PLUKKER/PLÜCKER - Four Generations

  PLUKKER/PLÜCKER

(The information in this posting was taken from Plucker Genealogy database by Marvin Knock, cousin Eleanor Skoog who wrote the Plucker-Witte genealogy in 1989 and various church books from Germany.)

(This information matches (for the most part) the short outline received from Jurgen Hoogstraat of Victorbur, Ostfriesland in April, 2011 and corroborated by Johannes Willms of Suurhusen, Ostfriesland in July, 2011.)

[Note:  The dates in this paper are all written in the European style: day.month.year]

 

Great, Great, Great Grandfather Plücker:

KOERT HINDERKS PLUKKER – b. 4.4.1778, Norden/Lutheran, Occupation: worker, d. 28.12.1858 in Uttum, m. 26.12.1808, in Uttum to Antje Wessels, b. 12.6.1777, Pilsum (Daughter of Wessel Heyen & Elske Gerjets) d. 16.7.1865 in Uttum.

     Children:

I.              Hinderk Koerts Plukker, b. 12.5.1809 (no further information)

 

Great, Great Grandfather Plukker:

II.             Wessel Koerts Plukker, b. 27.1.1812, Uttum, d. 5.12.1859, Occupation: worker, m. 15.1.1837, in Uttum, to Harmke Mennen Eekhoff, b. 30.11.1809 in Wirdum, d. 6.12.1859 in Uttum. (Daughter of Menne Alberts Eekhoff & Cyje Dirks.) Their children were Antje, Menne and Frauke

Children:

1.       Antje Wessels Plukker, b. 24.9.1835 in Uttum, m. Christian Folp. Lührs, d. Moordorf?. Antje buried in Moordorf? No further information.

 Note: Except for Menne A. Plucker, the following list of children is different from the list given in our family genealogy book compiled by Eleanor Skoog in 1989.

Great Grandfather Plucker:

2.       Menne Alberts Plukker, [named after his maternal grandfather] b. 17.9.1837 in Uttum, d. 25.8.1925, buried in Chancellor, SD-USA.  m. 18.4.1866 in Uttum, to Engel Poppen, b. 12.8.1838 in Suurhusen, d. 4.9.1915, Chancellor, SD-USA.

Children:

a.             Wessel Plucker, died- 17.7.1939, m. Velmke (Winnie) Johnson.

Children:

                                                                           i.      Menno Plucker, b. 5.3.1892, d. 14.4.1983, m. Dena Wilken, d. 24.2.1959.

1.             Velma Plucker, b. 22.6.1919, m. John Buseman.

2nd marriage to  Minnie Bartels, d. 30.7.1981 on 24.11.1960.

ii.             John Edward Plucker, b. 30.7.1893, d. 15.10.1966, m. Johanna Olthoff (d. Jan. 1980) on 16.9.1916.

iii.            Wessel R. Plucker, b. 12.9.1899, d. 26.2.1920.

iv.            Etta Plucker, b. 10.11.1897, d. 14.4.1989.

v.             Myrtle Plucker, d. 8.7.1948.

vi.            Fanny Plucker

vii.           Henry A. Plucker, married Lillian Wolsen, died Jan. 1985.

 

                                b.             John M. Plucker (died 16.3.1869)- lived one year, buried in Oregon, Illinois

 

Grandfather Plucker:

c.             John Poppe Plucker, b. 11.11.1869, d. 6.10.1957, m. Christina Rebecca Witte, (b. 1.12.1872, d. 29.12.1953) on 29.11.1893.

Children:

                i.              Engel Anna Plucker Poppens (b. 31.10.1894, d. 14.12.1988)

                     Children:

                                1.             Esther Dorothy Poppens, b. 23.2.1921, died 23.8.2006.

                                2.             Lawrence Raymond Poppens, b. 16.9.1924.

                                3.             Arthur Dean Poppens, b. 7.11.1926.

                                4.             Eleanor Elaine Poppens, b. 9.8.1929.

ii.             Wilbur Plucker, b. 19.5.1896, d. 9.2.1918. Fell from a horse.

 

Father Plucker:

iii.            Menne Elvin Plucker (Took “John” as another name to become M. E. J.), b. 4.8.1900, d. 19.10.1968, m. Dena Margaret Thaden, (b. 29.10.1902, d. August, 2002), on 4.6.1924.

