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 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.

Amos Claycomb’s July 1909 Diary

In January 1909 Amos recorded in his diary that his father had bought land for him in Texas.  Now in July 1909, he has returned to his family home in Sycamore, Illinois after graduating from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.  At the end of the month he is traveling to Texas to see his land near Wildorado, just west of Amarillo.

Thursday, July 1, 1909
Got home from Chicago about noon and hoed corn all the p.m  Drove to Genoa in a machine tonight with Murphy, Maynard and Morgan.

Friday, July 2, 1909
Hoed corn all day.  Attended Blue Lodge tonight.

Saturday, July 3, 1909
Picked cherries for a while this morning.  Called on Hazel Mc. tonight.

Sunday, July 4, 1909
Went over to DeKalb with Tip Collis this p.m. and saw DeKalb beat the colored Illinois Giants by score of 10 – 2 in a rotten game.

Monday, July 5, 1909
Went up town both this morning and afternoon.  Was out to the Electric Park to a dance for a short time tonight.

Tuesday, July 6, 1909
Father, Ferd Rompf and I came into Chicago at noon and at 6 p.m. Rompf and I left on the Santa Fe for Amarillo Texas.  We are on the private car of the Reed and Allen Land Co.

Wednesday, July 7, 1909
Rode today thru Missouri and Kansas where there were bad flood on accounts of heavy rains. Left Kansas City about noon.

Thursday, July 8, 1909
Rode thru Oklahoma and the northern part of Texas today.
Reached Amarillo about five o’clock.  Staid at the Elmhirst Hotel. Pouring rain all night.

Friday, July 9, 1909
Hung around Amarillo all day trying to get acquainted.  Played a few games of billiards tonight at the “Owls.”

Saturday, July 10, 1909
Came out to Wildorado at 1 p.m. and reached here about 2:30.  Drove four miles west to get a man to dig a well on our section.

Sunday, July 11, 1909
Ferd and I drove out to our section this p.m. and looked over our wheat – 90 acres – and 40 acres of corn which does not amount to much because of the dry weather this Spring.  Came back to town and then drove 3 1\2 miles E. to look at a half section which I am thinking of buying.

Monday, July 12, 1909
Rode out to the section this p.m. to fix a plow.

Tuesday, July 13, 1909
Plowed corn all day.  Shot a couple of prairie dogs during the noon hour.

Wednesday, July 14, 1909
Plowed corn all day.

Thursday, July 15, 1909
It rained last night so we staid at home today.

Friday, July 16, 1909
Drove out in the country today looking for a header for our wheat.  Went to Bush and north and east of that place.

Saturday, July 17, 1909
Nothing doing today.  Man started to sink a well on our land today.

Sunday, July 18, 1909
Staid around town all day.  Played tennis for a while tonight.

Monday, July 19, 1909
Walked out to our land today with Rompf but caught a ride back.
Played tennis after supper.

Tuesday, July 20, 1909
Nothing doing.

Wednesday, July 21, 1909
Ditto.

Thursday, July 22, 1909
Drove out to Gray’s ranch this a.m. with Ferd and watched the cow-boys cut certain cattle out of a bunch which they intend to brand.

Friday, July 23, 1909
Walked out to the Gray ranch this a.m. with Ferd.  I staid there for dinner and worked from one p.m. till 7:30.  There were two cow-boys on horses who roped the calves and dragged them up to the fire and then there were two to follow each of these to throw and hold the calves while they were being branded and marked.  This was my job.  Walked home after supper.  Gray boys from Chicago arrived while we were working.  One is a Phi Delt.

Postcard he sent to his father a few days later. Amos is on the right holding the calf’s leg.

He also had a copy of this photo with the note on the back, “Gray Ranch – 20,000 acres – Wildorado, Texas.”

Saturday, July 24, 1909

Hung around the house all day and took it easy trying to recover from yesterday’s work.

The area around Wildorado and Amarillo was developed by the railroads and the cattle ranches.  The Frying Pan Ranch and The XIT Ranch are among the better known ranches. The Frying Pan Ranch originally had 95 sections of land purchased by Joseph Glidden and Henry Sanborn.  Glidden, from the DeKalb Illinois area was responsible for the introduction of barbed wire to the cattle ranches.   Glidden’s son-in-law, Mr. William H. Bush, eventually owned the Frying Pan Ranch.  He gave part of the ranch along the railroad for the establishment of a town nearby – Bushland was named for him.

Sunday, July 25, 1909
Nothing doing.  It rained here fairly hard tonight.

Monday, July 26, 1909
Played tennis tonight with Moreland, Brewer and Rompf.

Tuesday, July 27, 1909
Drove into Amarillo this a.m. with Nicholson.  Went [with] Monning, a Phi Delt who lives here, after dinner, and went out to the auto races with him.  Went calling at the Booer residence with the Gray boys tonight and met Miss Booer and Miss Anderson.  We all then went out to Glenwood Park and danced.

Wednesday, July 28, 1909
Did a little business around town this a.m.  Ate dinner with Monning at his home and then went out to the races with him.
Went out to Glenwood Park tonight with the Gray boys, Masten and Hallahan.

Thursday, July 29, 1909
Came back to Wildorado today on the one p.m. train.

Friday, July 30, 1909
Helped stack our wheat today after it was cut with the header.  We finished our 90 acres tonight after having been on it for 3 days.  Staid over to Mr. Paine’s tonight.

Saturday, July 31, 1909
Helped Mr. Paine stack oats for a couple of hours this a.m.
As his stuff was so light that he could stack it himself, I walked back to town.  Did the 5 1\2 miles in less than 1 1\2 hours and the last 3 miles in just 40 minutes.  Played ball this p.m. and tennis tonight.