Edna Clair Ferris - Gene is Born


Apr. 28, 1913
     Baby was born at 8 o'clock April 9. A nice boy, weighed 8 pounds. It
rained all night long and for several days afterward. He is doing fine now and
is sleeping in his pretty cradle now as I write. His name is Eugene Hutchinson
Mallory (EHM 2) for his father.

May 19, 1913
     Father and William and little Gene and Kirkwood are playing on the lounge.
A week ago, May 10, baby made his first neighborhood calls, went first to
Robinsons, then Whitcombs, Parks and at noon over to Uncle Bens.

June 1, 1913
     Baby Gene weighed 12-1/2 pounds when he was 7 weeks old with just his
little shirt on, and May 31 when he was 7 weeks and 3 days old he had his first
picture taken. Ruth and I took him up as Father and William were down to
Marshalltown after a new surrey which will come tomorrow.

This is Lou (Mallory Luke) and Andy's (Luke) first wedding anniversary and Mrs.
Luke is there just alive and that is all. She was here to see baby Gene April
11, and was taken suddenly sick while on her way to Kensington and was taken to
Lou's. Since then, she has grown steadily worse, until now it is but a question
of a few hours.

William got such a good card and passed into fourth grade. He wore his scout
suit Decoration Day.

June 11, 1913
     Monday, June 9, William Boy came down with the measles over to Ma's, where
we sent him two or three days before. Baby was two months old Monday, 9 weeks
old tonight and weighs 13-1/2 pounds in his little shirt.

We got our new surrey today that Gene and William went after May 31 at
Marshalltown. William had a fine trip. Ben and Effie are at Iowa City and Ed
and Mrs. D.C. are in Dakota. Mrs. Luke is still alive, but very low. Baby
laughs and talks lots now and how he does kick. The paving here was begun the
first day I was out of bed and is going to be fine. We, father, baby, Ruth,
Maggie and I drove up to see the part that is done tonight, and were over to
ma's to hear how Billum is coming.

June 20, 1913
     We have lived in this house two years today.

William came home from his Grandma's June 18, from a two weeks siege of the
measles and he looks so thin and peaked. Mrs. Mallory and Ed came home last
night from Dakota.

Baby Gene weighs 15 pounds and is just 10 weeks old now.

June 22, 1913
     Little Gene laughed out loud today for the first time. He puts in most of
his time on a pillow on the lounge. He tries to talk and says Ah Goo, and he
blows bubbles without any effort at all.

June 29, 1913
     Cindia and Ed Beebe have a boy since June 27. Uncle Jasper is here
visiting. He is a great old fellow. Jennie Kruger and children are here.

July 9, 1913
     Baby Gene is three months old today. Ruth and I took him up and had his
picture taken and soon Father Gene came too. Ben came down today from Clear
Lake where his folks are staying.

Aug. 2, 1913
     We put Baby Gene in short clothes today. He is nearly four months old.
Father bought him a rattle this week and he likes it. He holds it pretty well,
he blows bubbles and spits and chews his little fists all the time. His teeth
seem to bother him so. Gene and William have gone to the North farm where they
are threshing.

Aug. 11, 1913
     Gene shipped cattle today and went in with them. It was rainy and bad to
go out, but William and Gene went. Ruth sick.

     Re The Last Cattle Drive (EHM 2)

Aug. 13, 1913
     Cattle sold for an average of 8.52 and cleared $15,123.00. Sold the hogs
on the week before. Market got 8.65 for hogs and brought $2,850.00.

Aug. 22, 1913
     William had his second operation for adenoids Tuesday, August 19, and now
we hope he will be O.K. Baby is four months old and so full of fun. He coughs
when things don't please him and he scolds and bubbles like anything.

Aug. 24, 1913
     This is Frank's birthday. I wrote to him and sent him Kodak pictures of
us. William is out to Ed's to spend Sunday and it is his first time away from
us.

Sept. 8, 1913
     Little Gene will be 5 months old tomorrow and William started to day in
the 4th grade in school. We got him his high chair last week and his little
hammock came today.

