Amos Claycomb’s November 1911 Diary

On the 17th Amos sells 100 tons of grain – doesn’t that seem like a lot?  I’ve double-checked his entry and that’s what it says.  But I don’t find an entry in the ledger for the $400 that he should have gotten.  Maybe there was some trading going on here.

Wednesday, November 1, 1911
Started to shock feed this morning but a norther with rain came up and stopped us.  It rained, sleeted and snowed all day.

Thursday, November 2, 1911
Snowed last night and most of the time today and has turned off cold tonight with 3-4 inches of snow on the level.  Rode pony up after the mail this p.m.

Friday, November 3, 1911
Cloudy all day and drizzled part of the time but warm enough to melt part of the snow.  Drove over to Bushland and stayed at Harker’s all day.

Saturday, November 4, 1911
Clear most of the day and most of the snow has melted.  Mended grain sacks with Norman for a while this p.m. and then rode pony up after the mail.

Sunday, November 5, 1911
Rained a little last night but cleared off this forenoon.  Rode pony over to Yeager’s this morning and brought back a calf I bought of him.

Monday, November 6, 1911
Arthur and I picked up heads for a while this a.m. and then started to shock the maize which has been on the ground through the three snow storms and is beginning to mold on the under side of the bundles.

Tuesday, November 7, 1911
Finished the maize this p.m. and shocked kaffir for a while just before night.

Wednesday, November 8, 1911
Shocked kaffir all day.

Thursday, November 9, 1911
Shocked kaffir till noon.  I finished cutting the 2+ acres of kaffir left standing this afternoon and Arthur picked up maize heads.

Friday, November 10, 1911
Hauled a couple of loads of feed up to the barn this a.m. and picked up maize heads this p.m.

Saturday, November 11, 1911
Took train to Amarillo this noon and came back tonight.  Brought back my riding boots which I had made by McLaughlin.  A strong south-west wind blew till nearly noon and its then switched to the north and got so cold that it is freezing hard tonight.

Sunday, November 12, 1911
Staid around the house most of the day.  Clear and cold this morning but it warmed up a little during the day.

Monday, November 13, 1911
Picked up maize heads today.

Tuesday, November 14, 1911
Arthur picked up heads all day.  I rode pony over to the Gray ranch this a.m. and picked up heads after dinner.

Wednesday, November 15, 1911
Started to haul sorghum and stack it in the stack yard this morning.

Thursday, November 16, 1911
Stacked sorghum this a.m. but picked up heads this p.m. on account of the wind.

Friday, November 17, 1911
Stacked sorghum all  day.  Sold 100 tons of  kaffir and maize to Mr. Gray this p.m. at $4 a ton in the field.

Saturday, November 18, 1911
Stacked sorghum all day.  Drove up town just before supper to send a telegram concerning a land trade.

Sunday, November 19, 1911
Rode pony over to Bushland this a.m. to engage help for threshing.

Monday, November 20, 1911
Hauled and stacked maize all day.  Finished out sorghum stack this a.m. making total of about 35 tons.

Tuesday, November 21, 1911
Hauled and stacked maize all day.

Wednesday, November 22, 1911
Hauled and stacked maize this a.m.  Arthur picked up heads this a.m. while I rode around the country getting help to thresh.

Thursday, November 23, 1911
Hauled and stacked maize most of the day.

Friday, November 24, 1911
Men came this morning ready to help thresh but the machine did not show up and the men helped me finish stacking my maize and they hauled up three loads of kaffir which I stacked.

Saturday, November 25, 1911
Started to thresh my kaffir this a.m. but the machine gave trouble all day and we only threshed about75 bushels off of about 10 acres.

Sunday, November 26, 1911
Sold the rest of my kaffir in the field to Ballew today at $3.50 and $4 a ton and then rode down to the Gray ranch and sold some more maize @ $4.  Then rode pony over to Bush- after some help.

Monday, November 27, 1911
Norther with drifting snow started last night.  Snow lasted till about noon and the wind all day.  Drove pony up town this p.m.

Tuesday, November 28, 1911
Hard norther all day and staid home.

Wednesday, November 29, 1911
Drove team to Wildorado this a.m. and brought back a load of coal.  Drove pony to Amarillo this p.m. and staid at the Amarillo hotel tonight.

Thursday, November 30, 1911
Ate dinner at the McKnight’s.  Went to the Elk’s formal dance tonight with Bess Wheatly.  Cabbed with Bill Monning and Miss Gallagher.

