Mother and The Cream Can

Monday, December 14, 1925: Washed today. Len took hogs to the Station. It was cloudy all day. Tuesday was snowy. Len & Ruby were going to town about one oclock. Mother was helping Ruby carry out a can of cream and slipped on the ice. Guess she must have hit the back of her head. We got her up and Len & Ruby helped her to the house and got her things off and got her on the couch. She talked to us alright. Told Ruby she guessed they better go on as she felt better. Then in a few minutes wanted to know what had happened. Told her she fell down, said she didn’t know anything about it and kept on asking us if she fell, where she fell, what she was doing, what kind of cream she was carrying and etz. We were scared, rubbed her with liniment on her head and cold water and etz. she remembered then but her heart was so bad she didn’t get off the couch till about four oclock. Ruby & Len didn’t go to town. Wednesday Len & Ruby went to town. Mother feels quite poorly, very stiff. Uncle Edd and the Aunts came down this evening. Aunts Mag & Till expect to go home tomorrow from Galena. They want us to come out there for Xmas.

Thursday was cloudy. We made fruit cake and a batch of fondant. Friday Dad, Len & I went to town in the afternoon. Saw Thelma Davis. She is home from Minneapolis from Sunday till the 28th. Very cold today. Saturday it was almost too warm. Made the roads soft. A good many cars went along today. Ida, Loretta & Stella Fiedler came down this morning to invite us up to their Xmas program at the school Monday evening. Sunday was cloudy & fog. Didn’t know if we should try to go to church or not, but got ready. After we started we thought it too late so we went in to Aunt Annie’s then they would have us stay for dinner. This eve Ruby & Len went up to Scales Mound to church. Tresidders came up this eve.

1925 Slowly Winds Down

As you probably will notice I wrote this posting in the correct chronological order, rather than in the backward order that I have been using in most postings. Do you find it easier to read the entries this way or in the backward mode? I also wanted to give you a "heads-up that " Lillian's Diaries: Whispers From Galena's Past Vol.II covering 1920 through 1925 will be published by Valentine's Day, 2011. A perfect gift for your favorite genealogist or for yourself.

Sunday, November 22, 1925: Didn’t go to church this morning as our car isn’t in running condition and Len & Ruby didn’t get ready in time. Roads are grand. Dad, Ma, & I walked up to Aunt Annie’s this afternoon. Uncle Edd brought us down this evening. He wouldn’t let us walk. Quite cold today. Monday was cold. We washed today. It was beautiful and clear. Tuesday, Mother baked. Len took chickens to Scale Mound. Dad and I worked on car, opened it up and took out the front piston. The rings didn’t seem badly worn.

Wednesday, November 25: Len went to town this forenoon to get a new piston, then we worked all afternoon trying to get the burr loose that holds the connecting rod in place in the piston but couldn’t do anything so had to put in the old piston again. Got the top of engine put on again. A lovly warm day. Thursday, Len and Ruby went out to Wulff’s to Thanksgiving Day dinner, had her folks, his folks and Rev. Swalve’s family. Uncle Edd brought down Aunts Mag & Tillie this forenoon. Uncle Edd & Aunt Annie are going to be at Johnnie’s today. They came down after them again this eve, but didn’t stay as it was snowing. It has been cloudy all day. We had quite a good Thanksgiving dinner. Finished putting together our car this morning, tried to start it several times today. It started several times but would die again. Len started it this evening. Friday, was clear and cold. Didn’t snow much. We tried our car today, seemed to go quite well.

Saturday, November 28th : We all went to town this afternoon with two cars. Len brought home a new hog rack. Roads dandy weather cold. Sunday, It was snowy this morning. So we didn’t go to church, but lots of cars on the road this afternoon and evening. Monday was snowy this morning and cleared off tonight. Uncle Edd and the Aunts came down this eve. They received word today that Gus Winter died last night. We washed today.

Tuesday, December 1, 1925: We baked and did most of ironing. This eve we all went to Scales Mound to see Aunt Lizzie. Len went to his folks most of the time. Wednesday we had thought something of going to Dubuque but got up late, then Len & Ruby decided to go down to Uncle Ben’s. They did up what eve chores could be done and had some dinner. We started about twelve oclock and went the Ridge Road and thru Elizabeth. Had cement road from there to Woodbine. Vada & Lester were home alone. Uncle Ben went to Gus Winter’s funeral and Aunt Dora was at an Aid meeting. Lester went and got her. Heard the Auctioneer selling cattle and etz. at the Stock Show over Uncle Ben’s radio. After supper we came home by the new cement road to Galena. There is about 3 or 4 miles out of Galena that isn’t paved yet. Thursday was barbecue day at Galena today but we didn’t go as the roads got slippery and then it rained this afternoon. Cars went home early, some perhaps wishing they hadn’t gone. Tomorrow is pie day. Friday it rained all day, and quite hard tonight. Didn’t many people from out this way go to town for pie day.

A Visit From The Taylors

Saturday November 14, 1925: It was cloudy all day. Len, Ruby & Dad finished husking corn today. We baked and ironed & etz. Friday was a beautiful clear day. We worked very hard to get ready for the Taylors* this forenoon. Ruby went up to Fiedler’s and telephone up to tell them all to come down. We wasn’t ready for them yet when they came, that is all but Uncle Edd. We had lots of singing and playing. They are very good company. After supper they went back up to Aunt Annie’s. They intend to start for Waterloo tomorrow. They have a Chevrolet car, quite new.