He likes to go out now and likes company and is getting sweeter everyday. When
he cries, he bizzes. He crows and laughs.

Peety and Myrtle Allen and Bernard and his wife were here for dinner a week ago
and Baby sure made a great hit with them.

Bernard Crawford is a relative, but I have lost track. He built the railing
and put in the french window for the balcony of the Andrews' house. (EHM
II)

Oct. 11, 1913
     Baby Gene cried all night Sunday, just a week ago, and was sick on Monday
and had Dr. Arthur come to see him. He has been fussy and cross all week and
not one bit like himself. His first little sickness. Uncle Herbert and Aunt
Julia were here all day yesterday.

We had Baby Gene's picture taken here in his tub and basket Oct. 8 when he was
6 months old. He is feeling good tonight and I am so happy about it. William
has been under the weather a little lately and has had terrible fever sores.

Oct. 20, 1913
     Gene cut his first tooth today, six months and eleven days old. He has
been waking up nights lately too, and he always was so good before about
sleeping all night.

I have been feeding him oatmeal water for several days and give him half a
teaspoonful of olive oil at night to see if I can't get his bowels to move
alone, as they never do now without help. Gene is going to Sioux City tonight
as he has been called on the Federal Grand Jury.

The Federal Grand Jury is a group selected to examine the state of Federal
function and facilities in the federal judicial district. (EHM II)

Gene got 50 head of black cattle Sept. 30 off Veader at Ackley. Uncle Herbert
(Hutchinson) and his wife of Springfield, So. Dakota, have been here visiting.

Oct. 30, 1913
     Gene is in Sioux City yet, he first went Oct. 20, but came home last
Sunday to see his folks.

When he left I started putting Baby in his bed and never taking him up and now
he sleeps fine again. I got him a Cozikid today.

Baby trills when he cries just too funny. He sits alone now for a long time. I
can't put him anywhere but on the floor, he is so lively. He fell out of his
baby buggy last week.

Ed Harriman was killed in an automobile accident Oct. 25. Poor old Ed. I wish
he could have had a little happiness.

Nov. 5, 1913
     Gene still in Sioux City on his third week on the grand jury. Ruth has the
house all cleaned but the kitchens and it looks so nice. Baby Gene always stays
in his bed all night now. He has two teeth now and his bowels act all right
now.

I have some new gold beads father bought me from Sioux City and William has
some tools and he is so happy about them.

Susie Mogle died this week and Mrs. Arnett has a baby girl since October 28.

The baby girl is Maxine, who was in my class all through school. (EHM
II)

Nov. 24, 1913
     Baby Gene is 7-1/2 months old. He pat-a-cakes too cute and tries to wave
byebye and is learning to creep.

We are to have all the Mallorys for Thanksgiving day dinner. I hope baby will
be good. Gene got his hogs home from Nancola's today and is going to use the
double vaccination process on them.

Nov. 28, 1913
     We had Thanksgiving dinner here. We had quite a fussy table and a good
dinner. Baby Gene was as good as gold and Roxie's children always are. Ruth and
William waited on table.

Ed Beebe's baby boy was buried in the morning.

Gene is 7-1/2 months old and he does try so hard to creep and he surely gets
mad when he trys to go and can't.

Jan. 5, 1914
     Uncle Frank came home Jan. 3 after having been away two years and three
months.

Nettie is teaching at Dougherty. Been there a week.

Effie Ben went to Rockford today, then will go to Chicago.

Gene creeps everywhere now. He is almost 9 months old and has only two teeth
below. His cheeks are just like rosies.

We went to Mrs. M's for Christmas dinner, but Nettie had a tree for the Baby
and Billum.

Gene got so many things, a new dress, a gold buckles and new shoes and baby
pins, and bibs and bib pin and baby pen and toys. William got books, Little Men
and Little Women, Billie Whiskers and Boys & Girls of 21 Nations, a drum and
games, necktie and silk handkerchiefs. For New Years he got a Meccano No. 1 and
he sure has a fine time with them.

Ruth came back today from a week's vacation.