     Children:

                                1.             Dorothy June Plucker, b. 4.6.1926.

                                2.             Robert Elvin Plucker, b. 3.1.1928.

                                3.             Jean Ellen Plucker, b. 25.11.1938.

                iv.            Esther Lydia Plucker, b. 22.1.1904, d. 29.7.1907.

v.             Lydia Martha Verna Plucker, b. 23.8.1908, d. Nov. 1996, m. Joseph L. Mihelic, (b. 14.3.1902, d. 7.5.1989), on 14.8.1935.

                     Children:

                                1.             Lydia May Mihelic, b. 23.2.1939.

                                2.             John Gregor Mihelic, b. 3.7.1944.

vi.            Alma Christina Plucker, b. 6.10.1910, d. 19.1.1995, m. Charles Wadleigh (b. 11.11.1903, d. 8.11.1987) on 8.7.1938.

    Children:

                1.             Donald Elvin Wadleigh, b. 3.5.1945

                2.             Steven Irwin Wadleigh, b. 1.17.1947, d. 1.18.1947.

                3.             Ruth Ann Wadleigh, b. 8.9.1950, (Adopted)

Note: Except for Wessel, John M. and John P. Plucker, this list of children of Menne A. Plucker is incomplete according to Eleanor Skoog’s book.

 

d.     Sientje Wessels Plukker, b. 18.9.1839, Uttum.

e.     Hinderika Wessels Plukker, b. 18.9.1839, Uttum. (Twins? Died at birth?)

f.      Koert Wessels Plukker, b. 5.12.1841, m. in Wirdum? To Aaltje Fransen Caspers, b. 1.6.1845, (Daughter of Frans Peters Caspers & Eltje Berends Rosendahl), died 1935 in the USA, Keort died 1927 in the USA.

Children:

        1)            Harmke Mennen Plukker, b. 23.10.1865 in Uttum.

        2)            Dirk Mennen Plukker, b. 30.10.1867 in Uttum.

        3)            Caroline Eltjedine Plukker, b. 9.3.1870 in Uttum.

        4)            Wessel Koerts Plukker, b. 4.8. 1872 in Uttum.

 

**g.     Dirk Mennen Plukker, b. 7.3.1844, Uttum, m. Aug, 1870 to Willemke Mennen Hayunga, b. 16.5.1849, Visquard, (Daughter of Menne Peters Hayunga & Engel Baukes Wibben), d. 1936 in the USA. Dirk died 1917 in the USA.               

h.     Albert Wessels Plukker, b. 15.8.1845, Uttum.

i.      Wessel Koerts Plukker, b. 9.1.1849, Uttum.

j.      Johann Wessels Plukker, b. 25.2.1851, Uttum.

 

** Labeled “IA” Dick Plucker in Eleanor Skoog’s book.

 

III.            Frauke Koerts Plukker, b. 5.7.1817, Uttum, m. 3.12.1839, Freepsum to John Siefkes Hoogestraat, b. 19.2.1811, Freepsum, (Son of Hidde Hilwerts Hoogestraat & Altje Willms de Werff) buried: Arb, Jäger, Fischer, Schiff., b. 16.5.1866, Freepsum. Frauke died in the USA.

Children:

1.             Hidde Hilwerts Plukker, b. 27.9.1840 in Freepsum, m. 28.4.1866 in Freepsum to Trientje Wietjes, b. 31.5.1838, (Daughter of Arend ?Gerdes Wietjes & Elle Jacobs Rewerts), d. 7.3.1926 in Chancellor, SD. Hidde died in the USA.

                     Children:

a.             Johann Siefkes Hidden Hoogestraat, b. 25.4.1867 in Pewsum (Hamrich?), m. 25.2.1891 to Gertie Johnson,

(b. 4.5.1869 in Grundy County, Iowa.

                                b.             Ella Hidden Hoogestraat, b. 22.11.1868, Ridott, Illinois, d. 15.8.1870

                                c.             Ella Hidden Hoogstraat, b. 10.11.1870, Ackley, Iowa, d. 6.9.1920, Chancellor, SD.

                                d.             Frauke Hidden Hoogstraat, b. 19.6.1873, Ackley, Iowa.

                                e.             Arendina Hidden Hoogstraat, b. 28.3.1875, Ackley, Iowa, d. 30.7.1875.

