The work continued as he “grubbed”, hewed timbers, made shakes and built or repaired tools and homestead items. In March he “went to Rainier with Mike and got smelts”, then “cleaned and smoked smelts”. Josef was also busy pruning his own orchard and pruning or cutting brush for “Dad”, Malcolm, Parcher, Lohman, Fletcher, S.M. Rice.
In April and May he spent considerable time working on the county road at Thompson’s, and Beaver Valley road near Rainier. In June he “got rid of bull devil Billy”. More splitting and laying corduroy on county road, and later worked on Hudson bridge. And work with the grain crops: cutting, threashing and cleaning wheat, rye, China peas, flax, barley. Went to Lovelace’s for flour.
In September the “kitchen got afire”. Later in the fall he harvested his winter crops: rutabagas, beets, cabbage, potatoes, picked Northern Spy and Stark apples, made sauerkraut. October: tore up old floor, put posts under house and laid new floor sills. On November 23 he sold his timber and that week “went to Portland with Doan (Yeon)”. Worked for Rice and “got bitten by horse”. During the year the “boys” went to Rainier and back several times by themselves.
Sendoff for the year 1901. The year 1901 has been extreme in rain and drought. Crops except hay and vegetables were fair; finances good. Built the roothouse, fenced north side of clearing, cleared 1/3 acre near the road, grubbed 1/3 acre new ground and ¼ acre meadow; removed old shop; closed trail to Morris place, sold timber.
Showing posts with label William. Show all posts
Showing posts with label William. Show all posts
Sunday, March 18, 2012
1900
In the fall Josef spent time clearing his land, and making “corderoy” to plank cowpath by the barn, and barnlot. On Thanksgiving he noted “having a toothache” and a few days later “Had a tooth ground to hell in Portland.”
“Sendoff for the year 1900. The year 1900 has been everything concerned good, extreme in rain. Good crops were raised. Fell about 30 trees, corderoyed and fenced cowtrail and barnlot, fenced west of house, made ½ mile cowtrails. Cleared 1/3 acre, grubbed ¼ acre new ground, grubbed ¼ acre meadow.”
1899
Josef began the new year with a larger diary with columns for the weather and correspondence. January 1899: “Worked on horsepower.” Repaired the fanning mill. Trashed and cleaned flax. Went to Rainier, “came from Rainier with a heavy load.” Cleaned toolbox, filed handsaw, cut roots. Fixed sled. Made a rake and ladder. “Cut hair.” Made a brakeblock, repaired tongue holder. Made a trail to spring, dug velvet grass, set out new trees. Put window in barn, made a stool. Worked on the county road. Took Ina to Rainier, and went smelt fishing with Bob. “Came home with heavy load.” Cut wood for Holsapple. School ended on January 28. Cow had a calf. Correspondence during the month with: Albertine, Risher, and Mrs. Beusch.
February 1899: Trashed and cleaned garden seeds. Cut wood for Holsapple and Dad. Worked on county road at school house. Made a cow trail on the hill. Carried blankets to C. Snyder’s mill, cut shinglebolts [two weeks work]. Weather notations of “Devilish cold” “Creeks very high” and “Farewell you rotten month!” Letters from: Albertine and home.
March 1899: Another two weeks during the month were spent working off and on at Snyder’s, then he quit and “settled with Snyder.” “Went to Hogtown pruned Huffmann’s orchard.” He also pruned trees at Johnson’s, and Malcom’s. Cut wood for Dad. Went to Rainier with Rudy, “came home with Ina”. Went to McKee’s for flour with Mike, exchanged calves.
April 1899: Hauled manure and wood. Sowed pasture. Went to Kilby’s, got a cat and artichokes. Plowed and sowed peas, vetch, barley, and clover. Turned “Billy” out for first time. Finished and put up windmill. Made a barrel cover. Grubbed on the hill, and south of the house. Cut wood for Dad, brought Rudy home. Went to McKee’s for flour. Dora went to Rainier, “went with Rudy for Dora and children.” Made garden in hollow. Went to McKee’s for a stove. There was an inch of snow on April 30. “Farewell you mean stinker of an April!”
May 1899: Made a cow trail on the hill, “connected 2 cowtrail on North line (Braddock)”. Grubbed south of the house. Sprayed. Braced shrubs. Fell timber and cut bolts for Snyder, and also worked at Peterson’s camp during the month. “You glorious May, full rain and hell, get!”
June 1899: Fell timber and cut bolts at Snyder’s. Oiled clock. Went to Rainier, cut wood for Dad. Grubbed south of the house on the new patch, plowed. “Hung transmission wheel.” Went to Morris’s and Headlee’s. Worked with Headlee on school ground. Hung bull wheel, split timbers. Kitchen “got a fire.” “Hauled and placed horsepower timbers, cleaned stovepipe.” “Finished horsepower.” Worked for C. Snyder, put up frame of mill building at the Washburn place. Fixed hay wagon, mowed meadow, got in first hay. Split flooring. “This has been the first good month this year.”
Letters were from Whiteheads, and home.
July 1899: Emma’s first birthday. Josef spent most of his time harvesting hay, then “Went to Snyder’s and Holsapple’s for nothing.” After that he got a week’s work at Peterson’s. He also went into Rainier twice, leaving Ina and coming home with Willie. “Big fire at Peterson’s.” Cut thistles, cleaned grain barn. And, he did his own burning “Set out fire.”
The weather notation indicates “This month has been very dry.”
August 1899: The first week was “hot” and Josef “set out fires”, then made a trip into town to “cut wood for Dad”. After that the weather rapidly deteriorated as indicated by numerous notations of “Heavy Showers”, and the extra steps he took to harvest his grain “dried wheat” “turned wheat and rye”, “turned grain”. A horsepowered device aided his harvest efforts as he again went to Rainier and “came home with the belts, put on one”, “worked on the horsepower, Mike rheumatic.” During the month, Bob and Annie came for an overnight stay and that evening the “kitchen caught fire.” Dora made a trip to town with Rudy, and two days later “Dora came with Ina and Rudy.” Weather notation: “The foulest August that ever was in Oregon.”
Correspondence: Mrs. Whitehead, Risher. Mentioned contacts: Art Snyder, Holsapples, Nelsons.
