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1881. postmaster - Mr. Taylor - who keeps a store and this boarding house keeper and two or their families remain in this vicinity. Mr. Taylor says he will send his boy in the early morn to tell Mr. Greve we are here, and then I am sure he will send for us. This has been a very hard trip, and our accommodations here are very poor. I have sent a postal home.
July 31. Sunday. It is very quiet indeed here. As we lounge around this morning, trying to rest ourselves, we wonder how things are going on at home - wonder if those precious wagon loads arrived safely last night. We know, if they did, it is far from quiet in the home nest, all bustle and stir and preparation for the S. school and church services. Well, we rested till after dinner and the Mr. Greve came with open buggy, and pair of good strong horses and drove us gently and carefully to his home, on the other side of Blue Mountain. We fell no fear in riding over those dangerous loads in his care, for he seemed to have perfect control of his team, and was as careful as the most nervous could desire. And the ride through those thick and wonderful pine woods was glorious! In their shad one can imagine all the comfort and rest which weary and sick ones long after. We arrived at the Greve Ranch at 6 1/2 o'clock and met a cordial welcome from the family. The mother is gone to her rest, but Mrs. Ham - the eldest daughter - was there from her own home to join in the welcome, and the next daughter Lillie, and housekeeper, had a bountiful supper ready and waiting, and our hunger led us to do ample justice to chickens and vegetables. Mr. Greve seems to be always in good humor. He had nine children, three of whom are daughters. Three of the sons are away from home at work. The youngest children - Frank and Laura, are twins twelve years old. After our ride, we rest well.
Aug. 1. Monday. The mornings here are cool enough to make fires enjoyable. Mrs. Ham is staying here for a few days while her husband is absent. She has two little ones - Winnifred and Creighton - with her and has lately buried the youngest eighteen months old - and is grieving as only a mother can
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1881. grieve. May we be able to lead her thoughts upward from earth, more towards heaven. Lillie, nineteen years old, takes the place of mother to the family, and truly her labors are arduous. But she is smart, capable and industrious. Have written a postal home and a letter to Howard. The nearest P.O. is West Point - eight miles away - so mail accommodations are not great. We went out at noon-time to see the fishes fed. Mr. Greve has two artificial fish-ponds, and is engaged in raising carp, as a business. The ponds are fed from this beautiful stream - the Licking Fork of the Mokelumne - which runs ever - day and night - so clear and cold. It seems a pity to us that much beautiful water should run to waste, when we of the valley would enjoy it so much, could we get it. Mr. Greve stands by the side of the pond and tinkles a small bell and throws in the food - bread mush and vegetables - and we see the fishes coming in swams to eat it. But the sun is very hot at noon time, and we hurry back to the house. Mr. Greve has built and partly finished this new house, a fine one, and ample for his needs. Mary is sick again, with vomiting and fever. I had hoped she had had her last attack of this sort. It is hard for me to go up and downstairs to wait upon her, for she needs a wonderful sight of waiting upon.
Aug. 2. Tuesday. Mary is still sick. Sent to West Point for letters, but got none, and of course felt disappointed.
Aug. 3. Wednesday. Mary is still sick with high fever - am giving her medicine - think she will soon be better. Wrote postal home.
Aug. 4. Thursday. Mrs. Ham and children went home today and Mr. Pascoe went to West Point with Fred. and brought us letters from home - good news and also sorrowful news. The Yo-Semite party reached home at 7 o'clock on Sat. eve. and found that Ida - our darling - had gone teach school - heard of a school at Valley Ford - and went right away with Howard and Miss McAllep, for her school is only six miles from Tomales. And this is the only comfort I can find in the thought of her being away among strangers - she will near them and will sometimes
Date Original
January 1880
Dates Covered
1880-1884
Circa Date
circa 1880-1884
Source
Original dimensions: 22 x 34 cm.
Resource Identifier
Locke_Diary_1880-1884_Image_078.tif
Publisher
Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library
Rights Management
To view additional information on copyright and related rights of this item, such as to purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission to publish them, click here to view the Holt-Atherton Special Collections policies.
Keywords
Delia Locke, diaries, women, diarist, California, Locke-Hammond Family Papers, Lockeford, CA, Dean Jewett Locke, rural life, rural California, 19th Century, church, temperance organizations, Mokelumne River Ladies' Sewing Circle, temperature recordings, journal
