Amos Claycomb’s April 1903 Diary

My Grandfather kept diaries most of his life.  I post a month each Monday.

Wednesday, April 1, 1903
It rained very hard for a little while this morning and then cleared up but it clouded up again this afternoon.
I walked to school and half of the way home.  I walked [sic] ball for a little while after school but we only knocked up flies as the diamond was too soft.
Louise started for Galesburg at six the morning where she will visit Eleanor.

Thursday, April 2, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and about seven o’clock tonight.  It sprinkled a little but at about nine the clouds are being driven away by a strong north-west wind.
I walked to school and part of the way home and played ball for a little while after school.

Friday, April 3, 1903
It snowed quite a little last night and till nearly noon.  The sun came out for a little while beyond it set.
I walked to and from school.

Saturday, April 4, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today only a little cold.  I took the milk up to the factory this morning.  This afternoon I went over to DeKalb to see a practice game between Syc. and DeKalb High Schools.  Sycamore beat by a score of 9 to 1.

Sunday, April 5, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and a strong south-east wind has been blowing nearly all the time.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and walked to and from Sunday-School at noon.

Monday, April 6, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today but very windy the wind changing from east this morning to west tonight.  I took the milk to the factory this morning and then went out riding around town on Uncle Will’s horse with George Brenan.  I piled a load of wood in the woodshed this afternoon and then rode the pony up town and played ball for about two hours.
The roads are getting fairly dry now.

Tuesday, April 7, 1903
It has been a very nice day.  Before breakfast this morning I went up town in a buggy to get a man who is papering some rooms here.  This forenoon I worked all the time whiping [sic] carpets or doing something else.
I went up town this afternoon and played baseball for about two hours.

Wednesday, April 8, 1903
It has been a very nice day only cloudy a little.
I took the milk up to the factory and then beat carpets for a while.
This afternoon I went up town and played ball for a while.

Thursday, April 9, 1903
It has been a very nice day.  I took the milk up to the factory and then whipped carpets most of the rest of the forenoon.
This afternoon I rode the pony up town to see a practice game between Syc. H. S. and DeKalb H. S.  Syc. beat by a score of 7 to 1 in a poorly played game.

Friday, April 10, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and has been raining since a little before noon.  I whipped carpets for a while this forenoon and staid in the house this afternoon.

Saturday, April 11, 1903
It rained a little last night and has been partly nice and partly cloudy today.  I took the milk up to the factory and then had a hair-cut.
This afternoon I went to a ballgame between Syc. and Belvidere High Schools.  Sycamore beat by a score of 11 to 0 in a very uninteresting game because it was too one-sided.

Sunday, April 12, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and has been raining most of the time this afternoon.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and walked to and from Sunday-School.

Monday, April 13, 1903
It has been raining nearly all day and has been so cold that I had to wear my overcoat to school.  I walked to and from school and after supper I had to go up in a buggy after Louise who came home from Galesburg because the cars have broken down in some way.

Tuesday, April 14, 1903
It has been raining nearly all day except for a little while this morning when it snowed but the rain has been a cold drizzle most of the time.
I walked to and from school.
The wind has been in the north-east.
Louise, George and Edward rode up to school on the car and Louise rode home tonight.  I popped me a pan of corn after supper as did Louise and Edward.

Wednesday, April 15, 1903
It has been cloudy all day.
I walked to and from school.

Thursday, April 16, 1903
It has been a very nice day.  I walked to and from school and played ball for a little while after school. A little boy was killed by the electric car over in DeKalb late this afternoon.  This is the first person that has been seriously hurt since the cars have begun running.

Friday, April 17, 1903
It has been a nice day.  I walked to and from school and played ball for a little while after school.
After supper I walked up town and staid a little while and then ran all of the way home without stopping.

Saturday, April 18, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today but it commenced raining at about eight o’clock tonight.  Papa, Aunt Mary, Fred, Charles and Eleanor Townsend, Louise, George, Edward and I went into Chicago today to see Ringling’s circus at the Coliseum which was very good.
Ruby Graham and Bess Brown went in with us.  Papa staid in after we left and we rode home on the electric car from Sycamore.

{Read about this performance at http://www.circushistory.org/History/Ringling1903.htm  It’s near the bottom of the page – tour of 1903.}

Sunday, April 19, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and it rained most of the forenoon.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning but none of us went to Sunday School.  Papa came home from Chicago this noon.  Mrs. Hill, Louise and Edward went up to the Easter exercises at the church tonight which were repeated from last Sunday.

