September 20-22, 1913 and 1888 in Coles County Illinois

1913

20.  Saturday.  5.00 AM.  Ther.  60.  56.  52.  =  56.

Cloudy S.10.4.  There were light showers in night.  (.08).  Bill came and worked till 4 P.M.  Pay  him full to date check 4.45.  He put cord of wood in cellar.    Is expecting to cut corn next week and will return to finish up my work.  Helen went home 3 P.M. Bill washes off wheels AM.  Tue irons P.M.  Late I drove E. to Huckaba road getting home after six.  Mont was over while after supper.  Will begin my work coming week when finish at Normal.  Cloudy day with N.W. 4 wind and some light showers P.M.  Gobed 9.

21.Sunday.  5.30 AM  Ther.  50.  56. 52.  = 52 2/3

Cloudy.  NW.2.  Tue slept rather late.  Later went to church.  Fire in furnance in order this morn, and keep same all day.  We had cornbread for dinner the first lately.  I grated the corn.  (?)  4 PM.  I drive S round by the old Atkins road getting home 6 PM.  I got caught in a thin shower coming home, not enough to wet me.  It was a cold drive.  Boys play football day on Library lot and are getting to be a nusance.  Part clear day, overcast at night.  Go bed 9 P.M.

22.  Monday.  6 AM.  Ther.  40.  56.  46.  =  47 1/3

Clear.  NW2.  We are about out of coal.  Andrews will deliver us load tomorrow morn.  Tue wrote Phebe.  I drove up before noon getting steak at Dorsch's order pair of pants.  C.
E. Tates.  Will get suit.  He took order on the street as I don't feel able to go up to shop.  Tue and I go to Loxa 1.30 getting home 6 P.M.  Went N. road took basket of pears to Charley J.  Drove up through place and over much of pasture going out NE gate and through Loxa again.  Hariman and  and Cox are up at "other place" at work.  Saw signs of light frost in cornfields, very  light.  has done no plowing for me.  Has cut some corn near A Moores and along E(?)  E of BC shed.  We found pasture all right and lots of young grass just starting.  Cliff said it was ll dead.  Cliff also said we could not  drive S. from BC sh in a/c fallen B.C.  The BC looks well and will soon do to cut.  Tue looked over house.  The expected tenant one Hite has not shown up.  Clear mostly, moderate N.W. wind.  Heavy cloud smoke S.E. all P.M. supposed in oil region.  Helen came before we got home.  She and Tue spent eve. at Groves.  gob 9

1888

20.  thursday.  5.45  AM.  Ther.  66.

Cloudy.  Pretty heavy dash of rain in the night above midnight.  Roads some muddy near town.  NO rain down in timber.  4 min at work.  Pleasant day  Gobed 9 PM.

21.  Friday  5.45  AM  Ther.  60.  85.  66.

Partly cloudy.  Dash of rain early in morn before day.  Start  to timber 8 1/2 AM.  Big Rep. rally in town today.  Three men work 3/4 day today heavy wind came up from N. about 2 1/2 P.M.  Men quit at 3 PM. and I started home rained all the way, was constantly meeting wagons on way home from speaking.  I came home by Diona road.  Rains till in the night heaviest rain for several weeks.  I  walked over on South ridge today looking for board trees.  Go bed 8.30 P.M.

22.  Saturday.  6 AM.  Ther.  64.  71.  63.   

Mostly cloudy morning and day.  Went down to timber.  No men at work today.  This  was day for Commisioners to look at proposed changes in road and they were promptly on hand after looking over the ground they agree to let me change the road as c(?) stated.  I started home about 3 P.M.  Gather about bushel of butternuts on the way home.  Roads muddy.Stream not up any.  I looked round throughly for road to come out of middle hollers and I think I found a place.  Tue put in day putting up fruit mash peaches clear at night and cooler  gobed  9 PM.

