September 3 -4, 1892 and 1903.

September 1892

3.  Saturday, 6 AM.  Ther  55.  84.  68.

Mostly clear southerly wind.  Self and girls got breakfast  Mrs. Norfolk paid me for 9 cords wood 27.00  Warren hauling 4 cord's to Albert Anderson.  Chut Bennett finished Fluhartys Received 80.15 from W. H. White for ties and culls  Uncle John was down to dinner  Warmer day clouds and more signs of rain than lately  Get some hay of Uncle John which Oliver Frisbie will deliver next week.  Trade only moderate.  The dust is immense.  Tue finished her first lot of plums today.  occulation [sic] of Mars and Moon to night go bed  11 P.M. ~

4.  Sunday,  6.30  AM.  Ther 64.  84.  55

Some clouds wind southerly  Intended to start for timber early but as hot and dusty postpone till towards night.  Sign of rain all day, sprinkle a little at 4 PM  Go to ranch about 6 P.M.  JW and wife had been over the river just got home. Began raining about 7 AM and rained lightly about 2 or 3 hours.  Gobed 9 PM

September 1903

3.  Thursday.  6.30 AM,  Ther  55.  85.

Clear calm.  Mrs. Owens ironed.  Drive up and tell "Mercantile" Smith that will keep buggy.  Get bu of corn at Griffins for which I owe him 55c.  Have talk with A Richter about coal.    He will report price Hillsborough in day or two.  Tighten up wheels on new buggy.  Putting on washers.  Kellogg did not show up this morning.  They are putting a new metal roof on the Theater.  The old house is to be sold Oct. 1.  People are at work decorating the Public Square for the Street Fair which will begin Sep 14.  Nest Monday there will be great Labor day celebration Mattoon and Charleston combined.  Buy buggy jack at Mercantile Cr 50c.  Look at timothy seed.  I.B. Mitchell's.  It will cost me 2.00 per bu for the best.  take Maggie for for drive about 3 PM getting back 6 P.M.  Went down by Woodson place and across and across River.  No incident.  No mushrooms.  Today is Maggie's birthday. 25.  At night drove around town alone a while with new buggy.  Helen here at night first time in good while  Heard that N.M. got in Calabrasi today.  Clear day Southeasterly wind 2  Gobed 10 PM~

4.  Friday.  5.30 AM.  Ther. 60.  84.  71.  =  71 2/3

about clear southerly wind 1.  I drove out to Gaines AM getting home 1 P.M.  New buggy.  Old mare very clumsy.  Old Sorrel better and Sam Owens began plowing with him today.  think they will finish this evening.  Jo is out of old corn and is feeding new.  Will begin harrowing down piece tomorrow - may bring me load of hay (baled) and take out timothy seed.  Roads dry and smooth  New buggy all right but springs too stiff.  Geo. Kellogg says will saw eaves off shed for me in morn.  Drove down to Hen's.  He talked somewhat abusive and I left.  Edith Bates there.  After supper drove round with Tue. E and south.  Mostly clear day, light variable wind.  Jim Pugh will fix old buggy Monday.  Gobed 10.30 P.M.

October 23-24, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

October 1889

23.  Wednesday 5.45  AM Th @ C

Clear.  NE wind Rogers  R. Decker and Milt work all day setting blocks for shed.  Got 18 set. Did nothing (something to light to read)

24.  Thursday  6 AM.  Th at C

Mostly clear, light white frost.  Boys finish setting blocks get log wagon of Comer and Milt tries to haul a few logs but got along very slow.  Sent  for Warren but he could not come today  Rile and Henry cut logs for 20 ft posts, looking like rain.  I start home at 5 PM. getting there at 7 PM.  Alex Axtin ran into my buggy with lumber wagon on way home.  Mare acted badly.  Trade has been pretty fair this week considering weather.  10.30 PM.

October 1900

23.  Tuesday  6 AM.  Ther  55.  72.  60.  =  62 1/3

Partly clear, southerly wind.  Bill came before 7 AM. and began at wood in barn working at that and kindling all day.  They are pay 30 c for corn in Charleston today.  Drive down and see Mrs. Rogers about working for Tue one day this week.  She couldn't come.  Sam Weyeth called AM to see about his lumber.  Simons did not come up today, but Brown called PM while I was away.  I drove up to Decker Spring and beyond finding some Armellana meleus and Pleunotus astreatus.  Colby brought me mess of latter about noon.  Mrs. Owens ironed and is going away tomorrow.  Clear day southerrly wind Gobed 8 PM  Ferd here sup.

24.  Wednesday.  5.30 AM.  Ther 45.  75.  54.  =  58

Foggy.  Was about sick all night.  Write letter to Minnie Pyles Hindsboro asking her to come down and work for us. Bill came early.  Went with him to Mintons for a plank..  Stop at Martha Veach's for Pattern.  Go see Mrs. Rogers, she cant help Tue before Monday P.M.  Take Tue  to Fluhartys and to Schatzburger   Charley Popham kicking because lumber for cirbs has not come  Learn  from Jim Decker that Simons & Warmen are shucking corn  Send word for them to hurry up with the lumber.  Sell Gaiser per Barr 638 ft 12 & 14 ft fencing.  Tue gone much of P.M.  Girls call to hire at night.  Kate over.  Clear day westerly wind gobed 9.30 P.M.  ( short hand)