Thursday we had got a card from Aunt Till in the morning saying the Taylors are up there. They came Monday evening. She said they may come down here. It started to rain in the forenoon and rained very hard all afternoon. We churned and made a cake. Wednesday was another nice day. It was quite warm. We washed in the afternoon. We also set up parlor stove, and washed windows in dining room & kitchen & made drop cookies.

Tuesday was warm and clear, certainly put roads in bad condition, as bad as spring of this year. We spent the day trying to straighten up the house a little if the Taylors should come. Monday we got a letter from Aunt Annie the morning saying they had expected us up yesterday. Uncle Edd isn't very well. He went to the Dr. Saturday. The doctor said he had high blood pressure and kidney trouble. They are expecting the Taylors this afternoon. They have been holding meetings at Waterloo and are going to hold them in another church in another week off so are coming back here. They were going out to Apple River to the Aunts but as they were in here they are coming to Aunt Annie’s. Len, Ruby & I went to town to call there. They hadn’t come yet when we came home. It thawed quite a little, roads were quite muddy, especially from the foot of Ehrler’s Hill to town. Ruby found one of their nicest sheep dead up in orchard.

* The Taylors have appeared off and on in Lillian's Diaries, but I have been unable to find out exactly who they were and how they knew the Dittmars and Trudgians. Do you know anything about them?

November Already ~ How Did That Happen?

Saturday, November 7, 1925: It snowed all day. We had to haul in corn in the snow. Quite cold too. We wanted to go to town but weather was too terrible, regular blizzard. Friday started with a beautiful looking morning but clouded about noon. Dad, Ruby & Len were very, very busy husking and hauling corn. I wanted to try out the car but Dad didn’t come in till late. Then he couldn’t it get it cranked. We wanted to go over to the P.T.A. at Independence School that evening, but everything went wrong. At last it was decided that Len, Ruby & I would go, so Ma & I had to help milk so as to get there before midnight. There was quite a crowd there. Ethel said Uncle Edd isn’t well and that Aunts Mag & Till are up there. Uncle Edd went out to Apple River Tuesday to get them.

Thursday Mother churned. I finished the job on the car. But had to try it to see if the bands were adjusted right. Wednesday I worked on the car most of the day. I put in the bands, put cover on and put in the bolts ready to tighten. I also tightened up the clutch fingers. It was quite a rainy day. Tuesday was another nice warm day. I worked at lining the brake bands of car. Monday was a very nice warm day. We washed and also started to take the car apart to put in brake bands.

Sunday, the first day of November, we all went down to Tresidder’s. When we got there Wilbur, Sadie & Evelyn Bastian were standing in the lawn. They said there wasn’t anybody home but the key was in the kitchen door. We stood around awhile. Then we saw somebody coming walking down the road. It was Aunt Annie going to John’s too. We all had a good laugh. We asked them all to come up here so we all walked back up. Bastians walked home across the fields. After supper Dad, Ma, Aunt Annie and I went down to John’s again. Before we came home Ma & I took Aunt Annie part way home.

Happy Halloween From Galena, IL

Happy Halloween

Saturday October 31,1925: It is a nice day. Thought the road too slippery to go to town. Frozen again tonight so Dad, Ma & I drove up to Aunt Annie’s this evening. A beautiful moonlight evening. Halloween! Friday was a beautiful, clear day and a beautiful moonlight evening, altho it was cold. Ground thawed some but froze again at night. We ironed and baked.



Thursday was very cold again. The roads thawed a little in the wheel track. Len went to Scales Mound. I sewed in the afternoon on my dress. Wednesday was a beautiful clear but very cold morning. The window panes were covered with frost, just like New Year’s day. About nine-thirty in the morning it was eighteen about zero. The snow staid all day and the ground remained frozen, softening just a little. Len went to town. Quite a number of cars on the road especially in the evening. The therometer said eight above at 9:40 in the evening. Tuesday Len & Ruby started for Elizabeth at 8:30 to go to Mr. Gensler’s funeral. About ten or ten thirty it started to snow and snowed all day. Snowed several inches, looks like January weather and cold too. Guess it would make sleighing all right and I bet dandy land sleigh riding for children. It hardly seems possible that it be such weather so early. Len & Ruby got home before dark. The funeral was at 1 oclock from the Methodist Church at Elizabeth. Mr. Adam Stiefel got run over by a truck at Elizabeth this afternoon. Reports were he was in a serious condition.


Monday it snowed some in the forenoon. It was cold and cloudy rest of the day. Mother churned. Len fixing on his car so as to go to his Uncle’s funeral tomorrow. The worst weather for the longest time I ever saw. Didn’t have any Fall yet at all. Sunday we didn’t go to church as the roads were slippery yet. Mother walked to Aunt Annie’s in the afternoon. At nearly dinner time we all went up in the car. That afternoon Mrs. Eustice & Palmer came out to Aunt Annie’s. Ruby & Len came home to do their chores. We stayed to supper. About nine oclock Uncle Edd brought us home. Ruby & Len were gone to Scales Mound. Mr. Gensler, Len’s uncle, died.

Another Galena Mainstay Passes Away

Saturday, October 24, 1925: It rained today. Len, Dad & Ruby hauled in corn. Friday Mother baked and ironed. Tonight there is a basket social at Independence School. I would like to have gone very much but wasn’t able to go. Thursday we washed. It snowed that afternoon making things quite white for awhile.