September 1899: The weather improved and there was more thrashing, cleaning , and fanning of grain. First Ina was sick with “measles”, and two weeks later “Dora, Willie, and Emma having measles” Once again Josef did the “housework” four consecutive days. During the interval between family bouts with measles, Josef left Rudy in Rainier and “went to Portland and back on Iralda. Hauled flour to Dad:” The next day he “went to Rainier with Mike and back” [to pick up the supply of flour?] Dug potatoes, plowed at the barn, grubbed. Hauled first manure on hill. There were also two more trips into Rainier, one with Mike. “This month has been very fair.” Contacts: Will Snyder, George Moeck, W.H. Kyser, Morris. Correspondence: Home, Risher, Mrs. Beusch, Mrs. Hawkins, Kyser
October 1899: Sowed wheat and rye, and cleared east of the barn the first week. The rest of October was spent working at Snyder’s where he “cut bolts”, ran the “cut off saw” and “cut roads”. He did have time for a visit to the neighbor “Rowed with old Headlee”. “This month has been tolerably fair.” Correspondence: Dad, Mrs. Hawkins, Peterson, home
November 1899: Starting out the month, he first “cut bolts for Snyder” for four days, then “quit”, and “came home with blankets”. He worked in town the next week “cut wood for Dad, “hauled Dad’s freight”, “dug thistles”, “came home with heavy load.” The next day he went back to Rainier with Ina and Mike, and again “Came home with heavy load.” Fixed Mike’s bell, made sauerkraut, threshed vetch and peas, hauled in rutabagas. Cut and hauled in wood. “This month has been very warm and rainy.” Correspondence: Dad, Lohmann, Hawkins, Albertine.
December 1899: Cut and hauled wood. Cleared east and below the barn; cleared below the house. Raked and grubbed on the new patch. “Made timbers for horsepower.” “Hewed timbers for horsepower.” “House got badly on fire, repaired roof.” There were two trips to Rainier, one with the horse. He visited Gallien’s. December 28: “Birthday the 40th, rested.” “This month has been tolerable fair.” Correspondence: Risher, Mrs. Beusch, Schroth.
“Sendoff for the year 1899. The year 1899 has been every thing concerned tolerable good, extreme in rain and cold. Good crops, except fruit, were raised everywhere. Made a windmill, made a failure on treadpower. Grubbed ½ acre new ground, 1/8 acre meadow, cleared 1/3 acre.”
February 1899: Trashed and cleaned garden seeds. Cut wood for Holsapple and Dad. Worked on county road at school house. Made a cow trail on the hill. Carried blankets to C. Snyder’s mill, cut shinglebolts [two weeks work]. Weather notations of “Devilish cold” “Creeks very high” and “Farewell you rotten month!” Letters from: Albertine and home.
March 1899: Another two weeks during the month were spent working off and on at Snyder’s, then he quit and “settled with Snyder.” “Went to Hogtown pruned Huffmann’s orchard.” He also pruned trees at Johnson’s, and Malcom’s. Cut wood for Dad. Went to Rainier with Rudy, “came home with Ina”. Went to McKee’s for flour with Mike, exchanged calves.
April 1899: Hauled manure and wood. Sowed pasture. Went to Kilby’s, got a cat and artichokes. Plowed and sowed peas, vetch, barley, and clover. Turned “Billy” out for first time. Finished and put up windmill. Made a barrel cover. Grubbed on the hill, and south of the house. Cut wood for Dad, brought Rudy home. Went to McKee’s for flour. Dora went to Rainier, “went with Rudy for Dora and children.” Made garden in hollow. Went to McKee’s for a stove. There was an inch of snow on April 30. “Farewell you mean stinker of an April!”
May 1899: Made a cow trail on the hill, “connected 2 cowtrail on North line (Braddock)”. Grubbed south of the house. Sprayed. Braced shrubs. Fell timber and cut bolts for Snyder, and also worked at Peterson’s camp during the month. “You glorious May, full rain and hell, get!”
June 1899: Fell timber and cut bolts at Snyder’s. Oiled clock. Went to Rainier, cut wood for Dad. Grubbed south of the house on the new patch, plowed. “Hung transmission wheel.” Went to Morris’s and Headlee’s. Worked with Headlee on school ground. Hung bull wheel, split timbers. Kitchen “got a fire.” “Hauled and placed horsepower timbers, cleaned stovepipe.” “Finished horsepower.” Worked for C. Snyder, put up frame of mill building at the Washburn place. Fixed hay wagon, mowed meadow, got in first hay. Split flooring. “This has been the first good month this year.”
Letters were from Whiteheads, and home.
July 1899: Emma’s first birthday. Josef spent most of his time harvesting hay, then “Went to Snyder’s and Holsapple’s for nothing.” After that he got a week’s work at Peterson’s. He also went into Rainier twice, leaving Ina and coming home with Willie. “Big fire at Peterson’s.” Cut thistles, cleaned grain barn. And, he did his own burning “Set out fire.”
The weather notation indicates “This month has been very dry.”
August 1899: The first week was “hot” and Josef “set out fires”, then made a trip into town to “cut wood for Dad”. After that the weather rapidly deteriorated as indicated by numerous notations of “Heavy Showers”, and the extra steps he took to harvest his grain “dried wheat” “turned wheat and rye”, “turned grain”. A horsepowered device aided his harvest efforts as he again went to Rainier and “came home with the belts, put on one”, “worked on the horsepower, Mike rheumatic.” During the month, Bob and Annie came for an overnight stay and that evening the “kitchen caught fire.” Dora made a trip to town with Rudy, and two days later “Dora came with Ina and Rudy.” Weather notation: “The foulest August that ever was in Oregon.”
Correspondence: Mrs. Whitehead, Risher. Mentioned contacts: Art Snyder, Holsapples, Nelsons.
September 1899: The weather improved and there was more thrashing, cleaning , and fanning of grain. First Ina was sick with “measles”, and two weeks later “Dora, Willie, and Emma having measles” Once again Josef did the “housework” four consecutive days. During the interval between family bouts with measles, Josef left Rudy in Rainier and “went to Portland and back on Iralda. Hauled flour to Dad:” The next day he “went to Rainier with Mike and back” [to pick up the supply of flour?] Dug potatoes, plowed at the barn, grubbed. Hauled first manure on hill. There were also two more trips into Rainier, one with Mike. “This month has been very fair.” Contacts: Will Snyder, George Moeck, W.H. Kyser, Morris. Correspondence: Home, Risher, Mrs. Beusch, Mrs. Hawkins, Kyser
October 1899: Sowed wheat and rye, and cleared east of the barn the first week. The rest of October was spent working at Snyder’s where he “cut bolts”, ran the “cut off saw” and “cut roads”. He did have time for a visit to the neighbor “Rowed with old Headlee”. “This month has been tolerably fair.” Correspondence: Dad, Mrs. Hawkins, Peterson, home
November 1899: Starting out the month, he first “cut bolts for Snyder” for four days, then “quit”, and “came home with blankets”. He worked in town the next week “cut wood for Dad, “hauled Dad’s freight”, “dug thistles”, “came home with heavy load.” The next day he went back to Rainier with Ina and Mike, and again “Came home with heavy load.” Fixed Mike’s bell, made sauerkraut, threshed vetch and peas, hauled in rutabagas. Cut and hauled in wood. “This month has been very warm and rainy.” Correspondence: Dad, Lohmann, Hawkins, Albertine.
