Our country began to pay for "prosperity" with a severe financial panic. Democratic newspaper editorials were blaming it on the Republicans while those of Republican leanings belabored the Democrats for scaring capital into hiding. "Coxeys Army" marched to Washington demanding work on highway improvements throughout the country - insisting that $500,000,000 in irredeemable greenbacks be issued. There were serious strikes at Pullman Car Co.

Father, like many, was a strong believer in railways as being a harbinger of prosperity and hopes for the actual building of the Norfolk and Yankton were kept alive with reports from time to time that the project was soon to blossom. At Norfolk, even in face of the eastern financial stir-up, a new paper was being published by Frank Marks and family, the Nebraska Populist. Woe unto any of the two old party politicians that dared to debate in print.

At Pierce, the 200 acre beet field was in motion. Harvest time saw a train load of sugar beets, every other day, leaving for the factory in Norfolk. We did not go in for the best culture at the farm, since the soil was better fitted for other croppings.

Pierce town election gave a population of 450.

At the farm home, the decision was that the telegraphy dreamer get down to the actual learning of the depot at Pierce, beginning January 9th. Father came to know the agent, A.A. Jasmer, well, who suggested the move as better than to school at a distance. Father was quite desirous of us learning something in addition to our knowledge of farming, so Noah would try out the hardware and tinsmith trade at the Elliott store. Charles elected to stay with the farm with John most interested in the livestock department. Cleo at 8 had yet to decide while taking part in all as well as school where he made good use of his hours in study.

A new team of horses was bought of John Craig for $200. Madge and Blanche were readily broken for work by the boys while Father was away on his assessor and carpenter jobs.

The World's Fair was held at Chicago. Had it been held as first scheduled in 1892, Father might have attended while on his trip to Erie. Now the times were such that none of the Nebraska Lederers were attending.

The 20th anniversary of our parents wedding was a Thanksgiving for us all. They with gladness that their 7 sons were in good health and a sometimes normal amount of pep for work; we, that at least part of the time might say we're measuring up to their expectations. Father's records for the year show receipts $845.86. This included $100 plus, which our good Mother had the greatest share in, being her butter and egg sales. The sacrifice of parents and the boys was great, though uncomplaining, in the planning to keep the telegraph son at the depot until he became a bonafide agent.

It was this year that the Telegrapher son began his hobby of stamp collecting. They were mostly of the used sorts such as he was able to find in waste baskets, etc. If he or anyone had procured at the Post Office the 16 variety set of Columbias, issued in honor of the Worlds Fair, at the cost of $16.34, and had they been held unused until 1946, they would command $333.30. Father too, was interested in the picturesque printing of these new stamps and later on collected a few other varieties and mounted some in his account book of 1898.

Teacher for this year was Alfa Roberts, also Maude Marks. Ex-President Hayes dies at the age of 70.

President Cleveland, like Harrison before him, maneuvered to bolster up the nations credit. Neither were strong enough to policy a program of cure for the monetary ills of the time. Like many another, Father had now to stretch his credit to the utmost, nevertheless so staunch were the merchants of Pierce, Battle Creek and Norfolk to aid in the emergency that an example is worthy of mention. Three cultivators were bought in the Spring of 94 to be paid for out of the corn crop. No corn, so dealer Ruhlow at Pierce extended the account one year.

At Lincoln, three men of note were later on to reach national and international importance. Congressman W.J. Bryan, Attorney Charles G. Dawes and Lieut. John J. Pershing. Father and sons were reading of their growing importance.

For 20 long years the stork had been leaving boy babies at our fireside - the grand total being seven. Something had to be done to retrieve a situation where one after the other wore an apron and broke dishes. Suddenly! Three days after the Fourth of July, the electrifying news Morning Gloried it's way throughout the country-side "The LEDERERs have a Girl!! We boys were stunned! How could we ever handle a baby girl, after having been coached by our parents and storied by others, that we must beware of our approach to maidens? However, once we held the red-faced bundle of flesh and blood and realized it to be kin, we grew accustomed, even to changing her tri-cornered suit. Now the nigh checked off list of male names was abandoned and Father sought first of all the Bible for a good name. Mother chose Ruth, and Ruth it has been to this day. The Mary, Ann, Barbara was filled in later. Father was happy in Mother's happiness and we all understood, for now, with a daughter and a sister in the aggregation, there was a family completeness that we had not known before.

