May 22- 28, 1889 in Charleston, IL

May 1889

22.  Wednesday.  6.45 AM.  Ther.  40.  60.  44.  =  48.

Part clear.  brisk N.E. wind very chilly.  Start for timber 10 AM.  Mitt hauling out lumber.  Will work out my tax and his (?) on roads next week.  John Handley has moved his fence about a rod west.  I got home about 7 PM.  Mrs. Feagan helping Tue sew carpet which I bought this AM.  Clear day, chilly day said to have been light frost this morn.  Gobed 12.30

23.  Thursday.  7 AM  Ther.  54.   73.  65.  =  64.

cloudy strong SE winds.  Cloudy all day sprinkles rain several times, heavy rain about dark and till in night much lightning.  Wind S. all day.  Trade dull.  John Kink up with two loads of ties, says there are but two more in woods.  Mrs. Rogers helping Tue make carpet.  Tue buys a rug of peddler.  Gobed 11 PM 

24.  Friday.  7 AM  Ther.  65.  73.  52.  =  63 1/3

Part cloudy.  Mrs. Rogers helping clean front room.  Self not feeling very well.  Dullest trade we have had.  Went down to R.R. and counted ties P.M.  229 out.  Kink says there are about two loads more in the woods.  Set out a few tomato plants at night.  Fellows singing and selling books on P.(?) corner at night.  Order blackberry sherry and dry Caturbbor of B. B. & U. Gobed 11.30 AM.

25.  Saturday.  7 AM.  Ther.  60.  68.  48.  =  58 2/3

Cloudy E. wind.  Milt drake was up with his first load of wood which he took to S.E. Ray.  He and Johnny Drake will work the roads  Monday and Tuesday.  Uncle John down to dinner.  Will send a lot of cones down to woods Monday.  Chilly  day S. wind business pretty good.  I quit using tobacco today.  gobed 11 PM~~

26.  Sunday.  8 AM.  Ther.  60.  73.  60.  =  64 1/3

Part cloudy, S. wind.  Rene and Mrs. Wentz with all the children came before noon and stayed  to dinner.  Frank drake came up to help Uncle John drive down cows tomorrow.  Mostly cloudy P.M.  and sprinkles rain several times.  Baby feverish at night.  self not feeling very well.  Gobed 10 PM.  Fix 2 bbl of  (?).

27.  Monday.  7 AM.  Ther.  60.  73.  55. = 62 2/3

Mostly clear.  Strong westerly wind.  Glave(?) came from Burby & Co.  Look for Uncle John all the morning, and drove out there after dinner to find that he went with cattle early in morning.  Drove down as far as Mt. Zion toward night to take Frank part way home.  Baby was sick all day.  Go bed midnight.  

28.  Tuesday.  6 AM.  Ther.  58.  66.  54. = 59 1/3

Mostly clear, hazy.  Learn that  Uncle John got to ranch with  cows yesterday.  He stayed at Sniders last night.  Warren up with another load of posts which he took to Mintons.  Says there is one more load in the woods.  Mostly cloudy day, get thicker toward night.  Began to rain and continued all night.  Business dull.  Baby better than yesterday but not well yet.  Mrs. Rogers washed and helped Tue put down carpet.  Go bed 11.30 PM.

May 17-21, 1889 in Charleston, IL

May 1889

17.  Friday 7 AM  Ther.  70.  90.  76.  =  78 2/3

Clear, strong S. wind. Sent draft 27.40 for US. License.  Geo Kellogg finishes oil room and puts up awning in forenoon  Rec.  5 Bbl Atherton from  Freiberg and Rye &  French from lini.  Kellogg finishes "oil" room puts up screen and awning.  Mrs. Rogers helping Tue.  Strong S. wind all day.  Lightning W. at night biz dull  Go bed 11:30

18.  Saturday 7 AM  Ther.  68.  86.  60.  =  71 1/3

Mostly clear fresh fresh breeze S. Uncle John down to dinner.  Milt Drake up with team, no load.  Pay  John Kink $25.00 which is several dollars more than I owe him.  Trade medium.  Pay Nick wages to date.   Rain a little toward night and gets cooler.  Mostly cloudy P.M.  Gobed midnight.

19.  Sunday.  8 AM.  Ther  55.  ?  59.  =3. 

Clear.  Tue and self start for ranch 10 AM.  left girls and baby home with father.  Ate our dinner N. of house in N. hollow.  After some bark and roots start home about 5 PM.   Began to rain before we got to Hanely's and rained till nearly home.  Thunder good part of P.M.  Having rain at night.  We got pretty damp before getting home.  Gobed 9:30 PM.