Wednesday we all went to town in the afternoon. All but Len went to Eliza Bastian’s funeral. We went to the church. The church was nearly full. Rev. Smith preached. He is going to leave for Chicago tonight. Mrs. Bastian had a grey coffin, and many flowers. It was raining when the services were over. So we put on chains to come home but wouldn’t have needed them out this way. Tuesday, well Anna and Aunt Lizzie got started from here at eight o’clock. Anna has a very fine six cylinder Oldsmobile touring. While she was home she, Uncle Thomas & Aunt Rachel went up to Ft. Dodge, and Aunt Lizzie went to Hampton to see her brother she had not seen for nineteen years. Mrs. Haines came back with Anna to Eliza Bastian’s funeral. I let out my dress that afternoon. That evening Len, Ruby & I went to town. Ruby & I went to Harris Hall to the indoor fair put on by the Standard Bearers. They had a program and candy booth and fortune telling and a fish pond. They also sold sandwiches, cake & coffee. It was quite nice.

Monday we spent the day carrying in celery, endive, radishes and some cabbage. As we were eating supper Uncle Edd & Aunt Annie came. They said we were going to have more company. Anna Bates* had called out from Annie Zimmerman’s that they are coming out. Just she and Aunt Lizzie. Anna said she was awful nervous driving out over the hills by night. But they got out all right. Anna was going to start for Chicago again in the morning. The next day she is going to go up to Michigan again to take the car up. Then she is coming back again to Chicago to work. They expert to go south in December as Mr. Bates wants to stay there to go deer hunting first. He walks with crutches now is worse than he was. (Eliza Bastian died yesterday afternoon.)

* Anna Bates is the same Anna Trudgian mentioned in the last posting. Austin Bates was her first husband

A Lady of Mystery

Photo courtesy J.Temperly

Sunday, October 18, 1925: We all went to town to church this morning as the new minister Rev. Brewster said to take a peek at the new preacher. Rev. Smith was here yet too. He helped some but Rev. Brewster preached. I couldn’t understand him very well. It rained while we were in church. We had to put chains on the tires to come home. It didn’t rain any more after we got home. This evening Ruby & Len went to town to go to the Presbyterian Church on the hill as they were having their Mission Festival in there. Ma & I rode as far as Aunt Annie’s but they weren’t at home so we walked home. Saturday was a nice, clear day. We were busy with Saturday work. We also dug carrots and beets.


Friday was cloudy and cold and drizzly in the afternoon. Ma baked. I fixed our car but didn’t get much accomplished. Thursday, Dad, Ma & I went to town in the afternoon. It was a nice clear day. Aunt Annie said an article in the Scales Mound Items stated that Mrs. Anna Bates* came from Chicago to Aunt Lizzie's Saturday and Sunday Aunt Lizzie went with her to Waterloo. If she had her car I suppose it was too muddy to come down here. Wednesday was a rainy morning, not very nice for Jerry’s wedding. Ma & I fixed and sewed in the hems of two of Ruby’s dresses. Ruby helped husk corn. In the evening we all went up to Aunt Annie’s.

Tuesday we ironed and baked bread. Ruby & Len started to husk shock corn. We were about ready to go up to Aunt Annie’s in the evening when John, Ethel, Leslie and Aunt Annie came. Ethel asked us to their school social a week from Friday. She also asked us to their Parent Teachers Association* two weeks later. Glad we were done with our supper and chores early. Ethel said that Gerry Glick is to be married tomorrow to Miss. Kern. Monday we washed and cooked some beets.

* Anna Bates, sister to Wilbur and Alvin Trudgian, cousin to Lillian was my great-aunt. She has always been a mystery in the family, as several comments throughout Lillian's diaries mention. She was married twice, in both cases there is little known of her husbands. Upon her death the family learned she had been living for years with a younger man in Arizona. The photo above is her as a toddler. If any one ever runs into information about Anna (Trudgian) Draper, Bates please share.....or a Richard King in Scottsdale Arizona.

* Parent teachers Association - anyone know when the PTA started in Illinois?

An Early Winter.....

Saturday, October 10, 1925: Had a very hard frost last night. Everything froze, thick ice froze. The celery and etz. froze stiff. Quite cold all day. We all went to town this afternoon with both cars. The roads not very good. Friday was very cold and snow flurries most of the day. We were busy baking, churning and brought in some squash and some beets. Thursday was cloudy and cold again. It was rainy during the night. We finished digging potatoes. Dad also picked some apples. We also made some fall grape jelly.


Wednesday I finished assembling Leonard’s car and to try it we went up as far as Aunt Annie’s in the forenoon. At about eleven-thirty Ruby & Len started out in quest of a stock hog. Hardly knew where they were going. They came back before dark with a pig. They got it out at Arthur Wulff’s. They said the roads are bad out that way. They carried the hog in a crate on the side of the car.

Tuesday was rainy in the forenoon, cleared in the afternoon. I helped Leonard put in brake bands in his car. Had quite a little trouble. Ironed today. Monday was raining. We washed and picked some ground cherries & etz. On Sunday Uncle Edd & Aunt Annie came down. It cloudy nearly all day and coldin the evening. We went for a walk up on the hill this afternoon.

The Fall Harvest Begins

Saturday, October 3, 1925: Len & Ruby went to town this afternoon. Roads are not very good. They are muddy. Friday we picked off more grapes and made jam & jelly and also baked. Flies were terribly bad. Thursday it had cleared off . We ironed and put up chow-chow, 2 quarts of ground cherries and picked off some grapes.


