Scott Knerr – March 3, 2019
“The Edward Lusk Diaries Part 5 the final chapter”
Hello all: Well we are 12 years in now of the 20 years of diaries. I know it’s been a lot of information I’ve been throwing at you. But what an interesting man. He really takes us back in time with him. Let’s see what else he has to tell us about his time here.
June 26th 1901
Got my school souvenirs this
morning, then put them together and Grandpa Mertz came. He then went to New
Hampshire to mill and I went along and delivered my souvenirs. The children
seem terribly pleased. Very hot.
July 1st 1901
Took Nellie to shop got her shoes
reset in the forenoon. Began cutting wheat for Manfred this afternoon. We got
along tolerably well, but it was terribly hot. The hottest we have had, 102 in
the shade. Thomas Emerson died today noon. W.R. Manning’s house burned just
before noon.
July 7th 1901
All of us went to Sunday school
and preaching. Drove old Bob. At home remainder of day. My horses to tired to
use. Cool today. It almost makes a person shake it has been so hot.
(*Note* Ed doesn’t write anymore
until the New year of 1902)
March 22nd 1902
Dode and I went to Wapak on a
little political business. We then went over to St. Mary’s in the interest of
Jerry Campbell’s campaign. We went over on the new electric road. It’s fine as
silk.
(*Note* This was about all Ed
wrote in 1902. We move to 1903 next.)
Jan. 1st 1903
New Years Day. The children got
candy, nuts, and a few toys and books and they seemed happy. God bless them! The
boys and Clinton ( Clinton is the newest farmhand on the farm) went hunting and
got a rabbit. A lovely day.
Aug.4th 1903
A shower of rain this morning. A
big ball game at Wapak this afternoon. The Cincinnati Reds vs. Wapak Indians.
Clinton went.
(*Note* This was the last entry
in 1903. In 1904 he only wrote during the month of March)
March 13th 1904
Went down to see Uncle William
Thrush a little while. He is very poorly. Weather cool.
Later: The family of Hon. J.H.
Goeke were overcome by gas in their home last night. His wife found dead this
morning. Children, boy and girl very dangerous. He is in Arkansas on a business
trip. His little boy died today.
March 16th 1904
School.
Goeke’s family buried
today. Truly a pathetic scene.
(*Note* Ed either didn’t write or
the diaries were lost in time over the next five years. All that is left is
1909 and very little was written in it.)
Jan 1st 1909
New Years day. At home all day.
Weather very nice and warm. The boys skating awhile this forenoon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, this is where Ed’s diaries
end. Sarah, Ed’s mother, also kept a diary for many years. Her diaries are not as
detailed as Ed’s were. Most all of her entries are just one sentence. But I
would like to share here some of Sarah’s also.
“The Diaries of Sarah ( Bennett)
Lusk 1895-1898”
Nov.1st 1895: Alice
and Ethel and I went to Jackson Center today. I got a new hat.
Nov. 2nd 1895: At Alice’s today,
we made kraut.
Nov. 5th and 6th 1895: We are
making aprons. We are knitting socks.
Jan.1st 1896: At Ida’s today. We
are sewing.
Jan. 10th and 11th 1896: I
commenced filling my quilt. I cleaned a little and baked some pies.
Feb. 28th 1896: I am at home
today, my birthday, age 69
March 15th 1896: Ida sent for me,
I went and finished Ida’s quilt blocks and pieced a comfort top.
June 8th 1896: I made two cherry
pies and one current.
June 30th 1896: I made Hugh two
new dresses.
July 27th 1896: I washed, large
washing day.
Sept. 30th 1896: I pulled my
Quinces today and made jelly. ( Quince is a fruit that grows on trees and looks
similar to pears).
Oct. 24th 1896: I made Joe a pair
of drawers.
Jan.25th 1897: I patched all day
on Ed’s coat.
Jan. 28th 1897: I am making the
girls new aprons.
Jan.30th 1897: Mrs. Van Horn
burned to death, a daughter of William Copeland.
Feb. 28th 1897: This is my birth-
we have a party. Mary (daughter) fetched me a throw. Libby (daughter) fetched me
a tablecloth. Alice (daughter) fetched me a new dress. Montie fetched me a new
apron. Eddies two girls(son and granddaughters) got me a tablecloth. The boys
got me a butcher knife and oh, what a dinner.
March 30th and 31th 1897: We are
piecing a quilt. We set
(arranged) it together the first way.
June 29th 1897: George Swartz’s
baby killed, a wagon run over the baby.
July1st 1897: I went to Wapak
today. Edward let me have two dollars.
Dec.18th 1897: I fell today and
hurt myself badly.
Dec. 30th 1897: We all have
chicken pocs.
Feb. 27th and 28th 1898: My
children made me come over to their house. We had a nice dinner.
This is my birthday.
March 24th 1898: I made the two
girls a skirt for their new dresses.
March 27th 1898: I went to
Alice’s today to quilt.
April 5th1898: We got the quilt
out( completed).
April 8th 1898: I went to Ida’s
today to sew rags.
April 13th 1898: I made the girls
two calico skirts. ( Calico skirts were the style that came clear down to the
feet).
April 15th 1898: I finished
Ethel’s new dress.
June 13th 1898: We got our carpet
tonight and Jim fixed (installed) our carpet.
June 13th was Sarah’s last entry.
But it shows us a little about her life also. She appeared through the diaries
to enjoy being a farmers wife. On Feb. 20th 1939 Ed died from prostrate cancer.
At this time he was living at 905 Middle St. In Wapak.
If sometime you are driving down
Middle St. take notice of 905 Middle St. and you will still see a piece of
something Ed left behind. The whole row of tall pine trees that stand there
today Ed planted over 80 years ago. Today they are massive pine trees.
Well I think this will end this
part of the series. I’m going to do at least one more part to highlight some of
the rest of the Lusk family. Hope you all enjoyed this long series about Ed.
