Taylor Oklahoma Trip

TAYLOR OKLAHOMA TRIP

    The Personal Diary
    (of)
    FRANK EARNEST (DADDY) PARDEE
    ACCOMPANIED BY
    DELLA HATTIE GARRIVSON TAYLOR
    and her children
    GOLDIE TAYLOR RENFROW
    LAURETTA TAYLOR
    RUTH TAYLOR
    LOUIS TAYLOR
    MAYBELLE TAYLOR
    STELLA TAYLOR
    VIVIAN TAYLOR
    and
    WANADA RENFROW
    daughter of Goldie

  • August 31, 1914
    Left house at 2:15 a.m. Got hay west of Whitmore's and had to block out. Camped NW of Cleveland, had to double four times. Camped at 8:10 a.m Started at 11:45 a.m. Drove till 2:30 p.m. and broke a wheel. Got an old one for $.50.
  • September 1, 1914
    Started at 8:30 a.m. Drove to Blackburn and got tire set. Camped at 11:30 a.m. Broke camp at 2:30 p.m. Pulled sand and hills, camped at a school house at 7:00 p.m. Rained. Slept in school house.
  • September 2, 1914
    Broke camp at 7:10 a.m Camped east of Greystone (INDIAN RESERVATION at 12:30 p.m. Left camp at 12:30 p.m. Drove till 7:00 p.m. Camped in a big pasture.
  • September 3, 1914
    Broke camp at 7:10 a.m. Drove 4 miles too far east, got right and camped in a big pasture for noon at 12:10 p.m. Left camp at 1:50 p.m. Got off and down a big hill and up again, it was H. Camped on dug out creek at night in a German's field. He gave us milk, cucumbers and onions. Camped at 6:30 p.m.
  • September 4, 1914
    Broke camp at 7:05 a.m. Drove like sin till I crossed the Kansas line at 11:20 a.m. Had a H of a hill to go down, got in camp at 1:00 p.m. sharp. Broke camp at 3:30 p.m. Drove till 6:30 p.m. Camped at a schoolhouse, fine place. Passed Foreaker at 8:00 {?}a.m.
  • September 5, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:10 a.m. Got in Cedar Vale at 9:00 a.m. Drove our 3 miles and camped. Fixed the crossbar on the wagon. Camped at 5:30 p.m. in a field. Passed through Wauneta.
  • September 6, 1914
    Broke camp at 11:00 a.m. Drove till 2:00 p.m. Camped on Middle Caney till 6:00 p.m. Drove through Sedan a mile and camped at 7:30 p.m.
  • September 7, 1914
    Broke camp at 9:15 a.m. Camped for noon at North Caney Avenue. Broke camp at 2:00 p.m. Camped in the sticks by Mud Creek at 5:45 p.m. Passed through Monetta, a wide place in the rowad. Got $35.00 from Joe. (Della's husband)
  • September 8, 1914
    Broke camp at 7:15 a.m. Camped at 11:15 a.m. on Elk Run, south of Elk City. Broke camp at 1:30 p.m. Aswful hot. Got Bill shod in Elk City. Drove 5 miles north and had to hike it back to Independence. Camped at 5:45 on Elk River.
  • September 9, 1914
    Washed on Elk River. Broke camp at 2:00 p.m. Got 2 miles east of Independence. Camped at 7:15 p.m.
  • September 10, 1914
    Left camp at 7:15 a.m. Camped 1 mile out of Cherryvale at 1:00 p.m. Broke camp at 2:15 p.m. Camped at 6:20 p.m. 10 miles out of Parsons on a creek. Rained p.m.
  • September 11, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:55 a.m. Got within 2 miles of Parsons. Camped at 12 sharp. Broke camp at 1:10 p.m. Sprung my hind axle in Parsons. Held me up 2 hours. Camped 2 miles east of Parsons in a lnae off the main road at 5:15 p.m. Cloudy.
  • September 12, 1914
    Broke camp at 7:40 a.m. Rained all a.m. Got lunch at Strauss. One horse store on railroad. Camped at 11:55 a.m. for noon and broke camp at 1:10 p.m. Rained like blazes while we were eating. Drove through McCune and camped 4 miles north of town. 17 miles west of Pittsburgh at 5:30 p.m.
  • September 13, 1914
    Broke camp at 9:00 a.m. Camped at 12 for dinner. Broke camp at 1:00 p.m. Camped at 5:30 p.m. 2 miles west on a creek.
  • September 14, 1914
    Broke campt at 7:15 a.m. Drove through Pittsburgh, Franklin, Arma, Croweberg, Tuller and Mulberry. Camped for noon at 11:50 a.m. Broke camp at 1:00 p.m. Camped at 6 o'clock by a school house in Missouri. Awful hard rain. Cooked in the tent.
  • September 15, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:15 a.m. Drove in the mud. Left Liberal 1/2 mile south. Camped at 12:05 p.m. Broke camp at 1:15 p.m. Got feed in Morneys. camped at 6:00 p.m. on a hillside. Team awful tired.
  • September 16, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:15 a.m. Roads very rough and hard to pull. Made poor time. Camped at 12:05 p.m. One mile east and 2 miles north of Moundville. Drove through Nevada. Camped our 2 miles east at 6:00 p.m.
  • September 17, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:20 a.m. Drove to Walker and through for dinner at 12:30 p.m. Rained like the devil in camp. Drove in mud until 4:00 p.m. until we hit dry roads. Camped one mile out of Harwood at 5:50 p.m.
  • September 18, 1914
    Broke camp at 7:45 a.m. Drove through Schell City. Della had a bad cramp. Crossed the Osage River at 11:00 a.m. sharp. Camped at noon in the bottoms at 12:20 p.m. Broke camp at 1:30 p.m. Drove through on the north of Rockville. Camped 3 miles out of Appleton City by a red schoolhouse. Mr. Wheeler gave us milk and came and spent the evening.
  • September 19, 1914
    Broke camp at 7:40 a.m. Drove through Appleton City and Montrose. Camped at 12:25 p.m. Broke camp at 2:00 p.m. Drove through Delmar. Camped at 5:30 p.m. 2 miles east of Delmar and 8 miles west of Clinton. No hay.
