Idaho Homestead 1911

Photos taken in Hollister, Idaho, June 1911.  The John Bresslers and the Charles Cravens of Wayne, Nebraska are homesteading in Idaho.  Charles Craven was the local photographer in Wayne and I think he took these photos (he’s not in any of the photos).

Charles M. Craven homestead, Hollister, Idaho, June 1911. In doorway: Mrs. Hattie Craven. L-R: Ruth Bressler, Mrs. Julia Fair Bressler, Dorothy Bressler, Ruth Ringland, Joe Ringland, Mrs. Harvey S. Ringland, Harvey S. Ringland, and John T. Bressler. Ringland was an officer in the Bressler bank in Wayne, Nebraska.

I have posted photos of the Bressler house in Wayne here.  You can see they are used to more luxurious surroundings.  Within a year of this picture, Ruth Bressler had married Amos Claycomb and moved to Illinois.  I believe the Bresslers did not complete the requirement for homesteading.  I don’t know much about the Craven family.

Hollister, Idaho, June 1911. Ruth Bressler shack. Dorothy Bressler in hat.

John Bressler was a banker and politician (unpopular combination) – This is him standing at an irrigation gate.  Dressed very nicely for working in the fields.
These are the families in front of the Bressler homestead with their wagon.  Ruth Bressler’s ‘shack’ (her words) marked with a blue check behind the wagon; a barn is at the far left.  The barrel on the wagon is to transport water.

John T. Bressler homestead, Hollister, Idaho, June 1911.
L-R: Mrs. Hattie Craven, Mrs. Julia Fair Bressler, Dorothy Bressler, Ruth Bressler, John T. Bressler.

Here two of the women are leaving for Idaho Falls.  Some are actually staying.  That looks like a bleak existence.  And how many trunks of clothes did they bring so that they could dress like this?  The houses must have been full of trunks.

Holllister, Idaho, June 1911. Mrs. Julia Fair Bressler and Dorothy Bressler leaving for Idaho Falls.
L-R: John T. Bressler, Dorothy Bressler, Mrs. Julia Bressler, Ruth Bressler, and Mrs. Hattie Craven.

Amos Claycomb’s December 1911 Diary

On the 2nd the railroad paid damages for the fire started by a train in October.  Most of the month is busy selling off animals and supplies.

Friday, December 1, 1911
Drove home this p.m.

Saturday, December 2, 1911
Picked up maize heads all day with Norman.

Sunday, December 3, 1911
Rode pony up after the mail this a.m. and over to Bushland after threshing help this p.m.

Monday, December 4, 1911
Threshed maize this p.m. and got about 145 bushels.

Tuesday, December 5, 1911
Finished threshing maize today getting a total of ___ bushels off of about 65 acres. [number not filled in]

Wednesday, December 6, 1911
Hauled some grain to Wil- this a.m. and helped Paine thresh after dinner.

Thursday, December 7, 1911
Helped Yeager thresh this a.m.  Gray started to haul kaffir this p.m.

Friday, December 8, 1911
Cloudy and misty this p.m.  Helped Baldwin haul and stack feed this p.m. with Norman.

Saturday, December 9, 1911
Misty again this a.m. but helped Baldwin.  Picked up heads after dinner.

Sunday, December 10, 1911
Rode pony over to Bush-  this a.m. and staid at Harker’s for dinner.

Monday, December 11, 1911
Arthur harrowed the plow plowing till noon and then double disced a small piece we did not get plowed.

Tuesday, December 12, 1911
Arthur harrowed and disced all day.  I went over to Bush- this p.m. and brought back Harker’s drill.

Wednesday, December 13, 1911
Foggy with light snow today.

Thursday, December 14, 1911
Worked around the barn all day.

Friday, December 15, 1911
Arthur started drilling wheat this a.m.

Saturday, December 16, 1911
Arthur drilled wheat all day.  Sold my mules today for $190.

Sunday, December 17, 1911
Rode pony over to Bush- this a..m. and drove over to Faddis’ this p.m. after some wheat.

Monday, December 18, 1911
Drizzling all day.  Too wet to drill.

Tuesday, December 19, 1911
Hard now last night and all day with north wind.

Wednesday, December 20, 1911
Snowed a little and drifted more today.  Sold Ballew all the rest of my cattle this a.m. for $325 – 6 yearling steers, 2 cows, 2 heifers and five calves.

Thursday, December 21, 1911
Staid home all day.  Cloudy and melted very little.

Friday, December 22, 1911
Rode up after the mail this a.m. and took three calves over to Ballew’s after dinner.  Sold 25 tons sorghum to Ballew today @ $5.

Saturday, December 23, 1911
Took train to Am- today from Bush- and staid with Arthur Mc- tonight.

Sunday, December 24, 1911
In Am- all day.  Came out home tonight.

Monday, December 25, 1911
Rode up after the mail this a.m. and staid home the rest of the day.  Misty all day.

Tuesday, December 26, 1911
Had to pull all the sucker rod of the wind-mill this a.m. and put in new leathers.  The upper joint of the rod was also broken.

