February 16-19, 1914 in Charleston, Illinois

February 1914

16.  Monday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  4.  28.  22.  = 18

clear. N.W.3.  Order load of Panama coal from Andrews WN @ .350  they send it just after dinner.  It is some improvement on the coal we have been burning all winter.  The load 465 lbs. at average consumption this season this should last till Mar. 15.  they had good deal trouble getting in owing to ice N. of barn.  Tue irons AM. Cap Alexander was buried today.  Mrs. Brooks called a while 3 PM.  I cleared the way for coal man.  Charles chored 4 PM.  Mostly clear day clouding  toward night.  Tue went up town  and down to  Hat's.  She was in great demand over phone by Helen.4' (sic) and Mrs. Grove.  Helen wanted her to accompany  her to  grand concert at Normal but got home too late.  She went over to Groves till after I  retire~  Mostly clear day moderate westerly winds.  Gobed 9 PM

17.Tuesday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  24.  52.  38.  =  38

clear. S.4.  The new coal does fine but will have to hold it down to keep fire at night.  We get letter from each of girls this morn.  Phebe thinks will be home tomorrow.  I sent Buddy birthday card yesterday.  Tue mails papers to Muggs and Marie* this morning.  Tue ironing AM.  Harman phones regarding B.C.**  We decide to not sell at Harryman ($110.20) offer.  Buddy 27 today.  Have been reading over old diaries for several days.~  Pulling brass tacks from old trunks AM.  Sort over papers on "desk" PM.  Tue went up town late PM. is sending a mop to Buddy by mail.  The R.H. enlarged its sheet yesterday one column.  Mostly clear SW to W wind and snow gives off pretty fast.  Gobed 8.30.  Tue wrote to Bert about Bim.***
*Buddy is Marie's nickname  **Broom corn    ***Bim is Henry Hildreth's nickname

18. Wednesday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  34. 40.  34.  = 36.
Cloudy. E.2. light foggy. Light rain began 8 AM and continued all day with snow at night.  Moderate northeasterly winds.  Think about two inches snow fell at night.  Charley came to chore.  Tue pays him to date 3o c.  I employ self reading old letters.  Mrs. Chamberlin and others.  Henry Sutton , an old friend died a day or two ago of cancer.  The gas gives out on account of slight accident at plant.  We look for Phebe in afternoon but she did not come till nearly midnight.  Fern remained at Chicago.  gobed midnight.

19.  Thursday. 7 AM.  Ther.  28.  36.  26.  =  30.
Cloudy N.E..1.  Clear off before 11 AM.  Phebe went to Station for suitcase, not getting it.   Big four.  Harman phones about B.C. thinks better sell for fear it spoils.  Coldwater Bill  off the snow.  Tue  Pd. him.  The gas appears all right about 7 A.M.  Phebe did not  get up to breakfast.  H.G. called 2 P.M. to inquire and intended ally &c about and Nels Thomas farm. A  friend thinks of trading for same.  I can't help him much.  Shave self late P.M. first since 8th (?).  Think there was about 2 in. snow yest.  With the rain which fell earlier made.95 in Precipitation.  Clear afternoon with moderate N.E. wind.  the P.O. inspector is here to decide as to P.O. site.  there are several locations to choose from.  He will be here till  Saturday.  Phebe and Tue both home at night.  Play Graphophone  good deal.  Gobed 10.

 

February 3 - 9, 1914 in Charleston, Illinois

February 1914

3.  Tuesday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  32.  50.  28.  =  36 2/3

Cloudy . heavy fog N.W.1. write short letter to Tue and send her three Couriers, also letter recd. from Muggs.  The fog clears off about  10 AM.  Bureau predicts cold wave tonight and tomorrow and then began falling about noon dropping 22 degs. by bedtime.  Saw McG. PM. and settle to date.  Forgot to order more of same which will need soon.  I had thought to go up town P.M. but too cold and sloppy.  There is much snow still on ground.  Jack dog seems better today.  Phebe out at night with Fern till after I retire.  I play graphophone most evening.  Gobed 9.30

