February 1 - 11, 1891 in Coles County Illinois

February 1891

1.  Sunday. 7 AM  Ther 38.  31  25.

Cloudy NW.  Went up to store 9 AM. and scour up spoons &c till after noon.  Tue complaining with neuralgia all day better at night girls went to S.S.  Dark and damp grows colder before noon.  Caught roosters at night gobed 1030  

2.  Monday 6.30 AM.  Ther 20.  47.  47.

Clear with SE wind, heavy white frost.  Nick on hand this morning. all right.  There was an alarm of fire this morning  Harry Lawle house.  Mrs. R. failed to come today as was expected.  Maggie and Phebe went up to Davis at night.  Trade quiet Ground hog day the  The sun shone out brightly this morning  Mostly Cloudy day wind SES SW & W.   Grows colder at night go bed 11.30.

3.  Tuesday 7 AM.  Ther 3. 14.  16.

Clear, strong NW wind /snow and Sleet in night about 1 in snow on ground  Self about sick today  Got 7-10 butter of Harrison in rolls  Kill two roosters this AM and pick.  They have caught 4 of suspected P.O.  thieves.  Trade very dull.  Clear day with W wind  Gobed 12

4. Wednesday,  7 AM.  Ther -5.  17.  16. 

Clear with N.W. wind.  Began growing colder about 8 P.M. yesterday thermometer falling from 16 to about zero at midnight  15 gross flasks came today from Auder(?) Ind  Mrs Rogers took washing home.  Mrs. Knock called PM  Charley Bond paid me for lumber got some time ago  Fresh S. winds at night gobed midnight.

5.  Thursday, 7 AM.  Ther  18.  47.  33.  

Clear, S wind.  Uncle John was down to dinner.  Rec.  2 Bbl Mallingly Whiskey today out of bonel(?).  Trade light.  Pleasant day clear with strong SSW what little snow was on the ground ha disappeared  Gobal 11.30

6.  Friday. 7 AM.  Ther.  26.  47.  34.

 Clear /sw wind.  Green drummer here.  John Simons up.  Warren brought load of 50 posts.  Lizzie Decker wants to make maple sugar on shares.  Brownfield cleaned out out stable and sawed some wood in afternoon.  Collect 2 mo rent of John Cadle 2.00.  Post master from Brocton here and they another of robbing gang - Ed Melville  Clear day with Southerly wind. still night gobed 11 PM ~~

7.  Saturday.  7.30 AM.  Ther.  34.  45.  32.

Cloudy and raining lightly. Wind N. sunshine some more before noon dark day and roads said to be pretty bad   Uncle John was in town but didnt  come down.  Trade only moderate.  Hat was down to supper.  The  girls spent afternoon at Fishers gobed 1

8.  Sunday.  730 AM.  Ther 31.  42  34  

Foggy.  S.E. wind. Girls went to S.S. Interested to go to Ranch but afraid it might rain.  Did rain light shower just after dark Cloudy day with SE wind.  Maggie went to church at night.  Self feeling badly P.M.  gobed  10 PM

9.  Monday.  7 AM.  28.  25.  21

Cloudy wind NW and growing colder.  Perrill taking fencing off bottom lot.  Mrs. Rogers washes AM.  Riley Decker up settle with him 1.25 for posts to date says he will go to work at once on ties on ridge s. of mill.  Sent word to Simons to make sugar troughs.  Tue and Marie visit Mrs. Knock P.M. old Mike Kelly died yesterday.  Cloudy day with occasionally a snow flake wind w. or N.W.  Trade great  gobed 12.30

10.  Tuesday.  7 m.  Ther.  10  30  23

Cean with NW wind.  Alex Fisher took half a cord of Warren wood.  Went down to collect Rodes & W. Bill.  Walk up track and look at ties   Find there has been a mistake.  Col Connolly here examine  Ed Melodle Brocton P.O. Burgler.  They decide to hold him and will take him to Springfield tomorrow  Clear day with w or Nw wind.  Tue  went to  church taking Phebe.  Gobed  11.30 ~~

11.  Wednesday, 730 AM.  Ther  20.  40.  32.

Mostly clear.  SE wind.  light white frost.  Get new kick rein for harness at Skidmores  Start for ranch about 2 P.M.  Find roads bad most of the way got there before dark.  Warren went Fox hunting getting in at 2 in morning  Old White face was bred on 8th visit to John Handleys bull.  Simons made a lot of troughs today for maple trees  gobed 9 PM mostly cloudy day with southerly wind.

