December 2 - 9, 1887 in Charleston, IL

December 1887

2.  Tuesday 7.30 AM.  Ther. 23  34  27  Mostly clear with SE wind  Brownfield helps pile boards AM Saws up pile of white oak P.M.  Jo H brought up load of ties.  Warren finishes Lattas wood, in all  5 3/4 cord.  Uncle John was down in morning to get me to compute interest on notes.   Jo H. took out tile for stove flue for house  I pile  boards till nearly 4 P.M.    H.G. went home sick about 4 and did not come back.  Bill Durham of Hot Springs Ark went back today has been here two or three days  Part cloudy day with SE wind gobed 12.30

3.   Wednesday.  7 AM.  Ther  21.  24.  23.

Mostly clear wind N.W.  HG opened store and went home to stay.  Nick and self get along very well  Warren hauls load of wood which sell to Charley Marshall.  Man from Hutton came for 1200 boards  Jo H brings up 1,500.  This makes 7000  I owe him for hauling  Mostly cloudy day with NW wind and freezing all day. Gobed midnight

4. Thursday.  7 AM.  Ther  12.  27.  27.

Mostly cloudy S.E. wind appearances of  snow.  H.G. failed to open up this morning but was on hand during day.  Bought pair gloves and order pair of pants made at Winters @8.00.  Warren Decker brought load wood which sell to Brownfield  Cloudy day southerly wind.  Trade dull  H.G. had few words  with drunken man before supper  Gobed 12.30.  

5.  Friday, 7 AM.  Ther.  20.  38.  30.

Mostly clear but clouds over and mostly cloudy day.   wind variable.  Warren brings up load of wood on yard.  Jim Pugh makes frow.  60 c.  Buy ax handle of Drury  Trade quiet Gobed 12

6.  Saturday.  7 AM.  Ther  28.  39.  26

Part cloudy.  wind N.  Manifold comes early to clean out cistern.  charges 75 c.  Latta pays $17.25 for  5 3/4 cord wood  Settle with Rile and John for lab date but not fr ties  Warren brought  another load of wood which put in barn yard.  Jo H. brought 1500 boards settle with him in full for 27 ties hauled and 8500 boards @100 per (?).  Trade fair.  Mostly clear day with raw north wind  gobed  1 AM

7.  Sunday.  8 AM.  Ther.  21.  27.  20.

Partly cloudy.  Strong NE wind all day.  Girls went to S.S.  cloudy all day exempt early AM.  I started for ranch about 4 PM. getting there after dark cold ride strong NE wind.  Began to snow pretty fast about 7 P.M. and continued till in the night. blowing through roof and melting very dissagreable (sic.).  Gobed 830 P.M. about 3 in snow on dry yard  John Hughes was found dead in bed this morning.

8.  Monday.  6 AM.  Ther  10.  27.  14

Mostly clear with N. wind becoming NW.  John and Warren bring small load of boards at of river bottoms to use on house.  I got ready to go to Diona but thought too cold.  John shaves shingles PM and I started home about 3 P.M. clear day with NW wind gobed  1 AM 9th  Baby about sick with earache.

9.  Tuesday 7.30 AM  Ther 10. 32. 30.

Cloudy.  H.G. went hunting rabbits and shot his dog Jip.  He got back early P.M.  He got back early P.M.  Warren brought up half cord which put in barn yard.  He says Simons expected to begin on house roof today.  After  dinner walked down to RR find 111 ties 4 of them being crossed.  Wrote card to Alburyd in regard in regard to these cloudy day clears off at night SW wind  Gobed 1230

November 2-8, 1889 in Charleston, Illinois

November 1889

2.  Saturday  7 AM.   Ther  45.  47.  40.  =44

Mostly  clear W. wind and prospect for clear weather.  Rain at times in night mostly - Mostly cloudy day however.  Uncle John in town, tell him about old mare.  Geo Kellogg will begin on  my barn Monday if he can get down there.  H.G. will start for Arkansaw(sic) Thursday.  Get bolts at Knocks and Stodderts  Milt Drake did not come up today.  Buy pr. shoes and leggings at Mersick & Grays @15.25.  Gobed 1.30 A.M.  clear night

