Hattie's Blog: Ordinary Work

New Blog Home for Aunt Hattie's Diary

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 23:10:00 +0000

After much thought and planning, I am moving Hattie's blog to a new home. The new name and address are "Aunt Hatttie's Diary" at http://aunthattiesdiary.com.

All of the entries and photos at the old site, "Hattie's Blog: Ordinary Work," will remain as they are, but all new entries will be posted at (and some old entries will be copies to) the new site.

The first entry went up today! Head on over to read it and to subscribe to the new address.

As always, Aunt Hattie and I thank you.

Easter Entries 1920-1925

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 13:17:00 +0000

April 4, 1920 (Boyd County, Nebraska): This is a beautiful Easter day but a little chilly. Mrs. Knoll, Willie, Marjorie, Will and I had dinner at Bradstreets consisting of Roast Pork and Dressing, Potatoes, Chicken and Noodles, Bread, Butter, Pickles, Pineapple salad, Mince Pie and Angel Food Cake, Coffee, Milk, and Hot water.

Uncle Jim and Paul Meyers came out in forenoon, went back to town. Chas. Ward came last night, had Will phone for Dr. Bradley as his 6 mo. Baby was sick and he came back again this evening at 6 p.m. They got stuck so he came again at 9 p.m. to call for help to pull Bradley.

March 27, 1921 (Boyd County, Nebraska): Was a bright day but cold on account of snow. We stayed home all day. This is Easter Sunday. Will has a cold so took a nap in p.m. then went to Brad’s for water.

April 16, 1922 (Boyd County, Nebraska): The sun shone only a little in early morning, cloudy rest of day and very cold N. W. wind. I walked to church this Easter Morning and received communion and walked back. Will had a headache, but was ready to come for me. Chas. Ward came for milk. We went over there but I stayed indoors as was cold and Mr. and Will went out, also Mrs. T. Jensen, Mary and Maggie Ward were there. Will’s head still ached in evening. I am tired.

April 1, 1923, Easter Sunday (Boyd County, Nebraska). A bright day until towards evening cloudy. South wind cool in a.m. but afternoon quite warm. We did up work and Will started to trim those few cherry trees and cut his hand. William Whiting came out about 11:30 a.m. and he and Will went for a ride in the afternoon via Ableidingers, Chas. Clouse and via Dist. 14 school house and on home. I just read and did a little work after.

April 20, 1924, Sunday (Hidden Timber, South Dakota): A strong S. W. wind and toward west in evening, cold and cloudy at times. Jake came over and we went to their place with him as men didn’t go for sheller and Lawrence , Mabel and Neva brought me home towards evening and Tom was here, also Mr. Smith (George) came before we went to Jake’s and Will got 200 bu. oats from him. Will went on Kelley today, so brought some horses in. Sydney is broke out quite a bit with measles and quite sick and Tootie and Pat are set to break out, also John, as they are sick. Vivian is better but can’t talk out loud. Somebody was here in car when we were gone.

April 12, 1925, Sunday (Hidden Timber, South Dakota): Easter Sunday. Early morning nice but about 8 a.m. started to blow from S. W. and got quite strong before noon, windy all day and towards evening a shower. Ed, Will and I left here at 6:30 a.m., got to Mission and took Rena, Leo and Edward along to St. Francis, had dinner at Dave’s after 10 o’clock Mass, went to ball game and at 6:30 went to a Play given by school and it was very nice, and then we came home. Car trouble, didn’t get here until 2 a.m., stopped at Hainie to get car fixed, left Rena and boys at Mission, got scared when car popped and Rena jumped first before car stopped, got quite a jar.

More Easter Entries (and postcards)

March 24, 1925

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 20:00:00 +0000

March 24, 1925, Tuesday: South west wind quite hard but warm and bright. Will went to Pete Haukaas’s and got a load of oats and home late for dinner. Tony Martin and Geo. Chehak came for job in p.m. but we don’t need help. Mr. and Mrs. Dick Schmidt stopped in morning on way to sale near Carter and in evening with groceries. Rena mopped the front room and I cooked beans and prunes but such a cough yet.

