OHCLERMO-L Archives

From: "Jill Duncanson" <>
Subject: Frank M. McCord's Diary #3
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 17:32:21 -0800

Dear Friends and Cousins

I'm sorry this is so late today, but I forgot. It is an absolutely
beautiful Spring day here in Anchorage Alaska.
Here is the third installment. I think tomorrow's installment will be the
last of it.
Enjoy
Jill

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Friday Nov 27

Day before yesterday morning Em & Weenie started for Goshen - they
looked real nice - although Dumpsie didnt have a red feather in her hat as
I wished - It was a great big Blue one = Her new cloak & dress were a
perfect success and fitted very well - It was raining a little when she
started and it kept raining all day, Alex Bronn was to meet her at the Depot
at the crossing and take her to spend the day with Hannah- Her father was
to come for her in the afternoon and take her home. I went up in the Bus
in the evening - When the Bus stopped at the lane to let me out Kirby got
in and told me I need'nt go over to Doctor Lymans as Em was over to ____
house = The Doctor come for her and _____ brought her down to fathers They
Stood the journey very well indeed Em had a little cold but Weenie was
allright - Our folks were terribly taken with him = Thursday morning I
went over to the Doctors & told him that Em had come - Hee hadnt Expected
she would on act of the rain, hence his failure to come for her - He
brought her from our house in his buggy = They had a nice fire in the
arlor - The Little Mother had several Callers in the afternoon - We took
our Thanksgiving Dinner with _____ Doctor - Come to town in the Bus Friday
morning - Things looked lonesome out there without The Dumpsie - Am going
to G this afternoon -

Tuesday Decbr 1 -

Winter has commenced in earnest - when I got up this morning found the
ground covered with snow - and it has been Snowing the most of to day -
Went to G Saturday evening - Went to Doctors first as Weenie a& Dumpsie
were the____ were both ve_____ Em went to church but I staid home & helped
Cousin Ella take care of Baby - We took dinner at our house and were going
to stay there all night - but Jerry Hussey & wife came to the Doctors to
see Em & Baby _ so we went back there again in the afternoon and staid there
all night -
Found everything allright out at our little Cottage Home last night - Lou
had taken the carpets up in the front & our bedroom - shaken, turned _____
them down again - _____ Come to the Conclusion not to sleep in our
Bedroom any more this winter, as we think it is too unhealthy to sleep in a
room where there is a stove fire - and We have to Keep up a fire for Baby's
sake - So we are going to move in the front room where we can use the
grate -
Sunday before last we had preaching in the school House for the first
time - Em & I attended -

Thursday Dec 3

Last night when I got home _____ Dumpsie and Weenie ______ They
came down on the Morning train - The Little Cottage home is not home
without them - The blessed darlings - Baby is growing Very fast and is
getting to be quite smart -

Thursday Dec, 10

Yesterday Dumpsie and Weenie came in on the 930 train to spend the day
with Mrs. Burdsal - I met them at the Depot, put them in the Bus and they
made the trip without feeling the cold the least bit - Took dinner with
Mrs. B = _____ went out together _____30 train - Had Dr. Miles Come to
Mrs. Burdsals and vaccinate Dumpsie & Weenie = Expect Em in to day -
she wants to do some shopping - and is going to leave young Burdsal at home
in Charge of Lou =

Friday Dec 10 - (his
mistake not mine)

Dumpsie came to the City yesterday morning on the 930 train, We took
dinner together at the Capitol = afterwards went to the Art gallery & had a
look at the pictures then to Mitchell & Rammel_____ bought a Cradle ______
Little Boy - they _____ Kepplers new Saloon & had Some ice cream. I left her
there and come to the office - from there she went to Hopkins Picture
Gallery - and went home on the Hillsboro accmdn/ train - I went out on the
Loveland train & took the Cradle out with me -

Thursday Dec 17 -

Em came in the city Tuesday, She brought Weenie with her, & spent the day
at Paulines - Lou came with her and ______ Baby - She Made _______
present of a little pair of stockings & knit shoes - Father came to the
office the same day and brought us a pillow for baby - and a blanket & a
couple of cases for the pillow - Dumpsie is powerful proud of her Baby Bed
now - He also brought me a nice watch case for a Christmas present from
the girls - They were making a cushon for Em but didnt get it done in time
for him to bring it with him - I am busy making a scrap Book, I _____ if
all done so I can give it to her christmas - She is Making Some thing for
me - she is trying to keep it a profound secrect - But bless her dear
little loving heart - Although I Catch fequent glimpes of them in her sewing
basket - and see her try to hide them from me - I let on as if I dont know
or see Anything unusual - Whenever I allude to neck ties or elastic
armlets, she blushes and laughs until the tears come - and wont tell me the
reason - As if I didnt know the Blessed Loving Darling that __________itting
me just those articles _____ my Christmas presents =

