July 24, 1892 and 1903 in Charleston, Illinois

July 1892

24. Sunday, 6,30 AM.  Ther.  80.  98.  80.

Clear, wind Southerly, A duplicate of yesterday.  Self felt some better but don't move around much.  A shade cooler at night and more wind than yesterday.   go bed 9 P.M.

July 1903

24.  Friday 5.30 AM.  Ther.  60.  90.  70.  =  73 1/3

Clear.  I went up town before breakfast.  Jim Pugh takes up mare to shoe front and back & brought her home owe him for it.  I start to Loxa 10 AM get home before dinner which ate.  They are putting up hay and have what they call a two ton at north end.  Reatha's ear is all right since morning  I had cramps most of the P.M. and lay  on floor till about 4 PM  Downeys girls over and with Gaines'  pick berries much of P.M.  I went over to seed plot but too hot to do anything.  All corn is doing is looking well.  I got home 7 P.M.  Mostly clear and very warm day  Talbott will cut 5 A piece next Monday unless I sell it on ground.  The gang will stack tomorrow on north pierce  Gobed 830 PM

July 22-23, 1892 and 1903 in Charleston, IL

July 1892

22.  Friday.  5.30 AM.  Ther.  75 92. 76.

Cloudy southwind, Mary Davis stayed all night last night with Maggie.  Get 25 sacks of McCarty and start for ranch getting there before  noon.  Riley cutting sprouts.  John helping somebody thresh.  I look round in Bennett Hollow for fungi a white and start home at 5.30 used up with  the heat.  Went to bed without going to store too tired to sleep.  9.30

23.  Saturday 6 AM ~ ther.  78. 98. 82.

Clear S. wind, Lay round house all day.  Hottest day for several years.  Clear and blazing hot all day.  Can't stand this kind of weather  Gobed 9 PM  Uncle John were in to dinner.  Settle with E Fritz 1 day too much.

July 1903

22.  Wednesday.  5.40 AM.  Ther.  59, 83 72 = 71 1/3

 Clear northerly wind.   I notify E light people that dont want them to put up pole in front.  They refer me to whom I didn't see.  Talk with Charley  Ricketts about it at Post Office  Start to Loxa 9 AM.  Talbott finished cutting oats at noon  I went down to see Gilbert about hay  He offers me 30.00 for north piece, and I decide to cut and put up whole thing.    Talbott will begin in morning on north piece.  Retha still sick with earache  Jo and May took her to Charleston early this morning.  I took Jo over to his hedge cutting and start home about 2 P.M. didn't eat any dinner.  Gobed 9 P.M.  It didn't rain at Loxa last night.

[Margin of Page:  The cow was out this morn NoBell found her down by Normal.]

23.  Thursday 5.30 A.M.  Ther  56.  84.  70= 70

Clear N. 1.  Talk with Colby at office before starting to  Loxa get to  Gaines noon and eat dinner.  Talbott cutting north hay Harry and Sam Owens helping also Jo.  Downey and Talbott kids there while P.M.  Reatha still crying with her ears.  Talbott and I drove whole meadow and I decide to sell it if I can at 8.00 and pitch it on the wagon.  I went up with him on his way home  to Morris Bungnens and beyond, and  got home at 7 P.M.  I was up town a while at night.  Clear day with light northerly wind   Blackberries are very plentiful and selling at 20 cts per gallon

Gobed 8.30 P.M.

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.

Dec 13-31,1901 and Jan 1-5, 1902 in Charleston, IL (Highlights)

December 1901

Love boy begins carry wood evenings after school.

13.  Friday.  6.30 AM.  Ther 52.  40.  20.  = 37 1/3

Cloudy and raining southwind.  Rain began about midnight or after being in light showers.  Thunder about 8 AM.  Sign of moderate weather to come.  Rain all day wind getting north P.M.  With sleet after dark.  Spent long time today sorting papers and looking for Shirleys old lease which I didn't find.  Was up town toward night getting home 6 P.M.  Gobed  10 PM

14.  Saturday.  5 AM.  Ther  -2.  0.  -8.  = -3 1/3
Trim covered with with ice drops: Chickens about frozen.  We have 8 or 10 chickens.
Cloudy early but clears off.  The storm quit in night   Strong north wind all day.  It was the worst storm we have had in years and the first  cold wind we have had this season.  Perhaps two or two and a half inches of snow fell.  I spent most of day with furnace which had to run full capacity to keep house warm..  

