1901-1903 & 1909-1912 Diaries of the Widow of a Prominent Jefferson County, Wisconsin Pioneer Family With Familial Ties to the Man Who Named Aztalan

On offer are two fine journals kept for a total of six years by a member of the Hyer family (by marriage), who was related to the Wisconsin pioneer credited with giving the town of Aztalan its name. 

Our author is Sarah Jane (Nevins) Hyer (1844-1923). She was born in Genesee, New York to Jacob Nevins (1817-1874) and Elizabeth Green (1811-1883), both from Vermont. They settled in Jefferson County, WI in 1846, when Sarah was a toddler. Sarah married Julius Caesar Hyer (1828-1902) on October 15, 1866 in Jefferson. Julius was born in New York and came to Wisconsin as a young man. He was a pioneering farmer of the Aztalan region, purchasing 120 acres of land and transforming it into a crop-rich farm. 

Together, Sarah and Julius Hyer would have three children, but only one would survive to old age. Lille Hyer (1867-1868) died in infancy and Henry B. Hyer (1868-1889) died at 21 due to epilepsy. Edward Julius Hyer (1872-1952) would live his entire life in Aztalan on the family farm with his wife, Myrtle Hathaway, and their children Hazel and Edward Hyer. He was a member of the Jefferson county board, Aztalan district school board, and county fair board and Equitable Reserve Association.

The Hyers are among Aztalan’s prominent pioneering families. Notably, Nathaniel Fisher Hyer (1807-1866), Julius’ cousin, is the man credited with naming Aztalan [SEE BIO NOTES]. Julius’ father, Frederick Hyer (1793-1847) and Nathaniel’s father, David Roscoe Hyer (1774-1835), were half brothers. Both were sons of Walter E. Hyer Sr. (1744-1797). David was born to Walter and Elizabeth Rusco (1723-1778), After Elizabeth died, Walter and his second wife, Abigail Rowe (1745-1799), had more children, including Frederick. 

When Sarah begins her first diary, Julius is nearing the end of his days. He remains somewhat active in his business though he is mostly unwell and home. Sarah herself is confined to a wheelchair, according to historical records, and she references her chair occasionally. Her diary entries are filled with discussion about her immediate and extended family, neighbours, the farm and farm labor, the larger community, and reminiscences of her youth and those who have passed on. Some excerpts:

“...Eddie fixing up the henhouse. Elsie ironing. Myrtle sewing. Jule feeling much better. Eddie brought me 4 letters this morning when he came home from the factory. Hebners Auction. Walter very busy…Carrie and Gertie drove up. Mrs. Harvey Foster is very sick and Mrs. McAddams, Myrtle and Walter went to Mrs. [Jeninks?]. Dandelions in bloom out in the yard. Walter brought me one” [Nov 6, 1901]. 

“...received a letter from Eliza Hyer [wife of David Roscoe Hyer Jr., sister-in-law of Nathaniel Fisher Hyer] saying Walter’s folks have a Baby Girl [Esther Hyer] born March 16th. Eddie went to the Creek in the afternoon. Henry Tyler came in the evening” [March 19, 1902].

“...Jule failing fast the house full off [sic] kind neighbors and [relatives]. Dr Reed came, every one so kind and good to us. Our Dear Husband, Father and Brother passed away at 625PM May 15th 1902. Minna went for the undertaker and telegraphed to the relatives and friends, it is very hard for Eddie and my self to bear he has been a great sufferer for the last year and a half and has borne it all as patiently but now he is at rest” [May 15, 1902].

Sarah enjoys recounting her early days in Jefferson County. For example, shortly after Julius’ death, she accompanied family to visit her childhood town, and she describes stopping by her log schoolhouse:

“....8 weeks since Jule’s funeral. We borrowed Mr. Tyler’s Surrey and all went down to Brother Charles’ Eddie, Myrtle Ethel Beatris Walter and myself went in the Surrey…and took my Chair along. We had such a good night with Brother Henry Nevins came to Charles and Minas folks came as well had supper together and Jenners folks were there too, Charley Nevins came home with us we went around by Mrs. McAddams place it had been years since I was around that way, we saw the old place where our first log schoolhouse was built, one of the bottom logs are are still there grown over with grass and all around where it stood and where there were nothing but little bushes and sprouts were growing, they are grown to large trees I saw where the path was across the fields where I yousto [sic] trudge to school when I was 5 years old and Charles was older, Ann and Corneha fellows went to the same school at that time and they are both gone and Cousins Varamer, Jesse and Frank attended school, Varamer has been gone for 45 years, there were Charley Fuller and Daniel Washburn too both gone now. Mary Turner was not going at that time but when I was eleven years Mary was going to our school and now after 47 years Charles Turner is the only one living that was a parent and sending Scholars to our school at that time I saw the marsh where we yousto slide on the ice in winter, the hill where we yousto slide down with hand sleds and get tipped over and the soft water pond (long since dry) where I yousto go with Charles hunting frogs for fish bait, oh those were glorious days, when I thought Pa, Ma, Charles and Myself were all there were in the world how few are left, that were here then they are almost all on the other side where we shall soon join them” [July 12, 1902].

