Volume 4, Number 11 - Spring 1973
From "My mothers little notebook"
by Florence (Flo) Kilby Chaute, Kansas 1892
I never will forget Saturday night, February 20th, the last time I saw Jim for a while.
We started for Missouri, February 23rd. February 24th it rained and snowed all day, the snow flakes were the biggest I ever saw.
February 25th we stopped at Meneleys who were having a sale.
March 2nd staid all night at Erie, Kansas, at a livery stable.
March 4th, we started for Gerard, Kansas at half past eight in the morning. We left mamma and the three little ones, Violet, Willie, and Alice at Gerard and they took the train for Pittsburg.
We came on in the wagon until three and one half miles this side of Menden, papa and I were coming along a little ditch and started up a little hill when the buggy lacked a little of going over, I was really scared.
We came along alright for one-half mile, then we came to another bad place and got stalled on the hill and the wagon tipped over and broke the axel right in two.
We unhitched the team, unloaded the wagon and papa took the wagon back to Menden to be fixed. It rained and you can bet it was not pleasant sleeping.
March 5th,—the branch was up so we could not get acrosee it to get any breakfast. We had to take a cold breakfast of what we had.
March 6th, — It rained all day and we stayed that night (Saturday) at Mr. Nigh’s, and all day Sunday. We had a good time singing, Sunday afternoon. We started for Lamar, Kansas, Tuesday.
March 8th,—We got to Lamar and shipped nearly everything, then we camped in the timber and had a picnic.
March 9th—Got to Golden City in the evening. It was so cold we nearly froze. We camped in the timber as the wind was blowing hard. There were two other men moving. They camped with us and the men cut down some trees, put up three wagon sheets and made a wind break. The smoke nearly blinded us all. Nelly, Emily, and I went to the wagon and Emily held the lantern while Nellie and I wrote a letter and wrote in our little books. We nearly froze.
March 10th—This is my mother’s birthday. It is still just as cold. Uncle John Kilby had sat up all night and kept a fire. The smoke nearly blinded him. I had to drive the team all next day, March the 10th. We got to Greenfield and stayed all night. When we went to bed the rats were so thick (Oh, those rats!) and that saw, it sounded like meat in a frying pan, Ha, Ha.
March 11th—We got to Ash Grove and camped in the timber.
March 12th—We drove to Springfield and stayed all night in a feed yard. We saw electric street cars. We were coming along a creek bottom when that old spring wagon just set down. We put everything into the big wagon and drove to Everton and got the wagon fixed and went on our way. We saw some lovely springs of water and I saw a place called Sink Hole, where the water went out of sight. I saw Lena Pollin at Ash Grove, she was on her way home.
March 13th—Was a Sunday morning and Papa said he was going to get up early. I think he did. It was about three o’clock in the morning and he started for Chadwick and got to Ozark for dinner and to Chadwick by sundown.
March 14th—We started for home, it snowed, sleeted and rained all day. All the way up Blue Creek the rocks were so thick it nearly killed us. We got there about half past four and staid all night with Mr. King.
March 16th—Helped unpack nearly all day.
March 19th—Went to Taney City for the first time. One Friday in March we set up the croquet set and were playing when a young fellow came by on horseback. We found out later he had the excuse for hunting cows, but was just to see us girls.
April 23—Oh! such a time building fences as we did have, Papa, Uncle John, Joe, Nellie, and I.
April 25th—Nellie, Frank, Emily, and Joe were at Mrs. Shoots for dinner. Never to be forgotten, the day, Lottie, Dorn, Roy, and myself come pretty near getting drowned when it rained and the creeks raised.
July 4th-1892, Went to Kissee where they had a picnic. It was an awful dull day for me. The swing and dancing floor was about all the amusement.
July 11th—There was a dance at Kings, but I did not go.
July 16th—Was Nellie’s birthday, we
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invited a few young people in to spend the evening. It rained, but the folks came anyway. We enjoyed ourselves until half past eleven. Those present were: Mr. Wilbur, Ed Stout, Charles Rankin, William Meyers, George Meyers, Loren Barlep, Susie Meyers, Susie Tuttle, Letee Dickenson, Nellie, Emily and myself. Those that were invited but did not come were: Lottie Johnson, Nellie Sullinger, and John Tuttle.
July 17th—Was Sunday. I went to Church in the morning and in the afternoon Willie came with the buggy and we went riding.
July 26th—Went to Forsyth for the first time, stayed all night and visited the school on Friday for it was the last day, come home that evening. We practiced for children’s day, after that was over we came home and played croquet and had a fine time. We have had a good time playing croquet since we have been here. We have missed only a few Sundays playing.
August 2nd—Had a good time at Forsyth at the reunion and dance.
August 15th—Picnic at Sparta, had a lovely time.
August 19th—Jim Bonebrake came, we went to a picnic at Walnut Shade.
August 27th—I did not get to go home and was so mad. I went to Parishes and spent the evening, (Oh! those stair steps!)
November 24th —Was Thanksgiving, I was at Mrs. S.I. Meyers that evening.
November 10th, 1892. Was my birthday. Oh! dear my head—The rocking chair tipped over.
December 23rd—Went to Sullingers and such a time we had. We danced very late.
December 24th—A Christmas tree at Taney City.
December 25th—Sunday school at Taney City. Oh! how it snowed that night.
December 27th, 1892. Will Meyers, Ben McPherson and Jerry Daulton were here. They set up a board and shot at it.
December 29th—Was at Forsyth to a ball and supper. There were Emily and William Meyers, Nellie and William McDonald, Jannie, Ethel, and myself in one hack and John came down on the mail hack.
December 31st—Was a play party at Mrs. Barkleys, then it was turned into a dance. We had an oyster supper and watched the old year out and the New year in. This ends the old year.
January 1st, 1893. Went to Sunday school and taught a class.
January 2nd—Went to Taney City for the mail.
January 9th&Jenne Therman and Frank Elliott were married. They came to Mrs. Barkleys and we had an oyster supper.
January 10th—Jimmie and Grant left for Arkansas. I went to Helphry with Mrs. Barkley.
January 11th—Went to literary with Ethel.
January 18th—Had a few of Taney City young folks over to spend the evening. Those present were: Ethel Thurman, Lottie Johnson, William McDonald, William Meyers, Loran Barkley, Ella Barkley, and Jim Barkley. John Tuttle was invited but did not come. We popped corn and did have a good time.
January 14th—Nellie and Flo went to Helphry.
January 15th—Went to Sunday school and to Meyers lake and skated, then had our pictures taken.
January 16th—I went to Forsyth and ate dinner with Mrs. Silvers. It snowed hard before I got home.
January 18th—Made a snow man and snow-balled Loran, Ella, and Oscar Brace. Flo married February 25th, 1893 at Taney City, Mo. Florance Mary Kilby was married to James Edwin Bonebrake of Chanute, Kans., February 25th, 1893 at Taney City, Mo.
June 13th, 1893 Moved into our new home, 1212 South Edith St., Chaunute, Kans.
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