December 13-31, 1890 Charleston, IL (Highlights)

December 1890

13.  Saturday, 7:45 AM  Ther  15  38  32

Myers brought in hogs killed yesterday.  Warren brought in a load of wood 4 cord which sold Spurgeon.  Self about sick all day.  Trade medium.  Mostly clear day SW wind fine weather Rent Perkins room to fellow for shooting going in Monday  Gobed 12 oc~~

14.  Sunday,  8 AM  Ther 25.  44.  20

Clear SW wind.  work at hogs in cellar till nearly dinner time.  Tue did not go to church  Start for timber about 3 P.M.  Fellow named Edinunrode 5 miles home with me claiming he had sprained ankle.  Got to John's before dark.  Clear day with SW wind.  Warren went fox hunting.  Gobed 9 P.M.

15.  Monday,  5.30 AM Ther  15.  34.  35.

           Clear S.E. wind white frost.  Boys finish NW corner of roof.  I went out with gun saw three pheasants which couldn't shoot.  Ride down to where they have been making boards and rode among the hills an hour or two.  John and Rile count at boards before noon.  John Simons desires to work another year for me, but make no bargain yet  I start home about 1 P.M.  Saw Harrison this AM.  He will haul hay for me tomorrow if the weather admits.  Fathers cold seems good deal worse.  The roads are generally [sic] dusty scattering this patches of last Monday snow still on N well beds.  Gobed12.

16.  Tuesday 7 AM  Ther  33.  35.  30.
Cloudy and raining SE lightly continuous till about till about 10 AM turning to snow from SW. which continues most of day melting as it fell  Light sprinkling of snow on ground at night wind W.  Mended up sausage grinder  which took me about all day and made case sausage which took me about all day  Tue helping apart of the time  Business fair.  Court in session.  King Murder trial in progress.  Gobed  11.30 P.M.

17.  Wednesday 7.30 AM
Bought load if hay of Bradberry 10.64  2660 lbs.  Sold 200 boards.  Natl. Cash Register Agt. here Deius  drummer.  King murder trial closes, jury out with case tonight.  Mostly cloudy AM.  

18.  Thursday.
Tue works at hogs lard.  I packed  hams shoulders and sides in Bbl and cover with brine.  W Decker hauls load of wood on yard last load of dry.   Stranes drummer here, also H Meyer.  Uncle John down to dinner.  Mrs. Rogers ironed PM.  Settle up with Skidmore  Gobed  1130 PM

John Simons in town says has three teams to haul down old hay from Vanmeter shed, today.  Uncle John in town and down to dinner.  Mrs. Alex Fisher was buried today.  H.G. wants to go hunting  Monday if snows.

21.  Sunday
Maunie Lang here to dinner.  Start to ranch 330 getting there about dark.

22.Monday
Clear, wind SW  John Warren and Jo H. start for two loads hay about sunrise they with Harrison got three down here Saturday.  They got here today about 2 P.M.  John and Rile work at boards in river bottom.  

23.  Tuesday. 530 AM.  
Boys work at making red oak cut by Milt into boards.  Chut Bennett took 528 ft fencing up and took the same quantity yest.  Went by Walkers for first time in many in many moths.  Stop and dig briar roots on river bottom.  Tue about sick.

24.  Wednesday  Chut Bennett brought lumber he started with yesterday and Warren brought 1600 boards.  Remain at store most of day.   Began snowing shortly after midnight  Hyman in town.

25.  Thursday  Thursday  8 AM.  Ther. 22.  27.  17.
Snowing moderately from N.E. began about midnight last night, snowed most of day today making a fall of about 3 inches.    I got a case comb and brushes in my stocking  also also some other things  Maggie and Phebe some books &c and Marie two fine dolls.  Tue gave father a pair of felt slippers.  I paid note of  Tue and self for $400 at bank today and made a new one of  100.00  I did not eat any dinner today Stay at store  /stay at store all day Ate too much for breakfast.  Hat and H were down to dinner.  Clears off at night and grows colder, wind N.E. gobed 12

26.  Friday 7.30 AM.
This is the coldest morning since last winter.  H. G. and Due Dowling went hunting today  and I remain at store all day.  H.G. got back before night  Mostly clear day with SWwind.