                                f.              Aren Hidden Hoogstraat, b. 19.5.1876, Ackley, Iowa, d. 31.8.1875

2.             Hinderk Johann Hidden Hoogstraat, b. 2.3.1845, Freepsum,[worker], m. 2.9.1865 in Freepsum to Grietje Tobias Günther, 6.3.1843, Freepsum, (Daughter of Tobias Friederichs Günther & Elizabeth Eilders van Hoorn), d. 6.2.1866, Freepsum, m. (2) Jenny Amelsberg, e. 1920. Hinderk died 1927 in Chancellor, SD.

Child:

                a.             Grietje Hinderks Hoogstraat, b. 27.1.1866, Freepsum.

3.             Freerk Johann Hoogestraat, b. 10.5.1845, Freepsum, Farmer, m. 1.10.1870, in Ackley, IA to Anna Kruse, d. 1900. Freerk died 1901 in Arcadia?, Iowa.

4.             Antje Johan Hoogstraat, b. 19.10.1847 in Freepsum, m. 14.12.1872 in Ackley, IA to Willem Focken,
                                 b. Weener?.

5.             Willem Johan Hoogstraat, b. 25.9.1850 in Freepsum, m. in Lincoln, SD, Rena Janssen. Willem died 17.2.1922 in Lincoln, SD.

6.             Aaltje Johans Hoogstraat, b. 4.67.1853 in Freepsum, died 3.4.1863 in Freepsum.

7.             Dirk Hidden Johans Hoogestraat, b. 27.6.1856 in Freepsum, m. Etta Schulte, d. 26.5.1894. Dirk died 25.10.1940 in Chancellor, SD.

                8.             Johan Hidden Hoogstraat, b. 12.12.1858 in Freepsum, m. 20.2.1889, Lydia Watte. Johan died
                                 1948, Chancellor, SD.

                Children:

                                a.             Flora Hoogestraat, m. William DeVries.

                                b.             Etta Hoogestraat, m. Andrew Tellinghuisen.

                                c.             Ann Hoogestraat, m. Roy Wilcox.

                                d.             Martha Hoogestraat, m. G. G. Fokken.

e.             Lena Hoogestraat, m. Fred Highstreet/Freerk Hoogestraat, b. 5.12.1893, Lennox, SD (Son of Freerk Hidden Hoogstraat & Sophie Folkerts Meyer).

f.              John Hoogestraat, m. Fanny Weeldreyer, b. 8.1.1909, died 26.11 2007 buried at Chancellor, SD.

                                (Fanny gave all her remaining money to Germantown Presbyterian Church on her death.)

g.             Hilbert Hoogestraat.

h.             Elmer Hoogestraat.             

    

Any readers finding errors are strongly urged to contact Jean immediately.

 

Note: No mention of Frauke Koerts Plukker in Eleanor Skoog’s book.

 

Assembled by Jean E. Straatmeyer [July 29, 2011]

C:Documents/Genealogy/Plucker/7.28.PLUKKER

1988 - DENA'S LAST DIARY

DENA’S DIARY FROM 1988

This diary was kept just 10 years beyond the death of her husband,

M.E.J. Plucker

 

After typing out every word of this diary, I am happy that our mother had a full and (seemingly) happy life in her 85^th year. Had it not been for the Senior Citizen Center, her friends, Dots & Eddie and the church, she would have been quite lonely. I am happy about this because in the last 10 years of her life (she lived until only two months shy of her 100^th birthday), she seemed quite unhappy. By the time my sister and I made the decision to move her into a nursing home situation, in May of 1996, she knew only that she needed to be home! And “Hilda’s Heritage” was not home.

Jean, Aunt Alma, Dena, Dots
(Uncle Charles took the picture)

 As a “diary writer” Dena didn’t excel. She, like her husband and mother-in-law, was very sparse with her feelings – and even in this private tome, she could not put into words how she really felt. An example is: on July 11, “Alma came to visit about two in the afternoon and stayed until almost five. It was a long afternoon.” [A long afternoon was putting a very good face on it! Our Aunt Alma could be quite a formidable personality.]  Again when she went to a musical program, she usually said, “It was good.” But when Bob sang a solo at Faith Church, she said, “It was very good.” [That is the most she ever said about any “presentation.”]

