Amos Claycomb’s July 1910 Diary

 In July 1910 my grandfather is harvesting the wheat and oats with help from neighbors and helping them harvest their crops.

Friday, July 1, 1910
Very heavy thunder storm early this morning which will lay us off for a while.  Came home this forenoon and Homer and I fixed some fence this p.m.

Saturday, July 2, 1910
Started to cut wheat at Rogers’ after dinner and cut 19 acres before quitting.

Sunday, July 3, 1910
Cut wheat all day.

Monday, July 4, 1910
Finished at Rogers’ about ten a.m. and pulled over to Russell’s old place where we cut this p.m.   Killed a rattler with 5 rattles this a.m.

Tuesday, July 5, 1910
Finished cutting Russell soon after dinner and took the machine home.

Wednesday, July 6, 1910
Rode pony up town after the mail this a.m.

Thursday, July 7, 1910
Hard rain last night.  Rode pony to Bush and went to Amarillo on the train from there.  Came back tonight.

Friday, July 8, 1910
Start to seal up the buggy shed today to make a granary for my wheat and oats.

Saturday, July 9, 1910
Worked on granary all day.

Sunday, July 10, 1910
Farr and Webb came today.  Had them out driving most of the time.

Monday, July 11, 1910
Cut part of my oats this p.m. but had to leave some as they were too green.

Tuesday, July 12, 1910
Put new posts into the corral today.

Wednesday, July 13, 1910
Worked on corral all day.

Thursday, July 14, 1910
Started fencing the east side of Sec. 11 today.

Friday, July 15, 1910
Built fence all day.

Saturday, July 16, 1910
Ditto.  Drove pony over to Bushland tonight and played cards.

Sunday, July 17, 1910
Staid around home all day.

Monday, July 18, 1910
Sent Homer up town after some lumber this a.m.  Worked on oat stacks this p.m.

Tuesday, July 19, 1910
Sent Homer over to the Hoffman place after some alfalfa.  Drove pony to Am- this a.m. and back home after supper.

Wednesday, July 20, 1910
Let Homer drive to Am- with the women folks today.

Thursday, July 21, 1910
Finished the granary this forenoon and started discing the oat stubble after dinner.

Friday, July 22, 1910
Homer disced all day.  Went to Amarillo on train at noon for some wagon bed irons.  Came back tonight.

Saturday, July 23, 1910
Homer disced all day.   Drove pony over to Bush after supper and played cards.

Sunday, July 24, 1910
Staid around the house all day.

Monday, July 25, 1910
Worked all day on a wagon bed to haul wheat in.

Tuesday, July 26, 1910
Finished wagon bed.  Nothing doing.

Wednesday, July 27, 1910
Cut the rest of my oats this p.m.  Were so green that I had to put them in small piles to dry out.

Thursday, July 28, 1910
Nothing doing.  Homer went over to his former place to attend to his own threshing.  Still very hot and dry and corn is suffering badly.

Friday, July 29, 1910
Homer helped Rogers thresh all day – hauling wheat to town.

Saturday, July 30, 1910
Threshing outfit got over to my wheat about 9:30 a.m.  Threshed out 442 bushels today which am putting in a bin in the barn.

Sunday, July 31, 1910
Rained last night and part of the time this p.m.

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 May 1910 Diary

My grandfather, Amos Claycomb, in May 1910 is farming in Wildorado, Texas.  He sees Halley’s comet for the first time.  Several days are spent tacking canvas on the house walls to prepare them for papering.  

Sunday, May 1, 1910
Took Arabel G. out driving this p.m.

Monday, May 2, 1910
Norther blowing so cold today that we did not try to work.

Tuesday, May 3, 1910
Started to rain at noon and is still misting tonight.  Rode pony up town after the mail right after dinner.

Wednesday, May 4, 1910
Rainy and misting all day.  Homer and I tacked canvas on the walls of the living room today.

Thursday, May 5, 1910
It rained hard for a short time last night and was cloudy till noon.  Homer worked up town this p.m. for another man.  I tack on canvas all day to be ready for papering.

Friday, May 6, 1910
Planted all day while Homer worked up town.  Finished the kaffir corn and started on maize about the middle of the forenoon.

Saturday, May 7, 1910
Homer planted maize all day while I cleaned some seed.

Sunday, May 8, 1910
Homer and I took both the black mares over to Womble’s this forenoon.  See May 16.

Monday, May 9, 1910
Drove into Amarillo this p.m. with Mrs. Barger.  Attended Elk lodge tonight.

Tuesday, May 10, 1910
Staid in town all day.

Wednesday, May 11, 1910
Drove home this p.m. and brought Doc True to look at a horse of Russell’s and then drove him back to Bushland to the train.

Thursday, May 12, 1910
Homer planted all day.

Friday, May 13, 1910
Rained most all of last night and was too wet to work in the field today.

Saturday, May 14, 1910
Misty and rainy all day.  Homer and I tacked canvas in the hall way all the a.m. and rode up town this p.m.  Rode pony over to Harker’s for supper and then played cards.

Sunday, May 15, 1910
It rained hard with hail last night and water is standing all around barn and house this a.m.  Rode pony up town this p.m. for a short time.

