September 9-17, 1913 in Charleston, Illinois

9.  Tuesday.  5.00 AM.  Ther.  64.  84.  68.  =  72.
Mostly clear E3.  Tue slpet in N. chamber last night.  We got a letter from Phebe.  She has got located at Havana Ill.  I send her address to H.A. Neal.  Drive uptown fir steak A.M.  Mrs. ONeal called P.M.  Simultanessly peddler calls.  Mrs. Reed came with half bushel fime peaches 70 c  Paul Harman borrows new buggy while his is at shop and I hitch to old buggy driving S.W. to Phipps road getting home for supper.  Mrs. Curd spent evening here.  I retire before she leaves.  Clear with fresh N.E. wind.  Paul Harman and sister are attending Normal.  They drive in every morn.  Gobed 9

10.  Wednesday 5.30.  AM.  Ther.  54.  86.  68.  =  69 1/3
Clear. N.E. 1.  Rhoda came and worked till 2 P.M.  Pd check 1.00 get shave AM. Pd.  Try to  find Steve Decker up in Anderson.  He doesn't live there.   Paid brings back buggy 9 A.M.  Starting at 4.30 P.M.  Tue and I drive E. to river at old Ashmore ford.  The river is dry there some holes above and below ford.  We did not go any farther E. on account of Tractor on hill E. get home 6.30 P.M.  Tue went to P.M. with Mrs. B. Self broke recent pledge slightly today by taking chew of tobacco.  The roads are very dusty.  Clear Moderate N.E. winds Go bed 9  Tu canned Peaches AM.

11.  Thursday.  5.30. AM.  Ther.  64.  92.  70.  =  75 1/3
Mostly clear. haze. S.E. 1. gas.  Tue continues to can peaches.  Reed's were best we ever had.  We had intention of going to Loxa but got up too late.  Clouds up P.M. with thunder and sprinkle about 3 P.M.  More rain 9 P.M. and later.  I drove down to Fritz's late P.M.  He is busy at work for while - plumber.  tue was up town at with Mrs. Curd.  Meanwhile Mort & K came and stay until nearly 10.  He is working at the Normal.  Will fix our porch in short time.Rain slow much of night, no thunder.  N.E. 2.  Go bed 10 P.M.  R.54

12.  Friday.  6 AM.  Ther.  6.  72.  60.  =  66
Cloudy N.E. 2  Light rain in night to 7 this morning .54.  It quit rain before 7 AM.   I  hunt up Bill Hatton finding him at Joe's.  He will work for for me tomorrow.  After dinner Tue went up town and to Hat's and I decide about 2 P.M. to go to Loxa.  Pay J.H. Pinnell a/c 16.95 ck.
I went N. Jack went,  Saw C.H. Jones.  Oakley moved out about Sept. C.H.J. and  self decide not to rent to  Theodore Arnold who wants the house, until make repairs my be not then.  I went on up through place.  Much seed in SW clover.   Corn does not promise much.  I drove to house and to front gate but found gate out of order and return through
loxa.  Four calves, unknown, pasturing on  S. end.  Darling has moved to J.O. Linder place.  I got  home after seven oclock.  Mostly cloudy day with N.E. wind  Go bed 9.

13.   Saturday.  6 AM.Ther.  52.  74.  60.  = 62
Mostly clear. N.1.  Bill Hatton came before 7 AM. and goes to work allover place.  Helps hitch up.  I take she to Evans for repair.  Pay Nickles Bro. a/c 8.50 ck.  They are building big stable on site of Sam Rays old barn.   Call at Andrews and think can get coal to send @ 2.90.  Bill cuts  old cherry (Gov Wood)  SW. of house.  It has beeb there 30 years.  PM. he cut up two willow trees that had fallen across the branch, took trash &c. out of ditch on 5th St. and cut up old kindling.  Pay him in full 1.50 ck.  We will come Monday.  Learn that Jake Daizy is dead to be buried tomorrow.  I am off in my feed and made batch mush at night clear mostly with Northeasterly wind  Go. bed. 9.

14.  Sunday.  6 AM.  Ther.  Ther.  50.  74.  60.  =  61 1/3
Most clear.  Easterly wind, hazy.  I went  to Dorschs for piece of ham before breakfast.  After get paper  Tue and I decide to go out to  Berts.  We start 11.50 taking lunch which ate on road near Alex Martins.  Helen with children was there also (?) Ferrish.  think corn some better out there than at Loxa.  We went and returned S. road start home say 5. P.  Autos very numerous on road.  My buggy wheels getting worse.  Bert says not safe.  Get home 7.  Part clear day easterly moderate wind Gobed 9.