See also March 24: Harry Furrey Came to Visit (Somebody)

March 23, 1922: Father Nicholas's Farewell at Highland Inn

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:24:00 +0000

March 23, 1922 (Boyd County, Nebraska) : Was a little cloudy in forenoon and wind blew from north, rest of day bright but cold wind. Chas. Ward and William Whiting helped put 3 loads hay in barn and hauled 3 loads alfalfa to stack, which is all Sherlocks’ stacks of alfalfa. I did only ordinary work and churned a little butter. We went to Father Nicholas’s farewell in evening at Highland Inn. Was a large crowd there.

See also March 23: Jitney and Lady Baltimore Cake

March 22, 1924: Tried to Scrape Skin from Hide Until I Broke Fingernail

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:53:00 +0000

March 22, 1924, Saturday: Snowed some during night and looked stormy all a.m. and p.m., snowed quite hard. Jake came and he and Will butchered a hog for each of us and had to skin as water too cold to scald, and I tried to scrape skin from hide until I broke fingernail. Mr. John Carr came to see Jake. Will has a cold and I am lazy.
More March 22 Entries

March 22, 1929: Louise Came Home with the Mumps

March 22, 1941: Cross and Crown

March 21, 1922: Finished 2 Night Shirts for Will

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:54:00 +0000

March 21, 1922 (Boyd County, Nebraska): Was bright but cold south wind. Will went to Spencer, had Teeth fixed and dinner at folks, then on to Sedalecks and bought 200 bu. oats. In evening cleaned tin house to set hens in. I sewed on muslin things and finished 2 night shirts for Will.

More March 21 Entries

March 20, 1925

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:27:00 +0000

March 20, 1925, Friday: Cloudy at times and a regular dust storm. Ed and Fred started to St. Francis with 4 horses and running-gears to get hogs out of canyons. Rena, Leo and Edward stayed here. Will cleaned the barn today and was undecided as to go to Thomas’s sale. I am still all in.

More March 20 Entries

March 19, 1926: Surprised To See Fresh Fish

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:55:00 +0000

March 19, 1926, Friday

Was bright and N.W. breeze and a little chilly but out of wind nice and warm. Will went with George Smith to his old place at Wagners and got a truck load of machinery and [was] back here for lunch, then Smith went home. Will and William went down the river hole and got 47 nice fish, in eve[ning] William went to look for ducks. Louise to school and in eve [she was] surprised to see fresh fish. Fred Menz here and went to the store and home via school-house. I did only ordinary work.

More March 19th Entries

January 1918, 1919, 1920

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Rivero) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:51:00 +0000

In January of 1920, Harriet and Will Whitcher had been married just two years and, because of Will’s military service, had spent much of that time apart. The oldest of ten children and ten years older than her husband, at age thirty-eight Hattie had grown used to an independence of both movement and mind, but she also was very close to her family and social by nature. Their farm was one and one-half miles from the town of Spencer in Boyd County, Nebraska, close enough for Hattie often to walk or catch a ride in a wagon to visit her parents, Ed and Mary Whiting, who lived in town, visits of which Will did not always approve.

Like all married couples, Hattie and Will were getting used to each other. They had not yet finished breaking sod on their farm and were struggling to make a living at a time when several Boyd County families were selling their land. Hattie was also still getting used to being simultaneously a wife and daughter when, in the span of two months, both of Will’s parents died in Wichita, Kansas, the first telegram arriving on January 30, 1920.

The following inventories, measures, and diary excerpts tell the beginning of the story of Hattie’s married life.

Inventories and Measures:

January 1918, 1919, 1920

January 1, 1918: Inventory, W. J. Whitcher

80 acres land … $6000.00

Farm buildings … $1000.00

3 horses, 3 colts … $525.00

1 cow from Floyd Wood … $75.00

9 hogs … $180.00

12 hens, 1 rooster … $14.00

50 bushels oats & 200 bushels corn … $240.00

7 tons wild hay, 3 tons alfalfa … $150.00

Seeds, grain & vegetable … $35.00

Household Goods … $200.00

Farm Implements … $300.00

Cash in Bank … $545.00

Total … $9264.00

Outstanding Indebtedness … $1650.00

Net Worth … $7614.00

January 16, 1918: Marriage of Harriet Elizabeth Whiting and William J. Whitcher

January 1, 1919: Inventory, W. J. Whitcher

No inventory taken on account of W. J. Whitcher being in the army at Gilmerton, Virginia. Our cow died of Alfalfa poison. We sold nearly all hogs on account of no house for them. We got a $2000 loan on farm to pay for house and other implements. W. J. came home Feb. 27^th, 1919, discharged from Army.

