October 11-12, 1889 and 1900

October 1889

11.  Friday  6 AM.  Part cloudy  Ther  60.  82.  66  =  69 2/3  Start for timber 7.10  Met Milt going to Diona with wagon  Have Riley and Rogers cut a few logs old (?) and R. Deck burn brush  Meet Milt on way  home with big sow.  sp. rain toward night  Got home 8 PM   Father about sick with cold  go bed 10.30 PM.

(Next Page at the top)
11th over -  Electric light  started up for few moments about 7.30 first time.  D.G. Milie Stable burned about 8 PM.   Al Crass got hurt with hose cart.   (I have made this entry bold, not Charles.)

12.  Saturday 6 AM.  Ther.  60.  80.  58  =  66
Partly cloudy.  Light shower in night.  Pleasant day NW wind.  Remit Thurber 14.63  Send receipt for B&h Whiskey to free two Bbls also Rec for 2 Bbl Matingly   Uncle John in town.   Drake did not get in with wood  Warren brought load to Cooper.  Trade good best day so far except during fair  Electric light started at 6.45 P.M. for good. and continued all night  Kelly oils buggy.  go bed 11.30 PM

October 1900

11.  Thursday. 5.30 AM.  ?.  52.  78.  60.  = 63 1/3

Mostly clear.  Get shave  Decide to go to Mattoon on train  Drive down there and leave horse hitched to Wrights shed N. of R.R.  Going  to Mattoon on 11.38 train which was late  Take in most or many of show P.M.  Eat supper with the Catholic Ladies  Saw Martha Parsons at night.  Met Charley Hopper after dark and he and I took in some of show.  Try to telephone to Pipher to put up my horse but contrary drug man headed me off.  Met D.B. Rose says told fellow to pay me 200 amt of bill he owes me for lumber  I got home at 11 P.M. and ate hearty sup at that time  gobed 11.11 PM  

12.  Friday.  4.30 AM  .  Ther 52.  75.  60  =  62 1/3

Partly clear.  I intended to start to Matton or Loxa early but did not get off till 8 or 9 AM,  Went to  Gaines and intended to reach Mattoon.  Mrs. and Mrs. Gaines wanted to go with children, so we go  I  taking Mrs G in Buggy and Jo walking Start with load - May and daughter, 9.30 AM. getting there 10.30.  Leave horse and buggy in stable west side which May recommended.  OK.  Take in much of fair.  Meet many I knew.  Saw Bert and was with him over show says will loan us money and take up note at 1st National Bank.    Shirley met me just as I was about to start home.  Tell him have not time to discuss matters.  They  try to plow BC stubble yest. but give  it up.  Got to Joes about 6 P.M. and home 7 PM.  Gobed 830 P.M. 

October 8, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

October 1889

8.  Tuesday. 7 AM  Ther 35.  60.  40  =  45

Clear very heavy white frost.  Bill Kelly works at stove most of day.  Telegraph Strainess not  not to send brandy order.  Down at E Light house AM.  Buy old goat and two kids of Richters boy for 3.00.  Uncle John in town P.M. says he is about to buy the Vietch farm  HG complaining   Go bed 10.30~

October 1900

8.  Monday. 5.30 AM.  Ther 50, 63, 50  =  54 1/3

Cloudy.  went uptown for a shave before breakfast.  Man called to rent Perkins room.  Clyde did not get here until 7.30 AM.   Capriness micacues  in front yard.  No word from Phebe today.  I try to cut some glass for windows at Loxa.    Armstrong calls and says is about to sell B.C. @  80.00 told him to let mine go with it.    Geo Weyoth gives me bill for 1700 ft lumber which he wants right away.  Mrs. Knock gets some 244-10s (?) siding for fence along alley.  Clears off before noon  Cool day Northerly wind.  Go bed. 8.30 PM

September 8-9, 1889 and 1900 in Coles County Illinois

September 1889

8.  Sunday.  6 AM.  Ther  60.  80.  62  =  67 1/3

Clear or nearly so SE wind  Start for  woods 8 AM.  Investigate supply of posts on ridge W. of W. Decker.  Count up sheep, thought had lost some of them  get home at dark   gobed 9 PM.

9.  Monday.  6.30 AM.  64.  84.  68 =  72

Cloudy.  Mrs. Rogers washed and ironed.  Tue not very well.  Drake hauls up load of posts and moves 8 ft. posts.   Sam Adams takes boards and pays for them.  Crass helps all day.  Took Mare again to Montgomery's house.  Go bed  11 P.M.