15.  Sunday.  6 AM.  Ther. -12.  4.  -2  =  -3 1/3
I water and feed about noon.  Have been feeding horses but twice a day before cold spell.

16.  Monday

17.  Tuesday
Garrison says water pipe froze up back part of store.

18.  Wednesday
Warren  and Simons call and I pay Warren check for gray horse $80.00.

NOTE:  For 19-23 just posted day and temps.  Other days below are the same or posted very little.

19.  Thursday. -11.  4,  -4  =  -3 2/3

20.  Friday,  -11. 4,  -4  = -3 2/3

21.  Saturday

22.  Sunday

23.  Monday

24.  Tuesday,  
Drive out to Loxa P.M.  find Jo sick and Mrs. G gone to Loxa.  Took presents to children.  

25.  Wednesday  -  send some quinine tablets to Jo AM.

26. Thursday

27.  Friday

28.  Saturday.

29. Sunday   Karl Love still carries up wood and coal.  Miss Ford came home last night 2 AM.

30.  Monday
Pay Chambers and Linden in full $3.00 chk.  Marie has function at night.

31.  Tuesday.
I start out to Gaines 9. AM. but  came back and start again 10.30 AM.

January 1902

Anticipate trouble with Shirley this season.

1. Wednesday.  6 AM.  Ther.  24.  40.  34.  =  32 2/3

Clear.  Easterly wind.  Self not feeling pretty well.  Go up town 10 AM.  Go up town 10 A.M.  Shave Frank May.  Pay a/c at Paynes drug store, check to date: , $7.10  Stores generally closed P.M.  Banks and PO all day.  Mostly clear day with E To S wind.  No signs of cold or stormy weather.  Didn't hitch up horse today.  Mort and Kate over at night  gobed 8.30 P.M.

2.  Thursday  6.15 AM.  Ther.  38.  36.  26.  =  33 1/3  Mostly clear.  Brisk SW wind.

3.  Friday. say 6.30 AM.  Ther  11.  20.  14.  =  15.

4.   Saturday say 630 AM.   Ther.  8.  29.  18.  = 18 1/3

5.  Sunday.  7. AM.  Ther.  14.  35.  25  = 24.

December 9-10, 1889 and 1900 in Coles County Illinois

December 1889

9. Monday.  7 AM  Ther 33.  56.  47 = 45 1/3  
Clean and fine.  Order  bottled Beer White frost Deposit for firm $154.55 get Jo Marston to haul  load of hay from Van Meter barn.  Bill Kelly clean out stable and help Marston with hay in P.M.  My cut foot  which I hurt last Tuesday morning has been troubling me ever since, worse today.  Saw Dr. Montgomery at night gave lineament and tells me to keep still.  Marie gets tube green paint to day, daubing herself well with it.  Bright clear day till toward night  Began to rain after dark and continues all night.  Gobed 12.30

10.  Tuesday.  7.30 AM.  ther.  52.  72.  53  =  59
Raining moderately wind SE. shifts to S. and S.W.  Foot about same, slept well.  Thunder about noon  heavy rain and hail storm from SW about 1 P.M.  Hail strong larger than hickory nuts with a stem like ice icicle an inch or two long  Mostly clear afternoon Strong W wind at night.  Town branch pretty well up, gave Kelly  order on Wright for 175    They hauled about a ton of hay yesterday.  Foat about  sawed all day.  Kept in house  Go bed, 11.30 PM

December 1900

9.  Sunday.  7 AM.  Ther  27.  27.  22.  =  25 1/3

Clear N.W. wind.  Roan horse was out in yard last night till midnight.  Got up and put him back.  Ferd called AM to say that Helen disappeared yesterday along with a friend.  Ferd and self drove out to Stiles' after dinner.  Find that they spent night with Dolly Finsbie   We drove onto road N from Nobles getting home about sunset.  Clear day northwind Freezing all (?)  Gobed 8.30

