Edna Clair Ferris - Sickness


Oct. 7, 1922
     I had the worst bad spell with my stomach I ever had Sept. 20, the day
William went to Iowa City. He left without saying goodbye and was gone nearly
two weeks without writing and it worried me when I wasn't too sick.

Gene and Wells and Walter R. went to So. Dakota for ten days, just got back
yesterday. Gene bought two cars of big steers at Sioux City and 175 head of
yearlings in So. Dakota.

Olive Reeve died Oct. 5 at Mason City.

Our new man Green started to live on farm Oct. 1.

May 8, 1923
     Little Gene and I both had quiet birthdays. He was 10 years old. He is
such a fine boy, strong and big and smart in the 4th A class. He is jolly too
and makes us but very little trouble. He is such a good boy. He loves to read
and he is devoted to Grand mother and spends every minute he can with her.
Judson is not so good as he used to be and trys to be bad.

Mrs. E. V. Baldwin will be buried today and Denton Wall is dead.

William has been doing good work at Iowa City. I wish we had a good job for him
this summer.

Arthur Mallory has gone bankrupt.

William seems to be making good down to Iowa City. He did not make a Fraternity
until Christmas and he felt quite put out about it, but he finally made Phi
Delta Theta.

May 17, 1923
     Mrs. E.V. Baldwin died May 5, Mrs. Patterson May 13, and Mrs. Hemmingway
May 14.

Judson is having the chickenpox this week.

June 6, 1923
     William has again disappointed us, school is out and he has not yet come
home and we do not know where he is. He has no idea of right or duty and no
affection at all for home or home folks. He never has written once to Nettie.
He is always the one to disappoint his folks in his behavior. I can't tell the
times when I wanted to be proud of him and he blocked it. Even when he
graduated, he came in last with David Evans trying it seemed not to be long
with the rest. If he turns out alright I will be satisfied, but he is so
selfish, or if he was "good hearted" I would not mind, but he delights to make
me miserable. I am a poor mother, I know that.

June 18, 1923
     Leo Schlessinger dropped dead June 8 in front of Windsor about 9:15 p.m.
Maude Muriatt is not well at all, gall stones. I am feeling fine. William is
working for W. B. Bayless.

Oct. 11, 1923
     William had a bad get away this year as I was late getting up and he
missed his train. So Forrest Proctor and Bob McKee took Wm. and Paul Davis to
Ackley and they got to Iowa City mostly by interurbans.

Miss Rhodes called yesterday and she says Judson is the best in his work in her
room.

Lee Jr. pulled the fire alarm and emptied the building Friday.

Belle came to work Aug. 21 again. I have been on jury duty from Oct. 1 to Oct.
9.

I have been so lonesome to see William. Surely would love to go down, but
wouldn't dare mention it.

Dec. 11, 1923
     Well I got to go to Iowa City. Went down Oct. 21, got there by noon. Had
Dr. Boiler test my eyes and am doomed to wear glasses the rest of my life. Went
to see the Johnston's and Mr. and Mrs. Liebig. Found William nice enough and
apparently doing well and behaving well, but very discontented and dissatisfied
or at least he acted that way. Came home and was sick for the better part of a
month afterward.

Bess Jennings and Emma Flower have been here since Sept. 1 running a boarding
house. They are going to Chicago after school is out to visit.

Elizabeth is expecting a baby again and Lee Jr. has the whooping cough.

Ben has gone to Florida to visit Margaret and both go to Cuba.

Kirkwood has lost his job and will probably go back to Iowa City after
Christmas.

Lou and Andy ate supper here last week. Have hardly seen them since little
Aliwilda died last July. She was taken sick the evening of July 4th, soon
became worse, stoppage of the bowels and then diptheria. Died about 10:30 July
11. Dear little Willia, a short life and sudden death, so full of life it was
hard to think of her as dead. Poor little girlie. It is hard to understand why
she came and why she was not spared.