3.  Sunday.  8 AM.  ther  35.  48.  40  = 41 

Clear, light white frost.  Hunt around for Geo Kellogg till nearly noon.  Went up to Jo Pinkers.  Kellogg promised last night to start my barn tomorrow  going down to today.  roads pretty bad but will soon dry out.  Got lot of nails at Stodderts and more at M. Mitters  I start about noon.

4.  Monday.  6 AM  ther  38.  52.  31.  =  40 1/3  Mostly clear.  Harvey and Frank cut stumps round shed and clean up generally.  Frank and self lay  out foundation.  Milt hauls some lumber AM  starts to town about 2 PM. after K & P taking Pophams boy (?)  I start about  3.30 PM  went up to Parkers after a/c and whole party start out at 9 P.M.  

Note:  it appears as if his pen tip is broken here and this makes the entry hard to read.

5.  Tuesday. 5.30 AM.  Ther  28.  39.  24. = 30

Clear and cool.  I  start early for timber early.   Work getting along pretty well with shed.  Left Bill Kelly with Nick  Went home before night  Clear pleasant day roads getting good again.  Hunting party start for Ark.

6.  Wednesday 6 AM.  Ther 28.  39.  24

Clear and cool.  Heavy frost.  Start early for ranch.  Work getting along pretty well.  they work all day at putting up posts &c.  The worst  trouble is getting lumber we recd fast enough.

7.  Thursday.  5 AM.  Ther  34.  48.  32.

Cloudy.  Went over to Diona in morning after nails getting back at 11 AM.    Began to rain at noon and kept it up until late in night.  boys work little while after dinner and quit.  Very discouraging weather.  Gobed, 10.30 PM

8.  Friday. 6 AM.  Ther  44.  41.  43.  Friday.  6 AM.  Ther 84  41   43. 

Cloudy.  wind S or SW.  Misty morning: rain at times boys putting up nail ties and  piates  Start out for home about noon but went back after reaching saw mill.  Comer will saw the stuff we need for plates.  Milt helps them haul in two logs PM. and most (?)   Get home 7 P.M.  roads very muddy 11 P.M.

October 28-29, 1889 and 1900

October 1889

28.  Monday,   6 AM.  Ther  40

Cloudy.  Got a lot of groceries for Drake and start down there about 10 AM.  Milt and Warren hauling logs.  Sent them over to Pophams after load of hay in afternoon.  I drove over east and down to Diona looking for hay.  There seems to  be lots of hay east of here.  The boys got in after dark with their hay.  H. Rogers and Riley Decker fill up old wells.  My horse was sick this P.M.  Gobed  10 P.M:

29.  Tuesday 5.30 A.M.  Ther

Part cloudy.  Henry and Rile saw wood ash logs all day.W. & M.  hauled up four loads lumber from Mill.  Was down to Milts toward night  strong SE wind all day looks like rain at night and sprinkle in night,  Have got up a little over 3000 feet of shed lumber  Gobed 9.45 PM.

October 1900

28.  Sunday. 5.45 AM.  Ther.  62.  84.  65.  =  70 1/3

Fog.  Calm.  Jessie Parker and friend call us up 1.30 AM.  Some men scared them.  Went far as Bill Hills home with them.  Old mare mare in front of stalls:  fault of Simons & CO.  Tue gets letter from Pyles (Reder) girl saying she  cant come to work for her  EE Mrs. Reese but she cant come tomorrow  Start for  ranch 9.30.  John and I went over to cornfield and back on ridge before dinner.  Find fine Hydruem irnaceum on S side main ridge.  John has shucked out four loads for me and two each for himself and Warren.  Mine  is is put stick crib in John's barnyard.  we walked out to end of ridge where we could look down on sawmill, but didn't go down there  Decide to have wood cut back of corn field also along road near Wallace Defenbaugh place.  I went home "River" road getting there about dark.  Warm mostly clear southerly wind.  Tue and Marie ate dinner with Mrs. Grove.   Mary Davis here on visit.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.