Wednesday Dec 23

Was out yesterday buying Christmas presents =
Subscribed for 6 months to the Enquirer for Father for his present = I know
that will please him - Bought Weenie a Rattle Box - a pair of little socks -
a brush & 2 cute little fine combs - For Lou - a wool Hood & a pair of
overshoes - For Dumpsie Darling -- oh how I love the Little Blessed - A
needle Box - Silk Elastic, (Red) & buckles for garters - A nice Lava Match
Box- A pair ofskates, 2 slate pencils for hair curlers = And several other
little things - I also got Harpers m_____Ladies Repository - and _____ -
Christmas Comic Pictorials- Have finished her Scrap Book and will take it
out to night = I took all the rest of the things out last night and hid
them - I dont want her to see them or know anything about them until
Christmas morning -
We are going to have a Turkey for our Christmas dinner - It will be the
first turkey we ever had in our house - Our Boy Baby is growing so fast
and is so smart & strong - Bless him - I love him more & more every
day - and can Hardly wait until night want to see him so much = The cars
dont go half fast enough for me when we start I am so anxious to get home =
He can laugh and Crow out loud now Em took him to Madisonville last week &
had him vaccinated it is taking nicely Dr. Miles vaccination didnt take =

Saturday Dec 26

Kirby came - came in Thursday to spend Christmas with us. Tish came
down yesterday morning - Kriss Kinkle was a Hit at our little Home - How
the little darlings Eyes flashed & sparkled as she was emptying her and
Weenies stockings - They were brighter than diamonds when she discovered
her skates - Kriss brought Kirb a pair of Shirley skates - Santa
Claus brought Me more than I thought she would & something I had no idea of
= a nice neck tie, a pair of armlets - a pair of ____ to write in and Jke
Marvils _____ a Batchelor - Kirb ___ght a most Elegant Cushion for
Em - and Tish also brought several things - Our dinner was a success
also - The Turkey was tender & well cooked - and I flatter myself that any
first attempt at Carving a bird of that kind was beyond Criticism - a
success - After dinner we went to the pond & tried the new skates -- Em did
very well for a new beginner - I tried Kirbs skates on - the first time I
have been on skates for nearly 12 years = Got along first rate.

Monday Dec 28.

Mr. White called yesterday at the house & took Em and Tish to
Madisonville to Church - Kirb went home to day -

Thursday Decbr 31 -

Tish went home to day - Took her basket to the Methodest Book Concern for
her -
Took dinner at the Buckeye Saloon with the Doctor, Tish & Mrs. Day -
Weenie had a little touch of the croup yesterday = Is all right now =

Saturday January 2 1869

Weenie has been a little unwell for the last 2 or 3 days - so much so
that I was Compelled to get up at night several times and nurse him - Was
awakened last night about half past 9 by some one Crying Fire - Jumped up
and it was Mr. Lindsays house - Went down and worked for 2 hours helping put
it out = All the furniture was saved As also was the main building but the
kitchen part was entirely destroyed -

Wednesday Jany 6

Last night while I was sitting in the Cars waiting for the train to start
I was surprised by Dumpsie walking in and taking a seat with me - The
Little scamp had come in on the 10 oclock train and intended to go out on
the 3.45 and not let me Know anything about it for a few days = But she
missed the early train and had to wait for the Loveland - accomodation -
She Expected I would be Cross, but I was suffering severely with a sore
foot and the sight of her bright Eyes had such a soothing effect - that I
felt quite amiable - She passed the day with Mrs. Moore -

Tuesday Jany 12 -

My Little Darlings Birthday - 20 years old to day = Many Many happy
returns of the day - I wanted to get her a nice present - But didnt have
the money to spare = So I took her home a pound of French Candy - last night
and she was just as well pleased as if it had been the most expensive
present I could have found - Sunday was a beautiful day - So Em and I
walked to Madisonville to church - The first time we have been there to
church together for Many months - We stopped and had a little talk with Aunt
Ishio, and I was introduced to Josey Keck & Jasey Turner - It commenced
snowing yesterday and kept it up all day - There is quite a deep snow on
the ground now -

Saturday January 16 -

Day before yesterday Dumpsie attended a Quilting at Mr. Schusters =
Father came to see me this morning - Folks all well at Goshen - We have
been Married Just 1 year and a half to day -

Wednesday Jany 20

Our Weenie is just 3 months old to day - He can almost sit alone = He
grows so fat and strong - and is very healthy - and The Little Mother looks
to me as rosy and bright as she was the day I married her - A trifle heaver
& stouter is all the difference I can note in her appearance now from what
it was in her school days - Last night went out on the early train to
Madisonville and paid Dr. Black for his Services - The bill was only $12 -
which was much smaller than we had anticipated - Went to Jno Rikhoffs to
day and was measured for a pair of pants & a vest -
Ben Dog made a raid on a cement peddlar that came in the yard yesterday -
Dumpsie drove him off before he hurt the man, but not before he had got hold
of his saddle bags and broke several bottles of his merchandise -

