February 12-15, 1914 and 1889 in Charleston, Illinois

February 1914

(At top of page) Miss Phebe Gramesly 4522 Clifton Ave. Chicago

12.  Thursday. 6.15 AM.  Ther.  18.  24.  20.  = 20 2/3

Cloudy N.E.2 light snow in night and flurries much of day perhaps 1 in. of light  fell during the day.  We got  a letter from Phebe AM.  She arrived in Chicago all right.  Fern has secured a place in Ohio.  I wrote briefly to her AM  Tue mailing letters.  Mrs. Nichols phones at night that had heard from Fern.  Claims that we have not  got Phebe's address right.  Tue writes to Muggs at night.  Send her and Buddy some Couriers.  Gobed 9   Cloudy day.

13.  Friday.  6.40  Ther.  16.  22.  18.  = 18 2/3

Cloudy and snowing N.E.3.  It snowed lightly much of night and began in earnest about 7 AM.  Continuing most of day.  Ed Shafter digs out walks for 30 c.  Charles comes and chores at night and will come tomorrow.  Wind  N.E. e shifting late late P.M. to North.  It snowed much of day drifting a good deal.  Guess it at 5 in.  Ed.  Shaffer dug out walks P.M.  Neither of us got out.  Self feel especially unwell today.  So stormy I did not order coal.  There is enough to last three or four days.  Learn that Ben Dawson is dead at Westfield.  I wean self out sorting old R.H.s AM.  Go bed 9.P.

14.  Saturday 6.30 AM.  Ther.  4.28.  16.  =16

Clear, N.2.  Tue gets clothes from attic and begins ironing.  She gets a letter from Henry Hildreth (Bim) at Portland Oregon inquiring about his share of Aunt fan's estate.  Today lowest temp since last Mar.2  I did not order coal can let it go till Monday.  R.H. did not come till P.M.  Charley chored and we settle after row with Tue.  Chas is poor help.  Will try  to get someone else or do work self.  Tue went up  town after grub getting half a ham.  Mostly clear day with light N.W. wind.  I get valentine card from Muggs.  A letter came from Muggs for Phebe.  We  have not heard any more from P  Gobed 8.30  Cap. Alexander died AM.

15.  Sunday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  8.  32.  20. = 20

Clear. S.W.  1.  we did not bank up furnace fire last night and house very cold this morn.  We had breakfast about 9 eating in kitchen.  Tue didn't go to church but went up A.M. for R.H.  I did not go out and nobody called. Very unpleasant day strong S.W. to W. wind with light snow much of time.  Several sudden changes in temperature especially  about  dark much colder.  The gas failed to burn today but got started late P.M.   gobed 9.30 PM.

February 1889

12.  Tuesday.  5.50 AM.  Ther.  14.  30.  21.

Clear W. Wind.  Mrs. Shaw stops taking milk.  No word from Strickland yet.  Went down to depot 3.20 P.M. train but did not get to speak to him walked down to tie pile ` none coming in although  roads are said to be getting pretty good.  they are as dry in town here as in summer town.  Mostly cloudy day strong W wind very chilly.  Snow flakes flying toward night.  Gobed 9 PM.

13.  Wednesday.  6 AM  Ther.  18.  48.  28.  

Cloudy, wind SE looks like  snow and began about 7 AM. soon cleared off. and very pleasant day but a few flakes of snow fell.  H. G. was down in morning.  I trimmed a while at peach and plum in afternoon.  Mr. Wing called few moments P.M. to inquire about the lumber.  My throat not feeling very well today.  Maggie went to school in afternoon first time in a week.  Clark girl here with children after school go bed 9.30 PM~

14.  Thursday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  25.  45.  42.

Clear .  Started for timber at 10.oc. getting there about 1 P.M. work while at putting out  fires left by John Decker.   He had been burning (?) this week.  Bob and self burn brush round horses P.M.  Fresh southeast wind blowing all day.  faxi (sic) AM mostly cloudy PM and  began to mist about 10 P.M.  Bob has topped about 60 maple trees sap has been running about 2 weeks.  Gobed 10.30

15.  Friday.  6 AM.  Ther.  39.  50.  53.

Cloudy and foggy or misty.  Wind  still SE.  Damp but has not rained much.  Heard one little dash on roof at night.  Did not sleep well a gain.  Too mush coffee for supper.  Bob and self walk around timber a while before dinner and I decide  to go home for fear of cold change.  Bob agrees t o go to work at once at sowing timothy seed.  Started home after dinner.  Roads muddy in a few  places but generally dry and pretty good.  Damp SE wind and foggy all day.  Got a few papers from aunt Marie.  Gobed 9.30 PM.