George Ferris and Uncle Ben and Uncle Saul were here for dinner the day after
New Years.

Gene Wescott was buried Jan. 2.

Ed Scantleburys lost their 2-year-old baby boy Christmas night, after a month
of terrible suffering.

Jan. 16, 1914
     Gene creeps all over the house just as fast as he can. He is so good too,
has only two teeth. I am anxious to have him cut some more. I went to Miss
Seymours (sister of Dr. Powers) and Mrs. Andrews party today and tied with Mrs
Tanner for prize. So we drew cuts and she got the prize.

Feb 7, 1914
     Ma telephoned that she is sick. She has had a bad cold for a long time and
she doesn't get any better. Baby is nearly ten months old. He creeps and walks
by holding onto things. He waves bye bye and is a good baby. He has four teeth
now.

Mar 6, 1914
     William had a good time on his 9th birthday. We had the prettiest cake
with pedestal and rosebud candle holders. He got his Meccano No. A1, which
makes a No 2 outfit, and a bicycle, a couple of boxes, candy, Tanglewood tales,
Boy Scout book, a necktie and several other things. I went to Mrs G. A.
Robinson's party yesterday. Gene wears rompers now and goes lickety gallop all
over the house.

Mar 31, 1914
     Gene was sick yesterday and we had Dr. Powers. He seems alright today. I
nursed him yesterday morning and think it will be the very last time. I had
intended not to wean him until his birthday. Ruth has been here a year today.
She goes to Sheffield tonight. Gene takes two or three little steps alone and
stands alone a long time.

Apr. 9, 1914
     Gene is just a year old now. He had his first haircut today. Frank Bailey
came up here to do it. Baby was good, but lively. I made his cake with chickens
and rabbits, as it is so near Easter. William runs and plays until he is so
tired at night he cries. Uncle Jasper died last night. He had pneumonia again
and couldn't rally.

Apr. 26, 1914
     Gene began walking tonight. Made several little trips all alone.

Mrs. M. went to Aurora, Nebraska, April 23.

We went to North farm and got caught in the rain and got our new buggy muddy.
William is over to Grandmas. He got such fine papers in his examinations.

June 12, 1914
     William is just over a siege the chicken pox. He stayed over to Grandma's
and he had them quite bad.

Baby Gene was sick for several days and on Decoration Day we called Dr. P. who
came for several days. He had bronchitis and his bowels were bad and he was so
sick.

Ben's folks started East June 10, and Mrs. Hoover is here from Washington, D.C.

Lulo Hoover, one of the two twin sisters of Effie Ed. The other is Lina.
(EHM II)

June 18, 1914
     Baby Gene is broken out with the first of the chicken pox today. Do hope
he won't have them hard as William did.

July 10, 1914
     Baby Gene says so many words. He says: "chickens" and "Dad Dad, Dan
Dours", "No No", and when he eats custard or ice cream he says "Good Good". He
has seven or eight teeth and looks too cute in his rompers. He is a great big
fellow. Had his hair cut for the second time yesterday. William and I were at
Mason City and Clear Lake Monday. Gene was in Chicago with his black cattle.
Katharine Reed Brown and her husband were here July 4 for dinner. Effie Ed and
I had our parties June 24 and 26.

Ettie and Will were here day before yesterday.

Ettie and Will King, Ettie is another sister of Effie Ed. Will is a minister
in Nebraska. (EHM II)

July 30, 1914
     Baby says "chickens" and "Oh my! my!". He has three teeth in front above
and now he has two back ones above the four below in front. Ruth Ruby quit here
July 15 and a new girl, Irma Wilson, is coming Sunday. Gene is talking
automobile and we got a demonstration last night. Eva's mother was quite bad
Sunday. Cy Wolfs have twins since July 24. Mrs. Mallory is over to Harry Mores
(cousins in Iowa Falls). Ernie is home resting up and getting strong after
having his foot amputated.