 I kept thinking that I would find a wonderful gem within these pages, telling me something about her feelings, her life, her marriage, her children or her grandchildren. But it was only the facts. No embellishment. Once, she went to get her hair done at Ruby’s. Her comment, “My hair is getting so thin. I don’t know why.” Also, in February, she went to a Dr. to see about her thumb, but he didn’t help her. She said, “It doesn’t help and I don’t think I’ll go back. Seems to me I paid him $32 for nothing. I may make an appointment with Scot Rogers.” [I’m thinking that she had a touch of carpel tunnel syndrome from doing so much quilting at the Center!]

 On January 25^th, she did say that she “listened [probably saw on TV] to the President’s speech this eve. I think he is trying his best to do the right thing for our country.” [It must have been Ronald Reagan’s last State of the Union Address.]

 On January 31^st, she wrote, “Very cold – went to (Faith) church on the bus. Had our annual business meeting right after church. We should not have had it at that time. The meeting did not go well. Some of the people were very angry and walked out. [Oh, the powerlessness of being 85 years old. She just had to watch it happen.]

 So many of her entries were about the weather. It was a cold winter that year and a hot and dry summer. In February, she writes, “Dots & Eddie started out for Germantown but turned around after they found out how the roads were. They came to Faith Church instead. I was glad they came.” [She never would have mentioned the fact that she had actually been “asked” (putting it politely) to leave Germantown church for suggesting that they postpone their vote to split from the Presbyterian Church USA. So, she went to Lennox with the folks who wanted to remain with the Presbyterian Church USA.] Dots & Eddie, on the other hand, felt that their place was to remain with the church family that had been theirs from birth, not happy with the decisions made, but nonetheless, in their refusal to leave, they were determined to stay with the Germantown folks.

 A comment about how times change: “Changed bedding on my bed and now washing a load. How much easier at 85 years old then it was when I was 25, why the difference? The washing machines!”

 In March – “I made a date with Dots & VeraJean to take both couples out for dinner in Sioux Falls at the Royal Fork. They do so many nice things for me.” [Merlin (Eddie’s brother) and VeraJean worked the farm land for her and Dots & Eddie gave an unbelievable amount of time and effort to her – willingly and with no complaint. They were greatly appreciated by Bob & I who lived many, many miles away and were not able to help out on a daily basis.]

 On May 6^th, she asks herself, “How am I going to get muffins baked by 7:00 tomorrow morn? Breakfast Brunch starting at 7:30.” But everything was fine because on the 7^th she says, “I did get them made & then picked up a doz doughnuts at the bakery ...”  It was a huge day for her because she couldn’t stay to help clean up since she was going along with Dots & Eddie to Faye & Duane’s for Mother’s Day. She tells about going to church with them in Marshalltown, how hard it was raining and when it stopped, but no impressions of Faye’s life, her grandchildren or their church. Just this: “Got home at 8:30. Had a good day.”

She was on the Executive Board for the Senior Center, so she had responsibilities and she took them very seriously. Never missed a meeting that I know of. She was always “johnny-on-the-spot” for baking, serving or cleaning up after some big shindig.

 In May, she was making a big decision: “Bob called shortly before I left for church. Its always so good to talk to him. They will come in June. Will I go back with them? It would be fun but I don’t know, I am surely beginning to feel my age and it might not be wise. I am 85 years old and I don’t want to be a burden.” [Of all the comments she made, that is surely the most personal.]

 On June 4^th, she wrote, “It would have been our 64^th wedding anniversary. It is Dorothy June’s 62^nd birthday. She has always been such a dear precious girl.” [Another comment showing her deep feelings for her eldest. It is a joy to read this and share it.]

Dena & Gertrude Straatmeyer.
They were 2nd cousins and played cards together
with other friends.

 The last part of June the temperatures were really heating up, but what does our mother do? “Baked 2 cherry pies and one rhubarb pie also baked four loaves of dark bread, raisin bread. Will freeze them for later use.” She was always baking, baking, baking. She would take her friends a piece of pie or some biscuits and they would have coffee.  I suppose when she quit doing that she lost an enormous part of her life. I have so many questions about how that happened.