Amos Claycomb’s September 1911 Diary

Two events of note this month:  On the 5th Amarillo citizens voted to go dry.  And on the 17th we get the first entry mentioning the sale of Amos’ land.  I’m sure these two things are not related.  It’s more likely that Ruth was not impressed with farming in Wildorado.  She may have wanted to live where there was more soil and rain.

Friday, September 1, 1911
Arthur started to plow the old land again this p.m.

Saturday, September 2, 1911
Finished cutting and shocking sorghum today.

Sunday, September 3, 1911
Drove pony to Wil- after the mail this p.m.   Potter came out from Amarillo on his bicycle just before dark.

Monday, September 4, 1911
Drove Potter around today and up to Goodman’s tonight.  Norman plowed all day.

Tuesday, September 5, 1911
Potter went back this a.m. and I took the train to Am- and staid all night with Dr. Hanson.  Amarillo went dry by 28 votes today.

Wednesday, September 6, 1911
Came back tonight on the train.

Thursday, September 7, 1911
Started to cut maize today but only cut about four acres.  Used the row binder which works fine in the tall feed this year.

Friday, September 8, 1911
Norman and I went over to Ballew’s this a.m. and helped him mark his calves and staid there for dinner.  Came home after dinner and shocked maize for a while.

Saturday, September 9, 1911
Cut maize this a.m. and this p.m. until a shower of rain made it too wet to cut.  Arabel and Lucile G. and Rob out for a while this p.m.

Sunday, September 10, 1911
Rode pony up after the mail this a.m. and staid home the rest of the day.

Monday, September 11, 1911
Cut maize all day while Norman shocked.

Tuesday, September 12, 1911
Ditto.  Am working on 15 acres of late stuff which I intend to use for horse feed and so want the fodder cut green.

Wednesday, September 13, 1911
Cut maize all day.  Am using both the broadcast and the row binder according to the height of the maize.  The latter handles the tall stuff best but the former is faster.

Thursday, September 14, 1911
Helped Norman shock for about an hour this a.m. and then cut the rest of the day.

Friday, September 15, 1911
Cut maize this a.m. and about an hour after dinner when a small rain stopped us.  Arthur found two rattlesnakes under some bundles and I killed them with a maize stalk.  Each had 8 rattles and one was very vicious.

Saturday, September 16, 1911
Went up town this a.m.  Cut maize after dinner while Arthur shocked.

Sunday, September 17, 1911
Drove pony to Wil- after the mail this a.m. and brought Mr. Starr back here who was sent to look over this place by a land company up north with whom I may make a trade.  Drove him to Amarillo this p.m.

Monday, September 18, 1911
Staid with Dr. Hanson last night and drove home this p.m.  Arthur cut maize all day.

Tuesday, September 19, 1911
Cut and shocked maize all day.

Wednesday, September 20, 1911
Ditto.

Thursday, September 21, 1911
Ditto.

Friday, September 22, 1911
Cut and shocked maize all day.

Saturday, September 23, 1911
Cut maize with the broadcast binder all day.   Have about 100 acres cut.

Sunday, September 24, 1911
Staid around the house all day except that I went up after the mail this p.m.

Monday, September 25, 1911
Started to cut kaffir with the row binder but broke down and then tried it with the broadcast but the kaffir was too heavy and I had trouble all day.

Tuesday, September 26, 1911
Cut maize with the broadcast all day.  Drove pony up town after supper after some repairs.

Wednesday, September 27, 1911
Cut maize until 2:30 p.m. and then cut kaffir with the row binder till night.

Thursday, September 28, 1911
Cut kaffir today but had some trouble with the binder.  Shocked for a little while before quitting time.

Friday, September 29, 1911
Cut kaffir all day.

Saturday, September 30, 1911
Cut kaffir until noon when I went up town after some new packer arms.  Arthur and I shocked all the kaffir that was down before quitting.

Amos Claycomb’s August 1911 Diary

On the 25th Amos’ prospective father-in-law visits.  Probably just checking out this young man.

Tuesday, August 1, 1911
Came out to Bush- this p.m. with John Arnot in his machine.  Drove pony home from there.

Wednesday, August 2, 1911
Rained a little last night.  Norman drove wagon up town this a.m. after a barrel of lime.

Thursday, August 3, 1911
Sprinkled a little last night.  Went over to the spring two miles north of the house today with the Harker family after wild grapes and got quite a few.  Cut some green maize stalks today for the hogs.

Friday, August 4, 1911
Little fat sow brought six pigs last night but lost one.  Drove pony up town after dinner and had some plow points sharpened.

Saturday, August 5, 1911
Drove pony over to Bush- tonight to an ice cream social.

Sunday, August 6, 1911
Staid home all day except for driving up after the mail and right back tonight.  Very warm today with a hot south wind.

