~ Boyd County, Nebraska
1920: This a bright day, only chilly and clouded in evening. I mopped basement, went to Brad’s after milk, also got water. Will stapled fence and got seeder ready, also loaded oats and oiled disc before noon. Afternoon I helped him sow oats and then he disced hog-lot also started out field. I gathered cobs and fixed a place to set 4 hens, which we did in evening. Billie Knoll came for 5 doz. eggs. We are all in first day out, Oh my!
1921: Was an awful day all day, cold and very windy, dusty and cloudy. Will disced south of road to cover oats, and it was so cold that he went in and had to start fires and get dinner and supper, so he is all in. After morning work and getting milk and water at B.’s, I walked to town via Will and Auto road, but never got a ride.
Papa was operated on from 10:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m., so his foot and leg were taken off about 4 or 5 inches below the knee. They didn’t give Papa much ether, but doped him otherwise, so he realized what was taking place most of the time, and had an afternoon in not so much pain. He talked and smoked his pipe and dozed off at times. Mr. B. Ellsworth, Nell, Billie, Boyd and I took Papa’s limb to the cemetery and burried it beside the other one. I then stayed with Papa from 4 until 6 p.m., had supper at Folks, came home afoot, got here at 7:30 p.m., was all in and Will all in, was awful.
~ Hidden Timber, South Dakota
1934: Elmer got in late from the dance, but chored with Will’s help. Will can’t get mail yet on account of cut finger. They went to Tracy Snyder’s to see if Will is to pasture his cattle, then to Harry and Louise’s, and Dorothy Mae was scalded by pulling kettle on her feet, so Harry came over in p.m. and got necessaries for her burns, such as Sweet Oil, Unguentine, Gauze and Absorbent Cotton, as there was none at O’Kreek today, and Dorothy is in serious condition, so must be kept at home for cure of burns.
1940: I sewed, shortened sleeves on Will’s New Gray Shirt, sewed buttons on his suit and put black-flowers on my new hat.
1945: I listened to radio about Pres. Roosevelt’s burial at Hyde Park, New York, the Roosevelt Estate. He was buried in the flower garden there with Hudson River rippling to the East of burial place, this is north of New York City. The Funeral train arrived here sometime after 9 o’clock and burial at once, then there was a Memorial Service at St. James Episcopal Church. Funeral Train was 17 coaches for All the Officials, about 70 went to Burial, then Friend and relatives. Ever since Pres. Roosevelt died Thursday, 3:35 p.m., the Radio stopped all commercial programs and every part of the world had memorial services for him.
1949: I never played solitaire as a penance in Memory of this Day, but read in evening. Clarence came near noon, for he had to take his father, Ed Whiting, and my brother, to Rosebud Hospital, for he suffered all last night with Pain in his right side. When at the hospital, the Dr. said he may have appendicitis, so doped him to rest for awhile to see.