Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1894

Clear Ther. 32° Sunday Mar. 4^th 1894 wind

Beautiful spring like day "over-head". the ground is drying up slowly in places but is still disagreeable walking. I went to meeting & enjoyed it very much. it was a "silent meeting" except that monthly meeting was held. Bro R called after I had gone & I did not see him to speak to him as he went home before meeting was out. Afternoon I went up to Henderson's for the papers "Phil" took supper with us & Mrs. Robison & Frank came over in the evening & spent an hour or two.

Clear Ther. 35° Monday 5^th Wind

Richard Lea came for me to go see his wife at "Eldon". I took him over with me in the phaeton. I also prescribed for Martha Bellows who was at "Eldon". Saw "black" Chas Hill there & sent $2.00 by him to get us some more coal & bring it from Washington where he is going tomorrow & return on Wednesday: he is also to bring some for Hallie Lea at the same time. I called at Ashton Store as I went over. Afternoon Alice & Fanny Peirce came & spent some time here. Sarah Stabler also called. After dark I walked up to the P.O. to mail a letter for H. to her sister "Ellie Wood".

Clear Ther. 56° Tuesday Mar. 6t^h 1894 S.W. Wind

The wind commenced blowing about 10 o'clk this a.m. Real "March Winds". I drove over to "Eldon" to see Annie Lea again. She seems much better but not quite as well as I hoped she would have been. The roads are drying up very rapidly. & in some places (on the turnpike) actually dusty. Afternoon "Frank Hopkins" (colored boy) was here & had a tooth extracted I went up to the mill & to Henderson's for the papers. Wind blew a strong gale from the S.W. until after dark, when it moderated.

Clear Ther. 50° Wedneday 7^th N.W. Wind

Beautiful day: it rained several "showers" during the early part of last night but cleared off before day light. I drove to Ashton and bought some hoop iron with which I mended a tub & bucket for H. John came before dinner & helped about various things, & washed my phaeton for me. the first time I have had it washed since the roads became muddy & bad but as they have dried up very much I concluded it was time to commence keeping our vehicles looking decent again. Walked up to the mill for the papers after dinner. "John" was here until after supper. After we had gone to bed (10.35 p.m.) "Black" Charley Hill came with the coal from Washington. I came down & (with 2 lanterns) helped him unload it.

Cloudy Ther. 56^o Thursday Mar. 8^th, 1894 S.E. Wind

Damp & cloudy this a.m. Edwd & I put the coal Hill brought last night, into the cellar. Emeleine Hopkins sent her boy "Deets" to pay me $1.00 she owed me. I drove down to Asthon to see Mr. Colt and leave the letter I recd from Robt. M. Mackall in relation to his appointment as Justice of Peace. I also call to see Jas Marlow & try to induce him to serve as constable. Frank Robison went with me. Afternoon went to the mill for the papers.

Cloudy Ther. 59^o Friday 9^th N.E. Wind

I was unable to get out of bed this morning & did not come downstairs until about 2 o'clk p.m. I suppose I took cold night before last in helping to unload the coal. getting out of a warm bed & standing out of doors to hold the lanterns without sufficient clothing on: which has brought on an attack of "subacute rheumatism". head ache & fever. Alice & Fanny Peirce called here before dinner. Clifford Waters also called to see Edwd: After supper Edwd went to "Scott's" (riding "Frank") to a "dance practice".

Clear & Cloudy Ther. 53^o Saturday Mar. 10^th 1894 N.E. Wind

I am feeling much better this morning. They sent for me from the Misses Colt's before I was down stairs to see their aunt (Mrs. Cochran) who is extremely ill. I rode over with the man "Platt" calling at Ashton for Mr. C Colt & wife who went with us. Edwd brought my horse & phaeton over for me. he walked on up to Riverside & I drove home picking up Mr Henderson at Asthon as I came & bringing him home. I am very thankful that I am so much better, as I was really afraid yesterday that I was about to be very sick again, I must be more careful in future not to take cold. After supper I walked up to the store & toll house. The boys from next door came over & Edwd gave them some electric shocks from his batteries & music.

Cloudy & threatning rain Ther. 60^o Sunday 11^th Variable Wind

I drove over to "Wrenwood" again to see Mrs Cochraine, who is still in a ^{very critical condition}. Edwd went with me: we were back in time for me to go to meeting. Edwd Farquhar delivered an acceptable sermon; chiefly upon the importance of "encouragement" given in various ways to aid in leading a moral Christian life. Afternoon I walked up to Henderson's & to the P.O. to mail letters to C. D. & W. & to leave the milk can. Mary E Gilpin called in the afternoon. Alice Peirce was here in the forenoon, but went home before dinner. This has been like an April day. Thermometer 64^o at 5 o.clk p.m.

Clear Ther. 46^o Monday Mar. 12^th 1894 N.W. Wind

"John" came & went with me to "Wrenwood," Thos Lea's & Riverside & home before dinner. Mr. Wm Greenwell (nephew of Mrs Cochrane) called for medicine for his aunt & paid her bill (for Miss M Colt) "John" staid until after dinner. I sent Edwd up to the store & paid for the gumboots he bought there during the snow storm. Afternoon Mgt. Moore sent colored girl (Mary Thomas) with a note for advice & med. for "Dassa." I walked up to the store for "cottolene" etc. After supper Edwd went to "Scotts" again to play for the dance class.

Clear & Cloudy Ther. 45^o Tuesday 13^th S.W. wind

"John" came quite early & after breakfast rode "Frank" to Riverside & brought back Bro. C's "Charley" horse & getting "Jim" Scott to help him, took Mary E. Gilpin's wagon & harness & went to "Osceola" for a load of hay. I went next door & prescribed for Mrs. Robison who is "sick in bed". I also went to the store for some articles. "John" brought 115lbs of "Sapling Clover" hay from "Osceola". Jim Scott went with him but went home to dinner, helping to unload the hay. Frank Robison also helping him. John took the horse home to "Riverside" and back to supper.