  

November 28-29,1890 and 1901

November 1890

28.  Friday 6.30 AM  Ther  25.  44.  29.

Clear South wind, sharp frost, AM S(?) took 800 more boards and paid me for all  Nick still remains at home with swelling in in his face.  I stay at store pretty close trade only moderate a load  of each ties wood and boards came up today.  Fine clear weather but ground pretty dry roads are first rate but getting dusty.  Spoke to Briggs about lot says he dont care about selling now.  Gobed 12oc

Hibbard paid 10.50 for 3 1/2 card wood.

29.  Saturday.  6.30AM.  Therr22,  48,  42.

Mostly clear and coldest morning we have had this fall.  Nick was on hand this morning all right get offer from Atherton for 10 Bbl of their whiskey which we have  Chut hauls load of ties  Warren load wood settle with Warren to date except Latta's wood.  Good crowd in town trade good.  Uncle John in town P.M. order seltzer from Meyer.  Mostly clear day S wind  all changing to W before noon.  Brisk W wind at night and partly cloudy.  Gobed

November 1901

28.  Thursday. 6 AM.  Ther. 19.  46.  35.  =  33 1/3

Clear, calm.  Heavy white frost.  Helen went out home yesterday to stay till Saturday.  Tue was much discouraged about the duck but finds it all right.  Mrs.Knock ate dinner with us.  Have 1 1/2 cords wood left which think will sell.  Tinker around barn AM. and after dinner drive south of town and to river.  Roads good.  Mostly clear day with Southwesterly wind.  Stronger at night Gobed 10 PM

29.  Friday 6.20  AM.  Ther.  38.  56.  35.  =  43.

Mostly clear.  Fresh SW wind.  Mrs.Smith came to wash and iron.  Maggie and Olive did not get up till about noon.  Mrs. Shaw called saying Committee having Carnegie Library business  in charge had called on her to see about buying her lot and they would probably call  (?) one.  Put handle in ax for Jo Gaines.  Mrs. Smith worked AM. washed and ironed worked on 5th St P.M.  C. Talbot helping Jo shuck corn.  Will finish tomorrow.  Shirley has turned his stock on 80. and is hurrying Jo up.  No School at Loxa school till Monday.  Corn today 56.  Start home 4 P.M.  Clear day Southwesterly wind roads good.  Get home 6 P.M.  Girls had a function at night  I was up town a while.  They kept the house awake until midnight.  Self Gobed 10 P.M.

June 5 - 10, 1889 and 1901 in Coles County Illinois

If you like reading about the Gramesly Family watch for our up coming book Ordinary People, Extraordinary  Lives: The Story of the Grameslys  Richard Stickann with Catherine Reasor Stickann

June 1889

5.  Thursday 6 AM.  Nick on hand this AM but not very well yet.  Al Prevo says he wants 25 ? ft. fencing and wants me to make him a price on it delivered at his  place.  Mart Comer was up P.M.  Make out city bill which council allowed it amounted to  $173.22.  Supervisor Maffet was censured for  not  counting all lumber instead of leaving it to us  gobed 11.30 P.M.

6.  Friday.  7 AM.  Clear and cooler.  W or NWard

Sent WH Rees for 15 Bbl whiskey  to J Mathesten Co  9 Bbl to  WBSamuels & Co 1 Bbl  89 Mattergly &  to Buchabab (?)  Car load of beer came for us and Latta and work most of the day putting it away  George Kellogg finishes putting in screens at store which he began on yesterday  Scott Dowling wants to "open up" again which I refuse to allow  Cool day with NW  wind.  Cloudy at times 10.30 P.M.

7.  Saturday 7 AM  Clear Ther 60 75.  60

Tue feeling badly girls have not come home yet.  Mrs. Rogers cleans house AM irons P.M.  Boy at Skidmores cleans up my  harness.  Settle with Comer and other  (?) Warren  brought up load lumber.  Get ton ice of Will Myers  Latta  Daugherty and self got car load of beer yesterday  Cool and pleasant N.E. wind. Trade fair  Gobed 12

8.  Sunday.  7 AM.  60

Hazy, wind easterly  Pleasant day.  .  Bins [Henry Grameslys] came at dinner time bringing girls who have been gone a week.  Start for Ranch after dinner walk round both pastures with Simons  Gobed  10 P.M.

