September 3 -4, 1892 and 1903.

September 1892

3.  Saturday, 6 AM.  Ther  55.  84.  68.

Mostly clear southerly wind.  Self and girls got breakfast  Mrs. Norfolk paid me for 9 cords wood 27.00  Warren hauling 4 cord's to Albert Anderson.  Chut Bennett finished Fluhartys Received 80.15 from W. H. White for ties and culls  Uncle John was down to dinner  Warmer day clouds and more signs of rain than lately  Get some hay of Uncle John which Oliver Frisbie will deliver next week.  Trade only moderate.  The dust is immense.  Tue finished her first lot of plums today.  occulation [sic] of Mars and Moon to night go bed  11 P.M. ~

4.  Sunday,  6.30  AM.  Ther 64.  84.  55

Some clouds wind southerly  Intended to start for timber early but as hot and dusty postpone till towards night.  Sign of rain all day, sprinkle a little at 4 PM  Go to ranch about 6 P.M.  JW and wife had been over the river just got home. Began raining about 7 AM and rained lightly about 2 or 3 hours.  Gobed 9 PM

September 1903

3.  Thursday.  6.30 AM,  Ther  55.  85.

Clear calm.  Mrs. Owens ironed.  Drive up and tell "Mercantile" Smith that will keep buggy.  Get bu of corn at Griffins for which I owe him 55c.  Have talk with A Richter about coal.    He will report price Hillsborough in day or two.  Tighten up wheels on new buggy.  Putting on washers.  Kellogg did not show up this morning.  They are putting a new metal roof on the Theater.  The old house is to be sold Oct. 1.  People are at work decorating the Public Square for the Street Fair which will begin Sep 14.  Nest Monday there will be great Labor day celebration Mattoon and Charleston combined.  Buy buggy jack at Mercantile Cr 50c.  Look at timothy seed.  I.B. Mitchell's.  It will cost me 2.00 per bu for the best.  take Maggie for for drive about 3 PM getting back 6 P.M.  Went down by Woodson place and across and across River.  No incident.  No mushrooms.  Today is Maggie's birthday. 25.  At night drove around town alone a while with new buggy.  Helen here at night first time in good while  Heard that N.M. got in Calabrasi today.  Clear day Southeasterly wind 2  Gobed 10 PM~

4.  Friday.  5.30 AM.  Ther. 60.  84.  71.  =  71 2/3

about clear southerly wind 1.  I drove out to Gaines AM getting home 1 P.M.  New buggy.  Old mare very clumsy.  Old Sorrel better and Sam Owens began plowing with him today.  think they will finish this evening.  Jo is out of old corn and is feeding new.  Will begin harrowing down piece tomorrow - may bring me load of hay (baled) and take out timothy seed.  Roads dry and smooth  New buggy all right but springs too stiff.  Geo. Kellogg says will saw eaves off shed for me in morn.  Drove down to Hen's.  He talked somewhat abusive and I left.  Edith Bates there.  After supper drove round with Tue. E and south.  Mostly clear day, light variable wind.  Jim Pugh will fix old buggy Monday.  Gobed 10.30 P.M.

March 10-11, 1914 and 1889 in Charleston, IL

March 1914

10.  Tuesday.  6 AM.  Ther.  32.  52.  38.  = 40 2/3

Clear. S.E.2.  The weather bureau gives hope of warm weather for this week at least.  Receive letter from Phebe AM.  She had gotten packages sent her last week.  I spent several hours sorting over old papers in attic.  Tue  getting ready for Rhoda to wash tomorrow.  Rene phones Tue but she happened to be at Morty's.  Clear and fine much of A.M. but colder after dinner wind shifting to NE and stronger cloudy P.M. with snow flurry sometime in night.  Gobed 9  No Alfred

11.  Wednesday, 6.15 AM.  ther.  28.  34.  30.  =  30 2/3  Av 28 years 40

Cloudy. N.E. 4 ground covered  with "skeft" of snow.  Rhoda's people phone before I got up to say she was sick and couldn't wash today.  Tue went  at it herself after breakfast.  finishing about 2 P.M. when she got ready later went up town with Mrs. Curd to prepare for tomorrow's function.  H.G. called P.M. and engage him to do an errand for me tomorrow.  Gus brought us a dozen eggs  P.M. also brought me some dried apples from Helen.  Mostly cloudy day strong N.E. wind clears off at night.  There was a fine eclipse of the moon from 9 P.M. till 1 AM.  Old fiddlers contest at Opera House at night.  I had intended to go but forgot it.  Gobed  9.30

March 1889

10.  Sunday. 7 AM.  ther.  26.  45.  30.  =  36 2/3

Clear N.W. wind Maggie and Phebe went to Sunday School.  they went up to Davis with the baby a while toward night.  All therm of them have very bad cough.  I went up and talked with Reub Davis a while at night about sawing up my timber.  He did not give me very much satisfaction ~ wants me to buy interest in his mill ~ can't go down there for a month or so anyhow.  Yesterday I made him same offer as agreement with Comer that is  75% of the proceeds for him  25% to me.  Clear day and chilly.  Baby cough very bad at night.   Gobed 9.30 PM.  

