Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1890

Left page Cloudy & Threatening Ther: 55 Thursday January 2d 1890 Wind S.E. Charley came home from "Glenwood" about 3.45 this a.m. I had made calculations to have gone to Baltimore to attend the medical convention but owing to various circumstances could not get off in time I suffered with "head ache" & did not rise until late. Charley also remained up stairs until near noon. Afternoon Mr Cunningham called for advice for his son. Charley went over to Harewood" to a public sale of Ed: Gilpin's and brought 5 barrels of corn some harness & a "double shovel" plow paying $2.25 per bbl for the corn I drove to "Cincinnatti" again to prescribe for Chas Hill's wife. In the evening I found my old diary kept during the war in 1865 giving my army experiences during the siege of Petersburg Va & Richmond, and until the final close of the war with an account of the Grand Review of the Army in Washingto just before the disbanding of the trooops. Charley read it aloud before retiring. Edwd: went in next door to hear Mrs: R read aloud.

Right page Cloudy & Clearing Ther 49 degrees Friday, Janury 3d 1890 Wind N.W. Quite cloudy early this morning but cleared off before noon. Charley borrowed Jas T. Henderson's cart and using his own mare hauled the corn purchased at E. L. Gilpin's sale from "Harewood" making one load before dinner. Chas. G. Porter came into the office (at my invitation) and sat awhile, it being the first time he was even in it since it was finished. Afternoon Charley hauled the [ballance] of the corn and afterwards drove over to Riverside & home to supper. B Owen Hardy sent 48 heads of caabbage & 3 1/2 bushels of potatoes. Edna Peirce & Alice called. After supper C went to the Good Templars Lodge Chas Haslub going with him. Miss Lizzie Scott called during the afternoon. Edwd: went in next door after tea to "play games."

Left page Ther: 30 degrees Cloudy Wind S.E. Saturday, January 4th, 1890 Colder and threatening snow. Joshua Cook was here again for advice & medicine. I walked to Ashton Edwd going with me. Charley went to Church to meet Willie & Fanny Peirce on their return from Philadelphia. I left here about 1.30 p.m. going to Ashton in my "road cart' from there he took Bulwars "Dayton." I walked to Ashton again after noon to get some tobacco. Rosina Bowen's daughter was here for ointment for Rosina. Charley, WIllie, and Fanny Peirce arrived from Laurel at 6.25 p.m. the two latter having left Philada. at 11.10 a.m. and Balto at 3.pm. They were glad to get to a good fire & a warm supper but seem to have had a very pleasant visit & left Dora and the other friends in Philadelphia all well.

Right page Ther: 35 degrees Cloudy & Clearing Wind S.E. & S.W. Sunday, January 5, 1890 Rained at intervals throughout last night and was dull & disagreeable all the fore noon today, but partially cleared off in the afternoon. Edward Peirce came & took Fanny home with him before dinner. Afternoon Charley & Willie went to Riverside in Ch's buggy taking Bulwars "Dayton" hitched on behind as far as Ashton. They remained away until after supper. Fred Iddings expects to return to Phila: tomorrow morning and our boys wished to see him again before he left. After supper I went with Edwd over to the school house to find his books, which he had left there at the beginning of the "holidays" as school commences tomorrow again and the "Christmas & New Years holidays for 1890 are over. Chas: T Hill called and paid me for Charles $5.00 "on account."

Left page Ther: 47 Cloudy Wind Monday, January 6th 1890 Rained serveral times during last night & early this morning. Jas T. Henderson called to see me about "School affairs." Mrs Mary G Tyson sent "Turner" with a note asking for advice & med: for "Beatrix' Charles took a load of manure over To our "Cemetery Lot" using Henderson's horse cart and his own mare. Afternoon Mrs. Dr. Richardson (Old Dr. Richardson's widow) sent her son for me to come & see her. I sent some medicine and will try to see her tomorrow. Edward went to school again after the holidays. I wrote to H.C. Hallowell consenting to the use of the School House on the 21st inst: for the annual Farmers' Convention for a dining room. Charles and Willie went to help Ernest and remained away all day, and until...

Right page Ther: 40 degrees Cloudy & Drizzle Wind S.E. Tuesday, January 7th, 1890 Dull disagreeable day threatening rain until about noon when it commenced raining & continued at intervals the rest of the day. I drove down to Mrs Richardson's below Mr Canoy's on the Sligo turnpike and prescribed for her, Willie going with me. After returning I went to Washington with Louis Scofield taking C's buggy & Scofield's horse. John Hill called & paid me $7.00 for Charley on Chas. T Hill's accont. Towards evening I walked up to the mill for the papers. John Thomas (of Clifton) and wife were here with their little girl "Catherine" for advice & "c" for her.

Left page Ther: 40 Cloudy & Clearing Wind Variable Wednesday, January 8, 1890 Was called out last night at midnight and drove down to prescribe for "Joe" Abel and home through the rain. R. Roland Moore was here to see about his infant son William. Charley & Louis Scofield came home from Washington about 2.oclk p.m. Martha Ann Wright was here to consult me. Chas. Hill (of Remies) came for Charley who drove over to see his wife again. Received & answered letter from F. Tyson. Towards sun down the wind commenced blowing hard and it is much colder. The "cold waive" that the weather report said we were to have had last night is coming 24 hours later than was predicted.

Right page Ther: 30 degrees Clear Wind N.W. Thursday, January 9th, 1890 Wind blew with great violence last night, first from S.W. and then from N.W. clearing off cold. I drove over to R R. Moores Jr: & lanced an abcess in his infant son William's cheek or neck at the angle of lower face on left side, Willie going with me. After dinner I went with E over to Chas. Hills (of Remies) to prescribe for his wife called at Ashton on our return & bought some medicine as such.

Left page Ther: 40 Cloudy & Clearing Wind Variable Friday, January 10th, 1890 I drove "Fritz" to Ashton & had him newly shod "all around." Recd: telegram from Herbert Kirk announcing the sudden death of his father "last night," is all he said we will learn by mail the particulars of his death tomorrow no doubt. Charley drove to the "Cottage" and to Riverside to announce the sad news. After supper Mahlon Rinks man "Loyd" came over with a note from Mahlon enquiring for particulars of his brother's death. I replied and sent him the telegram.

Right page Ther. 35 Foggy, Cloudy as such Wind Variable Saturday, January 11th, 1890 Charles Stabler was here before we were done breakfast to enquire for further particulars in regard to the death of Uriah Kirk. Charles Kirk was also here upon the same errand later in the day. Charley & Willie drove over to Riverside and after receiving contradictory telegrams from Philada, went to "Flying Hill" to inform Chas Kirk that the friends would not arrive at Laurel until Monday instead of tomorrow as they had advised us at first and after supper he drove to Riverside again (through intense darkness) to inform them of the changed plans. Old "uncle Henson" was here and got his dinner. Received and answered another note from Mahlon Kirk.