Monday, May 16, 1910
Norther blowing this morning and it has turned cold.  Homer took mares over to Womble’s again today.

Tuesday, May 17, 1910
Homer planted maize today.

Wednesday, May 18, 1910
It sprinkled for a while this morning and Homer didn’t start to plant until 9 a.m.

Thursday, May 19, 1910
Drove pony into town – Am- this p.m. and had her shod.  Spent evening with Bill Monning.

Friday, May 20, 1910
In Amarillo all day.  Spent evening with Bill M. and friend.

Saturday, May 21, 1910
Ditto.  Evening not quite as profitable.

Sunday, May 22, 1910
Cold norther with a misty rain blowing this a.m.  Drove home from Amarillo this p.m. and slept most of the day.

Monday, May 23, 1910
Drove pony up town this a.m. after the mail.  Worked on machinery shed with Homer this p.m. as the planter is broken just now.  Saw Halley’s comet tonight for the first time.

Tuesday, May 24, 1910
Worked on machinery shed this p.m. with Homer.  Drove to Wildo- tonight with Armstrong and called at Goodman’s.

Wednesday, May 25, 1910
Homer started to plant again today.  Found a blue weed patch in the oat field this a.m. and worked on it for a while this p.m.  Very hot today with a two minute shower this p.m.

Thursday, May 26, 1910
Pulled blue weeds all the a.m.  Drilled some sorghum plates for the planter this p.m.

Friday, May 27, 1910
Homer finished planting maize this a.m. and then started on the sorghum.  Rode pony up town after supper and called on Clara N. for a little while.

Saturday, May 28, 1910
Homer planted all day.  Drove pony over to Bush after supper and played cards.

Sunday, May 29, 1910
Staid around the house all day.

Monday, May 30, 1910
Worked on screens for the house most of the day.  Homer still planting.  Planted a few melon, cucumber, pumpkin and squash seed in the north end of the Indian corn field this a.m.

Tuesday, May 31, 1910
Worked on screens all day.  It has been very warm for the last few days.  Thermometer goes up to 90 – 100 every p.m. with very little wind.

1910 Federal Census Wildorado Texas

The Federal government has taken a census every 10 years since 1790.  The Constitution provided for a census to be taken to determine apportionment of representation in the House of Representatives.  It’s used by the government for various statistical purposes such as taxation or estimation of potential military strength.
By 1910 the census also tells us length of present marriage, how many children a mother has had, and how many are living, birthplace, birthplace of parents, citizenship status, occupation, number of weeks unemployed in 1909, and if a person is a veteran of the Civil War.  Residency was based as of 15 April 1910.  If a child was born after that date, it would not be included in this census.
The census taker went from house to house and information about the people in that household was given by whomever was present and may or may not be correct.

Amos Claycomb was visited by the census man on 21 April 1910 – this was the first time he was listed as head of household.  It also shows him as a male, white, 24 years old, and single.  His birthplace is listed as Illinois as it is also for his parents.

The Homer Russell family is listed just after Amos’ entry.  Homer P. Russell is a male, white, 28 years old, is married and has been married one time for 3 years.  He was born in Ohio, as was his father.  His mother was born in English-speaking Canada.  Homer’s wife, Goldy P. Russell,  is shown as female, white, 26 years old, is married, has been married one time  for three years.  Goldy also has had one child and it is living.  She and both her parents were born in Ohio.  Hariet E. Russell, daughter of Russell (we can assume also of Goldy, but that is not stated – relationships are given to the head of household only), female, white, one year old and still single.  Hariet was born in Texas, and both her parents were born in Ohio.  Also living with the Russells is Homer’s sister, Sarah S. Barger, female, white, age 46 and widowed.  She was born in Ohio, as was her father.  Her mother (same as Homer’s probably) was born in English-speaking Canada.

There are columns for citizenship: date of immigration and citizenship status.  On this specific page, none of these columns was completed.

The next column indicates the language spoken in our highlighted families – English for all of them.  It states the trade or occupation.  Amos is a farmer on a ‘general farm’ and an employer, Homer is a farm laborer and a worker (as opposed to an owner).  Sarah, the sister, is shown to have her own income.  Homer’s wife and child have no occupation.  I’m thinking Goldy was a pretty hard worker for not having an occupation!  The census asked if Homer was out of work on 15 April 1910 and how many weeks out of work in 1909 and he said no and none.

The next question are whether one can read, write and has attended school since 1 September 1909.  Both Amos and Homer have ‘yes’ for all.  Goldy and Sarah can read and write, but have not recently attended school.  The next columns refer to the farm, so only Amos replies:  he owns his farm, it is not mortgaged (although he has to pay his father back!), it’s a farm (as opposed to just a house), it’s listed on Agricultural Schedule 21.  The remaining questions are regarding Civil War veterans, if a person is blind, or if a person is deaf and dumb.  These are blank on this page.  There are odd check marks left by the person using the census forms to tally.

Census records can be a gold mine for genealogists.  I’m not even working on Homer Russell’s family, but this census gives quite a feeling for his family.  In both households highlighted I would guess that Amos gave his own information and Homer or Goldy gave theirs.  Amos’ is correct and I would think that the Russells information is accurate.  Just remember that we don’t know who gave the information (it could be a neighbor) and cannot be sure of its accuracy.

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.