Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1893

Clear Ther. 11^oSUN. MAR. 5, 1893 N.W. Wind

Much colder this morning. Richard Kirk died this morning at "Fair Hill" after suffering much since about Christmas when he had a fall fracturing & dislocating his leg and ankle, the shock and suffering from which is said to have developed a latent "cancerous" affection of his stomach from which he died. Some of those who went to the Inaguration yesterday are "turning up" one at a time to day looking "used up" and wishing they had staid at home.

Clear Ther. 30o MON. MAR. 6th, 1893 N.W. Wind

Extremely disagreeable "underfoot." Slush & mud everywhere. I walked to the store both morning & afternoon. Harry Lea & his son Henry spent afternoon here. Bro. Chas. called. Richard Kirk of "Fair Hill" was buried at the Old Meeting House this afternoon. There was a large attendance notwithstanding the bad roads. Dora Harry Lee and I walked over to the Meeting House to witness the burial.

Cloudy. Ther. 33^o TUES. MAR. 7, 1893 Variable Wind

Dull threatning weather. I rode on horseback down to see a boy at Milo Jackson's on D^r. F. Thomas' place. Wallace Bond was here to consult me on account of an abcess on the index finger of his right hand. I walked up to the shops etc. A "swell" [focer] in hand two wheeled chaise, with small handsome calico horses & "blooming swell" driver with light colored felt stove pipe hat passed here going towards Balto: from Washington. Edwd L Gilpin's two horse wagon brought us of nut coal." Carter driving the team

Clear & Cloudy Ther. 33o WED. MAR. 8^th, 1893 Variable Wind

"Phil" & I borrowed a "platform scale" from the Mill & weighed the coal E Gilpin sent us on tuesday: it fell a few pounds short of a quarter of a ton (546 lbs:). Went to the store & mill got two 1/8 sacks of flour on G Matt Beal's account. Roads still very muddy & sloppy. Letter from Sister Harriet saying she expected to be here on friday or saturday next.

Clearing Ther. 40 THURS. MAR. 9, 1893 N.W. Wind

It Rained hard several times during last night & early this a.m. but cleared off about sunrise. I rode on horseback to Ashton & up to "Marden" before dinner. Edwd's cough was so troublesome he did not go to school until afternoon. We heard the frogs singing for the first time this year this evening, which is much later than usual.

Cloudy Ther. 40^o FRI. MAR. 10, 1893 Wind N.E.

Cloudy & threatning all day but did not rain. I walked up to the mill & to the store etc. Jack Johnson's widow sent for advice & medicine I walked up to Henderson's for butter & the papers. We expected Sister Harriet in the afternoon stage but she did not come. She wrote that she expected to come either today or tomorrow unless it was very stormy on the road from Laurel too bad for the stage to be comfortable.

Cloudy Ther. 37^o SAT. MAR. 11th, 1893 N.E. Wind

Another extremely dull day. I recd a "telegram" from Herbert Kirk saying his mother started from Philad^a at 8-15 a.m. She arrived here about 4 pm in the stage.

Clear Ther 36^o SUN. MAR. 12^th, 1893 Wind

Clear & bright to day. Afternoon Bro. Chas. came and spent an hour or two with us. he took Sister Harriet home with him. Lucy Stabler was here calling just as Chas & Sister H were about leaving. She remained & made a pleasant call.

Clear Ther 36 MON. MAR. 13^th, 1893 Wind

Afternoon, I rode over to Riverside calling at Thos Lea's as I went over. Alice & Fanny Peirce were here

Cloudy Ther. 35 TUES. MAR. 14, 1893 Variable Wind

Cloudy most of the day. I put straw into the icehouse & "tinkered" the roof so as to keep the rain out. Edwin Davis sent us another load of hickory wood. I walked up to the store & shops, & to the mill.