Excerpts of The Diary of Joseph Ezra Walton
Transcribed by John R Walton
Transcription Page Five
July 1-58
Today we went to Rockford. Ruth, Debbie, Jerry, and I in one car. Sam, Judy and Ann don't remember her name. She is from Rockford. She is Judy's girlfriend. We went to Boscobel and had dinner at the restaurant. After dinner we started to Rockford, Sam driving one car and Ruth the other. We got to Rockford and had a good trip. I stayed at Ruth two weeks and a half and on Sunday, July 20, Bill and Evelin came, and Ruth made a dinner for me as the 21 was my birthday. We had it Sunday ahead of time in the evening. Bill and Evelin and I went to Milwaukee and got there at about half past nine. We had a lunch and went to bed as we were tired. I stayed at Bill's and Al's till the last day of July, and it made a week and a half there. Bill and Al brought me home Thursday afternoon, and they did some business with the man on the farm. We left Dodgeville about five and drove to Boscobel and had supper at the hotel. They did not stay over night.
Aug 2-58
I got some nice birthday presents down there. Ruth and Sam gave me a nice pair of white trousers and suspenders. Bill gave me a nice new shirt, and Amanda(??) gave me a light shirt, and John's little girl, a lot of handkerchiefs. They all took me for several nice rides nearly everyday so in all I had a good visit. I talked to Ray from Fort Wayne one evening. Could hear him good.
Aug 17
We had dinner at Hazel's. Was supposed to be an outside dinner, but it was so cold we had to eat in the house and we were more confortable as it was so cool with a cold west wind. Ray's family was there also. Nancy and Genene both families. Nancy's three children and her husband. Genene's family and husband. Paul, Agnes, and Sharon. Jack wasn't there. Ruth's family and Judy's girlfriend came Saturday evening. They had been on vacation in north Wisconsin for a week. They stayed all night at Millard's. Ruth's family, I mean Ray's family, stayed here as they had been here for a week and expect to go home the last of this week.
Aug 19-58
I may go home with them if I feel able. There was 21 at dinner we had a good dinner and a very pleasant time. I am here alone tonight as they all went away, I don't know where they went probably to June's. A boy was born last night to Peggy at hospital in Boscobel. He weighed 10 pounds. This is all for tonight.
Sept 21-58
In August I went home with Ray's and we had a very good time driving around in the city. We went home on the toll road started from Rockford at 3:30 in the morning went to Chicago on the toll road which went over the city for a long way. We got to Fort Wayne at 11:00. Had a good ride. Stayed at Ray's for two weeks and Ruth and Sam came half way and Ray met them. We had dinner and then Ruth and Sam and I and the two kids started for Rockford. We got to Rockford at about 6:00. I stayed till Thursday and Sam said he would go to the farm and I could go with him. At six I got my breakfast and we came home got here at half past ten or eleven and was glad to get back. It has been a very nice day quite cool.
Sept 27-58
This fall corn ripening good. Paul sold all the old ewes and bought 250 leghorn hens 1 year old and turned the little red barn into a chicken house. He got 60 or 70 eggs yesterday. He kept 15 lambs so we will have a start of sheep if he don't sell them. The folks went to a pancake supper at Boscobel this evening. I think I will quit for tonight as it is late and I want to take a bath as it is Saturday night and it is a quarter past ten. I want to go to church tomorrow. I was at church at Rockford twice also twice at Fort Wayne.
Oct 27-58
Went to Madison with Millard's to Hazel's sister's on 19 of October. Had dinner at Jack ???. There was twenty at dinner. Hazel's two sister's families, also Robert Walton and wife and two daughters. We got there about noon and left about five for home. We arrived at seven and had a very nice day. We went out to the airport and I watched the planes. I watched two big airplanes come in, unload, and go out. It was a beautiful day. Was over to Boscobel to see Florence last week. Had a nice visit. Paul will be picking corn soon as it has dried out pretty well. We have our wood all hauled and in the shed. Paul is full. I have a nice lot. I gathered the pears last week I got nine and a half bushels. Got letter from Edith last week. Also one from Patty. It is quite cool tonight feels like it might freeze. I covered the mums with a cloth they are just coming out in bloom. I have three dahilas, white, pink, and a darker one. They are very late this year as it has been so dry. The well on the Whiteacher place went dry. We have a renter for the place. John Steiner and wife, he is helping Paul for a few days. Will quit for tonight.
Nov 6-58
The election is over and the U.S. went Democratic. Nearly all Dems in the state, all officers went Dems except Zimmerman for treasurer and U.S. congressmen. It is quite cold tonight, it is freezing, it froze a little last night but is much colder tonight. It is very dry and we need a good rain. The boys are picking corn. Millard finished picking last week. We have about 12 acres to pick yet. Corn is pretty good considering we got so little rain. It sure came out much better than we expected. We sold all of our sheep and they are going to try chickens. We have been the fixing door for the little red barn to keep them in. They had 125 and got 50 more from Taft's as they had to go to the nursing home. They have very poor health, they went over to Boscobel yesterday to the nursing home. They were very poorly for a long time. We were at the hall to dinner today as the ladies AID got the dinner. There was quite a few out. I think this will be all for tonight, will quit and go to bed. So long.