The drought that had portended by shallowing wells, streams and lakes, for a year or more, now came close and sure. While the small grain made some meager yields, the corn tasseled white and eared barren under the burning sun and hot winds at 110 or more degrees. At Pierce and Norfolk the beet crop shorted. Poor business conditions closes out merchants here and there. Through it all, Father stoutly maintained that land was yet the best security for a home and the business of living. He admonished us all to remain steadfast and so eventually win out.

In June, the Pierce "Call" printed the following: "Telegrapher Lederer left for Oakdale as night operator". Later on, between Railway relief jobs that were developing all too far apart, this son came home to be a witness to the disheartening outlook and to lend a hand.

In August, we took on the venture of making sorghum via an old sugar cane mill and sap boiling equipment. The cane crop seemed to be fair in spite of the hot dry season. Before we became efficient finishers of the product, we had at least 20 different kinds of flavor and consistency in experiment. Father could outlast the best of us in a smoky all night run.

At District 33 school, Father a Director made his quite regular visit. The spring term's teacher, Mrs. J. A. Smith, reported the following pupils having a 90% attendance record: Charley, Noah, John and Cleo Lederer. Other names were Harvey, Smith, Retzlaff, Wilgocki, Walther and Synovec. Teacher for the coming winter term Miss Rose Wilson.

For an unusually unfortunate year the following tally from Father's accounts are interesting: Receipts:
Grain sales________________82.49
Hog sales________________230.06
Cutting grain for others______ 21.00
Herding cattle_____________ 13.75
Railway earnings___________ 50.00
Carpentering ______________ 90.00
Jury duty_________________14.70
Director__________________12.00
_______________________524.00
*-*-*-*-*-*- All paid out -*-*-*-*-*-*

(Editor's Note: The sum of the various entries is 514.00, vis 524.00. Not sure whether the mistake was in Great-grandfather's accounting or in Uncle Lou's transcription. JCL 7/27/97)

Thanksgiving could still be observed in our hearts. Thousands in the Midwest fared much poorer.

This was the Christmas when all were at home except the telegrapher. He was stationed at the City of Hadar where on Christmas Day he passed up a dandy chance to sample the finest brand of whiskey at the cordial table of the Irish section boss. He kept sobered by the thought of the home folks and where dwelt the one and only sister, to which each of us boys laid claim. This was her first Christmas and she the most satisfactory of presents to us all.

Of world wide importance was the discovery of the X-ray. Schiff, Freund of Austria; Core and Morris of Great Britain were some of the early investigators of it's use.

President Cleveland was too conservative - so said the Free Siverites, Populists and Liberal Democrats who were looking for a new leader. Election news of 94 had it that the Republicans were gaining in the Eastern states; Nebraska squeezed Democratic by a narrow margin; Pierce County electing 3 Populists, 2 Democrats, and 1 Republican. The state legislature at Lincoln passed a resolution that Nebraska be known as the Tree Planter State.

Drought crops affected the railway business too. Fortunate was the depot agent who could keep his job, even without vacation. The openings for the relief-man or beginner were few.

The outlook poor for our telegrapher, Father suggested we rent more land, buy more equipment and all pull together at the farm until times were again on the pickup. We bought horse power, Pete and Tim, a gray team of geldings, from neighbor Coleson for $100. These served usefully as long as the family were incorporated in farm livelihood. Father's studies in small grain or corn resulted in trying out better varieties. He and us who were farming minded were readers of Prairie Farmer, also of Scientific American.

As early as January 25th, it was reported a car of supplies for the drought stricken was on its way for Pierce County. Father, with others, decided this car should be sent on to some Western county that was in more dire need.

