July 6-7, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, Illinoid

1913

6.  Sunday.  5.00 AM.  Ther.  68.  88.  76.  =  77 1/3

Clear. N.W.3.  Old buggy hardly safe to use but hitch up and get paper.  Tue and Phebe went to church AM.  Tue went down to  H.G.'s late afternoon staying till 9 P.M.  I drove SW after 4 P.M.  Went by Mat Brown's turning by J.W. Percy's and Busk Woods: get home 8 P.M.  Much good corn in creek bottoms.  Streams are getting very low.  I did not meet any autos.  Mostly clear day with high Northwind diminishing at night.  Gobed 10 P.M.

7.  Monday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  66.  90.  78. =  78.

Part cloudy.  Phone J.E. Mc for same which got 3 P.M. and pay Ex on last lot.  Went over to Siberts with old buggy but couldn't get near shop A.M.  Tue got letter from Buddy P.M.  Self feeling worse than usual.  Fair day light southerly winds.  Tue went to Holiness meeting  with  Mrs. Brooks at night.  Gobed 10 P.M.

1888

6.  Friday.  5.30  A.M.  ther.  73.  93.  78.

Clear.  Father and Phebe up in night.  They ate too many string beans.  Stay at home all day  too hot to move round much.  Bert was here to dinner.  Ma has been staying  with them for a week or so.  Put a blind  up on S. side of W.C.  Hat calls in morning.  Go bed 10 P.M.

7.  Saturday.  5.30   Ther.  80.  95.  75.

Clear hot day.  Stay at home.  Up town at night for grub.  New band playing on street corners.  Get Mutton at Bill Myers 25c. on Cr.  Clouds up and storms up light shower about dark cooling air some.  Past week has been very oppressive to hot to work or to even eat.  Have had no butter for several days.  None in town.  Tue sells milk to Eastin's folks and she does not give enough for (?).  Gobed 10 P.M.

April 11-13, 1913 in Charleston, Illinois

11.  Friday. 6 AM.  Ther.  44.  52. 44. = 46 2/3
Cloudy. S.W.3  Tue irons finishing before dinner.  She attended Reading Circle P.M. first time for a month.  They met at Hugh Johnstons.  Helen not feeling well and did not attend the Normal.  Self about sick.  Left mare at Nickles all day today.  Cloudy day with moderate S.W. winds.  Learn through Courier that Linder Bros. have sold out their clothing store*.  Sprinkle rain 6 P.M.  Go bed 9.

*According to Nancy Easter-Shick's  book  Round the Square -   1908 Linder Bros. Clothing Store , 601 Monroe Street on the Sherer Block.  This is where Shafer's Men and Boys was later located.

12.  Saturday.  6 AM.  Ther.   44.  46.  42. = 44.
Cloudy. N.1.  Ray came and did chores.  Pay him to date 85 cts.  He will come Monday morn next.  Mr. Armstrong calls and talks fruit trees a while unsuccessfully.  Tue get letter from Muggs enclosing one from a friend living at the flood in Columbus.  Get Interest note No.2 $750.00   from TM B. Co.  Paid APL. 1.  Helen went home on Interurban after dinner.  Tue got letter from Buddy P.M.  They have been expecting Charles to get measles but think danger past.  Tue went up town for grub toward night.  Mrs. Brooks called late P.M.  Cloudy, moderate north wind with light rain at times.TWP at night go bed 8.30 P.  

13.  6 Am.  Ther.  42.  56.  44. + 47 1/3
Cloudy N.3..  Get R.H. of Courier today.   Tue baking bread today.  She attends church AM.   I order mare from Nickles 1 P.M. and about 3 start out for a drive.  Went  east on Ashmore road far as the Huckabo crossroad which find has been graveled since last fall so cross over and return  south road.    Gravel roads somewhat moist, dirt roads quite muddy.  The  fields look soaked and it will be somedays before much farm work starts.  Grove's came over about 4 PM.  I took mare up to Nickles.  Shave self noon.  Gobed  9 P

April 7, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

1913

7.  Monday.  5.15.  Ther.  34.  48.  42.  =41 1/3
Clear.  E.2.  Soon clouds up.  Roy came 7 AM.  Get mare shod at Dibert.  Jethoo  Evans phones that my Perkins lot is eligible for PO site.  He calls later.  I ask 120 0 dollars for my lot.  Jethro 4000.  Glascos 5.000.  The Paris man has not reported theron.  Says  will employ Cafer to arrange matters.   Can't find key to box* deeds and try unsuccessfully for hour or two  to open it  think Tue has same.  Get letter  from Buddy AM date 4 inst.  Roy spades for three rows of potatoes and after we began to plant them.  It began light  rain at noon and continued  (too light to read) We  quit at 2  P a/c the rain.  Roy and self plant one row potatoes and rain stopped us at 2 PM.  Jethro Evans came again toward night and I sign contract with him and JW Glasco to sell my part of S.W. 1/4 of block for P.O.  building putting in hands of Judge Cafer at 2% com on purchase price.  Pay Evans 2.00 my share plat.  Tue got home about 6 P.M. having been gone since May 21.  Morty came over soon after she arrived but did not stay long.  Mostly cloudy with strong easterly and light rain at times mixed with hail most of P.M.  Gobed 9 P.M.

