Wildermuth Family - Francis and David Wildermuth - Headstones

I took these pictures on our first Family History Tour, 2012 edition. 
I knew that the boys were buried in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, as the Wildermuth's had a homestead there in the 1840s and 1850s.So - we got lost in Northwest Illinois first, and then got reoriented with Brian's GPS. 

We ended up in a small narrow valley in La Salle County. It was very, very rural with a few cows in the valley and as almost dry stream running through it.

Brian stopped the car on the 2-track, and asked a man driving by if he knew where two boys graves were. The man said he would take us there, as it was only 4 houses down the road. He said that Elsie had 2 burials in her back yard.

Brian parked the car in front of Elsie's house and looked at me. He said - "ok there you go!" I sat in the car for a moment and took my driver's license out, got out of the car and knocked on Elsie's door. A very pleasant 50+ year old lady opened the door. I held out my driver's license and I said:

"Hi my name is Myra, and two of my relatives are buried in your backyard." Elsie smiled and took us for a tour of her property which started at the 2-track and went up a fairly steep hill.

As we rounded the house, she pointed out the old root cellar. She said that they had to get rid of the original root cellar as the amount of mold in it was atrocious.

She also said that the current house is on the same footprint as the original. Elsie's house was a white "New England" looking two story home. Elsie had electricity and a phone and that was it. No internet. She stayed at home and her husband worked all day. I am sure that this valley hadn't seen a stranger in 10 years!

We started up the hill in back - right behind the house - and through a small gate. Elsie said that there use to be a walnut grove planted there but most of the trees were gone - except for a few sprinkled about the steep hill. She led us to Francis' and David's graves.

The graves were surrounded by a  small wooden fence that her husband had put around them, so the cows wouldn't damage them. There was a very old tree standing over the graves.  About this time Elsie's husband came home and we ended up have a great talk.

After we got home I sent Elsie and husband a Christmas card and copies of the entries for the Wildermuth's who lived in the house. They wrote back and expressed their gratitude for having a history of the house and the people who first settled there. I think of Elsie and spouse often and hope they are well.

The story of the tragedy surrounding these two boys was discussed in a family history letter that my mother, and then I transcribed. The passage is as follows:

"While visiting the Farwells, Gurley [Reverend of the LDS faith] intended to rest and take time to consider his religious convictions, now weighing heavily on his mind. He had been there only one day when a tragedy occurred in the Wildermuth home. Francis Wildermuth accidentally stumbled and fell against the sharp end of the binding pole to the wagon he was driving. This was the second death in the Wildermuth family. David F., only 11 months old, had died August 6 1849 and the tragic death of the second son was a great shock."

Apparently the upshot to the service that Rev. Gurley gave for the 2 boys impressed their father so much that he joined the LDS faith on the spot.

The relatives of the family were all Methodist. But David [the father] had a falling out with the pastor there. The relatives told David, that the family was all going to hell. Within 6 months the rest of the family were baptized as LDS members.

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 1

 Forty-Nine Days

Left Maple Park, Sunday, June 4, 1922, at noon, after Clara and Paul left. Shorty came to Grandma's in the afternoon with the Overland and three girls and took them and Billie and got his cornet; later took the girls and car home and walked back for supper, at Aunt Blanches. The folks went to Kukuks'. We walked to Ellen's and got the car and went for a ride out Jericho Road. In at 10:12/

June 5: Walked to Aunt Gert's. "Umbrella Parade". Put up the swing in the P M in her front yard. Went to grave-yard and put flowers on John Ray's grave and found Ellen Long's grave. Harry took us back to the grave-yard before supper and down town after films after supper, and for a ride down the river. All night at Montgomery.

June 6: Uncle Bern and Dad came after us. Winnifred at Grandma's. Aunt Gert and Harry down for dinner at Grandma's. Pictures take. Billie, Olive, Mable and me to town after 3:30, walked both ways, stopped at Ellen's. Folks gone to Sandwich and Plano. Aunt Blanche, Billie and me went to show. Called Wilhelm and couldn't get him. Saw the "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" at the Fox.

June 7: Left Aurora for Madison after 7, Harry and Aunt Gert down. Grandpa Charlie put feather in car and gave us quarters and gum, and Dadcigaretts. Will Carpenter took pictures. Saw Jimmy Malone and Jack Treatwell. Sycamore at 10:13, left 10:50, ready for trip. Genoa, 11:24, yellow depot. Going north. Lunch, 2 miles northwest of Genoa. Came to corner-12 miles from Rockford, notknow which way to [continued page 4]

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[Reading this I believe that Grandma is Grandpa Fred Leonard's mother, Olive Uretta Fisher Leonard Pruitt. Gertrude and Blanche was Grandpa Leonard's sisters. 

Uncle Bern was Grandpa Leonard's brother Bernard.

I didn't know Great Grandpa Fred Leonard smoked!

