Amos Claycomb’s April 1910 Diary

Friday, April 1, 1910
Worked on fence all day.

Saturday, April 2, 1910
Finished moving fence over to the line this forenoon.  Worked on cyclone cellar this p.m.

Sunday, April 3, 1910
Staid around the house all day.

Monday, April 4, 1910
Snow storm all the morning and part of the p.m.  Homer took cow over to Richards’ this p.m.  I rode the pony up town after the mail.

Tuesday, April 5, 1910
Took buggy up town today and had the tires shrunk.

Wednesday,  April 6, 1910
Drove into Amarillo this a.m. with the pony in 2 1/4 hours.  Went out to the auto races this p.m. and played billiards for a while tonight.  Homer harrowed on steam plowing all day.

Thursday,  April 7, 1910
Drove home this morning with repaired flange for plow.  Tried to run plow to barn this p.m. but broke the transmission.

Friday, April 8, 1910
Had steam outfit haul plow to barn this a.m.  Built fence this p.m.

One of Amos Claycomb’s photographs of either Wildorado or Amarillo, Texas.

Saturday, April 9, 1910
Rained most of this forenoon.  Had Homer drive up town after some lumber, etc this p.m.

Sunday, April 10, 1910
Rode pony over to Bush this p.m.

Monday, April 11, 1910
Homer harrowed on steam plowing all day.  I worked on the cyclone cellar part of the time.

Tuesday, April 12, 1910
Rained part of the afternoon.

Wednesday, April 13, 1910
Hard rain all of last night with quite a little hail.  Drove the pony to Amarillo this p.m.  Staid with Dr. Hanson tonight.

Thursday, April 14, 1910
Drove back home this forenoon.  Poisoned prairie dogs with Homer all the p.m.  Killed one rattler with 7 rattles and a button.

Friday, April 15, 1910
Norther with rain and snow today which kept us in the house most of the time.

Saturday, April 16, 1910
Drove over to Bush this p.m. and ate supper with a party from Amarillo at the Bush’s.  After supper we went over to Harker’s and danced.  Staid all night at Harker’s.

Sunday, April 17, 1910
Party – Bushs, Harkers, Russells, Miss Becktill, and Armstrong went over to the Frying Pan ranch for dinner and got back about seven o’clock.

Monday, April 18, 1910
Homer and I worked on cellar all day and about finished the frame-work.

Tuesday, April 19, 1910
Drove pony into town this p.m. and took Harker from Bush.  Staid with him at the Amarillo hotel tonight.

Wednesday, April 20, 1910
Staid in Amarillo all day, looking over seed which I am going to use. Went up to Eagle dance for a short time tonight.  Staid with Dr. Hanson.

Thursday, April 21, 1910
Drove home this forenoon.  Strong norther blowing all day so bad that we did not work this p.m..  Census man came today.

[I’ll expand this image in a future post.]
Friday, April 22, 1910
Drove team up town after my seed this forenoon.  Homer dragged on steam plowing this p.m.

Saturday, April 23, 1910
Started planting today and put in about eight acres of Indian corn this a.m.  After dinner Homer and I went over to Richards’ after a load of maize.

Sunday, April 24, 1910
Staid home all day and read.

Monday, April 25, 1910
Started to plant kaffir corn today.

Tuesday, April 26, 1910
Homer planted kaffir corn all day.

Wednesday, April 27, 1910
Homer planted kaffir this forenoon.  After dinner we all went to Wildorado to see the town lot auction.

Thursday, April 28, 1910
I planted kaffir corn this a.m. while Homer was repairing a gasoline pump belonging to Nicholson.  Homer planted this p.m. while I shelled some maize from the heads.  Very warm today with strong south winds.

Friday, April 29, 1910
Homer planted kaffir corn all day.  I cleaned seed most of the time.

Saturday, April 30, 1910
Ditto as yesterday.

Amos Claycomb’s March 1910 Diary

The shed and house he built on his land.