December 1899: Cut and hauled wood. Cleared east and below the barn; cleared below the house. Raked and grubbed on the new patch. “Made timbers for horsepower.” “Hewed timbers for horsepower.” “House got badly on fire, repaired roof.” There were two trips to Rainier, one with the horse. He visited Gallien’s. December 28: “Birthday the 40th, rested.” “This month has been tolerable fair.” Correspondence: Risher, Mrs. Beusch, Schroth.
“Sendoff for the year 1899. The year 1899 has been every thing concerned tolerable good, extreme in rain and cold. Good crops, except fruit, were raised everywhere. Made a windmill, made a failure on treadpower. Grubbed ½ acre new ground, 1/8 acre meadow, cleared 1/3 acre.”
1898
January: Worked on road at Stuart’s, worked at Beusch’s. Went to school board meeting, made and painted a blackboard for the school. Ollie Rice came to board January 2 - 28. Notation of “night of weeping women” on January 25th. and later Josef “went to Rice’s for meat”.
February 1898 : Dora made a trip to Rainier the first week and “came home with Willie.” Worked on wagon, harrowed meadow, cleared below barn. Trashed and cleaned peas and clover seed. Poled, pruned and set out orchard trees, hauled logs with Mike. Finished garden markers and stepladder. Made the trial trip with the new wagon. Repaired stove. Grubbed at Beusch’s. Ollie Rice came for a visit.
March 1898: Josef worked at Beusch’s, grubbed and grafted trees there for 6 days. He was reelected director at the school meeting, and painted the blackboard. Plowed garden, planted some potatoes, sowed oats in front of the house, and oats, barley and clover west of the house. On the hill, he sowed veatch, and flax, and south of the house he put in China peas. Cut down two trees for fence, split stakes and rails, and fenced on the hill. Went to Rainier with Rudy, cut wood for Dad. Worked on new Stehman road.
April 1898: “Sowed and harrowed in clover seed on new patch below barn.” Went to Rainier and worked for Dad, spaded at Bob’s. Made fence below barn, spaded hog lot. Planted garden seeds, which included celeriac. Worked at spring west of house [to ensure a summer water supply?] Went to Peterson’s camp, worked there 3 days, and “worked for old man Meserve” a couple of days. Filed saw, made a sledge handle, made railroad ties. Dora and Ina made a visit to Rainier, and the last day of the month Josef went to Rainier and brought back Rudy.
May 1898: Worked at Peterson’s camp the first half of the month. “Blazed and swamped a trail on the hill for hauling fence rails.” Hoed garden, made bean poles, cut logs in the new trail on hill. Made table boards, improved table. Sprayed “a few trees”. Went to Portland on the Iralda, and on the way back “came home with R. Lovelace” [a teamster]. Hoed Dad’s garden.
June 1898: Cut out and graded road. Hauled fence timbers with Mike, cut and split rail timbers. Filed saw, cleaned shop, fixed cowstand, repaired cow’s bellstrap. Hoed potatoes. Fixed hay wagon, mowed and hauled in first grass hay. Cut down a cedar, made rails and stakes, and cut logs in the fence road, made fence. Went to Rainier, came back with Rudy. Mrs. Beusch visited during the month. June 3: Josef and Dora’s 7th wedding anniversary.
July 1898: “Nice day, mowed and hauled in hay – at 10 o’clock P.M. Emma born” July 2. Josef is again doing “housework” with “Dora resuming her old post” 10 days later. [Rudy is 6, Willie 4, and Ina about to turn 3 years old.]
Canned raspberries, picked blackberries, went to Morris’ for beef. “At 6 o’clock in the evening kitchen got badly on fire.” Fenced spring, cut thistles, cut and trashed rye, cut wheat. Mrs. Morris visited, there was also a visit from the assessor. Went to Rainier, cut wood for Dad, came home with Willie.
August 1898: “Devilish hot”, “Hellroaring hot”, cut wheat, oats, rye and barley; trashed and cleaned grain. Set fire on hill, grubbed. “Bob, Annie, Mr. and Mrs. Lohmann visiting, hauled Mrs. Lohmann to Larson’s place, came home late, had a bull fight. Bob and Annie with Rudy went back.” Fixed wagon’s harness, went to Rainier, came home with flour and pears. Dora and Ina went to Rainier with baby Emma on a visit. Pulled last of flax. Finished the big stump south of house, split railroad ties for Peterson.
September 1898: The first week of September “worked for Peterson”. Then on the 10th ,“worked in the mud hole of a chute in forenoon, got fired for refusing to work on Sunday at noon, went to Rainier in afternoon” and brought home glass jars. He returned to Petersons’ camp for his blankets, going “through Peterson’s chute to Rainier.” Cut wood for Dad. Back at home again he picked Bartlett pears, and the Italian and French prunes; then went to Petersons for “time check, thence to Rainier”. On that trip he went to Portland and back on the Iralda, and came home with more fruit jars. Hauled big roots with Mike, fixed wagon for manure, plowed, grubbed, and trashed grain.
October 1898: Josef started out the month with a trip to Rainier, and the next day “came home with Rudy.” Trashed last peas, sowed rye and wheat, picked fall Pepins. Made a hay rack for “Bullil”. There were two trips to town and back with “Mike”; and two family trips on wheels - “hauled Dora and children to Larsen’s place.” Sawed stumps, made pickets. “Made a bed for the boys.” Visited Mr. Kilby.
November 1898: Tore old hen house down, made and raised rafters, shingled and finished new hen house. Made a new wheelbarrow, fixed axe handle. Worked at Holsapple’s, came home with meat. Cut wood for Dad. Went to school board meeting. Picked some Stark apples, dug rutabagas. Went with William Holsapple to visit Mr. and Mrs. Washburn. Another long dry summer, as first water in the well on November 18.
December 1898: Plowed rutabaga ground. Cut and hauled in wood. Made chicken lot fence. Moved hog barn and fence. Dug on barn lot. Made timbers, hauled and spread manure. Fired two stumps, grubbed east of the barn. Cut wood for Dad. Fixed Daisy’s stand. Prepared for calf stand, fixed singletree, repaired Mike’s harness. “Worked on horsepower.”