Wednesday, September 30th: It was rainy during the night before and also today. We made tomatoe preserve and catsup. We also grounded up the ingredients for chow chow. Tuesday we washed and made tomatoe (green) pickles. Uncle Edd and Aunt Annie came down in the evening. It was a lovly day. Monday we all went to town with two cars. The roads not very good yet. We went up to Zimmerman’s to get the shawl. They came home by train Friday night and Mr. Johnson came home Saturday evening. It rained out there Friday so that was why he didn’t come Friday. They said that Uncle Thomas told Johnson that Anna was going to Chicago on the noon train. She hasn’t heard from her husband (Bates) for sometime. Don’t know if she’s going to look him up or what.

Sunday we staid home all day. We did not have any company. Len went over to Bonhoff’s to tell them their pigs were over here. Saturday was a very rainy day, so we couldn’t go to town. Friday we were busy with baking as usual. Uncle Georges thought they might come in the eve, but didn’t come. Perhaps it looked too much like rain. Uncle Edd & Aunt Annie came down that evening.

Thursday we all went to the Elizabeth Community Fair. We left here about twenty after ten. Len & Ruby rode with Uncle Edd & Aunt Annie rode with us. We missed seeing the parade. A big crowd was there, Tresidders & Butchers and a good many others from around here. Uncle Bens, Uncle Henrys, Uncle Joes and Aunt Lizzie, Wesley and Sadie, Maryanne & children and Aunt Tillie were there. Len drove Uncle Edd’s car home as he didn’t feel very good today. Wednesday we ironed, hulled and put up 1 ½ quarts of ground cherries. Uncle Edd & Aunt Annie came down in the eve. We had intended to go to town that evening, so they went home early. We drove in there as Aunt Annie was going to try to call Zimmermans to see if they were home yet. When we got there Ma & Dad were there. They had come home on the train and had a ride part way. They walked from Charlie Ehrler’s. Uncle Edd met them and took them along back to their place. They came home with us when we came home from town. Tuesday was cold. We washed that day, but it didn’t dry very good. We got a card from Ma & Dad. They got out at Waterloo at five oclock. They went up to the Devil’s Backbone , and went through Strawberry Point. They had a cold windy ride. Anna was home yet. She was expecting Austin and his brother. They intended to go south for the winter.

Monday was quite cold. Ruby helped cut corn in the forenoon. We put up six & ½ quarts of tomatoes in the afternoon. We also washed up quite a few jars and picked up ground cherries and etz. We wonder how Mom and Pa were getting along in Waterloo. Sunday we had got up early. Pa and Ma got ready to go to Waterloo. The weather got so cloudy we thought it would rain. We didn’t know if they should start or not but they went as far as Aunt Annie’s and could see it was bright in the west. Len & Uncle Edd took them in. Ruby & I staid at Aunt Annie’s to help her. Zimmermans weren’t ready yet when they got there. I suppose it was anyway eight-thirty before they got started. It turned cooler and out to be a lovly day. We had to hurry awfully with our work to get ready to go to church. Uncle Edd went with us. We were a little late. We staid at Aunt Annie’s to dinner and supper. The Aunts came along with Uncle Georges. Maryanne’s baby was very cute. Warren was quite a boy.

The Ditmars- Uncles George, Ben, Henry, Joe, Dan; Aunts Annie, Tillie and Mag and Amelia ( Lillian's mother) with their parents 

♪ Happy Birthday Dear Aunt Annie & Uncle Edd ♪♪

Saturday , September 19, 1925: This morning Uncle Edd came down and said that Annie Zimmerman called up to say they were going to Waterloo tomorrow morning with one of their borders in his car and that two others could go along. I thought maybe Mother and Aunt Annie could go but Aunt Annie can’t go as she had a letter from Aunt Tillie saying Uncle Georges and Maryanne & children are coming to her place for dinner Sunday. We didn’t know what to do, most said that they guessed we couldn’t go. But Dad wanted to go right away. We gave Uncle Edd his cake. This evening Dad, Ma & I went to town. Then Dad & Ma went up to Zimmerman’s. They coaxed them to go along so we think they may go. It was a very, very warm day.

Friday, was a very busy day. We spend all day baking and etz. I made an angel cake. Thought we might go up to Aunt Annie’s this eve to take up my cake for hers and Uncle Edd’s birthday. Uncle Edd’s birthday is today and Aunt Annie’s was last week. But it got too late and looked like rain.

Thursday we washed. Aunt Annie came down in the afternoon and Uncle Edd this evening.

Wednesday I didn’t feel very spry. I made tomatoe preserves and I washed my head.

Labor Day & The Eagles' Celebration

Tuesday, September 15, 1925: Len wanted to go to Dubuque today as Raymonds and his folks were going. So Ruby, Ma & I went along. We went to Scales Mounds and nearly to Shullburg and through New Diggings and etz. It was about ten when we got over there. I bought a winter coat and hat. The coat is wine color bolivia. The hat is also about the same color. The coat cost nineteen dollars and fifty cents and hat six dollars. It was about dark when we got home. Monday, Dad, Ma & I went to town in the afternoon.


Sunday, we all went to town to church in the forenoon. Rev. Smith had a sermon on the sins of Galena. It was very interesting. He is quite worked up over the Eagles’ doings last Sunday. There was lots of drinking going on. In the afternoon we all went to Scales Mound to Aunt Lizzie’s. Len to his folks. Saturday, Dad, Ma & I went to town in the evening. We stopped in at Aunt Annie’s on the way home. Friday we were busy with baking and etz. and etz.