In 1910 my grandfather, Amos Claycomb, was farming near Wildorado, Texas.  He spent a lot of his time getting his steam plow repaired.

Tuesday, March 1, 1910
Nothing doing this a.m.  Drove team up town this a.m. after disc harrow.  Russell rode over to Melroy’s after a horse which I am renting for a few days.

Wednesday, March 2, 1910
Russell and I set up disc this a.m. and he started in to disc the 40 acres of old ground just west of the pasture.

Thursday, March 3, 1910
Drove pony up town after the mail.  Dug dirt for the earth cellar most of the p.m.  101°  above in the sun about 4:30 this p.m.

Friday, March 4, 1910
Drove pony up town after the mail.  Staid around house most of the p.m.  Still very warm.

Saturday, March 5, 1910
Worked around the house this a.m.  Rode the pony up town after dinner.  Called at Goodman’s tonight with Moreland.

Sunday, March 6, 1910
Staid home all day.  The Bedink boys and the Rogers came over this p.m. and staid to supper.

Monday, March 7, 1910
Went into Amarillo tonight on the train and staid with Doc Hanson.  Played billiards for a little while after supper.

Tuesday, March 8, 1910
Came back to Wil- this morning.  Dropped my watch for a $6 repair bill while in town.  Place a lock box in care of the “Amarillo Bank of Commerce” this a.m. and got my deed for Sec. 11 which had been recorded.

Wednesday, March 9, 1910
Met the train this a.m. but the repairs for the plow still fail to come.  Worked on the plow all the afternoon with Homer trying to get every part oiled.

Thursday, March 10, 1910
Cloudy this morning but sun came out in the middle of the forenoon and it got pretty warm. Homer went over to Paine’s this p.m. to get his drill which I am going to use to put in my oats.  Went into Amarillo tonight and staid with Dr. Hanson.

Friday, March 11, 1910
Came back home today and brought a veterinary with me to examine all the horses on the place but no contagious disease was found.  The gears came today and Homer and I put them in the engine this p.m.

Saturday, March 12, 1910
Borrowed a horse of Rogers this a.m. and started to drill in my oats this p.m.  Got in a little over 8 acres.  Homer started the plow this p.m. and plowed about an acre.  Nicolson started to steam plow 200 acres of the south section for me today.

Sunday, March 13, 1910
Sowed oats all day and got in a little over 16 acres.

Monday, March 14, 1910
Finished sowing oats today and have in a little over 32 acres.

Tuesday, March 15, 1910
Tried to plow this a.m. but broke the timer gears again before we had plowed an acre.  Sent Homer up town after a barrel of Gas Engine Oil before dinner.  He and I worked on the plow most of the p.m.  It has been cloudy nearly all day and is sprinkling tonight.

Wednesday, March 16, 1910
Drove pony up town after the mail and bought a roller and corn planter.  Homer took rented horse back to Melroy’s this a.m. and drove team up after machinery this p.m.  It rained most of last night but not very heavy.

Thursday, March 17, 1910
Homer started to roll down the sod on our plowing on the south section this p.m.

Friday, March 18, 1910
Gears came this noon and we put them in the engine this p.m. and brought it up to the barn.

Saturday, March 19, 1910
Tried to plow all day but had trouble all of the time.  The brasses heated and we broke a connecting rod which we had to have fixed up town.

Sunday, March 20, 1910
Worked on the plow most of the forenoon.   Rode pony up town this p.m. to inquire after Arabel G. who is very sick.  Edward’s birthday – 18.

Monday, March 21, 1910
Drove Blanche into Amarillo this p.m.   Was initiated into the Amarillo lodge of Elks tonight No. 923.  Staid with Dr. Hanson.

Tuesday, March 22, 1910
Drove back home this forenoon.  Plow worked all day for the first time in months.

Wednesday, March 23, 1910
Plowed all of the forenoon until at noon we broke the flange on the plow which will lay us off for repairs.  Homer plowed up some sod for a garden this p.m.