Monday, August 7, 1911
Arthur plowed all day.  Looked over my row crop this a.m.   The maize is nearly all headed, the kaffir has started to shoot and the broadcast sorghum is almost ready to cut as I want it only for roughness.

Tuesday, August 8, 1911
Arthur plowed all day.  I sharpened some plow points this p.m. and then rode the pony up town.

Wednesday, August 9, 1911
Hauled some feed up to the corral this p.m. and then drove the wagon up town after a load of coal for Norman.

Amos’ photo from 1910.

Thursday, August 10, 1911
Sharpened some plow-points this a.m.  Buck Putman brought the header back this p.m. and I helped him put it under the shed.  Ballew and Burks cut 448 acres with it at 25 cents per acre to me.  Rode pony up town after the mail this p.m.

Friday, August 11, 1911
Had to quit plowing this a.m. as it was too dry to do good work.  Drove pony up town after the mail this p.m.  Very warm today with variable wind from south and south-east.

Saturday, August 12, 1911
Nothing doing.  Very warm.

Sunday, August 13, 1911
Very warm with a hot southerly wind blowing and all row stuff is firing badly.   Went to church tonight at Wil-.

Monday, August 14, 1911
103° above this p.m.  Rode pony over to Bush- this p.m. to see Harker about renting his broadcast binder.

Tuesday, August 15, 1911
Nothing doing.

Wednesday, August 16, 1911
Rode pony up town this p.m. and rented a broadcast binder of Mitchell.  Drove team up after supper and brought it home.

Another of Amos’ 1910 photos. This is Nicholson’s binder.

Thursday, August 17, 1911
Started to cut sorghum all day but had trouble with the machine and didn’t do much.  Drove pony up to Wil- after supper for some repairs.

Friday, August 18, 1911
Cut sorghum all day.  Changed off with Norman and shocked part of the time.

Saturday, August 19, 1911
Cut feed.  Stopped machine about 4 p.m. and helped Norman finish the shocking.

Sunday, August 20, 1911
Rode pony up thru the maize and kaffir this a.m.  The maize is badly burned but the kaffir is not suffering much yet.  Eleanor is 27 today.  Took the Victor up to Northcott’s this p.m. and then played up at the hotel at Wil- after eating supper there.

Monday, August 21, 1911
Cut sorghum all day while Norman shocked.  It started to rain about 5:30 p.m. and stopped us but the rain did not amount to anything.  One of the young sows brought five pigs this p.m. but lost one.

Tuesday, August 22, 1911
Cold north wind blowing all day so we did not try to cut feed.  Drove pony up town after the mail this p.m.

Wednesday, August 23, 1911
Rained from eleven last night until noon today and showered a little this p.m.  Staid in the house most of the day.

Thursday, August 24, 1911
Rode pony up town after the mail this a.m. and got some green maize for hog feed when I got back.

Friday, August 25, 1911
Arthur and I set up some shocks of sorghum that had fallen over, after dinner.  The Harkers with Mr. Bressler came along and I went up to the house with them.

Saturday, August 26, 1911
Still too wet to cut feed this a.m. and the wind was blowing too hard after dinner.  Rode pony up after the mail this p.m.  Norman killed a rattler this p.m. just as it was going under the front porch – 7 rattles.

Sunday, August 27, 1911
Drove pony over to Harker’s for dinner.  A hard rain with a little hail started soon after dinner and lasted a couple of hours.  A hard north wind with a little rain is blowing tonight.

Monday, August 28, 1911
Rained most of last night and has been cloudy all day.  Rode pony to Wil- this p.m. and bought a 2nd hand 7 ft McCormick broadcast binder of Nicolson.

Tuesday, August 29, 1911
Took the rented binder back to Mitchell this p.m. and brought mine home.

Wednesday, August 30, 1911
Took train to Amarillo this a.m., got some things and came home tonight.

Thursday, August 31, 1911
Worked on binder a little today but had to order a new canvas before cutting any more.

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 1911 Diary

Amos took his horse “Prince” to be doctored; the only costs I see are a few dollars for livery.  It’s a month for animal problems – besides Prince, there are runaway mules.

Thursday, June 1, 1911
Hitched horse mule and Belle to wagon and put a gate in south fence after dinner.  Then drove “Blanche” over to Womble’s.

Friday, June 2, 1911
Drove pony to Amarillo and took “Prince” along.  Went to dance at Elk’s with Miss Dunlap and staid at Arthur Mc’s.

Saturday, June 3, 1911
“Prince” doctored today.  Staid in town until six o’clock and then drove home.

