August 1-17, 1902 in Charleston HIGHLIGHTS

August 1902  

1. Friday.

Buy some tools at Yellow Store square 90  Level 70  File nails &c and start for ranch about 8 am.  John Simons grunting.  I got whip last time down  I drove  to river to water horse.  The stream is not fordable at Handley's Ford.  I go tangled up in the brush on point could hardly get out.

2. Saturday.

The Normal summer students mostly left today.  they have began moving the Maples.  Have it south about 20 feet which is near half way.

3.  Sunday 5.30 AM.  Ther  71.  96.  78.= 8812/3

Miss Celia Ford preparing too leave tomorrow  Ferd here to dinner

4.  Monday.

Miss Ford left P.M.  Maggie had visitors at night.

5.  Tuesday

[Coming home from a day at the ranch]  Had to face storm of wind and light rain for last two or three miles coming home.    The boys   Jim Riley   Steve & Ike began on shed at noon and had posts all up when I left.  Kentuckian rides with me to 5 Mile house.  Helen and Marie went to Loxa on local to stay all night

6.  Wednesday

I started for ranch about 10 AM  getting there noon time.  Boys had got their posts out of the woods and up.  They were nailing up strips and putting up plates all P.M.  Think will get rafters up tomorrow  [I get home] before dark.  Tue had been feeling bad all day and found her in bed.

At the top of page:

(6)  We decided yesterday to add another section on N. end of shed making it 42 ft instead of 35.  Jo will go to work at Shed at Loxa fixing roof and stripping.

7.  Thursday,

Tue felt badly all night and I called Dr. Patton in morning.  I  lost my  knife Tuesday and bought a new one at Yellow Front today.  I start for ranch about  10 AM.     The boys had the rafters up and were eating dinner.  They side up gables and nail on rest set of strips P.M.  B.C. looking pretty well.

[Heads home]  roads are dry but rough S. of  Five Mile.

8.  Friday.

Tue spent rather bad night and I had too go to  barn for meddy for her  Dr came 8 AM  Tue had a bad spell about 6 PM and does not feel as well as she did in morning.

9.  Saturday

Tue had Dr. Patton this morning.  

10.  Sunday

Tue got up and helped with breakfast and went back to bed and felt very badly all day.  She has symptoms of the bloody flux, otherwise I intended to go to ranch.

11. Monday

Tue feeling better, didn't have Dr. today.

12.  Tuesday

Mare doing better.

13.  Wednesday

Tue not feeling as well and did not get up.  I feel very badly all morning; think too much coffee.

Tue up today at dinner [lunch time]  Start out to Gaines 2.00 P.M. came back and started again.  Stop at Fair Grounds looking for mushrooms with Clark.  Find Lepiota Morganii lycperdons. and A cauepectuis  I got to Gaines after 4 P.M.  Jo came up while I was there is mowing weeds in corn.  The rest of the family gone hunting grapes get home 6.30  Cow got out today, Mrs. B got her.  Tue got up P.M and think is improving slowly.

14.  Thursday

Tue got up to breakfast and remained up most of day.  Self feeling badly. 

15.  Friday

My fountain pen filled by Geo. W. Hustland first time  I have used it: see June , 2. [his birthday- I can see the difference in the writing in that entry.]  Went down down to Wrightsville P.M.  Tue was up all day and feeling better.  Self felt badly all day.  Drove  up town at night.  The Salvation Army have a tent up at 3rd and Madison with big crowds at night.

16.  Saturday. 

Self feeling worse than usual than usual this morning.  Was up town at night after steak and tobacco.

17.  Sunday,  7 AM.  Ther  60 82  64  =  68 2/3

Mostly cloudy S.E. wind.  Tue kills two of her chickens for dinner.  I went out to Jim Warren for cabbage and tomatoes.  Drove up to Decker getting fine mess of Plutuis cerviness   Stop at Fair ground getting seven large puffballs.  Florence heree too dinner.  She is going too  Seattle on visit soon.  I drove P.M. down by Mat Browns place.   Find Ledpita brocenus near Parkers place and  unknown Psolliolta near Mt Zion School house.  I return by Billy Browns and M.Zion, getting home about dark.  There was light sprinkle  11 AM.  and it clouded up again P.M. with thunder all round.  Gobed 9 P.M.~

July 25- August 14, 1901 in Charleston, IL (highlights)

July 1901 (highlights) 

25.Thursday  100

Last night seems the warmest we have had.  I started to Loxa early getting there before 10.  Didn't eat any dinner lay on the floor in the east room upstairs P.M. till 4 P.M.  Retha got lost in the corn, but came in before I left at 5 P.M.  Rep of cyclone in Chicago this AM.  The heat about floored me today.  Corn suffering.

