April 1-5, 1891 and 1902 in Charleston, Il

April 1891

1.  Wednesday.  6 AM  Ther  37.  61.  52. = 50
Clear. S.W. wind.  Reported that there is prospect of a war with Italy causing good deal excitement up town.  Pain in side seems worse this morning and went up to Dr. Pattons  Took some of his medicine but felt worse than usual all day  Settle with Johnny Decker for ties all but 1.65 held for culls. Uncle John  Eastin tells me has sold his tie timber to Ledbetter  Tue cleaning up yard P.M.  Mrs. R wash PM.  Tue went to church at night Mostly Clear some cloudy toward night night wind S.W.  9 PM

2.  Thursday.  6 AM.  Ther  47.  43.  38.  =  41
Cloudy N. wind wind.  Sprinkle rain 6 AM.  Feel some better this morning.  Stay at home all day and take tonic  Mrs. R. and Fannie iron.  PM.  Maggie went to Highlads for milk.  Cloudy day with NW wind sp rain occasionally and at night  Learn that Fatty Knock died last evening at the Asylum at Kankakee. Go bed 9 PM.

3.  Friday 6 30  AM.  Ther  30.  34.  27  =  30
Cloudy and snow flying.  wind N.W.  Dont feel as well as yesterday.  Fatty Knock was buried today  Tue went to the funeral at 2 P.M.  Hat was here toward night, she and Tue  went over to see old  Mr. Wentz who has sick long time.  Rechters folks moved from here a week or so ago.  Maggie and Phebe went to birthday party at Griffins in afternoon.    Maggie didnt come home  Tue and Phebe found her at Latta's at 9 PM.  I stay home all day.  The pain in my side about same as yesterday  Cloudy day.  Snowing lightly when got up and continued lightly all day mostly melting as it fell.  Wind w. or NW  Crail has not shown up this week  Go bed 9 45 PM

4. Saturday.  7 AM.  Ther 26.  33.  31.  = 30
Cloudy and snowing lightly wind NW.  Tue about sick  Self about the same as yesterday.  Maggie has a very sore tongue for a very long time.  Went up town first time since Wednesday.  Democrats considerably interested in city election, they don't know who to run for mayor.  Uncle John was in PM has been sick with cold this week.  Trade light for Saturday.  Jo Handly will lend me a load or two of corn till the roads improve.  Tue to Davis toward night.  Mostly clear dayue felt badly all day.  Maunie Lang over to supper.  Gobed. 11 P.M.

5.  Sunday.  7 AM.  ther  28.  43.  38  =  36 1/3
Clear  a little haze.  Wind SW. heavy white frost this AM  Maggie did not get up till 9 AM. her tongue no better.  Phebe and Marie went to S.S.   Tue to church AM.  Self stay home all day  Found side of meat fallen down in smoke house  and partly eaten up by mice.  Children and Tue went up  to  Davis toward night.  Mostly clear day S.W. wind  Hazy in P.M. gobed 9 PM

April 1902

1. Tuesday.  6 AM.   Ther.  30.  35.  31.  =  32

Cloudy NW wind.  Rhoda washed & working till 3 P.M.  Township election Did not hitch up today.  Too cold for me to drive to Loxa. Cloudy all day and occasional snowflakes  Most of day  Tue went over to Groves at night.  Fern Griffith stays all night with Phebe.  Jenkins sends bill which is some 197.00  I have done nothing about fence in the bottom.  I seems difficult to find good hand to make fence.  Have had to keep fire in furnace all day.  Coal will not last many days at this rate.  Gobed 9 PM

2.  Wednesday 6 AM.  Ther 32.  41.  34.  =  35 2/3

Clearing off light westwind.  Learn that Republican ticket carried excepting J.W. Waltrip for Commissioner.  Wrote  and mail letter to Aunt Cornelia asking Uncle M [Marcus] to send me 20 Keiffer pear and 50 Columbian raspberry.  I intend to set there in bottom.  Didn't eat any dinner.  Get ready to go to Loxa P.M. but thought too late.  See Co Surveyor and we measure across pasture and find that my fence on 5th St should set further out some four feet.  Partly cloudy and quite chilly Gobed 9 P.M.