20.  Monday 7 AM.  62. 73. 54.  

Cloudy, wind NW, signs of rain but none fell here. Cooler at night wind getting N.  Hitch up hover PM to deliver C(?) beer.  H.G. paid Miss K.  36.25 on his share of bonus drawing it out of firm money.  Set a dozen tomato plants at night.  Paid up Jackson a/c 20.00 and look at carpet there.  Narrrow gauge pays off. Their men PM.  Gobed 11:30 PM

21.  Tuesday.  8 AM.  Ther,  48.  68.  60.  =  57.

Partly Clear.  Abbott works most of P.M. Cleaning up stable.   Buy 3640  lbs hay of Eley @ 8.50.  Mrs. Rogers washed.  Quit smoking tobacco, Cloudy toward night looked like rain lightning NE  rain with thunder about 11 PM.  Trade fair.  Paid Abbott 25 in full.  Gobed.  11 PM

April 21-24, 1914 and 1889 in charleston, Illinois

April 1914

21.  Tuesday.  6 AM. Ther.  36.  76.  62.  = 58.
Clear. S.3.  repair harness.  Hitch up and go up to vote.  City Election.  They vote only on alderman and City Court.  Miller here fixing ladders and talking of finishing job soon.  I saw Simmons up town.  Mr. Harry Bell died this morning.  Had been sick a long time.  I drove south of town returning by Wrightsville and cutoff.  Had to wait for steam boiler on Finch hill.  The roads are good.  Service blooming, also red bud sugar maple and some other trees.  Sally Campbell called on Tue.  Mrs. Grove was over while at night.  Mostly clear day strong southwind.  Go bed 8.30


22.  Wednesday.  6 AM.  Ther. 56.  86.  66.  =  69 1/3
Clear S.W.2.  Harman phones early and wants me to come out today if possible.  Miller went to work painting - first here since last Oct.  Gets 1 gal oil at Briggs.  I drove down to Buck Berts AM  but did not see him.  Helen came AM and was here to dinner.  Grace S. brought notice "Keep out" home.  Tue went to Mr. Bell's funeral 2 P.M.  The Mexican.   That war situation gets serious.  The first fighting occurred yesterday at Vera Cruz.  Tue gets letter from each Bud and Ph.  Make list seeds from Harris. Tue down to Hats P.M.  I went after her 5 P.M.  She and Hat  had gone to Carmichael's.  I did not find them.  Big show September Morn at Opera house at night.  Tue did not go but went to prayer meet.  There is a small frame building being erected back of opera house.  Part cloudy day with south to W winds.  Looks like rain.  go bed 10.  Miller paints on front porch.


23.  Thursday.  6 AM.  Ther.  54.  78.  66.  =  66.
Part cloudy E.2.  Miller came 7.  Miller working.  Hitch up 10 A.M.  Mare continues to act worse if anything.  Tue ironing AM.  Drive to Briggs and get gal. of porch paint.  Pay O.J. Ryan 85 cts. for corn bought Monday.  Miller paints all day on porch and south side.  He begins on porch floor we don't like the color of porch and will try to improve it on next coat.  Tue went up town P.M. mails letter for seeds.  Miller quit about 5 P.M.  Mare still vicious and came near getting my left hand while harnessing.  Late PM U drove down to consult Buck Best about her but he  was not at home.  Much cloudy today E. to southerly winds.  Mrs. Toops  calls late P.M.  There has not been much fighting in Mexico yet.  The situation is not encouraging.  Gob 9


24.  Friday.  6 AM.  Ther.   60.  78.  70.  =  69 1/3
Part cloudy. S.3.  Miller came about 7 and we fix up shade of color for  which suites it better.  Rain stops him 9.  Emmet came 9.30 A, set him to work mowing yard but  rain stops him.  P.O. authorities investing record sent us by Muggs 10th ist.  We have not received it.  Mrs. Grove calls AM Tue still ironing.  Emmett works till 5 AM. mowing yard &c. will come tomorrow.  Mrs. Reasor and Margurite called about noon.  They are down on visit from  Hindsboro.  Speak to Dr. Kincade about mare.  He says can't help her.  Tue went to R.C. P.M. at Chenowith's.   today last R.C. meet this season.  I buy peas at Crims - poor stuff.  Part cloudy and threatening.  Lightening night Sps several  Gob 9.30  R. .15 in

April 1889

21.  Tuesday.  8 AM.  Ther.  43.   68.  60.  =  57.
Partly clear.  Abbott works most of P.M. cleaning up stable.  Buy 3640 lbs. hay of Eley @  8.50.  Mrs. Rogers washed.  Quit smoking tobacco.  Cloudy toward night look like rain lightning N.E. rain with thunder about 11 P.M.  Trade fair  Paid Abbott 25 in full.  Go bed 11 P.M.