“The year 1898 has been everything concerned tolerably good; splendid crops of hay, grain and fruit were raised. Moved hen house and hog barn. Cleared 1/6 of an acre, grubbed ½ of an acre new ground and ½ acre meadow. Fenced ground on hill, made ½ mile cow trail. Work simplyfied by the use of a small waggon instead of the cart.”
February 1898 : Dora made a trip to Rainier the first week and “came home with Willie.” Worked on wagon, harrowed meadow, cleared below barn. Trashed and cleaned peas and clover seed. Poled, pruned and set out orchard trees, hauled logs with Mike. Finished garden markers and stepladder. Made the trial trip with the new wagon. Repaired stove. Grubbed at Beusch’s. Ollie Rice came for a visit.
March 1898: Josef worked at Beusch’s, grubbed and grafted trees there for 6 days. He was reelected director at the school meeting, and painted the blackboard. Plowed garden, planted some potatoes, sowed oats in front of the house, and oats, barley and clover west of the house. On the hill, he sowed veatch, and flax, and south of the house he put in China peas. Cut down two trees for fence, split stakes and rails, and fenced on the hill. Went to Rainier with Rudy, cut wood for Dad. Worked on new Stehman road.
April 1898: “Sowed and harrowed in clover seed on new patch below barn.” Went to Rainier and worked for Dad, spaded at Bob’s. Made fence below barn, spaded hog lot. Planted garden seeds, which included celeriac. Worked at spring west of house [to ensure a summer water supply?] Went to Peterson’s camp, worked there 3 days, and “worked for old man Meserve” a couple of days. Filed saw, made a sledge handle, made railroad ties. Dora and Ina made a visit to Rainier, and the last day of the month Josef went to Rainier and brought back Rudy.
May 1898: Worked at Peterson’s camp the first half of the month. “Blazed and swamped a trail on the hill for hauling fence rails.” Hoed garden, made bean poles, cut logs in the new trail on hill. Made table boards, improved table. Sprayed “a few trees”. Went to Portland on the Iralda, and on the way back “came home with R. Lovelace” [a teamster]. Hoed Dad’s garden.
June 1898: Cut out and graded road. Hauled fence timbers with Mike, cut and split rail timbers. Filed saw, cleaned shop, fixed cowstand, repaired cow’s bellstrap. Hoed potatoes. Fixed hay wagon, mowed and hauled in first grass hay. Cut down a cedar, made rails and stakes, and cut logs in the fence road, made fence. Went to Rainier, came back with Rudy. Mrs. Beusch visited during the month. June 3: Josef and Dora’s 7th wedding anniversary.
July 1898: “Nice day, mowed and hauled in hay – at 10 o’clock P.M. Emma born” July 2. Josef is again doing “housework” with “Dora resuming her old post” 10 days later. [Rudy is 6, Willie 4, and Ina about to turn 3 years old.]
Canned raspberries, picked blackberries, went to Morris’ for beef. “At 6 o’clock in the evening kitchen got badly on fire.” Fenced spring, cut thistles, cut and trashed rye, cut wheat. Mrs. Morris visited, there was also a visit from the assessor. Went to Rainier, cut wood for Dad, came home with Willie.
August 1898: “Devilish hot”, “Hellroaring hot”, cut wheat, oats, rye and barley; trashed and cleaned grain. Set fire on hill, grubbed. “Bob, Annie, Mr. and Mrs. Lohmann visiting, hauled Mrs. Lohmann to Larson’s place, came home late, had a bull fight. Bob and Annie with Rudy went back.” Fixed wagon’s harness, went to Rainier, came home with flour and pears. Dora and Ina went to Rainier with baby Emma on a visit. Pulled last of flax. Finished the big stump south of house, split railroad ties for Peterson.
September 1898: The first week of September “worked for Peterson”. Then on the 10th ,“worked in the mud hole of a chute in forenoon, got fired for refusing to work on Sunday at noon, went to Rainier in afternoon” and brought home glass jars. He returned to Petersons’ camp for his blankets, going “through Peterson’s chute to Rainier.” Cut wood for Dad. Back at home again he picked Bartlett pears, and the Italian and French prunes; then went to Petersons for “time check, thence to Rainier”. On that trip he went to Portland and back on the Iralda, and came home with more fruit jars. Hauled big roots with Mike, fixed wagon for manure, plowed, grubbed, and trashed grain.
October 1898: Josef started out the month with a trip to Rainier, and the next day “came home with Rudy.” Trashed last peas, sowed rye and wheat, picked fall Pepins. Made a hay rack for “Bullil”. There were two trips to town and back with “Mike”; and two family trips on wheels - “hauled Dora and children to Larsen’s place.” Sawed stumps, made pickets. “Made a bed for the boys.” Visited Mr. Kilby.
November 1898: Tore old hen house down, made and raised rafters, shingled and finished new hen house. Made a new wheelbarrow, fixed axe handle. Worked at Holsapple’s, came home with meat. Cut wood for Dad. Went to school board meeting. Picked some Stark apples, dug rutabagas. Went with William Holsapple to visit Mr. and Mrs. Washburn. Another long dry summer, as first water in the well on November 18.
December 1898: Plowed rutabaga ground. Cut and hauled in wood. Made chicken lot fence. Moved hog barn and fence. Dug on barn lot. Made timbers, hauled and spread manure. Fired two stumps, grubbed east of the barn. Cut wood for Dad. Fixed Daisy’s stand. Prepared for calf stand, fixed singletree, repaired Mike’s harness. “Worked on horsepower.”
“The year 1898 has been everything concerned tolerably good; splendid crops of hay, grain and fruit were raised. Moved hen house and hog barn. Cleared 1/6 of an acre, grubbed ½ of an acre new ground and ½ acre meadow. Fenced ground on hill, made ½ mile cow trail. Work simplyfied by the use of a small waggon instead of the cart.”
1897
“Ina commenced to walk” on January 8. Josef was in Rainier that week working for the Winchesters grubbing and cutting staves and wood. He and Rudy, now about 5 years old, went to Rainier for another few days at the end of the month. This time Josef built a fence for the Winchester’s. The usual winter chores went on during January 1897: Grubbed, went to McKee’s for flour, worked on horsepower wheels, filed handsaw, cut and hauled in stovewood, made a new hayrack for wagon. Held school board meeting, hauled in split blocks, cleaned clock and sewing machine.
February 1897: Ploughed, grubbed, made a manure shovel and brake lever. Went to Rainier, “got smelts, heavy load. Smoked smelts.” Trashed oats, cleaned peas, cut wood. “Severe west-northwest storm, filed saw, cleaned trees out of meadow.” Hauled maple for cart tongues. Visited Nelson’s. The last week of February was spent in Rainier, “Made fence and pruned trees for Dady.”
