January 3, 1892 and 1903 in Coles County Illinois

January 1892

3.  Sunday.  7 30 AM. Ther 1.  18.  21. = 13 1/3  

Clear NW wind coldest morning since Feb 23 89.  Girls went to SS.  Marnie here all P.M. is going back to St. Mary's tomorrow.  Phebe stayed all night with her.  Mostly clear day  Cloudy toward night wind W.  Sat night Tinker at Marie's chair  Gobed 10.30

Alarm of fire 9 AM was Skidmore house.

January 1903

3.  Saturday, 6.30 AM. Ther 31.  34.  27.  =  30 2/3

Cloudy  northerly wind. (NW) Dessa coughing all night.  I made fires.  Howard Mitchell calling on Phebe A.M.  Jo Gaines came about 10 AM.  reports about 3 or 4 acres corn in field.  Bring in tickets for last lots by him self.  Pay Ed Lumbhart for shuck 124 40/70 bu,@3 check 3.75   WW froze and burst at store.  Reasor will fix PM  Met C Talbott who seeks Jo at G.W. Grays.  Talk with Ed Decker Jim in town but did not talk with him,  The Roads reported passible.   Jo brought 6 tickets amounted to 224 = 48 bu corn.  Miss Ford expected back tomorrow. Self &c.  Henry calls and leaves 3 doz eggs for which I owe him 75c  Light sn. ocasional .  Cloudy day  gobed  9 PM.

June 15- 20, 1890 and 1901 in Coles County, IL

June 1890

15.  Sunday, 7.30 P.M.  Cleaning  Get ice at store this morning  sort and clean out tool drawer at store.  I notified Wright last Friday June 13th the we (GB) [Gramesly Brothers] would want the Perkins building as soon as he could vacate the same.  Had old roofing hauled down yesterday and piled  back of barn.   Start to ranch about 2 P.M.  H. Mullen road down from 5 Mile house with me.  Simons folks not at home.  Saddle mare and ride over to hungarian (sic.) patch.  Found we are about out of corn pleasant day and much nicer than yesterday   Gobed 9.30  PM

16.  Monday. 5 AM. at Ranch.  Cloudy misty  Morning walk round in west pasture and go down where boys were mending washed road in hollow  Reynolds and Sampson took up load of city- stuff each.  Light rain AM.  Thunder slower  2 P.M. with little rain.  Slept a while in barn after dinner and rode over to Martin's and Milts afterward.  Boys work all day on road  Gobed 9.30 PM..

17.  Tuesday.  5 AM at Ranch  Boys went over  to cutting logs.  I went down to Mill an hour or two.  Drove down to Handly ford but too  high and had to return  Comer went with me.  Came home by Blakemans getting there about noon.  Heavy rain P.M. with much thunder and rain good deal in night  shower at Ranch AM.  Durnwey  beer man here.  Mrs. Davis helping Tue sew  Gobed 10.30

18.  Wednesday  6.30 AM.  Ther  70  85  72
Warm weather went with Moffett and inspected pile of city lumber making 7419 ft.  Mrs. D. still helping Tue.  Tue sick all night she thinks from eating  lettuce for supper  There are showers around but more here gobed 10.30

19. Thursday.  6.30 AM.  Ther  74.  97.  73.
Part cloudy, variable wind sultry day, signs of rain but didn't.  Uncle John in town yesterday P.M. has been sick.  Clown acting on N.  Buy two loads corn of A. Heddin 45 bu @30.   Start for ranch at nearly 7 P.M. getting there after 9.    Took down sack corn just about out Simmons folks gone to bed.  Enddie occupied bed with me.  Gobed 10 PM.  Geo Kellogg past up awning  Jim Warren mowed yard.

20.  Friday  5 AM.  at ranch  ther  74  90  77
Mostly clear Thunder shower 9 AM.  Start home 10 AM.  Was over in woods where boys are cutting logs Near N E corner of S forty.  Got some fungus of several kinds  Thunder showers round PM but none here.  Engage Warren to haul up shoats tomorrow and take load of corn back, owe him one load of 16 bushels  Will sell my shoats although they are very low.  Go bed 10.30 P.M.

