February 16-28, 1891 in Coles County, IL

February 1891

16.  Monday. 8 AM.  Ther.   54.  59. 55.  

Cloudy SW. wind little rain in night  Brownfield finishes mushroom bed, patches smoke house roof  and saws  wood P.M.working most of day  Tue  suffering very much with neuralgia did not get supper   I trimmed grape vines and some trees  Mostly cloudy day with south wind and occasional light rain.  The warmest day we have had this winter  Trade quiet get sarsaparilla for Tue  Gobed 1  About clear at midnight

17.  Tuesday 730 AM  Ther.  33.  40.  27.

Cloudy.  N.W. wind No rain in night.  Tue  better this morning.  Maggie complains  of stiff neck.  Marie 4 years old today.  Height.  37 1/8 in.  weight .30 lb. Apl 4   Maggie didn't go to school.  Richtin children  Hat Mrs Knock and several others called today  got some mushroom spawn which will plant when bed gets warm enough  Cloudy day wind NW early AM S.  at noon and NW before night,  growing colder.   gobed 12

18.  Wednesday.  7.30 AM.  Ther 12.  27.  23.

Cloudy N. wind  Mrs. Rogers washed.  Uncle John  in town but didn't come down to dinner. Witnesses and others went up to Springfield to attend trial of Ed. Melville    Jo crail came down in morning says  he will go to work as soon as it thaws out.  Order two pounds yellow Danevers Onion seeds from I B Mitchell.  Trade quiet.  Cloudy day and cool.  Wind NW AM at noon  E before night.  Light snow for an hour or two P.M.  Not enough however to cover the ground  Gobed  1230---

19.  Thursday,  7.30 AM  Ther  20.  33. 33.

Cloudy NE wind snowing till 8 AM 1 1/2 in  Dr. Hall and wife want to buy part of our bottom field.  I took in the washing for Tue this A.M.  Cloudy and disagreeable day snow and sleet in morning and quite heavy rain 3 to 5 P.M.  heavy mist at night wind E and SE.  Gobed.  1230

20.  Friday.  730 AM.  Ther  46.  56.  38

Cloudy and raining, wind S.  Moderate rain most of night.  With heavy wind toward morn.  Rain most of day till 2 P.M.  Offer Dr. Hall 50 ft. S side bottom field for 300.00 which he does not accept.  the stove pipe at store blew down last night.  Jake Duzy says 2 1/2 in rain fell yesterday and today  Trade dull.they took Jerry Johnson to Springfield today as witness  Wind gets in SW and finally in NW before night growing cooler  Mrs. Davis here today. Mrs. Rogers and Fannie ironed P.M.  gobed 11.30 PM    Pd. V.K.Curd bal SM Hutch a/c 21.90

21.  Saturday.  730 AM Ther  31,  48.  33.
Part clear wind NW Uncle John was down to dinner  Says wants to pay for Phillips farm next Saturday and will want all the money I can spare.  Warren Decker was up on horse back.  Reports roads very bad and river swimming.Says they have cleaned off two or three acres lower Fritz hollow.  Partly cloudy day with NW wind  Trade quiet for Saturday  gobed 1130 PM  Crail says will help me all next week.

22.  Sunday. 8 AM.  Ther  22.  42.  39.
Clear SW wind  Tue had headache and tooth ache all day.  Didn't go to meeting.  It is reported that Jerry Johnson escaped from Geo Sullivan on way to Springfield.  Clear day SW wind got into S.E. before night and clouds up  Go bed  11 PM --

23.  Monday  7AM.  Ther  38.
SE wind and cloudy sprinkles rain 8 - 9 AM  Jo Crail comes at  7 and begins work at 1.00 per day clean out stable and began digging for back fence at which he work rest of day  Brought rake and spade at Stodded on Cr.  Mostly cloudy day with strong South wind and signs of rain Roads drying fast  Gobed  11.30

24.  Tuesday.  7 AM.  Ther.  50.  60.  56.
Cloudy strong S. wind all night with occasional sprinkle rain.  Crail came at 7 AM and works at fence all day without accomplishing much  Tue feeling good deal better than she has lately.  Comer got his mill up to Latta  & Richter today  The authorities  have offered  50.00 for arrest of Jerry Johnson  Trade quiet but better than this time last week.  Cloudy day with strong wind (?) occasional sprinkle of rain, late showers 8 to 10 PM. with some thunder, Wind died down after dark, change to W 11P.M. ther 40  AT 12   gobed 12.