Grandpa Charlie was was Grandma Olive Uretta Pruitt's second husband.

I don't know who Clara, Paul, John Ray nor Ellen Long was.

I looked up on Wikipedia  the 1922 "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" at  A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1921 film) - Wikipedia   Harry Myers [?] played the male lead of Martin Cavendish. 

There was another movie "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" produced in 1949 with Bing Crosby playing the lead role. I really didn't find it interesting at all.

I don't recognize any of the other names.]

Maple Park is/was just southwest of Chicago. The population in  2010 was 1310. I found it listed as "Village of Maple Park". It is located in DeKalb and Kane counties.

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - page 6 - Wedding Announcement

 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1925 [Madera Tribune]

POPULAR MADERA COUPLE WEDDED

________________________

     One of Madera's most popular young ladies, Miss Lenoir Inez Leonard, more familiarly known among her friends as "Bobby" was married to Shirley G. Triplett of Madera at Santa Ana at 2:30 this afternoon.

     This occurance has been expected for some time by the Madera friends of the two popular young people, but the exact time of the occurance had been kept a secret except to the immediate members of the bride's family.

     The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F.G. Leonard of Madera, coming here with her family from Maple Park, Illinois, some three years ago. She graduated from high school in Illinois in 1922, and followed this with a post graduate business course in the Madera high school. In December, 1923, she began work as secretary of the Madera Business Men's association and assistant secretary of the Madera County Chamber of Commerce.

     The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Triplett of Burbank. He has been in Madera for the past five years, coming here from Arizona where he was an employee of the Santa Fe. At the present time he is auto motive electrician with the Standard garage.

     Mr. and Mrs. Triplett will spend some time traveling around in the south, expecting to return to Madera about September 1 to make their home at 112 South N Street.

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 days - page 21

Sunday, July 23--Up early, got on wrong road, finally back on road headed for Madera, near Lodi. Passed thru Stockton and Manteca, and had to tear out the rear end of the touring car near Salida. Off about 9:00 P.M. (Sunday-driving-luck) Slept in the rear end of the touring car, while we were traveling. Drivers got sleepy and they had to stop between 1 and 3, but it was so cold so they didn't stay long. Stopped at Atwater. We came thru Madera about 5:00, and it took us nearly an hour to locate Uncle Clints place. Arrived O K, however, all dirty and tired. We were all tanned up and looked worse than a bunch of gypsys. I was in my greasy coveralls.

END

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 days - page 20

   Wednesday, July  19--still a little stormy- bad wash-out down the middle of the main street. Quite well settled in camp.

Thursday, July 20--Just out of Austin found alkali flats all washed out. Water still running across. Saw some cowpunchers in the Alpine Ranch. We were going to flirt with them, but didn't have nerve enough when we got close to them. Travelled alkali flats all day. Passed Frenchman's camp. Crossed irrigation ditches, which they called canals, just before we went into Fallon. Late into camp. Electric plate and nice camp ground.

Friday, July 21--Filled at tanks at an oil station(almost)(civilized), nice little town. Dad was talking to marshal and was advised to stay, plenty work. Came to Carson City over short cut. Poad not well-graded. Carson City--in Garage for gasoline. King's Canyon Grade, good but steep. 2 Spanish people were stopped along the side of the road on the way up, and thoman had just killed a big rattle snake. 11 rattlers. Some grade. Truck stuck, Mother and I slid down hill in time to see truck going fairly good. Climbed back up. Pine trees were big, and we gathered some pine-needles. Awfully tired at night. Wonderful scenery where we camped, along Lake Tahoe, south of Glenbrook Inn.

Saturday, July 22-Up early in morning. Made grade of over 1000 ft. in11 miles. Mother and I walked most of the way. One place we could see other cars right straight above us. Look-out house at the summit. Down thru Strawberry, Kyburz, Riverton, and struck pavement at Placerville. Heavenly, is the way the pavement felt to our tired travel-sore bodies. Saw fig trees, vineyards, orchards and so on. We were HOMESICK for some green grass. Everything looked dead and sickley. Camped at Perkins, short distance from Sacramento.

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 19

5:00 where we camped all night. There were many Indians there, and the ranch owner told us they came over from their reservation to work for him every year. A Missourian, camped there, told us that all Californians were liars. We bo't some soap there, discovered there was a post office in connection with the store.

Saturday, July 15--We tried to get oil at Anderson's Ranch, but NO LUCK. After that we pushed the truck up to the summit, and coasted most of the way down to Old Stone Fort, where we got some oil. Caught in a little mud-hole crossing the creek. At Magnussen's ranch the lawn was mowed. Just a little way past the rank we encountered hot winds. At 15 to 2--a blow out--left front tire on the touring car. Camped at Ely, and stayed over Sunday.

Sunday, July 16--Talked wit[h] oth[er] campers, while Billie and Dad went up on a high hill, and found old mines, Dad shot off his revolver, and could only see the smoke, we could hear no noise whatever.

