April 2, 1913 in Charleston, Illinois

2.  Wednesday.  5.15.  AM.  Ther.  54.  78.  66.  = 66.
Most cloudy  wid S.4.  There was good deal lightning and thunder about 2.30 AM. No rain.  Ray came late doing chores and helping hitch up.  He went up town with me holding horse while I pay taxes at Courthouse.  Total for Charleston 110.06 Paid Larry Wright J/P Col.  Get letter of 31st. from Tue  per carrier 9 AM. was  intending to start home today under date of Monday.  Agent here says trains not running farther than Lawrenceville yet.  Gus brought us doz. eggs.  The election went entirely dem.  I drive west 4 P.M.  to Shannon cross road N. to N. Mat. road to Huffman Lane N. to  Tp line and back to town by lane E. of Stoddert place about nine miles.  Saw no muddy road but very rough dirt.  Gravel roads are good.  Stodderts have cut most of their timber. past winter.  Dr. Patton has also been thinning out timber and cutting back brush in his big pasture.  Harness broke near Cemetery Cottage but get her stopped without damage.  Mostly clear day with violent wind, southerly.  I ate supper which was pretty hard work lay down sleeping til 9.30 whew gobed.

December 3,1912 & 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

1912

3.  Tuesday. 6.30 AM Ther.  28.  50.  46. = 41 1/3
Clear.  S. 2.  Heavy hoar frost.  Ice 3/8 in.  Walter Smith  & Company came early so that it is about as good as it was before they worked on it.  Think  it about worn out in places.  the house was very uncomfortable this morning with no fire, got a good one by  10 A.M.  Tue got letter from Buddy A.M.  was well.  Tue   getting for some church doings which occur soon.  Hitch up about noon deposit B.C. check 321.32 at 2nd.  The check was defective being  10.00 too much on the lower line.  Drive out far as Watsons toward night.  Met Eastin with Fitz.  Is now chopping ~~  The roads are some muddy - not deep.  They are still hauling crushed onto south road.  Have a light application for about half mile E. of Shannon's.  Return S. road.  Jack went.  He has swelled jaw.  Part cloudy.  Light southerly winds.  Read Borcacico at night.  Go bed 10.30~

1887

3.  Saturday.  6 A.M.  Ther.  44.  54. 55.

Cloudy and raining frost.  Pete Snider came about 5 AM for family for Fan.  Patton stopped about 8 A.M. saying Fan couldn't live wanted to see her father  Start out to Uncle John's in heavy rain, about 8.30  He came in with us but Fan was dead when we got back Uncle John and Tue went down there afternoon getting back before night.  The funeral will be tomorrow 2 P.M.  Christian Church.  Phebe had but slight croup tonight and hope she is over  with it.  Guiney paid me in full for wood $3.00.  Rain occasionally during day very heavy in forenoon, heavy at night.  Baby cried till midnight.  Kate Myer had been taking care of her today.  11 P.M. 

*Personal note- this must have been a very difficult day for my family.  Fan lived all the way out by, what is now, Lake Charleston.  That would have been a difficult ride in a buggy and heavy rain.  Tue and Charles had two sick kids at home.  My mother has always told me that babies often died in their first two years of life, so the baby being sick must have worried them a great deal.  Fan had three small children that would need cared for.   Though this happened many years ago, my heart aches for all of them.  CMS