October 16-19, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

October 1889

16.  Wednesday.  5.30 AM.  Mostly clear.  white frost.  Milt helped  about logs today with horse and we get nearly two thousand feet cut and down hills.  Milt loads wood so as to start early tomorrow .  Riley Decker and old man have been burning brush this week and have nearly finished.  Gobed 9.30 PM.

17.  Thursday, 6 AM.  Ther.                               64.=

Cloudy and signs of rain.  Decide to have Milt help today.  Cut walnut blocks and head up to house  boys cut red oak tops getting several good logs  Settle on site for  shed after dinner.  Leave Milt to put in gate posts west of house  start home about 4 PM with Frank Drake arriving about 6 P.M.  Find that Maggie has been sick all the week with  hives  Hat here to supper.  Business has been dull since I left on Monday morning.  Mostly cloudy day and warm  Gobed 10.30 PM ~ 

18.  Friday 7 AM.  Ther    60.  66.  43.  =  56 1/3

Mostly cloudy.  Milt brought up load of stove wood.  Warren finishes Coopers  8 cent and puts some on yard.  Milt took goats and kids down  He and Warren will haul logs tomorrow if they can get Comers wagon.  Drove out to Uncle John's P.M.  but didn't see him   got black pup at Shirleys  Trade dull.  Maggie had light chill, has one every day this week.   Newly had runaway at night while unharnessing.  Uncle John is building house on Hawkins place.  Fresbie doing work  go bed 10.30 PM.

19.  Saturday.  7 AM.  Ther  43.  71.   54  =  56

Clear  Pleasant day.  Maggie had a chill but lighter than yesterday.  The gang was up and paid off.   Milt hauled load of wood to Anderson and got drunk leaving stable for home at 10 P.M.   Bought  52 bushels of oats of Jo Whelan @ 26 c.  Uncle John in town after lumber.  Trade good and one of best Saturday we have had.  Kelly worked most of day at house and store  Walk round after shutting up looking for Mat think he didn't go home.  gobed 11.30 PM

October 1900

16.  Tuesday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.

Cloudy northerly wind.  Went to Mattoon to see Irene about H.G. place but train too late to talk much got home 2 P.M. went out to Gaines to take rods for wagon  He has shucked  two loads today. finest.  Mrs. Owens washed A.M.  Saw Bert in Mattoon.  Tue fired Clyde Ashby A.M.  He was no count.  Buy two cords wood of Henry Newell @ 3.25  Tue about sick with her eye.  Thought of going for doctor at night  Gobed 8 P.M.

17.  Wednesday 6 AM.  Ther   30.  60.  42.  =  43

Clear very heavy white frost first hard frost.  Newell hauls the wood and settle with him.  J. Simons and Warren bring lumber for Weth & Hardin.  Geo Weyth pays 30.00 for bill of lumber to W.&H., all delivered in car here  Mrs. Owens irons  Tue in bed most of day and feeling very badly.    Don't milk but once per day now  Meet Emmet Balch up town AM  Gobed 8 PM

18.  Thursday.  6 AM.  Ther  30  70  50  =  50

Clear Easterly wind.  Look for Newell AM for more wood but didn't find him.  Tue  feeling some better today.  I drove out to  Loxa P.M.   May not at home when I get there 2 P.M.  Jo Shucking corn has two hundred bushels shucked up to tonight.  Yield hardly as good as expected  They will take it at Loxa Saturday @70lb  H.G. and Hat here at night: first time in good while  clear day and slightly warmer.  Pick lot of string beans out at Gaines.  Simons not in today  Gobed 9 PM  Pay off Winter note at First Natt. Bank 211.58 using Renes check 200.00

19.   Friday 6 AM.  Ther  40.  75.  60  =  58 1/3

Clear SE wind.  Buy another cord of wood of Newell.  Simons and Warren stop on way to Pophams with lumber.  Tue's eye better but she is still feeling very bad and wants to get a girl.  Corn selling for 30-70  Sent picture of her house to Rene in Oklahoma  Try to find some body to cut wood PM. but didn't.  Went to show at night taking Seph McClasky.  Gobed.  10.30 PM

September 14 - 16, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, Illinois

September, 1889

14.  Saturday.  6.30 AM.  Ther.  70.  91.  75 =   78 2/3

Mostly cloudy but clears off.  Big crowd  in town   Rene came in leaving her horse while she went to fair.  I was out a while  P.M. bought a Plymouth rock rooster.  Maggie is sick all day  Sent for Dr. Patton at night.  Think is is the ague.  Busy day and trade pretty good  next to best day we ever had.  Gobed 11 P.M.

