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 1910 Diary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thursday, June 23, 1910
Cut wheat all day.

Friday, June 24, 1910
Cut wheat all day.

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

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

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

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

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

Thursday, June 30, 1910
Cut wheat all day.

 

Amos Claycomb’s March 1910 Diary

The shed and house he built on his land.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Friday, March 25, 1910
Built fence all day.

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

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

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

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

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

Thursday, March 31, 1910
Built fence all day.

Amos Claycomb’s December 1909 Diary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Pages missing]

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

Wednesday, December 22, 1909
Nothing doing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Amos Claycomb’s November 1909 Diary

In November 1909 Amos is finishing the barn and building his house in Wildorado, Texas.  His ledger entries grow as his expenses rise.  This month his train shipment arrives and includes new fangled equipment – a gasoline plow.  This tractor takes much of his attention over the next few months.  Amos is 23 years old.  I post a month’s worth of his diaries every Monday.  

Monday, November 1, 1909
Worked on the barn all day.  Put on sheeting and some of the shingles.

Tuesday, November 2, 1909
Worked on barn all day.  Shingles and inside work.  The carpenters killed a coyote on the way to work this a.m. with their dogs and I got his skin.

Wednesday, November 3, 1909
Worked on barn all day.  Ate supper at Goodman’s tonight with several of the other fellows.

Thursday, November 4, 1909
Worked on barn.  Put on the bats.  Went to Amarillo on evening train and stayed with Dr. Hanson tonight.

Friday, November 5, 1909
Came back this a.m.  Helped Nicolson haul some maize out to the place this p.m. which I had bought from him at $8 a ton.

Saturday, November 6, 1909
Helped Haywood lay a concrete foundation for my house today.

Sunday, November 7, 1909
Went out quail hunting today with Frost and Moreland to the brakes north-west of town.  Moreland got eight.  Frost two and I got one.  A norther came up this a.m. and it is much colder today.

Monday, November 8, 1909
Started work on my house today.

Tuesday, November 9, 1909
Worked on the house till noon when my car came from the North.  In it were my gasoline plow, three horses, two Jersey cows with calves, 13 chickens, corn, oats, hay, machinery and household effects.  Rompf came with it and we took a load out to the place this p.m.  I slept in the barn tonight.

Wednesday, November 10, 1909
Hooked my team up to the wagon this a.m. and drove to town and got another load out of the car and brought out here.  Am living in the barn now and Rompf and I are doing our own cooking.

Thursday, November 11, 1909
Mr. Leavitt – inventor of my gasoline plow came today and we unloaded the car and brought it out to the place.  Mr. Leavitt is staying with us in the barn.

Friday, November 12, 1909
We plowed a fire furrow around the buildings this a.m. and went around the old wheat ground and the plow worked well in both.  We drove to town about noon to get some gasoline and came back after dinner and plowed some more.  Am learning to run the plow.

Saturday, November 13, 1909
It snowed last night which made it so soft today that we couldn’t plow.  I drove Leavitt and Rompf to town this p.m. and brought back a load of lumber.  Rode the pony to town tonight and called on Clara N.  Staid out here alone tonight.

Sunday, November 14, 1909
Cloudy, windy and cold all day.  Staid out here all day and did my own cooking.

Monday, November 15, 1909
Too rainy to plow.  Went up town this p.m. after a load of lumber.

Tuesday, November 16, 1909
Plowed most of the afternoon.  Am learning to run the plow.
Rode the pony to town tonight to telegraph for a sprocket wheel.

Wednesday, November 17, 1909
Plowed most of the afternoon.  Drove “Belle” to town this a.m. to get Mr. Smith who manufactures this plow.

Thursday, November 18, 1909
Plowed from 11 till about 5 p.m. today and turned over about six acres.

Friday, November 19, 1909
Smith and Leavitt went home today noon and I took lessons on starting the plow etc this morning.  Drove the team to town this p.m. after lumber.