 For six days in June, Bob & Margaret drove down from Washington to help paint her house. The two of them, with lots of help from Dots & Eddie as well as Dena, pretty much got the job done. However, Dena was the one who painted all the screens and storm windows, one after the other until they were all done. And she dealt with the trim color – returning her first choice and going with what was there before ([typical of us Plucker women].

 The rest of the summer was spent working at the Center, going to church, quilting, eating out with her friends and of course, with Dots & Eddie. All this time, everyone was waiting- somewhat impatiently – for rain. It didn’t rain in Lennox until the 3^rd of August and then, only a little.

 On July 24^th Uncle Art (Dena’s brother) passed away. She says only,  “Had a call from Eileen, Art is not very well, had a stroke last Tuesday & is in the Hospital now. Brother Art passed away at 1:00 this morning. The funeral will be Wed. July 27^th.” [This would have been an opportunity for her to share her feelings for her brother and her family.]

 She was the fifth child born to Eilert & Minnie who had their first baby on July 16, 1898. After that, the twins (Harm & Jerry) were born on August 13, 1899. William was born in 1900, on October 14^th and on October 29, 1902, Dena came into the world. Art was born two years later and the last six children were born in 1904, 1906, 1908, 1910, 1913, 1915 and 1917. There were two girls among these eleven. One can only imagine the close-knit family bustle and commotion.

 Dena kept up her diary until August 17^th, the end of the Republican National Convention, where she noted that Bush & Quayle were the nominees.

 There is no indication why she didn’t continue writing to the end of the year in 1988. No other diaries were found.

This picture of Dena & MEJ was probably taken in about 1967.
If you look closely, you might see a child peeking out.
Any guesses?

 

 

GRANDMA PLUCKER’S DIARIES – 1925 – 1953

Searching for Grandma in her Diaries

 

It is truly a wonder how these diaries came into my possession. First, Grandma had to have kept them safe all the years of her life. Where? I don’t know. My sister and I both think that Grandma would have kept them in the big cupboard they had in their kitchen “on the west wall, next to the back door.”

 The other possibility is the desk they had on the west wall of the second room (in other homes, this would have been the dining room – in Grandma’s house, it was just “the other room,” not “the back room,” where the piano and other living room furniture was. (A whole other posting could be used to describe Grandma’s House.)

 From there, after Grandpa died, someone (possibly my father) could have gone through the house, found them and took them for safe-keeping. Or my Aunt Alma, who purchased the house at that time, could have given them to my dad, who kept his own diaries, and when, on my mother’s move from her home in Lennox to Hilda’s Heritage, my sister found them and has kept them safe all these years. I am grateful that she gave them to me, knowing as she must, that this time they may be given a decent burial – unless some other relative wants to accept them.

 Of course, Grandma used more than one diary to keep entries – sometimes going back and forth and getting all sorts of dates mixed up depending upon her memory and what she was doing at the time, I guess.

 So, I have gone through all the diaries, one by one, to glean some notable items to share and almost every page had some tidbit with meaning to me or to our family. However, it is fascinating to note that Grandma didn’t keep any important dates that most folks would. For instance, no birthdates of her children or her children’s children or their marriages.

How would Grandma have known all the dates of these marriages if not from the newspaper?

  It is obvious to me that these little booklets were very important to Grandma. She kept records of the dates people came to visit them and dates that they went to visit others. She kept lists of people’s birthdays, marriages, anniversaries, and deaths. She noted the weather on specific pages, when the farm work was done and who did it. She even had a list of what it cost for her to send laundry back and forth to Dubuque when her girls were there. But what is so very strange is that neither of the death dates of her two children was ever mentioned. (Esther Lydia died on July 29, 1907. Wilbur died on February 9, 1918.)

 Some early pages just contained lists of dates with no indication of the significance. But many entries showed the use of bartering between family members. For instance: “Henry Johnson got beef from us April 1 – 54 lbs 1913. Brought beef back last April. We owe Menno for meat, Oct 20, 1913 69 lbs. We brought Menno meat back Oct 28, 1914.”

