The year 1921 brought tragedy with the suicide by hanging of the children’s beloved “Mamma” Dora on November 11th. She had been in declining health and there are many 1920 – 1921 journal notations such as “Dora sick. Did housework.” Otto was 12 years old at the time and the only one still at home with his parents. Emma was married and close by in Rainier. She often came out to check on her mother, or took Dora home with her for a few days. Joe Jr. “left for good” according to Josef’s sendoff for 1919 and only occasionally back to visit, Rudy lived in Underwood, and Bill and Ina were both in California.
Josef’s end of the year journal summaries:
“Sendoff for the year 1920: The year 1920, the year of worry, trouble and expenses, was financially fair, very wet in spring and fall. Repaired fences extensively, seeded 25 acres to pasture, cut out part of north fencerow, lost much time through fire and wife’s sickness; bought 22 Victor records and a small drugstore (?). Farewell rotten year 1920!”
“Sendoff for 1921: The year 1921 has been the worst year since 1886 for me; financially poor, lost wife by death, much time and money through her sickness, in fact the last half was a time of worry and trouble. Finished fencerow, bought wire and 8 Victor records. Farewell rotten year 1921!”
“Sendoff for 1922: The year 1922 has been one of the worst I have lived through. Financially very poor, extreme in cold and drought, dust, smoke and fire. All crops were good except summer grain, hay and pasture. Lost heifer; lost shingle shed and much fence by fire. Laid new floor, built granary; had many aggravations through gossiop; joined Correspondence Club and corresponded with 20. Farewell rotten year 1922.”
Showing posts with label finances. Show all posts
Showing posts with label finances. Show all posts
Sunday, March 18, 2012
1902
Of note is Josef’s work on the foundation and floor of their family home. Perhaps in the initial construction he had used whatever lumber was available to get the house finished and qualify for the deed to his claim. Evidently he had no idea he would soon be making plans to build a new home located over the bank and closer to a more reliable source of water.
He continued to work on the county road and at various neighboring homesteads. Work at home also continued: “Slashed, made shingles”, “bored stumps”, “cleared”. Hay and grain crops were grown and harvested.
May 31: “Hoed potatoes, 3.2 o’clock p.m. Joseph born.” Note for August: “hot and smoky, much timber fire”. And the weather didn’t help: “hellish hot”, “infernally hot”.
During the year there appeared to be a good harvest of berries, cherries, prunes, apples and pears. He noted “roued with Dad” a couple of times, but did many chores there during the year.
“Went to Kilby’s about signboards”. Then “cut out and painted fingerboards”, “lettered fingerboards”.
“Sendoff for the year 1902. The year 1902 (the year of worry) has been financially good, extreme in rain and fire. Fine crops of hay, grain, fruit and vegetables were raised. Slashed brush on 5 acres for pasture; cut down 20 snags, fenced clearing east of the house, cleared ½ acre of an acre; grubbed ½ of an acre, made shingleroad; took observing station, got rid of 6 acres of timber.”
He continued to work on the county road and at various neighboring homesteads. Work at home also continued: “Slashed, made shingles”, “bored stumps”, “cleared”. Hay and grain crops were grown and harvested.
May 31: “Hoed potatoes, 3.2 o’clock p.m. Joseph born.” Note for August: “hot and smoky, much timber fire”. And the weather didn’t help: “hellish hot”, “infernally hot”.
During the year there appeared to be a good harvest of berries, cherries, prunes, apples and pears. He noted “roued with Dad” a couple of times, but did many chores there during the year.
“Went to Kilby’s about signboards”. Then “cut out and painted fingerboards”, “lettered fingerboards”.
“Sendoff for the year 1902. The year 1902 (the year of worry) has been financially good, extreme in rain and fire. Fine crops of hay, grain, fruit and vegetables were raised. Slashed brush on 5 acres for pasture; cut down 20 snags, fenced clearing east of the house, cleared ½ acre of an acre; grubbed ½ of an acre, made shingleroad; took observing station, got rid of 6 acres of timber.”
1901
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.
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.
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