Saturday, November 20, 1909
Rompf and I started the plow this a.m. but a worn piece of casting broke before we had gone half a mile.  Rompf went to Amarillo this p.m. to get it fixed and I went in town after lumber.  Played forty-two with several others at Arabel G.’s tonight.

Sunday, November 21, 1909
Staid out at the place all alone today.

Monday, November 22, 1909
Worked around the house this a.m. and then went up town after a load of lumber.

Tuesday, November 23, 1909
Went up town after lumber this a.m. and brought back Harry Mooman who is to run the gasoline plow for a while.   He is sent here by the Smith Mfg. Co. who pay half of his expenses.

Wednesday, November 24, 1909
Started to paint the windmill today and helped on the house this p.m.

Thursday, November 25, 1909
Thanksgiving.  Moved the stove in the house and cooked the first meal there this noon.  Rode the pony to Mr. Meeks’ tonight and after supper played forty-two with Mac Womble vs him and Mr. Phillips.

Friday, November 26, 1909
Staid at Mr. Meeks’ last night and rode home this a.m. by the way of town where I got a couple of pipe-wrenches to fix the plow.  Very heavy fog this a.m.

Saturday, November 27, 1909
Drove up town after lumber this a.m.  Moved all my stuff from the barn to the house this p.m. and slept in the house tonight for the first time.  The house is now complete except for a little inside work on the doors and windows.

Sunday, November 28, 1909
A norther with snow started last night and a blizzard has been on all day.  Ferd, Mooman and I have staid around the stove nearly all day.  The snow is drifting badly and is about four feet high in front of the house.

Monday, November 29, 1909
Snowed most of the time today with the wind still from the north.  Drove the team up town this p.m. to take Ferd to the depot as he started for home today.  The daily train got stuck in a snow drift and was about 9 hours late.

Tuesday, November 30, 1909
Staid in the house most of the a.m.  Jim Gouldy came out and staid for dinner and I rode the pony back to town with him where I took some pictures of the outfit that is digging the well for the railroad and of the snow drifts in town.

Amos Claycomb’s October 1909 Diary

My grandfather kept diaries for most of his life.  In October 1909 he is beginning to farm in Wildorado, Texas, near Amarillo.  Excerpts from his ledger are added to his diary entries.  I try to post a month every Monday.

Friday, October 1, 1909
Nothing doing.

Saturday, October 2, 1909
Potter came out to see me today on the noon train.  Went duck hunting this p.m. with him and Moreland but didn’t get anything.  We all play tennis for a while after supper and then went down to Goodman’s.

Sunday, October 3, 1909
Potter and I rode horseback out in the brakes this a.m.  This p.m. Arabel and I drove Potter half way to Amarillo and he walked the rest of the way in.  Took Arabel to and from church tonight but didn’t go myself.

Monday, October 4, 1909
Attended M.W.A. lodge tonight.

Tuesday, October 5, 1909
Played forty-two here at the hotel with some of the fellows tonight.

Wednesday, October 6, 1909
Went to church with Arabel tonight.

Thursday, October 7, 1909
It rained a little last night and a cold norther is blowing today so that fires are almost necessary.

Friday, October 8, 1909
Nothing doing.

Saturday, October 9, 1909
Rode out to the section this a.m.  Took Arabel over to Clara N.’s tonight where we played forty-two.

Sunday, October 10, 1909
Went out driving with Arabel this p.m. and took her to church tonight.

Monday, October 11, 1909
Went to Vega with Moreland today to see some carpenters.   Drove over to Ontario.  Cold norther came up suddenly this p.m.

Tuesday, October 12, 1909
Took Arabel to church tonight.

Wednesday, October 13, 1909
Went into Amarillo tonight.  Called on Maudie M.  Staid with Potter over night.

Thursday, October 14, 1909
Did a little business in town this a.m. and came home on the 10 a.m. train.  Rode horseback out in the brakes with Arabel and two other couples and ate our dinner there.  Took Arabel to church tonight.

