February 12- 15, 1891 and 1902 in Charleston, Illinois

February 1891

12.  Thursday 6 AM.  Ther  30  50  41

Partly clear SE wind.  John Decker and Rile went to work making ties.  Simons taps sugar tree AM and burns brush PM.  Warren hauling posts out of hollow.  Start home 3 PM.  roads worse than yesterday and didn't  get home till dark.  I walked over to rye field on Decker Ridge this AM.  I suppose it looks very well.  Pleasant day mostly clear with S.W. wind Trade is much better this week than it was last.  Gobed 1

13.  Friday.  7.30  Ther  27.  48.  30.

Clear W. wind, Quigins said he would help me today but failed to come.  Tue not very well.  The girls got supper.  Billy Chilton was kicked by a horse today and supposed to be fatally injured  Miss Vaughn and Mrs. Davis  spend evening with Tue.  Clear day with Northerly wind  Gobed 12

14.  Saturday 730.  Ther  22  51.  38.

Clear S.E. wind Brownfield worked most of forenoon fixing mushroom in small ned.  I sent for the spawns this evening.  Settle with W Decker and Chet Burnnett.  Uncle John was down to dinner.  He has rented the Phillips farm to one Dukeman an shares  Jeff returned from Springfield this AM. and went to Fontenet Ind tonight to arrest Laker and Ratcliff implicated in PO robbery here.  Milt Drake in town says he intends to fence and cultivate the ground he leased from me.  Warren took out a bushel of clover seed to sow on rye  Trade moderate, week much better than last  Clear day with S. wind  and roads generally very good  go bed  1.45

15.Sunday, 8 AM.  Ther  36.  48.  37

Mostly cloudy S. wind  Girls went to Sunday School.  Tue to church.  Work a little at mushroom bed.  Ate dinner after 3 PM.  Cloudy day with south wind : light rain  1 PM to 5 PM and again began at qq PM.  Gobed 1

February 1902

12.  Wednesday 6.15 AM.  Ther.  5.  25.  16.  =  15 1/3

Clear, west wind.  The Domestic Science Club met here P.M. and Tue was at  work all day getting ready for them.  There were fourteen ladies from 2 P.M> till say 5 P.M.  I remain in furnace room keeping fires.  Gang of Union men came near fighting in afternoon up at McGurtys.  Had been cutting and hauling ice for McG.  Clear day with NW wind signs of fair weather at sunset.  weather report  says continued cold.  Tue got pretty tired today  Gobed 9 P.M. ~~

13.  Thursday.  6. A.M.  Ther, 2. 32.16.= 16 2/3 (drawing)

About clear SE wind.  Rhoda comes to iron.  Jo Gainies (sic) came in just as  I was about to write to him.  Has not been doing much lately.  Retha sick  He came for med for her.  Thinks might hire May's brother cheap.  I gave Jo check for 5.00 for all meals and 11.00 on wages.  He says have over paid him to date.  Jo Waters my horses for me, and left about 11 A.M.  He says the Galbreath Store at Loxa is closed out.  Rhoda worked till 4 P.M. washing curtains &c.  Tue over at Groves at night  Gobed 9 PM.

14. Friday 6 AM.  Ther.  8.  25.  12. = 15.
Some cloudy E. wind. quit drinking coffee this morn.  Vivian here to dinner.  Simons called after dinner.  Claims has  hauled good many logs to Ira Browns mill since I was down and will haul more.  Ira has bought Bill Decker's interest on mill.  Bill has sold place (Jane's) and they will move to Oklahoma soon.    Comodore Eastin is going with them.  They will not take lucy and Johnny Handley.  Pay H.G. 1.15  Col for him by Tue.  Stomach feeling badly today.  Clear day Northeasterly wind.  Roads said to be fine but somewhat smooth.  Gobed 8 PM.


15.  Saturday.  6 AM.  Ther 1. 25. 22 = 26 (16)
Clean. NW wind. Young Benchet called to see about H.G. place.  Meet Bridges of Loxa up town says next Sat. is pay day on R.R. and will send me  2 MO rent (10.00) sure  See Zack Scott in Court House.  He .Js living on Sole McClask place.  says 30 acres of good bottom land.  Garrisons rent due yest.  Met AJ.Weil of Cincinnati yester P.M.  Zack says roads fine even for barefoot horse.  Adams of five Felix Johnstons house 4 PM. not much damage.  See Tenant Bridges who says will pay me next Saturday.  $10.00 rent.  Decide not to sell Cols. house for less than 150.00  Mostly clear day with Northerly wind.  Mort and Kate over at night.  I was up town till 930 P.M.  Gobed 930 PM

January 3-4, 1890 and 1901

January 1890

3.  Friday, 7. A.M.  Ther.  28.  43.  34.  =  35

Mostly cloudy NE wind.  The strike on the T Sob aKC ended today.  Mrs. Rogers washed.  Phebe started to school.  The children all have bad colds.  Rec Geneva paper notice of death of Uncle Marks Mary on 18 (?)  Pay up Warren Decker for hauling wood.  Davis children and Miss Vaughn over at night.  gobed 12.30

4.  Saturday 7.30  AM.  Ther  37.  46.  52.  =  45
Cloudy, wind S.E. gets in south and remains there fine mist most of  day and night  Dark and muddy.  Trade as good as could expect, better than last Saturday  Learn that Uncle John is sick and decide to go out there in morning if weather permits.  Drake did not come and John Simon's says he will be ready to move down there at anytime.  11P.M.

