Claud C. Dwyer Diaries

Collection

Identifier: Mss 403

Staff Only

Scope and Content

This collection is made up of six handwritten diaries chronicling the day-to-day life of a young Dakota Territory farmer during the years 1886 through 1894. All the diary entries are in hard cover, ruled journals. They have been organized by year. The final journal contains a mixture of school lessons and accounting.

The first diary spans the dates January 1, 1886 to June 12, 1897, is 148 pages. It has Claud Dwyer at age 16, and discussing daily farm life of the family’s 320 acre farm. He often mentions the neighbors, and events happening in the nearby town of Hankinson. Many of his entries discuss the weather throughout the year.

The second diary is from the dates, June 13, 1887 to June 20, 1888. It is 125 pages, and covers the day to day life of his family. The front inside cover has been decorated with drawings of people and plants as well as calligraphy, poems, and family names. Also there is a recipe for Colie, and remedy for hog cholera.

There is a gap between the second and third diaries. The third diary is dated from January 1, 1891 to December 1, 1891, and is 99 pages. It continues to cover life on the farm for Claud who is now 21 years old.

The fourth diary picks up where the third diary ends, covering the dates December 2, 1891 to December 31, 1892. This diary is 91 pages. The inside front cover has a series of names handwritten on it, as well as two hand drawn partridges in blue ink. This diary covers the death of his sister, Alta, as well has hunting rabbits, chickens, and delivering wheat and oats.

There is another gap in the diaries, as the fifth diary runs from January 1, 1894 through December 31, 1894. This diary is 99 pages long. Every page is filled, and includes the comings and goings of innumerable residents of Hankinson as the family tends to their farm.

The sixth journal is a mixture of school lessons, mathematics, and quotations from various notable people. These entries are interspersed with payroll data from the family farm, dated to 1899. The journal is approximately half complete.

Dates

1886-1899

Creator

Dwyer, Claud C., 1869-1957. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection is held by the Institute.

Biography

Claud Clair Dwyer was born September 27, 1869 to Franklin Luzern and Roxcy L. (Matteson) Dwyer, at Kinnickinnic, St Croix County, Wisconsin. In 1880, he moved with his to Richland County, Dakota Territory. The family homesteaded in Sections 29 and 32, of Brandenburg Township, near the town of Hankinson. Younger sisters Ora and Alta were born on the homestead; Alta dying at a young age.

On February 15, 1899, Claud married, Emma L. Langbehn at Hankinson. They continued to farm in Brandenburg Township. Around 1902, the Dwyer family moved to Spokane, Washington. Here Claud worked as a Teamster for the street railway. About 1915, Claud and Emma moved to Valley, Stevens County, Washington where they operated a farm. Claud and Emma did not have any children. Emma died on June 8, 1957, and Claud died on October 7, 1957, both in Spokane.

Extent

.5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

Six handwritten diaries chronicling the day-to-day life of Claud Dwyer, a young farmer, during the years 1886 through 1894 in Brandenburg Township, Richland County, Dakota Territory.