10. Monday.  6 AM.  Ther.  16.  30.  22.=  22 2/3

Clear.  Northerly wind.  Shortess cow  had calf last night.  It seemed about dead this morning.  They took it in house and it revived.  Heavy white frost.  Pay up I.B. Mitchell old a/c bal. this morning Ch 36.39   Hens been having fun for several months  Pay H.G. Loan & int. up toJan 1, 1901. 2. MO. 17.10.  Buy lot of groceries &c Mitchell and W.E. Hill - Gaizen pays for lot of  fencing 10.60 cash.  Tue Gets letter from Phebe pays we expect her home next week.  Put Ad for hired girl in Courier Paid 25c.  Clear day,  N.W. wind.  Read a while up stairs before going to bed  Tues eye is getting bad again  Gobed 9 PM.

March 1-2, 1914 and 1889 in Charleston, IL

Please note that where the text is a different color, you can click on it to go to a link about the topic.

Self portrait of Charles Gramesly

March 1914

(at the top pf the page)  We had quite a scare AM when found paper burning in den around fire place where there has  been  no fire for years.  The furnace chimney burned out this morning and suppose fire got down from top into flu, but it may come from below from furnace ash pit and  flues.  It did no damage but it was just luck that it didn't.

1. Sunday. 7. AM.  Ther.  10.  20.  18.  =16

Clear.  N.N.W.6.  High NW wind all night with snow flurries at times.  Tue got paper at 10 AM but did not attend church.  It proves to be a had day  on our heating  plant and we are almost out of fuel of any kind.  We were at home all day-nobody called.  Mort is about sick with cold.  I did not eat any supper.  Have been eating too much.  Gobed. 9.30 P.M.

2.  Monday.  6.15 am.  Ther.  12.30.  26.  -  22 2/3

Clear N.2. Tue fixes up package clothes for Phebe.  We did not hear from her this morning.  Get SR & Co Gro list.  Tue packs and sends off by Parcel P two boxes of clothes which Phebe left.  I order another load of came coal BPa& Co which they deliver 4 P.M.  Alfred chored 4 P.M.  Tue was over to Mrs. Brooks a while P.M.  Mostly clear day with light N.N.W winds.  It did not  thaw much today - only in sun.  A great storm has just swept Atlantic coast.  Harman phones night night hunting about clover seed.  I have felt poorly all day gobed 9.30

March 1889

1.  Friday  6.30  AM.  Ther.   39.  45.  38.  =  40 2/3

cloudy, wind S. light rain, probably most of the night.  Maggie did not go to school having caught more cold.  Mrs. Davis over in morning.  Learn that Geo. Sefton's baby died  last night.  Hat here P.M. helping Tue sew on  Phebe's dress.  Mrs. Easton calls P.M.  Dark damp day; wind shifts to west.  Have about decided to buy some hens and put in old smoke  house till we get a better place for them.   Tue churned toward night.  Has made 26 lb since Jan 9.  Mrs. Neal begins taking a pint of milk a day.  There ought to be a crop of peaches this year as the buds are all sound as yet and not swollen.  Gobed 9.30 PM.

2.  Saturday. 6 AM.  Ther.  32.  48.  37. = 39

Cloudy, foggy.  Hunt for man to clean out stable didn't find one.  sent  50 c. to  Able Agriculturist for  Poultry book.  Get letter from W.H. White with 18.00 for ties recd.  Went down to R.R. to see ties  2 piles one of 24 I know Kinks and other of 21 doubtful.  this makes 63 ties I have recd pay for which may not be mine.  Think will furnish the 10 set of switch ties but don't  know hour yet.  Spoke to Goodman about  gas well lot.  Mrs. Perrill called  toward  night.  Tue not very well.   Mostly cloudy day, wind N.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.

January 8 - 15, 1889 in Coles County Illinois (highlights)

January 1889

8.  Tuesday.  Our two pigeons have disappeared. 

9.  Wednesday.  The wind and snow goes everywhere.  Tue sewing on gingham aprons for girls.

10.  Thursday.  

11.  Friday.   Patch up broken window.  H.G. and H. here to dinner.

12.  Saturday.  Baby cried good deal in night and has caught bad cold.

13.  Sunday.  Tue not very well .  Self messing with paints.  This thought by many to be the mildest winter ever known here.  The grass is hardly killed.  The ground has not been frozen more than two or three inches and there has not been more than two or three inches of snow altogether. 