September 1900

8.  Saturday, 5.30 AM.   Ther  65  93   72  =  76 2/3

Clear easterly wind  Drive to Mrs. Owens after breakfast but couldn't get her so Tue does the work herself.  Miss Ford expected Sunday.  Johnny Decker in town perhaps for last time as he has with his family started for the "Nation."  I drove out west of town to see them.  Shirley came in with balance of B.C. 3 loads.  98 bales weighed 29070 lbs. @ 82.50 per ton  My share  ( one third) came to 399.71 which deposit  at State Bank Corn not well baled.  Shirley had, he says 38 AM.  Armstrong not yet sold.  I drove out to Gaines about 3 PM.  Jo not at hand working and in Broom  Corn.  Get some corn, tomatoes and eggs getting home 8 P.M. by lower road.  Sick at night think form eating soup.  Ferd was at our house in afternoon  Has left his father and intends going east.  Helen and Louise left  but went back    Heard that Bert got home from Dakota  Mostly clear day with light northerly wind  Gobed 8.30  P.M.~

9.  Sunday.  6 AM  Ther  70.  97.  76  =  81

Partly cloudy, Old Mare loose last night and ate most of corn I got yesterday about  15 ears.  Drive her today.    Starting for Simons 9.30 AM.  Ate dinner there.  John and I went down to mill yard before dinner out afterward went over to corn field.  He will bring me load of corn Tuesday.  Very sultry day and I start home early because could not get cooled off.  Ode Eastin rode to town with me.  Queen about played out when I got home.  Hitch up Roan and drive with  Tue out to G. Linder place getting home 8 P.M.  Miss Ford* came today.  Normal begins Tuesday.  Gobed 8.30 PM.

*  Ellen Ford, (1865- 1948) came to Eastern in 1900 and was there until 1934.  .  Miss Ford had a Masters of Arts degree in Latin from Syracuse University,  1894.  In  1921, she was instrumental in the reorganization of the Normal School to a teachers college.  Ford Hall was named after Ellen Ford.

September 4-7, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

September 1889

4.  Wednesday, 5 am  Ther  70.  80.  70 = 70

Cloudy misty - Start for timber at 6 AM  arrives 7.30.  E Johnson cuts his foot and quits.  Rogers and Riley made posts a while P.M.  Milt and self try  to fix  for sheep yard AM.  P.M. Milt went into hollow after pa(?) stuff   Rain P.M. after 2 P.M. and all night  go bed 9.30 P.M..  Strong wind in night.  Snider handed me two (?)  to pay for Milt helping him thrash.

5.  Thursday.  5.30 AM.  Ther 60.  70. 55.  =  68 1/3
Cloudy and misty till  nearly noon.  Boys fill up well up well dug the other day in morning and make some posts.  Rogers and Riley set fence posts P.M.  Milt hauls out strips.  I start home at 5 P.M.  getting there 7 P.M.  Roads muddy in places.  The rain last night was very heavy  River rising a little.  Go to bed 10.30 ~

6.  Friday.  6 AM.  Ther 50.   75.  57  =  61 2/3
Clean cool day.  Trade dull.  Uncle John passed through town on way to Sniders.  has colt show today.  Sell Sam Adams one thousand 30 in. (?) at 1.00 for hundred.  H.G. went hunting P.M.  Bill Kelly cleaned windows at Store P.M.  Drake hauled load of wood to Alex Fischer.  Remit D(?) and Pabst in full.  10.30 P.M.

7.  Saturday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  58.  79.   58.  =  65
Clear and  Pleasant day.  Milt brought up 1570 boards.  Light  crowd in town for Saturday.  Deffenbach  (?) Circus in town.  The ice box which has been leaking badly stopped today.  Gobed 10.30 PM.

September 1900

4.  Tuesday 5.20 AM.  Ther.  62.  93.  75.  

Mostly clear.  Mrs. Owens washes.  John Driscoll tells me he wants lot of good fencing.  Sell W.L. Harding 278 ft. 2 in 8. @ 1.75 4.88.  Owe him on a/c 18.45 Bal. 13.87.  No Stir in B.C. as yet.  Tue wanted me to go to Berts for peaches P.M. but I thought I could find them north or east of town but didn't.  Much B.C. being cut N.E. many  seeding B.C.  The crop not down as bad up N.E. but move crooked.  Last road making me late getting in.  Home 9 P.M.   Go bed 9.30

5.  Wednesday,  5.20 AM.  Ther 72,  97,  75?  =  81 1/3

Mostly clear.  Clyde helps me oil buggy  Start for Renes for some peaches early stop at Gaines'  Nobody at home Drive down to Shirleys.  Saw Ora.  They begin baling after dinner and I stayed there most of P.M.  Start down to Renes from there 4 PM.  Getting about a bushel and back to John's at 7  staying all night.  Play 7 up till 9 oclock  Mostly clear day, southerly wind.  Gobed 9 P.M.  

