January 8-20, 1891 in Charleston, IL

January 1891

8.  Thursday,  8 AM  Ther  18  37.  28.

Cloudy E wind.  Uncle John in town  does not think he is going to get the Phillips place  Charley Bond took load of lumber from pile by back gate.  The pile contained at first 1056 ft = 132 pieces.  Hear that Comer will move his mill at once up to Richters timber.  Tue and children up to  Davis at night  Maggie stays all night with Mrs. Knock again.  Mary Davis stays all night with Phebe.  Cloudy day east wind, began snowing lightly about 10 P.M.  Roads appear to be good.  Gobed 1230 ~~

9.  Friday 8 AM.  Ther  26. 32.  31.

Cloudy and snowing slowly about an inch on ground light  snow most of day in all perhaps two inches.  Thawing most of the day, heavy fog at night wind Easterly.  Trade light.  Look over bills and prepare to make inventory of stock a rough estimate shows the profits  to have been satisfactory.  Tall cigar drummer in town.  Mallaways man was here yesterday.  Maggie stays with Mrs. Knock  Gobed

 

10.  Saturday, 730 AM.  Ther 29  37  32

Cloudy, light SE wind.  Settle with R Decker JW Decker and Warren Decker, all in full to date.   John Simons up from ranch  Hire him for another year from Mar. 1 @ 21.00 per MO.  Maurice Burgner looks looks at boards but does not buy.  Uncle John down to dinner.  Says he is sure of getting Phillips farm now.  Owen McGurty pays me up    Figures up invoice carefully make just about same as estimate yesterday.  Trade rather light.  Dark cloudy day with very little wind.  Foggy at night gobed 2 AM  Maurice all night.

11.  Sunday,  8 AM.  Ther.  30.  32.  20.

Cloudy  ad occasional snow flying.  M &P went to S.S.  Buddie went to  Christian Church with Maunie.  Interested to go to timber today but too threatening.  Repack (?) &c in Bbl.  Cloudy day occasional snow flying N wind grows colder at night  gobed 12

12.  Monday.  7.15 AM.  Ther  19.  30.  19.

Cloudy NW wind light snow flying all day  Dull day  roads somewhat rough.   Mrs. Rogers washed.   Tue about sick with bad cold  Find some errors in invoice figures which correct making still better.  Tue reading Flauntleroy at night  Gobed 12 ~~

13.  Tuesday.  7 AM.  Ther 6.  30.  28.

Mostly cloudy.  S.W. wind.  The cow got in front yard this morning.  We turned her in street and she failed to come home at night.  Mrs. Rogers ironed  Bought sack flour and sugar at Wrights today paying cash.  Have decided to pay cash henceforth.  Tue about sick with bad cold.  Mostly clear day with strong SW wind.  gobed  1 AM.

14.  Wednesday.  730 AM  Ther  22  35 20

Clear.  Wind,  Get things ready to start for timber before dinner.  H.G. makes draw of check for 250.00.  Tue still feeling badly.  I start for ranch about 3 P.M. overtake Ed. Wright who rode with me a mile or two.  Went by Handly ford and get there 5.30  John has been working on his house this week  Clear day wind NW PM.  gobed  9 PM.

15.  Thursday 5 AM.     Ther  23  30  26

Partly cloudy with SE wind hard frost  Warren took load of wood to town for John.  John hung door t sheep shed.  Jo H, Handly and family there to dinner also  also Lucys mother.  Jo went down river for load of boards which he will haul tomorrow.  He has rented John Simons place for this year.  Fred Decker called to get a job but failed.  I start  home at 3 P.M. getting there at 6.  Roads not so bad as yesterday and quite good much of the way.  Paid up Lucy today for board from Oct. 1 to Jan 1 inclusive 4.50.  Mostly cloudy day with SE wind cleared ff at night.  Gobed

16.  Friday, 730 AM.  Ther  20  36  24

Clear, White frost, wind N.  Jo H Handly brought in small load of boards not counted, perhaps 1200.  Brownfield helps a while toward night at smoke house.  Minstrel show at hall to night to which father went.  Clear day with N. wind, fine weather.  gobed

17.  Saturday.  745 AM  Ther  22  28  25

Cloudy, N wind white frost  Brownfield came 8.30, and we finish smokehouse except door  Take meat out of brine.  Ferd was down to dinner  Uncle John came after we got through  Tue sick at night  Trade rather dull.  Dark cloudy day snow flakes flying AM and N.  Go bed