Thursday, we ironed and made catsup. Wednesday, Len & Ruby went to town in the forenoon. We washed. Tuesday it rained hard all forenoon. I sewed some on Mother black silk that we started to make over last year. Monday was Labor Day. But we all labored. We didn’t go to the Eagles’ big celebration. It was a nice day and I suppose there was a big crowd as cars went by in great numbers. Dad, Len, Ruby & Mother dug potatoes. We didn’t finish digging the early ones. Uncle Edd and Aunt Annie came down Sunday afternoon. A great many cars went by. Guess lots went to the Eagles’ Celebration.

Happy Birthday Dear Lillian, Happy Birthday To You

Saturday, August 29, 1925: My twenty-eighth Birthday. It was a very hot day. Len & Ruby went to town this afternoon and brought home a brick of ice cream for my birthday. Dad, Ma & I went to town this evening. Friday we ironed and baked and etz. and etz. Aunt Till came down awhile this afternoon.

Thursday we washed a big wash, baked bread & drop cookies and cut up big cucumbers that evening. Dad went over to help clean the cemetery this forenoon. Wednesday, I put up ten quarts of peaches. Also made 2 ½ quarts of sweet cucumber pickles. Uncle Edd and the Aunts came down this eve. Brought me some birthday presents* a dresser scarf from Aunt Mag & Till and fifty cents from Aunt Annie.

Tuesday Len thrashed at Glassman’s today. Dad, Ma & I went to town this forenoon. Ruby chanced it up to Aunt Annie’s and came home with us this afternoon. Lavina Grebner and daughter and Harold & ______ Dittmar were there at Aunt Annie’s fixing a tire. They were on their way to Galena. This evening they and John H. and Bessie and two children stopped out in the road. Bessie is here from Dakota. As the aunts weren't at home they stopped to see if they were here. We put up ten quarts of plums that we got at Fiedler’s after we got home from town. Monday was a warm day. Len helped thrash at Bert Weis’. Bill Fiedler brought us a peck of blue plums today for seventy-five cents. We canned tomatoes, corn and beans, made apple sauce and picked cucumbers and etz.

* This is the most Lillian's birthday was celebrated in any of the diaries [1913-1931]. Ice cream and presents! Do you know how one of your family members celebrated birthdays in the mid-1920's. Want to share that experience? Today Lillian would be 113 years old!

The photo above is thought to be from 1910, but I think it is a later date photo. What do you think? Starting on the left hand side front row we have Lillian, Aunt Tillie Dittmar, Pearl Bunder ( I think Bunker is the correct spelling and fits into Lillian's comments on Pearl and Mr. Bunker). Then in the back row  2 Tippet men ( I think Johnnie Tippet and Uncle Edd)  and then behind Lillian is Ruby.

Hacks or Autos ~ Which are Safer?

It has been a while since I have posted on this blog. My Mother, who lives in Arkansas , was ill and I drove down to spent 10 days with her. To catch you up with what Lillian has been doing while I was gone, I have posted the last nineteen days exactly as written in her diary. Hopefully I will be more faithful in posting each week from now on.

Sat. August,1: Lovly day and eve. Dad & Len went to town this forenoon. Mother was too tired to go to town this eve. So we didn't go.

Sun. 2: Uncle Edd & Aunt Annie took Martha & Win out to the Westabys today. Then they were going to Uncle Joes. Aunt Mag & Till came down this far. Then we took two cars and went to church took our dinner and ate in the park. Then the Aunts wanted to see Grant's home so we went up there. Then we went to Greenwood Cemetery then stopped at Bartells to get the pin cushion that she wanted to give me it was given to her (about 54 yrs ago she thinks) by Grandma Trudgian it is a beaded one made by Indians.She gave Ruby a small table cover. Embroidered with chain stitch and crochet edge. We took the Aunts up this eve.

Mon. 3: Dad, Ruby & I picked blackberries this forenoon and Dad picked this afternoon. We picked most over and put up 3 qts.

Tue. 4: Washed blankets, a comforter and some sheets & pillow cases, made jelly, picked cucumbers and beans and etz.

Wed. 5: This forenoon Ma, Ruby & I went to town in our car. The men stacked. Aunt Till came along down and picked some berries this afternoon. I went up later on and picked too. Had a later supper. The men stacked late. Uncle Edd & Aunts came down this eve.

Thu. 6: Washed today made four pies put up half gal cucumbers and etz. and etz. Leonard's birthday. He and Dad worked hard stacking and finished this eve.

Fri. 7: Rainy this today. I cleaned out the engine of our car. Len put a new tail light on his car. Ironed & Baked today.

Sat. 8:  Len took cream to town this forenoon. This eve Dad, Ma & I went to town. Got rather late before we started. found Aunts Annie & Till ready if we should call and could take them along. A very large crowd in town. A dance at fair grounds.

Sun. 9: Did not go any where today. roads lively with cars. The Aunts and Uncle Edd came down this eve.

Mon. 10: Mother and I went up to Fiedlers this eve to order some small blue plums. Mrs.Herman Studier got hurt badly yesterday when she fell from a hack to the ground when the horses scared of a tractor car and hurt her head and shoulder. Couldn�t tell yet if any bones were broken or not.

