August 14, 1892 and 1903

August 1892

14.  Sunday, 6.30 AM.   Ther  59.  82.  65

Clear  N.E. wind.  Start for ranch 10.30 with old Kit.  Get there 2 P.M.  Nobody at home  Johnny and wife went up to John Simmons yesterday  I rode over to south side and to clover field  Clover not nearly ripe enough to cut for seed.  Fungi of all kinds very scarce.  Think it has been too warm The crops are looking as well as can be expected  Get home 8 oclock  The river is too high yet to ford.   Gobed  10 P.M.~~

August 1903

14.  Friday, 6 AM.   Ther,   58.79. 66.  = 67 2/3

Clear easterly wind 2.  Went up town before breakfast getting Pesto  Tue not feeling very well.  C. Talbott calls AM tying team in lot.  He got hurt a day or two ago.  Says D. Anderson has sold pony for 85.00  I decide to start to Loxa after dinner.  Get shoes at Gray's.  Start Gaines 2.00 P.M.  Jo out in cornfield cutting weeds.  Mrs. G still talking of their leaving in the fall.  She and Nell Owens went to Mattoon AM.  I took Mrs. G   out another setting of  Wyandotte eggs.   Drove down to Loxa Clarence and I investigate straw stack and I leave to him to half the good straw dividing it himself.  Tell him will charge 1.00 per mo for use of shed.  I took down two plow shares to get sharpened but McChevon closed.  the rain was general although heavy did not wash much.  Mostly clear day with easterly wind.  Roads somewhat muddy in spots.  Jack went but didnt return with me  Home 7 PM go bed 9 P,M__

  

October 19, 1890 and 1991

October 1890

19.  Sunday.  7AM.  Ther 36.

Mostly clear with fresh wish. Paint wood box for Tue and start for Ranch soon as got dinner get there 4.30 P.M. ride over east pasture and fire a brush heap.  Simons and Riley Easton about finished hauling hay yesterday and think I have about 6 ton from Anderson.  Pleasant day but cool  gobed 8 P.M.

October 1901

19.  Saturday.  Buffalo day today at P.A. and decide not to attend Exposition today.  Threatening weather, light rain about 10 AM.  Went to Niagara about 10 AM. by  trolley about, remain all day.  Return to Columbia about dark very tired and retire early.

The Pan- American Exposition was a world's fair.  President McKinley, while visiting the Temple of Music,  was shot September  6.

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 11 - 14, 1890 and 1901 in Coles County IL

June 1890

11.  Wednesday 5 AM.  at Ranch  All boys go to work this morning cutting logs the river  Stay there till 10.30 AM and start home getting there 1 P.M.  The river is  getting pretty low.  Clouds up and rains heavy shower soon after I got home, another still heavier about 6 P.M.  The hardest rain we have had here for years  Town Branch way up.  gobed 10.30 ~~

12.  Thursday.  7 AM.  Pleasant day very close and warm.  Water  yesterday flooded basement under MCravys store  Scott Dowling has sold his his "outfit" to parties who are moving it out.  They began taking the Circus here last week  Claud Comer says water washed out road up Hollow.   Saturday June 14  Good many in town.  Trade moderate.  Hottest day this season so far  Ther 92 yesterday next Ther 90.   Heavy thunder storm 10 P.M.  Hadeback stops me to return to the store trade only moderate today mostly beer  GEO here collecting for the 4th of July Celebrate.  Comer up toward night.  No hauling lumber since last Wednesday  Gobed 11 P.M.~~  This Sat. 6/14/90

13.  Friday  

14.  Saturday above.  Sultry all day and everyone says it will rain before night.  Geo Kellogg looks at building and says will take  two hundred  Dollars  to raise porch and put on new roof.  Pay draft J M (?) Co Tax 5 Bbls 10h.  Get letter from Samuels saying they have no free warehouse.  Gobed 10.30 PM

June 1901

11.  Tuesday.  5  AM.  Ther.  68.  94.  75.  =  79

Partly cloudy, southwest wind Jube came before 7. but we cant do anything with mower.  Mrs. Eggers and  daughter came to wash about 7 A.M. working  nearly all day $1.00 Jubal and I take mower to Olmstead AM but he didn't do i, mt much good  I tinker with it most of P.M. and send it back to him.  Buy  pens ink and paper at WE Hills P.M. 25cts paid.  Drove mile or two  east of town corn growing fine.  This has been the warmest  day   South wind.  Gobed 8.30 P.M.

12.  Wednesday.  4.30 AM.  Ther.  65.  92.  68  =  75.

Clear wind blew up cooler from north last night.  Mrs. Smith ironed.  Olmstead did not have mower fixed.  Didn't find Jubal.  Started for Gaines' 8 AM. but turned back at Jones place  Thunder showers  AM.  Get new hat at Winter Cr.  Hepholorna Cardolleamen  in yard I got back home 9.30 AM  turns hay in barn.  City working on back alley AM  Jubal get mower but it wont cut so borrow Shortess which he uses P.M.  Get hat at Winter & Mc. which return P.M.  Have glasses repaired at Ricketts with new case 75 c.  Roam horse not feeling very well P.M.for past day or two.  Has sore mouth.  Think he got too warm Monday.  Jubal worked till 5 P.M.  ? Thunder shower;  pretty heavy rain 7 to 8 P.M.  Milk in rain  Gobed 8.30 P.M.