25.  Wednesday, 7.30 AM  Ther  20.  30.  24.
About clear N.W. wind strong.  Crail to work all day at back fence.  Tue set PR here in middle manger P.M.  Tom Houghton and Hilleyrn drummer in town.  bought  some wine of Mayan  Easton's evidence cleared Ratcliff today disappointing the authorities.  Clear day with fresh NW wind W at night.  Girls went to some sort of show at Christian church at night.  Gr Bros subscribe 10.00 toward remodeling race track  Gobed  11 PM

26.  Thursday, 7 AM.  Ther.  13.  23.  18.
Cloudy N.W. wind  lt. sn. flying Crail did not work today too cold.  Mrs. Rogers washed AM.  Tue cuts garmment for Mrs. R.  Freiburg     drummer arrives at night .  Clears off AM mostly clear day with brisk N.W. wind  Trade very quiet gobed

27. Friday,  8 AM.  Ther  10.  30.31.
Clear SW wind.  Friday drummer here buy from him 1 Bbl  87 Bond  & Hillard.  Hyman  also here but did not see him.  Uncle John down to dinner says he will his mortgage on store if will pay 600.00 tomorrow.  Mrs. Rogers  ironed P.M.  Miss Green called P.M.  Pay Walter Briggs insurance on store and barn.  Crail has not shown up since Wednesday evening  Mrs. Eastin says Ed is worse - has been very bad for a week or two.  Trade quiet.  Annie Rooney  - Maltese Kitten caught two mice in evening.  Clear morning.  Clouds up about noon and looks much like snow.  wind a little E of South.  Roads in town good  gobed

28.  Saturday,  7.30 AM  Ther  7.  18.  9.
Clear with N wind, about one inch snow on ground which fell after 1 AM.  John Simons in town reports that he and Warren  have been making fence this week settle with him for Feby.  He  says the nannie goat is dead.  This lets me out of goat biz  John Simons ate dinner with us as did Uncle John.  I draw $250.00 from store and borrowed 300.00 at Bank 90 days which with what I had in bank made up 600.00  to pay Uncle John.  He released mortgage and gave up note which has been running nearly fourteen years.  This is really a gift of 1300.00 [$1,300 of 1891 dollars would be worth: $34,210.53 in 2015] from him.  Riley Decker was up and I paid him some on ties he has been making.  Clear cold day with N.wind.  Trade moderate  Bought a load of corn of John Leavitt  28 20/70 bu @ 50c.  Settle with Crail in full of has worked 3 days this week and will go  ahead soon as weather permits  Simons brought us a gallon jug of Maple syrup.  Having chewed or smoked tobacco constantly for a year I have decided to quit altogether till July 4 or longer  Then at midnight 7.  Gobed 1.30

Jan 1-7 1891 and Jan 7, 1902 in Charleston, IL

January 1891

1.  Thursday  6 AM.  Ther  49  55  30
Cloudy and raining, wind S or SW. light showers during night - Too wet to do anything out doors.  John and Rile have done nothing for a week  I start home soon after dinner  John and Warren went after load of fodder up to fathers place  John helped dig some roots in river bottom west of John Handlys.  Roads pretty bad did not get home till nearly dark.  Tue had company today  Mrs. Perrill and Davis  the three Kates Mort Grove and perhaps others  Showery all day SW wind sunshine at times high wind changing to west at night growing colder snow squalls at nt[sic]. about half inch remaining on the  ground  go bed 11PM ~~

2.  Friday  730 M  Ther  24  29  22
Cloudy wind N W  Jo Crail straighten up Perkins room and Bill Meyers takes possession.  Jo worked a while for me PM cleaning out stable and piling boards.  J.R. Cunningham died last night, has been sick good while.  Phebe began yesterday t keep family expense book and Maggie keeps record of the weather.   Cloudy day with day with occasional snow flakes.  Wind NW  trade rather dull as has been all the week  Not many people in town.  Gobed 11.30 P.M.