6.  Thursday.  4.30 AM.  Ther.  70.  96.  76  =  80 2/3

Mostly clear.  Lightning NW before sunrise Shirley will deliver BC in Charleston tomorrow.  Tue determined to sent Phebe to Northwestern University and is  fingering pretty strong on it.  Maggie G. went to  Barbeque at Oakland at noon.  Maggie Devone ironing.   Self about  overcome by heat all P.M.  Tue ate dinner at Mrs. Knocks.  Self drove up north of town far as township line at night.  Rose too several pieces lumber from yard today to use on boxes for sewer.  Gobed 9 PM

7.  Friday 5.30 AM.  Ther  64.  85.  70  73

Mostly cloudy early but clears away.  Buy lot of envelopes &c at W.E. Hills.  Maggie Devone leaves A.M. to stay.  Shirley brought in four loads BC AM. and two PM. from indications will have nearly 15 ton.  Three loads left over for tomorrow.  Take Maggie Do things down to Mrs Sains P.M.  Drive down to see Mrs. Owen at night.  She was not at home.  Tue was down to Mrs. Blairs.  B.R. buyers claim  brush in lower.  Nearly had serious accident down near Molten warehouse with Roan horse this P.M>  Gobed 9 P.M.

August 31-September 3, 1900 in Coles County Illinois

August 1900

31.  Friday 5.30  AM.  Ther  68.  94.  75.  =  79

Clear.  SE wind.  Sign contact selling Shirley BC to Geo Rosebraugh @82.50    See W E McCravy about Minton note due tomorrow.  Boy and self went over and count Briggs  fencing 43.1x6-14.  He wants 62 more pieces.  Considerable B C unloading at W & C warehouse, for which they get 80.00.  Pretty red clouds up and shower south with thunder.  Sprinkle here  Thought to go to Loxa tonight and started but came back home.  "Roads getting dusty.  Gobed 11 PM.

September 1900  (shorthand at top of page)

1. Saturday.  5.30 AM  Ther.  70.  93.  74  = 79

Partly clear S.E. wind.  Clyde Ashby and self drove out to Gaines after breakfast getting lot of tomatoes &c got home before noon.  Jo about done hauling out B.C. Seed.  Simon was in town but didn't bring any lumber because couldn't get a load of good.    Self feeling badly all day  Pay Owen 2.00 P.M which is about all I owe  him     Marie got home from visit to Terre Haute about noon.  Partly cloudy day with shower 5 P.M. much thunder   Nothing new in BC market today and  heard of no sales  Didn't go uptown after supper.  Gobed 9 P.M.

2.  Sunday.  5.30 AM.  Ther 72.  90.  70 = 77 1/3

Mostly cloudy, southerly wind.  Tue and I start for Berts  8 AM.   Head N. road by Loxa.  Rene not home but came in a few moments, Andy Leitch there.  I stay about an hour go home away south of old road  Buy water melon of Bill Brown.  Get home before dinner  Shower came up about 2 P.M. raining for nearly an hour  Bring home samples of water from Berts new well.   Gaines folks were going to Cumberland but we saw the team in pasture as we passed.  Clyde has lot of boys looking round its farm much of P.M.  Drive south of town alone a while at night.  Campbell not there Develop 2 plates BC hands  Go bed 9.30

(top of Page)  Sept 1900  3rd Saw Rosebrough before starting to country  He wont pay 82.50 for any more BC at present.

4th  Road north and E rough and many muddy places

( a line of short hand)

Milt paid rent to Aug 20 on Monday.  Some talk with Bill Wall about my paying for fix patch.

3.  Monday, 5.30 AM.  Ther  68.  86.  68?  = 73

Cloudy Northerly wind.  Labor Day with parade which I did not see.  Tue got home 12.00  I went to train for her Marguerite Trimble was with her.  Start to Loxa about 3 P.M.  Get sack corn and basket potatoes and home about 7 P.M.  D.P. Rose pays balance of lumber bill 2.13 and Mrs. Knock pays for small bill lumber 90 c.  Jo Gaines grubbing, but pols and shucked corn for me.  Gobed 9 PM

August 29-30, 1889 and 1900 in Coles county IL

August 1889

29.  Thursday. 5.15 AM.  Ther  58.  90.  66.  =  71 1/3

Clear smokey.  Start at 6.10 with girls.  Milt Riley and Enoch work at digging all day.  Think have got a good supply of water for stock.  Began on well for house.  Two had to work hard, roads very dusty and pastures getting very dry.  Get home 7 P.M.   Found two drummers waiting for me.  Brown and Nelson.  Warren brought up a load of posts.  Gobed  10.30 PM

30.  Friday.  7 AM.  Ther  69  94.  70  =  77 2/3

Clear - Bill Kelly works while for me in morning.  JTS drummer still here order claret from Thirsker,  Tue has caught very bad cold.  Uncle John  came down but didn't stay for dinner  Milt brought in load of wood selling to Moderal in part from old watch.  Quit chewing tobacco tonight.  Have been using it for about a month.  Gobed 11 PM.