Aug. 23, 1914
     It has been so hot that Baby Gene has been all prickly heat for a week. I
took him to the L.A.S. at M.E. Church this week and he surely had a lively
time. Tomorrow is Frank's birthday. We are talking of going to either the Iowa
or Minn. Fair, but am afraid it will be like the rest of our trips, and won't
be.

Remember this, it is prophetic. (EHM II)

Sept. 19, 1914
     Ed and Effie and Gene and I went up to Minn. Fair, Sept. 7. We didn't
strike very good weather, so came home Thursday. Effie and I did. Gene stayed
over one day, and Ed is not home yet.

We spent two days at the fair. Saw the horse show the first night and saw "The
Whip" the second night. And we had a fine time together.

Nov. 6, 1914
     Effie Ed and I went to Schlessinger's party today and had a nice time.
Oct. 13 I took Wilhelm to Iowa City, where he was operated on Oct. 16. I came
home on the 18th and Gene and I went after him on the 24th. He did fine. I kept
him a week, at most, then let him go home. LIttle Gene says "Dan" and "Dad" and
"Brudie Bill" and "Oh my! my! my!" He says "Chicken" and "Dog" and "Doors" and
"No No!" and "Danny fool no no no, Danny good". He has a lot of new teeth.

Wilhelm Koch is the son of one of Gene's Dutchmen. He had a neglected hernia
and mother did something about it. (EHM II)

Jessie Shea commenced working here Oct. 22. She certainly does fine and dandy.
I am thinking of going to Des Moines next week to get me some things and get
some for little Gene. Nettie and William have gone to the moving picture show,
"A Million Dollar Mystery".

Nov. 15, 1914
     Uncle Frank came home Nov. 10 and Gene and I went to Des Moines and got me
a dress and Baby Gene a coat and bonnet. He says "coat and bon". I have no
girl.

Dec. 5, 1914
     Baby Gene says "Dan's a cow" and "pantaloons" and "scandalous hick". He is
surely cute, but I can't get much work done and take care of him.

William is playing with Merle (Darrah) now, and I like it much better than when
he played with Otto.

Grandma is making Gene's first little boy dresses.

I can't help but worry about my poor girl Ruth and wish she were better off,
but don't know how to help her.

Dec. 26, 1914
     William and Gene had a great Christmas this year. William got four or five
books and a flash light, necktie, candy, train, top, toy auto, and Gene got a
table and chair and rocking horse, a duck from Uncle Bernard, a toy dog,
dishes, top, books, 2 sets of blocks, a saw horse, and a lot of things. Ma and
Nettie came up here to dinner. Nettie walked in from Gene's farm Christmas eve.
Bernard brought the toy duck Christmas Eve, and that night at two o'clock Gene
woke up and talked about his "nice duck". He says any word he wants to now and
puts several together. He says "Dad, Dad take a boy", and "Please Dad play
blocks". He sure is cute and just as good as gold all the time.

Jan. 1, 1915
     New Year's day we went to Seven Keys to Baldpate last night and it was
great fun. Charlotte Cook came to work for me today. We were out to dinner at
T.J.B. Robinson's night before last. We are all well and everything is fine
with us. Tell Kline is to be buried today.

     Thomas John Bright Robinson, known as TJB, banker, later
congressman, father of Lee Robinson, who later married cousin
Elizabeth. Re The Town Banks (EHM 2)

Jan. 24, 1915
     January is surely a cold month this year. Gene was sick January 21 and we
had the doctor twice one day. He has a bad cold now, but is getting along fine
now.

The other day, he says, "Fader, take your boy downstairs and fix the fire",
which we thought was a very fine long sentence for a 21 month old boy. He says
"Boy want milk". Nettie's school is half out now.

Mar. 7, 1915
     William got an Ingersol watch for his tenth birthday and he had his cake
and a pound of candy and a leather fob, and a new battery for his flashlight,
and Uncle Frank was here to dinner and supper both. Charlotte is out in the
country but will be back March 20 and I will be glad.

Gene says "Put your glasses on the ping pong" and "play blocks" to his father,
and he says "My sakes what's zat" when he sees his shadow. He says the man on
the Memorial Hall is "The man on the top of the house". He said this morning
"Mama's good ain't she?" and he says "Boy's good ain't he?". He can say
anything he wants to now.

