August 30 - 31 and September 1 - 11, 1891 and 1902 in Charleston, IL HIGHLIGHTS

August 1891

30.  Sunday

After Sunday school the girls went down to Dionna with Frank Harris folks.  

31.  Monday

H.G. did not go on hunting trip this morning as he intended.  Tue putting up some peaches I bought at Wrights.

September 1891

1-5 there is only weather

6.  Sunday

7.  Monday

John cut hole in barn to throw out manure and cleaned out stable

8.  Tuesday

The fair began today. 

9.  Wednesday

About the usual crowd for second day of county fair.  they have put admissions fee to 50 cents for Friday and Saturday other days 25 c  

10. Thursday

Tue, girls and WSG went to fair.  Big crowd in town and trade good for fair Thursday.

11.  Friday,  Ther  55  80  67

Heavy fog early AM. but mostly clear day.  Dukeman  took 3500 boards for Uncle John.  Stein crowd in  town and at fair trade, however was pretty good considering

August 1902

30.  Saturday

Lizzie Shoot here to dinner.  Johnny and  Lucy Handly have been down with typhoid fever some three weeks.  They think they are getting better.  Jim thrashing B.C.

31. Sunday

Drove east of town on old Ashmore road near sawmill site and down to ford. [found many mushrooms]  Tue was down to  Frank McCraveys P.M.  Both babies at Bairds and Cottons are quite sick.

September 1902

1. Monday

Large delegation of labor men and others went to Mattoon to labor celebration  

2.  Tuesday  

Ford at Walkers 18", Handlys 2/3 up buggy body.  

3. Wednesday

 I drove through Fair ground.  No shows there this year.

4.  Thursday

I took Helen and Marie out to fair after dinner and drove out to Gaines.  Marie and Helen talk of going to ranch  with me tomorrow.  

5. Friday

Get ready and start for Ranch with Helen and Marie.  Jack went with us and we went down in south hollow where saw mill was.   . . .started home at 3 P.M.  We went down by 5 mile house but then off and cross river at Walker Ford . . .  Tue attended the fair today with Mrs. Cotton.

6.  Saturday

Kate and Bacon call in morning,  I took Kate out Fair Ground.  did not attend fair this year.  they report a good crowd yesterday and today.  Tue went yesterday not today.  I sent puzzel answer to Ladies H.J.

7.  Sunday [mushroom hunting]

8.  Monday

Charleston schools began today.

9.  Tuesday

Violent storm in night.

10.  Wednesday

[Busy out at the Loxa farms]  Tue getting Maggie ready to go to Champaign.

11.  Thursday,  6 AM,  Ther.  50.  74.  48.  =  57 1/3

Partly cloudy.  Dick Wright came at 7 AM.   Richter delivers coal till cellar full.    Prob Coble shovels it back as did yesterday.  Pay him  1.50 in full.  Thos Briggs City Marshall notifies me  must cut weeds on Perkins lot.  Dick cut them after dinner.  It took about an hour.  A snake went in coal cellar today,boys found it and killed it.  Dick fixes up stove in basement and cleans up after coal.  Quitting at 5 P.M.   I got fine mess of plutens and astreus and cleans  up after coal.  Grutting at 5 P.M.  I got fine mess of of pluteris and astrealus all at Dr. Pattons sawmill but folks did not cook any of them.  I gave them to Mrs. Bell later.  Self not feeling up to mark today.  Mostly cloudy thicker P.M. and raining before dark which continued all night wind southerly AM but grew colder with N wind about 4 P.M.  I pulled front tooth today that has been annoying me for year or two  Gobed 10 30 P.M.

March 22-25, 1890 and 1901 in Coles County Illinois

March 1890

22. Saturday 7 AM.  Ther  40.  47.  37  =  41 1/3

Part cloudy wind N. Demo Township primary good many in town, trade only fair.  H.G. complaining and at home most of day.  I stay at store most of time out of wood again  Brownfield saws some up two or three  poles.  Think I heard of dog Carlo last two months or more ago.  Pleasant cool day NW wind drying fast  gobed 12.45

23.  Sunday.  7 AM.  Ther 34.

Clear.  NW wind. Start for ranch about 9 AM getting there at 1 P.M.  Fired Simon at Wes'  Johnny will go to work tomorrow  Gobed 10 PM.  Light rain at times in night from E or SE.

