UC Davis Special Collections D-022 4:19: Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary, 1908

Transcription

1 UC Davis Special Collections D-022 4:19: Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary, 1908 This transcription from the original diary contains language contemporaneous of the time and is being presented as part of a historical record. Please note that the transcription has not been reviewed for final editing. Preliminary notes by transcriber: Diary format Pierce introduced a new form of diary book this year, with one whole page for each date. He used several of the initial alphabetized blank pages for some of the financial records of the ranch. Also he made entries on the Memoranda page (367) at the end of the diary. The Diggs and Pierce Company On 30 of January Pierce mentions explicitly for the first time the "Diggs and Pierce Company" whose real estate activities have been reported in previous diaries, especially dealing with the Hext property. On the 30th they declared a dividend for the company. November 8th Pierce notes that Diggs sent a statement and check to account of Diggs and Pierce with Pierce. University Farm (UC Davis) Picnic on campus on 30 May See list of people present. On Oct 28 Wheeler gave a lecture at U. C. Farm, and on Nov 6th Judge Shields gave one. Several other references to U. C. Farm. Farmers' Institute held there in October at which Pierce gave speech. Pierce had horse operated on there on Nov 3. They removed "snag" from mare's shoulder. First Mention of Sikhs as Almond Pickers On August 4, Shaam Singh phoned he was in Davis with almond pickers. Eunice Pierce Eunice Pierce (87) died on October 26 of this year. On the titlepage of this diary volume Pierce wrote the following notes: Hindoo acct at index M. Shaam Singh " " S [These refer to alphabetized blank pages at the beginning of the diary volume.] Also on the titlepage Pierce registered the following "Geo. W. Pierce Davis Jan 1st " Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 1

2 Blank Page A Almonds shipped. Non[pareil] IXL Ne Plus Net Aug 25 11c Sept /4[c] " "[c] /4[c] " /4[c] /4[c] Blank Page B Almonds delivered at Plant's - NonP. IXL NePlus Peerless Aug [These numbers apparently all represent sacks of almonds.] " Sept Deakes Sept Total 723 sks Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 2

3 Blank Page H Mrs. Green acct Sept 17 delivered Jackson almonds 18 sacks NePlus 1526 " " 19 1/2 " " 1619 " " B.B.T. " 6698 " " 1 " Mrs. G /2 " Texas 1782 Paid Blank Page M [Identified on titlepage as "Hindoo acct"] Monchee & Bogosin [in 1909 vol. spelled "BogaSingh"] Dr Mch Evaporated cream 1.00 Spuds 25 onions Sugar 1.00 WW. Flour Graham Flour broken sk 1.40 " Eggs 15 Coal oil 1/4 gal Roll butter " " 50c butter 50c sk wheat flour 1.60 Apr 14 Butter 1.00 Flour sugar 1.00 Onions 25 spuds flour 1.00 tea butter 40c 21st Butter May 4 W. W. Flour 1.70 soap 25 sugar butter 35 eggs 15 13th butter Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 3

4 20 " 35 26" hobnails in shoes " 35 June 1 1 doz eggs June 3 Sugar 1.00 milk 1.00 flour 1.70 onions [Inserted sum in pencil]: Poll tax th butter butter 40c 40 July 4 butter 40c 5# lard 50 1/2 gal c. oil butter 40c W. W. flour 1.70 sugar " 1 doz eggs 15c qt coal oil 10c 1 lb tea 50c 60 " W. W. flour 1.70 l lb tea 50c sugar [the tea entry crossed out here, although amt. added in.] 23 1 dozen cans milk 1.20 [subtotal inserted here in pencil]: Aug 1 Roll butter 45 doz eggs sugar 1.00 spuds 40c salt Blank Page O Monshee & Bogosin Aug 8th Roll butter 45c doz eggs chairs 1.00 each th Cash butter W. W. flour doz cream 120 can coal oil doz eggs spuds 15c bean 25 stamps Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 4

5 22 1 roll butter doz eggs Sept 1 WW flour doz milk 1.20 " Sugar " 7 spuds.25 5 Butter.50 [crossed out.] 12 Sugar 1.00 Milk 1.20 soap 25 cabbage 15 onions sheep doz eggs sugar 1.00 cabbage 20c milk c stamps Curry (sic) powder 75 thread Oct 3 5 lbs lard 50 1 doz eggs " 8 1 doz cream 1.20 cayenne 20 beans 25 spuds roll butter.50 " Env..05. matches. 05, vaseline W.W. flour 1.60 sugar 1.00 tea 50 onions g. beans 25 ink 10c Blank Page P Oct. 16 Amt food Postage stamps.50 28th sugar 1.00 cabbage 15 Lettuce Tomatoes 10 5 can salmon spuds 25 beans Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 5

6 29 1 sk spuds " W W flour 1.60 Nov 22 1 " " " 1.60 Currey powder 75 sugar Cabbage 20 tea butter.50 Dec 1 6 pr gloves lb lard " cabbage 15 w. w. flour " 6 cans salmon 60 soap settled book ac[c]t Dec To 1 watch Dec 1st Cr. By work less book acct Cash to balance $ Blank Page T Mrs. H. A. Shelton 519, 2d St Woodland. Shaam Singh Aug 1 watch sheep 2.75 Paid 35c 21 Env. 10c stamps 25c tab sheep 2.75 " Cash Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 6

7 29 Quinine [?] 25c sheep 2.75 John Elmont 7 1/2 day Board Aug 31 Kings Cough Cure.50 Sept 1 Stamps.05 " Dave Suwalsky 20 days Roll butter.50 6 sheep th telephone Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 7

8 Wed 1 Jan 1908 Butchered six hogs Had all boys help - Beautiful day - Thurs 1 Jan 1908 Cut up meat - Jeff hauled hay from Davis - Fri 3 Jan 1908 Met E. C. French at 7.25 train and showed him Lot 29 Diggs tract - Jeff plowed with 4 teams - Sent for Review of Reviews, Literary Digest, Famous Orations and U. C. Chronicle - Wrote H. C. Kirk and Twitchell regarding tule lands - Ground sausage Rained a little in night - Sat 4 Jan 1908 Stuffed sausage, made head cheese sause etc. Jeff plowed in afternoon - Sun 5 Jan 1908 Jeff plowed - 4 teams - Ned Galt came from Davis in livery rig - Took him to 3.50 train Mon 6 Jan 1908 Warren Doll sick. - worked in afternoon - Went to Sacramento on 12 M. train. Saw G. W. Lorenz regarding the Humphrey lands and Mr. Kirk regarding overflow lands east of Swingles - Saw M. Diggs Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 8