August 1900

29.  Wednesday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  67.  90.  70.  =  75 2/3  

Clear.  Very heavy dew several mornings.   Clyde Ashby choring  Maggie Devone ironing  Tue  fixing up Miss Ford Room.  Drove out to  Fair ground.  Marshall getting their BC out of buildings  Get some fungi   Lepiota  Canlifer    Simons brings in load of lumber all sorts.  He has  brought John's   ( Decker)and Jim's plans and they will start for the Nation or Arkansas soon.  Molter wants to buy our B.C,  Geo  Rosebraugh offer 80.00  Lon Armstong brought me sample of his father's brush.  Look for cow supposed to be out.  she proved to be in pasture,  Gobed 10PM

30.  Thursday.  5.45.  A.M.  Ther.  66.  92.  75  =  77 2/3

Mostly clear.  Easterly wind.  Our cow supposed out still in pasture.  Clyde Ashby continues working for us.  Takes home to Chas Marshalls a lot of borrowed magazines.  Tue finishes up Miss Fords room.  Start out to Loxa 2.30 P.M.  Meet Shirley with C.H. Jones.  S. says is bound to sell his share B.C. today  Jo hauling out BC seed.  Pay him 12.00 check on wages  Took out rope for well.  Shirley sold for 82.50 which is the best have heard of sales here.  I get home 7 P.M.  Clear warm day roads getting dusty.  Wind easterly.  Mort and Kate over at night  Gobed  9 P.M.

August 27-28, 1989 and 1900

August 1889

27.  Tuesday, 6.30 AM  Ther 68  90.  66  =74 2/3

Clear getting very dry.  Pasture is getting poor and well and springs getting low.  Work at invoicing stock.  Trade fair.  Very warm.  Milt got in about 2 PM with load of posts.  Warren Decker calls and will make me some more posts.   Milt reports  water getting very scarce in pastures.  Mrs. Rogers  irons.  Clear day.   Burgess  has traded his Ky farm for  the Jo Gage residence.  Gobed 10.30 PM.

28.  Wednesday 6.30 AM.  Ther 65.  90.  65  =  72 2/3

Mostly clear and very warm and  dry.  Drake brought load of wood which sold to Kelly for 3.25~ AY Wist drummer here.  Buy from him 5 BU 5.87 B(?) @ 1.00 in B.  Decide to go to woods tomorrow and take girls  Uncle John was in town but didn't come down to dinner.  Gobed 10.30 PM

August 1900

27.  Monday.  5.30  AM.  The  65.98.  75.  =  79 1/3

Partly cloudy.  Northerly wind.  Tue, Maggie Devone and Owen cleaning south chamber.  Get Queen shod in front.  Cooney  Scheyetle puts up Urinal.  One piece missing.  C.D. Mitchell gives me list of lumber he may need soon  about 27000 ft.  Shirley and wife in P.M.  (?) got pretty full.  they finished BC this AM.  There seems to be no fixed price 85.00 would probably hit average  Thought to go to Loxa, but didn't.  Owen leaves to work for Denman.  Drive a while round town at night alone.  Gobed 9 PM  Buy halter Shoemaker Cr. 1.15.

28.  Tuesday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  68.  96.  74.  =  79 1/3

Mostly clear.  Went after  Ed. Wells but couldn't get him.  Molter offers $77.50 for Shirleys corn.  Milk cow at 9 AM.  Mrs. Owen washing.  Tue and Maggie Devone work at "Miss Ford's room"   I start to Loxa 10 AM  Meet GB Griffin  with other party (Mr. Thompson (?))  Meet Armstrong who says his (?) all in shed.  Jo grubbing yesterday and today.  John Sorvers died yesterday at Loxa.  Get sack of corn )new) Armstrong destroyed or ran  over lots of corn for me.  Get tomatoes  cabbage &c.  Stop at Smiths  on way home get home at 6 PM.  Warm day with northerly  wind.  Tue had J o Ashby , boy employed doing chores when I got home.  Gobed 9 PM.

August 21-26, 1900 in Charleston, IL

August 1900

21.  Tuesday.  5.15 AM.  Ther  74.  98.  82.  =  84 2/3

Mostly clear lightning N. all night.  My feet itching kept me awake.  Start out to Gaines about 8 AM.  They  thresh most of time.  I was there.  There is much trouble in holding hands most of the time.They are paying 1.25 here with 1.50 demanded by many.  I start home 1 PM  Very sultry day and mostly clear, variable light wind.  Miss Green and Mrs. Knock here at night.  I drove down again to see Kellogg but he cant help me tomorrow.   Gobed 9 PM.

