Amos Claycomb’s List of Books 1903

In the back of his 1903 diary my grandfather listed all the books he had read during the year.  And there was a page for addresses.

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With Roberts to Pretoria by G. A. Henty
Tom Temple’sCareer by Horatio Alger
Out on the Pampas by G. A. Henty
The Kindred of the Wild by Charles G. D. Roberts
The Shadow of the Czar by John R. Carling
Jack Archer by G. A. Henty
Danny by Aldred Olivant
The Blazed Trail by Stewart Edward White
The Two Vanrevels by Booth Tarkington
The Wrestler of Phillipi by Fannie E. Newberry
The Boys of Fairport by Noah Brooks
The Evil Genius by Wilkie Collins
Pearl Island by Andrew Caster
The Beach Patrol by William Drysdale
D’ri and I by Irving Bacheller
Darrel of the Blessed Isles by Irving Bacheller
That Printer of Udell’s by Harold Bell Wright
Prisoners of Conscience by Amelia E. Barr
The Splendid Idle Forties by Gertrude Atherton
Soldiers of Fortune by Richard Harding Davis

The Lakerim Athletic Club by Rupert Hughes
Lees and Leaven by Edward W. Townsend
The Fifth String by John Phillip Sousa
The Old Gentleman of the Black Stock by Thomas N. Page.
Moran of the Lady Letty by Frank Norris
Shams by John S. Draper
The Blue Goose by F. L. Nason
The Green Mountain Boys by Judge D. P. Thompson
The Ward of King Canute by O. J. Liljenkrantz
The Virginian by Owen Wister
Lin McLean by Owen Wister
Under the Rose by Frederic S. Isham
A Rose of a Thousand Leaves by Amelia E. Barr
Hope Loring by Lilian Bell
The Daughter of a Magnate by F. H. Spearman
Othello by William Shakespeare
King Lear by William Shakespeare
The Abbot by Sir Walter Scott
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
The Conspirators by R. W. Chambers

The Strength of the Hills by Florence Wilkinson
Brewster’s Millions by Richard P. Greaves
The Spy of Yorktown by William O. Stoddard
Brother Jonathan by Hezekiah Butterworth
Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens
Flower O’ the Corn by S. R. Crockett
Glengarry School Days by Ralph Connor
A Forest Hearth by Charles Major
The Dozen from Lakerim by Rupert Hughes
Budd Boyd’s Triumph by W. P. Chipman
Checkers by Henry M. Blossom, Jr.
Wulf the Saxon by G. A. Henty
Captain Macklin by Richard H. Davis
Joan of the Sword Hand by S. R. Crockett

Amos Claycomb’s December 1903 Diary

Tuesday, December 1, 1903
It was cloudy at first this morning but it soon cleared up and was fair the rest of the day.
I went to a lecture tonight at the Waterman Hall by Prof. Starr and after that I bowled two games getting 121 and 119.

Wednesday, December 2, 1903
The thermometer this morning was only 4º above zero but the air was so still that the cold was not felt very much.  It has been a little cloudy all day.
We began to play basketball in school tonight but only played a few minutes.

Thursday, December 3, 1903
It snowed a little last night and has been cloudy the greater part of the day.
I bowled three games after school but had an umpire so I had to be careful and only got 119, 90, 95.

Friday, December 4, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and has snowed two or three times.
I went to a supper at the Universalist Church tonight.
I bowled five games of ten pins, getting 102; 119; 136; 140; 140, one game of four-back getting [illegible] and three of cock-tat getting 16; 22; 24.

Saturday, December 5, 1903
It has been cloudy and cold all day with a westerly wind.
I walked to take the customers’ milk up this morning but came right back.  I slept most of the afternoon.
We turned the stock in the corn-stalks today but still have about fifteen acres of corn to pick.

Sunday, December 6, 1903
It has been a very nice day and warmer than usual.
I walked up town this morning to take the customers’ milk but staid home all the rest of the day.

Monday, December 7, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day.
I went to a lecture after supper at the Waterman Hall.
I bowled five games today.  Scores 143; 124; 125; 138, 190.  The last is my highest so far.

Tuesday, December 8, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and snowing most of the time but the snow was so light that it didn’t amount to much.
I went to a lecture tonight at the Opera House which was fair.  After this I bowled two games but got 88 and 106.

H.S.A.A. might stand for High School Athletic Association. Any other ideas?

Wednesday, December 9, 1903
It has been snowing nearly all day but the snow is very fine.
I went to an entertainment at the Opera House tonight given for the baseball team and it was very good.
I bowled three games of cock-tat after school.  Scores: 13, 17, 18 which are very poor.

Thursday, December 10, 1903
It has been a nice day only pretty cold.
I have basketball for a little while after school tonight.

Friday, December 11, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I bowled one game after school tonight and got 137.

Saturday, December 12, 1903
It snowed very hard last night and has been a blizzard all day with a strong north wind and the snow drifting.
I have staid home all day except that just before supper.  I walked down to the Grove’s place after the cow which had escaped from the barn-yard into the corn-field to get with the cattle that belong down there.

Sunday, December 13, 1903
The thermometer was 20º below zero this morning and it has been very cold all day being partly cloudy.
I walked up town this morning to take the customers’ milk and then most of the way back.

Monday, December 14, 1903
The temperature was 8º below this morning and it has been cloudy most of the day.
I walked to school and part of the way home.
I played basketball for a while after school tonight.

Tuesday, December 15, 1903
It was 8º below again this morning and has been partly clear and partly cloudy today.  A light snow fell just after supper.
I went up to a lecture at the Waterman Hall tonight and then bowled a little.  Scores: 98, 122, 119, 113.

Wednesday, December 16, 1903
The temperature was 6º above this morning and it has been clear most of the day.
I played basketball after school tonight and then walked most of the way home.
I have taken the temperature for the last few mornings at about seven o’clock.

Thursday, December 17, 1903
At eight o’clock this morning the temperature was 10º below but it warmed up very much during the day.
I bowled two games after school getting 127 and 114.

Friday, December 18, 1903
The temperature was 10º above this morning and it has been cloudy most of the day.  The wind has been in the south and tonight it is raining a little but freezing on the ground.
I went to a party at Imo Hall’s tonight and had a very nice time.

Saturday, December 19, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and misting most of the time.
I took the milk up to the customers this morning and then bowled two games before noon.  Scores 153 and 147.  I bowled 3 games this afternoon and 4 after supper.  Scores:  116, 112, 150, 142, 124, 110, and for seven back 49.
I went to basketball games at the school between 1st and 2nd teams of boys and girls.  Both 1st teams won.