Monday--July 17--Ely to Eureka--I can't remember much of anyting that happened along here. We arrived in Eureka sometime around 5:00. We had to chase some burroughs [?] off the Camp Ground, which really looked like a dumping ground, and where there were most no conveniences. Some people from Oklahoma stopped there and the oldest girl hummed tunes while the boy played them on his steel-guitar.

Tuesday, July 18--Madera long run from Eureka to Austin among hills and on flats during the day-rode in in a storm around and around hi[t] into camp between 10 and 11.

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 18

7:30 and set up camp. There were some people there from California and the younger fellow (Jimmy) came and talked to the folks after I had gone to bed. The water was awfully warm and the air was too. We watched for the folks.

Friday-- we left about 7:00. We soon crossed the mud flat where there were 17 miles of Goodyear Road across the alkali. About 2/3 the way across, we helped a big maroon car out of the alkali. which was wet and slippery and very deceiving because it was crusted. Just as we got across the dessert four New York boys drove up, while we were cooling our engines. They asked Dad if he was Fred Leonard and told us Will was back in Tooele with a broken crank case. He wanted us to go back, and we would have if we had not had the dessert be tween us. We got in Gold Hill after some pushing up hills and after pulling a car upa hill. We bo't things there for dinner. The water was bad and had arsenic in it. In Gold Hill we saw old smel-waters, mines, and kilns. Oh! but that was a desolate country.
(That is all I have recorded while touring, the remainder I have added while getting this read for binding.)

The time in the part of the trip reported in the following was taken from a map, where it was recorded while traveling.

Friday, July 14: Gold Hill, 11:25. We ate lunch at the summit, where the thermometer registered  99 1/2 degrees. We got some water at Ibapah, where there was a house and a store, and where we had to draw the water from the well in a "bucket" (as they called it). Crossed the Utah-Nevada line at 3:02. Arrived at Tippetts Ranch at

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 17

and a cement plant and some jail prisoners working on the road. Found a fairly good camp and made it better by cleaning it up and leveling it off. Norman and Billie worked, the rest watched and Pa and Norman Will went down town. we also built a fire-place between the tents.

Wednesday, July 12: Folks up about 8. Dad and Will and Norman worked on their cars. About 10 A.M. Dad and Will went down town. They got travelers' checques and the food supplies for the day. Came back about 1:00, then we had dinner. At 3:00 P.M. we, the rest of us went down town. We saw the Mormon buildings, the assembly hall, the tabernacle, the temple, the old log house and the beautiful lawn and flowers. After trading a bit we went back to camp and had a late supper. We sat up rather later than usual listening to the Darkie and Irish stories, dad and Will were telling.

Thursday, July 13, '22: Left salt lake City about 8:30 A.M. We got short cut dire ctions to the Lincoln Highway and missed the corner. We went to Murray, and came back. We then struck the HiWay near Granger Depot. Just as we entered Garfield, a fellow came up from the right and we almost ran into him, because he didn't stay on his own side of the road and wait for us. We passed hills, smelters and found a hot strip near Tooele, and both our engines boiled. We ate lunch at Tooele, but saw nothing of the folks, whom we missed before we got to Murray. We left Tooele about 12:15 and found a hot streak up to Johnson's pass, where it was cooler. we stopped at Willow Springs for water. Arrived at Orr's ranch about 3:25. We got a little gas and s ome water. When we came to the abandoned county well, it was 15 minutes to 6 and the sun was high in the sky. The roads were rough. We got to Granite Mountain about

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 16

Monday, July 10: Up about 10 min. to 5. Everybody kidded Billie Norman. Left about 6:00A.M. We crossed the Green River for which the drink was named. At Green Rive (the town) we saw a flag pole up on top of a big rock. It could be seen long before the town. The electric lights were burning, yet in Green Rive and it was around 7:00 A.M. We had wonderful roads, with beautiful scenery. My cactus pland was in bloom. We saw many beautiful cactii. One group of plants and blossoms formed a perfect flower bed. Norman dug a cactus pland for Mrs. Pegg and then he dug one for me (the flowers were yellow). We saw sage in bloom and picked some and put them under press. We saw a beautiful rock to the left, and we kids went up on it a way, and Dad took a picture(which turned out so good). The rock was gray and mother picked up a piece for me. All along the road we saw some dar[k],, hard, shiny stones. Several bluebirds flew around. Winnifred drove a while. Dad had a black tack in his tire, near noon. The folks were gone. We ate dinner on the drive We killed our engine on a steep hill. Dad's car stopped and he had quite a time to get it to go. Norman was with him. The rest of us went to town and found the camp. We picked flowers. In the evening, Dad and Will took the truck down and had it filled. We 3 kids took the touring car down. We went to the ice-cream parlor and got back about 9:30. Evanston.

