August 1- 17, 1891 in Charleston, IL HIGHLIGHTS

August 1891

1. Saturday

Pentecost camp meeting brings big crowds. Trade good.  H.G. and Bill Jefferies are going to start to Detroit tomorrow.  Came near putting Marie's  left eye today  knife  it gave us all a good scare.

2.  Sunday

Went up to store about 10 AM "Our son"getting ready for GAR trip tonight.  Maunie Lang here all day.

3. Monday

H.G and Jeff started at midnight.  50 kegs of beer came on local freight. 

4. Tuesday

I sent word to the ranch for boys  to move N. fence over to line at once.  He report that we are losing good many onions stolen.  

5. Wednesday  
Brownfield straightens oil room in forenoon and I begin measuring preparatory to invoicing  Warren was in with load of wood for Mrs. Coon bringing word that R. Decker would not let them pass through his lot on to ridge to make fence.  He had finally decided to allow it however.

6. Thursday
Have been trying all week to get butchers to take lard out of Perkins building so could move barrels over there.  Learn that some the GAR crowd had got home but no news of Jeff and H.G.   Cecropia worms are getting fat and crawl all over the room.  they are an awful nuisance. Tue went out to McCravy's in country with other ladies of Pres Church leaving girls and baby at home.  Maggie got  supper.

7. Friday
H.G. and Jeff arrive at 5 P.M. having been gone since Sunday night to Detroit G.A.R. reunion  Pete M Gurty, baby died tonight been sick some time

8.  Saturday
Our son [H.G] on hand as usual
this morning. Brownfield hoed out garden yesterday.  He cleaned out Perkins back room and moved Bbls today.  

9. Sunday
Maggie and Phebe went to the Pentecost Camp Meeting.

10.  Monday
Had two two narrow escapes from accident with horse  one at ranch and one while unharnessing.  Tue getting ready for Phebe's birthday party tomorrow.  Try two new  mushrooms.

11.  Tuesday
A large arch in the new school house  now building today.  No signs of spinning among my cecropias yet  Older ones 50 days  younger 40.  Phebes birthday she had quite a crowd of little girls here 15 or 20 to supper.  Change last lot of cecropia in bottom to another branch  They were through their 4th molt yesterday the majority of them.

12.  Wednesday
Tue went down to Hats P.M.  I walk down and look at new Western School House   

13.  Thursday
Get ready and take Tue, Hat and Marie out to Uncle John's house getting back self about 11 AM.  I went out after T., H., and baby about 6 P.M and didn't get back till dark. Cercropias very restless today and  nearly the whole lot in house crawling  over the floor in P.M  Found two of them spinning at night which are the first , nearly 53 days old.

14.  Friday
John Simons up to attend suit of Jo Handley against Edweare.  Turrie went to Batten girl funeral P.M.  six of the cecropia are spinning today.

15.  Saturday
Two more cercropia began spinning  The largest worm on  tree in bottom got ready to spin and left for parts unknown.

16.  Sunday. 
 Six more cecropias spin today making 14.  Divides large lot of new ones in bottom into two parts.  I start for ranch at 3 P.M.  Struck large lot of mushrooms (aguricus causpeatris ) in  Bishop bottom gather about half a bush and go back home.  Maunie stays to supper.  

17.  Monday, 4.30 AM.  68.  87.  77. = 77 1/3
Mostly cloudy.  N. wind.  Start out with girls and get about 3 pecks of mushrooms  get home and find that Nick is sick and had not been to store  He is about worn out with sick baby.  Sultry day, occasional sprinkle of rain.  Gobed  10.30 PM