Sunday, December 20, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day but not very cold.
I took the customers’ milk up right after breakfast but have staid home the rest of the day.

Monday, December 21, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and not very cold.
I bowled two games after school tonight.  Scores: 133, 116.

Tuesday, December 22, 1903
The thermometer was 10º above this morning and it has been cloudy most of the day.
I bowled two games after school tonight but only got 112 and 90.
Papa bought a new cook-stove and set it up in the kitchen today.

Wednesday, December 23, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly [all] day but rather warm.
Eleanor came home from Lombard tonight and this morning Mrs. Hill and George went into Chicago to meet her.
I bowled two games after school getting 153 and 124.

Thursday, December 24, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I bowled three games after school getting 211, 113, 117.
I went up to a Christmas entertainment at the church after supper.

Friday, December 25, 1903
It snowed very hard until noon and then partially cleared up but the thermometer went down to nearly zero.
Grandma T., Uncle Will, Jane and Mary and the nurse came out here to dinner.
I went up town a little before six and bowled eight games.  Scores:  110, 113, 120, 97, 111, 121, 142, 130.
I went [won?] a $2 pair of bowling shoes today by getting second highest score, 211, in the last ten days.

Saturday, December 26, 1903
It was 11º below this morning and has been cloudy and cold most of the day with a strong west wind.
I bowled 5 games in all today getting 112, 117, 101, 121, 115.
For Christmas presents I got a diary from Grandma T, a stick-pin from Aunt Jennie, a real Indian war-club from Aunt Georgie, a bead watch-fob from Grandma C, a dollar each from Uncle Will and Grandma C., a book from Eleanor and Louise and some other little things.

Sunday, December 27, 1903
It was 26º above this morning and cloudy but when the clouds cleared away in the middle of the forenoon it began to get colder.
I walked up town and back this morning to take the customers milk and then to and from Sunday-School.

Monday, December 28, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and snowing all the afternoon.
I bowled six games altogether today.  Scores:  148, 115, 115, 163, 111, 126.
I went to a private dance at the Opera House tonight with Eleanor and had a nice time.

Tuesday, December 29, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear and has been snowing a little today but the snow is fine and is drifted by a strong northerly wind.
I staid home all the forenoon but went up town this afternoon and bowled three games.  Scores:  153, 101, 101.

Wednesday, December 30, 1903
It has been partly cloudy today with a little snow and pretty cold.
I staid home all the forenoon but went up town this afternoon and bowled six games.  Scores: 139, 90, 129, 122, 127, 133.
Mrs. Amanda Wilson who used to work for us is visiting here tonight.  She now lives in Nebraska.

Thursday, December 31, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I have bowled five games today.  Scores 174, 154, 145, 119, 126.  I went to a dance at the Opera House tonight but only had a fair time.
Yesterday afternoon at the matinee a fire in the new Iroquois theater in Chicago killed nearly 600 people.  Most of these were suffocated or trampled to death.

Amos Claycomb’s November 1903 Diary

Sunday, November 1, 1903
It has been a nice day only cloudy part of the time.
I took the customer’s milk up on foot this morning and have staid home the rest of the day.

Monday, November 2, 1903
It has been a nice day but cloudy part of the time.
Papa started today to built a new cement walk in front of the house.

Tuesday, November 3, 1903
It was very cloudy at first this morning but after this cleared up about noon the day was fair.
I went to the second of a series of six lectures given every two weeks at the Waterman Hall tonight.  They are on the native tribes of America and so far have been very good.

Wednesday, November 4, 1903
It was very foggy this morning and has been cloudy all day.
Aunt Alta and George went up to Grandma’s for supper tonight.

Thursday, November 5, 1903
It has been pretty cold today with a strong north-west wind and has been partly cloudy.

Friday, November 6, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today and pretty cold.  Water froze fairly hard last night.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and have been beating carpets or cleaning the lawn all the rest of the day.

Saturday, November 7, 1903
It has been a very nice day only a little cool.
I walked to and from town this morning and took the customers’ milk.  I worked around the house most of the rest of the day and went up town for a little while after supper.

Sunday, November 8, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I took the customers milk up on foot this morning.
Papa had our cement walk laid today because he could not get the men very well any other time before it gets cold.  The cement walk was laid in the front of the house and then a little by the back house and to the cistern.

Monday, November 9, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and a high west wind has been blowing most of the time.
Aunt Alta went back home from her visit here this morning.
I bowled my first game tonight at the new bowling alley and got 117.

Tuesday, November 10, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I walked to school but caught a ride home.
I made a new record, 118, while bowling tonight.

Wednesday, November 11, 1903
It rained hard last night and a little this morning.  A strong west wind blew this morning and it has been cloudy nearly all day.
I went to a concert at the Opera House tonight and after that bowled until twelve o’clock when I walked home.  I made a new record of 125.

Thursday, November 12, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear.
I bowled three games after school but wasn’t much good.

Friday, November 13, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly fair today but tonight at about half past nine it is sprinkling.
I bowled five games after school tonight.  My scores in order were 91; 104; 119; 123; 108.

Saturday, November 14, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today.
I worked around home all day chopping kindling wood and picking popcorn but after supper I went up town and bowled three games making 110, 143, 169 in order.

Sunday, November 15, 1903
The sun shone for a little while this morning but it soon clouded up and has been cloudy the rest of the day.  A southwest wind has been blowing and it sprinkled a little after supper.
I walked to and from Sunday School.

Monday, November 16, 1903
It has been cloudy and cold all day.  A strong northerly wind has been blowing and it has sprinkled two or three different times.
I brought a pair of ferrets home tonight that Papa bought to kill rats.

Tuesday, November 17, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear but very cold with a strong west wind all day.
I went to a lecture tonight at the Waterman Hall and also bowled some.  My highest scores were 140 and 135.
It snowed hard for a little while this morning but it melted as soon as it touched the ground.

Wednesday, November 18, 1903
It has been clear all day but very cold.
I bowled four games after school tonight.  Scores 108, 121, 128, 121.
Aunt Jennie came from Galesburg last night to see Grandma who is still sick a bed but a little better.

Thursday, November 19, 1903
It has been a nice day only pretty cold.
I bowled two games after school tonight.  Scores 124 and 132.

Friday, November 20, 1903
It has been partly clear and partly cloudy today.
I bowled six games after school tonight.  Scores:  108, 109, 127, 132, 144, 152 not in order.