Wednesday, December 27, 1911
Rode to Bush- this a.m. to take train to Amarillo but it was so late I came back home.

Thursday, December 28, 1911
Rode up after the mail this a.m.  Norman killed his hogs today.

Friday, December 29, 1911
Rode after mail this a.m.  Cold norther most of the day.

Saturday, December 30, 1911
Nothing doing.

Sunday, December 31, 1911
Rode over to Harker’s this p.m. and staid there a few hours.

Amos Claycomb’s November 1911 Diary

On the 17th Amos sells 100 tons of grain – doesn’t that seem like a lot?  I’ve double-checked his entry and that’s what it says.  But I don’t find an entry in the ledger for the $400 that he should have gotten.  Maybe there was some trading going on here.

Wednesday, November 1, 1911
Started to shock feed this morning but a norther with rain came up and stopped us.  It rained, sleeted and snowed all day.

Thursday, November 2, 1911
Snowed last night and most of the time today and has turned off cold tonight with 3-4 inches of snow on the level.  Rode pony up after the mail this p.m.

Friday, November 3, 1911
Cloudy all day and drizzled part of the time but warm enough to melt part of the snow.  Drove over to Bushland and stayed at Harker’s all day.

Saturday, November 4, 1911
Clear most of the day and most of the snow has melted.  Mended grain sacks with Norman for a while this p.m. and then rode pony up after the mail.

Sunday, November 5, 1911
Rained a little last night but cleared off this forenoon.  Rode pony over to Yeager’s this morning and brought back a calf I bought of him.

Monday, November 6, 1911
Arthur and I picked up heads for a while this a.m. and then started to shock the maize which has been on the ground through the three snow storms and is beginning to mold on the under side of the bundles.

Tuesday, November 7, 1911
Finished the maize this p.m. and shocked kaffir for a while just before night.

Wednesday, November 8, 1911
Shocked kaffir all day.

Thursday, November 9, 1911
Shocked kaffir till noon.  I finished cutting the 2+ acres of kaffir left standing this afternoon and Arthur picked up maize heads.

Friday, November 10, 1911
Hauled a couple of loads of feed up to the barn this a.m. and picked up maize heads this p.m.

Saturday, November 11, 1911
Took train to Amarillo this noon and came back tonight.  Brought back my riding boots which I had made by McLaughlin.  A strong south-west wind blew till nearly noon and its then switched to the north and got so cold that it is freezing hard tonight.

Sunday, November 12, 1911
Staid around the house most of the day.  Clear and cold this morning but it warmed up a little during the day.

Monday, November 13, 1911
Picked up maize heads today.

Tuesday, November 14, 1911
Arthur picked up heads all day.  I rode pony over to the Gray ranch this a.m. and picked up heads after dinner.

Wednesday, November 15, 1911
Started to haul sorghum and stack it in the stack yard this morning.

Thursday, November 16, 1911
Stacked sorghum this a.m. but picked up heads this p.m. on account of the wind.

Friday, November 17, 1911
Stacked sorghum all  day.  Sold 100 tons of  kaffir and maize to Mr. Gray this p.m. at $4 a ton in the field.

Saturday, November 18, 1911
Stacked sorghum all day.  Drove up town just before supper to send a telegram concerning a land trade.

Sunday, November 19, 1911
Rode pony over to Bushland this a.m. to engage help for threshing.

Monday, November 20, 1911
Hauled and stacked maize all day.  Finished out sorghum stack this a.m. making total of about 35 tons.

Tuesday, November 21, 1911
Hauled and stacked maize all day.

Wednesday, November 22, 1911
Hauled and stacked maize this a.m.  Arthur picked up heads this a.m. while I rode around the country getting help to thresh.

Thursday, November 23, 1911
Hauled and stacked maize most of the day.

Friday, November 24, 1911
Men came this morning ready to help thresh but the machine did not show up and the men helped me finish stacking my maize and they hauled up three loads of kaffir which I stacked.

Saturday, November 25, 1911
Started to thresh my kaffir this a.m. but the machine gave trouble all day and we only threshed about75 bushels off of about 10 acres.

Sunday, November 26, 1911
Sold the rest of my kaffir in the field to Ballew today at $3.50 and $4 a ton and then rode down to the Gray ranch and sold some more maize @ $4.  Then rode pony over to Bush- after some help.

Monday, November 27, 1911
Norther with drifting snow started last night.  Snow lasted till about noon and the wind all day.  Drove pony up town this p.m.

Tuesday, November 28, 1911
Hard norther all day and staid home.

Wednesday, November 29, 1911
Drove team to Wildorado this a.m. and brought back a load of coal.  Drove pony to Amarillo this p.m. and staid at the Amarillo hotel tonight.

Thursday, November 30, 1911
Ate dinner at the McKnight’s.  Went to the Elk’s formal dance tonight with Bess Wheatly.  Cabbed with Bill Monning and Miss Gallagher.