The second diary is filled with lengthy entries, as well as pressed flowers, letters, flyers, little drawings (likely by Sarah’s grandchildren), and other ephemera. A 65th birthday gift from her family, Sarah keeps the diary from July, 1909-July, 1912. She describes the comings and goings of the Hyers, Nevins, and other community members, the family farming business and her grandchildren’s activities. Confined to a wheelchair, Sarah has ample time to observe and reminisce. Some excerpts:

“...Myrtie and Ellen busy getting ready for Mrs. Henke’s birthday party this evening and Hazeley’s this afternoon. They had supper ready for the children when School was out, the table looked fine, 16 bright little faces sit down to the table, little Carley sit with them at the table, his mama fed him they had a fine Supper bananas apples peanuts and candy for dessert. They brought Hazel many little presents…a gold chain and locket…then in the evening Albert Emma and little Carley and Eddie Myrtle Walter and Hazel went to Mrs. Hankes party. They had a good time and a big crowd. Ellen and Grandma Brotts stayed with me. Mr. John Harbie wife and grand daughter and Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway stoped [sic] a while on their way to the party” [October 26, 1909].

“...Myrtie washed. Lightning struck and burnt a barn a mile from the Creek between 2 and 3 am this morning. Dave David working on the road for Eddie. Children at school. Received Lauria Nevins graduating card to day. Eddie went to Lake, everything looks just grand, will soon have Strawberries of our own. Eddie brought some from the Lake and we had a Strawberry Shortcake for supper” [May 31, 1910].

“Town Meeting Day…There was no opposition, the Republicans had no ticket so the Democrat ticket is the same as last year. Brother Charles was down to dinner. 35th anniversary of Charles’s wedding day, Hattie Heyer came after Allen last evening” [April 2, 1912; Note The Democratic ticket is tipped into the diary. Sarah’s son, E.J. Hyer is Chairman, and Allen Hyer is clerk, other locals about whom Sarah writes regularly are also on the ticket, including Charles Oestreich]. 

 “...Eddie and Albert drawed our hay in the Orchard this morning. PM Eddie Walter and Hazel took Lauria and Rhoda to Milford to visit Charley and Jennie Shroeder. They stopped at Crandals to talk over fixing up the church. Mr. and Mrs. John Whiting and Mrs. Harbie were there they will commence on the Church as soon as possible…People came in evening after School meeting…” [July 1, 1912].

Taken together, these two diaries encompass six years in the life of a pioneering Wisconsin family and offer a peek into the world of a woman who used a wheelchair in the very early 20th century. As the Hyer’s were well-off, Sarah did not seem to struggle as some may have, but the world through her eyes is often one of observation rather than direct engagement. The connection to Nathan Fisher Hyer is worth mentioning again [See BIO NOTES]. A treasure trove of early Jefferson County history.  

The first journal is a ledger book in which daily entries were made beginning in November, 1901 until December 31, 1903. The long ledger pages allow her to write 4-5 entries per page, and she writes nearly daily, with entries ranging from a few lines to a longer paragraph. It measures 11.5 inches by 5.5 inches and contains 176 pages. The back cover of the book is missing. The front cover is cloth and is stained. The book is stitched and binding is intact. The pages are in good condition with the exception of the last few pages which have been damaged due to lack of protective cover. The handwriting is legible. The diary is about 85% complete. Overall Fair. 

The second  journal is a large, hard cover volume. It  measures 10x7.25 inches. Hyer began it on her 65th birthday, July 28, 1909, and kept it daily until she runs out of pages on July 27, 1912. The hard covers are intact but stained from wear and use. The spine has broken and the sewn binding is very loose with some pages detached. While all signatures are present, they are very loose. All pages are intact although several have been damaged by wear on the edges and folding, though this does not interfere with legibility. The book contains 300 pages and is 100% complete. Overall Fair to Poor. 

BIO NOTES - THE HYERS: 

The Hyer family name is associated with the earliest days of Aztalan, Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Specifically, Judge Nathaniel Hyer, who had settled in Milwaukee, visited the area after Timothy Johnson of Watertown discovered the region. Hyer drew a basic map of the Aztalan area and published a written account of the place in the Milwaukee Advertiser in 1837. Hyer named the region Aztalan based on the (incorrect) idea that the Aztecs of Mexico originated there. Hyer found mounds in the Aztalan, WI region and connected them to images of Aztec pyramids. While Hyer’s rationale for naming the place Aztalan has been proven false, the name itself remains. [Milwaukee Public Museum, Aztalan Site History, 2022].