14.  Monday.  Tue not very well.  Fannie Coon here at night.

15.  Tuesday.  6.15 AM.  Ther  37.  50.  49.

Cloudy and damp Wind S.E.  Scott Dowling came after city post auger which I have had borrowed since last fall.  Helped Tue make mess of crax.  Four men were here after me  for work on tie job today.  Mrs. Feagan  was over all afternoon.  Damp day S.E. wind, light wind occasionally P.M. and at night.  Tue not feeling very well.  Wind rises at night and grows warmer.  Go bed 9 P.M.

September 11, 1887 in Charleston, IL

11, Sunday 7 AM.  Ther,  62.  71.  65.
Cloudy.  Heavy rain in night with some thunder.  Bim brought in some eggs after breakfast.  Learn that Jas Ashmore is very low has been sick some time.  Drive with Tue toward night out by Cemetery and round town.  Has been cloudy day with sprinkles rain AM.  Maggie and Ph. went over to Perrills toward night.  The rain last night was the heaviest since last spring.  Was getting dryer than before.  Gobed 9 PM.

September 8, 1912 in Charleston, IL

8,  Sunday,  6 A.M.  Ther.  66.  92.  78. = 78 2/3
Clear E. or S.E. have been keeping mare at home for past week.  She gets six ears twice a day and pasture at night.  Never saw flies annoy horses so bad.  After getting paper drive  E. to timber and to river Hill.  Left Jack at home.  He is not getting better very fast.  Tue talking of going out to Helen's to dinner but gets dinner and went out on 2.30 car.  Mort and Kate call an hour or two P.M.  Tue got home about 8 P.M.  bringing some ice cream from Helen's.  Ora Webb called P.M.  Dawson didn't deliver our milk.  Mostly clear day with light southerly winds.  There were a few claps of thunder about 3 P.M. from small cloud S.W. but no rain.  Everyday has been a scorcher for the past two weeks ~  Little air stirring.  The roads are fine and becoming dusty.  Gobed 9.30

August 30- September 1, 1912 in Charleston, IL

30   Friday,  6 AM.  Ther.  70.  90.  80. =80
Cloudy, light fog.  Tue ironing AM.  I drive S.W. looking for "flux weed."    The mare felt foxy and flies are bad so she made good time.  It tired me out to hold her.  I did not find any of my weed.  Mike Fletch formerly  of Loxa calls to rent farm.   Also (?) Hensley of Humbolt.  Tue deposits oats check at 2nd NB.  Jack and self both getting better.  Toward night we drove E. to scene of his accident last Thursday.  Take mare to Nickles.  Kate Grove and her sister Sarah call this evening.  Mostly clear light southerly wind.  Gobed 10 P.M.

31  Saturday,  5.30  AM.  Ther.  72.  92.  80. = 81 1/3
Part cloudy S.W.2.  Tue and self get off for Loxa before 8 AM. driving to Loxa first.  Tue calls at Mrs. Wests and at store.  Pay up Charley Jones for R.H. and afc to date 7.77 ch.  Met Cliff at Loxa and he follows us to farm.  Parker and Plow working on shed.  Harman went to W. side with Tue and Self. I offer him clover meadows to cut for seed for half.  Says will cut new clover S.W. cor of NW 40 about 5 acres for half.  Tue bought chickens of Lulu.  We went out to Cliffs to weigh it.  Harman when struck me at Loxa was on his way to thresh S.  We reach home before noon worn out with  Harman the heat.  One of the hottest day, light SW wind.  H.G.  called P.M. to renew &c.  Mare about worn out when we got home.  I drove to Fritz before dark.  He will work for me Monday.  I put mare in pasture.    Mail check 82.05 to S.H. Record for tile.  Gobed 10 P.M.

