Lois Ives Bookout was born in 1897 in Powder Springs, GA to Jessie Thomas Arandal Bookout and Margaret A. Shipp. Lois married Robert “Bob” T. Lindley in 1925. However, they did not have any children but raised Lois’ orphaned nieces and nephews.
Lois kept a diary, as she was growing up, recording her observations of her daily life and of what life was like in Powder Springs during that time. Lois was about 13 years old in 1911 when she wrote these entries in her Dairy. There may have been other Diaries, but this one seemed to have survived through the years and is now preserved by her great-niece Brenda Drake Kiser. Ms. Kiser has kindly provided the museum with copies of Lois’ Diary. Below are some excerpts from Lois’ Diary.
Lois writes:
Jan 1, 1911. I got up late this morning, about 7 o’clock. It started
off raining New Years day and it looks like it is going to rain several
days. I went to Sunday School and preaching this morning and after
preaching I went home with Eva and spent the day. Miss Ollie Wall
spent the day with Sallie today. Eva and myself had a “large” time.
When I got home this eve, Dovey (?) and her “beau” was sitting in the
Parlar (Mrs. Clarence Dupree) and Dovey had as her “guest” to-night
Mr. “Pike” Lindley. I didn’t stay up very late to-night as I knew I would
have to stat to school in the morning. (RESOLVED TO QUIT COFFEE)
Jan 2, 1911. I got up this morning and found it still raining. I done my
“jobs” and be-gin to fix for school. I was undecided whether to go to
school or not as it was raining….I decided to go…. When I got back
home from school I started my doll a dress and finished it to-night….
Jan 4, It snowed this morning but it was just a little snow. I went to
school in the snow…..The Ladies Aid Society met at our house this
afternoon….Lessie is spending the night with me, I guess it will be
quite a while be-fore she will spend another night with me as she
is going to move to Atlanta.
Jan 9. To-day is mammas birthday, she is 53 years old, papa gave
her a black silk waist (?) far a birth day present. Aunt Sallie and all
her children is spending the day with us and to-night. We made syrup
candy and we sure did have a “sticky” time….
Jan 10. I went to school today. Papa went to Atlanta….We bought
us a cow to-day…..I am glad we got her as I can milk her, she is gentle.
Feb 16. I got up late this morning and had the head-ache last night
and I didn’t sleep much. Lorena came by for me this morning, and
we had some fun going to school. We played ball at recess and dinner….
Feb 17. Well I have felt real mean all day to-day and Mr. Bradley has
been ill so I have had to be “slick with my mischief “. We had a lot of
fun coming from school….Bessie McCready came up here from
Austell. She is staying with Stella to-night….I stayed in the store as usual
this eve. There is a dance over at Mr. Charley Sorrell’s to-night….
Feb 18. To-day has seemed like a holiday for me as I haven’t had to
stay in the store much, I stayed long enough for papa to go get a shave.
I read some this eve in “Barbara Heathcotes”. Dovie and my-self went to
the spring late this eve. “Shorty” and Mary came to the spring while we
were there and Willard L. came down there on a wheel….There was
a party over at Mr. Henry Lunsford’s to-night….I ironed some for “my-self”
to-night.
Feb 19. I went to Sunday School as usual and I wanted to go home with
Josie….but mamma wouldn’t let me go and I didn’t like it very much….
Feb 22. ‘WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY”. As to-day is Washington’s
Birthday, we didn’t have to go to school, I thought I would get to rest,
but I have been busy all day. I washed out a few pieces….we ironed
a two weeks washing. I went to town just before dinner and got
some syrup to make some candy while mamma cooked dinner. I made
the candy and it sure was good….
March 18. Saturday. Beatrice and I done most of the ironing this
morning as Dovey didn’t feel like ironing. While I was sweeping the
front porch this morning Roy Butner told me that Hattie Evans….,
died about 10 o’clock last night. I think it is so sad for anyone as
young to have to die, she was just the right age to enjoy her self if she
could have been well….I stayed in the store all the evening as Waymond
didn’t feel like helping papa….after supper papa and Dovey went down
to Bertha’s….Beatrice sure did “doctor” Waymond and Huborn. “I think she
greased them all over with Vaseline and bathed them in Watkins Liniment”.
He Ha and she gave them a dose of oil “to boot”….
March 19. Sunday. The first I done this morning I eat break-fast and
then I went to milk, after I got through milking I helped to clean up the
house and then I got ready to go to Sunday School….We had lots of
fun (after dinner) this eve it was raining….so we played “thimble”.
Lois tells about daily life with friends, going to school and church and family visits and activities, as well as, duties at home. The store she refers to is Bookout’s Drug Store in town that was owned by her father, Jessie T. Bookout.
The museum has on display a doll that belonged to Lois which was donated by her great niece Brenda Drake Kiser. The doll is a 1910 “Queen Louise” doll from Germany with stand. The doll is 23 “ tall, made of composition and bisque material, joined, with eyes that roll open and shut. There is an Appraisal Certificate with a description and value dated 10-19-1985. Lois does mention making a doll dress in her Diary, but it is probably not for this doll.
Other items that belonged to Lois and her family are also on display at the museum. All donated by her great niece Brenda Drake Kiser.
Come by and see the doll as well as all the other items on display in the museum.