1893

There was snow in January and it was “cold like hell” [January 31].  February wasn’t much better with a February 6th journal entry “Went to Wilson’s on account of Rudolf’s rupture, snow averaging 2 ½ feet in depth”.  Josef spent February trashing oats, cleaned wheat, made two rakes, cut wood, worked on the well house, and “made some sort of shoes for Rudolf.”

Kitchen caught fire.

Although March brought in snow, wind, and rain, the chores continued:  grubbed and planted garden seeds, changed trail to barn, split fence stakes, worked at Doan’s, Mr. Headlee ploughed, and the roof caught fire again.

March ended with this notation “This has been the worst March I ever experienced in Oregon.”

April 1893: There were more April showers, “Rained all day and night without stop to beat hell… rainy to beat hell” and work:  Made a harrow, worked in garden, sowed oats, made shingles, sawed wood and cleared at J.B. Doan’s, got flour from Risher.  Made a chair and cart for Rudolf.  Visit of the Assessor.  The cow had a calf, last hay fed.  Served papers as constable to Emil Schmidt, subpoened John Nelson as witness.  Attended E. Schmidt’s trial.  April’s notation “This month has been one of the worst spring months experienced here.” 

May 1893:  Three trips into Rainier, towed logs on the river, worked for Harry Doan and J.B. Doan, worked on new road, visited Mr. Whitehead’s place, planted cabbage and potatoes, made shingle timber, killed two chickens.  Hauled flour.

June 1893: Mother [Winchester] came out. Visited Mr. Morris, went to Doan’s for a hen, made shingles. Graded new road, shingled school house roof and planed lumber at the school house. Made hay.

Above: “Mowed” ~ “Made Hay” 
Homestead chores required long hours of repetitive manual labor, often with simple tools. In the early years hay was cut was a scythe, raked, then stacked to be hauled to the barn.

July 1893:  Mowed, hauled hay, made shingles.  Worked on county road by the school house.  Bob [Johnson] came out.  Made shingle timber.  Cleared west of the house and on the hill.  Made hay for Nelson, went to Rainier with Dora and Rudolf.  Hunted for the cow, picked blackberries.

August 1893:  Fixed cow bell, cleared on the hill, picked blackberries, sowed clover seed, made a bed for Rudolf.  Miss Jacobs [school teacher] came to board.  Went to Stehmen/Wilson’s for beef.  Mowed oats and clover, hauled in hay.  Big fire at King’s place. 

September 1893:  Finished grading new road, went to Headlee’s for beef, to Rishers for wheat.  Held school meeting at Wilson’s, visited school.  Cut on road on top of hill.  Made a calf halter, cut wood, grubbed on the hill, dug potatoes.  Dora went to Rainier, “school marm left”.  First frost on September 22nd.  Decennial remembrance of departure from Austria Silesia September 20.

October 1893:   Picked clover seed, sowed wheat, visited the school, cut wood, grubbed.  Made a truss for Rudolf.  Killed a grouse, made a bell strap for the calf.   Cut bolts at Rishers.  Mr. Headlee ploughed ground on the hill.  Dug potatoes for Harry Doan at Stuarts.  Visited Washburn’s, and Whitehead’s.  Decennial remembrance of landing in New York – October 9.  Cut down trees on the hill, cleared them out. Dora’s danger by falling tree – October 13.  School ended – October 20.

November 1893:  Worked for Harry Doan.  Sawed wood, hauled manure, spaded, broke the shovel.  Got two sacks of apples from Doan’s place on the wheelbarrow.  Made sauerkraut, dug parsnips and turnips.  Moved the privy.  Cut down two trees.  Hauled and planted orchard trees.  Dug velvet grass. (Note: Imagine bringing a wheelbarrow of apples up and down the makeshift road over the steep Pellham Hills!)

December 1893:  Wheeled Rudy to old Mike’s, Dora went to Rainier.  Hauled manure, dug velvet grass, turnips, and carrots.  Shingled well house.  Held school board meeting.  Walking and county road work took up much  time :  December 4 – went to Doan’s for the commission as road supervisor, warned out men for work.  December 5 – Went to see Commissioner Barnes, walked 30 miles. Warned the Beaver and Girt crew out to work; worked ½ day on the new bridge below school house; worked on road by Stuarts; warned the Apiary crew out to work; warned the shingle mill crew out; worked with crew at the Doan hill above Kilby’s. December 28 – 30:  Opened with Shelton’s team, the new road at Stuart’s.  Last few logs rolled out of the new county road at Stuarts.
“Financial matters and weather concerned the year 1893 has been the worst I know of.  New buildings:  well house.  Cleared 1½ acre, made road on the hill, grubbed 1½ acre.”