15.  Monday.  6 AM.  Ther.  58.  64.  66.  =  62 2/3
Cloudy. E.2.  Light rain began 6.  Bill Hatton came 7 AM. working an hour at stable, rain continued and He went home about 8 A to return later.  Learn that Geo. Drake is lately dead and buried today.  Write O.C. fg Co. about bad rear wheels of buggy.  We hitch up but don't drive till nearly 5 P.M. when rain slacked up.  Went up and got shoe at Evan's, loaf of bread mail letter.  Got caught in quite a shower.  Bass Chism stops me wants to rent the farm.  I spend two hours AM. furnace room built good fire and clean up some.  Am suspicious of old furnace but will make it answer if possible.  More rain at night till bed time.  Rian today 1.51 in.  I get slightly warmer at night.  Go bed 9 PM.

16.  Tuesday.  5.30 AM.  ther.  66.  78.  72.  =  72.
Cloudy S.4. mist. and light rain.  Hatton didn't come.  I  hitch up  and drive out to Dicewoods looking for mushrooms.  Nothing doing.  Rene and Helen came A.M. and stay to dinner.  Helen is starting again at Normal.  She will stay with us a shile.  Jo Drake was buried today.  I saw Milt at Clarks  Have not seen him for years.  I get bale of alfalfa and bush corn at I.B. Mitchells.  Mostly cloudy day some light rain. P.M. all (.10).  Mort and  kate were over at night.  I write for S.R. & Co. Catalog.  Go bed 9.30

17.  Wednesday. 6 AM.  ther.  72.  82.  70.  =74 2/3
Cloudy and raining since 5. S.2.  Rhoda came to wash.  I put mare in pasture last night.     Drive up to see Tate but wait and hour and didn't.   Bill Hatton worked P.M. Harman phones and wants me to come over in morning.  I half promise to but fear roads too bad.  I drove up to Dicewood P.M>  Loping to get mess of abruptus  Met many hunters and others but find no fungi.  Very light showers P.M> with mild thunder.  Mrs. Pinnell and  Mrs. curd get some pears.   Tue gets letter from Kate Perrill.  Laura is in hospital where she has had a serious operation recently.  Tue went ofer to Goves at night.  Mostly  cloudy day varible winds.  showers.  Gobed 9.

August 19-21, 1913 & 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

1913

19.  Tuesday.  4.30 AM.  Ther.  74. 94.  78.  =  82.

Mostly clear. S.1.  Tue and I start to Loxa 6.29 A.M.  going S. road.   Leaving Buddy and Chas. in bed.  Stop at Jones'.   Tue collecting his rent and at Gaines' where she saw the two babies and there at Mrs. Shirleys.  Mrs. S. is feeling poorly and has  changed much.  We drove up through the place going over to west side and through all cloverfields.  Do not think there is much seed in any of it and told Cox same when got to place.   Cox has visitors.  We did not see Harman and it was so warm we soon left for home.  The corn does not promise any more than at last visit.   Half a crop is big estimate.  We got home about 11 A.M. after very hot drive.  Shirleys digging well near their house.  Cox says they have plenty water at farm.  Can see nothing of clover sown with oats.   B.C. looks well.  Thunder much P.M. and mostly cloudy.  Sprinkle rain.  Apparently heavy rains S.  Find lot of supposed lepiota Granulosus  in garden.  I did not drive any more after getting home from Loxa.  Old mare seems to feel downsy (sic)she is worse to drive than I ever knew her to be.  Tue and Buddy over on 4th street at night.  Later they go up town.  This the first day of Coles Co. fair.  Admish is 50c. this year as it was last.  Gobed 8.30

20.  Wednesday.   5.30  AM.  Ther.  74.  94.  76.  =  81 1/3

Clear.  E.1 Walter came before we got up.  He has a short vacation.  Rhoda came to wash.  She irons most of P.M.  I drove up town 10.A.M. soon returning.  The heat very oppressive.  Mostly clear AM but clouding up P.M. with much thunder and heavy showers around .62 in. fell here between  5 and 6 P.M.  Must have been immense rain few miles south.  None of attended the fair.  Slightly cooler at night.  Go bed 9 P

21.Thursday.  5.30. AM.   Ther.  74.  94.  76.  - 81 1/3

Light fog. W.2.  Walter took Chas. to fair AM.  I drove up town for cream.  There are several bands of gypsies in town I met them on 4th St.  Later drove over to see Bill Hatton but didn't  met(sic) Boden.  Tue and Buddy up town P.M. leaving me with Charles.  Write Leader Engine Co. for catalogue of tractors.  Part cloudy AM but mostly overcast P.M.  Light shower 11 A.M. heavier showers late P.M. all for today, .34 in.  I felt the heat bad as ever today;  Skinner comes after I go bed, and stays the night.  He has been hurt in Chicago and has crutches.  Gobed 9.30

