August 1-17, 1902 in Charleston HIGHLIGHTS

August 1902  

1. Friday.

Buy some tools at Yellow Store square 90  Level 70  File nails &c and start for ranch about 8 am.  John Simons grunting.  I got whip last time down  I drove  to river to water horse.  The stream is not fordable at Handley's Ford.  I go tangled up in the brush on point could hardly get out.

2. Saturday.

The Normal summer students mostly left today.  they have began moving the Maples.  Have it south about 20 feet which is near half way.

3.  Sunday 5.30 AM.  Ther  71.  96.  78.= 8812/3

Miss Celia Ford preparing too leave tomorrow  Ferd here to dinner

4.  Monday.

Miss Ford left P.M.  Maggie had visitors at night.

5.  Tuesday

[Coming home from a day at the ranch]  Had to face storm of wind and light rain for last two or three miles coming home.    The boys   Jim Riley   Steve & Ike began on shed at noon and had posts all up when I left.  Kentuckian rides with me to 5 Mile house.  Helen and Marie went to Loxa on local to stay all night

6.  Wednesday

I started for ranch about 10 AM  getting there noon time.  Boys had got their posts out of the woods and up.  They were nailing up strips and putting up plates all P.M.  Think will get rafters up tomorrow  [I get home] before dark.  Tue had been feeling bad all day and found her in bed.

At the top of page:

(6)  We decided yesterday to add another section on N. end of shed making it 42 ft instead of 35.  Jo will go to work at Shed at Loxa fixing roof and stripping.

7.  Thursday,

Tue felt badly all night and I called Dr. Patton in morning.  I  lost my  knife Tuesday and bought a new one at Yellow Front today.  I start for ranch about  10 AM.     The boys had the rafters up and were eating dinner.  They side up gables and nail on rest set of strips P.M.  B.C. looking pretty well.

[Heads home]  roads are dry but rough S. of  Five Mile.

8.  Friday.

Tue spent rather bad night and I had too go to  barn for meddy for her  Dr came 8 AM  Tue had a bad spell about 6 PM and does not feel as well as she did in morning.

9.  Saturday

Tue had Dr. Patton this morning.  

10.  Sunday

Tue got up and helped with breakfast and went back to bed and felt very badly all day.  She has symptoms of the bloody flux, otherwise I intended to go to ranch.

11. Monday

Tue feeling better, didn't have Dr. today.

12.  Tuesday

Mare doing better.

13.  Wednesday

Tue not feeling as well and did not get up.  I feel very badly all morning; think too much coffee.

Tue up today at dinner [lunch time]  Start out to Gaines 2.00 P.M. came back and started again.  Stop at Fair Grounds looking for mushrooms with Clark.  Find Lepiota Morganii lycperdons. and A cauepectuis  I got to Gaines after 4 P.M.  Jo came up while I was there is mowing weeds in corn.  The rest of the family gone hunting grapes get home 6.30  Cow got out today, Mrs. B got her.  Tue got up P.M and think is improving slowly.

14.  Thursday

Tue got up to breakfast and remained up most of day.  Self feeling badly. 

15.  Friday

My fountain pen filled by Geo. W. Hustland first time  I have used it: see June , 2. [his birthday- I can see the difference in the writing in that entry.]  Went down down to Wrightsville P.M.  Tue was up all day and feeling better.  Self felt badly all day.  Drove  up town at night.  The Salvation Army have a tent up at 3rd and Madison with big crowds at night.

16.  Saturday. 

Self feeling worse than usual than usual this morning.  Was up town at night after steak and tobacco.

17.  Sunday,  7 AM.  Ther  60 82  64  =  68 2/3

Mostly cloudy S.E. wind.  Tue kills two of her chickens for dinner.  I went out to Jim Warren for cabbage and tomatoes.  Drove up to Decker getting fine mess of Plutuis cerviness   Stop at Fair ground getting seven large puffballs.  Florence heree too dinner.  She is going too  Seattle on visit soon.  I drove P.M. down by Mat Browns place.   Find Ledpita brocenus near Parkers place and  unknown Psolliolta near Mt Zion School house.  I return by Billy Browns and M.Zion, getting home about dark.  There was light sprinkle  11 AM.  and it clouded up again P.M. with thunder all round.  Gobed 9 P.M.~

