Roundy, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Anderson, Dick Elshire, Reka Schmidt, Ed, Rena, Helen, Lemoyne, Kenneth, Seth, Leo, Edward and Charlotte were here today. Louise and I did ordinary work and dressed chicken, enough for dinner and supper. Will started several times to round in cattle but each time came back on account of visitors. Gale and Mr. Menz came for salt.

Read More Sept. 6th Entries

September 5, 1922

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:43:00 +0000

September 5, 1922
Boyd County, Nebraska

A bright hot day. Will and Ed Wiley mowed our wild hay and finished at 2 p.m., then Mr. Abledinger and Floyd Sherlock came, so they put up our hay and finished at 8 p.m., had supper, went home. I did only ordinary work and went to orchard with Mrs. A. Ward, Laura and Barney, then on to Spencer to get meat for supper and came back with Mrs. C. Ward, Francis, Laura and Helen, as I used their horse to go to town. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hornback came to sell fruit trees.

Read More Sept. 5th Posts

Big Pasture

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:20:00 +0000

This tank and windmill are located on what Hattie refers to in her diaries as the Big Pasture. The windmill still pumps and the tank still holds water. (Thank you to Kathy and Harley for the photo and information).

September 4, 1925

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:14:00 +0000

September 4, 1925, Friday

Hot and strong south wind until p.m. when wind went down, clouded some in evening and strong lightening, but no rain here and a fire started southwest towards Carroll’s but was nearly out when we went to bed. Louise and I washed clothes and she put up curtains. Mr. Smith helped with hay. Will had a headache, also Louise.

Messrs. Schaffer Sr. and Jr. came today to look at their cattle and immediately returned home. Mr. Menz was here for dinner one day this week, and came today and got a hog to butcher. I cleaned the north porch.

Read More Sept. 4th Entries

September 3, 1924

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:11:00 +0000

September 3, 1924, Wednesday

A very hot day but bright and a beautiful evening. The Men finished branding at 10 a.m., so all went home before dinner, just Fred, Will, Hilda and I and Lavern for dinner. Fred went to Roundys with saddle. Mrs. Emerick and Alice, Bennie and Edna Bentz went to O’Kreek and got plums and Hilda went home with them.

Read More Sept. 3rd Entries