Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1889

Cloudy & Rain Ther. 34° SUN. JAN. 27, 1889 S.E. Wind

Very disagreeable day. Bro R called on way to Meeting & left Sunny here. Mrs Mary G Tyson called to see me. Afternoon I drove over to "Homewood" to see cousin Mary again went over to Thos Lea's & brought Hannah Archer with me. The roads are in a wretched condition but as yet have not quite broken through the crust of frozen ground. Should it do so they would be impassable in Many places. "Ned" Gilpin spent the evening here. Charley Returned from Balto & Laurel about 9 o'clock p.m. having left Balto in the 4 .10 train and Laurel about 6 p.m. Willie took letters to the P.O. after C came home from C & from his mother. for the mail in the morning .

Rain & Clearing Ther. 33° MONDAY 28^th N E. & N.W. Wind

Damp & muggy in early part of the day. Some colored man was here & had tooth extracted. I drove over to Homewood and brought Alice Peirce home with me. Charley drove over to the old Horace Sedgwick place to prescribe for Chas Howard alias Awkard. After which he went to Homewood & brought Edith Kummer home with him. After Supper "Sociable" met here and was quite largely attended. there having been 42 persons in the parlor at one time. All seemed to have enjoyed themselves & left (most of them) about 10- 30 p.m.

Clear Ther. 22° TUES. JAN. 29^th 1889 N.W. Wind

Cold & blistering strong wind from N.W. ground frozen hard as flint. Willie was up at 4 o'clock this morning to go to Washington with Lewis Scofield but Lewis did not come along until 6. o'clk at which time they left here. Charley drove over to the Sedgwick place again. Afternoon Bro: Chas came and took Dora and Fanny home with him to spend a few days & whilst Lizzie is making a visit (with "Minnie" ) in Washington. I took Alice Pierce & drove to Homewook, the Roads being fearfully rough, & almost impassable in some places. Charley took Hannah Archer to Riverside and after leaving her there he expected to go to Brighton to a "rehearsal" of a play to come off some time hence at their Grange Hall. If he gets home safelyover such Roads as he will have to pass over. I shall be pleased & surprised Anna Gilpin was here for advice & medicine just before dark.

Clear Ther. 20 WEDNESDAY 30 Wind N. W.

Clear & frosty again. R E R was not well & did not get out of bed until about noon. Frank Cook was here before I was up to enquire about him. Charley & I Rode over to Homewood on horseback before dinner time. Afternoon Mrs Jack Johnson & her sister Mrs Bryan were here for advice & medicine. Willie came home from Washington with Lewis Scofield about 5. o'clk p.m. After tea Charley & Willie went to Homewood on horseback to walk from there to Riverside with some of the girls. Dr. R. Brooke called to see C in the afternoon also "Ned" Gilpin to see Willie. Charles vaccinated little Bessie with some of the virus Dr Brooke gave me some time since.

Cloudy Ther. 30 THURS. JAN 31st, 1889 S.E. Wind It is not so cold this morning and feels like storm weather near at hand the Roads are somewhat improved but still Rough off of the turnpike. I drove over to Homewood. Nellie went with me & walked from there to Riverside and in the afternoon walked home, Dora coming with him. Eliza Green was here to see C about her husband. Luther Muncaster was here to see Willie After dark it commenced to Rain & blow stong from S. E. about 9 o.clock. Ernest came in out of the storm & darkness to spend the night with us. he having expected to have driven on to Washington tonight when he left home, but it became so dark he could not see to drive and he concluded to stop here & "put up" until morning It is one of the darkest nights I Remember to have been out in & we were glad to have him come in, as it would be Willie's last night at home for some time to come. he expecting to leave in the stage in the morning for Laurel & Doylestown

