This is the inside of the front cover of James E. Stermer's log. As you can see he intends to go
to Glacier National Park Montana on horseback.
Typical of the trips logged, this was written in pencil. Sweat would have smeared the messages.
Prior to this trip James was familiar the method of travel. He had walked many miles as a youth to school and taught swimming. While he had ridden many times to various places this was the first sustained trip - with a new horse he called Cap. As James looked at things "This would be an education."
He had been teaching over the winter in the one rool school but with his duties ended he was on the road again.
May 12, 1929
Left Detroit Eastern Market at 8am. Traveled until 12 pm. Stopping at Telegraph and Ecourse
Road. Started again at 1:30pm. Made Ypsilanti by 6pm. Cap certainly did go to pieces the first day. He had the “scratches” and his hind legs are all stiffened up. Washed out his withers with shaving cream. Helped some. Put up for the night at a Mr. Hamilton 922 Congress St Ypsilanti. Slept on the barn floor. It certainly was cold during the night. The Griffith girls invited me to their home for supper. Eva cooked me a meal while Margaret played “The Lady” Eva made the biggest hit with me.
May 22, 1929
Left Ypsilanti this morning at 8am. Dropped in to see a Vet concerning Cap’s “scratches”. He gave me a prescription. I hope it does some good. Traveled from Ypsilanti to Saline for 1 ½ hours to eat and rest. Cap was so tired that he lay down to rest instead of eating. Traveled from Saline to Clinton. Arrived in Clinton at 5pm. Put horse up at Mr. G. Lancaster’s. Mr. Lancaster is the Ford dealer of the town. He also owns a couple of gas stations in the burg. As I understand it, Lancaster is a sport and plays the horses.
I got a tip in regards to acting on the stage. I should be able to draw up a little change as I go along by acting on the stage in the small towns between here and Chicago according to G. W. H. Lancaster. Clinton, Michigan.
“Two nights out.” M. E. Boyd “The Quail Store”
May 23, 1929
Ready to start at 7:30 am. I am afraid it is going to rain today by the way it is
clouded up. Lost my lasso yesterday. It doesn’t make much difference.
Irish Hills 10:40am It certainly is marvelous to be able to stand here and look back over the rolling moraine I have traveled through. And to think that from this point I can see that there will be many a beautiful vistas before me as I go farther west. It’s too bad that the air is so hazy as it detracts from the beauty of the landscape. The color of the sun is lost.
W. Leglhisman, Irish Hills Clover.
L. G. Rece Keed, Cement City Michigan, Lake View Farm. Stayed here all night had a wonderful supper.
May 24, 1929
Again received the courtesy of one man extended to the other. I stayed at Mr. Richard’s. Slept in the hay. I never had a more comfortable bed. The rain pouring down on the roof beating a tattoo lulled me to sleep. Mr. Richards gave me some good advice. The saddle was not setting properly on Caps back. Following his advice, I made a few changes. This noon I can see how the swelling has gone down. If I can only get rid of the ‘scratches” on Cap he will be in excellent condition in almost 2 days. Then I suppose I will be able to travel a little faster. It certainly is quite a problem as to how to care for a horse. But I suppose it is adding some more to my liberal education. Will be in Jonesville in a couple of hours. Hope to land a job on the stage tonight.
Irvine Kaysier, Jonesville, Mich.R-. Evening and night of the 25th. Stayed here at Mr. Kaysiers for supper, night and breakfast. Slept in the barn. Took some pictures of the family. Hope they come out good. The Kaysier family is certainly a large one. Six boys and a girl. There was ten of us at the table for supper. Though the meal was very simple it was the spirit at the table that was wonderful. There was a sincere whole hearted feeling blowing through the being of every one. It was in the truest sense an ideal family where love certainly was expressed, not in words but in doing for others. The simple mindedness of both the father and mother neither showing any education but they certainly had lives rich enough to not need one.
May 25, 1929
Today I rode along a couple of jackers - tried to swap horses. Saw one horse I would like to have but didn’t have the money. Cap is improving in general condition but has now developed a saddle sore. Wasn’t able to act on the stage at Jonesville. My hard luck. Will try again tonight at Coldwater.
May 26, 1929
Hard luck last night couldn’t get on. Try again. Stayed at an old livery stable. William Sisson R#8 Cold Water, Mich.
Joseph Leppich, P.O. Box 123 Branson, Mich. Mr. Leppich is going to cross the Atlantic in his boat. Keep in touch with him in regards to South American conditions.
Bernard Maloney, Bronson, Mich going for an operation to the Sturgis Hospital Monday May 27th. P.A. Warner Bronson, Mich RD#!, farmer.
May 27, 1929
Stayed at Branson last night. Again slept in an old livery stable. Ate breakfast with Joe Leppich. Left town hoping to trade off old Dynamite. Was unable to find a horse. Mr. R. A. Warner assured me that with careful handling I should be able to get to Chicago with Cap. Mr. Warner then invited me to stay for dinner. Cap is now in the barn getting a rest and a good feed. I have let Mr. Warner read “The Prophet.” He is now deeply interested in it. Religious. In other words to get along with people give to them what they try to find in life. Will leave for Sturgis after dinner and call it a day.
