January 7-8, 1892 and 1903 in Coles County, IL

January 1892

7.  Thursday 7 AM.  Ther.  -5, 18. 20 =11

Clear with S.W. wind.  Get ready and go to work at cutting and put up ice.  Crass and Rice cutting and Kizer and Rhodes haul.  The Brownfields helped a little.  Harrison Mullens packed the ice  we finished filling ice about dark.  Got about six loads inside and piled one outside  The whole cost us about 8.00  The ice is average 4 1/2 inches and very good.  Several parties are talking about putting an ice plant here and have been soliciting subscriptions for two different companies.  Al Latta and wife left last evening for the south to be gone several weeks.  Recd.3.70 from WH White for ten ties rec??ed last week.  Pleasant day mostly light cloudy spit snow about 11 PM S to SW wind, W at night.  tue has caught very bad cold supposed from changing to thinner under clothing  Gobed after midnight.

8.   Friday 7 AM.  Ther 15.  24.  9. = 16

Mostly clear west wind.  Tue's cold about the same as last night.  H.G. [Henry Gramesly]  went hunting with Den  Dowling  [Henry's brother-in-law] and R.S. Curd getting  back about 4 P.M.  Variety Show in town at night.  Mostly cloudy day snow flakes bout 4 P.M. wind  W and NW.  Trade somewhat better than last week.  Docifer and Brady pulling up 6 inch ice.  Clear night and change for colder go bed midnight

Henry Gramesly 

Henry Gramesly

 January 1903

7.  Wednesday.  6:15 AM.  ther.  28.  29.  18.  =  25

Cloudy.  Very high S. to West wind all night with snow flurries.  Didn't sleep well for wind and snow sliding off roof.  Mrs. Cunningham washing.  High west to N.W. wind all day and mostly cloudy with light snow flurries.  Sidenstricker wants to  rent part of old shop for team.  Let him have it for 50 c per mo.  just for stable and feed.  Done through phone for Loxa.  Tue got letter from Maggie who arrived in Champaign.  Gobed 9 PM

8.  Thursday  6.30 AM.  Ther.  8.  17.  10.  = 11 2/3

Clear, high NW wind  Snowflurries night  and early  morn.  Dessa and Tue iron.  Dick and Bert Wright finish 2 cords of wood piling it west of back door.  Pay Dick in full for 2 cd  saw and split 3.00 and 65 for labor to date.  Tue check 3.65  I have not investigated conditions at store yet.  Tue up town town P.M. and was sick all night with sore throat &c.  A cold clear day with with NW wind not so strong as yesterday.  Go bed 9. P.M.

January4, 1892 and 1903 in Coles County, IL

January 1892

4. Monday.   7.  AM.  Ther  26.  30.  24.  =  26 2/3

Mostly cloudy, wind SW.  The girls start to school this morning to public schools.  They had been going to Miss Whitlemore since October.  Tom Rice brought big piece of ice form Bishops pond about 3 inches thick.  Mrs. Rogers washed AM.  Maunie Lang went back to school.  Learn that Latta has bought the Wait place SE of town.  Buy load of coal of Reicters.  Wind got round to NW before noon.  Mostly.  Mostly cloudy chilly day  Gobed midnight ~

Charles Gramesly

January 1903

4.  Sunday,  7 AM.  Ther.  25  35  30  =  30

Cloudy, NW wind.  I (?) round house all day.   Sort over in den awhile P.M.  Maggie is getting ready to return to school tomorrow AM.  Miss Ford arrives from NY PM, were expecting her.  Moderate day.  Sun shone out about noon.  Gobed 9 P.M.  Snow at night.  Took a wire in my right tumb P.M.

William Sayre Gramesly, Phebe Gramesly , Marie Gramesly, Margaret Gramesly

The vine on the house is a beautiful trumpeter vine.

March 1-31, 1891 in Charleston, Illinois Highlights

March 1891

1.  Sunday 8 AM.  Ther  10,  25, 20.

Ed Eastin died about 8.30 AM and Tue went over there after breakfast  He had been confined to the house a week or two.  

2. Monday.  7 AM.

Ed Eastin was buried this PM  Turie went to funeral at the house.  Ice is said to be 3 inches thick but nobody has packed any.

3.  Tuesday.

Tom Stansberry called to get price on 20 acres land adjoining them.

4.  Wednesday.

H.G. has now decided to  fill the ice box with ice and I get men and teams to work toward night.  Ice on Bishop's  Pond about 4 in.  Got in two loads will need four more.  Latta began moving old stable on lot across the  road.  Self about sick all day.  High fever at night.

5.  Thursday

Got our haul of ice nearly six large loads costing us altogether about 8.00.  Felt better today but catch more cold.  Somebody did a lot of painting on Pentecost Church creating quite a sensation.  The Council refused at a meeting tonight to allow a vote on license.