Amos Claycomb’s October 1911 Diary

Amos travelled to Illinois to look at land and see his family and to Nebraska to see Ruth.
He met a fraternity brother, Art Beardsley in Kansas City on the way.  A train starts a prairie fire on his land on the 17th.  It’s a very busy month.
Sunday, October 1, 1911
Started to Sycamore this a.m. taking the Rock Island to Chicago.  Went to El Reno and took a sleeper from there to Kansas City.

Monday, October 2, 1911
Reached Kansas City about 8:45 a.m.   Went to a show this p.m. with Beardsley and took sleeper to Chicago at 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 3, 1911
Reached Chicago about noon as we were several hours late.  Visited Uncle Will Tapper for a while and took 4:35 train home.  Reached there a little after six.

Wednesday, October 4, 1911
Staid in Sycamore all day and ate up at Eleanor’s tonight.

Thursday, October 5, 1911
Went over to Marengo this a.m. with father, Mr. Rompf and Mr. Gross.  Looked over farm which we are figuring on trading my Texas land for and came back to Syc- over the new interurban.

Friday, October 6, 1911
Figured with the owner of the Marengo land all the morning but we couldn’t agree and the deal fell through.  Started for Wayne tonight on the Northwestern from DeKalb at 7:45.

Saturday, October 7, 1911
Arrived Sioux City this a.m. and met Ruth when she arrived.  Left at 4:35 for Wayne and got there about seven tonight.

Sunday, October 8, 1911
Staid in Wayne until 2:15 this p.m. when I left for Omaha.  Staid there until 10:45 tonight and then took the Burlington to Kansas City.  Went to the Orpheum for short time tonight.

Monday, October 9, 1911
Left Kansas City at 8 a.m. and the Santa Fe and rode thru Kansas most of the day.  Ate dinner at Emporia and supper at Wellington, Kan.

Tuesday, October 10, 1911
Reached Amarillo this morning and came out home at 4:20 this p.m.

Wednesday, October 11, 1911
Cut maize all day while Norman shocked some kaffir he had cut while I was gone.  He cut kaffir every day last week and maize yesterday and today.  The maize is down pretty bad and most of the heads have fallen off.

Thursday, October 12, 1911
Ditto.

Friday, October 13, 1911
Ditto.  Very warm this week with little or no wind.

Saturday, October 14, 1911
Finished cutting maize about 2:30 p.m. and started on the kaffir corn again.

Sunday, October 15, 1911
Staid around the house most of the day and drove over to Harker’s tonight.  Cold norther most of the day.

Monday, October 16, 1911
Norman and I went over to Bushland this a.m. and brought back a couple of calves which I had bought of Bert, and branded them.  We picked up maize heads this p.m.

Tuesday, October 17, 1911
Norman cut kaffir until he broke down this p.m. and I picked up heads.   The passenger train started a prairie fire on Sec. 11 tonight and Norman and I worked till 7:30 putting it out.  We swept it out with brooms but it burned about 150 acres of grass and a few shocks of feed.

Wednesday, October 18, 1911
Norman drove up town after some binder repairs this a.m. and we fixed up the binder before dinner.  Norman cut kaffir after dinner while I picked up heads.

Thursday, October 19, 1911
Norman cut kaffir today while I picked up heads.

Friday, October 20, 1911
Norman cut kaffir until noon and then we both worked on the heads this p.m.

Saturday, October 21, 1911
It started to rain last night but soon changed to snow which covered the ground this a.m.  Norman and I had to chase Ward’s cattle out of my sorghum this a.m. and then fix the fence and I fixed fence most of the p.m.

Feeding cattle, 1910. One of Amos Claycomb’s photos.

Sunday, October 22, 1911
Rode over in the Campbell pasture with Ballew, Putman, Meeks, Baldwin and Norman this p.m. to look at a bunch of cattle.  Came back by way of Bush- and stopped at Harker’s for a few minutes.

Monday, October 23, 1911
Both Arthur and I cut kaffir all day.  Norman used Ballew’s binder which I have rented.

Tuesday, October 24, 1911
Arthur broke down shortly after dinner but I cut all day.

Wednesday, October 25, 1911
I cut kaffir all day while Norman picked up heads.

Thursday, October 26, 1911
My machine broke this a.m. but got it fixed and started after dinner when I was stopped by a norther with rain which is still on tonight.

Friday, October 27, 1911
Snow covered the ground this morning and it has been snowing, sleeting and raining all day.  Hauled a load of feed from the field this p.m. for the stock.

Saturday, October 28, 1911
Raining and sleeting nearly all day.  Took train to Amarillo this a.m. and staid with Arthur Mc- tonight.  Ordered a pair of riding boots today.

Sunday, October 29, 1911
Took train out to Bushland this p.m. and staid all night with Harker.  Snow nearly all gone but it is still muddy.

Monday, October 30, 1911
Drove home this forenoon and rode pony to Wil- after the mail this p.m.  Norman took Harker’s boar back to him this p.m.  Clear most of the day but the ground is still very soft.

Tuesday, October 31, 1911
Rode over to Bushland on pony this a.m. but only staid a short time.  Started to shock some feed this p.m. but it was too wet.

