Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1894

Cloudy - Ther. 73 Monday, July 2,_d 1894. E. Wind.

After breakfast I drove over to Brighton to E. Peirces & brought Dora home, it commenced raining gently about 1. o'clk p.m. and we hoped it would continue long enough to give the ground a much needed soaking, but it only lasted long enough to lay the dust. Fletcher Clark's daughter was here for advice & medicine for her poisoned face & lips. Towards evening Robert Blair came in & cut my hair for me. I went to the P.O. After the mail came in but there was no letter for us from Lincoln or Purcellville.

Clear - Ther. 72 Tuesday, 3,^d S.W. Wind.

Still quite hot & dry. Hilles & Frank Robison went through our early corn with the cultivator. Ernest Iddings called to see us. Old Chas. Hammond was here with a "sprained" elbow, and I bandaged it for him. After supper Saml Bond Jr: was here to consult me professionally.

Clear - Ther. 72 Wednesday, July 4, ^th 1894. N.W. & S Wind.

After breakfast I took H & Dora in the Surry up to Brighton to call upon Edwd Peirce's family, home to dinner. I do not feel well, being threatened with "cholera morbus". Kept as quiet as possible all afternoon. Sent advice & medicine (by mail) to Mrs R Roland Moore Jr. for her little daughter "Dassah" After supper Tilghman Mitchel's daughter & John Waters daughter came to have a tooth "doctored" for the latter. She would not have it extracted.

Clear - Ther. 72° Thursday 5,^th N.W. & S Wind.

Clear & dry - I drove to Riverside Phil" going with me as far as Duck's - Bro: C & wife called. Mr R. V. Hall, agent for the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co: was here to see me. I am still feeling somewhat "under the weather" & cannot endure much exertion, "giving out" very easily, especially in the sun.

Clear Ther. 73 Friday, July 6^th, 1894 Wind.

It "Sprinkled" a little last night but not enough to do any good. "Phil" left here at 6-10 this a.m. for Silver Spring. to meet Edwd who came up from Lincoln by rail to Washington. I drove Henderson's horse & buggy down to Mrs Jos Harding's to examine her for insurance in the Penn Mutual Co in Philad^a. Frank Robison went with me. Edwd & Phil arrived at 1-25 p.m. "all right." Had light thunder shower barely laid the dust. I walked up to the store. Sister Harriet arrived in the evening stage, leaving Philad^a this morning.

Clear Ther. 60° Saturday 7^th N.W. Wind

Considerably cooler & a strong breeze from N.W. blowing all day. I drove down to Mrs J. G. Hardings again, E going with me I finished her insurance papers & mailed them. Old Wilson Lincoln was here to see me about his pension claim. I filled out a paper for him & took it to Ashton & proved it before Justice of Peace Colt. After supper Bro C & Sister Lizzie called.

Clear. Ther. 58° Sunday. July 8^th 1894 N.W. Wind

Quite cool last night & this morning There must have been a "hail storm" that passed near us within the past 48 hours. A "protracted meeting" or camp meeting meeting without the camp commenced last night at "Sharp Street". Edwd & I went to meeting some New York friend Mc Donald preached: he came with Sarah Stone. Sarah Stabler spent the meeting hour with Sister Harriet. Afternoon E drove Sister H & Dora to Riverside & Eldon to call. I went to Henderson's for the papers. Herbert Awkard was here to have a tooth extracted. I had a head ache all day.

Clear Ther. Monday 9^th N.E. Wind.

I employed, Edwd Easton to rake over Henderson's hay patch & helped him myself. Edwd brought Fletcher Clark's wagon & we hauled it in, it made a good load of excellent hay. Afternoon I mailed postal card to R.W. Hall. Lizzie Scott called to see Dora, after supper. Miss Julia Hallowell & Eva Stabler called to see Sister Harriet & Edwd rode up to D^r Magruders on horseback to play "Lawn tennis".

Clear Ther. 67^o Tuesday. July 10^th, 1894 NE &S.E. Wind

Cool nights and a fine breeze all during the day seems to be the rule. Chas E. Bond was here to consult me. Fletcher Clark's little girl was also here with "tooth ache"; John Johnson also called. Cousin Annie Chandlee called to see me about her sister Hannah who is suffering with her eyes again. I encouraged them to take her to consult a specialist in Washington & they expect to do so at once. Afternoon Edwd & Hilles & Frank Robison went to Riverside for raspberries & to take a bath. Fanny Peirce took supper with us. Mrs & Miss Ellicott called after supper. Mrs Robison was in for advice for "Phil" who is suffering with "boils".

Clear. Ther. 60^o. Wednesday 11^th, SE. Wind

Was sent for & drove over to Jno: Howard's to prescribe for an infant of Sarah Rebecca Dents', and also lanced an abcess for an infant of Hettie or Henrietta Dents' . I drove on to Plainfield to see "Madgie" Moore & her children. Went over next door to see "Phil" again. After supper Mary Gilpin called and also Mary W Kirk & daughter to see sister Harriet. Miss Mary Fowler also called Edwd went to "Cloverley" to take his music lesson this afternoon, instead of saturday afternoons as heretofore, the time having been changed

Clear Ther. 72 Thursday. July 12^th, 1894. S.E. Wind

Much warmer weather. I drove over to Riverside to see Bro R again taking sister H as far as "Eldon" & bringing her home with me on my return. The thermometer stood at 96^o in the shade on our office porch with little or no reflection at 3-30 p.m., being the highest (with one exception) this summer, so far. After tea Hallie Bentley called. I felt the heat very much this afternoon. Chas: Kirk called in the evening to see his aunt Harriet.

