Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1890

Left page Ther: 55 degrees Clear & Cloudy Wind Variable Thursday, March 13th, 1890 Much warmer today, clear and beautiful until afternoon when it clouded over. I went up to the harness makers & brought home part of my double harness that I took there to have some slight repairs made. Afternoon I walked up to the mill. Charley took Dora & little Bessie to Brighton Church and Edwd Peirce's. I am afraid they will get wet as it looks like rain. I was much pleased to learn today that our neighbor A.T. Fairgill Esq has been appointed to fill the unexpired term of Carr: (deceased) as Sheriff of our County. Govenor Jackson having appointed him at the solicitation of a number of the prominant lawyers & others in the County: He could not have done better. I was sent for & walked down to Ashton to see Emma King's boy Charles who had been kicked by a horse on the head and they thought he was killed but I hope it will not prove serious. Charley & Dora came home in time for supper. It commenced raining about dusk.

Right page Ther: 55 Cloudy &Rain Wind E. Friday, March 14th, 1890 Charley was called out at about 10.30 last night (in the rain) to go to Caleb Pumphrey's who had "croup colic." It rained all night & this morning. C was sent for again to Pumphrey's and to prescribe for A. F. Fairall Esq. I was sent for to see Alice Tyson at R R Moore Jr's I drove to Pumphreys (C going with me) and from there to R.R. Moore Jr's & home to dinner. Afternoon R R Moore's 3 horse team brought us 3/4 of a cord of sawd mixed wood that was what the wagoner (Branson Creek) called "pretty sorry wood at that." "Minnie" brought Willie home about 4.oclock p.m. I drove down to Ashton to see the King boy again called at the store & bought shoes for Harriet & Edward besides sundry other articles. E went with me. Wm Miller (Ex Sheriff) called to see Charley about A. F. Fairall Esq & C went with him to see Fairall again, and wrote a note for him to Mr. Talbolt in Rockville.

Left page Ther:37 degrees Cloudy & Clearing Wind Variable Saturday, March 15th, 1890 The ground was covered with snow this morning but the sun came out and it disappeared by noon. Charley drove up to see A.F. Fairall and down to Dr Frank Thomas' place calling at Ashton & exchanging the shoes I purchased yesterday for Harriet & returning the ones I bought for Edward, they being two large for him. He was quite "croupy" this morning & I kept him in bed until near dinner time. Jno: Hickman sent the "camp chair" home by his son Edward. Willie went with Charley in his drive this a.m. Sophie & Fanny Pierce called in the afternoon. I walked up to the store Charley & Willie left home in the buggy for "Glenwood" about 4.25 p.m. to be gone until some time tomorrow night.

Right page Ther: 20 degrees Clear Wind N.W. Sunday, March 16th, 1890 High N.W. wind all last night and today and very cold. The ground is frozen as hard as flint & the roads as rough as can be. "Gilbert" Beal was here to see Charley soon after breakfast. After dinner I walked up to Esq. Fairall's & got a Seidlitz powder for Edward who did not get up until near noon. Mary E Gilpin called and spent an hour this afternoon. The dog 'Banjo" came back this morning & I am afraid Mr. Holland will have trouble in keeping him since he has once found the way back to his old house. There has been very little passing along the road today it being so very cold, and the change so sudden together with the high wind. It has frozen every body's energies up completely.

Left page Ther: 26 degrees Cloudy & Clear Wind N.E. Monday, March 17, 1890 Still cold. Charley and Willie came home from "Glenwood" at midnight last. Edward was not well enough to go to school this morning. Mr Cunningham was here for advice etc. for his son "Frank." Mrs: A. G. Thomas brought her son "Fred" here to consult me about his left arm which was injured in a fall more than a year since and again within the past few days. Louis Scofield was here to see C & W. Afternoon C drove down on the "Manor" to prescribe for a patient of Dr. [ ] I walked down to Ashton for medicine on Edward's count. Robt McKall was here to induce me to accept the office of Magistrate in place of A. F. Fairall who is appointed Sheriff to fill the term of Carr deceased.

Right page Ther: 30 degrees Clear Wind N.W. Tuesday, March 18th, 1890 Charley came in last night about midnight and left home for Rockville to attend court as a witness in the Hammond "Road case" again. Lou Rust came and took Ernests feed box away with him. I drove over to "Homewood" & prescribed for cousin Mary Chandlee and also to Tho's Leas to prescribe for sister Beulah who has La Grippe. Willie going with me. Edward seemed so troubled with his cough I kept him in bed all day. After supper Willie rode "Fritz" over to Scotts with Louis Scofield to a dancing lesson & came home about mid night.

