July 1 - 5 1890 and 1901 in Coles County Illinois

July 1890

1.  Tuesday.  5 AM.  Ther  78.  90.  75.

H. G. changed on beer last week PT car load to come yesterday not come and will not probably.  Start for timber 4.30 P.M.  Met Comer at Kickapoo  got there before dark.  Simons cutting sprouts  No one else working  Gobed 9.30

2.  Wednesday 5 AM.  Ther  70  85  67.

Clear.  Simons goes with Spurgeon to look up logs on Decker ridge R & J cut sprouts AM.  Afternoon boys cut logs over near river bottom, fell large white oak across hallow and had good deal of trouble with it.  Mill not running say they are out of logs.  Start home about 6 P.M. getting there at 8,  Settle in full with Simons wages and board to July 1.

3.  Thursday. 7 AM.  Ther `

Clear.  Worry nearly all day with pile of city lumber Geo Kellogg and two other men pile whole lot over in afternoon  Maffett sick and could not come over and recive it   Drove over there at night.   Council met and ajourn without doing anything to meet Monday night.  Comer up town and pretty full full  thunder shower about 5 P.M. light rain here.  Been about sick all day took medicine and ate nothing  Tue not very well.  Gobed  10.30 P.M.

4.  Friday 6 AM  Ther  67.  78  55

Cloudy with N. Wind quite chilly, but sun comes out after a while and turns out to be a fine day  Crowd in town only moderate and trade only fair for 4th.  John Kings little girl got hurt with a sky rocket at night.  John Simons and Warren brought my wool and two large hogs.  Send out new C.C. sow by Simons.  Go bed 11 P.M.

5. Saturday. 7.30 AM.  Ther 50 78 60

Clear  Temp was 44. early this morning.  Frank Maffett counts up lumber and makes it substantially same as myself  the bill  unpaid at date amts. to 26599 ft $398.98  Give Hutton Tp bill to Geo Dallas $11.99  Not a very busy Saturday.  Bert was down to dinner.  I took buggy up to Pugh PM to repair but didnt finish it Crass pulled it down again.  Settle today with R. Eastons and H House for hauling lumber.  Pleasant cool day with easterly wind  Gobed 11 PM.

July 1901

1.  Monday,   6.30 AM.  Ther  80.  97.  80  =  85 2/3

Clear, southerly wind.  Was about sick all night.  Mrs. Smith came to wash about 7 AM. with her  mother.  We are out of both coal and wood.  engage Jubal Jones to cut the load of wood on hand 7/8 of cord.  Tue and girls sewing P.M.  Phebe went to picnic.  Gone all night.  Very sultry with southerly wind mostly clear some clouds.  Calhoun says 1.89 in rain fell last Thursday after midnight.  Gobed  9 P.M.

2.  Tuesday 5 AM.  Ther  75.  98.  75.  =  82 2/3

Mostly clear:  light southwest wind.  Jubal comes to saw wood at 7.  Helps hitch up and  I start to country 7.15 A.M.  Jo plowing on E side N. piece.  Stop at Courtneys says will look at my meadow today and report in morn if I  go out.      Owe Mrs. G. 30 cents for eggs.      Mrs. Gaines washing.  I get a lot of beans, beets and other vegetables, also eggs.  Getting home time for dinner.  McGintry ask for use of   bottom lot for balloon fourth of July celebration which didn't get.  Very sultry day s.w. wind mostly clear AM. but cloudy after 4 PM  Light shower  between 5 and 6P.M with signs of more.  I lost my knife today.  Maggie and Minnie drove roan while at night. Cooler at night  gobed 9 P.M.     

3.  Wednesday,  5 AM.  Ther.  70.  98.  74  =  80 2/3
Partly cloudy, N. wind.  Jubal sawing wood and helped hitch up.  I start out to Gaines about 9 AM.  Jo Courtney says cant cut meadow.  Jo plowing SW piece  Edith there.  I got home before dinner  Leave house and buggy  at Binkleys for cleaning up getting him toward night 75c  pd.  Storm comes up just after dinner  Much thunder and wind blowing many limbs off trees in yard also everywhere in town.  Lost cane today think where I hitch near Evan's.  Gobed.  9 P.M.  Cloudy P.M. and cooler.

