Excerpts of The Diary of Joseph Ezra Walton
Transcribed by John R Walton
Transcription # 2
This is Feb 9-57
It has been quite warm all day and there is not much snow left as we haven't had a good snow since the month of November. Has been quite warm since the middle of December it has been as high as 50 above zero one or two days, but has been steady a little above zero most of the time. We have 20 lambs all came but one when it was the coldest in January except two which came in February, 22 more to lamb. 13 have lambs all twins but two. They are growing fast. I was at Millards yesterday as it was Stevens birthday. He is one year old and can stand alone and can walk a little. He is an awfully nice little fellow. Pauls and June went to Richland Center and I went to Millards till they came back. June left the children with Arthurs folks, they are getting to be nice boys, the babys name is James, the oldest name is Gregory. The baby has 3 or four teeth now he is about 6 months old.
Pauls went to town today and took Mr and Mrs Taft to see the Dr. as she goes about two weeks to trade. I will stop for tonite and go to bed now as I have had a good bath. Good nite.
Feb 25-57
It is 9 in the evening and I have just written a letter to Ruth telling her of the passing of Aunt Hannah (His sister-in-law) this afternoon. She will be buried Thursday afternoon at Bloomington from the Methodist church. I am so glad we went down to see her last Thursday and she was very bad we could not see her only for about 1/2 hour. She was taking oxygen and was very weak. She had been sick for about six weeks. Her grand daughter Margy had been there caring for her. She is so thoughtful of everyone. She lives in Colorado. She is the one we crashed her wedding when we went down to see Hannah.
March 16-57
It is quite cold today as we had a thunder shower Thursday. It rained a little all day and turned cold and snowed a little in the night and Friday it was a regular blizzard all day and it cleared away in the evening. We have been over to Junes to dinner today. It is quite cold but not much snow as it blew it nearly off. Paul and Agnes took Mr and Mrs Taft to see the Dr as she goes every two weeks so I am alone this afternoon as Sharon goes on Saturday to take music lessons.
March 25-57
This is Monday nite and I am here alone on the place. It is kind of lonesome but I have gotten used to it as they are gone a lot nites. A week ago today we had the biggest snow of the winter. It snowed all day and most of the nite about 12 inches and there is still some on the ground and it looks like more tonite. They had a bad snow and blizzard in the southwest Texas and Oklahoma, drifts 10 feet deep. Lots of people marooned on the roads. They don't know how many deaths yet as the roads are not opened. It has been very cold here today with high winds from the northeast I think I will quit for tonite. So long till tomorrow.
May 7- 57
Was over to see the Dr Freymiller and had my ribs taped as I broke one the last Sunday in April just before I went to church but did not think much of it as it did not hurt much for a week but got to hurting pretty bad on the next Sunday so I had it taped and it feels much better. It is very dry now, but it rained a little this evening. Paul finished sowing grain the first day of May. Everything is beautiful and green to. The apple trees are in full bloom never saw them as full. The flowers are beautiful, tulips, grape hyacinthes and many others. I have gladiolas planted and also dahlias and am going to plant some flower seeds as soon as my ribs get better. Paul is plowing for corn now.
We sheared sheep last Monday and shipped the wool Saturday. We pooled it in the Wis wool pool of Milwaukee. Well it is getting late so I will quit for tonite.
July 4-57
This is the fourth of July and I have been celebrating in the potatoe patch and Jack has been in the cornfield. He went to Boscobel this evening with his boy freinds. Pauls went to town and to Junes to celebrate her birthday as it was Sunday. Paul broke his arm and has been in a cast three weeks now and will be for 7 or 8 weeks. A pump dropped on it when he and Jack were taking it up to fix it on the Whiteacker place. He has let some of the hay out on shares as he and Jack can't put it up. Millard is going to put up part of it and we will put part in the silo if we can get someone to come fill for us. Jack has been doing all the corn plowing and baling so far and mowing as Paul can't do much with one hand. It was lucky it was the left hand. Will quit for tonite as it is 10 oclock
Aug 6-57
This is a beautiful day not a cloud to be seen and is quite cool. The trees are so greeen and the pastures are as green as June. The flowers are beautiful, the sweet peas are looking in the window as I write my diary and the Glads are fine, a few red roses but no one to admire them as mother passed away two years ago today and the years have been long and lonesome but I am getting used to to being lonesome. Stella is coming see us in about a week or ten days. She has not been up for about two years. We have had a beautiful summer no bad storms and crops are good. They are combining at Millards and will be here in about a week. Pauls hand is getting better slowly but he still can't use it yet as the fingers are so stiff. He has to go to the clinic for treatment every morning but he thinks it is helping him. Ruth and family expect to be here for a few days soon and Rays are coming up too for a visit. We will be glad to see them. Will quit now and get my shoes on and go to breakfast it is about 8 o'clock and is so cool and nice.