Tue. 11: Washed today. This afternoon Dad & I and Len went to S.M. with two cars to get a ladder and 17 rolls of roofing. we sent to Montgomery for. Took six rolls up to Stauss� till a later date. Rained on way back. We all went up to the Aunts this eve.

Wed. 12 Ruby & Len went to town this afternoon. Got a box of peaches for 1.70. We ironed, made some sweet pickles & etz.

Thu. 13: The three Aunts came down today. We put up the peaches then qts.

Fri. 14: Busy as usual on Fri. Baking and etz.

Sat. 15: Len and Ruby went to town this afternoon. Dad, Ma, Aunts Mag and Till & I went out to Apple River. We all went to the store this eve. All of Uncle George's but Uncle George and Edward drove up to Pearls and came back

Thu. All had quite a talk about Bunker. Say there is nothing to get now and etz.

Sun. 16: We all went down to camp meeting this forenoon. Uncle Georges went too. Uncle Bens, Uncle Joes. Most all of Uncle Henrys and Uncle Dan was there. We ate dinner together. Quite a crowd there and the most awfullest uncomfortable seat in the tabernacle. Couldn�t set on them. Uncle Georges came down to the Aunts this eve.

Mon. 17: Finished cutting the lawn and dug some potatoes took up the onions and put up 3 qts beans and Uncle Henry and Helmer came up with their car to have fixed as they tipped over on their way home from Lena. None got hurt but the car fell on Alma's leg, bruised it some. They went home by way of Stockton &Woodbine and went up a steep hill and the car stopped near the top and brakes didn�t work and Leon backed it against the bank and it tipped on its side, broke top some. We got home late this afternoon.Tige is dead and buried. Sat eve when Ruby & Len came home from Scale Mound Tige and Purp had a fight. Guess Tige got badly hurt by lay around awhile then disappeared. Found him next morning down in the pond of water below the culvert drowned suppose he tried to get in water to sooth his injuries and perhaps got in too deep a water and perhaps being exhausted could not swim out. Don�t know how else it could have been. Ruby and Leonard buried him yet Sun. forenoon. He was about Seven years and six months old. The last of our pets or animals that we had yet when we farmed. He is buried on the knoll up near the wood, beside the graves of our other dogs and cats sheep and etz.

Tue. 18: We took Aunts Mag & Till up to Aunt Annie's last night. Washed and baked bread, pickled cucumbers.

Wed. 19: Len went thrashing up at John Tippets. Today is Mission festival at Schapville church. We planned on taking the Aunts but weather was unsettled so did not get ready to go. This after Aunt Till came down said they were ready all day. Weather cleared this eve so Len, Ruby, Aunt Till, Ma & I went. Had 3 sermons.

Harvesting God's Summer's Gifts

Saturday, July 25, 1925: We picked over and put up tens quarts of blackberries beside Saturday's work, haying & etz. Len & Ruby went to town late this afternoon. Dad, Ma & I went this evening. A big crowd in town. Uncle Edd & the Aunts made arrangements to go out to Schapville to church then to Uncle Joe’s tomorrow. But then Mrs.Tom Tippet came down this noon. So they asked us if we wouldn’t go out instead of them, as Rachael would have prepared for visitors.


Friday we baked bread and coffee cake and canned four pints sugar peas and six pints yellow beans. We also put up 4 quarts of cucumbers. Dad & Ruby picked blackberries. Thursday we ironed and the men worked cutting oats till real late so as to get through cutting. Dad, Ma & I went up to Aunt Annie’s yet although it was late. Wednesday we washed, made jelly and etz and baked bread.

We went to town on Tuesday. Ma & I picked blackberries in the afternoon. On Monday we had baked bread and churned. Plus we put up six quarts of bean pickles. Dad & Ruby picked blackberries. It was our first picking. We cooked them for jelly and etz. & etz.

Sunday we had several hard showers of rain in the forenoon with sunshine between. The weather had looked fairly good in the afternoon so we walked down to Tresidder’s. Several weeks ago Edd and Elmer Young and families autoed back from Denver and stayed about a week. We heard then that Elmer was married again. Agnes said he was married last fall. His wife has a boy eight years old.

Lazy Summer Days

Saturday, July 18, 1925: I wanted to go to town tonight but it was raining so we didn’t go. We could have been ready quite early once. Could have gone if we knew it wouldn’t rain anymore. Stars are shining now. Friday was an example of the nice cool weather we’re having now. Baked and  put up some gooseberries. I finished fixing a white slip and fixing the hem and etz. of my new dress.

Thursday was Ruby’s thirty second birthday. She spent all afternoon in the hay field. Uncle Edd & the Aunts came down in the evening. Ruby & Len milked yet after ten oclock. They brought Ruby a present of a glass dish & six sauce dishes. Wednesday we ironed some and pickled four quarts of beans. Aunt Till came down late afternoon for her slippers & stockings she left here. She brought down a dress she got out of the bargain catalog. It is a yellow voile that cost $1.50 and fit me, so I took it.

Tuesday I was sick in the forenoon. I was dizzy and sick to my stomach so staid in bed till nearly noon. Ma, Ruby & Aunt Mag washed. Aunt Till helped with house work. That eve we took the Aunts up to Aunt Annie’s. Monday afternoon, Dad, Ma, Aunts Mag, Till & I went out to Apple River to cut the lawn and weed & hoe the garden. We got home at twenty to nine.

