August 29-30, 1889 and 1900 in Coles county IL

August 1889

29.  Thursday. 5.15 AM.  Ther  58.  90.  66.  =  71 1/3

Clear smokey.  Start at 6.10 with girls.  Milt Riley and Enoch work at digging all day.  Think have got a good supply of water for stock.  Began on well for house.  Two had to work hard, roads very dusty and pastures getting very dry.  Get home 7 P.M.   Found two drummers waiting for me.  Brown and Nelson.  Warren brought up a load of posts.  Gobed  10.30 PM

30.  Friday.  7 AM.  Ther  69  94.  70  =  77 2/3

Clear - Bill Kelly works while for me in morning.  JTS drummer still here order claret from Thirsker,  Tue has caught very bad cold.  Uncle John  came down but didn't stay for dinner  Milt brought in load of wood selling to Moderal in part from old watch.  Quit chewing tobacco tonight.  Have been using it for about a month.  Gobed 11 PM.

August 1900

29.  Wednesday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  67.  90.  70.  =  75 2/3  

Clear.  Very heavy dew several mornings.   Clyde Ashby choring  Maggie Devone ironing  Tue  fixing up Miss Ford Room.  Drove out to  Fair ground.  Marshall getting their BC out of buildings  Get some fungi   Lepiota  Canlifer    Simons brings in load of lumber all sorts.  He has  brought John's   ( Decker)and Jim's plans and they will start for the Nation or Arkansas soon.  Molter wants to buy our B.C,  Geo  Rosebraugh offer 80.00  Lon Armstong brought me sample of his father's brush.  Look for cow supposed to be out.  she proved to be in pasture,  Gobed 10PM

30.  Thursday.  5.45.  A.M.  Ther.  66.  92.  75  =  77 2/3

Mostly clear.  Easterly wind.  Our cow supposed out still in pasture.  Clyde Ashby continues working for us.  Takes home to Chas Marshalls a lot of borrowed magazines.  Tue finishes up Miss Fords room.  Start out to Loxa 2.30 P.M.  Meet Shirley with C.H. Jones.  S. says is bound to sell his share B.C. today  Jo hauling out BC seed.  Pay him 12.00 check on wages  Took out rope for well.  Shirley sold for 82.50 which is the best have heard of sales here.  I get home 7 P.M.  Clear warm day roads getting dusty.  Wind easterly.  Mort and Kate over at night  Gobed  9 P.M.

August 27-28, 1989 and 1900

August 1889

27.  Tuesday, 6.30 AM  Ther 68  90.  66  =74 2/3

Clear getting very dry.  Pasture is getting poor and well and springs getting low.  Work at invoicing stock.  Trade fair.  Very warm.  Milt got in about 2 PM with load of posts.  Warren Decker calls and will make me some more posts.   Milt reports  water getting very scarce in pastures.  Mrs. Rogers  irons.  Clear day.   Burgess  has traded his Ky farm for  the Jo Gage residence.  Gobed 10.30 PM.

28.  Wednesday 6.30 AM.  Ther 65.  90.  65  =  72 2/3

Mostly clear and very warm and  dry.  Drake brought load of wood which sold to Kelly for 3.25~ AY Wist drummer here.  Buy from him 5 BU 5.87 B(?) @ 1.00 in B.  Decide to go to woods tomorrow and take girls  Uncle John was in town but didn't come down to dinner.  Gobed 10.30 PM

August 1900

27.  Monday.  5.30  AM.  The  65.98.  75.  =  79 1/3

Partly cloudy.  Northerly wind.  Tue, Maggie Devone and Owen cleaning south chamber.  Get Queen shod in front.  Cooney  Scheyetle puts up Urinal.  One piece missing.  C.D. Mitchell gives me list of lumber he may need soon  about 27000 ft.  Shirley and wife in P.M.  (?) got pretty full.  they finished BC this AM.  There seems to be no fixed price 85.00 would probably hit average  Thought to go to Loxa, but didn't.  Owen leaves to work for Denman.  Drive a while round town at night alone.  Gobed 9 PM  Buy halter Shoemaker Cr. 1.15.

28.  Tuesday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  68.  96.  74.  =  79 1/3

Mostly clear.  Went after  Ed. Wells but couldn't get him.  Molter offers $77.50 for Shirleys corn.  Milk cow at 9 AM.  Mrs. Owen washing.  Tue and Maggie Devone work at "Miss Ford's room"   I start to Loxa 10 AM  Meet GB Griffin  with other party (Mr. Thompson (?))  Meet Armstrong who says his (?) all in shed.  Jo grubbing yesterday and today.  John Sorvers died yesterday at Loxa.  Get sack of corn )new) Armstrong destroyed or ran  over lots of corn for me.  Get tomatoes  cabbage &c.  Stop at Smiths  on way home get home at 6 PM.  Warm day with northerly  wind.  Tue had J o Ashby , boy employed doing chores when I got home.  Gobed 9 PM.