22.  Wednesday 6 AM.  Ther  72.  90.  77.  =  79 2/3

Cloudy Northerly wind.  Much thunder with some wind and rain between 2 and 3 AM.  Making streets muddy.  See C.D. Mitchell and send to planning Mill for him three 2 in plank 8 in wide. by  Thed Arnold.  B.C. hands on  strike for 1.50 per day Shirley and wife were in P.M.  Armstrong has given up  Shirleys B.C. and S is going to finish it himself.  See Geo Kellogg and says will try to go to work back of store tomorrow morning.  Kate Grove  and Charlotte here at night.  Gobed 9 P.M.

23.Thursday. 5.30 AM.  Ther 75.  95.  80.  =  83 1/3

Mostly cloudy wind west.  Was light shower about midnight  Streets some muddy.  Armstrong in town after hands and employs several.  Promised to go  on his note but ask him for mortgage on clover and he gets money otherwise.  Employ Jack Van Pelt to work back of store.  Mrs. Grove and Mort over at night after I had gone to bed.  Dr. Patton was hurt in runaway Tuesday and is very bad today.  I intended to go to Loxa this P.M. but could not get away.  Buy lumber at Minton's for back fence at store.  Van Pelt cleans up privy  &c.  Owen did not come till dark tonight.  Maggie and Phebe went to doings at Paris.  Mostly clear day.  Thunder at night gobed 9 PM

24.  Friday. 5.30 AM.  Ther  75.  95.  78.=  82 2/3.

Clear.  Girls got home about 2 AM.  Lulu Dorsch with them.  Yesterday Frank Snider told Tue big story about  Johns mistreating his children.  Dr. Patton thought to be some better.    Clear day with strong SW wind.  Van Pelt builds back fence of stone.  I start for Gaines about 3 PM.    Jo Cutting BC for Shirley I decide to stay all night and slept but little on account of bed bugs and coffee.  Shirley  expects to finish  cutting tomorrow and Elisha Smith will do  his threshing Sunday.  Armstrong is also cutting.  Jo has some leg. play 7 up till 9 PM.  All BC hands are now getting 1.50 per day.  Gobed 9 PM  

25.  Saturday.  4 AM.  Ther.  70.  90.  75.  = 78 1/3

Partly cloudy.  Shirleys gang gets to work before 6.  I start home 7.30 taking tomatoes and potatoes.  Take sample  BC to Wright think  can get today 80.00 or 85.00 John Simons in to settle for hauling lumber.  Pay him 18.02 for his  11.58 and Warrens 6.44.  Dr. Patton still mending.  Van Pelt finishes about noon and I pay him up deducting old bill of 50 c.  5.00; pay Loving for haul trash.  Marie went with Oka and Ruth Decker when they returned home to Terre Haute today.  Marie intends to visit there till next Saturday.    Go bed 10 PM.

26.  Sunday. 6.20 AM.  Ther  70.  85.  72.  =  75 2/3

Mostly clear.  N.W. wind.  There was a light shower in night.  I drove down to  Coonnod Schey  to get him to put in urinal at store and then start for ranch 10 AM.  Earl lets me through upper gate and I went to mill where Simon and Ira were setting .  Ira and  I ate dinner at Simons.  Decide to let Ira saw awhile as he has been doing with understanding (stated before Simons) that in case of dissatisfaction of either party will make a new contract or quit entirely.  He  thinks this week will  finish up BC threshing and will go back to mill.  Ferd was in today first time for several weeks.  Tue writes Mary Sayre about Ferd.  Simons   went over to cornfield.  Corn looks very well.  Light spirinkles rain several times and with distant thunder S or SW.  Get home before dark.  Gobed 9 PM --

August 19-20, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, Illinois

August 1889

19.  Monday, 6.30 AM  Ther.  65. 79.  70.  = 74 2/3

Clear.  Mrs. Rogers washed and ironed.  Let Fuller have  25 mine posts.  Jack Foremann took 58.  Milt brought up load poles.  Made a batch of syrup for store in P.M.  Good many went to Arcola today for ball game.  Trade fair.  Gaiser says will sell me lot of sheep.  Pleasant day.  11 P.M.

20.  Tuesday, 7 AM.   Ther  73.  83.  62.  =  72 2/3

Clear hazy.  Mostly clear and warm.  Uncle John in town.  Milt brought in load of posts.  Measure Tooks wood.  Went through Felix Johnstons House which is nearly finished.  Learn of another bunch of 82 sheep at  Spithens.  Rec 178 in full for this from W H White  go bed 11.30 PM.