Monday, April 20, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today.  I walked to and from school and played ball for a little while after school tonight.

Tuesday, April 21, 1903
It has been cloudy and cold all day and it snowed for a few minutes this morning.  I walked to and from school.  It is Louise’s birthday today and she is 16 years old.
The city election was held up town today and Frank C. Patten defeated James Branen running for reelection by 14 votes.

Wednesday, April 22, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today but a little cold.  I walked to and from school and played ball for a little while after school tonight.

Thursday, April 23, 1903
It has been partly nice and patly cloudy and it sprinkled a little tonight.
I went to a ballgame this afternoon when the Syc. 1st team played Northwestern college team.  The score was 3 to 1 in favor of Sycamore at the end of the 6th inning but Syc. then put a High School pitcher in the box and they got 4 runs off of him making the score at the end 5 to 3 in favor of Northwestern.
Mrs. Hill went into Chicago today but came back tonight.

Friday, April 24, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly shiny today and it rained a little while several different times.  I rode up town this morning [with] Papa and walked back.  I whipped a carpet and helped plant a few potatoes this afternoon.
After supper I walked up town and rode home on the car.
Ruby Graham came out this afternoon to stay all night with Louise.

Saturday, April 25, 1903
It has been partly nice and partly cloudy today.
I piled wood nearly all the forenoon and this afternoon I walked up town to see a ballgame between Syc. and DeKalb High Schools.  DeKalb beat by a score of 15 to 8 in a very poorly played and uninteresting game.
After the game I rode home on the cars.

Sunday, April 26, 1903
It has been a very nice day.  I took the milk up to the factory this morning and rode to and from Sunday School in the buggy.

Monday, April 27, 1903
It has been a very nice day.  I caught a ride part way up to school this morning and rode home with Papa tonight. I played ball for a little while after school tonight.
Papa went up town on the cars after supper tonight.

Tuesday, April 28, 1903
It has been a very nice day only a little cloudy.
I walked to school but rode home with Papa. I played ball for a little while after school.
We began taking the cows to pasture today.  Papa took them this morning but I went after them on foot tonight because the pony is out in the pasture.

.

.

Wednesday, April 29, 1903
It has been a nice day and warm only partly cloudy.
I walked to and from school and played ball for a little while after school tonight.
I took the cows to pasture on foot before breakfast this morning but George and Edward got them tonight.George did not go to school yesterday or today because of sore eyes.

Thursday, April 30, 1903
It rained quite a little last night and for a little while this morning.  After that it snowed for a few minutes and has been cloudy nearly all the rest of the day.
I took the cows on foot this morning but got the pony out of the pasture and rode her home.  I went down to the dentist this afternoon to have a filling taken out of one of my teeth.  I mowed a part of the lawn after supper.

Albie Irene Oakland Duncan

Albie Irene Oakland, my maternal grandmother, comes from our Norwegian ancestors.  The original surname was Egeland.  Albie was the first child for Mary Ann Sanderson and Thomas Lewis Oakland.  Her parents and her younger siblings were born in northern Illinois.  But Albie was born 24 July 1888 in Athol, Spink county, Dakota Territory (now South Dakota).  I cannot say for sure why the family was there at that time.  There were other Oaklands in the area; most of them moved on to Montana.  Our family went back to northern Illinois.  Dakota Territory was a rough place with brutal weather – maybe that’s the answer.

Eber, Milo, and Albie Oakland

Albie had younger brothers, Eber Stanley Oakland, born 15 June 1890 in Plano, Kendall county, Illinois; and Milo Thomas Oakland, born 22 December1893 in Lee, Illinois.  Another girl was born Hazel May Oakland 1 June 1892 in Lee, Illinois, but she died 3 weeks later.

One of my favorite inheritances was the vase that Albie made in 1909.  It had obviously been used, but still was strong.

Albie with Barbara 1919

On 21 June 1911, she married her high school beau, Thomas Leroy Duncan in Sycamore, Illinois.  They had three daughters, Helen Annette, Harriet Lorraine, and Barbara Jean.

Albie and Roy on the left.

From all the stories my mother told I learned that they were an active, fun family.

This didn’t last as Albie was diagnosed with liver cancer.  She died 20 June 1927, one day short of her 16th wedding anniversary.

Best Birthday Cake

Donna with The Cake in the kitchen of the Oak Drive house.

THE birthday cake in our house was Mom’s Midnight Cake with the 7-minute frosting.  A super dark chocolate cake with a fluffy white vanilla frosting.  It was great when it was first made, but the next day, the frosting was slightly crystallized and I liked that even better!

