Excerpts of The Diary of Joseph Ezra Walton
Transcribed by John R Walton
Transcription page 3
Sept 27-57
I went to Fort Wayne with Ray and family. We left here August the thirtieth. We went by Madison to Milwaukee to see Bills but him and Evelyn were gone to a ball game. Saw John and his wife and baby but did not see Bill. We went to Als and saw them and stayed for a while and had a lunch as it was getting late about 11 oclock. From there we went through Milwaukee to ??? to see Jenene (Jeanine??) and we stayed there a while and had coffy and cake. From there we went to Chicago where we went on the toll road. We drove around about 1 1/2 hours before we could find the place to get on it. Was 2 in the morning and we rode on that road 150 miles till we got off and took another road south about 50 miles to Fort Wayne and got there at 8 in the morning and believe me we were a tired bunch. The three children slept most of the time... he discusses again August visit to the farm and says what a good time it was........we had quite a time. The boys went fishing on the Mississippi river. Ray caught a big fish it measure 27 inches long. He took it to Ft Wayne and we had it for dinner one nite. He kept it on ice. It was awful good. I stayed at Rays for 2 weeks and then they brought me to Ruths where I stayed a week and came home. Pauls came and met Sam and Ruth in Platteville and then home by way of Junes where we had supper and came home. I will quit for tonite as it is getting late. Paul and Agnes went to Pra Duchein (Praire du Chien) to a ball game as Jack is playing. will quit for tonite.
Oct 9 -57
well this is 9 of October and no frost of any amount except in the vallies corn is still green but ripening fast. The flowers are beautiful. The dahlias are in full bloom also some roses one salmon also some red ones. The red dahlias are many also lots of yellow ones some are 8 and 10 inches across. We finished digging potatoes yesterday and they were very good one weighed ???lb and ?? ounces...and one weighed..??
We finished picking pears today, Paul and Agnes helped gather grapes about 1/2 bushel this year. We had several bushel of pears, havn't picked many apples as they are so wormy. Dont expect to pick many as they would not keep. Went to see Florence Lathrop last Monday and stayed over nite and she brought me home Monday(??) She was out here yesterday and picked some hickory nuts up. Last week the ladies aid had a supper and they made $325. They are going to put a new roof on the Hall. I think it will freeze tonite as it is real cold out now. We sold Arthur 7 bushels of Potatoes as we finished digging them and his were no good so we let him have them. It saves us taking them down to the cellar. We will have 20 or 25 bushel left, more than we can use. Will quit for to nite so good nite.
Oct 10-57
We had a hard frost last nite the first of the season, it froze all the dahlias and other flowers. The roses did not get hit as they were near the house and it protected them. It is quite cold to nite but it is dry as we haven't had any rain for three or four weeks. The ladies and men painted the church this week, got it done today. Paul got a calf at the sale today. It was at Harly Powells. They are going to California in about a month. Paul and Agnes are gone to Boscobel to bowl this evening. Agnes bowls on Thursday nite and Paul bowls on Monday nite. The braves won the base ball tournament to day in N.Y. against the Yankees 5-0. They are from Milwaukee. The Braves (??) are from New York. ( I think he meant the Yankees) Thats all for to nite.
Oct 27-57 Monday evening.
It has been a beautiful day bright sunshiny and quite cool, no snow as yet very little rain this fall. Ruths and family here over the week end and we went to Junes and had dinner Sunday and afternoon. About 3 they started for Rockford and Pauls and I came home to do chores and then we went to see Mr and Mrs Taft as Mrs has been quite sick in the hospital for a few days and she came home Saturday and Agnes wanted to see how she was as she had stopped to see her in Boscobel and she had gone home so she wanted to see how she was. She was some better now.
I picked some apples this afternoon helped Paul make fence this forenoon on the Whiteaker place so we could pasture the cows there. It was electric fence, we got the cows in and they got themselves filled up. Pauls went to a sale last week in Boaz to get some feeder pigs but they went to high so he did not buy them.
He went to Boscobel to bowl this evening. Jack is practicing for football every nite after school. They had a game last Friday evening between another school and they beat 21-13. Millard is coming over to help Paul pick corn on the south field tomorrow. We want to get it out so they can pasture the field as it is half grass and there is a good second crop on it. I was over to see Florence last week she was real well and had been up to see Stewarts and had been gone 2 weeks. They were fine. Millards was up to see Peggy at Whitehall as Bud is a game warden there. They like it very much up there. It is about 150 miles north of here. He will be there for about 2 months. So long till next time.
