Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1887

30^o Clear. Windy NW OCTOBER, MONDAY 31^st 1887.

Quite cold: ice about the pump, or well. Willie took "Fritz" & the "Banks mare" & Frank Snowdens wagon & harness & went to Elton for some corn. Dan Budd came to plow the lot & take up our potatoes etc. J Link (who lives at Robert Harding's was here for advice & med: for "chills". Andrew Johnson was also here. Willie got home about dusk with only a barrel of corn being all that was husked. I was much disappointed Dan Budd finished sowing the rye in our own lot. I wrote to Charley & enclosed in same envelope with one from his mother.

30. Clear. Windy. N.W. NOVEMBER, TUESDAY 1^st 1887.

Willie went to Bentleys & husked corn. Ellie Banks came & took their mare home. Andrew Johnson was here again to see me. Branson Cook brought his little girl to consult me about she having "swallowed a pin". Jno C Bentley brought us a small load of hay on the "ox cart" in the afternoon. Willie took up the carrots etc. It rained hard last night but cleared off this morning. the wind blowing from N.W. until after sundown when it subsided.

45^o Clear & Cloudy S.E. NOVEMBER, FRIDAY 4^th 1887.

I drove to Ashton before dinner. Girl from Jehu Bowen's came for advice for her sister & to pay me part of her bill. Martha A Wright called & paid me $3.00 afternoon. I mended the cellar door improved my "culvert crossing" at the front gate, raked off the leaves from the east side yard & cleaned out the drains. The boys from next door helped Edward carry away the leaves after I had raked them togather: It looks very threatning & stormy.

42 Clear. N.W. NOVEMBER, SATURDAY 5^th 1887.

I drove down to Ashton for groceries etc. Afternoon D^r Roger Brooke called and spent an hour or two with me. I drove down again to Ashton for coal oil & soap. I cleaned up my single harness, blacking them & cleaning the brasses. This has been a beautiful day, but this evening it looks as if we might have falling weather before morning. I hope Willie will get home without getting wet, as he is on horseback (at Elton) & took no overcoat with him. After dark I walked up to the Store for our mail and some postage stamps.

30 Clear. N.W. NOVEMBER, SUNDAY 6^th 1887.

I drove down to Edwd Thoma's place to prescribe for Jno: Cook who lives in the house where Owen Hardy used to. Bro: Richd called on way to meeting. After dinner I drove to Moses Young's on Ed. Henderson's place to meet D^r Roger Brooke in consultation in the case of his wife Amanda Young. Edwd went with me. Willie came home from Elton about dusk having been there since friday afternoon.

35. Clear & Cloudy. Variable NOVEMBER, MONDAY 7^th 1887.

I drove to Ashton both before & after dinner, also to Sandy Spring store. wrote to Dora enclosing money order. Went in next door to see Miss Mary Fowler. Received a note from Beulah Thomas enclosing something for "Bessie" Mrs G Matt Beal called and paid me $4.00 on account of their bill. Willie husked corn all forenoon but could not work longer having a very sore thumb. Wrote Charley enclosing him $1.00.

46^o. Cloudy & Clearing. S.E. NOVEMBER, TUESDAY 8^th 1887.

"Election day". I drove to Mechanicsville & voted. Willie husked corn all the morning. Charley came home in the stage to vote and after dinner he took Willie and drove his mare up to Mechanicsville and came home about 3.o'clock he cut Edward's mine & Willie's hair. I drove "Fritz" to the spring wagon to Ashton & got some plaster mortar to patch up the kitchen. I also bought another well bucket & sundries. Willie went over to Mose. Young's "about dark", and brought home 1/2 dozen chickens. He took "Phil" Robison with him and did not get home until after dark some time. We had some music in the evening.

32^o Cloudy. S.E. NOVEMBER, WEDNESDAY 9^th 1887

Charley left again for Balto: Willie driving him to Laurel in the buggy with the little mare. Afternoon I drove over to Riverside to see Bro: Joseph, & home to supper. Willie husked corn all the afternoon. After dark Willie & I walked up to the Store (Sandy Spring) and I bought a pair of shoes for myself, & some quinnine pills, Yeast powder lamp chimney etc.

40 Cloudy & Rainy S.E. NOVEMBER, THURSDAY 10^th 1887.

Willie commenced husking corn again but the rain drove him in before 9.o'clk & he went to school the rest of the day. I drove over to Robt Blairs with shoes to be mended . before dinner Jas Grady came after 3.o'clk p.m. and plastered up the broken places in the kitchen, he was obliged to go to Ashton for more mortar. Received a letter from Dora & a telegram from Charley. I wrote to the latter & walked up to the P.O. after dark & mailed the letter. It rained nearly all day, but cleared off with a strong N.W. wind about sun down. Jehu Bowers daughter Mary (who lives at Wm S Bond's was here for advice & medicine.

40 Cloudy & Clearing N.W. NOVEMBER, FRIDAY 11^th 1887.

Willie husked corn all day until near sundown when he went with me to R Roland Moore's & home after dark. cold & high wind. I swept the kitchen chimney from the top & helped Harriet get the stove out into its winter place. I also fixed a new "sill to the kitchen door to exclude the wind.