Amos Claycomb’s September 1911 Diary

Two events of note this month:  On the 5th Amarillo citizens voted to go dry.  And on the 17th we get the first entry mentioning the sale of Amos’ land.  I’m sure these two things are not related.  It’s more likely that Ruth was not impressed with farming in Wildorado.  She may have wanted to live where there was more soil and rain.

Friday, September 1, 1911
Arthur started to plow the old land again this p.m.

Saturday, September 2, 1911
Finished cutting and shocking sorghum today.

Sunday, September 3, 1911
Drove pony to Wil- after the mail this p.m.   Potter came out from Amarillo on his bicycle just before dark.

Monday, September 4, 1911
Drove Potter around today and up to Goodman’s tonight.  Norman plowed all day.

Tuesday, September 5, 1911
Potter went back this a.m. and I took the train to Am- and staid all night with Dr. Hanson.  Amarillo went dry by 28 votes today.

Wednesday, September 6, 1911
Came back tonight on the train.

Thursday, September 7, 1911
Started to cut maize today but only cut about four acres.  Used the row binder which works fine in the tall feed this year.

Friday, September 8, 1911
Norman and I went over to Ballew’s this a.m. and helped him mark his calves and staid there for dinner.  Came home after dinner and shocked maize for a while.

Saturday, September 9, 1911
Cut maize this a.m. and this p.m. until a shower of rain made it too wet to cut.  Arabel and Lucile G. and Rob out for a while this p.m.

Sunday, September 10, 1911
Rode pony up after the mail this a.m. and staid home the rest of the day.

Monday, September 11, 1911
Cut maize all day while Norman shocked.

Tuesday, September 12, 1911
Ditto.  Am working on 15 acres of late stuff which I intend to use for horse feed and so want the fodder cut green.

Wednesday, September 13, 1911
Cut maize all day.  Am using both the broadcast and the row binder according to the height of the maize.  The latter handles the tall stuff best but the former is faster.

Thursday, September 14, 1911
Helped Norman shock for about an hour this a.m. and then cut the rest of the day.

Friday, September 15, 1911
Cut maize this a.m. and about an hour after dinner when a small rain stopped us.  Arthur found two rattlesnakes under some bundles and I killed them with a maize stalk.  Each had 8 rattles and one was very vicious.

Saturday, September 16, 1911
Went up town this a.m.  Cut maize after dinner while Arthur shocked.

Sunday, September 17, 1911
Drove pony to Wil- after the mail this a.m. and brought Mr. Starr back here who was sent to look over this place by a land company up north with whom I may make a trade.  Drove him to Amarillo this p.m.

Monday, September 18, 1911
Staid with Dr. Hanson last night and drove home this p.m.  Arthur cut maize all day.

Tuesday, September 19, 1911
Cut and shocked maize all day.

Wednesday, September 20, 1911
Ditto.

Thursday, September 21, 1911
Ditto.

Friday, September 22, 1911
Cut and shocked maize all day.

Saturday, September 23, 1911
Cut maize with the broadcast binder all day.   Have about 100 acres cut.

Sunday, September 24, 1911
Staid around the house all day except that I went up after the mail this p.m.

Monday, September 25, 1911
Started to cut kaffir with the row binder but broke down and then tried it with the broadcast but the kaffir was too heavy and I had trouble all day.

Tuesday, September 26, 1911
Cut maize with the broadcast all day.  Drove pony up town after supper after some repairs.

Wednesday, September 27, 1911
Cut maize until 2:30 p.m. and then cut kaffir with the row binder till night.

Thursday, September 28, 1911
Cut kaffir today but had some trouble with the binder.  Shocked for a little while before quitting time.

Friday, September 29, 1911
Cut kaffir all day.

Saturday, September 30, 1911
Cut kaffir until noon when I went up town after some new packer arms.  Arthur and I shocked all the kaffir that was down before quitting.

Amos Claycomb’s August 1911 Diary

On the 25th Amos’ prospective father-in-law visits.  Probably just checking out this young man.

Tuesday, August 1, 1911
Came out to Bush- this p.m. with John Arnot in his machine.  Drove pony home from there.

Wednesday, August 2, 1911
Rained a little last night.  Norman drove wagon up town this a.m. after a barrel of lime.

Thursday, August 3, 1911
Sprinkled a little last night.  Went over to the spring two miles north of the house today with the Harker family after wild grapes and got quite a few.  Cut some green maize stalks today for the hogs.

Friday, August 4, 1911
Little fat sow brought six pigs last night but lost one.  Drove pony up town after dinner and had some plow points sharpened.

Saturday, August 5, 1911
Drove pony over to Bush- tonight to an ice cream social.

Sunday, August 6, 1911
Staid home all day except for driving up after the mail and right back tonight.  Very warm today with a hot south wind.

Monday, August 7, 1911
Arthur plowed all day.  Looked over my row crop this a.m.   The maize is nearly all headed, the kaffir has started to shoot and the broadcast sorghum is almost ready to cut as I want it only for roughness.

Tuesday, August 8, 1911
Arthur plowed all day.  I sharpened some plow points this p.m. and then rode the pony up town.

Wednesday, August 9, 1911
Hauled some feed up to the corral this p.m. and then drove the wagon up town after a load of coal for Norman.