Tuesday, July 11, '22 --new diary: Up early. Left about 15 to 6. Had some awful bumpy roads. Drove thru the mountains all day and several had snow. Our fan belts bother lots. We saw some little dark animals frolicking in the road. Some of them had holes in the middle of the road.. The country looked more prosperous the mountain streams were numerous; and the lands were irrigated. We saw a couple of national forests, the Salt Lake City water works

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 15

Friday, July 7: left about 7:00. Fine luck until we got to [?] turned on old trail, bad roads, etc. Dad stuck by railroad track on hill, he ran out of gas. Billie had to help him up. In the forenoon, we stopped by the railroad track at Medicine Bow for dinner. Puncture at track at Fort Steele, where we got gas, had radius rod tightened and Dad's fan belt fixed. Made Rawlins rather late. Us four kids took a walk. Mother sick. Awful water (alkali). Saw eagle in A.M.

Saturday-July 8: Dad and Will went down town. Saw tall woman and man and fellows with tags and old man and boy walking. They all asked for a ride. Travelled over desert land--got sage-brush. Ate dinner in the wind and sand. Dad got gas. Saw the red desert where the sand was red. Stopped half way between Red Desert and the turn to Bitter Creek for about 3 hours, during a sand storm. In A.M. passed a deserted mining town and saw where the shafts went thru under the road. In the afternoon, after the storm, we passed another deserted town 1 mile from Point of Rocks--The Chevrolet was ahead. Saw wonderful hills of rocks and waved at men in mail-plane. At 7:00 P.M. the sun was as high as 4:00 to 5:00P.M. in Ill. Some bad holes in the road. Dad's lights failed him at the curve, came thru safely. Fixed them at the edge of town. People awfully courteous. Camped at Rock Springs. In after 10:00

Sunday, July 9: Washed clothes and cleaned some sand out of the car. Supper after7:30 P.M. About 9:30 into bed. Dad bo't my new diary book. Billie and Norman took a walk and mailed some cards. When they came back we teased them.

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 14

fully. We expected rain, but did not get it. We went to bed about 8:30. Not much fire-works in the park--a couple fire-crackers and a roman candle. We went to bed about 8:30.

Wednesday, July 5: Wind still blowing. Dad and mother walked over town to get the mail. Got the oiler parts. They left both cars for protection for the tent against the wind and sand. Billie and I worked around. Billie did the dishes, and I tightened the tent and fixed a place on one of Dad's big tires. Mother saw and the rest of us heard, the U.S. Mail plane start at 20 minutes to 6. We packed up 2 trunks and 2 boxes and Dad took them down and sent them. He had to crate the t5unks. Billie and I went over and saw the Jim Baker Cabin in the park. Dad came back and we helped him cut the truck down 16 inches. Had a late supper and went to bed. Had the springs tied on the top.

Thursday, July 6: Saw cavalrymen. Finished on cars at 9:30. Folks from Michigan with us. Travelled thru the rain and clouds on the tops of hills all morning. Saw some beautiful rocks, some larger than the truck. Rocks awfully red. Saw Ames monument. Drove down grade about 12 miles. Awfully wet and chilled; stopped soon after noon at Laramie. Fairly good camp-grounds. Norman, Will, Billie and I went to the play-grounds in the evening. In .the day-time we went over town; Norman, Billie and I went over town. In the morning we passed over the highest spot on the Hi-way. In rather late.

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 13

several strange . Fields filled with wild flowers spread in both directions. The hills were many in fact we travelled in the hills all day. There were ridges of stone near the tops. A couple places we noticed that the buildings were made of stone. They were old buildings were made stone in the old style. A gap in the hills allowed the railroad (Union Pacific), our road and a creek pass between two ridges of hills. The hills on the north were very rocky and there were pine or hemlock trees on the tops. It would be very interesting to climb them. We saw some black birds with white wings, and breasts. They were smaller than robins. The Scoth Thistle blossoms were white, and we saw several new little flowers, pink, white, salmon (dark) and purple. We saw some purple larkspurs growing wild. Our fan belt quit working, because the wiring came loose and was all but broken. We stopped at the top of a hill because our car was not running right. When Dad [tried] to start it , he killed the engine. I cranked it and helped to push it out of the soft sand, where it was about stuck. I got my toes and leg hurt a little in the scramble, but not enough to bother with.. We entered Wyoming at 20 to 11. Soon after we ate our lunch. We saw several little towns which came into view suddenly as we were coming down hills. We went into camp at Cheyenne about 2:30. The camping grounds were located on a lake and were very nice and large enough to accomodate many, many cars. There is a store on the grounds; and a caretaker acts as deputy sheriff to keep order. Dad found a tack in our front left tire, but threw it away, so I didn't get it. After I put my classes on I saw the mountains. After supper we were going over to the round-up-park to see a log cabin abd a strong wind blew the sane around fear-

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 12

 Sunday July 2: Still at North Platte. Every body pull out of water, as much as possible. We ironed the clothes. Soon the sun came out and dried things offa bit. We sat around doing nothing. After dinner Billie and I walked down town and mailed some cards. When we came back we sat in the touring car. Between 2 or 3 Georges' car came up. They gave us each a name card and said they would try to make Ogallala by nite fall. About supper time, the New York boys came in, in their little ford. After supper we played the victrola and Mable came over. Later 2 girls from Salt Lake City came over. We walked around the block and found the New York fellow there talking to Mother. We stood and talked a while, then separated. Mother and Winnifred went to bed. Billie and I stood and talked with him. Then we went to bed.