Nov 8-57
Well this is the 8 of November and we got our first snow of this winter and it is a ripper. It is blowing and snowing all day and it has snowed about 1 inch and it is still snowing and blowing. It is supposed to be 22 above zero in the morning. We have 10 acres of corn to husk or pick yet. Have picked about 35 loads and will be about 25 more loads. HM (Milllard) hasn't picked much yet as his corn is a later kind but is real good. He has picked quite a lot for the hogs. He will have about 50 loads to pick. Yesterday was a rainy day, didnt rain much just enough to keep us from picking. We were out at the ladies aid dinner yesterday at the hall. The nite before we went to Junes for a couple of hours in the evening. It seems good to be home such a nite as this by a good fire. Just came down form Pauls it is very slippery. Millard had to pull his well pump today as something broke. I dont know what thing but had to go to town for some repairs. Pauls went to town this afternoon. Sharon and I had dinner alone. She did up my hair and shaved me with the saftey razor and prettyed up my hair. <: +)
Nov 24 Sunday 1957
I am here writing this as I am alone, they have gone to a recital for Sharons school. They wanted me to go along but I didn't as it is hard for me to get around as it is quite icy. I was out to church this morning. It was pretty cold about 28. The snow melted yesterday and it is pretty icy today, there is lots of snow left yet it is not thawing much today. Jack is expected to sing a solo at Platteville sometime soon the time is not set yet as it is a school get together, the best one goes to Madison to sing there. I hope he wins. We haven't picked any corn since it snowed, will pick this week if it does not snow any more, we have about 6 acres to pick and Millard has about 17 acres. It will soon be Thanksgiving day next Thursday. I hope the weather will be good as it has been so cloudy for nearly two weeks that the sun has only shone two days in 2 weeks.
Nov 28 Thanksgiving evening 930.
Just got back from Millards where we went to see Peggy and Bud who are moving to Lancaster in the morning. They just got back from up north where Bud has been working as a game warden for 2 months. He has a job as cop in Lancaster. They moved part of their goods today. We had Thanksgiving dinner at Pauls today and such a dinner, Agnes had turkey and all the trimmins, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, pickles 3 kinds, also a salid I don't know what it was made of, rolls and two kinds of pie. Pumpkin and one with nuts on it was awful good. Agnes had her mother and father there also and Paul brought them and Agnes and June took them home. June and Arthur and the children were there and while they took Mr and Mrs Taft home, Paul, Jack and Arthur went hunting and got two rabbits and one squirrel and they stayed until near dark and then went home to do chores. I was over to Boscobel last Thursday and I had dinner with Florence Lathrop.
Dec 1 1957
Went to church today and after church went to Millards to dinner as they were alone. Bud and Peggy moved Friday and Saturday into their new home in Lancaster. They live in a home owned by a Mr Pasold, son of Mrs Pasolds that use to live in Boscobel where the boys and Ruth use to board when they went to school. June and family were at church and came on over to Pauls to dinner and stayed until evening and then went home about 4 oclock to do chores. Millard and Hazel brought me home and now I have just got home from Pauls and am writing this about 1/2 past 5 and it is a very nice evening. The thermometer stands at 40 so it is not cold tonite. Last nite it was about 28, nite before about 10 above zero. Not much snow and it is getting quite muddy around here. Tonite if it does not storm the boys will pick corn as they still have 20 acres to pick. Will quit writing for to nite as I want to do some reading as it is nearly nine o'clock. I didnt go to bed to nite till
about 11.
Dec 15 57
Well it is nearly Christmas and we have had about two months of pretty good winter weather. The snow is about gone, the roads are good and quite dusty in some places. We were to Junes for dinner today and after we came home we, Paul, Agnes and I went to call on Mr and Mrs Taft.for a while. Paul and Mr Taft played dominoes and the Taft won the game. They were very glad to see us as they get very lonesome as there is no family left at home and Agnes is the only near so we go over quite often. It is nine oclock now and I thought I would write a little till it is time to go to bed. The boys finished picking Millards corn Saturday and picked about three loads. They picked about 40 loads for Millard a;tpgether and we have about 11 to pick yet here and when they finish here there will be about that much too. We expect to go to Peggys for Christmas eve if the roads dont get bad. I guess I will quit writing for to nite as it is getting late. Had a letter from Mattie she is quite well for her.
