Grandpa’s Diary 1958 – Part 2

Part one is here.
George picked Tom up at Martin in Sioux City A.M.
Opened our gifts – Tom George & I.
Went 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.
Amos about the same.  Breathing difficult & speech some times.
Amos about the same but failing slowly.
Spent P.M with Amos and George came after me in eve when he asked for me.  Hard for him to talk.
Nurse 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.
Barbara & 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.  
Frank 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.
Jan. 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.
Jan. 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.
Jan. 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

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.
Those 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.
John Helen & boys came this eve.   John is the oldest son; his family lives in Wisconsin.
John Helen & boys left this P.M.
Took Amos to Hospital before 7 A.M.  Paralysis set in.
Took 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.
Amos no better and nothing to do.  John B[ressler] went home and Helen [his wife] came down to Omaha about 6 P.M.
Amos 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.
John pick Richard up in Sioux City.
John Richard to Omaha and Amos came home to hospital here.
John met Frank in Sioux Falls, S.D.
John 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?
Frank 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.
Frank returned from Ames P.M.
John Helen & boys arrived about 6 P.M.
George took Frank to Omaha to catch is plane.  Met Barbara on her arrival.
George and I took Barbara to Omaha to take plane for L.A.  Storm warnings.  Barbara’s plane late.
George picked Tom up on No. 20 in eve.  Tom is Frank’s son.  
George 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.

Grandma’s Tiny Books

The Norka Series of little books was printed in the early 1900s “bound in Ooze leather, printed in two colors, cover stamped in gold, 25 cents.”  These are two that my grandmother, Ruth Bressler Claycomb, received from her parents.  They are about 2 1/2 x 3 1/4 inches.

Norka Series books, John T. and Julia Fair Bressler, parents of Ruth.