Six Hand-Written Diaries Of A Dakota Territory Farmer During The Years 1886 - 1894

CLAUD DWYER

Publication: 1886 - 1894,

A collection of 6 hand-written journals chronicling the day-to-day life of a Dakota Territory farmer during the years 1886 through 1894. This is a lovely group of diaries written by Claud Dwyer from Hankinson, Richland County, Dakota Territory. The lot consists of volumes from Jan 1, 1886 - June 12, 1886; January 1887 - June 1888; January 1, 1891 - December 1, 1891; December 2, 1891 - December 31, 1892; and January 1, 1894 - December 31, 1894. The sixth book does not have a date. Most have entries for every day of the year. One volume has approximately 10 pages removed at the front of the book. The diaries include some newspaper ephemera and drawings that were inserted and date to the early 20th century. The handwriting is nice and clear. Book #1 - January 1, 1886 to June 12, 1887. 17 year old Claud Dwyer's Diary Book Wahpeton, Dakota Township. 148 pages of entries concerning daily life of the Dwyer's and associates such as Dr. Swain, Mr. Wiess, Mr. McMillen, Mr. Miller, Mr. Allen, The Murphys, and countless others. These characters would have been some of the founder's of the town and document the daily farming life and growth of the town shortly after the St. Paul and Manitoba Railroad pushed toward the northwest. "Beginning of the year 1886 we own now 320 acres of land, three horses and two mules. Ten head of cattle, two self binders, one mower, one horse rake, one sulky plow, two hand plows, three draggers, two wagons, one buggy, one pair of bob sleds, and four milk cows." "Thursday January 6th, ...52 below zero. Pa got home from town today and we got 5 new seats in the school house today. Sara -- and Minnie Harder was here today and Barney...." Claud discusses the first post office established in Hankinson and comments on one of the first bridges."Friday March 18, This has been a warm day with a south east wind. Weiss had to go to Hankinson this afternoon to telegraph for the doctor for Mrs. Bull, she is very sick. Nill Blank was up here awhile this day. Today is President Cleveland's Birth Day. He is 50 years old."The rear pastedown contains instructions on how "to tan with the hair on" and "a comment on stickem." "Mix together litharge and glycerine until it is about the consistancy of thick cream or soft putty. Neither hot not cold water nor acids have any effect on it." Book #2 - June 13, 1887 to June 20, 1888. Diary of 18 year old Claud Dwyer of Hankinson, Dakota Township and his family that includes family ... Frank and Roxey (parents) and Ora (sister). , and Alta. Each day is described in this 125 page legal size diary is decorated with drawings of people and plants on the front paste down accompanied by noted on handwriting, poems, and family names such as Josie Blackburn and Maurice Cook. Contains a recipe for Colie that involves Either, Laudamum, chloroform, and whiskey. Also a remedy for "hog cholera." Laid into the diary are pages excised from another of his diaries and contain drawings of partridges and a beautiful picture of a flower. The rear paste down is decorated with a Morse code legend and other scribbling. Book #3 - January 1, 1891 to December 1, 1891. "Half of life is a dream, the other half a sad awakening." "July 17th, Josie and Will have got a little boy, (8 1/2 lbs)." Ninety-nine pages of daily entries detailing life on the farm among his family. Book #4 - December 2, 1891 to December 31, 1892. Ninety-one pages of daily entries. The author reflects that it was "just twelve years ago tonight since our house burned in Hammond, Wis." The front paste down and front free end paper has a series of names likely to be associates of the family as well as two hand drawn partridges in a blue ink. Claud details the daily lives of his parents and siblings as they continue to work on the family farm in North Dakota delivering wheat and oats and hunting rabbits and chickens. The realities of early frontier life are indicated throughout the short life of Alta who routinely must be visited by the doctor. "Friday July 22nd, our poor dear little Alta dies this evening at 6 o'clock." Claud also describes that "We got a telegram from Will in St. Paul saying Josie was dead." Book #5 - January 1, 1894 through December 31, 1894. Ninety-nine pages completely filled out with entries for each day of the year. Details the daily life of Ma, Pa, Claud, and Ora Dwyer written by an unidentified female hand. This diary is a treasure of the comings and goings of innumerable residents of Hankinson as they tend to their farms, deliver wheat, cut wood, and "have Frank pull a tooth." Book #6 - 1899. School lesson and account book belonging to Claud Dwyer. This volume is approximately half complete and includes quotations from Longfellow, Franklin, Whittier, Bacon, Bryant, Shakespeare, Dryden, Tennyson, etc. interspersed with payroll data from the family farm and lessons on mathematics. This volume also opens with the quotation "half of life is a dream, the other half a sad awakening," neatly written on the front pastedown sheet. These diaries offer a glimpse into the day-to-day lives of a Dakota Territory farming family during the early years of its settlement. Claud Dwyer was born September 27, 1869, in Wisconsin to Frank and Roxey Dwyer, and marrying Emma L. Langbehn in 1878. Claud died in Spokane, Washington, in 1910. The diaries deal with the towns of Hankinson and Wahpeton. Numerous individual's names are mentioned throughout all of the diaries to include Julie Billington (works for the family), Maurice Cook (works for the family), Mrs. Vangilder, Reverend Robinson of Wahpeton, Emma, Willie, Robert Mary, and Otto Gustair, Reverend Mr. Moody, Ezra Monroe Old Mr. Whitney, Josie Blackmer, Mr. Willard, Willie McMillan, Andrew Olsen, Herman Horden, Millie Mess, Willie Wiess, Fred Pierson, Johnnie Dwyer, etc. The day-to day- accounting of various activities include killing prairie chickens and bush rabbits, threshing, planting, husking, digging potatoes, prayer meetings, butchering, dressing chickens, seeding, washing, stacking wheat, chopping wood, knitting lace, visiting friends and families, tending to sick animals, ailments of individuals, riding in buggies, etc. A great historical portrayal of life in Dakota Territory.

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