Monday, July 3: Up about 5. Left North Platte 15 to 6. Just West of there about 10 or 15 miles, we saw cacti, and a spiny plant. We also saw a thistle with a white blossom and a milk weed with a blossom much like a morning glory. When we came to the hills west of North Platte we struck sand, and the vegetation changed. we had a little trouble with the touring car, but nothing serious. We camped at Sidney about 4:30 or 5:00 o'clock. Filled the cars with gas and set up camp. Nobody was very good-natured. Every one was on edge. We passed a big granite slab, with Oregon Trail, and some more engraved on it, in the afternoon, but I do not remember just where. Mother and Win went to bed about 9, and I went to bed about 7:30, and Billie stayed up until 10 and helped some campers shoot off some fire-works.

July 4, Tuesday: Up about quarter to 5. When I got out Dad had many things done, he had the water bags filled, the side-curtains down, etc. He jacked both cars before cranking and they started much easier than usual. We broke camp about 15 to 6. We noticed

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 11

being dried for hay to save it from the army-worms. The county seats are the largest towns in this part of the country. Large fields were full of sweet-clover. At Lexington we saw an air-plane in a field. We had our gasoline tanks filled there, and saw a boy spill a pail eggs. In the alfalfa fields we was [saw?] many stacks of hay. One farm we passed was a 500-A ranch of irrigated potatoes. Lots of irrigation ditches were filled full of water. We travelled late and camped in North Platte, where we found good camp-grounds. We went to bed about 9, Billie and I in the tent on the ground. The wind started to blow and blew up a rain. We went into the truck about 12.00 o'clock.

Saturday, July 1: The folks were up at 5 by our time, and I, did not get up until 8. Dad found out that the big gray truck got stuck on a side-road and it took several cars to get it out. It rained so hard that lots of the cars are going to stay in camp. the gray truck  probably was in Lexington last nite. We took shower bath and washed clothes while Dad fussed around the cars. One of two fellows in an Essex, who were staying in camp all day, bro't over three guns for Dad to keep while they went down town. He was showing Dad about one gun and it went off, the bullet went thru the tent, thru the front door and lodged between the lining and the iron of the right front door, which it bent but did not go thru, Not much of anything of great interest happened after that. In the afternoon we watched the boys make a table and after supper we played the victrola until about about 9:20 and then went to bed. Billie on the cot and me on the canvas on the floor. Dad slept on the top bunk of the truck. At 12:30 it started to rain. I picked up my bed-clothing and crawled in with Billie (SARDINES). Up fair-

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 10

gray truck left camp about 5. We passed them several times and they passed us several times. We saw two strips where the corn had been shredded by hail and cyclone storm. We just missed a bad storm. Stopped near Columbus for lunch about 20 min. Saw 3 bunnies and 1 squirrel. The folks saw a jack rabbit, but Billie and I missed it. After dinner Billie ran into a ditch and up against a fence post (cement). Nothing hurt about the car. All of us scared. Mother's upper lip was cut on the windshield and bruised, so that it swelled way up. Her nose was hurt badly inside, too; and her knee bruised and skinned. After she got to camp she cut her finger on the table; and Dad said she looked about like a prize-fighter. Dad had trouble with the timer on the truck. We lost over two hours all to-gether. We made over 115 miles anyway. The big gray truck was camped when we arrived. We camped at Grand Island, Nebraska. Some Indians stopped back of our cars. The woman was a full-blood and the man mixed. We came into camp about 5. Lots of fields of grain were shocked. A queer woman wandered around the camp for a while. We went to bed about 8. There were 27 tents in camp; 25 were tourists.

Friday, June 30: Up about 5. Started at 6:30, took our dinners with us. The trees are few and far between, but those you see are tall. Lots of them are cotton-woods. We had one especially rough detour and saw an owlsitting on a fence-post. We saw some tiny little toads and a big jack-rabbit. We saw our first ranch this morning. One of 2 fields we passed, the grain was cut and

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 9

about 9. Had to go up town to get bread. When they came back Frank honked the horn a long time so we would hear him. In about 9:30.