William is doing fine in school in everything but his arithmetic.

Mar. 26, 1915
     Baby Gene is nearly two years old. He is a great talker, and he goes every
day to see his grandmother.

He said to her yesterday, "Sweetheart wants a toastie pie". He plays marbles
and is a good boy from morning till night. Charlotte is home how. I was glad to
have her back. We got ma's machine today.

Apr. 9, 1915
     Baby Gene's second birthday. He has had a lively one. He says anything now
that he wants to. He says, "Gene's a sweetheart" and the other day he said to
grandma "The toot-toot cars came down over the track lickety pit". When we went
after him he said "Come right in fader and mudder". I got him a new coat and
hat at Mason City day before yesterday and new shoes and he is so happy over
them he will hardly let them be taken off. He says, "Boy going to take a nice
walk" and "Boy go upstairs". And "Boy go home over to Grandma's house". William
has gone to the movies and he went to a banquet at the Sunday school tonight. I
was at Mason City Wednesday with Mrs. St. Clair and to a party at Inglis today.
Wore my new dress and hat. Got ma a hat yesterday.

Apr. 26, 1915
     Gene bought a nice new Overland car day before yesterday, and we think we
are going to have lots of fun with it.

Gene says "Toot toot the engine's coming lickety splat, lickety splat".

We got his new fence built last week and he calls it "Gene's pasture".

Ruth called me up today to tell me she was married two weeks ago.

Ruth Rubee, married Floyd Cronin. Was later next door neighbor to Ferris's
westside house, mother of Manon and Patsy. Patsy died of menengitis. A fine
woman, but not a happy life. (EHM II)

He is playing blocks on the floor now. He says "Put some more blocks on
budder".

May 22, 1915
     Gene had his picture taken yesterday and they are good. William is mowing
Grandma's yard at 25 a time. It has rained about half the time ever since we
got our car.

Gene says "Mother is good ain't she?". Charlotte says to him "What are you
doing Gene?", and he said "I'm playing a lot". He calls shadows "guys" and then
he says "That ain't a guy, that's another". He says "Fader is a good old man.
Gene just likes him".

June 23, 1915
     Opha Vought Wetzel died June 21, leaving three little girls 6, 4 and a
tiny baby two hours old.

Chautauqua is just over yesterday. I missed the last two days on account of
Opha's death. Gene stayed with Ma. George Peters finished planting corn
yesterday, June 22, 1915.

Lucy Vaught is very very bad and Dorothy Robinson Daughter of TJB is
very ill with typhoid and has been ever since the last week in May. Clay Pierce
was shot at Key West this week and Hal Salsbury was killed this week, the third
in our class. Charlotte had her birth mark taken off June 15th.

July 4, 1915
     We had quite a fourth yesterday. We took Ma and Nettie and went to Reeve
picnic first, then we came back and went to Sheffield and got home just before
the big rain. It was so cold this morning that Gene built a fire in the furnace
and it is chilly to ride even with a coat on.

Chas. Owen and wife and two children were here for dinner today from Garner.

Aug. 17, 1915
     Little Gene talks so cute now. When he means "I am" he says "Am are". The
other night in bed he says, "We are hugging ourselves ain't we?" He says "I
do", "I am", "Ain't you nice mother, ain't you?"

It is cold enough for a fire. We have all the oats thrashed. This cold weather
has put the oats a bad color and the corn way behind time.

Dr. Haecker and Ada Johnston are to be married soon, Sept 1. Lulo Hoover and
her children and Beth King are coming tonight to visit at Ed's. Mrs. Mallory
goes home with Beth the 19th.

Gene contradicts every word anyone says. He will listen to some thing you say
then he will say, "He is not", "He ain't", "I didn't", or whatever is the
opposite of what has been said. When he gets up somewhere he will say "What I
get up here for". He will say "What's that? What's that?" He calls an elephant
an "elantum tum tum" and an umbrella a "brunder brella".