Clear Ther. 28 FRIDAY, FEB. 1st N. W. Wind

Cold and windy Slept none last night the wind blew so as to shake the house. We were all up early this morning to see Willie off in the stage for Laurel Balto Philadelphia and Doylestown. Ernest borrowed my carriage pole or tongue and left one here he had, of Dr. Magruder's He went on to Washington to bring in wife and mother home. C took Dora over to Riverside. After noon he & I went to Homewood. I walked up to the mill so sign the "School Report" with J. I. Henderson. After dark CIwent away again to another "Rehearsal" of the "play" he is to take part in the Grange Exhibition at "Brighton"

Clear Ther 28 SAT. FEB. 2, 1889 S. E. Wind

I was about home all day. C drove over to Jno Thomas (of Clifford) to collect some money from Chas Howard and afternoon he drove over to Homewood After supper he & Edwd walked up to the store at S. S. for some things for the house & R E R walked down to Ashton Store. I have felt unusually dull & depressed to day owing partly to not feeling well but chiefly to Willie's having left home for the first time alone in the world to commence the "battle of life" single handed. He is in the main a good hearted honest boy that does himself the greatest injustice by an assured bravado "that is no part of his Real Nature but I trust he has a good stock of common sense which may carry him through.

Cloudy Ther. 32° SUNDAY 3^rd Wind S.W.

Rather a dull morning. Charley drove over to Riverside & brought Hannah Archer back with him & Bro Rich and brought Dora home as he came to "meeting". C went up & prescribed for Bob Sullivan after which he drove me over to Homewood. After noon Charley drove over to Edwd Bentley's it being near "sundown" when he left home and will bea late when he returns.

Cloudy & Clearing Ther. 37° MON. FEB. 4^th, 1889 Variable Wind

Snowing early in the morning I drove over to Homewood before dinner. Alice Pierce came here in the afternoon. After dark I was sent for to go to R Roland Moore's Jr. to prescribe for his son Henry. fortunately for me there was some Moonlight and the Roads not so bad as they were some time in the past. and I reached home again before the moon set. Charley went up to the Village to prescribe again for Robt Sullivan and some of them were here for medicine for him. I brought Chas G. Porter from near Ashton to S.S. on my return from Homewood about 1-30 p.m. We were all much disappointed and surprised at not hearing from Willie by today's mail. and I am beginning to feel anxious about him. to say the least.

Cloudy & Rain Ther. 37° TUESDAY 5^th S. E. Wind

After breakfast I drove over to R Roland Moore's to prescribe for his infant son Henry again, after which I drove to "Homewood" taking Hannah Archer with me & leaving her there. came home to dinner Charley went to the village to see R Sullivan again & also over to see C Howard on the old Sedgwick place. Still no letter or word of any kind from Willie and I am very anxious about him. I would telegraph if I knew that Richd Lea could be reached in that way.

Clear & Windy Ther. 11 WED. FEB 6,^th 1889 Wind N.W.

Very cold N.W. wind blowing all day. I drove over to R R Moore Jr's and down to Ashton to prescribe for Hettie Staubler's daughter "Lilly"; called at the Store and bought some articles for the house and had a settlement in full with Benj H Miller paying him for some wood delivered by George and also paid the "Book Club" subscription for this year. Harriet recd a letter from "Willie" which was a great satesfaction to us his letter had gone to "Berkley Springs" Virginia before coming here. After tea, Charley drove to Highland to bring Edith Kummer to Homewood and Hannah Archer home with him from there Jno C Bentley was here to see Charley also Mary Thomas (ne Ellicott).

Clear, Windy Ther. 15° THURSDAY 7^th Wind NW

Still cold & windy. Charley took a wheel of the "top buggy" up to T. Marlow's Shop to have a tire mended that broke last night over the Rough frozen Roads. I did not start out until after the middle of the day & drove to "Homewood". to see Cousin Mary Chaudlee again whom I hope is now making some perminant improvement. and may get up again. C drove over to Brighton to an afternoon rehearsal of their piece or play, for the last time I believe. I was sent for again & drove over to R Roland Moores Jr to prescribe for his boy "Henry", but reached home about "sun set." Dora & Alice Peirce made several "calls", taking advantage of the frozen ground & good walking. C came home in time for a late supper & Alice Pierce, Dora & he spent the evening Reading aloud some Modern story.