  • September 20, 1914
    Sunday. Broke camp at 8:20 a.m. Drove 1 mile east of Clinton. Camped at 1:20 p.m. on a section crossing by a man named Johnson. He gave us a shock of fodder, tomatoes, melon preserves, plenty of wood & -----------(?) from Johnson. Rained all p.m.
  • September 21, 1914
    Went back to Clinton on foot. No mail. Gone one hour. Finances low. Weather cloudy and roads heavy. Will start for Sedalia as soon as we eat break- fast. Rained all p.m. Road awful heavy. Hit Lewis. Camped for noon at 12:20 p.m. Broke camp at 2:00 p.m. Camped between Lewis and Calhoon at 5:30 p.m. Rained from 12 midnight till noon the 22nd.
  • September 22, 1914
    Broke camp at 10:30 a.m. Drove till 12:30 p.m. and camped just east of Windsor on the line between Henry and Pettis (counties] Camped at 12:30 p.m. Broke camp at 2:00 p.m. and camped 3/4 mile south of Kansas City junction between two hedges. Camped at 5:30 p.m. Feed awful short, so is grub and cash. Roads awful.
  • September 23, 1914
    Broke camp at 9:30 a.m. Drive in the mud till noon. Camped at 12:20 p.m. west of Green Ridge. Won't sell a man feed at all. Camped at 5:30 p.m. just east of Cambranch. Wanada awful sick. Got medicine from Dr. Hite, without money.
  • September 24, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:40 a.m. Drove slow. Got apples off an old fat lady on shares. Passed through Sedalia. Camped at 5:10 p.m. east of Sedalia. Wanada seem better. Got $5.00 from Joe.
  • September 25, 1914
    Wanada worse. Called Dr. Walsh, bad report. Got buggy off of Mr. Shoemaker. Went to Smithton and got a house and wired Joe and Renfrow (Wanada'sfather] Broke camp at 1:30 p.m. Wanada died at 2:00 p.m. Got into Smithton at 3:00 p.m. People did all they could for us.
  • September 26, 1914
    Buried Wanada at 3:00 p.m. The people did all they could for us. Got $25.00 from Joe and wire.
  • september 27, 1914
    Sunday - Pulled out at 9:45 a.m. Drove through Otterville and camped on the Lamine River. Began to wash at 3:00 p.m. Washed till sundown.
  • September 28, 1914
    Began to wash at 6:30 a.m. Got done at 1:00 p.m. Packed up and broke camp at 3:45 p.m. Camped at 6:00 p.m. on the prairie, nice camp, kind people, no hay.
  • September 29, 1914
    Broke camp at 7:40 a.m. Camped for dinner at 11:30 a.m. 2 miles from Bunceton. Broke camp at 1:00 p.m. Drove through Bunceton and camped at mouth of a little inland town called Lone Elm.
  • September 30, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:00 p.m. Camped at 11:45 a.m. 2 miles south of Boonville. Broke camp at 1:30 p.m. Crossed the Missouri River at 5:00 p.m. Camped at a schoolhouse south of Franklin at 6:15 p.m. Spent one hour on a horse swap.
  • October 1, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:40 a.m. Watered in New Franklin. Rough as the devil. My horse trader caught us north of Franklin and gave me the old mare for Goldie's watch. Camped for noon at 11:45 a.m. Broke camp at 1:00 p.m. Camped at night north of Fayette, one mile. People gave VV 2 eggs, $.10 and 12 bananas. Camped at 5:15 p.m.
  • October 2, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:10 a.m. Drove through Armstrong. Camped for noon north of town by Terril's Orchard. Picked apples for him and got $3.20 for our work.
  • October 3, 1914
    Went to Armstrong and got grub. Picked apples for Terril. Got $5.00 and horses pastured and wood.
  • October 4, 1914
    Sunday - broke camp at 8:45 a.m. Drove through Roanoke. Camped for noon at 12:00 p.m. Broke camp at 2:00 p.m. Camped at 4:00 p.m. right at the edge of Huntsville.
  • October 5, 1914
    Broke camp at 7:30 a.m. Got a letter from Joe and Mrs. Renfro in Huntsville. Camped for dinner at 11:30 a.m. four miles south of Cairo. Camped for night three miles south of Jacksonville at 6:30 p.m. Had to cross my wagons. Had a H of a road all forenoon and four miles after noon.
  • October 6, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:00 a.m. Drove through Excello. Got to Macon at 4:00 p.m. Della sick all day, awful cramps. At noon camped at 12:30 p.m. Broke camp at 2:00 p.m. Della had a bad spell at night. Had Dr. Miller out of Niccar. $.55 left. Could not get a job in the orchard. Camped at 5:30 p.m.
  • October 7, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:45 a.m. Della feeling bad yet. Rained on us from 10:30 a.m. till 12:00 p.m. Poured on us from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Camped at 1:30 p.m. Fixed a narrow sheeet and made a tent, cooked dinner. Got done at 3:30 p.m. A yellow chicken jumped on me this afternoon-----------pretty good eating. Broke camp at 4:15 p.m. Down and up a big hill. Four (horses) to let it down and four to pull it up. Camped at 5:30 p.m. No supper. Horses ate good and did not ramble. Rained all night. Some high wind.
  • October 8, 1914
    Got up at 6:00 a.m. Horses on the run. All looked they were gutted, won't eat, just ramble. Got coffee on a rural driver's stove. Ruth went to town, Atlanta, for bread. Mud belly deep. Breakfast, bread and no butter and coffee. No stove to build a fire. 8:30 a.m. and still raining and getting colder. Broke camp at 10 o'clock. Camped at 12:15 p.m. for dinner. Cooked a good dinner. Broke camp at 2:40 p.m. Drove till 5:20 p.m. Made good 10 miles. Raining when we went to bed.
  • October 9, 1914
    Rained off and on all night. Got to LaPlata and got one buck for the lens. Got acifidity tablets and matches $.10. $1.15 left. All feel good. Cloudy and getting cool. Muddy as the devil. Made about 3 1/2 miles this a.m. Camped at 12:15 p.m. for dinner. Broke camp at 2:00 p.m. Drove till 5:10 p.m. Had a nice camp, but Oh God! how it rained and blowed.
