Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1879

47 Cloudy and Showery SE. December Saturday, 6th 1879 Dull, foggy and drizzley day with heavy Rain late in the afternoon. I went to Ashtore. Leawood Mills and to Osceola before dinner

Clear Sunday, 7th About home all day - Charley went to Riverside and dined, afternoon he took Dora and Edwd a Ride and went to Fulford after tea and took one of Mrs T's girls to bible class - Dora and Willie also went to "bible class" -

Clear and Cloudy Monday, 8 Worked at weather boarding gable end of carriage house and made a paddock for the colt to run in. Mr and Mrs Ernest Lanford called also Sister B - C Powell here to have hand dressed - F Stablers team hauled 1 1/4 cords of oak wood to us -

44 Clear and Cloudy SE and NE December Tuesday, 9th 1879 Fell quite unwell. "Sick and fainty" with some headache. Repaired guitar case put on new hinges and mended lock also put on a handle &c - Bro Chas: called and spent an hour or two with us Edwd: Hill's team hauled us two loads of wood. Jno Senior called for advice and prescription for felon on thumb.

55 Wednesday, 10th Cloudy and Foggy E Walked over to R T Bentleys woods to see new fashioned "Riding Saw" of R. I. Lea's: it looks like "child's play" but saws Rapidly and does good work. Rainy in the Evening - walked up to the store after dark.

60 Thursday, 11th E NE and SE Exceedingly disagreeable day Rain Fog and Drizzle. Heavy showers occasionally throughout the day and Evening - Charley went to "Scott's" to practice with the "string band" Moab White here for examination advice and medicine, and again in the Evening.

32 Clear and Cloudy N.W December Friday, 12th 1879 Windy and much cooler Snowed last night but it is all gone this morning Moab White called for advice &c Charley drove his sister to Brighton and left her at E Peirces - I went to Fulford. Hannah Chandlee came in late stage. E Bentley and Hallie came after her and took her home -

Clear 31 Saturday, 13th N.W. "Forlorn" traveler and Mr White both here before breakfast. I went to Leawood Mills, to Riverside and Mrs Chalfants before dinner. Afternoon went to Fulford and sent wagon to Sharon and got 10 bushels of oats - Lucy Stabler called - Willie went to Mrs Chalfant's to stay all night.

32 Rain E Sunday, 14 Very Rainy day - Moab White here for advice &c Charley went to Edwd Pierce's and brought Dora home. I went to BR Robert's. Mrs: White in to see me about Moab - Rained all day and Evening -

30 Clear N.W. December Monday, 15th 1879 Moab White here for advice &c - Ernest called, also Mr Lawford - "Orchestra" met here in the evening to practice.

Clear 30 Wednesday, 17 Mrs: Ent here for advice and med: - Moab White called - Went to Mrs: MG Tyson's and S Fulford. als to Ashton - Afternoon went to B Rush Roberts -

29 Clear N.W. December Thursday, 18th 1879 Beautiful day. Lucy Stabler and Helen Snowden called. G Smith here for advice for Gilbert Jr: I took Harriet and Edwd: a drive to Olney and down Washington turn pike to "Mackall's" and home past Rockland. "Grand Entertainment" at Lyceum to Raise funds for the "B.A.S. Charley and Dora, Willie and I also went. Snowed at bed time

Cloudy and Drizzle 33 Friday, 19 Drizzle in the morning early ground covered with snow for the first time this winter. I went to "Brighton" and to BR Robert's also to "Fulford" before dinner. Afternoon nailed on strips at the barn and fixed the stable doors - Jno Lucas called - After tea Dora went to the store she and Mary Snowden helping fix "Christmas goods"

Saturday, 20 Cloudy and Drizzle E Glased and put it a window to the stable. War'k P Miller caller. Afternoon sister B called. I drove up to "Fulford"

30 Cloudy N.E. December Sunday, 21st 1879 Wm Scofield called whilst we were at breakfast. Charley drove me to B Rush Robert's: Snowd in the afternoon. Charley took omnibus and took a party from Fulford and N Fulford to gather Evergreens for Christmas - Torey Lea's two boys spent afternoon with Willie. Snow'd and "sleeded" nearly all night.

32 Cloudy and Rainy N.E. Monday, 22d Exceedingly disagreeable day - Snow and sleet covering the ground. I altered and fixed lock on "break" on the "omnibus" drove to Fulford. Jus: Tucker's boy here for advice and med: for his father. Charley went to "Sociable" at Rockland in the evening.

33 Cloudy Drizzly sleet N.E. Went to Ashton and BR Robert's before dinner. Afternoon went to gather Christmad Evergreens on the "Manor" called at Wm S Bond's to see "Sammy". Wrote to S.D.C. and Reed: Memorandum book from her -

35 Cloudy E December Wednesday, 24th 1879 Started to go to Rockville but the Roads were so bad I turned back. called at "Fulford" Saml Ellicot called for advice &c

45 Rainy E Thursday, 25th Disagreeable day out of doors, for Christmas. I walked to see B Rush Robert's - Charly Rode over to Riverside afternoon. home to supper - Fletcher Clark here wounded by fooling with gun powder, having nearly lost an Eye -

28 Clear N.W. Friday, 26th Beautiful winter morning clear and cold. Bros R and Annie C handlee called. Willie went to Serfields. Harriet and I drove up to Fulford to call upon sister B on her 55th birthday. Charly went after tea with Walter Scott J Bentley T. Hallowell &c to Jackson and Bentley's did not get home until near 1 o' clock after mid night -

13 Clear N.W. December Saturday, 27th 1879 Frederic Stabler's team hauled us a load of wood. Lewis Scofield here to see Willie and Boston both somewhat "under the weather" with colds.

28 Cloudy E and S.E. Sunday, 28th Sam Cole here for advice for niece - Friend Phiebe Fargee here (aet about 77) was buried at Friends burying ground this afternoon. I walked to BR Robert's Charly about home more than usual on Sunday -

30 Cloudy and Foggy S.E. Charley and I left home (driving "Betty" to the light buggy) at 6.30 a.m. for Washington. Went to Capitol, Art Gallery &c called to see Mrs Mary V Heath at Jarvis' photograph Depot. left W. at sundown and Reached home at about 7.30 very tired

33 Clear and Cloudy S.E. December Tuesday, 30th 1879 Feel quite stiff and sore from unusual walking in Washington yesterday. Went to BR Robert's. Mrs Knight here for med: &c - Charley went to Mrs Scott's in the evening to practice a piece for the "musical"

33 Drizzle sleet and Rain E Wednesday, 31st Extremely disagreeable day. Annie Rounds brought us some chickens - Benj H Miller and Mrs B Hull here for advice &c Fanny Cole here for med: for her sister. This is the last of an eventful year to us, May we enter upon a new one with thankful hearts striving to be useful, cheerful and happy. in efforts to contribute to the happinedd of others