Clear Ther. 70 Friday. 13^th. S.E. Wind.

Chas: Stabler sent a cart load of hay. Still another hot dry day with a breeze blowing: if we do not have rain soon the garden & corn & potatoes will die out entirely. I have never seen so dry a time so early in the summer. I drove up to "Roslyn" to a meeting of the "Physician's Club" at D^r A Stabler's home abouts 9-30 p.m. Edwd put in a new "ground wire" from the "Lightning arrester" in the office into the well. replacing an iron wire with one of copper, which is safer & less liable to rust out. I went to D^r A Stabler's to a meeting as above (present) D^rs Magruder & Green, Brooke, C Farquhar, Cissell (of Howard Co) Edwd Magruder D^r Stabler & myself.

Clear & Cloudy. Ther. 72^o Saturday. July 14^th, 1894. S.E. Wind.

Last night was the "hottest" which we have had to endure so far this summer. Edwd slept on roof of the office. I went up to the P.O. & mailed letter in answer to one of the 13^th from O P. Rex Philad^a. Emma Hopkins was here for advice & medicine for herself. I rode "Frank" over to Fletcher Clark's to have him re shod, but he was not at home & I could not get it done. Afternoon we had a threatening of a thunder storm, but it passed around south of us, giving us not quite enough rain to "lay the dust", but it cooled the air & left us with a N.W. breeze which is very acceptable.

Clear. Ther. 68 Sunday. 15^th, S.E. Wind

Edwd & I went to meeting and heard sermons from Edwd Farquhar and Friend Mc Dowell of N.Y. Mahlon Kirk Jr: & wife called to see sister Harriet whilst I was at meeting. The weather continues very warm & dry. It was almost as hot today as any we have had hertofor this summer.

Clear & Cloudy Ther. Monday July 16^th, 1894. Variable Wind.

Sister Lizzie called & took sister Harriet to Riverside before dinner. Edwd took "Frank" horse to F Clark's & had a shoe put on his "near" hind foot. I drove over to Riverside to see Bro Richard again and was caught in a shower of rain on my way home, about noon, and afternoon we had a thunder gust, and the finest & first rain we have had that was of any value to the crops since the 8^th of June. After supper Harriet Edwd & myself worked in the garden and were surprised to find we hoed up dust from under where the rain penetrated. Lizzie Scott called to see Dora. Mrs F Downey also called.

Foggy & Clearing Ther. 66 Tuesday. 17^th, E. Wind.

Foggy this morning but cleared off I loaned my horse & phaeton to F Robison to go to P.T. Stabler's for flour. Mrs Robison was in for advice for herself. Afternoon Fanny Peirce came & I put her horse in the stable. Edward finished replacing his telegraph wires between the office at Sandy Spring & our office. & got in good running order again so that he can practice "receiving" whilst his cousin "Fred" is in the S.S. office whilst "Leizear" is away. "John was here for advie & medicine Dora had an ugly fall over E's croquet wickets in the yard and hurt her arm quite badly, it is the arm that was broke some years ago.

Clear Ther. 66^o Wednesday. July. 18^th, 1894. S.E. Wind

William Nugent brought his wife to the office for advice & medicine. Edwd spent most of the day next door with Jas P Stabler & his cousin Fred Iddings who were putting in the "Switch board" etc. to make a central or connecting point for the telephone line of the whole neighborhood. I also went in & was much interested in the work. H recd letters from both C & W. I wrote to Willie and sent it by the 2.o'clk mail. I was also at the store & mill.

Clear. Ther. 67^o Thursday. 19^th S.E. Wind.

Eleanora Bell came to wash for H. Afternoon Edwd & I worked in the garden hoeing the late sweet corn. I wrote to Ernest Iddings in Philad^a & mailed the letter by the afternoon mail.

Clear. Ther. 70. July 20^th 1894. S.E. Wind.

Very warm & dry. I drove over to Riverside in the "Surry", Harriet going with me. I went to see Bro R again & find this protracted hot weather goes hard with him. Sisters Lizzie & Harriet called soon after we returned. We called at "Homewood" to enquire after cousin Hannah. Afternoon Mary E Hardesty was here for advice. John Green's wife was also here for treatment & advice. Mr Colt called to see me. Edwd rode over to Mr Duck's to see Robt: Duck and from there to Riverside to tea. he reached home after 10.o'clk p.m.

Cloudy & Clearing. Ther. Saturday 21^st Variable Wind.

Cloudy early in the day but the sun shone out hot again. Mrs Jos Moore Jr brought her sister (Mrs R Marshall) to the office the latter to consult me as to her infant son. I drove down to Ashton and after preparing some medicine, up to "Marden" taking home some books loaned to me whilst I was sick. Afternoon Edwd went with the next door boys over to the river for a bathe. About 5.o'clk p.m. a thunder gust came from N.W. & gave us a "shower". Edwd staid at Riverside to supper. Lizzie Scott called to see Dora. Edwd reached home about bed time after the rain was over, he came to Ashton with Ernest Gill & walked from there.