Leaves on the Trudgian Tree

Exploring the lives of one Trudgian family in Galena, Illinois through the eyes of their daughter, Lillian, during the years of 1913 through 1931. Lillian's authentic diary entries explore the family, neighbors, what is happening in Galena, as well as, national events and of course the weather and the crops!

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Location: Portage, Michigan, United States

Since all three volumes of "Lillian's Diaries: Whispers From Galena's Past" have been transcribed and published, I am currenting working on another book about the Trudgian (Tregian/Trugeon) family. This time it will be a novel based on historical events which involve my ancestors in Cornwall in the 1400-1600's. I have just started organizing my research so it will be a year or two before you will see it in the bookstore! I have just finished leading a Genealogy Class for beginners at my church. At the end of the six session class everyone had discovered some new information about their ancestors but there was, of course, many more questions to be answered. So I started the "Whispers From Our Ancestors" blog to provide a space for us to share our genealogical joys and roadblocks. Http://seekingourpast.blogspot.com is open to everyone doing genealogy - beginners to experts and all those inbetween.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

On Vacation

LILLIAN'S DIARIES: FINAL WHISPERS FROM GALENA'S PAST VOL. III IS NOW AVAILABLE IN STORES AND ONLINE!

Meanwhile I am on vacation and you can follow me for the next 3 weeks at;
http://denandsherstravelogueblog.blogspot.com/.

1919 will continue the last week of August.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

County Fair Time

Hope you are busy reading volumes I and II of Lillian's Diaires as volume III Lillian's Diaries: Final Whispers of Galena's Past (1926-1931) will be out in the next 2-3 weeks. It will be available at CreateSpace.com, Amazon.com, Book World in Galena,IL and Mineral Book Connections in Mineral Point, WI. It should also begin showing up on other online bookstores and at some public libraries.


Friday, August 8, 1919 was very cool. Ruby & I picked and put up blackberries. Mother went up to the church and cleaned a little and cut off some weed. Then called in at Sadie’s awhile. Saturday I picked and put up some berries, Also pickled a half gallon of yellow beans, baked bread, coffee cake and cake. Dad, Ma & I went to Galena  in the evening. Ruby staid up to Aunt Annie’s. Not so many in town as usual.

Sunday all but Ruby went to church in the afternoon. Uncle Edds, Lottie, Jack, Alta, Sadie & Evelyn were there. In the evening we went over to Win Tippet’s. Took Uncle Edds along. Monday we put up ten quarts of peaches and cooked 4 pints of corn. Picked blackberries, made jelly and cut some lawn. Fiedlers thrashed. Weis did the job. Tuesday we washed. Put up four pints of sweet corn. Cut some lawn. Always busy.

Wednesday I ironed. Ruby & I picked a few blackberries, enough for supper and breakfast. Put up four pints of field corn. Cut some lawn. Had a heavy rain last night and early in the morning, then cleared. It is a beautiful day. Thursday August 14, 1919: A beautiful day. We all went to the Fair. Started at twelve thirty and drove the car in the Fairgrounds. A large crowd there. The grounds were just full of chance games or playing for dolls (especially). And most everything imagineable. One race horse broke its leg. Another ran away. We staid for evening. An awful crowd in the eve. The fireworks were just fine. Had singing, band music, acting and a girl wire walker - very good. We started for home at ten. Very much worn out. But not completely satisfied. Saw somebody early in the evening - alone.

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Sunday, August 7, 2011

It's a Bird, No it's an Airplane!

The first wing walker to perform daring stunts was 26 year old Ormer Locklear. Legend has it that he first climbed out onto the lower wings during his pilot training in the Army Air Service during World War I. Undaunted, Ormerjust climbed out of the cockpit onto the wings in flight whenever there was a mechanical issue and fixed the problem. On November 8, 1918, Locklear wowed the crowd at Barron Field, Texas with his dare devil wing walking stunts. Wing walking was seen as an extreme form of barnstorming, and wing walkers would constantly take up the challenge of outdoing one another. They themselves admitted (or rather proclaimed proudly) that the point of their trade was to make money on the audience's prospect of possibly watching someone die. Source:Wikipedia


August 1, 1919: Well we got up in the morning quite early. Weather not looking bad. It cleared off so at eight we started for Galena. Josie, Ruby & I put the car in Edgerton’s Garage. An awful crowd at the depot and the train was crowded. Had to stand. We had to walk away to get to the boat landing. Our first boat ride. My it was swell. The boat had four decks and lots of dancing. It was ten or after when the boat started. It was one oclock when we got to Dubuque and five when we got to Cassville. The boat started again at twenty-five to six. We walked up and down the main street of Cassville. Got back to the landing and started on the train by ten oclock. Eleven when we got to Galena. Hurried to the garage to get car and was charge seventy-five cents for storing the car. I asked last Tuesday and he said fifty cents. I got mad at the old fellow. Got home quarter to twelve. Dad and Ma was quite worried. Some folks didn’t go that we thought might go. Bernetta & Thelma were on.

Saturday we were quite bummy today. Ma & I picked blackberries in the forenoon. That evening we all went to town. Sunday we got nearly ready to go to church. Then It came to rain. Uncle Edd & Aunt Annie came down to dinner. Ruby & I went down to Weis’. Took Josephine’s veil that she left in the car. Monday Ruby & I picked a gallon and half blackberries. Ma made jelly out of them.

Tuesday we washed today. I also washed and ironed our Georgette waists. Wednesday saw the first airplane go over in the evening about a quarter after eight. Ruby and I were out on the lawn when we heard a noise. Thought it an automobile. Ruby went in the house. I looked up and down the road. Didn’t see anything. The noise seemed to come from over towards Studier’s. Then I looked up in the air and behold I saw a airplane. It was quite high. My, one glance and knocked on the window for Mother and Ruby. Then watched it a while. Telephoned Aunt Annie, then rang the bell for Dad. He was up in the corn field. It went nearly straight west then turned northward. Watched until it went down over the horizon. Causes some little excitement in the neighborhood. We ironed and also picked berries and put them up. Baked bread, cake and tarts and pie. If its nice tomorrow we expect to go to the Schapville picnic or the Soldiers’ doings. We asked Helen to go along.

Thursday, August 7, 1919: A lovly day. We started at a quarter to one for the picnic. Helen went along. A very large crowd there. Mostly relatives. Had our supper along. Started for home about a quarter to eight. Came home thro Schapville. Stopped at the cemetery to see Uncle Herman’s monument. A good many folks out there from around here.

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