9 Tues 7 Jan 1908 Worked in shop getting harrows ready. Jeff hauled harrows out with Lige & Beck - Went to Davis in p.m. and met P. N. Ashley by appointment. Mother and I gave right of way for irrigating canal through east field to the Ashley place - Wed 8 Jan 1908 Went to 7.25 train to meet M. Diggs - Tried to find Guy Miner to rent pasture land on Hext place. W. D. & I went to Shorty Thomas' to settle rebate on taxes for W. W. T. owes $64.25 Went to Russell's to try to get renter for Hext land - Russell not at home - Had dinner at Edgewood - Left for return to Davis about It sprinkled most of p.m. Sold lots 43 & 44 to B. C. French for $4000. Diggs left on 4 p.m. Brought Dixwell home - Bought 2 geese of Tuft for 50c. Jeff hauled 30 sx wheat for seed from Davis with Lige & Beck, King & bay mare - Thurs 9 Jan 1908 Dixwell drove Star today - Lined inside of smoke house - Two Hindoos pruned in p.m. Monchee & Bogosin - Jeff hauled two loads wheat from town in a.m. and sowed in p.m. Telephone rang many times today - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 9

10 A heavy fog came in with strong north wind and the day was one of the coldest of the season - Fri 10 Jan 1908 Put sheep into west Diggs field - Have 15 or 20 lambs - Two Hindoos pruned - Hauled 30 sx barley to packing house - Put small fanning mill in granary - Cleaned out a driver's [?] stable - Sue & I went to Davis in auto - on return had a blowout - Made appointment with B. C. French for Monday in Woodland to get deed to lots 43 & 44 Diggs tract - Got coffee, rolled oats, vegetables meat etc - Guy Miner telephoned from Winters that he would take the 140 acre field in S. E. cor. Diggs per acre - [For pasture? See Jan. 8.} Sat 11 Jan 1908 Resalted meat - Looked after sheep - Moved sausage into smoke-house - Cleaned up in yards burned brush - Two Hindoos worked in p.m., gathering brush and pruning vineyard - they worked a little in a.m. but thought the day Sunday - Jerry hauled gravel to culverts and to walks at house - Gardner hunted, looked after sheep and fixed beehives - Two men are on rampage tonight - Sun 12 Jan 1908 Rained this a. m. Jas Miller quit - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 10

11 Put mules in lower barn - Got sheep into home field - Jeff went to town - Mon 13 Jan 1908 Went to Woodland to see Mr Breckenridge regarding rent of 3/4 block, Oak & Lincoln 3rd & 4th Sts - Took Dix to school and brought him home in evening - Jeff Hauled ground barley - and brought Mose Johnson out to drive team - Tues 14 Jan 1908 Jerry and I got electric wire out of creek It rained some today. Wed 15 Jan 1908 [Displaced in Tuesday space.] Went to Woodland and closed lease trade with Breckenridge - Sue went as far as Davis and staid at Mother's - and went to Mrs. Fred Smith's to card club - Thurs 16 Jan 1908 Went to Davis early - took 7.25 a.m. train for San Francisco. Attended meeting of California Fruit Growers who met to protest against the ruling of the department of Agriculture against the sulphuring of California Dried Fruit. A committee was chosen to go to Washington, D. C. to intercede with the Secretary of Agriculture - the President and members of Congress. Col. Royce of Chico and myself were chosen to go from the Sacramento Valley - Went to Melrose and staid at Cousin Frankie's Warren Dull left New Man came with two horses - Fri 17 Jan 1908 Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 11

12 Left a 8.40 for San Francisco. Took observation car at 10 a.m. and went "seeing San Francisco". Back soon after noon. Lunched at the Market Cafe opposite the Spreckels building - Called at the Fiske Rubber Cos office 1030 Golden Gate Ave. regarding an auto tire sent to them - Took 3.00 p.m. train for Davis - It was nearly an hour late in its arrival at Davis - Attended the joint installation of Odd Fellows and Rebecca's - - was Toastmaster. Staid at Mother's - Dixwell staid there too - as Sue has gone to Placerville on Glen Alpine business - Jeff started teams - 2 of his & 2 of mine plowing in my 134 acre field - Sheep were moved into 135 acre field - Sat 18 Jan 1908 It rained a little last night - Dix and I went out about 10- a.m. Shorty Thomas took Dixie's wheel - which had a flat tire - Teams plowed today - Jerry plowed into water pipe and broke it near auto - I fixed it partly - Put out 5 Crimson Winter Rhubarb, 6 Horse Radish, and 25 Cabbage plants - Sheep got out of 130 acre field - put them back and took walk to plowing and around fields - Sun 19 Jan 1908 re-salted meat - Worked on auto some. Mose Johnson drew $ he has worked two days - Mon 20 Jan 1908 Dix not well today. Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 12

13 I went to Sacramento on train. J. DiSoli going too - Got pair pants, wire cutters, Skat [?] 3 in 1. stationery books etc - Attended for short time the Chamber of Commerce meeting at hearing of Congressmen sent to look into river conditions. It began raining in afternoon - Hired new man Sam - for Choreman - It rained in night last night - Paid Lee LaRue for turkey gobbler $3.00 Tues 21 Jan 1908 Dix sick. He walked around barefooted asking irrational questions. Sent for Dr. Bates who came and prescribed for the little man. Mose took Jerry to Davis. Sam and I finished fixing the water pipe that Jerry plowed up - Jeff Donnenwirth returned from San Francisco where he went to testify for the Schmeiser Mfg. Co - Jeff paid board bill for December $48.50 Jeff and one of his nephews went to J. Snyder's place to sit up with remains - Synder having died Saturday evening - Wed 22 Jan 1908 Jeff and man home about 9.30 Went to see about sheep - Saw Guy Miner about land rent - Went to Davis to meet Sue who returned from Placerville on 4 p.m. train Got auto tire from Fiske Rubber Co Golden Gate Ave - Paid Hoag's bill - my own and Mother's $ & getting credit for one car hay (alfalfa) ["alfalfa" seems lightly crossed out, though] $ Got groceries and vegetables fish and meat - Ed. Leake published my Fresno. Cal Promotion Committee speech in today's Democrat - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 13

