Six handwritten diaries chronicling the day-to-day life of a young Dakota Territory farmer, Claud C. Dwyer, has been added to the collections of the Institute for Regional Studies Archives. The diaries were written during the years 1886 through 1894. The Dwyer family homestead was located in Sections 29 and 32, of Brandenburg Township, near the town of Hankinson. Claud Dwyer was the son of Franklin and Roxcy L. (Matteson) Dwyer. He often mentions his family, neighbors, and events happening in the nearby town of Hankinson. Almost every entry describes the weather, and the daily farm work. Here is an example of an entry:
“Tuesday. Nov. 23. [1886] - This has been a cold day with a north wind. We had a Dakota Blizzard today the first one of the season. Pa shot a prairie chicken today it was sitting on the wood pile when he shot it. Will Black was up here this evening. Albert Bladow and Leena Bellin was married today.”
The collection is available for research in the NDSU Archives reading room. See the finding aid for further information:
https://hdl.handle.net/10365/29397