Anna Baatz
Sehr
Written May
1, 1972
It’s a
lonesome day. Rained all day, read a while, sewed a while and just thought I
would write about me.
I was born
near Aurora, Illinois on a farm about a mile or so out of town. Dad was a hired
man. Mother always talked about how barn burned down during a thunderstorm.
Could always hear poor horses whining.
Mother and
dad were married in Aurora February 16,1898. I was born December 11, 1898. Aunt
Louise Streit took care of mother and me, she also took care of my sister
Nettie after they moved to Iowa. She also took care of Cecilia and I for 10
days.
John and I
started school there. John was six and I was near eight. We could not talk much
English. John was so scared he ran around desks. He wanted to go home with
mother. They came and got us and took us for a few days till we knew the way.
Was in town of Bativela, little over mile. A street car went right pass the
place. There we seen our first car. I think was in 1908 that we moved to Iowa.
Dad had wanted to be on his own and get out of milking. His arms would ache
from milking. He came out to Iowa to look for something. Mother’s cousins Klein
lived in Rock valley so he liked it there so rented a house in Rock Valley. He
was dray man and in fall he got ready to move on farm about 8 miles west of
Rock Valley, so he picked corn for a farmer that fall.
We kids were
so happy to get back on a farm, seemed kind of funny to go to a country school
but they were happy school days. We lived there three years. After corn picking
time I went to catholic school in Rock Valley (1911). Roomed with the sisters,
think for $5 a month. I just think how dad took me early Monday mornings
coldest part of the winter with open buggy and horses. Made my communion in May
1911. Father O’Reily was a good priest. That fall I was confirmed and he also
married Ed and I in 1920. Was wishing the rest of kids could of went to that
school, John and I did when we lived in Rock Valley.
Then we
moved 2 miles east and one south of Inwood, Iowa. I went to school there, first
spring and next winter. We always had 2 weeks corn picking vacation, that is
where I met Ed. Cannot remember him too much first year. But last spring he
helped dad put in crop that summer. His folks came over one Sunday to visit, so
that evening Ed, Nettie and Nettie’s boyfriend and a Kipply girl stopped in.
Nettie’s boyfriend bought a car that was one of first cars in neighborhood.
They were out riding so Ed asked me to ride along. But I was too bashful and
knew I should help mother with kids and supper then.
Short time before we moved had a basket social
in school. I did not go to school anymore. Dad took us, then put horses in Ed’s
folks barn and visit with them while we were in school, there were other people
there too what had put horses in barn and visit a while. Dad or Ed’s folks told
one of the boys to go to the school and have us kids walk to their place, so Ed
is the one that did. Then I knew he cared for me.
Then we moved back to 7 miles west of Rock
Valley was a much better farmer landlord, knew him before when we were
neighbors so did not see Ed too often, just when he brought his folks down.
Then a neighbor boy wanted to keep company with me and came over, one night we
went to German hall for a dance. John and 2 neighbor boys took us, that was
about first time John and I went to a dance. Ed and his folks were there. Ed
seen I had a boyfriend so he did not even come in and went home, so I knew he
was hurt. So I told boyfriend I did not care for him, could not tell him so
wrote letter.
He had even asked dad if he could come so
after that I never would keep company with anyone. But took Ed some time before
he came again, think his mother and my mother got us together again, was in
Rock Valley Fourth of July. He was with some other bunch but he asked me to go
along to ballgame, after that we seen more of each other, think he brought his
folks down more often and mother and dad took me along to his sister Netties
one Sunday so soon he took me to movies and so forth. That winter a school
teacher roomed with us so she went along to a few house dances around
Larchwood.
Ed was drafted in 1918 summer but neighbors
asked for him to get off for a few weeks to get there grain threshed. Then he
got that bad flu, they were all sick at his place but his dad and Steven.
Doctor did not think Ed was going to make it. My folks or I did not hear about
him till they were better, then a neighbor told us. So many families had it we
did not get it; no one went visiting while that was going on. I prayed for Ed
then so he would pull through.
He came down to see me with a team of mules
when too much snow. He had bought them summer before for his water wagon from
dad. One day, dad and I had gone to Rock Valley with them. Dad left me holding
them while he went into some store and they went with me down Main Street to a
lumber yard on end of town. They would not listen to me. When they got in building
they stopped, dad had went with them there so often guess they thought he was
there.
We were
married in 1920. The night before Ed, Joe, Cecilia and I went to confession and
Father told us how to do the ceremony, they went home about 11 and after that we got a big
rain and thunderstorm. They had hard time coming. Uncle and Aunt Val Streit
from Alvord was coming and John and Netttie could not come, that was the only relation
we had. Steven, Frank and Willie did not come then either. But we got to church
in time. It was a nice day then, Mrs. Klein came along to help mother. In
afternoon to Rock Valley to have pictures taken, stayed at home till next day
after dinner, then we went to our new home, quite big home. But no grove, we
were happy there.
