~ Boyd County, Nebraska
November 12, 1921: Was a bright day but cold in a.m., warmer in p.m. Mrs. F. Anderson and Raymond came in evening to use phone last night. The Wills husked corn and finished on Dave’s so it is just fine. Will and I went to Spencer in evening and had supper at folks. Uncle Jim Herman was there. Mr. P. Wilson brought back sugar borrowed last evening. Louise went to Spencer in car last evening.
~ Hidden Timber, South Dakota
November 12, 1927, Friday: Bright but cold S. E. wind. Curt Elshire and Will went to Winner, and Elshire took in oats and Will got us some coal and other things. Dave chored and herded hogs, and I mopped the floors, made mince-pies and the meals, and the men came home for supper.
November 12, 1928, Monday: Was a real strong south wind during most of the day, but early a.m. and late p.m. were nice. Will husked 35 bu. or 8 rows of Dave’s corn and came in late evening. Ben husked his corn all day. Dave took Louise to school, mailed letters, got mail and fixed fence and unloaded Will’s load of corn.
I just did ordinary work, and we got Gurney Dried Fruit, so I made apricot pies. We also got the Sunshine Coffee from Gurney’s, but I am afraid Will will not like it, as he does the Butternut, because he has never liked any other since using Butternut. The Gurney Dried Fruit looks just fine, and the apricots cooked fine, so I know that the rest will be good.
November 12, 1929, Tuesday: Yesterday, 11 years ago at 11 o’clock a.m. the Armistice was signed, but we stayed home on account of no car, for there was a celebration at the boarding school. Today the sun shone but was real cold and some wind and snow everywhere and roads real bad.
The men chored and Will put some panes in windows and he went to the store, but Tom was at Winner, so he got groceries and coal-oil, as he went in the wagon. Roy fed cattle alfalfa. Dave went to C. Elshire’s to see if they were going to O’Kreek this evening, so could call Jake, and he went on to D. Schmidt, and while gone Wm Van Epps brought Dave’s car, as he, Mr. Wheeler and Ed were at Valentine, and Ed paid for it, so Will took him back to Wheelers and got tobacco at the store.
Roy got some straw and fixed fence near the school house on Ben’s. I made bread, cookies and cake, and Florence got most of the meals, and she cut Tommy’s hair and Will finished the job as Tommy was fussy. Dave, Florence, and I went to Ed’s, got Rena and on to St. Francis in terrible roads. Cousers, Vern, Merle and Raymond were at Ed’s in a new Ford Tudor. This is Roy’s 21st birthday, so he is telling his guardian at Winner good-bye.
November 12, 1931, Thursday: Yesterday the men buried Bud, the dog, and an old turkey gobbler. Bud died Monday morning, was sick a few days. I miss him very much, even at the dance I thought of him.
November 12, 1939, Sunday: Bright, nice day, but I was chilly on account of Will and I got in from Mission at 11:35 p.m. and got to bed at 12:25 a.m. for we ate lunch on our return, for we stayed at Mission Auditorium, as Dan Dorian Legion and Auxiliary of O’Kreek had an Amateur Contest. Eleanor Smith of Mission got first for tap dancing, she was a small girl. Second was given to Lon and Abner, a Mr. Hamling who played the accordion, and Joe D. the banjo, 3rd prize to Larry Dowd, as he sang a song. The McCloskey Trio of Boarding School played music for the dance. Mrs. John Boyd of Hidden Timber sand beautiful America, and Doris Knittel and Ramona Strain each a recitation, and George Sazama played accordion. Several solos, Baruska, Beer Barrel Polka, I Can Get Along Very Well without You. George O’Conner of Rapid City, formerly of Mission, Mrs. Gibson and an Uncle of Worcesters who live east of Mission were the judges.
November 12, 1944, Sunday: Foggy, chilly and misty all day. We stopped at Wm Abbotts, and they had a chicken, duck, potatoes, gravy, corn dressing, jell, butter, bread, apple pie and whipped cream dinner. I never changed my dress, but went in anyway, felt like a fool in a dirty, everyday dress, and they were all ready for a Sunday dinner, but we ate anyway. I have this day made up my mind to put on a clean dress when I go with Will just for a ride, as he may change his mind and stop at some of the neighbors for a chat.