Nov 25-58
Was at H.M.'s yesterday and stayed all night. It snowed about two inches, first snow but it is nearly gone tonight, but it rained a little all day and was very foggy. Bertha ??? was buried last week. She died in the nursing home in Boscobel. She died Thursday, November the 13 and was buried at Mt. Zion cemetery the 15 of November. Mr. ??? moved from the Hulbert place today to a farm 50 miles west of Rochester, Minnesota on a dairy farm with 90 cows. We had a birthday dinner for the minister Sunday at the hall. Today Paul's and H.M.'s are going to a school meeting in Boscobel this evening to vote on a location for the new school houses. Had letter from Ruth last week. They were all well. It was the first letter I had from her since I was down there this fall. Paul's went to LaCrosse Monday with Buster Mullikin yesterday and his girlfriend as they expect to be married the 5th of December.
Dec 28-58
Christmas is gone again and nearly the end of '58 soon will be '59. It is real warm today, 35 above, snow nearly gone. There wasn't much on the ground, about 6 or 8 inches. It has been nice for about a week. Forecasts for only a few more cold days this winter. I am hoping we don't get much cold the rest of the winter. The kids are all well over the Christmas holidays. I had a Christmas dinner, one at Peggy's, one at Millard's, one at Paul's. Yesterday had supper at June's. Got home from town and did chores and then went to June's for supper got home quarter past ten. Had a good time every place I ate. I talked to Ruth, she said she would be up during vacation. I had a letter from Ann, she was married last Saturday, a week ago yesterday. Also a picture of her yesterday for Christmas. Had a lot of presents from Ray and Edith and girls also other presents from Milwaukee. So long for now.
Jan 15-59
It is very cold today, it is 2 below and expected to be 10 below by morning. It was 2 above yesterday, snow nearly all gone as there hasn't been much on the ground. The ground is frozen very deep as the roadmen have had to quit grading on the new road. They have about three quarters of a mile to grade in Marrietta valley, the rest is about done as far as Mt. Zion and is all graveled but a small piece on the old hill. They don't expect to do any more till spring. It sure is a fine road, but it has shorted lots of good farm land. It has shorted Mt. Zion as it don't look like the same place. We, or rather Agnes and Paul had a birthday supper for Sharron as it was her 14 birthday. They had June and family, also Buster Mullikin and wife and family, 7 children they have. He is Agnes's nephew, her sister Florence's son. They are two families, his three and her four. They seem to be quite happy. He has an oil station in Boscobel.
Today we went to Rockford. Ruth, Debbie, Jerry, and I in one car. Sam, Judy and Ann don't remember her name. She is from Rockford. She is Judy's girlfriend. We went to Boscobel and had dinner at the restaurant. After dinner we started to Rockford, Sam driving one car and Ruth the other. We got to Rockford and had a good trip. I stayed at Ruth two weeks and a half and on Sunday, July 20, Bill and Evelin came, and Ruth made a dinner for me as the 21 was my birthday. We had it Sunday ahead of time in the evening. Bill and Evelin and I went to Milwaukee and got there at about half past nine. We had a lunch and went to bed as we were tired. I stayed at Bill's and Al's till the last day of July, and it made a week and a half there. Bill and Al brought me home Thursday afternoon, and they did some business with the man on the farm. We left Dodgeville about five and drove to Boscobel and had supper at the hotel. They did not stay over night.
Aug 2-58
I got some nice birthday presents down there. Ruth and Sam gave me a nice pair of white trousers and suspenders. Bill gave me a nice new shirt, and Amanda(??) gave me a light shirt, and John's little girl, a lot of handkerchiefs. They all took me for several nice rides nearly everyday so in all I had a good visit. I talked to Ray from Fort Wayne one evening. Could hear him good.
Aug 17
We had dinner at Hazel's. Was supposed to be an outside dinner, but it was so cold we had to eat in the house and we were more confortable as it was so cool with a cold west wind. Ray's family was there also. Nancy and Genene both families. Nancy's three children and her husband. Genene's family and husband. Paul, Agnes, and Sharon. Jack wasn't there. Ruth's family and Judy's girlfriend came Saturday evening. They had been on vacation in north Wisconsin for a week. They stayed all night at Millard's. Ruth's family, I mean Ray's family, stayed here as they had been here for a week and expect to go home the last of this week.
Aug 19-58
I may go home with them if I feel able. There was 21 at dinner we had a good dinner and a very pleasant time. I am here alone tonight as they all went away, I don't know where they went probably to June's. A boy was born last night to Peggy at hospital in Boscobel. He weighed 10 pounds. This is all for tonight.
Sept 21-58
In August I went home with Ray's and we had a very good time driving around in the city. We went home on the toll road started from Rockford at 3:30 in the morning went to Chicago on the toll road which went over the city for a long way. We got to Fort Wayne at 11:00. Had a good ride. Stayed at Ray's for two weeks and Ruth and Sam came half way and Ray met them. We had dinner and then Ruth and Sam and I and the two kids started for Rockford. We got to Rockford at about 6:00. I stayed till Thursday and Sam said he would go to the farm and I could go with him. At six I got my breakfast and we came home got here at half past ten or eleven and was glad to get back. It has been a very nice day quite cool.
