[April 24-July 09 1919 Gap that seems to be summarized here]
Nellie took cold in her left breast & I brought her home on the 10th day I worked hard day & night for a week with her, but she had to have her left breast lanced & I had the incubator to take care of, & oh such a time, after three weeks I was so tiered out I took cold, it settled on my lungs, I stayed in bed one day & thought I’d stay in bed the next, but the roof caught fire & I got up & helped put out the fire. Gertie tried to climb up the roof on the dry shingle & roll off & hurt her back & yelled like a lunatic & then She had to have the Dr. & laterr I took her to Dr Easton & she got able to work, the took cold & had guinsey & couldn’t do any thing for three weeks, Audrey’s heart is feeling bad again but she has been working steady, I have been working hard to picking peas & beans & canning washing up double blankets & comfor lovers. I caned 1 qut of pea’s & picked 3 pks. & picked 1 1/2 by string beans & canned 10 quts. & 1 pt. Nellie & John & Ella Jane or in ther own home doing well. Fred has been sick for a mo with rehumatism. I haven’t heard from Dan since May 25, 1919. Mr Babcock came in for a visit one evening while Nellie was home & later he sent me a card. Cousin Aubrey Breckenridge sent me a Card. Cousin Francis Wheeler came home from France June 27. 1919. Pa & the boys shingled the south side of roof July 5. 1919
Thurs. July 10 [1919] Dan lent John & Nellie $400. Four hundred dollars 4cents interest. Dan came shortly after dinner & I gave him a lunch, he took a nap until supper time, for he came from Port Huron and was tired and the weather has been some worm. We spent the evening with Nellie & John, & then Dan & I visited a little while after we came home.
Fri. 11. Audrey hasn’t been feeling very well for the passed few days she & she felt so bad all night everything goin bothways & still feeliing the same this morn. but she has gone to work, came home at noon & went to bed & she sure is sick. I called the Dr. her fever 103 3/5. Dan went home this morn.
Sat.July.12. El feeling worse had to call Frederick at midnight couldnt get McGarver he was out on a C, case worked hard to fast soaked her feet in strong mustard water gave hot Duck & Dr said that’s all that saved her but her (??) was softened & she is in bad shape, her heart is weak & she hasn’t any strength. poor child.
Sun.13. El resting a little more easy but hd to give her medicine every hr.
Mon.14. I can’t see as she’s any better only that her eyes look brighter & her fever is gone.
Tue.15. she seems about the same. I got a letter from Dan & one from B.
Wed.16. A has some fever again today
Thurs.17. Dr. came & said we must take A. to hospital so I took her after dinner. I came back at 5-30 ate my supper & canned a 24 qt crate of red rasberrys & 1/2 bu. beans. took a bath & got to bed at 12 pm.
July Fri.18. Got up early did a few odds & ends & went to hospital at 9 a.a. Dr Wheatly operated on Audrey 11-30 & Dr McGarvey gave either. I stood by her & at 2.pm. I went out & ate a bite & had a cup of tea went back & stayed untill 5-30. got home at 6pm. Did some washing & a lot of little things, I cought by heel in the fairie stepts at top of hill and threw me & wrenched me all over, cracked my head two.
Sat.19. Had to get up & face the bottom of my silk skirt and ironed & sweed some before going to El. I took Martha with me, had to give her a bath & comb & dress her, then I took my sewing & worked all the time I was their. M. got so tired, I went to Miss Baumgartens to supper & then to the Dr’s & we came home in a car. I found a new pocket knife. little
Sun.20. Oh, but I feel ited & old this morn. got to bed at 12 pm. but did not sleep untill day was breaking. got up at noon, did’nt go to El. today. but, Pa & Nellie & John went, and they said she was all right. Mr Polk & Hylma were here after dinner & stayed until. 7.pm. then Frank & the kids & Ruby came, then Helen & Mable Bosswick. Now it was about 10 pm. when Pa & Elbert came & I have to write some letters yet.
Mon.21. Wel I have lost a few weeks but I went to A each dayh only missed three or four days while sshe was there I brought her home after she had been week & we took her back & Oh it was terrible the operation she had to go through with. Dr Wheatly took out on overy & both tuves & the apendicts, he said he did not have the least hopes for her, but he for my sake he would do all he could & there was a bit puss bag in her & that was terrible & for 8 weeks I only misssed the few day’s I have spoke of and I didn’t miss those until I knew she was much better, but the Dr. said it was my coming & looking after her regular that ever saved her , the nurses are good but oh so neglectful & I help care for her all day & the last thing at night before I* came home at 8-30 or 9 pm. then I cam home so tired & ate a cold supper & canned fruit & sewed & washed & ironed & done the thing I had to do to make the rest as comfortable as possible, in the way of planning out the meals & so forth and at length when I brought Audrey home, I momeadatly took ill myself & could only do just what had to be done for several days, but soon took heart and got back to my job, I had to go each night for severl nights and take care of Nellie just when Audrey was the worst, she had a bag case of grimzy but now things are looking better again, I have turned in my war stamp book & received 77.64 & Pa gave 30.00 & Elbert 25.00 & with the 185.00 I had in the bank I have paid all the hospital bill & part of the Dr’s. bills Elbert paid $50.00 on Dr. Wheatly bill & there is still 75.00 to pay & Dr. Ward we owe $6.15 & McGarvey___ & I only have a very little in the bank Well God has helped me so far He will see me through I have heard from Dan & all so from Babcock quite regular, the boats were laid up for a few weeks then made a few more trips. Pa left the last of Sept for Mich. he wrote for a while but it is more than three weeks since we heard from him now.