Working Hard for A Good 4th of July

Saturday, July 11, 1925 was a very, very hot day. We couldn’t hardly work, and had lots of hay to make. Dad, Ma & I went to town tonight. Aunt Mag went up to Aunt Annie’s. It was 103 degrees in town today. Friday, Aunt Till, Mother, Ruby & Len went to Mr. Stadel’s funeral in the afternoon.

Thursday, Aunt Margaret & Till came down today to stay awhile. Martha Tippet might want them to
go down there as Win has gone to Prairie Du Chien for treatments. Heard that Mr. Stadel, who has been so sick, died yesterday. I did the baking, made bread, & coffee cake. Also made apple sauce and etz.

Wednesday, Uncle Edd & Aunts came down this eve. Dad, Ma, & I were getting ready to go to
town. So we went yet as we wanted sugar and Kerosene. Tuesday, we washed. Dad picked goose- berries. Len & Ruby went to town in the afternoon. Monday, we finished washing the Fourth of July dishes and straightened them out. Put up five pints of sugar peas and one quart of pickled beans. Sunday, morning Dad, Ma, Ruby, Aunt Till and I went to town to church. Aunt Till rode out with Uncle Edds. Since we had no company we rested the rest of the day.

 Saturday the Fourth of July
That morning it was cloudy yet but cleared off so Len & Dad went to town for the ice cream. They bought 5 gallons of ice cream and got 50 cones. About ten thirty the folks began to arrive. Uncle Edd and the Aunts came first, then Uncle Bens. They had had lots of rain down there and had muddy roads to travel. Then Uncle Henrys, Uncle Joes and Uncle Dan arrived. Uncle Georges and Rev. Swalves didn’t come till after dinner. We had a big long table in the dining room, in fact we had two tables put together which sat about eighteen or twenty and a table for the children out on the porch for the children Aunt Margaret sat down with the children. Everyone brought such a lot of things to eat. All seemed to have a nice time. In the afternoon, the young folks took two cars and took a ride Galena and all over Galena. Lester, Vada, Laretta, Leon & I went to the jail and Grant’s home. It was about supper time when we got back. After supper all went home but Uncle Georges. They staid till Wesley came home from the celebration in Galena at ten-thirty. Then he and another fellow ate a lunch making it fourty-four that were here that day. Edward and Raymond & Elma didn’t come. Ray & Elma went to Galena. Aunt Till stayed down here.

Friday was very busy again. I baked two cakes and a batch of cookies and washed out dish towels but didn’t get the floors cleaned up. It was so terrible sweltering hot. Rainy & storming that evening so we were afraid the celebration on Friday wouldn’t be much. Thursday was very, very busy all day. The Aunts came down to help us get ready for Saturday. They baked bread rolls and coffee cake. We cleaned the cellar and swept upstairs and dusted. Nosed and put up gooseberries and pieplant & etz. That evening Rev. & Mrs. Stauss and Paul came out. We were glad they came in the evening this eve instead of this afternoon, which was half sweltering. Wednesday afternoon, Len, Mother & I went to town. We bought some paper plates and etz. for the Fourth of July Family Reunion doings we are going to have here. Mosquitoes have been terrible lately.

Oops! The Computer Was on Vacation

Tuesday, June 30, 1925: We ironed and baked bread. Ma & Ruby picked raspberries and a few gooseberries*. We nosed* them and put up 2 quarts and two of raspberries. Uncle Edd & the Aunts came down this eve. Monday we washed. I picked a few gooseberries in the evening.

Sunday, Uncle George came into Aunt Annie’s in the forenoon and they had gone to church, so Uncle George and Aunt Lizzie rode along in to church with us. We staid at Aunt Annie’s for dinner and supper also. Len & Ruby took Mr. & Mrs. Stauss out to Schapville to church. Then they went down to Elizabeth to Gerraler’s. Saturday in the afternoon Dad, Ma, & I went to town. Took a bouquet of Dorothy Perkins roses to Annie Zimmerman. We staid the evening. Ate some bakery goods over in the park for supper and got a parking place early. A lovly evening but very cool and a big crowd in town.

Friday we ironed and baked and made a cake and etz. Thursday we washed. In the afternoon the Aunts came down Dad, Ma & I took them up that evening. Wednesday it rained very hard all forenoon. We put up the pieplant*. Ma & Ruby picked some raspberries, Dad picked some gooseberries and I picked the strawberries. Tuesday we put up twelve quarts of cherries. We worked very hard all day. Had to be so terrible careful as so many of the cherries were wormy. Ruby had to help with the hay too. That forenoon Uncle Edd went out and got the Aunts. They stopped down the road and brought us some pieplant. We all went up there that evening.

In Vol. II of Lillian's Diaries: Whispers of Galena's Pastthere will be a glossary of terms in the back which will explain words or terms that some of us may never have heard of, such as these below. If you know the meaning of words which appear in this blog with an * please let me know.
*Gooseberries “The gooseberry is a straggling bush growing to 1-3 meters (3-10 feet) tall, the branches being thickly set with sharp spines, standing out singly or in diverging tufts of two or three from the bases of the short spurs or lateral leaf shoots. The bell-shaped flowers are produced, singly or in pairs, from the groups of rounded, deeply-crenated 3 or 5 lobed leaves. The fruit of wild gooseberries is smaller than in the cultivated varieties, but is often of good flavour; it is generally hairy, but in one variety smooth, constituting the R. uva-crispa of writers; berries' colour is usually green, but there are red variants and occasionally deep purple berries occur. source www.Wikipedia.com
*Nosed – anyone have a definition?
*Pieplant “Ah, the pieplant -- rhubarb! Most old farms and homesteads have one or more of those plants growing somewhere on the property, usually near a barn. At least that's where I've often spotted them.” Source: www.suite101.com

Rain, Rain Go AWAY!