3.  Thursday, 6 AM.  Ther  27.  46.  39  =  37 1/3

Mostly clear E wind.  Charley Jones found me in banken shop We went to  Court house and look over old delinquent list  He thinks Sawin will release over 8 1/2 acres sold for taxes.  Mrs Eastin here to dinner.  Prof. Baird family moving into her house which now belongs to the City  She will leave for the west in  day or two.  I ate too much for dinner and felt badly all P.M.  Saw Billy Watson and he says will run lines for fences tomorrow P.M. if I can be here,  Rhoda ironed P.M. but gave it up.  Tue went to church at night  Mostly clear day E & S wind  Gobed 9 P.M.

4.  Friday  5.30 AM.  Ther.  28.  50.  40.  =  39 1/3

Mostly clear Easterly wind.  I got started to Loxa 8 A.M.  Old Queen tried to run away on  road out there.  Jo and Wall breaking: have about 12 acres broke.  They are working south of house  Shirley breaking down by Loxa.  Three families in Loxa are quarantined for small pox also Wallace Defenbaugh.  Take Mrs. Shirley some chrysanthemums  Saw Ora. Try to settle with McPheron but I didn't have my a/c with me  Pay Al Newby 2.00 for calf services of bull.  got home about noon  Get Watson P.M. and we establish line for fence on west side lot 127.  It runs 3 to 5 feet further in street than original fence  We measure west from Sixth St.  on Van Buren on on Harrison and get line form these points.  Tue had Reading Circle here PM with refreshments.  Saw Emmett Fritz.  He says he will help me tomorrow  Mostly clear day northerly wind Gobed 9 P.M.~~        

5.   Saturday.  5.40 AM. 30.  55.  50.  =  45
Clear white frost Southwind. Emmett came working till 3 P.M.  Pd him 1.00 which is 10c. over.  He hitchedup & carried out all ashes.  Sorted and ? post s for bottom fence, and carried down cellar a lot of wood also ground up some of our tools  Mr. Bell had oil stone and drawing knife supposed   John Simones and Warren in after new planter amt, of Dr. Bush lumber 491 ft oak and elm amounting to $8.36.   Pay  interest on Mrs. Eastins note up to next Nov. 1.  Elvira Garrison pays $5.00 on rent for Mo. end 14 inst.  Kate Bacon called PM and stays to supper   I took her over to Franks - a very dark drive as lights were out.  It began to sprinkle 2 PM and occasionally after that with heavy thunder showers and wind later say after 9 P.M.  Tue and Groves folks intended to to entertainment at Normal  but too threatening.    Laura Clark stays all night with Marie and Phebe  went home with Hannah Marshall  Gobed 8.30 PM.                                         

March 1-8, 1890 in Charleston, IL

March 1890

1.  Saturday 6 AM.

at ranch

John went after hay to Sims got a small load of the of the best we have had.  Rile worked till noon, and settle with him for work done to date.  He still owes me for two months rent.  Several lambs died today and three well five new ones this morning.  Pretty clear pleasant day but cold NW wind.  Gobed 10.30 PM.  John and wife went out to barn in night

2.  Sunday 6 AM. At Ranch.  Ther

Clear day.  John and Warren went for corn.  I walked over across hollow AM.  Johnny Decker dined with us.  Rile Decker worked all day at odd jobs.  Had to nail stripes on south side of shed when wind changed to SW in PM.  There have been six lambs today two died in house.  Gobed  11.30 PM

3.  Monday. 5 AM.  Ther.                34  =
Partly cloudy.  John started for another load of hay at about 8 AM.  I work with sheep and lambs till 10.30 AM and start home getting there at about 3 PM after the roughest ride I ever had.  I counted lambs pretty carefully this AM and make 49 alive most of them pretty good, as nearly as I can tell then have ten of them died, and 43 of the ewes have had lambs 16 ewes have had twins according to this.  Two or three of the remaining 27 ewes are probably not with lamb.  My trip home nearly used me up and I did not go up town. Abbot brought me some cull posts and cut up for wood toward night.  Our worst trouble at ranch is want of milk for young lambs, John will buy a cow as soon as he can.  Gobed.  10.30 PM -- 