I went to Fort Wayne with Ray and family. We left here August the thirtieth. We went by Madison to Milwaukee to see Bills but him and Evelyn were gone to a ball game. Saw John and his wife and baby but did not see Bill. We went to Als and saw them and stayed for a while and had a lunch as it was getting late about 11 oclock. From there we went through Milwaukee to ??? to see Jenene (Jeanine??) and we stayed there a while and had coffy and cake. From there we went to Chicago where we went on the toll road. We drove around about 1 1/2 hours before we could find the place to get on it. Was 2 in the morning and we rode on that road 150 miles till we got off and took another road south about 50 miles to Fort Wayne and got there at 8 in the morning and believe me we were a tired bunch. The three children slept most of the time... he discusses again August visit to the farm and says what a good time it was........we had quite a time. The boys went fishing on the Mississippi river. Ray caught a big fish it measure 27 inches long. He took it to Ft Wayne and we had it for dinner one nite. He kept it on ice. It was awful good. I stayed at Rays for 2 weeks and then they brought me to Ruths where I stayed a week and came home. Pauls came and met Sam and Ruth in Platteville and then home by way of Junes where we had supper and came home. I will quit for tonite as it is getting late. Paul and Agnes went to Pra Duchein (Praire du Chien) to a ball game as Jack is playing. will quit for tonite.
Oct 9 -57
well this is 9 of October and no frost of any amount except in the vallies corn is still green but ripening fast. The flowers are beautiful. The dahlias are in full bloom also some roses one salmon also some red ones. The red dahlias are many also lots of yellow ones some are 8 and 10 inches across. We finished digging potatoes yesterday and they were very good one weighed ???lb and ?? ounces...and one weighed..??
We finished picking pears today, Paul and Agnes helped gather grapes about 1/2 bushel this year. We had several bushel of pears, havn't picked many apples as they are so wormy. Dont expect to pick many as they would not keep. Went to see Florence Lathrop last Monday and stayed over nite and she brought me home Monday(??) She was out here yesterday and picked some hickory nuts up. Last week the ladies aid had a supper and they made $325. They are going to put a new roof on the Hall. I think it will freeze tonite as it is real cold out now. We sold Arthur 7 bushels of Potatoes as we finished digging them and his were no good so we let him have them. It saves us taking them down to the cellar. We will have 20 or 25 bushel left, more than we can use. Will quit for to nite so good nite.
Oct 10-57
We had a hard frost last nite the first of the season, it froze all the dahlias and other flowers. The roses did not get hit as they were near the house and it protected them. It is quite cold to nite but it is dry as we haven't had any rain for three or four weeks. The ladies and men painted the church this week, got it done today. Paul got a calf at the sale today. It was at Harly Powells. They are going to California in about a month. Paul and Agnes are gone to Boscobel to bowl this evening. Agnes bowls on Thursday nite and Paul bowls on Monday nite. The braves won the base ball tournament to day in N.Y. against the Yankees 5-0. They are from Milwaukee. The Braves (??) are from New York. ( I think he meant the Yankees) Thats all for to nite.
Oct 27-57 Monday evening.
It has been a beautiful day bright sunshiny and quite cool, no snow as yet very little rain this fall. Ruths and family here over the week end and we went to Junes and had dinner Sunday and afternoon. About 3 they started for Rockford and Pauls and I came home to do chores and then we went to see Mr and Mrs Taft as Mrs has been quite sick in the hospital for a few days and she came home Saturday and Agnes wanted to see how she was as she had stopped to see her in Boscobel and she had gone home so she wanted to see how she was. She was some better now.
I picked some apples this afternoon helped Paul make fence this forenoon on the Whiteaker place so we could pasture the cows there. It was electric fence, we got the cows in and they got themselves filled up. Pauls went to a sale last week in Boaz to get some feeder pigs but they went to high so he did not buy them.
He went to Boscobel to bowl this evening. Jack is practicing for football every nite after school. They had a game last Friday evening between another school and they beat 21-13. Millard is coming over to help Paul pick corn on the south field tomorrow. We want to get it out so they can pasture the field as it is half grass and there is a good second crop on it. I was over to see Florence last week she was real well and had been up to see Stewarts and had been gone 2 weeks. They were fine. Millards was up to see Peggy at Whitehall as Bud is a game warden there. They like it very much up there. It is about 150 miles north of here. He will be there for about 2 months. So long till next time.
