These are the images and transcribed contents of a found Journal of Elisha Baldwin Squire spanning the years from 1925 through 1937
Page 1
Dec 31, 1925-
Memorandum for the commencing of the new year of 1926.
I have to my credit $14.00
Am in debt $75.00 on shop
and owe on oil stove 7.50
But the worst of it is Lowie is in a family way. Hoping good luck and a big fat boy.
Quincy Mo
Jan 1 – 1927
Well here we are again, another year gone by. We got the boy all right had an awful time for a while but he is fat now.
Live in Clinton hard been shoeing horses this year but am not going to much longer. My pile hasn’t grown very much this year I hope to do better this coming year. Think we are due for another baby, a girl this time.
Page 3
Still owe the $750 on stove and 25 on car have about 12.00 in my pocket so I am not broke yet, well here hoping I prosper a little more this time
E.B.S
Austin Born
Jan 1, 1928
Another year gone by and I am still black smithing. I am now living in Eureka Kans, have been almost a year now.
Have prospered a a little more this time have stock in Gold Soap products Co. worth $200.00 have about $41 and owe $100 on my car, but the best part of it is I am going in business for my self think I will be able to save more this time.
Page 5
I have been out about $200 for doctors this year hope have better health this time. Well we didn’t get the other boy here’s hoping it never happens for one is enough for a poor man.
Jan-1-1929
Here we go again starting out on another new year. Hoping for good luck things look brighter than ever as far as I can see ahead. For I have brought fourth interest in Uncle Bills Shop and it looks like I might be getting a start at last. Learning to weld this year both acetylene & electric sure is great work. At last I have found the job I am cut out to do. Welding well I have bought a piece of property at last. Don’t amount
Page 7
To much but we don’t have to pay rent no more sure is a great relief. The lot and house just cost $225.00 but it is a place to live of our own, well I have stacked up a little more this time besides the property I have my car payed for that’s about – 200.00 paid on shop – 220.00 got in Building & Loan 150.00
still got my soap stock but would take a bar of soap for it so it don’t cover $100.00 this time.
Have had better health this time haven’t had much doctor bills this time. Weight 190 the worst of it is that Lowie has the T.B. I am afraid hope not but can’t tell for sure the boy sure is big and healthy. Well this is all for this time – E.B.S
Dr. of Welding
Page 9
(Jan (3) 1930)
This is the start of the New Year of 1930.
Lish, is at farmcil Grove, welding for several construction companys. Work is dull at shop so that is why he is up there working.
So I his Wife will write in this little book. Don’t think I can do as nice a job but don’t want to miss jotting down our mistakes of the past year.
Think we have progressed much more
Than in the past year’s. Have bought a Home on S. Oak & W. Ohio. Traded our little house & lot in on it. But are going to let it go back to Mr Hart.
Because he lied about the taxes. we can pay them but don’t think it worth the struggle.
Traded the Chevrolet For a Dodge now owe $50.00 dollars on the Dodge. Lish, has some shares of City
Page 11
Service stock & some Cessna airplane stock. But the Golden seal soap stock failed to materialize. So we lost it completely. Haven’t had to put out any money for doctor bills this year for E.B..
We drew the money we had in Building & Loan out to buy furniture with when we bought our house.
Put $75.00 of it in the business. Still owe $7.50 on that oil stove.
E.B. has some money
beside what it takes for our payments on shop. So I leave space for him to put the exact amount down if he wants to.
Cities Service 220.00
pd on shop 750.00
on Books 250.00
car 200.00
Cessna Stock 25.00
The boy is 3 year’s & 7 months old & is mischievous as he can be.
And about me having T.B. I may have it but don’t intend to worry about it.
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I have no complaints whatever to make I’m wholly satisfied with my home life. So that should speak for every thing.
Our future looks brighter each year. This is all I have to say for this time The wife of Dr. of Welding
Jan – 1931
Ahm, regusted (colloquial translation = I am disgusted)
E.B.S
Page 15
Jan-1-1932
This has been a year of depression. One that we won’t soon forget business of all kinds has been very poor. I hope we have hit the bottom and are starting back up. This has been a year of bad health and discontent for us but I Think we are going to be more satisfied from now on for I now own forty percent of the shop and am not supposed to be working for full as before.
