Edna Clair Ferris - Peace


Nov. 12, 1918
     Yesterday the news came of the signing by Germany of the armistice for
which we had been waiting several days. At 3 a.m. the bells and whistles blew
and rung and people gathered downtown and had a bonfire. Elizabeth and William
and Ben and Gene all went down to it. After dinner, everyone who could met at
the High School building and formed a long procession, headed by a Minstrel
Show band that happened to be here. They had a free show afterward in the court
yard and in the evening a big Red Cross parade and bonfire. Gene and I took
Little Gene down to the bonfire and left Judie with grandmother. They also hung
Mr. Hohenzollern in effigy.

Nov. 28, 1918
     Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. We have a nice turkey and all the trimmings
out in the back kitchen and Grandmother and Uncle Frank are coming up to
dinner. Nettie is still in Vinton and I don't know when she will get home.
William has gone to a pep meeting. Gene is over with B. H. and the girls. I am
home with the two little ones. Judie is standing in my chair now saying
"Ah'h'h'h", for he doesn't talk yet. We are a little uneasy about it too.

Gene makes a visit over to see Elizabeth and Margaret and McAdoo every night
while William gets his algebra.

We had a nice Thanksgiving Day. The first snow of the season fell about six
inches deep and William cleared our sidewalk and earned a dollar clearing Geo.
Robinson's. Gene got a livery horse and went after ma. We took her home in the
car and William and Gene stayed. We had a fine turkey dinner, but little Gene
looked over the table and said "There is nothing here I like". He doesn't eat
very much ever. Judie sat up and ate like a man. He is good about eating. All
the boys are being good. Ida W. Ferris came yesterday.

Dec. 4, 1918
     William is enjoying his usual luck as he came down with the mumps
yesterday and the schools close today for the county institute. Ma says he
looks awful funny and his face is terribly swollen. Gene bought him his first
suit with long pants this week.

Dec. 27, 1918
     This was the funniest Christmas we ever had. Judson over to Grandmother's
and big Gene and little Gene both had the mumps. Little Gene hung up his
stocking anyway and got such a lot of things. A knife and books and game of
authors, a painting set, a bank, John Martin's Book and many other things.
Uncle Ben gave him a nice saw Christmas eve. We had a good dinner too, pork
tenderloin and dressing, salad and the rest of it. William got a lot of things.

The town is under quarantine for the flu and there is a lot of sickness.

Jan. 8, 1919
     Theodore Roosevelt died Jan. 6th in his sleep. Grandma Toby died last
week. The quarantine is lifted and William and Gene are in school again.

Mar. 5, 1919
     William had an uneventful birthday yesterday. I got him a good dinner and
supper and let him go to the movies instead of getting his algebra. I
celebrated his fourteenth birthday by getting the last of my wisdom teeth
pulled.

Mrs. Clark, Pearl's mother, was buried today. I did not hear of it until noon.
Mrs. Lola Clock was buried yesterday.

I am steadily running a temperature of 3/5 of a degree. Have been for three
weeks or more. Abe and Will Webb went to Rochester March 3. We expect to go
soon.

March 23, 1919
     Elizabeth has a baby boy who came at 6:30 last evening, March 22, weighing
8-3/4 pounds. I am so glad it is over and glad it is a boy. B. H. is in
Chicago, so she and Margaret were alone except for Jennie and Dr. Allen.

We go to Rochester March 31 if nothing happens to prevent.

Gene Sr. and I went over early today to see Lee Clinton Robinson, Jr. He is a
nice baby, big boy that he is, he is plump and healthy looking and Elizabeth
looks so proud and happy.

May 9, 1919
     Andy and Lou have a new baby girl born Monday morning, May 5th at 2
o'clock. Lou got along fine and the baby is fat as a butter ball, red headed
and sweet. Lou seems carried away with this one and I surely hope she won't
have to lose her.

Capt. Lee got home from France when little Lee was a month old. I went to
Rochester March 31 with Edna Burris, found Kate Fults at the depot and Lulu and
Leone at the Brown Hotel. Also Will Webb and Abi in St. Mary's, but Abi came
home with me on April 17. Mrs. McCormick was there all the time and Mrs. Miller
part of the time, so I surely did not lack for company while there. Elizabeth
is none too well and I feel worried a little about her and wish that she had a
home of her own. Little Patsy Keefe was drowned while we were at Rochester and
Maude Andrews died a few weeks before we left. Gene only came up for four days
while I was there.

