Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1898

Cloudy & Rain 50° Ther. TUES. MAR. 29^th, 1898 N.E. & SE Wind.

Rained all last night, and most of today. Raining hard several times. Willie came this morning expecting to go to Laurel for some lumber but it was so rainy he gave it out. I went to Ashton & back before lunch. Afternoon J J Shoemaker's man (colored) called & Dora paid him $1.75 as ballance of milk bill I was not there at the time, having gone to the P.O. Willie went back to "Fairfield" about 3.o'clk. Mrs Robison went to Balto. this morning in the stage to Laurel. I went to the P.O. morning & afternoon, and to Fairall's shop in afternoon. Frank Hewitt called this morning & Old John toward night.

Clearing & Cloudy 42° Ther. WED. MAR. 30^th, 1898 S. E. Wind.

Clear & bright until towards evening, when it clouded over again I went to the store & P.O. both morning & afternoon. Recd U.S. Government check for $50.67, it being the first payment of my pension. Afternoon Willie & Fanny called for a short time. Edwd rode over to see "Old John" but could not find him. After supper I went to the store & toll house. Saw "Old John" for Willie, about going to Laurel for lumber for the green house on friday next "if the weather is fit."

Clear 38° Ther. THURS. MAR. 31^st, 1898 N.W. Wind

I went to the insurance office to see Allan Farquhar about hay, finding he had none I went to F. Downey's and engaged half a ton to be delivered tomorrow or next day. I then went to Ashton & paid Chas G Porter $36.00 on acct. of Rent to Feb. 1^st/98 home to lunch. I also paid A. G. Thomas & Co. $2.22 ballance due them. After lunch Edwd Easton helped me move the straw down from the hay mow into the shed back of the stable. "Old John" called. Went again to the store before supper. Just at dark Willie came driving "Sally" & Ernest's mule to Ernest's wagon. to stay tonight & make an early start tomorrow to Laurel for his lumber.

Clear 33° Ther. FRI. APRIL 1^st, 1898. N.W. Wind.

Clear & cold this morning, ice formed 1/2 an inch thick on kitchen porch. After early breakfast Willie started "John" for Laurel with Ernest's wagon & mule together with "Sally" & John's mare (the mule in the lead.) Soon after Willie & Edward also went driving "Charley" to the phaeton. Edwd going to Lauren & thence to Washington & from there to Purcellville & Lincoln Va. to spend a week with Charley. I walked to Ashton & back before dinner. Ed. Easton went to work at cutting & splitting the wood at the wood pile. Our Edwd agreeing to pay him 50 cents for cutting it all (the ballance of the cord.) Afternoon Willie Returned about 3.30 & leaving "Charlie " & the phaeton walked to Ashton to meet John with the wagon & go with him to "Fairfield". F. Downey sent me 1515 lbs of hay. & E Easton helped unload it. I went to store after supper.

Clear & Cloudy. 33° Ther. SAT. APRIL 2^nd, 1898. SW & NW Wind.

Clear & cool this morning, but afternoon it clouded up and blew strong from S. W. & W. with showers but cleared off in the evening. I took "Charley" horse to Webster's shop & had his shoes re set "all around". Afternoon "Phil" drove him to Brighton & to "Riverside". I walked to Ashton & back before dinner. Went to the store & P.O. after supper. Wheelright "Barnes" moved into the "Joe Davis house" this afternoon. It is now believed we will surely have war with Spain. I still hope not, but it surely looks like it. I sent bill to Mrs A Bourne via mail at Ashton.

Clear. 30° Ther. SUN. APRIL 3^d, 1898 N.W. Wind

Quite cold all day with wind from N.W. I went to meeting which was a silent one. We had a quiet day to ourselves, it being too cold & windy for Willie & Fanny to bring the baby out. Afternoon I walked up to Hendersons & after supper wrote to Charley and took the letter to the P. O. by moonlight.

Clear & Cloudy 25° Ther_ MON. APRIL 4^th, 1898 S. E. Wind.

Cold & frosty. Miss Mitchell (the public school teacher) sent for me and I took Frank Robison & a ladder and fixed the bell, which had dropped its clapper. Afternoon I went to the store & P.O. After supper Willie and Alice Peirce came over to the annual meeting of the Lyceum Company. Sally Ellicott called to see Dora. I went to the store & toll house after supper. Frank Hewitt called after dark, & I paid him 2.00 leaving a ballance due him of .75 cents on the last cord of oak wood he brought us.

Rain, Snow & sleet. 37° Ther_ TUES. APRIL 5^th, 1898 N.E. Wind.

It commenced Raining and snowing & blowing before daylight this morning making intensely disagreeable weather, and all the harder to bear after the lovely spring weather we had in March. "Dick" Matthews was here at breakfast time for medicine & advice for his wife ("Kate"). I went to the mill to the P.O. before dinner. Afternoon I walked to Ashton & back. Old John called & H. gave him some money Willie had left here for him. This has been a real wintry day, the wind changed from NE to N.W. but still did not "clear off" & has been extremely "raw" all day, freezing more or less during the entire day.

Clear & Cloudy 21 Ther. WED. APRIL 6^th, 1898 N.W. Wind.

Real "wintry cold", ground hard froze. I fear most of the fruit has been killed. I went to the store & P.O. Afternoon I went to a meeting of the "Physician's Social Club" which met at D^r R Brooke's new house. I walked to the Club & rode home with D^r [Cissell]. We had quite a large meeting, all members being present and several invited guests, D^rs Lewis, Jones, and Nickols, among the number.

Clear 30 Ther. THURS. APRIL 7^th, 1898. N. W. Wind.

Still quite cold but not so cold as yesterday morning. Willie came for an hour or two before dinner. Joshua Sedgwick was here for advice & Medicine. I went to the store & P.O. Afternoon Helen Lea of "Spring Dale" was here to see Dora. Mrs Annie Bowne called & paid her bill. I went to the mill for horse feed & brown flour.