March 1897: Ploughed, planted potatoes. Pruned and grafted orchard trees. “Hauled the children on the cart to Larsen’s place, went to Beusch’s, left the ox there, Dora went to Rainier. Hauled potatoes from Beusch’s with Mike.” On Dora’s trip back home several days later, Josef “carried Ina from Larsen’s” indicating a possible problem with the road version of the ox and cart. On March 25, it was “rainy, terrific wind, thousands of trees fell, cleaned out meadow on hill, cut trees out of the cow trail, cut logs out of the road.”
April 1897: Cut logs on trail. Ploughed, sowed and harrowed in peas, clover, and timothy seed, planted potatoes. Went to S. M. Rice’s for chicken feed and provisions. Cleaned moss off roof, whitewashed trees. Josef made several trips into Rainier “and worked for Dad on new house and garden.” On April 18 “Went to Rainier with Willie” and two days later “Raised Dad’s house.”
May 1897: Josef “worked for Dad”, “worked for Dad”, “worked for Dad”, and finally on May 17, “Dad moved in the new house, river raising”. On one trip back home for a couple of days, Annie Johnson [sister-in-law] came from Rainier with him to visit the homestead. The last 10 days of the month were spent catching up home chores: hoed potatoes, worked on county road, made a timber sled, hauled planks, put in blocks and posts for grain barn. There were also visits to Beusch’s, Lohman’s, and Nelsons. Dora and Rudy went to Rainier.
June 1897: “Worked for Dad. Worked at Beusch’s.” Hauled planks, mowed orchard and meadow, “made together some hay”, hauled in hay. Dug out the road on the hill, worked on grain barn. Fixed bull harness and bell strap, harnessed bull calf for first time. “Visit of the assessor.” “Made petition about road plank to County Court.” Fixed timbers/got some rafters ready at Alley’s mill. Put up studding for grain barn. Josef took Rudy to Rainier once, and later “went to Portland with Rudy on the Iralda.” The notation on June 30 of “Farewell you rotten hay month!” sums up his struggle with the weather to save his supply of winter hay.
July 1897: While in Portland, Josef and Rudy had their picture taken. Once back from the big city, it was more of the same “Worked for Dad, cut wood and built a walk to his house.” “Quarreled with J. Wilson.” Worked on grain barn, made shakes, mowed at Beusch’s, mowed hay on the hill, hauled in hay. Hauled rafter lumber from Alley’s mill. Picked blackberries. “Mother came” and stayed a couple days at the end of the month.
August 1897: Picked blackberries, mowed wheat, china peas, timothy, and oats; made shakes, finished roofing grain barn, finished flooring. “Wrote a letter home and prepared pictures to send.” Went to the investigation at Alley’s mill, worked for Dad painting house, picking apples. Got in wheat and oats, “felt all worn out, rested.” Dug potoatoes. Dora went with Willie and Ina to Rainier for a 3-day stay. It was “hot” and “smoky” “big fire”. “Changed carts, went with Mike to Rainier for Apples and pears.” Trashed and cleaned wheat, cleaned chicken house.
September 1897: Grubbed by the well house and in meadow, trashed and cleaned peas and wheat. Cut down a big tree below the barn. Split stumps. “Tremendous showers”, “big hailstorm”, “thunder and showers”, “terrible days for fruit.” The weather wasn’t the only problem, “got hell from yellowjackets”. “Picked Bartlett pears and Petit’s [prunes], ate loads of fruit, rested.” Ploughed, sowed wheat and rye, harvested clover seed. Cow had a calf.
October 1897: Went to Rainier with Willie [who stayed for 2 weeks], cut stovewood for Dad, came home with heavy load. Worked at Beusch’s. Picked “Fall Peppins” “Seckel” pears. Made a feed rack and cowstand. At the end of the month, “Mother came out and went home with Rudy” [who stayed in town for about 3 weeks.] During the month there were visits from F. Kilby and Ollie Rice.
November 1897: Another long, dry summer “first water in well” on November 7th. Went to McKee’s for flour and apples with Mike. Cut wood and ditched at Beusch’s, went to Headlee’s about hogs. Filed saw, cut and hauled in wood. Went to Rainier, cut wood for Dad, visited Bob. Hauled potatoes into grain barn, trashed peas, stored rutabagas. “House got a fire at 5 o’clock in evening.”
December 1897: Hauled manure, cut and hauled in wood. “Very rainy” “Much thunder and showery, creeks very high”. “Made a truss for Rudy” who, now 5 ½ years old, was apparently still having a problem with the “rupture” mentioned much earlier. Trashed and cleaned barley and peas, “fixed cart up.” He then went to Rainier and back with Mike three times, and on one trip brought home flour. Went to Beusch’s about meat. “Visited the school, looked about fencing on the hill.” Repaired the rutabaga cutter, fixed stovepipes on house and kitchen. On the last day of the year “All of us suffering with a bad cold.”
“The year 1897 has been financially better than the previous 5 years, extreme in wind and rain, splendid crops of grain, hay, vegetables and fruit were raised everywhere. Built a grain barn, cleared 1/8 acre, grubbed 1 acre, grubbed ½ acre meadow. Farewell glorious year of 1897!”
February 1897: Ploughed, grubbed, made a manure shovel and brake lever. Went to Rainier, “got smelts, heavy load. Smoked smelts.” Trashed oats, cleaned peas, cut wood. “Severe west-northwest storm, filed saw, cleaned trees out of meadow.” Hauled maple for cart tongues. Visited Nelson’s. The last week of February was spent in Rainier, “Made fence and pruned trees for Dady.”
March 1897: Ploughed, planted potatoes. Pruned and grafted orchard trees. “Hauled the children on the cart to Larsen’s place, went to Beusch’s, left the ox there, Dora went to Rainier. Hauled potatoes from Beusch’s with Mike.” On Dora’s trip back home several days later, Josef “carried Ina from Larsen’s” indicating a possible problem with the road version of the ox and cart. On March 25, it was “rainy, terrific wind, thousands of trees fell, cleaned out meadow on hill, cut trees out of the cow trail, cut logs out of the road.”
April 1897: Cut logs on trail. Ploughed, sowed and harrowed in peas, clover, and timothy seed, planted potatoes. Went to S. M. Rice’s for chicken feed and provisions. Cleaned moss off roof, whitewashed trees. Josef made several trips into Rainier “and worked for Dad on new house and garden.” On April 18 “Went to Rainier with Willie” and two days later “Raised Dad’s house.”