11.  Monday  5.30 AM.  ther.  26.  45.  38.  =  36 1/3

Clear wind southerly.  Wrote W.H. White telling him could not take tie contract and deliver on  big time, that is May 30 .  Started to timber about 8.30 getting there about noon.  Rode round on east 40.  Went to Warren and engaged him.  John and Jim to help tomorrow also Riley and Steve.  Bob moving Riley Decker.  Pleasant and roads  pretty dry in places and very rough  River up pretty  high but fordable at Walkers.  gobed 9 P.M.

March 5 - 8, 1914 and 1889 in Charleston, IL

1914

Note:  March 5-6 are missing.

7.  Saturday  6.30  AM.  Ther.  34.  40.  32.  = 35 1/3

Cloudy W.2.  Snowing.  Clean out Furnace grate and fill up.  Fire will hardly burn today.  Alfred came before dinner with friend to do chores.  Will return Monday eve.  We are trying  to eat up all our scraps:  it is an interesting job.  They are about gone.  Mrs. Jo Curd called 2 P.M.  They are going to give Hat a surprise on her birthday which occurs on 12th next.  Learn that Geo Kreig died yesterday.  The funeral will be at Mattoon.  Mrs. Brooks wants Tue  to go with her.  Most cloudy with snow flurries much of time.  Wind west to north.  Tue went over to library 8 P.M.  Gobed 9

8.  Sunday,  6.30  Am.  Ther.  28.  36.  32.  = 32.
Cloudy NW.2.  I feel pretty badly this morning.  Tue decides to not go to  funeral with Mrs. Brooks and goes to church 10.30 AM.  Snow flying most of day but it did not amount to much.  We neglect to get any meat yesterday and got along very well without.  Tue went to Grove's at night till after 9 cloudy day moderate NW wind  Gobed 9.30

1889

5.  Tuesday  6.30  AM  tjer 34.  49.  38 = 40 1/3

Cloudy and snow flying, wind N.  Jim Campbell cleared out stable and carriage house.  Will come tomorrow morning to build a pig pen.  Got 3 hens and a rooster at Wrights.  Get letter from WH White saying will want (?) ties by May.  Wrote him would put them out by June 1.  Phebe has caught a bad cold but went to school.  Pleasant day, N wind.  Gobed 9.45 PM.  paid personal taxes to M (?) $17.44

6.  Wednesday 6 AM.  Ther.  30.  53.  42.  = 41 2/3

Clear.  White frost, wind, N.  Jim Campbell works all day.  Made pig pen and hot bed dug parsnips, &c.   turned old cow  in road first time since last fall.trimmed trees and vines got two more hens of Wright 63 cts. on Cr.  Look over a/c of Sam Roys owe him bal. of 98.85.  Mrs. Brown called about noon brought in  a pt. of maple syrup.  Warren Decker here paid him 570  Very pleasant but somewhat  chilly northerly wind got letter form Bethesda  they have not  shipped the water ordered.  Go bed 9.45 ~~

7.  Thursday 5.30 AM  Ther.  34.  46.  39. = 39 2/3

Clear, light frost N. wind.  Train grape vines and most of raspberries.  H.G. thinks will be licensed.  They are petitioning council for vote on it.  Old cow failed to come up tonight, also one hen missing.  Discover that Perrill has been digging with a (?) on my land.  Gobed 9 PM  Partly cloudy day N. wind.

8.  Friday.  6 AM.  Ther.  32.  32.  29. = 31

Cloudy was  clear early, wind westerly.  Cow not home yet has probably started out to country.  Uncle John was in to dinner, he had not seen cow. Says  Cer(?) is going to saw for Snider.   Got letter from White saying he can have bill of S ties if can deliver them by May 30.  Tue went to high school with Minnie Knock in P.M.  Sold load of wood half cd. to colored barber some to Alex Fisher.  Father learned  at night that Haddock boy who has been caught stealing  chickens recently and was to be sent  to reform school hung himself in jail.  Cold cloudy day.  Snow flying most of the time.  gobed 9.30 PM.