Saturday, June 20, 1925: It is a beautiful clear day. Len & Ruby went to town tonight. Uncle Henrys were to town today and stopped down the road awhile. Friday we were busy baking and etz. It was a lovly day.

Thursday we all went to Dubuque. It was a lovely day. Mother and Ruby each got a black silk dress. Ruby got several teeth filled. It was about seven thirty when we got home. On Wednesday, Dad, Len, & Ruby went to town in the afternoon. We had intended to go to Dubuque but had a storm & heavy rain during the night. Aunt Annie came down with them to stay all night as Uncle Edd didn’t come home this evening.

Tuesday, we washed and ironed and baked bread and put up strawberries. Len & Ruby went to the Mound that evening. Monday it stormed nearly all night. There was a great deal of thunder & lightening and heavy rain. We didn’t get much sleep. In the afternoon we picked eleven quarts of strawberries. Also picked them off and washed and put sugar on them. Sunday we all went to town to church in the forenoon. It rained a little shower that afternoon. Uncle Edd & Aunt Annie came down in the evening, but went home early as it threatened to storm.

Rain, Rain & More Rain

Saturday, 6, 1925: Worked very hard with Saturday work and finished cleaning the dining room. Got new curtains this morning by mail. We had to hem and put them up. We all went to town this evening with two cars. Friday was a hot day. We churned, ironed and baked. It was a lovely moon light evening.

Thursday we washed. Len & Ruby went to town late that afternoon. I painted a screen door. It was a warm day. Uncle Edd & Aunt Annie came down in the evening. Wednesday it stormed again in the night and we had lots more rain. That night was the graduation at Warren. Stanley Monnier graduated. Also Naomi did although she graduated last year from Apple River.

Tuesday we certainly had a splendid rain. We certainly needed it badly as nearly everything was drying up. We cleaned the porch. I painted some more screens and cleaned out the lower pantry cupboard. Len and Ruby went to Scales Mound towards evening. Monday we had a nice shower of rain early in the morning. It was a warm day. We worked some in garden and took away the dining room heating stove and etz. It stormed and we had a splendid rain in the evening.

Visitors and Visiting

Saturday, May 23, 1925: Len, Ruby & I went to town this afternoon. It was warm today but turned cool this evening. Friday had been a very warm day. We baked bread, coffee cake, a cake. Plus we did the churning and cleaned the parlor. Dad talked with a Ford agent that morning. The Watkins* man called at noon and at supper time a picture enlarger man came. Terrible pest he was.

Thursday Mother was sick with a bad cold. We ironed and then planted late potatoes over in the garden in the afternoon. Raymond and Loretta Fiedler came down in the morning with an ad the mail man left up there. Uncle Edd came down in the evening. Aunt Annie was in town. Mattie was very sick Wednesday with acute indigestion. Had the Doctor there three times and a nurse. Win went over to Dubuque to Dr. Guthrie Tuesday and went to the hospital and was to have an operation on the lump on his shoulder. On Wednesday we washed and stretched the curtains. Then in the late Dad Mother & I went over the cemetery. It would have been Grandmother Trudgian’s hundredth birthday* and Dad wanted to go over the cemetery. We cut the grass on the lot with the lawn mower.

Tuesday we finished papering the bedroom and got it straightened up. On Monday it was a very nice day although there was frost the night before. We all went to town in the afternoon with two cars. Ruby took in fifty dozen eggs. Got twenty-seven and a half cents per dozen. Last Sunday we all went to town to church in the morning and then came home and had dinner. Then we went to Aunt Lizzie’s. Maryanne had an operation but was home again. A cold day and we wore winter clothes.

* What was the Watkins Man? He was one of a legion of salesmen who traveled the back roads of rural America in vintage autos, selling products door to door for the J. R. Watkins Company, located in the Mississippi River Bluff town of Winona, Minnesota. In 1868, Joseph Ray Watkins started the company in Plainview, MN. He had one product. He purchased the right to produce and sell “Dr. Ward’s Anodyne Liniment.” The product was mixed in the family kitchen, bottled in a woodshed, loaded onto a horse-drawn wagon and sold door to door throughout southeastern Minnesota. After the company moved to the town of Winona, the product line expanded, but products stayed true to a standard that is still adhered to today. All products are made with natural ingredients with no chemical additives. The Watkins line of products is one of the very few that is certified by the Natural Products Association. By the 1940s, the Watkins line of products had expanded to include soaps, cleaners, personal care products, and my mother’s favorites, the baking materials. The vanilla cinnamon, cloves, and other spices came in metal cans with a tight-fitting top. They made great toys when they were emptied. The Watkins Man would deliver the products customers had ordered the month before, and fill out a form for the products to delivered the next month. The Watkins man often arrived in his Model A coupe, with a rumble seat. Inside, on the rumble seat was always a box of candy, one free piece for every item the customer had purchased. I have a Watkins' medicine bottle from Lillian's home with a bit of cork still in the top.

* Lillian's Grandma Trudgian was my great-great grandmother, Mary Pellymounter Trudgian, who had settled in Galena with her husband, Joseph Trudgian from Cornwall England in 1852.