9.  Monday.  5 AM at Ranch.  sprinkles rain in night and rains moderately all forenoon  Simons worked in farm  Made door after dinner and then cut weeds in pasture mostly clear P.M.  Gobed 9 P.M.

10. Tuesday 5 AM.  At Ranch.  Except S.  Decker all hands cut logs all day along river cut logs  along river bluff.  T Spurgen  logs  Mill remaining all day  and has quite a pile of lumber on  hand.  Several loads went up town today.  Pleasant day westerly wind   gobed 9 PM 

June 1901

Settle up with Jubal $2.90

5.  Wednesday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  65.75.65.  =  68 1/3

Cloudy S.E. wind.  Light thunder shower 6 AM.  More at noon and heavy rain at night.  They have cut down street back so that have to go out through front yard.  Tue worrying about undone wash.  Has promise of Mrs. Owens tomorrow.  I drove out to Mrs. Gaines  P.M.  Jo plowing near barn second time that piece.  Mrs. G. has lady visitors.  Pasture and oats looking fine.  Occasional thunder PM and heavy rain at night.  Get home about 6.  Helen came today to stay a while with us.  Fair day with fresh S.E. wind.  Gobed 9 P.M.

6.  Thursday 5.30 AM.  Ther  64. 75.  60  =  66 1/3

Cloudy Rain much of night, probably an inch.  Streets muddy.  Jubal  helped me couple of hours  AM.  They are  not working back street today a/c of mud.   Spend AM. looking for a woman to wash.  Didn't find any.  Pinnell took away calf P.M. 320 lbs @ 4 1/2 = 14.40 not pd.  Brick rose pays me 2.00- for lumber got last summer.  Mail 2.00 to Record Herald for 6 Mo subscription.    Send bill for Mrs. Eastins Rebate on paving tax to Council by Mort Grove $14.40

.  Meeting 8th.    Mail 25c to C. Eui A (?) for buttons sent me.  Helen and Marie washing (?) P.M.  Cow appeared to be in heat P.M. and tie her in barn all night.  Gobed 8.30 P.M.  Al Crews  has brought back Starr poney (sic.)

7.  Friday .  5 AM  Ther. 49.  70.  56.  =  58 1/3

Clear.  NW wind.  Hitch up and milk before breakfast start for Gaines 8.30 8.30 AM.  went out in back way today.  Gaines plowing on piece near barn.  He did not plow yesterday too wet.  Re planted where planter did not work.  I walk around North piece corn.  Shirley plowing S.W. was heavy rain there.  Edith there washing also South kid.  Home by noon.  Jubal took brown brown cow out to Huffmans bull A.M.  I owe him 75 c.  H.G. didn't eat any dinner.  Drive N.E. of town P.M.  Crops that way look fine especially oats,  and corn.  Started to go and see my "hookey cow" but had forgotten name of man who had her.  City not working back ST. except surveyor  They are going  (?) deeper.  Mostly clear day with strong NW wind.  Roads dry.  Gobed 8 P.M.

8.  Saturday, 5.30 AM.  Ther.  50.  57.  52  =  53

Mostly clouds moving E.  S.E. wind.  Heard noises several times in night.  Tue thought burglers.  Nothing missing this morning.  Warren came with load of wood but could not drive in with it; had to carry it carry it in.  Simons brought up Will Decker tax receipts.  Cloudy day with SE wind Drizzling rain most of day after 10 AM.  I  use back street all day but crossing not safe.  Warren brings 20/32 cord of wood. finest he has haul.  I pay him for hauling $1.50 per cord.  gobed 8.45 P.M.