14 The two Hindoos worked, in yard, burning brush etc in afternoon. Thurs 23 Jan 1908 Jeff went to J. Snyder's funeral back to supper - Blacksmithed some, put new tire on auto, and helped Soon pack sausage - Went into 2134 acre field about 9.30 a.m. to see if we could possibly plow. Found it too wet - It began sprinkling about 10 a.m. and rained at intervals throughout day. Toward night the wind got into southeast and it rained hard for a while but quit about 10 p.m. Fri 24 Jan 1908 Clear in forenoon Sprinkled in p.m. Sue started to go to Mrs. F. Chiles to card club but was so late she gave it up after going to Davis She got Gardner at 4 p.m. train and took him home. I took mule team in p.m. and went to Davis with butter, eggs & empty gasoline tank Got 4 sx spuds, 100# bbl corn beef [?] from Sacramento, syrup vegetables etc. Home late Sat 25 Jan 1908 Mose Johnson quit - Took Gardner to Sacramento Got suit $19.00 for a $27.50 suit, hat shoes stockings etc. Saw Alden Anderson Rained at intervals all day - Sun 26 Jan 1908 Put stove in dining room. Opened up drains in wheat field - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 14

15 Took Gardner in buggy to Davis to 6.30 p.m. train Mon 27 Jan 1908 Fixed pump at porch - Fixed wagon tongue Re-salted meat - Cleaned up auto. Began the work of moving brooder house - Jeffs man went to Davis for load of hay - Jeff brought out choreman from Davis, also bunches of vines from the California Nursery Co - at Niles - The Red Cross Employment office sent a choreman and Jeff took his new choreman back and got the one from Sacramento - Sent for draft on San Fran to pay for grain 6 1/2 Tues 28 Jan 1908 Moved brooder house into chicken yard between to long houses - Wed 29 Jan 1908 Jeff started 4 teams this a.m. one sowing 3 harrowing - It rained a hard shower about 4.30 p.m. Jeff sowed wheat N. E. of windmill and did not finish cross-harrowing it - Sue had a Ladies' Whist Club meeting and ladies went home in rain - Jeff went to Davis in evening. I drove to Davis in evening and attended meeting of I. O. O. F. to greet Grand Master Ogden of Oakland - Thurs 30 Jan 1908 Went to Sacramento on train to meet M. Diggs to have annual settlement of the Diggs and Pierce Company. We declared a dividend of $ each - Deposited min [?] in D. C. Mills bank. Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 15

16 Got Sue's shoes, my vest Munyons Rheumatism etc- Out at 3.30 p.m. Jeff Donnenwirth had a fight with Mose Johnson. Had interview with representative of Continental Building & Loan Society of San Francisco. Fri 31 Jan 1908 Got last two bucks into west orchard - fixed fence- Had Sam Irwin [?] help fix harness in p.m. Choreman finished digging post holes for chicken yard and got posts and boards on ground - getting boards from north windmill field - Jeff Donnenwirth returned with a dunn colored horse he got of Del Grieve - Tom and I rode about among the sheep - Sat 1 Feb 1908 Soon went to Chinese New Year at Davis. I went to Woodland on lat train - stopped at Julian. Attended Odd Fellows meeting at which Grand Master Ogden was present - They had a banquet - It began raining last night about 8 p.m. and has rained almost ever since Sun 2 Feb 1908 Rained all day - Went to Davis on 2.55 train - Gardner came to Davis on way to Woodland - took his wheel - Drove home got there about 6.30 Rained very hard some of the time - In east a heavy storm and great cold prevail Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 16

17 Mon 3 Feb 1908 [No entry.] Tues 4 Feb 1908 Men worked on fence along road beginning at N. E. cor in a.m. and on cross fence near old alfalfa field in p.m. Rained toward evening - Sue went to [word?] [train?] and got Miss K. Chandler Wed 5 Feb 1908 Men worked on cross fence in a.m. creek - in p.m. helped Ed Lehe put electric wire across Went in a.m. around Diggs tract - Sue took Miss Chandler to 12 M. train. Thurs 6 Feb 1908 Went to San Francisco on 7.25 train. Attended meeting of California Fruit growers relative to use of sulphur. Lunched at Louvre with McCall, Scott & Jones - Called at office of the Continental Building and Loan Association. Dined with McCall & Scott at the St. Mark in Oakland - Attended theater - Fri 7 Feb 1908 Went to Cousin Frankie's this a.m. Am not well - have frightful cold and sore throat - Had Physician Dr K. B. Smith of San Leandro and Melrose - Sat 8 Feb 1908 I am better today - but was not up much - The Dr. came again today. Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 17

18 Sun 9 Feb 1908 Very cold day - Am much better. Miss [name omitted] an old Milwaukee friend of Frankie's came and we all went with W. L. to ride about Piedmont - Mon 10 Feb 1908 Left on 9.37 train for home. Sue came in after me - Tues 11 Feb 1908 Boys cleaned barley for seed - Jeff experimented with one team on plowing - too wet in my field - moved to Hext field - Wed 12 Feb 1908 All four teams started plowing for Jeff on Hext place near Russell's - Jeff was not here this morning - came before noon - Thurs 13 Feb 1908 At night Tom brought his team to my 134 acre field - Fri 14 Feb 1908 Jeff brought his two teams and Sam's team from his place to my 134 field at noon. Sat 15 Feb 1908 Plowed garden patch and planted some garden seed west of house. Worked on auto finally. Telephoned to Armfield to send a man - He sent Percy who got the rig running and left for home about 8.15 p.m. Jeff went to town. Sun 16 Feb 1908 All teams plowed today Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 18

