July 12 - 31 , 1891 in Coles county, IL HIGHLIGHTS

July 1891

12.  Sunday,  7 AM,  Ther,  67,  90  69= 75 1/3

Clear.  S., wind, straighten up cecropias this AM.  They had become somewhat demoralized.  There are, however some 280 of them alive alive at date   girls went to SS Tue to church.  Clear and hot with fresh wind, S.  Start for ranch 330 PM.  S. wind

13.  Monday,  4.30 AM.  Ther  70.  93.  80  81

Clear.  SW wind.  Try to burn off rye stubble this morning but too much dew.  Boys left some fire in field and went to working ties, but before noon fire got and burned whole field over, burning out several parcels of fence.  Johnny and Rile work at ties John Simons puts in good part of PM patching up burned fence.  I went down to river A.M. ground near the river nearly covered with thousands of little frogs.  I started home at 2.30 PM getting there at about six oc.  Owen Black rode with me from Adkin's.    Mostly clear day.  Lightning W. and N.W. at night  Very dry and dusty.  Boys had hard work to save wood and fences down at ranch today, fresh S.W. wind  Gobed  10 30 P.M.  Old cow had male calf today.

14.  Tuesday,  6AM.  Ther 69. . ..  Send word to Hamon want butter.

 Mostly cloudy.  Heavy thunder shower 230 AM to 5 AM with showers.  Brownfield worked P.M sh...ing hens under the hog pen  Took buggy up to to Pugh. for repairs.  Cecropia worms not doing very well.  Decide to put most of them out of doors.  Mostly cloudy AM mostly clear PM.  gobed 11 PM.  Harding fixed gutter on store P.M.   Took buggy to Pughs

15.  Wednesday,

Circus in town  H & H [Henry a& Hat Gramesly] down to dinner  Bert to dinner.  Uncle John in town but not down.  Put cecropia from walnut tree in front to tree on hillside.  9 in No.  Trade only medium.  About  like last circus last week.    

16.  Thursday

Tue and children go to Hats to dinner.  Got  buggy from Pughs not done so take her back.   Uncle John down to dinner.  H.G, made draw of 270.00 yesterday which will make us short on payments this month  

17.  Friday

Brownfield brought home buggy and washed it off in morning  I painted in afternoon.

18.  Saturday

Buy new grindstone for ranch.

19.  Sunday

20. Monday

Old William Ricketts died at 2 PM. Had been confined to house but a a few days.  Order 3 doz bar glasses from Busby & Company, write  to several  ? for prices of show cases.

21.  Tuesday

Nick's baby  takes sick again in P.M and I stay at store alone at night.  Maggie not very well.  Old Mr. Ricketts was buried this afternoon.

22.  Wednesday

Brownfield works while in AM.  QuitGrand Army

28. Tuesday - H.G. tells me he wishes to attend the Grand Army Friday at Detroit next week three or four days.  First lot of (cecropia) on tree one of them came out of 4th molt today.

29.  Wednesday  find lot of young men in pasture down under willows.  Put  6 oldest cecropia down in bottom on tree.  

30.  Thursday  Uncle John down to dinner.  He is much dissatisfied with tenants on all his places.  

31. Friday Nicks baby was bad again tonight and I had to stay at the store.  Ship 37 kegs empty kegs to Dunnaway.

August 21-26, 1900 in Charleston, IL

August 1900

21.  Tuesday.  5.15 AM.  Ther  74.  98.  82.  =  84 2/3

Mostly clear lightning N. all night.  My feet itching kept me awake.  Start out to Gaines about 8 AM.  They  thresh most of time.  I was there.  There is much trouble in holding hands most of the time.They are paying 1.25 here with 1.50 demanded by many.  I start home 1 PM  Very sultry day and mostly clear, variable light wind.  Miss Green and Mrs. Knock here at night.  I drove down again to see Kellogg but he cant help me tomorrow.   Gobed 9 PM.

22.  Wednesday 6 AM.  Ther  72.  90.  77.  =  79 2/3

Cloudy Northerly wind.  Much thunder with some wind and rain between 2 and 3 AM.  Making streets muddy.  See C.D. Mitchell and send to planning Mill for him three 2 in plank 8 in wide. by  Thed Arnold.  B.C. hands on  strike for 1.50 per day Shirley and wife were in P.M.  Armstrong has given up  Shirleys B.C. and S is going to finish it himself.  See Geo Kellogg and says will try to go to work back of store tomorrow morning.  Kate Grove  and Charlotte here at night.  Gobed 9 P.M.

