Ruth Inez McClure, Charles Walter McClure. Probably about 1915
Courtesy of Google Images When I went to Sunday School I would take a penny for the collections. Usually it would be tied in a corner of my handkerchief and put in my purse so I wouldn’t lose it
The handwriting is Mom's. I have no reason to believe that these were the red stockings but this is the style she wore. I remember when Grandpa was postmaster. Grandma took me to the store and bought some red stockings for me, then we had to go to the postoffice and show them to Grandpa.
One Sunday each year was Children’s Day and I took part in the program. Also at Christmas time I was in the program. The tree was lighted with candles as at that time our little town didn’t have electricity. The church was lighted with Kerosene lamps.
Some people would bring nice gifts and put on the tree for their children. My parents didn’t believe in that so I received my gifts at home. So many little children didn’t receive any gifts and couldn’t understand why Santa didn’t remember them too. Santa gave out sacks of candy and nuts to all of the children. If they had plenty they were given to everyone.
Some people would bring nice gifts and put on the tree for their children. My parents didn’t believe in that so I received my gifts at home. So many little children didn’t receive any gifts and couldn’t understand why Santa didn’t remember them too. Santa gave out sacks of candy and nuts to all of the children. If they had plenty they were given to everyone.
During the time school was out I spent part of the time with Aunt Jessie and Uncle Will. He would go to the timber and cut wood and I tried to help him. I doubt if I was much help. He had a gasoline engine to run the saw. The only thing I didn’t like about staying there was that every night Aunt Jessie gave me a brown pill. I guess she was afraid I would get sick on her hands.
courtesy of Google Images, not exactly the same but the next step in the evolution of dyed butter and margarine. Aunt Jessie used a lot of oleo in her cooking. They weren’t allowed to color it back then but sold the white oleo. They included the yellow coloring. It was in a rubbery like deal about the size of a bean and we had to mix it. If Aunt Jessie had some extra of the coloring she would give it to us to color our homemade butter.
Courtesy of google images Mama had a 3-gallon stone churn. I hated to churn but I had to anyway. I found out if I would put a little soda in with the cream it would turn into butter quicker. I didn’t always get by with it.
We also sold our separated cream to a condensery in Ottawa, Kansas. We would take the cans to the depot and ship them then the check would be mailed to my parents. Mr. Weaver told Papa “it is just like finding it”. Papa didn’t think so as he knew the work involved in milking and separating the cream after a hard days work in the field.
We also sold our separated cream to a condensery in Ottawa, Kansas. We would take the cans to the depot and ship them then the check would be mailed to my parents. Mr. Weaver told Papa “it is just like finding it”. Papa didn’t think so as he knew the work involved in milking and separating the cream after a hard days work in the field.
Courtesy of Google Images We didn’t have a cave to keep food cool. Mama would put the butter in s syrup pail and hang it in the cistern to keep cool.
I remember one time the rope broke and the butter fell in the cistern.
Note: If it isn't evident from the picture, this tank is normally under the surface of the ground. They came in all sizes and shapes. This is very different from the concrete cistern at Grandma Wilcox's home.
I remember one time the rope broke and the butter fell in the cistern.
Note: If it isn't evident from the picture, this tank is normally under the surface of the ground. They came in all sizes and shapes. This is very different from the concrete cistern at Grandma Wilcox's home.
Courtesy of Google Images In the fall, my parents would buy a big box of crackers. It was a wooden box about the size of a 30 doz egg case. It would last us all winter. They also bought fish in a wooden keg in brine. Mama had to soak them first in water to take some of the salt out, then roll them in corn meal and fry them. Sometimes she would do salt pork the same way. We thought it made it taste like the fish did.
Years ago most foods weren’t in packages like they are today. Potatoes, onions, cabbage, sugar lard, beans, and many more were in the bulk and sold by the pound. Some people bought the pickle vinegar to use when they made their own pickles.
I had to laugh one time when a woman and her little boy came in the store. He saw a barrel with onions and asked his mother what they were. She said “don’t you know anything, they are onions.” Then she spelled it for him “u-n-i-o-n-s”. I wondered which one didn’t know.
Years ago most foods weren’t in packages like they are today. Potatoes, onions, cabbage, sugar lard, beans, and many more were in the bulk and sold by the pound. Some people bought the pickle vinegar to use when they made their own pickles.
I had to laugh one time when a woman and her little boy came in the store. He saw a barrel with onions and asked his mother what they were. She said “don’t you know anything, they are onions.” Then she spelled it for him “u-n-i-o-n-s”. I wondered which one didn’t know.
Courtesy of Google Images I remember back during World War I, food was rationed and we had to use more brown sugar than white sugar. When we bought a sack of flour we had to buy other foods with it. Supposed to make the flour go farther.
Courtesy of Google Images: I never thought about rationing shoes. We lived on the farm so we had plenty to eat. We had a garden and our meat, milk, eggs, and butter.
(note: but you cannot grow shoes)
(note: but you cannot grow shoes)
Field of flax Since I was the oldest I helped in the field. Papa and I would each run a cultivator. One of my team was named Ribbon and she would balk. We would be in the middle of the field and if she decided to balk, she did. Just had to wait until she decided to go on.
One year I helped Papa stack flax. When it was threshed Mama always saved some of the flax seed. It made about the best poultice you could get. At one time it could be bought at a drug store but I doubt if it could anymore. Papa bought a pretty locket for me for helping him stack flax. It had my initials engraved on it and pretty stones set in it.
One year I helped Papa stack flax. When it was threshed Mama always saved some of the flax seed. It made about the best poultice you could get. At one time it could be bought at a drug store but I doubt if it could anymore. Papa bought a pretty locket for me for helping him stack flax. It had my initials engraved on it and pretty stones set in it.
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