William stayed out to Ed's night before last, and we went after him yesterday.
He is a nice good boy this summer and he doesn't make any trouble. His nose is
stopped up all the time and he has a cold most of the time.

Gene is very fond of "toastie pies" which are milk toast. He likes "jolly" too
(jelly).

Aug. 29, 1915
     Nettie began her school at Reeve again today. We went to see Snap Island a
couple of weeks ago. I don't remember much of any thing about it.

Sept. 1, 1915
     Mr. Maxwell died Aug. 21 at Omaha. Lucy Vought died Aug. 21 at 7 o'clock.
She had a sinking spell in the morning and never rallied again. Nellie went
home Saturday and she and her husband came back today.

September 24, 1915
     Gene was invited to O. F. Meyers 3rd birthday party today, but he did not
go.

I had trouble with O. F. later, so I am glad that I skipped his party. (EHM
II)

Gene says "Am are" for I am and he says "I do", "I did", "I will". He plays he
is Mr. Coons, Mr. Elum tum tum (elephant), Mr. Monkey, Mr. Santa Claus, Mr.
Baltimore Oriole, Mr. Flicker, and today he played he was a little father.

I was at Mason City Sept. 22 and bought a black silk dress. Gene shipped his
first load of white face cattle Sunday. They brought $9.35. Ed took in his load
of black cattle which were fine. They brought $9.50.

Oct. 12, 1915
     This is a gloomy, lonesome day. Baby Gene is at Grandmother's. Gene is on
the lounge, William is playing basketball at Darrah's and I am planning a
party.

Mrs. St. Clair and I went to Des Moines Oct. 2 & 3, and I bought my plush coat.
We saw "The Hitching Hour" played.

Gene filled his silo Oct. 7, 8 & 9. Did not get it quite full.

     Re Silo Filling with Steam Power (EHM 2)

Oct. 22, 1915
     Baby Gene says "I am doing this 'cause'", "I am coming 'cause'". He is
getting "his lessons" now.

Nov. 20, 1915
     Gene says every morning, "It is to morning now". He has had a little
infection in his hand and has been to the doctor three times.

I had two luncheons, one on Nov. 1 and one Nov. 10. I had twenty ladies each
time. First was a pumpkin Jack Horner pie, and the second a Chrysanthemum one.

Dec. 1, 1915
     Little Gene has been having a bad time. He got an infection in his hand
and we took him to the doctor two or three times, when it healed up and we did
not think much of it. But the night before Thanksgiving, I found a big bunch
under his arm and there was an abscess. We got the doctor and poulticed it
several days. Then Monday evening, Dr. Arthur and Dr. Powers lanced it, and
since then he has been feeling well and fine. William was sick at the same time
over to Grandmother's. Gene took 3 carloads of steers on the market Nov. 22.
They brought ten cents a pound.

Dec. 8, 1915
     Gene took in four carloads of his fat cattle to Chicago and had them on
the market Dec. 6, 1915. Two brought $9.85, the other two loads brought $10. He
was disappointed of course.

Wm. was vaccinated Dec. 6. Little Gene made his last visit to the doctor today.

I was in Mason City yesterday. Saw the great play "The Birth of a Nation" and
bought a new blue dress with fur trimming. Lulu and Concha went to California
Saturday in response to a telegram saying Aunt Addie was very low. Since then
she has improved. Ray was operated on for appendicitis at Park Hospital Nov.
27. He came home last night.

Addie is the wife of gramp's brother Ben, mother of John, Lulu, Concha and
Millicent. Ray Ferris is the brother of Earl. Ray described himself as the
Ferris nobody knows. Overshadowed by the exuberant Earl. (EHM II)

Jan. 6, 1916
     Gene and William and I went to Rochester Dec. 22, but the doctor did not
advise operating on William, so he came home alone Dec. 24, and we stayed until
Dec. 30 while they were looking me over for an ulcer.

Aunt Addie died out in California on Christmas Day. We got home on the morning
of New Years Day and went to her funeral. We were in Albert Lea when the bells
and whistles began to blow.

