Amos Claycomb’s August 1910 Diary

Amos Claycomb is farming in Wildorado, Texas in 1910.  This month he gets a couple of rides in automobiles – sometimes he calls them ‘automobiles’, but more often, they are a ‘machine.’  If he refers to a ‘car’ – that’s a railroad car.  

Monday, August 1, 1910
Rained last night and was too wet to thresh until about 4:30 p.m. and then the separator gave trouble until dark.

Tuesday, August 2, 1910
Finished threshing at noon.  Got 525 1/2 bu. of wheat off of 90 acres and 93 1/2 bu. of oats off of 8 – 10 acres.  The rest of my oats were too green to thresh and am drying them for hay.

Wednesday, August 3, 1910
Homer drove to town – Amarillo – after his mother-in-law today.
Thursday, August 4, 1910
Rained last night and Homer and I worked with oats most of the day trying to get them dry
Friday, August 5, 1910
Rained again last night.  Worked with oats today.
Saturday, August 6, 1910
Stacked the oats, which were too green to thresh this a.m. and shall feed them for hay.  Homer started to disc the rest of the oat stubble this p.m.  Drove pony over to Bush this evening and played cards.
Sunday, August 7, 1910
Heavy fog this morning.  Staid around house all day.
Monday, August 8, 1910
Caught a ride to Amarillo this a.m. in an automobile.

Tuesday, August 9, 1910
Staid in Amarillo all day.

This is an mysterious entry. He doesn’t mention it in the diary, just in his ledger.
He lost a charm? It was found. And then he had it engraved. I would love to know what it was.

Wednesday, August 10, 1910
In Amarillo all day.  Came home on evening train.

Thursday, August 11, 1910
Rode pony up town after the mail.   Put in cement hitching post after dinner and then rode pony up to look at my row stuff.  The maize is heading but is very short.  The kaffir and sorghum has not started to head yet.
Friday, August 12, 1910
Nothing doing today.  Called on Clara N. tonight.
Saturday, August 13, 1910
Baby girl born to the Russells’ this a.m.  Went to Amarillo on train at noon.
[This child is Leota Geraldine Russell.]

Sunday, August 14, 1910
Staid in Amarillo all night and took train to Friona this a.m. with Dr. Hanson and Potter to visit Dayton Hanson.  Drove out to his farm this p.m. in his machine.

Monday, August 15, 1910
Came back to Amarillo this a.m. and I came home tonight.
Tuesday, August 16, 1910
Drove team to Bush with Homer where we set up a corn binder I had bought.  Brought it home tonight with an Emerson gang plow and with a horse and wagon I had bought in Amarillo last Sat. and which Harker had brought out to Bush.

This is a photo taken in 1910 and labelled ‘Nicholson Horse Implement.’
I think it is a corn binder.

Wednesday, August 17, 1910
Homer and I set up the gang plow this a.m.   He started to  plow sod east of the old ground and just north of the road this p.m. but it was most too dry.
Thursday, August 18, 1910
Rained a little last night and drizzled this forenoon.   Homer plowed this p.m.
Friday, August 19, 1910
Homer plowed all day.   Attended a party given by Mrs. Stuart at the hotel after supper.
Saturday,  August 20, 1910
Homer and I hauled dirt to make a crossing over the railroad in front of the house all day.   Potter came tonight and we went up to Goodman’s for a while.

Sunday, August 21, 1910
Drove Potter up to see my row crop this a.m. and out to the Gray Ranch this p.m. to see a round-up.  Called at Goodman’s with him after supper.

Monday, August 22, 1910
Drove Potter to Amarillo this morning and came back this p.m.   Homer cut my Indian corn today as the ears were not much good and I wanted to save the fodder.

Tuesday, August 23, 1910
Drove both teams to Amarillo with Homer this morning after some hogs which I had bought of Dayton Hanson at Friona.  The hogs arrived about 6 p.m. and we got home just at midnight.  One boar, five sows, 7 shoats and 19 pigs.

Wednesday, August 24, 1910
Worked all day on a hog yard which I am building just east of the barn yard.

