July 3,-4 1891 and 1902 in Charleston, Illinois

July 1891

3 Friday, 5.15 AM,  Ther 60  80  66  =  68 2/3

Clear, NW. wind.  Tie up rest of tomato plants  Some of first cecropian worms getting ready for them.  Second molt 11 days old about 3/4 in long bright yellow turning brown.  More of the eggs hatched this morning.  A cheap circus brings quite a crowd to town.  Trade good Warren and Chut bring each another load of ties.  Grocery Stores decide to close tomorrow at noon.  Learn that Bill Meyers has sold his butcher shop  Clear day with northerly wind  Phebe stays all night at Davis  go bed 11 PM~

4.  Saturday, 6.30 AM  Ther  60  82  64  =  68 2/3

Clear wind S.  Pretty good crowd in town considering there was no celebration  Most people went to Mattoon or elsewhere  Tue went up to Oakland with Hat at noon returning at 5 P.M.  

July 1902

3.  Thursday 530 AM  Ther  70.  91.  74.  =  78 1/3

Clear south wind.  Thought to get early start to Loxa, got ready by 7,30 AM. but did not get off till about 10  Ate dinner at Gaines.  Glenn and Ruth Talbott there P.M.  Jo cutting in south piece.  Very warm day.  Met Charley Talbott on way home says will help me about meadow.  I drove down through Loxa to get Tues gloves.  Hen and Ora drove to town ahead of me.  Shirley rode to store with me.  Seems to be out of humor.  Mostly clear day with fresh SW wind  I got home .6 oclock.  Tue got message from Phebe today, relieving her mind  muchly.  Gobed 9 PM

4.  Friday.  5 AM.  Ther  68,90,74 = 77 1/3

Clear light southwind.  Drove up to Decker Park A.M. looking fungi.  Rather dull n town today.  Most of the people gone elsewhere.  John Simons and family were up.  I drove SW of town P.M. looking for fungi.  Find a few puff balls.  Lepiota Margariri coming up in fields.  Try a piece for supper, and had case of diarrhea most of the night.  Tue spent evenings at Mrs. Knocks.  Mort and Kate and Mrs. Baird here a while in evening.  they are excavating for Carnegie building  the excavation will extend from Eastin house north to old Davis house  Gobed 10 P.M. 

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 21-31, 1902 in Charleston, IL

January 1902

21.  Tuesday 6 AM.  Ther.  28.  33.  31.  =  30 2/3

 to be heavy and 3 to 4 inches deep, having fallen in night.  Did not hitch up today.  Went up town P.M.  Charley Smaclzle died yesterday.  Henry Brown (Blind) died today having been sick all winter  H.G. working for Shouts again; began yesterday.  Snow  fell most all AM.  Not heavy however.  Suppose there was there was 4 to 5 inches in all very wet.  Phebe went home with Hanna Marshall to stay all night.  Geo Linder "Jr" here to see about Eastin's place.  Learn that Mrs. E has sold for 3,000.00 to Park commish.  They bought the old Davis place week or two ago @ 4,000.00  Cloudy damp day barely not freezing.  Tue feeling badly  and lies on lounge much of time  Self not feeling very well.  Have not used any tobacco since Christmas.  Gobed  9 P.M.

22. Wednesday,  6AM.  Ther.  27.  36.  30.  =31

Cloudy light, NW wind.  Shirley called 9 AM. to make out lease but I was not ready.  He stayed till 11 AM.  Tue feeling some better today.  She was over at Groves till 9 P.M.  Cloudy day with light NW to Westerly wind.  Thawing all day, streets and walks covered with slush.  The Col. (H.G.) gave me a black dog which take home.  Snow does not go off very fast  Cooler and freezing at night.  Gobed 9 P.M.

23.  Thursday.  6 AM.  Ther  21.  38.  25.  =  28.

About clear, southerly wind.  Mrs. Smith comes to iron A.M. working till noon  Hitch up early AM intending to go to Loxa.  The ground is still covered with snow but it has settled a good deal.  Tue feeling better today than has for some time.  Mostly clear day south to westerly wind.  Gobed 9 P.M. ~~

24.  Friday 6 AM.  Ther.  22.  31.  22.  =  25.

Cloudy light N. wind snow flakes flying  Buy lot of stuff at W.E. Hills AM.  getting trusted for same, 75 cts Writing paper. (Tabs) 25. Envelopes 25.  Pencils 10 per 5 ink 10.  Hitch up and take Tue to R Circle at Will Miles.  Write letters to P.H. & Co. S.H. Co and others AM and  mail PM.  Begins growing colder about 2 P.M.  Weather (?) predicts cold wave.  Ther 16 in  NW.  Light snow flying 2 P.M.  Self not feel well P.M.  Marie & Helen making Fudge at night.  Phebe attended dance with young Miles  Gobed 8 P.M.

