Sycamore (IL) School 1892

This wonderful photo is in poor condition. I posted this several years ago, but I think these photos are better.

A note on the back (written recently) says Sycamore Illinois about 1892.

A name at the top left is _nna Tepson, maybe Anna. The name at the top right is Prof. A. J. Blanchard.

Some of the student names are readable on the left. Those at the bottom, not so legible. But I can see my grandfather’s name, Amos Claycomb. He would have been six years old in 1892.

This looks like Amos Claycomb

Wayne Country Club Membership Card 1926

I didn’t know my grandfather, Amos Claycomb, was a member of the Wayne (Nebraska) Country Club.  Or that Wayne even had a country club in 1926.
atc cc membershipAnd then I notice on the reverse, that his was a social membership.  That makes a little more sense.  He was very social, and even athletic, but I never knew him to play golf.
atc cc membership rev

Sycamore Illinois School 1892

This damaged photo is from a school in Sycamore, Illinois, about 1892.  Some names can still be read.  And I can see my grandfather, Amos Claycomb, in the second row, 4th from the right.  Also on the photo, but not scanned:  “Prof A. J. Blanchard” and “Anna Tepson” who might be the teachers.
amos 1892 schoolThis is how I see the names:
Third row from top left to right are
1.  Ralph Horn
2.  Ernest Husberg
3.
4.  Eddie Peterson
5.  Bert Stroberg
6.  Earl Van Galder
7.
8.  Mable Hix
9.  Diana Harrington
10. Ruth Townsend

Bottom row left to right are
Roy Knights and Cecil Wyman…

Next to last row left to right are
___ Harmes; Max (Mary?) Librant; Bessie
… Hilda Anderson; ___; …Morris, Ethel Chatfield, Fran…

Fred Beckler, …Amos Claycomb [4th from right in 2nd row]

 

Grandpa’s Diary 1958 – Part 2

Part one is here.
201258George picked Tom up at Martin in Sioux City A.M.
241258
Opened our gifts – Tom George & I.
251258251258bWent into hospital 10:30 A.M. and opened Amos’ gifts.  Difficult for him to talk but when the phone call came about 11:20 A.M. he did very well & enjoyed it.  Helen sent some dinner to him and he ate all the liver & oysters.  With him in P.M. & eve.
 The phone call was a conference call with all his children – quite an event for 1958.
261258Amos about the same.  Breathing difficult & speech some times.
271258
Amos about the same but failing slowly.
281258
Spent P.M with Amos and George came after me in eve when he asked for me.  Hard for him to talk.
291258b291258Nurse called about 11:20 A.M.  Amos had taken turn for worse but he was gone when George Tom & I got in.  They turned him on side after giving hypo and he was gone – quickly & [____].  Called all the children in P.M.  John came 7 P.M Monday eve.
301258Barbara & Roy arrived Omaha 7:30 P.M.  Richard 7:30 P.M.  John met them in Omaha.
  Barbara & her husband, Roy Davis, live in Los Angeles, California.  
311258b311258Frank arrived Omaha 7 A.M.  Harry Ellis Fisher brought him up.  Edward could not come on account of snow in K.C.  Had dinner over at John’s home and left from here for service at church at 2 P.M.  Flowers were beautiful and a nice service.  Margaret Olson played hymns & “Going Home.”  
Edward is Amos’ brother who lived in Kansas City, Missouri.
040159Jan. 4, 1959  Frank & George took Tom to Cushing Iowa – John Barbara Roy Richard & I went to Soo City with John – to meet Frank & George at Martin Hotel – John & Helen Bressler went too – dinner at the Normandie & John C. left for home 3 P.M.
060159Jan. 6, 1959  Frank Richard Barbara Roy & I take Frank & Richard to Omaha – leaving for home – Richard missed his plane but left at 1:30 P.M.  Frank at 12:15 P.M.  Roy drove home.  George’s man gone.   
I think George could not drive them to Omaha if his hired hand was gone.
080159Jan. 8, 1959 George Roy Barbara & I to Omaha – Barbara & Roy left at 11:30 A.M. for home.  George & I came back to an empty house.

Grandpa’s Diary 1958 – Part 1

atc tucson trip

My grandfather, Amos Claycomb, kept diaries for most of his life.  The earliest I have is his 1900 diary when he was 14 years old.

He switched from small bound diaries to desk calendars.  He wrote less than he had earlier – of course, the temperature and some weather notes, and his main task on the farm.

In September 1958, he was 72 years old, and made the trip from Wayne, Nebraska to Tucson, Arizona for his fraternity reunion.  It’s briefly noted on the calendar.

His next entries were on the 8th and 15th of October 1958 – both medical in nature.
atc last entryThose were his last entries.  From now on Grandma (Ruth Bressler Claycomb) wrote on the desk calendar.  It’s very touching – and a little difficult to read.  She didn’t leave much in writing, a few letters and this calendar.   Warning for the family:  Get the tissues handy.
241058John Helen & boys came this eve.   John is the oldest son; his family lives in Wisconsin.
261058John Helen & boys left this P.M.
271058Took Amos to Hospital before 7 A.M.  Paralysis set in.
281058Took Amos to Meth[odist] Hosp. in Omaha.  John Bressler took me down.  Dr. Benthack showed x-ray picture of vertebrae disintegrated.  John Bressler is Ruth’s brother.
291058Amos no better and nothing to do.  John B[ressler] went home and Helen [his wife] came down to Omaha about 6 P.M.
301058Amos the same – Helen & I came home in the P.M.  Called Barbara – John Frank & Richard called.    Barbara, John, Frank, and Richard are their children who live outside of Nebraska.  Their son George lives on the farm with them.
311058John pick Richard up in Sioux City.
011158John Richard to Omaha and Amos came home to hospital here.
021158John met Frank in Sioux Falls, S.D.
031158John left at 4:17 A.M. for Minden.  
Not sure of the place name.  There is a Minden Nebraska, but not sure why John would be going that direction.  Any ideas of what place it could be?  Windam?
051158Frank left for Ames.  Richard left & met in Sioux City.  Frank is going to Ames because his son, Tom, is at Iowa State College for his freshman year.
061158Frank returned from Ames P.M.
071158John Helen & boys arrived about 6 P.M.
091158George took Frank to Omaha to catch is plane.  Met Barbara on her arrival.
161158George and I took Barbara to Omaha to take plane for L.A.  Storm warnings.  Barbara’s plane late.
221158George picked Tom up on No. 20 in eve.
  Tom is Frank’s son.  
271158George Tom & I for Thanksgiving – sent oysters to Amos but he didn’t eat them.
  The family will recognize this is a very serious event.  Grandpa loved oysters that were a special dish for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Part 2 is here.

Amos Claycomb’s Grades University of Illinois Urbana

atc grade scanThis is a fine little folder of the grades received by Amos Claycomb at the University of Illinois.  He graduated in 1909.  Please note this should be left on file in the Registrar’s office when not in use by the student.  A duplicate will cost fifteen cents.

 

 

This is about 6″ x 16″
atc grade scan coll tilThis is part of it enlarged.atc grade scan det

Grandma on the Fence

I like this photo of my grandparents, Ruth and Amos Claycomb.   I think of my grandmother as a stout homebody, not really into outdoor things.  But of course, as a farmer’s wife, she would have been strong and capable.  And here she is at age 65, on a fence.  Makes me smile.  Good for you, Grandma!

Ruth and Amos Claycomb, Stanley Basin, Idaho, 1951.

Ruth and Amos Claycomb, Stanley Basin, Idaho, 1951.