27.  Saturday.  8 AM
Roads said to be good but no sleighing.  Uncle John in town but did not come down to dinner.  He has not yet closed his trade for the  Phillips farm.  Says if he does  not  he will go 8 Seattle.  Old Mrs  Pineel who died a day or tw ago was buried today.  Mount joy  & Do had "passover supper at  Geo Lees tonight..  Mrs Latta's niece was over at night playing on piano.  Tue built fire up stairs at night  for first time  this  season.bill Meyers wants to rent Perkins room 6 months.

28.  Sunday
Alarm of fire about 8 AM  

29.  Monday

30.  Tuesday
Sutton fixed waste in water works in woodhouse.   Bill Meyers decides to take Perkins room 6 months @10.00 per month as son as shooting man gets out.  

31.  Wednesday
Uncle John down to dinner.  I got started for ranch  3.15 PM.  Tom Level rode with me part of the way  got there about dark.  Lucy sick with bad cold.  One of the spring lambs died last night.

July 30- August 1, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

July 1889

30.  Tuesday.  6.30 AM.  Ther. 65.  80.  65.  =  70.

Clear.  N.W. wind.Crass works all day at straightening up things, and will probably work all the week.  Bis dull.  Drake brought load of wood to Tooke  McCarty pays me 45c. for posts.  Mrs. Rogers washes and irons.  clear and pleasant.  Prospect for fine weather for races.  Gobed 10.30 PM.

31.  Wednesday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  64.  85.  66.  = 71 2/3

Clear  Crass works till 3 P.M. at clearing furniture and went home his wife being sick.  Warren Decker brought load of 50 posts which he took to Milton.  Sell Alex Fischer half cord wood which Milt delivers, one more load will finish out Tookes  3 cord.  Get blue suit of  clothes at Winters for which I owe him 33.00  Trade dull for horse races.  There are more entries than usual but farmers don't seem to come to town.  The races do not begin till tomorrow.  Gobed 10.30 pm.

August 1889

1.  Thursday.  7 AM.  Ther. 67.  73.  69.  =  69 2/3

Partly cloudy, hazy, sprinkle several times during day  Wind S to SW.  Crass finishes clearing at store and pay him up.  F (?) of Cincinnati here AM buy from him half Bbl Alcohol @ 2.00  Horse Fair for some reason does not make much business so far.  Drake up  today with wood which he takes to Tooke.  Gobed 10.30

July 1900

30.  Monday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  63.  88.  75.  =  75 1/3

Mostly clear.  I quit tobacco (have been chewing since Saturday.) till Christmas next.  Jo Reat says will take 5,000 ft BO fencing @ 1.70 if good.  Looks at pile at store in back lot.  Phebe and friends getting ready for camping over at Dr. Byers.  Learn that Gaines wanted to see me and start out there 3 P.M.  Jo grubbing.  They are putting in new iron bridge opposite my place on Mattoon road.  Get corn cucumbers eggs &c but finaly (sic) decide to stay all night.  Chudy Talbot cutting weeds in road.  Jo fixes fences says horses came in corn last night.  they haul balance oats to barn Sat. PM.  Clear day mostly.  Play seven up till bedtime.  Gobed 9.30 PM.

31.  Tuesday 4 AM.  Ther.  70.  95.  75.  =  80.

Clear.  Jo helping at bridge with team today  I started home at 8 o'clock.  Yellow cow had dalf in pasture this morning   Sex unknown.  Maggie Devone washed first time  Charlotte Sproule helps Tue sew PM.  I brought in lot of stuff also sack of corn.  Com Eastin rides with me home PM.  tue and  I down at night till 9.30 PM.  She  visited the Camp at Dr. Byres.  This one of the  warmest days.  N.W. wind calm.  Gobed 10.30 PM.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~August, 1900~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1.  Wednesday 5.30 PM.  Ther.  70.  98.  75.  =  81

Clear N.W. wind.  El Marshall  tears out old urinal new one not come yet.   John Simons come with first loads of lumber 1020 ft. 2 1/2x10-14 for Tp and 79 ps for BC shed self.  We pile it all in front Perkins lot.  Simons & Warren help arrange gate posts for piling lumber on.  Heavy wind with thunder storm from north about 2 PM.  then falling from 98 to 70 within 20 minutes.  Maggie Dvone ironing.  Notify Snider that Tp. lumber is here.  Mailing letter after supper.  clears off after shower.  Ink got spilled in S. chamber today.  Gobed 10.30 P.M.  Develope (sic) two or three plates at night - first for many months.*

*These are the glass plate negatives he took.  I own many of his glass negatives.

