Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1893

Cloud & Snow. E Wind Ther. 10° Wed. Jan 4^th, 1893

Very cold all day. I rode on horseback to Ashton & was with poor Mr Evans when he died at about 11.o'clk this morning. also rode over to see Ed: Davis and Emory Snowden's wife Bro: Richaland called afternoon it was too cold for him to be out driving in an open buggy. Dora went to the Insurance Office at 11.o'clk & helped the rest of the day. P T. Starbler called after dark for a certificate in order to transport the remains of M K Evans to Philadelphia via the B&O RR from Laurel

Cloudy & Snow Ther. 10° Thurs. Jan 5^th, 1893 E & N.E. Wind

Emory Snowden was here to report his wife's condition, she had twin daughters born yesterday afternoon. how she can get along is more than I know : the house or room in which she is sick (with "pleuro pneumonia" & child bed,) is as open & cold as a barn, with no means of heating it, except from the adjoining room, by leaving the door open. Bro Chas called & smoked a pipe with me. Susan Davis here for advice & medicine again. Dora was at the insurance office again all day, they finished this evening.

Clear Ther. 18° Sun, Jan 8^th, 1893 N.W. Wind

Alice Peirce drove over & she & Fanny & Dora walked to Mechanicsville to church Hannah Chandlee came at dinner time. Erory Snowden's wife was buried this afternoon and B Gilpin Stabler's remains were also interred at the Old Meeting House burying ground. He died in California near Yuba City on the 29^th of Dec. He requested that his remains should be brought here for burial in sight of the house in which he, (and his father before him) was born It was a large funeral. the face of the corpse was exposed to view in the Meeting house & looked quite natural & life like.

Cloudy & Snow Ther. 16° Mon. Jan 9, 1893 S.E. Wind

Cold & "raw." Was called to see M^m Oldfield's child, whom I fear has "Scarlatina." It commenced snowing after dinner and continued until bedtime. I went again to Oldfield's towards evening. Harvey Baswell called and brought me $5.00 on account of bill. Alcinda Hill was here to consult me.

Cloudy & Snow Ther. 12° Fri. Jan 6^th, 1893 NE & NW Wind

Still very cold & blustering & the snow drifting. Emory Snowden came after me & I started to go over on horseback and got as far as "Bloomfield" where I was informed that Emory's wife was dead, having died suddenly before he returned after coming for me. It is a very sad case indeed. Rachael Sprigg was here this afternoon for advice & medicine for herself. I am not feeling at all well myself, having taken cold again

Cloudy & Clear Ther. 20° Sat. Jan 7^th, 1893 Variable Wind

Looked like snow again this morning but cleared off towards evening. I walked up to ["Sharp St" to see Green Howard who sent me a small cart load of wheat straw. I also walked with "Phil"over to Benj Miller's ice pond & brought Edwd home with me he had gone there to skate, and I was afraid he would break through the ice and I knew the water was much deeper than he was aware of. Fanny Peirce came before supper, to spend the night.

Cloudy Ther. 11° Tues. Jan. 10, 1893 N.W. Wind

Cold & windy. I walked up to W. Oldfield's both morning & evening. The sleighing is quite good and several have passed today, but it was so cold & windy that the snow drifted badly, & many were afraid to venture out. It has been growing colder, all day & the thermometer stood at 5 degrees above zeo at sun set. "Phil" rode "Frank" over to see Jno. W. Johnson but did not find him. I want him to cut ice for us. This is the coldest night we have had for a long time. "Frank" Robinson & I walked up to the store for milk cans after dark.

Clear Ther. 3° Wed. Jan 11, 1893 N.W. Wind

Coldest mornng this winter, so far, & some wind blowing. Walked up to W. Oldfields & to the store & P.O. "Phil" & I went over to the ice pond to examine the conditions of the ice, & found we can get on it, if there is no more rain or snow before we can get at it, which we hope to do tomorrow. He & I made an "article" with which to push the snow off from the pond.

Snow & Clearing Ther. 16° Thurs. Jan. 12, 1893 Variable Wind

Snow six inches deep & still falling fast when we got up this morning. Edwin Davis sent his daughter "Jane" over for advice and medicine for himself early this morning. Mr. C Colt come for me to go to prescribe for his aunt at "Mrenwood": he left his Dayton here & hitched to my sleigh & took me over & back. Afternoon I walked up to W^m Oldfield's & the store & post office.

Clear & Cloudy Ther. 1° Fri. Jan. 13, 1893 N.W. & S.W. Wind

Very cold this morning and indeed all day. Mr. Colt came and took me in the sleigh over to Edwin Davis, we also called at Sharon Mr C having some business with Jas Stabler. Afternoon I went to W^m Oldfield's, & to the insurance office to prove my account against M K Evans estate. Allan Farquhar being a "Notary public." The boys next door went to Stabler's ice pond to see about our getting ice, but found the snow so deep on the ice they had to abandon it for the present. The sleighing is good where the track is sufficiently broken but badly drifted in many places.