1888

19.  Sunday  6 AM  60.  83.  66.

Clear.  We started for  Berts before 9 AM leaving father alone at home.  Stayed til 5 P.M.     (/0 hitch and  several of his children were there.  Found Ma not so well as last time we saw her.  Got home before 7 P.M.  Has been pleasant day  mostly clear.  The roads are good and not dusty.  Gobed 9 P.M.

20.  Monday,  5.40 AM  Ther  64.  75.  68.

Cloudy and raining since two or three o'clock.  Intended to  to make early start for timber but for the rain.  Put handle in another ax.  Phebe had tooth ache all night and today.  Mamie Lang here all day.  Bims call toward night and looked at swelling on calf's flank.  Kate Davis got home today.  Mrs. E. has been pretty sick for several days.  Turie decides to let them have qt. of milk a day.  I mowed in yard hour or two P.M.  Went up town at night.  Had talk with Sam Litch about  sheep.  Go bed 9 P.M.  Wind E.

21.  Tuesday.  6 AM.  Ther.  66.  83.  70.

Cloudy and raining began after midnight.  Phebe cried all night with toothache.    Mrs. Dickenson  comes to wash finishing at 3 P.M.  Dressler & (?) call to look at bar furniture and offer 325.00 for it which I refuse.  Phebe feeling very badley all day, face swells up mostly cloudy day, wind N. roads said to be muddy.  Gobed 7 P.M.

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

November 1-2, 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

1. Tuesday,  6.30 AM.  Ther.  31.62.  43.
Clear.  Bill Hatton piled old lumber from 8 till 12 oc.  Final switch ties came up four loads.  Package goods came by Ex. from M. & H. which let Arkansas hunting party have.  They are getting ready  to start tomorrow.  Went uptown at night to give Jeff keg.   Gobed 10 P.M.

2.  Wednesday,   6 A.M.  Ther.  40.  71.  55.
Clear and smokey.  Let Hunting party have Keg.  They got off at noon,  H. Gramesly, WA Jefferies, Jas. Skidmore, A. Ambrose, G. R. Lee, Chas. Lee,   Jonathon Lee, and Ed Mason to Ark.  To be gone three or four weeks.  Got peace (sic) for  Aunt Fan.  Sold Aubrum 4 ties Ezeikel Easton Bbl No 2 apples.  Mrs. Young ironed today and it took her nearly all day.  Tue feeling badly.  Kate Davis was over to supper.  Gobed 9 P.M.

October 31, 1912 & 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

1912

31.  Thursday.  6 A.M.  Ther.  48.  56.  44.  = 49
Mostly Cloudy N.E.2.  There was light rain about midnight and later.  I was feeling badly all night with stomach.  Siebert shod mare and returned her 9 A.M.    The rain to 9A. .15 more later with thunder 10 A.M.  Steady rain much of day with occasional R to 5 P.3  It great about 9 P.M.  Muggs and Tue irons.  Maggie went to Lela's at night with Grace Moo.  Rain  ceased before 9 P.M.  .70 more making total 1.78 in wind to N.3 P.M. and colder.  Go bed 9.30.

The Weather for October. 1912.  daily mean 57.2. Max 82 on 5th 6th 9th and 11th Min, 30 on 24th.  Rain 2.51 in.  Clouds 285  direction duration of winds.  N.4; NE 1 2/3; E 2 2/3;  S.E.1:  S. 11 2/3; SW 3 2/3;  W 11/3;  and NW.5 days.  First white frost 14th very light for 16, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 30th that on killing many things with thin ice.  The roads good.  People cribbing corn .  Corn is 30 cts.  Elevators supposed to take it Monday.

1887

31.  Monday.  6.15  Bill Hatten begins on wood, he is cut my wood and put in wood house @ 1.50 for cord.  Pay draft for tax on Bdl.. at 1st National Bank.  Telegraph M&N Ind. for 6 gal for hunting party.  Settle with Zeke Easton to date paying him cash 10.00.  Comer in town gives me city bill, says will begin to haul tomorrow on ties.  Mrs. Young comes to wash will iron on Wednesday.  The hunting party intend to start for Arkansas Wednesday.  Learn that Lewe  Stark is very low.  Tue not very well.  Gobed 10 P.M.