Ed was so good to me, we went to his folks for
supper. He had such good mother and dad. I do not know how his mother did all
what she did, so many people stayed with them off and on. One year she roomed
teacher, they did not have too much room. Took care of a Kipply girl from baby
till she was ready to go to school. Grandpa’s brother stayed with them a lot.
Ed threshed, when it rained the men were there a lot she did not have things
handy. But made the best meals in hurry. Kids always had lot of company.
Sundays she gave them all a big supper. Sometimes people would stop after
church, then she made dinner from scratch. When we started farming, she was
boarding 2 men that was tiling on farm Ed rented. They slept in our house, had
to give breakfast, dinner and supper. She kept it up till she could not; she
passed away latter part of July. Willie made his communion she had Father and
his cook out that day, Nettie and John and us, don’t think she felt too good
then already. We all missed her so much. If a neighbor needed help or was sick
she was right there. Joe was the one that missed her most I think.
After three years at this farm we moved to
Larchwood for five years Landlord Harry White move on our place. Cecilia was
born 2nd fall September 27, 1922. How happy we were with her. At
Larchwood Mary was born September 20, 1924 and Nick May 30, 1926. Everyone said
we should name him after his grandpa who passed away first part of April, then
next March 3rd, 1927 my mother passed away. That was kind of a shock
for she had flu and settled in her head, sinuses I think but was getting
better. She had planned as soon as roads were better she had planned on going
to Sioux Falls to see what doctors said there. I know both mothers if they
lived now would of got help. No one those days went to hospital.
Think Ed felt
he was getting nervous so wanted to quit threshing, so looked for a farm in ND
and SD finally found this one. Never said he was worried about his nervousness
but I know now he did think that is why he drank more than he should at times.
Thought a drink would help think it did if he only would not drink too much. We
were so happy to own our own place, did not have to worry about moving and etc.
Said when we moved here would build a barn than a new house then had hard times
come, almost lost place. Insurance Co. let us on for year then next year we
caught up. But was hard sliding for a few years, everybody was hard up was not
on their feet to good. Ed wanted to move on bigger place when kids were getting
to help. But I was not for it, was afraid would lose all and kids didn’t want
to move from their school and friends. But would have been alright because land
raised since then. We paid $85 an acre for this.
Little
Joseph was born that December and passed away in next May. Rolled between bed
and wall, was such a shock. Nettie was here was cleaning house had door shut so
he would sleep, neighbor kids were here while their folks went fishing. He was
such a good baby. They all told us now had an angel in heaven, so that helped.
He is buried in Rock Valley on folk’s lot. Dad was so good, said we should bury
him there. John has 2 baby children buried there too.
Leonard was born in 1935, next winter we had
bad snows everyone was low on fuel and eats. Would open roads, next morning was
blown shut again, did not have snow machines like now, had lot of potatoes,
eggs, milk. Was stocked up on flour but was out of coffee and kerosene what we
missed most. They did have one snow blower though that is the only thing they
could use at last, snow was piled as high as telephone poles at places.
Joann was
born in May 19, 1938. Our Mary passed away August 14, 1963 that was a shock too;
she had a good husband and a nice girl and boy, 4&5 at the time. Burdette
and grandma Oberle took good care of them and are nice children.
It has been over 3 years since Ed passed away
and seems like the longer ago that I miss him more. I know he was not too happy
at times, the last 10-15 years. He would never tell me what was wrong; think he
worried about his health and that he drank too much at times. I know because he
did not want any of his children to do that. He tried different times to give
it up. He always thought it helped his nervousness. The last 10 years he seldom
drank too much, he was the happiest when he and I were by ourselves that last
years. The first 10 years or more he never said an angry word to me, after that
whenever he had too much, seemed he had to anger with someone, next day if he
remembered he was sorry.
The last
10-15 years every year we thought we would have to move to town which he hated
and I too. But turned out we stuck it out and was happy out here so we did not
keep things up.
Mr. Dike homesteaded this place think 1894 is
when he came on place. He first had a shack and then he got married and build
this house. 3 rooms, 2 small bedrooms and front room. I don’t know when he
build kitchen and another small bedroom, wished we had asked more about place
when we seen him.
The last year or so when I helped him dress he
always said he was so much trouble. I told him was no trouble to me as long as
he did not feel too bad, said would have been bad if he had pain or cancer or
something like that and I like it being here with him watching TV, reading. He
did not like me to leave him, just he was bound me to go to church every
Sunday. When I would tell him he was not so bad, he always felt better for a
while, since I do not feel so good, I know how he felt. Never wanted to go
anyplace and now I am the same, never feel safe when away from home. Wish I
understood more how he felt at time, think could of made him more happy.
I miss him so.
Mother