4.  Tuesday 7 AM  Ther  27.   27.  19.  =  24 1/3
cloudy and snow flying from NW.  Mostly clear day with N.W. wind.  Remain at home all day all the neighbors have called today.  Hat was here toward night.  Feeling badly self and took some oil sat up till 1.30 AM waiting for it.   Abbott cut lot of cull posts and some poles into stove wood  Grows colder.  The street lights not lighted tonight  nor last night  Tue spent evening up at Lattas  Gobed  1.30 AM

5.  Wednesday.  7.30 AM.  Ther.  Ther 13.  25.  16.  =  18
Cloudy and snowing lightly from N.E.  Snows about 1 inch AM.    Went up about 10.30.  Remit Dunnaway.  Pabst. F. Strauu & Co in full send WHR  JM A(?) & Co. Louieville KY to free (?) B ? Whiskey.  Bert down to dinner.  Came in with team and wagon.  Bim was married last Saturdat to Ora Easton.  Bill Kelly works at store washing bottles P.M. says has good cow to sell.  Spent evening at store first time in a week .  Street lamps not going tonight.  Go bed 11.30 PM

6.  Thursday 7 AM.  Ther  4.  27.  21  = 17 1/3
Clear with N.E.  wind.  Get letter from Aunt Maria.  The first in a long time.  Uncle John down to dinner.  Bim and wife are going to live with him this sumer (sic).  Get samples grass seed from WS Hill and pay him for all I have bought.  Council meet at night and vote to have special election on license question on  Apl 23.  Tue feeling badly today and also at night.  Marie sick in night - Tue  thinks from swallowing a piece of chewing wax.  Tue and baby got up and spent night on the lounge down stairs  Mostly clear day with N.E. wind:  hazy night.  Circle around moon.  Sat up till after 2 A.M.

7.  Friday 7.30 AM.  Ther  21  32  22  =  25
Cloudy and snowing from S.E  Tue not feeling much better.  Self about sick all day and night had high fever at night did not go bed till 2.30 AM.  Snows lightly most of day from N.E. about 2 1/2 in  Mrs. Eastins sick sent Ed for Ed for whiskey  Trade light, did not go up town at night  Bill Kelly gives me order for his cow if I want her at $25.00  He recommends her highly.

December 1-4, 1889 and 1900 in Coles County IL

December 1889

1.  Sunday,  8 AM.  Ther.  26.  46.  39.  =  37.

Clear.  W.S.G. cleaned out stable AM out of hay and nearly out of straw.  Tue cooked two rabbits for dinner.  Mrs. Mount was buried today.  Jim Walker died Friday.  Maunie Lang here most of the day.   Walked over to look at Eley hay rack and decide that I don't want it at any price.  Clear day light wind.  Gobed 9 PM

2.  Monday  7 AM.  Ther  36.  58.  48  =  47 1/3

Clear and fine, SW wind.  Mrs. Rogers washed and ironed.   Uncle John in town not down to dinner.  Has traded Kline Farm with Burgers for Gage property paying some 1500 dollars to boot.  I start for ranch about 3 P.M.  Getting there about dark.  Milt and Frank hauled jag of hay today from John Van Meters barn.  Mostly clear day and quite warm.  Very strong SW winds.  Roads bad by bridge river barely fordable.    Gobed  9.30 P.M.

3.  Tuesday.  6 AM  Ther at C.  43.  43  36  =  40 2/3

Damp cloudy day  Johnny Decker worked 7 to 5.  Milt hauled two loads corn from Martins.  Hang gate in barn door.  Corn crib floor, some troughs Warren bought load corn 16 (?) @ 25. 56 bush (2 loads) from Martin @ 22 1/2  self hurt left foot with timber  very painful in night couldn't sleep.

4.  Wednesday 6 AM.  Ther  at C.  34.  41.  39.  =  38

Cloudy.  Johnny worked 7 to 5.  Milt went to town Stanberry suit compromised.  Milt got home about  8 P.M. slow rain good part of PM.   and in night  John and self make rack in  in sheep shed  with troughs  Ran up balance of stairs,  Milt got 400 lb shats at Wings.  Wind S.  River fordable.  Milt returned by Walkers   F Drake daubed on house today.  Gobed 10 PM  a corn kept me awake nearly all night.