Saturday, November 21, 1903
It has been cloudy most of the time today.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and then chopped kindling wood until noon.
I walked up town this afternoon and bowled twice getting 119 and 147; then after supper I walked up again and bowled three times.  Scores: 99; 139; 140.

Sunday, November 22, 1903
It was clear and warm at first this morning but it soon clouded up and is pretty cold tonight.
I walked to take the customers’ milk this morning.
Uncle Charlie, Aunt Jennie, Uncle Will and Jane came out for a little while this afternoon.
A car killed or hurt or we had to kill a little pig that had gotten out this afternoon.

Monday, November 23, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and a strong north-west wind blew this morning.
Walter and Jennie Walrod came out on the car tonight and they and Louise and I played cards for a while.

Tuesday, November 24, 1903
It has been cloudy most of the time today.
I bowled one game after school and got 125.
I went up town after supper to see the H.S. bowling team play three different teams.  They won the first two but lost the third to the Commercial Club.

Wednesday, November 25, 1903
It has been cloudy most of the day.
I went into Chicago this morning to see the football game tomorrow.  This afternoon I went to Powers’ Theatre and saw William Crane in “The Spenders” and tonight I saw the the Grand Opera House Richard Mansfield in “Old Heidelberg.”  Both were very good.
I staid at the Palmer House tonight but ate my dinner and supper at the Boston Oyster House.

Thursday, November 26, 1903
In South Chicago today it snowed very hard, downtown there were a few flurries but in Sycamore it did not snow at all.
I went to the football game this afternoon at Marshal Field between U. of Michigan and U. of Chicago.  Michigan won by better all-around playing by a score of 28 to 0.
I went to McVicker’s Theatre and saw “Checkers” which is comic and very good.  At eleven o’clock I started home on the Great Western.

Friday, November 27, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day.
I walked up town this morning to take the customers’ milk but slept all of the afternoon.
I drove up after supper to see Grandma who is a little better.
Yesterday and the day before I bowled 18 games at Mussey’s between Dearborn and Clark Sts, some alone and some with other fellows, but the best that I got was 161.

Saturday, November 28, 1903
It snowed quite a little last night and some this morning and has been cloudy the rest of the day.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning.
I helped drive some cattle on the pony this afternoon from the Groves farm down to the butcher’s on our other place.
I went up town on the car after supper and blowed four games.  Scores: 98, 132, 150, 139.

Sunday, November 29, 1903
It snowed most of the forenoon but it cleared up about noon and is getting colder tonight.  The wind has been in the north most of the day.
I walked to and from town to take the customers’ milk.  I only milk one cow now as we are drying the other up.

Monday, November 30, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I bowled four games tonight getting 160, 111, 124.

[This month’s entries made me smile.  Once he discovered bowling, he hardly missed a day.]  

 

Amos Claycomb’s October 1903 Diary

Thursday, October 1, 1903
It has been cloudy pretty near all day.
George has been staying up to Grandma’s since Monday taking care of his eyes.

Friday, October 2, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day.
I went to a dance with Ethel Chatfield tonight over at DeKalb which was given by the Happy Order of Goats.  I had a very nice time.

Saturday, October 3, 1903
It has been partly clear and partly cloudy today.  Towards night it clouded up and lightninged a great deal and rained a little.  It has been very warm all day.
I took five bushels of apples up town this morning to a store and this afternoon I took a load of oats up town.

Sunday, October 4, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and went to church and Sunday School.  I slept most of the afternoon.

Monday, October 5, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I walked to school this morning but caught a ride part of the way home.

Tuesday, October 6, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and tonight it has been raining a little.
Louise went into Chicago today with Grandma Townsend.
George still is staying up to grandma’s but his eyes are no better yet.

Wednesday, October 7, 1903
It rained quite a little last night and for a while this morning and has been partly cloudy and partly clear the rest of the day.
I walked to and from school.

Thursday, October 8, 1903
It has been partly fair and partly cloudy.
I walked home from school but caught a ride part way up.

Friday, October 9, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I caught a ride up to school but walked home.
Papa has been going up to Grandma’s the last few nights to sleep with George whose eyes still remain about the same.

Saturday, October 10, 1903
It has been partly nice and partly cloudy today.
I picked up some apples for cider right after breakfast and then took the milk up to the factory.  I went up town for a little while after dinner, on the pony.

Sunday, October 11, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cloudy.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and went to Sunday-School.

Monday, October 12, 1903
It has been partly clear and partly cloudy today.
I walked to and from school.

Tuesday, October 13, 1903
It has been a very nice day only a little cloudy.

Wednesday, October 14, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and it rained quite a little tonight.
I went to a dance down at the park tonight and had a very nice time.

Thursday, October 15, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and it rained for a while at noon and then again about four o’clock.

Friday, October 16, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today.
Louise went to a show up town tonight with some girls.
George’s eyes are worse today but they keep changing all the time.

Saturday, October 17, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear and so cold that I have worn my overcoat part of the time today.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning.
This afternoon I went up to the Great-Western yards and helped drive some cattle home but I got something in my eye and after supper I went up to the doctor to get it out as I could not.

Sunday, October 18, 1903
There was a very heavy frost last night but it has been a very nice day.
I went up to another doctor this morning as I took the milk to see about my eye and it is better now.  I did not go to Sunday School.
It clouded up a little this afternoon.

Monday, October 19, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I walked to and from school.

Tuesday, October 20, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I went to a lecture tonight at the Waterman Hall and after that I went to see the last part of a show at the Opera House.  Both were very good.

Wednesday, October 21, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I walked to and from school.  I keep on milking two cows now as before but they do not give very much.

Thursday, October 22, 1903
It has been a nice day today.
George’s eyes were quite a little better today.

Friday, October 23, 1903
There was a very heavy frost last night but it has been nice today.
I went to a dance at the Opera House tonight with Ethel Chatfield and Louise and had a very nice time.

Saturday, October 24, 1903
It has been a nice day only a cold west wind has been blowing most of the time.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and worked home some of the afternoon.

Sunday, October 25, 1903
It has been a very nice day only a little cloudy.
I took the milk up to the customers this morning.  I went up town for a little while after supper.
Uncle will and his children and their nurse, Mrs. Walrod came back from the visit to Galesburg today.
George came home to stay from Grandma’s tonight.

Monday, October 26, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
Grandma Townsend has been a little sick lately but she is better today.

Tuesday, October 27, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I walked to and from school.

