April 8-9, 1914 and 1889 in Charleston, IL

April 1914

8.  Wednesday.  6 AM.  Ther,  28.  34.  26.  =  29 1/3

Part cloudy.  N.3.  Ice 5/8 in.  snow flys most of A.M.  Order ton of coal (nut) from B. Pa &  Co which came 2 P.M.  We needed it badly.  Tue attends Emma Knock funeral P.M. and then went over to Mrs. Curds.~L.D. Norton called signing collector receipt which he had forgotten.  Paul Warman calls leaving horse at shed at night.  I fear will not like new lot of coal.  The house has felt cold all day.  Part clear day snow flying much of day.  License was voted down in Mattoon and a large portion of state yesterday  Gob 8 P.M.

9.  Thursday.  6 AM.  Ther.  22.  48.  36.  =  35 1/3

Clear. N.W.2. wh. fr. ice 1/2 in.  Billy Hatton came but didn't expect him.  He works m(?) if day in bottom cleaning up in bottom:  cutting up fallen willows.  Worked a while at wood pile later. and before quitting carries up coal for night.  The new coal does not show up well.  John S. Parker calls an hour or two P.M.  Since Mrs. P. died he is batching.  Bill will come in morn but too wet to spade garden, quits at 5 now. ~  Mrs. Will Stoddert called P.M.  Most clear day light N.W. wind.  Later.  Tue went to town.  The Morties were over 7.30 to 9.30 P gobed 9.30 P.

April 1889

8.  Monday 6 AM.  Ther.  37.  67.  48.  =  50 2/3

Clear or nearly so.  light white frost.  H.G. thinks there is not doubt about license this year.  I start to timber at 9.30 taking two bags orchard  and blue grass seed.  Get  Steve Decker to  sow it on ground we have cleaned up.  The other boys work at burning off N. of middle hallow.  found two gaps down in my fence.  Got home at 8 P.M. pretty tired.  Kink and Warren were hauling out ties.  Go bed 9.30 P.M.  Warm with S. wind.  Very dry .  Had good deal of trouble with the fires today clouds up at night and sprinkle rain.

9.  Tuesday  6 AM  Ther  52.   68.  50.  =  56 2/3

Cloudy tart at 9 AM.  Wind S. sp rain on way   Boys cutting on ridge making wood fence.  O.D. and others worked P.M.  burning brush and helping hang gate near house.  All the cleaned ground is now seeded.  Steve finished sowing the S.W. corner this  AM.  The enclosed field  sown last winter is up nicely but needs rain.  The whole county is suffering from drouth.  Buckeye leaving out.  An occasional peach blossom open - the trees are very full.  Service berry in full bloom.  River getting pretty well down.  Got home at 8 PM.  Gobed 10.45 PM.-

March 14-18, 1914 in Charleston, Illinois

March 1914

14.  Saturday. 6.30 AM.  Ther.  38.  68.  46.  =  50 2/3
Clear.  S.3. Pay telephone for Feb. 1.70  Helen, John and Geo. came 9 A. to stay the day.  I intended to go to sale at McNeil's old shop but didn't feel able.  After dinner order mare and drive SW to Sam Walters gate, getting home about 4 P.M.  Tue went up town with Helen and children before 3 P.  Found roads generally good but I drove mostly gravel road, Jack  went with me.  I drove round by Hattons.  He will come Monday if a good day.  Leave mare at Nickles.  Crawford brought me home.  There is much snow in banks yet along fences and in the woods.  This is first day have driven mare since Jan 31.  Harryman's BC warehouse burned 8 PM.  Gobed 9.30


15.  Sunday.  6.30   AM.  ther.  36.  70.  58.  =  54 2/3
Clear. S.1.  Strong gas.  Light white frost.  Make little  fire furnace A.M.  Tue went to church and got paper.  We had dinner 1 P.M.  Order mare at noon and 2.30 P. drove down Kickapoo road going down by Normal and west at Tom Phipps farm.  Found some pretty tough road but none serious.  Nothing starting much  Pussy Willow earliest.  Catkins on hazel.  The  worst roads were on  road leading E. from Woodson.  Jack went with  me and got treated bad by dog at that farm I came by gravel road meeting several autos.  I got home 3 P.M.  Taking mare to Nickles later.  Clear day light southerly winds.  Tue not well, did not go to church.  Gobed 9.30


16.  Monday.  6 AM.  Ther.  44.  56.  42.  =  47 1/3
Part cloudy.  W.2.  Bill came 7 to work.  He took out all ashes recovering dump to  DR grate.  Trims up much of trees not finished, however.  He went down for IE McRoller Rake yard and begin rolling will come in the morn.  Part cloudy and much cooler than (?) w. to N.W. winds.  I was out doors most of time today and get  pretty well tired out.  Gobed 8.30


17.  Tuesday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  38.  48.  32.  = 39 1/3
cloudy S.2.  Bill finished rolling  "Andy" Cooper took JEM roller to C Lee's.  It rained lightly much of forenoon but Bill worked much of time in barn where we hung a door after much trouble as light rain continued I paid him off at noon ck 2.25.  He will work for Paddy McNeil tomorrow and on L.D. Norton collector calls PM  and I pay him Lafayette taxes $162.58,  It is  some higher than last year.  The young man failed to  sign the tax receipt.  Later Arthur Johns Collector Hutton Tp. came and I pay Hutton taxes 38.02 which is the highest in recent years.  Most cloudy day light showers at times very dark from NW at 3 P.M. growing colder with strong N.W. wind.  Tue went up to  library for book after supper.  Have not investigated Charleston taxes yet but will soon as go up town.  They will return books Apl 1 Norton said.  Gobed 8.30


18.  Wednesday.  6 AM.  Ther.  26.  36.  32. = 30.
Clear. N.4.  Today takes good fires again.  Order ton of coal from B.Pa + Co they deliver 10 Am.  think about 600 lbs. on hand yet.  This last order makes over nineteen tons for the past  season.  T.W.P. I fix up solder outfit and repair some tin cups P.M.  Had to est the precipitation yesterday at .10 ins.  Hatton called and want to work tomorrow.  Mostly clear with light northerly   Tue went to church at night with Mrs. Brooks.  Gobed 9.30