December 1900

1.  Saturday. 6 am.  Ther  32.  50.  34.  =  38 2/3  Foggy N wind  Didn't sleep much with toothache all night.  Lamn came 730 working all AM cutting up kindling and other jobs.  Meet Brown in town and have a settlement of my collections to date  Pay him 40 65 check  We decide to  quit soon as he can finish up some sawing now on hand.  Drive down to Wrightsville to catch John Simons  He will set some men cutting wood on me Monday 65 cts and burn brush.  Tue ate dinner at  Groves also children.  I did not eat dinner.  Pay Lamb in full 1.50  Was up  town while after supper.  Mort and Kate over at night  Mostly clear day self about sick.  Have lately been eating and drinking too much.  No tobacco since I quit!  Was at Marshall's office AM.  More there  Gobed 10.PM

Shorthand at top of cage.

2.  Sunday.  6.45  AM.  Ther.  32.  55.  47.  =  43 2/3

Clear Southerly wind Heavy white frost.  Thought it was snow when woke up.  Start for ranch 10 A.M.  Went to John Simons where Jim Decker used to live.  Ate dinner after which John and went back to where End and Jol will begin to cut wood in morning.  Not much good timber till things get back some distance.  Will pay them 65 cts per cord for good wood  1 ct for good 10.0 posts.  We  then went over to Ira Browns and talked a while  It was after dark when I got home  Roads generally good little mud, but rough.  Clear day Southerly wind.  Roger Bennett rode a ways with me going down.  Gobed 8 PM~~

3.  Wednesday.  6 AM.  Ther  30.  40.  38.  =  36.

Clear N.W. wind Martha Parsons did not come yesterday as promised by phone other day.  Shirley called AM and Paid 168.19 ch for our half bal of corn also paid rent on 5 acres in hungarian 25.00  Pay him for labor 4.00  This was an extra I never heard of.  Thought made mistake but couldn't find him up town.  Bert was down to dinner.  Has been sick.  I drove out Gaines to take hammer &c  He had been hauling up wood today.  Deposits above check and other cash at 2d Natl 224.49  No book.  Bal in B 15.00  Cloudy day estimated 245 acres 2046.00 or 8.35 average per acre.  This is so much better than past years that feel encouraged to continue  farming.  All hands away at night as usual.  Maggie was sick in night.  Tue and self got up  Gobed 8 P.M.  Lloyd women said would come to wash Wednesday morn early.

4.  Tuesday.  6 AM.  Ther. 36.  40.  37.  =  37 2/3

Cloudy NW wind light.  Maggie feeling better and went to work.  Sell Harding lot Cull 544 @ 1.50      8.16 which  Crt on my coal oil a/c.  They are putting in steam pipes from 4th west on Jackson.  Intended going to Loxa but will wait till tomorrow.   Pay Mike Millen a/c 10.50   Courier 5.50.  C.E. Winter 5.50 all chs,  Telephone Martha at Cent. says she is not coming at least, not before New Years.  dark and chilly day wind Northerly to N.W.  Rain and sleet AM at times, very light however.  Tue over at Mrs. Knocks at night  Gobed 9 PM.

September 8-9, 1889 and 1900 in Coles County Illinois

September 1889

8.  Sunday.  6 AM.  Ther  60.  80.  62  =  67 1/3

Clear or nearly so SE wind  Start for  woods 8 AM.  Investigate supply of posts on ridge W. of W. Decker.  Count up sheep, thought had lost some of them  get home at dark   gobed 9 PM.

9.  Monday.  6.30 AM.  64.  84.  68 =  72

Cloudy.  Mrs. Rogers washed and ironed.  Tue not very well.  Drake hauls up load of posts and moves 8 ft. posts.   Sam Adams takes boards and pays for them.  Crass helps all day.  Took Mare again to Montgomery's house.  Go bed  11 P.M.