The Weather for August, 1912.  Mean daily temperature 73.  Max 92. on 13th, 18th, 19th, 29th and 31st.  Min 46 on the 5th on.  Rain 5.17 in.  thus 1.2 on 9th, 1.21 on 13th, .34 on the 16th and 1.37 on 20.  It rained on 15 days and has been a damp month for August.  Clonchieress 33 1/2 %  Many oats are still un threshed.  Streams are high for season.  There has been much thunder.  The roads have been quite muddy at times.  Corn promises well but much weedy.    The roads at present are fine.  The duration and direction of winds have been - N 2 2/3 days N.E. 4 2/3; E 1 2/3;  SE 2/3; S 6; SW9 2/3; W 4 2/3 and NW1 days  The winds have been light, few winds  storms.  Corn is standing up, grass weeds and trees are making unusual growth.  Oats 25 cts, Eggs 15 young chickens 20c per live pound.

September

1  Sunday  6 AM.  Ther.  74.  90.  78.
Clear S.W. 2 a hot night.  I forgot to put up bar last night and mare was out.  Find her in library lot.  I didn't hitch up today.  Tue went to church and got paper.  Mrs. M. and Beulah Howell call meanwhile~  Another very  hot day and I keep quiet as possible.  Clear day with S.W. breeze.  Mort and Kate have been over to Mattoon.  Go bed 9.30

1912 and it is August 13 in Charleston, IL

100 Years Ago

13.      Tuesday, 6 AM.  Ther. 66.  92.  70. =  76

Part cloudy.  There was heavy  dash rain about 3 AM with thunder (.13)  Drive down by Kickapoo S.W. return by Lattas farm.  Met him on the road Says has rented his farm for five years and is going away.  The roads are somewhat  muddy in spots ~  Tue got letter form  Phebe who arrived at Chicago all right Sunday.  My Rheumaties (sic) bad today.  Proved to be  one of hottest of season.  Heavy thunder showers from 4 P.M. till in  night Meas 6 AM (14th) (1,08 in). Gobed 9.30 P.M

It is August 4, 1887 in Charleston, IL

125 Years Ago . . .

Tuesday,    5.45  AM.  Ther.  85.  105.  76

Some cloudy  ther. at 6 78.  Last night was the most uncomfortable we have had, Geo Tucker gives small order for lumber.  Mrs.  Charceller sent word that she couldn't iron for her, and she begins on it herself.  Shower in distance after 10 AM light one between 2 & 4 P.M. about 15/100 inch.  Cloudy most of P.M. wind generally 10.  Ther. about 101 but jumped up to 106 just before rain.  Comer up.  didn't get home to supper till 8.30.  Council met and refused to grant license on petition.  Concert at Christian Church at night.  Go bed.  9.30 P.M.

It is July 31, 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

125 Years Ago . . .

Sunday, July 31, 1887   6.30 AM  Ther.  78.  100.  .80 

 Clear or nearly so.  Girls go to S.S.  Baby not very well for two or three days.  Not very well  myself been smoking good deal lately.  Went up town about 4 P.M.  get mare and drive around town with Tue till nearly dark.  They have been excavating for new school house, but have done nothing else so far.  This has been a hot month.  Ther.  has averaged 71 morn  95 noon  76  night  mean 80.8.  It has reached 90 every day this month except  three and has been from 100 to 105 on 9 days, two  or three little showers is all the rain and most of the corn is so badly injured that it would not make half a crop with plenty of rain.  My potatoes are not worth digging.  Pastures are all dried up & water is getting scarce every where.  The Embrass river is about dry.  The leaves on the tree are turning yellow and falling off.  The fruit crop is almost a failure here.  and garden track is ditto.  There were less signs of rain today than usual, nearly perfectly clear all day.  Wind northerly 10 P.M.

It is July 21, 1912 and 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

100 Years Ago

Sunday, July 21, 1912 ,  5.50 AM   Ther.  78.  86.  76. = 78 2/3

Cloudy SW 3  There was light showers (to) about 3 AM.  Threatening morn.  I got  R.H. and then stat for timber E. but return after getting halfway occasional weather.  Storm struck us about noon.  Heavy rain with great thunder and lightning for short time.    Tue phones no rain at Bert's.  After dinner late P.M. drove to woods E.  No mushrooms worth bring home.  Return by Westfield road, getting home 6.30.  Take Mare to Nickles.  Phebe out at night with Ora.  Go bed 9.30

125 Years Ago

Thursday, July 21, 1887,  6 AM  Ther.  75.  95.  73.