*I have this old tin box full of legal papers.I have always wondered why there is just a hole where the lock and latch should be.  Now I know the story of the Deed Box.  This is what is so fun about the journal, it answers many questions.

1888

7.  Saturday.  6 AM.  Ther.  37.  65?  50
Clear.  Very heavy dew nearly frost.  Took Sam, Ray's white pony and ride down to R.R. then down to timber getting back at 7.30 P.M.  About as tired as could be.  Caught more cold.  Saw the timber pretty thoroughly today.  Kinks ties suit me pretty well.    Wes Decker gives us leave to move in his fence to get to road out.  Told him he could have all the wood he needed.  The saw mill has moved out.  I went by  Handly Ford and return by Walker's.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.

March 16-17, 1913 in Charleston, Illinois

1913

16.  Sunday.  6.15  AM.  Ther.  22.  38.  30. = 30

Mostly clear.  N..W.  2.  Tue phoned for R.H. which they delivered.  Tue did not attend church.  She  roasted big piece of salt pork for dinner.  She is talking  of going down to  to Mt. Carmel  this week after  the young men get out which is promised tomorrow.  Mrs. Curd calls P.M. till near night also Mort and Katie.  Mr. Law stopped in sitting room while at night.  Ray did not come till quite late.  Part clear day with high N.W. wind and near freezing much of day.  Self feeling poorly. Gobed 10

17.  Monday.  6AM  Ther 22.56.  46. = 411/3

Most clear S.E.2.  Tue straightening up Lee and Law room.  They got out today .  Law owes 4.35 and 7.35.  Tue gets letter from Buddy the first for two or three weeks.  Cliff Harman calls P.M. and will get chimney top for farm at Geo. Shriver.  I decide to get my clover seed of IBM.  Will sow about 60 acres.  Cliff wants to buy  west 80 of place; but have known this for long time.  Ray picks up in front some.  Mostly clear day with strong SE to Southerly wind.  I have felt but poorly.  Tue went with Mrs. Brooks to a spelling contest at night leaving me alone.  Gobed10.

February 25-26, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

1913

25.  Tuesday.  6.30  AM.  Ther.  20.  40.  32. = 30 2/3
Clear S.W.1.  The ton of coal delivered and suits.  Tue gets letter from Phebe.  She expects to move to Ann Arbor this week to begin work for M & Darling.  Mostly  cloudy P.M. with light snow at night.  Rain or sleet later in night.  There are traces of Sunday's snow left on north hill sides.  Otherwise ground bare.  Mis Care here P.M. about library works.  Chilly day with moderate southerly winds.  Gobed 9.

26.  Wednesday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  38.  44.  40. = 40 2/3
Cloudy. S.2.  Rhoda came to wash at 11 oc. finishing about 3.  Tue feeling very poorly AM. but better P.M.  Rhoda stays to dinner.  Dark foggy day with mist or light rain and much of time a cold wave is predicted.  Cloudy all day.  Tue went over to Groves toward night  little while.  She gets letter from Buddy with one to forward to Phebe.  Heavy showers (.70) in night.  Gob 9

1888

26.  Sunday.  7 AM  Ther.  16.  20.  13.

About clear, strong W wind all night.  Cold day with west wind, cloudy and snow flying much of the time and seems to be growing colder.  Girls went to S.S. and after that went down to Hat's where they ate dinner getting home about 1. P.M.  Mrs. Davis was over toward night.  Has been  cold and disagreeable day frozen up solid again.  Go bed 10. PM.

February 24, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

1913

24.  Monday, 6.30  AM.  Ther.  16.  32.  26.  =  24 2/3

Clear, N.W.1. Roomer Lee returned from the measles last night.  Tue gets long letter from Muggs and Buddy.  He quit his room today being arrears about 3.oo.  Tue went to Mrs. Brooks late P.M.  I felt poorly alll day and did not move around much - perhaps not enough.  Ray did feeding.  Order  ton Linton coal of Whalen Bros. to be delivered in morning.  The Panama coal will not heat the house.  Part cloudy clear at night, light northerly wind.  9.30.