3.  Saturday,  130 AM  Ther  22.  28.  22.
Cloudy SE wind.  Pay drafts from Straws and Kiefer    John Simons and Warren were up and ate dinner with us  Pay Simons months wages for Dec.  Jo Crail piled most of boards in afternoon.  Settle with Jo H. Handly for hauling hay  J.R. Cunningham who died night before last was buried today.  J? Charley Briggs has been here several days.  Uncle John was in town but didnt come down.  Maunie Lang and Davis children here at night.  Cloudy day with easterly wind and snow flying some AM. about clear at 11 PM.  go bed. 1 am

4.  Sunday.  9 AM Ther  15  28 .  22
Clear.  Sit round house all day.  Girls went to sunday School.  Tue to church.  Several children here  visiting girls in afternoon.  Tue went down to Hats after dinner.  Clear day with southerly wind  gobed 11 PM

5. Monday 7 30 AM.  Ther 19. 38. 27
Clear S Wwind.  Mrs. Rogers washes.  Girls start to school Phebe to Miss Whitleman.  Maggie to Western.  Pay up A.M. Agriculturist to July 1892 3.60  Settle with McCravy 11.00  Warren Decker brought load for John Smions  Warren thinks John is going to  to leave me in spring.  School began today.  Trade light.  Clear day SW wind Gobed 11 PM ~~

6.  Tuesday.  7,30 A.M.  Ther  15  33.  21
Clear, Tue not very well Settle with Winter C.E. 20.25  I.  16.00 my account against Isaac 7.10 gave check for for bal.  Harman brought us jar butter,  Get letter from WH White enclosing check 34.58 for 91 ties,  Bought copper TeaKettle [sic] for Tue at Van Meters.  Trade light.  Clear day with NE wind, all electric lights went out tonight about ten oclock   gobed 12.30

7. Wednesday, 7 AM.  Ther 14.  32  22
Clear, NE wind, heavy white frost.  Jo Crail helped put on lock on back to gate to Perkins building and work down at house PM. cleaned out stable and smoke house.  Jake Dice called for lumber
 but didn't get any.  Tue and Maggie went to prayer meeting at night and Maggie then went to stay the night with Mrs. Knock.  The news from Fatty is that he is n better and is perhaps a hopless [sic.] case  Clear day with N.E. wind.  The predictions in daily papers say snow  tonight  Trade only fair.  Roads said pretty  rough.  Learn that Mart Comer talks of sawing up Alex Richters timber.  Gobed 230

January 1902

7.  Tuesday,   6 AM.    Ther  30.  43.  32.  =  35

Mostly clear.   Tue and Phebe ironing.  Went down by the H. G. [Henry Gramesly]  but didn't stop.  Look for man to help me get Pete Drake who comes after dinner and works from 12.20 to 4.20 P.M.  Carries wood down in basement.  Cleans out Stable repairs fence in bottom and will help me tomorrow morning a while.  Mostly clear day SW wind somewhat warmer but ground still frozen.  Gobed 8.30 P.M.

June 21-25, 1890 and 1901

June 1890

21.Saturday 6.30   Ther  77,  92,  77.

Clean  S. wind Warren and Simons came while we were eating breakfast with 16 shoats which we turn in the barn yard.  They take a load of corn back starting about noon.  Pay Heddin for  48 bu corn bought yesterday.  Pay off all the gang I could today.  Pay Dave Masters for 4 loads of corn bought last winter 100 bu 23.60.  Have decided to get out of the hog business (?)  and will sell all I have except  a sow or two and some pigs.  One of the hottest days we have had not much of a crowd in town but trade fair.  Jack Handly took down a load of tile for me for well.  Cal Noble says he will have it in a week or ten days.  Pentacost band are still  in town and were around this AM soliciting donations for building a church  Mostly clear day.  go bed  11.30 PM  

22.  Sunday.  6 AM.  Ther.  79.  94.  70.

Clear with S.W. wind.  Have written nothing in this book for over a week and there is some guess work about this record since last Sunday.  I write it up today.  Heavy thunder shower between 4 and 5 P.M.  Hogs brought up yesterday tearing the barnyard all to pieces.  Tue went to church AM. -- go bed 10 P.M.

23.  Monday.  5.30 AM.  Ther  70.  94.  77.  

Mostly cloudy.  Dickenson made hog pen and patched up fence in bottom working all day.  Yesterday and today are the two hottest days so far this season.  Farmers not in town  much.  Fair corn weather and prospects good  Wheat will not amount to much here.  Intended to go to ranch yesterday nut had to fix hog pen.  Mrs. R. washed and ironed  Gobed 10 30 PM

24.  Tuesday, 4 AM.  Ther   70.  98.  79.  =  82 1/3

Start for ranch 5 AM. getting there before 7.  Boys cutting logs on ridges next to river.  Went to house for dinner  Cut up on levels P.M.  Heat very oppressive.  Milt not running and no one at work there  Mostly clear day with W wind  Go bed 9.30