29.  Monday. 6 AM.  Ther 64.  82.  60  =  68 2/3

Partly cloudy with light shower about sunrise.  An alarm of fire about 1 AM. was Malone's house on State St.  Saw Lillie Beck who says she will come to work for Tue after dinner.  Had part of  Hydnum E, for breakfast  Very good dipped in batter and fried.  better than stewed as heretofore  take one of the three sections to Normal for Prof Colum(?)   Hatton failed to come this AM as promised.  Lillie Beck came P.M.  I start for Loxa 2.30 P.M.  Began to rain before got to Fairground.  Heavy showers till after dark.  Return home remaining there all P.M.   Alvin Talbat orders 1000 feet pl. for township and will want some for himself.  Mostly cloudy day Gobed. 8 30 PM

October 11-12, 1889 and 1900

October 1889

11.  Friday  6 AM.  Part cloudy  Ther  60.  82.  66  =  69 2/3  Start for timber 7.10  Met Milt going to Diona with wagon  Have Riley and Rogers cut a few logs old (?) and R. Deck burn brush  Meet Milt on way  home with big sow.  sp. rain toward night  Got home 8 PM   Father about sick with cold  go bed 10.30 PM.

(Next Page at the top)
11th over -  Electric light  started up for few moments about 7.30 first time.  D.G. Milie Stable burned about 8 PM.   Al Crass got hurt with hose cart.   (I have made this entry bold, not Charles.)

12.  Saturday 6 AM.  Ther.  60.  80.  58  =  66
Partly cloudy.  Light shower in night.  Pleasant day NW wind.  Remit Thurber 14.63  Send receipt for B&h Whiskey to free two Bbls also Rec for 2 Bbl Matingly   Uncle John in town.   Drake did not get in with wood  Warren brought load to Cooper.  Trade good best day so far except during fair  Electric light started at 6.45 P.M. for good. and continued all night  Kelly oils buggy.  go bed 11.30 PM

October 1900

11.  Thursday. 5.30 AM.  ?.  52.  78.  60.  = 63 1/3

Mostly clear.  Get shave  Decide to go to Mattoon on train  Drive down there and leave horse hitched to Wrights shed N. of R.R.  Going  to Mattoon on 11.38 train which was late  Take in most or many of show P.M.  Eat supper with the Catholic Ladies  Saw Martha Parsons at night.  Met Charley Hopper after dark and he and I took in some of show.  Try to telephone to Pipher to put up my horse but contrary drug man headed me off.  Met D.B. Rose says told fellow to pay me 200 amt of bill he owes me for lumber  I got home at 11 P.M. and ate hearty sup at that time  gobed 11.11 PM  

12.  Friday.  4.30 AM  .  Ther 52.  75.  60  =  62 1/3

Partly clear.  I intended to start to Matton or Loxa early but did not get off till 8 or 9 AM,  Went to  Gaines and intended to reach Mattoon.  Mrs. and Mrs. Gaines wanted to go with children, so we go  I  taking Mrs G in Buggy and Jo walking Start with load - May and daughter, 9.30 AM. getting there 10.30.  Leave horse and buggy in stable west side which May recommended.  OK.  Take in much of fair.  Meet many I knew.  Saw Bert and was with him over show says will loan us money and take up note at 1st National Bank.    Shirley met me just as I was about to start home.  Tell him have not time to discuss matters.  They  try to plow BC stubble yest. but give  it up.  Got to Joes about 6 P.M. and home 7 PM.  Gobed 830 P.M. 