Thursday, March 24, 1910
Started to build fence on the east side of the south section this morning.  Put in posts all day.

Friday, March 25, 1910
Built fence all day.

Saturday, March 26, 1910
Finished building the mile of fence this forenoon.  Rode the pony up town after dinner.

Sunday, March 27, 1910
Easter.  Staid home all day but went to church tonight.

Monday, March 28, 1910
Home drove team up town after some shelled corn this a.m.  Nothing doing this p.m.

Tuesday, March 29, 1910
Drove up town after the mail this p.m.  Homer and I poisoned prairie dogs all afternoon.  We saw two rattlers and I killed one with nine rattles and a button.

Wednesday, March 30, 1910
Measured the land that I had steam broken this a.m.  About 225 acres.  Started to move the east fence on my half of Sec. 8 over to the line this p.m.

Thursday, March 31, 1910
Built fence all day.

Anna Sarah Townsend & Frank Erwin Claycomb – Part 2

Part 1 can be seen here.

Anna and Frank married 27 December 1882 in Sycamore, Illinois and began their married life on a farm near Cameron, Warren county, Illinois.

At some time in her life, probably before her marriage, Anna learned to paint.  And as many of the women of her era did, she copied popular paintings.  At least one still exists – her painting of the Pharoah’s Horses originally done by John Frederick Herring.  She continued painting after her children were born.

Anna Townsend Claycomb’s painting of Pharoah’s Horses

Their first child, Eleanor Pierce Claycomb, was born 20 August 1884 in Cameron.

She wrote to her brother Frederick Townsend on 13 February 1885.  A curious part of the letter is “Fred, are you aware that I am all of twenty one years old, and Nellie will be six months old, one week from today.  When I get to thinking everything over that happened while I was at school, I don’t see how I could have done so, and I get to crying about it, and I guess Frank thinks I am a goose!  I know it makes him feel badly, because he doesn’t know what I am crying about and thinks I’m not happy.  Dear little Nellie was a God-send if ever there was such a thing…”  I do wonder what that is all about.

Eleanor and Amos Claycomb

Frank and Anna’s first son, Amos Townsend Claycomb, was born 29 January 1886.  In another short letter to Fred, she mentions the children.

 On 21 April 1887 Alta Louise Claycomb was born in Warren county.  She almost always went by the name Louise.  She has aunt Alta on the Claycomb side.

On 25 August 1887, Anna’s father, Amos Townsend.  He was 54 years old.

In 1888 the family moved to Sycamore, Illinois.

George Francis Claycomb was born in Sycamore on 5 June 1889.  That Fall Anna’s health worsened and she went to a sanitorium in California.  Her mother and infant son went with her.  I don’t know how long her mother stayed, but Anna returned in May 1890.

Anna Claycomb (in hammock) at the sanatorium in California, 1888/9.
Her son George is the infant held on the right.

On 20 March 1892, the Claycomb’s fifth child, Edward Denman, was born in DeKalb.  When he was 19 days old, his mother, Anna Sarah Townsend Claycomb, died.  She was 28 years old.  The other children were Eleanor, 7, Amos, 6, Louise, almost 5, and George, almost 3.