Wednesday, October 28, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I went into Chicago alone today and got me an overcoat, a suit of clothes and a pair of gloves.  I went to McVicker’s Theater this afternoon and saw the play “Way Down East” which was very good.

Thursday, October 29, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cloudy.
There was no school today on account of the corner-stone of the new courthouse being laid.
I went to a dance part of the afternoon and then for a while tonight up town.

Friday, October 30, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and has sprinkled several different times.
George went to a party up town tonight and wore long pants for the first time.

Saturday, October 31, 1903
It has been nice and warm today only cloudy part of the time.
I took the customer’s milk up this morning on foot.
I went to a football game at DeKalb this afternoon when DeKalb and Rochelle played to a tie 5 to 5.  These were High Schools.

 

Amos Claycomb’s September 1903 Diary

Tuesday, September 1, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I walked home from school tonight.

Wednesday, September 2, 1903
It has been partly fair and partly cloudy today.
I walked to and from school.

Thursday, September 3, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cloudy.
I went to a ballgame after school between the Gunthers and Sycamore.  Sycamore beat by a score of 8 to 7.

Friday, September 4, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and has been raining part of the time.
I moved all my clothes into the room all [off?] the kitchen this afternoon and I expect to sleep here alone all winter.

Saturday, September 5, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today and it sprinkled two or three times this morning.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and I hoed a few weeds in some fall plowing for a little while after dinner.

Sunday, September 6, 1903
It has been cloudy all day.
I took the milk up the factory this morning and have staid home all the rest of the day.

Monday, September 7, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cloudy.I rode to school when George took the milk and rode back with papa on a load of sweet corn husks from the factory.
Aunt Georgie and her children started home this forenoon.

Tuesday, September 8, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I walked to and from school.

Wednesday, September 9, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and it commenced to rain a little before six tonight and is still raining hard a little after eight o’clock.

Thursday, September 10, 1903
It was cloudy at first this morning but it cleared off in the middle of the forenoon and has been nice the rest of the day.
I went up town on the car to go on an excursion to Sandwich but it was postponed until tomorrow on account of the rain last night.

Friday, September 11, 1903
It has been partly nice and partly cloudy today.
I went to a fair at Sandwich on an excursion today and had a very good time.  The principal things there were a ballgame where Syc. beat the Athletics 11-5 and some horse racing.  Louise also went to the fair with some girls.

Saturday, September 12, 1903
It has been partly fair and partly cloudy today but at half past twelve tonight it is raining.
We shelled corn all day and I helped around a little.  I went to a dance down at the park tonight.

Sunday, September 13, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning but have staid home the rest of the day.

Monday, September 14, 1903
It rained hard last night and this morning for a while.  It has been cloudy all day and tonight it rained again very hard and I got wet through while getting the cows.
I got two new customers for milk today making four in all.  I carry the milk up as I walk to school and get all the money for it.

Tuesday, September 15, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and has rained part of the time.
I walked all the way to school but caught a ride part of the way back.

Wednesday, September 16, 1903
It has been cloudy and very cold all day.
I walked to and from school.  I got me a new pair of boots tonight.

Thursday, September 17, 1903
It has been partly clear and partly cloudy today but pretty cold.
I walked to and from school.

Friday, September 18, 1903
There was a heavy frost last night but it has been nice today.
I went to a dance given by the Social Club at Grove’s pavilion tonight with Ruby Graham and had a very nice time.

Saturday, September 19, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and then I went down to the other place and picked up some apples which I took up to the cider press this afternoon.  Right after dinner I helped drive some cows up town on the pony and then I took the apples up.

Sunday, September 20, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning.
Uncle Fred and Uncle Will rode out this morning on the horses and staid for a while.

Monday, September 21, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I walked home from school tonight but caught a ride part way up this morning.

Tuesday, September 22, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I went into Chicago with Uncle Will this morning to get a suit of clothes and a few other things.
This afternoon we went to a ballgame between the Chicago and New York National League teams.  Chicago won by a score of 6 to 1.

Wednesday, September 23, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cloudy.
I walked to and from school.

Thursday, September 24, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I rode a wheel home tonight for George which Uncle Fred has bought for him.
[A wheel is a bicycle.]

Friday, September 25, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I went to a dance over at DeKalb tonight with Ethel Chatfield and had a good time.
Grandma Townsend came home from Maine this afternoon.

Saturday, September 26, 1903
It has been cloudy all day.  It sprinkled a little this morning and rained most of the afternoon.
I took some apples over to the cider press right after breakfast and then took the milk up to the factory as soon as I got back.
I slept for a while after dinner and about 4 o’clock I took a load of corn of [up?] town to a livery stable.

Sunday, September 27, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cool.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and went to Sunday School at noon. I drove up to Grandma’s this afternoon and staid a little while.

Monday, September 28, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cloudy.
I went into Chicago this morning with Uncle Will to change the suit of clothes that I got last Tuesday.

Tuesday, September 29, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cloudy.
I took the milk up to the factory before school this morning but left the horse up town for Papa to get.

Wednesday, September 30, 1903
It has [sic] quite a little last night and has been raining most of today.
I rode to school with papa but walked back.

Amos Claycomb’s August 1903 Diary

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

Saturday, August 1, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and it sprinkled a little this forenoon.
I have been hoeing corn all day.
Louise came home from Chicago today where she has been visiting a friend for about a week.

Sunday, August 2, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cloudy.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning but did not go to Sunday-School.
I went to a ballgame this afternoon between Maple Park and Kirkland at Groves’ Park.  The former beat by a score of 6 to 2.
Papa went into Chicago this morning and came back tonight.

Monday, August 3, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and has sprinkled several different times.
I have hoed corn all day.

Tuesday, August 4, 1903
It rained a little last night and has been partly clear and partly cloudy today mostly the latter.
I hoed corn all day and after supper I rode up town on the cars and got a haircut.

Wednesday, August 5, 1903
It rained part of the forenoon today and was cloudy most of the afternoon.
I staid in the house most of the forenoon but this afternoon I hoed corn.
I went to a dance down at the park after supper and had a very nice time.

Thursday, August 6, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I have hoed corn all day.
Louise went over to DeKalb with some girls after supper.

Friday, August 7, 1903
It has been cloudy most of the time today.
I have hoed corn all day.

Saturday, August 8, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day.
I have hoed corn all day.
It sprinkled a little this morning.

