May 15-19, 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

15.  Tuesday, 6 AM.  Ther.  48.  60.  47.
Mostly cloudy wind easterly.   Wrote letters to several parties for catalogues of Mill &c.    Got measured at Winters for suit of clothes to cost 30.00  .  Zeke Easton brought in cord of wood which he sold to John Chapman and which John owes for.  J.W. Lackey inspects walnut lumber and pays the same 57.20.   Come in town trying to city bill of lumber.  Mrs. R. irons.   W.S.G. cut some wood.  Began to rain about 1.30 and kept it up most of AM and lightly in night, wind S.E.  Wrote a letter to Uri asking him to sell my  furniture.  Gobed 10 PM

16.  Wednesday, 6.30 AM.  Ther.  47.  62.  47.
Cloudy wind N.E. clears off.  Sam Lietch talks to me about buying in at coal shaft.  Went out to Uncle John's with Tue  in afternoon, says will drive cow in for us Saturday, got home 6 P.M.   Bim has planted 5 acres of watermelons.  Cool day pleasant afternoon.  Gobed 9.30 AM

17.  Thursday, 5 AM  Ther.  48.  54.  53.
Mostly  cloudy and looked like rain.  Start for woods with Kelly  getting there about 9 AM.  We began looking out a line for a fence but it began to rain before we had been there long.  They were working the road today.  Started home in the rain about 1 P.M. rained most of day rather (?) grows warmer at night.  Gobed  8.30.

18.  Friday, 6.45 AM.  Ther. 60.  60.  50.
Cloudy S. wind.  Heavy  rain in night with good deal of thunder and lightning about the first we have had this spring.  Baby has began to walk alone some this week.  Get offer of sawmill outfit  from Lane and Bodley Co.  Uncle john brought in cow P.M.  Kelly helped about two hours in afternoon straighten up lumber.  Rutherford up pay him 2.00 order.   Bought a catfish of Bill Neece.  Mostly cloudy day  N.W. wind.  Misty P.M.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.

19.  Saturday.  5.30 PM.  Ther.  40.  65.  51.
Mostly clear, wind N.E. veirring [sic] to easterly.  Kelly  worked forenoon put stakes to berries and grape vines.  Bert was here to dinner.  The cow gives about 3 gal per day.  I milk.   Sell half cord wood to A. Owens.  Roads bad and great.  Delivered Jim wood.  Find bugs in plenty on potatoes in bottom.  Confer with H.G. P.M. he is still anxious to go in to sawmill business.  Go bed. 10 P.M.

April 23-25, 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

23.  Monday, 6.15 AM.  38.  55.  44.
Clear. N.E. Clear all day, cool  Comer was up and we settle up in full paid him check $52.94.  Mrs Rodgers washed.  I walked out to coal shaft in P.M.  They have gone 230 ft.  Cu(?) home by its pent house and depot.  Trees came from Starrs & Harrison.   Bethesda per Jule Beall came today.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.

24.  Tuesday.  6 AM.  36.  64.  42.
Clear. N.E. wind.  Myers came at 7 AM. and worked all day.  setting trees and vines.  Rutherfords were up (?) ties.  Pay Jake & R 10.00 and Ruben 2.50.  Meyers pretty slow duing to large boil on neck.  Didn't get nearly done.  Mrs. Rogers ironed.  Have not planted much garden yet.  Too dry and cool for anything to grow.  There was heavy white frost last night and ice found .44 inch thick in open pan out doors.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.

25.  Wednesday. 6.30 AM.  43.  68.  52.
Clear. E.wind.  No indication of frost this morning.  C. Gordon (?) off and piles ties.  Have 133 out now.  Speak to Johnston about ponk house.  Gordon and Campbell help in PM., set raspberries and cut willows, am very sorry I had the willows cut.  Pleasant day with easterly wind and quite warm in P.M.  Gobed 9 P.M.