This Record carried to new book like this Jany 25  1902

Back pages have July 1901 figures.  Another page figures up crops of Shirley, Gaines, Simon

Jany 25 1902 to Jany 26, 1903

25.  Saturday, 6.15, AM.  Ther.  22.  32.  26.  =  26 2/3

Mostly cloudy SE wind later.  Self about sick this morning.  Write for Catalogue to Slack, Chicago.  Deposit half of Garrisons check 25.00 at  2nd Natl.  nobook.  See Charley Talbot and Wm Wayne, AM. Send 10.00 to Theodore Banta for Sayre Family book.  Have talk with traveling man at Charleston Hotel toward night about land.  Cloudy day with south-easterly wind.  Began snowing 6 P.M. from S.E.  There was earthquake Earthquake in St. Louis yesterday morn.  Write C.H. Slack Chicago for grocery Catalogue.  Self feel  badly all day.  Girls all went to entertainment at Normal at night.  Mort and Kate over at night but I had gone to bed.  Had a pain take me in left shoulder about 10 PM which kept me awake most of night, gone in morning  Gobed 8.15 PM

26.  Sunday.  7.15 AM.  Ther  32.  36.  4.  =  24

Cloudy, heavy fog,  SE wind.  About 1 1/2 to 2 in wet snow fell in night.  Pain in shoulder gone this morning.  Cloudy day thawing till say 1 PM. wind southerly till 1 PM then NW and Ther fell to near zero by 9 PM,  I hitch up Queen before dinner but did not use her because of the change  Much of the snow that fell last night melted this afternoon, but had to keep up good fires PM and night and house got very cold before morning strong NW wind PM & night gobed 9 PM.

27. Monday.  5.30 AM  Ther -6.  8.  2.  = 1 1/3  Clear, NW, wind Mrs. Smith came to wash 7 A.M. working till 3 P.M.  Tue and Groves went up to Court (symbol) P.M. to testify in case of Al Latta and wife.  They decide to live together.  Did not hitch up today Am reading Ivanhoe staying most of the time in basement.   Mort and Kate over at night.  Clear cold day with N.W. wind Mrs. S. will iron Wednesday morning  Gobed 9 P.M.  

28.  Tuesday.  5 AM.  Ther  2.  18.  18.  =  12 2/3

Partly cloudy.  S.E. wind.  Made mistake of an hour this morning getting up too early.  Read Ivanhoe in furnance room most of forenoon.  Henry Reasor looks at pump and furnace P.M.  pay him a/c to date $1.05 check.  Did not hitch up today  Was up town P.M.  Get some lease blanks at W.E. Hills and pay him what I owe 75cts.  Learn that Fuquas of Casey have bought N1/2 Mrs. Norfolk place and will build big general store here in the spring.  Partly cloudy day SE wind snow flying at times.  Ferd called at night. Tue over at Grovers till bed time  Gobed 9 PM

29.  Wednesday 6 AM.  Ther  14.  17.  15.  = 15 1/3

Cloudy northwind.  There was about 2 in snow in night apparently from N.E. Mrs. Smith came to iron working until 3 P.M.  Paid her ch 75cts.  Sayre Family book sent for last Sat. comes by express and self and Phebe put in much time looking it over.  Find several errors.  I didn't go up town till after 4 P.M.  Get 25 cts spare ribs at Donschs  Cloudy day NE wind becoming E toward night.  Hail and Snow began abut 4 P.M. and continued an hour or two.  About 1 1/2 in fell.  Gobed 9 P.M.

30.  Thursday.  5.45, AM.  Ther 15.  29.  22. = 20 1/3  Cloudy, N.E. wind.  Still studying Sayre genealogy  Tue not feeling very well.  She has co. P.M.  Mrs. K.  there was about 2 inches snow and sleet last night.  Report sleighing good Marie and Helen went sleighriding (sic.)  at night.  I did not hitch up today Tue feeling badly and went to bed early.  Cloudy day with easterly wind.  Gobed.  9 P.M.

31.  Friday, 6 AM.  Ther, 22,  32,  24.  =  26.

Cloudy, N.W. wind.  There was over an inch of heavy snow last night.  Tue feeling badly this morning but gets up and gets breakfast.  Bert calls a while P.M. half an hour or so I went up town 4 P.M.  Meet JH Marshall at Court H  Republican primaries tomorrow to nominate County Officers  Buy some "birds" of young Dallas.  Pete Drake and Jubal on a "high lonesome"  Pete says will come and work a while tomorrow abut 8 AM.  Mostly cloudy day with NW. wind, variable P.M.  Gray horse has kicked doors down at barn.  It didn't thaw much today even in the sun.  Tue over at Groves at night Phebe gone.  Helen and Marie home  gobed 9 PM~~