Sunday, August 9, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today.
I went to a ballgame this afternoon between Sycamore and the Marquettes at Groves’ park.  Sycamore won in fairly good game by a score of 14 to 4.  Batteries Syc.: J. Parker and Hughes; Marquettes: Koukalik and Rundle.  Gertenrick, the center-fielder for Sycamore made two singles, a double and a home run in five times at bat.

Monday, August 10, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today.  I hoed corn all the morning.
This afternoon I went to the Chautauqua and hear W. J. Bryan, twice defeated democratic candidate for president.  His speech was very good.
I went to a ball game this afternoon and saw Sycamore beat the Marquettes in a good game by a score of 5 to 4.  Batteries for Syc, Black and Hughes: Marq. Callahan and Shrewbridge.

Tuesday, August 11, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today.  I have hoed corn all day.
I hoed twenty-five acres of corn and walked fifteen miles to do it but the corn was not very weedy.

Wednesday, August 12, 1903
It was sunny part of the forenoon but was cloudy and cold all the afternoon.
I hoed corn all day.
It was a little foggy early this morning.

Thursday, August 13, 1903
It rained a little last night and sprinkled a little this morning.  It was cloudy all the forenoon but cleared up a little this afternoon.
I hoed corn all the forenoon and this afternoon I hauled rye from the Wood Farm up to the elevater [sic].  They are threshing at the Wood Farm.

Friday, August 14, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today.
I have hoed corn all day.

Saturday, August 15, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and it rained very hard this morning for a while.
I took the milk to the factory this morning.  This afternoon I went up to see the Doctor about having my left arm fixed which I broke 6 years ago last May 22.  It was set all right at first but I twisted it again and it was not set right the second time.  It is now so crooked that it bothers me to work and I wanted the doctor to fix it but he said the only way that I could do it any good was to keep working at it till I go [got?] it back but he said that it would never be entirely straight again.
Louise went to a picnic at Burlington today with some girls.

Sunday, August 16, 1903
It has been a nice day today.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning but have staid home all the rest of the day.

Monday, August 17, 1903
It has been a very nice day and warmer than usual.
I have hoed corn all day.

Tuesday, August 18, 1903
It has been a nice day and it was very hot for a while this afternoon.
I hoed corn all day except for a little while after dinner when I helped drive some pigs down to the Groves’ farm.
Eleanor went into Chicago today but is coming out tonight.

Wednesday, August 19, 1903
It rained a little last night but has been nice today.
I hoed corn all day and after supper I rode up town on the pony.
Today Papa put some large stones down by the track for part of the walk and also from the east end of the porch to the horse-block.

Thursday, August 20, 1903
It has been a very nice day only a little cloudy.
Papa went on an excursion to Madison, Wis. today.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and then helped drive two cows, which papa had sold, up through town from our pasture.
Right after dinner I helped a man get some oats and weigh them and then I hoed corn till night.
Eleanor is nineteen years old today.

Friday, August 21, 1903
It has been a nice day only partly cloudy.
I hoed corn all day and after supper I went to a dance down to the park and had a very good time.

Saturday, August 22, 1903
It sprinkled a little this morning and has been cloudy nearly all day.
I took the milk to the factory this morning and then helped around down at the other place for threshing.
We threshed from four till six this afternoon and got about 550 bu. of oats.
Harriet Avery of Galesburg came to visit Louise this afternoon.

Sunday, August 23, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today.
I went to a ballgame this afternoon down to the park.  The Hinckley team beat the Maple Parks by a score of 7 to 4.

Monday, August 24, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and it sprinkled three different times this afternoon.
We threshed all day and finished tonight.  We got about 2550 bu. of oats off of 65 acres.

Tuesday, August 25, 1903
It rained last night and has been cloudy most of the time today.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and then staid in the house most of the rest of the forenoon.  I hoed corn all of the afternoon.

Wednesday, August 26, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and has been raining most of the afternoon.
I hoed corn all the forenoon and helped pick sweet corn this afternoon until the rain stopped us.

Thursday, August 27, 1903
It rained all of last night and part of the forenoon and has been cloudy all the rest of the day.
I took the milk up to the factory but it was too wet to work any.
Aunt Georgie Yates and her children and George came home from Maine today but Grandma is to stay for a while longer.

Friday, August 28, 1903
It was cloudy all this forenoon it cleared up a little this afternoon and tonight at half past ten it is raining again.
Papa went to Chicago this morning.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and then helped pick sweetcorn the rest of the day.
I played cards with Louise and Harriet Avery for a while after supper.

Saturday, August 29, 1903
It has been cloudy and cold all day and has sprinkled two or three times.
I picked sweetcorn this forenoon but cut weeds in the corn all the afternoon.
I went to a dance down at the park tonight with Harriet and Louise and had a good time.

Sunday, August 30, 1903
It has been cloudy all day.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning.
Uncle Will, Aunt Jennie, Aunt Georgie, Fred Yates, Oscar Yates and Jane Tapper drove out this afternoon for a while.

Monday, August 31, 1903
It has been partly fair and partly cloudy today.
I started to go to school again today and am in the third year of H. S.  I take History, Latin (Cicero), Literature, and Chemistry.
Harriet Avery went home this morning.  George did not start to school today because his eyes are too sore.

 

Amos Claycomb’s July 1903 Diary

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

Wednesday, July 1, 1903
It was cloudy this morning and it sprinkled a little in the middle of the forenoon.  It then cleared up and was very hot this afternoon but after supper it clouded up and is raining a little.
I picked red raspberries all day.
Papa began to put up clover hay down at the Groves Farm this afternoon.

Thursday, July 2, 1903
There was a very hard thunder-storm last night and it has been partly clear and partly cloudy today only very hot.
I hoed a few thistles this morning.
Grandma Townsend, Aunt Georgie and her family, Uncle Charlie, Aunt Jennie, Marion, Fred, Pierce and Uncle Will were out to dinner and they staid most of the afternoon.
I went to a dance down to the pavilion for a little while after supper.

Friday, July 3, 1903
It rained a little last night and has been both cloudy and clear today but it is raining a little now at about ten.
I picked red raspberries all the forenoon and helped in the hayfield this afternoon.
I rode the pony up town after supper but I soon came back.

Saturday, July 4, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and it rained very hard for a while this afternoon.
I have staid home all day and both this forenoon and afternoon I slept for a while.
After supper I went to a dance down to the pavilion and had a very nice time.  Marion and Louise went down there this afternoon to dance while I was asleep.

Sunday, July 5, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I went to Sunday-School at noon on the pony.