1888

24.  Saturday 6.30 AM.  Ther.  30.  24.  25.

Cloudy with strong W wind which came up in night and  has been snowing a little.  Jim Stevens called P.M.  about note.  Comer up he concedes my a/c is right.  Buy crinoline 35, pr shoes for Phebe, dress for Maggie.  Milt Roberts got 1/2 cord of wood.  Cloudy, windy day snow flying.  Go bed 11P.M.  Garden seeds came from J Harris.    Comer reports some small bills.

February 12-14, 1913 in Charleston, IL

12.  Wednesday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  10. 20. 12. = 14
Clear. N.W.2.  Tue got up rather late.  Rhoda washed in afternoon.  Tue attends "white" sale at Parkers P.M.  We get a long letter from Buddy.  She is somewhat alarmed about scarlet fever  in their neighborhood but all well.  Ray feeds last of corn and hay to mare at night.  Cliff phones that will bring feed tomorrow.  Preston is moving out today up to Fairgrange.  Tue went to library at night taking Magazine forgotten by Phebe about coldest day to date most clear Northerly wind 8.30

13.  Thursday.  6.30.  Ther.   6.  30.  22. =19 1/3
Clear. S.3.  I scrape up enough for mare breakfast.  Helen calls AM and Tue pays egg bill 2.10 ck.  Tue and self finish novel Woman in White.  I  got tired reading it.  Expected  Harman in with some feed today.  Didn't hear from him.  Sent mare  up to Nickles stable at night for a day or so.  Another  cold day barely thawing at any time.  Clear day barely thawing at any time.  Clear day with moderate southerly wind.  Gobed 9

14.  Friday.  6.30 A.M.  Ther. 22.  46.  36. =342/3
Clear, S.2.  Pump in cellir(sic) clogged with snails and roots.  Clean it out it out A.M.  Harman phones noon that will be in with hay &c if possible.  Says hie expected tenant for house backed out and * Had piece for dinner.  Tue to R.C. 2 P.M. at Jo Reats.  Shave self P.M. ~~  Harman came 4 P.M. bringing me 4 b hay 1.92, 4 b.  straw  .75, 2 bu oats .60 and about 5 bu corn from my own crib.  We settle to date far as possible.  NW ditch 16.00 and fence 4.00 feed 3.27.  pay check 23.27.  Ray went up for mare.  Preston still at farm.  They are trying to arrange so that he will remain there.  the ground is generally bare where exposed to the sun.  Clear day moderate southerly wind.  Go bed 8.30

December 19, 1912 & 1887 in Coles County, Illinois

1912

19.  Thursday.  6.30 AM.  ther.  30.  42.  36.  = 36.

Part cloudy.  W. 3. ice 1/4.  Tue got long letter from  Buddy yesterday and one from  Phebe this morning.  She expects to start home Sunday from Ann Arbor, Mich.  Will come via Chicago.  Too cool for me to try Loxa trip.  I hitch up about noon and drove down to  Whalens elevator.  Order load Linton coal.*  Tue wrote girls mailing letters PM.  Learn that Dick Stoddert (Harry's) is dead at Kankakee.  Order at Geo Gray's pair shoes as have been using for 12 years.(sic)  Mostly clear day Southwesterly light winds.  Go bed 9.

*

1887

19.  Monday.  6.30 AM  Ther.  35.  48.  42.

Partly clear. at sunrise.  Wind S.E.  Fresh wind all night probably S.E.   Ed. Eastin calls for step ladder.  Finish up the  pork and sausage in  morning.  Bert was in and ate dinner. Uncle John in town.  Tue went up town PM to get some things for Christmas.  Renew  note with H.G. 65.00 for 90 days.  Thought there might be some lumber come up but didn't hear of any.  The roads are probably pretty bad.  Mostly cloudy day,  wind mostly south.  Tue not feeling very well.  Took medicine at night.  Uncle John says Aunt Deal** is worse than usual.  Mrs. Davis over at night, she is making dress for Ma.  Gobed 10.30

**Aunt Deal is Uncle John's wife and Tue's mother, Eliza Cordelia Amidon.  Sadly, Cordelia was marked insane in several census.  In this entry she is also referred to as Ma.  Cordelia was beloved by the family.