4.  Thursday.  5.15 AM.  Ther  72.  96.  74.  =  80 2/3
Mostly cloudy, Southwind.  I went up to Wrights for ham before breakfast.  They have our block  each side of square blocked off today.  I drove up to Decker Spring AM.  Saw no fungi.  Pet Dickens rode to town with me.  Balloon ascended twice near Baptist Church.  Very sultry.  Said to have been good trade in town.  The heat hurt me worse than usual.  Mostly clear except early and late southerly wind  gobed 9 PM.

Top of page:  Learn that John (Butch) Klein and Mrs. Albright are dead this week.

5.  Friday, 6 AM.  Ther  72.  90.  75.  =  79.
      Cloudy and raining since 3 AM. said to have been quite heavy.  Get check books at both State and 2d Banks.  They redeem stamps t State.  Checks vc do not require stamp after 1st inst.  Get blank of Charley Lee and have John Marshall fix amt   Wall bankrupt a/c which mail to E.S. Robinson Referrce (sic) Springfield.  Jubal came after dinner and picked up litter left by storm in front yard also saws splits wood a while.  Drove SW looking for fungi.  Several species Rusula , Telephera  Scherwinity  Small hycoperdone. are all I saw.  Maggie and Minnie  had some entertainment P.M. - girls.  Mostly clear day with strong S.W, wind much of time.  Gobed 9 P.M.      

Photo  copyright Charles Gramesly

                                                                                                                                                 

October 20, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

October 1889

20.  Sunday.  7 AM.  Ther.  48.  54.  43  =  48 2/3

Clear except  smoke or fog.  Start for  ranch 9 AM  Phebe went with me.  Frank Smith there.  Phebe and self gather a few nuts.  Look at saw logs.  Milt said he would go over F. Goodmans and borrow wagon to haul logs.  We got home about dark  Maggie had a light chill this AM.  Pleasant day smokey NE wind gobed 10 P.M.

October 1900

20.  Saturday.  6 AM.  Ther   50.  75.  60  =  61 2/3

Mostly clear  Tue feeling some better , and  up to  get breakfast.  Got another load wood (cord) of Newell  which didn't pay for.  Simons not up today.  Learn that Brown  (Ira) was here but did not see him.  They (H Plant) are putting in heating pipes on 5th St. North blocking that St to RR.  Corn 30.c here.  Very little B.C. selling.  Price about 70.00  per or more per ton.  Campbell tells me  of Piercy girl W of town  Tue and Marie eat supper at Mrs. Knocks.  Let  Bush have elm @ $16.50.  his bill  will be next.  NO boy yet.  Have been doing chores self.  Bill Hatton has promised to begin working for me Monday at 1.75 per day.    Will Campbell and self drive round town a while at night.  Met him at Wrights.  Paid up gro. bill yesterday - some 31.00+.

Arc light around town out at P.M.  Town dark probably all night.  Go bed 10 P.M.   Took pill.

Walls bill, presented 50.00 rent says come Monday.

March 4, 1914 and 1889 in Charleston, IL

March 1914

The page with March 4-6 is missing.

March 1889

4.  Monday.  6 AM.  Ther.  32.  49.  36.  =  39.

Heavy fog wind N.  Maggie and Phebe both go to school.  No school in P.M. on account of Tom Stodderts funeral.  Learn that Thead Eastin was killed this morning at Colorado Springs.  Mrs. K  failed to pay her rent today.  Bought couple young hens at Wrights.  Clean out back part of smoke house for chickens.  Buy shoulder and steak at Myers tonight.  Dark cloudy day N. wind, fine rain toward night.  Gobed 10.15 P.M.

February 10 - 11, 1914 and 1889 in Charleston, Illinois

February 1914

10.  Tuesday.  6 AM.  Ther.  28.  38.  26.  =  30 2/3

Cloudy. NE.2.  Snowing before 7.  Phebe by hurry  got off on 10 car expecting ti meet Fern on car at Division St. and take 11.10 AM train at Mattoon.  She expects to stay in Chicago about a week.  Tue came just before noon. (was much disappointed to find Phebe gone.  She left M & C  early morn.  Buddy all well.  Tue writes to Marie P.M. and begins  straighten up things which suppose is badly needed.  I did not get out today on account  inclemency.  It clears off before noon and mostly fair P.M.  About  an inch light snow AM. yields .05 water.  Mort and Kate over from 7.30 to 10 P.M.   gobed 10.30 P.M.