July 5-6, 1891 and 1902 about

July 1891

5.  Sunday 7 AM.  Ther  66.  87.  66    73

Clear SE wind.  Mary Davis stayed all night with Phebe  last night Maggie with Maunie Lang.  Cecropius not doing so well especially the younger ones.  I start for timber about 5 P.M. getting there just before dark.  Chewing tobacco yesterday and today does not agree with me.  The boys have made 204 ties to date.  Warm partly cloudy day with SE wind.  gobed 930 PM 

6.  Monday ? AM.  Ther  65  86  76 = 76 2/3

Mostly clear S SE wind   John went down to truck patch dug potatoes and picked cucumbers.  R.&J. straighten up things in barn.

Harrison Handly says he will help.  hauling my rye tomorrow.  Have failed to find anyone who will thresh for me this week  I start home at 10 AM.  Getting there about (unreadable)

. . .wah today  Nicks baby sick since yesterday noon and he was at store but little today nor at night.  Mostly clear day with S. wind  go bed 10.15 PM

July 1902

5. Saturday  7 AM  Ther  66.  92.  74.  =  77 1/3

Partly cloudy SW wind  Self feeling badly all day  Did not sleep last night.  Think it was the mushroom but I ate enough trash for supper to give me cholera morbus.  It beat a big dose of pills, did not vomit.  Good crowd in town.  Mostly clear day with W. wind.  Drive down to Richters toward night collecting for load corn 20.23 paying coal to date / $2.50  These are warm days.  Corn 60 cts.  Gobed 10 P.M.

6.  Sunday  6 P.M.  ther.  75.  93.  78.  =.  82.

Partly cloudy.  Fresh SW wind. I drove to Kickapoo and around.  Observe chanterelles, Russula, and Boltus very scattered however.  Some pastures are filled with  Lepiota Morganii.  Numerous puff balls but the weather is too hot for them to be good.  There is family of movers camped near school house for past two weeks.  Old James Finch rode into town with me.  Mostly clear AM.  Thin cloudy P.M. and very sultry.  At night drove NW of town with Laura Clark and Marie.  Jack got run over by buggy.  Tue went to church with Mrs. Knock  Gobed  10 PM ~ Men work on Laundry chimney AM.

April 1-5, 1891 and 1902 in Charleston, Il

April 1891

1.  Wednesday.  6 AM  Ther  37.  61.  52. = 50
Clear. S.W. wind.  Reported that there is prospect of a war with Italy causing good deal excitement up town.  Pain in side seems worse this morning and went up to Dr. Pattons  Took some of his medicine but felt worse than usual all day  Settle with Johnny Decker for ties all but 1.65 held for culls. Uncle John  Eastin tells me has sold his tie timber to Ledbetter  Tue cleaning up yard P.M.  Mrs. R wash PM.  Tue went to church at night Mostly Clear some cloudy toward night night wind S.W.  9 PM

2.  Thursday.  6 AM.  Ther  47.  43.  38.  =  41
Cloudy N. wind wind.  Sprinkle rain 6 AM.  Feel some better this morning.  Stay at home all day and take tonic  Mrs. R. and Fannie iron.  PM.  Maggie went to Highlads for milk.  Cloudy day with NW wind sp rain occasionally and at night  Learn that Fatty Knock died last evening at the Asylum at Kankakee. Go bed 9 PM.

3.  Friday 6 30  AM.  Ther  30.  34.  27  =  30
Cloudy and snow flying.  wind N.W.  Dont feel as well as yesterday.  Fatty Knock was buried today  Tue went to the funeral at 2 P.M.  Hat was here toward night, she and Tue  went over to see old  Mr. Wentz who has sick long time.  Rechters folks moved from here a week or so ago.  Maggie and Phebe went to birthday party at Griffins in afternoon.    Maggie didnt come home  Tue and Phebe found her at Latta's at 9 PM.  I stay home all day.  The pain in my side about same as yesterday  Cloudy day.  Snowing lightly when got up and continued lightly all day mostly melting as it fell.  Wind w. or NW  Crail has not shown up this week  Go bed 9 45 PM

4. Saturday.  7 AM.  Ther 26.  33.  31.  = 30
Cloudy and snowing lightly wind NW.  Tue about sick  Self about the same as yesterday.  Maggie has a very sore tongue for a very long time.  Went up town first time since Wednesday.  Democrats considerably interested in city election, they don't know who to run for mayor.  Uncle John was in PM has been sick with cold this week.  Trade light for Saturday.  Jo Handly will lend me a load or two of corn till the roads improve.  Tue to Davis toward night.  Mostly clear dayue felt badly all day.  Maunie Lang over to supper.  Gobed. 11 P.M.