August 1900

19.  Sunday.  6 AM.  Ther  77.  98.  85.  =  86 2/3

Clear.  SW wind Not so hot as yesterday.  Owen and self drive SW of town look for mushrooms.  Tone and  (?) a lot of prints have had on hand longtime.  Brown cow had dried up so suddenly fear she is sick.  Thunder P.M. with sprinkles rain.  Tue and self drive up to Tp. line toward night coming back by Deckers Spring.  Roads rough and some muddy places.  Take picture of Mare and friends P.M. ~ two shots  Mostly clear day  Tue slept most of PM --  gobed 9 P.M.

20.  Monday.  4 Am.  Ther 75.  98.  82.  =  85

Clear. get up early and drive out to Gaines without breakfast.  The seeded(?) broom corn yesterday going out,  Hear talk about BC having sold for 100.00    Mrs Luciere Wheatley who died suddenly Sat  was buried this forenoon.  John Simon took some lumber to Mrs Knock also to Mrs. Evans    J.W.  Drove down to see Geo. Kellogg after supper.  Develop plates exposed Sunday at night.  Marie and friends went  riding on load hay.  Warm day with S.W. wind.  Gobed. 10 P.M.

August 13-18, 1900 in Charleston, IL

August 1900

Another big "Cake Walk" at Decker park Monday Night.   Didn't go.

13.   Monday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  AM.  Ther.  70.  93.  75. =79 1/3

Mostly clear.  Very heavy rain with wind in night probably about midnight.  Maggie D got home in night.  Owen helped me hitch up AM first time since in Spring also milked at night  Has quit working at Stodderts.  Drove east of town P.M.   and ride with G Kellogg at night E. of  half Mile house Doc Bennett says Ina Brown is to pull out his engine tomorrow morning.  I took quinine AM and felt bad till late afternoon.  Mostly clear day and quite sultry yet.  Maggie gives up her Centralia trip  Gobed 9 PM.

14.  Tuesday 5.30, AM.  Ther.  72.  84.  75.  =  77

Partly cloudy.  Owen helped me hitch.  Mrs. Owen washed.  I saw Charley Mitchell and start for ranch 8.30 AM.  Getting across river.  Heavy storm from NW made me return  Met storm at Wrights where I stop for an hour getting home about noon.  Heavy rain with wind and thunder from 10.30 till 11.15 AM.  Clears of P.M. and air very close.  Speak J H Marshall about Brown   Owen milks.  Gobed 9 P.M.  (shorthand)

  Next page - Two rows of shorthand.

15.  Wednesday.  5.30  AM.  Ther.  70.  90.  75? = 78 1/3

Partly cloudy.  Much lightning N in  night.  Thought to go to ranch, but Heavy shower came up about 9 AM.  Urinal for store came yesterday but decide not to put it till Geo Gray vacates our back lot.  Wall is starting a saloon at Brocton.  West out to Gaines P.M.  Gaines gone to Mattoon did not get home till night.  Shirley and Arnut(?) in townclear hunting BC Hands.  Self feeling badly all day.  Gobed 9 PM

16.  Thursday.  4 AM.  Ther 70.  85.  76.  =  77

Mostly clear at 4 AM.  but some clouds up  Shirley began cutting BC. Jo will help him and will probably help Armstrong.  I got  some eggs  tomatoes and corn and get home 8.30.  Learn through Gaines folks that Bert has gone to Dakota.  Very heavy shower between 9 and 10 AM. but mostly clear P.M.  Drive down to see Kellogg P.M. but he was not at home.  Tue  over at Groves at night.  She is not feeling so well as usual  Gobed 9 PM.

17.  Saturday 5.20 AM.  Ther.  78.   100.  85.  =  86  . 87 2/3

Mostly clear  Roan horse was loose this morning and had demoralized everything about the farm.  Start for Gaines 7 AM.  They have about 20 hands cutting BC south of house.  Intended to go home early but went on errand for Armstrong and stay round till 4 PM.  They get to threshing about 3.  Too warm for me to move around much.  They have 15 acres cut.  Get home 6 P.M.  Pay Simons for  amt. (to date) of C.D. Michell bill coming to  (?).  Maggie Dvone and sister were going home tonight but gave it up.  Drive round town a while at night.  ( shorthand)  Gobed 10 PM

18.  Friday.  5.30 AM.  ther.  73.  99.  85.  =  85 2/3

I start for ranch after breakfst to see if Brown had moved  found him just across Blakeman bridge on way to Perry Rennells.  Says can fix up another bargain and that BC thresh will not hold him long.  Very hot especially PM and night.  Warmest night   Gobed 9 PM    Oka and Ruth Decker came at night.