Dec. 23, 1923
     Gene got Black Hand letter Thursday, Dec. 20, at noon, to take $5000, go
across the street and ten blocks west, to drop the money "on demand", but no
one appeared, as he was "overguarded" we think now, as there were so many cars
out. A Ford coupe backed up on Cy Wolf's corner and headed south. A man got
out, after turning out the lights, walked out a little, gave a high sign. A
foot passenger, who was just ahead of Gene, met him on the corner, the car man
got in, and beat it south. When Gene got to the Memorial Hall a man stood
there, who avoided letting Gene look at him. Everyone shadowed this fellow, but
no one spoke to him until he finally got into a Ford coupe and left.

William and Kirk got home from Iowa City at five o'clock that morning, so were
here during the day and evening.

June 26, 1924
     Elizabeth has her new daughter, Margaret - born 7:30 a.m. June 25, 1924.
Gene and I saw her last night and she surely is a fine baby. Nice features and
a big 9-1/2 pound girl. Elizabeth looked so sweet and happy and I am so glad it
is safely over. This is Elizabeth's fifth living child to be born, for although
the triplets born Feb. 10, 1922 did not live long, still they were alive for
several hours. Lee Jr. has accepted his little sister.

William is working for Gene on the farm ploughing corn. He has been so nice
this summer and I do love to have him home again. He is a fine looking fellow.

Belle and I put a water wave in my hair June 18 and it looks lovely. I am
anxious to see how long it will last.

Sept. 20, 1924
     This has been an eventful week. William went to Iowa City Monday to begin
his work in Medicine. Such a long long time to work. He is such a nice looking
good boy. Hope he likes it and can do the work.

Ben has told us all that he is to be married next month to Fannie Fox Cooper,
who visited here last month and stayed at Kratochvils. We are perfectly
delighted and think it will be fine for both. Ben is a fast worker. She was
here less than a month.

All the boys are fine - Nettie is back in Vinton and ma not very well, so weak
and worn out.

Nov. 9, 1924
     Judson had his eighth birthday yesterday. He got a Radiolite Ingersol
watch and leather chain. He had a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and 8
candles. Grandmother came over for dinner and so did little Gene as it was
Saturday, and in the p.m. we helped drive up cattle.

Ben got home Oct. 30 with his new wife. We ate dinner with them at Elizabeth's
the next day (Sat.) and Monday night we had them here and Ed and Effie and Lou
and Margaret. Andy was at Walker.

Jan. 27, 1925
     Frank has the smallpox and he and ma were quarantined yesterday, and
Grandmother and both little boys and Gene and I were all vaccinated Jan. 26,
1925, and Wm. was vaccinated this month too at Iowa City. Grandmother has never
been vaccinated before and I feel very anxious about her and am waiting,
expecting to go over any day when she gets sick. Wish Frank had been vaccinated
before this happened.

Feb. 21, 1925
     Grandmother and Frank got out of quarantine on Monday, Feb.
16th. He was a bad case of smallpox, but is just about well now,
still covered with red blotches and some pimples. Grandmother
did not take it and while her vaccination worked it was not so
bad as it might have been and now we are all immune I hope.

William got conditioned at Iowa City and he is humiliated and angry and wants
to quit, and I have felt bad ever since. I can't seem to cheer up, even though
I feel he can make it up. But he is unhappy and so am I.

Bessie Luke Boehmler died Wed. Feb. 18th and everyone feels sad about it. She
was just 24 and she leaves two little boys. Dr. Corning died this week too, and
Simon Wolf.

Apr. 4, 1925
     William made up his condition and got a B grade and I have felt happier
ever since. He expects to be home April 9 and to bring a friend home with him.

The past months have been awful. Ma has been sick for over three weeks and
Elizabeth's baby was very sick for over two, and Belle is going home and I
don't know where to get a girl and will need one if ma gets sick again. I have
sent for a gas stove for her and we are going to get the kitchens painted soon.