April 1-5, 1891 and 1902 in Charleston, Il

April 1891

1.  Wednesday.  6 AM  Ther  37.  61.  52. = 50
Clear. S.W. wind.  Reported that there is prospect of a war with Italy causing good deal excitement up town.  Pain in side seems worse this morning and went up to Dr. Pattons  Took some of his medicine but felt worse than usual all day  Settle with Johnny Decker for ties all but 1.65 held for culls. Uncle John  Eastin tells me has sold his tie timber to Ledbetter  Tue cleaning up yard P.M.  Mrs. R wash PM.  Tue went to church at night Mostly Clear some cloudy toward night night wind S.W.  9 PM

2.  Thursday.  6 AM.  Ther  47.  43.  38.  =  41
Cloudy N. wind wind.  Sprinkle rain 6 AM.  Feel some better this morning.  Stay at home all day and take tonic  Mrs. R. and Fannie iron.  PM.  Maggie went to Highlads for milk.  Cloudy day with NW wind sp rain occasionally and at night  Learn that Fatty Knock died last evening at the Asylum at Kankakee. Go bed 9 PM.

3.  Friday 6 30  AM.  Ther  30.  34.  27  =  30
Cloudy and snow flying.  wind N.W.  Dont feel as well as yesterday.  Fatty Knock was buried today  Tue went to the funeral at 2 P.M.  Hat was here toward night, she and Tue  went over to see old  Mr. Wentz who has sick long time.  Rechters folks moved from here a week or so ago.  Maggie and Phebe went to birthday party at Griffins in afternoon.    Maggie didnt come home  Tue and Phebe found her at Latta's at 9 PM.  I stay home all day.  The pain in my side about same as yesterday  Cloudy day.  Snowing lightly when got up and continued lightly all day mostly melting as it fell.  Wind w. or NW  Crail has not shown up this week  Go bed 9 45 PM

4. Saturday.  7 AM.  Ther 26.  33.  31.  = 30
Cloudy and snowing lightly wind NW.  Tue about sick  Self about the same as yesterday.  Maggie has a very sore tongue for a very long time.  Went up town first time since Wednesday.  Democrats considerably interested in city election, they don't know who to run for mayor.  Uncle John was in PM has been sick with cold this week.  Trade light for Saturday.  Jo Handly will lend me a load or two of corn till the roads improve.  Tue to Davis toward night.  Mostly clear dayue felt badly all day.  Maunie Lang over to supper.  Gobed. 11 P.M.

5.  Sunday.  7 AM.  ther  28.  43.  38  =  36 1/3
Clear  a little haze.  Wind SW. heavy white frost this AM  Maggie did not get up till 9 AM. her tongue no better.  Phebe and Marie went to S.S.   Tue to church AM.  Self stay home all day  Found side of meat fallen down in smoke house  and partly eaten up by mice.  Children and Tue went up  to  Davis toward night.  Mostly clear day S.W. wind  Hazy in P.M. gobed 9 PM

April 1902

1. Tuesday.  6 AM.   Ther.  30.  35.  31.  =  32

Cloudy NW wind.  Rhoda washed & working till 3 P.M.  Township election Did not hitch up today.  Too cold for me to drive to Loxa. Cloudy all day and occasional snowflakes  Most of day  Tue went over to Groves at night.  Fern Griffith stays all night with Phebe.  Jenkins sends bill which is some 197.00  I have done nothing about fence in the bottom.  I seems difficult to find good hand to make fence.  Have had to keep fire in furnace all day.  Coal will not last many days at this rate.  Gobed 9 PM

2.  Wednesday 6 AM.  Ther 32.  41.  34.  =  35 2/3

Clearing off light westwind.  Learn that Republican ticket carried excepting J.W. Waltrip for Commissioner.  Wrote  and mail letter to Aunt Cornelia asking Uncle M [Marcus] to send me 20 Keiffer pear and 50 Columbian raspberry.  I intend to set there in bottom.  Didn't eat any dinner.  Get ready to go to Loxa P.M. but thought too late.  See Co Surveyor and we measure across pasture and find that my fence on 5th St should set further out some four feet.  Partly cloudy and quite chilly Gobed 9 P.M.