25.  Wednesday  430  AM.  79.  98.  79.  =  85 1/3

Mostly clear boys begin cutting Sprouts in east pasture  Start for home at 9 AM.  Stop at mill and decide  to go back to dinner  Send Rile and John down to mill P.M. to saw off and pile some cull lumber.  Start home agin at 1 P.M.  getting there about 4.   Mrs Perrill and Kate there   We have cut to date 547 logs measuring 58647 ft.  Comer has sawed to date 10 AM 429 logs measuring 48070 ft. leaving still in woods 118 logs containing  10,607 ft. some few of them are useless when crooked or rotten.  Pay Deckmen 1.00 of 1.45 owing him for work  Very hot and oppressive  Gobed  10.30 P.M.  Rile Easton broke down with load of lumber today.  

June 1901

21.  Friday 5.50 AM.  Ther.  71.  92.  72.  = 78 1/3

Mostly cloudy SE wind.  Thunder and lightning all night with light showers, apparently heavy rains north last night.   Tue was up several times in night.  Self didn't sleep much.  Get  Jo Crail to lay tile for cross on Fifth St. which he does before noon Pd 50c  Mrs.  Smith works all day wash iron &c.  Colby sends more  Pleurotus mushrooms.  Thunder showers with little rain till nearly noon and also toward night.  I drove out to Gaines P.M.  Jo plowing SW field.  Corn looks fine and growing very fast.  They had very heavy rains a few miles north last night.  River water thick with mud.  Council have resolved to move all buildings back from St line.  Sultry day.  S.W. wind  Gobed 9.30 P.M._ _ _

22.  Saturday. 5.30 AM.  Ther  65.  93.  79. =79.
Mostly cloudy southerly wind. Sprinkle rain in night Thunder north this morning  Mike Handley calls to work with team but cant use him today.  Had some P.ostreatus [ http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/oct98.html ]   from Colby for breakfast which were very good.  John Simons in town but did not bring wood.  Set trap in barn and caught big rat.  Get bridle repaired at Shoemakers  P.M.  Garrison pays rent to July 14 50.00 and gives indemnifying bond June 6th  Pay W.F. Jenkins (K.G. check) 150.00 still owe her forty or fifty dollars.  Thunder showers around with light sprinkles here several times during the day.  the warmest day this season so far,  variable wind strong from S.W. and W. AM.  Mrs. Bell milked tonight first time.  Sharp and continued lightning at night north.  Gobed 9 P.M.

23. Sunday.  5.30 AM.  Ther  65.  93.  79.  =  79.
Mostly clear northerly wind.  Heavy rain with much thunder in night, bginning about 10 P.M. continuing most of night from north.  Buy meat Pinnells.  Drive to river on Westfield road.  River pretty high and very muddy Roads somewhat muddy but not deep.  Ferd here to dinner and supper.  I sort out lot of Records &c in old house after dinner. Did intend going out to Gaines but too hot.   Got straw hat at Winter AM. Cr. 25.  Mostly clear day and sultry  Variable wind  No rain here today but thunder and lightning in night.  Gobed 10 P.M.

Top of page - Rose Fuller told me Sat. Jo wanted to go to Mississippi to work for them. (shorthand)

24.  Monday 5.30 AM.  Ther.  77.  93.  80.  =  83 1/3
Partly cloudy much thunder and lightning N and NW toward morning.  Mrs. Smith and Mother came to wash P.M.  Deposit Garrison check for 50.00 at 2d.  Start out to Gaines 2 P.M.  Joe plowing S.E. piece.  Leave word at home that will stay all night and did so.  Corn along road looking well and mine as good as any.  Band of movers (gypsies)? camped along road west of gate.  Very sultry today and I suffer much from heat.  went to bed 9 P.M.

25.  Tuesday 4 AM.  Ther  775.  99.  77=  83 2/3
Mostly clear The storm last night did not extend east of Loxa.  Lask at Meadow and think much of it good, will cut it  Hannah Talbot over to borrow tub &C.  Mr & Mrs. G drove Queen to Mattoon Sunday.  Jo got out to work at 5 AM this morn.  Shirley somewhat later.  I intended to drive through to Loxa but didnt.  Wind last night blew big tree down in pasture.  Drive down to it.  Drove down road to NW corner and look at Shirleys corn.  Gypsie camp opposite place.  Got home 9 A.M.  This has warmest day to date.  99 2.30 P.M.  Courtney boy rode to town with me.
[There is a large section that was written in pencil and is faded to the point that it is unreadable.]