Amos’ photo from 1910.

Thursday, August 10, 1911
Sharpened some plow-points this a.m.  Buck Putman brought the header back this p.m. and I helped him put it under the shed.  Ballew and Burks cut 448 acres with it at 25 cents per acre to me.  Rode pony up town after the mail this p.m.

Friday, August 11, 1911
Had to quit plowing this a.m. as it was too dry to do good work.  Drove pony up town after the mail this p.m.  Very warm today with variable wind from south and south-east.

Saturday, August 12, 1911
Nothing doing.  Very warm.

Sunday, August 13, 1911
Very warm with a hot southerly wind blowing and all row stuff is firing badly.   Went to church tonight at Wil-.

Monday, August 14, 1911
103° above this p.m.  Rode pony over to Bush- this p.m. to see Harker about renting his broadcast binder.

Tuesday, August 15, 1911
Nothing doing.

Wednesday, August 16, 1911
Rode pony up town this p.m. and rented a broadcast binder of Mitchell.  Drove team up after supper and brought it home.

Another of Amos’ 1910 photos. This is Nicholson’s binder.

Thursday, August 17, 1911
Started to cut sorghum all day but had trouble with the machine and didn’t do much.  Drove pony up to Wil- after supper for some repairs.

Friday, August 18, 1911
Cut sorghum all day.  Changed off with Norman and shocked part of the time.

Saturday, August 19, 1911
Cut feed.  Stopped machine about 4 p.m. and helped Norman finish the shocking.

Sunday, August 20, 1911
Rode pony up thru the maize and kaffir this a.m.  The maize is badly burned but the kaffir is not suffering much yet.  Eleanor is 27 today.  Took the Victor up to Northcott’s this p.m. and then played up at the hotel at Wil- after eating supper there.

Monday, August 21, 1911
Cut sorghum all day while Norman shocked.  It started to rain about 5:30 p.m. and stopped us but the rain did not amount to anything.  One of the young sows brought five pigs this p.m. but lost one.

Tuesday, August 22, 1911
Cold north wind blowing all day so we did not try to cut feed.  Drove pony up town after the mail this p.m.

Wednesday, August 23, 1911
Rained from eleven last night until noon today and showered a little this p.m.  Staid in the house most of the day.

Thursday, August 24, 1911
Rode pony up town after the mail this a.m. and got some green maize for hog feed when I got back.

Friday, August 25, 1911
Arthur and I set up some shocks of sorghum that had fallen over, after dinner.  The Harkers with Mr. Bressler came along and I went up to the house with them.

Saturday, August 26, 1911
Still too wet to cut feed this a.m. and the wind was blowing too hard after dinner.  Rode pony up after the mail this p.m.  Norman killed a rattler this p.m. just as it was going under the front porch – 7 rattles.

Sunday, August 27, 1911
Drove pony over to Harker’s for dinner.  A hard rain with a little hail started soon after dinner and lasted a couple of hours.  A hard north wind with a little rain is blowing tonight.

Monday, August 28, 1911
Rained most of last night and has been cloudy all day.  Rode pony to Wil- this p.m. and bought a 2nd hand 7 ft McCormick broadcast binder of Nicolson.

Tuesday, August 29, 1911
Took the rented binder back to Mitchell this p.m. and brought mine home.

Wednesday, August 30, 1911
Took train to Amarillo this a.m., got some things and came home tonight.

Thursday, August 31, 1911
Worked on binder a little today but had to order a new canvas before cutting any more.

Amos Claycomb’s July 1911 Diary

Saturday, July 1, 1911
In Am- all day.  Went fishing to a place near Hereford tonight in a machine with McKnight and two others.  Started about 5:30 and got there about 7:30.

Sunday, July 2, 1911
Fished a while this a.m. and then started back to Am-.  First we took a fellow to Hereford and then we drove the 52 miles in less than an hour and 45 minutes.

Monday, July 3, 1911
Took 4:20 train home and staid at Harker’s all night.

Tuesday, July 4, 1911
Harker drove me part way home this a.m. and Norman met me on the road.  Staid home all day.

Wednesday, July 5, 1911
Drove over to Renison’s after dinner with Arthur and bought two steer calves – mixed Hereford and Durham.  Paid Richards to give my header back and rented it to Ballow and Burks which will give me more money as they have more to cut.

Thursday, July 6, 1911
Brought the calves home from Renison’s with Arthur this a.m.  Went up after the mail this p.m.  Sprinkled a little this p.m.

Friday, July 7, 1911
Rained a little last night and a gentle rain started about sundown tonight.  Fixed some fence this a.m. and went up after the mail this p.m.  Rented my header to Mr. Ballew.

Saturday, July 8, 1911
Took train to Amarillo today.  Saw Amarillo beat the Sioux Indians 5 – 1 this p.m.  Staid with Dr. Hanson tonight.

Sunday, July 9, 1911
In town all day.  Saw Sioux Indians beat Amarillo 9 – 5 this p.m.

