February 23- 28, 1889 in Charleston,IL

February 1889

23.  Saturday, 6.15, A.M.  Ther.  -1.  13.  8.

fair   But cloudy most of day , with N. wind snow flying at times has been coldest day this winter coldest average since last Fb 27.  Bob Brown called about  noon to say he had sowed about 15 acres of timothy.  Pay him 3.00 on a/c.  He still owes me me a rent.  Wood pile grows less pretty fast this weather.  Good deal less than half a cord on hand.  Mrs. Rogers and daughter brought clothes at night.  Phebe and  self went up after some steak and (?).  Not so cold as last night.  Mary Davis over toward night.  Got to bed 10 1/2 P.M.

24.  Sunday.  6.45 AM  Ther.  7.  23.  18.

Cloudy , gift of snow in the night.  Phebe went to S.S.  Maggie coughed good deal in the night having caught more cold yesterday.  Phebe went to S.S. and brought Mamie Lang home with her, she stayed till night.  Maggie had accident with syrup cup.  Cloudy day with variable wind mostly S.E. light snow at times probably less than half an inch in all.  Gobed 9 P.M.

25.  Monday 6.15 AM  ther.  9.  33.  26.  Part cloudy hazy.  Clouded up and snow flurry from S.E.Began snowing about 4 P.M. and continued most of the night with sleet winding up in the morning with a little rain which froze as it fell.  Warren Decker brought me a half a cord of wood and took down clover seed got of Wright 144 lbs at 6.00 per bush.  He also took seeder.  Learn that Tom Stoddert is worse and has had to give up the supervisor-ship.  Baby has caught cold.  Phebe went to school  Maggie about the same.  Gobed 10 P.M.

26.  Tuesday  6.30 AM.  Ther.  32.  40.  36. = 36.

Mostly cloudy day and snow melting.  Just I started for timber at 2.30 P.M. turned back at Walker ford but went ahead after meeting Handley's folks.  River up a little and full of ice which is not moving yet.  Go to bed at 7.30  Roads bad for riding  10 P.M.

27.  Wednesday 6 AM.  Ther.  34.  44.  34.

Partly cloudy.  Still thawing.  Rode to Warren Decker's to get clover seed, which Warren brought over.  Got Bob started and hope he will continue till finished  Start home at 11 AM.  Roads not quite as bad as yesterday.  Very muddy toward town.  Got home abt 1 P.M.  Sunshine at times, snow leaving, fast wind N.E.  Warren Decker hauled load of wood which he but in road in front of house.  Order case Bethesda for Stoddert.  He is sick  abed  and has been for some time.  Gobed 9 PM.

28.  Thursday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  32.  50.  42.  

Partly cloudy - hazy.  Maggie's cold is much better and she does not cough much in the night.  Zeke Easton bought load of wood which sell him for .75 c  Bought Potatoes and rabbit at Wrights on Cr.  Jack Fagan paid me $1.00 old a/c.  Tue went up to Davis' in evening, Maggie making pie meanwhile.  Began to rain before dark and slow rain in night.  Wind S.E.  Very sloppy and disagreeable, roads are not yet broken through.  saw up some wood  Go bed 8.30 PM  Crank woman calls.

January 6-7, 1914 and 1889 in Coles County IL

January 1914

6.  Tuesday. 6.30 AM.  Ther.  30.  38.  30.  = 32 2/3

Cloudy. W.2.  We have breakfast about 9.  Tue ironing.  Harman Calls AM. bring small piece of meat. 3 1/2 lbs.   Paid 300.00 ck on pasture &c rent.  Was in a hurry so did not settle.  Mail papers to Muggs.  Tue got a card from Kate yest.  Duvall's folks are moving from Mrs. Hawley's house back of us on 4th.  Gus and Helen called at night on way to show at Opera H.  Tue writes again to Mary and Addie.  Mr Prest Lord's daughter will sail on same steamer - the Adriatic next Saturday.  Cloudy day with moderate westerly winds.  Alfred sold us a rabbit this morn which Tue cooks for dinner.  Tue over at Groves at night  Gobed 9

7.  Wednesday. 6.30  AM.  32.  46.  40.  = 39 1/3

Cloudy day, fog.  S.W.2. It soon clears off and first clear day for weeks.  Read and sleep mostly AM.  Can't account for drowsiness unless quitting tobacco.  Went up to  2nd National Bank and deposit Harman's check 300.00  Pay note at bank due in day or two.  Collect 1.50 at Paynes error in settling.  Tue  and Phebe both out P.M.  Alfred came.  Tue attended prayer Meet with Mrs. Brooks night.  Mostly clear day and at night: fresh southwind.  Gobed 9