18.  Sunday.  730 AM.  Ther  24  30  25

Cloudy N. wind Tue feeling badly.  Self and Maggie got breakfast and dinner  Girls went to S.S. taking Marie  Phebe went with Richters girls to church at night.  Maggie has a very bad cold.  Bryan to put in smoke house but postponed it till tomorrow  Cloudy day old Bill Morris was killed today by falling down stairs  some snowflakes.  S wind at night  gobed  11.30

19.  Monday, 7.30  AM.  Ther  20.  41. 29.

Clear wind S.W. heavy white frost  Tue feels better this morning  Mrs. R. washes   Brownfield hung up meat and I build smoke under it.  Bill Morris killed yesterday was buried to day down in Cumberland Co.   GrBro subscribe 25.00 toward foundry fund.  Warren Decker says he will go to hauling posts this week.  Tue feeling badly P.M.  Phebe and I brought in the washing  Mrs. Knock and sister over at night.  The Authorities close poker rooms.  Splendid weather clear with SW wind roads first rate.  Nick about sick, has been complaining week or two but still on duty  Gobed.  

20.  Tuesday. 7 A.M.    Ther  26.  50.  37.

Mostly clear S. wind.  Get lock for smoke house also for she up at Perkins room  Tue complains good deal  Self not very well.  Charley Bishop started west tonight to sell goods for Weiss Mill  Weather  fine, clear with fresh SW wind.  Mrs. Latta was over today.k  quiet  gobed

June 1, 1890 and 1901 in Coles County, Illinois

June 1890

1. Sunday  6.30 AM.  Ther.  65

Mostly clear.  Painted screen doors up at store.  Crass helped oil buggy and I started for Ranch at 11 A.M. by way of Handly Ford getting there about 1.30 P.M.  Rile Decker over toward night settle up with him.  Clear day NW wind  9.30

June 1901

(top of page)  Geo Gray has recently had "new" front put in Shoe Store.  Mrs. Monroe building  they are painting it today May 31.

1.  Saturday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  53.  74.  54.  =  60 1/3

Cloudy Sprinkle rain.  Roan untied himself last night and was grazing back of house when got up.  Jubal Jones came 7  AM and worked till nearly 6 P.M.  clean up grass, cut wood &c. will come again Monday.  John Simons  brought up hayrack.  Settle with him as  possible.  Giving him check for balance 5.50.  Renew note at St. with Earl Decker 10.00 for 90 d. promise not to do it again.  Will Decker says taxes paid on piece to be decided to Bachman June 13.  Pay Mrs. Dorsch a/c K.G. ch. 6.70 ice full to date from last Dec. 22.  Oscar Decker is working for  Walter Briggs.  Miss Ford's friend Miss Wheeler came P.M. to stay a while with her.  Phillip Davis building a new house which shows up strong in S.W.  They are just getting the roof on.  Self bellyache after supper.  Tue got a letter from Mrs. Eastin at Denver yesterday inquiring about her tax &c.  Fair day with northerly wind  Clear at night.  The rain early A.M.  Gobed.  9.30 AM.~ 

February 10-17, 1890 in Coles County Illinois

February 1890

10.  Monday.  6.30 AM.  Ther  24 .  45.  34  =  35 1/3

Clear.  Mrs. Rogers washed.  Uncle John was down to dinner.  John Simons in with team. after corn and feed  Has bought another load of hay from Hasney.  Does not think Milt is going to vacate very soon.  Bill Myers  took away calf.  Sell Vansickle load wood.  Maggie not very well at night.  Dog Shirley chaws(sic) up clothes  Clear day chilly some snow still on ground  Gobed 10.30 PM

11.  Tuesday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  34.  55.  34.  =  41
Clear wind S. and W. P.M. NW at night and growing cooler  Many calls for wood today but have sold all I can spare.  Order 8  Bush Blue 8'Orchard and 4 Red top through W.E. Hill.  Abbott  says  will work for me tomorrow.  Milt Drake up P.M. purports to go into my south house as soon as  Rile Decker gets out.  Clear warm day  Snow goes off   Gobed 11 PM~

12.  Wednesday.  7 AM.  ther.25.
Cloudy.  Abbott began early working all day mostly sawing wood  Reynolds hauls last load up for me.  Milt did not show up early,  got ready to start about 2.30 P.M.  Went by  walkers ford.  river pretty well up I cross in boat  Milt on mare.  Got to Milt's about 7.30 and gobed  10.30 PM   Co Surveyor will come next week.