19 Jeff returned toward night - Sue, Dix and I went to Davis in auto. Sue and Dix attended Sunday school - got express package for Tom Waistell and sk early rose spuds - Percy [name not given] Armfield's man who came to fix my car last night ran off the culvert in county road near my gate. Helped him get straightened up again - Mon 17 Feb 1908 Sue and I went to Sacramento on train. Had intended to take storage battery to Sac. but forgot it - Took tobacco seed to O. H. Miller got sponges, steel brush etc Visited Capitol building. Sue got matting for sitting room floor - Took Dixie to school with us and two Hindoos who pruned and spaded in Mother's yard - Left $100 in safe deposit Paid Dr. Bates $4.50 for attending Dixwell and got new prescription for after-grip effects. Paid Rowe & Wire Mothers bill $7.00 and own $8.00 Got meat, vegetables etc tobacco, Union Leader for Sam. Tues 18 Feb 1908 Sent two Hindoos to Davis to work at Mothers with Dix in the surrey - Dix got his wheel and Hindoos came back in surrey bringing sk early rose spuds & sk beans - Planted 1 sk spuds on pacing house yard. Wed 19 Feb 1908 Plowed more ground for potatoes in a.m. In p.m. Jeff and I sowed barley in 134 acre field - Sue had Monshee and Bogosin help clean house this afternoon - sitting room - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 19

20 Thurs 20 Feb 1908 Jeff and I finished sowing 134 acre field - The little black Glen Alpine filley (sic) that Jeff got up to break got cut on barb wire - North wind blew quite strong today Dix did not got to school. Sue and Hindoos cleaned house - parlor & bedroom - They are having unusually heavy snows in East - There are no almonds in bloom yet - Fri 21 Feb 1908 Tom finished planting potatoes. Went to Sacramento on train to meet Uncle S. B. French and his son but missed them as they came last night and staid at Capital Hotel going to Davis at 3.30 p.m. today. Out to Davis on 6.10 p.m. Met M. Diggs at Davis - he has been sick - is on track of a man who wants some creek land - Sat 22 Feb 1908 All four teams moved to Jeff's field and plowed - Sam brought Larney, mare to house with colic and took Beauty. Doctored Larney. Tom broke casting on plow - Took Uncle Sam French and Cousin Sam to ranch. Showed them about place - took them back to Davis in p.m. Sue going in with us. They are to start Monday morning for San Francisco and Los Angeles - Choreman plowed vineyard and family orchard. The two Hindoos spaded front yard - Sun 23 Feb 1908 Dixwell went to Sunday school. Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 20

21 Just at night Sue and I rode over to J. Maier's place. He is going to finish putting in the lots 7 & 8 Diggs tract. Mon 24 Feb 1908 John Maier came for some seed barley - got 23 sks weighing [figure not given.] Tinkered about home - went over to Maier's place about 11 a.m. He has not yet started plowing - is to start this p.m. Began resetting vines in vineyard on knoll. Tues 25 Feb 1908 Marked lambs - have about 410 Set out vines on knoll. Am short of vines for the job. Wed 26 Feb 1908 Put out 10 Malaga vines Went to see Shorty Thomas about seeding the 80 north of him. He had agreed to do it but is backing out - Sue went to Whist Club at Mrs. Read's. Sent for 250 Tokay vines - order by phone - Tom, Monchee and I strengthened levee along west side of orchard in Diggs tract field - Got returns from one car of wheat hay shipped to Scott & Magner. But $9.25 per ton was realized, gross - leaving me $7.20 per ton. From this warehouse, loading, hauling, baling, cutting & stacking must be deducted. I figure that after making these deductions I will have $2.80 per ton for producing the crop. A losing business - Thurs 27 Feb 1908 Got ready to go to San Francisco to attend Fruit Grower's Committee meeting under the impression that today is Friday - In p.m. Sue went to town Went to see Oeste about putting in grain on the Hext place - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 21

22 Went to Mother's and staid over night - Fri 28 Feb 1908 Left on 7.25 for San Francisco - It began raining about as we got to Benicia. Went to Thos. B. Jeffrey's for Rambler extras - Harvey and I lunched together. Attended Sulfur Committee meeting. It decided to sent Arthur Briggs and Brailsford to Washington. Staid at Grand Hotel, Taylor and [street name not given] streets. A. E. Drucker is one of the proprietors - It rained most of the day - Sat 29 Feb 1908 Left on 9 a.m. train for Davis - Sue attended Rebecka social last night - Home at about 2 p..m. Rained at intervals - Sun 1 Mar 1908 Rained at intervals, about 10 a.m. it rained very hard for a while and hailed a little. - at Davis it hailed hard - Fixed, cleaned and put new ribbon in type-writer - Tinkered some on automobile - Mon 2 Mar 1908 Blacksmithed in a.m. - got plows in order - Tom turned weanling colts out - In p.m. started to Woodland - to attend Board of Supervisors meeting in interest of sheep-growers - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 22

23 My automobile balked when near Mr. Ed Bullard's - Phoned in to E. W. Armfield who came out with Percy and helped get it to going - - gasoline supply was not delivered to engine and gears stuck - Ran into Woodland - put up at Amrfield's garage and left rig for repairs - Staid at Julian hotel Got some medicine of Dr. Lawhead for Gardner who is sick at home. Tues 3 Mar 1908 Went to Davis on 7 a.m. train. It sprinkled at intervals - Sent Dr. Bates out to see Gardner who has measles - Went to Sacramento on Saw M. Diggs - my storage battery is not yet recharged. Drew $1550 and paid $1500, on note at Peoples Bank. Out at Monshee and Dix drove old mules to Davis - Dix returned on Gardner's wheel. Got bale of rooted Tokay vines, meat, bananas etc. Paid Mrs. Rogers and left money with Mother - Home late - Gardner is apparently better - Jeff started sowing and harrowing at noon. He finished sowing on creek piece - Wed 4 Mar 1908 Very heavy frost this a.m. ground frozen. Went to Woodland on delayed train hoping to see M. Dozier Jr - All trains were delayed by wreck at Foster's. Got my automobile and ran home taking wool sacks wool twine pruning shears and arctic grease. It rained at Woodland about 3 p.m. but did not at home. Thurs 5 Mar 1908 Heavy frost this a.m. Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 23