January 1889

6.  Sunday.  7  AM.  ther.  34.  45?  34.

Cloudy N wind.  Baby cried good deal in night with supposed colic.  Cloudy all day Tue and girls went over to Kate Myers toward night.  Put up box in barn for pigeons.  Let mare out in lot and she jumped over in garden.  roads are getting pretty solid but there is not much (?) hauling being done.  Gobed 9.30 PM

7.  Monday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  28.  45.  35.  Clear.  wind S.W. Heavy white frost.   Eleven Decker hauls me two loads of corn.  Took mare after dinner and drive down to Walker Ford crossed river which came in bottom of buggy.  The  roads are not so good as I thought  got home just before dark and took washing down to Mrs. Rogers.  Owins pd me for  logs brought up last summer.  Got couple of small botls.    9 PM

Jim Chapman was buried today.

April 7, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

1913

7.  Monday.  5.15.  Ther.  34.  48.  42.  =41 1/3
Clear.  E.2.  Soon clouds up.  Roy came 7 AM.  Get mare shod at Dibert.  Jethoo  Evans phones that my Perkins lot is eligible for PO site.  He calls later.  I ask 120 0 dollars for my lot.  Jethro 4000.  Glascos 5.000.  The Paris man has not reported theron.  Says  will employ Cafer to arrange matters.   Can't find key to box* deeds and try unsuccessfully for hour or two  to open it  think Tue has same.  Get letter  from Buddy AM date 4 inst.  Roy spades for three rows of potatoes and after we began to plant them.  It began light  rain at noon and continued  (too light to read) We  quit at 2  P a/c the rain.  Roy and self plant one row potatoes and rain stopped us at 2 PM.  Jethro Evans came again toward night and I sign contract with him and JW Glasco to sell my part of S.W. 1/4 of block for P.O.  building putting in hands of Judge Cafer at 2% com on purchase price.  Pay Evans 2.00 my share plat.  Tue got home about 6 P.M. having been gone since May 21.  Morty came over soon after she arrived but did not stay long.  Mostly cloudy with strong easterly and light rain at times mixed with hail most of P.M.  Gobed 9 P.M.

*I have this old tin box full of legal papers.I have always wondered why there is just a hole where the lock and latch should be.  Now I know the story of the Deed Box.  This is what is so fun about the journal, it answers many questions.

1888

7.  Saturday.  6 AM.  Ther.  37.  65?  50
Clear.  Very heavy dew nearly frost.  Took Sam, Ray's white pony and ride down to R.R. then down to timber getting back at 7.30 P.M.  About as tired as could be.  Caught more cold.  Saw the timber pretty thoroughly today.  Kinks ties suit me pretty well.    Wes Decker gives us leave to move in his fence to get to road out.  Told him he could have all the wood he needed.  The saw mill has moved out.  I went by  Handly Ford and return by Walker's.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.

Charleston, Illinois on October 13, 1912

13,   Sunday. 6  A.M.  Ther.  42.  66.  46. + 51 1/3
Part Cloudy.  N.W.2.  Maggie got Record Herald and later A.M. went with Hat and Ora on a drive taking dinner with them.  Tue went to Church A.M.  I drove S. to Walker Ford which cross and return by Blakeman Bridge get home 3 P.M. after starting at 11 AM.  Mort and Kate over an hour or two, but I didn't see them.  Clear day with light N.W. wind.  A fine day for driving and I got very tired.  I took mare to Nickles.  Ferd Snyder arrived from Oklahoma about midnight.  Gobed 9.30

June 19, 1912 and 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

100 Yeas Ago

Wednesday, June 19, 1912  Ther.  58.  74.  58. = 63 1/3

Mostly cloudy. N.W.1.  Hitch 9 A.M.  Find boxing loose in right rear wheel get same fixed P.M. Cr. by Geibert on 7th st.  I drove to Dicewood 4 P.M. but no fungi found.  Have seen little of the sort since May 1.  The convention in Chicago is getting interesting.  I  did not get my R.H. today went up getting three S&H papers.  Tue over Groves at night.  Part cloudy day with light showers around sprinkle here and thunder once or twice.  The roads becoming dry Moderate NW wind Go bed 10 PM

125 Years Ago

Sunday, June 19, 1887,  7 AM.  Ther  80.  96.  80.

Clear last night warmer than night before.  Bert came about 9 A.M. and we started for saw mill at 10.  went by Walker's Ford  horses and selves and walked around a while got home about 3.30 P.M.  Very dry and dusty.  Mostly clear day.  Uncomfortably warm  Gobed 10 P.M.

Some links:

Illinois Historical Society -  http://www.historyillinois.org/

Coles county Historical Society -  http://www.coleshistory.net/index.htm

Illinois Genealogical Societies- www.censusfinder.com/illinois_genealogy_societies.htm