Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1894

Clear Ther. 38^o Friday, APRIL 13^th, 1894 N Wind

Edwd cut his left "thumb" quite badly this morning whilst chopping kindling wood for the fires at the Sherwood School House. The wind blows a strong gale from the North, and it is quite cold, although not freezing even during last night. This is "Arbor Day" and Sherwood School was dismissed at noon. Afternoon Edwd & Dora drove over to "Wrenwood" taking the melodeon in the "Surry," and tuning the Colt's piano, & Dora calling at "Wrenwood," Homewood and "Eldon;" they came home to supper. I walked up to the store. After supper Dora & Edw walked over to call upon Mrs. & Miss Sally Ellicott.

Clear Ther. 48^o Saturday 14^th N.W. Wind

Clear & bright weather again but a strong wind blowing all day. Afternoon I drove to Ashton, calling at Mr. C M. Colt's and over to Riverside to see Bro. Richard. Edward rode H. Leizears bicycle over to "Wrenwood to work at their piano and also to Riverside. After supper I walked up to the store. Hallie Bentley called to see H & Dora in the afternoon.

Clear Ther. 45^o Sunday, APRIL 15^th, 1894 N.W. Wind

Beautiful day. I went to meeting. Afternoon I drove over to Riverside to see Mr. Richd. again. Edwd going with me. After supper I walked up to Gideon Gilpin's to see E. Gilpin & request him to send the stage to Thos Lea's tomorrow morning to take Richard Lea & wife to Laurel. Edwd & I called at Thos Lea's as we came home from Riverside.

Clear Ther. 54^o Monday, 16^th Wind

Clear & warmer weather. Afternoon D^r. Magruder called to invite me to go & see a case of "hydrophobia," the case being that of an old colored man named "Resin Perry," who lives near Colesville. I went to the mill for a sack of flour & the papers. I also called in at Mrs. Robison's. After supper I walked up to the toll house and to see ""Jim" Scott. A colored youth named "Lomax" was here after me to go and prescribe for his brother "Peter Lomax," who has been a patient of Doctor Brooke's. I declined to take charge of the case.

Clear & Cloudy - Ther. 52° Tuesday, April 17^th 1894. Variable Wind.

J T Henderson & his daughter Ella went to Rockville in the morning, & afternoon he and I went to the school house & signed Miss Schreiner's report & I walked up to Jim Scott's for some money he promised me but got none. as I might have expected. After supper Mrs Robison & "Phil" came in for a short time. I am feeling very blue, am not at all well. Rheumatic pains in my shoulders & hips. Went up to the mill & to Henderson's for the papers.

Cloudy & Clearing - Ther. 48° Wednesday 18^th E. Wind

"John" called before dinner time Cousin Hallie Bentley also called. Afternoon I rode down to see Frank Snowden about getting some straw. The old man "Reasin Perry" (colored) who was bitten by a Rabid dog about three weeks since died of hydrophobia last night. Mr: W^m Laird called. Weather looks, & feels like more rain very soon.

Cloudy Ther. 58° Thursday April 19^th 1894 S Wind.

Colored boy "Clifton Thomas," who "stutters," was here & had tooth extracted. I went up to the mill for the papers. Hallie Bentley & Mrs Fuller called to see about our taking little "Frank" Fuller to board next autumn, when school commences after the summer vacation. D^r. Brooke called at the gate & I sent by him a sample from a patient to be tested for diabetic sugar - Uncle Henson called to see me. After supper Dora & Edwd went to the annual meeting of the Lyceum Co:

Cloudy & Clearing Ther. 62° Friday 20^th S. Wind.

Dull morning. Afternoon Perry Thornton came for me & I rode down to see his wife, they live in the house with Chas. Thornton near Hawling's River, after relieving her I called at Riverside to see Bro: Richard. & also at Wrenwood to see Mrs. Corchrane. & home in time to escape a thunder-storm. After supper Edwd rode over to A.G. Thomas' to a continuation of the "dance class," which has moved from Lizzie Scott's. It looks like more storm. before midnight. 2^d thunder-storm commenced at 9-30 p.m., lightning severe, our "lightning arrester prevented a serious accident in my office, it "took" the wires, & blackened the arrester with a report like a rifle shot.

Cloudy - Ther. 54° Saturday, April 21^st, 1894 S.W. Wind.

Rained nearly all last night and has been cloudy & showery most of today. I walked down to Ashton before lunch time. The same stroke of lightning that that came through my office last night, burned out Frank Leizear's instruments at the toll house. Edwd has been helping him readjust there today. After supper I walked up to the toll house. Mrs. Robison & "Frank" came over & sat awhile with us.

Clear & Cloudy - Ther. 54° Sunday, 22^d Changeable Wind.

Rather cooler weather. Edwd and I went to meeting. "Jim" Abel came after me whilst I was at meeting, after which I rode down & prescribed for his infant son, was also called in to prescribe for old Sarah Hammond. home to dinner. Went up to Henderson's for the papers. "Jim" Abel came for medicine for his infant. It has been more or less cloudy all day, the sun shining out only for a short time several times.

Cloudy -

Ther. 45° Monday April 23^d, 1894 SE & N.W. Wind

Chas: Addison was here to see me about his pension. Gillatt Bell was also here to consult me. I went to the mill for horse feed. After noon I drove over to "Riverside" Dora going wtih me, we called at Thos Lea's, Hallie having written to me to come & see Sister B. I was called in at Ashton to prescribe for "Bernie" Sheckels, he having been at the office whilst I was away. Edwd received his "Piano tuning Hammer" from Montgomery Ward & Co Chicago. After dark was called to attend Mr. Oldfield's wife in confinement. left him a fine boy born at 9.o'clk p.m.