May 26-31, 1901 in Coles County, IL

May 1901 

26.  Sunday.  5.30 AM.  Ther  44.62.  48 = 511/3

Cloudy, northwind.  had to make everything covers today for fuel as am out of coal.  Chilly but wind not so strong as yesterday.  I start to country about noon south with some idea of going to  ranch.  Went west from Kickapoo bridge and brought up Loxa at 4 P.M. stayed about an hour and home by 6 P.M.  Maggie and Hannah Marshall  going with her to Mattoon getting home at midnight  Gobed 9.30

27.  Monday, 5.15 AM.  Ther  48,  65.  53.  =  55 1/3

Partly clear northwind.  Jim Warren mowing yard. Jo Gaines in before 7 AM. after some things which he fails to take out  Took cistron pump down to Resons shop.  Forget lumber for platform W & T. give me piece for buggy reach which proves to be wrong one Jo reports Sorrel horse sick and I start out about 10 AM get jag coal at Richter.     Hen borrows planter and washes our horse.  John and Edith move.  Jo burns brush P.M.  in orchard.  Get home about 6 P.M. and leave buggy at Hartelter shop to be repaired by 9  oclock tomorrow morning.  Tue learns that  Clara Thurman is going home to Indiana.  He has been  working at Huttons since leaving us. [shorthand]

28.  Tuesday. 5.15 AM.  Then 48. 64. 47.  =  53

Cloudy and raining northwind.  There was light rain most of night.  Went up to Hartelters and got buggy before noon.  Jim Warren called owe him $1.50 mowing yard  Went out to Gaines P.M. taking time for whitewash &c.  Mrs. G has pulled off most of paper in house.  Jo Harrowed M. and is cultivating earliest piece corn this afternoon.  The horse seems about the same, no worse.  I got home 6 P.M.   Mostly cloudy sps rain oc. AM. occasional sunshine P.M.  Roads quite muddy in places.  Tue and Marie went to Groves late Thomas and Hannah Marshall here while evening.  Gobed 9 P.M.

29.  Wednesday.  5.10 AM.  Ther 40.  70.  53.  =  54 1/3
Clear northerly wind.  Said to have been light white frost in places this morn.  Mrs. Owen washes.  Jo Crail scatters grass on yard.  Bunket sent word yesterday for me to come up this AM.  Saw him caul trade.  Talk with W.E. Hill about bottom lot.  Saw Clara on St. she did not seem to know me.  Get shave.  Pay Centers &c in full both (?), both firms . check $8.64.  Started ti GAines right after dinner.  Pay Jim Warren for mowing $1.50 on road to Gaines.  Mrs. G still "house cleaning" she whitewashed west room all over this morning and was getting the east one ready P.M.  Joe plowing front piece corn, which is about 2 1/2 in high has a fine stand.  Sorrel horse does not seem any better.  I got home  before night.  Mrs. Owens  worked all day  Cleaned out cellar P.M.  Mort and  Kate over at night.  Mag and Ph both away partly cloudy day northerly wind gobed 10 P.M.

30.  Thursday. 6 AM.  Ther.  46.  70.  51.  =  55 2/3
Cloudy.  N.E. wind. There was light showers several time in night.  Tue had two or three bad spells coughing in night.  My fatted calf off with his feed this morning.  Mrs. Owens ironed.  Have talk with Jack Colby A.M.  Crail did not come to work as promised.  Much interest shown  shown in Decoration ceremonies but Tue nor I went out  Thought of going to Loxa but postpone trip till tomorrow.  Drove down to Kickapoo PM looking for fungi.  Didn't find anything worth while.  Fair day clear at night N.E. wind  Tue and others away at night.  Gobed 8 P.M

31.  Friday 5 A.M.  ther.  40.  75.  60.  =  58 1/3
Clear  N.E. wind.  City  cleaning out ditch on back 5th street.  Say they will do grading next  Monday.  Start to Gaines 8.30 find Mrs. G still anxious for wall paper.  the small horse is in stable and apparently better.  Bill working Queen.  think can use him Monday.  Shirley planting B.C. west of Loxa.  Our corn a fine stand: (?) about 3 in high  I got home before noon.   After dinner get wall paper for Gaines at Parks and send over on local freight.  Bill Campbell rode to RR with me.  On way home drive north mile or two.  Most people have finished breaking and planting.  Or last not up yet.  CD Mitchell talks to me P.M.  Roads are good west.  Engage Jubal Jones to work tomorrow morning  Jo Crail has got another job.  Fair day partly cloudy and much warmer than lately  Gobed 9 P.M.