Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1897

Ther. 33° Clear. Wind. N.E. Thursday, Mar 11,^th 1897.

Clear this morning until near noon, when it clouded over again and looks & feels like more rain. I went over to see Mrs Robison again.

Afternoon Willie & Fanny came and remained until after supper. Old "Uncle Perry Leizear is quite ill with "grippe". Miss Mary Colt called and reports her aunt (Mrs Corchran) as apparently "sinking". I did too much lifting in moving & putting up stoves in our room & the spare room yesterday, and am very stiff & Rheumatic today.

Ther. 34° Cloudy. Wind. Variable. Friday, Mar 12,^th 1897.

Cloudy this morning & cleared off afternoon. It rained last night several quite heavy showers. After lunch Edward took Hilles Robison to "Fairfield to finish trimming their shade trees in the lawn. I am still feeling very sore & rheumatic, but kept about. Went to the store and P.O. Finished fixing the stove and stove pipe in our room, using the small square airtight stove instead of the coal stove we have been having all winter so far.

Ther. 36° Cloudy. Wind. S.E. Saturday, Mar 13, 1897

The wind blew hard from N.W all last night and continued most of today. I am suffering from Grippe Rheumatism, and am so sore and painful in my limbs that I could hardly get out of bed this morning, but after crawling around, gradually limbered up & kept going all day.

Went to the store & P.O. morning and afternoon. Willie, Fanny & the baby came about 4.o'clk to spend the night "Old John" was here for advice and medicine. Mrs S Matt Beall was here to borrow my buggy for tomorrow Old Mrs. Cochran an aunt of the Misses Colt died at their house this evening about 7-30.o'clk. She has been an invalid & a great sufferer at times for a number of years past.

Ther. 32° Clear. Wind. N.E. S.E. & N.W. Sunday, Mar 14, 1897

It was beautiful moon light when we went to bed last night and and sometime after mid night it commenced raining, hailing and snowing, & continued until after daylight this morning. making the traveling very disagreeable.

Willie drove up to "Fairfield" & back leaving Fanny & the baby here.

It cleared off after dinner & the sun came out warm & bright. Edwd went to the Bible Class at the meeting house. I did not feel well, and did not go to meeting. Towards evening Willie & Fanny & baby went back to "Fairfield". I went up to Henderson's for the papers. After dark Singleton Mitchells son came for a catheter to use in his fathers case.

Ther. 32° Clear. Wind. S.E. Monday, Mar 15,^th 1897.

Clear & frosty this morning. I took my boots to "Fairall's shop to have some repairs to them. He held a Magistrates Court to try an "assault & batter case. Two colered women were engaged in a "free fight". immediately after the first case was tried They were arrested and "bound over" to keep the peace. I gave A. Sullivan an account for collection. Lizzie Scott was here to see Dora again.

Ther. 32° Clear. Wind. Variable Tuesday, Mar 16,^th 1897.

Clear and beautiful weather I went up to "Fairall's shop for my boots Brother Charley & sister Lizzie called and spent an hour or two with us.

I drove over to John Green's to prescribe for his infant daughter, calling as I went over at the Misses Colt's Edwd went with me. Bessie Robison came home in the stage this afternoon from a visit to New York and Baltimore, having been absent six weeks. We were very glad to see Bro. Charles "about again" after his attack of Grippe. He looks decidedly the worse as yet, being pale & thin from long confinement in the house.

Ther. 32° St Patricks Day. Wind. S E & N E Wednesday, Mar 17,^th 1897.

Cloudy & raw. Mrs Cochran (the aged & afflicted aunt of the Misses Colt) was buried from their home "Wrewnwood" today. her remains were taken to Washington, & interred in a Cemetery N.E. of the city on the Bladensburg road.

After lunch Edwd took Hilles Robison over to "Fairfield" to do some more tree trimming. After supper I went up to the store & toll house.

Ther. 40° Rain & Mist. Wind. S.E. & N.E. Thursday, Mar 18,^th 1897.

Rained all through last night and has been either raining or drizzling all day today. I went up to the store & P.O. & to the mill. Afternoon "Arch" Hopkins wife (Eliza) called & paid the ballance of their bill.

Sally Ellicott Jr. also called to see Dora. My Rheumatic pains are quite troublesome in such weather as we are having.

Ther. 42° Rain. Wind. N.E. Friday, Mar 19,^th 1897.

It rained quite steadily all last night & has been raining pretty much all day. I walked down to Ashton before dinner. Afternoon Lizzie Scott was here to see Dora

Mrs. Robison came over for me to go to see "Phil", who has taken cold & has very high fever, head ache &^c

Ther. 37° Clear. Wind. Variable Saturday, Mar 20,^th 1897.

Clear & bright this morning at last. Tom Stabler came whilst we were at our breakfast and spent an hour or two with us. It is pleasant to see the sun after so much cloudy dull weather. afternoon Edward went to Jno. C. Bentley's to a musical party, given for the young folks. It was threatning & showery after lunch time but cleared off again and again clouded up after sun set. I went in next door to see "Phil" again, who is quite a sick young man.

After supper Edward went to "Belmont" to a meeting of the "Phrenaskiee" Society he went on horse back. John Green was here to see me. I went up to the store after dark, and it is dark sure enough, for some groceries.