This would be a perfect day for that cake!

 

 

From her much used “My Better Homes & Garden Cook Book”

Amos Claycomb’s March 1903 Diary

My Grandfather kept diaries most of his life.  I post a month each Monday.

Sunday, March 1, 1903
It has been clear all day but a cold north wind has been blowing all of the time.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning but did not go to Sunday School.  The roads were very rough this morning.

Monday, March 2, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I walked to and from school and played basketball for a little while after school tonight.
Papa went up town on the cars after supper.

Tuesday, March 3, 1903
It was cloudy all day today except in the middle of the afternoon when the sun shone for a few minutes.
I walked to and from school.
Papa went up town on the cars after supper.

Wednesday, March 4, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and a drizzling rain has been coming down most of the time.  It snowed for a few minutes this morning but the snow melted as soon as it touched the ground.
I walked to and from school and played basketball for a little while after school.
Papa went up town on the cars after supper tonight.
George has been sick all day with the hives and had a doctor this morning.

Thursday, March 5, 1903
It has been cloudy all day.
I walked to and from school.
Papa went to a part up town tonight and Louise went to a show with some other girls.
George staid in bed all day but is a little better tonight.

Friday, March 6, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and it rained for a little while this morning but the rain was very fine.
I walked to and from school and played basketball for a while after school tonight.
Papa went up town after supper on the cars tonight.

Saturday, March 7, 1903
It rained very hard this morning just before light and for a little while afterwards.  It was cloudy until this afternoon when it cleared up about 3 o’clock.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning.  This afternoon I went over to DeKalb Normal School and saw two games of basketball between Syc. boys and girls and Normal 1st teams of boys and girls.  The Normal boys beat by a score of 19 to 18 and the Normal girls beat by a score of 7 to 4.  Both games were good.

Sunday, March 8, 1903
It has been a very nice day but the roads are very muddy.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and walked to and from Sunday School at noon.

Monday, March 9, 1903
It was clear early this morning but it clouded up about eight o’clock and has been cloudy all the rest of the day.
I walked to and from school.
George started in going to school again today.

Tuesday, March 10, 1903
It has been cloudy all day but it cleared up tonight and the moon is shining now at about a quarter past eight.
I walked to and from school.  This afternoon I went to a lecture given by Oliver Bainbridge who has traveled 65,000 miles 40,000 of which he traveled on foot.  He gave the talk up in the High School at half past three and talked about his travels and adventures.

Wednesday, March 11, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and the roads are very muddy.
There was no school in the High School today because the faculty were visiting schools.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning.
I helped wash and oil some harness this afternoon in the granary with our hired man, Mr. Gladwyn.

Thursday, March 12, 1903
It was cloudy all the forenoon but it partly cleared up this afternoon.
I walked to and from school.  After school I played ball for a little while with George and at the end her accidentally threw the ball through two windows in the sitting room.  I played ping-pong with Louise for a while after supper.

Friday, March 13, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I walked to and from school and practiced baseball down to the park for a while after school.
Today I saw a flock of ducks, robins and a meadow-lark but I have seen robins before.

Saturday, March 14, 1903
It has been cloudy all day.  I took the milk up to the factory this morning.
Papa and I took the half-past ten car over to DeKalb this morning and from there we went to Chicago.
I got me a suit and a few other things there and came home at 5.35 but Papa is going to stay in all night.  The car broke down in DeKalb this afternoon and I had to walk home tonight.

Sunday, March 15, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and is foggy tonight.  I took the milk up to the factory this morning and walked to and from Sunday-School.
Papa came home from Chicago tonight.

Monday, March 16, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today.  I walked to and from school and played ball for a while after school down at the ball park.
I play in those trying to make the first team but I do not expect to make it.

Tuesday, March 17, 1903
It was very foggy at first this morning but it soon lifted and it has been cloudy nearly all the rest of the day.
I walked to and from school and played ball at the park for a while after school.

Wednesday, March 18, 1903
It rained very hard for a little while this morning between five and six and has been partly cloudy and partly nice all day but warm for this time of year.
I walked to and from school.
Louise went into Chicago today with Grandma and met Mrs.  Hill in there who came out tonight from her visit.  Papa went up town on the cars after supper.

Thursday, March 19, 1903
It was partly nice and partly cloudy this forenoon but it rained for a while in the afternoon and very hard about dark.  I walked to and from school and played ball for a little while at the park but had to stop on account of the rain.
All we do yet in practice is to knock up flies.

