342 – 1915 Life

Mark Jarvis

1915 was the peak year for the number of horses on U.S. farms before they were replaced by tractors. About half the U.S. population lived on farms.

Cities were growing much more rapidly than rural areas due to industrialization, immigration, and The Great Migration to northern cities. By 1920, over half the U.S. population would live in cities.

Homes with electricity, plumbing, and telephones were rare, but would boom in the coming years. Automobiles were becoming commonplace, if not essential.

While the World War raged in Europe, the U.S. was focused on domestic issues.

In 1915, life had changed in the almost 300 years since the Cheneys arrived in Maryland.

Here are some interesting statistics about American life in 1915. We’ve seen the backstory of these facts in the Cheney stories we’ve read so far.

Demographics

  • Population: Approximately 100 million people.
  • Age: Over half (52.4%) were under 25 years old.
  • Life expectancy: The average was 54.5 years.
  • Infant mortality: 10% of infants died during their first year.
  • Top causes of death: Heart disease, followed by pneumonia, influenza, and tuberculosis. 

Economy

  • Wages: The average annual wage for a worker was between $200 and $400.
  • Working conditions: Workdays were 10-12 hours, with conditions frequently unsafe.
  • Inflation: The inflation rate in 1915 was 1.00%.

Housing

  • Home ownership: In 1920, about four times more people rented than owned their homes.
  • Households: The average household had more than four people,
  • Housing: Most lived in rented homes that frequently lacked running water and electricity. 
  • Food costs: The typical American spent about one-third of their income on food.
  • Births: 95% of all births took place at home
  • Plumbing: Only 14% of homes had a bathtub. 
  • Telephones: Only about 8% of homes had a telephone.

New Year 1915

Ned Cheney was back to Kansas University. Rollo returned to Kansas City Dental College.

Fred Cheney worked as an auto mechanic. Someone ran over his dog “Buick.”

The Gypsum Advocate – January 22, 1915

Pantatorium

Ever the entrepreneur, Ned Cheney started a clothes cleaning business, Gypsum City Pantatorium, in the summer of 1915. Lest we think it was a lark, he sold the business when he went back to school in the fall.

Colorado by auto

In August 1915, E.R. and Ida Cheney drove to Colorado. That was an adventurous feat. There were no hard surfaced “365-Day” roads between Gypsum and Denver.

Medical schools

In October 1915, Ned Cheney left for St. Louis, where he enrolled at St. Louis University Medical College. Rollo Cheney resumed his studies at Kansas City Dental College.

Fred Cheney and Wallace Kilmer started their C & K Garage auto repair business.

No spring duck

On March 1, 1916, E.R. Cheney passed out cigars on his 45th birthday.

Doctor news

Rollo Cheney graduated from Kansas City Dental College. E.R.’s brother Will (J.W.) Cheney moved his practice to Wichita and specialized in Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat (EENT) after his year of advanced study in Vienna.

Country doctor

E.R. Cheney’s patient treatment stories continue to be interesting. He conducted a post mortem for a young boy run over by a wagon, treated an aviator whose plane crashed at the county fair, and adjudged a woman insane. All in a day’s work.

Timeline

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