Sept 27-58
This fall corn ripening good. Paul sold all the old ewes and bought 250 leghorn hens 1 year old and turned the little red barn into a chicken house. He got 60 or 70 eggs yesterday. He kept 15 lambs so we will have a start of sheep if he don't sell them. The folks went to a pancake supper at Boscobel this evening. I think I will quit for tonight as it is late and I want to take a bath as it is Saturday night and it is a quarter past ten. I want to go to church tomorrow. I was at church at Rockford twice also twice at Fort Wayne.
Oct 27-58
Went to Madison with Millard's to Hazel's sister's on 19 of October. Had dinner at Jack ???. There was twenty at dinner. Hazel's two sister's families, also Robert Walton and wife and two daughters. We got there about noon and left about five for home. We arrived at seven and had a very nice day. We went out to the airport and I watched the planes. I watched two big airplanes come in, unload, and go out. It was a beautiful day. Was over to Boscobel to see Florence last week. Had a nice visit. Paul will be picking corn soon as it has dried out pretty well. We have our wood all hauled and in the shed. Paul is full. I have a nice lot. I gathered the pears last week I got nine and a half bushels. Got letter from Edith last week. Also one from Patty. It is quite cool tonight feels like it might freeze. I covered the mums with a cloth they are just coming out in bloom. I have three dahilas, white, pink, and a darker one. They are very late this year as it has been so dry. The well on the Whiteacher place went dry. We have a renter for the place. John Steiner and wife, he is helping Paul for a few days. Will quit for tonight.
Nov 6-58
The election is over and the U.S. went Democratic. Nearly all Dems in the state, all officers went Dems except Zimmerman for treasurer and U.S. congressmen. It is quite cold tonight, it is freezing, it froze a little last night but is much colder tonight. It is very dry and we need a good rain. The boys are picking corn. Millard finished picking last week. We have about 12 acres to pick yet. Corn is pretty good considering we got so little rain. It sure came out much better than we expected. We sold all of our sheep and they are going to try chickens. We have been the fixing door for the little red barn to keep them in. They had 125 and got 50 more from Taft's as they had to go to the nursing home. They have very poor health, they went over to Boscobel yesterday to the nursing home. They were very poorly for a long time. We were at the hall to dinner today as the ladies AID got the dinner. There was quite a few out. I think this will be all for tonight, will quit and go to bed. So long.
Nov 25-58
Was at H.M.'s yesterday and stayed all night. It snowed about two inches, first snow but it is nearly gone tonight, but it rained a little all day and was very foggy. Bertha ??? was buried last week. She died in the nursing home in Boscobel. She died Thursday, November the 13 and was buried at Mt. Zion cemetery the 15 of November. Mr. ??? moved from the Hulbert place today to a farm 50 miles west of Rochester, Minnesota on a dairy farm with 90 cows. We had a birthday dinner for the minister Sunday at the hall. Today Paul's and H.M.'s are going to a school meeting in Boscobel this evening to vote on a location for the new school houses. Had letter from Ruth last week. They were all well. It was the first letter I had from her since I was down there this fall. Paul's went to LaCrosse Monday with Buster Mullikin yesterday and his girlfriend as they expect to be married the 5th of December.
Dec 28-58
Christmas is gone again and nearly the end of '58 soon will be '59. It is real warm today, 35 above, snow nearly gone. There wasn't much on the ground, about 6 or 8 inches. It has been nice for about a week. Forecasts for only a few more cold days this winter. I am hoping we don't get much cold the rest of the winter. The kids are all well over the Christmas holidays. I had a Christmas dinner, one at Peggy's, one at Millard's, one at Paul's. Yesterday had supper at June's. Got home from town and did chores and then went to June's for supper got home quarter past ten. Had a good time every place I ate. I talked to Ruth, she said she would be up during vacation. I had a letter from Ann, she was married last Saturday, a week ago yesterday. Also a picture of her yesterday for Christmas. Had a lot of presents from Ray and Edith and girls also other presents from Milwaukee. So long for now.
Jan 15-59
It is very cold today, it is 2 below and expected to be 10 below by morning. It was 2 above yesterday, snow nearly all gone as there hasn't been much on the ground. The ground is frozen very deep as the roadmen have had to quit grading on the new road. They have about three quarters of a mile to grade in Marrietta valley, the rest is about done as far as Mt. Zion and is all graveled but a small piece on the old hill. They don't expect to do any more till spring. It sure is a fine road, but it has shorted lots of good farm land. It has shorted Mt. Zion as it don't look like the same place. We, or rather Agnes and Paul had a birthday supper for Sharron as it was her 14 birthday. They had June and family, also Buster Mullikin and wife and family, 7 children they have. He is Agnes's nephew, her sister Florence's son. They are two families, his three and her four. They seem to be quite happy. He has an oil station in Boscobel.
To Be Continued