August 4-5, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

August 1889

4.  Sunday.  7.15 AM.  Ther.  70.  88.  70.  =  76.

Part  cloudy.  thunder S.W. 8 AM to 10 AM. and sp. rain here.  Smokey, Bud some peach trees, 3 with luck.  No. Send, 4 white ray No.2.  Bark does not peel well.  4 black rug No. 3.  Manie here all day.  Heavy rain about 4 P.M.  Rained here all night  Gobed 9 PM~

5.  Monday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  62.  80.  60.  =  67 1/3

Mostly clear.  Pay Dunnery and Pabst.  Mrs. R. washes and irons  Drake brings up load of wood which he wells for 3.30  John Van Meter putting iron on Mrs.  Monroes Building  Took mare to Montgomery's  house  again.  think she is with foal.  The electric light people are putting up their poles.  Gobed 10.30  Cloudy NE

August 1900

4.  Saturday ,  4 AM.  Ther.  70.  99.  78.  =  82 1/3

Clear.  Alarm fire woke me up at 4 o'clock.  Kate Bucher's house near Clover leaf R.R.  Start out to Gaines at 4.30.  Jo working road.  Yellow cow's calf does not seem to be doing  first rate.   Think partly the heat.  B.C. will be cut in a week.  Get another sample  Mrs. Gaines picks a lot of cucumbers.  I get too hot and about sick all day.  Simons and Warren in with rye.  Brown has been threshing and no lumber sawed.  Learn that (?) intends  leaving ranch to work in BC harvest with engine.  Veach boy puts up hay P.M.  Les Neeses folks have just got back from the Nation this week and some of party are already in jail.  Gobed  9.30 PM.

5.  Sunday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  82.  100.  78.  = 86 2/3

Clear.?hontess folks got up very early and went to country over slept my self and did not have breakfast till 8 AM.  I had  thought of going to Ranch but too hot.  Drive S. & SW of town till after 12 oc.  Few fungi this year.  Think has been too wet.  Fried several Russula vineseias some  boleli and two or three small agarics.    This about warmest day we have had.  Clear, or nearly so.  southwind.  thought to go out to Gaines and stay all night but fear (?).  Tue and I drive with Marie till 10 P.M.  Mostly  round town.  Maggie Devone went up to her uncles and did not get in till after Midnight.  Gobed 10.30

February 23-28, 1914 in Charleston IL and 1914 Feb weather

February 1914

23.  Monday. 4.30  AM.  Ther.  12.  18.  14.  = 14 2/3

Cloudy and snowing N.E.5.  Snow seems to be about six inches deep.  Drifted badly and can't tell much about.  Phebe got away at 5.40 for 5.55 car.  She  soon returns no chance of her to make Havana trip today.  The  Methodist church was destroyed with only $6,000 ins.  It was valued at 22,000.  Cold and stormy most of day with light snow till toward. (sic)  The late coal is half slack and snow.  This makes mud.  Alfred came to chore but employed him mostly digging out  paths.  Will come tomorrow P.M.  Chas still sick.  Godbed 8.30 P.M.

24.  Tuesday.  4.30 A.M.  Ther.  .4 26.  12.  = 14.

Clear.  NE.2.  Phebe makes another start on 6 car getting far as Mattoon  Can get no farther for day or two.  Order through 436 Same to be sent today.  Phebe gets home before noon.  Mrs. Curd called P.M.  H.G.  went to Interurban Sta for  same toward night.  ~~  Alfred did chores.  I did not get out.  We get yesterday's R.H. today.  The storm was general through middle west and traffic is still  tied up  Phebe will try  H again  tomorrow morning.  Clear day with light N.E. winds.  gobed 9

25.  Wednesday. 4.30 AM. Ther.  34.  24.  = 20.

Clear. E.1.  Phebe got off on 5.55 car.  Rhoda came 7 AM. to wash getting done by noon. Pd. 75c.  Tue expects to do ironing herself.  Alfred came but Tue  tells him to wait till the marrow.  She went up town late P.M. and incidentally over to Grove's.  It is supposed that the old Vail stable property  N.W. cor Mad and 6th has been selected for P.O.  clear day southerly light wind.  Self and Tue  not well both grouchy.  Gobed 9.

--------------------------------------------------------

Theodore Rau Soldiers home St. James MO.