Sunday, June 4, 1911
Staid home all day except for going after the mail this a.m.  Very warm and sultry.  Looked over my row crop which is doing very well altho it is pretty weedy.  The wheat is coming fine since the rain.

Monday, June 5, 1911
I planted maize this a.m. and rolled sod most of the p.m.  Norman finished plowing this p.m.

Tuesday, June 6, 1911
Norman finished planting maize this p.m.  It sprinkled for a few minutes after dinner.

Wednesday, June 7, 1911
Norman and I headed maize all day.

Thursday, June 8, 1911
Hauled feed most of the a.m. and fixed fence this p.m.  Rode pony over to Harker’s after supper and played chess.

Friday, June 9, 1911
Arthur and I hoed Russian thistle out of the east forty this a.m.  Arthur took “Blanche” over to Womble’s this p.m.  It rained for 20 or 30 minutes just before sunset, with a good deal of hail.
[Russian thistle is better known today as tumbleweed.  It was introduced to the US in the Dakotas in 1870s in flaxseed from Russia.  By 1911 it had become a problem in Texas for Amos and other farmers, and today is a noxious weed.]

Saturday, June 10, 1911
Drove pony to Amarillo this a.m.  Staid with Arthur Mc- all night.

Sunday, June 11, 1911
In town all day.  Started home about 8:30 tonight and stopped at Bush- for a short time.

Monday, June 12, 1911
Drove pony up town after the mail this a.m.  Very warm all day and almost no wind.

Tuesday, June 13, 1911
Sold 10 young shoats to Potter Co. poor farm at 6 cents a lb. but one died from the heat while we were penning them.

Wednesday, June 14, 1911
Got up early and delivered shoats to Poor Farm this a.m.  Arthur drove the wagon while I went in the buggy to get Prince in Amarillo but he is still in too bad shape to bring out here.  9 shoats weighed 940 lbs.

Thursday, June 15, 1911
Nothing doing.

Friday, June 16, 1911
Drove to Am- this a.m. and went to Elk dance tonight.

Saturday, June 17, 1911
In town all day.  Played cards tonight.

Sunday, June 18, 1911
In town all day.  “Prince” has contracted blood poisoning in one of his hind legs and is in bad shape.  Have not much hope now of his living much longer.

Monday, June 19, 1911
Drove home this forenoon.  Norman drove team up town this p.m. after some homco and freight.

Tuesday, June 20, 1911
Nothing doing.

Wednesday, June 21, 1911
Rode pony over to the Gray ranch this p.m. to look at some pigs but didn’t buy.

Thursday, June 22, 1911
Rented my header to Richards for the season and we have been trying to set it up today.
Drove up town after supper.

Friday, June 23, 1911
Finished setting up header this p.m. and Richards took it home.  He had a run-away about 1\4 mile up the road and went thru my fence into the pasture.  The header was hardly hurt at all but one mule was cut pretty badly.

Saturday, June 24, 1911
Hauled 5 barrows and one stag up to yards today to be shipped to Fort Worth.  Barrows averaged 281 lbs and stag 535.  Hot wind blowing all day and very warm.

Sunday, June 25, 1911
Took train to Amarillo today and found that my horse had died of blood poisoning.  Came back on the 4:20 this p.m.  Very hot with hot wind still blowing and burning the crops up.

Monday, June 26, 1911
Took “Blanche” and “Belle” over to Womble’s this a.m. and came right back.  Ralph Gray was over for dinner.

Tuesday, June 27, 1911
Staid home all day.  Sprinkled a little just after dark.

Wednesday, June 28, 1911
Turned cattle in on my wheat this a.m. as it would not pay to cut it.  Rode pony up town after the mail this p.m.

Thursday, June 29, 1911
Walked thru the row crop on Sec. 11 this a.m. and it still looks fine altho a little too thick.  Rode pony up town after the mail this p.m.

Friday, June 30, 1911
Took train to Amarillo today.

Amos Claycomb’s May 1911 Diary

Plowing and planting and plowing and planting.  Not the most exciting month!

Monday, May 1, 1911
Arthur plowed and I planted all day.

Tuesday, May 2, 1911
Ditto.  Partly cloudy with strong south east wind all day.

Wednesday, May 3, 1911
Ditto work.

Thursday, May 4, 1911
Finished double rowing the sorghum today.  Killed a rattler with seven rattles tonight and chopped a young one almost half in two but he got in a hole.

Friday, May 5, 1911
Started to plant kaffir on the north side of Sec. 11 today.  Arthur rolled sod this a.m. and drove over to Womble’s this p.m.

