Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1892

Clear 23o TUES. FEB. 16th, 1892 Wind N.W.

Clear & cold. I feel miserable this morning, pain and soreness in chest & throat & headache. I did not rise with the family but had breakfast at 10 o'clock. Willie and I drove down to C.G.Porter's and I corrected an error in the payment of rent to the 1st of this month (in full) etc. having paid 2.00(two dollars) too much. Afternoon John "Shipley" Johnson was here for advice & medicine for a "cough"etc. Willie gave "Fritz" a little exercise, and towards evening drove "Frank" over to Riverside "for some milk". I am feeling very much "under the weather", & hardly able to "keep up".

Clear Ther.16^o WEDNESDAY 17^th Wind N.W.

Willie & the boys from next door cut ice on "Stabler's" pond all the forenoon & afternoon. Willie drove to " Glenwood" to bring Charley's mare "Belle" home to use with "Frank" in hauling ice. I went with him as far as Ashton and walked home. "Martha Platt"was here for medicine for "Rosa Awkard".

Clear NW Ther.16^o THURS . FEB. 18^th, 1892 Wind N.W.

Willie came home from "Glenwood" at 1. o'clk this a.m. bringing the "Belle" mare with him. he was almost chilled through with the cold. "Gus" Hopkins and "Will" Hill ([of Jno Ed:) came to get ice in time for breakfast: they with Willie commenced cutting after breakfast. D^r. W. E. Magruder called & borrowed the 5th & 6th volumes of "International Surgery". his daughter (Miss Emma) also called to see Dora on "Lodge Business". & soon after Hallie Lea came to spend the day. Miss Mary Magruder also came: she and her sister left before dinner. Afternoon cousin Hannah Chandlee called. W hauled 7 loads from Stablers 7 & 2 from Bentley's pond.

Cloudy Ther. 33^o Friday 19^th Wind S.E.

I feel extremely stiff & miserable this morning. Willie and the boys hauled all the ice there was from Bentley's pond, and after they finished, W went with me down to the Bone Mill to prescribe for Jas W Johnson's child, calling at Frank Snowden's on way home in time for dinner. Alice & Jimmy Peirce came to dinner. Afternoon Willie and Frank R went over to "Grove Hill" & brought home a load of corn fodder to cover the ice house. Brother Charley came after me to go & prescribe for Bro: Richard. I went with him to Riverside & he brought me home again, as he was obliged to come for some medicine both from here & Ashton besides to take Jessee Stabler home with him. Fanny Peirce staid here to spend the night.

Cloudy Ther. 40^o Sat. Feb. 20^th, 1892 S.E. Wind

After breakfast I drove over to see Bro: Richard again & found him much better. Edwd: went with me. Afternoon I walked to Ashton & rode home with Willie who had driven "Belle" to the road cart over to "Spring Dale" for milk. This has been a very dull disagreeable day, not raining but cloudy & clise.

Rain & Cloudy Ther. 40 Sunday 21st Wind S.E.

Chas: Hill (of Remus) called me up at two o'clock this a.m. for advice & medicine for his wife & medicine for himself & also for Perry Thomas, who wants me to come & see him. Alice Peirce came for Fanny & was here to dinner - when the went home Willie went to Spring Dale for milk. Clifford Waters called towards evening for a paper he had left here. I walked up to Henderson's for the Saturdays papers. This has been a real rainy Sunday.

Cloudy & Clearing Ther. 40^o MON. FEB. 22^d, 1892 Wind N.W.

I slept better last night than for some time past but feel very sore & rheumatic this morning. Lydia Franklin & her husband were here for advice & medicine for the former. I drove down to Ashton to see Mr: M.K. Evans. Willie with me. Afternoon Willie left home at 2 o'clock for" Lincoln" Loudoan Co: Va: on horse back, riding the white mare "Belle" taking her over to Charley. She has been at Mr Albert Mathews ever since Charley went to Virginia. Chas: Hill (of Remus) was here to see me again about his wife.

Clear Ther 30^o Tuesday 23^d Wind N.E.

Clear & beautiful today. I am glad on Willie's account that the weather has been good and hope he reached Lincoln today about noon. After dinner I drove over to prescribe for Chas Hill's wife. Recd & answered letter from F Tyson who expects to be with us on Saturday next. Thos: Marlow called to see me about more medicine for his wife.

Cloudy Ther. 30^o WED. FEB. 24^th, 1892 S. E. Wind

Dull cloudy weather all day I felt miserable with rheumatic pains in my shoulders and soreness in my chest and throat. Martha Tyson called at the office to see me. I walked up to the store and shops The weather is extremely depressing.

Cloudy and Rain Ther. 40 THURSDAY 25t^h S.E. Winds

Still another dull day disagreeable day. Luther Muncaster brought Willie home before dinner. W having come to Rockville yesterday evening in the cars from Lincoln Va: via Washington and walked over to Muncaster's. Geo: Wilson called after dinner, also Mrs. Grace Fraquhar to see Dora and Willie. Alf. Bell's boy was here again to have his hand re-dressed Thos Marlow called for medicine for his wife. I recd another letter from F. Tyson.