Nov 8-57
Well this is the 8 of November and we got our first snow of this winter and it is a ripper. It is blowing and snowing all day and it has snowed about 1 inch and it is still snowing and blowing. It is supposed to be 22 above zero in the morning. We have 10 acres of corn to husk or pick yet. Have picked about 35 loads and will be about 25 more loads. HM (Milllard) hasn't picked much yet as his corn is a later kind but is real good. He has picked quite a lot for the hogs. He will have about 50 loads to pick. Yesterday was a rainy day, didnt rain much just enough to keep us from picking. We were out at the ladies aid dinner yesterday at the hall. The nite before we went to Junes for a couple of hours in the evening. It seems good to be home such a nite as this by a good fire. Just came down form Pauls it is very slippery. Millard had to pull his well pump today as something broke. I dont know what thing but had to go to town for some repairs. Pauls went to town this afternoon. Sharon and I had dinner alone. She did up my hair and shaved me with the saftey razor and prettyed up my hair. <: +)
Nov 24 Sunday 1957
I am here writing this as I am alone, they have gone to a recital for Sharons school. They wanted me to go along but I didn't as it is hard for me to get around as it is quite icy. I was out to church this morning. It was pretty cold about 28. The snow melted yesterday and it is pretty icy today, there is lots of snow left yet it is not thawing much today. Jack is expected to sing a solo at Platteville sometime soon the time is not set yet as it is a school get together, the best one goes to Madison to sing there. I hope he wins. We haven't picked any corn since it snowed, will pick this week if it does not snow any more, we have about 6 acres to pick and Millard has about 17 acres. It will soon be Thanksgiving day next Thursday. I hope the weather will be good as it has been so cloudy for nearly two weeks that the sun has only shone two days in 2 weeks.
Nov 28 Thanksgiving evening 930.
Just got back from Millards where we went to see Peggy and Bud who are moving to Lancaster in the morning. They just got back from up north where Bud has been working as a game warden for 2 months. He has a job as cop in Lancaster. They moved part of their goods today. We had Thanksgiving dinner at Pauls today and such a dinner, Agnes had turkey and all the trimmins, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, pickles 3 kinds, also a salid I don't know what it was made of, rolls and two kinds of pie. Pumpkin and one with nuts on it was awful good. Agnes had her mother and father there also and Paul brought them and Agnes and June took them home. June and Arthur and the children were there and while they took Mr and Mrs Taft home, Paul, Jack and Arthur went hunting and got two rabbits and one squirrel and they stayed until near dark and then went home to do chores. I was over to Boscobel last Thursday and I had dinner with Florence Lathrop.
Dec 1 1957
Went to church today and after church went to Millards to dinner as they were alone. Bud and Peggy moved Friday and Saturday into their new home in Lancaster. They live in a home owned by a Mr Pasold, son of Mrs Pasolds that use to live in Boscobel where the boys and Ruth use to board when they went to school. June and family were at church and came on over to Pauls to dinner and stayed until evening and then went home about 4 oclock to do chores. Millard and Hazel brought me home and now I have just got home from Pauls and am writing this about 1/2 past 5 and it is a very nice evening. The thermometer stands at 40 so it is not cold tonite. Last nite it was about 28, nite before about 10 above zero. Not much snow and it is getting quite muddy around here. Tonite if it does not storm the boys will pick corn as they still have 20 acres to pick. Will quit writing for to nite as I want to do some reading as it is nearly nine o'clock. I didnt go to bed to nite till
about 11.
Dec 15 57
Well it is nearly Christmas and we have had about two months of pretty good winter weather. The snow is about gone, the roads are good and quite dusty in some places. We were to Junes for dinner today and after we came home we, Paul, Agnes and I went to call on Mr and Mrs Taft.for a while. Paul and Mr Taft played dominoes and the Taft won the game. They were very glad to see us as they get very lonesome as there is no family left at home and Agnes is the only near so we go over quite often. It is nine oclock now and I thought I would write a little till it is time to go to bed. The boys finished picking Millards corn Saturday and picked about three loads. They picked about 40 loads for Millard a;tpgether and we have about 11 to pick yet here and when they finish here there will be about that much too. We expect to go to Peggys for Christmas eve if the roads dont get bad. I guess I will quit writing for to nite as it is getting late. Had a letter from Mattie she is quite well for her.