Susie Buck, Farm Wife
Susie and John Buck in front of
their Sutton, Nebraska, home.
Susie Clute was born in 1857 in Brimfield,
Illinois, and married John M. Buck
in 1877. In 1888 they moved to Sutton, Nebraska, to farm. In
1925 John died and Susie went to live with her son Ralph and
his wife Mabel in Sutton. She died in 1952 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Susie Buck's twenty-two diaries held by the Nebraska State Historical Society
span the years from 1911 through 1937. These small volumes are
not designed for lengthy descriptions of a day's events nor for
musings on the meaning of life. True to their purpose, they are
filled with short notes about weather, social life, farm and
housework.
Mon, July 15, 1935
Washing this a.m. nice morning About
1-20 we went C.C. Ruth Prewit went with us the Lang 80 acres
6 mi. So of town was sold at auction Ralph bid on it sold for
2,580. In eve went to see kitten ball Fairfield girls Sutton
girls won 19-10. warm Mrs. Lapttiorn's father buried in Lincoln
Moon total eclipse.
Even small diaries record important events
in a person's life.
In July of 1925, Susie's daily entries begin to mention her husband's
health.
Aug. 14
Frank went west at 7-30. I went down
with John when he went to Dr. Kellogge. Nice day. John about
the same. No better. I am so worried.
John's health worsened and an increasing
number of unfilled pages in Susie's diary tell the story. Then,
on September 19, Susie writes:
Sept. 19
At four p.m. at Franks John left us.
Julia, Georgie, John, Susie & children was there. Rev. &
Mrs. Cox had been gone but a few minutes. Then came back.
Susie's diary entries are not given to
emotion, but those entries following
her husband's death are irregular and on an unfilled page in
September, Susie writes this:
I love you all, but oh how I long
to go to you bright world so fair, where God is love and I am
sure I will meet dear John there
Gradually Susie returns to fill her
diary with brief entries about
trips to town, visits with friends, and the work of keeping house.
But for several months following John's death, her diary entries
occasionally end with "A lonesome day" or simply "lonesome."