Clear & Cloudy - Ther. 54° Tuesday 24^th Wind.

Fletcher Clark was here (before I was downstairs) for advice & medicine for himself. I drove down to Ashton before dinner. Afternoon old "Lila" Green was here to see me Bro Chas: called, also Gilbert T. Smith. Jackson Harding, a respectable farmer-living 3 miles below Ashton on the turnpike, and bitten by a Rabid dog, & has gone to N.Y. to the "Pastuer Institute for treatment. A mad dog was killed today near A G Thoma's house. I walked up to W^m Oldfield's & to Henderson's & the mill. The report that Jackson Harding was bitten by a "mad dog" proved to be incorrect.

Clear - Ther. 48^o Wednesday, April 25^th, 1894 N.W. Wind.

Beautiful cool day. "Jimmy" Abel sent for me to see his infant again. I drove down there before dinner. After noon I walked down to Ashton. After dark they sent for me to go & prescribe for Gideon Gilpin. I walked up to see him Miss Mary Fowler came in and sat awhile with us.

Clear - Ther. 52 Thursday 26^th South Wind

Another lovely spring day. I went up to the village & rode down to Ashton on horseback Tillman Mitchell's son came & plowed the lot for us, finishing before dinner time. Afternoon I rode down to Ashton again, Fred Iddings came for me to go to see Bro: Richard, & I rode over there on horseback, calling (as I returned) at "Eldon" to enquire after Sister B . About 50 or 60 men claiming to be followers of the "Coxey" movement are camped for the night just below Ashton, on their way to Washington via Rockville. Many persons have gone to see them & hear one of them ("Jones") deliver a harrangue to such as are willing to listen to him. I declined to give encouragement to them even by my presence not being an advocate of anarchy in any form.

Clear & Cloudy Ther. Friday, April 27^th, 1894. Changable Wind.

I walked down to Mr C M Colt's to see the "Coxieites" encamped in & around the School house beyond his house. One of them called to see me professionally, he claimed to be a nephew of old D^{r. Wm} Handy of Baltimore, who was a brother-in law of Thos Tyson, both of whom died years ago. The rest of them (about 50) came along about noon: "a hard looking set & draging a wagon with ropes, & accompanied by a bull dog "(Coxie") who was apparently the best bred individual of the crowd. Afternoon Alice Peirce came walking from Homewood. After supper "John" came & I loaned him "Frank" to ride over to Brookeville. Jas T Henderson came down to talk with me about the Coxey movement he is much excited over it & believes we will have serious times before it is put down.

Clear - Ther. Saturday 28^th S.E. Wind.

"Phil" rode Frank to Riverside & brought Bro: C's horse "Charley" back with him & useing him & "Frank" together he rubbed & harrowed the lot getting it into good condition. Mrs Thomas who lives at W W Moore's was here for advice & medicine Alice Peirce walked to "Oakley" to call. Afternoon Frank Snowden sent a cartload of straw, & took a load of manure. Thunder gust came up about 4-30 p.m. Edwd went to "Wrenwood and finished tuning their piano, getting home before the rain came. I walked up to the store after the rain, calling at Billy Oldfield's. After supper Mrs. Jno: Abel called, & I went with her up to J T Henderson's where she paid me part of her bill. I walked up to the store again. Another thunder storm at 10-20 p.m. when it commenced & lasted until near midnight & rained at intervals until near morning.

Clear & Cloudy - Ther. 54° Sunday. April 29_th, 1894. S.E. Wind

I went to meeting. Chas E Bond called for advice & medicine after meeting. Chas Stabler - also called & I loaned him the 2 volumes of "Christ The Spirit." Perry Thornton called whilst I was at meeting & paid his bill, H. J. I. giving him a receipt. Afternoon Fanny Peirce drove over, & Alice went home in their carriage leaving Fanny here. Joseph Harding, a farmer who lived adjoining Warwick Miller's place on the "Sligo turnpike, was buried this afternoon. After supper I walked up to the P.O. & mailed some letters. Dora, Edwd, & Fanny Peirce went to the "little meeting house" to a "missionary meeting" of some kind.

Clear Ther. Monday 30^th N.W. Wind

I went up to the store & purchased some articles, drove over to Riversisde to see Bro: R called at "Wrenwood" & at Ashton home to dinner. Afternoon I rode to Ashton on horse back & walked up to the store & shops, Fanny Peirce went with Hallie Bentley to spend the afternoon at "Fairfield" & returned this evening After supper Dora & Edwd walked over to "Bloomfield" to meet Fanny P & come home with her. I went to the mill & got some horse feed. Mrs Robison came for some pills etc. This has been a beautiful spring day. I called to see Mrs W^m Oldfield again.

Clear - Ther. 65 Tuesday. May 1^st, 1894 Wind.

Edwd Elcorn was here and paid me some on their account. I was up quite early to feed the horse intending to drive to Laurel on way to Baltimore to make a little visit to my friend F. Tyson & family. Edwd went with me to bring the horse home. I arrived in Balto at 10-15 & after getting my hair cut went to the Civic & Flour Exchange & found F T. we took lunch together & afternoon went to the "Circus & Menagarie (Forepoughs) & dined at F.T's at 6-p.m. After ten called at Miss Isabella Tyson's.

Clear Ther. 70° Wednesday, 2^d Wind.

The hottest day we have had. After breakfast I went to see old John Williams who lived with us for- years at "Asteal : he is over one hundred years old. his memory is perfectly clear, & except that he stoops very much, does not look much older than he did 45 years ago. I then called to see Bro: W^m's wife "Millie" at Mrs Rose Smith's had a pleasant call. After noon went with F T. to "Druid Hill Park" & after supper to the Lyceum Theatre to see "Southern in the play of the "Maid of Bath," which we enjoyed very much.