December 1-4, 1889 and 1900 in Coles County IL

December 1889

1.  Sunday,  8 AM.  Ther.  26.  46.  39.  =  37.

Clear.  W.S.G. cleaned out stable AM out of hay and nearly out of straw.  Tue cooked two rabbits for dinner.  Mrs. Mount was buried today.  Jim Walker died Friday.  Maunie Lang here most of the day.   Walked over to look at Eley hay rack and decide that I don't want it at any price.  Clear day light wind.  Gobed 9 PM

2.  Monday  7 AM.  Ther  36.  58.  48  =  47 1/3

Clear and fine, SW wind.  Mrs. Rogers washed and ironed.   Uncle John in town not down to dinner.  Has traded Kline Farm with Burgers for Gage property paying some 1500 dollars to boot.  I start for ranch about 3 P.M.  Getting there about dark.  Milt and Frank hauled jag of hay today from John Van Meters barn.  Mostly clear day and quite warm.  Very strong SW winds.  Roads bad by bridge river barely fordable.    Gobed  9.30 P.M.

3.  Tuesday.  6 AM  Ther at C.  43.  43  36  =  40 2/3

Damp cloudy day  Johnny Decker worked 7 to 5.  Milt hauled two loads corn from Martins.  Hang gate in barn door.  Corn crib floor, some troughs Warren bought load corn 16 (?) @ 25. 56 bush (2 loads) from Martin @ 22 1/2  self hurt left foot with timber  very painful in night couldn't sleep.

4.  Wednesday 6 AM.  Ther  at C.  34.  41.  39.  =  38

Cloudy.  Johnny worked 7 to 5.  Milt went to town Stanberry suit compromised.  Milt got home about  8 P.M. slow rain good part of PM.   and in night  John and self make rack in  in sheep shed  with troughs  Ran up balance of stairs,  Milt got 400 lb shats at Wings.  Wind S.  River fordable.  Milt returned by Walkers   F Drake daubed on house today.  Gobed 10 PM  a corn kept me awake nearly all night.

December 1900

1.  Saturday. 6 am.  Ther  32.  50.  34.  =  38 2/3  Foggy N wind  Didn't sleep much with toothache all night.  Lamn came 730 working all AM cutting up kindling and other jobs.  Meet Brown in town and have a settlement of my collections to date  Pay him 40 65 check  We decide to  quit soon as he can finish up some sawing now on hand.  Drive down to Wrightsville to catch John Simons  He will set some men cutting wood on me Monday 65 cts and burn brush.  Tue ate dinner at  Groves also children.  I did not eat dinner.  Pay Lamb in full 1.50  Was up  town while after supper.  Mort and Kate over at night  Mostly clear day self about sick.  Have lately been eating and drinking too much.  No tobacco since I quit!  Was at Marshall's office AM.  More there  Gobed 10.PM

Shorthand at top of cage.

2.  Sunday.  6.45  AM.  Ther.  32.  55.  47.  =  43 2/3

Clear Southerly wind Heavy white frost.  Thought it was snow when woke up.  Start for ranch 10 A.M.  Went to John Simons where Jim Decker used to live.  Ate dinner after which John and went back to where End and Jol will begin to cut wood in morning.  Not much good timber till things get back some distance.  Will pay them 65 cts per cord for good wood  1 ct for good 10.0 posts.  We  then went over to Ira Browns and talked a while  It was after dark when I got home  Roads generally good little mud, but rough.  Clear day Southerly wind.  Roger Bennett rode a ways with me going down.  Gobed 8 PM~~

3.  Wednesday.  6 AM.  Ther  30.  40.  38.  =  36.

Clear N.W. wind Martha Parsons did not come yesterday as promised by phone other day.  Shirley called AM and Paid 168.19 ch for our half bal of corn also paid rent on 5 acres in hungarian 25.00  Pay him for labor 4.00  This was an extra I never heard of.  Thought made mistake but couldn't find him up town.  Bert was down to dinner.  Has been sick.  I drove out Gaines to take hammer &c  He had been hauling up wood today.  Deposits above check and other cash at 2d Natl 224.49  No book.  Bal in B 15.00  Cloudy day estimated 245 acres 2046.00 or 8.35 average per acre.  This is so much better than past years that feel encouraged to continue  farming.  All hands away at night as usual.  Maggie was sick in night.  Tue and self got up  Gobed 8 P.M.  Lloyd women said would come to wash Wednesday morn early.

4.  Tuesday.  6 AM.  Ther. 36.  40.  37.  =  37 2/3

Cloudy NW wind light.  Maggie feeling better and went to work.  Sell Harding lot Cull 544 @ 1.50      8.16 which  Crt on my coal oil a/c.  They are putting in steam pipes from 4th west on Jackson.  Intended going to Loxa but will wait till tomorrow.   Pay Mike Millen a/c 10.50   Courier 5.50.  C.E. Winter 5.50 all chs,  Telephone Martha at Cent. says she is not coming at least, not before New Years.  dark and chilly day wind Northerly to N.W.  Rain and sleet AM at times, very light however.  Tue over at Mrs. Knocks at night  Gobed 9 PM.