23.Thursday. 5.30 AM.  Ther 75.  95.  80.  =  83 1/3

Mostly cloudy wind west.  Was light shower about midnight  Streets some muddy.  Armstrong in town after hands and employs several.  Promised to go  on his note but ask him for mortgage on clover and he gets money otherwise.  Employ Jack Van Pelt to work back of store.  Mrs. Grove and Mort over at night after I had gone to bed.  Dr. Patton was hurt in runaway Tuesday and is very bad today.  I intended to go to Loxa this P.M. but could not get away.  Buy lumber at Minton's for back fence at store.  Van Pelt cleans up privy  &c.  Owen did not come till dark tonight.  Maggie and Phebe went to doings at Paris.  Mostly clear day.  Thunder at night gobed 9 PM

24.  Friday. 5.30 AM.  Ther  75.  95.  78.=  82 2/3.

Clear.  Girls got home about 2 AM.  Lulu Dorsch with them.  Yesterday Frank Snider told Tue big story about  Johns mistreating his children.  Dr. Patton thought to be some better.    Clear day with strong SW wind.  Van Pelt builds back fence of stone.  I start for Gaines about 3 PM.    Jo Cutting BC for Shirley I decide to stay all night and slept but little on account of bed bugs and coffee.  Shirley  expects to finish  cutting tomorrow and Elisha Smith will do  his threshing Sunday.  Armstrong is also cutting.  Jo has some leg. play 7 up till 9 PM.  All BC hands are now getting 1.50 per day.  Gobed 9 PM  

25.  Saturday.  4 AM.  Ther.  70.  90.  75.  = 78 1/3

Partly cloudy.  Shirleys gang gets to work before 6.  I start home 7.30 taking tomatoes and potatoes.  Take sample  BC to Wright think  can get today 80.00 or 85.00 John Simons in to settle for hauling lumber.  Pay him 18.02 for his  11.58 and Warrens 6.44.  Dr. Patton still mending.  Van Pelt finishes about noon and I pay him up deducting old bill of 50 c.  5.00; pay Loving for haul trash.  Marie went with Oka and Ruth Decker when they returned home to Terre Haute today.  Marie intends to visit there till next Saturday.    Go bed 10 PM.

26.  Sunday. 6.20 AM.  Ther  70.  85.  72.  =  75 2/3

Mostly clear.  N.W. wind.  There was a light shower in night.  I drove down to  Coonnod Schey  to get him to put in urinal at store and then start for ranch 10 AM.  Earl lets me through upper gate and I went to mill where Simon and Ira were setting .  Ira and  I ate dinner at Simons.  Decide to let Ira saw awhile as he has been doing with understanding (stated before Simons) that in case of dissatisfaction of either party will make a new contract or quit entirely.  He  thinks this week will  finish up BC threshing and will go back to mill.  Ferd was in today first time for several weeks.  Tue writes Mary Sayre about Ferd.  Simons   went over to cornfield.  Corn looks very well.  Light spirinkles rain several times and with distant thunder S or SW.  Get home before dark.  Gobed 9 PM --

August 30- September 1, 1912 in Charleston, IL

30   Friday,  6 AM.  Ther.  70.  90.  80. =80
Cloudy, light fog.  Tue ironing AM.  I drive S.W. looking for "flux weed."    The mare felt foxy and flies are bad so she made good time.  It tired me out to hold her.  I did not find any of my weed.  Mike Fletch formerly  of Loxa calls to rent farm.   Also (?) Hensley of Humbolt.  Tue deposits oats check at 2nd NB.  Jack and self both getting better.  Toward night we drove E. to scene of his accident last Thursday.  Take mare to Nickles.  Kate Grove and her sister Sarah call this evening.  Mostly clear light southerly wind.  Gobed 10 P.M.

