Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1880

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35o Cloudy Drizzle sleet N.E March Thursday 11th 1880

Went to Jos: Davi's and lanced abcess in Mrs: Faucetts left thumb went to B Rush Roberts, to Henson Hill's and to cousin M Chandlees "Uncle Henson came about noon to take Boston's place until he is well enough to work again. Boston was here to "Report himself" better but unable to bear Exposure in bad weather. Sent Henson to "Scotts" with omnibus (Rigged with hay flats & tops off) for some hay-

Cloudy & Drizzly E & N.E 31^o Friday 12th

Had harness overhauled and "doped" Lucy Stabler called, Chas: Nelson here & had tooth extracted. Sent Henson Hill with buggy up to the store & Charley went after a "beagle" to Mechanicsville Arthur Stabler called in the evening. Snowed very fast all the evening.

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23^o Snow E March Saturday 13th 1880

Snowed pretty much all through last night: quite cold this morning. Drove up to Fulford and called at North Fulford. Afternoon I drove to "Harewood" Henry Miller sent me half a cord of dry hard wood. Got a quarter of a cord of pine wood from B Rush Roberts Millwood pole. Loaned some wood to Tom Budd Frank Snowden took tea with us. Charley ("fool like") went to a dance at Henry Chandlees "dance house" after store hours.

Cloudy, Drizzle & Sleat E 37^o Sunday 14th

Frank Leizear here before I was up for advice & medicine for his son (Frank) walked up to his house after breakfast. Charley went to "Bloomfield" about meeting time. Home to dinner afterward C & D drove over to "Homewood" and remained until after tea.

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35 ^o Cloudy & Drizzle E & SE March Monday 15th 1880

Another exceedingly dull, blue sort of a day - I went to Jos: Davi's to prescribe again for Mrs' Faucetts hand. Also to Frank Leizears to prescribe for Frank jr. Afternoon drove Dora to Fulford to attend a sociable at N Fulford this evening. George Boston came to work again at dinner time. Charley drove "little buggy to N Fulford after tea to bring his sister home & attend the "Sociable."

37^o Cloudy & Foggy S.E Tuesday 16th

Another exceedingly dull day. Roads in a wretched condition with mud & water half axle deep. About home all forenoon. Afternoon I drove over to Homewood & Remus Hills. Brought home from the latter place a "violincello," and after tea we had quite a family concert. I with the violin, Dora the guitar, Charles with violincello & Hollie flute or "flagolette." I enjoyed it very much & think we made some good music & with practice will do still better. Recd letter from W.H. Coale.

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33o Clear and windy NW March Wednesday 17th 1880

Cleaned up & greased Double Harness put "pole" of little buggy. Afternoon drove to Ashton and Fulford. Willie with me. This has been a remarkably fine day for "St Patricks."

30o Clear N.W Thursday 18th

Fredk Stabler's Son here before I was downstairs. After breakfast I went to Fred Stablers & prescribed for Patty. Cousin Mary Chandlee Hannah & Lizzie here for Bro Chas: bringing them going on to Sharon. Afternoon went to Hezekial Mitchells & JnoM Smiths Edwd Lea took tea with us.

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35^o Rain N.E March Friday 19th 1880

Rainy disagreeable day. Afternoon went to E Stabler's "Harewood". Mrs Henderson here U had tooth extracted. Loaned Jno Bentley the "omnibus" to send after "string band" to the Metropolitan Rail Road: came home with spring broken. After tea Charley took our horses to mr Lawford's wagon & they together took the Fulford ladies to a "Ball" at "Grange Hall" Home at half an hour after mid night.

41^o Clear. W Saturday 20th

Took omnibus to Tom Budd's & had spring mended. Went to "Brighton" and to "Harewood" Hallie Lea dined with us. I vaccinated her & she cut my hair in return. Got omnibus home in the afternoon. Fredk Stabler called. Walked up to the store after tea.

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31^o Clear W March Sunday 21st

Harriet quite sick having a severe chill after getting up and coming down stairs & getting breakfast ready. She returned to bed and remained there all the rest of the day. Bro. Richd dined & spent most of the day with us. Charley drove over to Riverside & Leawood Mills. Walter Scott here & borrowed our light buggy to go to "Forest Glen" Station on Metropolitan Road. I was about home all day. Ed Chalfont here to see Willy.