Cloudy Ther. 20 FRI. FEB. 8,^th 1889 S. E Wind

Somewhat warmer - and little or no wind. Dora & Alice Pierce walked over to Mahlon Chaudlee's & to Wm. J Scofields before dinner. Afternoon I drove to Ashton & Charley went over to Riverside bringing the little "Tony dog" home with him. Sophie Peirce came and took Alice home with her. After supper Charley took Dora & Hannah Archer to "Brighton Grange Hall" to an Exhibition private theatrical performance &c. The Robison boys came in & played with Edward until bedtime. This being "Hillia's" birth day (the 11th). It looks like snow or rain; I hope it will hold off until the young folks get home.

Cloudy Ther. 32° SATURDAY 9^th Variable Wind

Cloudy & clearing & part of the time high wind towards night It clouded up again & looks like Rain. Afternoon I drove to Homewood and called at Ashton. After supper Charley drove away to call at Janneys to see some company they have staying with them. Edwd; spent the evening "next door": beautiful moonlight, but "raw" and chilly like snow.

Clear Ther. 30° SUN. FEB. 10^th, 1889 Wind N. W

Beautiful winter day. Bro R called to get me to go & prescribe for Bro Chas; I drove over to Riverside & home before dinner. Hannah Archer walked from Homewood here, arriving soon after I started for Riverside. I called at Homewood & also at Thos Lea's to enquire after "Harry" whom we had heard had been quite sick. After dinner Dora & Hannah Archer started to walk to Edwd Peirces and the church at "Crow Town". Charley drove to Riverside to take some things from Ashton (medicine &c. ) for his uncle Charles. expecting to go on to Brighton & bring the girls home this evening.

Snow Ther. 33° MONDAY 11^th Wind S. E

Commenced snowing about daylight and continued more or less throughout the day, but was too warm for it to accumulate to any extent and was not more than three or four inches deep at any time Charley "tinkered" at making a "clothes press" in his room. Afternoon I drove over to Riverside, calling at Homewood Bro Chas is still suffering from the effects of his "bad cold" (as he calls it) and is quite a sick man. Charley went with me I have felt quite unwell myself all day, having taken more cold again; this time it seems to have attacked my old weak point (the peritoneum", and I feel very sore and lame in the abdomen especially in the Right "hypocondriac" Region

Cloudy, Snow & Clearing Ther. 30° TUES. FEB. 12, 1889 NW Wind

It snowed quite fast for an hour or two early this morning but cleared off before noon. Ruth Ana Bowen was here to see me soon after breakfast. After noon I drove over to Riverside & Homewood. Charley going with me. called at Ashton. We took the little dog "Tony" home to Riverside & left him. After supper Charley took Dora and Hannah Archer over to Homewood for a call he drove on to Riverside to take Some medicine & to his uncle Charles from Ashton

Ther. WEDNESDAY 13 Wea.

I suffered all last night with pain and nausia and was quite ill to day and unable to be out of bed. I never suffered more in the same length of time in my life the effort in vomiting producing intense pain; more like internal cramps than anything else followed by great prostration. I could not have born it had it continued much longer.

Ther. 16° THURS. FEB. 14,^th 1889 Wind N.W.

Charley & Dora came home from the dance at Janney's at 1-45 this a.m. I became easier about dusk and passed a Restless night with more or less suffering. but got up and came down to dinner to day and afternoon went with Charley to Riverside to see Charles & Lizzy who are both sick now. After supper Charley Dora & Hannah went to a lecture by M D Conway at the Lyceum.

Cloudy Ther. 29° FRIDAY 15,^th Wind S.E.

Raw and chilly I feel very unwell and miserable but drove over to "Riverside" and "Homewood" Edward going with me. Afternoon I drove down to Bowen's to prescribe for "Rosena". Charley is also quite unwell having taken more cold from Running about and loosing sleep at night. I have seldom felt more unwell witohout "giving up" & going to bed.