Friday, January 11th, 1935

Roosevelt's camp, chickenpox and wrestling

Mary notes that someone advises her to go to one of Roosevelt's Camps. She didn't do it.

Her seven year old son Paul, the second oldest child, comes down with the chickenpox. This is the opening of what is to be a very serious illness.

Her oldest son, 8-year old Leo Richard, is mentioned here for the first time and he goes off with is father and Uncle Roy to the wrestling matches.

Monday, January 7th, 1935

Marion Shovel

In 1935, Mary and Lloyd have two sons as well as D.J., their little girl. Mentioned for the first time in this diary is Paul Aden Benson, their 7 year-old. He was born August 3rd, 1927 in Galion, located in neighboring Crawford County.

Mary writes here on the 10th that Lloyd went to the Shovel. No doubt he was looking for work since he had been laid off just before Christmas. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Power_Shovel for more information on "The Shovel."

Tuesday, January 1, 1935

The diary begins

The notations in the opening cover of the diary are a record of payments made to Dr. Grover. He was a chiropractor, consider by some to be a "quack" doctor in those days.

Mary at this time is living in Marion, Ohio. It is 1935. Times are hard as it is the time of the Great Depression. Mary is at this time the mother of three young children. Lloyd Benson is her husband. This is Lloyd's second marriage, her first.

She was born Mary Evelina Hemminger on May 7th, 1905 in Porter Township, Delaware County, Ohio to Ovella "Wello" H. Hemminger and Lenora Francis Wright. She was an only child.

She mentions here that she had gotten a letter from her mother. Her mother lived in Delaware County.

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