9.  Sunday.  5.30 AM.  Ther 50  80  64  =  64 2/3

Clear Eastwind.  Didnt ' get breakfast till after 8  I thought I might go to ranch and left about 10 A.M.  Went down by Woodson place.  Pass Mt. Zion  Meet J.R. Haddock near Lamb Kelly place talking with him an hour or two.  Wine across road there which I passed.  river pretty high  Didn't try to ford it.  Went South far as Cecils.  Met Sale McClasky.  Return by Farmington road getting home 4 P.M.  Mostly clear day clouding W.  toward night and turning much warmer.  Roads muddy at starting mostly dry in P.M.  Mrs. Knock who got back from the south a week or so since here P.M.  Tue went to church at night.  All family up looking for burglars about 10 P.M.  Gobed 9 PM ~~

10. Monday 5 AM.  Ther. 62.  90.  72 = 74 2/3

Partly clear S.E. wind. Get change done and hitch up before 7 A.M.   Cow in heat again  think and drove down to get Jube.  Dice however not to take her.  Went  to see Mrs. Owens about wash.  She can't do it.  Take Tue over to Anderson where she engages Mrs. Eggens to come in morning.  Jube fixed fence in bottom.  He and I take lawn mower to Rezor but he did not help it any.  I start for Loxa 2.30 P.M.  Fix rocking chair for Mrs. Gaines.  Myrtle and Ruth there also Alex South.  Jo working SE got peas onions and beets, starting home 5 P.M.  Jo working Queen and sorrel get home 6.30 P.M.  Milk late - Kate Grove over at night  Mort came after I went to bed.  Partly cloudy day wuth fresh SE wind.  Perhaps the warmest day we have so far this season.  Gobed 8.30  P.M.

May 2-10, 1889 in Charleston, IL (Highlights)

May 1889 (Highlights)

2.  Thursday

Light frost.  Miss Kemayer not made any decision as yet. Went down to Depot to see Alex is putting in another set of furniture.  Council met tonight granting license to 6 men including self.  Gobed 10 PM

3.   Friday 

Clear pretty sharp frost ice formed.  Girls went with me today.  6 men making rails and wood.  Went by Blakeman's.  Miss Kemayer figuring on getting.  H.G. down at night says she has decided to move in with Geo Rosebraugh.    Tue and Father ate dinner at H.G.s.

4.   Saturday

Miss Kemayer in tells me she will vacate the room next Wednesday, going in room with Geo Rosebraugh.

5.  Sunday

Tue still suffering from toothache and head ache- has probably caught cold.

6.  Monday.

  Went down to shop to hire Nick Smith engage him to work at nine dollars per week.  H.G. still helping Latta.  

7. Tuesday

 Fine in woods west of John Handleys - Walkers.  Walker have their farm nearly up.

8.  Wednesday.  

Miss Kemayer moved out in evening after supper.  Helped her some.  We begin cleaning up in the morning walk down with Kate Perrill.

9.  Thursday

10.  Friday.

Boys work all day and get about  ready for business  Beer comes and some whiskey.  Drummers plenty.

February 16-19, 1889 in Charleston, Illinois

February 1889

16.  Saturday.  6 AM.  Ther.  54.  60.  36

Cloudy, foggy, wind South.  Cooper paid me  2.00 on wood.  Bought second hand seeder of Mack Mitchell.  Went down to limited P.M. Train saw Strickland who said he didn't want to sell his lots.  Learn Shut Rueb Davis  is going to sawing on the Blakemore timber.  Occasional sunshine with showers P.M.  Wind getting in W and turning cooler.  Got hair cut at May's Barber Shop.  Quite warm in afternoon then must have been up to 65 or higher.  Geo. Linder speaks to me about boards.  Maggie has (?) very bad cold since Wednesday night with sore throat.  What little rain fell has spoiled the roads again for awhile.  Gobed 10 P.M.

17.  Sunday.  7.30 AM.  Ther.  28.  32.  28.
Cloudy wind N.W.  Then went up to 34 in morn but began to fall before noon.  Begun to snow in P.M. continued to snow by  spells till in night.  Remain at home all day and nobody here.  Girls did not go to S.S.  Maggie has still very bad cold.  Wind varible  S.E. P.M.  Go bed at 9:30 PM

Transcribe note:  This was the baby's second birthday.

18.  Monday, 6 AM.  Ther. 20.  18.  15
Mostly cloudy but clearing then was 22 at 6 AM. but fell to 18 at 8 AM about 4 inches light snow fell yesterday and in night and is drifting with strong W wind.  Maggie coughed almost constantly in night and not feeling very well this morning.  Neither of the girls went to school today.  Clear cold day.  Gobed 10 PM.