15.  Sunday.  7 AM.  Ther.  75.  80.  62.  =  72 1/3

Cloudy Heavy shower in night and more at intervals during day.  Had intended to go to timber but for rain.  Maggie better.  Some fellow got us up in night yelling "murder!" in the wood house.  Davis Children here all P.M.  Grows cooler after noon and cloudy all day go bed 7.30 PM

16.  Monday.  6 AM.  Ther 58.  66.  57.  =  60 1/3

Cloudy Phebe started for school.  Maggie in bed most of day.Settle with Bill Kelly for wood and work, after which he helped a while P.M. in stable.  Ed Eastin paid me 2.00 on old account went over to Bill Kellys toward  night. to look at some hay..  Milt did not come up today.  Hat helps  Tue with peaches PM and stayed to supper.  H.G. had a keg fall on him today.  Gobed  10.30 PM

September 1900

14.  Friday.  5.AM.  Ther.  53.  88.  60.  =  67.

Clear Easterly wind.  Drive E. and NE of town AM  B.C. mostly cut.  It is reported to be going up in prices.  Tue and Ferd went to Berts getting some peaches.  Ora sick at home in Loxa.  Ferd got letter from Addie  Maggie got dinner which I ate about 1 PM.  Corn on toe kept me awake all night.  Maggie and Phebe to dance at Decker Park.  Roads good becoming dusty  Mostly clear day with easterly wind.  Gobed 9 P.M.

15.  Saturday. 6 A.M.  Ther.  65.  95.  70.  =  76 2/3

Mostly cloudy.  S.E. wind.  Sprinkle rain 7 A.M.Mrs. Owens came to help Tue.  Can fruit &c.  Return shoes to AM Mitchell and he Crs. me 5.00  Pay him $20.00 ch on account which leaves me owing him ten or twelve dollars.   B.C. is reported to be a little higher.  Mostly clear day wind getting round to  NW before night.  I drove Queen up  town after supper for grub.  Talk a while with W. H. Campbell on west side.  Says he is doing well in restaurant.  Bad runaway in front of our premises   about 8 P.M.  Lee Wright and others nobody hurt seriously but vehicle demoralized ,  C.D. Mitchell pays me for lumber ch. 42.02  get couple show tickets of Al Parker through P.O.  Tue thinking of taking another roomer.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.  ~~~~ (shorthand)

16.  Sunday.  6 AM.  Ther.  50.  75?. 50 = 58 1/3

Clear.  Brisk N.W.  Turned cool in night.  Start bout 9.38 AM.  Thinking of going to Ranch but only go far as Kickapoo.  Coming back by   Myers lane,  getting home about noon.  Feeling without  tobacco, very sleepy.  Tue and I start for Berts about 3 P.M.  Drive through Loxa stop at Hen's.  He is gone to Dakota. Ora sick in bed, better than she was.  Gilbert girls staying with her found their farm on fire PM and extinguish it.   Bert's folks not at home when we got there at 6.15 PM. and got on wrong road going home getting down by Hayden Kings.  Mostly clear day.  Take Snap shot at Bert's house from S.W. before they get home.  Gobed 9 PM

August 21-26, 1900 in Charleston, IL

August 1900

21.  Tuesday.  5.15 AM.  Ther  74.  98.  82.  =  84 2/3

Mostly clear lightning N. all night.  My feet itching kept me awake.  Start out to Gaines about 8 AM.  They  thresh most of time.  I was there.  There is much trouble in holding hands most of the time.They are paying 1.25 here with 1.50 demanded by many.  I start home 1 PM  Very sultry day and mostly clear, variable light wind.  Miss Green and Mrs. Knock here at night.  I drove down again to see Kellogg but he cant help me tomorrow.   Gobed 9 PM.