Friday, March 20, 1903
It rained nearly all of last night and a little while this morning.  It has been cloudy all the rest of the day and kind of cold as a strong northwest wind has been blowing.
I walked to and from school.  Papa went up town on the cars after supper.

Saturday, March 21, 1903
The roads were frozen on the top this morning and it has been clear nearly all day but a little cold.
I walked up town this morning to take the customers’ milk and then back again.
I walked up town and back this afternoon and after supper  I went up on the cars and saw a basketball game between Syc. girls and Normal 1st team.  Syc. beat by a score of 11 to 10.

Sunday, March 22, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and walked to and from Sunday School at noon.
I staid in the house and read all of the afternoon.

Monday, March 23, 1903
It has been cloudy all day today except a little while this morning.  It commenced raining this afternoon and this soon turned into snow which kept up hard till nearly dark with a strong west wind.  I walked to and from school.
Louise, George and Edward rose home on the car after school and Papa went up town on it after supper.

Tuesday, March 24, 1903
It snowed nearly all of last night and for quite a while this morning and a strong northwest wind blew all day.
I walked to and from school.
Papa went up town on the cars after supper tonight.

Wednesday, March 25, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little chilly.
I walked to school and part of the way back and payed ball for a while after school.
George and Edward went to a show tonight called “Ten Nights in a Barroom.”

Thursday, March 26, 1903
It has been a nice day.  I walked to and from school and played ball for a while after school at the park.  Papa went up town on the cars after supper.

Friday, March 27, 1903
It rained a little last night and for quite a while this forenoon but not very hard.  It began to snow about two o’clock and continued till about six but melted as fast as it fell.  I walked to and from school.

Saturday, March 28, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and a little cold.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and then drove around to Grandma’s and rode Uncle Will’s new riding horse about two miles south and back for exercise.
This afternoon I rode the pony up town and staid a little while and then rode her back.  This is the first time I have ridden her this spring.

Sunday, March 29, 1903
It has been a very nice day only a rather cold easterly wind has been blowing.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and walked to and from Sunday School at noon.

Monday, March 30, 1903
It has been a very nice day.  I walked to and from school and played ball for a while after school playing a match game for the first time on the diamond.

Tuesday, March 31, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today and fairly warm.
I walked to and from school and played ball for a little while after school tonight but I played rank.

Thomas LeRoy Duncan

James, Thomas, and Clifford Duncan.

My maternal grandfather, Thomas Leroy Duncan (Roy), was born in LaMoille, Bureau county, Illinois on 22 November 1889, the youngest of four boys.  He had a half-brother Clifford, and two full brothers, Howard William and James Edgar (Ed).  His father was James Cation Duncan, a homeopathic doctor in DeKalb, Illinois.  His mother was Annette MaryJane Patchen, who always went by the name Nettie, even on official documents.  She was a nurse/supervisor in the DeKalb area for most of her life.  Roy lived in northern Illinois for his entire life.

He married his high school sweetheart, Albie Irene Oakland, on 21 June 1911 in Sycamore, DeKalb county, Illinois.  They had three daughters, Helen, Harriet, and Barbara.  Mom often told stories about their outings – many picnics, family reunions, and just fun times.

Duncan family gathering: Albie, Harriet, Roy, Florence (Ed’s wife), Ed (Roy’s brother), Helen Mercer, Nettie Duncan; front: Mary, Helen, Dorothy Duncan. About 1916.

The idyllic family life didn’t last long.  Albie died 20 June 1927 in DeKalb, Illinois.  She was 38 years old.  The girls were 14, 12, and 10 when their mother died.  Roy’s mother Nettie, and Albie’s mother, Mary Ann, helped take care of the girls.

This is the family soon after Albie’s death. Roy’s mother, Nettie, is helping raise the girls.

Thomas Leroy Duncan

On 10 August 1932 Roy married Florence Huckins.

Florence, Topper, Roy at home.

I like this photo of Roy and Florence in their home – it’s nice to have some photos that aren’t posed.

Florence, Harriet, Roy, Jeanie, Tom, and Donna (in front).  And Polar, the dog.

The Duncans visited us in California often.  Grandpa Duncan was so much fun – I wrote about his positive attitude earlier here.  Florence died on 10 January 1957, long after the girls had married and left home.  But Roy was alone again.

I think this was taken at the time of Florence’s funeral.
L-R: Harriet, Barbara, Jim (Helen’s son), Edith Norris (Florence’s sister), Helen, and Roy.