26.  Friday.  Sign consent for gas pipes on sixth ST South of Jackson.  Drive after supper with Tue past Pigeon Roost Normal and Half Mile House.  Phebe at party at Seftons.   Etta still in town and is staying with Vivian.

27.  Saturday -  Maggie has been working at Jenkins Store, this week.  Charley  South rode to Loxa with me.  His wife will probably recover.  Grass has been green until the last few days.

28.  Sunday-  I drive down to river Old Ashmore Road.  Drive with to Pigeon Roost and beyond.

29.  Monday - 

30.  Tuesday - Marie complaining of her back and chest.

31.  Wednesday - Alexander tells me A.M. that Alex Briggs has bought the old Norfolk house - half the lot for $2,250.00.  Learn that Jubal has gone to Kansas City &c.  Report big rain 1 1/2 to 3 in water.

August 1901 (highlights)

1.  Thursday - 

2.  Friday - 

3. Saturday - Miss Ford left for home in New York P.M.  

4.  Sunday - Tue cleaning up Miss Ford's room.

5.  Monday - Dick worked all day.  Hitch up makes mushroom bed in back yard.  Bert was in town and to dinner.   Drive with him down past Normal.  Has been with family down to White Co.  Marie and Helen went to river with Geo. Snider.  Learn that Geo. Tucker has bought Charley Black Saloon.  Tue feeling badly.

6.  Tuesday - An Uncle Tom Cabin show in town P.M. tent next to be R.R.  Geo. Rosebraugh leaves key to Eastin House says that Mrs. E will be home in a day or two.  Her place not rented boys have been looting it as well as our old house recently.  Jo G, says Hen has gone to Iowa again.

7.  Wednesday - Old mare chowed up bag of bran last night.  Etta Vandmysen here last night and will stay with us for a few days.  Big ad painted on Plainsdealer  Bldg recently  Geo.  Tucker is running the Charley Black Saloon on 6th St.  I sort over papers today finding some quite important that were needed.  Tue and I drive late P.M. down to cow at Johnsons  Saw her - looking well.  Drove down cross river at Oliver bridge Went south returning by Five mile house - a long trip started 4.30 and home 8.30.  Mrs. Eastin got in today  after absence of nearly two years.  Helen stayed with her all night.

8.  Thursday  I stop at winters to look at samples for suit.

9.  Friday - 

10.  Saturday - Took samples back Winters and order suit with extra pair pants @37.00 whole outfit.  

11.  Sunday - 

12.  Monday - Caught boys prowling around barn today.

13.  Tuesday - Learn Hen back from Iowa.  Ice bill to 1st inst 3.50.

14.  Wednesday - C lannaham moves into Mrs. Eastin's house.

June 15- 20, 1890 and 1901 in Coles County, IL

June 1890

15.  Sunday, 7.30 P.M.  Cleaning  Get ice at store this morning  sort and clean out tool drawer at store.  I notified Wright last Friday June 13th the we (GB) [Gramesly Brothers] would want the Perkins building as soon as he could vacate the same.  Had old roofing hauled down yesterday and piled  back of barn.   Start to ranch about 2 P.M.  H. Mullen road down from 5 Mile house with me.  Simons folks not at home.  Saddle mare and ride over to hungarian (sic.) patch.  Found we are about out of corn pleasant day and much nicer than yesterday   Gobed 9.30  PM

16.  Monday. 5 AM. at Ranch.  Cloudy misty  Morning walk round in west pasture and go down where boys were mending washed road in hollow  Reynolds and Sampson took up load of city- stuff each.  Light rain AM.  Thunder slower  2 P.M. with little rain.  Slept a while in barn after dinner and rode over to Martin's and Milts afterward.  Boys work all day on road  Gobed 9.30 PM..