Last night I recited some poetry on the Branson Stage. Here’s hoping I get paid the next place. I cannot understand why I could not get my pictures in the Detroit News Paper. No doubt they figure when I land in Chicago they will publish it.
Wm. B. Eagle, Sturgis R#1 Stayed at Mr. Eagles all night 5-27-29. Mr. Eagle gave me some tips as regards to swapping horses.
O. W. Magnus, 120 S. Orange St. Sturgis Mich. “Lots of luck on the way because you will need it.” Landed in Sturgis this morning.
May 28, 1929
All set to get rid of old Cap. Met an old German soldier. He told me to get the horse reshod by a blacksmith, Duke Wellington. Duke tried to be a real sport. Talked things up according to Duke. Cap is a damned good horse only he had been shod wrong to begin with. I hope he is right. I am beginning to develop quite a fondness for the horse.
The damned saddle sore keeps getting worse instead of better. I will find some way or other to cure it up. I gave a story to the Sturgis Paper and told the Editor to be sure to mention Wellington’s name.
May 29, 1929
Stayed all night last night at Dad Holcombs. Dad has a horse, I would like to get. Cap has gone to pieces for good. Horse jockey just asking me about “Cap”. Says if I can trade for Dad’s Clara May, I should. Says Clara will be able to carry me to Chicago. This being a certainty, does get a fellow in the neck. But things will come out all right in the end. I am sure. I am going on even though I do go broke. I hardly think I did worse in getting “Cap” shod, but the deed is done so what can I do. I will give Dad as much as ten dollars to take him. If Cap will work in the harness, I hope Cap will work. I think the blacksmith Duke Wellington of Sturgis was feeding me a bill of lies but what does it matter.
Mr. Seth Holcomb, White Pigeon, Mich. Put up with Dad Holcomb, the night of May 28 and stayed all day May 29. If Cap will work I will trade him for Dad’s horse Clara, a mare about the same size but not as good as Cap for looks. I sure do hate to part with the old boy. I must mail Dad some pictures.
I got a tip in regards to acting on the stage. I should be able to draw up a little change as I go along by acting on the stage in the small towns between here and Chicago according to G. W. H. Lancaster. Clinton, Michigan.
“Two nights out.” M. E. Boyd “The Quail Store”
May 23, 1929
Ready to start at 7:30 am. I am afraid it is going to rain today by the way it is
clouded up. Lost my lasso yesterday. It doesn’t make much difference.
Irish Hills 10:40am It certainly is marvelous to be able to stand here and look back over the rolling moraine I have traveled through. And to think that from this point I can see that there will be many a beautiful vistas before me as I go farther west. It’s too bad that the air is so hazy as it detracts from the beauty of the landscape. The color of the sun is lost.
W. Leglhisman, Irish Hills Clover.
L. G. Rece Keed, Cement City Michigan, Lake View Farm. Stayed here all night had a wonderful supper.
May 24, 1929
Again received the courtesy of one man extended to the other. I stayed at Mr. Richard’s. Slept in the hay. I never had a more comfortable bed. The rain pouring down on the roof beating a tattoo lulled me to sleep. Mr. Richards gave me some good advice. The saddle was not setting properly on Caps back. Following his advice, I made a few changes. This noon I can see how the swelling has gone down. If I can only get rid of the ‘scratches” on Cap he will be in excellent condition in almost 2 days. Then I suppose I will be able to travel a little faster. It certainly is quite a problem as to how to care for a horse. But I suppose it is adding some more to my liberal education. Will be in Jonesville in a couple of hours. Hope to land a job on the stage tonight.
Irvine Kaysier, Jonesville, Mich.R-. Evening and night of the 25th. Stayed here at Mr. Kaysiers for supper, night and breakfast. Slept in the barn. Took some pictures of the family. Hope they come out good. The Kaysier family is certainly a large one. Six boys and a girl. There was ten of us at the table for supper. Though the meal was very simple it was the spirit at the table that was wonderful. There was a sincere whole hearted feeling blowing through the being of every one. It was in the truest sense an ideal family where love certainly was expressed, not in words but in doing for others. The simple mindedness of both the father and mother neither showing any education but they certainly had lives rich enough to not need one.
May 25, 1929
Today I rode along a couple of jackers - tried to swap horses. Saw one horse I would like to have but didn’t have the money. Cap is improving in general condition but has now developed a saddle sore. Wasn’t able to act on the stage at Jonesville. My hard luck. Will try again tonight at Coldwater.
May 26, 1929
Hard luck last night couldn’t get on. Try again. Stayed at an old livery stable. William Sisson R#8 Cold Water, Mich.
Joseph Leppich, P.O. Box 123 Branson, Mich. Mr. Leppich is going to cross the Atlantic in his boat. Keep in touch with him in regards to South American conditions.
Bernard Maloney, Bronson, Mich going for an operation to the Sturgis Hospital Monday May 27th. P.A. Warner Bronson, Mich RD#!, farmer.