Saturday, May 6, 1911
Planted kaffir all day while Arthur rolled sod.

Sunday, May 7, 1911
Took mare over to Womble’s this a.m.  Sharpened some plow points and cleaned some maize seed after dinner.

Monday, May 8, 1911
Planted kaffir all day while Arthur plowed.

Tuesday, May 9, 1911
Ditto.

Wednesday, May 10, 1911
Arthur went to Wil- after some coal this a.m. but plowed this p.m.  I planted all day.

Thursday, May 11, 1911
Arthur plowed and I planted all day.  Had to quit plowing tonight as the ground is too dry.

Friday, May 12, 1911
Arthur rolled all day while I planted.

Saturday, May 13, 1911
Arthur planted all day and finished the kaffir corn – about 105 acres.  I drove team to Wil- this a.m. after some homco.  Sharpened points most of the p.m.  Raining tonight.

Sunday, May 14, 1911
Rode pony to Wil- after the mail this a.m. and over to Harker’s this p.m. where I staid for supper.

Monday, May 15, 1911
Sprinkled a little last night but it did not amount to much.  Arthur plowed all day while I planted.  Started on the maize.  Saw three antelope just east of my field while I was planting.

Tuesday, May 16, 1911
Took train to Amarillo this a.m. and came back at 4:20 p.m.

Wednesday, May 17, 1911
Norman planted all day.

Thursday, May 18, 1911
Ditto.

Friday, May 19, 1911
Ditto.  I sharpened some plow points, cleaned some seed and then fixed some pasture fence.

Saturday, May 20, 1911
Sprinkled a little last night and Norman only planted after dinner.  Cold norther all day.

Sunday, May 21, 1911
Staid home all day.

Monday, May 22, 1911
No wind blowing today and pretty warm.  The Dogie brought a white-face heifer calf this morning which makes me a herd of two cows, two heifer calves, and eight yearlings – five steers and three heifers.  Rode pony over to Bush- this p.m.

Tuesday, May 23, 1911
Drove pony to Amarillo this forenoon.  Staid with Dr. Hanson tonight.

Wednesday, May 24, 1911
Drove home after dinner.

Thursday, May 25, 1911
Rode pony up after the mail this a.m. and over to Gladly’s in the brakes this p.m. with Arthur.

Friday, May 26, 1911
Nothing doing.   Sprinkled a little this p.m.

Saturday, May 27, 1911
Arthur took the black mares over to Womble’s today.  Sprinkled a little.

Sunday, May 28, 1911
Hard rain last night and there is lots of water on the ground today.  Took train to Amarillo this a.m. and I have been with Arthur McKnight most of the day and am staying at his house tonight.

Monday, May 29, 1911
Hard rain again last night.  Staid in town all day and attended Elk lodge with Harker tonight.  Staid with Dr. Hanson all night.

Tuesday, May 30, 1911
Hard rain again last night.  Came out to Bush- on the train this p.m. and am staying at Harker’s tonight.

Wednesday, May 31, 1911
Drove home this a.m. and then up town after the mail.  Partly cloudy and sultry all day.

Amos Claycomb’s March 1911 Diary

The last few weeks of entries here worry me.  I think my grandfather may have started the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.  Okay, this was early, but I’m not sure the farming methods he learned in Illinois were modified for the Texas prairie. 

Wednesday, March 1, 1911
Snow all over the ground again today.  Took sow up to Harker after dinner and brought back my two calves.  Sow weighed 470 lbs.

Thursday, March 2, 1911
Drove pony up after the mail today.  Slightly warmer.

Friday, March 3, 1911
Took train to Amarillo today and got some homco and other things.  Drove back to Bush with Mr. Paine.  Roads very muddy.

Saturday, March 4, 1911
Staid at Harker’s last night and drove home this a.m.  Warm today and the snow is about all gone.  Staid home tonight.

Sunday, March 5, 1911
Drove over to Harker’s this p.m. for short time.

Monday, March 6, 1911
Hauled manure away from the barn this p.m.

Tuesday, March 7, 1911
No excitement.

Wednesday, March 8, 1911
Rode pony over to Bushland after dinner and then drove over to Dillon’s with Bert and we bought a hog together.  Cost $12.50.

Thursday, March 9, 1911
Rode pony up town this a.m.  Bought a team of Shaw for $400 with their harness.  Horse 8 yrs old and mare 5 yrs.  Norman harrowed wheat all day.

Friday, March 10, 1911
Arthur finished harrowing wheat at noon and started to plow sod on the east land after dinner.  I fixed fence around the feed yard and worked around the barn.

Saturday, March 11, 1911
Arthur plowed all day.