March 24 - 31, 1889 in Charleston, IL

March 1889

24.  Sunday 7 AM.  Ther.  42.  60.  43.  =  48 2/3

Mostly clear.  Drake came before breakfast.  Told him he could house for 2.00  per month when Kink got out.  Tue  feels bad all day, not well myself, chewing too much tobacco.  Think have struck good thing in fence to be made of cord wood will try it tomorrow.  Clean out horse stall, curry horse and post books.  Children over to Fishers P.M.  Gobed 9 P.M.  wind easterly.

25.  Monday.  5.45 AM.  Ther.  37.  50.  39.  = 42.

Clear N.E. wind.  Start for timber with Milt Drake.  Met Kink with load of ties.  Bob tinkering with old wagon.  4 men working on clearing on ridges back of road.  Bob seems to have the pouts about something.  Clear  day with  brisk  N. wind.  I looked over the  old ridge road P.M. and think will put fence there.  Gobed 10 P.M.

26.  Tuesday.  5.30  AM.  Ther.  30.  65.  42.  =  45 2/3

Lear or nearly so South wind.  The men worked 3 hours cutting wood and building a fence of it after a plan  of my of my own.  made about 5 rods.  Learn that Bob has decided  which is about as I expected.  have men return to clearing where left off yesterday and I start home at 11 AM.  Bob still works at old wagon and has said nothing about leaving  got home 2 P.M.  found folks gone to Dowling's golden wedding anniversary all but father.  Gobed 9 PM.

27.  Wednesday. 6 AM.  Ther.  35.  52.  40.  = 42 1/3

Mostly clear AM. wind N.W. spent good while this morning trying to  get some body  to wwk (sic) garden did not succeed.   "Dad" and I  sawed off some poling just to try.  Rake some weeds  in bottom which I  burn nearly firering fence and sidewalk. Jo Maistere spaded two hours in PM. and I plant couple rows of peas.  Tue feeling badly and cough  still very bad.  Bought her bottle of Dr. Pierce's meddy.  Mostly cloudy P.M. and chilly.  Milt Drake in town and I promise him N. house if Bob moves.  There is no school this week and girls are at home.  Baby better than she was  Gobed  10 P.M.  

28.  Thursday  5.30 AM.    Ther.  27.  50.  40.  =  39

Clear, Light N.W. wind.  got 2 bushel orchard and 2 bush Blue grass of Bill Hill.  Had Herain House hull down some cull posts. for firewood.  Started for woods at about 10 AM.  Found Bob's folks gone.  Johnny and Enoch working at burning bush P.M.  Bob came home before night.   Tells me he is going to leave and advises me to get Milt Drake.  We settle up up at night leaving him in debt to me $5.00 which he says will pay soon.    Gobed 10 P.M.  Fair day N.W. wind.

29.  Friday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  45.  48.  30.  =  41

Cloudy S. wind and looking like rain  Bob and self  make gate  boys set post for gate and finish wiring  fence of enclosure.  Dash of rain about noon.    Start home 1 P.M, gets cooler about  2 P.M. wind changing to N.  Got home at 3.  Tue feeling some better.  Phebe has got more cold.  Go bed 9 P.M.  Geo Tucker called at night to see about butternut posts paid me  one dollar.  Lost my cane on road home Wednesday.

~

30.  Saturday 6 AM.  Ther.  Ther.  22.  53.  50.  =  41 2/3

Clear and heavy frost wind N.E.  I had to milk, father having sore hand.  The gang came in early and all want money which is getting pretty scarce with me.  Dr. Dunbar gave me a half pt. whiskey.  Hat was down P.M.  Went up, at night after butter  but could not find any.  The old cow is not yielding very well.  Geo Tucker finished up  the  butternut posts this AM.  Alex Fisher paid me .75.  Wm Grant pd. 5.00.  Cool morning , warmer PM.  Thunder toward night  with sprinkle rain.  Warren Decker hauled his  first load of ties today  John Kink has got out 121 this week and last.  Paid F, Lauder  bal 1.00 old a/c.  Order pair of pants of Winter to cost 7.00.  Milt Drake still in town.  Gobed 11 PM.

