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MARCH 4
James Garfield has been inaugurated as the newest president of the United States.
This was fine for the country, but we will remember this day as the day we lost Spot. He died of old age. Peter buried him under the cedar tree north of the house. We will all miss him.
March 28
Andrew married Maria Petersson today in Salina. Jonathan Weaver, the probate judge of Saline County, performed the ceremony. We had the wedding supper at our house when they got home from town.
We got a new puppy from Erick Carlson’s litter of pups, so the children had fun playing with it. Alfred named the puppy Rusty, for the color of his hair.
May 5
A photographer stopped by to ask if I would like a picture taken of the farm and us. He has been traveling around the area this week. I decided it would be a good idea because we do not have such a picture. Carl and I had talked about it, but we never found the time or money.
We brought the animals out of the barn to show how well we are doing. We stood in front of the house. I asked Peter to be in the picture also since he helps us out so much.
July 3
Peter and Hannah’s first child, Hilda, died yesterday at age three. She was buried at the Assaria cemetery. When we were standing in the graveyard, I noticed several new graves. Summer complaint has taken the lives of many young children.
We heard more sad news while at Assaria. President Garfield was shot yesterday at a railroad station in Washington, D.C. So far the president is hanging on. The man who shot him, a Charles Guiteau, was arrested on the spot. He said that “God ordered him to kill the president.” Guiteau apparently bought a special gun to shoot the president because he thought the gun would be attractive in a museum. I believe the poor man is insane.
One note on the bright side was that Olaf and Elsa had a healthy new son early this morning. They named him Perry Leonard.
August 24
Peter Olson had another death today. His sister Cathrina died of consumption. She was 26.
It has been a drought year. The hot winds withered the crops away. We had thunderclouds, but they never developed into rain showers. Wheat harvest was hard work for very little grain. The crop was short, and the heads were not filled out. We will get a poor yield on the corn and sorghum too. We have worked hard days without much to show for it.
September 21
The president died two days ago from blood poisoning. There were complications from the gunshot wounds he received in July. Vice-President Chester Arthur will take over his post.
October 15
Bethany Church has started the Bethany College. This year the students and one professor are meeting at the pastor‘s study at church.
October 24
A fourth grave at Måns Peterson’s plot. Alfred was almost eleven months old. He was named after the son they lost in ‘79. Now they are buried together. The churchyard is being filled with little graves. Children have such a harsh life stuck out on the homestead. When they come down with a disease, there is no doctor to help them.
December 24
A day of gloom for us. Rusty was killed this morning. He had been chasing the wagons as they went by the farm. Today he misjudged a team’s speed and was run over by the horses and wagon. We buried Rusty beside Spot.
This has been a hard year for everyone in the neighborhood. Drought and disease have taken their toll. It will be a sad Christmas.