She stays so weak and tired and done up. I am afraid she won't last long. This
has been an awful winter with so much sickness and worry.

May 29, 1925
     Fannie had an operation at Rochester May 20. Dr. Judd found a cancer and
they removed three feet of the intestine, part of the colon and the opening of
the small into the large intestine. She rallied well and has been making a good
recovery, but has been through a pretty bad old week at that.

Ma is better than she has been for a long time. She was up here Sunday for
dinner. She is a lot better than I ever expected to see her. F. M. F. and Judie
go after Nettie Monday.

July 11, 1925
     Fannie seems to be making a fine recovery but Emma Flower Proctor is
certainly nearing the end. She began to be paralyzed about three months ago in
her limbs, became worse so fast she soon could not walk, then her hands became
unruly, next it got into her throat and she became speechless almost. Frank
took her to Rochester and they found she had cancer of the breast, which had
spread, so they operated on her for that, although why they did we will never
understand. She came home in two weeks and has failed ever since. She was
operated on about the middle of June.

William is at Iowa City, he got a job at the University hospital and has some
work in Summer School. Next month he gets to work for another doctor and so his
summer is well filled. He is doing fine and we are proud of him. He made very
good grades the second semester of his medical course.

Kirkwood has passed the state bar exam and now is attorney at law. He will
graduate next year at the holidays.

Our folks all pretty good except Grandmother, she did not hold out as good as I
expected this summer.

Nov. 27, 1925
     Fannie made a good recovery apparently from May until the middle of Sept.,
then she and Ben drove to Chicago with Margaret and stayed a week there and
Fannie came home sick. She did not improve so about the last of Oct. Ben took
her to Rochester. They gave her X-ray treatments and she came home sick, and
was sick here for three weeks. She vomited all the time and complained of a
terrible pain in her bowels, so they again took her to Rochester, Lee and the
nurse and Fannie in Ben's car, and Ben and Elizabeth in our car, new Buick, on
Nov. 20, just six month's from the other operation. They operated again, found
another cancer where the other was and innumerable small ones and they made a
new passage and say there is no hope for anything but temporary relief, for how
long we do not know. She will never be well. Now they talk of bringing her home
on Monday, the eleventh day. It seems just terrible. I hope they will bring her
in an ambulance, but don't expect they will.

Dec. 9, 1925
     Fannie is dying tonight - she came home Nov. 30 and for a few days she
seemed quite strong, although very sick. She vomited and had a terrible pain in
her bowels. She failed rapidly and this morning about three o'clock the nurse
noticed a change for the worse. At 5 this afternoon she had a sinking spell and
is very low now and can hardly live until morning. They have had to give her
morphine ever since she came home.

9:50 p.m. Lee has just phoned that Fannie has just died.

Dec. 12, 1925
     Fannie's funeral yesterday at 2:30 at the house. No mention was made of
her marriage to Harry Cooper and nothing said of her son Donald, which seemed
wrong to me as her life centered around Donald for so many years. Will Coopers
from Chicago and Mr. Kamp from Perry. Donald's wife's husband. So nice of him
to come since Florence had gone to her own mother in California.

Feb. 26, 1926
     Gene and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary yesterday. Did nothing
unusual but have F. D. Smith and wife and Ed and Effie for dinner tonight. I am
getting ready for a Colonial party tomorrow. Lulu and Concha give it at the
hotel.

I have a colored girl, Anabel Bolden, working for me since Feb. 8.

William doing good work at Iowa City.

We think our 15 years have been pretty good ones.

Gene went to Rochester Feb. 16. They advise his upper teeth out, also one lower
one, otherwise I guess he is in fine shape.

Apr. 18, 1926
     Gene had his upper teeth, eleven in all, pulled April 16th. He is getting
along pretty good at that.

Miss Gunderson was buried today. She was married last June to a Joseph Rust and
died after a Caesarean section. Her baby is alive. It is so very sad, she was
so happy a year ago.