Marcella Rice becomes Mrs. Roy Duncan. 1965

The third time around Roy married a younger woman, a little hedge against having to bury another wife.  On 14 April 1962 Roy and Marcella Rice were married in Kings, Illinois.  She adored him and was able to care for him for the rest of his life.

Thomas Leroy Duncan died on 28 October 1983 in Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois.  He was 93 years old and had lived a full, enthusiastic life.

Grandpa Duncan

Idea: Guide to Wayne, Nebraska

This is one of my projects that started when my cousins and I met in Wayne, Nebraska for a reunion and to spend time with Uncle George.  It’s a Cousins’ Guide to Wayne because many had no idea of how to find family history in this small town.  The first time I took a draft copy for everyone and they helped fill in the blanks.  Actually it’s still in draft form – there are always things to add.  Uncle George is gone now, but the cousins might still gather in Wayne, so there will be a new edition of the guide.  I offer it as an idea for a town that’s important to you.

I printed it out in booklet form which didn’t transfer to the blog format so I’ll just include a few pages.  Printing on plain paper with room for folks to make notes or additions seem to work well.  I felt no need to have all the answers, so I included many questions – let everyone contribute!

Residences of the family, or places where the residences had been and have now been replaced.  Some of the photos are old, some are current.  

I included several places downtown that had meaning for the family – either many years ago or our current favorite restaurant.  In Wayne, I had to include Swan’s Apparel which has been important to the women in the family for generations!  Consider schools, employers, neighbors, clubs, and of course, cemeteries.

I also wanted to include the surrounding area.  I started pages for all the side trips Uncle George would take us on for a day’s drive.  Didn’t finish all of George’s portion before he died.  And I don’t have a photo of the Green Diamond restaurant in St. James, Nebraska.

Hope this encourages you to try a guide to your family’s town.

Amos Claycomb’s February 1903 Diary

My Grandfather kept diaries most of his life.  I post a month each Monday.

Sunday, February 1, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and quite a heavy fog came up tonight.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning but did not go to Sunday School.

Monday, February 2, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly fair today.  The roads were very muddy in the daytime but froze up towards night.
I walked home after school after playing two practice games of basketball.
Papa went up town on the cars after supper tonight.

Tuesday, February 3, 1903
It has been snowing very hard all day and a very hard east wind has been blowing all the time which drifted the snow so bad that the electric cars have hardly run at all.
I walked up to school this morning and back again tonight.

Wednesday, February 4, 1903
It snowed most of the forenoon but stopped about noon and has been cloudy all the afternoon.
I walked to school this morning and back again tonight.  I played basketball for a while after school.

Thursday, February 5, 1903
It has been a very nice day today.
I walked to school this morning but caught a ride home tonight.
Papa went up town on the cars after supper.  Mrs. Hill went home for a visit this morning and Mrs. Sidey from Grandma’s came out to stay while she is gone.

Friday, February 6, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today.
I walked to school this morning and back again tonight.  I played basketball a little while after school tonight.
Eleanor came home tonight from Lombard to stay a few days because there is smallpox at the college.
Papa and Louise went up to a supper given at the Universalist Church at which the men were the waiters, Pa being one of them.

Saturday, February 7, 1903
It has been snowing nearly all day.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning.  I went to a basketball game this afternoon between Syc and Elgin.  The latter beat by a score of 30 to 29.
After supper I [went] with quite a large crowd to see the Syc Girls pay the DeKalb Normal 1st team.  The latter beat by a score of 7 to 2.  After the game I went up to a dance in Armory Hall at DeKalb with Mae Hohm and two other couples in our crowd.  We came home at 12 o’clock.
Papa went into Chicago at 11.07 A.M. and came back tonight.  I took him up to the train.
Eleanor andLouise went over to see the DeKalb game tonight.

Sunday, February 8, 1903
It has been a nice day today.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and went to Sunday School at noon.

Monday, February 9, 1903
It has been a nice day and the snow has melted quite a good deal.
I walked to and from school.
Papa went up town on the cars after supper.  It is mamas birthday today and she would have been thirty-nine years old.

Tuesday, February 10, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice day and the snow has been melting very fast.
I rode to school this morning but walked home tonight.  I played basketball for a while after school tonight.
Papa and Uncle Fred went to Esmond today on business.
It is Grandma Townsend’s birthday today and she is 64 years old.

Wednesday, February 11, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today and it is getting colder tonight.
Papa and Eleanor went up to Dan Wild’s for supper tonight.  The electric cars now run regularly every hour leaving DeKalb on the hour and Sycamore on the half hour.
Usually the first car leaves DeKalb at 6 A.M. and the last leaves Sycamore at 11.30 P.M.

