Edna Clair Ferris - Married Again


Feb. 25, 1911
     Gene and I are to be married tonight. I haven't told William yet and it
makes so much difference to him.

Gene has just gone away. Dear old fellow. I hope we will be happy. William has
been so naughty the last three days and I do hope he will be a good boy. He has
his first boughten suit and wore his rubber boots up town although it is not
muddy.

Mar. 4, 1911
     William's sixth birthday. Edna, Wilma and Earl Lumley and Clara all played
all morning. They had a lunch of four cookies and four apples over in Ted's
pasture. After dinner, I took him uptown and got him some new shoes. He played
out all of the rest of the day until he was so tired by night he could hardly
stand it. Gene gave him some skates (roller) for his birthday. William was
quite impressed because we got married. He says, "I know how boys get fathers,
they marry them". He calls Gene "father" all the time. He says "Mother, you
don't own any of this land, just me and father own the land". E. S. Patterson
died of a stroke of apoplexy Feb. 20.

Mar 8, 1911
     Gene took ma out to his farm yesterday, and she just thinks it is fine and
dandy.

Irene Duclos is coming today to stay with Pearl, she didn't want her very bad
either, but Lil sent her anyway. Gene and I are looking for a house to live in
for awhile.

L. B. Raymond died yesterday at 8 o'clock in the morning after another
paralytic stroke.

William is out of school after having the earache so bad yesterday. He was
feverish and sick all day and cried and cried and said "I want my father, I
want my father".

Gene and I have tickets for the show tonight, "Barriers Burned Away". Gene
bought Derwin Parks' house on Bridge Street for $2000. We don't get possession
until May 10, 1911. Pearl has my silk dress almost done. It is going to be
quite an expensive dress.

Apr. 30, 1911
     We got our garden in April 28 this year and have had such nice rains on it
since. Lou has been sick for three weeks with lung trouble. Ma has a new black
silk coat, just a beauty.

June 4, 1911
     Gene and I took William up and had his tonsils and adnoids taken out this
morning. It made me feel bad to have it done, but we thought it would cure his
deafness and stop his earaches. He had it done a little after eight o'clock and
slept almost all day and complained of his throat whenever he woke up.

June 17, 1911
     We have had lots of weddings this month. Bernie North and Dell Patton,
Leota Phelps and Dr. Warner June 7, and Lottie Noggle and Sam Anderson June 8.

Our house seems to be all ready, except to finish up the plumbing. It has been
papered and had the linoleum down for three weeks. Mrs. Ben's sister Fanny
(Wilder) came yesterday from San Antonio, Texas. Lou is in the State Tubercular
Hospital at Iowa City. Mr. (D. C.) Mallory sold his automobile yesterday.
Nettie has been stiffened up all over for a couple of days, so she can't get up
or down. William wasn't very lively for a couple of days or so after the
operation and had a terrible sore throat, but in ten days his throat was all
healed up good and the white all out of it. Gene took William up town and he
went in to get an ice cream cone. When he came out he said "Father, the woman
asked me whose boy I was and I said Mallory's", and pretty soon he said "Ain't
that right, ain't I one of the Mallory's?" We didn't have so many strawberries
this year, but my there are loads of cherries.

Aug. 13, 1911
     July 8, Gene and I went up to Austin (Minn.) to look at his farm. Frank is
home now and Nettie almost ready to go back to Vinton. We moved into our house
here June 20, 1911.

Barbara Haecker died July 8 and Lucy Vought is very sick.

Aug. 24, 1911
     Frank's birthday, he went to Fargo last Sunday to work. Ben's folks up to
Minneapolis this week. Effie Ed had cemetery society today and Allie and Mrs.
Sherwood Clock had a party Aug. 22. Gene finished painting his south farm
building Monday. He had Ed and Effie and Kirkwood for supper last night.