January 1901

3.  Thursday.  6.15  AM.  Ther  6.  36.  24.  =  22

Clear southerly wind  Didn't get up town till nearly noon  Coony digging out pipes from main at store.  City has to stand part it  Pay Minton a/c 4.40 chk.  Clarence says Rob would take care of Phebe.  No word from her today.  Tue feeling badly all day  Clara ironing P.M.  Bill for  (?) (?) 6.65  Clear day South west wind  gobed 9 PM.

4.  Friday.  5.45 AM.  Ther.  22.  37.  36  =  31 2/3

Mostly clear with southerly wind.  Clara ironing  I went to Loxa A,M. getting there just in time for dinner  got home 1 P.M.  Tue went to R.C. at Marshall's  Clara went to dentist.  Lost large hazel cane which I thought much of must have got out of buggy along the road.  Mostly clear day Roads sloppy and quite muddy expect gravel.  Jo grubbing  gobed 10 PM.

November 24-30, 1889 in Coles County, Illinois

November 1889

24.  Sunday.  7.30  AM.  Ther 51  49.  37  =  43 2/3

Mostly cloudy, NW wind and growing colder raining at 10 AM.  Clearing in P.M. after dinner start to ranch getting there about dark  Dark and cloudy day sprinkle rains of the time.  Go bed at Milts at 9 P.M.  River road not so bad as expected went round by Jo Handlys

25.  Monday. 6 AM  Ther.  33.  43.  33.  =  36 1/3

Mostly clear day wind N or NW.  Milt and self ring old pigs.  Make gate for barn door and work on stairs.  Broke brace and could not hang gate.  Frank took scraper home but too late start.  Gobed 9 pm by load corn of Jim Decker

26.  Tuesday 5.45 AM.  Ther  33  35  35  = 34 1/3

Cloudy with E. wind.  Pick out 6  old sheep and put in pen  Make trough for them.  Began to sleet about9 AM.  Start for home before 10 AM. snow and rain all way on road.  Raining fast when got home about noon.  H.G. arrived yesterday PM from hunting trip having been gone since Nov 5 with very poor success at hunting.  Rain all PM and in night-  Pay R. J. Stuckey note and int $287.59   Conclude to quit chewing tobacco which have been using since Aug.  Gobed 10.30 PM~

27.  Wednesday 7 AM.  Ther  35  35  34  =  34 2/3

Cloudy and snowing about an inch fell which soon went  off.  Milt Drake was up horseback and started home 10 PM.  The river is said to be up swimming deep.  The Stanberry trial did not come up  Court adjourned at noon till after Thanksgiving  Trade pretty good.  Quit  chewing tobacco and began again.  Dark cloudy day with NW wind and snow flying most of time  Gobed 11.30 PM.

28.  Thursday.  7.15   Ther  14.  25.  20  =  23.

Thanksgiving.  Cloudy and snowing strong.  W. wind about 1 in. of snow on ground.  Start Tom and Jim at store  We have roast chicken for dinner no company.  Maggie ate dinner at Lattas  Most of stores closed in afternoon.  Banks and PO closed nearly all day.  Pay John McKee 1.55 on Lem McKee for sawing and split a cord of wood  Mostly Cloudy day with NW wind and light snow.  Brown and Stack drummers here.  Bought  some venison at Bill Myers at night.  Trade rather quiet  

Gobed 12.15

29.  Friday, 7 AM. Ther  10.  22.  20  =  17 1/3

Clear.  Father got up at 4.20  Maggie went to school house with Miss Vaughn.  Brown still here.  Had Venison for dinner  Clear day and coldest so far.  Trade fair.  Had to get stove delivered        up at store.  Not many country people in town  Self not feeling very well - tobacco.  go bed

30.  Saturday  7 AM.  Ther  10.  35.  28  +  24 1/3

Mostly clear day variable wind.  Milt Drake did not make his appearance.  Think must be about offered.  Paid Jim Decker for 16 1/2 bu. corn Also bought load same size of Warren to be delivered next week.  Julia Wood trial on,  jury retire about 9 P.M. but did not return verdict  self to bed time?  Pay Kelly order on FM Crony for 3.00   Trade not very good  Roads reported very rough and river unforetable (sic) settle in full with M Corner.  S wind at night  Gobed 11 PM~ Hat down to supper. 

 Average Ther for Nov 39  highest 1.65 low 29.10 extreme range 55