March 3, 1914 and 1889 in Charleston, IL

March 1914

3.  Tuesday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  Ther. 22.  46.  32.  =  33 1/3

Clear, E.1. We get letter from Phebe AM detailing her trip to Havana last week.  It took her two days and one night to complete the trip.  Tue wrote Muggs, Mail check to the C.I.P.S.Co. for 3.34 last month's light. ~  Disagreeable day,.  Mostly cloudy light varible winds; began snowing about 4 P.m. about an inch of light snow fell.  Tue  went up to I.B.M.s to see Mrs. Frank McCravey and then  to Mrs. Nickols and Mrs. Heebs neither of whom was at home.  Later she spent an hour or two at Groves getting home before 6.  The snow was from SW.  It   quit about dark.  There is a lot of old snow and ice on ground in big spots.  Gobed 8.45

March 1889

3.  Sunday.  7 AM.  Ther  33.  46.  34.  =  37 2./3
Heavy fog N.E. wind.  Maggie went to S. School.  Learn that Tom Stoddert died last night.   He had been sick since last fall.  Geo Sefton's baby was buried this afternoon.  Wrote Simon Sturin ordering renewal 300 ins on whiskey expiring Mar 7.    Write letter to W.H. White accepting bill for switch ties (?) set if can have plenty (?).  Wrote letter to  D. Baughman , Oak Pt. Ill inquiring about lot near R.R.  Mostly cloudy day with N. Easterly wind clears away at night.  Tue went to church with Mrs. Davis.  Gobed 9.30 PM

 

January 30 - February 2, 1889 in Charleston, IL

 January 1889

30.  Wednesday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  22.  43.  37 = 34

Clear with fresh S. wind.  Maggie went to Lucille Skidweny birthday party today.  She is not feeling very well today.  She complained of headache last night.  I made a mess of yeast for Tue today.  Went up town toward night to get some meat &c.  Talk a while with Comer on the way home.  He says the river is low and I think some of going to timber tomorrow.  Maggie has a chill at night followed by fever.  gobed 9 PM  Warmer night then they said  with south wind changed toward morning and grows colder.  gobed 9 P.M.

31.  Thursday.   6.15 AM.  Ther.  30. 24. 22. = 25 1/3

Mostly clear strong N.W. wind and growing colder fast  Ther at 8 AM. Neither of the girls attend school today.  Warren Decker and John Simon call to see about hauling ties.  Tue still complaining of toothache and headache.  John  Simon says he will sow timothy and clover see for me.  Black day N. or NW wind clear at times  Gobed 9 PM

February 1889

1.  Friday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  13. 40. 31.  = 28.

Clear wind south.  Neither of the girls went to school today.  H. & H.  were here to dinner and most of P.M.  H.G, talking again of going into sawmill business and if license carries, liquor.  Tue's teeth still trouble her and she is thinking of having them extracted.  Clear day with S or SW wind.  Gobed 10 PM.

2.  Saturday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  31.  50.  37.  =  39 1/3

Clear wind W.  Johnny Decker called  and I pay him up for seven days work at making posts.  Received from W.H. White 16.80 for 42 ties:  Did not know I had any our and they be somebody elses.  Went down to  look  at them P.M.  Deposit $21.80 at 2nd National Guiney paid me bal on wood 4.00 leaving 12.60 due yet on wood.  Uncle John was down to dinner.  Walked down to Depot with John B. Hill.  Saw Mr. Reagan at Depot.  Pleasant day.  gobed 11.40 PM   Mr.  (?)wick died last night.

November 19 - 30, 1888 in Coles County Illinois (Highlights)

November 1888

19.  Monday.  - Tue went over to Perrill's toward night.  Mary Perrill arrived home with her two children last week.  Sat up and read Century till 10 PM.

20.  Tuesday. Trying to find some one to work  on stable but couldn't.  Went to work myself in PM.

21.  Wednesday. 6 AM.  Trying to find help on stable.

22.  Thursday. Mr.  Chowning came early and worked all day.  He charges $1.50 per day and suits very well, today he put all the flooring I had down in the loft and got his stairs well started.

23.  Friday.  Men and boys working on stable.

24.  Saturday.  Hat was here to dinner and all PM.  Tue moved sideboard into kitchen.

25.  Sunday.  Went to timber by Handley's  Ford.  Tue had company to dinner, Laura , husband and children.  Tue churned all the evening and butter didn't come.

26.  Monday.  Maggie broke my thermometer this morning and I had to buy another.    Maggie did not go to school.  Stable work.

27.  Tuesday.  Stable work.

28.  Wednesday.  Came near having an accident with gasoline this morning from getting hold of the wrong can.  Johnny Decker called.

29.  Thursday.  6AM.  Ther.  38.   42.  38.

Cloudy, misty. N. wind.  Thanksgiving day.  Cloudy all day with fine rain or snow at times.  Chowning works on E side of building.  Easton brings (?) load of wood and takes two loads down to Laggert.  Pay Brownfield 2.75 bal due for labor.  Pay O. Martin 10.18 for 2490 lb. hay.  Tue over to Perrills toward night.  10 PM.

30.  Friday, 6 AM.  Ther  35.  38.  37.

Cloudy and damp.  Chowning worked all day putting band round stable fitted windows. and boxed up stairway.  Light snow fog or rain by turns all day.  Tue and children  over to Myers to dinner.  Learn that Prof. Lee died a day  or  two ago.  Wrote letter to W.H. White inquiring about R.R. ties.  Cloudy all day NW. wind.  Gobed 8 PM.