Aug 8-57
Just two years ago today mother was laid away and it was just such a day cool and nice. Florence and Pailine and Russel and two children were here amd made a nice call. The children are awful nice children. They went home about five. Dr Bill and Evelyn are to come out tomorrow and also Ruth and family will be here for a while I dont know how long. Rays said they would be here soon I look for them anytime. Pauls are going to Blue River to see the boys play ball. Ours boys against the Blue River boys. It looks like rain we sure need a good shower as it has been some time since it rained. We expect to see Stella this coming week. Alfred Falk is bringing her along.
Aug 11-57
This is now ten in the evening and we just came down from Pauls. Ruth and Sam and Jerry, Debby and Judy having gone to Boscobel to a show with Peggy. Evelyn and Dr Bill came last evening, also Ruth and went home about four this afternoon. There was 21 at Millards for dinner besides there was three of Jacks friends here but not for dinner. We had dinner on the lawn by the fire place. June and family was here. It was a beautiful day. It rained Saturday forenoon and it is quite cool this evening. Stella Falk and Alfred came from Kansas and are staying at Florence Lathrops to nite. They will be here tomorrow Ruth and Sam will be here for a few days. We are looking for Ray anytime. Peggy is looking for her husband most any time from Korea where he has been in the army. I guess this will be all for to nite. So long.
Aug 13-57
It is Tuesday and I am here alone again as Ruth and Sam have gone to see his sister in Waterloo Iowa. It has been quite warm this afternoon it rained a little this morning. Stella and son Alfred and family are staying at Florences as we do not have a room for them. I got a letter from Ray yesterday, they are going to start for Wis this coming Thursday. I expect them over the weekend. They will probably stay a week or two. Ray says work is awful slow this summer. They were going to Rockford to Ruths but they called and told them to come here as they would be here. Paul is baling hay for Carlins and will bale for Henry Knoble tomorrow if it does not rain. That is second crop. We have some second crop that is ready too. Will quit for to nite. so long.
Aug 18-57
This is Sunday evening and they are all gone except Ruth and Stella and Ruths two children. The boy has a touch of asthma as he was out where they were combining oats. We have 15 here and at Pauls and Millards quite a lot we divided up for sleeping. Rays came Thursday and Ruth came last Saturday. Stella and her son and wife came Saturday. Ruths will go to Lake Delton to see Sams folks and Rays will be here a week maybe more. They have three girls at home. It is fine weather rather cool at nite. It will soon be time for frost.We want to finish combining if it does not rain tomorrow. Had a good shower today.
August 22-57
Well here I am alone tonite as the companys all gone home except Rays. They went to LaCrosse this morning to see Rays daughter Nancy who lives there. The rest of our company has gone home. Ruth and Sam and the kids went to Lake Delton to see Sams father and mother as they live there and he is a preacher. Rays came the next day after Ruths came and on Friday Stella Falk and her son and wife and 3 children came, but they went to see his wifes father and mother who live here. Stella stayed here and Alfred came back today and they and Stella went home.They live in Kansas. Stellas husband did not come with her as he was not feeling well. Stellas son Alfred has five children but the twins they left with a nurse at home. There was 10 here for about two weeks and 6 of the Falks for awhile. We sure had a nice time, They stayed here and some at Pauls and some at Millards and some here. It sure is lonesome now they are all gone home. Expect Rays will be back tomorrow.