Monday, July 10, 1911
Registered my brand – C bar – today with no ear marks and had two sets of irons made.  Came home tonite and stayed all night at Harker’s.

C  right hip or side

Tuesday, July 11, 1911
Drove home this a.m.  Drove team up to Wil- after some homco this p.m.

Wednesday, July 12, 1911
It rained from about six a.m. till ten but it was very light.  A good rain fell this p.m. between five and six o’clock.  Looked over my row crop this forenoon.  It was needing rain badly and the green bugs were working on the kaffir corn.

Thursday, July 13, 1911
Cloudy all day and drizzling part of the time.  Norman drove “Blanche” over to Womble’s this p.m.   Rode the pony up town after the mail.

Friday, July 14, 1911
Branded my yearlings and calves this a.m. with the C on the right hip or side.  Was helped by Mr. Allred, B. Allred, Small and Daniels.  Hitched both my mules to a wagon after dinner and drove to Wil-.  One had never had a bridle on before but they went along pretty well.

Saturday, July 15, 1911
Drove the mules up town this p.m. with Arthur.

Sunday, July 16, 1911
Staid home all day.  Mr. Parker and Bill Topp out for a short time this p.m.

Monday, July 17, 1911
Staid home all day.

Tuesday, July 18, 1911
Drove the mules up town this p.m. after the mail.  Saddled and rode the filly around the barnyard this a.m.

Wednesday, July 19, 1911
Had a little rain last night and a good one before supper this p.m.  Rode pony over to Bush- this a.m. and Harker came back to look at a hog.  Rode pony up after the mail after supper.

Thursday, July 20, 1911
Rained again last night.

Friday, July 21, 1911
Cloudy and sultry all day.  Staid home all day.

Saturday, July 22, 1911
Took train to Amarillo this a.m.  Saw scrub ball-game this p.m.  Election, state-wide, today on the liquor question which went wet.  Rain again last night.

Sunday, July 23, 1911
In Amarillo all day.

Monday, July 24, 1911
Came home tonight on the train.

Tuesday, July 25, 1911
Rode pony over to the Gray ranch this morning and helped them round up the West pasture this noon and brand this p.m.  Staid at the stone house all night.

Wednesday, July 26, 1911
Helped round up the North pasture this a.m. and rode from six till 2 p.m.  Branded 162 calves in less than two hours this p.m. with two ropers  and one set of men to each roper.  I worked on the hind end of the calves with Bodeman.

Thursday, July 27, 1911
Finished branding the north pasture calves by noon.  After dinner we took them back to the north pasture and held them till the cows found their calves.   While heading a cow on the dead run the pony fell with me but only hurt my knee a little.

Friday, July 28, 1911
Rode the pony home this p.m. and sent Arthur over to the ranch to help them finish.

Saturday, July 29, 1911
Rode bay filly up town this p.m. for the first time but she did pretty well.

Sunday, July 30, 1911
Went into Amarillo on the train today.  Big sow had 9 pigs last night but killed 3 of them.

Monday, July 31, 1911
In town all day.

 

Amos Claycomb’s June 1911 Diary

Amos took his horse “Prince” to be doctored; the only costs I see are a few dollars for livery.  It’s a month for animal problems – besides Prince, there are runaway mules.

Thursday, June 1, 1911
Hitched horse mule and Belle to wagon and put a gate in south fence after dinner.  Then drove “Blanche” over to Womble’s.

Friday, June 2, 1911
Drove pony to Amarillo and took “Prince” along.  Went to dance at Elk’s with Miss Dunlap and staid at Arthur Mc’s.

Saturday, June 3, 1911
“Prince” doctored today.  Staid in town until six o’clock and then drove home.

Sunday, June 4, 1911
Staid home all day except for going after the mail this a.m.  Very warm and sultry.  Looked over my row crop which is doing very well altho it is pretty weedy.  The wheat is coming fine since the rain.

Monday, June 5, 1911
I planted maize this a.m. and rolled sod most of the p.m.  Norman finished plowing this p.m.

Tuesday, June 6, 1911
Norman finished planting maize this p.m.  It sprinkled for a few minutes after dinner.

Wednesday, June 7, 1911
Norman and I headed maize all day.

Thursday, June 8, 1911
Hauled feed most of the a.m. and fixed fence this p.m.  Rode pony over to Harker’s after supper and played chess.

Friday, June 9, 1911
Arthur and I hoed Russian thistle out of the east forty this a.m.  Arthur took “Blanche” over to Womble’s this p.m.  It rained for 20 or 30 minutes just before sunset, with a good deal of hail.
[Russian thistle is better known today as tumbleweed.  It was introduced to the US in the Dakotas in 1870s in flaxseed from Russia.  By 1911 it had become a problem in Texas for Amos and other farmers, and today is a noxious weed.]

Saturday, June 10, 1911
Drove pony to Amarillo this a.m.  Staid with Arthur Mc- all night.

Sunday, June 11, 1911
In town all day.  Started home about 8:30 tonight and stopped at Bush- for a short time.

Monday, June 12, 1911
Drove pony up town after the mail this a.m.  Very warm all day and almost no wind.