31^o Clear S.W. Monday 22d

Beautiful morning. Harriet quite sick again in the night (last night) had another "chill" & vomiting spell followed by sweating & much prostration. Went to Wm J Scofield's & prescribed for his daughter "Jennie" Sister Beulah came about dinner time & staid several hours. I drove down to Ashton for lemons. Fred Stabler's team hauled me a load of dry oat wood. Bro R brought Ellie Chandlee over to see us & left her joining Jackson & his bro: Will came & spent the evening with us & took her home.

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33^o Clear and Cloudy W. March Tuesday 23^rd 1880

Harriet quite ill. I was awake all of last night with her. It seems almost impossible to check the chills which return in from 6 to 12 hours & are almost "congestive" in charachter Drove to Fred: Stabler's to see his wife and mother in law. Suzzie I &H Chanlee called, also Kate Stabler. & several persons professionally. Mary B Thomas brought her son"Bentley" to have crushed finger dressed. Debbie Brooke bringing them. Afternoon I sent Charley with a note to D^r Riggs asking him to come tomorrow and see H with me.

30° degrees Cloudy High Wind N.W. Wednesday 24^th

Harriet seems decidedly better this morning. D^r A Riggs called to see her with me. Sarah K Stabler and Edward Lea called. About home all day - walked up to the store after tea: quite cold and wind blowing strong from the N.W. Coldest night we have had for some time, beautiful moon light.

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20° Clear N.W. March Thurday 25 1880

Quite cold this morning and with the wind blowing from the N.W. we feel the change very much. Harriet still improving having had a comfortable night. Kate Stabler and others are exceedingly kind in sending little nice things for her to tempt her appetite. Mrs Chalfant called to enquire for H - also Bro: Richard,Annie Rounds was her and washed for Dora. Afternoon I drove up to Gulford. Wrote to sister Mary at N. Conway N.H.

30 Cloudy S.W. Friday 26^th

W^m John Thomas brought Mary B Thomas and her little boy "Bentley" to have his hand examined & for advice for the same. I drove to Ashton and to Caroline Marnzatt's. got my new "grind stone" have made frame for it & ordered "non friction" rollers" crank et^c for it from town> town by A G Thomas. Had set screw put in my brace for boring bits. Thos: Lea sent cast & I gave him a load of manure. for his hot beds and garden. I planted a Holly tree in the back yard sent to us by Lucy Stabler. After tea Charley went in my phaeton to the "Sociable" at Edwd. Gilpin's "Walnut Hill." Harriet seems to be imporving slowly, not able to sit up however.

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40^o Rain S.E. March Saturday 27th 1880

Rainy disagreeable day. Harriet slowly gaining strength. Thos. Lea sent me a " Venetian door for the back of the passage or hall and took a load of manure Sent Boston & got a bushel of potatoes from Jas: Powell's. Walked up to the store after tea through the mud.

55 degrees Cloudy S.E. Sunday 28th

Charley and I drove to "Stanmore" and left my "discharge paper" with Francis Miller to see after my land warrants for "Soldiers Bounty land." Charley went to Leawood Mills Homewood & Crow Town Church. Harriet sat up most of the day and came down stairs to tea for the first time for a week and a day.

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50^o Cloudy E March Monday 29th 1880

Drove to "Brighton" and exchanged the alarm I got sometime since for another more expensive one. Harriet came down to breakfast Kate Stabler called also. Miss Mary Thomas & Mary Snowden Disagreeable windy day & grew colder towards night Charley went to "Brooke Grove" to a "Sociable" in the evening. On horseback.

38 degrees clear N.W. Tuesday 30th

Went to W.J. Scofields and brought "Germantown" wagon. also went to "Harewood," to see friend Edwd Stabler at Arthur's request who came after me. William Hill here for advice and med "Widow Hills" son of "Locust Grove." Annie Rounds washed for us. Charley, Dora and Willie went after tea to the Lyceum to an exhibition given by the young ladies for the "Benevolent Aid Society."