January 5, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, IL

1913

5.  Sunday. 7 AM.  Ther.  28.  38.  36.

Cloudy E.3.Sleet early with light R. during the day.  Heavy  thunder shower at night.

1888

5  Thursday.  7 AM.  Ther.  40.  49.  52.    Thick fog all day   wind S.

Heavy fog.  Mrs. Rogers irons getting done before dinner.  Selli Owens half cord wood which he got himself.  Settle up with  with Frommel in full  9.15.  My bill against him 3.50.  Gave H.G. City bill for past two months Amt. $110.16  Council meets tonight.  There has been a rumor that they intended to grant license but it isn't likely..  Learn that they  struck a vein of coal in the coal shaft today.  Old man Sanders wants to rent the Nicholson house.  Baby has great time crying about bedtime.  Gobed 10 PM.

January 4, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, IL

1913

4.  Saturday.  6 A.M.  Ther.  28.  34.  24.  = 28 2/3

Cloudy.  E.1.  Snow flurries early A.M.  Whalen's deliver per  (?) 12.000 lbs. washed Linton coal 3 loads.   There was fine snow early and it stays on all day.  Mostly clear day with moderate N.E. wind.

1888 

4. Wednesday.  6.45 AM.  Ther.  40.  55.  .46.

Mostly clear.  Wind  S.W.  Mrs. Rogers comes to wash about 8 A.M.  C. Winter pays me for lumber $10.05.  John Hamilton pays off old a/c  7.10.  Make out coal shaft bills  for Mr. Cummings for the last month 4338 ft.  Comer sends up city bill  by Theodore.  Get  sack flour  1.10 and one of meal .20 of J.M. Curi.  Warmest day so far this winter.  Mostly sunshine snow  and ice disappear.  Roads said to be good but sloppy.  Eastin's  waste water has made a sheet of ice in front of us.  Got a pigs liver at Mason, Gobed 9 P.M.

January 2, 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

2  Monday,  7 AM.  Ther 10.  32.  32.
Clear, but clouds over got a letter from Bruen saying would take 10 set more switch ties after receiving trace out which would do Jerry H.   Tue ironing.  Mrs.  Wentz over P.M., also Mrs. Feagan.    Tue sends Maggie to tell Mrs. Rogers not to wash tomorrow.  Settle with  F. Knock to date, he paying me $7.35.  Mr. Sutton went away last Saturday night to stay.  Glasco boys take possession of the Plaindealer today.  Uncle John was in till 3 P.M.  Saul Snider at night  says will keep my mare down there for something more than 2.00 per mo.  Pay P.O. sent 25.  Soup at Mcs 25.  Comer was up at night.  Says will send City and Coal Shaft bills  up  Wednesday.  Gobed 8.30 P.M.

December 17, 1912 & 1887 in Coles County, IL

1912

17.  Tuesday.  6.15 AM.  Ther.  48.  54.  38.  = 46 2/3

Part cloudy S.2.  There was light rain in night about 12 and after (.17 in.)  David came 7 A. and worked all day Pd 3.50 for yest and today.  Got Colby to repair the hydrant.  It was pretty well worn out.  David laid good tile wastes from it to 5th ST. and get everything in good shape again.  Tue iron most of  day.  I drove out to Huffmans late P.M.  Dirt road only damp but will soon be dry~~  Tue got long letter from Buddy.  She didn't talk much like coming home Christmas.  Neither does Muggs.  We are looking for Phebe this week.  Mostly clear day with moderate S. to W. wind.  Go bed 8.30

1887

17.  Saturday.  6 AM.  Ther.  27.  45.  37.  

Partly clear.  Pleasant day.  Wind Southwesterly . . .  Wrote to Uncle  Mark* inquiring about apples.  Good many people in town.  Roads said to be very bad.  Comer in toward night.  I agree to stand 5c. per hundred on hauling the Coal Shaft bill now sawed.  Buy dressed pig of C. Donsch $5.60 @ 7c. which they sent down after dark.  Comer thinks they  can go to hauling Monday if it does not rain before.  Hat was down in the morning.  Gobed.  10 P.M.