Tuesday, June 13, 1911
Sold 10 young shoats to Potter Co. poor farm at 6 cents a lb. but one died from the heat while we were penning them.

Wednesday, June 14, 1911
Got up early and delivered shoats to Poor Farm this a.m.  Arthur drove the wagon while I went in the buggy to get Prince in Amarillo but he is still in too bad shape to bring out here.  9 shoats weighed 940 lbs.

Thursday, June 15, 1911
Nothing doing.

Friday, June 16, 1911
Drove to Am- this a.m. and went to Elk dance tonight.

Saturday, June 17, 1911
In town all day.  Played cards tonight.

Sunday, June 18, 1911
In town all day.  “Prince” has contracted blood poisoning in one of his hind legs and is in bad shape.  Have not much hope now of his living much longer.

Monday, June 19, 1911
Drove home this forenoon.  Norman drove team up town this p.m. after some homco and freight.

Tuesday, June 20, 1911
Nothing doing.

Wednesday, June 21, 1911
Rode pony over to the Gray ranch this p.m. to look at some pigs but didn’t buy.

Thursday, June 22, 1911
Rented my header to Richards for the season and we have been trying to set it up today.
Drove up town after supper.

Friday, June 23, 1911
Finished setting up header this p.m. and Richards took it home.  He had a run-away about 1\4 mile up the road and went thru my fence into the pasture.  The header was hardly hurt at all but one mule was cut pretty badly.

Saturday, June 24, 1911
Hauled 5 barrows and one stag up to yards today to be shipped to Fort Worth.  Barrows averaged 281 lbs and stag 535.  Hot wind blowing all day and very warm.

Sunday, June 25, 1911
Took train to Amarillo today and found that my horse had died of blood poisoning.  Came back on the 4:20 this p.m.  Very hot with hot wind still blowing and burning the crops up.

Monday, June 26, 1911
Took “Blanche” and “Belle” over to Womble’s this a.m. and came right back.  Ralph Gray was over for dinner.

Tuesday, June 27, 1911
Staid home all day.  Sprinkled a little just after dark.

Wednesday, June 28, 1911
Turned cattle in on my wheat this a.m. as it would not pay to cut it.  Rode pony up town after the mail this p.m.

Thursday, June 29, 1911
Walked thru the row crop on Sec. 11 this a.m. and it still looks fine altho a little too thick.  Rode pony up town after the mail this p.m.

Friday, June 30, 1911
Took train to Amarillo today.

Amos Claycomb’s May 1911 Diary

Plowing and planting and plowing and planting.  Not the most exciting month!

Monday, May 1, 1911
Arthur plowed and I planted all day.

Tuesday, May 2, 1911
Ditto.  Partly cloudy with strong south east wind all day.

Wednesday, May 3, 1911
Ditto work.

Thursday, May 4, 1911
Finished double rowing the sorghum today.  Killed a rattler with seven rattles tonight and chopped a young one almost half in two but he got in a hole.

Friday, May 5, 1911
Started to plant kaffir on the north side of Sec. 11 today.  Arthur rolled sod this a.m. and drove over to Womble’s this p.m.

Saturday, May 6, 1911
Planted kaffir all day while Arthur rolled sod.

Sunday, May 7, 1911
Took mare over to Womble’s this a.m.  Sharpened some plow points and cleaned some maize seed after dinner.

Monday, May 8, 1911
Planted kaffir all day while Arthur plowed.

Tuesday, May 9, 1911
Ditto.

Wednesday, May 10, 1911
Arthur went to Wil- after some coal this a.m. but plowed this p.m.  I planted all day.

Thursday, May 11, 1911
Arthur plowed and I planted all day.  Had to quit plowing tonight as the ground is too dry.

Friday, May 12, 1911
Arthur rolled all day while I planted.

Saturday, May 13, 1911
Arthur planted all day and finished the kaffir corn – about 105 acres.  I drove team to Wil- this a.m. after some homco.  Sharpened points most of the p.m.  Raining tonight.

Sunday, May 14, 1911
Rode pony to Wil- after the mail this a.m. and over to Harker’s this p.m. where I staid for supper.

Monday, May 15, 1911
Sprinkled a little last night but it did not amount to much.  Arthur plowed all day while I planted.  Started on the maize.  Saw three antelope just east of my field while I was planting.

Tuesday, May 16, 1911
Took train to Amarillo this a.m. and came back at 4:20 p.m.

Wednesday, May 17, 1911
Norman planted all day.

Thursday, May 18, 1911
Ditto.

Friday, May 19, 1911
Ditto.  I sharpened some plow points, cleaned some seed and then fixed some pasture fence.

Saturday, May 20, 1911
Sprinkled a little last night and Norman only planted after dinner.  Cold norther all day.

Sunday, May 21, 1911
Staid home all day.

Monday, May 22, 1911
No wind blowing today and pretty warm.  The Dogie brought a white-face heifer calf this morning which makes me a herd of two cows, two heifer calves, and eight yearlings – five steers and three heifers.  Rode pony over to Bush- this p.m.

Tuesday, May 23, 1911
Drove pony to Amarillo this forenoon.  Staid with Dr. Hanson tonight.