May 31 and May Weather 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

1913

31.  Saturday   5.30 AM.  Ther.  70. 96.  78.  =81 1/3

Part cloudy.  W.1.  Phone I.E.Mc C.O. booze which went and got A.M.  Emmett working for Dorsch near Interurban.  Will work for me Monday.  Hatton went to Loxa on first car and fixes up privy.  Pay him as agreed 3.00 P.M.  H.F.H. called A.M.  I feel very poorly and keep round house most of day.  Hottest day to date.  Farmers are discouraged.  The drouth is burning up the crops. Gardens go with the rest.  Mostly clear.  Some cloudy P.M. Some lightning at night.  Tue get hat and letter also birthday sox from Phebe.  She will be home in about a week.  Go bed 9.30 PM.  Get bale straw.  I.B.M. late P.M.

The Weather for May 1912  (He put the wrong year).  Average daily  .66.8:Max 96 on 31st;  Min. 36 on 10th.  Clouds 39%  Percipitation .51 in.  Mostly  .31 on 26th.  Prevailing winds N. 41/3;  NE 2 2/3;  E 1/3; SE 3;  S .7 2/3;  SW .5 2/3; W. 2 2/3, and NW. 4 2/3 days.  It was pretty dry first of month only half inch of rain drying this month has developed one of worst drouths of late years.  Nothing seems to be growing excepting the trees.  The largest corn is but 3 or 4 in.  Much of corn not yet up.  Oats and meadows will be very light even with plenty of rain.  Pastures  getting very dry.

1888

31,  Thursday.  5.30  AM  Ther.  65.  72.  53. 

Partly cloudy.  Start for  timber with Kelly about 7 AM.  getting there at 8.30.  Work all day at fence.  Riley Eastin works with us P.M. and will help next week.  Caught seven curculios on plum trees this morning which are the first except one a week or two ago.  Very few of the plums have been stung as yet and hope the season for curculia is about over.  Got home from  timber about 8 AM.  get letter form Cottedon stating that will have to obtain license in order to close out my stocks of liquor  and no rebate is allowed on stamps.  Paid Re(?) order no. 58 on N.McMorris.  Go bed 10 PM.

April 15-16, 1913 in Charleston, IL

1913

15.  Tuesday.  6 AM.  Ther.  34.  64.  48.  =  48 2/3

Clear.  N.  White frost.  Ad  Miller calls we send him to Loxa to look at work on house there. Order 3 sks. wood fiber and bunch shingles to patch house.  B.P. Andrews &co to be sent by big four. P.M.  Order four Mayda lamps from Pub service Co.  Tue gets letter from Phebe AM.  Miller will go to Loxa to repair old house in morn.  I hitch up 10 A.M.  After dinner drove up voting mixed ticket.  There drive E. part of town and over to Anderson.  fetch up later at Whalens elevator* where pay coal and cobs bill.  37.45 to date.  They brought us 4 new Masdas for which owe them 1.80.  rs. Lizzie Highland Vail came with  son Frank and stay the night.  They live at Portland, Ore.  We had good visit with them.They came E a/c Mrs. Moores death.  We are about out of coal and neglect to get more today.  Clear day light northerly winds.  The roads are dry.  They are scraping them level in places today.  Gobed 10 P.M.

* click on this link to see pictures of the elevator and much more!

16.  Wednesday.  5.20 AM.  Ther.  38.  74.  56.  =  56.

Clear.  N.W. 1.  It seemed funny to build fires without any fuel.  Rhoda came early to wash.  Helen H. called Lizzie and Frank went away about 9 AM will come again before leaving.   I find lot old letters have been looking for a week.  Hitch up 10.30 A.  and drive up town. before dinner.  Rhoda here to dinner.  Tue is getting started to cleaning house.  I begin on lot of old checks &c. and get them in shape to  pack away  up in attic.   Spent most of P.M. at same.  Tue attends picture show at church at night.  Mrs. Grove was over an hour or two P.M.  Clear day with light northwesterly winds.  Tom Shoemaker tells me  he got 204 maj. as mayor yesterday.    Get ton Harrisonville nut coal of Tuckers.  They deliver it P.M.  Suppose Ad Miller to work at Loxa house today.  Gobed 9.30