Monday, July 6, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I picked red raspberries all the forenoon and this afternoon I worked for Mr. Adee with the berries but I did not pick any.

Tuesday, July 7, 1903
It has been a nice day today.
I picked black raspberries for about an hour this morning and then I went up town and had my picture taken with Grandma Townsend and all the rest of her grandchildren. [Where is this picture??]
I helped with the day all afternoon but after supper I went over to a street carnival in DeKalb on the cars.

Wednesday, July 8, 1903
It has been very hot today only a little cloudy.  It sprinkled for a few minutes about supper-time.
I mowed hay all this forenoon and this afternoon I hoed thistles down by the creek.
I went to a private dance tonight with Eleanor, down to Groves’ pavilion and had a very nice time.

Thursday, July 9, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today.
I pulled mustard out of the corn this forenoon and for about an hour this afternoon I went to a ballgame this afternoon between the Spaldings and the Sycamore 1st team.  Sycamore beat by a score of 11 to 3.

Friday, July 10, 1903
It rained hard last night and has been cloudy and hot all day and a little while after supper there was a very heavy thunder storm.
I hoed corn this forenoon and thistles this afternoon.

Saturday, July 11, 1903
It has been a nice day today.
I hoed corn all of the forenoon and helped with the hay this afternoon but the loader broke down twice which delayed us quite a while.
After supper I went on the cars over to DeKalb to the street carnival.

Sunday, July 12, 1903
It has been a nice day today.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and went to Sunday-School.

Monday, July 13, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I mowed hay this morning until the sickle broke and then I hoed corn.  This afternoon I helped put up three loads of hay and then I mowed the rest of the time.

Tuesday, July 14, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cloudy.
I hoed corn for a while this morning and then helped put up four loads of hay.
This afternoon I helped put up one load and then hoed the rest of the time.

Wednesday, July 15, 1903
It has been clear all day except towards night when it clouded up a little.
I hoed corn this morning until the hay dried when I helped put it up.  I helped with the hay this afternoon until the loader broke and then I hoed corn.
I went to a dance tonight down to Groves’ pavilion and had a good time.

Thursday, July 16, 1903
It has been a nice day only very warm.
I helped with the hay this forenoon and until 4 o’clock this afternoon when I went to a ballgame between Syc. and South Chicago.  Syc. won by a score of 7 to 2.
After supper I rode the pony up town to a band concert.  We finished putting in our clover hay today.

Friday, July 17, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and it commenced to  rain at about half-past ten and rained hard all the rest of the day.
I mowed hay for a little while this morning and I slept most of the afternoon.

Saturday, July 18, 1903
It has been partly fair and partly cloudy today and this afternoon it sprinkled a little.
I have hoed corn all day.

Sunday, July 19, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and went to Sunday School.
After supper I went up to Grandma’s for a little while.

Monday, July 20, 1903
It has been partly clear and partly cloudy today.
I helped with the hay wall this forenoon and this afternoon I helped with one load and then mowed the rest of the time.
I went up town on the pony after supper.

Tuesday, July 21, 1903
It sprinkled a little this morning but it soon cleared up and was nice the rest of the day.
I mowed a little while this morning and helped load it the rest of the day.
Grandma Townsend, Aunt Georgie and her children and George started for Maine today.
I went up to Marsh’s Grove to a dance after supper but I only danced once.

Wednesday, July 22, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today.
I helped put up hay all the forenoon when we finished and this afternoon I hoed weeds.

Thursday, July 23, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and then hoed corn all the rest of the day.
Papa went with Uncle Will to Hinckley to see a ballgame at a Woodman’s picnic.

Friday, July 24, 1903
It has been a very nice day only very warm.
I have hoed corn all day.
Edward went swimming this afternoon.  We gan to cut oats today.
Eleanor went over to DeKalb with some girls after supper on the cars.  Louise and Mrs. Hill went into Chicago this morning for a short visit.
Papa went up town on the cars after supper.

Saturday, July 25, 1903
It has been a very nice day only it got a little cloudy towards night.
I hoed corn all the forenoon and helped out in the oat-field this afternoon.

Sunday, July 26, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and went to Sunday School.
This afternoon I went to a league ballgame between Sycamore and the Athletics down at Groves’s park.  Syc. won in a slow game by a score of 5 to 4.

Monday, July 27, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and it sprinkled a little this morning.
I hoed corn all the forenoon and helped in the oat-field this afternoon.

Tuesday, July 28, 1903
It has been partly fair and partly cloudy tonight but above [about?] five o’clock it commenced to rain and has been raining very hard with short stops all the evening.
I helped in the oat-field all day.
Mrs. Hill came home tonight from Chicago where she has been visiting since Friday.

Wednesday, July 29, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly fair today.  It sprinkled a little this morning and it rained three different times this afternoon.  The first two were not very hard but the last was pretty heavy.
I hoed corn all the forenoon and between showers this afternoon.  I hoed corn and cut burdocks.

Thursday, July 30, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today.
I cut weeds in the cornfield with a corn knife all the forenoon and helped in the oat-field until three o’clock this afternoon.  Then I went to a ballgame between Syc. and the Marquettes of Chicago.  Sycamore won in a good game by a score of 5 to 3.

Friday, July 31, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today and cooler than usual.
I have helped with the oats all day in the field.  We finished tonight having about 65 acres.
Eleanor went into Chicago this morning but came back tonight.

 

Amos Claycomb’s June 1903 Diary

My Grandfather kept diaries most of his life.  I post a month each Monday.Monday, June 1, 1903

It has been cloudy all day and raining most of the time but the rain is very like [light?] and does not amount to much.
I walked part of the way to school this morning and before school had the filling taken out of a tooth, which had been put in only a week or so ago and I am having the nerve killed now.  It ached all the forenoon and hurt so this afternoon that I did not go to school but walked home.

Tuesday, June 2, 1903
It was cloudy all this forenoon but it cleared up the latte part of the afternoon only it clouded up again tonight.
I walked to and from school.

Wednesday, June 3, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today.
I walked to and from school and played ball for a while after school tonight.

Thursday, June 4, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and it rained part of the time this afternoon and pretty hard about supper-time.
I walked to and from school and had a tooth filled after school tonight.

Friday, June 5, 1903
It rained all of last night and for part of the forenoon.  It then staid cloudy until the latter part of the afternoon when it cleared up but it soon clouded up again.
I walked to and from school and mowed part of the lawn after school tonight.