Cloudy and Rain Ther 42^o FRI. FEB. 26^th, 1892 Variable Wind

Cloudy and drizzling again today. I walked up to the insurance office and proved my accound against Nicholas Boswell's Estate with Allan Farquhar (Notary Public). Willie drove "Fritz" to Cincinnatti to Chas Hills and got 1 bushel of potatoes. Afternoon he drove "Frank" to Thos Lee Sr's and to Brighton. I walked to the store and shops and to the mill.

Cloudy Ther. 40 SATURDAY 27th Wind

Willie went to Thos Lea's after early breakfast to help him driving "Fritz"; home to dinner. Bought beef, veal and pork from C Gartrell. Afterwards Frederic Tyson arrived in the stage about 4 o'clock We sat up until after mid midnight talking over old times and old acquaintances.

Cloudy Ther. 20^o SUN. FEB. 28, 1892 N E Wind

Much colder weather: after breakfast Willie drove F. Tyson up to Marden and left him there. Afternoon W went to church at Brighton. F. Tyson walked from Marden in time for supper We sat up again until quite late. It commenced snowing & sleeting before dark and continued up to midnight when we retired & the wind blowing strong from N. E. & cold.

Rain Rain Ther 38^o MONDAY 29 N. E.Wind

Rained incessantly all day and was exceedingly disagreeable. I walked up to the store for a pair of gum overshoes for F. Tyson, who afterwards also walked to the store which was the only time either he or I were out of doors. This long continued inclement and cloudy weather is very depressing and detrimental to health and spirits. I am not at all well. Rheumatic and dyspeptic but I am enjoying the companionship of my old friend Frederic Tyson exceedingly.

Cloudy, Rain & Snow Ther. 34^o TUES. MAR. 1^st 1892 Wind

My old friend Frederic Tyson left us this morning in the early stage for Baltimore via Laurel. I drove down to B Owen Hardys (Willie with me) after breakfast and again towards evening and home just at dark, having left Mrs. Hardy another boy baby born at about 4 -30 p.m. I walked up to the store after dinner & bought a new lantern Mille drove "Fritz" over to R Roland Moore Jr's "sale" after dinner. It snowed & hailed at intervals all day and set-in regularly at dark for a snow storm. Glad and thankful am I that Mrs Hardy's confinement did not call me out tonight. I reached home just at night fall.

Snowy & Cloudy Ther. 21^o WEDNESDAY 2^nd N.W. Wind

It ceased snowing about midnight last & commenced again at about sunrise and continued threating & disagreeable all day. Afternoon Mrs. Martha Tyson was here for advice & medicine. Afternoon Wille drove down to Ashton for coal oil &c. Walter Scott came after ten and spent the evening with us. He played the violin with Edward accompanying him on the melodeon and Will playing "second" violin. We enjoyed the music very much.

Clear Ther 20^o , Thursday March 3^d Wind NW

Clean bright sunshine once more this morning. I was sent for & drove down to see Jno R Symonds at A Bulwar's. and down to see Mrs B Owen Hardy again. Willie helped at the mill all afternoon and part of this morning. Martha Tyson called again at the office. I filed the wood saw. After tea, Willie drove over to Riverside to spend the evening.

Cloudy Ther 35^o Friday 4^th Wind Variable

I drove to "Marden" to prescribe for Roland Moore's infant daughter. & down to Ashton to see John Symonds again. Afternoon Fanny Peirce came to spend the night. Willie drove over to Mahlon Kirk's to see about wood again . I was called & walked to Jno Lethbridge's to prescribe for his wife. After supper Willie took Dora and Fanny Peirce to the "Good Templar's Lodge" at Olney. Clifford Waters brought a pair of "clippers", and, Willie "clipped" both "Frank's" & the poneys legs & fetlocks. I washed the phaeton. The roads are extremely muddy every where.

Cloudy and Rain Ther 38^o SAT. MAR 5^th, 1892 Wind Variable

Another dull rainy day. Fanny Peirce remained here "storm staid". I drove down to Ashton to see John Symonds again but he had gone to his uncle Matthew's, which was very imprudent in such weather. I walked up to the store to mail some letters. Afternoon Ruth Anna Bowen was here to see me.

Clear Ther 30^o Sunday 6^th Wind N.W.

The ground was slightly frozen early this morning but soon thawed and was very muddy. I started to go to Marden after breakfast but turned back. Alice Peirce walked over & she, Dora, Fanny, & Willie went to church at Mechanicsville. I walked to Ashton to see all K. Evan's at Ent's. Remus Johnson was here for advice & med. Afternoon I drove to Marden to see Lizzie Canby. After supper W called Frank away somewhere. Alice and Fanny Peirce went home after dinner. __ Collie was here for advice and &c for his wife after I had gone to bed.