22.  Wednesday 6 AM.  Ther  72.  90.  77.  =  79 2/3

Cloudy Northerly wind.  Much thunder with some wind and rain between 2 and 3 AM.  Making streets muddy.  See C.D. Mitchell and send to planning Mill for him three 2 in plank 8 in wide. by  Thed Arnold.  B.C. hands on  strike for 1.50 per day Shirley and wife were in P.M.  Armstrong has given up  Shirleys B.C. and S is going to finish it himself.  See Geo Kellogg and says will try to go to work back of store tomorrow morning.  Kate Grove  and Charlotte here at night.  Gobed 9 P.M.

23.Thursday. 5.30 AM.  Ther 75.  95.  80.  =  83 1/3

Mostly cloudy wind west.  Was light shower about midnight  Streets some muddy.  Armstrong in town after hands and employs several.  Promised to go  on his note but ask him for mortgage on clover and he gets money otherwise.  Employ Jack Van Pelt to work back of store.  Mrs. Grove and Mort over at night after I had gone to bed.  Dr. Patton was hurt in runaway Tuesday and is very bad today.  I intended to go to Loxa this P.M. but could not get away.  Buy lumber at Minton's for back fence at store.  Van Pelt cleans up privy  &c.  Owen did not come till dark tonight.  Maggie and Phebe went to doings at Paris.  Mostly clear day.  Thunder at night gobed 9 PM

24.  Friday. 5.30 AM.  Ther  75.  95.  78.=  82 2/3.

Clear.  Girls got home about 2 AM.  Lulu Dorsch with them.  Yesterday Frank Snider told Tue big story about  Johns mistreating his children.  Dr. Patton thought to be some better.    Clear day with strong SW wind.  Van Pelt builds back fence of stone.  I start for Gaines about 3 PM.    Jo Cutting BC for Shirley I decide to stay all night and slept but little on account of bed bugs and coffee.  Shirley  expects to finish  cutting tomorrow and Elisha Smith will do  his threshing Sunday.  Armstrong is also cutting.  Jo has some leg. play 7 up till 9 PM.  All BC hands are now getting 1.50 per day.  Gobed 9 PM  

25.  Saturday.  4 AM.  Ther.  70.  90.  75.  = 78 1/3

Partly cloudy.  Shirleys gang gets to work before 6.  I start home 7.30 taking tomatoes and potatoes.  Take sample  BC to Wright think  can get today 80.00 or 85.00 John Simons in to settle for hauling lumber.  Pay him 18.02 for his  11.58 and Warrens 6.44.  Dr. Patton still mending.  Van Pelt finishes about noon and I pay him up deducting old bill of 50 c.  5.00; pay Loving for haul trash.  Marie went with Oka and Ruth Decker when they returned home to Terre Haute today.  Marie intends to visit there till next Saturday.    Go bed 10 PM.

26.  Sunday. 6.20 AM.  Ther  70.  85.  72.  =  75 2/3

Mostly clear.  N.W. wind.  There was a light shower in night.  I drove down to  Coonnod Schey  to get him to put in urinal at store and then start for ranch 10 AM.  Earl lets me through upper gate and I went to mill where Simon and Ira were setting .  Ira and  I ate dinner at Simons.  Decide to let Ira saw awhile as he has been doing with understanding (stated before Simons) that in case of dissatisfaction of either party will make a new contract or quit entirely.  He  thinks this week will  finish up BC threshing and will go back to mill.  Ferd was in today first time for several weeks.  Tue writes Mary Sayre about Ferd.  Simons   went over to cornfield.  Corn looks very well.  Light spirinkles rain several times and with distant thunder S or SW.  Get home before dark.  Gobed 9 PM --

August 6-8, 1889 and 1900 in Charleston, IL

August 1889

6.  Tuesday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  54.  80.  62.  =  65 1/3

Clear.  Start for timber at 7 AM.  Getting there an hour before Milt left with a load of posts.  Riley and Enoch working.  Learn McKee at Milts get home 7.30  Came near having a runaway with mare before starting  this morning.  Had cramps all day.  Milt brought up 75 posts.    Measure Tookes wood on way home making making 5 cords.  Went back up town after getting home after some whiskey.  gobed 10.45 PM.