May 27, 1929
Stayed at Branson last night. Again slept in an old livery stable. Ate breakfast with Joe Leppich. Left town hoping to trade off old Dynamite. Was unable to find a horse. Mr. R. A. Warner assured me that with careful handling I should be able to get to Chicago with Cap. Mr. Warner then invited me to stay for dinner. Cap is now in the barn getting a rest and a good feed. I have let Mr. Warner read “The Prophet.” He is now deeply interested in it. Religious. In other words to get along with people give to them what they try to find in life. Will leave for Sturgis after dinner and call it a day.
Last night I recited some poetry on the Branson Stage. Here’s hoping I get paid the next place. I cannot understand why I could not get my pictures in the Detroit News Paper. No doubt they figure when I land in Chicago they will publish it.
Wm. B. Eagle, Sturgis R#1 Stayed at Mr. Eagles all night 5-27-29. Mr. Eagle gave me some tips as regards to swapping horses.
O. W. Magnus, 120 S. Orange St. Sturgis Mich. “Lots of luck on the way because you will need it.” Landed in Sturgis this morning.
May 28, 1929
All set to get rid of old Cap. Met an old German soldier. He told me to get the horse reshod by a blacksmith, Duke Wellington. Duke tried to be a real sport. Talked things up according to Duke. Cap is a damned good horse only he had been shod wrong to begin with. I hope he is right. I am beginning to develop quite a fondness for the horse.
The damned saddle sore keeps getting worse instead of better. I will find some way or other to cure it up. I gave a story to the Sturgis Paper and told the Editor to be sure to mention Wellington’s name.
May 29, 1929
Stayed all night last night at Dad Holcombs. Dad has a horse, I would like to get. Cap has gone to pieces for good. Horse jockey just asking me about “Cap”. Says if I can trade for Dad’s Clara May, I should. Says Clara will be able to carry me to Chicago. This being a certainty, does get a fellow in the neck. But things will come out all right in the end. I am sure. I am going on even though I do go broke. I hardly think I did worse in getting “Cap” shod, but the deed is done so what can I do. I will give Dad as much as ten dollars to take him. If Cap will work in the harness, I hope Cap will work. I think the blacksmith Duke Wellington of Sturgis was feeding me a bill of lies but what does it matter.
Mr. Seth Holcomb, White Pigeon, Mich. Put up with Dad Holcomb, the night of May 28 and stayed all day May 29. If Cap will work I will trade him for Dad’s horse Clara, a mare about the same size but not as good as Cap for looks. I sure do hate to part with the old boy. I must mail Dad some pictures.
Traded Caps for Clara. She has an honest heart and works as hard as nails. Dad values his horses are pretty much. Am quite sure that with the way he worked her she ought to be able to make a go of it for a long way. The only thing wrong with Dad is his eats. All I have had to eat here is fresh pork and bread and tea. Certainly not much of a varied diet. Fresh pork and bread for three meals a day! But when one is on the road he dare not order what he wishes to eat. His house is so stuffy, I slept on the front door stoop.
May 30, 1929
Elkhart, Ind. Have finally reached Indiana. Yesterday I bought (traded Cap)
for Clara. Clara carried me wonderfully well today from White Pigeon to Elkhart. She is just as easy on rider as Cap and as for looks, in a traveling gate. She stretches her legs a little better.
May 30, 1929
Elkhart, Ind. Have finally reached Indiana. Yesterday I bought (traded Cap)
for Clara. Clara carried me wonderfully well today from White Pigeon to Elkhart. She is just as easy on rider as Cap and as for looks, in a traveling gate. She stretches her legs a little better.
She is terribly afraid of streetcars, large trenches, trains or anything different from an ordinary automobile. I hope she will get use to such objects as time goes on or else I will have a very difficult time of it in Chicago.
Stayed the night May 30 with Mr. John Frank, Elkhart, Ind, R4. Slept all night out under the stars. The night was perfect along towards morning. The moon came up and shed its faint light over the misty landscape. It was beautiful.
May 31, 1929
John L. Pacguesney News Times, South Bend, Ind
Stopped in South Bend, Gave a short story to the News Times. Had Clara’s one shoe reset. These blacksmiths are a jealous bunch. No one will give the other fellow credit for knowing how to shoe a horse. I was quite surprised to get a letter from Florence here in South Bend. The old girl certainly was bugs about me and the loving relationship. Well it is a thing of the past now. God only knows how thing will work out.
Stayed the night May 30 with Mr. John Frank, Elkhart, Ind, R4. Slept all night out under the stars. The night was perfect along towards morning. The moon came up and shed its faint light over the misty landscape. It was beautiful.
May 31, 1929
John L. Pacguesney News Times, South Bend, Ind
Stopped in South Bend, Gave a short story to the News Times. Had Clara’s one shoe reset. These blacksmiths are a jealous bunch. No one will give the other fellow credit for knowing how to shoe a horse. I was quite surprised to get a letter from Florence here in South Bend. The old girl certainly was bugs about me and the loving relationship. Well it is a thing of the past now. God only knows how thing will work out.
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