December 10-12, 1890 and 1901 in Charleston, IL

December 1890

10.  Wednesday, 7 AM.  Ther 28.  42  37

Clear with SW wind.  Uncle John in town and down to dinner.  Warren brought up half cord of wood which he sold.  H.G learns that his dog shot yesterday was still alive and he went out after him in afternoon.  N E Welch pays 19.78 for lumber bought last summer.  Maggie starts wearing truss which Tue  bought some time since.  She didn't go to school P.M.  Tom Houghton drummer  here.  I caught some cold the first of week worse today.  Clear day with SW wind snow mostly disappears.  gobed 11.30~ 

11.  Thursday  7.30  AM. Ther  37  47  29

Mostly cloudy wind N.N.W.  Settle with March & Bradley $4.00.  Remit in full to Mullany & Hagen 372.95  Warren brought half cord which sold from wagon.  Tue interested in doings at Pres. church keeping her from noon till bedtime  The girls took their supper there  Brownfield brought down two barrels.  Old Mrs. Eastin died about 5 P.M.  Doug Clark had his leg crushed by locomotive last night and had it taken off.  Sal Greenfrilder drummer in town.  Gobed 12.30

12.  Friday  7.30  AM.  18.  27.  18

Clear, NW wind.  Brownfield cleans out stable.  Bill Myers takes out 3 hogs to kill.  Tue and went out to old cemetery to  old Mrs. Eastins burial in afternoon.  Warren brought up load of wood which sold to Brownfield.  Warren take out hangings for barn door.  Trade dull clear day with NW wind.  Get horse shock at Pucks.  PD 85c  Gobed  12.30  Myers took out 3 hogs to kill.

December 1901

10.  Tuesday,  6.15  A.M.  Ther.  20.  40.  30.  =  30

Mostly clear.  Southwind.  Marie sick before breakfast and did not go to school, but she went up town P.m. Wilton phones me that axle not heard from yet.  I did not go up town today.

Chilly partly cloudy day.  with S. wind.  House very cold AM.  Lizzie Shoats and their girls here P.M.  I sat in basement reading magazines &c till go bed  11.30 PM

11.  Wednesday  6 39  AM.  Ther  28.  44.  33  =  35

Mostly clear E. wind.  The snow did not disappear yesterday.  Mrs. Smith came abut 7 AM. to iron.  She works till 5 P.M. raking off leaves. &c.  Wilton has heard from buggy axle.  It will be here in a day or two.  I ate too much dinner and went without supper.  Felt badly all P.M. and night.  It is reported that there are several cases of small pox in town.  Sat and read Sunday R.H. in basement   Go bed 10 P.M.

12.  Thursday.  6.15  AM.  There.  34.  50.  48.  =  44

Partly cloudy: easterly wind.  Light white frost.  Growing warmer all day settling in south.  Hire buggy at Buckley's at noon and after dinner went out to Gaines, getting there about 2 PM.   Met Mrs. Shirley who said Shirley got-ran in" yesterday and she had not heard from him since.  I helping Charley Talbot.   Mrs. Gaines brother Wal. there.  Shirley stock running in corn field  Partly cloudy hazy day with high southerly [sic]  Roads pretty good.  Little mud on  un-graveled portion.  I got some carrots today.  Coming home met Mrs. Shirley with him  Tue went at night to entertainment at Normal along with Groves.  Phebe helping Marie  out with her algebra  Tue got home about 10.30  Gobed 10.30

May 17, 1912 & 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

100 Years Ago

Friday, May 17, 1912 5.30 AM. Ther 46, 70, 54 = 56 2/3

Clear N.W. 3  The air  looks milky.  Phone BPa& Co send 40 or 50 ft flooring to Loxa to repair Sherman House.  Drove N.E. to town line.  Charley Talbott rode back with me.  He lives at 14 6th St N of RR.  Tue and E wash bedding till noon.  Gus brings some butter and eggs.  Pay Ellen in full check 5.65.  She will leave tomorrow.  She and Tue attend lecture at night.  Mostly clear day some cumuli.  Wind northwesterly.  Go bed 10 P.M. ~

125 Years Ago

Tuesday, May 17, 1887   6.30 AM.  Ther 68, 69, 60
Cloudy, light shower in night and light sprinkles most of forenoon.  Got ready to start to timber at 7.30 but Comer did not come til after 9 oc.  Went down river road, rather muddy.  Look over north end of timber pretty throughly but did not trade.  Nat home at 6 P.M.  Baby held a spoon today.*   It grew cooler before 9 AM. Ther.  going down from 68 to62.  Go bed 10 P.M.  Wind northwest.


*Marie Sayre Gramesly, my grandmother.  She was only 3 months old at this entry.  It is interesting that so far in the journal she is only called baby.  Perhaps Tue named her.