April 30 - May 1-2, 1913 in Charleston, Illinois and April Weather 1913

April 1913

30. Wednesday. 5 AM.  52.  78.  60 = 631/3

Clear S.E.1.  Decide to go Loxa and start 6 AM find Hugh with most of his posts set.  Mr. Oakley able to be round out of doors.  The baby has measles and can't  paper at present.  Drove out far as Darlings gate shut and return.   Meet J.O.L. paying him 3.80 for coal Feb 1912 for J.W.G.  J.D. clerking in their store at Charleston.  They didn't make land trade as reported.  Look at Charley Jone's fence and will use it.  Met Cliff unloading calf.  Says will finish breaking  (?) today has been burning some stalks on place.  I got home 9.45 fire as I drove in Brown house 5th and Jeff.  Emmett began on old house* yestereve (sic) and continued today.  Has not made much imprish(sic) yet.  Is cleaning out east rooms: will come in morning.  Rhoda and Tue worked all day cleaning.  I paid Geo Anderson for posts 50c.  Corn 5.00   Roads dry but somewhat rough.  One of my terrapins is dead.  Clear day with light S.E. wind.  Get Phelps Catalog today.  Mrs. Grove and Mr. over at night.  I did not eat  supper.  Sleep on couch till 9.

* There is a story about this house in Nancy Easter Shick's book,  Long Story Short.

The Weather &c at Charleston Illinois for April 1913

Average daily mean temperature 54.04 Precipitation 2.33 in.  Mostly on 8th, 76: 9th, 57. 14 and 15  Precipitation 2.33in.  Mostly on 8th,  76: 9th, 57 of and  25th. 61.  Clouds 42%.  Very light white frosts 5,  14 and 15th.  It has been a good month for farm work and many of them are through  breaking.  Fruit trees promise full crop none of it has been killed.  Apple trees are in full bloom and nearly every tree is pretty full.  The roads are rough and were pretty muddy about second week.  Corn is 50c oats 30 hogs 8.30  Bill Hill reported a mess of morels last Sunday.  I have not seen any.  The wind has blown from N. 6; N.E. 2 2/3; E. 4 2/3; S.E.2; S. 4 2/3; S.W. 3 2/3; W. 3 2/3 and N.W. 2 2/3 days.  No snow and little thunder.

May 1913

1.  Thursday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  54.  82.  66.=67 13

Clear.  S.W.2. Mare in pasture all night and did not come up early.  Emmett had to get her.  Drive up town and up by Anderson's orchard AM.  Apples are in full bloom and nearly all the trees load.  Other fruits about same.  Emmett worked all day mostly taking of land piling old lumber and lath.  The  frame is in worse condition then supposed.  Think I will have taken out to farm for posts &c.  Tue went to picture show afternoon and at night.  Emmett's Charley got jailed yesterday will have trail tomorrow.  I started 3 PM.  west but, mare so downsy (sic) return barn.  Have been feeding too much corn.  I study Phelps list and may order buggy in day or two.  Emmett will try to get Bill Hatton to help tomorrow.  Tue home from paintings 9.30

2. Friday 5.30 AM.  Ther. 56.  86.  68. = 70

clear S.1.  Little dew.  Emmett and Bill work all day and get old house leveled and mostly cleared up.  Pay Bill Keck 1.50.  Tue went with Helen Hildreth to concert at Normal  I gave Emmett some of the wood from old house.  I ate something - perhaps cove oysters for dinner which made me sick all P.M. and night.  Mostly clear day with strong southerly winds.  Harman phones that through breaking and will begin planting tomorrow near A. Moore's.  gbed 9

April 22, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

1913

22.  Tuesday.  4.45 P.M.  Ther.  54.  82.  66.  = 67 1/3

Clear.  S.2.  Start Loxa 6 AM and get home 9.15 AM.  Hugh working for A. Moore.  Helps me measure lot 218 ft.  Buy 2 ties Geo. Anderson.  Stop at Jones: pay him a/c to date 90 cts cash.  Start to go up to place but decide to go home at once.  Don't seem to find fence I want: look at Mercantile stock AM.  Give saw to file to Moody.  Emmett came early:  plants in garden, rake off yard began on S.R. ash pit sent lawn mower to  Chas Wells for treatment.  He  returned it PM. pd. .50c.  After finish ashes Emmett with me looks over pasture fence and spend hour or two hunting post digger which couldn't find.  I drove over to Anderson for saw and came near a runaway.  Raymond got saw for me Tue over at Mrs. Bro(?) P.M. getting home 6.30.  Emmett worked all day and will work tomorrow.  Most clear hazy day.  S.W.4.  Get booze P.M.  Interurban owe me dime.  Tue over at Brooks P.M. and at Grove's at night at night.  I slept on couch till 9 when go to bed.  E. Meter 784.000 $1.57 CG