Left page Ther: 55 degrees Cloudy & Rain Wind Variable Wednesday, March 19th, 1890 It rained quite hard from about 1.oclk this a.m. until near 8.oclk and was drizzly & threatening until late in the afternoon when it cleared off with wind N.W. Charley went to Rockville again in the buggy. I recd a telegram from Herbert Kirk saying the rain had prevented his mothers leaving Philad. this morning and enquiring the condition of the roads which I answered. Bro [Riahd] called on way to meeting. After dinner I drove over to "Homewood" & "Eldon" called at Ashton & had buggy spring mended. I bought groceries etc. Colored boys were here for medicine for Louis Hill which I put up and gave to them. Geo: Matt Beal was here to see Charley who came home from Rockville whilst he was here (about 4.30 p.m.) he paid $7.00 on each of our accounts I letting C have my share. Sheriff A. F. Fairall was here to see Charley and to consult us professionally. After supper, Willie went to Brighton driving "Fritz" to my "road cart" and Charley, not satisfield to stay at home and rest one evening after his drive to Rockville & back through the mud: put Scofield's horse to his buggy and went with Louis to Brighton on "Crow Town" also to some sort of a Fandango.

Right page Gher: 54 degrees Clear & Cloudy Wind S.E. Thursday, March 20th, 1890 Willie went over to Thos Lea's after early breakfast. I drove over to Homewood & Eldon calling at Ashton for some things. Recd telegram from Herbert Kirk. Chas: & Sarah Stabler were here, the latter for advice & med: Lucy Gilpin (Gideon's daughter) was also here for advice etc. Edwd is still confined to bed. Sister Harriet came in the afternoon stage, about 4.oclk. Charley & I put in window glass in the East dining room window and in the East Kitchen window. C was suffering with "ear ache." It grew quite cloudy & threatening towards evening and cold or "chilly." I walked up to S.S. & mailed postal card to Herbert. C was not able to be down to supper & Willie came home after dark "played out" and half sick and to cap all when I went to the stable to do its feeding I found old "Fritz"had laid down in the stall & was unable to get up: fortunately W came home just then & I went up & got Mr. Henderon & "Alf Bell & with Frank Robison to hold a lantern we succeeded in pulling him out of the stall & getting him on his feet again & taken over to his own stable. It commenced raining steadily at about dark. There is an exhibition at the Lyceum tonight of a Phonograph etc and many persons will get wet in going home from it. Our house is a Hospital tonight Edward sick in bed for three days past, Charley almost crazy with threatened "aural abcess," Bessie with the "croup" & Willie gone to bed vomiting. I all crippled up with rheumatism & Harriet far from well. Dora is the only member of the family who is well. "And it a rainin."

Left page Ther: 59 degrees Cloudy & Rain Wind Variable Friday, March 21st, 1890 Rainy & disagreable until afternoon when it partly cleared off. Charley's ear ache is better & I hope Edward is somewhat better also, but little Bessie is still quite croupy and I feel miserable from loss of sleep & head ache. Willie seems much better but is not as well as usual. Afternoon I rode "Fritz" over to Rachel Thorne's to see Martha Ann Wright: the roads are fearfully muddy and bad. Bro Richard called to see Sister Harriet. I allowed Edward to come downstairs about dinner time, but am afraid it was hardly prudent so soon. The weather being so damp but he was so tired of being in bed and it is quite [we.....] weather & after the sun came out it was very pleasant even out of doors.

Right page Ther: 60 degrees Rain Wind S.E. Saturday, March 22d, 1890 It rained almost all last night again and continued with several very heavy showers until noon: about 9.oclk in the morning it was so dark we could scarcely see without lighting the lamps. Edward & Bessie both passed a better night & I hope are decidedly improved today but are contantly liable to "backsets" during such extremely chargeable weather. I am feeling wretched today. Alice & Fanny Peirce came to call upon sister Harriet. Charley & Willie went to Brighton to a monthly meeting of the "Grange." Willie finished the door frame facings around the inside of the outside office door. Mrs: Jas: P. Stabler & Miss Francis Stabler & also Mrs: Charles Stabler called to see sister Harriet. Colored girl was here for medicine for Martha Ann Wright. The boys from next door came in after supper to play games with Edward: for the first time since he was taken sick. Charley came home after dark to supper: Willie having staid at "Atholwood" Ernest having gone to Philada. The roads (off the turnpike) are "horrid" and in some places almost impassable.