Anna’s Obituary from a Sycamore Illinois newspaper, 1892

No More of Earth

   Mrs. Anna Townsend-Claycomb, wife of Frank E. Claycomb, and daughter of Mrs. E. P. Townsend, died at their home on Friday afternoon., April 8.
Deceased was born near Malta, Ill., on February 9, 1964.  In 1876 when she was twelve years of age, the family removed to the Daniel Pierce farm one mile west of this city.
In 1879 she entered Lombard University, Galesburg, Ill., where she remained one year.  It was while there attending school she formed the acquaintance of Mr. Claycomb.  After the year at Lombard University, she attended school one year at Jacksonville, following with a year at the Rockford female seminary.  At each of these schools she acquitted herself with credit and made many friends who mourn her early decease.
She was united in marriage nine years ago last December, and for six years resided with her husband on a farm near Galesburg.  Here the three older children were born.  Three years ago last November, they removed to the farm west of Sycamore.
In the fall of 1889, on account of failing health, she went to California, accompanied by her mother, where she remained until May, 1890.  She returned much improved in health, and remained so till a few days before her death, when her strength failed and death soon came as a welcome messenger.
Besides her husband and five children, she leaves a mother, brother, three sisters, and a large circle of mourning friends.
She entered into church relations with the Sycamore Universalist church ten years ago and was always a most devout and exemplary member.
The funeral was from the house Sunday afternoon, Rev. Dr. White, her old Lombard University Professor, officiating, assisted by Rev. Geo Crum, the pastor.  The interment was by the side of her father, Mr. Amos Townsend, in Elmwood.

Amos Claycomb’s February 1910 Diary

My grandfather, Amos Claycomb, is just beginning to farm land near Wildorado, Texas.  In February 1910, his father comes to visit from Illinois.  And Amos continues to have problems with his new gasoline plow.

Tuesday, February 1, 1910
Mooman and Homer plowed 3 1/2 rounds today but had trouble all of the time.  I hauled some dirt this a.m. to fill up the barn and then got a load of straw.  Rode the pony up town after the mail this p.m. Wednesday, February 2, 1910
Very cold norther blew all day.  A little snow was on the ground all of the a.m.

Thursday, February 3, 1910
Drove to Bush after my father today but he didn’t come on the regular train.  He came with the S. & W. people this p.m. who brought him out in a machine.

Friday, February 4, 1910
Drove father up town this a.m. and over Sec. 11 and up to Bush this p.m.  The S. & W. people came out after us in a machine after supper and took us to Amarillo.  We staid at the Elmhirst tonight. Saturday, February 5, 1910
Father and I went with the S. & W. people to Bovina on their train and we looked over some land there which is about the same as mine.  We all came back to Amarillo late tonight. Sunday, February 6, 1910
S. & W. people took father and I out home this a.m. in a machine.  I drove Belle up town this p.m. after a trunk and called on Clara N. for a little while.

Monday, February 7, 1910
Drove father around the country today.  Drove over to Bush with him tonight and played cards.

Tuesday, February 8, 1910
Drove up town and around today.

Wednesday, February 9, 1910 Sent Homer and Harry into Amarillo today after repairs. Thursday, February 10, 1910
No plowing today as it took all of the time to get the plow back into shape.   Most of the trouble is caused by the brasses in the engine heating.

Friday, February 11, 1910
Father started home on the evening train.  Plow did about one acre.  Brasses still heating.

Saturday, February 12, 1910
Plowed about two acres today.

Sunday, February 13, 1910
Staid around the house all day.  Called on Clara N. tonight.

Monday, February 14, 1910
Drove team up town this a.m. after some gasoline.  Received deed for Section 11 from Uncle Fred today.  In pay’t I signed a note for $11,135.78 at 5% for one year in favor of the Pierce Trust and Savings Bank of Sycamore.  There are 686.33 acres in the section.  Paid $17.50 an acre. Tuesday, February 15, 1910
Sent Russell to town on horse today after a steel washer for the plow.  While he was there Harry broke timer gears in the engine which will lay us up until we can get repairs from the factory.  I drove up town and telegraphed for the repairs this p.m.  A cold norther started about ten o’clock and has been blowing all day. Wednesday, February 16, 1910
6°  above this morning with a heavy blizzard from the north.  It snowed till noon but drifted all day.  Thermometer did not go above 12°  all day.

Thursday, February 17, 1910
4°  below this a.m.   Went up town after the mail in the buggy. Friday, February 18, 1910
Still waiting for repairs for the plow. Saturday, February 19, 1910
Drove the pony up town after the mail. Sunday, February 20, 1910
Staid around the house all day.  Varnished most of the doors with a dark oak finish.