August 13-18, 1900 in Charleston, IL

August 1900

Another big "Cake Walk" at Decker park Monday Night.   Didn't go.

13.   Monday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  AM.  Ther.  70.  93.  75. =79 1/3

Mostly clear.  Very heavy rain with wind in night probably about midnight.  Maggie D got home in night.  Owen helped me hitch up AM first time since in Spring also milked at night  Has quit working at Stodderts.  Drove east of town P.M.   and ride with G Kellogg at night E. of  half Mile house Doc Bennett says Ina Brown is to pull out his engine tomorrow morning.  I took quinine AM and felt bad till late afternoon.  Mostly clear day and quite sultry yet.  Maggie gives up her Centralia trip  Gobed 9 PM.

14.  Tuesday 5.30, AM.  Ther.  72.  84.  75.  =  77

Partly cloudy.  Owen helped me hitch.  Mrs. Owen washed.  I saw Charley Mitchell and start for ranch 8.30 AM.  Getting across river.  Heavy storm from NW made me return  Met storm at Wrights where I stop for an hour getting home about noon.  Heavy rain with wind and thunder from 10.30 till 11.15 AM.  Clears of P.M. and air very close.  Speak J H Marshall about Brown   Owen milks.  Gobed 9 P.M.  (shorthand)

  Next page - Two rows of shorthand.

15.  Wednesday.  5.30  AM.  Ther.  70.  90.  75? = 78 1/3

Partly cloudy.  Much lightning N in  night.  Thought to go to ranch, but Heavy shower came up about 9 AM.  Urinal for store came yesterday but decide not to put it till Geo Gray vacates our back lot.  Wall is starting a saloon at Brocton.  West out to Gaines P.M.  Gaines gone to Mattoon did not get home till night.  Shirley and Arnut(?) in townclear hunting BC Hands.  Self feeling badly all day.  Gobed 9 PM

16.  Thursday.  4 AM.  Ther 70.  85.  76.  =  77

Mostly clear at 4 AM.  but some clouds up  Shirley began cutting BC. Jo will help him and will probably help Armstrong.  I got  some eggs  tomatoes and corn and get home 8.30.  Learn through Gaines folks that Bert has gone to Dakota.  Very heavy shower between 9 and 10 AM. but mostly clear P.M.  Drive down to see Kellogg P.M. but he was not at home.  Tue  over at Groves at night.  She is not feeling so well as usual  Gobed 9 PM.

17.  Saturday 5.20 AM.  Ther.  78.   100.  85.  =  86  . 87 2/3

Mostly clear  Roan horse was loose this morning and had demoralized everything about the farm.  Start for Gaines 7 AM.  They have about 20 hands cutting BC south of house.  Intended to go home early but went on errand for Armstrong and stay round till 4 PM.  They get to threshing about 3.  Too warm for me to move around much.  They have 15 acres cut.  Get home 6 P.M.  Pay Simons for  amt. (to date) of C.D. Michell bill coming to  (?).  Maggie Dvone and sister were going home tonight but gave it up.  Drive round town a while at night.  ( shorthand)  Gobed 10 PM

18.  Friday.  5.30 AM.  ther.  73.  99.  85.  =  85 2/3

I start for ranch after breakfst to see if Brown had moved  found him just across Blakeman bridge on way to Perry Rennells.  Says can fix up another bargain and that BC thresh will not hold him long.  Very hot especially PM and night.  Warmest night   Gobed 9 PM    Oka and Ruth Decker came at night.

August 9-12, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

August 1889 

9.    Friday.  7 AM;  Ther.  72.  90.  72.  =  78.

Part cloudy hazy.  Mrs. Knock and Tue went to  teachers institute this AM.  I got shave and haircut at Mays.  John May got shot yesterday not dangerously.  Pay K Bros, & H. Acceptance.  Remit Thurber W & Co. in full ~ Heavy rain between 3 and 4 PM.  Milt brought load of wood to Tooke, sold  McGurty posts.  Base ball game today post poned till tomorrow.  Mostly cloudy.  More rain toward night.  Trade Duller.  10.30