Anabel quit April 5th and I am alone.

Little Gene celebrated his 13th birthday by going to Grandmothers.

June 17, 1926
     Gene had a bad accident Tuesday noon June 15th. He got up from dinner and
climbed up to the top platform in the big soft maple tree. As he was coming
down his board he was using for a hand hold gave way and he fell eighteen feet,
struck the telephone wire and landed on his back. He broke both bones in his
left arm and his hand pushed off his arm the width of his wrist and surely
looked awful. We got Dr. Johnston and it was set in about 30 or 40 minutes.
Gene was calm, cool and collected, never even whimpered or complained. Sure he
is one fine boy, the stuff real heroes are made of. It was the last day of
Chautauqua and I had been so proud of both little fellows all week and heard so
many compliments for them.

William went to Rochester Sunday June 13th and was to begin work at St. Marys
June 14th. He is quite enthusiastic about his work. He is to do blood chemistry
on diabetics and nephritics.

Wells was taken sick June 11 and was operated on that night at Hampton
Hospital. His appendix was ruptured. He has been very sick and is still far
from well, but we do hope he will do better.

Ella Robinson had a very bad attack of angina pectoris the same night and is
still ill. Too bad, good old Ella Will.

Dec. 25, 1926
     Christmas morning, and everyone in bed. Gene and William and Judson
upstairs and Gene Jr. over to Grandmothers.

Ma has been sick for two weeks, so we did not have a Christmas tree over there
this year. She laid on the lounge while we were there, and looked so little and
old and frail. I do not expect her here another Christmas.

Gene and William go to Rochester next week, Gene to go through the clinic. He
does not look well and never stops his worrying one minute. I am anxious to
have him go up and see what is wrong.

Motts moved Dec. 1 into old Burney-Fuller place. They had an accident Nov. and
Wells got his teeth knocked out and jaw fractured. She had her knees hurt and
is not at all well now.

I was sick the week after Thanksgiving and had no help, but Helen Nurmelin came
to work the next week. I surely needed her for I did not get over it very fast
this time.

We were disappointed because Gene would not be nice about our getting a radio
with our own money. I don't know why he does such things. It is so hard for me
to go on when he does. I could hardly keep from crying all day. Ben gave Gene
and Judson a chemistry set.

Jan. 1, 1927
     Gene is still up to Rochester. William left him there Thursday and came
home and yesterday left for Des Moines to go to Iowa City. Gene Jr. is over to
Grandmother's and Judie and I are here alone today.

They find Gene has a moderate benign prostate trouble and that is all they do
find. He has lost 10 lbs. since last Feb. and he looks all in. I was afraid
they would find him anemic, but they did not. Every test he had except for this
one trouble was negative. But just the same, I do not think he will ever be the
same again. His mental make up and attitude and disposition are all against him
and I feel like I had reached a turning point and have a bad road to travel
from now on. However whatever it is, will try to get through with it. Will be
glad when the Holidays are over. I surely have not enjoyed them.

This is the year I am chairman of the Art Dept. of the Women's Club. Just
starting next week on second half - studying pictures.

Feb. 17, 1927
     I went to Rochester Monday Jan. 3rd. Went to Colonial and found Gene in
terrible shape. They had him wearing a cathater and he was delirious at times.
Dr. Hand told me they suspected a malignant tumor of the bladder and a hard
fibrous prostate. B.H. came up twice Jan 9th and stayed a few days then again
Jan. 17th. I think he stayed until Jan. 24th. Gene was cystoscoped Jan. 18th
and operated on Jan. 21st. He got out of the hospital Feb. 10th, came home Feb.
11th. His nurse was Miss Winifred Murphy and she was very good. He kept her 20
days and Miss Edith Lundeen two days, Saturday and Sunday. It was terrible
before the operation as Gene was confused part of the time and drowsy most of
the time and sick all of the time. He went to the operating room Friday p.m. at
3:35 and came back about 4:45. He had a hypodermic just before he went and had
a spinal anesthesia and came back and had a cup of strong black coffee, and was
not sick a minute from the anesthesia. He had a very bad night and would not
have the cage over the abdomen alone and insisted on getting up to go to the
bathroom. At 1:30 next day they took out the Pilcher bag and he gradually got
more easy. Sunday they had him sit up and on Monday they got him to start
walking. We left Colonial at noon Thursday, spent Thursday p.m. in the Clinic
and came home Friday. I got a bad report on hired help Thurs. noon which made
me feel ill.