7.  Wednesday 7 AM.  Ther.  63.  82.  63.= 69 1/3

Clear, hazy.  Cohurst drummer  here also others.  They are putting up posts for electric light wire around town.  Went down to Depot after noon.  Milt did not come up today.  Go bed 10.30

8.  Thursday 6.45 AM.  Ther.  63.  85.  68.  =  72.

Clear hazy easterly wind.  Went with Will Myers down into Cumberland buying cattle went as far as F. Pennington's back to Farmington and over to my land. Got home about 7 P.M. Tue and girls went to Chalk Talk Show Drake brought up load of wood which he put on yard.  Gobed 10.30 AM.

August 1900

6.  Monday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  68.  100.  80.  =  82 2/3

Clear, southerly wind.  Pete Drake puts ha in stable and goes over yard with lawn nower.  Working till say 5 P.M.  I went out to Gaine's at 10 AM. yellow cows calf died yesterday.  Think heat un (?) the first day.  Jo still  woking road with team and scraper.  They promised me to stay to dinner.  Get some potatoes and corn and start home3 PM.  Take  Flora down to Loxa.  McTheron pays me 13,00 on rent.  Shinley and E. Armstrong examaning  broom corn &c,  Clear day southwind  Gobed 10 PM.

7.  Tuesday 5.30 AM.  Ther.  72.  97.  77.  =  82.

Clear  Maggie Devone washed.  Pete Drake came but only hitched up for me.  John Simons brought up load of lumber for self and Charley Mitchell.  606 feet.  Today a shade cooler than past week.  Tue and I drive out to Gaines about 5 P.M.Jo helping Shirley in his Haungarian.  McCall at Hens a while seeing Shirley and gt home about 10 P.M.  McDonald little girl spends night with Marie.  Go bed 10.30 P.M.

8.  Wednesday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  72.  101.  77.  =  83 1/3

Clear southerly wind Maggie Devone ironing.  Simons and Earl Decker bring two loads lumber, part for C.D. Mitchell and some fencing which pile back of barn.  Cass and Ocelius Shaver call P.M. until 5 oclock.  Tue  attends Pricilla Club meet with Mrs. Grove and Knock.  Heat very oppressive  clear S.W. wind.  Lulu Dorsch stays all night.  Gobed 10 PM.

July 2, 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

2.  Monday 5.30 AM.  Ther.  70.  90.  73.
Clear.  McMurtrie puts up 8 ft. of shelving works from 7 AM till about 2 PM.  John McCormick paints two old counters and stair shelving P.M. has just been  painting Mrs. Monroe's front.  Pay him in full 50 c.  Drove down to Nickleson place after supper and post notice to quit on door.  Ed Eastin had a runaway yesterday and more serious one today about dark his rig lands in creek near culvert.  Miss. Kemayer wants to move tomorrow.  Hot day   Gobed 10 P.M.

April 22, 1913 and 1888 in Charleston, Illinois

1913

22.  Tuesday.  4.45 P.M.  Ther.  54.  82.  66.  = 67 1/3

Clear.  S.2.  Start Loxa 6 AM and get home 9.15 AM.  Hugh working for A. Moore.  Helps me measure lot 218 ft.  Buy 2 ties Geo. Anderson.  Stop at Jones: pay him a/c to date 90 cts cash.  Start to go up to place but decide to go home at once.  Don't seem to find fence I want: look at Mercantile stock AM.  Give saw to file to Moody.  Emmett came early:  plants in garden, rake off yard began on S.R. ash pit sent lawn mower to  Chas Wells for treatment.  He  returned it PM. pd. .50c.  After finish ashes Emmett with me looks over pasture fence and spend hour or two hunting post digger which couldn't find.  I drove over to Anderson for saw and came near a runaway.  Raymond got saw for me Tue over at Mrs. Bro(?) P.M. getting home 6.30.  Emmett worked all day and will work tomorrow.  Most clear hazy day.  S.W.4.  Get booze P.M.  Interurban owe me dime.  Tue over at Brooks P.M. and at Grove's at night at night.  I slept on couch till 9 when go to bed.  E. Meter 784.000 $1.57 CG

1888

22.  Sunday, 7 AM.  Ther.  50.  65.  50.

Cloudy SE wind.  A little rain about 9 AM and indications of (?) cloudy most of day and fresh easterly wind.  Tue set out her roses &c. north of the house.  Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Robinson were here toward night Mamie Lang has the measles.  Plum and peach trees are in full bloom or nearly is.  Gobed.  9.30 PM.