January 1, 1920: Inventory, W. J. Whitcher

4 Horses, each $125 … $500.00

2 Horses, each $65 … $130.00

1 Horse … $50.00

1 Cow and Calf … $210.00

1 Boar … $30.00

1 Fat Hog … $35.00

23 Fall Pigs, each $10 … $230.00

8 doz. Light Brahma Chickens … $100.00

2 1/2 Sets Harness, Single Harness, 2 sets Fly Nets … $150.00

1 Heavy Stock Saddle … $50.00

Farm Machinery … $150.00

2 Wagons, $25 each … $50.00

200 bu. Oats … $150.00

300 bu. Corn … $390.00

12 bu. Rye … $15.00

25 Tons Hay … $375.00

2 Tons Alfalfa … $40.00

Corn Fodder … $40.00

Household Goods & Separator … $300.00

TOTAL ... $3120.00 [See note 1, below]

January 1920: Groceries and Dry Goods Bought

Suspenders … $0.75

Syrup, 1 gal. … $1.10

Apples … $0.50

Jello … $0.45

Bananas … $0.25

Oranges … $0.35

Cheesecloth … $0.30

Coffee, Butternut … $0.50

Shoe Strings … $0.15

Onions … $0.25

Ivory Soap … $0.10

Sugar … $0.50

Tobacco … $0.15

January 1920: Paid Out for Sundries

Shoe Repair on Army Shoe ... $0.10

Gasoline for Smoking Meat ... $2.10

To Robert Jewelry Store for bridge for my glasses ... $0.75

Diary Excerpts, January 1920

New Year’s Day, 1920: This was a fair day but cold. Will husked corn but wasn’t very well. We had a good supper consisting of fresh roast pork, gravy, potatoes, cranberry and apple sauce, fresh butter, bread, cream and coffee. I got 6 eggs.

January 11: Willie K. came about 4 p.m. and Will went with him to crossing under Railroad bridge where they tried to cut out ice. In the evening, 3 teachers and a little boy called for a drink while out for a walk. I helped Will with chores. We got 7 eggs and one double yolk egg. It was a nice warm day.

January 12: A letter from Rose and Mother is very sick.

January 13: I put seed-corn and pumpkins away and got 6 eggs, 1 double yolk.

January 15: A fair day. Will went to Carl Ferris sale south of Spencer on Sidell place. I made Harold William Whiting 2 small dresses from Will’s old shirts. Got 7 eggs. Gathered cobs.

January 19: Will got Eugene at Knolls in forenoon and went to Andrew Clausen’s sale in p.m. Was cold. Uncle Jim took me to Spencer. I measured Papa’s leg, the left one for a limb at A. Marks, New York City. [See note 2, below]

January 20: Will bought an eli at sale, paid $50. [See note 3, below]

January 24: We got 1,000 lbs. coal for $5.00 on track.

January 30: A cold and stormy day, mostly sleet. Got a telegram that Will’s mother at Wichita, Kans. was very sick. Left on 1 p.m. train for Wichita. Uncle Jim went to Uncle Chris’s when they took us to depot. H. Bradstreet was helping Will haul fodder when Telegram came. Got to Omaha Nebr. at 11 p.m., left for Kansas City, Kans. at once, traveled all night, had supper in Norfolk, Nebr.

January 31: Had Breakfast in Kansas City. Still cloudy and damp. Had dinner at Emporia, Kansas at $1.00 a plate. Arrived at Wichita, Kans. at 6 p.m., walked several blocks, took street-car, arrived at folks and found Mother very sick. The sun was shining this evening.

Notes

Actual total for 1920 inventory is $2995.

Read A. A. Marks' Manual of artificial limbs copiously illustrated ... an exhaustive exposition of prothesis, 1914 by A. A. Marks

“An Eli was a cultivator to use on corn. It had shovels and disks. People used listers to plant corn. The lister made a furrow and the corn was planted in it. This resulted in a ridge between the corn rows. The Eli could be set to take the weeds from the side of the ridge. Later the disks would be reversed and the ridge would be placed next to the rows, leveling the field. This was called ‘throwing the corn in’. Another name for the Eli was ‘go devil.’ Why, I do not know.” (Harley Furrey, Hattie’s nephew, email message to author, Feb. 10, 2008). One version of a "go devil" was patented by Edwin F. Cheney of Ainsworth, Nebraska, who sold it to John Deere in 1906.

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