Feb. 25, 1927
     Judson came down sick with the measles Feb. 22. He was really sick since
Sat. Feb. 18th, but did not break out until Wednesday about noon. We had Dr.
Johnston about 4 p.m. and Judie had a temperature of 103.2, and yesterday he
was very sick and ran a temperature of 103.8 and coughed something awful, but
he had a good night last night and today his temperature is normal again and
measles seem to be fading out. Gene Jr. stays over with Grandmother. It is two
weeks today since Gene and I came home and yesterday Gene weighed 155-1/2 lbs.
without overcoat, cap or rubbers, so he must be gaining as the same way he
weighed 148 lbs. at Hotel Brown two weeks ago yesterday.

Lee Jr. is having measles along with Judson and no doubt Baby Margaret will
have them soon too.

May 29, 1927
     On Friday night May 27th, Gene was in the class play Miss Mollie and he
took the part of Julian Hewith - he was good as also were Rex Gulick, Soy
Potter, Maxine Arnett, Wara Krukow, Edna Jones and Virginia Sutherland. The
play was the graduation exercises from the eighth grade into high school. Gene
is a good boy and never makes us any trouble or causes us any anxiety at all.
He is good natured and unassuming and he is smart in school. Altogether we
think he would be hard to beat.

Judson goes into the fifth grade. He has been on the honor roll every time this
year. He is much more interested in his personal appearance than Gene is, and
keeps his necktie on and his hair always combed, while Gene never does either.

William goes to work up to Rochester June 13th. This is his Junior year of
Medicine.

Gene weighs 171-1/2 now and looks fine. He complains of his hands being numb
and he says he feels "funny" and his eyes are bothering him a lot. He thinks
too awful much about just how he feels.

Nettie went to Vinton and brought home her things this week and left ma with
Gene. She got along alright and has been pretty good, all but her legs are so
weak and her wrist hurts her. She looks awful and it does scare me to think how
near she is to the end of the road for her.

June 21, 1927
     Eva Parks and I went over to Mrs. Henderson's and weighed on her
Health-O-Meter - Eva weighed 121 and I weighed 129, which is 7 lbs. more than I
weighed this winter.

Our Chautauqua just over. It was very good too, had three shows, Rip Van
Winkle, Lightnin, and Message from Mars.

William got good grades in all his work the past year, is now a full fledged
senior medic. Am sorry about the row in the school and all good instructor's
resignations.

July 5, 1927
     I got weighed on scales at Mason City and only weighed 125, so guess I
haven't made such a gain.

We had a good Fourth - boys rode on Ferris wheel and shot fire crackers all day
long and the fireworks were fine.

Grandmother came up night before, but didn't get to see parade or fireworks.

Nov. 24, 1927
     Thanksgiving Day today and it was a sad one for Mrs. W. L. Robinson was
buried today. Funeral was at 3:30 at M.E. Church.

She was found dead in bed a little after seven o'clock Tuesday, Nov. 22.

Two weeks ago tomorrow night on Armistice day we went to Mason City. Dorothy
Clinton and Elizabeth in the front seat and Mrs. T.J.B. and Ella and I in the
back seat. Gene and Will and T.J.B. and Lee and Ben in the Cadillac. It was
Ben's farewell to T.J.B. I am glad I had that last good time with her, then a
week ago last night I saw her at the green house. She called to me and had a
big bouquet of crysanthemums in her hands and looked so sweet as she held them
up for me to see.