Saturday, June 6, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today.
I went up to Grandma’s after some wire right after breakfast.  As soon as I got back I took the milk up to the factory.  When I got back from this I went up town after the meat.  This afternoon I went to a ballgame between Syc. and DeKalb H. Schools.  Syc. beat in a very good game by a score of 5 to 3.
Eleanor came home from Lombard tonight for the long vacation.
Today Papa built a fence about the yard east of the house.  The west side of the fence is about 46 ft. east of the parlor.

Sunday, June 7, 1903
It was nice this forenoon but this afternoon it clouded up and hailed for a minute or two and then rained for a few minutes longer.
I drove to Sunday School in the buggy with Louise and Edward.  George staid home because his eyes were sore.

Monday, June 8, 1903
It has been partly clear and partly cloudy today.
I walked to and from school and played ball for a while after school tonight.

Tuesday, June 9, 1903
It was clear this forenoon but it clouded up a little this afternoon and sprinkled for just about a minute at about five o’clock.
I walked to and from school and played ball for a little while after school.
I went up town for a few minutes after supper tonight.

Wednesday, June 10, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and it rained a little this afternoon and has been a little cold.
I picked strawberries this forenoon but walked to and from school this afternoon.  I played ball for a little while after school.

Thursday, June 11, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and it rained a little this morning.
I walked to and from school and this afternoon I went to a ballgame between Syc. 1st team and the colored team the Algona Brownies.  The latter beat Syc. in a vey interesting game by a score of 3 to 0.
Grandma T., Aunt Georgia, and all her children and Marion Webster came here from Galesburg tonight. Marion is to stay out here most of the time.

Friday, June 12, 1903
It has been a very nice day today.
I walked part of the way to school and all of the way home.
I played ball for a while after school tonight.
Louise and Marion went up town after supper on the cars.

Saturday, June 13, 1903
It has been a nice day today.I picked strawberries all this forenoon but this afternoon I went as a sub over to DeKalb to a ballgame between DeKalb and Syc. High Schools which decided the championship of the High School League.  DeKalb won by a score of 6 to 5 in a very exciting but also very scrappy game.  Batteries;  Syc. J. Chambers and Love: DeKalb; Munger and Cheney.

Sunday, June 14, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cloudy.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and went to Sunday School.
Louise and Marion drove over to DeKalb this afternoon.
Aunt Georgie, Uncle Will, Margaret, Marjorie, Oscar, Frederick Yates, and Jane Tapper came out this afternoon for a while.

Monday, June 15, 1903
It has been a nice day only very warm.
I picked strawberries all day until half past four.
George and Bessie Branen came out after supper for a while.

Tuesday, June 16, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today.
I walked part of the way to school but caught a ride home.
Louise and Marion went up town on the car after supper.

Wednesday, June 17, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I caught a ride most of the way to school this morning but walked home tonight.

Thursday, June 18, 1903
It has been a nice year only cloudy part of the time.
School stopped today for the long vacation and I [am] now in the third year of High School.
I went to a ballgame this afternoon between Syc. 1st team and the All Chicagos.  Syc. beat by a score of 12 to 1.

Friday, June 19, 1903
It was partly clear and partly cloudy this forenoon and it rained nearly all the afternoon.
I hauled shelled corn for Mr. Dennis this forenoon.
After supper I went up on the car to hear the Commencement exercises at the Opera House.

Saturday, June 20, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today.
I picked berries for three hours this forenoon and for three and a half this afternoon.
I went to a baseball banquet given by the girls to the H. S. baseball players and had a good time.  Eleanor, Louise and Marion were there.

Sunday, June 21, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and it is sprinkling a little now about eight o’clock.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and went to Sunday School.
Papa and Uncle Will went to Elgin at noon.

Monday, June 22, 1903
It rained part of the forenoon but it cleared up this afternoon.  At supper-time it clouded up quickly and rained hard for a few minutes.
I picked berries this afternoon and made 72 cents but lost 16 while I was picking. (This was given me the next day by the boss.)

Tuesday, June 23, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today.
I picked strawberries all of this forenoon and red raspberries for a while this afternoon.
I went up town on the pony for a little while after supper.

Wednesday, June 24, 1903
It has been partly clear and partly cloudy today.
I picked cherries all of the forenoon for Papa and strawberries this afternoon for Mr. Adee.  The strawberries are now almost gone.
I rode the pony up town after supper and bought me a book (Shanes) at an auction on the street.

Thursday, June 25, 1903
It has been partly fair and partly cloudy today and very warm.
I have picked berries all day.
After supper I went to a dance given in a pavilion which has just been built in the grove on the Dennis farm.  Louise and Marion also went to the dance.

Friday, June 26, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cloudy.
I picked red raspberries for a little while this morning and this afternoon I went out and picked 4 half-bushel baskets of peas.
Grace McKinley [probably a school friend] of Monmouth came this afternoon to visit Eleanor.
Uncle Charlie, Aunt Jennie, Fred and Pierce came tonight.  Fred is to stay out here for a while.

Saturday, June 27, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cloudy.
I picked strawberries all the forenoon but this afternoon I went to a ballgame between the Spaldings and Syc.  Sycamore beat in an uninteresting game by a score of 7 to 6.

Sunday, June 28, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cloudy.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and rode the pony to and from Sunday School.
Uncle Charlie, Aunt Jennie, Uncle Will and Oscar Yates drove out in the buggy this afternoon.

Monday, June 29, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today.
I picked berries nearly all day and went up town for a little while after supper.

Tuesday, June 30, 1903
It was cloudy at first this morning and it sprinkled a little but it cleared up this forenoon.
I went to a Universalist Sunday School picnic to Mill Creek today and had a very nice time.  I went on the electric line to Aurora before dinner and after dinner I played ball, danced in the pavilion, and “Shot the shoots” for two hours.

 

Amos Claycomb’s May 1903 Diary

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

Friday, May 1, 1903
There was a heavy frost last night and it has been partly cloudy and partly nice today only a little cold.
I walked to and from school.  After school I went to a ballgame between Syc. H. S. and DeKalb Normal 1st Team.  Sycamore won in a very uninteresting game by a score of 7 to 1.
Papa went up town on the car after supper tonight.

Saturday, May 2, 1903
It was nice at first this morning but it soon clouded up and it rained for a while this afternoon and then again tonight.
I went up town right after breakfast to see the dentist but I came right back and helped plant potatoes down to the other place all the rest of the morning.
I have staid around home most of the afternoon.