I worked in Oklahoma City in the oil field and out west on a pipe line this year learned a lot more about welding: it still is as interesting as ever.
Spent about – – 100.00 for a rectal operation this summer didn’t do a nickel worth of good.
Lowie seems to be in pretty fair health has some kidney trouble now instead of T.B. the boy is sure getting to be a big fine fellow. I feel like we have prospered more this year for the I have in shop now is worth about $2000.00
Eureka Kans L.O.S. E.B.S.
Page 17
Jan 3 1933
Eureka Kan.
Well things haven’t gone so bad this year I have been in better health than for years. The depression is still on but i think this year will see an improvement in things. This has been a good thing for us for we have learned to save which is a lesson we won’t forget. We have been able to save more this year than ever before so guess it hasn’t been so bad after all.
Well I have decided I will quit Bill and go it on my own hook from now on don’t know how will get along but
am going to try it once if I lose. We have bought a saw mill going to do a little sawing this winter if I can ever get started. Well here’s hoping luck for I may need it.
EBS
Mar 20 Today I started in business on my own The Standard Oil Co was my first customer.
We had the Great Bank Holiday. started on Mar 4 lasted nine days thing business will do better now
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Jan 1 1934 Eureka
I have take two steps this year, quit Bill Mar 20th then moved out of his shop Nov. 15 at last I am completely on my own and my business has been better since I moved.
I think it was a good move. and I have bought a lathe. Sure glad to get one for that has been an ambition for a long time.
Lowie and Austin are fine no T.B. or nuther better health my self. Just a litte belly ache now and then.
Page 21
Jan 1 1934 Eureka
As we are doing for ourselves now hope we can do something for ourselves, instead of giving all to someone else.
Our hopes are very high at least. Easy has been very nice to me. Gave me a Frigidaire for Xmas + many other thing during the year.
Mother & Dad have been here since Nov. 28. Dad has been saving for E.B.
Mother just got back from K.C. Austin went to show by himself. Lois was here. I helped Ethyl bake an angel food cake and
have a cold myself. I gave the pup a worm capsule, must have done her some good for the way she is so frisky.
That makes the events of the day. We are now signing off this is station.
L.O.T.S
EBS
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Jan 2 ’35
Eureka Kans
Well we sure have gotten along fine this year. have had good business.
Sure am doing better since I went in for myself.
Had the hottest summer I ever saw and day too.
We took a trip to Colorado to the mountains saw some great scenery hoped to see the ocean this year maybe.
We bought us another home this year a better one this time. Also have a new Terraplane the first new car in our lives. Hope not the last.
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Came very near getting killed this spring, boiler blew up when I was welding on it. Had a car accident too so should have plenty of thrills for one year.
Went back to Mo. for Xmas and never saw so much dirt and filth in the houses in my life. Resolved to not go back until have to in case of the folks getting
sick or something.
Thats all for this time.
E.B.S.
Page 27
Jan 3 ’35 Eureka Kan
I must write my little piece. Last nite I was too tired to write, had done such a big washing. The thing that is my biggest concern at this this writing is to be able to find something to counteract the poison E.B. gets from welding. I know it is going to ruin his health completely if it doesn’t take him away from us, long before he is an old man.
I think E.B. has wrote about everything else that matters
Lowie
Jan. 3-1937
I skipped last year so guess better write this time. Have taken two trips this year one to California one to Texas. Sure have seen some wonderful sights. Have been thinking of moving to one place or the other.
Have the best shop in Eureka now so hate to tear up and leave but think we shall on account of Lowie’s health. she has syneus pretty bad.
Page 29
Also am trying for a job with Air Co.
I expect we will be moved from Eureka by this time next year.
E.B.S.
P.S. starting now have decided to go on a pay as you go plan from now on, for think that is the only way for us to be successful
E.B.S.