Friday, October 15, 1909
Helped Nicolson shock feed all day.

Saturday, October 16, 1909
Shocked feed all day.  Took Arabel to church tonight.

Sunday, October 17, 1909
It started to rain this p.m. and is raining hard tonight.

Monday, October 18, 1909
Drizzling all day.  Have played forty-two most of the time.

Tuesday, October 19, 1909
Weather clearer this p.m.

Wednesday, October 20, 1909
Nothing doing.

Thursday, October 21, 1909
Ditto.

Friday, October 22, 1909
Played forty-two down at Goodman’s tonight with Arabel, Clara and Joe .

Saturday, October 23, 1909
Duck hunting this p.m. but duck are so wild that we couldn’t get close enough to shoot.

Sunday, October 24, 1909
Took Arabel to church tonight.

Monday, October 25, 1909
Helped Nicolson haul some lumber out to my place this p.m
Attended M.W.A. lodge tonight.

Tuesday, October 26, 1909
Helped haul brick and lumber out to the place this a.m.

Wednesday, October 27, 1909
Played forty-two down at Clara’s tonight with the others.

Thursday, October 28, 1909
Started to build the barn on my place today.  Mr. Phillips is head boss and Mac Womble and I are helping.  We laid the foundation and sills today and cut out other pieces.  Had two chases after coyotes this a.m. – four in one bunch and two in the other but they were too fast.

Wildorado, Texas – Photograph taken in the 1940’s of the property owned earlier by Amos Claycomb. The road in front of the house is Route 66, now the north access road along I-40, about 3 1/2 miles east of Wildorado. The house burned in 1955. When I-40 was built in 1964, 220 feet were taken off the property, so house site now lies under the highway.

Friday, October 29, 1909
Worked on the barn all day.  Am riding a livery horse out there and back.

Saturday, October 30, 1909
Worked on the barn all day, on the boxing and floor and sheeting.

Sunday, October 31, 1909
Helped make candy at Arabel’s this p.m. with Lucile, Clara and Carrol.  Played forty-two there tonight.

 

 

Amos Claycomb’s September 1909 Diary

Wednesday, September 1, 1909
Came back to Wildorado this a..m. and brot. Hanson with me.  Drove him out to the section this p.m. and played tennis tonight.

Thursday, September 2, 1909
Rode out to the breaks this a.m. with Hanson and killed a snake called a coach-whip.  Played ball most of the p.m.  Hanson went back to Amarillo tonight.

Friday, September 3, 1909
Helped Nic- haul in a load of sand this a.m.  Played tennis tonight with Arabel against Moreland and Lucile.

Saturday, September 4, 1909
Started to drive to Tascosa right after dinner with Nicolson, Rollins and two other fellows.  Killed a rattler with seven rattles and a button and also some rabbits and prairie-dogs.
It commenced to rain soon after we started and lasted till we reached there – 28 miles – about 7:30 p.m.  We camped in an empty house tonight and cooked our own supper.

Sunday, September 5, 1909
Ate breakfast and dinner in Tascosa and started home about 2 p.m.  Killed several rabbits, prairie-dogs and three quail.
Ate supper at a deserted house on the Gray ranch tonight and slept on the floor.  Passed “Boot Hill” where between twenty and thirty men are buried who were killed in saloon brawls etc here a few years ago.  Also the Canadian river which is very dangerous to cross because of its quick sand.

Monday, September 6, 1909
Drove back to Wildorado this a.m. in a round-about way thru the breaks and saw several antelope.  Came into Amarillo tonight on the train with Moreland and we took Arabel, Lucile and Ethel Edwards out to Glenwood Park.

Tuesday, September 7, 1909
Came back to Wil- this a.m.

Wednesday, September 8, 1909
Rode out to the section this a.m. and fixed the fence all around.  Also looked over Section 33.  Came into Amarillo tonight.