5.  Sunday.  7 AM.  ther  28.  43.  38  =  36 1/3
Clear  a little haze.  Wind SW. heavy white frost this AM  Maggie did not get up till 9 AM. her tongue no better.  Phebe and Marie went to S.S.   Tue to church AM.  Self stay home all day  Found side of meat fallen down in smoke house  and partly eaten up by mice.  Children and Tue went up  to  Davis toward night.  Mostly clear day S.W. wind  Hazy in P.M. gobed 9 PM

April 1902

1. Tuesday.  6 AM.   Ther.  30.  35.  31.  =  32

Cloudy NW wind.  Rhoda washed & working till 3 P.M.  Township election Did not hitch up today.  Too cold for me to drive to Loxa. Cloudy all day and occasional snowflakes  Most of day  Tue went over to Groves at night.  Fern Griffith stays all night with Phebe.  Jenkins sends bill which is some 197.00  I have done nothing about fence in the bottom.  I seems difficult to find good hand to make fence.  Have had to keep fire in furnace all day.  Coal will not last many days at this rate.  Gobed 9 PM

2.  Wednesday 6 AM.  Ther 32.  41.  34.  =  35 2/3

Clearing off light westwind.  Learn that Republican ticket carried excepting J.W. Waltrip for Commissioner.  Wrote  and mail letter to Aunt Cornelia asking Uncle M [Marcus] to send me 20 Keiffer pear and 50 Columbian raspberry.  I intend to set there in bottom.  Didn't eat any dinner.  Get ready to go to Loxa P.M. but thought too late.  See Co Surveyor and we measure across pasture and find that my fence on 5th St should set further out some four feet.  Partly cloudy and quite chilly Gobed 9 P.M.

3.  Thursday, 6 AM.  Ther  27.  46.  39  =  37 1/3

Mostly clear E wind.  Charley Jones found me in banken shop We went to  Court house and look over old delinquent list  He thinks Sawin will release over 8 1/2 acres sold for taxes.  Mrs Eastin here to dinner.  Prof. Baird family moving into her house which now belongs to the City  She will leave for the west in  day or two.  I ate too much for dinner and felt badly all P.M.  Saw Billy Watson and he says will run lines for fences tomorrow P.M. if I can be here,  Rhoda ironed P.M. but gave it up.  Tue went to church at night  Mostly clear day E & S wind  Gobed 9 P.M.

4.  Friday  5.30 AM.  Ther.  28.  50.  40.  =  39 1/3

Mostly clear Easterly wind.  I got started to Loxa 8 A.M.  Old Queen tried to run away on  road out there.  Jo and Wall breaking: have about 12 acres broke.  They are working south of house  Shirley breaking down by Loxa.  Three families in Loxa are quarantined for small pox also Wallace Defenbaugh.  Take Mrs. Shirley some chrysanthemums  Saw Ora. Try to settle with McPheron but I didn't have my a/c with me  Pay Al Newby 2.00 for calf services of bull.  got home about noon  Get Watson P.M. and we establish line for fence on west side lot 127.  It runs 3 to 5 feet further in street than original fence  We measure west from Sixth St.  on Van Buren on on Harrison and get line form these points.  Tue had Reading Circle here PM with refreshments.  Saw Emmett Fritz.  He says he will help me tomorrow  Mostly clear day northerly wind Gobed 9 P.M.~~        

5.   Saturday.  5.40 AM. 30.  55.  50.  =  45
Clear white frost Southwind. Emmett came working till 3 P.M.  Pd him 1.00 which is 10c. over.  He hitchedup & carried out all ashes.  Sorted and ? post s for bottom fence, and carried down cellar a lot of wood also ground up some of our tools  Mr. Bell had oil stone and drawing knife supposed   John Simones and Warren in after new planter amt, of Dr. Bush lumber 491 ft oak and elm amounting to $8.36.   Pay  interest on Mrs. Eastins note up to next Nov. 1.  Elvira Garrison pays $5.00 on rent for Mo. end 14 inst.  Kate Bacon called PM and stays to supper   I took her over to Franks - a very dark drive as lights were out.  It began to sprinkle 2 PM and occasionally after that with heavy thunder showers and wind later say after 9 P.M.  Tue and Groves folks intended to to entertainment at Normal  but too threatening.    Laura Clark stays all night with Marie and Phebe  went home with Hannah Marshall  Gobed 8.30 PM.                                         