June 1901

15.  Saturday. 5.30 AM  Ther  70.  88.  75.  77 2/3

Mostly cloudy S.E .  Buy case of strawberries of J.B. Hill  1.25.Pay  Jim Pugh for repairs for  repairs on buggy in spring.  Simmons and Warren did not come with wood as expected.    The crossing to back street not fixed yet.  Tue has R.C. women  here P.M.  Self feeling very poorly all day.  Buy gasoline can W & G  Partly clear day.  Distant thunder showers NW P.M.  no rain here wind variable easterly.  Gobed.  9 P.M.

16.  Sunday. 5.45 AM.  Ther  70.  93.  74.  -  79
Clear Easterly wind  Branch children and Mrs. Nell here before folks were up.  Drove SW of town looking for fungi:  an Col yboidaicata  and one Rusule.  get home 11 AM.  Feeling badly all day, very warm  Thunder showers about 3 PM.  No rain here I remain at home.  Plant few hills sweat corn P.M.  Gobed 10 P.M.  Tue Helen and Marie hull strawberries   night,

17.  Monday.  5.30 AM.  Ther  62  82.  63 = 69
Clear Northwind.  Change cooler in night  City begins grading back street again.  Said were going to finish but did not get any tile for crossing in.  I had to go out (?) in front way today.  Saw Mrs. Owens AM. says she cant wash.  Start to Loxa 2 P.M. taking scythe.  They are scraping the road near  town line.  Jo plowing piece by barn third time.  Corn looks well.  Mrs. G papered kitchen last Sat.  I got a big lot of peas, lettuce beets onions &c and start home before five P.M.  Clear cooler day with strong northerly wind.  All hauls except Phebe and self went to Normal Show at night.  Tue walked down and back getting pretty tired  Gobed  10 P.M.

18.  Tuesday.  5.30  AM.  Ther.  58.  85.  65.  =  69 1/3
Clear.  Light North wind.  They level down with scraper on back (5th) St. but get no farther.  They have cut down at street line average about 3 1/2 ft.  Take Tue and Marie out to Loxa to Home.  Ora has been sick but better now.  I went on up to Gaines' through the place eating "dinner" there.  Edith and Lizzie there.  Alex Sobol and Flora help help me measure piece E. of barn to B.C. shed.  2 1/2 Ac  Clear AM. but clouds over afternoon and light rain for an hour or two.  I return to Hen's [Henry Hildreth] about 4 P.M. and we start home in rain.  Saw Shirley at Hens.  Corn is looking pretty well but small for season.  Had to drive out and in front way today driving over sidewalk and curb.    Helen went to her Grandmothers to stay tonight.  Leave buggy in yard when unhitch tonight.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.  some lightning at night.

19.  Wednesday.  5.45 AM.  Ther.  64.  82.  65.  =  70 1/3
Partly cloudy NW wind.  Several heavy showers in the the night.  Tue gets up to shut windows.  Mrs. Smith who ironed for Tue last week comes to wash before 7 AM..  Learn that  Will Campbell has sold  Restaurant to Friend Sargent.  Mrs. Smith finished 4 P.M.  Get new hat at Winters to keep.  Was at Co Clerks Office P.M.  figuring on whose land has sold for taxes,  Think John  Simons w.20 and 4 acres are in it.  Drive east of town toward night.  See no clover cut.  My crossing back still out.  They monkeyed a little on 5th St P.M. but did not reach  mine.  Partly cloudy day with variable wind  Threatening to rain much of P.M.  Light showers between 5 & 6 P.M. and more and heavier in the night.    Helen was helping her Grandma all day.  Marie went to picnic  Maggie has quarrel with Will Jenkins  she says  Gobed 8 P.M.

20.  Thursday.  5.30 AM.  Ther  68.  92.  75.  = 78 1/3
Mostly Cloudy Northerly wind.  There were showers in last night.  about 1/2 inch water.  Shave at B's AM pd.  Intended  going to Gaines P.M. but didn't eat dinner enough.    Take Bill Campbell home toward night.  He has sold out and is looking for a house.  I drove up by Decker Spring toward night,  Jack Colby brought small mess Pleurotus  ostreatus  which (?) folks did not cook.  I find Skidmore ST. Supt P.M.  He says will fix crossing as soon as he can.  Someone told him I was going out front way is reason he has not fixed it.  Threatening weather all day, but no rain till night.  Very  clear   Gobed 8 P.M.   Phebe out until 1 AM.  Leave buggy in yard.

