Journal of James Abraham Fertig

05/27/2025

08/19/2024

Stopped briefly Friday to get a look at the Wentworth mural. It looks great! Donna Stephens Weiss Monna Stephens Roberson

08/27/2023

Sorry journal friends, experiencing technical difficulties.....

08/24/2023

August 24, 1899- Piled out at 6:15 A.M. Clarence and I finished the hay and only 2 loads to stack. we hauled a barrel of water before noon. Mary and Sam washed in forenoon. Sam went to hunt a man to dig him a well this afternoon. Clarence and I had nothing to do. I wrote J.D.G. another letter. We have just about cleaned up the melon patches today. we will have to go visiting to get good ones after this. I sprained my ancle again today. it seems as though it never is going to get well. got to bed at about 9:30 P.M. Weather Was awful cloudy in morning. tried awful hard to rain last night and several times today but has failed. but it is clear and nice once more. Wind from North West.

08/23/2023

August 23, 1899- We piled out at just 6 A.M. we ate a good breakfast and Sam, Clarance and I tore out to Taloga. My trial comes off today. I stopped and tried to get John Herren to go along but failed again. My trouble has just began. Old Muck Head and I came near mixing. he has no right monkeying with contests of any kind. he has bin debarrred from doing business with the Land Office at Kingfisher. so he just stole $8.50 from me. I gave Mr. Brownlee the case. I guess it is all OK now. Cost me $3.50 more. But the worst is he said I should not leave for at least 10 days. gosh hant that luck. I wont get to see Jim before he leaves. wont get to take In Baxter Springs Reunion. Gosh I wish I had been born better looking and not so confounded lucky. Probably it would have bought me more in the long run. got a letter from Jim tonight. our Dutch have gone to the Nation. Never to return. we got home about 8 P.M. Supper was ready and most of chores done. got to bed at 9:50 P.M. Weather - Has bin very nice day wind form south most of day but changed to North in evening is cooler now than usual a bank inthe West and North. is lightning some now.

08/22/2023

August 22, 1899- Got out at about 6:30 A.M. I tore out over to Bacons after breakfast to see if I could git him to go to Taloga as a witness on my land case. but he had other work to do so i failed of course. such is my luck. had quite a chat with Guy and Dee Salis in forenoon. I got on my old wheel and rode over to Lenora after dinner. had quite a chat with Tom Muck. I mailed my letters here. left at 6:10 P.M. come by Riley. got a letter for Mary from Aunt Helen. Sam and his family went to a funeral in afternoon. I got home at 7:25 P.M. gave old Pattersons dog a hot 38 this evening. Got to bed at about 9:40 P.M. weather- Has bin clear and cool windy all day from South all day. a bank in North and West now.

08/21/2023

August 21, 1899, Got up at about 5:30 A.M. We hauled a few loads of millet in forenoon. but got so windy in afternoon that we had to give up the job. have had all the mellons we could devour today. I have got to do nothing and we are in a place where we do not see or hear much so I have not very much to record. i cleaned up my wheel and took some of the grit and sand out of it. wrote a couple of letters in afternoon. one home and one to J.D.G. I started down to Salisburries in evening but heard that he was not at home. So I did not go. Got to bed at about 9:45 P.M. Weather- Not much wind in forenoon and not so very warm, but the wind got in S. E. in afternoon and blew awful hard and pretty hot. laid again in evening. a bank in W. and N. in morning. thundered in forenoon but no rain. tonight is clear as a bell and the moon shines bright as day. How much more pleasant if would be riding with some true little friend. but such can not be just now. so we must endure what comes and wish for better times for us both.

08/20/2023

August 20, 1899- Got up about 6:30 A.M. took breakfast at a 75 cent house. got started for the ranch at about 7:50 A.M. I struck the right roads part of the way and the rong one part of the way. but did not go any out of my way. had a good deal of sand to contend with. got to Sams at 2:15 P.M. had no dinner till I got there. Charley S. has not got home yet. I have put in part of the afternoon eating mellons. got to bed at about 9:30 P.M. Weather- Has bin very nice today. cool as could well be expected. Tonight clear, moon shine bright as day. a strong wind from the South.

08/19/2023

August 19, 1899- Rolled over and got out at 6:15 A.M. got started at 7:30 A.M. this a fine large warm morning. just a few clouds in sight and prospects of being a schorcher. rode about 2 1/2 mi. and broke my chain. had no rocks to hammer on so I had to use the stock of my revolver. got into Attica at 12 P.M. just 3 minutes before the train came I took it to Woodward. got there at 3:45 P.M. Stayed in town tonight. got to bed at about 8:45 P.M. Weather- It has mostly bin warm today. was hot when we left Attica but it kept getting hotter the further we went. was 112 degrees in the shade in Woodward at 3 P.M. a strong wind from South that almost blistered ones face that was not used to it. was hot in fore part of night but cooed off before 12 and one wished for a cover before morning.

08/18/2023

August 18, 1899- I got up this morning at about 6 A.M. took breakfast at a Lunch Counter. got started at 7:15 A.M. First thing is the Hills. had to do about 4 miles of walking in going 15 miles. but have had fine roads from this side of Burden and if I did not do them justice just sight me. was in New Salem at 11:45 but went to Winfield for dinner. have had the finest roads this afternoon yet and maby you think I am not glad of it. took supper in Mayfield at 7:20 P.M. I rode to Milan and lit my lamp and went on to Argonia. had a little experience with sand the last 5 1/2 M. got in at 8:50 P.M. Made 85 miles today and was some awful bad water today. could scarcely go it. got to bed at about 10:30 P.m. Weather- Today has bin awful warm. but cool again tonight. a bank in N.W. and N. wind in the South. but no rain.

08/17/2023

August 17, 1899- We got up at about 6 A.M. got breakfast and got started at 6:50 A.M. we rode hard till noon. our roads are still awful rough. we have had several mounds (as they call them) to go over and around. but Chas. says if hey are mounds he would like to see some Mountains. we got to Elk City at 11 A.M. Charley is discouraged and dismayed. he takes the train here and goes to Joplin. I rode to Oak Valley for dinner. have just had 3/4 of ough roads since Chas. left me or I left him. I took one of the nicest little falls just before I got to Oak Falls. I rode to Grenola. got there at 6:15 P.M. the Flint Hills comes next. 19 miles to burden on the other side of the Hills. I thought I wanted daylight to go over them. had a puncture this evening some time. fixed it before I went to bed. I put up at a $2 house tonight had a fine bed and nice room. got to bed at about 10:10 P.M. Weather- as bin pretty warm but tonight cool and clear as a bell.

08/16/2023

August 16, 1899- We almost forgot to get up this morning. but did manage to get up at 6:30. Breakfast was not ready and we did not wait on it but started at 7 o clock and rode to Sherwin Jc. and got something to eat. Chas. lost his wrench last night. we got to Oswego at 11 oclock took dinner there at 11:30 A.M. we struck a straight road into Independence 40 miles without a town. our roads have bin rougher today than ever. we have rode on the side of the roads some and have done some walking. if we have not pounded our saddels I would hate to be in ones place that had. Chas lost a bolt out of his and let the leather down on the spring. worse than setting on a broom stick. we went into a house to get us a drink and a dog met us and do a thing but put his mark on my leg. I took my vengance out on another on that came running and barking after us. got into Independence at 7 P.M. took supper at a lunch counter and tonight. an awful crowd on the streets. i believe there is more girls than boys. lots of C***s. Got to bed at about 10 o clock P.M. Weather- Has bin a schorcher. we have colored our pants today to a finish. Clear as a bell and remains so yet.