Later on in the year, the telegrapher found himself holding down a short time job at O'Neill. Here the suffering from crop an pasturage was more acute, so much so that when a car of relief goods came into the territory it was side-tracked down the line between stations so as to allow a more organized control of its distribution.

Many were those who, by covered wagon or otherwise, held themselves to more likely spots, east or south, as the case of more fortunate relatives or friends might be beckoning. One neighbor cast his lot toward Missouri, the Pierce paper reporting "that he had not decided whether to locate at Jericho, Jerusalem or on the other side of the Jordan".

Sunday school was started by the Valley mothers, with the help of some of the fathers too. We pay tribute to them for keeping such doors open to all.

Other items in the telegraphers diary: Time out was taken to have swim in the two mile away Willow Creek. Even though but crawl-deep, it was better than a tub or horse-tank bath.

On June 16th, Mother, with her 11 month-old daughter and her "Dot and Dash" son, drove to Norfolk to goodby Aunt Hester, just before her trip to Kansas and to Uncle John. Homeward bound we rand into a severe rain storm that wetted us up good. While the driver was busy with control of the steeds, Mother was silently thanking the Lord for the moisture that the fields were so hungrily needing. Sister may not recall the incident.

Extra labor by Father was carpentering and stacking grain for neighbors. As champion stacker, he could build a round type so topped as to be wet proof and in less time than any one in our territory. And when he switched from the style of stacking on his knees to the fork and upright stance, we who pitched bundles to him really had to hustle.

Grain prices: Wheat .41, Rye .28, Oats .13, Corn .17 per bushel. From the years income, Father paid his obligation to the sugar factory enterprise.

Teaching, Miss Carrie Hall.

Wireless telegraphy was now a reality.

Utah admitted to statehood and the idea of keeping more than one wife at a time was on the way out. Politicians were maneuvering for a showdown in the coming Presidential election.

The first RFD route was established officially in West Virginia at Charleston. In the issue of Parcel Post stamps commemorating the occasion, the 4-cent denomination describes the event. We. L. Wilson, Postmaster General at the time.

In February, an earthquake rumble was felt in our vicinity, at Norfolk, Pierce and as far north as Veridgree without damage. Now we might add another item to our collection of happenings within the Valley. Our telegrapher was listening to the key at Loretto, Nebraska at the time.

During the summer extra labor was done along with our farming. Charley at neighbor Synovec, Noah at Colesons and Wilgockis, while the telegrapher drove a disc team for the Pratts with Bryan's Silver speech in a handy pocket. Mother dried and sold apples picked from the home orchard. Father engineered the make and sale of sorghum at .40 per gallon. Our hogs brought the fancy price of $2.50 per hundred-weight, which was still better than corn at .08 per bushel. Low prices were blamed at the Gold Standard Democrats and Republicans by Populists.

As W. J. Bryan, the "Peerless Leader", sprang into the limelight, as their Moses, the Bi-metalists nominated him to lead them into the promised time of prosperity, against the better judgement of some Lederers and for some of them also. We Lederers made good use of one freedom - that of speech and argument. While the "Free Siverites" out-shouted throughout the Midwest, the eastern "full-dinner-pailites" outvoted and McKinley was President, polling 602,555 votes over Bryan. Father, along with many others, would have favored the famous Nebraskan if he would drop the title of Silver Democrat. Bryan's campaign of 14 weeks covered 18,000 miles - making 600 addresses to more than 5 million Americans.

In September, the school board suggested that the unemployed telegrapher take on the job of teaching the fall and winter term of District 33. On the 19th, examinations were taken in Superintendent Turner's office, where after a tough mental going-over, he was handed a third grade certificate good for six months. Overnight his title was changed to teacher Lederer the 2nd. Salary $25 per month, for teaching, janitor and being "monarch of all he surveyed" if possible.

According to Father, the school enrollment of 36 was the high mark in the districts history. The school ranked a passing % in deportment which was a special compliment accorded the teacher, since a number of the pupils had been his school-mates but a few years before.

Again we all Christmassed at home. At that time, plans were in the making that the teacher and older brother would start farming on their own the coming year.