February 1-11, 1902 in Coles County Illinois

February 1902

1.  Saturday,  6 AM.  Ther.  22.  32.  22.  =  25 1/3

Mostly cloudy, or foggy light easterly wind  Shirley called AM.  I did not have lease ready for him to sign.  Pete Drake carried out ashes from setting R.  pit.  but didn't have time to clean out the stable.  He was drunk before night.  Will attend to stable Monday.  Republican primaries PM.  Vote about 4 P.M.  The regular organization won.  Cloudy day with easterly wind self feeling badly  Several young people here at night playing cards till after 10 P.M.  Light snow P.M. and  night.  Say 2 in. and grows colder.   Snow and mist 5 P.M.  Gobed 10 P.M.

2.  Sunday.  6.30 AM.  Then  2.  8.  -2.  =  2 2/3
Clear, strong NW wind which was blowing all night  The 2 in snow that fell after dark last night drifted good deal.  Kept petty business making fires today. Tue sent package to Maggie by Lewis Marshall.  Clear day with brisk NW wind and colder at night.  Gobed  8 .15 PM.

3.  Monday, 6 AM.  Ther. -8.  18.  10  =  6 2/3
Clear Light. N.W. wind Pete Drake came to work but stable frozen up.  Mrs. Smith came to wash before 7 A.M. and worked till after 5 P.M.  Mrs. Knock and Mrs. Grove visiting Tue toward night.  Clear AM but mostly cloudy P.M. with variable wind settling into south with 1 in snow at 5 P.M.  Tue feeling badly with  neuralgia in face all day, and retired early  Gobed 9 PM

4.  Tuesday.  6 AM.  -4,  4,  -1.  =  -1/3
Clear N.W.wind.  Change in night blowing a regular cyclone  about  1 oclock with snow.  Proves to be  one of worst days this winter to keep house warm.  Very high NW wind clear and pleasant with  ther. but little above zero.  Tue still suffers with her face and retired early.  Mort and Kate  were over till 9 P.M.  I got up at midnight fearing something wrong with furnace but was all right.  Got meddy for Tue in night.  Gobed 9 PM.

5.  Wednesday.  6 AM. ther. -6.  18.  15.  =  9
Mostly clear, wind W. Rhoda ironed AM.  Tue did not get up today,  but seems to be feeling better.  Charley Talbot called P.M. reporting Jo's Folks all right,  but want me to come out.  Met Tennant Bridges yesterday.  He said would mail me amt due on rent at once.  Mostly clear AM Cloudy P.M. south wind with light snow about dark.  one inch.  Gobed 9 P.M.

6.  Thursday.  6 AM.  Ther.  19.  32.  20.  =  23 2/3
Cloudy, Southwind, Snw flying.  Tue feeling some better and got up late P.M. eating supper with us.  Self feel badly with stomach all day  and take medicine which gets me out in night.  Dick Cadle offers me 1000.00 for 100 feet bottom.  Jack dog did not show up today and we fear he is lost or dead.  Cloudy day wind south to NW and colder at night.  Buy lot gro. at night Wrights PM.  Light snow again toward gobed 9 PM.

7.  Friday, 6 AM Ther.  0.  19.  12.  =  10 1/3
Clear, NW. wind  Jack came this morning having been gone since night before last.  They are moving barn from Woodson place to seventh St.  Have it as far as church.  Tue lay in bed till after breakfast.  Buy bread 10   hominy 10    beans 15     at Wrights AM Cr  Had some trouble getting water at barn thawed out  today.  Dick Wright wants to work for me also wants to borrow money.  Our water pump has not worked this week been out of  order several weeks.  Kate and Mort came after I went to bed.  Mostly clear day NW wind gobed 8 P.M.