6.  Friday

Self feeling badly with sore throat and bad cold in general.  Maggie and Phebe went to ? social at night.

7.  Saturday

Uncle John was down to dinner.  Hat was down to supper.  Tue and she went up to Eastins.  D ?p and 
H.G. shot off Al King tonight.

8. Sunday

9.  Monday
County Court in session trying Pentecost offender.  Buy sack Decatur flour at W.E. Hill.  Learn that McCornell has bought Alveys store room and will move  his grocery store back there.   Prisoners at jail nearly got out today.  they found it out just in time.

10.  Tuesday,
Father not very well.

11.  Wednesday
Father cough so bad he had to get up in night and remain up  Marie still sore throat.

12.Thursday
Buddie [Marie] still has bad sore throat.  

13.  Friday
2 1/2 inches of snow on ground.  Maggie very heavy cold and does not got to school  Marie's throat still very bad.   Mrs. Davis sewing here P.M.

14.  Saturday
Uncle John was in town PM.  He got letter from Henry Hildreth of Berlin [Wisconsin] wanting to borrow $300.00.  Self not very well.

15.  Sunday
Maries throat better  Maggie about same.  None of the girls went to Sunday School.  Maggie complaining good deal with sore throat and tongue.

16.  Monday
Maggie didn't go to school. She and ? went walking P.M.  Tue went up to dressmaker P.M.  Tue got a letter from Aunt Fan.  Sam Goodrich's wife was buried today

17.  Tuesday 
Crail did not come  Learn that his wife is sick.  Got Sutton to extend water pipe in barnyard.  Learn that the temperance people  had meeting tonight to select candidates for city offices.

18.  Wednesday
Baby [Marie] had croup last night.  Spaded place along Eastins fence set out pie plants. I planted my mushrooms today in bed in smoke house.  Marie feeling badly all day and has croup at night.  Learn that McCraveys have rented Alvey room and will move there next month  Marie slept down stairs Tue with her.

19.  Thursday.
Set out lot of turnips for greens got some medicine of Dr. Patton for Marie she seems better toward night.  Maggie did not go to school.

20.  Friday.
Marie had croup spell from 4 A.M.  Our chickens worry us a good deal we don't know whether to sell them or go without garden like we did last year.  Marie seemed much better today.  Phebe's school was out today and Maggie went over with her P.M.

21. Saturday,

22.  Sunday, 

23. Monday,
Marie does not feel first rate yet.  Self pain in side all day or might have gone to ranch.  Side feeling bad all day.  Begin to doctor for it at night.  Temperance people settle on a ticket for city officers.  Councilman 1st Winter  2nd  W Goodman 3 H?  4th A.M. Bain  Mayor, Chas Wiley  Treas. Jo McCravey.

24.  Tuesday  

25.  Wednesday.
Crail dug waste drain to hydrant in barn yard.

26.  Thursday
The pain in side not much better than for last few days.  Marie set her dress on fire today.  Nobody home but M&P they put it out before much damage was done.  

27.  Friday
Maggie and Phebe went to Pres. church at night at night to an easter (sic) entertainment.

28.  Saturday
The Reps endorse the FMBA ticket recently put in the field

29.  Monday
Pain in side about the same or worse.  Girls got up early to color Easter eggs.  I spent the day doctoring and dieting for lame side.  M & P went to S.S.  Tue to church.  Tue and  Phebe went to Hats after dinner.

30.  Monday
Tue bought lot of plants from Mrs, Sefton.  Maggie and Phebe start to school.  L? side about same and stay round house most of day....

31. Tuesday,
Find that hens have injured my mushroom bed badly, Tue has four little chickens she keeps in house all that two nests of eggs yeilded.  Mrs. Perrill called at night says Mr. Perrill quite sick















4

Charleston, Illinois, on October 11 & 12, 1887

11,  Tuesday, 6.15,  AM.  Ther 45.  54.  48.
Almost clear.  Fresh N.W. wind.   Tue thinks she has ague and takes tonic.  Mrs. Dickenson sends word again that she can't come till tomorrow.  Eastin and Decker bring two loads green wood  for Mrs. Robinson which she refuses to take, so put it on the yard.  Bill Hill unloading car load of potatoes, get samples.   Paid Easton 1.00.  Very raw day.  Wind nearly North considerably cloudy P.M.  Tue buys undershirts and hose at Chambers.     Mits for girls at Frommell.  Buy socks at McCravys.  went up town at night to see Sol Meyers.  Go bed 9 PM . . . .