4.  Wednesday. 6AM.  Ther.  20.   32.  24.=19.

Part cloudy N.E. 1.  S. neglect to call Ph. she came down at 8.  It is not cold morn although feels so.  A very cold wave has visited north of us some parts report - 44.  We got letter from Tue written yestermorn.  The sta(?) was mostly rain down there.  Phebe went to dentist AM.  She intends going to Chicago in a week or two and to Havana Mar. 1.  The  The President Wilson has removed embargo from arms into Mexico and we may look for livelier time in Mex.  I put in most of the day and evening sorting over old letters back in the 60s.  Fern down P.M. staying to supper and the night.  I sat up much later than usual looking over letters.  I think ate too much supper.  Mostly clear day and promise of cold night Gobed 12   Chas chored

5.  Thursday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  20.  38.  30. = 29 1/3

Clear. N.E.2. Self feeling poorly think have been eating too much.  Get JEMc bill AM and find error which will adjust later.  Hat phones AM asking about Turie.  H.G. called and will get package at Interurban late this evening.  He brought same 5 P.M.  and did not seem feeling  very well  I gave him two bundles of old letters today (war letters)  Fern was here to dinner.  She is helping Phebe sew.  Phebe is due at Havana Mar. 1.   Fern helps Phebe but went home.  Part clear day light easterly winds.  Gobed 9

6.  Friday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  34.  40.  20.  = 31 1/3

Cloudy.  E.3.  Rain 4 AM freezing to trees &c fog later at sunrise.  Send some Couriers and patterns to Buddy.  I felt poorly all AM. but was very glad to eat quite a dinner about 2 PM.  The rain and ice that fell last night and early AM measured .55 in Wind got westerly AM.  Predictions are out for cold wave today.  Charley Smith chored and pay him up to date 45 cts. for week.  Fern came to help Phebe P.M.  Phebe intended going to Ferns after supper but it grows colder with fierce west wind and snow flurries which,   continues all night.  (she didn't go)  It took good fires  P.M. and night and P and I fix up pipes & WC so think cant freeze.  When we retired house was warmer than has been this winter.  Gobed 11 PM.

7.  Saturday.  4.30 AM.  Ther.  8.  16.  12.  =12

Cloudy, W. 6. with light snow flying.  There was violent wind all night.  some  of the gusts must done damage. I could not sleep much.  The fires went down and by 4 AM the house was  pretty cold.  Ground about covered with light snow say 1/4  in.  Nothing in house frozen up.  Phebe gets letter from Miss Fagen says must be in Chicago  next Sat. and ready to work at Havana on 23.  Phebe takes check check up to deposit being what have left of Harman  last settle.  Deposit  2d 57.75  I slept  an hour or so in den after dinner.  Fern called and she and Ph went  to Mrs. Littletons.  Phebe woke me about  to say Tue  was coming.  It proves a mistake.  Gobed 8.30

8.  Sunday.  5.45 AM.  Ther.  12.  18.  12.=  14

Mostly clear. W.3.  Phebe did not go out.  Fern got R.H. stayed to dinner  Phebe trying to get ready to start with Fern to Chicago.  Tuesday, if Tue should get home.  I shave self AM.  o.k.  Went out to  barn to thaw out hydrant but find it open  all right.  We had dinner 2 PM.  The  cold continues much the same and about all self-can do to keep fires.  Charley Smith who does chores did not chore today.  there is coal enough to last this week  the weather permitting.  Much of the old snow on ground in spots.  It didn't drift.  I have to fix up S.W.  W.C. to keep from freezing these nights.  fine day but cold.  Moderate westerly wind.  Gobed 9

9.  Monday.  6 AM.  ther.  10.  44.  34.  =  29 1/3

Clear.  S.E.2.  Phebe got out  before 8  She fed a tramp.  Another called for sox getting none.  The furnace balked and burnt out  after breakfast.   (?) to dump whole thing and start over.  Helen calls AM.    We get letter from Tue AM stating will come home today.  She didn't however, Phebe gets letter from Miss Fager.  She  wants her to begin work 23d (?).  Fern leaves for Chicago tomorrow.  Phebe has to go but fears cant get ready unless Tue comes.  She got large suitcase.  Tue has her grip  clear day with variable winds.  gobed 8.30 P.