Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1887

40 Cloudy Variable APRIL, SATURDAY 16th. 1887.

Quite a heavy thunder gust last night and it is much cooler this morning I still feel weak & miserable very sore. I have " taken cold" from leaving off under clothing too suddenly. I got up & drove down to Ashton before dinner Charley drove away in the buggy to try to sell agricultural implements &c for F. L. Moore. Willie went to Ashton to help Nelly fix her things in the house she has rented from C.S. Porter. Dora also went with them after dinner they came home about dark Kate Stabler having sent them over a lunch supperWillie went to the store after dark for a lamp chimney &c..

47. Cloudy. Varible APRIL, SUNDAY 17th. 1887

Slept rather better last night, but still feel weak and "sore" all over. Charley came home about 11.o'clk a.m. from Elton, where he staid last night. After dinner he took Dora & Nelly & little Bessie over to Riverside in the carriage & home to supper Lavinia Awkard was here for advice & medicine for her daughter Sarah. John Mitchell here after dark for advice & medicine for his father.

50 Rain Rain E April, Monday 18th. 1887.

Boy here with a note from Hettie Stabler's , Jno. E Hill here to see about his bill. Rained nearly all through last night & continued today Jno Edwd Hill was here & paid his bill. I drove down to Ashton in the rain taking Dora Nelly & Willie with me Charley walked down, and they all worked at fixing up Nell'ys house hold "Wesley" Johnson was here for advice & medicine. W came & got the carriage & brought the folks home to dinner.

35° Clearing .W. April, Tuesday 19th. 1887.

Quite cool with the wind N.W. & trying to clear off with a "gale" I walked up to the mill to speak to Zaddog Magruder who was there with a load of wheat, Miss Carrie "Cooney", (Nelly's friend) came in the stage from Laurel to Ashton. Afternoon Charley & I drove down to A. Mitchell's. I drove up to "Marden" before going to Mitchell's. Ernest & Minnie came about 5 p.m. & took tea with us. Charley took Harry Lea's "old clock" over to Danl Budd's after dark for him to take to Balto: tomorrow. & ship by "Merchant's & Miner's Steam Ship Co:" to Boston. Charley, & Ernest, and Minnie left here at 9.30 p.m. in my carriage with E's horses for "Elton". expecting to go tomorrow to Washington "for fish". Charley extracted a tooth for John W Johnson Sr:

35 Clear N.W. April, Wenesday 20th.1887.

Frost this morning but no ice, I drove over to R Roland Moore's & prescribed for his wife. Willie going with me Afternoon a load of agricultural machinery from F. L. Moore came for C Willie helped to unload it at the "machine shed". I walked up to the mill, E going with me. Emma Roddy was here to have tooth extracted. Mrs Robison took tea with us.

39. Cloudy. S.E. April, Thursday 21st. 1887.

After Breakfast I drove down to Mitchell's M going with me. Afternoon Matilda Banks called & paid me $5.00. Afternoon I walked over to Arthur Stabler's to a "horse sale" and afterwards drove to Ashton for groceries &c. Ernest Budd was here & paid $1.00 for his fathers account. After supper Willie took his sister to "Thos L Moore's to a "Sociable" driving "Fritz" to the buggy.

50 Cloudy- E April, Friday 22nd." 1887.

Cooler weather again & feels like rain Willie went to Ashton & put up curtains for Kate Stabler. Elvira Hill came at dinner time for medicine & treatment for sore throat. she paid for the pills (2 bottles "Green Iodide of Mercury") & promised to pay for the advice & medicine got today "shortly" commenced drizzling rain about 1- p.m. Charley and Ernest came with fish from Washington about 4.p.m. Annie Rounds brought her daughter again for advice & medicine. Luther Muncaster came to spend a day or two with Willie.

34. Cloudy & Variable April, Saturday 23d. 1887.

Charley & Willie & Luther Muncaster worked at putting up a "binder" in the shed everything is wet & muddy. Afternoon it rained all the afternoon & thunder gust in the evening which lasted until after bed time and indeed all night.

45. Clearing. N.W. April, Sunday 24th. 1887.

I drove down to Albin Mitchell's (Charley with me) and incised abcess in the left groin. Willie & Luther Muncaster started out for a bicycle ride & "came to grief" running into Sarah Miller's carriage, and came home again & went to meeting. Afternoon Charley & Dora took a horse back ride down to Canby's & back J Wesley Johnson called and paid me $2.00, on account, of his bill. After supper Robinson from Washington came in & spent part of the evening.

53. Clear & Cloudy. S.E. April, Monday 25th. 1887.

I slept none last night Edwd's cough being troublesome. I burned the feumigator all night. Bank's boy was here early, also Mrs: Sally Leizear before breakfast. Richd Retzer came & dined with us. also Luther Muncaster. Afternoon Charley & Willie went in "Spring wagon to Masseys and brought home 200 lbs "poor hay" from Jno Lucas. P. T Stabler's team brought me 2 cords of pine wood. It commenced raining soon after dinner & continues up to bed time.