Sunday, March 12, 1911
Staid around the house all day.

Monday, March 13, 1911
Drove new team up town this a.m. and I brought back some coal for Norman and a new sulky plow which we set up this p.m.

Tuesday, March 14, 1911
Started to plow with sulky this morning and am using three horses.  Norman is plowing with the gang and four horses.

Wednesday, March 15, 1911
Plowed all day.  Drove pony up town this noon after some groceries and the mail.

Thursday, March 16, 1911
Plowed all day.

Friday, March 17, 1911
Started to roll the plowing this a.m.  Norman still plowing.

Saturday, March 18, 1911
Finished plowing and rolling the east 45 acres today.  Drove up town after dinner and got some points sharpened.  Rode pony over to Harker’s tonight and played cards.Sunday, March 19, 1911
Rode pony after mail this a.m.  Laid off land on Sec. 11 this p.m. where Nicolson is to steam plow 100 acres on the north side.

Monday, March 20, 1911
Steam plow started this a.m.   Norman started plowing on Sec. 11 with the gang this a.m.   Drove team to Bush after dinner and brought home a small boar which I own with Harker.  Rain for a while this p.m. and tonight.

Tuesday, March 21, 1911
Drove to Wil- this a.m. after some homco.  Too wet to plow today.

Wednesday, March 22, 1911
Still too wet to plow.

Thursday, March 23, 1911
Plowed with gang and sulky all day.

Friday, March 24, 1911
Ditto.  Nicolson finished steam plowing this noon – doing about 105 acres on a 100 acre contract.

Saturday, March 25, 1911
Plowed all day.

Sunday, March 26, 1911
Rode pony up town after the mail this a.m. and settled with Nicolson for steam plowing.

Monday, March 27, 1911
Plowed all day.

Tuesday, March 28, 1911
I rolled today while Arthur plowed with the gang.

Wednesday, March 29, 1911
Arthur plowed all day.  I went to Am- on train and came back tonight.

Thursday, March 30, 1911
Went to Wil- this a.m. to have some plow points sharpened while Arthur rolled.  I rolled this p.m. and Arthur drove over to Marshall’s to sell his pony.

Friday, March 31, 1911
Plowed all day.  Have about 185 of sod plowed now and we turn about seven acres a day with the gang and sulky.

Amos Claycomb’s December 1910 Diary

For Christmas Amos received several ‘reminders’ – these are the diaries he kept.  The family must have recognized his penchant for keeping diaries.

Thursday, December 1, 1910
Up town this a.m. after mail.

Friday, December 2, 1910
Took some maize and maize heads over to Mr. Ballow’s after dinner and ground it in his mill.

Saturday, December 3, 1910
Nothing doing.

Sunday, December 4, 1910
Staid around the house all day except for going after the mail this a.m.  Very dusty with a strong wind from the south-west.

Monday, December 5, 1910
Drove to Bush after dinner and played cards most of the p.m. and after supper with Bert.

Tuesday, December 6, 1910
Drove to Wildorado after the mail this a.m. and drove a wagon to Bush after dinner to get some maize of Harker.  Bought calf of Armstrong for $17.

Wednesday, December 7, 1910
Helped drive Arthur’s bronc over to Ballow’s after a cart this afternoon.

Thursday, December 8, 1910
Rode over to Gray’s ranch this afternoon with Arthur.  He rode his bronc for the first time.

Friday, December 9, 1910
Nothing doing.

Saturday, December 10, 1910
Took train to Amarillo from Bushland this noon and came back tonight.

Sunday, December 11, 1910
Staid home all day.  Cloudy with a north wind blowing.

Monday, December 12, 1910
Nothing doing.

Tuesday, December 13, 1910
Ditto.

Wednesday, December 14, 1910
Cloudy all day and it sprinkled a little this afternoon.  Bought two Hereford heifer calves of Nicolson this morning and Arthur and I rode to Wildorado after them this afternoon.

Thursday, December 15, 1910
Got some new records for the talking machine this morning and took them all over to Bushland this afternoon but only staid a short time.

Friday, December 16, 1910
Rode horseback all day around the country to look for some cheap calves but didn’t find any.

Saturday, December 17, 1910
Went to Amarillo on the train this noon and came back tonight.  Staid up at Bush for a while.

Sunday, December 18, 1910
Staid home all day.

Monday, December 19, 1910
Drove up town this forenoon after the mail.  Ground some maize grain and heads over at Ballow’s after dinner.

Tuesday, December 20, 1910
Norvell came out last night and started to change the stairway in the house today as it was too steep.