8.  Saturday. 6 AM.  Ther  -4  14  4.  =  4 2/3
Mostly clear, light NW wind.  Sort over lot of old papers AM. finding tax receipt for Loxa land, (8 1/2 a) that has been sold.  Marie and  and Helen went with Ferd out to Sniders to visit over Sunday.  Phebe has party of fourteen girls here to supper 8 P.M.  I spend evening in basement reading.  The suit of various parties against the County comes up Monday 24th Long article with picture of  Court House in Chicago Record Herald today.  Meet tie man at McGurty's Combs.  Mostly clear day NW wind gobed 9 P.M.

9.  Sunday 6.40 AM.  Ther  -4  19 12  = 9
Clear NW wind.  Lu?ly Record stayed all night with Phebe  We ate cold dinner in kitchen today.  Marie and Helen got back in afternoon  Mostly clear day with light w. or N.W. wind clouding over toward night.  Tue over to Groves at night  Go bed 930 P.M.

10.  Monday, 6. A.M.  Ther.  11.  24.  20 =  18 1/3
Cloudy westwind.  Light snow flying.  Rhoda came to wash, working all day.  Mr.Bell has been sick since Sunday  Mrs. Bacon was in town but I didn't see her.  She telephoned to Tue.  Mostly cloudy day NW or westerly wind  Helen spent night at John Clarks  There was great fire at Paterson, N.J. yesterday
Gobed 8.30 P.M.

11.  Tuesday.  6 AM.  Ther  15.  24.  20 =  19 2/3
Mostly cloudy SW wind.  Bert and Rene came in A.M. and stayed to dinner and until 4 P.M.  It began to snow before 10 P.M.  and continued until 5 P.M.  about 1 1/2 inches.  Court  adjourned last Saturday to meet again  on Feby. 24, when Courthouse case will be tried.  My stomach feeling badly  Gobed  7.30 P.M.

January 4 - 5, 1914 and 1889 in Coles county Illinois

Note to my readers:  If you are wondering about the punctuation and spelling, I am trying to transcribe it as he wrote it.  He often uses his own abbreviations and does not always use punctuation.  I do this because in some cases the rules changed  and he is writing for himself and I wish to preserve the man, Charles Gramesly, through his writings.  His word choices and spelling are from the time he lived in.  Catherine

January 1914

4.  Sunday.  6.30  AM.  ther.  34.  36.  34. = 34 2/3

Cloudy. N.W.4.  We had breakfast very late.  Tue attends church A.M.  I shave self am getting quite expert: think only need good tools.  Gus and John call while waiting for a car P.M.  George Boulware was buried today at Mattoon.  Dark gloomy day.  Cloudy with brisk NW wind light snow at times after 9 AM  The ground has thin covering of snow.  some which fell Christmas  It is  several weeks since we saw the sun or stars.  Go bed 10 P

5.  Monday.  6.30 AM.  Ther 30.  34.  32.  = 32

cloudy N.3.   Tue  irons good deal.  She spent evening at Grove's  Harman phones will be in soon to settle.  Will bring us piece of good beef.  Alfred chored.  All cloudy day with brisk north wind.  I had one of my spells of "congestion" after I retired and it kept me awake till after midnight.  I didn't go up town today.  Ground is covered  lightly with late snow.  Gobed 9

January 1889

4.  Friday 6 AM.  Ther 31.  49.  38.

Mostly cloudy and looks like rain.  collect months rent of Miss Kumayer and deposit 72.50  Bill Kelly cleans out stable and stops holes in fence.  Let pigs out in barn lot.  Pay Wright $4.95  Dick Bails $1.50 I.B. Mitchell 4.40 Geo McNutt .75 all in full.  cloudy day with southerly wind  Gobed 9 P.M.  (?) ins. on ST. 800.00

5.  Saturday. 615 AM.  Ther 35.  39.  36.

Cloudy and damp wind N. cloudy all day.  Tom Burk paid me 5.00 on a/c  Called on Sam Cooper but got no money.  Tue  r(?) Nicholson house to old Man  Sanders for 6.00 till Mar. 1, he paid up.  H.G. and Hat were down here at night till 8 PM.  Maggie spent the night with Marnie Lang.  sold Mrs.  Turnam 50 c  worth of wood,  Interest on  (?) note paid up to Dec 31   Gobed 9 PM ~  Jim Chapman died tonight