September 1900

8.  Saturday, 5.30 AM.   Ther  65  93   72  =  76 2/3

Clear easterly wind  Drive to Mrs. Owens after breakfast but couldn't get her so Tue does the work herself.  Miss Ford expected Sunday.  Johnny Decker in town perhaps for last time as he has with his family started for the "Nation."  I drove out west of town to see them.  Shirley came in with balance of B.C. 3 loads.  98 bales weighed 29070 lbs. @ 82.50 per ton  My share  ( one third) came to 399.71 which deposit  at State Bank Corn not well baled.  Shirley had, he says 38 AM.  Armstrong not yet sold.  I drove out to Gaines about 3 PM.  Jo not at hand working and in Broom  Corn.  Get some corn, tomatoes and eggs getting home 8 P.M. by lower road.  Sick at night think form eating soup.  Ferd was at our house in afternoon  Has left his father and intends going east.  Helen and Louise left  but went back    Heard that Bert got home from Dakota  Mostly clear day with light northerly wind  Gobed 8.30  P.M.~

9.  Sunday.  6 AM  Ther  70.  97.  76  =  81

Partly cloudy, Old Mare loose last night and ate most of corn I got yesterday about  15 ears.  Drive her today.    Starting for Simons 9.30 AM.  Ate dinner there.  John and I went down to mill yard before dinner out afterward went over to corn field.  He will bring me load of corn Tuesday.  Very sultry day and I start home early because could not get cooled off.  Ode Eastin rode to town with me.  Queen about played out when I got home.  Hitch up Roan and drive with  Tue out to G. Linder place getting home 8 P.M.  Miss Ford* came today.  Normal begins Tuesday.  Gobed 8.30 PM.

*  Ellen Ford, (1865- 1948) came to Eastern in 1900 and was there until 1934.  .  Miss Ford had a Masters of Arts degree in Latin from Syracuse University,  1894.  In  1921, she was instrumental in the reorganization of the Normal School to a teachers college.  Ford Hall was named after Ellen Ford.

January 30 - February 2, 1889 in Charleston, IL

 January 1889

30.  Wednesday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  22.  43.  37 = 34

Clear with fresh S. wind.  Maggie went to Lucille Skidweny birthday party today.  She is not feeling very well today.  She complained of headache last night.  I made a mess of yeast for Tue today.  Went up town toward night to get some meat &c.  Talk a while with Comer on the way home.  He says the river is low and I think some of going to timber tomorrow.  Maggie has a chill at night followed by fever.  gobed 9 PM  Warmer night then they said  with south wind changed toward morning and grows colder.  gobed 9 P.M.

31.  Thursday.   6.15 AM.  Ther.  30. 24. 22. = 25 1/3

Mostly clear strong N.W. wind and growing colder fast  Ther at 8 AM. Neither of the girls attend school today.  Warren Decker and John Simon call to see about hauling ties.  Tue still complaining of toothache and headache.  John  Simon says he will sow timothy and clover see for me.  Black day N. or NW wind clear at times  Gobed 9 PM

February 1889

1.  Friday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  13. 40. 31.  = 28.

Clear wind south.  Neither of the girls went to school today.  H. & H.  were here to dinner and most of P.M.  H.G, talking again of going into sawmill business and if license carries, liquor.  Tue's teeth still trouble her and she is thinking of having them extracted.  Clear day with S or SW wind.  Gobed 10 PM.

2.  Saturday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  31.  50.  37.  =  39 1/3

Clear wind W.  Johnny Decker called  and I pay him up for seven days work at making posts.  Received from W.H. White 16.80 for 42 ties:  Did not know I had any our and they be somebody elses.  Went down to  look  at them P.M.  Deposit $21.80 at 2nd National Guiney paid me bal on wood 4.00 leaving 12.60 due yet on wood.  Uncle John was down to dinner.  Walked down to Depot with John B. Hill.  Saw Mr. Reagan at Depot.  Pleasant day.  gobed 11.40 PM   Mr.  (?)wick died last night.

November 19 - 30, 1888 in Coles County Illinois (Highlights)

November 1888

19.  Monday.  - Tue went over to Perrill's toward night.  Mary Perrill arrived home with her two children last week.  Sat up and read Century till 10 PM.

20.  Tuesday. Trying to find some one to work  on stable but couldn't.  Went to work myself in PM.

21.  Wednesday. 6 AM.  Trying to find help on stable.

22.  Thursday. Mr.  Chowning came early and worked all day.  He charges $1.50 per day and suits very well, today he put all the flooring I had down in the loft and got his stairs well started.