Wednesday, May 24, 1911
Drove home after dinner.

Thursday, May 25, 1911
Rode pony up after the mail this a.m. and over to Gladly’s in the brakes this p.m. with Arthur.

Friday, May 26, 1911
Nothing doing.   Sprinkled a little this p.m.

Saturday, May 27, 1911
Arthur took the black mares over to Womble’s today.  Sprinkled a little.

Sunday, May 28, 1911
Hard rain last night and there is lots of water on the ground today.  Took train to Amarillo this a.m. and I have been with Arthur McKnight most of the day and am staying at his house tonight.

Monday, May 29, 1911
Hard rain again last night.  Staid in town all day and attended Elk lodge with Harker tonight.  Staid with Dr. Hanson all night.

Tuesday, May 30, 1911
Hard rain again last night.  Came out to Bush- on the train this p.m. and am staying at Harker’s tonight.

Wednesday, May 31, 1911
Drove home this a.m. and then up town after the mail.  Partly cloudy and sultry all day.

Amos Claycomb’s April 1911 Diary

This is an important month for Amos and Ruth.  He travels to Wayne and is there for the wedding of Ruth’s sister, Kate, to William von Seggern.  While in Wayne, he makes a major purchase on the 19th.  He makes no mention of it in his diary, only in the ledger.

Saturday, April 1, 1911
Plowed all day.

Sunday, April 2, 1911
Drove pony after mail this a.m.  It rained and hailed for about an hour this p.m. and about 3 inches of water fell and it is raining and hailing again tonight.  One of my steer calves was killed by lightning during the storm and the hen house was blown 30 ft. and set down on part of the header which was not under the shed.

Monday, April 3, 1911
Skinned yearling and rebuilt hen-house today.  Drove pony up town after the mail this p.m.  Norther most of the day and it is misting tonight.

Tuesday, April 4, 1911
Took train to Amarillo this noon and came back tonight.

Wednesday, April 5, 1911
Nothing doing.

Thursday, April 6, 1911
Cleaned some threshed maize for seed today.

Friday, April 7, 1911
Started plowing again today with both plows.

Saturday, April 8, 1911
Plowed today and I plowed the fresh plowing this p.m.  Rode pony over to Bush tonight but came home early.

Sunday, April 9, 1911
Drove team to Wil- after some homco and the mail this a.m.  Drove them over to Bush- after dinner for some maize and kaffir seed.

Monday, April 10, 1911
Plowed all day.

Tuesday, April 11, 1911
Plowed all day.

Wednesday, April 12, 1911
I rolled this a.m. with Norman plowing.  I took six plow points over to Ballew’s after dinner and he sharpened them for me.

Thursday, April 13, 1911
Rolled all day while Norman plowed.  A piece on the gang broke on the last round tonight.  Drove pony up to Harker’s after supper and staid there all night.

Friday, April 14, 1911
Took train to Amarillo after the repairs but had to send to Dallas for them.  Got some kaffir and shumac seed of Early.

Saturday, April 15, 1911
Arthur plowed with the sulky today while I went after my seed at Wil-.  Rode pony over to Bush tonight.

Sunday, April 16, 1911
Took train to Amarillo this noon with Bert and staid at the Elks all the p.m.   Took Santa Fe to Kansas City tonight.

Monday, April 17, 1911
Reached K. C. about 6 p.m. and ate supper with Beardsley at the K.C. Athletic Club.  Took Burlington for Omaha at 10:40 p.m.

Tuesday, April 18, 1911
Reached Omaha this morning and got to Wayne a little after six tonight.

Wednesday, April 19, 1911
Out auto riding this p.m. with Ruth, Kate, Will and Fred Pile.

, April 20, 1911
Saw Kate and Will married tonight.
[Kate Bressler, sister of Ruth Bressler, married William Von Seggern.
They settled in  Wayne, Nebraska.]

Friday, April 21, 1911
With Ruth most of the time today.

Saturday, April 22, 1911
Started home this morning.  Ate lunch with Mr. Combs at the Omaha Commercial Club.

Sunday, April 23, 1911
Rode thru Kansas all day.

Monday, April 24, 1911
Reached Amarillo this a.m. and got out at Bush tonight and staid all night with Koot.  Heavy rain all over this country last night.

Tuesday, April 25, 1911
Koot drove me home this a.m.  Too wet to do any work.

Wednesday, April 26, 1911
Rode pony after the mail this a.m.

Thursday, April 27, 1911
Helped Armstrong load some kaffir and maize which I sold him this a.m.  Fixed fence with Arthur on Sec. 11 after dinner.

Friday, April 28, 1911
Arthur rolled some old plowing all day.  I rode pony after the mail this a.m. and over to Bush- after dinner.

Saturday, April 29, 1911
Arthur plowed all day.  I started to plant sorghum on the 40 acres east of the house on Sec. 8 and am double rowing it for feed.

Sunday, April 30, 1911
Rode pony after the mail and did my washing this a.m.  Sharpened a plow point and then rode pony over to Harker’s and staid for supper.