June 2, 1919
     Big Gene is away tonight, down at Newton, Iowa, to see about some land.
Little Gene finished up kindergarten and I surely am glad, he did not get along
well with the other children, but he says "Its just impossible to make friends
with anyone who is kicking your legs".

We have a new Buick car, it runs fine now and we like it.

Gene sold the North farm while I was up to Rochester.

William got supper tonight. He cooked hamburg steak and fixed scalloped
potatoes and made salad dressing for a lettuce, egg and green onion salad.

Mrs. Grant Palmer dropped dead today.

Judie talks everything now and is good as gold. Lee Jr. doing fine.

Ben left for California last night and Margaret for New Mexico.

June 21, 1919
     Chautauqua ended last night after one solid week of rain, and to night we
go to Natalia Hemmingway Pope's wedding reception. It is miserable weather,
rainy and hot, and it is impossible to do farm work in such weather.

Judson calls his father "the man" and every other man "the other man" or
"another man". He tells folks they are "mean" "mean" "go on way off".

Gene is hard to handle because he says all other boys are his "enemy" and
fights them. Ma is sick today. She has been fairly good for awhile and seemed
to feel some better.

Oct. 30, 1919
     Such rainy gloomy weather. We enjoy our winter top on the Buick.

Little Gene is so thin and he is so whiny and cross, but he is all interested
in Ancient History of my Delphian Course. I got him the Calvert School Method
as he did not do at all well in school at first, and he soon learned to read
and write.

William came out for football and plays on the 2nd team. He is not striding
much at home, but think he is doing alright.

Judson is so cute, he calls me "good little girl" and asks me dozens of times a
day if I "Love me well", and tells me he "Loves you very well". The first thing
in the morning, he calls "Come Mou" meaning "Come Mother", then he says "Ure
bed alright" meaning he hasn't wet it any.

Elizabeth and Lou are both weaning their babies now.

Nov. 9, 1919
     Judson was three yesterday. He had a pink and white birthday cake with
pink frosting and pink candles. He talks everything now, but not very plain. He
knows Bo Peep and Mary and the Carrot and Tom the Piper's Son, but not all of
each.

It is rainy and chilly and miserable weather and has been for six weeks.

Little Gene seems to be picking up a little in flesh, but is cross and whiney
and keeps having colds. He and Judson spent yesterday p.m. with Auntie and
Grandma, and Gene went over this a.m. William is playing football and I've
joined the Delphians.

Dec. 13, 1919
     Lots of snow and 10 below this morning. William is out for basketball now
and practices lots after school. The coal strike is settled, but the
restrictions are still in force. Mrs. C. D. Wolf and I went to Des Moines Nov.
20th to Delphian banquet. All children well.

April 16, 1920
     William is working over to Earl's today. He wanted to be out building his
shack, but we talked him out of it.

Gene is spending his weekend with Grandmother as usual. We had a happy birthday
when he was 7 and they surely mean a lot to him, and Judson wants a "bir'hday
cake too". Judson says "You want me to stand up by you?" and then he does it.

Etta Bergman is working for me now, she came April 5th.

April 27, 1920
     Little Gene is having a tussle with the measles over to Grandmother's. He
came down April 22nd, the same time we took our new car. I wonder when Judson
will have them.

June 17, 1920
     Judson did not have the measles after all. He talks so cute. He says "My
do dis dick way". He always says "one day" so cute and "wendow".

Wm. has been working over three weeks for the drainage engineer. I am afraid he
isn't at all wild about it and I worry a lot about him. He is determined to
smoke cigarettes and I don't like it.

This is the last day of Chautauqua. I haven't enjoyed it much, if any.

July 19, 1920
     Gene bought the E. P. Andrew's house July 16th for $13,000. We don't get
possession until Sept. 15th though.

William is wild to take a course in wireless and get away from home. He is so
restless and wild to do all sorts of impossible things. He almost succeeds in
making life miserable for me. I can only hope he will be more grateful and a
lot easier to live with as he grows older and gets more sense. He is a handsome
fellow with a good mind and fine body and if I live to see him a good useful
man, I will never regret the cost. I do worry about him. He has no gratitude
nor respect for us. He sticks to his work well though.

Little Gene stays most of the time with Grandmother. He talks all the time and
whines and yells.

Judson is contrary and says he doesn't like anyone but me, but he is quiet.