10.  Saturday.  7 AM.  Ther.  10.83.  65.  =  72 2/3

Cloudy, foggy, clears off  and pleasant day.  Base ball in P.M.  Uncle John and Bert both here to dinner.  Milt didn't come up today.  Sold McGurty 105 posts at 6 Paid.  Got mare shod in front of Rice's shop.    Trade fair but hardly up to mark.   Mostly clear with  N. wind.  Engage John Riley and Henry Rogers to help me next week.  Gobed 10.30~

11.  Sunday.  7 AM.  Ther.  67.  83.  65.  =  72 2/3

Mostly clear N.E. wind.  Oil and tighten up buggy.  Phebe's birthday.  She went to S.S.  meeting AM.  Mar(?) here most of day - she spends most of her time here  lately.  Went down to (?) McKees  to look at  (?) which I bought for twelve dollars.    Drove all around town afterward took Tue and baby.  Pleasant  day~  Gobed 10.30 

12.  Monday.  7.30 AM.  62.  83.  68.  =  71.

Clear.  Uncle John in Town and (?)to (?), hen (?) brought sow in morning.  Uncle J, says I paid too much for her.  I bought  3 or  four loads of corn of him which they will haul tomorrow.  Drake brought up load of 7 ft. posts.  Pleasant  day clear with SE wind.  Gobed 10.30 PM,

August 1900

9.  Thursday.  5.40 am.  Ther.  72.  97.  77.  =  82.

Clear SW wind.  Ho came 7 AM for BC shed slats  Evans orders small bill lumber for shed.  DP Rice orders about 1000 feet 2 in plank and  (?).  John Simons & Ewd Decker bring up odd lots.  Tue not feeling well and over at Groves .  Self didn't go up after supper.  Gobed 10PM.  

10.  Friday 5 AM.  Ther.  72.  98.  81.  =  83 2/3

Clear SW wind.  Start for Gaines 6.30 AM.  All gone to Mattoon.  I got lot of garden stuff and start home 9 AM.  Simons  and Earl up with lumber for Rose and others.  Brown getting  "particular"  Some heavy clouds P.M. looking a little like rain,  Heat very oppressive.  Didn't drink any coffee this morning.  Tue went to R.C. PM  Drive N. of town P.M. tow miles crops no better than round Loxa.  Tue on warpath bad after supper.  She is not feeling well.  Gobed 9 PM.

11.  Saturday. 5.20 AM.  Ther.  73.  96.  82.   =  83 2/3

Clear.  Southerly wind.  Geo Gray gets new front put in.  Urinal ordered through Van Meter two weeks ago not come yet.  John Simons brought in wood today as there was  no lumber sawed.  J.W. Decker was up and rode aways  with me.   C.D. Mitchell thinks can give me bill for 10 or 12  M feet.  Snider receives first bill all right and says and says will give me more.  Self feeling badly today Drive up at night for shave.  Cow didn't come up and I went to bed without having milked.  Lay awake all night with high fever.  Didn't have any chill.  Gobed 9 PM.

12.  Sunday. 5 AM.  Ther.  75.  96.  75.  = 82.

Partly cloudy.  Began raining about 7 AM several heavy showers during day with  thunder.  Maggie and Marie were going with excursion to Terre Haute but decide not.  Maggie Devone went home.  I feeling bad all day no appetite.  Fever left in early in morning.  Think the hot weather responsible for most of it.  Drive awhile with Tue at night.  she employs  Mrs. Owen to wash Tuesday.  Roads except gravel quite muddy.  Gobed 9 PM.

August 6-8, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

August 1889

6.  Tuesday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  54.  80.  62.  =  65 1/3

Clear.  Start for timber at 7 AM.  Getting there an hour before Milt left with a load of posts.  Riley and Enoch working.  Learn McKee at Milts get home 7.30  Came near having a runaway with mare before starting  this morning.  Had cramps all day.  Milt brought up 75 posts.    Measure Tookes wood on way home making making 5 cords.  Went back up town after getting home after some whiskey.  gobed 10.45 PM.

7.  Wednesday 7 AM.  Ther.  63.  82.  63.= 69 1/3

Clear, hazy.  Cohurst drummer  here also others.  They are putting up posts for electric light wire around town.  Went down to Depot after noon.  Milt did not come up today.  Go bed 10.30

8.  Thursday 6.45 AM.  Ther.  63.  85.  68.  =  72.

Clear hazy easterly wind.  Went with Will Myers down into Cumberland buying cattle went as far as F. Pennington's back to Farmington and over to my land. Got home about 7 P.M. Tue and girls went to Chalk Talk Show Drake brought up load of wood which he put on yard.  Gobed 10.30 AM.