May 1897: Josef “worked for Dad”, “worked for Dad”, “worked for Dad”, and finally on May 17, “Dad moved in the new house, river raising”. On one trip back home for a couple of days, Annie Johnson [sister-in-law] came from Rainier with him to visit the homestead. The last 10 days of the month were spent catching up home chores: hoed potatoes, worked on county road, made a timber sled, hauled planks, put in blocks and posts for grain barn. There were also visits to Beusch’s, Lohman’s, and Nelsons. Dora and Rudy went to Rainier.
June 1897: “Worked for Dad. Worked at Beusch’s.” Hauled planks, mowed orchard and meadow, “made together some hay”, hauled in hay. Dug out the road on the hill, worked on grain barn. Fixed bull harness and bell strap, harnessed bull calf for first time. “Visit of the assessor.” “Made petition about road plank to County Court.” Fixed timbers/got some rafters ready at Alley’s mill. Put up studding for grain barn. Josef took Rudy to Rainier once, and later “went to Portland with Rudy on the Iralda.” The notation on June 30 of “Farewell you rotten hay month!” sums up his struggle with the weather to save his supply of winter hay.
July 1897: While in Portland, Josef and Rudy had their picture taken. Once back from the big city, it was more of the same “Worked for Dad, cut wood and built a walk to his house.” “Quarreled with J. Wilson.” Worked on grain barn, made shakes, mowed at Beusch’s, mowed hay on the hill, hauled in hay. Hauled rafter lumber from Alley’s mill. Picked blackberries. “Mother came” and stayed a couple days at the end of the month.
August 1897: Picked blackberries, mowed wheat, china peas, timothy, and oats; made shakes, finished roofing grain barn, finished flooring. “Wrote a letter home and prepared pictures to send.” Went to the investigation at Alley’s mill, worked for Dad painting house, picking apples. Got in wheat and oats, “felt all worn out, rested.” Dug potoatoes. Dora went with Willie and Ina to Rainier for a 3-day stay. It was “hot” and “smoky” “big fire”. “Changed carts, went with Mike to Rainier for Apples and pears.” Trashed and cleaned wheat, cleaned chicken house.
September 1897: Grubbed by the well house and in meadow, trashed and cleaned peas and wheat. Cut down a big tree below the barn. Split stumps. “Tremendous showers”, “big hailstorm”, “thunder and showers”, “terrible days for fruit.” The weather wasn’t the only problem, “got hell from yellowjackets”. “Picked Bartlett pears and Petit’s [prunes], ate loads of fruit, rested.” Ploughed, sowed wheat and rye, harvested clover seed. Cow had a calf.
October 1897: Went to Rainier with Willie [who stayed for 2 weeks], cut stovewood for Dad, came home with heavy load. Worked at Beusch’s. Picked “Fall Peppins” “Seckel” pears. Made a feed rack and cowstand. At the end of the month, “Mother came out and went home with Rudy” [who stayed in town for about 3 weeks.] During the month there were visits from F. Kilby and Ollie Rice.
November 1897: Another long, dry summer “first water in well” on November 7th. Went to McKee’s for flour and apples with Mike. Cut wood and ditched at Beusch’s, went to Headlee’s about hogs. Filed saw, cut and hauled in wood. Went to Rainier, cut wood for Dad, visited Bob. Hauled potatoes into grain barn, trashed peas, stored rutabagas. “House got a fire at 5 o’clock in evening.”
December 1897: Hauled manure, cut and hauled in wood. “Very rainy” “Much thunder and showery, creeks very high”. “Made a truss for Rudy” who, now 5 ½ years old, was apparently still having a problem with the “rupture” mentioned much earlier. Trashed and cleaned barley and peas, “fixed cart up.” He then went to Rainier and back with Mike three times, and on one trip brought home flour. Went to Beusch’s about meat. “Visited the school, looked about fencing on the hill.” Repaired the rutabaga cutter, fixed stovepipes on house and kitchen. On the last day of the year “All of us suffering with a bad cold.”
“The year 1897 has been financially better than the previous 5 years, extreme in wind and rain, splendid crops of grain, hay, vegetables and fruit were raised everywhere. Built a grain barn, cleared 1/8 acre, grubbed 1 acre, grubbed ½ acre meadow. Farewell glorious year of 1897!”
1896
Josef started the year with vigor: Made a bridle chain, hauled manure on sled, worked on new harness. Helped Dora getting in vegetables. Dug velvet grass, harrowed meadow. Cut logs on hill. Worked at Rishers. Repaired shoes. Went to Beusch’s for apples, visited the school. Made a churn machine and tree pruner. “Had a bad trial with churning machine.” Finished cylinder for threshing machine, started baskets. Went to Rishers with Rudy. Pulled logs and roots with Mike on hill. December 16: Decennial anniversary of arrival in Oregon.
February 1896: Finished threshing machine. Went to Rishers with Mike [old horse or ox] for flour and salt. Hauled in wood, cut logs out of trail on hill. Laid porch floor. Hauled smelts from Rishers. Cleaned and smoked smelts. Made a ladder. Dug around and poled the orchard trees. Fixed Risher’s saw, pruned their trees. Went to Beusch’s for grafts, “Mr. Beusch very low.”
Harrowed in clover seed, plowed and grubbed garden, “plowed in potatoes.” Moved work bench out of house. Went to Rishers with family. “Grafted trees at Beusch’s, went to Rainier, got very wet. Hunted for work.”
March 1896: Repaired the accordion and boots. Elected director at school meeting. Made a barn window and new door. Made a fence and bars and a box with lock for school house utensils. Cut down a tree with Braddock. Went to Rishers with Mike, changed ox harness. Made a door for chicken lot. Went to Headlee’s and Beusch’s for eggs. Went to Rainier with Rudy and Willie, looked for work. Spaded W.F. Deitz’s garden. Worked for Nels Nelson at Doan’s place.
April 1896: Cleared a garden spot in the hollow by the spring. Hauled manure, grafted trees, burned some stumps south of house. Went to Rishers for plants with Mike, filed big saw, sawed a log and cut down a snag. Split and shaved cedar boards. Wrote some family history, and wrote a letter to Europe. Made a cow trail on hill and hunted up a new cow trail north of house. “Went to Mr Beusch’s funeral with Rudy, went to Rainier.” [It is interesting that the only Columbia County obituary record of Mr. Beusch is from Josef’s journal. See page 69 of Columbia County, Oregon Cemetery Records, published by Genealogical Forum of Oregon.] Josef brought Willie home after a 6-week stay in Rainier.
The month ended with this notation, “This rotten month of April beats for rain and cold the one of 1893.”
