December 14-20, 1889 in Charleston, IL

December 1889

14.  Saturday.  7 AM  Ther 57.   48.  34.  = 46 1/3

Cloudy w. wind begins growing colder about 7.30 AM.  Cloudy day wind N. clears off at night  Uncle John & Snider to dinner.  Snider brought us piece of beef.  Drake up with team.  Got  small load hay yesterday.  Got drunk this evening and starts home about 7 P.M.  Frank with him.  Gobed 11 P.M. ~ Electricity is out until 11 P.M.

15.  Sunday.  8 AM.  Ther  30  51.  47  =  42 2/3
Cloudy S. wind Heavy white frost  Maunie lang here most of the day and dinner.  Intended to go out to Uncle John P.M. but too much company.  Mrs. Harley here at night  gobed 10.30

16.  Monday 7 A.M.  Ther  50.  69.  57  =  58 2/3
Cloudy wind SW.  Start for ranch with Kelly 10.30 AM.  Found Milt Killing hogs brought up team and wagon get home about 6.30  Johnny McKee rode up with us.  Brought up  spotted Kid.  Milt has Devinely's Black billy goat there also Snider's Nanny.  Had Electric light put in  store today  Warm day part cloudy southerly wind, Road getting good most of way  gobed  midnight

17.  Tuesday,  6.15 AM.  ther.  55.  55. 42  =  50 2/3
Cloudy with SW wind.  Heavy rain between 8 AM and 10 AM.  Got stuff at Mintons to finish hay rack and Kelly and self work on it a while in PM.  Mrs. Wentz here in afternoon.  Gobed  11.40  PM.

18.  Wednesday 7 AM.  Ther  40.  60.  48.  =  49 1/3
Mostly cloudy SW wind.  Kelly and self work all day on hay rack slow work.  Hot here at night.  Harley boys over after school to see goat Mrs. Rogers irons.  Tue went up town PM.  Gobed  11.45  
AJ Weil drummer here.  buy 50 bbl J GMatteringly & S 5.89.  @ 41, acept M(?) 1.  Clear all day.

19.  Thursday.  7.00 AM.  Ther.  36  64  55  =  51 2/3
Clear Kelly and self work all day finish hay rack  Tue and  Grandpa go to HG's for dinner  Hat here at night  pretty cloudy PM  good deal cloudy PM.  gets warmer in night  Trade dull.  Gobed  11.45  

Carried over

4 pages of weather statistics

20.  Friday  7.30 AM.  Ther  47  45  41  =  44 1/3
Cloudy wind SW, light shower before light in morning.  Kelly  intended to take a load of hay down to timber today if it had not rained, instead brought load to stable  and hauled wood in P.M. three loads.  Will take  load to ranch tomorrow if weather will permit.  Cloudy day wind W. and N.W.  School closed today till after New Years.  Go bed 12.30

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. 

August 6-8, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

August 1889

6.  Tuesday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  54.  80.  62.  =  65 1/3

Clear.  Start for timber at 7 AM.  Getting there an hour before Milt left with a load of posts.  Riley and Enoch working.  Learn McKee at Milts get home 7.30  Came near having a runaway with mare before starting  this morning.  Had cramps all day.  Milt brought up 75 posts.    Measure Tookes wood on way home making making 5 cords.  Went back up town after getting home after some whiskey.  gobed 10.45 PM.

7.  Wednesday 7 AM.  Ther.  63.  82.  63.= 69 1/3

Clear, hazy.  Cohurst drummer  here also others.  They are putting up posts for electric light wire around town.  Went down to Depot after noon.  Milt did not come up today.  Go bed 10.30

8.  Thursday 6.45 AM.  Ther.  63.  85.  68.  =  72.

Clear hazy easterly wind.  Went with Will Myers down into Cumberland buying cattle went as far as F. Pennington's back to Farmington and over to my land. Got home about 7 P.M. Tue and girls went to Chalk Talk Show Drake brought up load of wood which he put on yard.  Gobed 10.30 AM.

August 1900

6.  Monday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  68.  100.  80.  =  82 2/3

Clear, southerly wind.  Pete Drake puts ha in stable and goes over yard with lawn nower.  Working till say 5 P.M.  I went out to Gaine's at 10 AM. yellow cows calf died yesterday.  Think heat un (?) the first day.  Jo still  woking road with team and scraper.  They promised me to stay to dinner.  Get some potatoes and corn and start home3 PM.  Take  Flora down to Loxa.  McTheron pays me 13,00 on rent.  Shinley and E. Armstrong examaning  broom corn &c,  Clear day southwind  Gobed 10 PM.

7.  Tuesday 5.30 AM.  Ther.  72.  97.  77.  =  82.

Clear  Maggie Devone washed.  Pete Drake came but only hitched up for me.  John Simons brought up load of lumber for self and Charley Mitchell.  606 feet.  Today a shade cooler than past week.  Tue and I drive out to Gaines about 5 P.M.Jo helping Shirley in his Haungarian.  McCall at Hens a while seeing Shirley and gt home about 10 P.M.  McDonald little girl spends night with Marie.  Go bed 10.30 P.M.

8.  Wednesday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  72.  101.  77.  =  83 1/3

Clear southerly wind Maggie Devone ironing.  Simons and Earl Decker bring two loads lumber, part for C.D. Mitchell and some fencing which pile back of barn.  Cass and Ocelius Shaver call P.M. until 5 oclock.  Tue  attends Pricilla Club meet with Mrs. Grove and Knock.  Heat very oppressive  clear S.W. wind.  Lulu Dorsch stays all night.  Gobed 10 PM.