Tues. June 27: Grandpa Gandy's birthday and Mother's and Dad's 21st wedding anniversary. Up between 4 and 4:30. The truck wouldn't start for an awful long time. We got started a little after 6. We did not see the big bridge at Boone. We saw the State College and several brick kilns at Ames. We ate dinner in the truck about an hour. Mother had a bad head-ache all day. We stopped at Denison about 5 or 6 Lots of campers at the grounds, and kids, too. In about 8:18.

Wed. June 28: Up about 20 to 5, started at 6:12. Real good roads. Many hills. Drove to within 10 miles of Council Bluffs in the A. M. and stopped 20 min. for dinner. Passed several cars "in transit". Got to Fremont, Nebraska. Changed another plug in the touring car. Once the car stopped on the side of a hill. Billie held the car with the brake and I got it started easily, and we made the hill alright. We got our water bags and Pyrene in Council Bluffs. Got thru Omaha fine, after inquiring 3 times for the way. One place we saw a big grey truck. Went into camp at Fremont about 15 to 5. The gray truck came in about 6.

Thurs. June 29: Up about 4:30. Left camp about 6:20. The

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 8

Sunday, 25th of June: Went to Sunday School, no church, a little program. A bunch for dinner(15), ate at last table. Alaric left a few minutes after 10 for Waverly. Folks left later in the afternoon and took the three girls back to Cedar Falls on their way. Dorothy, Ethil and Lorna came over and spent the afternoon. Dorothy bro't some pictures. Lee Briden came to see Joy about supper time. Folks took Winnifred down and had her tooth pulled. I wiped dishes twice and wrote several cards and went to bed about 15 to 9. Slept swell in the breeze.

Mon. June 28: Dad called us about half past 6. Left Aunt Ivy's about 7:30. Uncle Del rode to work in the truck and Joy rode down with us. Pretty fair roads, many detours. Struck Lincoln Highway at 8 to 12. Stopped for dinner on the Highway about 3 miles south and west of Toledo. Saw some fellow from Tampa, Florida and gave them some sugar. "Birds of a feather flock together". We stopped under a nut tree, and saw name Aurora, Illinois printed on the table, where we ate dinner. After dinner we saw a squaw with her papoose on her back, and passed 4 New York boys in a Ford, from Youngstown, New York. Swell Camp Grounds at Cole.  telephone service free to campers, everything handy. The cop was talking to us and so we played an "Official" game of pitch, with the fo[lks]. results:  Billie 3 Mother 3 Winnifred 1.

That's as far a s the game went. Settles came up and bro't Grandpa Gandy with them. Ice-cream 2 quarts, candy, gum, cookies. We had an Ice cream Social, lots of fun and joking[?]. They went

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 7

a tablet and some envelopes. Early in the evening Joy and I and Dorothy and Ethil. Went to Cedar Falls in a bus. Went to a show. The Way of a Woman, at the Regent. Caught the 10:15 bus back. It came by way of the west side. Just past the electric park we saw a big fire. We got off and watched the foundry burn. Joy's friend Lee came along and we went over in the field to watch it. A few minutes to 12 we started home on his motorcycle. It was a lot of fun, too. Just heaps. There was no side car on his motorcycle. We didn't get to bed until about 12:30.

 Thurs. June 22: Up about 8:25. Grace and we girls took our lunch over to Lafayette Park. Watched the bathers and the rest. Home early and on the way back we went thru the mausoleum in the grave-yard.  Came home and went to sleep on the front room floor.

Fri. June 23: In the morning we went down town and up on Black's building and looked out over the town. Bo't a souvenir and several things. We walked down and rode back. In the afternoon we laid down and slept. In the evening the "Ginger Jars" came over. We went over to the drug store and got "gold dogs" the rounds. They we went to the church to practice for Children's Day Program.

Sat. June 24th: Up Late. Grace and I spent an awful nite. Didn't get to sleep until after 12 and woke up before 3 and then went to sleep before 4. Up awful late. Called the girls at Cedar Falls three times. Nothing extra during the day. Went to the Electric Park after supper. Went on the Merry-go-round. Billie and Winnifred went on the airplanes. We saw the free show, watched the dancers etc. When we went home, DeWayne, Merna, her folks and their kids and Alaric were at the house. We girls, all but Winnifred, slept in the tent. Stayed in bed 'till about 7,

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 6

noon. Can see haze over the Mississippi Valley from stopping  place.. We passed great patches of snake grass in bloom. The blue flowers looked very pretty. Saw 6 lead mines. Rock was crushed there for roads. Climbed some bad hills just before dinner. Stopped for dinner between 10:30 and 11:30. ate dinner in a school yard. In Dubque at 1 P.M. and Earlville at 3:45. Filled up gas tanks a Earlville. Heard whip-poor-will up closely Monday nite. Tuesday we saw carary, bluebird, a gray-brown bird with white underneath and another with grayish back, and a gray-green breast. Earlwille 60 miles from Waterloo. Resolved: to try to make it. Crossed the Mississippi River just at 12. At Masonville a fellow started to stare at us, Billie returned his stare, and he ducked in[t]o the lunch room and stayed. Set for camp at 2 minutes to 6, west of Masonville. In afternoon, saw a wedding procession returning from the church. The fellow who ran the farm, where we camped was a batchelor. He had a young lad working for hi, and they both went away for supper and stayed all night. Billie wanted the top spring put into the tent and then we girls slept in the tent and the folks in the truck. We were all in bed by 8:30.