22.  Wednesday 6.45 AM.   Ther.  40.  60.  44.  = 48.
Part clear, brisk N.E. wind very chilly.  Start for timber 10 AM.  Milt hauling out lumber.  Will work out my tax and his over on roads next week.  John Handly has moved his (?) about a rod west.  I got home about 7 PM.  Mrs. Faegan helping Tue sew carpet which I bought this AM.  Clear day  Chilly day said to have been light frost this morn.  Gob 12.30




23.  Thursday.  7 AM.  Ther.  54.  73.  65.  =  64
Cloudy strong S.E. winds.  Cloudy all day sprinkles rain several times.  heavy rain about dark and till in night much  lightning, wind S all day.  Trade  dull.  John Kink up with  tow loads of ties says there are but two more in woods.  Mrs.Rogers helping Tue make carpet.  Tue buys a rug of peddler.  Go bed  11 P.M.




24.  Friday 7 AM.  Ther.  65.  73.  52.  =  63 1/3
Part cloudy Mrs. Rogers helping clean front room.  Self not feeling very well.  Dullest trade we have had.  Went down to  R.R. and  counted ties P.M. 229 out.  Kink says there are about  two more loads in woods.  Set out a few tomato plants at night.  Fellows singing and selling books on P. Becton  corner at night.  Order Blackberry Sherry and dry Catauibbor(?) of B.B.& U.  Go bed 11.30 PM.

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.

March 19-23, 1889 in Charleston, IL

March 1889

19.  Tuesday. 6 AM     Ther.  38.  55.  39. = 44
Clear.  N. wind.  Baby had high fever all night but seems some better this morning.


(Note: This next section seems to be written by Tue.  The writing is much larger.  Notice that she calls the baby "Marie" not just baby as Charles does.)
Hat came down about the time Chas started for timber.  went home and got her work and staid (sic) all day  Bernice Anderson took a ten gallon keg.  Marie sick all day Mrs. Davis staid(sic) a while in the evening.  Go to bed.9


Start for timber 10 AM.  Went  to Walker's ford couldn't cross river so went round by bridge getting there at 3.30.  Bob gone to Bills didn't return.  Roads very bad.  Clear day strong N. wind  Johnny and Enoch working clearing toward west side.  Gobed 10PM


(Written at top of next page)
White frost  John, Warren,  Enoch, Riley, & Steve and John Son work at clearing  Steve sows what was cleared and burned with  ? and ?  Bob got home at noon and hauling a load of lumber PM.  N. wind clear day gb 9 PM.


20.  (Tue's handwriting  Wednesday.  6.15  Ther.  30.  52.   39.  =  40.
Clear pleasant day.  Marie better, but very cross.  Don't feel well myself.  Mrs. Dickerson came to wash before we had breakfast.  Go to bed 8 PM.


21.  Thursday.  6 AM.  Ther.  30.  50.  42.  =  40 2/3
5.30 AM,  Pretty hard frost.  Bob finishing sowing around the house  Oscar Decker worked with boys today.  Clearing near the west line and cutting fence row through.  Bob hauls out what lumber I have  for fences, hardly enough for road fences.  Horse got loose and thought she had gone home, found her in pasture.  Start home at 4.15  roads very rough, but mostly dry.  Baby nor Tue, neither very well yet.  Jo Clark called at night and I sold him 100 butternut posts @ 5.50 delivered.  Clear AM and some  cloudy PM.  N,E. wind.    Gobed 9 PM.


22.  Friday.  6 AM.  Ther.  33.  50.  45.  =  42 2/3
6 Am.  Clear or nearly so send Jo Clark out  105 butternut posts.  Got to timber about 3 PM.  Bob gone to take Mats burrow home.  Men fired leaves along Hanley's fence but didn't do a very good job burning.  Bob got horse about 8 PM.  Walked up to where burned with Bent and Ed at night.  Gobed 9 PM. 


23.  Saturday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  40.  63.  45.  =  48 1/3
Mostly clear.  5 boys working this AM.  Bob went to town early.  I remained here until about 11 AM.  overtake John Kink with load of ties.    Good many people in town.  Jo Clark pays me 5.75 in full for posts.- Cooper pays 2.00 leaving bal of 3.00 till due.  Milt Drake in town wants my house down in woods.  Tue's cough very bad yet but she thinks some better.  Gobed 9 PM~

March 14-18, 1889 In Charleston, IL

March 1889

14.  Thursday.  6 AM. Ther.  48.  68.  60.  =  58 2/3
Fair start for timber at 8.30 after buying some more wire.  Got there about 11 AM.  R. & S. clearing other boys make fence.   Warren hurt finger and did not work PM.  Bob about sick and not rushing very much.    Gobed 9 PM


