Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1898

Clear. Ther. 20^o. Mon. Feb. 7, 1898 Wind. N.W.

Quite cold early this morning but moderated and was very pleasant later in the day. I went up to the mill a little while this morning. C. G. Porter came in for a minute on his way to bank. I burned out the stove pipe from the stove in our room. Willie and Alice Peirce came about 4 o'clock from "Silver Spring" he having driven down for Alice taking my "Charley" horse & "Sally" to Ernest's dayton wagon. After supper W & Alice went to "Fairfield". After supper Edwd went to "Mt Airy" to the "singing class".

Clear & Cloudy. Ther. 28o. Tues. Feb. 8^th 1898. Wind. S.E. & N.E.

The weather feels raw & chilly I walked up to the mill & to Henderson's house before lunch time. "Old John" was here for me to fill out some pension papers for him. He went to Ashton and back for some medicine for me Edwd. went to the store & P.O. morning & afternoon I went in next door to hear from Bro Charles over the telephone wires. He has not been so well last night and today & taken less nourishment so Ernest reports. Harry Fairall here in evening to practice telegraphy with Edwd. Edwd brought home the telephone aparatus we bought from the company they are "Ball Transmitters" that are no longer used by the company.

Clear Ther. 30 Wed. Feb. 9^th 1898 Wind. S.E.

Ernest called & reported bro C's having had a comfortable night's sleep and seems stronger this morning. I walked to Ashton & put up some more medicine for bro Charley. "Phil" Robison came over & helped Edwd readjust & fix the telephones we bought from the "Company". they are "Ball transmitters" that were discarded by the Co. but will answer for such a short line as ours will be. Charlotte Budd was here for advice & medicine. Miss Mary & Mrs Mahlon Kirk Jr. called socially. Sally Ellicott also called. Willie & Fanny came & took tea with us. After supper Edwd went to Mrs Ellicott's to play Euchre.

Clear & Cloudy Ther.30^o Thurs. Feb. 10^th 1898. Wind.

I went to the "Farmers Convention" which met at the Lyceum. I dined at the school house where they had their "luncheon" Charlotte Detter was here for advice & medicine. We have succeeded in getting our telephones to working perfectly between here & the "central" and hope soon to connect with the entire system. My cold is somewhat better but Harriet has taken the worst cold she has had for a long time. Willie Fanny & baby came to spend the night with us. Edwd took a photograph of the baby. Kate Stabler came here for advice & medicine. I went again to the school house after the crowd had gone & found they had used my boards to walk on in the mud, and had ruined many of them.

Clear & Cloudy. Ther. 40^o Fri. Feb. 11^th 1898 Wind. S.E.

Quite warm & very muddy & disagreeable getting about I went to the store & P.O. & to the mill. Willie & Fanny left after breakfast, Edwd also went to "Fairfield". He took another picture of the baby before they left. Ernest came & put in a "spring Jack" at "Central" which connects us by telephone with the entire system. When we wish to be so connected without our being subjected to the annoyance of the continual ringing of bells of other peoples phones. Our lines being entirely separate. Kate Stabler called again to see Dora.

Cloudy & Clearing. Ther. Sat. Feb 12th 1898 Wind. S.E. & N.W.

It rained in the night last night and was cloudy & threatning until afternoon. I walked up to the store & P.O. & to the mill. After lunch Edwd & I drove over to "Riverside" to see brother Charles. He has failed very much since I last saw him and I fear he cannot be with us much longer. The roads are wretched, & almost impassable in places. Lizzie Scott was here to see Dora.

Clear. Ther. 40 Sun. Feb. 13th 1898. Wind N.W.

Clear & bright this morning. Edward & I went to meeting & heard an excellent sermon from Edwd Farquhar upon "The personality of of God". After meeting I went over next door. Ernest telephoned that his father passed a fairly good night but had not been able to take as much nourishment as as he should, owing to pain it gives him to swallow. We are glad to hear that Mrs Nesbitt (who has been extremely ill) is very much better. Old uncle Henson was here to see me I went over next door before supper time. I also went up to Henderson's for the newspapers.

Clear. Ther. 30^o Mon. Feb, 14th 1898. Wind. N.W.

I am suffering somewhat from "cardiac rheumatism" & was about home all day. Heard from bro C over telephone from "Minnie" He passed a tolerable night but has taken a little or no nourishment within 24 hours. Willie & Alice Peirce came & took tea with us. I wrote to sister Mary on receiving her letter of the 10th inst.

Cloudy. Ther. 35^o Tues. Feb. 15, 1898 Wind N.E. S.E. & N.W.

It was cloudy & threatning all day & about sunset it rained quite hard for some time but the wind changed again to N.W. Edwd drove to "Fairfield" to help Willie, who telephoned that Edwd would not come home tonight. I went to the store & P.O. twice called at F Leizear's & Geo Oldfields I also went to the mill & Henderson's house for the papers. I telephoned after supper to "Atholwood" to enquire how Bro C was this evening.

Clear Ther. 22^o Wed. Feb. 16^th 1898. Wind. N.W.

The wind commenced blowing last evening and has continued ever since, with much violence most of the time; it is much colder and it is difficult to keep warm as we are afraid to make large fires, our chimnies & stove pipes not having burned out for some time. Heard of the terrible explosion on the U.S. Battle ship "Maine" in the harbour of Havana Cuba. Over 100 lives lost besides the ship. Spanish treachery is suspected. but nothing definitive known as yet. I went to the store & P.O. & to the mill & next door. Edwd came home from "Fairfield" about 4.30 this afternoon.