August 1900

6.  Monday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  68.  100.  80.  =  82 2/3

Clear, southerly wind.  Pete Drake puts ha in stable and goes over yard with lawn nower.  Working till say 5 P.M.  I went out to Gaine's at 10 AM. yellow cows calf died yesterday.  Think heat un (?) the first day.  Jo still  woking road with team and scraper.  They promised me to stay to dinner.  Get some potatoes and corn and start home3 PM.  Take  Flora down to Loxa.  McTheron pays me 13,00 on rent.  Shinley and E. Armstrong examaning  broom corn &c,  Clear day southwind  Gobed 10 PM.

7.  Tuesday 5.30 AM.  Ther.  72.  97.  77.  =  82.

Clear  Maggie Devone washed.  Pete Drake came but only hitched up for me.  John Simons brought up load of lumber for self and Charley Mitchell.  606 feet.  Today a shade cooler than past week.  Tue and I drive out to Gaines about 5 P.M.Jo helping Shirley in his Haungarian.  McCall at Hens a while seeing Shirley and gt home about 10 P.M.  McDonald little girl spends night with Marie.  Go bed 10.30 P.M.

8.  Wednesday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  72.  101.  77.  =  83 1/3

Clear southerly wind Maggie Devone ironing.  Simons and Earl Decker bring two loads lumber, part for C.D. Mitchell and some fencing which pile back of barn.  Cass and Ocelius Shaver call P.M. until 5 oclock.  Tue  attends Pricilla Club meet with Mrs. Grove and Knock.  Heat very oppressive  clear S.W. wind.  Lulu Dorsch stays all night.  Gobed 10 PM.

August 4-5, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

August 1889

4.  Sunday.  7.15 AM.  Ther.  70.  88.  70.  =  76.

Part  cloudy.  thunder S.W. 8 AM to 10 AM. and sp. rain here.  Smokey, Bud some peach trees, 3 with luck.  No. Send, 4 white ray No.2.  Bark does not peel well.  4 black rug No. 3.  Manie here all day.  Heavy rain about 4 P.M.  Rained here all night  Gobed 9 PM~

5.  Monday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  62.  80.  60.  =  67 1/3

Mostly clear.  Pay Dunnery and Pabst.  Mrs. R. washes and irons  Drake brings up load of wood which he wells for 3.30  John Van Meter putting iron on Mrs.  Monroes Building  Took mare to Montgomery's  house  again.  think she is with foal.  The electric light people are putting up their poles.  Gobed 10.30  Cloudy NE

August 1900

4.  Saturday ,  4 AM.  Ther.  70.  99.  78.  =  82 1/3

Clear.  Alarm fire woke me up at 4 o'clock.  Kate Bucher's house near Clover leaf R.R.  Start out to Gaines at 4.30.  Jo working road.  Yellow cow's calf does not seem to be doing  first rate.   Think partly the heat.  B.C. will be cut in a week.  Get another sample  Mrs. Gaines picks a lot of cucumbers.  I get too hot and about sick all day.  Simons and Warren in with rye.  Brown has been threshing and no lumber sawed.  Learn that (?) intends  leaving ranch to work in BC harvest with engine.  Veach boy puts up hay P.M.  Les Neeses folks have just got back from the Nation this week and some of party are already in jail.  Gobed  9.30 PM.

5.  Sunday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  82.  100.  78.  = 86 2/3

Clear.?hontess folks got up very early and went to country over slept my self and did not have breakfast till 8 AM.  I had  thought of going to Ranch but too hot.  Drive S. & SW of town till after 12 oc.  Few fungi this year.  Think has been too wet.  Fried several Russula vineseias some  boleli and two or three small agarics.    This about warmest day we have had.  Clear, or nearly so.  southwind.  thought to go out to Gaines and stay all night but fear (?).  Tue and I drive with Marie till 10 P.M.  Mostly  round town.  Maggie Devone went up to her uncles and did not get in till after Midnight.  Gobed 10.30

August 2-3, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

August 1889

2.  Friday.  7 AM  Ther.  71.  85.  67.  =  74 1/3

Partly cloudy hazy mostly clear day somewhat smoky   Uncle John was up to dinner says  will bring in bull tomorrow for Milt to take down to timber.  Stores closed in PM a while and most people went out to races.  Attendance very slim for Friday very few country people in   gobed  10.30 PM.