March 20-21, 1913 in Charleston, Illinois

20.  Thursday.  6 AM.  Ther.  54.  58.  46 = 52 2/3
Mostly clear.  S.S.W.4  Helen Hildreth called AM she had the mumps.  Stays to dinner going home on P.M. car.  Helen Ferish here P.M. helping Tue about  a dress.  All went up town P.M.  Learn of George M. Seftons death at 8 this AM will be buried Sat. 10 AM.  I hitch up in part but didn't drive.  Tue over to Grove's at night.  Much cloudy and very windy day.  Wind shifts to westerly with sp. rain late afternoon, more at night and quite heavy showers at times in night growing colder all day:  furious wind all night, near hurricane toward morn.  Rain to 7 AM (21) .60  Gobed 10.15

2121.  Friday  5. AM.  Ther.  36.  34.  26.  = 32.
Cloudy W.7.  The wind drove me out early.  It was a reglur (sic) cyclone.  Dessy Wright who used to work here called AM.  Tue gets first letter from Phebe for two or three weeks.  Harman phones that window at farm blown in and broken.  He was sowing oats yesterday but failed to sow clover seed.  Tue gets ready and starts for Mt. Carmel at 3.14 P.M. train.  Wentz takes her to depot.  Phone H.G. to please bring up my booze which he did about dark staying an hour or two.  Cold windy day about freezing much of time.  Part cloudy clear at night.  I sleep upstairs.  Gobed 9

March 12, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

1913

12.  Wednesday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  36.  64.  54.  =  51 1/3

Clear S.E.2.  Big white frost no ice.  Tue expected her roomers to leave today but Dr. has ordered him to stay another week.  Burn up the trash in basement A.M.  Tue got letter from  Phebe.  She had not recd. my letter of  Sunday.  Rhoda  came to wash about 11 AM. finishing  3 P.M.  Helen Ferrish came in after dinner.  She and Tue went uptown.  I hitch up 3 P.M. and later drove out to cemetery  for exercise.  Much cloudy day S.3.  The roads worse if possible.  Tue went prayer meet night good   10 PM

1888

12.  Monday.  6 AM.  Ther.  22.  37.  31.

About clear wind N.E. and fresh.  Tue made fire again this morning.  Chilly day with fresh easterly wind. clouds up at night and feels like rain.  Went uptown before dinner but felt bad all day and remained at home the rest of day.  Maggie has got through second reader and I bought her the third today.  Gobed 9 PM.

February 25-26, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

1913

25.  Tuesday.  6.30  AM.  Ther.  20.  40.  32. = 30 2/3
Clear S.W.1.  The ton of coal delivered and suits.  Tue gets letter from Phebe.  She expects to move to Ann Arbor this week to begin work for M & Darling.  Mostly  cloudy P.M. with light snow at night.  Rain or sleet later in night.  There are traces of Sunday's snow left on north hill sides.  Otherwise ground bare.  Mis Care here P.M. about library works.  Chilly day with moderate southerly winds.  Gobed 9.

26.  Wednesday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  38.  44.  40. = 40 2/3
Cloudy. S.2.  Rhoda came to wash at 11 oc. finishing about 3.  Tue feeling very poorly AM. but better P.M.  Rhoda stays to dinner.  Dark foggy day with mist or light rain and much of time a cold wave is predicted.  Cloudy all day.  Tue went over to Groves toward night  little while.  She gets letter from Buddy with one to forward to Phebe.  Heavy showers (.70) in night.  Gob 9

1888

26.  Sunday.  7 AM  Ther.  16.  20.  13.

About clear, strong W wind all night.  Cold day with west wind, cloudy and snow flying much of the time and seems to be growing colder.  Girls went to S.S. and after that went down to Hat's where they ate dinner getting home about 1. P.M.  Mrs. Davis was over toward night.  Has been  cold and disagreeable day frozen up solid again.  Go bed 10. PM.

February 15-18, 1913 in Charleston, IL

15.  Saturday.  6 AM.  Ther. 34.  52.  42.  = 42 2/3
Part cloudy, red clouds. S.3.  Tue irons most of AM. and Keeps on.  I sort out old junk in shed and clean off mare AM. John Simon calls after dinner reporting everything all right at ranch.  One King from Diona called PM wanting to cut some  poles , I refused.  Phoned J.E.W. morn for same. Hitch up before  Ray came and he went with me to Interurban fore for Bill in same.  Stopping at P.O., coming home.I got letter from Phebe she was yet in Chicago at Gages 12th inst.  Later I drove out to Huffmans returning S.road.  It is not as muddy as I supposed.  They have been erecting frame for big water tank opposite Interurban on Monroe street since I was down that way Jan. 30.  Ray rode to Division with me.  Tue went up town after I got home about 6 P.M.  Several dogs have been poisoned in neighborhood lately.  The roads not so bad as supposed.  I get Andrews bill today it is much larger than had expected.  It includes all at farm.  Roof rc for barn and roof and stripping for BC shed also current and lumber for Extension WC SW corner of house and repairs  on Loxa house.  Mostly clear till P.M. wind got NW and cloudy.  Papers predict cold wave.  The snow is gone except patches on North hillsides.  Go bed 9 P.M.