17.  Tuesday.  5 AM at Ranch  Boys went over  to cutting logs.  I went down to Mill an hour or two.  Drove down to Handly ford but too  high and had to return  Comer went with me.  Came home by Blakemans getting there about noon.  Heavy rain P.M. with much thunder and rain good deal in night  shower at Ranch AM.  Durnwey  beer man here.  Mrs. Davis helping Tue sew  Gobed 10.30

18.  Wednesday  6.30 AM.  Ther  70  85  72
Warm weather went with Moffett and inspected pile of city lumber making 7419 ft.  Mrs. D. still helping Tue.  Tue sick all night she thinks from eating  lettuce for supper  There are showers around but more here gobed 10.30

19. Thursday.  6.30 AM.  Ther  74.  97.  73.
Part cloudy, variable wind sultry day, signs of rain but didn't.  Uncle John in town yesterday P.M. has been sick.  Clown acting on N.  Buy two loads corn of A. Heddin 45 bu @30.   Start for ranch at nearly 7 P.M. getting there after 9.    Took down sack corn just about out Simmons folks gone to bed.  Enddie occupied bed with me.  Gobed 10 PM.  Geo Kellogg past up awning  Jim Warren mowed yard.

20.  Friday  5 AM.  at ranch  ther  74  90  77
Mostly clear Thunder shower 9 AM.  Start home 10 AM.  Was over in woods where boys are cutting logs Near N E corner of S forty.  Got some fungus of several kinds  Thunder showers round PM but none here.  Engage Warren to haul up shoats tomorrow and take load of corn back, owe him one load of 16 bushels  Will sell my shoats although they are very low.  Go bed 10.30 P.M.

June 1901

15.  Saturday. 5.30 AM  Ther  70.  88.  75.  77 2/3

Mostly cloudy S.E .  Buy case of strawberries of J.B. Hill  1.25.Pay  Jim Pugh for repairs for  repairs on buggy in spring.  Simmons and Warren did not come with wood as expected.    The crossing to back street not fixed yet.  Tue has R.C. women  here P.M.  Self feeling very poorly all day.  Buy gasoline can W & G  Partly clear day.  Distant thunder showers NW P.M.  no rain here wind variable easterly.  Gobed.  9 P.M.

16.  Sunday. 5.45 AM.  Ther  70.  93.  74.  -  79
Clear Easterly wind  Branch children and Mrs. Nell here before folks were up.  Drove SW of town looking for fungi:  an Col yboidaicata  and one Rusule.  get home 11 AM.  Feeling badly all day, very warm  Thunder showers about 3 PM.  No rain here I remain at home.  Plant few hills sweat corn P.M.  Gobed 10 P.M.  Tue Helen and Marie hull strawberries   night,

17.  Monday.  5.30 AM.  Ther  62  82.  63 = 69
Clear Northwind.  Change cooler in night  City begins grading back street again.  Said were going to finish but did not get any tile for crossing in.  I had to go out (?) in front way today.  Saw Mrs. Owens AM. says she cant wash.  Start to Loxa 2 P.M. taking scythe.  They are scraping the road near  town line.  Jo plowing piece by barn third time.  Corn looks well.  Mrs. G papered kitchen last Sat.  I got a big lot of peas, lettuce beets onions &c and start home before five P.M.  Clear cooler day with strong northerly wind.  All hauls except Phebe and self went to Normal Show at night.  Tue walked down and back getting pretty tired  Gobed  10 P.M.

18.  Tuesday.  5.30  AM.  Ther.  58.  85.  65.  =  69 1/3
Clear.  Light North wind.  They level down with scraper on back (5th) St. but get no farther.  They have cut down at street line average about 3 1/2 ft.  Take Tue and Marie out to Loxa to Home.  Ora has been sick but better now.  I went on up to Gaines' through the place eating "dinner" there.  Edith and Lizzie there.  Alex Sobol and Flora help help me measure piece E. of barn to B.C. shed.  2 1/2 Ac  Clear AM. but clouds over afternoon and light rain for an hour or two.  I return to Hen's [Henry Hildreth] about 4 P.M. and we start home in rain.  Saw Shirley at Hens.  Corn is looking pretty well but small for season.  Had to drive out and in front way today driving over sidewalk and curb.    Helen went to her Grandmothers to stay tonight.  Leave buggy in yard when unhitch tonight.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.  some lightning at night.