11.  Wednesday.  6 AM.  Ther.  16.  26. 20. = 20 2/3

Mostly clear. N.1.  Rhoda came early washing &c.  The politicians are having quite lively fight about Clinton P.O., but Marvel seems to be  in the lead.  Tue put in much of the day cleaning up.  Chas. chored will come Friday P.M.  Tue went uptown later for grub gets halibut &c.  I did not get out.  The weater too inclement.  Part clear day with raw N.E. wind exspecially at night.  Will soon be out of coal.  Gobed 9P

February 1889

10.  Sunday. 7 A.M.  Ther.  25.  44.  34.

Partly clear, hazy, white frost.  Wind S.E.  Tue still having toothache and neuralgia.  Flurry of snow and about  noon from S.W.  Mostly cloudy day with S.W. wind, light "skift" of snow  about dark.  Kate Davis over P.M.  Mrs. R. Davis called a while at night.  Go bed 9.30 PM~

11.  Monday 5.30 AM.  Ther.  21.  30.  22.

Cloudy N.W. wind.  Ther, at 5.30 was 28. growing colder.  Riley Decker called to see about working for me.  Maggie did not go to school, has a sore eye.  Phebe and I went up town at night for meat.  Buy 2 1/2 bush. clover seed at Wrights.  Mostly cloudy day clears off toward night.  Go bed 8.30 PM.

February 10-11, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

1913

10.  Monday. 6.30 AM.  Ther.  28.40.40.=36.

Cloudy S.E.2.  Tue irons much of forenoon.  "Barley" Elkins calls for Ellens trunk P.M.  the family has returned from Kentucky and ll are at Bushton.  Harman phones about some hinges which he thinks he needs.  Says will be in town Wednesday and will bring me some feed.  It began light rain or mist about noon and continues all day.  Wind S to SW3 not much water fell say .05 in.  Am reading Wilkie Collins Woman in White.  Gobed 9 P.M.  

11.  Tuesday  6.30 AM.  Ther.. 32.30.22.= 28.

Cloudy. N.3. growing colder.  Tue repairing new dress.  She attended function at Fullers with Mrs. Brooks P.M.  Fern Nichols here at night.  Tue helping her about dress.  She is going to Indianapolis tomorrow to work the season.  Cold day with northerly wind.  The ground pretty well covered with the snow that fell night of 2d inst. Part cloudy.  Go bed 9. P.M.

1888

10.  Friday, 6.30 A.M.  Ther. 3.  28.  24

Partly clear, wind N.E.  baby cried some in night with colic

not feeling well this morning.  Tue went over to

Curt Davis to baby's funeral in forenoon.  Maggie and Phebe came from

school about 10 AM.  Snider called about noon.  Mostly cloudy day

with N. or NE wind.  Quit tobacco again at night have been chewing good

 deal since Sunday.  Gobed 10.30 P.M.

11.  Saturday.  6.30 AM.  Ther 16. 32.  16.

Cloudy.  wind N. or N.E. Tue got up and made fire this morning.  Tue got a letter from Aunt Mate saying they could not come out here.  Uncle John was down at noon but did not eat dinner, H. Hildreth paid balance of fine to me $2.50.  Comer was was up, pay him 25.00  He thinks I owe him a few more dollars than my a/c shows.  Maggie went up town with me toward night.  Took yellow cat to Wrights.  Buy Coffee, nutmeg, lard.  got three reserved seat tickets for McGiberry Show which will be here Monday  night.  Has been a pretty clear day with N. wind.  Go bed 10 PM

November 21-22, 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

21.  Monday.  5.30  AM.  Ther. 24.  40.  35.
Clear, Smokey, Brisk S. wind.  Very heavy  smoke all day, otherwise would probably have been clear.  It is supposed to come from fires in southern Illinois and MO and Ark - has been so for over two weeks whenever wind was southerly.  Mrs. Young didn't come to wash today.  Comer was up and had kind of a squaring up with him.  Snider called morning says Fan* is sick came for Dr.   Pay Comer $75.00 and settle bill at Wrights for him 32.20.  Ed Eastin and wife have gone down in country for few days.  Tue gets wood box in house.  Strong SSE. wind all day.  Gobed 9.45 P.M.  Baby cried till nearly midnight.