May 1-20, 1901 in Coles County Illinois [Highlights]

May 1901

1. Wednesday.  Harry Stoddert getting better, but not up yet.  Take Tue up to Dr. Patton 8:30 AM.  Tue and Marie at Shortess.  

2.   Thursday

3.  Friday 

 Phebe went to doings at Paris.  Got home about 2 AM.

4.  Saturday

Find dead rat in older house  Have been looking for it for a week.   I Tue up to Dr. Patton's AM.  Tue feeling all day also self.  Thos. Briggs has been appointed City Marshall.  Ras Skidmore Supt. of streets.  Everything was changed by the new Mayor.  Tue was sick all night thought threatened with pneumonia.

5.  Sunda

I went after  Patton for Tue.  He came before noon, leaving medicine.  

6.  Monday,  John Marshall has been appointed Normal trustee in place of Henry Neal, and has gone to Chicago.  

7.  Tuesday.

Mrs. Irene came to wash with Mrs. Loving  They hang clothes in attic.

8.  Wednesday

9.  Thursday  

Call Patton to see Tue.  He left medicine.  Saw Hen again about helping me - says Ora wont let him work out with team as agreed.

10.  Friday  

Hannah Marshall was here to dinner.  Maggie and Phebe at dance at night.  Tue coughs very much at night.

11.  Saturday  

Tue did not get up today.

12.  Sunday

13.  Monday

14.  Tuesday

15.  Wednesday

16.  Thursday
 d that Mrs. President McKinley died this morning at San Francisco.  they have been repairing culvert on south sixth St. for several weeks both ends.  Saw Harry Stoddert up town this AM.  He has been paralyzed.

17.Friday 
 Phebe went to doings at Champaign.   to return tomorrow.   Bob Hodgen here AM for affidavit about Snider & children.  Tue about the same but  think getting hotter slowly.  I went  to clerks and treasures offices to see about land mine and Deckins sold for taxes of 1898. Must be redeemed soon   Henry Stodert is better and round town again.

18.  Saturday. 
Phebe went to doings at Champaign.  n to return tomorrow.   Bob Hodgen here AM for affidavit about Snider & children.  Tue about the same but  think getting hotter slowly.  I went  to clerks and treasures offices to see about land mine and Deckins sold for taxes of 1898.  Must be redeemed soon   Henry Stodert is better and round town again.

19.  Sunday.  
Phebe did not come.  Mat Brown shows me picture of his mother &c.  Geo Bunch offers 500.00 for 57 ft off S side bottom  Says will try to sell HG place for 1600.00  Says will charge 20.00 commish.  Piece to repair buggy not yet come.  think not safe to drive much.  

20.Monday 4.30 AM.  Ther.  49.  70.  55.  =  58
Mostly cloudy early N.E. wind - 4   I went uptown for coffee bacon and eggs before breakfast.  Charlotte  Sproule sewing for Tue all day.  Deposit Hodgons check bal. left of loan at State Bank $3044.29 and pay 2000.00 on note there leaving after taking out over draft about 6oo.oo  I start out to Gaines after dinner to take piece of machine broken last week.  Jo Harrowing SW piece and intends planting tomorrow.  Did not go to field.  Learn that John and wife will move to Loxa Thursday.  Tue feeling better today.  Mostly clear and NW wind and cool, road getting dusty.  I brought 3 hens for Mrs. Gaines.  gobed 8.30 P.M.  oil and tighten up buggy after breakfast. [shorthand]

October 8 - 11, 1888 in Coles County Illinois

October 1888

8.  Monday.  5.30  AM.  56.  70.  45.

Clear start for timber about 8 AM.  Five men at work building fence Bob Brown not at home.  Tue sends word to Mrs. D not to wash today.  Tue boiling down cider and making catsup.  She is feeling very well.  Eastin brings us load of wood.  9 PM.

9.  Tuesday.  5.30  AM  56.  70.  45.  

Clear  with light  white frost.  Boys making fence and (?) around the house.  Begin clearing out  (?) west of house.  Get saddle at Bobs.  Mrs. B at home.  Gather some hickory nuts.  Gobed 9 PM

10.  Wednesday.  5.40 AM.  36.  62.  50.

Hazy.  Trade saddles at Skidmores.  Nearly finish road west of house down hollow.  Horce not very well, has been for month.  Got  home about dark.  Gobed 9.30 PM.