31  Saturday,  5.30  AM.  Ther.  72.  92.  80. = 81 1/3
Part cloudy S.W.2.  Tue and self get off for Loxa before 8 AM. driving to Loxa first.  Tue calls at Mrs. Wests and at store.  Pay up Charley Jones for R.H. and afc to date 7.77 ch.  Met Cliff at Loxa and he follows us to farm.  Parker and Plow working on shed.  Harman went to W. side with Tue and Self. I offer him clover meadows to cut for seed for half.  Says will cut new clover S.W. cor of NW 40 about 5 acres for half.  Tue bought chickens of Lulu.  We went out to Cliffs to weigh it.  Harman when struck me at Loxa was on his way to thresh S.  We reach home before noon worn out with  Harman the heat.  One of the hottest day, light SW wind.  H.G.  called P.M. to renew &c.  Mare about worn out when we got home.  I drove to Fritz before dark.  He will work for me Monday.  I put mare in pasture.    Mail check 82.05 to S.H. Record for tile.  Gobed 10 P.M.

The Weather for August, 1912.  Mean daily temperature 73.  Max 92. on 13th, 18th, 19th, 29th and 31st.  Min 46 on the 5th on.  Rain 5.17 in.  thus 1.2 on 9th, 1.21 on 13th, .34 on the 16th and 1.37 on 20.  It rained on 15 days and has been a damp month for August.  Clonchieress 33 1/2 %  Many oats are still un threshed.  Streams are high for season.  There has been much thunder.  The roads have been quite muddy at times.  Corn promises well but much weedy.    The roads at present are fine.  The duration and direction of winds have been - N 2 2/3 days N.E. 4 2/3; E 1 2/3;  SE 2/3; S 6; SW9 2/3; W 4 2/3 and NW1 days  The winds have been light, few winds  storms.  Corn is standing up, grass weeds and trees are making unusual growth.  Oats 25 cts, Eggs 15 young chickens 20c per live pound.

September

1  Sunday  6 AM.  Ther.  74.  90.  78.
Clear S.W. 2 a hot night.  I forgot to put up bar last night and mare was out.  Find her in library lot.  I didn't hitch up today.  Tue went to church and got paper.  Mrs. M. and Beulah Howell call meanwhile~  Another very  hot day and I keep quiet as possible.  Clear day with S.W. breeze.  Mort and Kate have been over to Mattoon.  Go bed 9.30

The REAL August 10, 1912 in Charleston, IL

Yesterday, I posted from July instead of August, so sorry.  CMS

100 Years Ago  . . .

10.         Saturday,   5.30 AM.  Ther.  58.  78.  68.  = 68

Mostly clear, SW.2  Nick Smith over yesterday.  He has quit  the Dole House of present.  My Rheumatism appear to be getting worse.  We will have to get new grate to our furnace before setting it up.  Kate's Libbie came over from Mattoon on 11 car.  I took her with provisions, which she brought, over to Frank Balch's where they  had daughter die last week of scarlet fever.  Another is not expected to live.  Buddy and  Chas. arrive from Mt.C about noon for visit.  Phebe is getting ready to go to Chicago tomorrow morning.  Alfred finishes yard A.M.  Much cloudy day with severial (sic)  PM,  Mort and Kate over at night.  The rain to 6 P.M.  measured .22 in.  Go bed 9.30  Buy 29oz chick of Ray Smith.

August 2, 1912 and 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

100 Years Ago . . .

Friday,  August 2, 1912  6 A.M.  Ther.56.  78.  66. = 66 2/3

Part cloudy, N.2.  Spend an hour or two fixing up old buggy and harness.  Frommel repairs traces. Sibert removes front shoes.  Tue went out  to Chautauqua AM staying until night.  I drove south P.M. to Kickapoo and beyond.  Met Mel Stark and others Walker's Ford.  Lindsey Barnes has field of big B.C.  He lives on McKinzie place near Mt. Zion.  Mort and Kate over at night on  porch only.  I did not meet them.  I  take mare to Nickles:  Snorff boy brought me home.  Fair day with moderate northerly wind.  Go bed 9.30

125 Years Ago . . .

Tuesday, August 2, 1887     6 A.M.  Ther.  70. 99.  75.

Clear.  Started down to mill with H.G. before 8 A.M.   Commer says about finished up.    Where he is ,  We came home by Farmington getting in 3 P.M.  the dust in places is immense.  What corn I saw did not amount to much.some dryer down there than here.  Hot close day, no clouds.  Hat spent day with Tue.  Mrs. Perrill, Kate P. and Mrs. Davis call at night.  Baby and Phebe are better.  Go bed 9 P.M.