Sept. 10, 1920
     We are just waiting to move. We expect to start Tuesday p.m. maybe. Gene
is in Polo, Ill. He has been to Chicago with fat cattle, eight car loads of
dandy ones. They brought $17.45. Nettie went back to Vinton to teach again
Sept. 4th. It was just 25 years that day since she began there.

Oct 9, 1920
     We moved Wednesday, Sept. 15th, and Mr. Klepfer put up drapes the next
Tuesday. It was lots of fun having a new house and buying new furniture, just
like beginning over again. Now I am waiting for my upstairs curtains and drapes
for the library.

Elizabeth has been resting in bed for two weeks now and I do miss her.

I was sick last week and also Judson was sick with the grip. William went to
Algoria today to play football. I would so like to go over there once and look
around, and I surely would be proud to show Wm. to Mother Ryan. William was
elected class president of the Juniors yesterday and I am surely pleased at
this first small honor that has come to him. If he only makes a good man and is
honest and honorable, I will never begrudge the cost.

Little Gene is over to Grandma's to visit with Uncle Frank. He helped his
father load hogs tonight and had a lot of fun.

Jusdon is talking so much more than he used to. He says he is "going to school
nex birtday". Gene goes to Omaha in the AM.

Nov. 25, 1920
     Little Judson had an uneventful fourth birthday as I was sick and didn't
get his cake made for several days, but he was just as contented to wait as
could be. Auntie sent him some sliced birds and that made him very happy. We
had a nice cake and candles one night afterward. We went to the Thanksgiving
game today and Clarion beat us bad. This ends up William's first year playing.
He did not play today. He has not played such a lot this year either. He goes
to Des Moines tonight or rather in the morning to a Y.M.C.A. conference. He
gave up his trip to Vinton and Iowa City to go. I think he was foolish to do
it, but he did what most kids do, took the nearest one.

I have been sick an awful lot lately for no good reason that I can see.

Dec. 27, 1920
     We had a fine Christmas, the first in our new home. Had our Christmas tree
over to Grandma's and Christmas dinner here. All the boys were good as gold.
The house was so pretty and comfort able and Grandmother did enjoy the grate
fire. She is not very well. Nettie came home from Vinton to eat turkey with us.
William was disappointed not to have won an H this year, but now is practicing
basketball hard. He is fine if he will only be good. He will make a fine man.

Nov. 25, 1920
     Little Judson had an uneventful fourth birthday as I was sick and didn't
get his cake made for several days, but he was just as contented to wait as
could be. Auntie sent him some sliced birds and that made him very happy. We
had a nice cake and candles one night afterward. We went to the Thanksgiving
game today and Clarion beat us bad. This ends up William's first year playing.
He did not play today. He has not played such a lot this year either. He goes
to Des Moines tonight or rather in the morning to a Y.M.C.A. conference. He
gave up his trip to Vinton and Iowa City to go. I think he was foolish to do
it, but he did what most kids do, took the nearest one.

I have been sick an awful lot lately for no good reason that I can see.

Mar. 5, 1921
     Yesterday was William's birthday and he is sixteen years old. He is a fine
looking boy, but I can't feel satisfied or happy about him, for I have always
been too proud of him I guess, and I can't reconcile myself to his smoking
cigarettes and I cannot feel the same toward him and he has not pride or
manhood enough to stop. I do not like it because he is so deceitful and
untruthful. I can only hope for the best, but they say "The boy is father to
the man". I gave him a fountain pen and a pound of chocolates for his birthday.

I had two luncheons Feb. 22 and Feb 25. Had lots of fun both days.

Apr 18, 1921
     We are all vaccinated against smallpox Apr 12th and all have sore arms
now. Margaret is home for a few days and Ed came April 3rd. Ma had her house
papered last week.

Judie says "Dear old mudder anyway" and talks all the time about "before I was
bornin".

The H. S. paper should come out today.

Apr. 24, 1921
     William went to Des Moines to the Drake Relays yesterday morning.
Grandmother is getting straightened up and it looks fine inside. Cy Roberts is
very sick and cannot last long.

Jul. 17, 1921
     William is going to Fort Snelling, Aut 1st, to the Citizens Military
Training Camp. He is working out to DeWitts now and is doing fine. He took his
first typhoid vaccination July 13th. Has to have two more.

Lizzie Olerking began working here July 12th. Believe she will be alright.