Thursday, February 12, 1903
It has been cloudy all day today.
I walked up to school this morning and back again tonight.
Papa went up town after supper on the cars.

Friday, February 13, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today.
I walked up town this morning to take the milk to the customers and then back again.
I walked part of the way up town this afternoon and all of the way back.
There was no school today because there was a teacher’s institute at Sycamore.

Saturday, February 14, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and it commenced to snow about five o’clock tonight.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and then went up to the school house and played basketball for a while.  I staid home all of the afternoon.
Papa went up town on the cars after supper.

Sunday, February 15, 1903
It snowed all last night and all today but the snow is very fine and has not amounted to much.  A strong north wind has drifted it a good deal.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning but did not go to Sunday School.
Papa, Eleanor and Louise went to Uncle George Wild’s for dinner today.

Monday, February 16, 1903
It has been a clear day,but very cold being 5º below this morning and only 5º above at noon.
I walked to and from school and played basketball for a while after school.
Eleanor went back to Lombard tonight.  Papa went up town on the cars after supper tonight.

Tuesday, February 17, 1903
It has been a nice day only very cold as it was 15º below this morning.
I walked to and from school.
Mae Hohn, Bess Branen and Marion Van Galder came out to see Louise after supper.

Wednesday, February 18, 1903
It has been a clear day but very cold with the wind blowing strongly from the northwest.
I walked to and from school.
Louise goes to and from school on the cars nearly every morning but I walk and George and Edward usually walk but they rode home on the car tonight.

Thursday, February 19, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and has snowed a little but the snow has not amounted to anything.
I walked to and from school.  I went to a dance tonight with Mae Hohn and had a very nice time.

Friday, February 20, 1903
It was clear this morning but it clouded up this afternoon.
I walked up to school this morning and home tonight.
I umpired a practice game of basketball after school between the 1st and 2nd teams.

Saturday, February 21, 1903
It has been cloudy most of the time today.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning.
This afternoon I rode up town to see a double basketball game between Wheaton Girls and Syc. H. S. Girls and between the 1st and 2nd teams of boys of S. H. S.  The Wheaton Girls beat by a score of 10 to 7 and the first team of boys beat by a score of 22 to 14.  After the game I walked home.

Sunday, February 22, 1903
It has been partly nice and partly cloudy today.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning.
I walked to and fromSunday School at noon.
Uncle Will came out late this afternoon and staid for supper.

Monday, February 23, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and it snowed for a short time this morning.
I walked to and from school.
Papa went up town after supper on the cars and Louise went up to a musical given at the Waterman Hall.

Tuesday, February 24, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I rode to school in the buggy but walked home after school.  I played basketball for a while after school.
There was an auction sale on the Coolidge farm today.  Papa used to tend to this farm but Uncle Fred rented it and Papa will quit managing it now.

Wednesday, February 25, 1903
It has been a very nice day.  I rode both to and from school.
Papa went up town after supper tonight but came back early.

Thursday, February 26, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I rode to school this morning but walked half of the way home tonight and then caught a ride.
I played basketball for a little while after school tonight.

Friday, February 27, 1903
It rained nearly all of last night and a little while this morning.  It has been cloudy all the rest of the day and so warm that most of the snow  is melted.
I played basketball for a little while after school.
Eleanor Townsend came out with Louise after school to stay all night.

{Eleanor Townsend is Amos’ cousin and daughter of Mary Boynton and Fred Townsend.}

Saturday, February 28, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and a cold north wind has been blowing with a little snow.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and then played basketball for a while.
I staid home all the afternoon but after supper I went up town to a basketball game between Syc. H. S. and DeKalb Normal First Team.  Sycamore beat in a very close and exciting game by a score of 18 to 15 but their capt. was disqualified in the last half.

Ruth Bressler Claycomb

Ruth Bressler 4 November 1889

Ruth Bressler was born into a prominent family in her small town.  Her father John Bressler was a founder of Wayne, Wayne county, Nebraska.  Her mother, Julia Fair Bressler, was a civic leader.  She was born on August 13, 1886 in Wayne.  She had an older sister, Maude.  A brother had died as an infant before Ruth was born.  And three siblings came after her, Kate, John Jr., and Dorothy.

Kate and Ruth Bressler

Kate, Ruth, John Bressler about 1894

Although northeast Nebraska had only recently been settled, Ruth and her sisters were well educated.  Maude, Ruth, and Kate attended the Birmingham School for Girls in Pennsylvania – near the home of their Bressler grandparents.  This was not a finishing school, this was a serious academic institution.  Ruth attended from 1903 to 1906.  She went on to attend the University of Nebraska, but I haven’t found anything that  indicated that she graduated.