Thursday, August 25, 1910
Worked on hog yard all day.   Hard norther with rain came up last night but the wind blew so hard that it soon took the water up.  Cold all day.
Friday, August 26, 1910
Built shed for hogs this a.m.  After dinner Homer cut a couple of rounds of maize while I was shocking the Indian corn.
Saturday, August 27, 1910
Hauled maize in today to feed hogs.  Kaffir corn is burning up and much of the maize will not head unless we get a rain soon.

Sunday, August 28, 1910
Staid home all day.  Cloudy most of the day and a strong north wind.
Monday, August 29, 1910
Drove pony to Amarillo this a.m.  Priced land to the American – Canadian Land Co., but they didn’t think it is worth as much as I do.
Tuesday, August 30, 1910
Drove home this a.m.  Sent Homer up town after some bran after dinner.
Wednesday, August 31, 1910
Sprinkled a little this a.m. but not enough to help.  Drove pony up town after dinner for Rev. Edwards who papered the sitting room this p.m. with our help.

 

Automat 1942 NYC

More family history from a postcard.Some old postcards almost need translation.  Here Aunt Helen tells my sister about eating at the Automat in New York City in 1942.  Quite an experience for an out-of-towner!

Dear Jean,
One of the things I enjoyed in New York was eating in an Automat.  There were many boxes each containing some kind of food.  Just put in a nickel and out comes whatever you want to eat.  Helen

Amos Claycomb’s July 1910 Diary

 In July 1910 my grandfather is harvesting the wheat and oats with help from neighbors and helping them harvest their crops.

Friday, July 1, 1910
Very heavy thunder storm early this morning which will lay us off for a while.  Came home this forenoon and Homer and I fixed some fence this p.m.

Saturday, July 2, 1910
Started to cut wheat at Rogers’ after dinner and cut 19 acres before quitting.

Sunday, July 3, 1910
Cut wheat all day.

Monday, July 4, 1910
Finished at Rogers’ about ten a.m. and pulled over to Russell’s old place where we cut this p.m.   Killed a rattler with 5 rattles this a.m.

Tuesday, July 5, 1910
Finished cutting Russell soon after dinner and took the machine home.

Wednesday, July 6, 1910
Rode pony up town after the mail this a.m.

Thursday, July 7, 1910
Hard rain last night.  Rode pony to Bush and went to Amarillo on the train from there.  Came back tonight.

Friday, July 8, 1910
Start to seal up the buggy shed today to make a granary for my wheat and oats.

Saturday, July 9, 1910
Worked on granary all day.

Sunday, July 10, 1910
Farr and Webb came today.  Had them out driving most of the time.

Monday, July 11, 1910
Cut part of my oats this p.m. but had to leave some as they were too green.

Tuesday, July 12, 1910
Put new posts into the corral today.

Wednesday, July 13, 1910
Worked on corral all day.

Thursday, July 14, 1910
Started fencing the east side of Sec. 11 today.

Friday, July 15, 1910
Built fence all day.

Saturday, July 16, 1910
Ditto.  Drove pony over to Bushland tonight and played cards.

Sunday, July 17, 1910
Staid around home all day.

Monday, July 18, 1910
Sent Homer up town after some lumber this a.m.  Worked on oat stacks this p.m.

Tuesday, July 19, 1910
Sent Homer over to the Hoffman place after some alfalfa.  Drove pony to Am- this a.m. and back home after supper.

Wednesday, July 20, 1910
Let Homer drive to Am- with the women folks today.

Thursday, July 21, 1910
Finished the granary this forenoon and started discing the oat stubble after dinner.

Friday, July 22, 1910
Homer disced all day.  Went to Amarillo on train at noon for some wagon bed irons.  Came back tonight.

Saturday, July 23, 1910
Homer disced all day.   Drove pony over to Bush after supper and played cards.

Sunday, July 24, 1910
Staid around the house all day.

Monday, July 25, 1910
Worked all day on a wagon bed to haul wheat in.

Tuesday, July 26, 1910
Finished wagon bed.  Nothing doing.

Wednesday, July 27, 1910
Cut the rest of my oats this p.m.  Were so green that I had to put them in small piles to dry out.

