Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1896

Wind NE & SE. Cloudy. Ther. 35^o FRI. JAN. 24^th, 1896

Weather continued cloudy and threatning rain all day. I went up to the P.O. & to Old Mr. Oldfield's to have leather surcingle mended. Received a "briar root" pipe from the "Duke's Mixture" tobacco Co in return for 25 cupon tickets placed, one in each bag of that brand of tobacco I have used.

Wind N.W. Clear. 32 SAT. JAN. 25^th, 1896

Clear & bright "overhead", but disagreeable underfoot. Afternoon I went to Sherwood School House with Edwd & helped him "rehang" one of the doors, etc. After supper I went up to the toll house & P.O. Willie & Fanny came after dark. "Bowman" brought (in the Brighton market wagon) from Washington a trunk from Medford Mass. containing various articles of clothing for us, and sundry things for the "Fairfield" friends. Edwd went to Mrs. Ellicotts after tea with the ladies from next door. Jno Ed Hill worked at wood pile 3/4 of a day.

Wind S.W. & N.W. Clear & Cloudy. Ther. 35 SUN. JAN. 26^th, 1896

Wm Hopkins (of Levi) was here last night (after midnight) for advice & medicine for his infant son. After breakfast he was here again & I walked over to see the child (at Al King's). Afternoon I walked up to Saml Wetherald's and mailed letters and after supper I went up to the toll house hoping to catch Warwick Stabler at the store where he made up the mail, but did not find him.

Wind. N.W. Clear. 29 MON. JAN. 27^th, 1896

Willie & Fanny drove down to Silver Spring to meet Alice on her return from Alexandria. they took our Surry, driving "Frank & Sally", & reached here on their return about 2:35 p.m. & left for "Fairfield" after dinner. Lizzie Scott & Lucy Stabler were here. I went to Fletcher Clark's to prescribe for his infant going that far with W & F in the Surry & walked home. Bro Charles came & took tea with us, and went with Warwick Stabler to Walter Brooke's to play whist I went to the store & P.O. both before & afternoon.

Wind. N.W. Clear. Ther. 28^o TUES. JAN. 28^th, 1896

Quite frosty this morning. I drove over to Chas T. Hill's, Frank Robison going with me, & after our return, he drove to Philip T. Stabler's for some flour. I brought home from Hill's 1/2 bushel of corn (1 busled of ears) & engaged a barrel or more as soon as he can send it to me. After dinner I went to the P.O. and mailed a money order for Five Dollars to Dora in Philad^a Bro Charles called to tell me that he thought he had made arrangements to get me the amount of my claim on Bro R's Estate, by the "first of next month or soon after". Elias Young was at the office for more medicine.

Wind. N.W. & S.E. Clear. Ther. 29 WED. JAN. 29^th, 1896

This has been a beautiful winter day. Clear & frosty early in the morning and very pleasant in afternoon I answered a letter from Alice Tyson in "Altoona" Pa. sending her some medicine & advice. Went up to the P.O. twice and to Jno Oldfield's shop to have my halter mended. Also to the mill for flour.

Wind. Variable. Clear. Therm. 40 THUR. JAN. 30^th, 1896

Clear & beautiful weather. Charles T. Hills sent me some corn (less than a barrel) on the ear. Afternoon Phil Robison borrowed my horse to bring some apples & flour from Phil Stabler's, using Mrs. Ellicot's "Dayton". I walked down to Ashton for some medicine. Gilbert T. Smith Sr. was here to see me. The weather has been almost like "spring" today but looks this evening as though we would have a change by tomorrow.

Wind. S.E. Cloudy. 38^o FRI. JAN. 31^st, 1896

Dull & cloudy all day towards evening it "sprinkled" rain. I went to the store and P.O. recd. a postal card from Dora saying she expected to leave Philad^a for home tomorrow morning. I walked over to Jno C. Bentley's to ascertain if I could get his "jump seat" carriage to send to Laurel for Dora, our own "Surry" being too heavy for one horse for such a distance, with the roads in present condition. It looks at present as though we might have a disagreeable day tomorrow, possibly snow during tonight.

Wind. S.E. Cloudy & Rain. Ther. 40 SAT. FEB. 1^st, 1896

Edwd went to Jno Bentley's and hitched "Frank" to his "jump seat" carriage and went to Laurel for Dora. Edwd Bentley brought Mr. Chas Hallowell's little boy "Gerald" to the office for advice & medicine. I walked up to the Insurance Office to see Allan Farquhar and then to Ashton & to Wm Henson Hopkin's (on Chas Stabler's place). called at Chas. G. Porter's on way home. Afternoon I went again to Insurance Office & paid my tax. Dora & Edwd arrived at 4:30 pm. Willie & Fanny went to Luther Muncaster's & back here to supper. It rained at intervals all day.

Wind. Variable. Cloudy. Ther. 38^o SUN. FEB. 2^d, 1896

Cloudy & dull weather. I went to meeting (a silent one). The sun shone out several times between ten & twelve o clock & I suppose the "ground hog" saw his shadow". if he came out, as tradition tells us he does today, & if he sees his shadow goes back for another six week nap, during which time we are to have more winter. After lunch Mrs. Robison came in to borrow some books & papers. Gilbert T. Smith Sr sent for me by Purvi's brother in law (Harding) and I rode over to "Osceola" & prescribed for Mrs. Smith.