Grandma Pfaltzgraff's Journal 1917 - January 21 to 30

 1917 January    

21 - It was very cold today.  Martha staid home with me in the forenoon & in the evening.  There wasn't any services.

22 - Martha washed clothes today & I cut out some quilt blocks for her.

23 - I started to crochet some lace for a dresser scarf for Fred's Mother.  Fred called at Emil Pilzer's & Gus Kuester's.  Hazel was a very good girl all day.  She sang so nice for me (in her own way).

24 - Today Frederick did not go calling.  He pressed his clothing in the morning and after dinner Mrs. Dolch came over to visit me.  She brought a lot of spare ribs.  Then Fred went to a wedding of George Berg to Maud Hully.  Her cousin was married today, too & they said he wanted Fred to marry him too, but they did not know both weddings were to be on the same day until it was too late.  It was after ten when he got back.  The wedding was in the evening.  they sent a beautiful rose & some sweet peas & some ice cream & cake with him for me.

25 - Fred called at F. C, Saemische's & Kritzberg's & H.Epplehem's.  Then came home.  I finished crocheting some inserts for a dresser scarf.  Knoll came from Audubon to give his lecture on the "Common People" this evening.  Rev. Bogen from Ross brought him in his car.  They stayed at H.C. Schuler's. Mrs. Fisher & Grace & Laura & Arthur came in a while to see me before the lecture & Ella Sothman did too & she brought some beautiful flowers.  2 red rose buds & one pink one & one white one & a red carnation & a white carnation and some ferns. My sweet pea just looked lovely with those ferns & flowers.

26 - Today Fred called on Mrs. Henry Eppelsheimer & then went to F.Schuler's to see if we could get Laura to work for us.  Martha did up the Sat. work.  I started to crochet a top of a pin cushion.  Laura S. is coming to work for us for a week or so.  When Fred went to Lyman today he met a strange girl who is looking for work.  She is staying at H.L. Nettys.  We are thinking about getter her.  Marth has to go home & sew.

28 - Fred & Martha went to church. Mrs. Henry Eppelsheimer died last night.  Orville Funke stopped here for dinner today & after dinner he took Fred & Henry Schuler over to Eppelsheimers.  I did not feel a bit good this evening.  I got very nervous while they were gone to church.

29 - Fred took Martha home & Laura Schuler came to work for us for a week.  This afternoon Fred called again at H. Eppelsheimers.

30 - This afternoon was Mrs. Eppelsheimers funeral and Laura went.  She had to sing & frid preached on "Ther is but one Step between me and death."  There was a large funeral yesterday.  They opened the outside door in here and then they penned Hazel out because it was too cold in here for her & she clasped her little hands & cried so hard because she couldn't come in to me.  this morning when they prayed at the table she folded her hands & shut her eyes.  She is just start to talk now.  she says "boot" for book when we pick her up she says "up a day" & she brings her dolls to us & says "see e bitso baby: for little bits of baby.

Grandma Pfaltzgraff's journal 1917 - January 1 - 20.

 1 MONDAY 

Mother and Father 7 Little Girlie & I went to a church to New Year's service to hear Frederick preach & then had election of S. S. Officers.  The same ones were re-elected.  Then we went to H.C. Schuler's for dinner.  Hazel and Geneva had a big time about 4 o'clock.  We returned. I drove he car with Mother & Hazel.  Then Fred took Mother to Mother Miller's & I stayed with Father and Hazel at home & got supper.  We had sweet potatoes & other potatoes - chicken fry & gravy & dressing - celery & Nei Yahrs' breaids & cake & papa said it was good.

2 - Father & Mother were busy packing their suitcases & got dinner & packed them a lunch 7 then we got ready to go to Atlantic (Iowa) to see them off.  We were very lonesome to see them go.

3 - We went calling.  We called at Aug. Millers & Chr. Bros. & Ella Sothman's school & Henry Martens, Simon Sunderman & H. L. Nettzs & then came home to prayer meeting.  There were about 21 out.  H.C. Schuler led & we had a blessed time.  after whch we had a S.S. teacher meeting.  I got my old class again.  "Somebody" wants some of my scholars.

4 - We went to Taylor County.  They were very glad to see us. The roads were very bad south of Vilised & was almost sick on the way home.  I got so hungry & Dear Frederick got some cheese & crackers for me.  My it was good.  I can taste it yet.

5 - Today we went calling again and we were at J. Wasmers for dinner & then we went to call on L.C. Shulers.  Mrs. was sick in bed with the rheumatism & then we called at Mrs. F. C. Samisches who was at the hospital in Grant & had one operation & then at Chr. Fishers & Wm. Bergs & Geo Roses & Ed Fishers.

6 - Fred helped me with the housework in the forenoon & In the afternoon cleaned the church.

7 - We went to church & for dinner we went to Knokes & and in the afternoon we came back & went to church again in the evening.

8 - Fred & I washed clothes.  

9 - I ironed clothes and in the evening we went to Mrs. Knokes to baptize her little boy.

10 - We went to Wm. Epplesheimers for dinner today.  They were frying down sausage & I helped make sausage rolls & they gave us a big piece of beef when we left.  Also called at Franks.

11 - Last night we had prayer meeting but I had to stay home with Hazel becaus of her earache.  Today I finished ironing.

12 - I was very weak all day today.  I did not eat no breakfast or dinner & so Fred thought I ought not to eat any supper either & stary my milk diet so I did.  Today Fred called at Mrs. F. Miller & at Sothmans - Martha S came along to work for us.

13 - I was quite sick today so Martha had to do all the Saturday's work.

14 - I went to church & taught my class & went again in the eveing.

15 - Today Fred went calling & Martha & I canned some beef - 9 quarts of it.  Fred brought home some meat & flour & cream of wheat & sauerkraut & sausage & jell from the people he called on today.  He called at Mr. Bickings & Mother Nau. & George Bicking.

16 - I stayed in bed with the diet.  Fred called at Kreitzbergs where we was for dinner & at F.M. Schulers where he was for supper.

17 - Fred called at F. Sundermans & Old Mrs. Sunderman.  I read & wrote letters.  This evening was prayer meeting.  I was here all alone.  I was very nervous.  Thay had election of officers too so it was eleven o'clock when they got back.

18 - The missionary society met at Mrs. Chas. Sundermans.  There were not very many there.  Frederick was there & from there he went to Mr. Pelzers & called there.  In the evening we made out an order for garden seed.  I started to dress one of Hazel's dolls.

19 - I finished dressing Hazel's doll.  Fred went calling today.  He called at Bourchs but they were not at home so he went to G.P. Schulers for dinner & then to W. L. Eppelsheimer & E Millers.  F. C. Sarmisch sold their farm to H.C. Schulers & L. Rudigs.

20 - I started to dress another one of Hazel's dolls & did some crocheting.  Fred cleaned the church in the forenoon & in the afternoon went toGrant.  Beulah 7 Neva Eppelsheimer & Bernice Schuler came to see me this afternoon.  We looked at pictures & everything.  Time passed so quickly.  George Berg asked Fred to preach his "wedding sermon" next Wednesday.  There's where I miss some more good things.