It has been quite warm all day and there is not much snow left as we haven't had a good snow since the month of November. Has been quite warm since the middle of December it has been as high as 50 above zero one or two days, but has been steady a little above zero most of the time. We have 20 lambs all came but one when it was the coldest in January except two which came in February, 22 more to lamb. 13 have lambs all twins but two. They are growing fast. I was at Millards yesterday as it was Stevens birthday. He is one year old and can stand alone and can walk a little. He is an awfully nice little fellow. Pauls and June went to Richland Center and I went to Millards till they came back. June left the children with Arthurs folks, they are getting to be nice boys, the babys name is James, the oldest name is Gregory. The baby has 3 or four teeth now he is about 6 months old.
Pauls went to town today and took Mr and Mrs Taft to see the Dr. as she goes about two weeks to trade. I will stop for tonite and go to bed now as I have had a good bath. Good nite.
Feb 25-57
It is 9 in the evening and I have just written a letter to Ruth telling her of the passing of Aunt Hannah (His sister-in-law) this afternoon. She will be buried Thursday afternoon at Bloomington from the Methodist church. I am so glad we went down to see her last Thursday and she was very bad we could not see her only for about 1/2 hour. She was taking oxygen and was very weak. She had been sick for about six weeks. Her grand daughter Margy had been there caring for her. She is so thoughtful of everyone. She lives in Colorado. She is the one we crashed her wedding when we went down to see Hannah.
March 16-57
It is quite cold today as we had a thunder shower Thursday. It rained a little all day and turned cold and snowed a little in the night and Friday it was a regular blizzard all day and it cleared away in the evening. We have been over to Junes to dinner today. It is quite cold but not much snow as it blew it nearly off. Paul and Agnes took Mr and Mrs Taft to see the Dr as she goes every two weeks so I am alone this afternoon as Sharon goes on Saturday to take music lessons.
March 25-57
This is Monday nite and I am here alone on the place. It is kind of lonesome but I have gotten used to it as they are gone a lot nites. A week ago today we had the biggest snow of the winter. It snowed all day and most of the nite about 12 inches and there is still some on the ground and it looks like more tonite. They had a bad snow and blizzard in the southwest Texas and Oklahoma, drifts 10 feet deep. Lots of people marooned on the roads. They don't know how many deaths yet as the roads are not opened. It has been very cold here today with high winds from the northeast I think I will quit for tonite. So long till tomorrow.
May 7- 57
Was over to see the Dr Freymiller and had my ribs taped as I broke one the last Sunday in April just before I went to church but did not think much of it as it did not hurt much for a week but got to hurting pretty bad on the next Sunday so I had it taped and it feels much better. It is very dry now, but it rained a little this evening. Paul finished sowing grain the first day of May. Everything is beautiful and green to. The apple trees are in full bloom never saw them as full. The flowers are beautiful, tulips, grape hyacinthes and many others. I have gladiolas planted and also dahlias and am going to plant some flower seeds as soon as my ribs get better. Paul is plowing for corn now.
We sheared sheep last Monday and shipped the wool Saturday. We pooled it in the Wis wool pool of Milwaukee. Well it is getting late so I will quit for tonite.
July 4-57
This is the fourth of July and I have been celebrating in the potatoe patch and Jack has been in the cornfield. He went to Boscobel this evening with his boy freinds. Pauls went to town and to Junes to celebrate her birthday as it was Sunday. Paul broke his arm and has been in a cast three weeks now and will be for 7 or 8 weeks. A pump dropped on it when he and Jack were taking it up to fix it on the Whiteacker place. He has let some of the hay out on shares as he and Jack can't put it up. Millard is going to put up part of it and we will put part in the silo if we can get someone to come fill for us. Jack has been doing all the corn plowing and baling so far and mowing as Paul can't do much with one hand. It was lucky it was the left hand. Will quit for tonite as it is 10 oclock
Aug 6-57
This is a beautiful day not a cloud to be seen and is quite cool. The trees are so greeen and the pastures are as green as June. The flowers are beautiful, the sweet peas are looking in the window as I write my diary and the Glads are fine, a few red roses but no one to admire them as mother passed away two years ago today and the years have been long and lonesome but I am getting used to to being lonesome. Stella is coming see us in about a week or ten days. She has not been up for about two years. We have had a beautiful summer no bad storms and crops are good. They are combining at Millards and will be here in about a week. Pauls hand is getting better slowly but he still can't use it yet as the fingers are so stiff. He has to go to the clinic for treatment every morning but he thinks it is helping him. Ruth and family expect to be here for a few days soon and Rays are coming up too for a visit. We will be glad to see them. Will quit now and get my shoes on and go to breakfast it is about 8 o'clock and is so cool and nice.
