From the Chillicothe Constitution: There are to be two or three weddings in June, if Dame Rumor is to be believed. Elmer Delap of Marshalltown, Iowa, is visiting his mother, Mrs. M. E. Delap. Remember that we are now a day off from the diary because of the 2020 leap year.
Friday, May 16, 1902
Not a diary entry, but on Friday, May 16, 1902, the Chillicothe Constitution reported that “Misses Grace and Blanche Gibson, Maggie Delap, Edith Baltis, Minnie Branden, Loue Smith, Pha Matson, Vliet Webster, composed a fishing party at the Utica cut-off Saturday [Saturday, May 10, 1902]. The market was overrun with fine cat fish.” If you haven’t already, sign up for…
May, 1902
May, 1902 — Apple blossoms in blooms. Been busy planting. Wormed a few apple trees & listed my corn patch. Planting corn for Dad Frazier with 2 horse planter. It is interesting to think about how Jesse is the son of the landlord, yet he is working his father-in-law’s crops to help the Fraziers pay the rent to his father.…
Wednesday, April 16, 1902
Wed. noon, Frank came downstairs with his grip packed & said he to Pa, “you need not look for me back anymore”. He left the house, Pa following but couldn’t persuade him to go back in the house. Pa took the grip back in the house thinking Frank would follow, but mistaken for Frank struck out up the road. Pa…
Sunday, April 13, 1902
13th — Sun. Mary & I walked down home & then Jno, Frank & I walked on to Utica. Mary & Ma came to church in buggy. It’s Easter today in 2020, but in 1902, Easter was on Sunday, March 30th.
Thursday, April 10, 1902
10th — I fixed chicken house. The days of the week have been one day off starting in March on account of the February 29, 2020 leap year. One of Jesse’s granddaughters submitted a description of the chicken house she remembers from the 1940s. It would have been similar to what Jesse and Mary had in 1902: Our first chicken…
Wednesday, April 9, 1902
9th — Plowed & fixed fence.
Tuesday, April 1, 1902
April 1 — planted garden. Started sprouting off my wheat & corn grounds. Ma Frazier moved on 8th. Jesse is writing in the past tense, so this entry is written at the same time as an entry that is coming up, possibly April 15th when he writes his next larger entry. Jesse is refers to his mother-in-law Amanda moving, and…
Thursday, March 27, 1902
Mar. 27th — Planted potatoes.
Monday, March 17, 1902
March 17th — moved on the “Old Place” today hauling everything in one load. Daddie Frazier is still here. Spent next few days straightening up the place. It is difficult to tell exactly what Jesse means. Jesse and Mary might have initially lived in the big Bench house with his parents, Frank, and Charlie, and now they are moving to…