Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1893

Cloudy Ther. 18° Tues. Jan. 24th, 1893 S.E. Wind

Cloudy & warmer. John W Johnson & Phil & Frank Robison worked all day at filling ice house with snow, using my horse "Frank" to Henderson's cart. Remus Awkard came in time for dinner & worked until night helping them. I borrowed Mr Oldfield's mare & drove in sleigh over to Edwin Davis' bringing Remus Awkard home with me. After noon I walked to Ashton and up to the store. After supper Dora & Edwd went to Lyceum to a lecture from Prof. Gilman of John Hopkins University. Got bag of Horse feed from the mill. "Phil" bringing it. Edwin L Gilpin was here after advice & medicine again, after dark.

Clear Ther. 29° Wed. Jan. 25^th, 1893 Wind

(38 cart loads of snow in ice house) JW Johnson & Remus Awkard came to breakfast & with help of "Phil," Hilles & Fank Robison, finished filling the ice house with packed snow before 11.o'clock a.m. having put 38 cart loads into the house, all of which is packed & rammed well. I then rode over to see Edwin Davis again on horseback & home to dinner. W^m Powell was here and I gave him a certificate in regard to his daughter Margt's condition to enable him to get her into a Hospital in Washington. After dark "Gus" Hopkins (son of Henson Emcline) was here to consult me for himself.

Clear Ther. Thurs. Jan 26^th, 1893 S.E. Wind

I felt quite unwell today having taken some cold & suffer from rheumatic pains in my shoulders & hips. Eleanora Bell washed for H. Afternoon Luther Muncaster came & spent most of the afternoon here. I went up to the store & shops & to the Mill.

Clear & Cloudy Ther. 35 Fri. Jan 27, 1893 SE & NE Wind

The ground was barely frozen this morning & was soon "slopped on top" but still solid underneath. I drove over to see Edwin Davis again "Phil" going with me. I stopped at Saml Budds shop & had "Franks" front shoes sharpened as I went over. After tea Edwd; went to Jno Bentley's to spend the evening.

Cloudy Ther. 30 Sat. Jan 28^th, 1893 NE Wind

Foggy & cloudy. "Lizzie" Franklin was here for advice & medicine for her daughter. Remus Hill Sr: sent his grandson ("Clarence") for me to examine for "hernia" & advise as to sending him to have an operation, performed for a "radical cure" This has been a disagreeable day raw & chilly. I walked to the store & mill.

Cloudy Ther. 32 Sun. Jan. 29, 1893 Variable wind

It rained several times during last night & was very threatning all day until towards evening when it partially cleared off. After dinner Dora & Edward walked to Brighton church. Mary Gilpin called. I started to go after them in the Surry but finding "John Shipley" on the road between here & Ashton sent him on with the carriage & I walked home. They came home in time for supper. This has been an extremely dull disagreeable day. I walked up to Henderson's for the papers.

Cloudy Ther. 31° Mon. Jan. 30^th, 1893 S.E. Wind

Clear early this morning but clouded over towards noon and continued so the rest of the day. Miss Ida Dove called to see me after school closed about the "Farmer's Convention" having the use of the schoolhouse for their "banquet" at their annual meeting which takes place tomorrow. I am afraid they will have disagreeable weather from present appearances. I walked up to othe shops to have a pair of large knitting needles made for H. suitable for knitting rugs &c. This is extremely disagreeable weather: raw a& chilly; freezing at night & thawing during the day, making traveling sloppy & disagreeable.

Clear Ther. 30° Tues. Jan. 31^st, 1893 Variable Wind

It was an agreeable surprise to find it cear this morning. I went to the "Farmer's Convention" at the Lyceum & spent most of the day. I saw Philip T Stabler in regard to some business affairs. The Convention was quite largely attended. More persons being present than usual, many of them from a distance. Harriet has been suffering all day with a bad "headache" and went to bed before dark. I hope she will be "all right" after a night's rest.

Clear & Cloudy Ther. 31 Wed. Feb 1^st, 1893 S.E. Wind

Another dull disagreeable day. I was about home all day except walking up to the store, and to the mill. It is muddy & sloppy underfoot rendering walking unpleasant W^m Agustus or "Gus" Hopkins was here again to consult me after dark. he has "perecarditis".

Cloudy Ther. 40° Thurs. Feb. 2, 1893 SE Wind

Dull & cloudy all day: this is "Ground Hog day" and as the sun did not shine at all many superstitious people will say we will have no more winter weather of any account. Chas G Porter was here this morning & I had a long talk with him. Afternoon Mr Chester M Colt came for me to go & prescribe for his little son "Arnold"; he took me down & brought me back in his carriage. I walked down to Edwd Alcorns this morning before dinner & up to the store in afternoon.