Ed Mallory's wife, my father's brother. Ed and Ben both married Effie Reeve
and Effie Wilder respectively. Hence the Effie Ed and Effie Ben that appear
here. (EHM II)

Oct. 11, 1911
     Mrs. Ben had a bad sick spell Oct. 4. One of her genuine bad times, but is
up and around again. Ma had a bad finger; it is all cramped and kind of
paralyzed. Frank is out to Collins and sent for his money yesterday. Mrs. Ben
and I are going to Des Moines soon. Emilie's mother sold her house yesterday
and Uncle Saul sold out yesterday.

Concha is going to California soon and Mallory's are going to Texas Nov. 1.
William's teacher is Miss Darrah he is now in the second grade.

Miss Darrah was also my teacher and a great one. I believe a sister of Merle
Darrah, William's friend. (EHM II)

Jan. 11, 1911
     It has been terribly cold. 29 degrees below zero was the coldest. Mrs. Ben
gives a party tomorrow. Ma walked up here today and Gene sent her home in the
bus. Nettie was home for the holidays and she is looking so very thin and pale.
She must be nearly used up, for I never saw her look worse.

Ione Boehmler has a baby girl since Dec. 1 and Col. Boutin was buried Jan. 7
and William Beed the Wednesday before that.

I believe the baby girl to be Gwendolyn, who died of diabetes as later
recorded.)

William plays with Wilbert and Fro and Otto Luhring. He is so well this winter,
never a cold nor anything. His eyes don't look very strong and sometimes I
worry for fear he may have trouble with them sometime.

March 4, 1912
     William's seventh birthday. He had his cake and candles, he says he is now
going on eight and at first he had a mind to skip a year. He wears "corduroy"
pants with side pockets in them, and a slip-on sweater vest.

May 29, 1912
     William has a bad elbow. He fell and hurt it on the cement walk then got a
little infection and so has to go every day to the doctor. I have been wearing
my glasses since May 19. Have not be come used to them yet.

May Carter married April 30 and lives in Rapid City, So. Dakota. Lou and Andy
to be married very soon. Mr. Mallory began digging cellar for new house just
north of his this week.

Aug. 5, 1912
     Arthur and Roxy have a new baby daughter since 2:20 p.m. yesterday, and
have named her Irene Elizabeth.

We went to Mason City Aug. 1 to Ringling Bros. Circus, then over to the lake
and back in the automobile next morning. Ed just returned from Austin today.

Bert Robert's folks also have a new baby since last night. Also Frank and Maude
have a new girl since July 28. Ma has lights in her downstairs and a new
electric iron, but her washer hasn't come yet.

Jan. 6, 1913
     Leone has a baby boy born Oct. 18 on her birthday. He is doing fine.
Jessie Ferris here in the hospital and is very sick, but has done better since
coming here.

Jessie is the wife of John Ferris, Ben Ferris' son. John was station agent
on old Great Western Railway for many years. He tried to dissuade the crew of a
trainload of hogs from attempting to continue west bound in the terrible winter
of 1936. The train stalled in the snow as he predicted. Many of the hogs froze
in -30 to -40 degree temperatures in spite of efforts to cover slat sided cars
with paper. The engine froze solid and was slid to a Hampton siding. The metal
tires, worn flat, were changed in the open by a crew of very hardy men and the
engine went to Oluren shops, now many years closed. The trains are gone, and so
are the men who would endure such hardship to save the animals and finally
salvage the equipment. As far as I know, John Ferris never got any credit for
trying to prevent this foolhardy attempt to pass the impossible. (EHM II)

Dr. Powers got blood poison in his left hand Oct. 11 and was very sick, but now
has his finger off and I hope will be here before we need him at our house. Ed
Meyers was killed at Des Moines on

Oct. 8, 1912.
     We ate Christmas dinner at Mallory's. It was a beautiful day. William got
a field glass microscope, pop gun, two games, a bathrobe, a post card box, a
pocket electric light, six handkerchiefs, a knife, a spoon, St. Nicolas.