  • October 10, 1914
    Got up at 6:00 a.m. Rained all night. Horses in mud knee deep and Bill down, Mr. Marquith come out and helped me give him a pan of oats and a sack of corn. Gave the folks a gallon and a half of milk, 2 cabbages, onions, tomatoes and cucumbers. Got breakfast and dinner on their stove. Fooled with Bill till 11:30 a.m. then killed him and buried him on Mr. Marquith's place. Broke camp at 2:50 p.m. Got half way between Millard and Kirksville and camped in a crossroad behind a hedge. Bad water. Camped at 5:30 p.m. Have $.07 this morning and am 32 miles from any show of money.
  • October 11, 1914
    Sunday - broke camp at 9:00 a.m. Four miles south of Kirksville. Camped at 12:20 p.m. - 2 miles north of Kirksville. Broke camp at 2:00 p.m. Drove past Sublette and within one mile of Greentop. Camped at 5:35 p.m. on the RR. Old lady gave us a gallon of sweet milk. Raining when we went to bed. 1/2 feed for the team.
  • October 12, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:30 a.m. Misting rain till 10:30 a.m. Roads slippery and hilly. Camped at 12:30 p.m. one mile north of Queen City. Broke camp at 2:00 p.m. Drove to a Church and creek in the bottoms. Camped at 4:30 p.m. still raining. Mrs. Huffman gave us a gallonor sweet, fresh milk. No feed for the team.
  • October 13, 1914
    Broke camp at 9:50 a.m. Still misty rain and cold. Roads hilly and slippery. Got 4 miles. Only 1 mile from Lancaster. Camped at 2:00 p.m. Found a nest of eggs, 3 good. Sold the target for $1.50. Got a sack of flour and a twist of grainger (tobacco). Camped at 5:00 p.m. 1 mile south of Lancaster. Got over 6 miles of mud and hills today. No corn tonight. Raining, but we are behind a hill.
  • October 14, 1914
    Got up at 6:00 a.m. Let the bronks loose. Went 1/2 mile for 24 ears of corn, no charge. $.05 for 6 eggs, one for VV and two for Della, breakfast and the same for dinner. Camped for noon at 12:40 p.m. Had to double once. Muddy as H. Rained last night from 6:30 p.m. till 9:30 a.m. today. Borrowed 24 ears of corn before I left camp. If I don't pay it the Lord will. Pulled some awful hills and had to double on the level. Camped at 5:15 p.m. between two houses. Hills and mud galore.
  • October 15, 1914
    Broke camp at 9:15 a.m. People gave us 1 gallon of milk. Heavy fog in the morning. Drove through Downing. Camped for noon 12::15 p.m. Mrs. Rily gave us 1/2 gallon milk. Seen the sun a few minutes before noon. A chicken got in my wagon this morning. Camped at 4:20 p.m. (?) miles from Memphis, north of a Church. Horses had supper but were all in. All ate and lay down quick.
  • October 16, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:20 a.m. Horses had agood breakfast. Misted a little, and a few snowflakes fell. Made the best time have made in a week. Camped 1 mile from Memphis for dinner at 12 o'clock. Horses well fed at noon. VV has had spuds for 2 dinners and 1 supper and she has sure enjoyed them. Cloudy and cold and looks like rain. Camped at 11:50 a.m Broke camp at 2:00 p.m. 4 miles east of Memphis in a flat. Team well fed. Rained enough to make the roads bad. Camped on ground at 4:50 p.m. Plenty of wood.
  • October 17, 1914
    Broke camp at 9:00 a.m. Roads getting better. Retta sold a waist for $.30 and we got cornmeal $.25 and grainger $.05 in Arbela. Drove through Granger and camped 2 miles east aat right. Camped 12:10p.m. for noon. Broke camp 2:00 p.m. Camped 5:00 p.m. at night. Got 2 gallons of milk. Retta sold a Chinese cushion for $.10. Sunshine today. Horses, no supper or breakfast.
  • October 18, 1914
    Sunday - Broke camp at 8:30 a.m. Drove through Luray. Seen a buggy and a motorcycle collide, cycle got the worst of it. Camped at noon at 11:50 a.m. by a schoolhouse east of Luray. Sun still shining. Horses had dinner. Broke camp at 1:40 p.m. Drove through Ashton and Medill. Camped 2 miles west of Kahoka. Chicken jumped on us today. Camped at 4:30 p.m.
  • October 19, 1914
    Broke camp at 9:20 a.m. Drove through Kahoka. Sold my ring for $.60 Roads are simply hell. Camped east of town, 2 miles out at 11:30 a.m. Broke camp at 2:45 p.m. Drove till 5:20 p.m. Camped four miles from Wayland. Plenty of wood.
  • October 20, 1914
    Broke camp at 7:40 p.m. Drove through Wayland and camped east of town in the bottoms for noon. Camped at 12:15 p.m. Horses well fed. Broke camp at 2:30 p.m. Drove to within 1 mile of Alexandria and camped at 4:45 p.m. in a lane.
  • October 21, 1914
    Goldie, Lauretta, Ruth, Louis and I picked tomatoes like H all day for Shockelty at $.05 a bushel. Made $2.95. (39 bushel).
  • October 22, 1914
    Same bunch picked till noon and Maybelle in place of Louis in the afternoon for Bloyd at $.06. Made $2.95. Worked 6 hours.
  • October 23, 1914
    Ruth, Retta and I picked tomatoes for 1 1/2 hours for Bloyd. Got 10 bushels cleaned up and set around till noon. Broke camp at 12:45 p.m. Drove by Alexandria and crossed the DesMoines River into Iowa at 1:40 p.m. Got into Keokuk. Drove till one block off the river bridge. Watered and started and broke my left hind wheel. Tried to get it filled and could not. I got 2 John Deere riding cultivator wheels off Lewis Stern and his man helped me jack up and fix. He gave me the wheels, said I was welcome to them. Drove onto the Mississippi toll bridge at 4:40 p.m. and crossed into Illinois. Passed through Hamilton, a nice clean little town and I camped 1 mile east of town at 6:50 p.m. Saw next to the biggest dam in the world. Kids saw 2 big river steamers. Big fire in Keokuk. ` Gasoline tanks and garage east on Johnson Street. Burned 1 block.