16. sunday. 7 A.M.  Ther.  30.  50.  44. = 41 1/3
cloudy N.2.  Tue retired latae last night leaving cellar lights on  they burn till 7.30 AM.  Tue slept till nearly 9 oc.  She attended church with Mrs. Brooks AM.  Getting paper which is now 5 cts. instead of 6 as formerly for a year or two past.  She went calling with Mrs. Brooks P.M.  I wait for Ray to come to help hitch up but did it self before he arrived.  I drive SW Keeping pave and gravel till turn E. OakRidge SH.  Chilly driving roads generally muddy wind getting in S. clouds up.  I got home 5.30 Tue later.  Tue writing Marie tonight.  The lights were all out for a while about 9.  Mostly clear, varible winds light rain 9 P.M. and later.  Gobed.9.

17.  Monday. 6.30 AM. Ther.  34. 54.  40. = 42 2/3
Clear. N.1.  Lt. wh. fr.  The rain last night (.10) thin ice.  Tue still writing to Buddy and sends package by Parcel this morning.  Tue  over to Bells P.M.  Mrs. Grove called 2 P.M.  Public service Co have been cutting their useless poles today on 6th St.  The city taxes every pole standing.  I hitch up about 4 P. Drove E. on  Westfield road a mile.  They have been scraping it.  The roads are worse than yest.  Met J.E.M. near Crums store.  Clear Day light variable winds becoming southeasterly at night.  Gobed 9.P.
NOTE:  This was Marie's, my Grandmother,birthday.  She was 26.  CMS

18.  Tuesday.   6.30. AM.  ther.  36.  62.52. = 50
Clear S.E.3.  There was strong southeasterly wind all night.  One of young men (Lee) roomers thinks has measles and keeps his bed A.M.  Tue prepariing for R.C. Function at Jo Reats this P.M.  I hitch up 11 A.M.  Find the terrapins in box since last Aug. doing well.  Supposed they were dead.  Lee finds he has Measles and goes home with friend to recover P.M.

December 19, 1912 & 1887 in Coles County, Illinois

1912

19.  Thursday.  6.30 AM.  ther.  30.  42.  36.  = 36.

Part cloudy.  W. 3. ice 1/4.  Tue got long letter from  Buddy yesterday and one from  Phebe this morning.  She expects to start home Sunday from Ann Arbor, Mich.  Will come via Chicago.  Too cool for me to try Loxa trip.  I hitch up about noon and drove down to  Whalens elevator.  Order load Linton coal.*  Tue wrote girls mailing letters PM.  Learn that Dick Stoddert (Harry's) is dead at Kankakee.  Order at Geo Gray's pair shoes as have been using for 12 years.(sic)  Mostly clear day Southwesterly light winds.  Go bed 9.

*

1887

19.  Monday.  6.30 AM  Ther.  35.  48.  42.

Partly clear. at sunrise.  Wind S.E.  Fresh wind all night probably S.E.   Ed. Eastin calls for step ladder.  Finish up the  pork and sausage in  morning.  Bert was in and ate dinner. Uncle John in town.  Tue went up town PM to get some things for Christmas.  Renew  note with H.G. 65.00 for 90 days.  Thought there might be some lumber come up but didn't hear of any.  The roads are probably pretty bad.  Mostly cloudy day,  wind mostly south.  Tue not feeling very well.  Took medicine at night.  Uncle John says Aunt Deal** is worse than usual.  Mrs. Davis over at night, she is making dress for Ma.  Gobed 10.30

**Aunt Deal is Uncle John's wife and Tue's mother, Eliza Cordelia Amidon.  Sadly, Cordelia was marked insane in several census.  In this entry she is also referred to as Ma.  Cordelia was beloved by the family.

December 9, 1912 and 1887 in Coles County, IL

1912

9.  Monday, 5.30 AM.  The. 14.  36.  30. = 26 2/3Clear SW.2.  ice 3/4.  This is coldest morning since Mar. 25 when temp was 10.  Furnace leaks so at times am afraid to build all we need.  Jim Turner brought me bushel butternuts P.M. paid 75c.  Grace Sefton called P.M. says her father feels better.  Her brother George Sefton has been here from Ark. for two or three weeks - returned today.  Tue gets letter from Muggs also one from Phebe.  Alfred didn't come was expected.  Mostly clear with Southwesterly strong.  Learn that  Bud Skidmore is dead.  He lived in St. Louis.  Gobed. 1030.

