John B. Goering’s journal – Chapter 2

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Yes, the time Ben got married I had to stay at Home and take care of the farm. I think they where gone most all week. Peter Stucky stayed with me. The day befor they left, Dad seen me trow some littel potatos to the chickens. Dad seen that. He said, “They are no chicken feed. They have to be planted.” So we did, of course we had to plant them. That ment more straw to be hauld to cover the potato pach, and that we had to while they where at the wedding. (and) I dident think that was fair, but dont you know, them wherre the best potatos — a wagon load. The earley planted where no good. Then Dad said, “See, if we hadent planted them, we wouldent have any potatos.”

Then Emeilie Wedding in May 14, 1908, and so I was left alone with Mam and Dad for 4 years, and the bigest part of the time (1 year or more, I cant remember) Dad was at K.C. by a Dr for the cancer on his lip and Mam was their with him. The first time I went with them, we got rooms at a bording house close where the Dr was. That night the bed bogs dident let me sleep. In the morning, the Landlady asked me what I think. I said, “Lady, I couldent sleep, the bedbugs about goy me and my Parints wont stay here onless you have a housecleaning.” You should have seen her work the next day. The next night I sleept good and Dad and Mom where their all the time. (The time 4 years I was alone with Mam and Dad will have to be put on another Page.)

I was 11 years old then, so time went on in harvest we worked together with Henrey Ratzlaff.  He lived across the road. It was his wife second Marriage. She had, I think, 4 Girls and one boy from her first Marrige. They where Vogts and 3 from second Marriage, and I allways played them and my boyfriends allways laught you play with the (Lowduch). I told them I dont care– they are nice Girls. In Harvest I drove on heaterbarg and Katie Voth the other, so we had a lot in common, enough of that.

How about school days? They told me they first sent me to learn to sit sill. We lived only a 1/4 mile from school, so they generely bordet the Teacher. One year the Teacher was from Linsburg– a Lady and while we ate breckfast Dad and she bin discusing of the (about) the Lord’s second coming. I never fagot that. Most all were thinking when one died– that is his second coming. School would have bin fun for me if it wasent for spelling and I still cant spell. My Parents wonted me to go to Bethel Colage. Maybe I would have if it wasent for spelling and the other thing they needet me at home. I was 16th when I was babtised and joined the Eden Church and when I was 18 I thougt my first Sundaschool class Beldar sal boys around 7-8-9 years old, and so time went on.

The 4 years with Dad and Mam

I think it was 1909 and 1910 when they where maney of the time in K.C. with the Dr for Dad cancer on the lip. I was home and done the farming. That was not so basey, one year the weath froze out so we put in a lot in corn. O Dad was home a lot of time. Then after Harvest, whey went back to the Dr. I hired me a young boy to help. He couldent harnes the Horses yet but he fed them. He was a good help. His Dad had a creamerey in Moundridge. One day we wheir working with 2 lesters, that was quicker than plowing. I had trubel on the end and he went on. Then he would wait till I cam. When I got there he was runing across the feil on they way to town, so I unhiched one team, put the harnes by the fence, and kept on working. In the evening I drove to town en stopet by the cremery. His Dad came out. I asked,”Did the Boy come home?” He said, “Yes, would you take him again?” “Yes, if he is willing to go with me.” “O yes, he will, he learned his lession. He will never try that again.” So he came with me and he was such a nice boy. I wonder what became of him. So time went on. O yes, my Sisters and Sister-in-law, they suplied me with bread and a lot of other things to warm up, so I got along quite well.

I think it was in 1910, when the Dr. decidet to operate on his lip, so I and Gedion went there for the ocasion. Of course that was all by train from Moundridge to Newton and then to K.C. Then the next day it was to be done. Of course, he deadent the lip. Dad held my hand. He burned it off most of his lower lip with electric neadel. The smell of burning rawe flesh maid an awful smell. Gedion took out of that room as fast as he could go. I had to stay, Dad held my hand so tight. After he could speek, he said, “I knew you wouldent leave me.” After that he came and dident have any trubel for a long time, but allways had to protect his seliva with a hankechif, till about the year of 1920. He got sores in his mouth and they wouldent heal and he was in bed most of the time. Then, Oct 5, 2921, he went to be with the Lord.

So they lived on that place for about 9 years. Then Mother couldent stay by herself, so it was decidet to sell the House and barn. So Andrew Wedel bought the House and we all helped to move it in the SouthEast corner of the same section where Jacob lived, and Philip Krehbiel bought the barn, and Mother went to live with Elisbt (Andrew Wedel) for sometime. Then later, with Christ Stuckey. Shes wasent to week, so we had to change of for the night. Then on the 14th of May, 1933, Gedion Stucky’s selebrated there 25 Wedding eniversre and wanted Mother to be there. So they took her and she got another stroke and died, May 21, 1933.

Coming up next: the teen-age years.

Notes about John B