11.  Thursday.  5.30 Am.  47.  55.  50.

Cloudy rain in night very light.   Light rain good part of day from 11.30 till 3 PM in timber.  boys work  for now at poling and staking fence.  Warren  hauling out Bob's rails.  Start home at  3 PM but didn't get there till 6.30 PM.  Got basket of grapes on Indian Hill.  Maggie and Phebe went to doll party at Mrs. Knocks.  Left word with Warren for boys not to work any were (sic) till see me.    Go bed 10 P.M.  2 gal package came from JTSB

October 3-6, 1888 in Coles County, Illinois

1888

3.  Wednesday  5.30 AM.  Ther.  27.  55.  44.

Clear.   S.W. wind Very heavy frost.  The finest hard one in town.  Wrote Dorsey for bbl quinces wrote letter to Aunts Fair Mate and Helen about Ma started down there about 8 AM. staying till marly night.  (?) home by Uncle John's  but didn't see him round Ma very low but likely to live several days perhaps.  Bim came there before we left.  We left the baby home with Maggie and  Grandpa.  Gobed 9 P.M.

4.  Thursday.  5.30 AM.  Ther. 45.  65.  55.

Partly cloudy and looks like rain but cleared off strong S. wind statted for woods at 8 AM.  Five men at work and Warren Decker hauling rails.  Light rain about 3 P.M. and some thunder the boys have got the land about clear of logs and brush.  Have decided not to put in wheat it has got to late.  Gather lot of butternuts and persimmons on way home.  Buy saddle at Skidmore's this morning on cr. $9.25 with briddle.  Mostly cloudy afternoon.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.  Tue ironed today.

5.  Friday. 6 AM.  Ther.  58.  58.  57.

Cloudy and much like rain. dics K pays rent for Sept.  Winters tells me Cooper not very good pay.  He owes me for 8 cords of wood.  Uncle John was in at 10 AM.  Ma died at 7 this morning.  Took Tue out there after dinner.  Bim was in to dinner.  Hat came down Uncle John went down to Sniders and I didn't see  him any more.  It began to rain about 11 AM and continued nearly all day.  I got home at  about 7 P.M.  The roads are very heavy Gobed 9 PM with baby.

6.  Saturday.  5.30 AM.  Ther. 53.  64.  55.

Cloudy, no rain in night.  Baby slept better than usual  Met Uncle John up town.  He says any deal (?) dies this morning at 7 oc.  It began to rain before noon.  After dinner I took Tue down to Bert's going by Harman's and (?) by stage road.  Rained slowly most of PM.  I got home at 7 PM.  Tue stayed down at Bert's.  Baby slept well with me.  Dark foggy night  Gobed 8.30 PM.    Got started to Bert's about 8.30   Roads very heavy got there at 10.30.  Mr. Swain preached funeral sermon.  Snider overtakes me on road we got to Cemetery at about 12.30.  They bury her at lot with Fan.  Rene and Hat  (?)  Hen went home with us and ate dinner.  Clears off toward night .  Gobed 9 P.M.

September 18-19, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

1913

18.  Thursday.  6 AM.  Ther.  64.  74.  66.  =  68.

Cloudy N.E. 2.  Misty.  Hatton came working all day at wood pile.  Order "same" fro, J.E. Mc morn, getting it about 6 P.M.  Got sample of early ohio potatoes of Crciu.  Try again to see E.E. Tate but didn't.   Learn our phones will be(g)in 3.30 which did.  Meanwhile I drove down E. of normal and get nice mess of  campertris.  Harman and Shrives here when I return.  They want to rent the farm together and I tell them can have it subject to conditions which will discuss later.  They were in buggy and took out ome pears.  Mrs. Brooks over at night, also Mrs. Curd.  The latter went with Tue and  Helen to band concert.  Much cloudy with easterly winds.  Gobed 9.30

19.  Friday.  6 AM.  Ther.  64.  78.  68. = 70.

Cloudy. E.1.  Hatton worked all day at wood piling S. of old house site.  I drove up to Dicewood again but met nothing in fungus line.  C.H. Jones Phones and we rent Loxa house to Lerna man who will move right in.  Mrs. Grove and Mrs. C.D. Mitchell call P.M.  I drove by E. of Normal and round by Phipps place.  Find  fine mess campertris W. of Phipps~~

Met Jim Butler and Normal stud.  The roads have dried good deal today.  Mostly clear P.M.  and at night.  Pay Telephone for Aug 1.50 ch.  Wind E to S. with flavor of gas additives.   Gobed 9.

