December 15 - 31, 1888 in Coles County, IL (Highlights)18. Tuesday

1888

15.  Saturday.  Uncle John in to dinner.  Is about to trade Nicholson place to Ving Curd for Kline farm.  We get letter form Aunt  Mary Hildreth the first from Berlin* in nearly a year.  

* Berlin, WI

16.   Sunday. 

17. Monday.  Maggie got  a letter from Minnie Ansley stating among other things that Uncle Gus Page  is very sick and not expected to live.

18.  Tuesday.  I scour up an old saw.

19.  Wednesday  Hat here in P.M. she and Tue are working some dresses for Fan's* children.  Maggie and Phebe take volume of Country Gent. which has been here for months home to Capt. Alexanders.

* Fan was Tue's sister.  She died at in December  1887.

20.  Thursday.  Maggie got a letter from Mary Sarye this morning.  Baby not well at night.

21.  Friday.  Uncle John was in town and came down to dinner.  After which I took him out home.  He came back with me and spent the night.  

22.  Saturday.  Uncle John went away before noon and didn't come back.  They (M and P) each got a picture of Mary Sayre.

23.  Sunday.  Maggie and Phebe made sketches today of the cow and churn.

24.  Monday.  Got a pin for Maggie and Phebe at JoDrtobs (?) in morning.    Our Christmas this year is likely to be very thin.    Tue got something for the girls and I went up at night for some nuts  (?). I gave father a nice cap.   

'77 Dinner Party in Mrs. Norfolks house.

'78  Put up ice at store all day.

'79  Home all day.  Ther. at 2.

'80  Sleighing.  Bert , Henry and W.S.G. to (?).

'81  Engagement to go to Uncle Johns.  Roads muddy, didn't go .  Mostly cloudy day.

'82  H &H  to dinner.  Then 4.3 rain.

,83  Moderate day. 

'84  Family party.  Snow most of day, cold.

'85  H & H to dinner.  Moderate day.

'86  Family Party.  Cool day.

'87  Snider and children here.  Cold day.

25.  Tuesday.  7 AM  Ther.  50.  55.  50  

Cloudy, rain  most of night.  Fan's children came up yesterday and came over today.  Ferd and Hellen were here all day and the girls had other callers.  Keeping up a big rumpus all day.  Snider called toward night and presented Tue with a lactet(?) case and an albumn.  We had an oyster dinner.  Cloudy day with light rain P.M. and  heavier  in night.  Go bed 9 P.M.

26.  Wednesday.Experiment a while  with sherry in forenoon.  Ferd here all day.  Shep Hunt's wife died this afternoon over at Mrs. Chancellers.

27.  Mrs. Hunts funeral will be tomorrow at 1 PM.  Ferd here most of the day.  Phebe had  toothache at night also Tue.

28.  Friday.  Eunice Chanceller was buried today.  Tue went to the  funeral.  Nat was here in afternoon.

29.  Saturday.The girls got a doll today. by mail.

30.    Sunday.   Tue  boiled a leg  of lamb today.  Churned at night.

31.   Monday.  Uncle John was  in PM said he had two pigs we could have.  Helen was over most of the day. and staying all night.

December 15 - 31, 1913 (highlights) Coles County Illinois

1913

15.  Monday.  Leaks in furnace sometimes pretty bad.  Miller called for first time since quit painting Nov. 31.  Took away his long ladder.  Says will finish painting house in spring.T & P  want whole family to go down to Mt. C. to spend Christmas.  I don't feel able to take trip.  Go bed 8.30 P.

16.  Tuesday.  Tue and Ph. busy sewing something for Charles.  I let mare in pasture P.M.  She kicked Jack disabling him for present.  Fern called at night  she and Phebe attend show.  Tue went over to Groves till 9 PM.  I  remain at home reading story saved from R.H.  "In the name of Liberty"  

17.  Wednesday.  Charley Millers baby died yesterday.  Phebe attends funeral with Frances.  

18.  Thursday. 6 AM.  Spend most of AM trying to fix furnace grate.  Edith Bates called morning.  Tue and Phebe attend moving pictures at theatre with Fern at night.

19.  Friday.  We get letter from Muggs.  She will be here next Wednesday night. 1 AM.  H & H  here when got home staying to supper and until 9 P.M.

20.  Saturday.

21.  Sunday.  

22.  Monday.  Phebe got me Columbia Catalogue which I read  till gobed 10 PM

23.  Tuesday.  Tue got a letter from Buddy.  She has moved into new house and probably will not visit us Christmas.  Phebe went to Mattoon P.M. to meet friend - Mr. Marvel of Clinton Ill.  They came over on the 6 car and he stays the night.    Self feel worse than usual.  Gobed 8.30.