[Note: This is a map of the Steamer Merchant ships that Frank and Dan worked on, sometimes passing the Bonney/Black River site on Georgia Ave]
[Gap in entries from July 21, 1919-Nov 19, 1919]
Nov. 19.1919. On. Nov 15 Frank & Elbert & F’s contractor & foreman went to Carriers at Rochester Ohio hunting rabbit Frank shot eight & Elbert one & the other two men shot 3 each Elbert shot one after he got home & they went from hear at 5 am & got home before 1.p.m. Frank gave us 3 of his rabbit & I made a pie of 3 for (Sun, Nov 16.) dinner Nellie & John & the baby were here to dinner I have been attending Church & prayer meetings quite regular of late. Rev. Lucas is our Pastor & he is just fine.
Nov.17. I went to town with Nellie & baby. fine day most to warm for winter coat & we met Aunt Edie & stoped to Miss Bammgarto a min. Warm & Sunshiny.
Nov.The.18. I washed 4 big dowuble blankets today turned cold last night & the wind blew hard from N.W. after dinner it snowed little balls. Nellie came home to diner & Martha & Audrey were to Nellie’s for super & came home 10-30 p.m. cold all night and wind blowing hard I received letter from Babcock today from Ellowey.Superior Wis. & ans. it tonight.
Nov.Wed.19. Warmer today I did the washing. Warmer tonight. I baked two big cakes one in big milk pan & 1 in small milk pan bread dough cakes. Received letter from Dan today from Fort William Ont Canada ans tonight I started giving the hens more eggs pills Tue.
Thurs.20. Been about sick only did what I had to do felt to ill to go to prayer meeting Audrey went with John & Nellie. 40 persons there.
Fri.21 Don’t feel any better, tried to finish Nellies waist took care of brine pickels.
Sat.22. Gertie did the scrubbing Thurs. Fred& Ethel were here to diner & down to John & Nellies for Supper & they went to prayer meeting with N.J. & A today I washed everything that was direty & did some ironing & sewing & cooking Nellie came for diner & she (we had/crossed out) brought beef steak & lettuce We roasted steak over fire.
Sun.23. The weather is & has been, ever so warm, ground is not froze a bit. I didn’t feel able to walk to church, so Elbert & I stayed at home & we had a visit.
Mon.24. Sewed today and did what had to be done.
Tue.25. Pa came home today from Mich. I have Nellie collar most done. rained this morn.
Wed.26. Rained & sleet most all day sewed Nellie’s collar to her waist, now when I get the edging sewed on it will be done. Gertie baked 5 loaves of bread & I baked 4 apple and 2 pumpkin and 1 custard, pies, dress a chicken & cooked it and did several odds & ends . read my bible.
(added in – I made Ella Jane a little jacket today she is 7 mo. old and weigh 16 lbs. )
Thurs.27. Today is Thanksgiving or the day to give Thanks and I do thank God the Father, Jesus my Savour & the Holy Gost for the many many blessings he has bestowed upon me, in as many ways as there has been blessing. I pray I will always be true to God, then he will keep me true to myself & to those all about me, and I trust he will call those I pray for, if it be His will & make them soul workers for Him. I went to Nellies this morn & cooked Thanksgiving John helped me do all the odds & ends & when we had finished he looked at me, as if in deep thought & I ask, What is it John and he smilled, and said it’s a lot of work to get dinner for 9 I wonder now how you have done it so often for so many and often more, alalone. I have cooked for 20 many time before I were 20 yrs old. Well for dinner We had 3 baked chickens (not hens) with dressing creamed potatoes biscuits in gravey, hot biscuits & butter & jelly & lettuce & celery & pickles & pies apple, custard & pumpkin tea & coffee & and frozen nut salad with whipped cream & english walnuts on top prettily decorated. Mr Pa & Elbert, Miss Gertie Bonney, Mrs. Audrey & Miss Martha hn nCarlisle, Mrs Nellie & John Harnish & Mr Jimi Harnish & Little Miss Ella Jane Harnish were present for dinner. & supper & Mr Aubrey Breckenridge our cousin came un-expected to supper. we had diner warmed over for supper then we had cake & sauce & cherry pie (for/crossed out) tea & coffee. I finished Nellies collar & waist tonight.
Fri.28. Worked to hard, can’t do much to day (added in- got letter from Babcock) sewed a little & thats about al.
Sat.29. I finished Martha’s coat it looks nice brown out side & light blue inside (added in – We had the worst wind storm tonight we have had in yrs. & I (crossed out -cut out two) did some stitching for Audrey swept & dusted colder tonight (added in- I went to N before super & came home 11.p.m.)
Sun.30. To punk to do any thing or go any where
Mon.Dec.1.[1919] Sewed to day got letter from B (added in -=still cold) Fred came to dinner & went before supper. (added in – I cut out two gingham under skirts for my self.)
Tue.2. Pa & Gertie went early to Fred’s & Ethels. I did two weeks wash to day & got it all dried & put away before they got home & feel tired out, all though I have had a day of rest on my nerves Audrey help cook & do dishes. Pa & Gertie came home 11-p.m. & ate a lunch & went to bed at 12. F. shot 2 rabbit & they ate them for supper. I took a bath & got in 11-30
Wed.3. I sewed & crocheted today, got my skirts all done but hems & buttons & button holes am making lace for my collar, Audrey went to Nellies today N went to town Martha was with A except when she was in school this after noon they came home before 9.p.m. Cloudy indoors today but sunshiny out door cold with snow flurrys. cramps in my shoulders.
[Gap in entries from Dec 3, 1919-Dec 31 1919]