April 1-5, 1889 in Charleston, IL

April 1889

1.  Monday.  6 QM  Ther.  38.   50.  45.  = 44 1/3

Cloudy Misty ` wind N.E. was at Knocks shop AM & PM.  Tommy says will build one chicken fence tomorrow if pleasant.  Try to  borrow counter for Miss Kemayer, without success.  clears off PM. wind W.  Girls went to school, last week was vacation.  Troutman drummer in town.  saw lot of posts & c for wood toward  night girls spend evening at Mrs. Davis.  Tue feeling badly cough not so bad as usual.  Gobed 9.30 PM

2.  Tuesday  5.20  AM.  Ther. 40.  70.  67.  =  59.

Clear, wind W.  Tommy not feeling well enough  to  work at fence.  Electors day - township.  big vote over 1,000.  Dem. ticket all elected except  L. Dunbar Justice.  I accidentally let cow out about noon and hunted for her all PM  got somebody else's cow.  Uncle John down to dinner.  Think they some chance of getting a team of him.  Milt went with me  to find cow.  Get ready so as to start  for Diona early tomorrow.  T(?) sp. of rain after dark.  Mrs.  D & children over at night.  9.30

3.  Wednesday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  52.  50.  40.  =  47 1/3

Cloudy with strong N. wind.  Milt didn't come early and decide not to go.  He went to D alone   Tommy works at fence an hour or two forenoon, Made rake.Abbott works P.M. spading and scatters ashes in front.  Tue went over to Mrs. Knocks a while PM.  John Kink calls PM.  Pay him 5.00.  Mostly cloudy day with strong NW wind.  Abbot will help me tomorrow.  Hugh Perrill  is home on visit.  Gobed 9.30 PM~

4.  Thursday 5.45 AM.  Ther.  29.  60.  45.  = 44 2/3

Clear.  White frost.  Tom Knock and Abbot work most of day on chicken fence getting nearly  done.  Tue feeling better.  Loan H.G. small c.c. saw.  Borrow counter for Miss K.  Rent due today, but she can't pay till Saturday.  Speak to Jay about  getting money to move ties.  Pleasant day Northerly wind, partly clear.  Go bed  Go bed 10.30 PM.

5.  Friday  6 AM.  Ther.  40.  60.  33.  =  44 1/3

Mostly clear.  SE wind. Tommy finishes fence time - 1 1/2 days.  Got two men and moved counter from Hinald office.  Abbot sawed wood AM.  After dinner we went out to Uncle John's and got the white cow.   She has been there since Tuesday.  Uncle John gave me a jar of lard.  Abbott put wood in shed after getting back.  Pleasant Day wind variable getting in N. P.M. and growing much colder  Ther fell 12 deg in 3 hours.  City R . convention didn't go.  10 PM.

October 30 - November 1, 1888 in Coles County Illinos

October 1888

30.  Tuesday.  5.45   AM  Ther.  40.  69.  54.

Start to timber about 9 oc.  Men work on stable.  Found Bob at work harrowing.  Went over on S. side after noon.  Kink and  a boy making ties.  Bobs boys (?) trash that harrow rakes up.  Zeke Gilbert getting wood in bottom.  Went home Diona  land.  pleasant  day with SE wind.  Gobed 9

31.  Wednesday.   6 AM  ther.  57.  74.  60.  Wright and Hatton get rafters up.  Drove down to  Rogers with Tue in morning.  Got key to Meyers house.  Prohibition meeting in town.   Wrote advertising boards for M. Miller an hour or two toward night.  Pleasant day and uncomfortably warm.  Clear, strong S. wind.  Gobed  11 P.M.