Thursday Jany
21 -

Dumpsie and Weenie came to the city to day to spend the day with Emmer -
Lou came along and carried the boy up there - I went there for dinner -- Had
a mighty nice dinner - and they stuffed us until we could stand no
more ----------

Thursday Jany
28 -
There was an Eclipse of the moon last night - The sky was perfectly clear
of Clouds, and we had a fire==ne view of it - We have been having perfectly
gorgeous weather for the last 2 or 3 weeks - Days clear & mild and bright
moonlight nights - Mrs. Brower spent the day with Dumpsie on Tuesday and
took supper with us in the evening --- The table looked very nice - every
thing so nice, neat & clean- Dumpsie is the dearest little jewel of a
wife - They are cutting the hedge away between us and the Railroad I am
sorry for that as it gives a little to much publicity to our little place -
Ben Dog has been on the war path again - He made a ferocious attack on a
book agent yesterday, biting him & severily in the seat, and tearing his
Clothes - There was a large piece of his shirt tail left on the battle
field - He went over to the 4 mile house & had his wounds dressed -

Friday January
29

Weenie was very sick yesterday. Em sent for Dr. Black = We had to walk
him until about 12 oclock at night - He appears as bright and well as
ever - this morning =

Wednesday Feby 3

Our pleasant Weather has changed at last and we are now having a rainy
spell - Commenced moving last night from the front rooms to our old bed
room - Got every thing moved out and slept in our old room last night -
Weenie is all right again - Lous little sister that is going to live with
Mr.Buck, came to the City last night on the Steamer Charmer - I will take
her Out home with me this afternoon -

Saturday Feby 6

After I left this morning Em took a sudden notion to come to the city & I
was quite surprised upon seeing her walk into the office about half past 10
oclock, she wanted some money - was going shopping & calling - She got up
quite a nice little dinner for a small party of ladies that came to spend
the day with her yesterday - She had it served up in style, the following
was her bill of fare -
Oyster soup -
Roast chicken, quince Jelly
Potatoes mashed
Turnips
Eggs Ala Convent -
and lots of other things that I have forgotten - Her dessert was Queen
Pudding - Fruit cake and Canned peaches -

Saturday Feby 13 -

Beautiful weather, clear, warm & Spring like - The grass is beginning to
look green & the lilac Buds are beginning to open. We were going to Goshen
next Saturday, But Em got a letter from her folks with the news that Newt
Emery was to preach at the Universalist church to morrow and nothing would
do but that we must start this Saturday for G - So we are off this
afternoon - She is coming in on the Bus - I dont like Weenie taking that
long a Bus ride - But Em says it wont hurt him, and has Set her heart on
going -

Monday Feby 15th

Went to G. Saturday afternoon - Weenie was powerfully well pleased with
the jolting of the Bus and laughed & Crowed nearly all the time - We took
the folks Completely by surprise - They were in Ecstacees over our Baby -
and played and talked with him all the time - He was very good all the time
and didnt Cry any - It poured down rain all day Sunday and we couldnt take
him over to the Doctors - I went over for a while in the afternoon - Em is
going to stay until next Thursday or Friday -

Thursday Feby 18

Took a new patient chimney & burner out with me last night for our Coal
oil lamp, I am tired of the old fashioned ricketty kind - This proved a
success last night giving a great deal more light than the old one & not
burning out near as much oil -

Saturday Feby 20

When I got home last night found the Dumpsie there - She was powerful glad
to see me - I could see that the weenie had got smarter & brighter than he
was when I left him - How I do love the little fellow - Sent Lous little
sister Sarah over to Mr. Bucks yesterday He didnt like to take her fearing
that Lou would interife in his way of management and Coax her away from him
some day after she had got large enough to be of any service in the way of
work - After supper we went to an oyster supper at the School house given
by the Sunday school to raise funds to buy an organ - It was a perfect
success - The house was crowded, and the eatables first rate - We enjoyed
ourselves very much indeed -

Tuesday Feby 23.

Yesterday was a holiday with me. Came to the office in the morning
however - Done a little business - bought some eatables and went out on the
bus. Got home by 12 oclock. Had a good dinner - Broiled Beefsteaks - Maple
Molasses - Mashed potatoes and Some new kind of dessert that Em got from one
of her Cook Books, Called "Norfolk Dumpling" and which would have been
splendid, but it was a little scorched - A little terrier dog followed me
home, we had to let it sleep in the house last night it wouldnt stay out of
doors but squealed and barked until it was let in - Snowed during the night
and to day the ground is all covered -

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• Frank M. McCord's Diary #3 by "Jill Duncanson" <>