15.  Friday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  57.  73.  57. = 62 1/3
Mostly clear S. wind.  Bob hauls out lumber in morning.  Warren hauls load of slats to town.  Enoch Johnson began at noon working with fence gang.  Fire got out about noon and we had warm work to stop it.  R & S clearing doing good job making wood.  Warren brought down 3 reels of wire and some other things  I start home about 4.30 P.M. leaving for all hands to cut brush tomorrow.  Got home  7.30  found Tue feeling much worse and all in bed but Father.  The cow came home herself today.  Pleasant day and  S.  wind, brisk.    Roads dry all the way.  Gobed 8.30


16.  Saturday. 6 AM.  54.  72.  50.  = 58 2/3
Fair - smokey.  Tue not feeling so well this AM.  Phebe coughed and vomited in the night and is about sick in the morning.  Sent for Patton who prescribed for both.  Meddy made Phebe sick all day.  I made a rake to use in clearing.  Oil and clean on buggy P.M.  Grows colder toward night.  Went up town  about dark to get some meat &c.   Mrs. Davis over after dark.  Warren Decker hauls Taggart 1/2 cd wood.  Paid John Kink 6.00 on ties.  Uncle John in to dinner.  Hen has gone again taking a good horse, they found the horse however say he will let us have all on a post office checking as soon as we get a place for them.  Paid Riley and Steve Decker up in full.  Plant in hot bed some yellow and red tomatoes.  Tue looking better at night.  Gobed 9 PM.


17.  Sunday.  6 AM.  Ther.  39.  64.  48.  =  50 1/3
Foggy, clears off before noon.  Tue feels badly yet but appetite some better.  Made another rake for use in brush.  finish getting buggy for trip tomorrow.  Drove with girls down to Kickapoo for some elm bark for Tue.  Tue feeling badly all day.  Kate Myers was over toward night.  Gobed 8:45 PM  N.E. wind toward night.


18.  Monday.  Monday.  6 AM  Ther.  46.  53.  45.  =  48
Cloudy, wind about E.  Began to sprinkle  about 6.30  AM.  Tue complains of feeling some better this morning.  Baby had some fever all night.  Rain most of AM. heavy for an hour or two,  thunder afternoon.  Tell Bill Hill  to order me  2 bush orchard grass seed @ 1.40.  Got some old cloth over store for hot bed.  Bought some pea and radish seed  at Ben Mitchell's.  Pay Sam Ray 15.00 which leaves 83.85 still due.  Cloudy all day.  Baby was sick all day  having light fever.  Tue good deal better but still bad cough.   Gobed 9 PM.  Wind N.E.

January 22-26, 1889 in Charleston, ILL

January 1889

22.  Tuesday.  6.30  AM.  Ther.  27.  43.  37.

Clear, fresh S. Wind.  Felt badly all night and didn't sleep well.  Tue and girls went to Dowlings about 10 AM.  Not feeling very well myself went up town  about noon getting some eggs and meat.  Engaged Abbott to help a while tomorrow morning.  Clear day with south wind.  Gobed 9 PM

23.  Wednesday.  6 AM.  Ther.  31.  50.  40.

Clear.  Abbott came before 8 AM. and work all day cleared out stable and picked up  old lumber and worked into wood.  Got horse shoes set and sharpened up in front.  Clear  most of day and very muddy.  Mrs. Brown called bringing Bubs first report on ties being up to last Friday.    Kink had in woods 180. W & B  310.  has gone to work himself with Riley Decker and others.  Go bed 10 P.M.

24.  Thursday. 6AM.  Ther.  31.  48.  33.

Mostly clear with N. wind slightly foggy or hazy but clouds up and mostly cloudy day.  I started on horseback for timber at 9 AM. arriving at Bob's at 1 P.M.  Found things at the tie job rather mixed.  Decide to quit making soon as I got a thousand and tell Woodrum & Byrn to stop tomorrow.  Went home with Bob about  sunset, went to bed about 10 PM.

25.  Friday, 6.30 AM.  Ther.  24.  50.  37.

Clear white frost after breakfast.  After breakfast Bob and I went over and counted W & B ties.  They are nearly too large and many of them rough.  Recd 160, culling only four.  Ought to have thrown out 20 or 30 of them.  Kirk reports  in all in the woods 201.  Bob and Riley D. have made 32  Will let Bob and Kirk work a while on south end of timber till I get a thousand out.  Bob is not very well and is hardly able to work .  Pleasant day and cloudy toward night.  I started home at 1.15 PM and was three hours on the road.  Children went to Chinese show.  8.30 PM.

26.  Saturday, 7 AM.  Ther.  30.  42.  30.

Nearly clear, white frost, hazy , smokey, mostly clear day.  Wind N. grows colder afternoon.  Tie men all up.  Settle with Woodrum & Bynes after some quarreling.  They pretend they are going away.  Bob sent up count of everything received by John Kink.  The whole no. recd. and in the woods now is 750.  Am afraid I will have trouble with them made by W & B.  Went up town at night to get some flour and other grub.  Lots of folks in town today.  Tue has tooth ache at night  go bed 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.