19.  Tuesday. 6 AM.  Ther.  1.  20.  10.
Clear.  This is the coldest point reached this winter.  Light N.W. wind  Phebe went to school.  Maggie not yet very well she went over to Mrs. Perrills a little while toward night.  Rurb Davis  was over in P.M. talking some of sawing up Blakemans  big timber.  recieve a gallon Bonet  of whiskey from SMWoo(?) & Co Cincinnati ordered lat  Thursday.  Dov's (?) children over in evening.  I.P. (?) took washing to Mrs. Rogers.  clear day with light westerly wind.  Gobed 9.30 PM.

April 3-6, 1888 in Charleston, IL

3. Tuesday.  6 AM.  Ther.  36. 57.   48.
Clear day.  Howard Robinson died last night.  I was on foot all day  doing what I could, but was beaten 90 votes.   The whole Dem ticket elected excepting T. Stoddert for supervisor 53 maj.  Uncle John was in all day  and stayed all night.  Rutherfords were up and I paid them $4.50 in orders.  The result of the election was a surprise to most people.  Stay up till they counted out.  Went to bed 1 A.M.

4.  Wednesday.  6 AM.  Ther.  42.  70.  63.
Clear.  Al Crass helps pile walnut lumber in morning an hour or two.  Howard Robinson was buried today.  Uncle John says I better fence a part of my land and he will send a lot of cows down there in May.  Would have gone to timber today if had not been so tired.  Baby sick all day and in night.  Pleasant day.  (The print runs off the page).

5.  Thursday.  5.30 AM. Ther.   65.  77.  54.
Some cloudy, strong S. wind, blowing all day.  Thunder shower from W. about 4.30 PM. raining about half an hour.  Thought of going to the timber, but looked too much like rain, Rutherfords were up and I let them have the lot of old corn I had left.  Bruner called P.M. and paid  me for a set of switch ties which they took up this week.    Says I can put out all the ties I want to before June 1. Advises me to Meyers works  8 hours spreads manure, plants potatoes in bottom.  1st row east plant deep with S. phos.   2d. row shallow with phos.  3rd row shallow without phos.  4th row peas N. end phos.  Put in city bill at night 37.53.  Gobed 9 PM.  Paid tax on nine bbls. b&h.  Whiskey $350.70.

6.  Friday.  6 AM.  Ther.  36.  58.  47.
Clear day with northerly wind.  Meyers works all day.  Tear down old hog pen and do good deal of cleaning up.  John Spurgeon brings up 387 ft  2 in. Planks.  Got poll list of F. Blankbenbakee.  Remit Sucion Sturm 1.45 being amt insurance bal on 7 P  whiskey B &h.  Tue not feeling well.  Have had very bad cold in head self for day or two.  Gobed 10 PM.

March 14, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

1913  

14.  Friday.  6 AM.  Ther.  54.  68.  42. = 54 2/3

Clear, hazy. S.4.  There was strong S.E. or S. wind all night.  I hitch up AM.  Drive down to B.P. Andrews to see about account .  Harman phones about kitchen chimney at farm.  It must be fixed.  Tue went to R.C. at Pophams.  Monticue wants to buy bill board.  I went to Brown's for shave and haircut P.M. pd.  He cashed 5 ch for me.  Pay Ray up to last Thursday .70.  Tue went up to see Mrs. Brooks before supper.  Later she got riled and over to Groves ? where she stayed till after I went to bed.  She  is worried about  the young men.  Wants to get them out this week.  Harman did not appear.  Get letter from Mr. Oakley of Loxa calling for  fence paper &c  on house at Loxa.  Part clear day and the  warmest since Nov. 11.  It grew colder late P.M.  Sp rain 1 P.M.  Gobed 10 P.

1888

14.  Wednesday 6 AM.  Ther.  23.  34.  25.

Partly cloudy.   Carlo has been gone since last Saturday, we think he has been poisoned.  They have been killing dogs lately,  I sowed nitrate on strawberry bed.  Trimmed some peach trees in the AM.  Don't feel right though.  Frank McGurty was fined 85.00 and put in jail 10 days by Judge Hinley for selling whiskey without  license.  Comer was up says he has turn up getting ready to move mill.  Mrs. Perrill and Kate called toward night.  Tue working on dark blue dress for Maggie which she finishes.  Gobed 10.30 ~ clear day E. wind.