Cloudy but soon clears off.  Several very light showers with some thunder in night.  Maggy walked out of bed in night but didn't happen to hurt her.  Get another letter from Cuthbert saying he could get 10c rate and would take several cars red oak @17.oo  Start down to timber about 9 AM and get back at 4.  Mare behaved very well.  Some cloudy.  Showers in distance.  Apparently heavy thunder shower passed south of us about 4 PM.  Tue  has been ironing today.  Air close, cooler night.  Gobed 9 PM.

It is July 17, 1912 and 1887 in Charleston, IL

100 Years Ago

Wednesday,  July 17, 1912,  5.20 AM.  Ther.  70.  88.  74.  = 77 1/3

Mostly cloudy, N.E.1.  Johnny and Halley came with two loads (12) of Poles which unload on Van B, west of A. Briggs shop.  Paid check  4.20.  They were in rain part of way, rain continued till after 10 AM.  meas. at noon. .20 in and again 4 P.M. &c .05. Mostly cloudy say with good deal of thunder but little rain.  Tue writes sassy letter to Mrs. West which sends in spite of my objections.    I drove out by Fair ground late P.M.  Roads not very muddy.  Willie Parker died today.  Pink Nickles is dead in Ark.  Gobed 9.30 P.M.   Mare to Nickles.

125 Years Ago

Sunday, July 17, 1887     6 A.M.  Ther.  84.  103.  84.

Clear pleasant breeze from W.   Last night was terribly hot.  They all slept on floor but self.  Take shower bath from hydrant in morning.  Fresh west wind all day.  This has been decidedly the hottest and dryest (sic) day this summer or any summer since '81.    Kate Davis over in P.M.  Fan and family came just as we were going to bed and stayed an hour or two.  There was a good deal of lightening in N.W. at night but the cloud was not visible.  Sultry night.  Bed 10.30.

It is July 15, 1912 and 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

100 Years Ago

Monday, July 15, 6 A.M.  Ther.  76.  92.  68. = 78 2/3

Mostly clear S.W.  Harman called after breakfast.  He did not settle.  There has been no settlement since just after the sale,  has bought new binder.  He is worried about Sexton fence &c. McNeel's men work perhaps an hour or two on cleaning. up furnace sections, will take them all summer to finish at present rate.  Threatening weather most of the day with lots of thunder but little rained, barely sp here.  SW wind til late P.M.  then north.  Talk with Parker about working at B.C. shed.  Can do nothing till get posts.  I take Parker over home.  It turns much cooler P.M. wind getting strong from N.  Get "same" ordered yes take mare to Nickles.  Think 4th time since settle.  Go bed 9.30

125 Years Ago

Friday, July 15, 1887      5.45 AM  Ther.  78.  99.  80.  Clear.  

W.S.G. does not feel "sprightly" and ate no breakfast.  Get bill of about 5000 ft. from city.  Maggie and Phebe went to Miss Fracklins Kindergarten  it being the last day.  Tue irons and gets all tired out.  Have lame jaw think from smoking.  Ten Cent  Circus in town today and tomorrow.  Same cumulus clouds today but not so much like rain as yesterday.  Brisk  W or SW wind all day but quiet at night.  All slept up stairs as it seems to be getting hotter down stairs.  Gobed 10.30 P.M.

July 13 and 14, 1912 and 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

100 Years Ago

Saturday, July 13, 1912,  5.30 AM.  Ther.  70.  94.  76. = 80

Partly cloudy.  S.W.2.  Mare was feeding on library lot when I got up.  She jumped pasture fence..  McNeel says will begin on furnace next Monday and finish it.  Saw J. Simons up town, says John and Halley will cut and haul my posts at 35 per.  I may go down there tomorrow weather favorable.  Today one of ht days, sultry.  Thundershower 4 PM (.10)  more at night (2.7) and very threatening from 7 P.M. to 10 P.M.  I took my horse to Nickles at night with some intention of visiting  ranch tomorrow.  It was too hot for self to move much.  Go bed. 9.30. 