*

Marcus Ansley

Birth 15 Mar 1826 in Geneva, Ontario, New York

Death 16 Sep 1907 in Geneva, Ontario, New York

He was Charles' Father's half-brother.  That part of the family lived in upstate New York and had orchards.

December 16,1912 and 1887 in Coles County, IL

1912

Monday.  6 AM.  Ther.  28.  50.  44. = 40 2/3

Part Cloudy.  E.1. red.  Ice. 1/4 David came 7.  I did not expect him.  Edith Bates called AM. begging.  David  cut  wood till 9 AM after which he raked and burnt leaves and began to take out leaking hydrant at  barn.  When find we have hard job on that.  He worked till 5 PM and will return in morn.  I drove down to R.R. AM looking  found for some coal.  Mostly cloudy day with variable moderate winds.  Weather bureau does not predict rain but it looks a good deal like it.  Tue ironing most of day.  Harman sends us piece of meat by Paul.  Gob 8.30 P

1887

Friday,  6.30  AM  Ther.  28.  33.  31

Cloudy wind S. Cloudy all day with S. Westerly wind cleared off about clear after dark. Tell Hibbared to cancel insurance policy on apples.   Bill Pate has been hauling lumber to coal shaft all the week.  Comer claims he can't haul unless I pay extra for it.  The city is wanting lumber badly.  This weather will make good roads in a few days if it does not rain.  Tue fixing over a dress for Phebe.  Won a small turkey in a raffle at Wrights last night.  Gobed 10 PM

Nov. 16-18, 1887 in Charleston, IL

16.  Wednesday.  6.30 A.M.  45.  65.  45.
Hazy, Smoky strong S. wind.  Mrs. Dickenson comes to iron.  The apple trade not very good.  Some folks complaining about the quality.  Tonight there are 95 Bbls left.  Grand Jury in session Large number of witnesses over from Mattoon on liqour biz.  Geo. Weber called at Store.  The smoke was very thick today wind S. and S.W.  change to N. toward night and  Smoke cleared away.  Engage Mr. Albott B. to work tomorrow.  Tue and self both have toothache.  Gobed 8.30.

17.  Thursday.  6 A.M.  Ther.  27.  45.  32.
Clear, wind N.  Father's birthday.  Buy him hat and hankerchiefs.  John Gucing got killed  on Narrow Guage R.R. last night or the morning.  Abbot comes to work some after 7 A.M.  Chopped up kindling wood, patches roof and piles posts.  Will help tomorrow morning.  Mrs. Young was to help Tue today but will come tomorrow.   Ezekiel Easton finishes  hauling wood, has brought up in all.  Cord  I owe him 11.24.  Riley has brought up 116 oak posts from which I have culled 10.  Pleasant day N. wind dusty gobed 9 P.M.

18.  Friday.  6 AM.  Ther.  2  48.  44.
Clear.  Abbott comes about 7 A.M.  Pulls carrotts and beets and puts sawdust round the house quitting  at 3 P.M.  Pay him in full 1.40.  Pay Carnes old a/c .50.  Jo Liston's Carriage Shop took fire about 4 P.M. but was soon put out.  Went out to coal shaft toward night to see (?) Gannaway.  Father stayed at store  most of day, bis. dull.  Took back Bill Hills sacks.  Clear day but very smokey .  Wind S.W.  Self not feeling very well.  Phebe's right cheek swelled, think mumps.  Gobed. 9 P.M.

November 13- 15, 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

13.  Sunday.  6.30 AM  Ther 27.  56.?  48.
Clear wind S.  Drove out to coal shaft after breakfast then to Comer's to Janesville, Linder land and back home at  4.30 P.M.  Seph McClasky went with me.  Roads good. Fresh S. wind all day, cloudy toward night.  Tue  and girls up at Davis.  Go bed 10.30 P.M.

