Friday, May 31, 1901

May 31st – I worked at a brick machine, the one that Tom was hauling brick at. That night our noses bled half of the time. In Jesse’s day, there were a lot of local brick factories. Both Utica and Chillicothe had one, and it employed a lot of men in the community. The same is true for Shasta County,…

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Friday, May 24, 1901

24th – Went to work on the roasters on the big hill North of Keswick & worked there 6 nites & then off Friday. Jesse is not writing this on the exact day. The next few entries is his recollection of the next week or two. The “6 nites” refers to next week, possibly starting today on the 24th or…

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Thursday, May 23, 1901

23rd – Callies husband is working. Got there about 11, hunted Frank up & ate dinner at the Randle house. Callie came home Fri. Evening about 6:00 Cousin Tom Allen‘s parents David Allen and Hannah M. Reynolds married on May 5, 1864. Tom was born in January of 1865. On August 6, 1868, Hannah married William Tyler Johnson, so either…

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Wednesday, May 22, 1901

22nd – John & Tom & I went to station about 15 miles down the Sacramento River. We rode down on a passenger & walked back. Jesse doesn’t mention it, but according to Google Earth, 15 miles south from Castella on the train track goes to Lamoine, California. One must wonder if these guys were wearing good shoes for a…

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Sunday, May 19, 1901

19th – Went to S.S. with Pearlie & Ray. Pearlie and Ray are Cousin Callie’s children. More on this family soon!

Friday, May 17, 1901

May 17th – John & Tom went bear hunting, but didn’t find one. I went to Castella.

Thursday, May 16, 1901

Thursday morning at 4:45 a freight left Ashland with 4 engines, 3 pulling and one pushing, for Dinsmere [Dunsmuir], we’re 4125 ft above sea level. While the train was standing on a trussle 100 ft. high on top of those mts. the brakeman came around & collected his fee. He ask us if we had any money & I told…

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Wednesday, May 15, 1901

We washed & ate breakfast at the restaurant & at about 5:00 we started out to make it to Ashland, Ore. A fast passenger left Roseburg for Ashland, 144 miles from Roseburg. I passed wood on the engine for 100 miles to Grants Pass then they changed crews there & the new fireman said that one of the strawbosses was…

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