*Tues' sister

22.  Tuesday.  6.15 AM  ther.  35.  52.  46.(?)
Smokey.  Wind S.  Snider called this morning.  Fan's baby born last night was dead.  Took Tue and baby down  there* forenoon, getting home at noon.  P. Snider brought Tue and baby  up at night.  Sell Farrell lot of posts and fencing.  Had to come home with Phebe.  Maggie got lost, but found her at Wentz.  Lean that Ark hunters will be home this week.  Basier got home a day or two ago.  Dark smokey day with south wind.  gobed 9.30 PM

*Fan lived in the house high on the hill just before the Lake Charleston entrance.  It is still there, at least it was last time I was out that way.  The house was known as the Blakeman house.  You used to see that there were steep, steps from the house down to the road.  My Grandmother always told me Fan fell on those steps when she was pregnant and  she lost the baby.  There is, however, no mention of her falling in this journal.

November 10 - 12, 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

10.  Thursday, 5.30  AM  Ther.  37.  48.  47.
Cloudy Wind N.  Caught another large rat which is the third lately.  Spotted cat taken away last week came back a day or two ago.  J.M. Eastin has sold his store room up town to Jay Johnston and will pay note.  I have on him.  Pay up Mike Miller for gasoline stove &c.  Air raw and chilly not so bad  toward night.  Stay at apple store all day but don't do very much.  Good many talking of buying .  Buy buckwheat at Wrights at night.  Mostly cloudy day .  Clear at night.  Go bed.  8.30 - Mrs. Wentz gets bush  Applies on GrS.

11. Friday, 5.30 AM  Ther.  34.  51.  37.
Clear.  The smoke so thick for a few days has about gone.  Wind N.E.  Alarm of fire Mrs. Atwells  This is the day for  the Anarchist hanging in Chicago.*  Tue was up town toward night and paid up  Mullen sisters $12.90.  Kate Myers was over at night.  Phebe cried with toothache good deal early in night.  Gobed 10.45 P.M.

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haymarket_affair

12.  Saturday.  6.15 AM  Ther.  27.  51.  45.
Clear, wind N.E.  Pleasant day chilly.  Uncle John was in town.  Learn that over tenant Mr. Young is talking of moving to Terre Haute.  If  he does will probably owe Tue about $18.00.  Comer and Gary were up P.M.  Buy big piece of Ham at Masons which make  (?) sausage at night Phebe still has bad toothache.  Gobed 10 P.M.

September 21, 1887 in Charleston, IL

21, Wednesday,  6.30 A.M.  Ther  66.  89.  71.

Clear .  Get Caylor to haul up cull ties from R.R.  17 of them.  Find wood missing from yard.  McClasky and Sampson haul up the first lumber that has come up lately, about 1000 ft.  Pay Claud Cormer check 5.00 at night.  Riley Decker agrees to fill out wood cut recently.  Moore leaves balance of 2.00.  At Wrights Jas Ashmore was buried today.  Begin taking G Deen by the week.  Gobed 9.30

September 5-6, 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

5,  Monday,  6 AM  Wher.  71.  96.  75.
Mostly clear H.G call before breakfast to see about Comer.  Write letter to Geo Curriens.  Buy pk tomatoes Bartons.  Box peaches, Wrights.  Mrs. Dickenson washes.  Clock not right yet.  They take it up town to fix it.  Warren Decker calls for money to buy wagon.  Har. hauled about 38 cords of wood.  Get a paper from Aunt Maria with extract from Addie's letter.  Mostly clear day very warm night.  Lightening N.E. at night.  Wind W.  Garner's son up after ice at night.  Milt Drake and Jerel up P.M.  Gobed 10.30 P.M.

6,  Tuesday,  6.30 AM  Ther.  75.  96.  85.
Clear, brisk west wind.  Conclude to go on Niagara Falls excursion which starts at 2 PM today.  After getting ready gave it up.  Cleve Marglin and Geo. Mastin went as well as many others.  Claud Comer up to  mark lumber.  Get letter form Currens saying will be down to look at land some time this week.  Give Warren Decker order on Geo Rosebrough for 50.00 which over pays a little on wood hauling.  Buy codfish and pears.  Clouds up some toward  night strong W wind all day.  Gobed 9 PM

August 23, 1887 in Charleston, IL

23.  Tuesday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  64.  75.  62.
Cloudy, N.W. wind.  Talk with Hibbard about taking out accident policy.  Went down to timber PM getting back 6.30.  Comer moving his engine.  Men have begun digging well with poor prospect for water.  Bob Brown has moved into house on North side.  This has been  cloudy and the coolest for many  months.  Buy chicken at Wrights.  Gobed.  10 PM