  • October 24, 1914
    Broke camp at 9:00 a.m. Weather cold and cloudy. Misted a little early. Drove to Elvaston and got Chub and Dolly shod in front. Camped between Elvaston and Carthage and 1:00 p.m. Built a good fire. Still cold and cloudy. Broke camp at 2:40 p.m. No mail in Carthage. Got Ruth a pair of slippers for $.25. Camped at 6:30 p.m. Close to schoolhouse. Lenkins gave us plenty of separated milk. Cold as H.
  • October 25, 1914
    Sunday - Broke camp at 9:00 a.m. Weather cold and cloudy and a frost on this morning. Camped at 11:50 a.m. between Carthage and Colchester. Broke camp at 1:00 p.m. Camped at 5:00 p.m. 4 miles from Colchester. Wind in south, changed to northwest. Cold as H.
  • October 26, 1914
    Broke camp at 7:45 a.m. Passed through Colchester and camped 3 1/2 miles from Macomb. Awful cold and snowy at 1:30 p.m. Camped at 12:20 p.m. Broke camp at 2:00 p.m. Drove through Macomb. Drove out 1 1/2 miles and camped. Ice in the wash pan and water bucket before we went to bed. Camped at 5:30 p.m. Got $10. from Joe.
  • October 27, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:00 a.m. Drove through Bushnell and got Don shod in front and Dolly behind. Got a few groceries. Camped at noon at 12:10 p.m. Broke camp at 2:00 p.m. Camped at night at 5:40 p.m. Awful raw south wind, mist. The worst of any weather we have had.
  • October 28, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:00 a.m. Not so bad this morning. Got Maude shod behind in Prairie City, $.80. Camped at 1:20 p.m. Horses are having corn or blue grass. Broke camp at 1:40 p.m. Camped at 5:30 p.m. 1/2 mile east of Ellisville. Five houses in sight. Can't get enough camp water. Cold and cloudy. Della won't let me hustle tonight.
  • October 29, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:20 a.m. Drove through Ellisville and camped at 12:00 p.m. on the edge of Fairview. Has been warm and sunshiny today. Broke camp at 1:40 p.m. Drove through Fairview. Got washers for my wheels $.05 and shoe fixed. Camped half-way between Fairview and Farmington at 4:45 p.m.
  • October 30, 1914
    Broke camp at 7:25 a.m. Passed through Farmington and camped within nine miles of Peoria by Mr. Nicholas Dobet who gave us 2 gallons separated milk, a coat for Louis and a jar of preserves. Camped at noon at 11:50 a.m. Broke camp at 1:20 p.m. Camped at night at 5:00 p.m.
  • October 31, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:25 a.m. Went down Kickapoo Hill which was fresh graveled. Camped at Peoria at 11:45 a.m. Broke camp at 1:30 p.m. Drove through Peoria. A S of a B police grabbed Don [horse] and said get on the right side of street and I did not say thank you. Crossed the Illinois River at 3:20 p.m. Doubled up Washington Hill and camped 4 miles west of Washington at 5:10 p.m
  • November 1, 1914
    Sunday - Broke camp at 7:55 a.m. Drove through Washington and camped for dinner at 11:45 a.m. 1/2 mile from Cruger/ Drove by Cruger and Eureka and Streaton and camped 3 miles from Secor at 5:10 p.m. Plenty of milk. Broke noon camp at 1:20 p.m.
  • November 2, 1914
    Broke camp at 7:25 a.m. Drove through Secor and El Paso. Passed Gridley and camped 1 mile from Meadows at 4:45 p.m. Noon camp at 12:00 p.m. Broke at 1:40 p.m. Plenty of milk from Ben Yeadler.
  • November 3, 1914
    Broke camp at 6:40 a.m. and drive through Meadows and to Chenoa. I got a letter from John and Joe. Camped at 11:45 a.m. about 1 mile west of Weston. broke camp at 1:20 p.m. and drove past Weston and Fairbury and camped 2miles west of Chatsworth at 5:05 p.m.
  • November 4, 1914
    Broke camp at 6:50 a.m. Drove through Forest. Had to go 2 blocks north to miss the paving. Drove through Chatsworth and camped at 11:40 a.m. 2 miles east of Chatsworth for dinner. Warm but the wind is blowing like th devil. Broke camp at 1:40 p.m. Drove, hustled, through Piper City. There won't be time to camp west of La Hogue which is a wide spot in the road. We drove 1 mile east of town and camped for grass and shelter. Camped at 5:45 p.m.
  • November 5, 1914
    Broke camp at 7:00 a.m. sharp. Drove through Gillman, only elevator and store, no depot, and Crescent City who puts on a large 341 population and water works and paved streets and camped at 12:00 p.m. 1 mile east of Crescent City. Broke camp at 1:00 p.m. Drove through Watseka and camped out 1 mile at 5 sharp.
  • November 6, 1914
    Broke camp at 6:30 a.m. Drove through Eastburn and Stella bawled because she could not see the town. Drove through Sheldon and Goldie got a letter from Renfrow and I got one from Sippy. Crossed the line into Indiana at 11 o clock . Camped 1 mile out of Ebbner. Some people gave the kids some flour and we had dinner and supper. Ruth sold her pocketbook in Kentland for $.40 and I got a sack of meal and a Indiana map and am dead broke. Camped out of Huntland 2 miles at 4:45 p.m.
  • November 7, 1914
    Broke camp at 6:45 a.m. Ruth sold a plate for $.25 and one for $.20 and a lady gave her a coat and sweater for VV. Warm, but high wind. Got to Goodland at 9:00 a.m. Ruth hustled the town. Passed Remington. Got a sack of meal and some lard. Broke again. Drove east of town and someone gave Ruth some coffee. Camped on a grade. It looks like rain tonight. 1 3/4 miles west of Wolcott. Camped at 5:30 p.m.
  • November 8, 1914
    Sunday - Raining. Got up at 6:00 a.m. by the watch. Raining and cold. Moved the girls wagon and fixed up the tent. Cooked and got oil at 8:20 .m. Drove past on the north of Wolcott and to Seafield. Went south through Seafield and to within 4 miles of Monticello. Camped at 1:40 p.m. Broke camp at 3:00 p.m. No rain since 9 o'clock but high wind and cold. Drove to 1/2 mile of Monticello and camped for night. Watch 40 minutes slow. Camped at 5:10 p.m. by the watch. Cold as the devil.