July 30- August 1, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

July 1889

30.  Tuesday.  6.30 AM.  Ther. 65.  80.  65.  =  70.

Clear.  N.W. wind.Crass works all day at straightening up things, and will probably work all the week.  Bis dull.  Drake brought load of wood to Tooke  McCarty pays me 45c. for posts.  Mrs. Rogers washes and irons.  clear and pleasant.  Prospect for fine weather for races.  Gobed 10.30 PM.

31.  Wednesday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  64.  85.  66.  = 71 2/3

Clear  Crass works till 3 P.M. at clearing furniture and went home his wife being sick.  Warren Decker brought load of 50 posts which he took to Milton.  Sell Alex Fischer half cord wood which Milt delivers, one more load will finish out Tookes  3 cord.  Get blue suit of  clothes at Winters for which I owe him 33.00  Trade dull for horse races.  There are more entries than usual but farmers don't seem to come to town.  The races do not begin till tomorrow.  Gobed 10.30 pm.

August 1889

1.  Thursday.  7 AM.  Ther. 67.  73.  69.  =  69 2/3

Partly cloudy, hazy, sprinkle several times during day  Wind S to SW.  Crass finishes clearing at store and pay him up.  F (?) of Cincinnati here AM buy from him half Bbl Alcohol @ 2.00  Horse Fair for some reason does not make much business so far.  Drake up  today with wood which he takes to Tooke.  Gobed 10.30

July 1900

30.  Monday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  63.  88.  75.  =  75 1/3

Mostly clear.  I quit tobacco (have been chewing since Saturday.) till Christmas next.  Jo Reat says will take 5,000 ft BO fencing @ 1.70 if good.  Looks at pile at store in back lot.  Phebe and friends getting ready for camping over at Dr. Byers.  Learn that Gaines wanted to see me and start out there 3 P.M.  Jo grubbing.  They are putting in new iron bridge opposite my place on Mattoon road.  Get corn cucumbers eggs &c but finaly (sic) decide to stay all night.  Chudy Talbot cutting weeds in road.  Jo fixes fences says horses came in corn last night.  they haul balance oats to barn Sat. PM.  Clear day mostly.  Play seven up till bedtime.  Gobed 9.30 PM.

31.  Tuesday 4 AM.  Ther.  70.  95.  75.  =  80.

Clear.  Jo helping at bridge with team today  I started home at 8 o'clock.  Yellow cow had dalf in pasture this morning   Sex unknown.  Maggie Devone washed first time  Charlotte Sproule helps Tue sew PM.  I brought in lot of stuff also sack of corn.  Com Eastin rides with me home PM.  tue and  I down at night till 9.30 PM.  She  visited the Camp at Dr. Byres.  This one of the  warmest days.  N.W. wind calm.  Gobed 10.30 PM.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~August, 1900~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1.  Wednesday 5.30 PM.  Ther.  70.  98.  75.  =  81

Clear N.W. wind.  El Marshall  tears out old urinal new one not come yet.   John Simons come with first loads of lumber 1020 ft. 2 1/2x10-14 for Tp and 79 ps for BC shed self.  We pile it all in front Perkins lot.  Simons & Warren help arrange gate posts for piling lumber on.  Heavy wind with thunder storm from north about 2 PM.  then falling from 98 to 70 within 20 minutes.  Maggie Dvone ironing.  Notify Snider that Tp. lumber is here.  Mailing letter after supper.  clears off after shower.  Ink got spilled in S. chamber today.  Gobed 10.30 P.M.  Develope (sic) two or three plates at night - first for many months.*

*These are the glass plate negatives he took.  I own many of his glass negatives.

July 29, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

July 1889

29.  Monday 6 AM.  Ther.   68.  80.  66.  =  71 1/3

Light shower in night and this morning early cloudy and dark.  Crass worked most of day cleaning windows.  People are beginning to prepare for horse fair.  Draw  36.90 in pay 7 of small lot of goods (?) to G. Bros  Drake was up with  a load posts.  He didn't start back till nearly 6 P.M.  He is trying to get an  (?) (?).  Cool day cloudy smoky wind N.W.,  trade light  Gobed 10.20 P.M.

July 1900

Shorthand at the top of the page.  I think this is Pitman shorthand, I wish I could read it!

29.  Sunday.  5.45 AM.  Ther.  74.  88.  75.  =  79.

Mostly cloudy.  Was light shower after mid night.  Tue, Marie and self start for Kate's 8.30 AM. where we arrived at about 11 AM.  .   Mitch Laudruan there with Alice and baby  Ate dinner about 2 P.M. and start home 5.15 getting home at 7.25  Roads somewhat rough in places.  

Crops up that way do not look as well as about Charleston and Loxa.  Mostly clear day SW wind; some signs of rain AM & PM.  we leave Maggie and Phebe with Maggie Devona to run the place  Gobed 9 PM.~

August 12, 1887 in Charleston, IL

125 Years Ago . . .

12.  Friday,  5.20 AM.  Ther.  69.  86.  74.

Partly Clear, rain with thunder till about 12 last night.  Start for  timber at about 7.30 with H.G.  Stayed round Mill till nearly noon.  Drake and Johnson working there.  Ate dinner in South Hollow near mill site.  Met Comer on way home (?) five mile house.  Get back at 5.30 P.M  John Fields paid Tue $2.00 being part on  a/c for cull lumber 90c still due.  Learn of R.R. accident at Chatework (Chatsworth).  Couldn't get paper.  Pay Wright in full grocery a/c $1.10.  Got pretty well tired out today.  Gobed 9 P.M.

Links to the historic Chatsworth R.R. accident:

http://www.amazon.com/Railroad-accident-Chatsworth-Johnson-Pullman/dp/B007WUUB78

http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/wkill.Htmlhttp://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/wkill.Html

Link to Five Mile House:  www.fivemilehouse.org/