Aug. 6, 1921
     William and edwin Bube went to Mpls. Monday a.m., Aug 1st. Their train was
late. Bob Mckee and Sharpie beat it Sat eve.

Aug. 30, 1921
     We went to Walker, Minn., Aug. 9th, came home Aug. 28th. We drove from
here to Zimmerman the first day, reached walker about 4, found Motts, Zimmerman
and Buds in town. We stayed with Motts until Sat a.m., then moved into Beed's
cottage. Lived on Kabokona Bay.

Sept. 25, 1921
     William was elected Pred. of the Athletic Association and Edito in Chief
of the Annual at the beginning of the year.

Jusdon started to kindergarten. Miss. Towne didn't know him and kept him until
12 waiting for someone else to come for him. He told her "My ain't waiting for
anyone, my wants to get out", then she let him come home. He said "I had to
stay a wong wong time".

Pa came home yesterday. Has gone on to Indianapolis.

Gene is in 3ed grade, spends his weekends with Grandmother.

Judson says "How could you know?" so often and says "togidder" for together.

Reddie Butler began working for me Sept. 19, 1921.

Elizabeth had her appendix out Sept. 16th, came home today.

Oct. 1, 1921
     Judson weighed 43 lbs. at the beginning of school and Gene weighed 66.

Nov. 23, 1921
     Judie weighed 45.7 lbs. Nov 22.

Mrs. Webb died Nov. 17 after being sick a long time with dropsy. Concha has a
baby girl since Monday Nov 21.

Nov. 25, 1921
     Gene and I went to Clarion Thanksgiving (Nov. 24) to see the game -
William's last high school game. He got knocked out and we got beaten. Judie
has been sick and has hives.

Gene and the three boys and I went over to the C.G.W. depot to see Gen. Foch.
He looks exactly like his picture.

Dec. 7, 1921
     William went to the Y.M.C.A. conference at Waterloo Dec. 2 and 3. Came
home with his eyes all inflamed. We went to Mason City yesterday with Motts.

Jan. 11, 1922
     Judie weighs 45.2 lbs today. He has on a lighter suit, but has lost a
little. He has a sore throat. I had Cemetery Society Jan 5th.

Apr. 22, 1922
     Henry would have been fifty-two years old today if he had lived.

We entertained Mrs Ma Mayer of Iowa City Apr 10-11-12. She was a lovely guest.

The Delphian Club had Mrs. Grace Wilmot April 21.

Jennie Beemer died this week and Frank Bilderback, and Mrs. McMillan is very
low.

Willard and Dorothy returned from their wedding trip today.

William is making application for training camp during August again.

May 29, 1922
     This is William's graduation day. A lovely warm spring day. He is glad, I
think, to be through, but I have been sad for days. His is a nice looking boy
and really had not made us any trouble in school, but he has never been very
studious and he is a great boy to be on the go. He is never home when he can
possibly get away. He has been president of the Athletic Association and Editor
in chief of the Annual, the Annual is good too.

I think I must be nervous, for I have been feeling for weeks as though
something might happen and can't shake it off. William skipped school April 16
and since then I've felt anxious.

He got a picture from Gladys and Lill and Merle, and two pair socks from Aunt
Maud, a handkerchief fro Ressie, shirt and tie from me, watch chain from DeWitt
and Flossie, and cuff buttons from Ant Effie and Uncle Ed.

Aug. 9, 1922
     William worked all summer for DeWitt and went to camp at Fort Snelling on
July 31. He is section sergeant and likes it fine. We have his room engaged at
Iowa City.

Roxie and Arthur have a baby girl since Aug. 3, Rhoda May, and Lillian and
Delos have one since Aug. 8, Barbara Jean.

Judie did not do very well in Kindergarten and I am going to see if he can't
stay there another year. He was just an interested onlooker, not a participant.

Sept. 2, 1922
     William is not home from camp yet and no word from him, but he loves to
worry one, so have done nothing yet to locate him. In short time will look him
up if he doesn't write or show up. The Peterson boy says he was helping the
quartermaster.

Judson is studying in "Mother's school" now, and is going to Kindergarten
again. He tires right out if he studies long, and is slow, but he learns with
careful teaching.

Scantlebury & Knoll topped the market with 6 cars of Gene's cattle, weighed
1460 and sold for $11.10.

Little Gene has been over to ma's the whole summer. Frank is going to take
Nettie back in his car and may take Gene with him.



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