New Year's we went to Ma's for dinner. Both Effies have been sick ever since
before Christmas. Effie Ben with her bad spells and Effie Ed with grip and
rushes of blood to her head.

Lulu (Ferris) and Joe Barry were married in November and moved in to their
lovely new home. We have had lovely weather up till Jan. 5.

Jan. 22, 1913
     William has had the whooping cough and has not been to school since before
Christmas. This is the third week, but his Auntie is teaching him. He went to
Stenson, Christmas, when they were sick and has had it ever since, but has had
it light.

Stub Stenson, named because he was so tall. William's friend for years. I
remember visiting their farm on the road to Beed's Lake and being shown an
upstairs room with hundreds of baby chicks on the floor. At that time, the lake
was the drained mill pond, remembered and regretted by many. (EHM II)

Effie Ben has gone to Chicago for an examination of her kidney to see what is
the matter with it. Jess is in the hospital here and she isn't in very good
shape, and may not ever get out again. Dr. Powers went into Chicago last night
with Ben and Effie.

Jan. 25, 1913
     Effie Ben was operated on Jan. 24 in Martin Reese hospital in Chicago.
They found two gravels, one in the kidney and one in the tube of the bladder,
and they were large ones and the one in the kidney was bedded in pus. Dr.
Andrew operated on her. Dr. Powers and Ben were there.

Gene's Uncle Jasper (Mallory) has pneumonia, so Mr. Mallory went yesterday to
Freeport, Ill., to see him.

Feb. 9, 1913
     Effie Ben came home from the hospital looking white and shakey, but still
she is all here. Dr. Arthur and Gene and Herb Boehmler met her at the train and
Mr. Boehmler brought her over to the house in his automobile. He came slow, but
it jolted good and plenty over the frozen roads. Gene and Dr. Arthur carried
her up stairs.

Feb. 12, 1913
     Mrs. Earl Smith died day before yesterday at Powers Hospital. Effie Ben is
doing fine and may come downstairs next Sunday. William has not been to school
since before Christmas. I am coughing hard now all the time. Robert Slee was
buried yesterday. Ma was here today.

Not the Bob Slee I knew of course. He farmed and fed cattle out on old 65.
Maybe it is his father. (EHM II)

Feb. 24, 1913
     Gene's Dutchman moved out on the farm yesterday, so as to be ready for
work March 1.

Dutchman could be Albert Koch. (EHM II)

Effie Ben has not felt good today and is afraid pus is forming in her kidney
again. She has not been out yet and does not look well today at all. William is
over the whooping cough, but is not in school again. Nettie is working for
Earl. I am trying to get a hired girl, but have had no luck so far.

Feb. 28, 1913
     Effie came over this morning. This was her first outing since she came
home from Chicago. She hasn't been able to be really dressed yet. I was so glad
to see her. We made father go uptown while we looked in my shirtwaist box at
our things.

Yesterday was Gene's birthday and William made me make him a birthday cake. I
was over to Ma's this afternoon. William has been over to Parks to see
Wilbert's picture machine tonight.

Mar. 4, 1913
     William's eighth birthday has been a glorious one for him, even though his
scout suit and cowboy suit did not get here in time. He got up before anyone
else and when I came out he was standing on the hot air register in the
kitchen, busy putting a sofa pillow inside his night clothes before going in
for his birthday spanking from father.

We ate dinner with grandmother and Auntie. He got Robinson Cruso and Robin Hood
and a scroll saw and game of Lotto and box of candy besides his suits. We had
his cake and candles and jello for supper and took Aunt Effie's folks some of
each. Father said, "This is a great day for you Bill" and William spoke up
quick and said, "Yes, but its a bigger one for Wilson".

