Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1887

47^o Clear & Windy N.W. OCTOBER, FRIDAY 21^st 1887.

Cleared off during last night & the wind blew strong from N.W. all day today. Willie went to husk corn in the forenoon & after dinner rode the mare up to Isaac Hartshorne's to see about hay, but could find "no one home" Chas: Howard (works for Johnny: Thomas) was here for advice & medicine for himself ("rheumatism") Willie went down & got a little hay from Jno C Bentley (in a rope) & Jno: promised to send us some tomorrow in "ox cart". J Fletcher Clark was here for advice & medicine for himself.

32 Clear. NW OCTOBER, SATURDAY 22^d 1887.

Quite a heavy frost this morning. Willie took the spring wagon & "Fritz" & brought up a little load of hay [...]. "wagon & all". After dining he rode the mare up to Mechanicsville Church to the wedding of Walter Lea and Lucy Snowden who were married at 2-30 p.m. many persons being present. I drove to Jehu Bowen's & Ashton Edwd going with me. Kate Stabler called also Bro C & Lizzie on way home from the wedding. Edwd & the little boys from next door with my help "hulled" oat hickory nuts he had gathered, he has about 3 bushels. Willie went from Mechanicsville to Elton to spend the night. Hillias & Frank Robison came in after tea to play "jack straws" with Edwd:

33^o Clear. Windy N.W. OCTOBER, SUNDAY 23^d 1887.

Another cool morning wind rising with the sun, & continuing throughout the day. R. Roland Moore & wife were here with their infant son for advice etc. for him. Willie came home ot dinner, having come from Elton to Mechanicsville Church & thence home. Mrs Robison came in about dinner time to see H about some household matter.

47^o Cloudy S E & N.E. OCTOBER, MONDAY 24^th 1887.

The wind blew very strong from the S.W. & S E all last night but changed to N.E. before noon today & continued in that quarter up to bed time tonight. Willie husked corn all day. I drove over to Danl Budd's taking Edward and Frank Robison to Leizear's gate wher I left them to go in & get the butter, and I took them up again on my return & brought them home with me. Recd letter from Charley & H one from "Nelly" written from "Cranberry Hotel" on summit of Roan Mountain. I took up the Savoy or "curley" cabbage Mrs Fussell & her mother (from N York) arrived next door about dark from Laurel.

55 Cloudy & Rain N.E. OCTOBER, TUESDAY 25^th 1887.

Cloudy & threatning early this morning. Danl Budd brought his horse & wagon & finished plowing the lot next door. making rather more than 1/2 days work for himself & horse. Willie commenced husking corn in M L Robert's field but Edwd went for him when Budd came & he came home & helped the rest of the day: it commenced raining before we quite finished the lot next door, but we kept on until it was done. We got about a bushel of potatoes for our share, having used most of our part earlier in the season. It rained all the afternoon, not hard but quite steadily and is cold. almost freezing. H recd a letter from Dora. Edwd mashed one of his fingers quite badly

46. Cloudy. N.E. OCTOBER, WEDNESDAY 26^th 1887.

I slept badly last night and it being a disagreeable day I slept most of the fornoon after getting up to breakfast. Willie husked corn all day, notwithstanding it was drizzling most of the time. After noon I drove to Ashton to see "Bulwar" about getting some plaster to plaster the broken places in the kitchen but he was not at home. I drove down a second time for coal oil etc. Today is election day in Baltimore a "Mayor" to elected. I hope the "ring" candidate will be defeated, but fear the ballot box fixers will "ring" him in.

42 Cloudy & Drizzle N.E. OCTOBER, THURSDAY 27^th 1887.

A very dull disagreeable day. Willie husked corn until about 2-o.m. when it became too wet. Alfred Warfield was here for advice & medicine for himself ("rheumatism")

42 Cloudy. N.E. OCTOBER, FRIDAY 28^th 1887.

Still another extremely dull, gloomy, damp, chilly day. Willie husked corn all day having husked 16 shocks supposed to turn out 1/2 barrel to each or 8. barrels of corn. It has been an unusually dull day in every way. I did not go from home and no one was here to see me

47o Cloudy & Clearing Variable OCTOBER, SATURDAY 29th 1887.

We had quite a fright at 3.o'clock this a.m.by the chimey taking fire from the stove in our room, but it soon burned out, and we went to sleep again. I drove to Ashton & had new shoes put on "Fritz's" front feet. & drove on to the "bone mill" taking Edwd: with me, as I returned Kate Stabler called me in & paid my bill ($2.50) At tea time Geo M Bell came for me & I went down (after dark) to see his little girl "Bessie" who has sustained serious injury to her left shoulder joint, after my return I went in next door to call upon Mr. & Mrs Fussell. Willie went over to Riverside this morning to "go gunning" but came home to dinner.

43^o Clearing. N.W. OCTOBER, SUNDAY 30^th 1887.

Clearing & cooler weather wind blowing from N.W. Afternoon Willie went to Dan Bank's & got his horse & to Frank Snowden & got his wagon, to go tomorrow morning to Elton to get us some corn for the horses. After tea Mr Mordecai Fussell came in and spent the evening with me. I find him a very pleasant gentleman. Jno W Johnson was here again to see me about his pension papers. "Ellie Banks brought the horse down & left it.