1887

9. Friday  6.30 A.M.  Ther.  41.  46.  46.

Cloudy, misty Wind E.  Mrs. Davis helping  Tue on dress for Ma.*  Ruth Davis sent off her cocoons today.  I packed them up last night.  A dark day.   Heavy mist from N.E.  raining at times.  Few People in town.  Roads very bad.  Learn that coal shaft is down  about 60 ft.  Phebe has not been to school this week.  Tue feeling some better.  C.G. (him) sick in night from oysters.  Baby had terrible spell of crying in night.  Her front teeth are coming through.  Gobed 9P.M.

*He is talking about his mother-in-law who is also his aunt.

Charleston, Illinois on October 9,1912

9, Wednesday.  6 A.M.  Ther.  64.  82.  68.  = 71 1/3
Mostly cloudy, S.2.  Got sauce P.M.  Rhoda came to wash early, staying to dinner.  We engage two or three plasterers and painters but none show up.  Andrews & Co take back all our unused lumber P.M.  Tue gets letter from Phebe.  Two boys from Douglas Co took 4 bu pears P.M. shaking them off.  I drove to Dicewoods late P.M. return by cemetery and south road.  Part cloudy day threatening at times Light showers about noon, did not lay the dust.,  Lightning at night.  Must have been quite a shower out by Corsel Creek.  Tue went to PM with Mrs. Brooks.  gobed 9 P

Charleston, IL on October 7, 1912

7, Monday.  6 A.M.  Ther. 56.68.48. = 75 1/3
Mostly cloudy.  there was strong N. wind much of night.  Change must have occurred about midnight.  Hitch up early  and start out to find painter and plasterer.  Buy qt. can paint at IBriggs .60 cr.  get turpentine .25c cr. at Paynes.    Met Jack Jefferies.  He does not advise me to sell Perkins lot at present.  I drove down 7th St to Guiney house and West on Polk to J Hatton's without accomplishing anything.  Try same trip P.M. with some result.  Mrs. Bell over for pears.  Tue getting rid of them to neighbors.  think 4 or 5 bu left on trees.  Tue gets letter from Phebe (also from Kate) seems well satisfied with her pasish (sic).  Tue looked for Muggs tonight and went to 8 PM train but she didn't come.  Mostly clear with strong North wind.  gobed 9 P.M.

September 14, 1912 in Charleston, IL

14,  Saturday,  5.30  AM.  ther. 66.  84.  72.  = 74.
Cloudy, E.1.  I felt poorly this morn.  Help Tue some with wild grapes.  Drove up town AM.  It seems pretty dull for Saturday.  Tue got letter from Phebe;  she had just got to Ann Arbor where she has taken a position.  Talk with Geo Hirstand about ins.  He has renewed policies  on house and contents (in Aug.) for which I owe him.  much cloudy, sprinkles 3 P.M. and light shower about midnight (.18)  I felt so unhealthy that stay at home most of day.  My appetite good but have been eating too much.  8,30 P.

September 10, 1912 in Charleston, Illinois

10,  Tuesday,  6.30  AM.  Ther.  64.  92.  74. : 76 2/3
Clear SE 1.  Hitch up early.  shave self after which dive S. around Woodson road.  They have new concrete bridge and  have leveled up hill.  I got home about noon.    Mort was over at Tue's request to see  about proposed W.C. to take place of SW. porch.  We did not decide what we would do.  Will do so later.  One Adair calls P.M. to rent room.  Tue gets letter from Phebe.  Had secured place at Ann Arbor Mich. but had not yet left Chicago.  Clear day and just about as hot as ever, very oppressive P.M.  I did not eat supper.  Tue over at Mrs. K's at night.  Learn that Harold Bacon is in town.  I have not seen him.  Go bed 10 P.M.

September 7, 1912 in Charleston, Illinois

7,  Saturday  5.30  AM.  Ther.  70.  92.  76  =   79 1/3
Clear. S.1.  The authorities have made great improvement in 5th St. back of us.  Several men still working on Library lot cutting and hauling off the hay.Think there is about half a larn of it.  ~  I drove down to plant three times today getting ice last time.  Pay Geo Shriver yest. for repairing roof 32.25  think rather steep - the repairs.  Parker called and I  make payment on work at Loxa, 30.00 check.  Harman called a few moments  Wants to engage corn at 42c.  Today about as hot as usual    Clear A.M.  Threatens rain 4 to 5 P.M. with thunder N.  No rain here.  Tue got letter from Phebe at Chicago.  I drove S.W. by Johnstown road returning by Al Latta's before dark.  Gobed 9.30