Wednesday, December 21, 1910
Helped carpenter all day.

Thursday, December 22, 1910
Ditto.

Friday, December 23, 1910
Ditto.  Norman drove to Amarillo and I cooked dinner.

Saturday, December 24, 1910
About finished the entrance way to the kitchen door today.

Sunday, December 25, 1910
Norvell went home this forenoon and I drove the pony over to Harker’s for dinner and staid there until late tonight.  For presents I got $50 from father, neckties from Nell, candy from Louise, a cigar sent from Edward, handkerchiefs from George, a book from Aunt George and several reminders.

Monday, December 26, 1910
Drove wagon to Wil- this a.m. and got some coal and lumber.  Cloudy with a cold south wind blowing all day.

Tuesday, December 27, 1910
Nothing doing.

Wednesday, December 28, 1910
Rode over to Harker’s after dinner.

Thursday, December 29, 1910
Drove team over to Bush after some maize this p.m. but wasn’t able to get it.

Friday, December 30, 1910
Strong wind from the south blowing all day and staid in the house most of the time.

Saturday, December 31, 1910
Went to Amarillo this noon on the train from Bushland and came back tonight.  Played cards at Harker’s until midnight.

Amos Claycomb’s November 1910 Diary

Life is changing for my grandfather in late 1910.  He has met the woman he will marry and makes some rather cryptic entries.  One on the 17th:  Ruth Bressler.  Did this mean he had made a decision here?  And then there are the mysterious ledger entries – I think around cards and cribbage – on the 19th, a loss is a donation to science and a gain is luck.  

Tuesday, November 1, 1910
Hauled feed today with Arthur.

Wednesday, November 2, 1910
Hauled feed all day.

Thursday, November 3, 1910
Picked up heads of maize all day as it was too windy to haul feed.

Friday, November 4, 1910
Picked up heads this a.m.

Saturday, November 5, 1910
Snowed last night but melted off today.
Played cards at Harker’s tonight.

Sunday, November 6, 1910
Harker family and Armstrong over this p.m.

Monday, November 7, 1910
Hauled and stacked maize all day with Arthur.

Tuesday, November 8, 1910
Finished stacking maize today.  Got around 70 tons off of about 125 acres at a rough guess.  Some was headed well but it was also poor in spots.

Wednesday, November 9, 1910
Drove into Amarillo this p.m. with Ruth Bressler.  Harkers went along in their buggy.  Staid to see a couple of moving pictures show after supper and then drove back home.

Thursday,  November 10, 1910
Started to haul and stack kaffir corn today but it is pretty dry and shatters badly.  Got up four loads.

Friday, November 11, 1910
Hauled kaffir today.

Saturday, November 12, 1910
Hauled kaffir this a.m. and picked up maize heads after dinner.  Played cards at Harker’s tonight.

Sunday, November 13, 1910
Went hunting quail with Ruth B. and the Harkers after dinner and drove her back to Bush.  No quail.

Monday, November 14, 1910
Arthur started to drill in my wheat today.  I picked up maize heads after dinner.

Tuesday, November 15, 1910
Arthur drilled wheat all day.

Wednesday, November 16, 1910
Arthur drilled this a.m. while I drove to Bush after some more wheat to be sent out on the train from Amarillo but the train didn’t come today at all.  Saw eight coyotes on my way to Bush this a.m.

Thursday, November 17, 1910
Drove to Bush after the wheat again this a.m. but train didn’t reach there until dark, tonight.  Ruth Bressler.

Friday, November 18, 1910
Foggy and damp this a.m.  Finished drilling in wheat this p.m. and I took the drill back to Paine’s.  Put in exactly 50 acres of wheat using about 2/3 bu. of seed to the acre.

Saturday, November 19, 1910
Took train to Amarillo from Bush this noon.  Played cards at Harker’s when I got back and staid there all night as pony broke loose.

Sunday, November 20, 1910
Rode Harker’s horse home this morning and found pony.  Took her back to Bush and staid there for dinner.  Went quail hunting this p.m. with Ruth and the others.

Monday, November 21, 1910
Finished hauling and stacking kaffir corn roughness today.  Got about 25 tons off of about 75 acres.  Not headed at all but good enough feed.

Tuesday, November 22, 1910
Hauled loose roughness today which we were not able to haul with the bundles.

Wednesday, November 23, 1910
Drove pony to Amarillo with Ruth today to see the “Goddess of Liberty” tonight and drove back to Bush after the show and staid there all night.  Mr. and Mrs. Harker drove in.

Thursday, November 24, 1910
Ate dinner at Bush.  Drove pony to Amarillo with Ruth and attended formal dance given by the Elks tonight.  Harkers also present.  Staid at hotel tonight.

