Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1880

47^o Cloudy & Rain April Tuesday 20th 1880

Started to go to "Laurel" to see "Millstead" & get shutter blinds for the house but it commenced raining hard and I only went to Mr S Bond's & home via Jno Leizear and Holland's corner. Went to Ashton & got iron for new buggy tongue or pole & took it up to Tom Budd's shop. Afternoon drove in phaeton to Leawood Mills for flour & cornmeal. Prescribed for Helen & Harry.

53^o Clear N.W. Wednesday 21st

Beautiful day. Took "Willie" in the phaeton & drove to Wm.S Bond's and to "Laurel" where I purchased the horse from Wm. Milstead giving a note for 30 days $75.00. I also purchased "half pivot" venetian blinds or shutters for all the windows in the house and had them brought immediately home by Jno. C Bentley's team that chanced to be there. Also got ornimental scrollwork & put it over the venetian door in back part of the hall or passage.

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40 Clear N.W. April Thursday 22nd 1880

Drove to Fulford & called at "North" Fulford to return some books. Worked at the stable repairing trough etc. mended fence in front yard. After early tea Charley took his sister and Saml Bond's daughters to "Grange Hall" to an "Old Folks" Concert for the benefit of the Grange Library.

Cloudy Friday 23rd

Went to Homewood & called at Mrs Chalfont's. Afternoon I drove to Chas: Hammond's & Knight's after tea. Frank Gilpin took our Germantown & took some ladies to "Musical" at Rockland. Charley went on horseback riding "Polly" I was called away at about 10.30 p.m. to attend Mrs Hiram Hopkins in confinement and rode "Count " with the boys saddle and had an uncomfortable ride.

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April Saturday 24th 1880

Reached home from Hopkin's about 1.30 this a.m. tired, cold and "saddle sore". Drove to Leawood Mills & got 25 lbs flour before dinner. Rachael Kelly here.

55 Cloudy & "Drizzle" E Sunday 25th

Cold & raw. Charley & I drove "Count" to the phaeton to Hopkin's before dinner. Afternoon Charley drove him in little buggy to Ingleside & [Slammose?] & N Fulford. Rain in the afternoon. Mended spring in mantle alarm clock.

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60 Cloudy & Showery Variable April Monday 26th 1880

Rained hard during part of last night with some thunder & continued showery & uncertain today. I am suffering with the most severe cold I have had for a long time having taken it in my night ride on horseback friday night last. Am feeling quite unwell amounting almost to pneumonia. Bro R called on his way home from Fulford where he spent last night. Henson Hill also called. After tea Charley took his sister (in the Germantown) to Fulford after Estelle Tyson intending to go to "Homewood" to the last Sociable of the season. Home at 11 p.m. Wrote to Sister Mary. N Conway

40 Cloudy & Windy NH Tuesday 27th variable

Slept badly last night & feel wretchedly today, my "cold" being as bad as can well be: throat & lungs raw & painful & am stiff and lame "all over". digestion & nervous system all out of order. Some headache & hiccoughing about half the time. Wash woman here.

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44 Clear NW April Wednesday 28th 1880

Beautiful day. Frank P Miller called for advice &c - drove to Ashton Sandy Spring & Fulford taking Dora with me. Afternoon took Willie in light buggy and went to "Brighton" taking mantle alarm clock & leaving it to be sent to town to have new "main spring" put in. Called at Riverside to see Bro: Richard & at Lea's Mills & got violin bow from Harry-

45 Rain S.E Thursay 29th

Rainy day, took trace &c. to be mended. Prescribed for W Bukoffsky taking medicine to him afternoon Sent advice & medicine & prescription to Mrs: W^m H Hopkins by colored man. Worked at getting buggy pole finished. getting single & double trees the Right length & putting ends &c on former. also "cap" on End of pole.

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56 Clearing & Windy NW April Friday 30th 1880

S J Hopkins called. Sent medicine for his brothers wife ("ointment") - F Wilson Sr: here for advice &c - sent "Omnibus" to Riverside for shelter until sold - Got pole for the phaeton home & "primed" it - Walked up to the store afternoon. Jno C Bentley spent the evening here. & we had some music.

31º Clear W May Saturday 1st

Quite cold: heavy frost last night in many places. I drove over to "Highland" taking Willie with me: called at Ashton. Mrs Jno Kink here with her infant for advice &c Dora & Willie walked to Fulford. D & her aunt B went to West - Brooke Grove & made a call. they took tea at Fulford & I drove up & brought them home before our tea time. Jno: Ed: Hill here in evening - I walked up to the store.

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45 Clear NW May Sunday 2^d 1880

Beautiful day. Charley & Dora took a long drive over into Howard Co: to Brookeville &c. Afternoon Charley & I drove to Jeff Hopkin's to see Mrs Hiram Hopkins. Ed Butler & Hallie Chandlee called at the door.

64º Clear N.W. Monday 3rd

Another beautiful day. Straightened up buck carriage house doors. Replanted vacant spaces in hedge & gave it a general "overhauling". Went to Jeff & Hiram Hopkins in the afternoon. Sister Beulah spent most of the afternoon with us. After tea Charley went on horseback to "Rockland" and "Ingleside". Wash-woman here.

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65º Clear N.W. May Tuesday 4th 1880

Lovely spring morning. drove to S. J & H Hopkin's before dinner. Afternoon finished the board fence between us & Mr Whites. Margt: and Estelle Tyson called. Also Lucy Stabler. Bro Chas: called with Lizzie on their way to Roger Farquhars & borrowed our light buggy on account of their old horse "Doctor"

59º Clear & Haizy Wednesday 5th

Went to Jeff: Hopkin's taking Boston with me. Afternoon I took Harriet, Dora, Willie & Edwd: to Fulford for a drive. Bro Chas: called & informed us that Bro: William had arrived at Riverside this morning.

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65º Clear N.W. May Thursday 6th 1880

Took Dora and drove to Shaw's to see him about putting on our window shutters, also went to Geo Tuckers & thence to Riverside to call upon Bro: Wm. also called at "Homewood". Afternoon painted the "Germantown" one coat of lead.

60- Clear N.W. Friday 7th

About home all day. Jeff Hopkins called, also: - Green who had a tooth extracted. Bro's Wm & Chas: spent an hour or two with us. Leanna Mitchell here with her little boy for advice etc. Painted the "Germantown" wagon. After tea Charley went to N Fulford to spend the evening.

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63º Clear S.W. May Saturday 8th 1880

Was called up at 2 o'clock this a.m. to see Laura Thomas at her brother's (Wm Thoma's), home before daylight. Went again this morning and also to Ashton. Painted & varnished the "Germantown". Went again to Wm Thomas about dusk. Am very tired tonight.

65º Clear W. Sunday 9th

Called up again last night or rather this morning about one o'clock to see Laura Thomas. Left her a fine little girl born at 2 o'clock. was home before daylight. After breakfast drove to Jeff Hopkins (in light buggy) Charley with me. Took the entire family (in the Germantown) to Riverside to dinner. Home to tea. Went to see Wm Bukoffsky in the evening.