24 Got up sheep and sorted out 37 head for butcher per head. Jeff took his two teams out north and left mine to finish harrowing, which they did about 2 p.m. Ass Jeff left them without instructions I put them at work just north of alfalfa field - Toward evening rode out to see country about north Hext tract. Put sheep into north windmill field - Hindoos finished re-setting Tokay vines - Rained a little about 7 p.m to 9 p.m. Fri 6 Mar 1908 Tom drove the 37 mutton sheep to Davis - Went in auto and collected $ from Mr. Knox of Napa. Waited to see Mr. Dozier of Vallejo and Northern Electric railway - but missed him - Home at 1 p.m. and started two plows on C. French's beet land - Went to Davis to see Mr. Dozier again but failed - Got new choreman - Dix and Hindoos planted garden and Grape Fruit trees near auto house - Strong north wind today - Heavy frost this a.m. Sat 7 Mar 1908 Took hay to Shorty Thomas' for men to feed at noon - Set new choreman to plowing vineyard. Went to Davis to meeting of Fairfield Ditch Co - Took Sue to train. Tom Cavanaugh choreman left - Home in time to take men to dinner and back again. Burned a little stubble on lot adjoining Fried - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 24

25 Went to 4 p.m. train for Sue - S. got wedding present for Gladys Kron - Dix and Hindoos planted berries, tomatoes etc and dug up alantus tree south of auto house - Heavy frost this a.m. Sun 8 Mar 1908 Mr. Walker, of Nonpareil Store Sacramento, who is bargaining for 20 acres of Hext creek land came out and I went with him to look at the land - Fixed auto in p.m - After dinner Sue and I went to see land in N. E. cor Hext field - called at Mrs. Greene's and Kate and Tuttle went for a ride to Romanger's. Jeff and Carl went to Sacramento I think. Frost this a.m. Beautiful day - Mon 9 Mar 1908 Dix went to school for first time since Gardner came down with the measles - The auto tied up and as I had to go to Davis I drove Lady [?] - Sue going with me. Took plow shares and case eggs - Worked on auto in p.m. - got it going - Lett sheep into summerfallow wheat field - Tues 10 Mar 1908 Put Ambrose to plowing with old Beck in knoll vineyard - Hindoos digging Alantus trees - Teams plowing for French Went to Davis to see about corn cultivating and to hear from Diggs. Met Ashley Saw Geo. Sanders and declined to rent land to the Jap who want to rent 10 acres adjoining Sanders. The Jap is crazy - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 25

26 Went to Gernushausen's and rented 80 acres to him for Egyptian corn giving me one third delivered in Davis - He begins work Monday or Tuesday - Saw Mr. Brown about revolving harrow - Saw Joker horse, he is badly crippled - the 3rd one Jeff has used up this winter - Wed 11 Mar 1908 Cleaned 60 sx barley for seed for Lot 1 & 2 Diggs tract - Started two teams plowing in p.m. in lots 1 & 2 Diggs tract. Tried to get teams of Oeste and Greene - Quit on French beet land at noon - worked two teams 4 days - Thurs 12 Mar 1908 Ground 30 sx barley - Went to Sacramento on train. Saw M. Diggs about land - Out at 5.05 Got battery of Schneider - Theodore Oeste sent me one 8 mule team at noon to help out on the plowing - Fri 13 Mar 1908 Tom broke casting "B1" on Bonanza - the second one for him this season. Finished hauling ground barley - Took harrows to Diggs tract. Borrowed Mr. Brown's revolving harrow to try it - Went to Davis for B. 1 extra and put it on Tom's plow. Had Sam plow around the last 80 - lots 2, 3, & [ number left blank]. Took ratched (sic?) off Sam's plow for fixing. Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 26

27 Sat 14 Mar 1908 Finished fixing Tom's plow then had him plow the drainage ditch. Boys finished plowing Lots 1 & left surplus grain 8 sx at Frieds barn - Two teams harrowed - did not quite finish 2nd harrowing - Sue and I went to Woodland in auto after dinner - I attended the dispersion sale of the Ashburner Short Horn cattle. Home at dusk - Sun 15 Mar 1908 Sam drew 5.00 & went to town. Miner's sheep got out into Shorty's and the County road - Shorty got wild over them - Sue, Dix and I went out in auto to drive them in and the transmission stuck - had to return on low speed - Fixed auto - T. Tsujii, Sander's Jap called again wanting to rent land - Gardner and Hugh took Mr. Brown's harrow home - Mon 16 Mar 1908 Jeff put Fred with team into my field in a.m. and Carl at noon - Boys finished third harrowing of lots 1 & 2 - Cleaned 46 sx barley for seed - all I have - Went to see T Tsujii in evening but missed him as he came up here - saw him later. Marked 5 calves - 2 bulls - Gardner returned to the High School for first time since his attack of the measles - Tues 17 Mar 1908 Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 27

28 Went to measure ten acres of land for T. Tsujii west of Sander's - wrote out agreement - Tsujii paid $50.00 on acct - He is to pay $ for 10 acres from now until Dec 31st and fence the place. Hugh & I sowed twenty acres north of Fried in a.m. Henry & Fred Gernushausen pulled into my field after dinner - from Shorty's - Hugh & I tried to pump water from creek pump but belts bothered badly - Mrs. Brown called. Sue and I rode out to the plowing after dinner this evening - Wed 18 Mar 1908 Very strong north wind - Jeff and Hugh sowed in forenoon - Jeff went to town in p.m. and got 25 sx barley 2850# for J. H. Oeste & Sons pile for seed for Diggs Tract. Took Dix in auto to the LaRue corner - The Gernushausen boys took their plowing rigging home this evening. Settled with them at rate of 8.00 per day each. Returned to Davis for Sue - Took in 24 doz - eggs - got 12 1/2 c. T. Tsujii gave me a draft on the Jap Bank of Vacaville for $ balance rent of land (10 acres.) - Thurs 19 Mar 1908 Heavy north wind - Jeff and I finished sowing barley on Diggs tract at noon - Finished plowing Diggs tract. Fri 20 Mar 1908 Finished harrowing in Diggs tract Sent Tom with team to plow for T. Tsujii for vegetables - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 28