November 1888

1.  Thursday,  5.45 AM.  Ther.  55.  72.  60.

Clear with strong S. wind.  Start for timber about 9 AM.  Bob harrowing.  (?) timothy cold enough to be sown.  Went over to see John Kink is making ties.  met his pasture with load of chips.  Dried over strong all day.  Get home about 7 P.M.  Wright and Hatton worked half day on stable.  Quit for want of lumber.  Bob will haul some up tomorrow.  Gobed 10 PM.

August 22-23, 1913 & 1888 in Charleston, Illinois232

1913

22.  Friday.  5.30  AM.  Ther.  70.  80.  68.  =72 2/3

Clear. N.W.3.  Skinners stay to breakfast after which he and Walter went to fair.  Marie and Walter went P.M. leaving Chas with Tue and we drive E. to Huckaba road late P.M. getting home 5.30.  Mr. Beeman of Mt. Carmel, a friend of Walter came to supper.  He is exhibiting P.C. hogs at fair.  The  late rain help corn a little grass and weeds are starting .  Helen and Leona call at night.  clear day with fresh NW wind.  Shave self AM.  Neither self nor Tue has attended the fair.  Gobed 10 P.M.

23.  Saturday. 4.45 AM.  ther.  58.  80.  68.  = 68 2/3

Clear.  NW 1.  Walter, Marie and Chas, start for Hindsboro on 6  AM train.  Skinner stayed the night and returned home with them.  I drove down past Normal AM.  One  Harris rode to town with me.  Spend an hour or two hunting for map of Ill which have lost.  Tue went to Hats P.M. staying till p P.M.  H & H here again living in Hutton house.  I drive down by  Woodson's Kickapoo farm returning by wrights.  getting home 6.30  Made batch of mush for supper.  Mostly clear moderate northwesterly winds.  Gobed  9

1888

22.  Wednesday.   5.30 AM.  Ther.  53.  75.  59.

Clear,  N.E.  wind  Phebe cried again most of night with her face it was very much swollen broke this AM and she is better tonight.  Start for timber at 7.45.  Roads very muddy part of the way.  Nobody at work everybody gone to Diona to some meeting except Bob Brown mending wagon.  Look out (?) for west part of road and start home at 4 P.M. coming by Wilkins.  Cow did not come home tonight.  7 Gobed

23.  Thursday  5.45  ther.  47.  75.  58.

Clear.  Phebe not feeling very well yet.  Start for lumber at 7.15 got home at 6.30 P.M.  Six men worked today.  Put on one new man.  Oce Bennett.  Work  P.M. cleaning on road west of house.  Clear and cool day with N.E. wind AM and S.W. P.M.  Bob Stitt mending wagon.  Roads dry  but rough.  8.30 P.M.

February 15-18, 1913 in Charleston, IL

15.  Saturday.  6 AM.  Ther. 34.  52.  42.  = 42 2/3
Part cloudy, red clouds. S.3.  Tue irons most of AM. and Keeps on.  I sort out old junk in shed and clean off mare AM. John Simon calls after dinner reporting everything all right at ranch.  One King from Diona called PM wanting to cut some  poles , I refused.  Phoned J.E.W. morn for same. Hitch up before  Ray came and he went with me to Interurban fore for Bill in same.  Stopping at P.O., coming home.I got letter from Phebe she was yet in Chicago at Gages 12th inst.  Later I drove out to Huffmans returning S.road.  It is not as muddy as I supposed.  They have been erecting frame for big water tank opposite Interurban on Monroe street since I was down that way Jan. 30.  Ray rode to Division with me.  Tue went up town after I got home about 6 P.M.  Several dogs have been poisoned in neighborhood lately.  The roads not so bad as supposed.  I get Andrews bill today it is much larger than had expected.  It includes all at farm.  Roof rc for barn and roof and stripping for BC shed also current and lumber for Extension WC SW corner of house and repairs  on Loxa house.  Mostly clear till P.M. wind got NW and cloudy.  Papers predict cold wave.  The snow is gone except patches on North hillsides.  Go bed 9 P.M.