Monday, February 21, 1910
Drove up town this morning after the mail.

Tuesday, February 22, 1910
New chains and sprockets for the plow came today.  Also some young trees I had ordered. Wednesday, February 23, 1910
Sick most of the day.  Painted part of my room this a.m.

Thursday, February 24, 1910
Drove pony up town after mail this a.m.  Helped Homer and Harry set out some of my trees this morning.  50 in all – 18 shade and the rest – fruit trees.  Horseback riding this p.m. with Arabel, Lucile and Beulah R. Friday, February 25, 1910
Drove pony up town after the mail.  Let Mooman go back to the factory today as the repairs have not come and he has not been able to fix the plow anyway.  Homer drove us in with the wagon and brought back some bran.  Played billiards for a while tonight and staid with Dr. Hanson. Saturday, February 26, 1910
Came back on train this a.m.  Had deed for Sec. 11 recorded in town and did a little other business.  Called at Goodman’s tonight with Moreland.   A cold norther has been blowing all day but subsided a little tonight.  It sprinkled for a few minutes this a.m. Sunday, February 27, 1910
Cold south wind blowing so hard today that I brought horses in from the pasture.  Staid in house most of the day.  The Nicolson kids came out after the little Jersey this afternoon which I sold to their father for $100 worth of plowing.

Monday, February 28, 1910
Drove pony up town after the mail.  Hauled a few loads of straw this a.m. and started to dig an earth cellar near the house.

Anna Sarah Townsend & Frank Erwin Claycomb – Part I

Anna’s Story

Anna Sarah Townsend was born 9 February 1864 in Malta, Illinois, daughter of Eleanor Pierce and Amos W. Townsend.  She had an older brother, Frederick and an older sister, Jennie.  She also had two younger sisters, Georgia and Mary.

The family moved to the Daniel Pierce farm just west of Sycamore, Illinois in 1876 when Anna’s maternal grandmother, Phoebe Jane Brundage Pierce, died.  This allowed them to care for her grandfather, Daniel Pierce.

In 1879 when she was 15, she went to Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois, for a year.  This is where she met Frank Claycomb.  Anna’s mother was active in the Universalist Church and later on was on the board of Lombard College, a Universalist school.

Anna then spent a year in school in Jacksonville, about 100 miles south of Galesburg.  And then a further year at Rockford Female Seminary.  It’s interesting that about this time, Jane Addams also attended Rockford (Class of 1881).

In 1881 Anna’s sister, Jennie, married Charles A. Webster.

I have a postcard Anna sent to her brother Fred in 1881 (could be 1887).  It appears to be written in a foreign language, although I think it may be a secret sibling language.  What does it look like to you?  She has beautiful, legible handwriting as you can see by the front of the card.

Frank’s Story

When I sat down to write Frank’s story, I realized how little I know about his life.  A few basic names and dates, but not much else.

He was born Frank Erwin Claycomb on 6 May 1857 in Warren county, Illinois.  His death certificate gives a birth year of 1855, but the early censuses are pretty clear that 1857 is more accurate.  His parents were Sarah Ann Goddard and George Washington Claycomb.

He had an older sister Laura born about 1852 (she later married Patrick H. Shelton).  He also had an older brother Albert R. who was born in 1853 and died in 1860.  And Frank had a younger sister, Alta May, born in 1865 who never married.

As far as I know he lived in Warren county until a few years after his marriage.

On 27 December 1882 Frank E. Claycomb, age 27, married Anna Townsend, age 18, in Sycamore, Illinois.

Part 2 can be seen here.

Amos Claycomb’s January 1910 Diary

Saturday, January 1, 1910
Built fence around the buildings all day.  Rode the pony up town this p.m. for the mail and then went back for supper at Mrs. Burks.’  After that I played “forty-two” down at Goodman’s with Arabel  & against Lucile and Moreland.  Weather still warm and the snow is all melted.