29 Laid out Tsjuii's fence. Took Dix to school. Hugh took load of wood to Mother - got gasoline, coal oil chick food etc - Got plow share pointed. flour 2 bbls, 2 sx sugar, Emptied coal oil. Sue & I went to Diggs Tract - P. N. Ashley telephoned that he would come tomorrow to survey west Hext field - Took out disk plow to try - one belonging to Geo B Hoag - Sue & I went to Hext place and around east field - Called at Mrs. Brown's - and at Shorty Thomas - and at latter place got one sk. Egyptian Corn - Sat 21 Mar 1908 Fearful north wind - Sam & Carl plowed in summerfallow west of alfalfa - Went for Mr. Ashley and party - and worked with them most of day - Mr. Ashley, Percy Campbell and Mr. Proctor staid over night with us - Sun 22 Mar 1908 Moderate north wind - Mr. Ashley finished surveying this a.m. Took him and party to train. Attended M. Miner's funeral - Made iron pins for center post in county road north of west Hext field and Sue Dix and I went out and drove in three of them - Gardy went to Woodland on this wked. Mon 23 Mar 1908 Started Sam Irwin in east orchard with the disk plow - It did not work well and it was abandoned - Tried the two horse plow and it did not work - got out the Moore Orchard plow and it went - M. Diggs telephoned out to me to meet him at Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 29

30 Sue and I went down - met Mr. Nichols of Oakland Chamber of Commerce - Diggs went on to Woodland to meet Mr. Richards who wants to buy 50 acres of Hext land - Home at noon - Tom finished with Tsujii at noon and with Carl plowed summerfallow north of alfalfa - Hugh brought sheep from the summerfallow grain to east orchard - Put sacks at stakes on my line fence to mark Hext subdivision. Tues 24 Mar 1908 Went to Davis to meet M. Diggs. Bob Armstrong and Mr. Richards went in buggy to west Diggs tract. All stopped to see place where County is putting in culvert at Thomas' - Diggs, Richard[s] and self went to Woodland in auto to see P. N. Ashley - Old Bob Armstrong with tender-footed mare drove to Woodland - Bob kicked about putting culvert across slough and made so many objections that Diggs threw up the trade. Diggs went to Sacramento on 3.30 and I came away soon after - Stopped on way home and paid Mrs. John Maier for boarding men while plowing Lots 1, 2 etc - Men finished plowing summerfallow north of alfalfa - Wed 25 Mar 1908 Started two teams plowing in east orchard, one of mine one of Jeff's - Jas. A. Harbs & Fred Roos came and got 2 cows and 1 calf for beef gave $75.00 for cows and $20.00 for calf - Got up Falrose mare that has fistula and little horse that is lame. Attended ditch meeting at Shorty Thoma's. Hired Rogers to put in culverts and bulkheads - Jeff hauled hay from town - Looked after plowing - Sue went with Dix to Davis to attend W. C. T. U. meeting - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 30

31 Went in evening to Demorest Silver medal contest in Davis - - was one of the judges - Staid at Mother's - Thurs 26 Mar 1908 Jeff began plowing in my east fields for irrigating canal on Ashley's account - Dr. Alexander came today about noon and operated on mare "Easter" for fistula - He also trimmed two year old horses foot and looked at Joker's lame foot - Came out from town this a.m. leaving there at 5 a.m. Went to Fairfield ditch on Hext place where Mrs. Greene has team plowing - Went to Davis - got 26 stakes for land corners on Hext place - Little Bill Montgomery came for pasturage bill on mares for season Paid him $20.00 Andy Montgomery, his brother was with him - they drove a colt in a cart - Fri 27 Mar 1908 Put weight on off wheel of disk plow for orchard use - Took Sue to Mrs Wilbur's to a Whist party, then returned to Davis and took train for Sacramento. Paid note and premium on my policy for one year to the Pacific Mutual Ins. Co. Thos Fox agt - Amt $ [?] Out at Went to Wilbur's for Sue. Mrs. Tuttle rode out with us - Sat 28 Mar 1908 Sam Irwin drew all his money and went to Sacramento. Had Tom hitch on to roller and rolled east end of west orchard - Fixed up auto in p.m. - Looks very much like rain - Sun 29 Mar 1908 Heavy north wind - Took Jim [June?] Plant home and Dix to Sunday school - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 31

32 Gardner rode on his wheel - Stopped at Mother's - South wind in evening and looks rainy - Mon 30 Mar 1908 Sprinkled a little early this a.m. Tried to use the orchard plow in west orchard but it was too light and had to quite - Stopped rolling and started disc plow - Went to south ditch crossing on west Diggs Avenue to direct men who are building culvert [and getting road graded for ditching -]? [this line stands isolated at end of the entry for the 30th and was probably intended for insertion here.] then to Mrs. Greene's to get teams for hauling but had to go to Charley's house to get information - Hugh and I tried to get some of the loose horses into east field but failed - Gardner went to town taking empty coal oil tank and getting road graded for ditching - [see above, second paragraph.] Tues 31 Mar 1908 Jeff took Carl and team - put them on Fresno scraper. Tom and I plowed road on Diggs tract out west in a.m. - tried to plow for summerfallow but ground was too hard - In p.m. tried to harrow the summerfallow - but it too was too hard and we quit - Turned out some work stock and Tom took the Fresno scraper out north to Fairfield Canal - Sam plowed in west orchard in a.m. and harrowed in east orchard in p.m. Strong north wind - grain needing rain - Hugh took Sander's revolving harrow home - Wed 1 Apr 1908 Started Tom scraping on Fairfield Ditch at junction of Greene's canal - Fearful north wind - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 32