Thursday, July 28, 1910
Nothing doing.  Homer went over to his former place to attend to his own threshing.  Still very hot and dry and corn is suffering badly.

Friday, July 29, 1910
Homer helped Rogers thresh all day – hauling wheat to town.

Saturday, July 30, 1910
Threshing outfit got over to my wheat about 9:30 a.m.  Threshed out 442 bushels today which am putting in a bin in the barn.

Sunday, July 31, 1910
Rained last night and part of the time this p.m.

Memories from Postcards

Nothing like an old postcard to trigger memories.  In 1956 Mom and I flew from San Diego to Chicago, by way of Los Angeles on United Airlines.  We were going to the DeKalb, Illinois Centennial celebration in Mom’s hometown.

It was my first plane ride.  I was given a tour of the plane including the cockpit by the stewardess (no male flight attendants then).  And I was given a small silver pin with wings.  We had a wonderful hot meal – all this in the cheap seats.  Although they probably weren’t very cheap.

Amos Claycomb’s June 1910 Diary

In June 1910 my grandfather, Amos Claycomb, is harvesting wheat in Wildorado, Texas.

Wednesday, June 1, 1910
Drove pony to Am- this p.m.  Went to Elk Minstrel show tonight with Dr. Hanson.

Thursday, June 2, 1910
Bought a team of horses this a.m. of McKnight.  Both are bays, 17 hands high.  One is 6 yrs. old and weighs 1360 while the other is 3 and weighs 1210.  Paid $450 for team and harness.  Brought them home this p.m.

Friday, June 3, 1910
Drove new team up town this a.m. after some freight.  Worked on machinery shed this p.m. with Homer.

Saturday, June 4, 1910
Homer took a day off today and drove family to Amarillo.  Have twisted a tendon on the back of my left hand and am not able to use it much at present.

Sunday, June 5, 1910
Staid around the house all day.  The 3 yr old colt I just bought was kicked in the face today and one of its eyes was cut pretty  badly.   Sent Homer to town with him tonight to see a horse doctor.

Monday, June 6, 1910
Took mares over to Womble’s horse again today.  Homer got back about noon with colt whose eye can be cured in about ten days.  He and I worked on the blacksmith shed this p.m.

Tuesday, June 7, 1910
Homer and I finished blacksmith shed this a.m.  He returned some lumber to Bush this p.m.   The thermometer has reached 100 every day for the last ten days and the hot winds are ruining the wheat and oats.

Wednesday, June 8, 1910
Drove pony into Am- this p.m.  Temp. over 100°  all the afternoon.

Thursday, June 9, 1910
Staid in Am- all day.

Friday, June 10, 1910
Drove home early this a.m.  Norther blowing hard all day which has cooled it off a little.

Saturday,  June 11, 1910
Finished machinery shed this a.m.   Rode pony to Bush and then to Wil- this a.m.

Sunday, June 12, 1910
Staid around house all day.

Monday, June 13, 1910
Worked round the place all day.

Tuesday, June 14, 1910
Homer drove the mares over to Womble’s this a.m.   Worked on header barge this p.m.

Wednesday, June 15, 1910
Worked on header barge this a.m.  Drove blacks up town this p.m. after a load of cinders and lumber.

Thursday, June 16, 1910
Set up forge in the blacksmith shop this forenoon.  Started some post holes in the fence along the south side of the road this p.m.   The ground was so hard that we had to soak the holes.

Friday, June 17, 1910
Set in posts and stretched the wire in the fence along the south side of the road all day.

Saturday, June 18, 1910
Homer and I drove both teams over to Bush this a.m. and helped set up a header, which I had bought of Harker, and brought it home with us.  Drove pony over to Bush after supper and played cards.

Sunday, June 19, 1910
Staid around house all day.  It is still very hot and dry with the thermometer reaching 100°  nearly every afternoon.  The prevailing winds are from the south-east which are supposed to bring rain in this country but they aren’t making good just now.

Monday, June 20, 1910
Went to Amarillo on the train this noon and came back tonight.

Tuesday, June 21, 1910
Spent day in getting ready for heading wheat which will start here tomorrow.