Sunday, January 2, 1910
Foggy this a.m. with strong wind from the N.E. which soon changed to the S. clearing up the fog.  Homer and I built a manger in the shed for the cows this a.m. and then a  gate for the front fence.

Monday, January 3, 1910
There has been a heavy fog all day which froze as soon as it touched anything.  Drove Mooman up to the train this p.m. as I couldn’t afford to keep him here doing nothing.

Tuesday, January 4, 1910
Too cold to do much this a.m. except haul a couple of loads of straw.  Rode the pony up town after the mail right after dinner.  It snowed hard for about 30 minutes this p.m. but soon melted.

Wednesday, January 5, 1910
8°  above this a.m. with a cold norther.  Homer and I went after a load of kaffir corn this p.m.  Got it of Beck at $6.50 a ton in the field.

[Kaffir corn is now called sorghum.]

Thursday, January 6, 1910
Went after a load of feed – kaffir corn – today with Homer.

Friday, January 7, 1910
6°  above this a.m. with a strong southerly wind.  Rode the pony after the mail above noon.  Went into Amarillo on the train tonight.  Staid at hotel.

Saturday, January 8, 1910
Came back from Amarillo this forenoon.  Started pasture fence this afternoon.

Sunday, January 9, 1910
Staid around the house all day.

Monday,  January 10, 1910
Built fence all day with Homer to enclose a pasture and to keep the stock off of my wheat ground.  The ground is frozen from four to six inches and contains moisture from 18-24 inches down.

Tuesday, January 11, 1910
Built fence all day.

Wednesday, January 12, 1910
Finished putting the posts in the ground today and stretched wire for a while.  I drove up town this a.m. after some posts and meal for the cows.  Called on Clara N. tonight.  It sprinkled – off and on all afternoon.

Thursday, January 13, 1910
Finished stretching the wire by noon.  Rode the pony up town this p.m. after the mail.  Helped put in some gates etc when I got back.

Friday, January 14, 1910
Sleeted this a.m.

Saturday, January 15, 1910
Started the gasoline plow today but had trouble all of the time and only plowed about half an acre all day.  Played “forty-two” at Goodman’s tonight with Arabel, Lucile and Carrol.

Sunday, January 16, 1910
Staid around the house all day.  Called on Clara N. tonight and went to church.  Mistook a skunk for a coyote tonight but escaped injury.

Monday, January 17, 1910
Started the plow again this a.m. but it wouldn’t work well and we brought it in about 2 o’clock.  Then rode the pony up town after the mail.  A norther came up this afternoon but didn’t last very long.

Tuesday, January 18, 1910
Built a wood-shed – 16 x 14 by 9 ft in front and 6 behind – today just south of the house.  The ground was frozen this morning but thawed out during the day.

Wednesday, January 19, 1910
Started the plow again this p.m. but couldn’t make it work and have sent for help.

Thursday, January 20, 1910
Hauled dirt all day, from the railroad to fill in the barn and the low places in the corral.

Friday, January 21, 1910
Hauled dirt all day.  Called on Clara N. tonight.

Saturday, January 22, 1910
Hauled a few loads of dirt this morning and then put the second coat of paint on the house and painted the wood-shed.  Rode the pony up town tonight.  Warm all day the thermometer being around 70°  most of the time.

Sunday, January 23,  1910
Warm again today.  Rode the pony over to Bushland this afternoon to see Roy Armstrong.

Monday, January 24, 1910
Sent Homer up town this a.m. after a load of wire and posts.  Rode the pony up after the mail.  We both hauled manure all the afternoon.  Thermometer showed 76°  above this p.m. with a strong south-west wind.

Tuesday, January 25, 1910
Took plow out again this p.m. and found our trouble at last.  An exhaust valve in the back cylinder was leaking and letting the power out thru the exhaust pipe.