Thursday, September 9, 1909
Back to Wil- this a.m.  Leased Section 33 for next year and have what crop we can make on condition that we plow the whole section and put up a fence on the east side which we can take back when lease expires – Nov. 1, 1910 – unless owner wishes to pay $75 for it.

Friday, September 10, 1909
Played tennis tonight with Arabel and against Moreland and Clara N.   After this we went out hunting water-melons.  Drove over to Neely’s ranch this p.m. with Pete G. and we rode two horses back.

Saturday, September 11, 1909
Played tennis for a while tonight.

Sunday, September 12, 1909
Rode horseback over in the breaks this p.m. with Arabel, Clara and Moreland.  We all went to church tonight.

Monday, September 13, 1909
Played tennis for a while tonight and then attended the M.W. lodge.

Tuesday, September 14, 1909
Came into Amarillo tonight.  Staid with Dr. Hanson.

Wednesday, September 15, 1909
In Amarillo all day.  Came out to Wildorado tonight in a machine with Albert Richards and a couple of other fellows.  We did the 22 miles in just 41 minutes.

Thursday, September 16, 1909
Played ball this p.m.

Friday, September 17, 1909
Rode out to the place this a.m. and looked after the wind-mill and hunted prairie-dogs for a while.

Saturday, September 18, 1909
Went duck hunting this p.m. with six other fellows.   Had only my rifle but got a teal by accident.

Sunday, September 19, 1909
Church this a.m.

Monday, September 20, 1909
Came into Amarillo tonight.  Saw “The Alaskan” at the Opera House with Monning.  Slept with Dr. Hanson.

Tuesday, September 21, 1909
Bought a Winchester pump shot-gun in Amarillo this a.m. and came back at 10 o’clock.  Played tennis with Arabel and against Moreland and Clara tonight.

Wednesday, September 22, 1909
Went duck hunting this p.m. with Frost and Landers but we didn’t get close enough to get any.  Called at Goodmans tonight with Joe and Carrol.

Thursday, September 23, 1909
Played baseball tennis and football after supper tonight.

Friday, September 24, 1909
Rode out to the section this p.m. and tore some fence down.
Played tennis for a while tonight and then went over to Goodman’s and played forty-two.

Saturday, September 25, 1909
Played tennis for a while tonight.

Sunday, September 26, 1909
Played tennis for a couple of hours this p.m.  Went to church tonight with Arabel.

Monday, September 27, 1909
Came into Amarillo tonight.  Staid with Dr. Hanson.

Tuesday, September 28, 1909
Met Uncle Fred T. this morning and staid with him until his train left at noon.  Saw the vaudeville at the “Texas Grand” tonight.

Wednesday, September 29, 1909
Came back to Wildorado on the train this a.m.  Attended party given by Arabel G. tonight.

Thursday, September 30, 1909
Nothing special doing.

Amos Claycomb’s August 1909 Diary

Sunday, August 1, 1909
Went out to see a baptising this p.m. in a lake about a mile west of town.  Rode out on a hand-car with Rompf and two other fellows.

Monday, August 2, 1909
Played tennis tonight.

Tuesday, August 3, 1909
Rode over to Bushland this a.m. to telephone to Amarillo for some well material.  Saw big rattler in the road but left it alone.  Went to party given by Mrs. Williams.  Saw my first rainbow made by the full moon tonight after a shower.  Was in the north-west.

Wednesday, August 4, 1909
Nothing special doing.

Thursday, August 5, 1909
Ditto.

Friday, August 6, 1909
Rode out to the ranch this a.m. and measured the land which the header had gone over.  Was about 79 acres with 15 acres left standing which we are having cut with a binder.  Played golf for a short time tonight.  Took hand-car ride afterwards with Clara N., the Goodman girls and with Joe B. and Moreland.