14.  Monday. 6 AM.  Ther.  40.  50. 44.
Clear but clouds over and rained a little about 9 AM.  Mrs.  Young came to wash but went home on account of the rain.  Wind changed to N.W. before noon getting cooler.  Comer was in P.M. we went out to Coal Shaft.  Got another lumber bill from Cumming.  Rec. letter from Brunen saying will be here in morning to look at switch ties.  Council began today  and good many people in town.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.  Kate Perrill  and friend call at night.  Sold Shackleford some old lumber.

15.  Tuesday  6 AM.  Ther.  37.55.  44.
Clear.  Wind, about N.   Met Bruner  up town went daown to switch ties.  He  seems well pleased with them. Drove down to Kickapoo before dinner.  Riley Easton brought up a load of posts which don't suit me very well.  Trade dull today.  Clear day wind S.E. toward night.  Mrs. Young washes.  Mrs. Feagan over in evening.  Tue not very well non self. coudn't sleep.  Drank ten for supper.  Phebe crys good deal in night.  Go bed 9.30 PM

November 3-8, 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

3.  Thursday.  6.30 AM  Ther.  42.  75.  60.
Clear - smokey.  Rec. letter  and bill of apples from Dorsay .  Apples can load ship Monday.  Lear form Wright that  Dearborn of Mattoon will  place a car load  on market here next week.  Got letter from Brown telling how to pile ties.  Went with Tom Knock down to river  hunting fish, didn't get any.  Warm day strong SW wind Gobed 9.30

4.  Friday.  6.30 AM  Ther.  43.  56.  34.
About clear.  S.W. wind.  write E.D. Davis regard to lumber inspected Sept. 13.  the City Council last night gave about  five thousand dollars toward sinking a coal shaft.  Try to see  the contraction about timbers.  Went down to A.  Rechter at night but didn't see him.  B& L  Bbl not arrived yet shipped a week ago.  Learn that  car load apples likely to be here tomorrow.  Ed E. sick at night  sent for stuff didn't get it.  I wrote to E.D. Davis about  R.R. lumber inspected Sept. 13.  Jack Logan makes remarks.  Go bed. 10 P.M.

5.  Saturday.  6.15 A.M.  Ther.  24.  54.  43.
Clear. SW.  Mr. Cummings the  Coal shaft man and get promise of  share of lumber bills.  Took yellow cat off.  Uncle John and Bert down to  dinner.  Learn that Stevens was looking for me, didn't see him.  Hatton finished wood pile by noon.  Pay him up.  get lot of  blank order at Courier office.  The  car load of apples came today, also Bbl stiff from B&h, which Gray bought up.  Tue had sewing machind cleaned today.  50c.  Gobed 10 P.M.

6.  Sunday.  6.30  Ther.  38.  62.  48.
Very heavy smoke.  wind.  S.  Girls went to S.S. after a great time getting ready.  Went up to store an hour or two to figure storing apples which will put in there tomorrow.  After dinner drive with Tue down by Comers.  didn't see him got home about 5 P.M. after driving down by new school house which they have  got about half roofed.  Very smokey, S or SW wind.  Go bed 9 P.M.


7.  Monday.   6 AM  ther.  44.  68.  51.
Clear excepting heavy smoke, wind S.  Get Crass to help all day.Brush up room a little.  J. Wentz hauls up car load of apples.  They don't average anything extra.  Sell several barrels.  Mrs. Young washed and Tue sends to Mrs. Dickensen to come tomorrow and iron.  Warm smokey day.  Engage Crass to help me tomorrow forenoon.  Gobed 10 P.M.

8.  Tuesday.  5.30 AM  Ther.  40.  63.  51.
Nearly clear except heavy smoke.  Wind NE.  Apple trade not very lively.  Learn that  Lem Stark very low.  E. Easton brings wood  to (?) who pays him 2.00.  Crass did not come to help me as promised.  Mrs. Dickenson ironed.  M& P spend evening at Davis'.  Gobed.  10 P.M.