The End: Grandpa’s Diaries

There are two entries in the 1911 diary for January 1912; there is no 1912 diary to my knowledge. 

Tuesday, January 2, 1912
Snow thawed a little today.  Rode up town after the mail this p.m.

January 16, 1912
The snow is partly off the ground now so stock can graze a little.  Covered the ground 28 days.

The label on the metal box that holds Amos Claycomb’s diaries

These are the ledger entries for January through February which includes the sale of the remaining property in Texas.  

Amos was moving to Illinois in preparation for his marriage to Ruth Bressler.  They married in Wayne, Nebraska on June 15, 1912.

They set up household on a rented farm in Marengo, Illinois where their first child, John Bressler Claycomb, was born, April 12, 1913.  They later moved to Electric Park Corners in Sycamore, Illinois.  Their son, Frank Erwin Claycomb, was born in his grandfather’s (Frank Erwin Claycomb) house in Sycamore on February 2, 1915.  The family then moved to Ruth’s hometown of Wayne, Nebraska.  George Edward Claycomb was born there December 4, 1916; Barbara Claycomb was born December 12, 1918 and Richard Townsend Claycomb was born October 19, 1922.

Amos Townsend Claycomb died in Wayne, December 29, 1958, age 72.
Ruth Bressler Claycomb died in Wayne also, October 29, 1972, age 86.
Both are buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Wayne, Nebraska.

Just a thought:  Grandpa Claycomb rarely wrote more than 2 or 3 lines, but he wrote each day about the everyday things.  He rarely told us how he felt or what his goals were, but we still learn a lot about his life.  I’ve had many people tell me how lucky I am to have my Grandfather’s diaries.  And I am lucky.  Wouldn’t most people want to have this glimpse into their grandparent’s life?  And yet, do we record the everyday things in our lives – maybe just 2 or 3 lines a day?  Yet, wouldn’t our grandchildren love to have that record of our lives?  Please consider keeping some form of diary.  It is a wonderful gift – in the keeping and in the sharing.