Saturday, August 7, 1909
Moved over to the hotel this p.m. because the boarding house was getting too crowded.  Played second base in a practice game here this p.m.  Played tennis tonight.

Sunday, August 8, 1909
Went to Sunday school this a.m.   Played tennis tonight.

Monday, August 9, 1909
Played ball this p.m.  Tennis tonight with Moreland and with Arabel and Lucile G.  Was taken into the Modern Woodmen of America afterwards with several others as a charter member of a camp which was established here tonight.

Tuesday, August 10, 1909
Played tennis tonight for a while and then went to lodge.

Wednesday, August 11, 1909
Rode out to the Gray ranch with Nickolson this a.m. and helped him load some sand.  Staid out there for dinner and helped round-up and cut out some cattle this p.m. on one of their cow-ponies.  Staid at the ranch all night.

Thursday, August 12, 1909
Drove into town this a.m.  Played tennis tonight with Arabel and with Lucile and Moreland.

Friday, August 13, 1909
It rained pretty hard here in town last night but did not cover much territory.  Played tennis tonight.

Saturday, August 14, 1909
Played first base in a ball game between Wildorado and Vega in the former place this p.m.  In five times at bat I got three hits, a walk and a fan-out.  They beat us 6-3.  I got two runs and knocked in the other.  Played tennis for a while tonight and then went for a hand-car ride with about ten others.

Sunday, August 15, 1909
Have read and slept most of the day.  It rained hard here for about an hour this afternoon.

Monday, August 16, 1909
Attended lodge of the M.W. A. tonight.

Tuesday, August 17, 1909
Drove out to our ranch this p.m. with Rompf and looked over the windmill which has just been finished.  It is 283 feet deep.  Water was struck at 207 feet but the man had to go to the rest of the way to get thru the quick sand.

Wednesday, August 18, 1909
Drove out to the Gouldy ranch this p.m. with Pete and Charlie.  Shot one jack-rabbit.  Played baseball after supper tonight.

Thursday, August 19, 1909
Played tennis tonight.

Friday, August 20, 1909
Went hunting over in the “Breaks” this p.m. with Ed Gaver but all we got was two rabbits.

Saturday, August 21, 1909
Played ball for a while this p.m. and tennis tonight with Arabel and with Moreland and Lucile.  Ferd started home this p.m.

Sunday, August 22, 1909
Nothing doing.

Monday, August 23, 1909
Rode a horse out to the section today and looked at the wind-mill.  Took ride on the jigger wagon with Pete, Arabel, Lucile and Opal H. this p.m.  Attended M.W. A. lodge tonight.

Tuesday, August 24, 1909
Helped unload a half a car of cement with Pete Gouldy this p.m.  Went horseback riding with Arabel and two other couples tonight.

Wednesday, August 25, 1909
Went hunting “wild goats” this p.m. with Nicolson and Moreland and we got one.  Got back about 8:00 and went to see Arabel and Lucile with Moreland.

Thursday, August 26, 1909
Played ball for a while this p.m.

Friday, August 27, 1909
Started to thresh our wheat this a.m. and finished about 8:30 tonight.  Have been hauling the wheat to town.  Sold the first 156 bushels at $1.005 and the last 146 1\3 bushels for $1.01.
Am storing about 85 bushels for seed at Mr. Ballow’s ranch.  54 sacks.

Saturday, August 28, 1909
Helped Nicolson haul a load of my wheat this a.m.  Played tennis tonight with Arabel against Lucile and Moreland.

Sunday, August 29, 1909
Played ball most of the morning.  Drove seven miles south of Wildorado to attend church tonight with Arabel, Lucile and Moreland.

Monday, August 30, 1909
Rode out to the section to see the windmill this a.m.  Came into Amarillo on the train this p.m. and attended the Amarillo Commanders tonight after taking an examination.

Tuesday, August 31, 1909
Attended to some business this a.m.  Played billiards most of the p.m. and attended a vaudeville tonight with Potter and Hanson.