24.  Wednesday.  Mr. Marvel left for home before noon.  Maggie wires about noon that Miss Wales has to leave and she can't come today.  I got a letter form  Addie first for several years.  She is not well and with Mary will depart for Europe on the Adriatic Jan. 10.   Italy is their  destination.  Gus called AM and Tue gave him Christmas tree left here by T.C.

25.  Thursday.  6.40 AM.  Ther.  36.  36.  34.  = 35 1/3

Cloudy, E.4.  Phebe gave me 12 in. record - Attila &c -also food chopper.  We did not eat breakfast till after 8 oc.  Helen sent me puzzle.  I got handkerchiefs  socks &c from several of family.  Tue got some things and letter from Mrs. Knock and sister.  It began to snow about 9.30 AM.  quiting(sic) at noon after some 1 1/2 or 2 in.  H & H came about 10 A staying the day.  We have our last chicken for dinner.  Little snow after 12 noon but cloudy all day, wind shifting to northerly.  Tue at Groves at night  gobed 10 P

26.  Friday.  Tue sent Muggs  box of things as she will not be home  during the holidays.  We have not heard any more from her since her telegram.

27.  Saturday.  Phebe got me Attilla and Aida Seleclious record Christmas and am palying that when I get time ha! ha!  Phebe went with Grace Miller to Ariel's.  I smoke a cigar  that HG gave me Christmas.  Tue got me a couple more.

28.  Sunday. Tue went to Brooks leaving Phebe abd self at home to work checker board puzzle.  Phebe has gotten it twice.

29. Monday.  We got a letter from Muggs: also two boxes gifts.  She sent me two Victor records. no.s 74167 and 70036.*, also lot of things which T & P repack and send to Buddy. 

*I found these listed on Ebay 

 #70036 Lucia Sextette Chi mi frena. #74167 Serenade. 

30.  Tuesday.  Phebe gets me two cigars.  I expect to quit entirely Thursday.  Learn Charley Jone's mother is dead.

31.  Wednesday.  Tue gets letter from Mary P. Sayre.  The Fahys family will start for  Florida Jany. 12.  She with Addie will sail for Italy on Jany 10 on Adriatic.

Weather for December 1913

December 24-25, 1912 and 1887 in Coles County Illinois

1912

24.  Tuesday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  24.  48.  34.  = 35 1/3

Clear. SW.1.  Sh fr.  Ice 3/8.  Tue gets number of Christmas cards for herself and girls.  Alfred still fails to come.  Not fell any better and will have to take meddy or Dr.  the late analysis of river water pronounces it not contaminated with Typhoid.  Tue was up town an hour or two P.M.  I hitch up 4 P.M. and drove round town a little while to exercise the mare.  Tue learns from Mrs. Brooks that  Rhoda's folks sick.  We were expecting Phebe all day but she did not arrive until after I retired.  Tue and Buddy went up to  11 P.M. car for her.  Clear day with moderate  S.W. wind about the finest weather ever known here Christmas.  Gobed. 10 P.M.

25.  Wednesday,  6 A.M.  Ther. 30.  50.  36.  = 38 2/3
Clear. S.W. 2.  Ice 3/8.  Phebe came 11 P.M. last night.  I had gone to bed.  Phebe has been working for Mallauex and Darling at Ann Arbor for several months.  Christmas gifts were short this year.  Charles seems to have all he needs.  I get some fine brushes from Phebe, some socks from Buddy.  I hitch up about noon  and at 4.15 P.M.  drive out by cemetery returning S. road.   They have crush rock on road from cemetery to Watson's and from S. Hamons to Crans.  Met auto at W. crossing scarring mare some.  Skinnier Reasor called P.M.  He is working at plumbing at Chicago.  Clear day with moderate S.W. wind.  I quit shewing tobacco tonight- indefinitely.  Gobed 10 P.M.

1887

24.  Saturday.  6.30 A.M.  Ther.  12.  25.  15.

About Clear.  Baby takes weaning  (?) than thought she would.  Al Moonie  calls for his apples.  The girls  went up town with me to buy a few things for Christmas. Snider was down afternoon.  Comer and gang were up toward night but didn't call for much money.  Bought can oysters at night. Tried to make some  candy until  nearly midnight.  Got a letter from Aunt Cornelia  saying there are no apples for sale there.  Clear day with (sic)  Gobed at midnight.


25.  Sunday.  7.30 AM.  Ther.  12.  25.  23.
Clear.  Christmas presents not numerous or expensive.  Tue gave Father some stockings and mittens and me two silk hankierchifs (sic).  M & P. got a book  each.  Marie got a spoon and fork from Aunt Maria.  Snider came about noon with the children staying till about 4 P.M.  Mrs. Wentz called P.M.  Clear day but cool.  this kind of weather will make good roads in few days.    Several small  loads of lumber came up from lumber came up from the mill last week.  Tue went up to store with me at night.

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.