12, Wednesday,  6.30 AM.  ther.  36.  57.  47.
Clear.  Heavy white frost.  No word from Dorsey yet wrote him last Thursday.  Mrs. Dickenson washes.  Comer up town.  He and John Huffman talk a while in my place.  Tue went up to  Mrs. Norfolks while in P.M.  Collect several dollars of different parties.  Have been taking ice for a few days.  Clear day with W, S.W. wind.  Gobed 9 P.m.

September 23, 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

23,  Friday, 7 AM.  ther. 52.  63.  58.
Mostly cloudy.  Write J. Walker Brewery Co. for amt due for empties 9.20.  Remit Bethesda 4.00 in full.  Draw off more old accounts in afternoon.  Sampson and McClosky  haul up 1400 ft. city lumber.  Pay Mrs. Comer 20.00 for Mort making 4 checks for it.  Let her have bottle sherry for Mort.  Decidedly chilly day N.E. wind., cloudy at times.  Frank M. Guse had trial today for selling liqueur without license.  Went up town for Mrs. E, at night.  F. Roderers in with me a while.  Go bed 10 PM.  Quit taking ice regularly.  Maggie got letter from Mary Sayre.

Mary Sayre

September 7, 1912 in Charleston, Illinois

7,  Saturday  5.30  AM.  Ther.  70.  92.  76  =   79 1/3
Clear. S.1.  The authorities have made great improvement in 5th St. back of us.  Several men still working on Library lot cutting and hauling off the hay.Think there is about half a larn of it.  ~  I drove down to plant three times today getting ice last time.  Pay Geo Shriver yest. for repairing roof 32.25  think rather steep - the repairs.  Parker called and I  make payment on work at Loxa, 30.00 check.  Harman called a few moments  Wants to engage corn at 42c.  Today about as hot as usual    Clear A.M.  Threatens rain 4 to 5 P.M. with thunder N.  No rain here.  Tue got letter from Phebe at Chicago.  I drove S.W. by Johnstown road returning by Al Latta's before dark.  Gobed 9.30

September 5-6, 1912 in Charleston, IL

5,    Thursday,   5.30 AM.  Ther.  72.  92.  78. =  80 2/3
Clear.  S.1.  I manage to hitch up but did not drive any  till toward night.  Another hot day.  I drove E. by  Huckaba's getting home 6 P.M.  Clear day southerly wind.  I drove to factory, for ice late P.M. have been without twenty four hours.  Tue  went over to Seftons after supper.  One Clemens who owns  the house back of us is repairing it expecting to live there himself.  They have been filling up holes on 5th St. with old brick.  Am reading  Maria Antoinette.  Gobed 10 P.M.

6.  Friday,  6 AM.  Ther. 70.  92.  78. = 80.
Clear, S.W.1.   Clemens is making quite extensive repairs to his house.  I hitch up early but did not use mare till toward night.  Another hottest day.  They are working fifth street back of us.  It has been very bad with washouts &c.  Met Parker near Dr. Walkers.  They have not worked at farm since last Sat.  I drove out on S. Mattoon Road.  They have graded up to the new bridges on both roads doing apparently good job.  Met auto at Cassel bridge and big traction W. of it.  Tue up to hear band at night.  Clear day. S.1.  Gobed 9.30

Charleston, Illinois, June 17 1912 and 1887

100 Years Ago

Monday, June 17, 1912   6 A.M.  Ther.  64.  72.  64  = 66

Cloudy N.2. light rain.  Walter left at 2 A.M.  Some light showers in night measure 8 A.M. .20.  Left mare in barn last night.  Darling called 10 A.M. and pay him 2.00 for 8 loads manure hauled out on farm.  Says big rain Loxa S. at night.  I drove to look at Telephonepoles(sic.) near  Griffin Elevator AM.  Did not decide to buy any.  Kate and Stella came AM.  Skinner called twice AM. and PM.  I drove to timber E. 4 P.M.  No fungi appearing.  Get some red root for meddy.  The roads are good especially gravel.  Some mud on other roads.  Stranger (plastner) road town.There was no sign og any fungi in woods. Kate and Stella went to Mattoon at 5 P.M. to meet her sister Alice.  Cool part cloudy day.  Moderate northerly wind and sprinkle rain several times also in night.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.

125 Years Ago

Friday, June 17, 1887  6.30  ther.  76.  95.  79.  Some clouds.  Crass comes about 7.  Tue cleaned up ice box and will take ice from now on.  Got  first today.  Crass finishes whitewashing cellar and we clean out silk worms at store as they have failed to do anything, Clean out smoke house afternoon and pack some bottles.  Drive with girls, after supper and with Tue later.  This has been the hottest day  so far & signs of rain about 4 P.M.  Getting very dry here.  Buy eel of Bill Neece.  Gobed at 9.30 PM