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.”

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.