24.  Monday, 5.30 AM  Ther.

Cloudy, wind S. John and Rile work in in west pastures cleaning off  for grass samples.  Castrate and dock lambs AM.  Have 46 R and 22 E.  I went down on river  where disputed line is and measure up what logs are left there, about 3500 ft.  There are 13 logs left and about 10 have been taken away.  Simons hauled load of strips P.M.  Went after Hanleys harrow which didn't get.  A fair ewe died tonight after being sick a few hours.  Pleasant warm and windy, light sp rain in night.  Gobed 10 PM  Violent S and SW wind.

25.  Tuesday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.

About clear wind west John started for town with small load of wood getting back about 5 P.M.  Reports road good. brought chickens down  Rile and John make stakes and and rails in west field.  John brought feed down  Reports no hay at home.  Go bed 10.30

Ferocious W wind all day. 

March 1901

22.  Friday 5.30 AM.  Ther  25.  70.  43.  =  46.

Clear light S.E. wind.  Dick came  about 7.30 and worked till noon mostly cutting wood.  Jo Gaines came for load of manure 8 AM.  I see John Marshall advises me to have bond &c fixed up at once.  Look at harrows W & T. over take Ma and Mrs. G going to Loxa. Ate dinner at G's afterward went to Loxa Saw McP. No money.  Buy plow Linder 13.00  Decide to get harrow of W.O.Y.  Came south road home.  Nancy Grishu and Mrs. Mote ride to town with me.  Folks, except self, all went to Passion Play moving pictures.  Pres Church at night.  Mostly clear day, southerly wind.  Roads mostly dry and pretty good.  Go bed 9 PM  Jo sows clover & timothy west of house after dinner.  Tell Jo  John & wife can remain there a while but not long.  John working on Loxa section  Gobed 9 PM

23.  Saturday  5.45 AM.  Ther  25.  55.  52  =  44.

Mostly clear.  Gaines came 8 AM. taking out load of manure and new harrow.  John Simons and Warren put horses in stable.  John has sold part of his place to Ina Brown.  Met Ina with Will Decker and talk about scrap lumber on mill site.  J.H. Marshall fixes up lease and bond for Garrison Bros. and they sign lease will fix bond soon as possible. No word from Maggie  Expected to her home today.  Tue went over to Grove's showers PM and at night not heavy.  Gobed. 9.30 P.M. --

At top of page : 25th Tue had several Reading Circle ladies here P.M. fixing up program for next season.

24.  Sunday.  6.30 A.M.  Ther.  51.  68. 60.  =  59 2/3

Partly cloudy.  Self feeling badly.  Tue better than for several days.  Ferd here to diner.  Drive down to Mrs. Owens toward night.  Geo Kellogg and I drove down to Myers lane to see new gravel road.  Dirt road very muddy.  Partly cloudy day southerly wind.  Very heavy rains with much thunder in night and some hail about 9 PM.  Owen and Reynolds boy help me get cow in.  Phebe stayed all night with Lizzie Shoot.  Gobed  8.30 P.M.

25.  Monday  5.10 AM.  Ther  50.  62.  45.  =  52 1/3

Cloudy, S.E. wind.  Branch was high in night and washed out lower flood gate.  Clara washed.  Pay Mel. Stark Charleston personal tax check - $4.63  Pay Loan Assn. dues and int.  Mar 1 to May 1.  17.10  Deposit Garrison ch 50.00 and 15.00 cash at 2d  Clears off AM. and bright pleasant day with SW wind.  Streets drying fast.  I drove to 3.20 PM train but Maggie didn't come.  Haven't heard from her since last Wednesday  Gobed 9 P.M.