Sunday, May 3, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cool.
I took the milk up to the factory and rode the pony to and from Sunday School.  This afternoon I rode over to DeKalb in a buggy with Uncle Will, Elmer Tapper, and George.  Papa drove over to Virgil and back this afternoon which is ten or eleven miles from here.  He drove over there in exactly forty three minutes.

Monday, May 4, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day but the sun came out in the middle of the afternoon and has shown nearly all the rest of the time.  It sprinkled for a few minutes this morning.
I rode to and from school.
Papa went up town after supper tonight.

Tuesday, May 5, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day.
I walked to and from school and played ball for a little while after school tonight.

Wednesday, May 6, 1903
It has been partly nice and partly cloudy today.
I walked to and from school but tonight I had such a bad headache that I couldn’t milk which is the first time that I have failed to milk three cows either in the morning or at night all this year.
It is Papa’s birthday today and he is forty-six years old.

Thursday, May 7, 1903
It has been nice all day only a little cool.
I walked most of the way to school and all of the way home.
I went to al ballgame after school between Syc. 1st team and some pick-ups from Chicago.  It was a very poor game as Sycamore beat 19 to 0.  A better team was expected but refused to come today and this team was called to play a game.

Friday, May 8, 1903
It has been a nice day today.
I walked to and from school and played ball for a while after school.
Mrs. Hill and Louise went to an entertainment at the Methodist Church after supper.

Saturday, May 9, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I helped drive some cattle this morning from out north of town and then mowed all of the lawn when I came home.
This afternoon I went to see a ball game between Syc. H. S. and Elgin H. S.  Syc. won by a score of 17 to 3.
The pony was shod all around this afternoon.
George went off on a picnic today near Kingston.

Sunday, May 10, 1903
It was nice all this forenoon but this afternoon it clouded up and sprinkled for a while but cleared up in a little while.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and rode the pony to and from Sunday School.  I started to go out into the woods this afternoon and got almost there when it started to rain and I had to come back.

Monday, May 11, 1903
It has been partly clear and partly cloudy today.
I walked to and from school and played ball for a little while after school tonight.

Tuesday, May 12, 1903
It has been partly nice and partly cloudy today and very warm.
I walked most of the way to school and all of the way home.
I get up about half-past five every morning now so that I can feed the horses, milk the cows and take them to pasture before breakfast.  The hired man has been planting corn today.  He began last Friday.

Wednesday, May 13, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and not so warm as yesterday.
I caught a ride part of the way to school but walked all of the way home.  I played ball for a little while after school tonight.

Thursday, May 14, 1903
It was cloudy at first this morning but it cleared off and was nice this afternoon.
I walked all the way to school and most of the way back and played ball for a little while after school tonight.
Rain is need pretty bad now for the crops and the ground is very hard.

Friday, May 15, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I walked to school and most of the way back.  I came right home after school tonight and mowed the lawn.
A few clouds came up this afternoon but they soon went away.

Saturday, May 16, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today.
I went over to DeKalb this morning to see a track meet at Normal between five states.  I ate dinner over there and when I came home I rode the pony up town to see a ballgame between Syc. and Belvidere H. S.  The former beat by a score of 10 to 5 in a rather interesting game.
I rode the pony up town after supper tonight to take some milk to our customers.

Sunday, May 17, 1903
It was partly cloudy and partly nice this forenoon but it sprinkled a little between 12 and one o’clock and has been the same this afternoon as this forenoon.
I took the milk up to the factory and rode the pony to and from Sunday School.

Monday, May 18, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly nice today but it rained a little about dinner-time and a little more this afternoon but not enough altogether to settle the dust.
I walked mostly the way to school and most of the way back.

Tuesday, May 19, 1903
It has been a nice day only the wind has been blowing most of the time very hard from the south.  It was a little cloudy this morning.
I walked to and from school and played ball for a little while after school.
Grandpa and Grandma Claycomb came tonight for a visit here.

Wednesday, May 20, 1903
It has been a nice day only about six o’clock tonight it clouded up and sprinkled a little.
I walked to and from school.

Thursday, May 21, 1903
It was nice at first this morning but it soon clouded up and it rained a little early afternoon and has been cloudy all the rest of the time raining a little once in a while.
I walked to and from school.

Friday, May 22, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I walked to school but caught a ride from town tonight with Papa.
I had a tooth filled right after school and then went and played ball down at the park until nearly six o’clock.

Saturday, May 23, 1903
It rained fairly hard for a while this morning after breakfast but cleared up this afternoon.
I mowed part of the lawn this morning and finished it this afternoon.
I went up town on the pony this afternoon but came right back.

Sunday, May 24, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and a little cooler than usual.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and rode the pony to and from Sunday School.
Grandpa and Grandma, Papa and Mrs. Hill went up to Grandma’s for dinner but Grandma Townsend is in Galesburg now.

Monday, May 25, 1903
It was cloudy most of the morning and about one o’clock it began to rain and it poured for about a half an hour but rained gently a little longer.
I walked most of the way to school and all of the way back.

Tuesday, May 26, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and it rained for a little while about five o’clock tonight.
I walked most of the way to school and caught a ride part of the way home.
I played ball for a while after school tonight in the rain in a practice game.
I played left field for the High School and caught one fly.

Wednesday, May 27, 1903
It was cloudy at first this morning and then it commenced raining about half past eight.  It quit pretty soon but it rained by spells all day and a strong west wind blew most of the time.
I caught a ride part of the way to school but walked all the way home.

Thursday, May 28, 1903
It was partly cloudy and partly nice this forenoon but this afternoon it rained a little.
I caught a ride up to school this morning but walked home tonight.
I went to a ballgame this afternoon between Syc. 1st team and the Chicago Maroons.  Syc. beat in a very interesting and well-played game by a score of 9 to 1.  J. Parker and J. Hughes was the battery for Syc.

Friday, May 29, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and quite a little colder than usual.  A strong east wind has been blowing most of the time.
I walked all the way to school and all the way back and I played ball for a while after school.  Edward went to a circus after supper tonight and is going to stay up to Grandma’s all night.

Saturday, May 30, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and raining part of the time.  A very strong, cold north-east wind has been blowing and it has been pretty cold.
I mowed all of the lawn this morning and this afternoon I planted some popcorn.
I have staid home all day because it was too rainy to go up town.

Sunday, May 31, 1903
It has been cloudy and cold all day and it sprinkled a little this afternoon.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning in an overcoat but did not go to Sunday School because I had a tooth-ache.

 

 

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.

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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.