May 1896: The weather had not improved on May 1: “One inch snow in morning, rainy all day, went to Rainier and back.” On another trip to Rainier he hauled manure at Bob’s place, and went to Schmit’s mill. Bored trees and cut logs on hill. Split and “dressed” barn timbers. Dora went to Rainier with baby Ina, and while they were gone a few days, Josef “went to Rishers with Willie, rested, played cards”. He then “went with Willie to meet Dora.” Ploughed in potatoes at Doan’s. Went to Rainier about cutting cordwood on S. Kistner’s place. Worked on the road for tax.
June 1896: Voted at Apiary, carried blankets [for overnight boarding?] and tools to S. Kistner’s place, cut cordwood. Went with Lohmann and Morden to Rainier, went home with some flour. Mowed grass in Bob’s lot. Went to Portland. Mowed, hauled in hay.
July 1896: It was good haying weather, “confounded hot”, “hellroaring hot”, and he got in 30 cart loads of hay the first week. He then went haying at Beusch’s, and “went to Rainier for chipmunk medium 8” [rodent bait?]. “Mother came out” and took Rudy home with her for a month’s stay. “Went to Rainier for a scythe” seems to be noted after the hay has all been cut. He cleared land, repaired the washtub, hauled in wheat, and picked blackberries. “Went to Beusch’s for sugar.”
August 1896: Hauled in oats and wheat. Picked blackberries. Went with the cow to Beusch’s, thence to Apiary.” “Fixed cart for road, went with Mike to Rainier”, and he brought home a supply of salt and flour. The other trips into Rainier must have been on foot. During the month he also spent several days working at the Beusch farm. The “stove fell over.”
September 1896: Worked at Beusch barn, grubbed in meadow, raked trash in clearing on hill, set slashing below barn afire, trashed oats. Grandmother Winchester brought Rudy home and stayed overnight. And during the month Dora went for an overnight visit in Rainier.
October 1896: Trashed wheat, fanned wheat, oats and barley; then he “sowed, harrowed, rolled and raked.” Made a chain, raked on hill. Split logs for burning stumps south of house. Went to Harry Doan’s about a cow. Butchered the calf, cut up meat. “Made a handle for grubbing hoe and cleared south of house in afternoon.” More cat trouble “kitten fell in the well in evening. Got cat out of the well.” Brought home a calf and repaired Mike’s harness, then went to McKee’s for flour with Mike. “Went to Rainier, worked for Daddy at the old place.” Filed Saw, cut stovewood.
November 1896: Made a feed rack in the barn, an ax handle, repaired ox harness, finished hay rake, and made a new bridle chain.. “Went to Rainier, voted for Bryan, cut wood for Dad.” The November rains came, “rained infernally all night, creeks very high, first water in well. Rained all day and night.” Sawed, hauled in wood. “Went to Jake Beusch’s place with the cow for nothing.” Worked “ditching” at Beusch’s. The weather turned cold and it was “devilish cold”, “hellroaring cold”, “infernally cold”. He was busy hauling in stove wood, and fixed the heating stove. Thrashed and cleaned clover seed.
December 1896: Made a new harrow, finished rakes, worked on horsepower wheels. Cut maple on the Beaver, hauled maple and timbers. Spread manure, got in rutabagas, dug last potatoes, ploughed garden, dug velvet grass. Got apples from Beusch’s. Sawed wood, grubbed. Another trip to Beusch’s place “with the cow. Went to Rainier with Rudy, worked for Daddy.” When he and Rudy were back, Dora and Willie went to Rainier for a few days [perhaps little Ina was left with neighbors.]
“The year 1896 has been financially poor, extreme in heat and cold, rain and high water. Fenced barnlot, cleared 1 ½ acre, grubbed ¾ acre new ground, and ¼ acre meadow, made timbers and boards for a grain barn, laid porch floor.”
February 1896: Finished threshing machine. Went to Rishers with Mike [old horse or ox] for flour and salt. Hauled in wood, cut logs out of trail on hill. Laid porch floor. Hauled smelts from Rishers. Cleaned and smoked smelts. Made a ladder. Dug around and poled the orchard trees. Fixed Risher’s saw, pruned their trees. Went to Beusch’s for grafts, “Mr. Beusch very low.”
Harrowed in clover seed, plowed and grubbed garden, “plowed in potatoes.” Moved work bench out of house. Went to Rishers with family. “Grafted trees at Beusch’s, went to Rainier, got very wet. Hunted for work.”
March 1896: Repaired the accordion and boots. Elected director at school meeting. Made a barn window and new door. Made a fence and bars and a box with lock for school house utensils. Cut down a tree with Braddock. Went to Rishers with Mike, changed ox harness. Made a door for chicken lot. Went to Headlee’s and Beusch’s for eggs. Went to Rainier with Rudy and Willie, looked for work. Spaded W.F. Deitz’s garden. Worked for Nels Nelson at Doan’s place.
April 1896: Cleared a garden spot in the hollow by the spring. Hauled manure, grafted trees, burned some stumps south of house. Went to Rishers for plants with Mike, filed big saw, sawed a log and cut down a snag. Split and shaved cedar boards. Wrote some family history, and wrote a letter to Europe. Made a cow trail on hill and hunted up a new cow trail north of house. “Went to Mr Beusch’s funeral with Rudy, went to Rainier.” [It is interesting that the only Columbia County obituary record of Mr. Beusch is from Josef’s journal. See page 69 of Columbia County, Oregon Cemetery Records, published by Genealogical Forum of Oregon.] Josef brought Willie home after a 6-week stay in Rainier.
The month ended with this notation, “This rotten month of April beats for rain and cold the one of 1893.”
May 1896: The weather had not improved on May 1: “One inch snow in morning, rainy all day, went to Rainier and back.” On another trip to Rainier he hauled manure at Bob’s place, and went to Schmit’s mill. Bored trees and cut logs on hill. Split and “dressed” barn timbers. Dora went to Rainier with baby Ina, and while they were gone a few days, Josef “went to Rishers with Willie, rested, played cards”. He then “went with Willie to meet Dora.” Ploughed in potatoes at Doan’s. Went to Rainier about cutting cordwood on S. Kistner’s place. Worked on the road for tax.
June 1896: Voted at Apiary, carried blankets [for overnight boarding?] and tools to S. Kistner’s place, cut cordwood. Went with Lohmann and Morden to Rainier, went home with some flour. Mowed grass in Bob’s lot. Went to Portland. Mowed, hauled in hay.
July 1896: It was good haying weather, “confounded hot”, “hellroaring hot”, and he got in 30 cart loads of hay the first week. He then went haying at Beusch’s, and “went to Rainier for chipmunk medium 8” [rodent bait?]. “Mother came out” and took Rudy home with her for a month’s stay. “Went to Rainier for a scythe” seems to be noted after the hay has all been cut. He cleared land, repaired the washtub, hauled in wheat, and picked blackberries. “Went to Beusch’s for sugar.”