Wed. June 21: Up at 4:30 on the road by 6:10. Resolved: Never will we take the springs out of the truck again, unless they are to be left out. Arrived at Aunt Ivy's around 10 A.M. Letter from Shorty, watched electric locomotive. Found Aunt Ivy's place easily. Visited an old stone quarry before dinner. Got 3 things to press, one cone flower was very fragrant. The afternoon was uneventful. Mother, Aunt Ivy and Grace went down town. Mother got my patent leather slippers half-soled, and bo't me a pair of tennis slippers. She also got me a pair of black silk stockings,

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 5

went to bed half way early.

Sun. June 18: Up comparatively late. No Sunday School, or church. Berwyn and Ted over about 1. Bunch for ride with them, all but Cleo Home for dinner about 2. Cleo sore and Billie and Lysle. Bunch to Vilas Park, and folks for ride. I went with Berwyn and Theo to a place I shouldn't have gone had I known where we were going........RESOLVED: Never to tell where we went and to always stick with the bunch and quit singleing off. Folks home about 7:10 and kids home after 8. Supper awful late. Mailed cards and bo't bread and candy, Anne, Marion and I. Anne stayed all nite. Dad and Uncle Floyd fooled a long time before going to sleep. They slept in the truck again.

Mon. June 19: A.M. Up at 5 to 5 --awful sleepy. Lysle came down a few minutes after I did. Cleo got down in time to say good-bye. Left 7:45. Stopped in Verona for supplies. Stopped about an hour for dinner. Travelled up and down hills all forenoon - touring car missed, so did truck - hard to climb hills. I walked, or climbed up 2 hills, long, winding ones, tool. Billie drove the truck home. Some more hills but made them all fine, but one. On one hill Dad left us and we had to back down and start over. One plug still missing. Stopped at Madrell's a little south and 2 1/2 miles east of South Wayne. Stayed all nite, put in new clutch and brake bands in truck. Lucille Madrill, girl at place. Went in house after supper and played. In after 9.

Tues. June 20: Up at 4 A. M. Finished repairs on truck. Broke camp and left South Wayne about 6:45 - 2 detours. Still on Trail 20, at

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 4

[The infant's picture on the left is actually a picture of one of the four children of Daniel Wilson Clarke and Anna Lillian Schaffer.]

June 14: Up late-did dishes alone, helped iron, scrubbed auto seats bath after dinner. Walked to Yakahama River with Theo and Berwyn, back on  street-car. Had drinks (Strawberry pop), pop-corn, cones. Home  before girls, who walked to Tenny Park, with baby. Awfully home-sick. Called for Theo at Shoudy's, gone before I called. To bed kinda early, added to Shorty's letter, word from Aunt Lenoir.

Thurs. June 15: Been here a week. Slept part of forenoon, Aunt Minnie up town. Mulberries ripening. Taste fine. Dad on route with Uncle Floyd again. bo't 25 more cards, Billie got letter from Laura, and I wrote to Bess. It rained a little before breakfast - read some in book, got them in Colombia. Billis slept upstairs Wed. nite. Anne over in the evening, walked home with her, stopped to talk. Talked with Ted, Bill and Hank. Ted a big joke, asked me if I was going to finish grammar school in California and come back for High School, wouldn't believe I am 18 and graduated. Home about 5 to 10.

June 16, Friday: rain before 7, heard Uncle Floyd start out with his new car. Dad called back about 7. Sun shining then. Sent rose bud, and letter to Wilhelm. All went for a ride thru Villas & Cottage Grove, and back home via Sun Prairie Road. Anne over after supper. We went for a ride with Uncle Floyd. Went to store and spent 25 c[ents]. home about 10.

Saturday, June 17: Up about 7:30, Anne left right away. Gave baby a ride and put her asleep A M and P M. Aunt Lenoir, Uncle Charles and boys arrived after 2 P M. Cleo and I went to the store. Fooled around, rode to Miller's store with Uncle Floyd. 8 in car, counting Jonnie (dog). Uncle Charles left in meantime. Teased Marion and

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 3

Played-Cleo piano, Aunt Minnie violin, and me cornet.