19.  Wednesday.  5.45 AM.  Ther.  64.  82.  65.  =  70 1/3
Partly cloudy NW wind.  Several heavy showers in the the night.  Tue gets up to shut windows.  Mrs. Smith who ironed for Tue last week comes to wash before 7 AM..  Learn that  Will Campbell has sold  Restaurant to Friend Sargent.  Mrs. Smith finished 4 P.M.  Get new hat at Winters to keep.  Was at Co Clerks Office P.M.  figuring on whose land has sold for taxes,  Think John  Simons w.20 and 4 acres are in it.  Drive east of town toward night.  See no clover cut.  My crossing back still out.  They monkeyed a little on 5th St P.M. but did not reach  mine.  Partly cloudy day with variable wind  Threatening to rain much of P.M.  Light showers between 5 & 6 P.M. and more and heavier in the night.    Helen was helping her Grandma all day.  Marie went to picnic  Maggie has quarrel with Will Jenkins  she says  Gobed 8 P.M.

20.  Thursday.  5.30 AM.  Ther  68.  92.  75.  = 78 1/3
Mostly Cloudy Northerly wind.  There were showers in last night.  about 1/2 inch water.  Shave at B's AM pd.  Intended  going to Gaines P.M. but didn't eat dinner enough.    Take Bill Campbell home toward night.  He has sold out and is looking for a house.  I drove up by Decker Spring toward night,  Jack Colby brought small mess Pleurotus  ostreatus  which (?) folks did not cook.  I find Skidmore ST. Supt P.M.  He says will fix crossing as soon as he can.  Someone told him I was going out front way is reason he has not fixed it.  Threatening weather all day, but no rain till night.  Very  clear   Gobed 8 P.M.   Phebe out until 1 AM.  Leave buggy in yard.

June 2, 1890 and 1901 in Coles County Illinois

This is Charles Gramesly's and my daughter Keturah's birthday!

June 1890

2.  Monday, 5 AM.  Clear.  Rile Decker went to town JS and John Decker help dip the lambs today till noon.  Then cut logs P.M. on ridge south of mill cutting about 1200 ft.   ? JD and Steve have the west end of that ridge about finished.  Left sheep in pasture today.  They have been running outside.  10 P.M.

June 1901

Sunday. 5.30 AM.  Ther.  60.  82.  70 2/3

Clear westerly wind.  Found light in sitting room had been burning all night.  This is C.G.'s birthday - 59.  Start for ranch 9.30 AM.  by Wrightsville, getting to Timons 10.40 AM.  He  I drive down through his place to where mill was and down to Val Handly line, back by Ira's .he was not at home.  Ate dinner at Simons and drove down past old place.  they have plowed up pasture and orchard and put in corn.  Went as far as Milt Hand(?);  Will not at home, waited to see his tax receipts.  He went with Ira  John Simons tells me Sunday about trade Geo Martin has figured on making.  Thinks can get 10.00 per A for ranch land.  Did not have time to look over lumber Sunday.  Stop at Aunt Malinda's going back.  Settle with  Warren, but did not pay anything.  Owe him 5.50 bal on labor done.  7 days @ $1.50 10.50 less 200 posts 5.00  Get home 7 P.M.  Mostly clear warm days  Light shower sprinkle 4 P.M. at ranch. and  thunder shower at night while milking.  Roads fair, dry but rough south of Five Mile House.  Gobed 9 P.M. [shorthand]

 

August 12, 1887 in Charleston, IL

125 Years Ago . . .

12.  Friday,  5.20 AM.  Ther.  69.  86.  74.

Partly Clear, rain with thunder till about 12 last night.  Start for  timber at about 7.30 with H.G.  Stayed round Mill till nearly noon.  Drake and Johnson working there.  Ate dinner in South Hollow near mill site.  Met Comer on way home (?) five mile house.  Get back at 5.30 P.M  John Fields paid Tue $2.00 being part on  a/c for cull lumber 90c still due.  Learn of R.R. accident at Chatework (Chatsworth).  Couldn't get paper.  Pay Wright in full grocery a/c $1.10.  Got pretty well tired out today.  Gobed 9 P.M.

Links to the historic Chatsworth R.R. accident:

http://www.amazon.com/Railroad-accident-Chatsworth-Johnson-Pullman/dp/B007WUUB78

http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/wkill.Htmlhttp://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/wkill.Html

Link to Five Mile House:  www.fivemilehouse.org/