Canvas cover for the leather trunk that carried her things to Marengo from Wayne. 1912

Ruth married Amos Townsend Claycomb on 15 June 1912 in Wayne, Nebraska.  Their first home together was in Marengo, McHenry county, Illinois.  It was  there that their first son, John, was born.  Their second son, Frank, was born in Sycamore, DeKalb county, Illinois, where Amos’ father lived.

In 1916 they moved to Ruth’s hometown, Wayne, Nebraska, to a farm that her father bought and put in the children’s names.  It was here that George (1916), Barbara (1918), and Richard (1922) were born.  Ruth lived here the rest of her life.

Ruth B. Claycomb with John, Frank, and George. 1918

Ruth B. Claycomb with son, Richard. 1923

She was busy in the community as well as keeping the farm household in order.  We visited from California every few years and she often came out to stay with us the other years.  I remember thinking she was always very well dressed (this from a tomboy granddaughter).  She wore lace-up shoes with cuban heels.  And she always visited the foot doctor when she came to visit.

She did a lot of needlework, mostly needlepoint, that I remember.

Ruth with needlepoint, 1962.

She was a good cook, put up fine preserves and made great ice creams and sherbets.

She collected bells.

She loved to travel which is good because her children lived on the east coast, west coast and Wisconsin.

Wayne Herald

After Amos’ death in 1958, Ruth and her son George continued to farm.  At age 86, she died 29 October 1972, following a stroke.

Ruth Bressler Claycomb. 1968

Stray Baby

This was not the finest hour for my grandparents (or my mother), but it all ended well.  I love the wording in the clipping – “stray baby.”

The baby was my mother, Harriet Duncan. The town was DeKalb, Illinois.  About 1916.

L-R: Helen Duncan, Albie Irene Oakland Duncan, Harriet Duncan. 1916

Amos Claycomb’s January 1903 Diary

In January 1903 Amos Claycomb will turn 17.  He lives with his father, Frank Erwin Claycomb, and his siblings, Eleanor, Louise, George, and Edward in Sycamore, Illinois.  His mother, Anna Sarah Townsend Claycomb, died in 1892 when Amos was 6 years old.  

My Grandfather kept diaries most of his life.  I post a month each Monday.

Thursday, January 1, 1903
It has been a very nice day and so warm that the roads have been thawing.
I went skating for a little while this morning down to the WestCreek with Louise, George and Edward.  This afternoon I walked up town and then back again.  Eleanor and Louise went up town on the electric cars this afternoon and Papa went up on them after supper.  Harry Shelton went home from his visit this morning.

Friday, January 2, 1903
It sleeted for a while this morning then rained for quite a while and towards evening it commenced to snow.
I walked up town and back this morning taking the milk with me.  This afternoon I rode up with Papa to get some thread and then I walked back.  I went to a girl’s dance tonight at Ward’s Opera House and had a fairly good time.

Saturday, January 3, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and it snowed a little part of the time.
I staid in the house and read most of the time and slept nearly all the afternoon.
Eleanor and Louise both went to the dance last night but they staid up town while I walked home after the dance.
Papa drove up town after supper tonight.

Sunday, January 4, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly shiny today.
I walked up  town and back this morning to get the milk and get a paper and to and from Sunday School at noon.
Papa went into Chicago this morning and has not come back yet.

Monday, January 5, 1903
It snowed quite a little last night but has been nice today.
We began school again today and I walked up and part of the way back.
Eleanor went back to Lombard this morning and Papa went with her as far as Cortland on the train.

Tuesday, January 6, 1903
It has been cloudy most of the time today and is getting colder tonight.
I walked to and from school. I played basketball a little while after school tonight.

Wednesday, January 7, 1903
It has been a blizzard all day today with the wind coming from the north-west.
We all drove up in the buggy this morning to school.
Papa went up town after supper tonight on the car.

Thursday, January 8, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today only it has been very cold.
I walked to school and most of the way back.
I milk three cows now every morning and night which are all that we milk up at this place.
Mrs. Hill went up to Grandma’s this afternoon and staid for supper.
Louise went with a small party on the electric cars over to DeKalb after supper.

Friday, January 9, 1903
It has been a nice day only pretty cold.
I walked up town after supper to see a basketball game between the 1 and 2 team of the Syc. H. S.  The former beat by a score of 27 to 14.  After the game I rode home on the cars.