June 11, Sunday: up late-no church. To park about 4 P M came back. Dad, Aunt Minnie, Lois, Cleo and myself about 6:10 - got lunch, took it to park. All came home about 8> Played. Three girls,piano; Aunt Minnie, violin; Mother, mandolin; cornet ---. Danced a while, to bet about 10, after reading Wilhelm's letter again. Saw Ellen Halverson at Monona Lake, played with ball, it went in lake-I waded in after it. Aura went to sleep on the couch. I roused her and helped her upstairs. While she was undressing, she opened her eye wide and said "how'd I get upstairs?' Then, after while she aske me "Do you know why I went to sleep?" I told her probably because she'd been at the Lake and was tired. She answered "Because I was sleepy".

June 12- Monday: Up late, send cards. Flirted with the grocery boy. Winnifred hollered and disappeared. He told me to go home and grow up. Winnifred went down stairs and told it. Did dinner dishes. Down town in P M. About 5:30 visited library. Ate supper at the Y. W. C. A. - cost 3 of us 99c[ents]. Went down past "Main High" - walked around square. Met Anne, at Parkway Show, and say "The Unchartered Seas", and part of a serial. From window saw fellow on a bench on the square - hands between knees and feet pigeon-toed, with head down. Home about 10 P.M.

Tuesday, June 13: Up late, Cleo and I last for breakfast, helped wash. Letter to Shorty, read a bit in book. Took anap. Theo and Berwyn and Bruce McKenzie over after supper, Billie and I went for ride with them. Broke a piece off my round comb, gave it to Teddy-- date for a ride to talk with Teddy, Wed, P M. Bruce an awful tough. He's from Chi. Folks to show.

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - page 2

go, fellow comes along, says go thru Rockford, Dad backed into him, he sat hollering "Hay, hay, hay". He was a farmer. Rockford, 2:16; Roscoe, 3:14; State line, 3:18; Beloit, 3:36 left 4:11. Were in Janesville at 6:00P M. Stopped for supper 6:12. I drove thru Beloit, Billie the rest. Played Wabash Blues after supper. Camped at Edgerton, and 10 P M after a trip to Albion and back, in the dark, trying  to get to Madison. M O S Q U I T O E S.

June 8: Up at 5 - breakfast in tent, Ford wouldn't start. It did tho. On our way at 6:34. Rough strip to trail 100, Stoughton, 7:28. Trail 100 to Oregon at 8:17, Trail 10 to Madison, Uncle Floyd's at 10:13. Once Dad tho't us lost and we were in back of him.

My hand is well callused and

My arm has grown strong ---

--From cranking Lizzie--

Girls home at noon. Three letter sent. Uncle Floyd home at night. We (Cleo, Aura and I) went to school program at Emerson School. Met several girls - Ellen Halverson, niece of Harry Brockton Anderson,

Madera, California.

Saw Uncle Floyd when we returned. At supper and went to bed.

June 9: Friday: Went to school A M, to town in P M, bo't candy, etc. Sent post cards and letter. Had fun washing out feet, and went to bed early. Folks have decided to stay 'till Tuesday or Wed.

June 10, Sat.: Up rather late, rain all nite and some in A M. Some work. Billie put Lois to sleep A M. jacks with Aura. P M, Hayseed Orchestra organized and practiced. Theo and Berwyn over in evening,

[continued page 5]

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Leonard Family - Vehicles used for traveling to California in the late 1910's.

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - Front Page and Introduction

 

The cover of Forty-nine Days.

This diary of their journey was a present from Grandma Bobbie to her parents. It reads:

Madera California

December 25, 1924

Dearest Mother and Dad.

     Here's a copy of my diary. I am not afraid that  you'll forget the trip or me either, but this will be nice to have anyway.

Wishing you both a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

                                                           I am, lovingly
                                                                    Your daughter
                                                                           Bobbie

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Leonard Family - Lenoir Inez Leonard - 49 Days - Before the trip

This is the cover for my grandmother Lenoir Inez Leonard Triplett's memories of the family moving from Sugar Grove Illinois to Madera California. It took 49 days because the family stopped to visit with family along the way

Of course journey has to start somewhere. This is my Grandmother Lenoir's father, Fred Leonard. The caption for this picture was Fred Leonard and the truck [they used to haul household items] at the Pruett's home, before leaving for California. I do not know if he bought it or had it before the move. I don't even know why they moved from Illinois to Oakland in the first place. But if they hadn't, myself, Andrew and
Robert would not be alive!

From left to right [I think] is: Billie [Lenoir's youngest sister Ione], Bobbie [my grandmother Lenoir], their mother Winnie Gladys Carpenter Leonard, Frederick George Leonard, and Winniefred [Aunt Fred]. Aunt Fred would, if I remember right, drove the car, and Grandpa Leonard would drive the truck. 

By the way- when you look at the nicknames of my grandmother and aunts - do you think my Great Grandfather wanted boys or what?

Aunt Fred would have been taller but she was hampered with severe scoliosis - curvature of the spine. My great grandparents though that they were being punished for something they had done in the past and that God blighted their oldest daughter with scoliosis. This condition is now treated with surgery starting when the child is young with Harrington rods. Scoliosis does not occur often in the population.

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