March 7-9, 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

7.   Wednesday  6.30  AM.   Ther.  21  36.  29.
Clear with N. wind.  Hat and Mrs. Dowling call in AM.
 Uncle John was in and came down to  dinner.   Comer
in town but doesn't get to see me.    Spoke to H.G. about  running
for collector.  Pleasant clear day but chilly and not
thawing in shade.  Hutton of Hutton TP speaks to me
about  buying land.  Buy some white star potatoes at Bactan,
 just a sample.  Kate Davis was over little while at night.
 C.G. not very well  Gobed 10 P.M.

8.  Thursday, 6.30 A.M. Temp.  28.  43.  40.
About clear.  Light easterly wind.  Tue makes fire as
she has all this week.  H.G. down before breakfast says the
City will take all of the lumber.   I have settled for them and advises me
to have more sowed.  Buy bushel white star potatoes Bactans
Bruce Myers works at hot bed from 4 to 6 P.M.  Do list finish.
Fisher and Dr. Hull got wood.  Have only about 11 cord left.
Not feeling very well myself.  Clear day with light variable wind.
Mostly east.  Gobed 9 P.M.

9.  Friday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  38.  52.  50.
P. cloudy with fresh SE wind which was blowing all
night.  Baby very restless all night.  Myers comes
to work about 7 works about two hours.  Give him  cr. on post
with 50c. from yesterday and today.  Let Paley have half cord
wood on cr. and Caylor pays me for half cord for unknown man.
Write Jos. Harris about overchg. (sic)   Simon Sterns 3.75  for ins. on wky.
Try to make out list of trees but fail to finish it.  Uncle John in
town P.M.  Cloudy day.  Sprinkle rain toward night.  Gobed 9 P.M.

March 2-3, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, Illlinois

1913

2.  Sunday.  6 AM.  Ther.   4.  28.  24. + 18 2/3

Clear. W.3.  Furnace fire went entirely out and coldest morn in house this winter.  W.C. didn't freeze although forgot to "fix" it.  Dr. Dudley calls on measles patient.  Tue did not attend church, but went up for Sunday R.H.  Nobody called mostly clear day with brisk westerly wind becoming S.W. at night. Read Tom Jones till bedtime.  Am nearly through with it.  Tue read it after I retired 9.30

3. Mondy.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  28.  54.  42. = 41 1/3

About clear SW3. Hazy.  Am cutting my rations short and think sleep better.  The coal of last Tuesday bout gone.  Grace Sefton called AM.  Her father is very low.  They don't expect him to  get any better.  Harman phones that will be in tomorrow to see about some clover seed he knows of.  Florence Moon called P.M.  She is married and lives at Fort Collins, Col.  She has come E to get her mother Nettie Highland Moon from Janesville to Charleston.  She is paralysed(sic), and they recently got here.  Tue reports that Mort and K will be over, but they didn't come so I nearly finished Tom Jones.  Mostly clear till night SW winds and cloudy with light rain at night.  Gobed 9  R.05

1888

2.  Friday.  5.50 AM.  Ther.  54.  38.  29.

Cloudy.  Wind S. but noon changed to west or NW and grows colder. all day;  work at store  two or three hours AM.  Cleaning up counter and desk.  Baby better and seems pretty lively.  Tue irons a part of the washing which she has done herself.  Brought lap robe down home.  Mostly cloudy day, wind NW.  Gobed 10 PM.

3.  Saturday.  Monday 6.15 AM.  Ther.  24.  34.  27.

Cloudy wind, North.  Pay Mitchell for Maggie's shoes 1.50 and buy  pair for baby 50c.  Settle with Alan Fisher wood sold him (?) statement wood a/c to C. Mason.  He owes 11.00  2.00 of it being for delivering.  Find my ladder lost over a year ago on roof of City Hall.  All Crass gets it down for me.  Draw off balance of whiskey B,&L. left in Bbl. about 6 gallons in all.  Caylor pays me for 1/3 cd wood by Bob Gileman.  Sold Dr. Hall 1/4 cd.  Mrs. Feagan over at night.  Go bed 10 P.M.  Cloudy NE wind.