Rose Schlessinger lost her mind this summer and Tuesday they took her to
Independence. They kept her here at first at the Lutheran and then took her to
Iowa City, where she broke her arm, then they brought her home last Friday to
try to keep her here, but she was so violent they had to take her away.

Judson has been sick for nearly a week, high fever 104 and no real apparent
cause for it. Got dressed today and Frank took him over to ma's while we were
gone to the funeral.

Grandmother cooked a duck over there, we had no real Thanksgiving today, as I
feel too terrible about Ella Robinson's death, and Judie's sickness made me
extra work. Ma has not been well either, but was so glad to have Frank home I
think it made her feel better. Irma Harriman married today, Mrs. W. E. Hoxie is
in the hospital where she was operated Tuesday.

I went to Rochester in August. They told me I had a very much enlarged duodenum
and bad hemmorhoids and was too nervous. Told me to take life easy and not have
any nerve strain. But I can't someway.

William is trying to get his internship and I am trying to help him. He is my
dearest and best and I am often sad and lonely to see him. He invited me down
there for Thanksgiving, but of course I could not go, though why I never have
any pleasure of any kind planned for me is a puzzle hard to solve. No wonder I
am nervous. It is too monotonous for any live person who doesn't care just to
eat and sleep. I would love to go and do things and am never encouraged the
least particle to do so. A trip to Chapin is a wonderful outing. I am
ungrateful if I don't appreciate it. I have never in my life been told to take
our car and go anywhere except once to Sheffield. I've never driven it once to
Mason City or other places that may be a square deal but I can't see it. I feel
like a servant and a poor one too. I am horribly depressed and blue much of the
time. We could have so good a time and we never do, and such things are always
held up to me as the height of foolishness. I don't understand why pleasure is
a crime my self, it's a wrong viewpoint - but it never will be any different.

Dec. 10, 1927
     L. J. Kron had a paralytic stroke at 1 a.m. Dec. 3 and died Dec. 5,
Monday, at 2:15 p.m. Buried Dec. 7 in blinding blizzard.

We had Gene innoculated for scarlet fever Dec. 2 and Judson Dec. 3, and today,
Dec. 10, they both got the first shot for diptheria. Gene had a terrible sore
arm and felt miserable from the scarlet fever vaccination. Judson had a bad
arm, but was not so sick as Gene.

Jan. 17, 1928
     We took Gene to Dr. Purcell at Iowa Falls on Jan. 15th and got such a bad
report, we have felt ill ever since. The doctor says he thinks he has
pernicious myopia, but won't say positively until another visit. He is our good
boy, so happy and so trustworthy, he never makes us any trouble in any way. He
is no hand to play with other boys, not because he doesn't like them I don't
think. He has grown terribly fast the last summer and he has read too much, of
course, but I did not realize what terrible results it was to have. He has
glasses on now and looks fine in them.

We got our new radio this week.

William was in Chicago last week trying for an internship in the navy. He has
an appointment at Harpers at Detroit in case he does not land the navy job.

Feb. 11, 1928
     We took Gene to Iowa Falls today for second time, but did not get his
glasses changed as the doctor said his eyes were no worse and to wait six weeks
longer.

It is a year ago today since Gene and I came home from Rochester. He seems well
in many ways. He is harder to interest in anything and finds so little to
entertain himself. His eyes are bad and he is confused and bothered and
complains of being dizzy and has arm aches.

I feel sorry for him so many times, he never allowed himself any fun and has
fewer resources for pleasure than anyone I know. He does not complain and is
good and kind and more gentle than he used to be and makes an effort to please
me and never is arrogant with me any more. I don't feel quite happy or
satisfied with his condition, as much his mental condition as his physical. He
has no pep and doesn't want to exert himself in much of any ways.

Arthur had an operation about Jan. 1st. DeWitt had one Jan. 26, is still in the
hospital.