August 1896: Hauled in oats and wheat. Picked blackberries. Went with the cow to Beusch’s, thence to Apiary.” “Fixed cart for road, went with Mike to Rainier”, and he brought home a supply of salt and flour. The other trips into Rainier must have been on foot. During the month he also spent several days working at the Beusch farm. The “stove fell over.”
September 1896: Worked at Beusch barn, grubbed in meadow, raked trash in clearing on hill, set slashing below barn afire, trashed oats. Grandmother Winchester brought Rudy home and stayed overnight. And during the month Dora went for an overnight visit in Rainier.
October 1896: Trashed wheat, fanned wheat, oats and barley; then he “sowed, harrowed, rolled and raked.” Made a chain, raked on hill. Split logs for burning stumps south of house. Went to Harry Doan’s about a cow. Butchered the calf, cut up meat. “Made a handle for grubbing hoe and cleared south of house in afternoon.” More cat trouble “kitten fell in the well in evening. Got cat out of the well.” Brought home a calf and repaired Mike’s harness, then went to McKee’s for flour with Mike. “Went to Rainier, worked for Daddy at the old place.” Filed Saw, cut stovewood.
November 1896: Made a feed rack in the barn, an ax handle, repaired ox harness, finished hay rake, and made a new bridle chain.. “Went to Rainier, voted for Bryan, cut wood for Dad.” The November rains came, “rained infernally all night, creeks very high, first water in well. Rained all day and night.” Sawed, hauled in wood. “Went to Jake Beusch’s place with the cow for nothing.” Worked “ditching” at Beusch’s. The weather turned cold and it was “devilish cold”, “hellroaring cold”, “infernally cold”. He was busy hauling in stove wood, and fixed the heating stove. Thrashed and cleaned clover seed.
December 1896: Made a new harrow, finished rakes, worked on horsepower wheels. Cut maple on the Beaver, hauled maple and timbers. Spread manure, got in rutabagas, dug last potatoes, ploughed garden, dug velvet grass. Got apples from Beusch’s. Sawed wood, grubbed. Another trip to Beusch’s place “with the cow. Went to Rainier with Rudy, worked for Daddy.” When he and Rudy were back, Dora and Willie went to Rainier for a few days [perhaps little Ina was left with neighbors.]
“The year 1896 has been financially poor, extreme in heat and cold, rain and high water. Fenced barnlot, cleared 1 ½ acre, grubbed ¾ acre new ground, and ¼ acre meadow, made timbers and boards for a grain barn, laid porch floor.”
1894
Another year of hard work on the county roads, “helped Graham lay planks on long bridge at Wilson’s mill; measured planks at Alley’s mill & gave county orders, started 1:30 o’clock in the morning for St. Helens, made road supervisor report”; laid planks on bridges below school.
Apparently there was much county road work to accomplish as the January 2 journal entry indicates “Dora came home, got lost.” A journal entry of December 31 noted she had gone to Rainier for Rudolf, and presumably stayed with her Winchester family a few days before returning home. Did Dora, pregnant with William and accompanied by young Rudolf, get a ride to a neighboring homestead then lose the trail home in the receding daylight??
Dora was continually plagued with dental problems and during the year made another trip into Rainier to have a tooth extracted. She and Josef added a second son to their family evidently tending to the birth themselves: On May 2 “At 11:15 o’clock p.m. William born.” Josef took over the household chores during that week while Dora recuperated as evidenced by his journal entries of “done housework” until May 12th when it is noted “Dora resuming business.” On May 8, “Mother came out.” Grandmother Winchester must have thought mother and baby were fine and the domestic duties in order, as she only stayed overnight.
As road conditions improved, it appears the neighboring women began to venture from home in search of companionship. During the year Dora was visited at different times by Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Washburn, and Carrie Kilby, first indication of women traveling alone.
In the spring there is mention of an ox which Josef “broke”, and used to harrow his clearings and do some hauling with the aid of the newly completed cart/wagon. Perhaps the ox was the yearling calf from the previous spring.
Josef went to great effort to ensure a supply of fresh milk and butter as he “went with the cow” to neighboring homesteads on three separate trips during May and June.
Ora Gillham was the school teacher and came to board during the school term of September 1 – November 23. It is noted that the “well play out” on July 11 and remained dry until September 25. September must have been an especially trying time for Dora with insufficient water to meet the needs of her household which included she and Josef, their two small children and the teacher.
“The year 1894 was financially poor, extreme in cold, heat, thunder and snow, high water and fire; good crops were harvested everywhere. Barn completed, ¾ acre grubbed, ¼ acre cleared. Work very much eased by the use of an ox and cart.”
Apparently there was much county road work to accomplish as the January 2 journal entry indicates “Dora came home, got lost.” A journal entry of December 31 noted she had gone to Rainier for Rudolf, and presumably stayed with her Winchester family a few days before returning home. Did Dora, pregnant with William and accompanied by young Rudolf, get a ride to a neighboring homestead then lose the trail home in the receding daylight??
Dora was continually plagued with dental problems and during the year made another trip into Rainier to have a tooth extracted. She and Josef added a second son to their family evidently tending to the birth themselves: On May 2 “At 11:15 o’clock p.m. William born.” Josef took over the household chores during that week while Dora recuperated as evidenced by his journal entries of “done housework” until May 12th when it is noted “Dora resuming business.” On May 8, “Mother came out.” Grandmother Winchester must have thought mother and baby were fine and the domestic duties in order, as she only stayed overnight.
As road conditions improved, it appears the neighboring women began to venture from home in search of companionship. During the year Dora was visited at different times by Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Washburn, and Carrie Kilby, first indication of women traveling alone.
In the spring there is mention of an ox which Josef “broke”, and used to harrow his clearings and do some hauling with the aid of the newly completed cart/wagon. Perhaps the ox was the yearling calf from the previous spring.
Josef went to great effort to ensure a supply of fresh milk and butter as he “went with the cow” to neighboring homesteads on three separate trips during May and June.
Ora Gillham was the school teacher and came to board during the school term of September 1 – November 23. It is noted that the “well play out” on July 11 and remained dry until September 25. September must have been an especially trying time for Dora with insufficient water to meet the needs of her household which included she and Josef, their two small children and the teacher.
“The year 1894 was financially poor, extreme in cold, heat, thunder and snow, high water and fire; good crops were harvested everywhere. Barn completed, ¾ acre grubbed, ¼ acre cleared. Work very much eased by the use of an ox and cart.”
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