Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1896

Wind.N.W. Clear. 22^o Wed. March 4^th, 1896.

Still high March wind, which continued throughout last night & is still blowing. Chas. G. Porter called soon after breakfast and we had a settlement "in full" except eight dollars for which he agrees to accept an order. Gustav A. Bulwar walked up to the store & P.O. mailed money order to renew my subscription to the "Balto, Daily Sun" for two months. Called at the insurance office and signed a transfer of my account against the estate of R.J. Iddings to Allan Farquhar. Afternoon I walked down to Ashton & rode back with W. Cuff. Lizzie scott was here again to see Dora. The wind has been blowing a gale all day & is still at it tonight at bed time and "cold as Greenland". Edwd Hopkins came after I had gone to bed & had a tooth extracted.

Wind.N.W. Clear. Ther. 22^o Thur. March 5^th, 1896.

The wind has moderated somewhat today, but it is still cold. After dinner I went up to the store & P.O. bought muslin for pillow cases. A band of "Gipsies" passed through here this morning, which looks like our soon having Spring weather. Lizzie Scott was here again to see Dora. This evening the wind actually seems to have gone down, leaving it calm for the first time for four or five days and nights. I saw Gilbert Smith Sr, about getting some corn from him.

Wind.S.W. Cloudy. Ther. 25^o March 6^th.

Cloudy & warmer weather. Willie came & leaving their horse here drove "Frank" over to "Oakdale" to deliver a carpet. Afternoon he drove "Frank" to "Fairfield" leading "Sally" behind the buggy and returning brought Fanny with him to spend several days with us. W & I got Henderson's long ladder & repaired a broken shingle in the roof. After supper I walked up to the P.O. & mailed a letter to F. Tyson. Fletcher Clark brought his little boy "Remus" to me for advice & medicine. We heard today of the death by suicide of Gaston Manley of Balto, who shot himself at the Mt. Vernon Hotel yesterday afternoon about 5 o'clock: his wife had recently (on monday last) obtained a divorce from him!

Wind.Variable Cloudy & Clearing Ther.37 Sat. March 7^th, 1896.

Quite cloudy & threatning rain until about noon when it cleared off with high N.W. wind again. Remus Johnson was here to see me. Willie & I drove down to Ashton. I called at Bulwar's & at the store. Lizzie Scott sent us 2 lbs of butter. Afternoon Kate Matthews' & Frank Hopkins wife were here for advice & medicine for the latter. After supper Mrs Robison came in & Dora & Fanny went over next door. Willie went up to the store.

Wind. Variable Clear. Ther. 38^o Sun. March 8^th, 1896.

I went to meeting, heard a sermon from Edwd Farquhar. Dora, Fanny & Willie went to the (so called) "Orthodox" meeting. The wind commenced blowing again before noon & continued all day. Afternoon Willie & Dora went up to "Fairfield" bringing their horse "Sally" back with them leading her behind the buggy. Turner Adams was here for advice & medicine. Edward's "cold" is somewhat better today but he is still considerably "under the weather. After meeting this morning I walked over to "Cloverley" to see John Bentley about some wood which promised to send tomorrow morning.

Wind. Clear. Ther. 28^o Mon. March 9^th, 1896.

Still "windy". Willie worked at repairing Edwd's bicycle tire & succeeded in getting it in running order again. Afternoon John C Bentley sent 1/2 cord of wood on an ox cart; it is part oak & part chestnut & much of it extremely rough knotty wood. Jno W Johnson was here for advice & medicine. Towards evening Willie Fanny, Dora & Edwd went over to Fairfield to spend the night; there being a "church sociable" meeting held there this evening. Edwd did not attend school today in consequence of his not being well, & we are doubtful as to the propriety of his going to "Fairfield". but as they left here whilst it was quite pleasant & he will stay there until tomorrow morning perhaps it may not injure him.

Wind. SE.&NE. Clear & Cloudy. Ther. 35 Tues. March 10^th, 1896.

Willie brought Dora & Edward home from "Fairfield" about 8 o'clk this morning & went directly back. E went to school again, his cold being better. I rode over to see Jno W Johnson about hauling me some corn from Gilbert Smith's but could not find him. Afternoon Lucy Stabler was here to see Dora. I rode down to Ashton. Old Caroline Edwards was buried this afternoon, she was one of the last "runaway slaves" from Maryland before the civil war. She was owned by the Manakee family and ran away in 1857. Succeeded in getting into Canada, where she remained until the war was over, when she returned & has lived here ever since.

Wind. NE &N.W Snow. Ther. 35 Wed. March 11^th, 1896.

Commenced snowing befor daylight this morning & continued all day more or less; towards night the wind changed to N.W. but instead of clearing off, it continued snowing with even more violence, making it almost a "blizzard", except that it is not cold enough to freeze much. I walked up to the P.O. before dinner & again afternoon to mail a letter to Helen B Lea. Was called (by telephone) to go to "Bloomfield" to prescribe for Chas. Hallowells little boy "Robin" who has high fever, sore throat etc. I walked down through the snow. It is still snowing at bed time & unless it either stops, or turns to rain will be quite deep before tomorrow morning.

Wind.N.W. Clear 18^o Thur. March 12^th , 1896

Cold & windy this morning snow enough to make sleighing and the bells are jingling past at a merry rate. W^m Powell was here to consult me about his wife I prescribed for her & promised to ride over to see her soon live near Edwin Davis. Willie drove over in his sleigh to Ashton and came on this far and made us a call: their colored boy "Laurence" was with him I walked down to "Bloomfield" to see "Robin" Hallowell again I rode home in the sleight with Edwd Bentley who was coming to the P.O. The mail was more than an hour late in consequence of the snow drifts I went to the store & P.O. both before & after noon Lizzie Scott was here again I rode down from the store with her. Edward seems still considerably "under the weather" suffering from headache & loss of appetite.

Wind.N.W. Clear. Ther.4 Fri. March 13^th . 1896

One of the coldest mornings we have had this winter I rode up to the stage & P.O. with Edward Bentley in his sleigh & back again Afternoon Henry H. Miller sent me a 4 horse load of straw & took back a load o' manure Phil Robison helped put the straw away they put as much as they could tramp into the ice house first and the rest of it into the back part of the stable Willie & Fanny came before supper Hilles Robison came over after supper and Willie cut his hair for him After which they played whist cribbage. etc."