13.  Thursday.  6 AM  Ther
At ranch.  clear frosty morning stock looks badly.  Simons and self walk round most of most of AM.  Decide to build barn yard fence first  Milt helping Riley Decker in order to get his house done  Milt purposes to move as soon as Riley does..  Start home at nearly 4 P.M. by Handly ford.   home at 7:30  P.M.  Rain at 9 P.M. and most of night thereafter.  Gobed 11 P.M. 

14 Friday.  7 AM.  Ther  43.  50.  42.  =  45
Cloudy rain nearly all last night  cloudy damp day, with mist or fog all night.  The roads are as bad as I ever saw them.  Pay up  Abbott for work this wk settle with Briggs Insurance barn and store trade dull.  Very few people in town.  Have talk with Comer about gering out my timber this spring  Gobed 11 PM.  

15.  Saturday.  7 AM  Ther  30.  52.  37.  =  39 2/3
Clear.  Light white frost.  some signs of better weather.  Uncle John was down to dinner.  Henry Hildreth who has been gone since last March ate supper with us.  He has been in Dakota and Virginia since.  Father got some butter at  J.B. Hill which  couldn't use.  I got some butter at  McCaud at night.  Pay Warren Decker in full to date   Trade better than late Saturdays Fine Day, wind S Gobed 11 PM  Girls want to stay all night with Maunie Lang.

16.  Sunday 7 AM  Ther  34.  57.  47.  =  42 2/3
Clear morning, light frost.  S wind.  Tue sent Phebe up to Lees for oysters.  I undertook  to clean up in smoke house PM but gave it up.  Tue and children over to Davis P.M.   Pop corn at night.  Mostly clear day with S wind  gobed 9.39 PM  ~~

17.  Monday 6.30 AM  Ther  43.  64.  55.  =  54.
Partly cloudy, S wind.  C McCravy says Mrs. Straw has sold her lot down in bottom to Perishs.  Tell A. Buirk to bid 6.00 on sulky harrow at his sale tomorrow.  Phebe came home from school at noon sick and did not go PM  Dr.  Sparks pays me 1.90 for load wood.  Pleasant day, mostly clear AM.  Tue consults Dr. Patton about herself and gets some medicine  Gobed.  10.15 PM  Marie 3 years old.

October 13- 14, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston. Illinois

October 1889

13.  Sunday  6.45 AM.  Ther  52. 60.  43 =  51 2/3

Cloudy NW wind  Intended on going to ran(?) today whole family, but too cool and  windy.  Maggie not very well, she had the hives at night.  I start at 9 AM for ranch, cold and windy and  thick with smoke and mist.  Cleared off P.M.  Comer has been cutting the timber along road to Handly ford.  White sow had pigs yesterday.  Milt  and family after walnuts P.M. and not there when left.  Clear night, light going for good  gibed 9.30 P.M.

14.  Monday  5.30
AM.  Ther 33.

Clear heavy  white frost.  Took mare to Dr. Montgomerys house but man not at home  Start for timber before noon getting there before 1 P.M.  Rogers and Riley cut logs in P.M. with good deal of hard luck, cut big sycamore in Fritz hollow but not sound.  Milt got in about 8 PM with hay and Frank Mote.  Clear cool day go bed about 10 P.M.    St(?) called at night saying wood take cattle up to Uncle John in Morn.

October 1900

13.  Saturday. 5 AM  Ther  62.  75.  55.  =  64

Mostly clear.  Tue feeling badly.  Simon was up yesterday and took out bitts for lumber  Tue and Ferd decide to go to Mattoon with Mort and Kate on 2.45 train.  Marie also went.  I drove out to Gaines and find them gone away so I went to Mattoon  Couldn't find any of my folks but Gaines and wife found me and she and children rode out with  me getting to farm about  10 P.M.  Jo came soon after on train stay all night  - Go bed 10.30 PM

14.  Sunday 5 AM.  Ther  55? 

Clear.  I left for home before breakfast.  Cow out all night and no chores done last night.  Clyde was  gone all day and all night.  Came 10 AM  looking for cow most of day.  Tue and I drive with Marie out to Berts toward night getting home 9.30.  Borrow 200.00 more of Irene giving her out note for $250.00  at 7 per ct  This covers 50.00 for Phebe and bal. on Minton note  Rene starts for Oklahoma Tuesday to be gone two weeks  We drove through Loxa on way home.  Someone threw at buggy.  Gobed 10 PM