33 Dix did not go to school today All of us and Mrs Tallman and boy went to Winters to the celebration - dedication of the new concrete bridge - The transmission in auto stuck twice on me. Thurs 2 Apr 1908 Heavy wind - Gardner and I left about 8.15 with auto for San Francisco - Reached Vallejo about and San Fran about 2.15 The transmission stuck again after we got to boat - After getting dinner we worked on machine most of the time while crossing the bay. Got it so that it would go again - Ran to 121 Valencia - Took grip to 113 Duncan and staid there over night going in the evening with the Chandlers to a "settlement house" concert given by Columbia Park boys - Fri 3 Apr 1908 Gardner and I were at shop in a.m. Then went to Cliff House and beach - back to Ferry Depot - got shirt for Gardner, back to shop - over to Melrose on 3.20 train - Found Pierce sick again - Sat 4 Apr 1908 We went to Berkeley in a.m. saw W. R. Pond - got pointers on realestate (sic). Dined in Berkeley - took 1 p.m. Key Route train for San Francisco. The auto is not done - will not be finished today - G. G & I went to Depot expecting to go home on 3.20 train but time had been changed to 3.00 and we missed boat - Went to Grand Hotel for night - Were both barbered and went to Orpheum - Sun 5 Apr 1908 Left on 7 a.m. boat for Davis - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 33

34 Sue & Zoe came down for us - Capt and Mrs. Tuttle called - Sue and I drove about almond orchard - Crop is good in east orchard. Nice day - but we are very much in need of rain - Mon 6 Apr 1908 Fearful north wind - Helped run road grader in ditch running to Mrs. Greenes, both forenoon and afternoon - Tues 7 Apr 1908 Fearful north wind - Ran grader of [?] Greene canal in a.m. and finished job - In p.m. was sick - Went to east field - T Tsujii plowing his rented land - Dix did not go to school - Wed 8 Apr 1908 Got up mares for breeding - Put surveyors stakes for west Hext field in place - Sue and Mrs. Tallman went to Whist Club at Mrs. Pel Montgomery's - Thurs 9 Apr 1908 Light north wind - Hugh and I took two mares to Davis for Fortuny - - load of wood to Mother - saddle mare Nellie to shoer - Got 1 bbl sheep dip - shy one - 10 sx barley x 6 timber 14 ft - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 34

35 Man got "Rose" to break - P. N. Ashley came to resurvey west Hext piece - Sue had the Ladies' Aid meeting - about 17 came - Hindoos hoed garden - Got 60 ft 4 in rubber belting from R. B. Cranston. Fri 10 Apr 1908 Strong north wind again - Hindoos hoe potatoes - Drove Lady to Davis, Lorain [?] going with me. Left rig for Dixwell to take home and went to San Francisco on 4 p.m. train. Staid at Grand Hotel - Sat 11 Apr 1908 Took auto out to try on Mission hills - Did some shopping - got hat at Emporium and pants at Roos Bros - Went to Oakland on boat and to Melrose. Took the Porters to U. C. - Stanford baseball game at Berkeley - Sun 12 Apr 1908 Left at 8.15 for boat - Left San Fran at 9.45, Vallejo at arrived home about 5 p.m. Mon 13 Apr 1908 Had Sam & Tom work on drainage ditches on Diggs tract, Lots 1, 2, 3, & 4 - with county grader & ten mules - Went to Woodland to have auto examined - find two cylinders in bad shape - Took Mrs. J. B. Tallman and Lorain to Woodland en route to Nicholas - Jeff has begun fencing in a piece of his land - for pasture - Fried is building a house - Looks rainy Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 35

36 Tues 14 Apr 1908 Put two Hindoos to hauling gravel for headgate on Fairfield ditch at Greene branch and filling in at crossings - They hauled (8) sacks cement to cement workers at Greene crossing - Spent considerable time at cement workers - had them get tank of water to finish another batch. Sue and I went to town took 66 squares honey to 15c. Ordered cement to finish culverts also iron grooves for headgate. Looks a little like rain - Wed 15 Apr 1908 Sprinkled a very little about 7.30 a.m. first time since March 3rd last - Went to R. Schmeiser's and got 6 sks cement - took it to Greene crossing on Buckeye road - In afternoon prepared speech for Rebeckah's - Sue, Dix and I went to Davis Sue and I going to Rebeckah's meeting - It was the 7th anniversary of the Lodge - Sent Monshee in p.m. to haul more gravel to headgate at Greene branch - Thurs 16 Apr 1908 Went to San Fran on 7.25 a.m. train - Sue got $30.00 and went to Sacramento shopping - Called at Thos B. Jeffery's for replacement of injured parts to auto - Attended meeting of Executive Committee of Fruit Growers - at Ferry Building at 1.30 p.m. Left on 3 - p.m. train for Davis - Met Sue at Depot on her return from Sacramento - All went home in auto - Began sheep-shearing - Fri 17 Apr 1908 Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 36

37 Went to grading outfit on west place and to cement workers on head gate M Diggs telephoned for me to meet him at train - Went to train took flowers for Mrs Eva [last name not recorded] and G. G's best suit so that he can attend birthday party at Phil Bruton's [?] Diggs came out with man from Illinois - showed him Lots 1, 2, 3, & 4 - up past Greene's and to almond orchard - - back to Davis at Sat 18 Apr 1908 Went to east field in a.m. and to cement workers who are putting in bulkhead at Greene branch on Diggs tract. In p.m. boys finished grading and plowing for road on Diggs tract and opened up ditch on 140 acre piece north of county road - Went to Davis in evening - attended I.O.O.F. Lodge - Sheep shearers got through Sheared 730 sheep - Sun 19 Apr 1908 All attended Easter services at Presbyterian Church Dixwell spoke and did nicely - Mon 20 Apr 1908 Tom worked Fresno on Fairfield Ditch at road crossing, west avenue on Greene line - Sam ran clod masher in east orchard. Hindoos cut wood and worked in garden. Went to Davis - got Diggs Contract and went to Woodland - Had Percy Goyet adjust car - It does not run well - Saw N. A. Hawkins about Diggs-Hext land contract - Home at 6.30 p.m. car not running well. Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 37