3.  Thursday, 6 AM.  Ther  27.  46.  39  =  37 1/3

Mostly clear E wind.  Charley Jones found me in banken shop We went to  Court house and look over old delinquent list  He thinks Sawin will release over 8 1/2 acres sold for taxes.  Mrs Eastin here to dinner.  Prof. Baird family moving into her house which now belongs to the City  She will leave for the west in  day or two.  I ate too much for dinner and felt badly all P.M.  Saw Billy Watson and he says will run lines for fences tomorrow P.M. if I can be here,  Rhoda ironed P.M. but gave it up.  Tue went to church at night  Mostly clear day E & S wind  Gobed 9 P.M.

4.  Friday  5.30 AM.  Ther.  28.  50.  40.  =  39 1/3

Mostly clear Easterly wind.  I got started to Loxa 8 A.M.  Old Queen tried to run away on  road out there.  Jo and Wall breaking: have about 12 acres broke.  They are working south of house  Shirley breaking down by Loxa.  Three families in Loxa are quarantined for small pox also Wallace Defenbaugh.  Take Mrs. Shirley some chrysanthemums  Saw Ora. Try to settle with McPheron but I didn't have my a/c with me  Pay Al Newby 2.00 for calf services of bull.  got home about noon  Get Watson P.M. and we establish line for fence on west side lot 127.  It runs 3 to 5 feet further in street than original fence  We measure west from Sixth St.  on Van Buren on on Harrison and get line form these points.  Tue had Reading Circle here PM with refreshments.  Saw Emmett Fritz.  He says he will help me tomorrow  Mostly clear day northerly wind Gobed 9 P.M.~~        

5.   Saturday.  5.40 AM. 30.  55.  50.  =  45
Clear white frost Southwind. Emmett came working till 3 P.M.  Pd him 1.00 which is 10c. over.  He hitchedup & carried out all ashes.  Sorted and ? post s for bottom fence, and carried down cellar a lot of wood also ground up some of our tools  Mr. Bell had oil stone and drawing knife supposed   John Simones and Warren in after new planter amt, of Dr. Bush lumber 491 ft oak and elm amounting to $8.36.   Pay  interest on Mrs. Eastins note up to next Nov. 1.  Elvira Garrison pays $5.00 on rent for Mo. end 14 inst.  Kate Bacon called PM and stays to supper   I took her over to Franks - a very dark drive as lights were out.  It began to sprinkle 2 PM and occasionally after that with heavy thunder showers and wind later say after 9 P.M.  Tue and Groves folks intended to to entertainment at Normal  but too threatening.    Laura Clark stays all night with Marie and Phebe  went home with Hannah Marshall  Gobed 8.30 PM.                                         

July 11-27, 1889 in Charleston, Illinois (highlights)

July 1889

11.  Thursday

Get pair of cheap shoes at Mitchells.  Green drummer in town, but didn't buy anything.  

12.  Friday

Mrs. Rogers washed bed clothes.

13.  Saturday

Uncle John was down to dinner.  Snider returned from Indianapolis where he had been to take cattle.  Drummer from Toledo is in town.  Trade is good, best day we have had so far.  

14.  Sunday

Heavy thunder shower.  Town branch is higher than for years, a foot or more higher than on June 8.  Phebe gets blackberry on new dress.

15.  Monday.

Uncle John in town on way to Snider's to help thrash, left some with me to deposit for him.  Mrs. Davis helping Tue sew in PM.

16.  Tuesday.

Crass washes buggy.

17,   Wednesday.

I clean up harness and had some repairs made on it.

18.  Thursday.  

Baseball game today between Kansas and Charleston.  Charleston  2nd best.  

19.  Friday.

Subscribe for  "Hanacasion"  for G. Bros for 4 months

20. Saturday, 

Maggie is thinking more drawing lessons of Miss Johnston.  Rode with Tue toward night storm drove us in before dark.

21.  Sunday.

22.  Monday

H.G. washes up lot of flasks.  Maggie began taking drawing lessons of Miss Johnson.