13.  Thursday.  5. AM.  Ther.  65.  89.  64.  =  72 2/3

Mostly Cloudy.  Start to Gaine's 8.30 AM. very little rain there.  I broke off short right at my gate.  Jo plowing on South piece.  Shirley working with 3 teams just south of garden.  Too wet to plow near Charleston.  Tue gets gasoline stove in house.  Louise Snider calls while after dinner.  Edith at Gaines washing.  Alex Short there.  Got mess  of new potatoes - first.  Went to clerks office and find Bachmans tax deed will be  in  E#1/2 NE 13 instead of W1/2  Does not cover Will Decker but catches 4 acres of my own  Fair day with southerly wind  Gobed 8.30 P.M.

14.  Friday.  4 AM.  Ther.  63.  87.  75.  =  75

Mostly cloudy.  Ate breakfast at Starr and Smiths  get some paper for kitchen at farm (promised to take out yesterday) and take out start 7.30 AM.  Today last day of school  Loxa.  Sprinkles a little on the way out..  Mrs. G. thinks she will wash place before she puts on paper.  Mrs. Talbot there sewing.  Jo plowing SE field.  I left for home before dinner.  Settle with Jube P.M.  $1.75.  He digs back bank a little.  Can't get city to take hold of this job.  Mrs. Grove here at night so couldn't early enough  gobed 9 PM

April 1-3, 1890 and 1901 in Coles County Illinois

April 1890

1.  Tuesday, 7 AM  Ther.

Clear N.E. wind Nick and H.G. go hunting.  I start for ranch at about 9 AM.  Find Johnny and Warren at work  Warren is working in John's place while he went to election.  Got the sulky harrow yesterday.   When John got home we harrowed the grass plot for samples.  Gobed 10 

PM

2.  Wednesday, 5 AM.  Ther
at Ranch
Partly cloudy, wind S.E.  Johnny  and Riley burn brush back of  barn.  Simon and self went AM to look at line surveyed by Green.  It puts the five east sycamores on my land.  I sowed sample grass seed after breakfast.  Simons makes and hangs two gates in P.M.   other boys making fence  Part cloudy day S.E.  wind and signs of rain  Did sprinkle lightly from 4 P.M. till in night  Gobed  10 P.M.

3.  Thursday  5.30 AM.  Ther
Cloudy and raining light rain most of  night and until noon.  Works a little in barn Simons starts for corn after dinner.  I started home Find Tue about sick with neuralgia  Council met tonight and decide not to have vote on the license question  This would seem to settle it  Heavy rain about and after dark  11.30 PM

[Stop of page]  Stopped yesterday to get Carlos but he would not follow me

April 1901

1.  Monday.  5.15 AM.  Ther.  27.  49.  40.  =  38 2/3

Partly Cloudy white frost S.E. Wind Clara washed  Saw John Marshall about Walls and Garrison.  Fear may lose 40.00 owing me by Noble.  Garrison pays me $15.00 for which I give receipt as against Walls.  Cow got out P.M. and over in Maxwell's field.  I telephone Wall at Casey but could not hear much from him  Get Gaines' clock again at Jenkin's P.M.  Mostly cloudy day dark and threatening toward night with E. wind.   Order fourth half ton of coal.  Miss Ford went to Bloomington today for two or three days.  Charlotte Sproule over at night.  light showers after.  gobed 9 P.M.

2.  Tuesday.  5.40  Ther  35.  45.  40.  =  40
Cloudy and raining lightly.  S.E. wind  Tue and Clara cleaning Miss Fords room most of day.  Went up and voted AM.  The main question today seems to be  Co Bond  issue  Ricter delivers fourth jag of coal.  Mist or drizzle most of day southerly wind.  No fire in furnace and house pretty cold.  Florence Moore here sewing with Phebe P.M.  Shortess cow loose in street and barn lot P.M.  Make halter for big calf and look over old harnesses.  Intended to go to Loxa A.M. but weather prevented.  Gobed 9 P.M.~

3.  Wednesday 5.30 AM.  Ther  35.  46.  40  =  40 1/3
Cloudy.  Northwind.  Tue and Clara continue work on Miss Fords room  Jo Crail carries in lot of coal and get house warmed up.  Jo helps clean lot of carpet and I took him part way home.  Tue works all day although feeling badly.  I start for Loxa 1 P.M.  Found Jo plowing having about finished the oats ground.  He will get done by noon tomorrow and go to town for seed oats.  He did not get check mailed last Friday and I drove down to Loxa to find out about it.  Didn't learn anything  Took Gaines' clock out.  Got home 6.30 P.M.  Mostly clear P.M. north wind.  Roads pretty muddy but drying fast.  gobed 8.30 P.M.

October 26, 1912 in Charleston, IL

Saturday.  6 A.M.  Ther.  34.  64.  44.  = 47 1/3
Most clear. E.1.  Alfred came working an hour or so.  He and Tue sort over picked pears.  He takes ashes out.  Warren Decker calls and reports everything all right at the ranch.  Ike Rogers has sold his B. Corn.  Delivery  today and Monday.  Warren helping W. says will clear off and plow  ranch ground.  Saw F. Cattingham.  Still think had better run the WC sewer outside house.  Buy pint Acme enamel for WC at Thos. Briggs., Cr. as the others were.  Talk with Johnny Handley he goes with bales.  Order bale hay of I.B.M.  Tue and Muggs up town till late.  Clear day with light easterly winds.  Self poorly.  Go bed 9.30