Wednesday, January 26, 1910
Built a manger in the corral for straw this a.m. and then hauled some straw.  Went to Amarillo on the train tonight to get the exhaust valve repaired.  Took Arabel G. to vaudeville show and staid with Dr. Hanson.

Thursday, January 27, 1910
In Amarillo all day waiting for valve.  Took Arabel G. to some vaudeville shows tonight.  Staid with Dr. Hanson.

Friday, January 28, 1910
Came home on train at 10 a.m. and jumped off of train in front of the place.  Put the plow together again and took it out.  It plowed all right but we let a cylinder get too hot so we had to stop.  Called on Clara N. tonight.

Saturday, January 29, 1910
Birthday – 24.  Strong norther blowing all day.  Worked on the plow all the morning and took it out after dinner.  It worked all right except the cylinder kept getting too hot.  There is a big comet in the west now which can be seen about 7 p.m.  Its tail goes about 1/3 of the way from the horizon to the zenith.

Sunday, January 30, 1910
Staid around the house all day.  Armstrong came over from Bush this p.m.  Mooman came this p.m. to fix the plow.  Called on Clara N. tonight.

Monday, January 31, 1910
Worked on the plow all morning.  Mooman and Homer started it this p.m. but only made one round when the cylinders got so hot that they had to stop and fix them.  I drove the team up town this p.m. after some bran for the cows.

Birthday Parties 1948

I was quite surprised to find a newspaper clipping for my brother’s 7th birthday party.  And then one for his 8 year old friend.  I guess we were quite the social set in 1948!  Or more likely, there just wasn’t much news.

The guest list should read Charles, Jerry, Walter, and Leslie Ann Kephart, etc.

Here’s the clipping for the Hayes’ twins party.

This hotbed of social life was Lakeside, California.  I was two years old, so it was not my scene.

Why A Genealogy Blog?

I’ve been writing this blog for eight months.  And in that time I’ve accomplished many of the goals I set.  Not that I’m finished, because I want to achieve them over and over.

1. I want to share family stories and photos with current family and those that will come later.  I probably won’t be around for my great-grandchildren, so this is my way to reach them.
   

   Julia Fair Bressler

2. I want to find distant cousins that can add to my lineage or with whom I can share mine.  I’ve already been able to do that twice – once with someone from my maternal grandmother’s family (Oakland) and just last week
   

   The Oakland Children
   Eber, Milo, & Albie

   someone from my great-grandmother’s family (Fair) contacted me.  And at a recent family reunion I found out that a couple of my Gochenour cousins read the blog.  All of these folks might be persuaded to write some guest posts for me.  I love this!

3. I want to find homes for the family items that I have inherited.  Things often go down the ‘wrong’ branch of the family tree.  After a few generations of going with the in-laws, the object is far from it’s direct line.  This happened with a photo I had, but someone responded to a blog post, I was able to return it to a more appropriate owner.

These are the things that make me happy.  This is why I write a genealogy blog.  I’ll never know if the information reaches through time to my great-grandchildren, but I’ve done my best to get it there.  And there is a lot more to come.  “Finished” is not a word you often hear in regard to family history research.

Amos Claycomb’s December 1909 Diary

My grandfather, Amos Claycomb, is farming in Wildorado, Texas, near Amarillo in 1909.  He goes to town (Wildorado) for his mail and some supplies – he sometimes walks, sometimes rides the pony, and occasionally takes the train.  In December he hires Homer Russell and his family to work on the place with him.  I would love to know more about the Russells.

Wednesday, December 1, 1909
Came into Amarillo tonight on the train.  Went to a show with Bill Monning and slept in Dr. Hanson’s office all night.

Thursday, December 2, 1909
Did some business in town this a.m. and came back to Wil- on the 10 a.m. train.  Tore down some fence around an old corral with Harry Mooman this p.m.