July 13 and 14, 1912 and 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

100 Years Ago

Saturday, July 13, 1912,  5.30 AM.  Ther.  70.  94.  76. = 80

Partly cloudy.  S.W.2.  Mare was feeding on library lot when I got up.  She jumped pasture fence..  McNeel says will begin on furnace next Monday and finish it.  Saw J. Simons up town, says John and Halley will cut and haul my posts at 35 per.  I may go down there tomorrow weather favorable.  Today one of ht days, sultry.  Thundershower 4 PM (.10)  more at night (2.7) and very threatening from 7 P.M. to 10 P.M.  I took my horse to Nickles at night with some intention of visiting  ranch tomorrow.  It was too hot for self to move much.  Go bed. 9.30. 

Sunday, July 14,1912,   6 A.M.    Ther.  68.  92.  82.

Mostly Cloudy  SW.2  I had  intended to go to ranch today but weather too uncertain.  The wind NW early and cloudy, but it became hot quickly.  I drove  to E. part town for bread got R.H. paper and then drive to woods east looking for fungi.  There were many coming but too hot for me to move round in woods:  got a mess of Chanterelle but they prove full of worms.  some fellows down there picking raspberries in the woods.  I got home before noon and remain there the rest of the day.  Mort and Kate over P.M.  I drove down for ice late P.M.  Tue over to Mrs. Leroys at night.  I consult J H Marshall about Sexton Fence.  This perhaps hottest to date.  Most clear day after 10 A  Gobed 10.30 P.M.  Mare to Nickles.

125 Years Ago

Wednesday, July 13, 1887,  6 AM.  Ther.  75.  101.  79

Clear.    Got paper from Geneva notice of Frank Ansley's* marriage.   Gave W. Decker order to sell E. Easton 8 cords of wood on ground.  Tue undertakes to do the washing and gets pretty well used up.  I got the dinner and helped a little.  Ruth Davis over  most of afternoon playing the girls.  Baby not  very well and pretty cross.  This has been  the hottest day this summer.  Got letter from  Uri at Mattoon think can get a room there and advises me to do so.  Clear day wind southerly some cloudy P.M.  Pay Tom Hutton 2.00   an old a/c had forgotten.    Gobed 10 P.M.

*Cousin from Geneva, NY

Thursday, July 14, 1887,   Ther.  80.  103.  .79

Clear.  Ther. upstairs last night stood at 88 where 78 downstairs.  Fix up hose and water new strawberry bed.  Sort over papers at stove after dinner.  Alarm of fire about 4 P.M.  Clayton Stables.  Clear  AM some clouds PM.  Bim in town toward night.  H.G. says they will want posts to put round the square pretty soon.  Too hot for  any kind of work and terribly dry.  Go bed 10 P.M.  tue and children selpt down stairs.

Charleston, Illinois June 23, 1912 and 1887

100 Years Ago

Sunday, June 23, 1912  5 AM  Ther.  54.  82  66. = 67 1/3

Clear N.E.1.  The rats have begun to use my trap again.  W.H. Taft was renominated for president last night at Chicago.  After getting R. Herald drove east to Timber.  Thought to find some mushrooms but nothing coming.  I got home about noon.  Parker called P.M. will fix Loxa floor in morning.  Mort and Kate came over P.M. first time for several weeks.  They have both been sick.  Later I drive W +S.W.  getting home before dark.  Mostly clear day.  Light N. E. winds .  Crops are looking well.  Corn small for time of season.  It has to cold for corn.  Gravel roads fine.  Dirt roads dry but pretty rough.  Gobed 10 P.M.

125 Years Ago

Thursday, June 23, 1887  6.30 A.M.  60.  74.  56

Clear N.W. wind.  Crass didn't come as promised.  Drove down to Young's after my scythe.  Hunt H.G. up to see about short lumber, says he will take it.John Rice re set mares shoes.  Pay him for it 80c.  Caren near setting premises on fire burning some  weeds on hillside.  Whole family out to fight it.  Mrs. Link called P.M.  Mrs. Davis helping Tue sew afternoon.  Drove with M. + P.round town after supper.  Chew tobacco yesterday and today: have quit  Gobed 10.15