Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1898

Clear. 39° Ther. FRI. APRIL 8^th, 1898 N.W. Wind.

Beautiful day & much warmerI went to the P.O. & to Fairall's shop, bought a pair of "low quarter" shoes from him. The news today is extremely war-like, & unless Spain should agree to our terms, (which is very unlikely) war will be declared within the next three days. Afternoon "Phil" took our horse & harrowed their lot and ours. I made a new "Rubber, and he also rubbed both lots. Mrs Robison called this Morning & Ellen Stabler this afternoon. Went again to P.O. I burned out the stove pipe from the stove in our room

Clear & Cloudy 37° Ther. SAT. APRIL 9^th, 1898_ S. E. Wind.

White frost this morning but no ice. Went to the store & P.O. Afternoon was called by telephone & rode (on horseback) to "Fairfield" to see Willie, who was suffering from an attack of "colic", but was relieved by the time I got there in a great measure and I came home to supper. We were greatly shocked to hear of the sudden death of "Tom" Dickerson, who had gone to Lawrence Mass. to visit his uncles Richard & Harry Lea; Harry accompanied the remains to Wellsboro, where they were interred to day. I walked to Ashton & back before dinner. After supper, walked up to the store & toll house. It commenced "sprinkling" rain about 8.o'clk p.m.

Cloudy & Clearing 40 Ther. SUN. APRIL 10, 1898 Variable Wind.

This has been a real April day clear & cloudy & showers until after sun set when it cleared off again. Alice Peirce came & took Dora to "Fairfield" & to church before dinner & afternoon Fanny brought her home. I did not go to meeting, and H & I had a quiet sunday to ourselves. Towards evening I walked up to Hendersons & left some papers, & to the toll house. after supper.

Clear & Cloudy. 40° Ther. MON. APRIL 11^th, 1898. SE. & N.E. Wind.

Real April day. Clear & [showery] I went to the Library with "Phil" Robison & brought home two new cells of battery & put them into the telephones. One here & the other in the phone at "Central". I also got three new zinc's. Afternoon I sent John Lasko to "Fairfield" to bring Willie, Fanny & the baby here to spend a day or two, until Willie gets well enough to do some work again. I telephoned to Rockville to Pos's livery stable & also to Frank Fairall at the B. & O. depot to provide a way for Edwd's getting home from there if he comes today from Lincoln Va.

Clear 43° Ther. TUES. APRIL 12^th, 1898 Variable Wind

It Rained several times last night but was clear & beautiful all day. I was called by telephone & drove up to "Marden" & prescribed for little George Marshall, Willie going with me. Afternoon W Rode over to see "Old John" about going to Rockville tomorrow for Edward, & also down to "Bloomfield"; towards evening Danl Budd Jr was here and had a tooth extracted. After supper I went to the toll house. The prospect of war with Spain seems to almost amount to a certainty the President having referred the matter to Congress, and there is little doubt as to its action We heard of the death of H's uncle Joseph Retzer, who died about 3.o'clk yesterday morning (Monday the 11^th). H has been ill for some months past, with kidney and bladder troubles.

Clear 39° Ther. WED. APRIL 13^th, 1898 Wind.

Clear & bright Willie went over to "Old John's" before breakfast & brought his horse back with him. After breakfast he & Fanny drove it (to the phaeton) to "Fairfield" leaving baby here. they are to return about noon. Alice Tyson telephoned for advice & for both "Tyson" & George the latter is much better. W & F came back to dinner. Old John came before dinner & went to Rockville for Edwd, leaving here at 1-20 p.m. I went to Ashton and back before dinner. After supper I went to the store & P.O. Edwd, & John arrived home from Rockville at 8-30 p.m. I walked up to the toll house again with a lantern to meet them.

Cloudy & Rain 44° Ther. THURS. APRIL 14^th, 1898 N.E. Wind.

Cloudy & threatening. Henderson's were planting potatoes in their lot, and "Beal" Ran out two rows for us & we planted them with "Northern early rose" seed, bought at Ashton, he also covered them with the shovel plow & I ran the rubber over the rows with "Charley". Jim Hill came for me to attend to his wife again in confinement, but I did not feel well enough to undertake her case again, & telephoned for him to D^r Stabler. It commenced Raining steadily about 10-30 a.m. Glad we got potatoes in before the rain came in earnest. It Rained more or less all the ballance of the day, and up to bed time to night. I went to the store & P.O. Telephoned to D^r Stabler, who promised to attend Jim Hill's wife. Edwd fixed the office door electric bell, and changed the transmitter in our phone from the "Ball" to a "granular carbon" principal, which is quite an improvement.

Cloudy 40° Ther, FRI. APRIL 15^th, 1898 N. E. Wind.

Cloudy & raw this morning rained as intervals all last night. I went to Fairall's shop & to the P.O. Afternoon Helen Lea of "Spring Dale" was here to see Dora. Fanny went to "Bloomfield" & to Mrs Ellicott's to call. John Johnson (white) came (about supper time) & brought us 200 herring. After supper I went to the store & P.O. again. It has been "showery" all day & continues so at bed time. Burned the kitchen chimney this morning.

Clear. 40° Ther. SAT. APRIL 16^th,, 1898 N.W. Wind.

Edwd took Willie, Fanny & baby to "Fairfield" after breakfast driving "Charley" to the surry. he remained there until afternoon. I went to the store & P.O. and Fairall's shop before dinner purchased a lard barrel in which to salt the herring we bought yesterday of Johnson. Afternoon I walked to Ashton and rode back with A. G. Thomas. Mailed letter to sister Mary enclosing a copy of marriage certificate of great great grandfather (Levin Hill) in 1722. Went again to the store & P.O. after supper.

Cloudy 55° Ther. SUN. APRIL 17_th, 1898. SE & N.W. Wind.

Cloudy & threatning rain all day until towards evening, when it cleared off with wind N.W. Edwd & I went to meeting which was silent and not largely attended. After noon Edwd. drove over to "Riverside" & home before dark. I went up to Henderson's - Joshua Sedgewick was here again for advice & medicine. After tea I walked up to the P.O. & mailed a letter to Bro. William.