 

There are lists of eggs sold and butter sold – by the pound, in 1894! She made $9.59 on eggs and $18.47 for the butter. Imagine selling 12 pounds and 10 ounces of eggs for $1.20! How about 12 pounds of butter for $1.84! In 1897: “For 5 hogs @ $3.40 for a total of $45.50” -- “For 4 hogs @ $3.00 for a total of $27.20”

In 1924: A list of what was purchased in January –

Jan 12	Butter – 1 lb	.55
Jan 17	Butter	.45
Jan 19	Butter 2 lb	1.10
Jan 24	Butter	.55
Jan 24	Peanut butter	.35
Jan 26	Sausage, butter & gro	3.92
Jan 29	Sioux Falls gro	.58
Jan 29	Beads, Fahtels hats	6.95

 In 1912: “We began sowing wheat April 3, 1912. Sowed first garden seeds April 24. Had lettuce to eat second week in May, 1912.” “We got first five lambs March 9, 1912. We got colt March 29, 1910.”

In 1920:
 “Feb 22 Wm & Flora’s baby born – Lila”

 “Jan 7 We had sale”
“Jan 12 Menne left for Dubuque”
“Jan 15 Pete & Anna left for Chicago”
“Jan 19 we moved to town”

[Nothing written about how things transpired, what they got for the sale, how they got the house they moved into, what the house was like, what they all thought.......... were they happy?]

Jan 3 1928:                          M & Dena’s boy was born. [No mention of my sister, born June 4, 1926]

Jan 8 1928                            Installation Rob Niebrugge George Iowa
March                                   Frank Miller buys hardware store in Parker
Nov 28 1928                        I was in bed again with cold
April 19 1929                       Pa & Babe got cold & horse [hoarse, I guess]
February 1928                   Rev. Agena gave up preaching
March 16 1928                   Menne came back to Lennox from Willow Lake
Oct 29 1929                         Dena’s birthday
April 1928                            Six treatments at Dr. Hong
July 3, 4 1928                      I went to Rochester
July 13 1028                        Came back [What happened in those 10 days?]
Aug 19 1928                        M & D for dinner
May 28, 29 1928                Planted sweet potatoes on land
Sept 7 1928                         Lydia went to Dubuque early morning
July 19 1929                        Girlie to S Falls evening  [Girlie is Lydia]
Sept 2   1928                       Mission Feast at Germantown
Sept 26 1928                       We went to Dempster & came back – Pa & I
Nov 29 1928                        I took sick in bed till Dec 1
Oct 5 1929                           To Dr. Hong with Menne  Bill from Dr. Hong $23.00
Nov 10 1929                        Saw Dr. Hong for weakness Got sm bottle med from drug store .50
Nov 10 1929                        Pa got cough med .75
Dec 24   1929                       Took first “Hipo” 10 oclock

How did 1928 and 1929 get mixed up with each other?

Dec 29 1929                        Took 2 hipo 11 oclock
Jan 7 1930                            Took 3 hipo 11 oclock
Jan 16 1930                         Took 4 hipo 10:30 oclock
Jan 28 1930                         Took 5 hipo 10 to eleven
Feb 8 1930                           Took 6 hipo 4:30 oclock

[No reason given for this hypodermic medication]

From March – October in 1930, Grandma paid $52.00 for 13 visits to Dr. Gregg.

In July and August 1932, Lydia and Grandma both “took treatments”

Feb 26 1929                        M & D moved                    [“M & D” are short for Menne & Dena]

Nov 1929                             Alma got eyes tested in Dbq and new glasses exam: $10.00 Glasses: $5.00
Mar 15 1932                        Pete & Anna moved to farm house
Dec 10 1930                        Dotty & Bobby M & D to S Falls
Dec 24-Jan 1 1932             Alma & Lydia were home [they took the train many, many times]
Nov 30 1931                        Thadens brot Dena & children back

[There were many trips to Sioux Falls – every two weeks or so]

Oct 1 1931                           Babe went to hospital

Nov 29 1931                        Alma was home by train [During this time, about $48.50 was given or sent to Alma while she was at the hospital – This may have been when she went to nurse’s training in Sioux Falls.]

April 21 1932                       Lydia sent a check for $15, $5 of it for house cleaning.

 I could find no mention of my birth on November 25, 1938, but surprisingly, on June 4, 1939, she noted that it was “Dotty’s birthday.”

There are so many entries regarding the comings and goings of my Grandparents and their friends, acquaintances, family, minister friends, church news etc. But reading through these booklets, I can’t see any real reason to keep this information. Perhaps the information about the farming, animals, crops, etc., but what use was it to know that on such and such a day, “Lucille Siepkes went to Sioux Falls?”