Sunday, July 14,1912,   6 A.M.    Ther.  68.  92.  82.

Mostly Cloudy  SW.2  I had  intended to go to ranch today but weather too uncertain.  The wind NW early and cloudy, but it became hot quickly.  I drove  to E. part town for bread got R.H. paper and then drive to woods east looking for fungi.  There were many coming but too hot for me to move round in woods:  got a mess of Chanterelle but they prove full of worms.  some fellows down there picking raspberries in the woods.  I got home before noon and remain there the rest of the day.  Mort and Kate over P.M.  I drove down for ice late P.M.  Tue over to Mrs. Leroys at night.  I consult J H Marshall about Sexton Fence.  This perhaps hottest to date.  Most clear day after 10 A  Gobed 10.30 P.M.  Mare to Nickles.

125 Years Ago

Wednesday, July 13, 1887,  6 AM.  Ther.  75.  101.  79

Clear.    Got paper from Geneva notice of Frank Ansley's* marriage.   Gave W. Decker order to sell E. Easton 8 cords of wood on ground.  Tue undertakes to do the washing and gets pretty well used up.  I got the dinner and helped a little.  Ruth Davis over  most of afternoon playing the girls.  Baby not  very well and pretty cross.  This has been  the hottest day this summer.  Got letter from  Uri at Mattoon think can get a room there and advises me to do so.  Clear day wind southerly some cloudy P.M.  Pay Tom Hutton 2.00   an old a/c had forgotten.    Gobed 10 P.M.

*Cousin from Geneva, NY

Thursday, July 14, 1887,   Ther.  80.  103.  .79

Clear.  Ther. upstairs last night stood at 88 where 78 downstairs.  Fix up hose and water new strawberry bed.  Sort over papers at stove after dinner.  Alarm of fire about 4 P.M.  Clayton Stables.  Clear  AM some clouds PM.  Bim in town toward night.  H.G. says they will want posts to put round the square pretty soon.  Too hot for  any kind of work and terribly dry.  Go bed 10 P.M.  tue and children selpt down stairs.

It is July 7 and 8, 1912 and1887 in Charleston, IL.

100 Years Ago

Sunday, July 7, 1912  6 AM.  Ther.  72.  86.  74. = 77 1/3

Cloudy S.2.  Tue felt badly all night - Thought she had fever.  I try to get breakfast which eat about 8 AM.  After getting R.H. I drove SW of town far as Old Slab S.H. neighborhood out on round by  by Brown Chapel.  Did not see fungi enough for a mess even of poison kinds.  I got home about 1 P.M.  Common roads very rough, gravel first rate.  I drove north to town line late P.M.  There has been some wheat cut the past week.  Corn looks well but some of it very weedy.  Much cloudy today moderate S.E or S. wind.  Tue felt better and went to church at night.  gobed 10 P.

Monday, July 8, 1912  6 A.M.  Ther.  70.  90.  76. = 78 2/3

Part cloudy, S.1.  There was heavy thunder here in night but no rain.  Mc Neal looks at furnace and will have to separate sections in order to stop leaking.  Tue and Phebe ironing A.M.  Got letter from Muggs.  She thinks will be home last of month.  It thundered around much of the day a light shower here betwen 2 and 3 P.M. (.14 in)  I drove E to timber late P.M.  Many fungi starting.  Got one Sargi rebesaus which fail to have for supper.  More rain elsewhere than here.  Dirt roads muddy in places.  Tue at Groves night.  Much cloudy.  Light to fresh southerly winds.  Go bed 9.30

125 Years Ago

Thursday, July 7, 1887  7 A.M.  Ther.  77.  92..75.

Cloudy but clears away.    Uncle John is threshing.  Bert says he is going to Cal. soon.  Uncle J. has settled with him.  Borrow buggy and drive mare round town a while, first time since she ran away June 24.  Didn't like her steps so drove out to Uncle Johns and got Bert's mare leaving mine.  Don't know that she will suit me any better.  Thunder showers in all directions from 11 A.M. till 3 P.M.  but no rain here. Gave bill for lumber to  H.G.  Total after deducting culls  25,643 amounting $384.64.  Tue sick in afternoon thinks from eating something.  there is some talk that license will be granted tonight, but it is not likely to be.   Gobed  9.30 P.M. 