Aug 8-57
Just two years ago today mother was laid away and it was just such a day cool and nice. Florence and Pailine and Russel and two children were here amd made a nice call. The children are awful nice children. They went home about five. Dr Bill and Evelyn are to come out tomorrow and also Ruth and family will be here for a while I dont know how long. Rays said they would be here soon I look for them anytime. Pauls are going to Blue River to see the boys play ball. Ours boys against the Blue River boys. It looks like rain we sure need a good shower as it has been some time since it rained. We expect to see Stella this coming week. Alfred Falk is bringing her along.
Aug 11-57
This is now ten in the evening and we just came down from Pauls. Ruth and Sam and Jerry, Debby and Judy having gone to Boscobel to a show with Peggy. Evelyn and Dr Bill came last evening, also Ruth and went home about four this afternoon. There was 21 at Millards for dinner besides there was three of Jacks friends here but not for dinner. We had dinner on the lawn by the fire place. June and family was here. It was a beautiful day. It rained Saturday forenoon and it is quite cool this evening. Stella Falk and Alfred came from Kansas and are staying at Florence Lathrops to nite. They will be here tomorrow Ruth and Sam will be here for a few days. We are looking for Ray anytime. Peggy is looking for her husband most any time from Korea where he has been in the army. I guess this will be all for to nite. So long.
Aug 13-57
It is Tuesday and I am here alone again as Ruth and Sam have gone to see his sister in Waterloo Iowa. It has been quite warm this afternoon it rained a little this morning. Stella and son Alfred and family are staying at Florences as we do not have a room for them. I got a letter from Ray yesterday, they are going to start for Wis this coming Thursday. I expect them over the weekend. They will probably stay a week or two. Ray says work is awful slow this summer. They were going to Rockford to Ruths but they called and told them to come here as they would be here. Paul is baling hay for Carlins and will bale for Henry Knoble tomorrow if it does not rain. That is second crop. We have some second crop that is ready too. Will quit for to nite. so long.
Aug 18-57
This is Sunday evening and they are all gone except Ruth and Stella and Ruths two children. The boy has a touch of asthma as he was out where they were combining oats. We have 15 here and at Pauls and Millards quite a lot we divided up for sleeping. Rays came Thursday and Ruth came last Saturday. Stella and her son and wife came Saturday. Ruths will go to Lake Delton to see Sams folks and Rays will be here a week maybe more. They have three girls at home. It is fine weather rather cool at nite. It will soon be time for frost.We want to finish combining if it does not rain tomorrow. Had a good shower today.
August 22-57
Well here I am alone tonite as the companys all gone home except Rays. They went to LaCrosse this morning to see Rays daughter Nancy who lives there. The rest of our company has gone home. Ruth and Sam and the kids went to Lake Delton to see Sams father and mother as they live there and he is a preacher. Rays came the next day after Ruths came and on Friday Stella Falk and her son and wife and 3 children came, but they went to see his wifes father and mother who live here. Stella stayed here and Alfred came back today and they and Stella went home.They live in Kansas. Stellas husband did not come with her as he was not feeling well. Stellas son Alfred has five children but the twins they left with a nurse at home. There was 10 here for about two weeks and 6 of the Falks for awhile. We sure had a nice time, They stayed here and some at Pauls and some at Millards and some here. It sure is lonesome now they are all gone home. Expect Rays will be back tomorrow.