  • November 9, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:20 a.m. Had $.10 and VV sang for J.M. Stotley of Reynolds and he gave her $.25. Got a twist of grainger, 1/2 gal. coal oil and 10# corn meal and am busted once more. Drove through Idaville and within 1 mile of Burnettsville for dinner at 12. Some people gave VV an orange and pears and Mrs. Tom gave us some milk, spuds and squash and tomatoes. Broke camp at 1:30 p.m. Drove through Burnettsville and Lake Cicott and into the worst roads we have had since Illinois. Tood 4 horses to let my wagon down one hill. Got VV and Indiana apple off the tree. Crossed Tippecanoe River at Monticello and camped at night in the timber at 5:05 p.m. on Crooked Creek. Had a fine camp, plenty of wood, but no grass. I am on the road today at 9 o'clock ---------------- is--------RR--------.
  • November 10, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:20 a.m. Drove through Logansport. Got no mail. Camped at 12:45 p.m. 4 1/2 miles east of town. Had a H of a rain, for water. Goldie is cooking next to our last meal of corn meal and no cash. Crossed the Ed River in town and the Wabash at 18th Street bridge and took up the south side of the river. We went through Kenneth, a rock navy town. Broke camp at 2:40 p.m. Drove across Pipe Creek and crossed the Wabash again at Lewisburg. Camped 4 miles east of Lewisburg and 5 west of Peru. Mighty cold. Camped at 5:40 p.m. Straight stewed pumplin for supper. A lady gave Ruth some milk and a pie at noon.
  • November 11, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:10 .m. Horse in camp. Ruth sold a Jap pillow sham for $.50. Got meal $.10, spuds $.15, lard $.10, grainger at Peru. Camped for dinner 4 miles east of Peru. Camped at 12 noon. Broke camp at 1:30 p.m. A lady gave Ruth a cabbage. Camped by the silent city (cemetary) of the dead. Don and me raised H with the water in camp. Camped at 5:45 p.m. Horse 1/2 feed. Ruth got bit by a dog.
  • November 12, 1914
    Broke camp at 7:30 a.m. Drove to Wabash. No mail. Bad luck, hit four or five for jobs but no go. At 10:40 a.m. one old man told me of a job and I hit it. I hustled 1/2 feed pf corn for the horses. Camped 1/2 mile west of Lagro and a lady gave the girls 10 slices bread, some milk and spuds. I shucked this p.m. for J.M. Meafdaugh, R. 5 and got $.75. He gave me 12 ears of corn and sighted me to a job. Hitched up at 4:30 p.m. Went to Lagro and got meal $.25, lard $.10. tobacco $.10, powder $.10, salt $.05. Drove out 2 1/2 miles and camped at 6:30 p.m. by a vacant house. Awful cold and high wind.
  • November 13, 1914
    Got up late. Went to see Roy Unger and got a job for the p.m. shocking. shaved and lay in camp till noon. Moved onto the vacant garden. Shucked for Roy Unger in p.m.
  • November 14, 1914
    Got up at 4:30 a.m. Went down the track 1 1/2 miles a killed a goat for Bob Renner. Got 1/4 the goat and the head, fat, heart and liver. First meat for 3 weeks. Renner gave us 2 messes of spuds. Shocked, Della, Retta, Ruth and I for Unger. Goldie took Della's place for 1 hour. Got 23 shocks in 4 hours at $.09. Went to town. Flour $.50, meal $.50, tobacco, $.15, vinegar $.05, matches $.05, coffee $.25, lard $.25, peppers $.05, ---------$.10. Cuss my careless hide I lost $.10.
  • November 15, 1914
    Sunday - got up late and had breakfast late. Cloudy and misty. Got to move out in 2 or 3 days. Clouds and high wind since 3:30 p.m. Rained tonight and looks like snow but we are all comfortable. I made a stove out of lead, tin and put up the tent. Kids got 4 bushels of butter nuts.
  • November 16, 1914
    Got up at 7:30 a.m. Cold as H and is snowing, but all are comfortable. I am going to try to shuck fodder. Retta helped me a little and I got 12 shocks. Cold as the devil and snowed some.
  • November 17, 1914
    Got up at 6:30 a.m. Pretty cold, but Retta and I got 18 shocks of fodder. Cold as the devil. Della helped some in the p.m. Meal $.40, flour $.40, baking powder $.10, oil $.05, tobacco $.05.
  • November 18, 1914
    Shucked 21 shocks of fodder. Retta and I all day and Goldie after dinner. Pretty cold. Bought a goat off Wadkins for $1.75, dressed 33 pounds.
  • November 19, 1914
    Cold as Hell. Della, Retta and I went to shuck and they all froze but me, and I would if it had not been for the name of it. Got 13 shocks, but we ar comfortable in camp and at night Goldie got a letter from Renfrow. I tell you it is winter tonight. Creek has been froze over for 5 days. Cold as the devil and looks like snow.
  • November 20, 1914
    Cold as H in a.m. Shocked 6 shocks. Come home to dinner and shocked 4 shocks in the afternoon. Wabash is frozen and they are skating.
  • November 21, 1914
    Sun got up cleat and nice and seems like it is going to be warm. Fixed my shoe. Retta has the bellyache. All going to try shock and clean up any 100 shocks today so we can skidoo for Pa. I got the bellyache, too. We finishe corn shocking. Got Roy Unger's wagon and went to town and got flour, meal $.90, sugar, $.25, oats $.10, beans $.25, butter $.30, gloves $.25, baking powder $.10, onions $.10, soap $.10, coffee $.25, stocking $.45, candy $.05, tobacco $.25, stamps $.25. Got $10.00 from Joe. Got home late and took the wagon home. Mrs. Mary Porter, Lagro, Route 1. was here and gave Della 5 shirts, 2 coats, 2 caps, 1 skirt, 6 or 8 pairs of socks and stockings, 5 quarts fruit, 1 qt. jelly, apples, cookies, 1 gal. milk, 1 union suit, 2 pair drawers and shoes. Mrs. Unger gave Ruth a pair of shoes a day or so ago.