I was surprised to find the following entries:

             Dec 7 Sunday 1941: Invasion in Hawaiian Islands by Japan

            Dec 9 we declared war on Japan, China declared war on Germany Oct 9 1941

            Dec 11 1941 United States declares war on Italy & Germany

But on the very next line, May 12, 1942 “heavy rain.”

LENNOX NEWSPAPER HEADLINES:

April 22 1942       Ban on manufacture of radios

Mar                        New tire regulations
July                        Presbyterian church put in oil heating
Dec                        Jack Ludwig bought Gerkins building
Dec 25 42             Jerry & Dick Plucker to Wyoming to see Elmer
Dec 31 42             Mr & Mrs Cammach to Arizona
Feb 10, 1943       Deadline on farm machinery
11 – 2 – 40           Census enumerators begin work
July 28 – 46         Rev Eekhoff & DeVries quartette, Dan, Eddie, Merlin, Arthur gave religious program over KELO in S Falls

1938 – Oct 6:     
Lennox observes Golden Jubilee. Seven young members of the church have become ministers and missionaries. Rev. H  C Sinning – Rolfe Iowa, Rev. H I Sinning, Kamrar Iowa, Alfred Nelson, Shalles Iowa, Rev. Paul Mallary, Rockford, Mich, Rev. Louis Bultina, Muscoda, Wis, Rev. Geo Van Bockern, Poplar, Montana and Mrs. Alma Plucker Wadleigh, Albuquerque, New Mexico. [Alma is my aunt]

 

1943 May 6         Germantown choir present cantata in Lennox church and Lennox to give cantata in Germantown in forenoon

 

Church Work.    J. P. Plucker – Elder of church 1919 – 1927 and again 1932 – 1945.

April 29, 1934     Mr & Mrs M.E.J. Plucker joined Germantown church

1946                       M.E.J. Elder of Germantown church

Early History       J. P. Plucker came to s. Dak 1878 from Iowa

                                Mrs. J. P. Plucker came to S Dak 1886 from Illinois

April 10, 1947     Robert E. Plucker – June 1945 Entered services

[My brother got a lot of space in one of Grandma’s diaries:]

Nov 15 – 1951    Bobby called from Washington

Nov 20 – 1951    Bobby called he would be in Worthington Minn. 22 Nov
Oct 24 – 1951     Robert still in Korea
Robert E. Plucker arrived in Japan Nov 30 1950
Sent to Drake field near Tokyo – assigned to traveling service show – might be sent to Korea.
Pfc. Robert E Plucker, ER171 49628 HD, Japan Log Comd APO343 % PM San Francisco, Calif.
Dec 1950              Bobby working in ??? in Japan just now.

 Grandma Plucker was 81 years old when she died on December 29, 1953. By 1952 her diary referring to newspaper articles became more difficult to read but she still kept up the running account of Lennox happenings, friends, family and church activities. Instead of two or three comments per day, she had only two or three comments per month ending on October 24, 1953, “Open house at Independent” [the local newspaper].

 In 1953, the diary entries were filled with who came to visit her/them. I’m not sure when she moved from her bed in their bedroom to a hospital bed in the back room, but even though she was bedridden at least some of the time, she had something to write almost every day! She wrote about M. & D. coming for tea, Jeanie coming for a little while at 4:20pm, Dena coming to make jelly, Dad to Dots & Eddie afternoon. On June 26, 1953: “They all went to Bobbie’s wedding.”

On July 26, 1953 “Truse[sic] was signed about Korea.”

In October, November and even up to and including December 20^th there were entries.

Nov. 26 1953      Lydia came 12 oclock pm.

  “     27                  Alma & Ruth midnight 12 pm.
Dec  17                  M & D stayed all night
         17                  I didn’t sleep all night cought
         18                  Rev Hoffer p.m.
         18                  M & Dena stayed
         18                  Eddie’s family
         19                  M & Jean & Dena
         19                  Mrs Smith stayed all night
         21                  Lydia came am stayed
[date unclear]   Aunt Minnie

This is a copy of the final pages of her “personal” diary – the pages on which she wrote those things she might have to remember one day. Or those things she could go back to if someone asked her about a day back three months ago.   What really made our Grandmother tic? What was in her heart, her mind?   It is up to us to speculate...