38 Hindoos got roll butter. Tues 21 Apr 1908 Settled with Jeff Donnenwirth for team work and board. Tom worked on Fairfield Ditch as did two Hindoos with two [?] hauling gravel for Guile head gate and fill in at head gate & crossing. Cloudy Auto did not do well today - did not get it going until 4 p.m. today - Went to ditch crossing on Buckeye road - with Hindoos put lumber into Schlegel field - It sprinkled a little toward evening - from about 5 o'clock. Wed 22 Apr 1908 Had Hindoos help grinding 10 sx barley - Hindoos worked on road crossing at Greene place. I went there and had Tom go there with Fresno - Finished culvert at noon - Tom & Hindoos worked on central culvert and headgate - Went with Sue to Davis - she going to Mrs. Weise's to a card party - Cold and cloudy - Thurs 23 Apr 1908 Sprinkled a little at intervals in a.m. Moved scaled to creek barn, and marked wool - sending it to C. M. Co. Berkeley - Hindoos worked in a.m. on Greene headgate and fence across ditch at Ruane [or Ruam?] - Tom finished culvert at Shorty's - Sent wool (2912#) to Davis to Century Mercantile Co - Berkeley - Monchee taking it - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 38

39 Bogosin helped Hugh herd sheep in orchard - in p.m. Fri 24 Apr 1908 Monchee plowed little orchard and vineyard - Bogosin and Hugh herded sheep - Bogosin helped shine brass on auto - Started two teams, one mine one Jeff's at filling crossing at big slough at Shorty Thomas'. Jeff went to town in p.m. - got lumber and cement - took one of my wagons to Luft for repairs - Sam stopped cultivating in knoll vineyard at noon and started roller in east orchard - Sue & I rode out to new culvert at Thomas' after dinner - Sat 25 Apr 1908 Heavy north wind - Put sheep into east field - Bogosin helped clean auto then worked in vineyard - Monchee worked in family vineyard and orchard - Sue and I went to Woodland in auto after lunch. Auto did not work well - left it with Percy - We staid at Julian - Attended 89th Anniversary of Odd Fellows at I. O. O. F. Building - spoke on history and possibilities of order. Sun 26 Apr 1908 Took Mr & Mrs. Dopking for ride - Nelson's bridge, Yolo and return - Home at 1.30 Very warm - Sue and I went to Davis to Presbyterian church to Odd Fellow anniversary - The Officers responded and I gave an address - Mon 27 Apr 1908 Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 39

40 North wind - stronger in p.m. than in a.m. Went to Woodland, via Davis to see N. A. Hawkins regarding the proposed Diggs contract - Took auto to Percy's shop and helper and self took cylinder No. 4. off and sent it to San Fran ordering a new one - Percy away to Rumsey with machine stranded at Madison - Went to Davis on train Home with Dixwell - A. M. Elston telephoned that sheep inspecter(sic) to dip sheep will be here on Wednesday - Del Grieve want my hay now stored in Dodge's - Tues 28 Apr 1908 Got sheep dipping outfit ready. Fixed broken scraper Wed 29 Apr 1908 Sent Sam to Davis for G. E. Lamborn, Government sheep inspector. We dipped sheep today about 1200 head, Sam, Hugh, Monshee & Bogosin helping - Thurs 30 Apr 1908 Boys finished fill at Donnenwirth bridge at noon. Tom opened up drain at N. E. corner of Lots 1, 2, 3, & 4 - in p.m. Sue took me to 5.35 p.m. train. Went to Woodland expecting to get auto but it was not ready - Sam began mowing alfalfa in a.m. Monschee & I got out rake - Staid at Julian - Fri 1 May 1908 Left Woodland soon after 11 a.m. for home - Car runs well. Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 40

41 Dixwell is sick and did not go to school today - Sam broke both knives on mowing machine - took them to town in p.m. and got them mended, also got monkey wrench of E. J. E - It began light rain about 4.30 p.m. and continued a couple of hours - Gardner got wet, as it rained on him from Plainfield home - Big picnic in Dixon today - Tom Waisted went to Dixon. Sat 2 May 1908 Attended ditch meeting at Sue & I went to Sacramento - Sue got coat etc. I saw M. Diggs & got him to sign new paper regarding ownership of Hext Tract - Out on 5.05 Sam went to Sacramento. Sun 3 May 1908 Took Dix to Sunday school - Expected Uncle Sam & cousin Sam but they did not come - Mon 4 May 1908 Sue & Dix started for Melrose on 7.25 train to attend Fleet ovation - Sam returned - badly used up by his trip and I let him go - Jeff & Fred went to South Putah - Tues 5 May 1908 Gardner & I left with auto about 8.00 a.m. for Vallejo - Had an annoying trip - running on 3 cylinders much of the time. There were 4 autos on boat - Ran to Thos B. Jeffery's and had work done on machine - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 41

42 Left for Melrose about 6.40 p.m. Gardner injured his right arm while trying to start auto on the ferry - Called in Dr. K. B Smith Frankie's physician - Wed 6 May 1908 Will, Rose, the children and self went, via Key Route to see incoming fleet, intending to go to Goat Island. The boats did not run and our trip was a failure - Went to Oakland got refreshments and went out to Cousin Frankie's. Sue and I went to San Francisco and out to Mrs. Chandler's. Misses Kitty and Mabel went with us to Metcalf-Evans reception at Fairmount Hotel - It was a fearful jam It sprinkled a little as we left the Fairmount - Sixteen battleships and attendant cruisers, torpedo boats etc came in from cruise from Hampton Roads - joining the Pacific fleet making about 45 ships - Thurs 7 May 1908 I left before breakfast for Melrose. Got auto and took it over to Thos B. Jeffery's - Gardner going with me - Got auto going - Sue, G. and self got away, late, for Melrose - waited an hour and a quarter at ferry - got out to Frankie's about 10 p.m. Gardner & I saw the big parade from a stand on Van Ness Avenue. Fri 8 May 1908 Sue, Frankie, Rose, Gardner, Dixwell, Mildred and self went in auto to Rincon Hill to witness the inspection of the Fleet by Secretary Metcalf - Cousins Late and Pierce went on cars and met us at Hill - Later we went to the ocean beach via Golden Gate Park - Rose, Dix and Mildred went home by train - we followed - Lunched on beach - Sat 9 May 1908 All, save Late and Rose went to see parade at Oakland. They had Barbecue day - light fireworks etc - Transcription of George Pierce Jr. Diary from UC Davis Special Collections Page 42