Grandfather Mallory is very sick with kidney trouble. Gene and Ben and Effie
are down there now. This is Effie's first journey except across the road. I
think Grandfather is very dangerously sick as he has had a very high fever and
chills. He was taken sick in the night Sunday, March 2. They have Dr. Hobson
and the nurse is Miss Mayberry.

Mar. 9, 1913
     Mr. (DC) Mallory has been very sick all this week with kidney trouble and
tonight we think the end is very near. Dr. Berning from Des Moines came up to
see him Wednesday night, and he did not give a very encouraging report.

Thursday he told Mrs. Mallory that he thought he was going to die. Since about
Friday, he has slept and seemed to be in a a stupor most of the time, and he
hiccoughed all night last night and all day today (Sunday).

Mrs. De Haecker was buried today. She died in Chicago last Tues day or
Wednesday and Mrs. J. E. Gibson is very low over in Power and Osborne Hospital.

We have a whole backyard full of water which began to sink away this afternoon.

Mar. 14, 1913
     Gene and William have gone to Gene's father's (EHM 1)funeral. He
died March 12, 1913, at about 1:30 p.m.

Miss Mayberry was with him and thought he was dying and called Mrs. Mallory,
who came at once, but he just gave one little gasp after she got there and then
he was gone. Ed and Effie were there, but Ben and Gene were both at home, and
Gene was asleep when Ben came and told him.

Gene has been so good and kind to me all through these days which must have
been such anxious ones for him.

William is such a manly little boy too. He took Mr. Mallory for his grandfather
from the first. He is a comfort to Gene too, I know. I was so glad he was here
to go this afternoon, so Gene didn't have to leave here alone for I could not
go with him.

Mar. 23, 1913
     Easter Sunday and a dark rainy one with still some snow on the ground.
William has been over to Grandma's a week today and we miss him so. I only hope
the time will be short until I get him back home again.

Gene and I ate dinner over to Effie Ben's, had such a good dinner too. I am
like William, "I do like Aunt Effie's cooking". I wonder so what is in store
for us the next few weeks, so much has happened in the Mallory family lately. I
hope it is happiness for us all now again.

Little Irene Elizabeth was baptized today at the M.E. church. Nettie is working
for Earl, and ma says she looks so bad she is almost afraid she won't live very
long. I have been so lonesome to see her lately, but she is so busy.

Apr. 5, 1913
     My hands are so shaky I can hardly write. I think I am going to be sick.
William has just gone over to Grandma's, dear little boy. I want to be so good
to him and don't know how to manage him very good I am afraid.

This is the first indication of her pregnancy. (EHM II)

Poor ma did pinch her fingers in a window so bad today. Father took me out
riding this a.m. and we called on Mrs. Mallory and ma. Ruth Rubee is working
for me, she came last Monday, March 31. She is a good girl, so far I couldn't
have done better. It is just a beautiful day, so warm and nice out.

I took pictures of Father and Margaret and William and Otto and Mrs. Elphie's
little boys this noon.

Apr. 9, 1913
     It has been such mean weather for the past week, and today the worst of
all. I have had cramps off and on since 1:30 last night, but now it is 4:30
p.m. They are coming right along and Dr. Powers is at Mansell, but will be home
in time I think.

Gene has just come with a box of cigars and a sack of peanut brittle. He says
the cigars are for a boy and the candy for a girl.



PREV <==    NEXT ==>

Edna Clair Ferris - Beginnings
Edna Clair Ferris - Raising William
Edna Clair Ferris - Raising William 2
Edna Clair Ferris - Married Again
Edna Clair Ferris - Gene is Born
Edna Clair Ferris - Jud is Born War
Edna Clair Ferris - Peace
Edna Clair Ferris - Sickness
Edna Clair Ferris - The End is Near
Edna Clair Ferris - Epilogue


Preface to these. (Brief)
Ancient history and Introduction. (Long)
Ben Franklin Ferris - Memoir
Edna Clair Ferris - Diary
Mallory Home Page