  • November 22, 1914
    Sunday - Pretty nice day. Paid for the goat $1.75 and gave Hubert the skin. Wadkins gave VV $.25. Set in camp all day. Had two visitors. Della shaved me and put my trotting harness on me and made a dude out of me. Old Doll got down and I was an hour getting her up. 11:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m. Wadkins brought VV a cotton tail. Could not keep my feet warm. guess I took off too much dirt.
  • November 23, 1914
    Mighty cold but the sun campe up nice and clear with the show of warming up nicely. Retta, Louis and I set up 100 shocks of fodder and I got Rays wagon, went to Lagro, and got Chub shod. Bought an old box heater for $1.00. Chub shod $.65, mittens $.10, stove pipe $.10, soap $.05, salt $.05, --------$.75. It has been awful nice windy day. Settled with Ray. Had $7.82 coming to start out and $.57 left from Joem making a total of $8.39 all told. The old rural man's address is W.W. Lenty, Lagro, Ind. We intended to pull up early in the morn but I heard Huntington County was quarantined right and I will have to find out before I go.
  • November 24, 1914
    Sick the last half of the night. I have been sick for 3 days and nights off and on. Cold and cloudy this morning but I think it will clear up. Went to Watkins and wired Huntington County attorney about going through the county and he said if I had no hay, rabbits or chickens I could go through. Broke camp at 12:20 p.m. Crossed the Wabash southwest of Andrews. Left Andrews and Huntington to the north of us and camped on a creek at 5:30 p.m. Bought four small bundles of fodder $.25. Not so awful cold.
  • November 25, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:40 a.m. and an old timer gave us a rabbit. Broke three spokes out of one of my front wheels. Jumped in three pine ones and got 1/2 mile of Markle at 12:30 p.m. Traded the old wheel to a junk man named R.L. Detyler and he asked me to write him and Zoa Gaskill. Got a shock of fodder for $.10. Camped at 12:20 p.m. Broke camp at 2:20 p.m. Camped at 5:40 p.m. on the prairie. Not as cold as it was at 4:30 p.m. Dinner, baked bread and butter and peaches. Went to get a bottle of water and a woman had a fit. Did not want strangers on the farm. Afraid of the foot and mouth disease.
  • November 26, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:25 a.m. Went to Uniondale and Shepperd. The trunk and box, a smart aleck asked me what I didn't camp in the middle of the road and I told him I could not get over the fence. I got rope $.50, milk $.05, bread $.10, --------$.1.65, corn $.55, hay $.75, wheel fixed $.25, meat $.20, tobacco $.45, spuds $.20, butter $.28, ----------$.35. Broke one of my wheels at the weld half-way between Kingsland and Tocsin and got it welded in Tocsin. Put on the old wood wheel and pulled into town. Camped at noon 1/2 mile east of Uniondale at 12:40 p.m. Broke camp at 1:35 p.m. Camped at night at 6:00 p.m. by a house and the lady gave us milk for supper. Still warm and cloudy. Got timothy hay for the horses for $.70 a hundred. Ain't making any time, all is going wrong.
  • November 27, 1914
    Drove all day in a good county. Noon camp 12:40 p.m. Broke camp at 1:35 p.m. Broke the wheel I got welded and put on the old wood one again. Night camped at 5:40 p.m. on a cross road. Cold and cloudy. First night in Ohio, crossed the line at 4:20 p.m. Got corn in Indiana for $.50 a bushel.
  • November 28, 1914
    Broke camp. Drove to Middleberry and got a piece soldered on my wheel. Passed Van Wert at 2:00 p.m. Passed through Middlepoint and sent a letter to Lagro. Gave $.40 for wheel fixing and $.30 for grub. Noon camp at 12:05 p.m. Broke at 12:25 p.m. See the cripple with no tobacco. Camped on the town sight and hitched up and drove up the line a quarter and camped by Mr. John Shaner. He dressed Doll's teeth and gave us some milk, hog liver and spuds.
  • November 29, 1914
    Sunday - Raining when I woke up. It rained till about 8:30 a.m. Broke camp at 9:30 a.m. Drove north of Delphos for dinner. Camped at 12:30 p.m. Broke camp at 2:00 p.m. Been turned around all day. Fed horses and had dinner. Camped early at a wide spot in the road named -----------. Don't know exactly where we are but are in sight of a town. Drove through Ft. Jennnings and left to get bawled out for being on earth.
  • November 30, 1914
    Broke camp at 8 o'clock. Drove through Rimer and got corn, 1/2 bushel $.30. Passed Vaughnsville and Columbus Grove. Camped at l:00 p.m. Broke camp at 1:30 p.m. Drove through Bluffton. Got no mail. Camped 1 mile east on the trolley right of way by ------------------. Camped at 5:25 p.m. Ruth and Retta went back for mail.
  • December 1, 1914
    Ruth and Maybelle went for mail and got a letter from and Joe and it held us till 10 o'clock. We drove past Cordelia 1 mile to the south and Jenera 1/4 mile to the south. Got in Arlington. Bought corn $.50, hay $.75, spuds $.30, flour $.75, sugar $.25, tobacco $.10, corn bran from a Dutchy $.20. Came to 1 mile east of Arlington at 5:15 p.m. Rained a good shower. Got $5.00 from Joe.
  • December 2, 1914
    Sick all night. Della got up and built a fire. It is cold and misty this morning. Left camp at 7:15 a.m. Got $.20 of corn off an old farmer. Left Mt. Blanchard and Pratts to the north. Retta and Ruth went to Mt. Blanchard and mailed 3 letters. Passed through Carey at 3 o'clock. Still warm and cloudy. Camped at 4:30 p.m. 3 miles east of Carey on the prairie.
  • December 3, 1914
    Rained and sleeted some. Cold and windy all day. Broke camp at 7:45 a.m. Drove through Tymochtee an old dead town. Had lots of dirt road and more hills that since we came to Ohio. Got a bushel of corn Sycamore for $.10. Camped for noon 1 mile north of Sycamore behind a bank at 1:15 p.m. Broke camp 1:45 p.m. Passed south of Plankton and Lykens and camped in the timber 3 miles west of Chatfield. Nice camp and comfortable, but it is mighty cold. Della is not feeling very well.