Dr. Osborne died Feb. 5, angina pectoris.

Mrs. E. E. Butler is very ill and she cannot recover, tubercular cancers of the
lungs. She is so bright and lively and pretty. I am so sorry.

Poor Rose Schlessinger still lives on down to Independence - too bad.

Feb. 26, 1928
     Gene and I celebrated our seventeenth wedding anniversary yesterday. I
bought my little radio lamp for present for me. I have stood the passage of
time better than Gene has I think. He is good and kind and gentle, and I love
him very much.

Mrs. Butler was buried this week and Mrs. I. L. Stuart died yesterday.

E. E. Clock was seriously injured Wednesday night near Rudd, Iowa (Feb. 22).

All boys are well, William got his navy appointment and is well and happy so
far as I know.

Mar. 13, 1928
     I cam down with the flu March 7. Was sick in bed five days and all in for
a week. Lois was home sick so Gene and Judie took care of me.

David Smith, Jacoba's husband, died March 6 of pneumonia. Mr. Kugler died
yesterday.

June 10, 1928
     Came downstairs this morning and found William had returned from Iowa City
in the night and had spread out his two degrees from Iowa State University on
the table in the living room, his B.S. degree and his sheepskin as doctor of
Medicine. He came home on Decoration Day to see about a car. On June 1st he
bought an Oldsmobile Runabout ($890) and on June 2nd returned to Iowa City
(alone) and was graduated June 4th with above degrees. Stayed to take the state
board exams and returned home last night. What a lot of effort those two
diplomas mean on his part and his father's and what a lot of strain and worry
on mine. However all that and what mistakes we have made are in the past now
and while we are glad and proud of him we feel sad too - from now on his life
and ours are separate.

Judson came down with the mumps June 4th. He has not been really ill with them,
never been in bed a day and only one restless sleepless night for him, but
still am glad it is over.

June 24, 1928
     William left at 1:30 today to go to his duty as Lieutenant J.G.,
U.S.N.M.C. at Mare Island, California. It nearly killed me to see him go, pray
to heaven he gets safely there.

He got his travelling orders yesterday and we went up and got our pictures
taken right after dinner then I came home and washed for him and ironed last
night. Judson and I had bad luck with the tub in the bird bath and then we went
after it and met William at the back door, he packed last night and was to go
at 7 a.m. today, but did not get up until 10:30 so was delayed until 1:30. He
left in his new car, had his new trunk and bag and many nice things. At the
table he promised he would come home next year at this time and take Gene Jr.
east with him.

William was over to ma's last night and again today. Am afraid he will never
see her again.

Paving work all over the county and they tore up over to Reeves yesterday and
are in front of Beed's (H.O.) today.

I feel sad because this seemed to be the day really when William became a man
on his own responsibility. Up to now he has been a boy dependent upon us and it
nearly killed me to have him smile at me so sweetly and drive away so far
alone. How badly we would feel if he had no job and no place to go, but he took
so much of my pride and happiness with him. I feel lost and sad and so lonely.
I wouldn't have it be otherwise, but how can I bear it. He did not feel so very
well either, but said he thought it was excitement more than anything else. I
could not bear to make him get up this morning. It seemed somehow his last
night home as our boy. He was so perfect when he was born, so absolutely mine
some way. I can't endure the thought of his leaving me very far behind, and he
has gone so far - for so long.

June 27, 1928
     Well William has as usual made me sorrow, for this noon I got the
announcement of his wedding, which took place at Iowa City June 25th. How can
he be so heartless?

Aug. 2, 1928
     On July 16th we went to Mason City and I had two teeth pulled by Dr.
Beemer. I had X-ray in morning and went back at 1 p.m. At 20 minutes to 4
o'clock he got the molar out and at 5:15 let me come home. We returned the next
day and practically every other day since. Have suffered a lot. Have infection
and adhesions and I wonder when this will end and how.


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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