Clearing Ther. 44^o Wednesday Mar 14^th 1894 N.W. Wind

Strong N.W. wind all day. I rode down to Ashton & back on horse back before dinner. Jno G Cornell delivered an address to the pupils at Sherwood this afternoon. I intended going to hear him, but could not get off in time. I went to the mill & to Henderson's house for the papers in afternoon. John C & Edwd N Bentley & Thos Lea were surveying the Bloomfield place with the boy from next door carrying chain. "Phil" & "Frank" besides a colored man or two to help as axe men etc.

Cloudy Ther. 30^o Thursday 15^th S.E. Wind

Much colder today. Water freezing in the horse buckets on kitchen porch. The wind is from the S.E. but is extremely raw and chilly. I walked up to mill & to Hendersons house for the papers. Feel very sore and rheutmatic and am suffering from "sore mouth" or sore gums, which renders eating a painful process. It looks and feels like more snow. I had hoped we were done with it for this year but fear we are not. Afternoon I loaned "Phil" "Frank" & the phaeton to bring some flour from P.T. Stabler's for his mother. "John" brought a chicken to exchange for one of our "light Branch" roosters, which was too fine a fowl to kill for use on the table

Cloudy & Clearing Ther. 40^o Friday March 16^th, 1894 NW Wind

It commenced raining last night before bedtime & continued at intervals until towards morning: it cleared off before noon & the afternoon was beautiful & spring like the ground dried off very rapidly. I drove down to Ashton before dinner. After noon I rode over to see Mr Matthew's wife at Jacob Bentleys place he having come after me towards evening I walked up to the store & P.O.

Cloudy & Clearing Ther. 45^o Saturday 17^th Wind

I have been suffering with headache all day having taken cold yesterday from going without overshoes on the damp ground. Afternoon Richard J Lea and wife & Hallie Lea called whilst I was absent having gone up to the store and shops. This has been a pleasant day for "St Patrick's day" which is often stormy. After supper Edwd rode Frank over to "Scotts" to their dance class. It looks & feels like rain or stormy weather for tomorrow & perhaps before this morning.

Clear & Cloudy Ther. 60oSunday Mar 18^th 1894 Wind

A real spring like morning I went to meeting and we were favored with an excellent sermon from John G Cornell of Baltimore upon the underlaying principle of Friends. The direct relevation from God to each human being of all that is essential for our guidance in this life and salvation in a life to come. After supper I walked up to the toll house & shops. It was a lovely moonlight night warm & pleasant. The birds have been singing all day and the spring frogs are musical tonight.

Clear & Cloudy Ther.62 Monday 19^th SW Wind

Very warm and close this morning, the horse was sweating in the stable. "Uncle Henson" called to see me. I drove to Ashton where I saw Richard J Lea who paid me his bill. Bro Richard called. Afternoon I went to the store & P.O. twice. After supper I walked up to the mill. Edwd rode Frank over to "Scotts" again to their dance class. I am afraid they are having them too frequently and that it may interfere with his studies or injure his health, and we will be glad when they are done with.

Cloudy & Clearing Ther 60^o Tuesday, MAR.20^th, 1894 NE & NW Wind

Quite cloudy this morning but cleared off in the afternoon giving us a further continuation of the fine weather. I hope we may not have weather so cold yet as to injure the fruit buds, which are almost ready to burst into leaf. I went up to the store & P.O. & to the mill, walked up to the village again afer supper for the can of milk. Mrs. Robison came in for more "tonic" medicine for Bessie. Edwd went over next door to study his algebra lesson.

Cloudy & Rain Ther.58^o Wednesday, 21^st. Wind

We had quite a severe thunder storm about 2.o'clock this a.m. with very heavy rain: it rained at intervals all forenoon. Mrs. Boswells boy called & paid a little balance due on her bill. Mrs. Robison called in to see me. After dinner walked up to the mill & to Henderson's house for the papers and to the store & P.O. H recd a letter from Dora. Rained quite hard in afternoon, with some thunder & lightning. Mrs. Patty Miller called and paid me Mrs. Annie Armstrong's bill and I paid her our annual "Book Club" assessment for 1894. After supper I went to the P.O. & mailed Money order for "Lighning Arrester" to Bummell & Co N.Y. Edwd went with me as far as the toll gate.

Foggy & Clearing Ther. 63 Thursday, MAR 22^d, 1894 S.W. Wind

After the fog lifted and the sun came out it was extremely warm. I walked up to the store and to the bank to see Benj D Palmer & also to the mill. I rode "Frank" to Ashton & back before dinner. Afternoon Joseph Stabler called & I gave him a letter I wrote to Arthur Stabler in relation to his seeing Lou: Brown & asking him to pardon Joe Hill; who is in the House of Correction. A storm came up from S.W. about 3.30 p.m. it rained very hard. with some thunder & lightning. I met the other two Trustees at School house to consult about new desks. After supper E went to Scott's again. I walked to the store.

Clouds, Rain & Clearning Ther. 64 Sunday, 23^d Variable Wind

Quite a heavy thunder storm came up at midnight last night, it rained very hard & continued at intervals until this morning. Edwd came home from Scott's early, the dance class not meeting until tonight, he went over next door to study his algebra & did not get home until late. I bought a pair of gold rimmed spectables this morning from a man named : "Grimes" who was hauling fish: I did some "tinkering, fixing the office porch roof, repaired an umbrella, & also a horse blanket. Walked up to the store & to the mill. Ater super Edward went to Scott's again.