Friday, November 25, 1910
Drove home this a.m. and picked up maize heads this p.m.

Saturday, November 26, 1910
Started to build fence around the wheat ground today and got all of the posts in.

Sunday, November 27, 1910
Drove over to Bush after dinner and staid there for supper.

Monday, November 28, 1910
Ruth started home today and I went to Am- with her and the Harkers.  Came back tonight.

Tuesday, November 29, 1910
Finished putting a fence around my wheat land today and tore out my old pasture fence which gives me most of Sec. 8 for pasture.

Wednesday, November 30, 1910
Went up town after the mail this a.m. and worked around the barn this afternoon.

1910 Nov 30 Snow in town [probably Wildorado, Texas].

Amos Claycomb’s October 1910 Diary

Important names in this month’s entries:  Victor = Amos’ Victor Talking Machine, a record player that he took when he went visiting.  Ruth Bressler = his future wife who he met last month; she was visiting Harkers.  Harker = Mrs. Harker is Ruth’s sister, Maud.  Amos seems to spend a lot of time this month at their house.  Art Gochenour = Amos’ sister Eleanor’s husband as of the 27th.  

Saturday, October 1, 1910
Homer cut kaffir all day and I shocked this p.m.  Took Victor up to Bushland tonight and played cribbage with Harker.

Sunday, October 2, 1910
Took Victor up to Northcutt’s this p.m.

Monday, October 3, 1910
Went to Amarillo with Harker family this noon and took in Forepaugh’s and Sell’s circus with them.  Came back tonight.

Tuesday, October 4, 1910
Finished cutting kaffir today and started on the sorghum.

Wednesday, October 5, 1910
Cut sorghum all day.

Thursday, October 6, 1910
Homer cut sorghum today while I went to Amarillo on the train after some header repairs.

Friday, October 7, 1910
Quit cutting sorghum and started on the maize with the row binder as the header-binder could not handle it.

Saturday, October 8, 1910
Homer cut maize all day while I was shocking it.  Drove pony over to Harker’s tonight.

Sunday, October 9, 1910
Drove over to Allred’s this a.m. with Homer.  Bought a bay filly this p.m. from a fellow from Ariz. who was driving across country.  Filly had been cut in wire and could not travel.

Monday, October 10, 1910
Russell drove to Amarillo today and I staid home all day.

Tuesday, October 11, 1910
Cut feed today.  Rented Paine’s row binder today and shall run two machines.

Wednesday, October 12, 1910
Both Homer and I cut maize today.

Thursday, October 13, 1910
Cut maize all day.

Friday, October 14, 1910
Cut maize all day.

Saturday, October 15, 1910
Cut maize all day.  Drove over to Harker’s tonight.

Sunday, October 16, 1910
Staid around the house all day.  Arthur Norman and his wife move some of their stuff over today and he will start working tomorrow.

Monday, October 17, 1910
Russell and Norman cut feed today while I went to Amarillo on the train.

Tuesday, October 18, 1910
Norman and I cut feed all day.

Wednesday, October 19, 1910
Norther blowing so hard today that we did not work.

Thursday, October 20, 1910
Snowed most of last night and until noon today but melted fast. Did not work.  Drove over to Harker’s after supper.

Friday, October 21, 1910
Russell and Norman cut maize this p.m.

Saturday, October 22, 1910
Ditto all day.  Drove over to Harker’s after supper and played cards.

Sunday, October 23, 1910
Ate dinner at Harker’s and staid there most of the p.m.

Monday, October 24, 1910
Finished cutting maize this a.m. and hauled a load to the barn after dinner.

Tuesday, October 25, 1910
Arthur and I hauled feed and stacked it in the stack yard today.

Wednesday, October 26, 1910
Ditto.

Thursday, October 27, 1910
Norther blowing hard all day.  Arthur and I hauled up a couple of loads of maize this a.m. but worked around the barn this p.m.  Bought a wagon and misc. of Rogers this p.m.   Eleanor married to Art Gochenour today according to mail advices.

Friday, October 28, 1910
Hauled up a couple of loads of maize today and picked up some maize heads.

Saturday, October 29, 1910
Hauled maize this a.m. and went over after a wagon I bought of Rogers after supper.  Drove pony over to Harker’s and played cards after supper.

Sunday, October 30, 1910
Drove out the springs in the breaks today and had dinner with the Harker family and Armstrong.

Monday, October 31, 1910
Drove into Amarillo this forenoon with Ruth Bressler and came back this afternoon.  Ate supper at the Harker’s.