Friday, July 8, 1887   6.30 A.M.  Ther 75.  92.  76.

Clear.  Comer and gang up early all going to Mattoon to Circus.  Pay him $50.00 on lumber bill.  Pay up J.B.Hill $29.04 besides credit of 10.50 for wood in Apl.  Tue about sick all night and this morning, but better P.M.  Get pans made at Millers Cr. 30c.  Sprinkle rain P.M. showers  around.  Very sultry, wind variable getting very dry.  Must have rain soon or no crops.  Go bed  10 P.M.

Charleston, Illinois June 27, 1912 and 1887

100 Years Ago

Thursday, June 27, 1912, 5.30 AM.  Ther.  62.  90.  72. = 74 2/3

Part cloudy, N.E. 1.  Rhoda washes A.M.    This the warmest day to date the season.  Part cloudy, cloudy and threatening about 4 P.M. with what appeared to be  a thunder storm with rain a few miles W. and N.W. but did not rain any here.  Clears off before night. I kept pretty still all day.  Tue and Phebe up to hear band at night leaving me alone.  Gobed 9.30

125 Years Ago

Monday, June 27, 1887  6.30 A.M.  Ther.  67.  88.  66.

 Clear.  Jo Liston takes old buggy to repair.  Pay Winters express charges on two boxes of beer reed week or two ago.  Seph MClasky and I went down to mill after my buggy getting home about 3 P.M.  Got a lot of butternuts on road home.  Mrs. Lainel  washes.  Tue not very well AM baby not well P.M.  Wrote letters to Mary Sayre last night.  Kate Davis over while at night also Kate Myers and Mrs. Feagan.  Clear day, strong  east wind.  Awful dusty and dry.  Go bed, 10 P.M.  pay Seph for trip 1.00

May 31, 1912 and 1887 in Charleston, Illinois

100 Years Ago

Friday,  May 31,1912.  6 AM.  Ther. 50.82.64. =65 1/3

Clear, S.E.1. light fog early.  Get letter from Andy Moore to come over and look over line fence where he wants to put flood gate.  I let him do it his own way and I pay half.  Drove over to Sexton corner where Paul  and Curtis were hunting crows in the corner locust.  The are breaking  26 A for B.C. will finish in a day or two.  They had just done planting.  Cliff had just gone home, I didn't see him.Went round by BC shed and south to Loxa.  Cliff's corn where up looks pretty well- good stand.  Clover meadows only fair.  Return South road getting home 6.30.  Didn't get tired as usual.  S road very rough generally dry Mostly clear day S.3.  Tue and Phebe town at night.  Not many people on road today.  Gobed 9 P.M.

The Weather for May 1912

Mean temp 67.7 Max. 88 on 23d.  Min 38 on 13th light frost 13th only one.  Precipitation, 3.12in on twelve days. .96 on 5th .40 on 10th .45 on 11th .50 on 15th and 16th.67 on28th other days light or trace.  Clouds 34%. Thunder 5th, 10th, 11th, 24th 26th and 28th.  The winds for May were N 4 3/5, NE2, E 2/3, SE 4 2/3, S 11 1/3, SW 4 1/3, W 1 1/3 and NW 2 days.  The roads are dry but rough.  Oats generally looking well also meadows.  There is still much water in ground.  Corn 7(?) at Loxa Butter 25 to 35.  Eggs 15.  The biggest corn have seen say  in.  Half the corn is 6(?).

125 Years Ago

Tuesday, May 31, 1887    6.30 A.M.  Ther. 59.70.55.

Cloudy damp day occasional light rain.  Bad weather for the worms which which don't seem to be doing very well.  Tue not very well satisfied with Delia and they have a few words.  Got paper and begin to paper hall, but get only half done.  Snider** brings butter and lard and take home jug.  Went up to Anderson's before supper after osage.  Father* went with me.  Go bed 9.30 PM  Got sack  flour at Hills 1.30 cr.

*William Sayre Gramesly, Charles' father.

**John Henry Snider