1888

18.  Tuesday,  5.45 AM  Ther.  52.  72.  58.

Partly clear.  Start for timber 7.15 AM.  Nobody at work, will all begin Thursday.  Met Zeke with load of boards which proves to be wrong lot.  Bob not to be found anywhere.  Hear  he is working for Jo Handley.  I  pile up boards in P.M.  Start home at 4 P.M.  Gather basket butternuts.  Came across Skidmore and Leitch whose horse had run away.  They road home with me, got home 7.20.  Gobed 9 P.M. Tue washes.

19.  Wednesday.  6 AM.  Ther.  56.  83.  70.

Clear and mostly clear day.  Pick and peel basket of peaches for Tue AM.  Tue about sick from washing yesterday.  After dinner we drove out to Uncle John's and got basket of apples.  Drive round by Perrills when came home.  Wrote letter to Sal Shaw of Parils about lot in bottom.  Warm day.  Sprinkle of rain in P.M.  Go bed 8.15

January 11-12, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, IL

1913

11,  Saturday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  42.  40.  26. =36.Booze came AM from Mc.
Cloudy, fog.  S.2. R later.  Cloudy day, snow flurries at night.  Tue took up and deposited  Harman check at 2nd Natl. 378.14 .Walter Smith fixes grate which had gotten off again.  I did not go uptown and am feeling poorly yet.  Lee and Law take N. Chamber @ 10.00.

12.  Sunday.  7 A.M.  Ther.  10.  24.  20.  = 18.
Clear N.W.2. One of our coldest to date.  Tue didn't attend church.  Phebe got Sunday paper.  Frances and Ora were here at night.  The three call on Mrs. Mellissa(sic) Stoddert who is sick.  Gobed 9

1888

11.  Wednesday.  6 A.M.   Ther.   5.  16.  13.

Clear.  I built fires all round this morning, Father lying in bed till nearly 7 A.M.  Mrs. Rogers came to  wash.  Mr. Abbott finished sawing wood.  Kate Purill called AM.  Maggie was promoted today to the third room.  Kate Davis.  Phebe remain at home and is feeling pretty well, she went up town with me P.M.  Hat down in afternoon.  Learn that  Al Prevo has come from Ala.  The (?) R.R. took four sets of my switch ties today .  to be paid for on next estimate.  Go bed.  10  PM.  Not feeling very well.  Compared a/c with Skidmore today and owe them $6.55.

12.x  Thursday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  18.  36.  40.

Cloudy.  Wind came up in night from S.E. icing in force.  None of us rested well last night.  Began snowing at 10 AM. turning to hail by noon and finally  to rain got warmer all day.  Settle with W.G. Wright owed him balance of 13.08.  Tue sick all day.  Got dinner at 4oc.  There was probably 2 1/2 in of snow fell.  Self not feeling very well today.  gobed 9.30 P.M.

July 1, 1912 and 1887 in Charleston, IL

100 Years Ago

Monday, 5.30 AM  Ther 68.  86.  72.  = 75 1/3

Mostly clear. S.1.  Figure up weather before breakfast.  Buddy and Charles getting ready to leave this P.M.  Heavy shower with thunder 11 A.M. (32)  More P.M.  Heavy shower and at night. (42).  Tue went to 3.14 train with Buddy.  Several light showers P.M.  About 6 PM  I drove out to fairground where they are building trolly(sic) line.  Get some rivets at Frommells.  Gobed,  9 P.M. 

125 Years Ago

Friday, July1, 1887  6.15 AM  Ther  76.  86.  74.

Mostly cloudy, Learning to use the gasoline stove.  Tue cooks exclusively on it today ~ bakes  batch of bread.  Mrs. Davis helping her sew in afternoon.  Maggie and Phebe went this morning to take first  lessons in drawing.  Got my harness at Skidmore.  Buy black and red raspberries one gal. each.  at Mitchells.  Strong south wind all day sprinkle rain several times.  Light showers in different quarters not enough to lay dust here.  Go bed 10 P.M.  Steam cocoons  not soon enough.