The Journals

Late October 1931: snow, long walks, too much work . . . and too sensitive?

~ Lark ~ Leave a comment

October 23rd

Georgiana Dalin and Elnora Owens[1. “Elnora” was Mary’s niece. Her name may have also been spelled “Eleanor” or “Elnore” and her maiden name was “Vennes”.] brot me home from Helena. It snowed that nite. I sure had to pitch in & clean up & got so sick from nervousness from different things I could not eat any supper. Next day Alb[ert] & I mixed & what he said to me was a sin and it hurt me beyond words.

October 27th

I took a gate off its hinges & changed that Geo. Schenck and Henry Rumping[2. I’m not sure which Henry Rumping Mary is referring to here. Her father was John Henry Rumping but I have never seen her refer to him as “Henry Rumping”. And in any event, I believe they were quite estranged in 1915. She did have a 1st cousin named Henry Rumping. He was born in Missouri but it’s possible he was visiting her during that time.] made in 1915[2. Mary’s first husband George died 31 October 1915. I wonder if she was thinking of him that day?]. It’s slamming drove me bugs. The P.O. [?] Jessie Willhoit Haley moved in Mathew’s house to resume work. Mrs. Robertson (Wright’s girl) bot the spot birdie today.

Mary cut this picture from a magazine or book and made a notation at the top: “This bird was on my wild cherry tree in Marysville Mont. 1931”

 October 29th

Mrs. Geo. Larson, Mrs. Jno. Korting, Mrs. Jess Cannon, Mrs. Ed. Shafinet, Mrs. Noble Masou and myself walked up to Lubber [Lobber??] Gates mine above Mrs. Chas. Meagher’s, up the road to the St. Louis mine across to the 2 big caves over the Drum Lummond mine down the old train way road to the mill and home.

October 30th

Mrs. Bertha Haley and myself took a walk and lifted up the fence with props, it down on 2 different sides. I suffer terrible when evenings come from being sleepy. It makes me nervous and Oh! so miserable and sick and I go to pieces from being too warm in the house. More so when Alb[bert] & Christy comes in. It’s hard on us all. I get sensitive in many ways. No one can realize how hard it’s on me (Mary) but myself and those around me.

Mary and her family in August 1931, just a few months before these October journal entries. Mary’s husband Albert is standing on her left; her son Christy is on her right. Fontella is Mary’s niece and Shirley is her granddaughter.
Photo back

Transcription of photo back:

Christie Schenck

Mrs. Alb. S. Schaffer

Fontella Rasmussen

Alb. Schaffer

Shirley Dalin

1931-8-12

Shokipee Mine

Lewis & Clark Co.

Montana

NOTES

Early October, 1931: A dinner party, Mrs. Oscar Fred, hunting season – and Thomas Edison

~ Lark ~ Leave a comment

black-woman-girl-thinking-white-cartoon-writingOctober 9, 1931

Dinner at Annie L. Julian’s, Mrs. Ed Shaftnet, Mrs. Jess Cannon & daughter Delia Julian, Mrs. Alb. Schaffer [Mary], Mr. and Mrs. Louis Julian and Miss Annie Derring.

October 10, 1931

I was in Helena to see Mrs. Oscar Fred[1. A little research at Ancestry.com revealed that “Mrs. Oscar Fred” is Anna “Annie” Johnson Fred born in about 1878 in Sweden]. She’s in bed from a [redacted] operation. Jay H. Ames (brother-in-law to Rob Anders of Canyon Creek) was buried to day.  Alb. [Albert] and Christie are both sound asleep, we just came from Helena.

October 15, 1931

Christie Schenck got the first deer this hunting season. Others getting one are Clinton Shea, Jno [John] Chapels.

October 18, 1931

Mrs. Oscar Fred age 51 died[2. Annie is buried at Forestvale Cemetery in Helena, MT. See FindAGrave Memorial #26623672]. Thomas A. Edison, age 83, one, if not the greatest man of inventions for ages. His employee John F. Ott died after hearing of his death from shock [and] was buried under the same shade of an oak tree[3. Click here for a newspaper article about the death of Thomas Edison on October 18, 1931. The article includes a picture of John F. Ott and Thomas Jefferson. I located numerous newspaper articles which mentioned Mr. Ott’s death as being attributed to shock on learning of Mr. Edison’s death. Mary’s journal entry seems to indicate they are buried under the same oak tree but none of the articles make reference to Mr. Ott’s burial. The articles do report, however, that Mr. Ott’s crutches and “invalid chair” were placed next to Edison’s casket at the inventor’s funeral. Also, see FindAGrave Memorial #156961048, which appears to be the burial location of John F. Ott.  Edison is buried at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park.].

 NOTES

On this day in 1931: hard work, a suicide, buildings “tore down”, and the Bald Butte mine

~ Lark ~ Leave a comment

black-woman-girl-thinking-white-cartoon-writingOctober 2, 1931

I sure have been sick from pain in my whole body from too much heavy work. Joe Walsh died in N.Y. last wk & his wife died a few yrs ago in Butte. [Name redacted] of Helena took his life. J. Traufler’s house is tore down. Betor’s barn, Theo Shed’s home, Geo. Hart’s blacksmith shop, Stevenson’s Chas. house.[1. I think Mary means to say that in addition to J. Traufler’s house, this list of buildings have also been torn down.] Jack Walker [has] moved to Helena for school term. Jim Lee, Jr. died in Missoula the 29th [of September]. The Bald Butte mine is making good again since it worked last in 1906.[2. Click here for a history of the Bald Butte mine, including reclamation efforts.]

 

Bald Butte Mill (no date)
Bald Butte Mill (no date)

Mill at Bald Butte_back

NOTES

Late September, 1931: regrets, another funeral, and a walk to the Shannon mine

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black-woman-girl-thinking-white-cartoon-writingSeptember 26, 1931

Annie Deering told me how the people give me credit for all I’ve done for myself and the big ideas I had in store for education and the upbuilding to and from my children, but it was a failure for some unknown reason. It’s sure a nice day and Oh! such beautiful moonlight nites. Nature is grand, only I regret seeing too little of it.

September 27, 1931

Cid-Francis Dalin & family, Carl-Maud Rasmusen & family – and brother Jno Rumping were up from Helena. Mrs. Bill Murry died in Butte, was buried in Helena by Clara, Tom, Mr. and 3 smaller children.[1. Based on minimal research at Ancestry.com, familysearch.org, and FindAGrave.com, I believe this woman to be Minnie A. (Cullen) Murray who was married to William R. Murray. She is buried in Helena at Forestvale Cemetery. Her plot is described as “Valleyview 85” (see FindAGrave Memorial #121067415). Also located at Valleyview 85 are graves for the following: Thomas C. Murray (1900-1918) – see FindAGrave Memorial #121067423; Clara Murray (1895-1914) – see FindAGrave Memorial #121067405; William R. Murray (?-1899) – see FindAGrave Memorial #121067419; Margaret Murray (?-1904) – see FindAGrave Memorial #121067412; and Minnie Murray (?-1894) – see FindAGrave Memorial #121067414.] Pallbearers were Jno Korting, Jack Brunskel, Mike Mellen, Geo. Padbury Sr., Blibol Beator, Jess Cannon.

September 28, 1931

L. E. Julian[2. Based on records located at Ancestry.com, I believe this is “Louis E. Julian”.] took their daughter Nellie up from the graveyard here, being dead 26 yrs and buried her in Helena.[3. See FindAGrave Memorial #86040036 for more information.]

September 30, 1931

I walked to Shannon mine, got rhubarb roots, & 4 new evergreen trees.

 NOTES