January 1 - 2, 1889 and 1914 in Charleston, Illinois

January,1914

1.  Thursday.  6.30. AM  Ther.  32.  36.  34. = 34

Cloudy S.2.  Phone H.G. to bring stuff from from Interurban freight sta (sic) which he did   stopping briefly to read M.P.S. letter.  Tue phones Rene.  Bert has been sick.  Walk up town after dinner getting cigars.  Talk with Heddins boys whos father recently died,  Pay ticket a/c at Pay nes (too much) $2.50 getting calendar for record as usual H.G., Nat and Mrs. Curd came spending evening.  H.H. to supper.  I talk with the Heddin boy, up town also.   Ike Miles.  Cloudy day with light Southerly winds.  Bureau predicts snow.  Gobed 10 P.M.

2.  Friday. 6.30. AM.  Ther. 34.  40. 34. = 36.

Cloudy. S3.  Snowing ground covered.  Learn that Geo. Boulware Co. Clk. died last night.  The  R.C. did not meet today.  Payne phones that I over paid him in settlement.   and he owes me 1.50.  I quit smoking last night and burn up old stubs and cigars.  This  my first day without any tobacco for nearly a year.  Phebe spent afternoon at Lizzie Shoots.  Jessie Dunn and Mary Jane call a while P.M.  Tue ironing at times.  Mrs. Purtill called at night She has been  living in Oklahoma.  Cloudy day with about 2 in. of snow and slush.  Wind shifts to NW at night.  Gobed 10.

January 1889

1.  Tuesday. 6 AM.  Ther.  20.  39.  28.

Clear SW wind.  Broke the coffee mill this morning and tried without success to mend it.  Byers called PM to say that he and Woodrum had been unable to find a place to board down at timber.  There was an eclipse of the sun from 3 PM till sunset.  The  globe - (?) did not come today.  Hat was here toward night.  The Myers girls were over in evening.  I made a batch of candy for Maggie and Phebe.  Clear day  go to bed  10 PM

2.  Wednesday, 6:15 AM.  Ther. 25.  42.  30.  

Clear and fine.  Westerly wind.  School begins again today after a vacation of 10 days.  Get $40.00 for ties of Geo Sefton Agt.  Looke insures dwelling for three years for 600.00 premium  $6.00.  R. Rutherford up pay him for Kirk fifteen dollars.  Helen went home P.M.   Went  down to depot at night.  Sefton paid me for 100 ties.  Went up to  Frank Dunns office at night.  Tue and M & P spent evening at Davis'  Gobed 10 PM  (?) on dwelling for 1,000 for 3 years.

September 3-4, 2012 in Charleston, IL

3  Tuesday, 5.30, AM.  Ther.  70.  94  72.  = 78 2/3
Clear, N.E. 2.  Emmett hitched up.  Grubbed out Gov. wood cherry S.E. of house: fixes fence and water tub- other odd jobs - and cuts weeds again on Perkins lot.  Tue finishes ironing A.M.  Today about  the hottest day we have had.  Self barely able to get around on afc rheumatism and heat.  Emmett works til 3 P.M. and pay him ch in full 2.55.  Mostly clear A.M. clouds up with heavy showers beginning soon after 3 P.M. (.85) to 5 P.M. mercury fell to 68 about 4 P.M. but rose later. I drove up to P.O. cash Kate's M.O.  Drove  to Crins corner to water mare.  Little rain after 4 P.M.  Rainbow about sunset.  Cloudy at .  Put mare in pasture where has been most of weak gobed 8.30 P.M.


4  Wednesday,  6 AM.  ther.  70.  92.  78.  = 80.
Clear S.E. 2.  Tue feeling badly and  did not get up til 7 A.M.  Ph.  J.E.Mc for jug Monarch.  Which got 10.30.  I hitched up mare.  Shave self A.M.  Tue lay down much A.M.  She gets letter form Muggs.  Grant people back of us  moving out A.M.  Chicken gets caught in trap A.M. which we cook.  Pay water rates for 6 mo. to Jan. 1, 1913 $6.00.  Pay Aug. Electric bill, 2.29.    Lizzie Shoot calls  P.M.  I write a scattering letter to Muggs.  Drove an hour or two late P.M. S.W. and then E toward Endsley's where came near wreck  turning.  Clear day and one of hottest.  Tue over to Groves till 9 Gobed 9.