23.  Tuesday.

Bert in town afternoon bought himself a new buggy and harness.   

24,  Wednesday.

Drummers numerous this week.   M & Ph went to Martha Davis birthday party today.   Self not very head ache. (sic)  Sent for  some pericals(sic) for Maggie.  

25.  Thursday.

Tue went out to Uncle John's with Mrs. Davis  starting about 10 AM. took baby.  Girls spend day a Davis.  Tue got home before night.  Try on coat at Winters.  Tue left me to bake batch of bread.  Learn that Calvert died recently at St. Joe MO.

26.  Friday 6 AM  Ther.  71.  91.  66.  =  78.

Cloudy.  Start to timber at 8 AM. via _______ Handley ford.  Very oppressive (?) and flies troublesome  River just ran over top of buggy bad in crossing, R. Decker the only man at work.   Thunder shower began about 12.30 PM  met Milt .  He brought up wood  Sam Adams took 46 posts this morning.  Go bed 10.15 PM.

27.  Saturday.  7 AM.  Ther.   72.  91.  78.  =  80 1/3

Clear hazy.  Pleasant day Receipts largest we have had.  Uncle John in town says he will go with me to look for sheep after a while.  Milt did not come up, roads bad.  D. H. Calvert was buried  today.  Breed mare to Dr. Montgomery's horse.  Sam Adam pays me for 86 posts $5.76 ?  Go bed 10.30 

March 12-13, 1914 and 1889 in Charleston, Illinois

March 1914

12.  Thursday. 6.15   AM.  Ther.  20.  40.  34.   31 1/3

Clear.  N.1.  I spent bad night  with throat and stomach.  Thirty six years ago today we moved from Mrs. Norfolks house to the old house on this lot.  H.G.  brought  C.O. AM.  The birthday party came off all right with six guests all ladies.  Will Stoddert of Mott N.D. called a while.  He is farming up there.  He does not think much of machine plowing.  He starts home today.  Tue got home 5 P.M.  Bright clear day light  southerly winds.  I am dicting (sic) in eating.  I have good appetite for sick man and eat  too much.  Gb

13.  Friday.  6.30.  AM.  Ther.  30.  54.  42.  = 42.

Clear. SW.1. Sleep was no good last night night.  Tue  complaining of her back ; Rheumatiz.  We get letter from Buddy A.M.  Think throat some better.  Think JEM is weakening the booze slightly.  Tue went to R.C. P.M.  She took Harman check for corn to deposit at 2d 30.90.  I fix up one of his check books P.M.  Later shave - since 4th (?)  It was a bad case.  I am becoming too lazy to do anything.  Late PM I walk round place awhile.  the snow has mostly disappeared,  but frost not all out except spots.  Think will get mare tomorrow.  Tue got home 6 P.M.  Clear day moderate SW wind:  the warmest day since Jan 29 when it was 60.  Gobed 9  Tue sends  package , shawl,  to Muggs and one to Phebe P.P.

March 1889

12.  Tuesday.  6 AM.  Ther.  36.  63.  46.  =  48.

Clear and pleasant, considerable (?).  Boys got  to work before 7. R & S did not come.  Stretching the two reels of wire closed gaps and got in good start on the fence from the corner W.    Warren brought teams and hauled out several loads of  plank and posts.  Pleasant day SW wind.  Gobed 9 P.M.

13.  Wednesday.  5.30 AM :   Ther.  40.  64.  54.  =  52

Fair, looked like thunder shower in P.M.  Bob and I  went over to S. side to stack a lot of ties.  Rutherford has moved out of house and Kink is staying there a lone making his .  count up 30 more for him.  Bob hauls us out lumber and posts  and boys work at fence.  R. and S. came after noon and work at clearing out road.  I start home about 4 P.M.  Found Tue about sick with bad cold which she has had for several days.  Go bed 9 P.M.

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.