December 17, 1912 & 1887 in Coles County, IL

1912

17.  Tuesday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  48.  54.  38.  = 46 2/3

Part cloudy S.2.  There was light rain in night about 12 and after (.17 in.)  David came 7 A. and worked all day Pd 3.50 for yest and today.  Got Colby to repair the hydrant.  It was pretty well worn out.  David laid good tile wastes from it to 5th ST. and get everything in good shape again.  Tue iron most of  day.  I drove out to Huffmans late P.M.  Dirt road only damp but will soon be dry~~  Tue got long letter from Buddy.  She didn't talk much like coming home Christmas.  Neither does Muggs.  We are looking for Phebe this week.  Mostly clear day with moderate S. to W. wind.  Go bed 8.30

1887

17.  Saturday.  6 AM.  Ther.  27.  45.  37.  

Partly clear.  Pleasant day.  Wind Southwesterly . . .  Wrote to Uncle  Mark* inquiring about apples.  Good many people in town.  Roads said to be very bad.  Comer in toward night.  I agree to stand 5c. per hundred on hauling the Coal Shaft bill now sawed.  Buy dressed pig of C. Donsch $5.60 @ 7c. which they sent down after dark.  Comer thinks they  can go to hauling Monday if it does not rain before.  Hat was down in the morning.  Gobed.  10 P.M.

*

Marcus Ansley

Birth 15 Mar 1826 in Geneva, Ontario, New York

Death 16 Sep 1907 in Geneva, Ontario, New York

He was Charles' Father's half-brother.  That part of the family lived in upstate New York and had orchards.

December 3,1912 & 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

1912

3.  Tuesday. 6.30 AM Ther.  28.  50.  46. = 41 1/3
Clear.  S. 2.  Heavy hoar frost.  Ice 3/8 in.  Walter Smith  & Company came early so that it is about as good as it was before they worked on it.  Think  it about worn out in places.  the house was very uncomfortable this morning with no fire, got a good one by  10 A.M.  Tue got letter from Buddy A.M.  was well.  Tue   getting for some church doings which occur soon.  Hitch up about noon deposit B.C. check 321.32 at 2nd.  The check was defective being  10.00 too much on the lower line.  Drive out far as Watsons toward night.  Met Eastin with Fitz.  Is now chopping ~~  The roads are some muddy - not deep.  They are still hauling crushed onto south road.  Have a light application for about half mile E. of Shannon's.  Return S. road.  Jack went.  He has swelled jaw.  Part cloudy.  Light southerly winds.  Read Borcacico at night.  Go bed 10.30~

1887

3.  Saturday.  6 A.M.  Ther.  44.  54. 55.

Cloudy and raining frost.  Pete Snider came about 5 AM for family for Fan.  Patton stopped about 8 A.M. saying Fan couldn't live wanted to see her father  Start out to Uncle John's in heavy rain, about 8.30  He came in with us but Fan was dead when we got back Uncle John and Tue went down there afternoon getting back before night.  The funeral will be tomorrow 2 P.M.  Christian Church.  Phebe had but slight croup tonight and hope she is over  with it.  Guiney paid me in full for wood $3.00.  Rain occasionally during day very heavy in forenoon, heavy at night.  Baby cried till midnight.  Kate Myer had been taking care of her today.  11 P.M. 

*Personal note- this must have been a very difficult day for my family.  Fan lived all the way out by, what is now, Lake Charleston.  That would have been a difficult ride in a buggy and heavy rain.  Tue and Charles had two sick kids at home.  My mother has always told me that babies often died in their first two years of life, so the baby being sick must have worried them a great deal.  Fan had three small children that would need cared for.   Though this happened many years ago, my heart aches for all of them.  CMS

November 19, 1912 and 1887 in Charleston, IL

1912

19.  Tuesday.  6 A.M.  ther.  40.  62.  44.  = 48 2/3

Clear, S.W. 2.  Tue got a letter from Buddy, also card from Muggs at St. Louis.  She had not met Miss Wales.  I drove over to Harryman warehouse but he didn't have  time to talk.  Tue got letter from Mrs. West telling that Armstrong had not patched plastering in Loxa house.  Tue decides to go out there with me tomorrow and prepare to take early start weather permitting.  Clear day moderate S.W. wind.  Fannie Cottingham called after I  had retired.  Gobed 8 P.M.

1887

19.  Saturday, 6 A.M.  ther.  42.  28.  18.

Dark and smokey strong S.W. wind most of night.  Change cooler wind W about 7 A.M. with some snow flying.  Growing colder all day.  furious wind blowing some boards off store roof.  Uncle John  was down to dinner.  Apple trade not very good not many in town for Saturday.  Comer was intoward night but did not settle.  Said he would be in tomorrow.  Freezing cold all P.M.  Wind N.W.  Settle with Riley Easton for posts to date.  Tue has toothache at night.  Gobed 10 P.M.  Mostly cloudy day.  Alarm of fire about  1.30 P.M.