Av Temp 24 years 34

26.  Thursday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  10.  44.  34.  =  29 1/3

Clear. S.W.1.  Tue has been invited out to dinner at Mrs. Curds and went about 11 AM.  I cook self some rice for dinner and make pot of mush (patent)   Tue got letter from Buddy yesterday.  We expected to hear from Phebe today but did not.  S got letter from Theodore Rau at St. James. MO.  Says Muggs advised him to write me about mushrooms.  Alfred  did chores.  We owe him for three trips.  Tue  got home about  5 P.M.  Harman phones at night.  Will finish hauling BC tomorrow.  Part clear day hazy.  Light SW winds  Gobed 8.30

27.  Friday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  30.  46.  36.  =  37 1/3

CloudyS.2. Fog early.  We ate breakfast 9 AM.  Tue ironing AM.  She went to RC at Elwoods 2 P.M.  We were disappointed at not hearing from Phebe today.  Grace Sefton called P.M. to inquire about the girls.  Alfred calls but don't let him work.  Tue gets home about 6 P.M.  Most clear day except fog a while in morning.  Harman called 4 P.M. having gotten through with the BC.  He got  110.00 for straight and 50.00 for crook.  I got 276.46 for my third.  This  is from say 35 acres. a poor crop and badly handled.  Cliff paid me also for load of soft corn forgotten in un settling 12.00 Jan 31. and for load of corn recently sold.  Bert Tuple 111.30 all one check 23.30  There are several items still unsettled, other corn &c.  Mostly clear at night gob 10 P

28.  Saturday.  6.30 AM  ther.  32.  46.  30.  =  36

Part cloudy, W.2.  We get first letter from Phebe since she left.  Postal C she stayed all night at Lincoln.  Ate dinner at VivianBlairs in Springfield.  Got in Havana 4.30 Thursday.  Tue  went up town AM. Depositing at 2nd BC ch 276.46 and Harman ch for corn 23.30 getting  book balanced, went back to pay Gray and Gray. 10.00 and J.H. Pinnell 15.22 chk both for accounts in full to date.  Tue  gets some Codfish.    T.W.P.  Tue  ironing P.M.  Alfred chores at night and Tue  pays him in full and 40 cts. more on next week 1.00  Part cloudy day with westerly wind.  It  clouds up after noon say 1 P.M. and sprinkle of rain. Light sps- at say 8 P.M. and snow flurries in night.  I got suddenly cooler about 8 P.M.  Then falls  ten degs in an hour.   With violent wind all night.  Gobed 9

The weather  &c at Charleston, Ill. for Feby 1914 ~~

Mean temperature, three observations daily.  26.1 degrees  Maximum 52 on 2d and 17th Minimum 2 on the 25th  Clouds 40% Precipitation 2.50 inches.  Snow say 15 in.  Winds N 1 2/3 days, N.E. 8 days;  E.3 2/3 days; S.E. 2/3 days.  South 4 days; SW 2 2/3 days; West 4 1/3 days and Northwest 3 days.  Warmest day 2d 42 degs.  Coldest 7 deg. average on 12th Precipitation about normal.  The ground is frozen solid but not very deep.  Corn Loxa 55.  Oats 35.  Hogs 8.00  Butter 30 Eggs 30.  Town branch running light stream.   Think roads rough but passable.  They will not be any better very soon.  There is considerable.  snow and ice on the ground in patches.  Side walks have been covered with ice for two or three weeks.  Greatest days of precipitation 6th .55 in.  R and Sleet. 12-13th. 12-13th .41 in. Snow.  18th .95 R&S and 22-23 .38 in. S&S.  Have used to date about 16 tons coal.  My stove wood is nearly gone.

June 12, 1912 and 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

100 Years Ago

Wednesday, June 12,1912,  5.00 QM.  Ther. 62.  86.  72. + 73 1/3

Clear. S.2.  I get off with ridge pieces after 9 AM.  Went via Loxa.  Stop at Gaine's  getting pinchers.  Harmans's men all busy preparing BC ground.  He was planting having about 20 A done.  Ground somewhat cloddy.  Paul has been sick a day or a two.  I drove back on place eating small piece C.B. at center corner.   P +P finish roof about 2 P.M.  We consult at noon slightly about taking the BC shed.  Think they seem inclined to balk about the job.  They went over to Harman's  to shingle on his barn soon as done and while I was taking rest in shed.  I start home 4 P.M. by Loxa.  Too  warm to move round much.  Mostly clear day clouding up toward night apparantly  light showers N. a few miles.  Wind S. to SW 4.  Many whirlwinds from S.W. wind northerly later.  I was about used up when got home before 6 P.M. go bed 8.15.

125 Years Ago

Sunday, June 12, 1887, 7 A.M.  Ther.  71.  84.  73.  Mostly clear.  Worms about  same, the dying.  Work with them at store an hour or two.  Lewe Stark in with me, Father and I went up in Hickory after osage after dinner.  Drove down to Bolies with Reat Davis toward night.  Drive round town a while with Tue.  She went up to the store with me to feed the worms.  Think baby is  taking the measles.  Self feel badly at night.   Hot day, hot nights.  Go bed 9.30 PM