1888

22.  Sunday, 7 AM.  Ther.  50.  65.  50.

Cloudy SE wind.  A little rain about 9 AM and indications of (?) cloudy most of day and fresh easterly wind.  Tue set out her roses &c. north of the house.  Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Robinson were here toward night Mamie Lang has the measles.  Plum and peach trees are in full bloom or nearly is.  Gobed.  9.30 PM.

April 18, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

1913

18. Friday.  5.30 AM.  ther.  54.  80.  64.   = 66.

Clear W.1.  Hitch up early and start for Loxa 8.45 AM.  get there 10.  Saw Mrs. Oakley.  Her husband has the measles.  Talk with Hugh about building fence on three sides of the lot.  He will do it as soon as I finish material.  Saw Mrs. Gaines as passed.  She brought out Florence's baby baby for me to see.  Went on up into place.  Harman has put a gate at head of street.  Harman, Cax an Paul at work each 4 horses  Cliff dragging stalks south of house, other two plowing with sulky plows N. ride S.W. 40.  I drove over to where Cliff &co put in 8 in. tile.  Saw Cliff.  Is through  sowing oats.  Will take posts down to Loxa for house lot there  Drive to BC shed and down to Loxa E. side place.  Talk while with People.  Corn 50c.  Talk with  A. Moore; pay him 40c. for some work along line.  Talk with James at Watson place.  He wants to rent farm for his son in law.  Got home 2.30 P.M.  Stood trip better than expected.  Smoked another cigar.  Maggie set me out some dinner.  Tue  gone to R.C.  Maggie went to Grace's P.M.  I get shave at Browns late P.M.  Tue and Muggs went to look at some pictures at C.H. at night.  Lightening and heavy thunder in night  Sprinkles rain.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.  Jack didn't go.

1888

18.  Wednesday  6 AM  Ther.  45.  60.  50.

Clear pleasant day.  People mostly talking about yesterday's election.  Rink and J. Rutherford bring up 1017 feet lumber for city.  Meyers did not come to work.  Sell.  Looke 20 butternut posts stop the Plainsdealer paying them up  15.  Gobed 9.30 PM.

May 15,1912 & 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

100 Years Ago

Wednesday, April 15, 1912  5.20 AM, Ther. 48, 60, 52, = 53 1/3

Most clear. SW.3.  I got start for Loxa 9.  Drove in Cemetery as pass many farmers at work along road.  I drove down by Loxa.  Stop a bit to talk with Mrs. Gaines.  My pincers are there, also chair, saw Retha.  Drove pretty well over the place.  Met Cliff and hands at house as they came for dinner.  They are harrowing north of A. Moores, and discing W. side of 29 1/2 piece.  Cliff has about 50 a broke and say 20 planted.  They intend to plant this P.M.  I ate lunch  on road and start home soon after noon owing to weather.   Mostly cloudy and threatening rain.  Light sprinkles much of P.M., heavier toward night.  Come home S. road getting there 4 P.M.  dirt roads dry and rough.  Varible winds.  Gob 9P  Tue and E cleanup attic today.  Clean out tank.  The Dr. Walker trial has got started.

125 Years Ago

Sunday, May 15,1887   6 A.M.  Ther 64, 88? 64.

Pleasant day warm and dry.  Start for timber with Seph McClosky about 8 A.M. intending to fish but not much encouragement when we got there.  Went east road came back over road, home at 6, too tired to go after Tue and girls.  Delia got home.  Effie Eastin  stays all night  with her.  Most of Ag. Dep. silkworms hatch today.  Gobed 10 P.M.