Friday, December 3, 1909
Worked around the place all day.  There is still quite a little snow on the ground and it is melting rather slowly.  Russell, whom I have hired to work here for the next year is moving his household goods over each man.  He will be here with his wife, child and widowed sister.  Am paying him $40 a month and dividing profits on cows and chickens with them.

Saturday, December 4, 1909
A norther came up again today and it has been much colder with a light snow all day.  Rode the pony to town this p.m. to get the mail and some groceries.  Called on Clara N. this p.m.

Sunday, December 5, 1909
Staid around the house all day reading and playing cards with Harry Mooman.  Clara N., Arabel G., Joe Brewer and Carrol M. came out on horseback for supper tonight.

Monday, December 6, 1909
Cold today and I staid in the house most of the time.

Tuesday, December 7, 1909
Temp about 4° above this a.m.  Drove the team into town this p.m. and brought back some gasoline and other things.

Wednesday, December 8, 1909
Rode pony to town this p.m. and left her there while I went to Amarillo on the train.  Saw “The Time, the Place and the Girl” tonight with Carrol M.  The troupe didn’t arrive till late and the show started about 11:30 and ended about two.  Slept with Dr. Hanson tonight.

Thursday, December 9, 1909
Bought a few things this a.m. and then came back to Wildorado on the train.  Worked around the place this p.m.

Friday, December 10, 1909
Painted on the barn this a.m.  Drove the team to town this p.m. and brought back some fence boards for a corral.  Hayward finished putting the first coat on the house today except for the trimmings.  Color is a lead color.  Much warmer than usual and the snow is nearly gone.

Saturday, December 11, 1909
Drove up town after lumber this a.m.  Helped around the place this p.m.

Sunday, December 12, 1909
Helped Haywood make a concrete roller for the plow this a.m.
Painted on the barn all the afternoon.  Called on Clara N. tonight.  Haywood left this p.m. as he is going to leave town.

Monday, December 13, 1909
Russell came over this a.m. and we have been working on a corral all day.  I drove to town this a.m. and got a load of posts.

Tuesday, December 14, 1909
Worked on the corral all day and it is finished except for a couple of gates.  It started to snow again tonight and is much colder.  Rode the pony to town this p.m. after the mail and she got away from me up there and gave me a good half hour chase.

Wednesday, December 15, 1909
Put in the gates of the corral today and then worked this p.m. on a chicken house just south of the corral.

Thursday, December 16, 1909
Rode the pony up town this p.m. while Harry finished painting the barn for the second time.

Friday, December 17, 1909
A norther with snow started last night and has been going all day.  Snow is fine and doesn’t amount to much.  Russell and family moved in today to stay and they started the cooking tonight.

Saturday, December 18, 1909
Has been snowing most of the day.  Russell has been hauling stuff from his place over here.

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Tuesday, December 21, 1909
Came home at 10 a.m. and getting a few things.  Staid in the house most of the afternoon.

Wednesday, December 22, 1909
Nothing doing.

Thursday, December 23, 1909
Worked around the house most of the day.  Called on Clara N. tonight.

Friday, December 24, 1909
Rode the pony up town this p.m.

Saturday, December 25, 1909
Painted on the house this a.m. for a while.  Rode pony up town this p.m. and right back.

Sunday, December 26, 1909
Finished putting first coat of paint on the house today.  Rode over to Bushland with Arabel and Lucile G. this p.m. on horseback.

Monday, December 27, 1909
Drove up town this p.m. after some lumber.

Tuesday, December 28, 1909
Built shed in the corral today with Homer and Harry.  Snow is almost all off of the ground now but it is frozen most of the time.

Wednesday, December 29, 1909
Worked all day building fence around the buildings.

Thursday, December 30, 1909
Painted on the house all the a.m.  Drove up town this p.m. after some lumber.

Friday, December 31, 1909
Thermometer around 60° all day.  Have been building a woven wire fence around the buildings.  Took train to Vega at 5 p.m. where I ate supper and danced in the new hotel.  Went with the people from Bushland.