Little Gene now plays he is a brakeman most of the time. He just started to
sleep with William this week and they both like it awful well.

Frank came home the day after Christmas and is still here. Little Gene is
trying to sleep with William, but almost every night one of us has to go over
for he says he can't sleep with a jabber wocker. He is a brakeman all the time
now a days. Its a long time since he was out to Uncle Ed's to "Drink the wind
mill" in the automobile.

Feb. 28, 1916
     Gene was 52 years old yesterday. Mrs. W. I. Webb died Feb. 17 - late at
night. We went to her funeral on Sunday. Baby and William both have colds. We
were married 5 years last Friday. I bought another bookcase. Ma was married 50
years on last Tues day.

Mar. 4, 1916
     William is eleven years old today. He spent the day with Grand mother and
Auntie and came home at supper time to a party. We had Otto Luhring, Merle
Darrah, Wilbert Parks, Robert McKee, Willis Myers and Wilbur Williams here for
supper, and now they have gone to the picture show. Little Gene was awful
excited and jumped straight up and down. William got three neckties, three
books, a tie clasp, a knife, a box of candy, a meccano motor.

This is dear little Gene's birthday and he is three years old. Charlotte made
him a pink and white birthday cake, and he had a nice birthday dinner. He got a
nice book, a toy wagon and a toy water wagon and a cup and saucer, a gold ring
and a buster brown coaster this afternoon. He took some of his cake over to
Auntie and Grandmother. He talks cute as can be and says tonight "Tick dive
wants me to do so and so". He has a great imagination.

June 7, 1916
     William is out to Uncle Ed's. He passed into the 7th grade, got 100 in
General Lessons and Excellent on his whole year's work. He marched Decoration
Day and was the very best looking boy in the whole parade. Andy got elected Co.
Treasurer so we all feel happy. Little Gene is the sweetest most loving little
boy. He is wild to ride in the car. I do wonder how he will like another baby.
I know William will alright. Mrs. Mallory goes to Nebraska in the morning.

My father was too busy to continue with the treasurer's job. Andy Luke
wished to marry Lou and needed a job.

Andy was every inch a gentleman - always well dressed. Although never in
vigorous health, he was an ardent sportsman and crack shot. He eventually died
of pneumonia after too much exposure on a hunting trip.

All his fine qualities did not provide him with an occupation and income in a
small midwest town.

The treasurer's job was not too demanding, and father's deputy was well trained
and available. It seemed ideal that the job should be passed to Andy and
arrangements were made to get him the Republican nomination, which guaranteed
election in November.

Another candidate did file and the issue was in doubt. Tom Purcel, owner of the
Chronicle, was about to endorse the opposition, but my mother convinced him
Andy would win and Tom characteristically decided to go with the winner and so
Andy made it.

Andy handled the job to the satisfaction of all for many years, but was
ironically done in by the trusted deputy who came with the job. The deputy was
finally discovered to be dipping into the cash for $1500 or so, and Andy shared
the blame.

Still, his friends were able to get him into the Hampton State Bank as cashier.
So a lifetime nice man was able to find a spot all his life. In that age,
people took care of their own. (EHM II)

July 17, 1916
     B. H. took Gene and Andy and John Rule up to Gull Lake, away up in Minn.
They started July 13.

This was about the last of this kind of thing; the water was rough and the
boat small. My father was not for this kind of adventure and became less so as
the years passed. (EHM II)

William went out to Darrah's today. He and Otto and Merle are going to camp in
Otto's tent and do their own cooking. I miss him terribly too. It has been
right up to 100 in the shade for 3 days and hot for three weeks. It uses me all
up.

Sept. 12, 1916
     Gene has gone to St. Paul with Wells Mott to buy feeding cattle. He sold
his last cattle, four car loads at $10.35 on Aug. 18. He took them in and
struck a good market.

I am feeling miserable and Ruth has been helping me for the last three weeks.
We just finished papering and painting. We began Sept. 5 and it took 4-1/2
days. Ruth is such a great help to me. She has been so interested too. Wm. went
to Minnesota the third week in August.



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