16. sunday. 7 A.M.  Ther.  30.  50.  44. = 41 1/3
cloudy N.2.  Tue retired latae last night leaving cellar lights on  they burn till 7.30 AM.  Tue slept till nearly 9 oc.  She attended church with Mrs. Brooks AM.  Getting paper which is now 5 cts. instead of 6 as formerly for a year or two past.  She went calling with Mrs. Brooks P.M.  I wait for Ray to come to help hitch up but did it self before he arrived.  I drive SW Keeping pave and gravel till turn E. OakRidge SH.  Chilly driving roads generally muddy wind getting in S. clouds up.  I got home 5.30 Tue later.  Tue writing Marie tonight.  The lights were all out for a while about 9.  Mostly clear, varible winds light rain 9 P.M. and later.  Gobed.9.

17.  Monday. 6.30 AM. Ther.  34. 54.  40. = 42 2/3
Clear. N.1.  Lt. wh. fr.  The rain last night (.10) thin ice.  Tue still writing to Buddy and sends package by Parcel this morning.  Tue  over to Bells P.M.  Mrs. Grove called 2 P.M.  Public service Co have been cutting their useless poles today on 6th St.  The city taxes every pole standing.  I hitch up about 4 P. Drove E. on  Westfield road a mile.  They have been scraping it.  The roads are worse than yest.  Met J.E.M. near Crums store.  Clear Day light variable winds becoming southeasterly at night.  Gobed 9.P.
NOTE:  This was Marie's, my Grandmother,birthday.  She was 26.  CMS

18.  Tuesday.   6.30. AM.  ther.  36.  62.52. = 50
Clear S.E.3.  There was strong southeasterly wind all night.  One of young men (Lee) roomers thinks has measles and keeps his bed A.M.  Tue prepariing for R.C. Function at Jo Reats this P.M.  I hitch up 11 A.M.  Find the terrapins in box since last Aug. doing well.  Supposed they were dead.  Lee finds he has Measles and goes home with friend to recover P.M.

October 27- 28, 1912 in Charleston, IL

27, Sunday.  Ther.  42.  70.  56. = 56.
Clear. S. 2.  Get start Ranch 9.30 AM.  Took Jack: he rode much of way.  Mare drowsy.  A mile or two of fresh gravel made slow trip.  Met J.K. Rardin with Bony Whittey.  They had been to Rardin's "ranch"  Says he has  10 A. down there which he can't find without survey.  Reach Warrens about 11.  W. not at home.  Jack and I ate our dinner out at old point.  I start to walk  down the hill but gave it up after getting halfway.   Most of leaves are on trees but falling  fast now.  There is fine stand of clover on much of old field in the weeds.  It is  growing up to blackberry sasafras (sic) and persimmon.  I did not drive through it much.  Warren says he and Ike R. will give it any  treatment I prescribe.  I did not go around by  Ikis R. but return by regular Diona road same as went.  Got home before 6 P.M.  Bert Wright caught ride with me.  I did not meet many autos.  Clear day moderate southerly winds.  The roads are getting very dusty, Mrs. Eagleston was here to supper and attended church with Tue at night.  She lives at Seymore, Ind.  Go bed 9.30

28.  Monday.  6 A.M.  Ther.  48.74.  56. = 59 1/3
Clear. S.@.  Paint an hour or two in  W.C.  Tue a while P.M.  Hitch up A.M. but didn't drive any till toward.  Tue got letter from Buddy says Walter has had his salary increases.  Muggs gets offer of position in MO. State Library as manager of Traveling Libraries.  Harman phones that wants to sell clover seed and BC and wants me to come out.  Bails to clean up S.W. forty and sell corn (only 3 A) has disposed of his share.  Tell him to sell mine too.  Have promised to  visit farm tomorrow.  Mostly clear day with fresh southerly wind.  Weather reports predict rain in day or so.  Gobed. 8.30 P.M.