  • December 4, 1914
    Overslept - Rained last night. Broke camp 8:30 a.m. Drove a mile or so and broke one of my iron wheels. I got in Markle and took it off and put on the old. Dished stay by and got to New Washington. Run around for a while and got a big heavy pair from a junkman named John Siefert. He gave me wheel for wheel. Drove east of town 2 or 3 and camped and a man came down and told me to pull into his field so there would be no kick on my being in the road. He gave me hay for my horses. Fed the horses while I changed the wheels. I ate a lunch about 4:00 or 4:30 p.m. Awful day, rain and cold, snowed all day. Got supper in the rain but we slept warm. Camped in the orchard of John Evaculine, RFD, New Washington, and he gave me corn for my team and a bushel of apples.
  • December 5, 1914
    Did not try to get off early as old Dolly is about all in. Rained last night and is cold and cloudy. Got to Plymouth and through to New Haven. 45 minutes for dinner. No one got out but me. Pulled 1/4 mile west by a hedge and camped at 4:30 p.m. Rainy, no hay. Good grass, let the horses eat till I went for them and old Doll feel down and tried to get her up but failed. A man come down and got her up. They brought corn, bread, jelly, milk and butter. Camped by a bridge.
  • December 6, 1914
    Sunday - Got up at 5:30 a.m. Doll still down. A man and his son helped me get Doll up and I left a fellow have her for $.50. Got out of camp at 12 o'clock. Rained from 11:00 a.m. till 1:30 p.m. Made 10 miles and camped 3 or 4 miles out of Greenwich. I am trailing Della's wagon and driving 3 horses. Might cold camp tonight. Wind is whipping till I can't keep it our of the tent. Camped 4:45 p.m. by a schoolhouse on a side road. Mr. Devores folks sent their children down with a lady's coat, kid's overshoes, stocking cap, milk and leggings.
  • December 7, 1914
    Broke camp at 8:30 a.m. Hit pike 4 1/2 miles and hit the mud road and it is mud slide. Got bread at Ruggles, an inland town. Made 1/2 mile north or Nova and camped for noon. Got stuck and Mr. Smith helped me out and told me to go to the crossroads and pull in by his barn and camp for all night, which I did. Put the horses in the barn and fed them Smith's hay. He came up at night and brought us a bushel of spuds and hunk of pork, sack of popcorn, can of milk, a cake and lb. of butteer and some apples and a loaf of bread. Mr. Basset brought a bale of hay and some onions and cabbage. A Muriel Swope gave us some spuds, pears, apples, and dry wood and stove pipe. We are in a little smoke house 8x10 with the back end of the stove out the door for the pipe, but it is heaven in a storm like this. J.C. Smith, Nova, Ohio. Muriel Swope, Ashland, Ohio.
  • December 8, 1914
    Snowed all night. Got up late. Della built fire. Went to the bunkhouse and got corn and to Mr. ---------- and got some wood and he gave Louis 2 roosters for helping him catch his chickens. Snowed all day. Corn $.25. December 9, 1914
    Got up rather late. Went to Swopes and got a sack of flour. Went to see Vaughn about his house, nothing doing. Went to see Will Dill and got his house. Went home. Eat dinner and Muriel Swope took 1 load and me 1 and went to the house. Got a stove up and had supper. Not so awful cold.
  • December 10, 1914
    Went to town for mail and unloaded the wagons. A lady sent in some beets, milk, turnips and dill. Gave me a pair of old arctics, coat and mittens. Cold but not bitter. Got a letter from Mrs. Sippy.
  • December 11, 1914
    Got up early. Wrote Mrs. Sippy. Mailed the letter. Wrote to Bluffton to have my mail sent here. Got a box from Mrs. M.T.Scarborough. Also a lb. of nuts. Tore uip the old yellow wagon. J.C.Smith came over and brought us 2 glasses jelly, 1 gal. milk, 1 cake, 1 loaf bread, spuds, apples, jar of cooked meat, 4 pairs drawers, 2 hoods, 2 coats, 1 pair over shorts, 1 pair hose, suitcase. Went to Dill's and got a sack of corn on time and some straw. Then went to town but did not learn anything. A lady sent us some side pork sausage, liver and lard.
  • December 12, 1914
    Got up early intending to ship the folks but the ------------slipped. Mr. Weeks or Wicks brought an overcoat, ladies coat, 3 pair overalls and a shirt and vest and the elevator man gave us a girls coat to fit Ruth. We got 9 rabbits today and a big soup bone and 2 cabbages, 2 cans corn, 1 of peas and a lb. of coffee and pair of gloves from Reed. The township board told me to get 6 bushels of eats and I got 5 1/2 and said they would fire the folks Monday. Made 2 trips to town. Halton brought the soup bone and 1 rabbit. It is pretty cold tonight and freezing hard. Boxed our goods and cut up the little wagon. Got a letter from Grandma. Had $5.00 in it.
  • December 13, 1914
    Sunday - Got up at 6 o'clock. Had breakfast late. Crawford and Reed came out to see about the car fare. Ruth and Maybelle went for milk. George Crittenden for milk and got milk, beans and cornmeal. Got oil and cabbage there. Last night William Douglass and wife were here and brought a bushel of corn, 2 glasses jelly, cookies, canned tomatoes, buckwheat, flour, lard and sugar, potatoes and hog liver. Crawford and Reed and Reed's girl were out late in a car and brought Retta, Stella and VV each a pair of shoes and Goldie a pair of rubbers. I got 2 load of straw for the horses and cut wood is all I did today. Snowed most all day. Mr. George Crittenden was up in the p.n. and told me to come and get fodder tomorrow.