31.  Sunday  7 AM.  Ther.  57.  64.  40.  =  52 2/3

Cloudy and light rain most of day, which was needed for the grass.  Tue feeling badly all day but her cough some better.  Posted up clearing accounts at night.  Mr. Taggart called PM. and called for 1 1/4 cord.  3.75.  Grows cooler P.M.  Grass is growing and is about  two  three inches high in front yard.  Gobed 10 P.M.

March 5 - 8, 1914 and 1889 in Charleston, IL

1914

Note:  March 5-6 are missing.

7.  Saturday  6.30  AM.  Ther.  34.  40.  32.  = 35 1/3

Cloudy W.2.  Snowing.  Clean out Furnace grate and fill up.  Fire will hardly burn today.  Alfred came before dinner with friend to do chores.  Will return Monday eve.  We are trying  to eat up all our scraps:  it is an interesting job.  They are about gone.  Mrs. Jo Curd called 2 P.M.  They are going to give Hat a surprise on her birthday which occurs on 12th next.  Learn that Geo Kreig died yesterday.  The funeral will be at Mattoon.  Mrs. Brooks wants Tue  to go with her.  Most cloudy with snow flurries much of time.  Wind west to north.  Tue went over to library 8 P.M.  Gobed 9

8.  Sunday,  6.30  Am.  Ther.  28.  36.  32.  = 32.
Cloudy NW.2.  I feel pretty badly this morning.  Tue decides to not go to  funeral with Mrs. Brooks and goes to church 10.30 AM.  Snow flying most of day but it did not amount to much.  We neglect to get any meat yesterday and got along very well without.  Tue went to Grove's at night till after 9 cloudy day moderate NW wind  Gobed 9.30

1889

5.  Tuesday  6.30  AM  tjer 34.  49.  38 = 40 1/3

Cloudy and snow flying, wind N.  Jim Campbell cleared out stable and carriage house.  Will come tomorrow morning to build a pig pen.  Got 3 hens and a rooster at Wrights.  Get letter from WH White saying will want (?) ties by May.  Wrote him would put them out by June 1.  Phebe has caught a bad cold but went to school.  Pleasant day, N wind.  Gobed 9.45 PM.  paid personal taxes to M (?) $17.44

6.  Wednesday 6 AM.  Ther.  30.  53.  42.  = 41 2/3

Clear.  White frost, wind, N.  Jim Campbell works all day.  Made pig pen and hot bed dug parsnips, &c.   turned old cow  in road first time since last fall.trimmed trees and vines got two more hens of Wright 63 cts. on Cr.  Look over a/c of Sam Roys owe him bal. of 98.85.  Mrs. Brown called about noon brought in  a pt. of maple syrup.  Warren Decker here paid him 570  Very pleasant but somewhat  chilly northerly wind got letter form Bethesda  they have not  shipped the water ordered.  Go bed 9.45 ~~

7.  Thursday 5.30 AM  Ther.  34.  46.  39. = 39 2/3

Clear, light frost N. wind.  Train grape vines and most of raspberries.  H.G. thinks will be licensed.  They are petitioning council for vote on it.  Old cow failed to come up tonight, also one hen missing.  Discover that Perrill has been digging with a (?) on my land.  Gobed 9 PM  Partly cloudy day N. wind.

8.  Friday.  6 AM.  Ther.  32.  32.  29. = 31

Cloudy was  clear early, wind westerly.  Cow not home yet has probably started out to country.  Uncle John was in to dinner, he had not seen cow. Says  Cer(?) is going to saw for Snider.   Got letter from White saying he can have bill of S ties if can deliver them by May 30.  Tue went to high school with Minnie Knock in P.M.  Sold load of wood half cd. to colored barber some to Alex Fisher.  Father learned  at night that Haddock boy who has been caught stealing  chickens recently and was to be sent  to reform school hung himself in jail.  Cold cloudy day.  Snow flying most of the time.  gobed 9.30 PM.