Wednesday, June 22, 1910
Started to head my wheat today.  Am hiring six mules to run the header and am hiring one team besides my own two to run three header barges.  There are two men at the stack, three on the barges, one to load them, and the driver of the header.

Thursday, June 23, 1910
Cut wheat all day.

Friday, June 24, 1910
Cut wheat all day.

Saturday, June 25, 1910
Finished my 92 acres of wheat at noon.   Took the outfit four miles south right after dinner and started to cut the Bedink boys’ wheat.

Sunday, June 26, 1910
It rained a little last night and we did not get a very early start this a.m. but finished 31 acres before night and pulled back to Rogers.’

Monday, June 27, 1910
Started  on Rogers’ wheat this a.m.

Tuesday, June 28, 1910
It rained a little last night and we didn’t start cutting till noon.  This forenoon I brought Russell and two others over and set up some fence on the east side of Sec. 8 across the railroad.

Wednesday, June 29, 1910
It rained again last night and we laid off until noon.

Thursday, June 30, 1910
Cut wheat all day.

 

Amos Claycomb’s May 1910 Diary

My grandfather, Amos Claycomb, in May 1910 is farming in Wildorado, Texas.  He sees Halley’s comet for the first time.  Several days are spent tacking canvas on the house walls to prepare them for papering.  

Sunday, May 1, 1910
Took Arabel G. out driving this p.m.

Monday, May 2, 1910
Norther blowing so cold today that we did not try to work.

Tuesday, May 3, 1910
Started to rain at noon and is still misting tonight.  Rode pony up town after the mail right after dinner.

Wednesday, May 4, 1910
Rainy and misting all day.  Homer and I tacked canvas on the walls of the living room today.

Thursday, May 5, 1910
It rained hard for a short time last night and was cloudy till noon.  Homer worked up town this p.m. for another man.  I tack on canvas all day to be ready for papering.

Friday, May 6, 1910
Planted all day while Homer worked up town.  Finished the kaffir corn and started on maize about the middle of the forenoon.

Saturday, May 7, 1910
Homer planted maize all day while I cleaned some seed.

Sunday, May 8, 1910
Homer and I took both the black mares over to Womble’s this forenoon.  See May 16.

Monday, May 9, 1910
Drove into Amarillo this p.m. with Mrs. Barger.  Attended Elk lodge tonight.

Tuesday, May 10, 1910
Staid in town all day.

Wednesday, May 11, 1910
Drove home this p.m. and brought Doc True to look at a horse of Russell’s and then drove him back to Bushland to the train.

Thursday, May 12, 1910
Homer planted all day.

Friday, May 13, 1910
Rained most all of last night and was too wet to work in the field today.

Saturday, May 14, 1910
Misty and rainy all day.  Homer and I tacked canvas in the hall way all the a.m. and rode up town this p.m.  Rode pony over to Harker’s for supper and then played cards.

Sunday, May 15, 1910
It rained hard with hail last night and water is standing all around barn and house this a.m.  Rode pony up town this p.m. for a short time.

Monday, May 16, 1910
Norther blowing this morning and it has turned cold.  Homer took mares over to Womble’s again today.

Tuesday, May 17, 1910
Homer planted maize today.

Wednesday, May 18, 1910
It sprinkled for a while this morning and Homer didn’t start to plant until 9 a.m.

Thursday, May 19, 1910
Drove pony into town – Am- this p.m. and had her shod.  Spent evening with Bill Monning.

Friday, May 20, 1910
In Amarillo all day.  Spent evening with Bill M. and friend.

Saturday, May 21, 1910
Ditto.  Evening not quite as profitable.

Sunday, May 22, 1910
Cold norther with a misty rain blowing this a.m.  Drove home from Amarillo this p.m. and slept most of the day.

Monday, May 23, 1910
Drove pony up town this a.m. after the mail.  Worked on machinery shed with Homer this p.m. as the planter is broken just now.  Saw Halley’s comet tonight for the first time.

Tuesday, May 24, 1910
Worked on machinery shed this p.m. with Homer.  Drove to Wildo- tonight with Armstrong and called at Goodman’s.