3.  Saturday.  6.30 PM.  Ther.  65.  88.  68.  =  73 2/3

Clear smokey.  Went to depot to telegraph for beer, Uncle John brought bull in and ate dinner with us.  Milt went out late taking bull.  Paid up R. Decker and E. Johnson to date and more.  the crowd is better today than here to fair.  Pretty busy all day.  The horse fair  however was hardly a success this year, farmers being busy and being behind with all work.  Nick walked down home with me at night.  AM sun pretty "full" all day.  Go bed  10.30

August 1900

2.  Thursday  5.30  AM.  Ther.  70.  98.  82.  =  83 1/3

Fair.  SE wind.  Jim Warren began mowing yard yesterday and continued today. @ 1.50 per day.  Maggie Devone finishes ironing.  Tue , Maggie and Marie eat supper at Groves.  Self invited but didn't want any supper.  Take two sacks back to W. D. Smith.  This one of the hottest days this summer.  Mostly  clear variable wind mostly northerly.  I could do little more than keep quiet today.  Gobed 10 PM.

3.  Friday,  5.45 AM.  72.  99.  80.  =  83 2/3

Mostly clear.  Light cloudy.  Tue went away with Mrs. Shontias P.M.  Jim Warren worked at hay in yard till about 3 P.M.  $2.75  C.D. Mitchell gives me bill for lumber which he needs right away, about 2000.  Very sultry  Clear  with easterly wind   gobed  10 PM.

July 30- August 1, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

July 1889

30.  Tuesday.  6.30 AM.  Ther. 65.  80.  65.  =  70.

Clear.  N.W. wind.Crass works all day at straightening up things, and will probably work all the week.  Bis dull.  Drake brought load of wood to Tooke  McCarty pays me 45c. for posts.  Mrs. Rogers washes and irons.  clear and pleasant.  Prospect for fine weather for races.  Gobed 10.30 PM.

31.  Wednesday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  64.  85.  66.  = 71 2/3

Clear  Crass works till 3 P.M. at clearing furniture and went home his wife being sick.  Warren Decker brought load of 50 posts which he took to Milton.  Sell Alex Fischer half cord wood which Milt delivers, one more load will finish out Tookes  3 cord.  Get blue suit of  clothes at Winters for which I owe him 33.00  Trade dull for horse races.  There are more entries than usual but farmers don't seem to come to town.  The races do not begin till tomorrow.  Gobed 10.30 pm.

August 1889

1.  Thursday.  7 AM.  Ther. 67.  73.  69.  =  69 2/3

Partly cloudy, hazy, sprinkle several times during day  Wind S to SW.  Crass finishes clearing at store and pay him up.  F (?) of Cincinnati here AM buy from him half Bbl Alcohol @ 2.00  Horse Fair for some reason does not make much business so far.  Drake up  today with wood which he takes to Tooke.  Gobed 10.30

July 1900

30.  Monday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  63.  88.  75.  =  75 1/3

Mostly clear.  I quit tobacco (have been chewing since Saturday.) till Christmas next.  Jo Reat says will take 5,000 ft BO fencing @ 1.70 if good.  Looks at pile at store in back lot.  Phebe and friends getting ready for camping over at Dr. Byers.  Learn that Gaines wanted to see me and start out there 3 P.M.  Jo grubbing.  They are putting in new iron bridge opposite my place on Mattoon road.  Get corn cucumbers eggs &c but finaly (sic) decide to stay all night.  Chudy Talbot cutting weeds in road.  Jo fixes fences says horses came in corn last night.  they haul balance oats to barn Sat. PM.  Clear day mostly.  Play seven up till bedtime.  Gobed 9.30 PM.

31.  Tuesday 4 AM.  Ther.  70.  95.  75.  =  80.

Clear.  Jo helping at bridge with team today  I started home at 8 o'clock.  Yellow cow had dalf in pasture this morning   Sex unknown.  Maggie Devone washed first time  Charlotte Sproule helps Tue sew PM.  I brought in lot of stuff also sack of corn.  Com Eastin rides with me home PM.  tue and  I down at night till 9.30 PM.  She  visited the Camp at Dr. Byres.  This one of the  warmest days.  N.W. wind calm.  Gobed 10.30 PM.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~August, 1900~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1.  Wednesday 5.30 PM.  Ther.  70.  98.  75.  =  81

Clear N.W. wind.  El Marshall  tears out old urinal new one not come yet.   John Simons come with first loads of lumber 1020 ft. 2 1/2x10-14 for Tp and 79 ps for BC shed self.  We pile it all in front Perkins lot.  Simons & Warren help arrange gate posts for piling lumber on.  Heavy wind with thunder storm from north about 2 PM.  then falling from 98 to 70 within 20 minutes.  Maggie Dvone ironing.  Notify Snider that Tp. lumber is here.  Mailing letter after supper.  clears off after shower.  Ink got spilled in S. chamber today.  Gobed 10.30 P.M.  Develope (sic) two or three plates at night - first for many months.*

*These are the glass plate negatives he took.  I own many of his glass negatives.