23.  Friday.  Men and boys working on stable.

24.  Saturday.  Hat was here to dinner and all PM.  Tue moved sideboard into kitchen.

25.  Sunday.  Went to timber by Handley's  Ford.  Tue had company to dinner, Laura , husband and children.  Tue churned all the evening and butter didn't come.

26.  Monday.  Maggie broke my thermometer this morning and I had to buy another.    Maggie did not go to school.  Stable work.

27.  Tuesday.  Stable work.

28.  Wednesday.  Came near having an accident with gasoline this morning from getting hold of the wrong can.  Johnny Decker called.

29.  Thursday.  6AM.  Ther.  38.   42.  38.

Cloudy, misty. N. wind.  Thanksgiving day.  Cloudy all day with fine rain or snow at times.  Chowning works on E side of building.  Easton brings (?) load of wood and takes two loads down to Laggert.  Pay Brownfield 2.75 bal due for labor.  Pay O. Martin 10.18 for 2490 lb. hay.  Tue over to Perrills toward night.  10 PM.

30.  Friday, 6 AM.  Ther  35.  38.  37.

Cloudy and damp.  Chowning worked all day putting band round stable fitted windows. and boxed up stairway.  Light snow fog or rain by turns all day.  Tue and children  over to Myers to dinner.  Learn that Prof. Lee died a day  or  two ago.  Wrote letter to W.H. White inquiring about R.R. ties.  Cloudy all day NW. wind.  Gobed 8 PM.  

September 3 - 8, 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

3.  Monday. 5.45 AM.  Ther.  543.  75.  55.
Clear.  At timber all day.  Bob hauling iyt lumber 5 men work on N. ridge .  Went down to  mill yard with Bob.  He has most of best lumber out.  Clear and pleasant.  Fire  old  oak stub which fell toward night nearly catching some of men.  Go home at 7 P.M.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.

4.  Tuesday, 5.30  Ther.  49.  83.  64.
Clear and pleasant.  Very warm in timber.  Went down early and remain all day  5 men at work mostly in second hollow and ravines.  Some of them have to thresh tomorrow and cannot work.  Been chewing some for a day or so.  Don't feel pretty well.  Get home about 7 P.M.  Gobed 9 P.M.  Johnny Decker and self  got basket grapes.

5.  Wednesday,  5.30  Ther.  53.  75.  60.
Clear and cooler.  Went down to timber early.  Nobody at work or clearing today.  Took Bob down lot of groceries 2.20.  the boys are all threshing.  Riley Eastin making boards near old mill site.  Wander round till 3 P.M. start home.  Marshall Walker stops me while to talk about road.  Get home 7 P.M.  Get basket crab apples.

6.  Thursday.  5.30  Ther.  49.  75.  58.
Clear and pleasant day.  5 men at work along N. side of clearing.  Have about decided to put in wheat on all I can plow.  Wm Walker stops me in the morning to talk about road.  The cow did not come home tonight.  Bob Brown fixes hill and begins hauling boards out of bottom.  Decide to  build my sheep barn west of house and he will pile rest of material there.  Get home 7.  Gobed 9.30

7.  Friday, 5 AM.  Ther.  57.  83.  70.
Clear and very sultry AM.  Clouds up good deal before noon and sprinkle rain several times P.M.   Five men at work N. side clearing till noon finishing the sprouting for present.  Work in road P.M. burning brush and sprouting.   Threatens rain but passes off with nothing but sprinkle.  Lost whip today, but Harrison Muller found it for me.  Riley Easton working on board tree on N. hillside.   Cow not home yet got home 7.10 P.M.  Gobed 9. PM.  Mrs. K pays rent for Aug.

8.  Saturday, 5.15 AM.  66.  83.  70.
Clear and warm start for timber at 7.30.  Two men at work  Oce and Steve work till noon.  Leave word with Riley Decker that don't need Oce any longer.  Bob cleans out spring in afternoon.  I started home at 3.30 (?) pays Tue 2.00 today.  Got half bushel of potatoes  there at night.  Cow has not come home yet.  Sell Ezekeil Eastin 900 boards @ 50.  He is to pay in hauling.  Tue and children  went up town at night to hear band.  Gobed 8.30