Wednesday, May 25, 1910
Homer started to plant again today.  Found a blue weed patch in the oat field this a.m. and worked on it for a while this p.m.  Very hot today with a two minute shower this p.m.

Thursday, May 26, 1910
Pulled blue weeds all the a.m.  Drilled some sorghum plates for the planter this p.m.

Friday, May 27, 1910
Homer finished planting maize this a.m. and then started on the sorghum.  Rode pony up town after supper and called on Clara N. for a little while.

Saturday, May 28, 1910
Homer planted all day.  Drove pony over to Bush after supper and played cards.

Sunday, May 29, 1910
Staid around the house all day.

Monday, May 30, 1910
Worked on screens for the house most of the day.  Homer still planting.  Planted a few melon, cucumber, pumpkin and squash seed in the north end of the Indian corn field this a.m.

Tuesday, May 31, 1910
Worked on screens all day.  It has been very warm for the last few days.  Thermometer goes up to 90 – 100 every p.m. with very little wind.

1910 Federal Census Wildorado Texas

The Federal government has taken a census every 10 years since 1790.  The Constitution provided for a census to be taken to determine apportionment of representation in the House of Representatives.  It’s used by the government for various statistical purposes such as taxation or estimation of potential military strength.
By 1910 the census also tells us length of present marriage, how many children a mother has had, and how many are living, birthplace, birthplace of parents, citizenship status, occupation, number of weeks unemployed in 1909, and if a person is a veteran of the Civil War.  Residency was based as of 15 April 1910.  If a child was born after that date, it would not be included in this census.
The census taker went from house to house and information about the people in that household was given by whomever was present and may or may not be correct.

Amos Claycomb was visited by the census man on 21 April 1910 – this was the first time he was listed as head of household.  It also shows him as a male, white, 24 years old, and single.  His birthplace is listed as Illinois as it is also for his parents.

The Homer Russell family is listed just after Amos’ entry.  Homer P. Russell is a male, white, 28 years old, is married and has been married one time for 3 years.  He was born in Ohio, as was his father.  His mother was born in English-speaking Canada.  Homer’s wife, Goldy P. Russell,  is shown as female, white, 26 years old, is married, has been married one time  for three years.  Goldy also has had one child and it is living.  She and both her parents were born in Ohio.  Hariet E. Russell, daughter of Russell (we can assume also of Goldy, but that is not stated – relationships are given to the head of household only), female, white, one year old and still single.  Hariet was born in Texas, and both her parents were born in Ohio.  Also living with the Russells is Homer’s sister, Sarah S. Barger, female, white, age 46 and widowed.  She was born in Ohio, as was her father.  Her mother (same as Homer’s probably) was born in English-speaking Canada.

There are columns for citizenship: date of immigration and citizenship status.  On this specific page, none of these columns was completed.

The next column indicates the language spoken in our highlighted families – English for all of them.  It states the trade or occupation.  Amos is a farmer on a ‘general farm’ and an employer, Homer is a farm laborer and a worker (as opposed to an owner).  Sarah, the sister, is shown to have her own income.  Homer’s wife and child have no occupation.  I’m thinking Goldy was a pretty hard worker for not having an occupation!  The census asked if Homer was out of work on 15 April 1910 and how many weeks out of work in 1909 and he said no and none.

The next question are whether one can read, write and has attended school since 1 September 1909.  Both Amos and Homer have ‘yes’ for all.  Goldy and Sarah can read and write, but have not recently attended school.  The next columns refer to the farm, so only Amos replies:  he owns his farm, it is not mortgaged (although he has to pay his father back!), it’s a farm (as opposed to just a house), it’s listed on Agricultural Schedule 21.  The remaining questions are regarding Civil War veterans, if a person is blind, or if a person is deaf and dumb.  These are blank on this page.  There are odd check marks left by the person using the census forms to tally.

Census records can be a gold mine for genealogists.  I’m not even working on Homer Russell’s family, but this census gives quite a feeling for his family.  In both households highlighted I would guess that Amos gave his own information and Homer or Goldy gave theirs.  Amos’ is correct and I would think that the Russells information is accurate.  Just remember that we don’t know who gave the information (it could be a neighbor) and cannot be sure of its accuracy.