  • December 14, 1914
    Got up at 5:00 a.m. Pretty cold and still snowy. Douglass came by and insisted we stay till the 16th, Mr. Reed came up and brought 2 sacks corn and milk. Reed and Crawford brought out shoes for Ruth and sent a pair to Louis and Maybelle, VV a coat, hood, mittens, muff and fur cape and stockings for eight and drawers VV, 4 undershirts, 3 dresses, 2 caps, 2 neck scarves, 6 ties, 2 strings beads, 2 wool shirts, a cap, 2 ladies coats, 2 leaves bread, 1 undershirt and the elevator sent a sack flour. Mrs. Reed 2 cans corn, 2 bars soap, candy, cookies, gum. Will Dill brought coat to fit VV and hood and the store-keeper sent Louis a duck coat I took Retta, Goldie and VV to town and she sang to get $.125 for it. George Crittenden gave me 8 bundles fodder and Retta milk, popcorn and apples. Gloves $.25, pins $.05, hair pins $.03. M.T.Scarborough gave me nails and rope to lash a box. Went for the folks at night. Reed sent out 2 bottles medicine. Got $6.00 from Joe
  • December 15, 1914
    Got up at 5:45 a.m. Awful cold. Della got breakfast and we all sat around to eat. Mrs. Ida Kiplinger, A Rebecca, sent out a pair of shoes, Stella's bed slippers, VV fit 2 new ladies vest, girls leather leggins $8.40. Smith and Reed came out and brought me a pair of felt boots and rubbers, 3 pairs of sox and a pair of leather mitttens. William Douglas, New London, RFD, came over and brought apples, doughnuts, cake, 2 loaves bread, 2 pies, 2 chickens, quart of peaches, pint preserves, lb. butter, coal. For Della, 2 skirts, 1 pair hose. Reed and Smith had sox for Louis, 1 gal. milk, 2 pair mittens, pair shoes and one pair overshoes, 2 packages chewing tovacco and 1 lb. smoking tobacco and sack candy to VV.
  • December 16, 1914
    Got up at 4 o'clock. Boxed up to leave. Made a box and took the goods to town to the depot. Douglas was here and gave Della 3 full tickets to Akron and 2 1/2 tickets and $24.00 in money. Fixed my wagon. Cummins sent 2 bushels of oats. I got Don shod, no charge. Douglas took VV, Stella and Retta home, over in the p.m. and he and his wife came over the evening. J.C. Smith, his wife and 2 daughters were over .so was Muriel Swope and he would have no pay for his sack of flour. I have been sick all day with my bowels. Clear and mighty cold. Douglas brought a sack of oats and borrowed me a coal oil stove.
  • December 17, 1914
    Kept fire all night. Got up at 2:30 a.m. Took the folks to the depot at 4:40 a.m. Train 1hr.35 min. late. Got Loaded and started at 10:25 a.m. Stopped 30 min. for dinner. Drove to Wellington. Paid $.75 for the horses in the barn and hay and slept in the office. Awful cold. Bread $.10, roots $.05. Passed through Rochester and Brighton.
  • December 18, 1914
    Slept till 6:40 a.m. Hurried like H but did not get off till 8:30 a.m. Passed through Penfield and Lagrange. Not so awful cold today. 30 minutes for dinner. Had to pay $.75 for hay and stabling. Bread $.10, sugar $.15, milk $.10, coffee $.20, cup of made coffee $.10. Sleeping in the wagon. Got my first fire in the oil stove. Pulled Maude's hind shoe 1 mile north of Penfield.
  • December 19, 1914
    Got off in good time. Snowed till 9:30 a.m. Wet, sloppy and slippery. Passed North Eaton, Eaton Station, 2 stores Columbia Station A small town, I stopped WestView. Went to the corner of Olmstead Falls and got to Berea in good time. Put up at a barn owned by Brown.
  • December 20, 1914
    Got up early. Fed and got ready to go. Went to pay my bill and Mr. Brown said no charge only write me when you get through. Got to Bedford mighty late. Could not get my wagon in but did the horses. There ain't a D bit of accomodation about these fellows here. Well I can't help it. I fixed meal in the oil stove. A young German named Frank Deyling, Pleasantville Road, Independence wished me to write him in a year. A lady walked and talked to me 2 long miles. 3/4 of the day on dirt road.
  • December 21, 1914
    Well I slept in the streets of Bedford last night and it rained off and on all night. Got off fine. Drove to Chagrin Falls before noon. Camped 1 mile this side for dinner. Passed through Randall this a.m. This p.m. I pulled through Center Falls and Newberry and put up with Mr. D.G.Nearpast. He asked me to have supper with him and you bet I did. Horses had good barn and plenty of hay. Sat in store till 9:30 p.m. and talked to the boys. He filled my stove free. Snowed all p.m. The SOB in Bedford robbed me. Charged $1.50 for the horses to hay. I am in the wagon outdoors but I am as comfortable as can be as I have a good fire in the stove.
  • December 22, 1914
    Got up late on purpose. Got breakfast with Nearpast and when I asked my bill he said $3.00. I thanked him and he said well send me a letter some time. Well I whipped emon the tail and made 8 miles today. Tried to get in at Windsor Mills but could not. I tired a farmer and he said go to the townhouse and put the horses in the shed and I did. I also put the wagon in one side of the shed. I drove through Burton, Burton Station, Huntsburg, and Windsor Mills. Got bread off my farmer friend, $.10, hay $.10. Awful cold tonight.
  • December 23, 1914
    Left Windsor Mills early. Drove through Windsor Corners, Orwell, East Orwell, Colebrook, sick. Got to Lewisburg and put up. Made about 18 or 19 miles. Snowed all day.
  • December 24, 1914
    Left Lewisburg late. Only cost me $.50 for my team in the stable and to hay. Drove to West Andover then to Andover then to ------------------- crossed into Pennsylvania about 2:30 p.m. Drove through the famous onion swamps of Pennsylvania. They were $.50 a hundred lbs early but are $2.00 now. Stopped at Linesville for the night.
  • December 25, 1914
    The stable boy said charge him $.75 and let me care for his own horses. No fire in the wagon tonight. G.O.Robinson and Grace Dilly, Box 331, routed me through Conneautville, 8 miles, Springboro, 3 miles, Hickernell, 3 miles, Mosiertown, 5 miles then Seavy schoolhouse 3 miles, then 2 miles to the farm. I got to the farm at 7:35 p.m. with an awful tired team. Got them in with William Sackett on Sippy farm. Took the trolley from Bradford Bridge to Saegertown. Hunted the folks up and called them out of bed and I tell you I felt like it was heaven after the last 9 days storm.
  • December 26, 1914
    Went to the farm. Took bows and sheet off the wagon and came into town. Della is with me and now I am at home at Pennsylvania after 4 months on the road. The trip overland from Oklahoma to Pennsylvania.
  • AMEN