Saturday, January 10, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today.
I walked up town and back this morning and took the milk.
This afternoon I caught a ride most of the way up town and got a hair cut and then walked back.

Sunday, January 11, 1903
It snowed all of last night and until about noon today and as a strong wind has been blowing from the north the snow has been drifting a great deal.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning.
We did not go to Sunday School because it was so stormy.

Monday, January 12, 1903
It has been a nice day only pretty cold.
We all rode up in the sleigh this morning and I walked home or part of the way after school.  I played basketball for a while after school.

Tuesday, January 13, 1903
It has been cloudy most of the time today but it has been a good deal warmer than yesterday.
I let my watch fall on the floor tonight and it broke the mainspring.
Papa went up town on the cars after supper tonight.

Wednesday, January 14, 1903
It has been cloudy all day.
I played basketball for a while after school tonight.
George went on a sleighing-party after supper.

Thursday, January 15, 1903
It has been a very nice day and so warm that so much of the snow has melted that the sleighing is getting poor.

Friday, January 16, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I walked to school this morning and back again tonight.
I played basketball for a little while after school.
I milk three cows every night and morning now.

Saturday, January 17, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and drove Papa up to the train at noon when he was going to Chicago.  I staid home all the afternoon but after supper I walked up town to  get some meat and then I rode back on the cars.

Sunday, January 18, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I took the milk up [to] the factory this morning and walked to and from Sunday-School at noon.
Papa came home from Chicago this afternoon.  He was going to come on the midnight train last night but decided to stay over. The train was wrecked by a broken rail and the engineer was killed and nine or ten people were more or less hurt.

Monday, January 19, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day.
Papa went up to a school-board meeting after supper and Louise and Mrs. Hill went up to a recital given at the Waterman Hall.
We are taking the Tribune for a daily paper this year but our first copy did not come until yesterday.

Tuesday, January 20, 1903
It all has been cloudy all day and it snowed a little this afternoon.
I played basketball a little while after school and then got a ride home with Papa.
Papa went up town on the cars after supper tonight.

Wednesday, January 21, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today.
Papa went up town on the cars after supper tonight.

Thursday, January 22,1903
It has been cloudy all day and has been snowing most of the time but the snow has not amounted to much.
I played basketball for a while after school tonight and then walked home.
Papa went up town after supper.

Friday, January 23, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day but the sun shone for a little while.
I went to a dance tonight and had a very nice time.  Louise also went and staid up to Grandma’s but I drove home.
Uncle Fred and Uncle Will came home from Hot Springs today where they have been for about three weeks.

Saturday, January 24, 1903
It has been snowing nearly all day except during the latter part of the afternoon but the snow is very dry and it hasn’t amounted to much.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and then played basketball for a while.  I walked most of the way up town this afternoon and all the way back.

Sunday, January 25, 1903
It has been cloudy all day today.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and went to Sunday-School at noon.
Uncle Will and Jane came out here for a little while this after[noon].
Mrs. Hill and George went up to church on the cards after supper tonight.

Monday, January 26, 1903
It has been a nice day but only a little cloudy but the snow has been melting fast.
I walked home after school tonight.
Papa went up town on the cars after supper tonight.

Tuesday, January 27, 1903
It rained part of last night and a little bit this morning and has been cloudy all day.  It turned foggy about dark tonight.
I played basketball for a while after school and then walked home.
Louise and Mrs. Hill went up to a concert at the Congregational Church on the cars after supper.
Papa also went up town on the cars after supper.

Wednesday, January 28, 1903
It has been misty all day and the roads are getting pretty muddy.
George went up town after supper to tend door at a private dance.
Papa also went up town after supper on the cars.

Thursday, January 29, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and it snowed for a few minutes this afternoon and is getting very cold tonight.
I walked home after school tonight after playing basketball for a little while.
It is my birthday today and I am 17 years old.
Aunt Jennie came from Galesburg today.

Friday, January 30, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cold.
I walked home after school tonight.  After supper I walked up town and saw too basketball games between the S. H. S. girls and boys and the 2nd teams of the girls and boys of Normal of DeKalb.  The Syc boys and girls beat the former by a score of 12 to 6 and the latter by a score of 10 to 2.  After the game I rode home on the cars.

Saturday, January 31, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and got a pair of shoes while I was up town.  I walked up town this afternoon and umpired a basketball game between the 8th grade and 1 years H. S. Boys.  The former in which George played beat by a score of 17 to 4.  After the game I walked home.
Aunt Jennie was out here to supper and went back on the cars with Papa.